5. (thieves’).—A quart pot. Pint pots are called kittens. Stealing
these pots is termed cat and kitten sneaking.
1851. Mayhew, London Labour and London Poor, II., p. 118. The
mistress of a lodging-house, who had conveniences for the melting
of pewter-pots (called cats and kittens by the young thieves
according to the size of the vessels). Ibid. I., p. 460. At this
lodging-house cats and kittens are melted down.... A quart pot is a
cat, and pints and half-pints are kittens.