The Book of The Cat Frances Simpson

THE LIBRARY
OF
THE UNIVERSITY
OF CALIFORNIA
PRESENTED BY
PROF. CHARLES A. KOFOID AND
MRS. PRUDENCE W. KOFOID
a;
THE
BOOK OF THE CAT
BY ...
FRANCES ,SIMPSON
WITH 12 COLOURED PLATES, AND NEARLY

350 ILLUSTRATIONS IN THE TEXT FROM
PHOTOGRAPHS AND DRAWINGS
CASSELL AND COMPANY, LIMITED

LONDON, PARIS, NEW YORK AND
MELBOURNE. MCMIII
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
S
CONTENTS,
CHAPTER
I. CATS OF THE PAST ... PACE
i
II. CATS OF TO-DAY . . 18
CARE AND MANAGEMENT

III.
... 37
. .
IV.
V.
VI.
HOUSING OF CATS
EXHIBITING
THE POINTS OF
.........
........
A CAT
. 49
61
96
VII.
VIII. .......
LONG-HAIREI) OR PERSIAN CATS
SOME NOTABLE CATTERIES

....'.
. . . , .
.98
101
IX.
X.
XI.
BLACK PERSIANS
WHITE PERSIANS
BLUE PERSIANS
.
. .......
..... .
.112
.125
118
XII.
XIII. .......
SILVER OR CHINCHILLA PERSIANS
.....
SILVER TABBY PERSIANS.
. . . . . 137
165
XIV.
XV.
XVI.
SMOKE PERSIANS
ORANGE PERSIANS
CREAM on FAWN PERSIANS
.....
.....
. .
.187
.201
178
XVII. TORTOISE-SHELL PERSIANS 2O8
...
. . . . .
XVIII. TORTOISESHELL-AND-WHITE PERSIANS .

212
XIX.
XX.
BROWN TABBY PERSIANS
XXL NEUTER CATS ........

"ANY OTHER COLOUR" PERSIANS
. .
.
2I S
231
237
XXII. MANX CATS . . .244

XXIII. SIAMESE CATS .
254
iv THE BOOK OF THE CAT.
CHAPTER
XXIV. SHORT-HAIRED CATS ........
......
PAGE
274
XXV.
XXVI.
SHORT-HAIRED CATS
SOME FOREIGN CATS ........
(continued)
...
282
297
XXVII.
XXVIII.
CATS IN AMERICA
MAINE CATS .........

......
. . . . . .
303
325
XXIX.
XXX. REARING OF KITTENS ........
CAT PHOTOGRAPHY FOR AMATEURS
.....
332
337
XXXI.
XXXII.
COLOUR BREEDING
THE PLACE OF THE CAT .....
IN NATURE
.
344
350
THE
INDEX ..........
DISEASES OF CATS, AND THEIR TREATMENT . . .
.358
377
LIST OF COLOURED PLATES.
BLACK PERSIAN .
BLUE AND CREAM PERSIANS

.
BLACK AND WHITE PERSIAN CATS
.
.
....
.
. . .
.
.
. .
To face
.
Frontispiece
t>age
.126
116
BROWN TABBY AND SILVER PERSIANS . . . . . .160

SMOKE AND ORANGE PERSIANS . . . . . . .186
TORTOISESHELL AND ToRTOISESHELL- AND- WHITE PERSIANS . . . 2IO
SILVER TABBY AND ORANGE AND 'WHITE PERSIANS . . .

.234
MANX AND SIAMESE . . . . . . .
.252
BLUE AND WHITE SHORT-HAIRED CATS . . . . .
.274
BROWN TABBY AND ORANGE TABBY SHORT-HAIRED CATS . . . 288
TORTOISESHELL TOM, AND SILVER TABBY SHORT-HAIRED CATS .

294
FOREIGN CATS . . . . . . . . .
300
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
PAGE
" White to Move " Blue Persian belonging to Her Majesty The Hon. Mrs. McLaren
Mummy of a Cat
The God Cat
..... i
2 Three
the Queen
Little Maids .... 37
39
Cattery
Scenes at
"
Bishopsgate
"
.
Morrison's
. .
101
103
An Egyptian Wall-Painting: The Ador- A Perilous Perch 4 A SleepingBox at Lady Decies' Cattery 104
" Pharaoh "
Mrs. Hardy's Neuter
ation of the
The Worship
Goddess Pasht
of Pasht in the
.
Temple of
. 2
" The Raiders "
Caught
Kittens belonging to Miss Bromley
... . 41
43
Lady Decies Visiting her Pets
Mrs. Mackenzie Stewart's Cattery
The Imitation Tree, Mrs. Clarke's
. .
.
104
105
Bubastes
.... 45
.
3
Mummified Kitten
A Cat God of Egypt .... 3
3
Neuter Pets owned by Mrs. Hastings
Lees
...... 46
Cattery
Mrs. Clarke's Cattery
The Hon. Mrs. McLaren Morrison
.... 106
107
Puss as a Retriever : An Egyptian Wall- Carolling
In a Playful Sort of ... Way
48
Mrs. Collingwood and "James II."
. 108
An
Painting
Egyptian Toy Cat .... 4
5 A Musical Party
....
49
5 A Morning Meal at Bossington"
Black Persian " Johnny Fawe
.
.
. in
.112
109
A Mineral Lusus
Puss in Warfare .....
A Group of Cats in Pottery...
6
7
9
The Ideal Cattery
A Litter Box
A Useful Cat House ....
53
55
55
"Champion Menelik
Kitten Bred by Miss Kirkpatrick
III." . .
.
.
.113
.
115
" "
Tomb of a Cat which belonged to A Portable Hutch . . .
56 Mrs. Little's Black Persian Colleen 115
Madame de Lesdiguieres
The Printer's Mark of Melchior Sessa
of Venice
. . 10
12
Lethal Chamber, R.L.I.
Spratt's Travelling Basket
A Useful Cat Basket
...
....
. . .
57
58
58
The
"Jungfrau" ......
Carol Singers
Mrs. McLaren's White Persian

.
Lady-
.
' '
. .116
118
* "
A Cat in Heraldry A Gang of Poachers
A Merchant's Mark
Alice and the Cheshire Cat
....
...
12
12
13
Waking Beauties
Richmond Cat Show :
. .
Arrangement of
59
61
smith
Mrs. Pettit with her White Persians
"Crystal"
.
119
121
122
" White "
A Tents .123
Study
Madame Ronner at Work ... 14
15 Mrs. Gregory's
"
' '
Skellingthorpe Patrick
' '
65
67
" Musafer"
Butterfly . . .
.125
124
"Crystal," the property of Mrs. Finnic Inquiry" 67 "Jack" and "Jill" . . .
Young 16 Richmond Cat Show Judges at Work 69

: The Artist 128
" "
Lady Alexander's Brother Bump . 17 Type of Cage at the Richmond Cat Blue Kittens bred by Miss Kirkpatrick 129
Sleeping Beauties 18 Show .71 Mrs. Robinson's Blue Kittens . 129 .
"
Miss F. Simpson's Bonnie 18 Mr. C. A. House 72 Mrs. Wells's Cattery .130
...
Boy" . . . .
"
Kitten atWork and Play 19 Mr. T. B. Mason 72 "Rokeles Kissi 131
Kitten belonging to Mrs.
The
"
Antiquaries
"
and
Owen
"
. . 20
21
The Toilet
Blue Persian Kittens
Kits with a Taste for Flowers
.... 73
74
75
Scared
Cast of the Cat Club Medal
Miss G. Jay's Cattery .
.133
.134
. .
132
Kepwick Violet
.
Kepwick . .
"
.
Hyacinth
"
. . . . .22 Two Kittens bred by Miss Williams .
75 Rev. P. L. Cosway's
"
Imperial Blue"
"
135
Miss Savery's Blue Persian Kitten .
23 Richmond Cat Show The Ring Class : 77 Un Saut Ptrilleux . . .
.136
A Pair of Short-haired Brown Tabbies .
23 Minding Shop 78 "Jack Frost" .. : . .137
Cat Calendar 24 Thieves 79 "StarDuvals" 138
" " " The Absent-Minded "
Cat Calendar
Cat Calendar .....
....
24
25
Mrs. Drury's Brown
Miss Simpson's
A
"
Tabby
Cambyses
"
Periwig
. .
80
So "Omar"
Beggar . .
.140
138
139
Mr. Harrison Weir
Mr. Louis Wain
Lady Marcus
.....
...
Beresford
26
27
28
Litter of Blues
Judging in
Palace
the Ring at the Crystal
81 Three Pretty Silvers
" Shah of Persia "
" Fulmer Zaida "
.
.
.
.
.
.
.141
142
Litter of
" Puck III."
Siamese Kittens ... 29 Miss Kirkpatrick's Blue Kittens
" Rose of Persia "
. .
'85
83
84
A
Troubadour '^
' '
Perfect Chinchilla (two views) . .

143
145
30 . . .
" "
Mrs. Clinton Locke and ber Siamese Mischief 88 Mrs. Balding's Silver Lambkin .
146
" Flume "
" " Tod
Kittens "Calif" and
The Cat's Playground
Bangkok
.... .
31
32
Our Play-room
Mr. F. W. Western ....
...
89
91
Mrs. Balding's
"Sea Foam"
"
Mrs. Wellbye's Silver Lotus
"
. .
147
148
Starving Cats ....

Royal London Institution fcr Lost and
33
N.C.C.C.
Officials of the
Sandy Stealing the Milk ... 92

94
"
Mrs. Wellbye's Silver Dossie
"
"
Mrs. Wellbye's Silver Veronica

.
'
.
.
149
150
The Cart of the R. L. 1
The Hon.
Saint
Philip
"
Wodehouse's " Silver
34
35
Silver Cats belonging to Mrs. Clark of
The
Ashbrittle
Points of a Cat
....
.... 95
96
Two Views of Woodheys Cattery
" Silver Blossom " .... .
.
.
151
153
154
" Silver Blossom's " Two Buds
A Bevy of Blues belonging to Miss Tailpiece 97 . .
155
Savery 35 Blue Persians belonging to Mrs. Wells 98 "Wild Tom" 156
" Fur and Feather "
.158
Cats'
tery, Hyde Park
Tabbies up a Tree,
....
Tombstones at the Dogs' Ceme-
.... 36
37
"Gentian," owned
Beresford
Mrs. Herring's
"
by Lady Marcus
Champion Jimmy
"
.
99
100
" The Silver Lambkins
"
Jupiter Duvals
"
.
....
"
.
.
.
. .
159
161
VI THE BOOK OF THE CAT.
PAGE "
PAC;E PACE
" The Elder Miss Blossom " " Birkdale Ruffiie's
162 Cattery . .
227 Two Views of Briarlea Catteries . .
292
" "
A
"
"
Dolly
I want
Daydream
The Marquis
to go home
of Dingley
!
"
"
163
164
'65
Brown Tabby "Goozie"
A Trio of Tabbies
A Picturesque Group
....
....
. . .
229
230
231
Corner of the Bossington Catteries
Tortoisesheil Male " Samson
Mrs. A. M. Stead's Brown Tabby
"
.
.
.
293
294
. . .
295
Summer A Grotesquely-marked
Miss Leake's
Silver Tabby Kittens owned by
Cattery
Princess
166
" Lockhaven Colburn
"The Conquest
"
Kitten
"
.
.
.
.
.
232
233
Mrs. Collingwood's "James II."
"
Ben My Chree" ....
.....
. .
295
296
Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein
" Beautiful Duchess "
.... .
167
168 "Grace before Meat"
"
Marcus Superbus," a
of the Air
.... .
Smoke
. .
234
235
liurmese Cat
Mexican Hairless Cats .... 297
299
Winter Quarters
In the Studio
at Dingley Hill . .
169
171
" Blue Robin
Miss Kirkpatrick's " Chili"

"
Silver .
235
236
African Cat
Manx and Abyssinian ....
....
300
301
Miss Cope's " Starlet ".
A
"
Pair of Silver Tabbies
Thames Valley Silver King
.
.
"
.
.
.172
.173
"
KingCy "...
Miss Chamberlayne's "Belvedere Tiger"
. . .
.237
237 Geoffrey's Wild Cat
"
The Storm King"
"Rado"
.... 302
303
" Roiall Fiuffball " . .
"
.
"
.
.177
174
" Benoni "
238
239 The Old Fort Cattery .... 303
305
Mrs. Stead's Smoke Litter by
" "
Jo and
"
Tiny
"
Ranji
.... 178
178
" the Raven
Nigel ....
Miss Adamson's Chinchilla Neuter
"
.
240
241
Mrs. Colburn and her White Persian
"
Paris
"
.....
.... 306
....... Neuter " Blue Boy

"
Miss Bartlett's Two Smoke Kittens .
179 Madame Portier's 242 Brushwood Catterv 307
Miss Johnston's " Persimmon
"
Mrs. James's Cat Houses
Mrs. Stead's Smoke Persian
"...
at Backwell
"Cham-
. 181
182
Rascals
Type
"
of
Golfsticks
....
Manx
"
Kitten
243
244
245
A
Mrs. E. N. Barker
308
Reception Room in aChicago Cattery 309
-311
Squirrel
pion Ranji . . . . . .
" " " Silver Hair " and " "

Champion Backwell Jogram . .
183 Specimen of a Manx Tabby . . .
246 Tiptoe 312 . ,
" Robin
Mrs. Sinking' Smoke Persian "Teufel" 185 Orange Manx 248 Miss Ward's ". 313 . . .
"Lucy Claire"
Mrs. Singleton's " Orange Girl ".
"Puck"
.
186
187
188
Mrs. H. C. Brooke's Manx " Katzen-
"
jammer
Ballochmyle Bell Spitz
"
"
. . .
249
250
simmon
An American Beauty
".....
Three Little Grandchildren of " Per-
. . .
314
317
Manx Cat
"Swagger"
"
Benjamin of the Durharns
"Toirington Sunnysides" .
"
.
.
.
.
188
189
190
Mr. Ward's
A by "Tachin"
Litter
.
Manx
.
"
.
....
Silverwing
.
"
.
.
.251
.
253
254
" The Commissioner "
"
Ajax
"
....
"Champion Miss Detroit"
......
. . . 318
319
321
"Lifeguard" 191 The Garden Cattery at Bishopsgate .
255 Orchard Ridge Cattery . . .
322
"
Mrs. Charles A. White
One of Mrs. Neate's Outdoor Catteries
at Wernham 192
Mrs.
"Si"
Roberts
"
"Siam," and Bangkok
Locke, with
"
Calif,"
. .
256
"
"
The Blessed Damozel
.
"... 323
324
Tobey," a Maine Trick Cat
"Curiosity"
Mrs. Neate's Cat Houses (two views) .
193
194
.
" Tiam-o-Shian
.
"
.
....
. . .
.257
257
"
Henessey"
" Blue Danube "
. .
325
326
"Musing"
" Out in the Cold "
"
Higher Education
"
....
....
197
199
200
"It"
Mr. Ratcliffe's Siamese
"
Lady Marcus Beresford's" Ursula"
. . .
.
258
259
260
"
Leo," owned by Mrs. Martin
" Yellow
H. I4th Beauty" . .
.
.
.
327
329
330
" "
Mrs. Clinton Locke's Cream Kitten . 201 Miss Armitage's " Cora . . . 262 Mrs Bagster's Demidoff . . .
331
A Creamy Smile . . . . . 201 Pair of Siamese belonging to Mrs. A Snapshot 332
Mrs. Norris's Cream Kitten . . . 202 Armitage 263 Amateur Photographers . . .
334
Ronald" and " Kew Laddie" "
" "
Kew .
203 Mrs. Robinson's Ah Choo . .
265 Playing at Work 335
Miss Beal and her Kittens " Wankee ". In the Studio
. . .
204 Champion . . .
265 336
Mrs. D'Arcy Hildyard's Cream Kittens 204 "Mafeking" 266 Tabitha's Afternoon Tea . . .
337
" Miriam of the Durhams " The late " King Kesho
"
A Happy Mother
. . .
205 . . .
267 338
" " " " "
Champion Romaldkirk Admiral . 206 Lady Marcus Beresford's Cambodia 268 Mrs. Bonny's Dame Fortune" . .
339
Mrs. F. Western's " Matthew of
"
Durhams"
Topsy of Merevale"
..... . .
the
.
207
208
Pugs Paying a
"
Mrs. Hawkins' Cattery
Romeo " and
Visit
"
Juliette
to the Siamese,
"
.
.
.
.
.
.
269
271
"Derebie"
A Litter
Savery
of Eight belonging to Mi.ss
339
341
" Star of the "
Miss H. Cochran's Tortoisesheil " Bru- A Cosy Corner "Son of Roy
nette"
" "
209
" Ashbrittle Peter "
"
.... 273
274
Spheres" and
The Foster-Mother
The Foster-Mother
....
Action
342
343
Miss Sargent's Topsy . . . 210 Ballochmyle Blue Queen ". . .
275 "
in . .
343
" " Arrived
Miss Kate gangster's " Royal Yum "
"
Yum"
Peggy Primrose
"
.
. . . .
2ii
212
Mrs. Carew Cox's Blue male
"
"
Sherdley Michael
Sherdley Alexis
"
Bayard
"
....
....
276
277
277
"Patricia"
Safely
Miss Goddard's Pair of Kittens . .

344
345
346
Miss Yeoman's " Mary and " "
"At Home".
Miss Simpson's " Persimmon
..... II." .
"
.
.
.
.
213
214
215
"Sherdley Sacha
Maria
Mrs. Carew Cox's
" Yula "
I." II."
.
.
.
.
.
277
278
279
Lollypop"
Three Little Americans
" Holmlea Thistledown " .
.
.
. .
.
347
348
349
" "
Miss Mellor's Lady Sholto . .216 Lady Alexander of Ballochmyle . . 280 Brain of Cat 350
" " " Skull of the Great Sabre-toothed Cat
Champion Crystal (American) .
217 Champion Ballochmyle Brother .
351
"
A Room in
Brayfort Cattery . . 218 Bump 281 Superficial Flexor Tendons of a Cat's
Miss Whitney and her Neuter Brown Short-haired Tabby Kittens . . . 282 Left Foot 352
Tabby 219 Another View of Lady Decies' Cattery .
283 Bones and Principal Ligaments of a
"
Fina
" Lonsdale
"......
"Brayfort Princess", and "Brayfort
"
Chrysalis and
"
Lonsdale
220
Lady
"
Decies'
An American Begging Cat
Ebony ol Wigan
"
Champion Xenophon"
.... . .
.
.
284
285
286
Cat's
Skull of a Cat
Toe
Pads of Cat's Left Forefoot . . .
352
352
353
Moth" 221 Sleeping and Waking Tabbies . .
287 Skeleton of a Cat 351
Mrs. D'Arcy Hildyard's " Sulpherland
"
A
"Pioneer Bobs"
"LornaDoone"
..... 222
223
225
"
"
Black-and-White Britisher
Champion Ballochmyle Otter ".
Champion Ballochmyle Perfection
.
"
.
.
288
289
290
Skeleton of a Cat
A Cat's
Tongue
Eye
of a Cat
355
3S 6
357
" Birkdale Ruffle " "
226 Mrs. Barker's " Tyneside Lily . .
291 Giving Medicine 358
INTRODUCTION.
have long felt the want of a work dealing in a popular manner
FANCIERS with cats, and it was therefore with great pleasure that I undertook to
write THE BOOK OF THE CAT, and give the results of a long ex-
to
perience in as simple and interesting a form as possible, so that the book

might be instructive to cat fanciers, and also readable to that portion of the
community which loves cats for themselves and not only for their prizes and
pedigrees. possible that the beautiful reproductions in this work may
It is
result in the conversion of some cat haters, who, seeing the error of their ways,
may give poor puss a corner in their hearts. Dogs are more essentially the
friends of men, and cats may be considered as the chosen allies of womankind.
In the past, as I have endeavoured to show, many noted celebrities of the
sterner sex have shown a sympathetic feeling for the feline race. At the present
time the number of men fanciers on our cat club lists and exhibitors at our
shows tends to prove that the cat is
gradually creeping into the affections of
mankind, even in this busy work-a-day world. I have given a full description
of the various breeds, and have suggested advice as to the feeding, housing,
and general treatment of cats. The chapters on the management of shows,
containing also simple rules for the guidance of exhibitors, will, I trust, prove
useful and instructive.
In my work I have received most valuable assistance, for which I am deeply
grateful, from Mr. H. Gray, the well-known veterinary surgeon, whose chapter
on the diseases of cats will, I am sure, be very interesting to breeders and
fanciers. To Mr. H. C. Brooke I must tender my sincere v thanks for his
chapter on and
foreign cats, to Mr. E. N. Barker for his excellent survey of
the American cat fancy, and to Mrs. Pierce for her notes on Maine cats. Mr.
Robert Holding's chapter on the anatomy of the cat, with its excellent diagrams,
forms a valuable addition to the work. To Mrs. S. F. Clarke I am greatly
indebted for the number of clever photographs with which she has so kindly
supplied me.
" "
To many of my catty friends I offer grateful thanks for interesting items,
paragraphs, and pretty photographs ;
and last, but not least, I have to thank
viii THE BOOK OF THE CAT.
that veteran, Harrison Weir, for his kindly encouragement, and I feel I cannot
do better than quote from his letter, received on the completion of my work-
enclosing a few remarks for my preface :
"
Miss Frances Simpson has kindly dedicated her labour of love, the fascinating
BOOK OF THE CAT, to me, and truly the honour is great. Words cannot
convey my feelings, but out of its speaketh Thanks
fulness the heartI !
carry my mind back to the long, long ago, when the cat was a god or ideal,
and worshipped. Then later, '
our gentle Will called it the
'
harmless,
'
necessary cat,' and that has ever been, and

it more than that to many. It
is a lonely home without a cat and for awhile

;
and I hope for long cats are
the fashion. Thirty years ago was apparent to me that cats were not valued
it
at their true worth, and then suggested a show of cats!

I Let anyone try to
start anything new, though novelty is said to charm Many were the gibes, !
jokes, and jeers that were thrown at me then. But nothing succeeds like
success. Now, if I may without offence say a few words as to present-day
shows, it is that they have not answered my expectations. Why ? Because
particular breeds are catered for and run after. Why such breathless talk all
about long-haired cats, be they blues or silvers ? This is not cat breeding.
I want, I wish, and, if I live, I hope to see far more of the
'
harmless, necessary
for a high-class short-haired cat is one of the most perfect
'
cat at our shows ;
animals ever created.

"
Far more I expected to add but my life's work is
might, and perhaps am ;
well-nigh done. He who fights honourably the good fight sinks at last. Miss
Frances Simpson has rendered me her debtor and others, beside myself, will ;
tender her grateful thanks for her work in the cause of the cat and for the
"
welfare of the fancy. Adieu !
Mr. Harrison Weir's words are precious to me, and now that my " labour
"
of love is ended I can only re-echo his wish and express a hope that the
"
many pages I have devoted to the harmless, necessary cat," whose fireside
friendship I have enjoyed all the years of my life, may awaken and arouse a
greater interest in and admiration for these gentle, complex creatures, who in return
for a little understanding will give a great deal of love.
FRANCES SIMPSON.
KENSINGTON,
August, 1903.
ihoto: Mrs.,S.f. Uarke
'
WHITE TO MOVE.
THE BOOK OF THE CAT.

CHAPTER I.
CATS OF THE PAST.
origin of the cat has the cat's creation is found in the works of an
J_ puzzled the learned, and Arabian naturalist. It is as follows : "When
the stock from whence it Noah made a couple of each kind of animal
sprang is still, in the opinion of enter the Ark, his companions, as well as the
some, a mystery for the zoologist members of his family, said to him, What '
to solve. security can there be for us and for the animals

Historians tell us that the so long as the lion shall dwell with us in the
'
feline race came into existence same vessel ?The patriarch betook himself
about the same time as the horse. to prayer and entreated the Lord God. Imme-
Reference is made to the cat in diately fever came down from Heaven and
Sanskrit writings over 2,000 years seized upon the king of beasts, so that tran-
old, and still earlier records are quility of mind was restored to the inhabitants
found in the monumental figures, of the Ark. But there was in the vessel an
inscriptions, and cat mummies enemy no less harmful this was the mouse.
of ancient Egypt. These care- The companions of Noah called his attention
fully-preserved relics of the past to the fact that it would be impossible for them
MUMMY OF A assist us in answering the ques- to preserve their provisions and their clothes
CAT. tion as to how this least tameable intact. After the patriarch had addressed re-
(At the British
Afuseittii. )
of animals became domesticated. newed supplications to the Most High, the lion
There are many legends con- sneezed, and a cat ran out of his nostrils. From
cerning Puss and the manner in which she first that time forth the mouse became so timid that
sprang into existence. A surprising account of it contracted the habit of hiding itself in holes."
So runs the legend, and in an old Italian thereforewe may it take for granted that the
picture representing the departure from the Egyptians, who were so realistic and true to
Ark we may observe a big brindled cat lead- Nature when dealing with the animal world,
ing the procession of animals with an air of would have presented cats of other species had
dignity and self-satisfaction. According to they existed.
the Arabic scholar According to the historian, animal worship
Damirei, there was no was first introduced into Egypt by Chores, the
cat in the Garden of second king of the Second Dynasty.
Eden. It is a singular The Egyptians made gods of many living
fact that nowhere in the creatures of all amongst others the
kinds,
canonical books of the bull, the crocodile, the ibis, the hawk, the
Old Testament nor in beetle, and the asp but the cat appears to
;
the New Testament is have held the highest place in their hearts.
the cat mentioned, and Not only was it preserved from injury,
if we take into con- beloved and venerated during life, but at
sideration the number its death it was buried with all respect,
of books connected and everyone mourned for it with out-
with the life, manners, ward and visible signs of grief, even to
customs, and religions the extentof shaving off their eyebrows.
of the Egyptians, this The Egyptian's idea of a correct burial
THE GOD CAT. omission is the more involved mummification, so that all the parts
an old Wood-cut.}
(/''rani
striking. The only might be preserved and thus kept from
Biblical reference to annihilation against the day of resurrection.
cats occurs in the Book of Baruch, chap, vi., A rich man's cat was very elaborately
v. 22. This is a letter by Jeremy to the Chil- mummified. Different coloured stuffs were
dren of Israel, who were taken captive by
Nebuchadnezzar to Babylon. Some Hebrew
scholars have asserted that the animals that
prowled and cried among the ruins of Babylon
were jackals, and not cats.
But however much the origin of the feline
tribe is wrapped in mystery, we are certain
that more than 3,000 years ago the cat lived

and was loved along the banks of the Nile.
The ancient city of the Pharaohs paid her
homage she was admitted into the ranks
;
of sacred animals, she was worshipped in the

temples. Jewels were placed in her ears and
necklaces about her neck. Figures of cats
were kept in the home and buried in the tomb.
Trinkets representing both the goddess and
the cat were worn upon the person, to indi-
cate special devotion on the part of the wearer.
There seems but little doubt that the ancient
and well-beloved cat of the Egyptians was
a barred or marked animal, answering to some
AN EGYPTIAN WALL-PAINTING THE ADORATION
:
extent to our homely tabby. Paintings and OF THE GODDESS PASHT.

statuettes of this type frequently occur, and (.British Museum.)
CATS Of THE PAST.
twisted round and round the

body, forming curious patterns
in two colours. The head
would be carefully encased and
sometimes gilded the ears;
were always standing upright.

These curious mummies look
something like bottles of rare
wine done up in plaited straw.
Sometimes the mummy would
be enclosed in a bronze box
with a statue of a cat seated
on the top. Mummies of cats THE WORSHIP OF PASHT IX THE TEMPLE OF BUBASTES.
with painted faces have been (British Mjtscitm.)
found in wooden coffins at

Bubastes, Specs, Artemidos, Thebes, and with a cat's head. Cats were kept in the temples
elsewhere. Here is an illustration of a kitten sacred to them, and doubtless the head cat of
brought to me from the Boulak Museum. the Pasht's temple was a very splendid speci-
The picture gives but little idea of the care men, who, living the life of great luxury, would
and neatness which must have been em- be buried with the pomp and magnificence
ployed in wrapping up the dear little dead of a royal personage.
bodies. The linen used is of the finest. The was at Bubastes,
It
ears of the tiny kitten are each separate and on the banks of the
distinct, and the muzzle of the creature shows Nile, that annual
an
distinctly through the delicate wrappings. festival honour of
in
Scarcely a good museum in the country now the goddess Pasht was
that has not some specimens of cat mummies. held. We are not told
In some of these we notice that eyes have whether the cats took
been added after the any part in the proceed-
mummy has been en- ings. From the towns
cased and the embalm- and villages within hail,
ment completed. Most pleasure parties were
of the cats that died in sent in boats up and
the far-away time were down the river to the
thus embalmed and city, and on their pas-
sent for burial to the sage the men and wo-
holy city of Bubastes, men who crowded these
near Thebes, on the boats made merry all
banks of the Nile. the long summer day. V A CAT GOD OF EGYPT .
The Temple of Bu- The WOmen Clashed (From Hit British Museum.)
bastes, according to their cymbals and
Herodotus, was the fair- danced, and the men played on their flutes.
est in all Egypt, and Seventy thousand people, it is said, assembled
here special reverence at this feast, and they sacrificed victims and
was paid the cat. The drank a good deal of wine. Perhaps the cats
local goddess of this were treated to an extra dish of some dainty
MUMMIFIED KITTEN.
city was Pasht, who was to mark this red-letter day in the annals of
(hi the poisession of
Miss Simpson.) represented as a woman their patroness and goddess.
A curious custom, which probably had its Beni Hasan, one hundred miles from Cairo.
origin in these pilgrimages to the sacred shrine. A few years ago some excavations were made
had until recent years survived amongst the near this town, and thousands of little mummied
Egyptian Moslems, who when they were start- bodies were found that had rested peacefully
ing on their way to Mecca always set apart for centuries. Their graves were desecrated,
one camel for the conveyance of several cats, their burying-ground plundered, and tons and
and some ancient dame was told off to take tons of mummied forms were carted 'away to
PUSS AS A RETRIEVER : AN EGYPTIAN WALL PAINTING.

(At tilt British Museum.)
charge of the
precious animals. She was the neighbouring fields to serve the useful,
"
honoured with the title of Mother of Cats." if not romantic, purpose of manure Accord-!
Her office was not an enviable one, and prob- ing to Horopollo, the cat was worshipped in
ably it was found that a woman was unable the temple of Heliopolis, because the size of the
to wrestle satisfactorily with the refractory pupil of the animal's eye is regulated by
travellers, for at a later date a man was the rising and waning of the sun. Plutarch,
"
substituted to carry the pussies to the however, states in his treatise onand Isis
"
Holy City. Osiris that the image of a female cat was
Thebes appears to have been a favourite placed at the top of the sistrum as an emblem
"
burying-place for cats, and also a place called of the moon. This," says the historian,
CATS OF THE PAST.
"
was on account of the variety of her fur, brought from a tomb in Thebes, which is now
and because she is astir at night ;
and further- in the BritishMuseum, and Wilkinson, in his
"
more, because she bears firstly one kitten
at Manners and Customs of Ancient Egyptians,"
a birth, and at the second two, at the third writes as follows : "A favourite cat sometimes
three, and then four, and then five, until

the accompanied the Egyptian sportsmen on these
seventh time, so that she bears in all twenty- occasions, and the artist intends to show us,
eight, as many as the moon has days. Now by the exactness with which he represents
the animal seizing the game, that cats were
this,perchance, is fabulous, but 'tis most true
that her eyes do enlarge and grow full at the trained to hunt and carry the water-fowl."
full moon, and that on the contrary they One of the earliest representations of the
contract and diminish at the decline of the cat is "to-be-found in the Necropolis of Thebes,
same." which contains the tomb of Hana, who prob-
Among other fables of classic naturalists ably belonged to the Eleventh Dynasty. There
and historians may be mentioned the follow- is a statue of the king standing erect, with his
"
ing by Herodotus If a fire occurs, cats are
: cat Bouhaki between his feet. The large
subject to supernatural impulses ; and while basalt statues, of which there are so many in
the Egyptians ranged in lines with gaps between the British Museum, both seated and stand-
them, are much more solicitous to save their ing, are
examples of great interest. They
cats than to extinguish the fire, these animals have mostly the disc of lunar divinity above
slip through the empty spaces, spring over the their heads and the royal asp above the
men's shoulders, and fling themselves into the forehead.
flames. When such accidents happen, pro- M. Champfleury, in his delightful book,
"
found ,grief falls upon the Egyptians." Les Chats," gives a good deal of information
Whether these frenzied cats did or did regarding the cats of ancient Egypt, and men-
not commit suicide is open to doubt, but that tions the existence of funerary statues of
they would plunge fearlessly into water is an women which bear the inscription Techau,
acknowledged fact. This is attested by paint- the cat, in token of the patronage of the god-
ings representing sporting scenes in the valley dess Bast. Frenchmen occasionally call their
of the Nile. Men and women used to go out wives ma chattc without attaching any hier-
on fowling excursions in a boat to the jungles atic association to that term of endearment.
and thickets marsh land, or to lakes in
of the According to ancient documents in the
their own grounds, which abounded with wild Louvre, we are enabled to surmise the name
fowl, and there among the tall reeds knock by which the cat was known in Egypt. It was
down the bird with a stick. Into these happy Mau-Mai', Maau, or Maon. A tablet in the
hunting grounds they took a cat who would Berlin Museum, bearing the representation
jump into the water and retrieve the game of a cat, dates from 1600 B.C., and another,
as it fell. There is a painting taken and two hundred years older, has an inscription
"
in which the word Mau " appears.
Amongst old Egyptian images in bronze
and earthenware, we may often find the cat
crouching with the symbolic eye, emblem of
the sun, engraved upon its collar. In the
British Museum there is a curious example of
a toy in the shape of a wooden cat with inlaid
glass eyes and a movable lower jaw well lined
with teeth.
AN EGYPTIAN TOY CAT. There is a tradition that Cambyses devised
(At the British Museum.) a scheme for the capture of the town of Peluse,
which, if true, is one example among many things and domestic animals belonging to
of the devotion of the Egyptians to cats. It children were buried with them,
was in the fourteenth year of his reign that From some of the oldest Indian fables we
thisking of Persia tried to effect an entry into learn that the catwas domesticated in that
Egypt, and he is said to have hit upon a clever country at a very early period. Her first
strategy. Knowing that the garrison of the appearance into China would seem to have
town was entirely comprised of Egyptians, he been about 400 A.D. There is a curious
put at the head of his army soldiers each carry- ancient Chinese saying to the effect that
"
ing in their arms a cat. The Egyptians, A lame cat is better than a swift horse
alarmed lest they might injure the sacred when rats infest a palace."
animals when destroying their enemies, con- Amongst the curious freaks in the natural
sented rather to be vanquished. But for world are mineral lusus. These are stones,
their scruples they might perhaps have agates, or marbles, which, by the action of
repulsed the invaders, for the Persian soldiers the soil, air, or water during thousands of
could not well have done their years, have assumed various
share of the fighting while clasp- forms, which we may interpret
ing in their arms restless and to represent human heads, trees,
terrified cats !
animals, and so forth. This
It is strange that the cat illustration of a mineral lusus
was almost neglected by the is taken on a reduced scale
Greeks and Romans. It is true from a book by Aldrovandus,
that Grecian art working on an Italian naturalist of the
such grand sweeping lines might seventeenth century. The figure
fail the insignificant
to follow of the cat occurs, he says, in a
yet graceful curves of the cat. slab of marble. It was also re-
A MINERAL I.USUS.
Therefore no Greek monument (FrotH aft old Engraving) produced by Athanasius Kircher,
is adorned with a figure of the Jesuit, who copied many of
the idol of Egypt, and Homer never gives a Aldrovandus's engravings,
passing mention of the cat. Among the I think the most casual observer would
Greeks the cat was sacred to the goddess pronounce this illustration to be the repre-
Diana. Mythologists pretend that Diana sentation of a cat ;
and if, as we are led to
created the cat in order to throw ridicule upon believe, this and other figures are really the
the lion, an animal supposed to have been result of natural causes, we can only marvel
called into existence by Apollo with the in- at the wonderful correctness of outline and
tention of frightening his sister. This he form in which through countless ages the
followed up by producing a mouse, which substances comprising the specimen have
Hecate's cat immediately ate up. A cat was arranged themselves.
often emblazoned on the shields and flags of We have no record that the cat became
Roman soldiers. That the cat was known at domesticated in Great Britain and France
an early period in Italy we have proof in before the ninth when it would
century,
the curious mosaic in the Museum at Naples, seem that she was by no means common, and
which depicts one considered of great value for in the time of
pouncing upon a bird, ;
The date of this has been fixed at about one one of the old Princes of Wales, who died in
it could see
hundred years prior to the Christian era. In 948, the price of a kitten before
the Bordeaux Museum there is a tomb of the was fixed at a penny, after it had captured a
Gello-Roman period with a representation of mouse, twopence ;
and if it gave further
a girl holding a cat in her arms and with a proofs of its usefulness was rated at four-
it
cock at her feet. In those days the play- pence. This same prince, Howel the Good,
CATS OF THE PAST.
"
issued an order that anyone who stole or killed says : The peasants wore cat skins, badger
a cat that guarded the prince's granary was skins, &c." It would appear that lambs' ana
and lamb, or
to forfeit a milch ewe, its fleece, cats' skins were of equal value at that period.
as much wheat as when poured on the cat Harrison Weir, in his work on cats, tells
suspended by its tail (the head touching the us that in 1871 and 1872 a wild cat was ex-
floor) would form a heap high enough to cover hibited at the Crystal Palace by the Earl of
the top of the tail. Hopetoun ;
he also mentions that as late as
This is not only curious, as being an evi- 1889 Mr. Edward Hamilton, M.D.,
writing to
dence of the simplicity of ancient customs, the Field, gives information of a wild cat being
"
but it goes far to prove that cats were not shot at Inverness-shire. He states A fine :
aborigines of these islands. The large price specimen- of a wild cat was sent to me on
set on them if we consider the high value of May 3rd, trapped on the Ben Nevis range. Its
specie at that time dimensions were :
- and the "from nose to base

great
care taken of the oftail, i foot; height
improvement and at shoulders, i foot

breed of an animal 2 inches." In July,
that multiplies so 1900, a
paragraph
quickly, are almost to the following ef-
certain proofs of fect appeared in the
their being little Stock- Keeper :
known at that pe-

"
riod. No doubt wild The Zoological
cats abounded in Society have just ac-
our islands, and this quired a litter of wild
creature cats. This is the only
is described
instance where a
by Pennant as be-
whole litter has been
ing three or four
sent to the Gardens.
times as large as
It was taken not far
the house cat. The PUSS IN WARFARE (vide p. 8).
from Spean Bridge,
(From a ittfi Century MS.)
teeth and claws are,
Inverness-shire."
to use his expres-
"
sion, tremendous," and the animal is alto- The late Professor Rolleston, in an article
"
gether more robust. The tail of the wild cat is on Domestic Cats
the of Ancient and
thick and as large at the extremity as it is in the Modern Times " (Journal of Anatomy and
centre and at the base that of the house cat
; Physiology), has well explained much of the
tapers to the tip. This ferocious creature, confusion about cats in former writers and
well named the British tiger, was formerly their so-called interpreters. He shows how
common enough in the wooded and mountain- " "
loosely now, as long ago, the word cat
ous districts of and and its classic be employed.
England, Scotland, equivalents may
Wales, but owing to the attention
paid Just as we still speak of civet cats and
to the preservation of has gradually the
game it martens. Up to
beginning this of
become almost if not entirely exterminated. century the wild cat was wrongly thought
In olden times, when wild cats were hunted to be the original of the tame species. Yet
and captured, the principal use they were put apart from more exact evidence this is shown
to was to trim with their fur the to be an error if we note the value set upon
garments of
the ladies in the various nunneries scattered domestic cats in former centuries. The Rev.
over the land. A writer of the Middle "
Ages Dr. Fleming, in his History of British
Animals" points out some of the

(1828), Innumerable are the legends that gather
distinctions between the two species. He round the cat during the Middle Ages. It
also alludes to the spotted variety, termed was believed that the devil borrowed the coat
the Cypress Cat, as noticed by Menet, who of a black cat when he wished to torment his
wrote the earliest book on British Natural victims. Sorcerers pretended to cure
epilepsy
History in 1667. by the help of three drops of blood taken from
"
It is a curious fact," says Mr.J. E. Her- the vein under a cat's tail. At numerous trials
"
ting, an eminent naturalist, that in Ireland, for witchcraft, puss figured as the wicked as-
notwithstanding reports to the contrary, all sociate of the accused. Cats were offered by
endeavours to find a genuine wild cat have sorcerers as oblations to Satan, and they were
' '
failed, the so-called wild cat of the natives flung into the fire at the Festival of St. John.
'
proving to be the marten cat,' a very differ- All praise to Louis XIII., who as the Dauphin
ent animal." interceded for the lives, of these poor pussies
In the early Middle Ages, according to thus annually sacrificed. It was thought to
tradition, cats were utilised in a strange man- bring good luck to a house if a cat were cooked
ner. The illustration on p. 7 depicts a German alive in a brick oven, and in Scotland she was
fortress it was desired by the
which roasted before a slow as a means
enemy to fire of divin-
set on Not being able, one may suppose,
fire. ing the future.
to effect this by treachery, the foes pressed The mania of witchcraft had pervaded all
into their service both biped and quadruped. ranks, even the holy profession, whose duty
On the back of the pigeon and cat alike, a it should be to preach peace and
goodwill.
flask of inflammable matter is attached, and Hundreds of wretched old women were sent
" "
furnished with a time fuse to ignite at the out of life in a red gown (the slang of that
" "
proper moment. There is a broad road for day for being burnt quick or alive), after
the cat to travel, and we must presume that undergoing the most excruciating tortures to
the gate of the fortress was left open for her make them confess the impossibilities for which
entrance. The
pigeon would be supposed they suffered.
to cut the cord of the flask with her beak In 1591, when King James of Scotland was
when just over the magazine and let it drop crossing from Denmark, a great tempest arose
at an auspicious moment. This cut is reduced at sea. This was supposed to have been
" "
from a coloured drawing in an unpublished caused by a christened cat being placed
manuscript volume dated 1575, in which is a in the vesselby witches. The following is an
"
great variety of illustrations of fireworks for extract from an old pamphlet Againe it is:
war and recreation. confessed that the said christened cat was the
It is strange that the cat, which was an cause that the Kings Majestie's shippe had
object of worship and adoration to the Egyp- a contrarie wind to the
rest of the shippes in
tians, should, during the long, dark years of his companie, for when
the rest of the shippes
mediaeval history, be looked upon as a diabol- had a fair and good winde, then was the winde
ical creature.The only pleasant legend handed contrarie and altogether against his Majestie."
down from the "Middle Ages is that of
to us r
Thus, in the past as in the present day, blame
"
Dick Whittington and his Cat." There are was laid upon the poor harmless puss, where
records to show that this worthy citizen was no blame was due.
thrice Lord Mayor of London, and we have In an old book called " Twenty Lookes
always been led to believe that it was to his over all the Roundheads of the World," pub-
cat he owed his wealth and prosperity. At lished in 1643, we read :
all events, so long asis London

London, "
In the Reigne of Oueene Mary (at which time
will ever be associated with his
Whittington Popery was much exalted) then were the Round-
cat. heads (namely, the monks and friars) so odious
1
'i <3
o I
02
O
"
10 THE BOOK OF THE CAT.
to the people, that in derision of them a cat was that, after the period when the cat was given
taken on a Sabbath day, with her head shorne over to the ways of the witch and the sorcerer,
as a Fryer's and the likenesse of a vestment cast we find her yet again taking her proper place
over her, with her feet tied together, and a round
in the home and the heart of the highest in the
piece of paper like a singing Celse between them ;
land. Writers of natural history and others
and thus was she hanged in a gallows in Cheap-
frequently denounce the cat as an animal in-
side, neere to the Crosse, in the Parish of St.
Matthew. Which cat, being taken down, was capable of personal attachment, yet puss has
sent to Doctor Pendleton (who was then preaching wooed and won the friendship and affection of
at St. Paul's Cross), commanding it to be shown many notable men.
to congregation. The Round-head
the Fryers Cats, the most politic, the most polite, and
cannot abide to heare of this cat." inproportion to their size the
most powerful of beasts real-
At the coronation of Eliza-
ising almost literally Napo-
beth an account
there "
is leon's favourite maxim, Iron
"
given, in the Hatton corre- hand in velvet glove have
spondence, of an effigy of the the permanent fame of being
Pope being carried through loved by that most eminent
the streets and afterwards of Frenchmen, Cardinal Riche-
burnt with several live cats, lieu, who delighted to watch
''
which, we are told, squalled the frolics of a number of kit-
in a most hideous manner
"
tens by which he was gener-
as soon as they felt the fire. ally surrounded in his leisure
After a famous French hours. In this tendrcsse he-
trial in the seventeenth cen- resembled a still more famous
tury, a woman condemned as Churchman ! A cat went to
a murderess was hung in an we are told, on the
sleep once,
iron cage over a slow fire, and sleeve of Mahomet's robe.
fourteen poor unoffending cats The hour of prayer arrived,
were made to share the same and he chose rather to cut
fate. It is difficult to con- away than to dis-
his sleeve
ceive by what train of thought turb the slumbers of his be-
civilised beings could arrive TOMB OF A CAT WHICH BELONGED loved Muezza.
at such a pitch of wicked and TO MADAME DE LESDIGUIERES.
Chateaubriand makes fre-
horrible cruelty. Why should quent mention of the cat in
"
a gentle, shrinking, graceful little creature be his Memoires." He received a present of
thus made the savage sport of devils in human a cat from the Pope. Moncrieff wrote a
form ? series of quaintly worded letters on cats,
There seems, however, to have been one and the book has some curious illustra-
haven of rest for poor persecuted pussy during tions. In this we read of the pussies of many
the Middle Ages, and that was in the nunneries.
grand dames French Court of that day.
of the
Here, at least, she would be kindly treated, We give an illustration taken from this book,
let us hope. It is said that this fact has which represents the tomb of a cat which be-
something to do with the cat's traditional longed to Madame Lesdiguieres, and bears this
association with old maids.
inscription :
And now us quit this dark page of his-

let UNE CHATTE JOLIE.
tory, where the shameful treatment of an inno- Sa maitresse qui n'aima rien
cent race makes the lover of the L'aima jusques a la folie.
poor pussies ,
sorrowful and indignant. It was in France le dire ? On le voit bien.

Pourquoi
CATS OF THE PAST ii
Moncrieff had to suffer an immense amount ites with the great bard. There is only one
"
of ridicule on account of his charming Lettres mention of cats in Dante. He compares to
sur Chats," which the author himself calls "a
les cats the demons who, with their hooks, claw the
gravely frivolous book." Victor Hugo had a "barterers" (i.e. abusers of their office as magis-
"
favourite cat ho called Chanome," and trates), when these sinners try to emerge from
Gautier's cat slept in his bed, and always kept the hot pitch wherein they are punished. He
" Tra male
him company at meals. Petrarch loved his says of one of these wretches :
gatte
cat as he loved his Laura. Dr. Johnson u^>ed era venuto il sorco." (Inf. XXII., 58.) Trans-
to indulge his cat Hodge with oyster^ which lation: "Among wicked cats the mouse
he would go out himself to purchase. Chestei- came."
" "
fieldprovided for his cat in his will. Sir Walter In the Westlosthcher Divan of Goethe,
Scott's love of dogs did not prevent him de- written in his old age, but full of youthful spirit
"
lighting in the company of a conversable and of the freshest allusions to Eastern things,
"
cat," and Hunse,
of Hunsefield, seems to have the cat is called one of the four favoured
possessed a large share of the great man's i.e. animals in a state of grace, admit-
beasts/'
affection, and when he died his master wrote ted into Paradise, in a verse very near the end
"
thus to Richardson Alack-a-day my : ! of the poem, which being literally translated,
poor cat, Hime, my acquaintance, and in some reads thua :
" "
sort my friend of fifteen years, was snapped at This cat of Abuherriras (a friend of
even by that paynim, Nimrod. What could I the Mahomet) ''purrs about the
prophet
say to him, but what Brantome said to some Lord, and coaxes. Since he is ever a holy
ferraillcur who had been too successful in a beast whom the Prophet stroked."
duel :
'Ah, mon
grand ami, vous avez Robert Listen, who, as everyone knows,
"
tue mon
autre grand ami.' Amongst famous was the leading London surgeon in the middle
French novelists several have been cat lovers, of the nineteenth century, was passionately
" attached to his cat, and used to introduce
especially Dumas, who in his Memoires" makes
"
notable mention of Le Docteur." Cowper, it to his guests at the dinner parties
Shelley, Wordsworth, Swinburne, and Matthew which, according to the custom of a past
Arnold all wrote lovingly of cats. But Shake- generation, he gave his medical friends. On
speare, although he makes forty-four distinct these occasions the cat would gravely walk
mentions of cats, never has a good word for round the dinner table during dessert to be
" "
poor pussy. In All's Well that Ends Well admired by the guests in succession, and it
he gives vent to his dislike. Bertram rages once happened that the top of its tail got into
forth : the wineglass of Dr. Anthony Todd Thoruson,
" Listen's famous colleague at University College
I could endure anything before me but a cat,
and now he's cat to me." Hospital. This man promptly struck the
animal. Listenwas so enraged that he started
" " "
In occurs this passage
Cymbeline In : from his seat and denounced his guest in lan-
"
killing creatures vile as cats and dogs and ; guage more forcible than elegant.
in
"
Midsummer Night's Dream " Lysander is Jeremy Bentham, who introduced by their
made to exclaim "
Hang off, thou cat, thou
: names to Lord Brougham the cats seated on
burr, thou vile thing." chairs round his table, deserves honour, not
Romeo cries out :
only as the foremost of modern jurists but
"
"
Every cat and dog
also because, in his Principles of Morals and
And little mouse, every unworthy thing." Legislation," he had expressed better than
others the claims of brutes to kind treatment.
From these quotations alone we may The
infer great scholar and eminent writer, St.
that, at any dogs and cats were not favour-
rate, George Mivart, has given the world a wonder-
fully comprehensive work on the Cat, and has

used the maligned feline as his type for an in-
troduction to the study of back-boned animals.
"
It is he who remarks We cannot, without
:
becoming cats, perfectly understand the cat

mind."
Perhaps the unkindest picture given to us
of a cat is from the pen of the naturalist
"
Buffon. The cat " (says this unsympathetic
"
student) is an unfaithful animal, kept only
from necessity in order to suppress a less
domestic and more unpleasant one, and
THE PRINTER'S MARK OF MELCHIOR SESSA,
OF VENICE.
(From a Print at the British Museum.)
once famous Jesuit, Father Bougeant, who

lived in the first half of the eighteenth century.
There is an English translation of this work,
which has passed also into other languages and
several editions. This is the passage trans-
lated :
" Such is one of those big-whiskered and well-

furred torn cats, that you see quiet in a corner,
digesting at his leisure, sleeping if it seems good
to him, sometimes giving himself the pleasure of
hunting, for the rest enjoying life peaceably,

without being troubled by the events which agitate
us, without tiring his mind by a thousand useless
reflections, and little caring to communicate
his thoughts to others. Truly needs only that
it
a female cat (une chatte) come on the scene to

THE CAT IN HERALDRY.
(From Frank's Collection of Book Plates.)
although these animals are pretty creatures,

especially when they are young, they have a
treacherous and perverse disposition, which
increases with age, and is only disguised by
training. They are inveterate thieves only ;
when they are well brought up they become as

cunning and flattering as human rascals."
Chateaubriand, referring to these scathing
"
remarks, says: Buffon has belied this animal.
I am labouring at her rehabilitation, and hope
to make her appear a tolerably good sort of
beast."
A charming reference to the ways of cats A MERCHANT S MARK.
occurs in a curious and interesting book by a (From a Print at the British Museum.)
CATS OF THE PAST.
derange all his philosophy ;

but are our philos- Maison du chat qui peche." In the Lombards'
"
ophers wiser on such occasions ?
quarter of Paris,
"
Le Chat Noir " was for-
The cat, as the emblem of independence merly a familiar figure above restaurants and
and liberty, has been used in heraldry, statuary, confectioners. In England we often come
" "
and signboards. In the sixteenth century a across The Cat and the Fiddle as a sign-
well-known firm of printers named Sessa, at board to old country village inns, and in
Old and New London " a writer
"
Venice, adopted the device of a cat surrounded Cassell's
" '
by curious ornamentation, and Dibdin in one of says :

Piccadilly was the place in which The
'
his works tells us that whenever you see Sessa's Cat and Fiddle first appeared as a public-
cat you may be sure the book is a good one and house sign. The story is that a Frenchwoman, a
worth reading. Ever small shopkeeper, had
since the days when a very faithful and
the Romans carried on favourite cat, and that
their banners the de- in lack of any other
sign of a cat, this com- sign, she put over her

bative and courageous door the words Voici :
'
animal has been a fa- tin chat fidele.' From

vourite symbol of war- some cause or other,
' '
riors and nobles. The the Chat Fidele soon
wife of King Clovis, became a popular sign
Clotilde,had a cat sable in France, and was
upon her armorial ALICE AND THE CHESHIR1 speedily Anglicised into
'
bearings, springing at a CAT.

The Cat and Fiddle,'
rat, and on the famous because the words form
From ''AH<e's Adventurer in Won-
Katzen family's shield derland,'' by Lewis Carroll.
part of one of our most
was a cat holding a (By permission of Messrs. Maaitillan & popular nursery
Co., Limitttt.}
mouse in its mouth. rhymes."
In Scotland the Clan Many are the popu-
Chattan was known by lar traditions, maxims, proverbs, and super-
the emblem of a wild stitions connected with the cat. In olden days
cat with the significant her every movement was looked upon as a sign
"
motto, Touch not the of ill-omen or of good luck. Old nurses would
"
cat, but (meaning drive a cat out of the bedroom with much sig-
" "
without) the glove." nificance ofmanner, that it might not suck
Their chief was called the child's breath." There is a superstition
Mohr au chat, or the great wild cat. that a cat will not remain in a house with an
M. Champfleury,
dealing in with cats unburied corpse.
heraldry, that
tellsthe us
French Republic M. Presse d'Aveunes gives an account of
"
resumed heraldic possession of the cat and a curious cat superstition. When a woman
added it to its glorious shield of arms and ; gives birth to twins, boys or girls, the last
an illustration is given in his book of the re- born of the two, whom they call
'
barecy
'
publican painter's figure of Liberty holding a (sometimes both), has at times, and it may
pike surmounted with a Phrygian cap, and at be all its life long, an irresistible craving for
her feet is seated a cat. and
order to satisfy
particular eatables ;
in
In past, rather than in more it assumes
present, days the easily its gluttonous desires,
cat was used on signboards, the different animals, and
especially in shape of espe-
France. We read of " La Maison du chat that of the cat. During the trans-
cially
" "
pelote (i.e. which rolls itself up), and La migration of the spirit into another shell, the
human body is as a corpse, but when the part in little

rhythmical dramas, cunningly
spirit has satisfied its desires it retakes its presented to the drowsy child, who falls asleep
proper form." with a familiar image parading fantastically
He continues " Having one
:
day killed through his brain." French nursery rhymes
a cat which had made inroads upon my are much prettier than English. For instance,
larder, a druggist of the neighbourhood came this bald and commonplace statement is not
to me in a great fright and entreated me to calculated to catch the attention of the juvenile
spare all animals, for he said he had a daughter mind :
who had the misfortune to be a barecy,' and'

"
Great A, little A, bouncing B,
that she was often in the habit of assuming Cats in the cupboard, and can't see me."
A STUDY.
(From the painting by Madame Ronner.)
the shape of a cat in order to eat the sweet- How much softer and daintier are the fol-
meats served at my table." lowing lines :
"
Milton tells us that when the cat washes
her face over her eares, we have a great
shall "A, B, C,
store of raine." A
cat sneezing supposed to
is Le chat est alle
bring luck to a bride on her wedding day. Dans la neige ;

en retournant
Sailors have in all times been prone to super- II avait les soulicrs tout blancs."
stition as regards cats. A black cat's appear-

ance on the ship foretells disaster, but if a In passing, I should say strange that to it is
cat should disappear overboard the greatest the French a cat always masculine,
is and to
consternation is caused amongst the crew. the English feminine.
Very plentiful are the nursery rhymes, fairy In the days of good Queen Anne the story
tales,and stories concerning cats a good-sized of pussy's venturesome journey to London
"
book would not contain them. The cat," was put into verse, and what child has not
"
says M. Champfleury, is the nurse's favourite listened eagerly to these lines from that time
and the baby's earliest friend. It plays its down to our present day ?
CATS OF THE PAST.
" '
Harrison Weir, in his book on cats, has
Pussy-cat, Pussy-cat,
'
Where have you been ?

gathered together a number of curious cat
I've been to London
proverbs. Some are very familiar, such as
'
:
To see the Queen.' "

A cat may look at a king " " Care will kill
;
" " "

'
Pussy-cat, Pussy-cat, the cat When the cat is away the mice will
;
'
"
\Yhat did you do there ?
play," and a very significant one is When :
'
I frightened a little mouse the maid leaves the door open the cat's in
"
Under her chair.'
fault." The quaint saying, "When candles are
" " "
In Alice in Wonderland Lewis Carroll out all cats are gray is a very expressive one.
" "
has given the world a childish story which When we consider the cat in art, it is among
will never cease to Eastern painters we
most deli-
find the
delight both young
and old. In this we cate and skilful
read of the "Che- studies. Next to
" the Egyptians, the
shire Cat which
Chinese and Japan-
grinned down upon
the guests assem- ese have excelled in
bled at the royal the artistic treat-
croquet party, and ment of animals.
having incurred the In many of the

anger of the Queen,
Dutch interiors
was in danger of given to us by Flem-
ish artists, the do-
having its head cut
off by order of the mestic cat may be
infuriated monarch. seen curled up on
The other volume the hearth, or sit-
by the same author ting erect, bearing

" somewhat the ap-
Alice Through
"
the Looking-Glass pearance of being
opens with a de- stuffed with bran.
scription of the way In many of the

in which Dinah the early Italian sacred
cat washed her chil- pictures we find the
dren's faces : cat depicted, but
"
First she held the great painters, like
MADAME RONNER AT WORK
poor thing down by (Photo: Alexandre^ Brussels.) Titian, Velasquez,
its ear with one and Murillo, seem
paw, and then with the other paw she rubbed to have preferred the dog as an adjunct to their
its face all over the wrong way, beginning at portraits. Raphael and Salvator both con-
the nose." Then follows an animated considered puss a worthy subject for their brush.
versation between Alice and the kitten. All In M. Champfleury's interesting book on cats
the world knows of the love Lewis Carroll had he gives a facsimile from the powerful pencil
for children, and I can assert he had an affection of Mind, whom Madame Lebrun has termed
also for cats, for when a child he spoilt and
"
the Raphael of Cats." The attitudes are so
petted me and my kitten. I only wish I could true to nature that the cat seems alive. Mind
remember the deliciously impossible stories he was a nativeof Berne, and in 1809, on account
was wont to tell me of fairies, goblins, and madness amongst cats, eight hun-
of a scare of
pussy-cats. dred were put to death. This was a heart-
i6 THE BOOK OF THE CAT.
break to the cat-loving painter, who, however, In these latter days who is there amongst
managed to save his favourite pet Minette from us, young and old, who has not enjoyed
the wholesale massacre. a hearty laugh over the comical cats of
Very quaint reproductions of cats have been Louis Wain ? In his particular line, he
made in the following wares :
Whieldon, Salt is unique, for no one has ever portrayed
Cilaze, Agate, and Staffordshire. With Chinese cats in such various attitudes and with
and Japanese cat figures we are all familiar ; such deliciously expressive countenances. The
they are grotesque rather than beautiful. adjectives and adverbs of the Cataract of
Coming down to the cat artists of the present Lodore would not suffice to describe the
day, we would mention Madame Henriette varied emotions of these funny felines. A
Ronner, who has justly deserved the great repu- Christmas without one of Louis Wain's
tation that she has acquired in her own country clever m catty pictures would be like a
as well as ours. It is in depicting kittens in Christmas pudding without the currants !
their ever-vary- To Harrison

ingmoods that Weir cats and
MadameRonner cat lovers owe
most excels. a debt of grati-
Whether play- tude. He has
ing havoc with done much to
antique lace, as raise the stand-

"
in Un Bout ard of the feline
de Toilette," race, and in his
scattering an excellent book

artist's materi- called "Our
"
als, as in Mis- Cats," he thus
chief," or drag- writes in his
ging jewels from preface :
a casket, her
"Long ages of
kittens are " neglect, ill treat-
instinct with CRYSTAL,"
THE PROPERTY OF MRS. FINNIE YOUNG. (Photo: C. Reid, Wishaiu.') ment, and abso-
vitality, and are lute cruelty, with
portrayed in a manner implying knowledge of little or no gentleness, kindness, or train-

their anatomical structure, as well as in a most ing, have made the cat self-reliant and from ;
this emanates the marvellous of

appreciative perception of their youth and powers
Most lovers of cats are acquainted observation, the concentration of which has pro-
beauty.
duced a style analogous to reasoning, not unmixed
with Madame Ronner's artistic volume con-
with timidity, caution, wildness, and a retaliative
taining so many faithful and lovely reproduc- nature. But should a new order of things arise,
tions of several of her best pictures, and an
and it is nurtured, petted, cosseted, talked to,
interesting account of her life and work written noticed, and tamed with mellowed firmness
by Mr. M. H. Spielmann. and tender gentleness, then in but a few genera-
Another famous painter of cats is M. Eugene tions much
evil that bygone cruelty has stamped
Lambert, who may be said to divide the honours into wretched existence will disappear, and
its
with Madame Ronner in portraying with fidelity it will be more than ever, not only a useful, ser-
and taste the feline viceable helpmate, but an object of unceasing

artistic race. Among
English animal painters we have none who can interest,admiration, and cultured beauty, and
come anywhere near to these two celebrated thus being of value, it will be profitable."
French artists in their marvellous delicacy of It was Harrison Weir who instituted and
touch andsubtle skill in depicting cat and kittens. carried out the first Cat Show held at the
CATS OF THE PAST.
Crystal Palace in 1871, and since then he has columns for the universal and worthy favourite
taken an active part in the cat world. Of late cat. But in another way I am disappointed,
years, however,
he has been failing in health, and that for the neglect of the short-haired
is
and it was suggested that some testimonial English cat by the ascendancy of the foreign
should be offered to him in his declining years long-hair. Both are truly beautiful, but the
by his many admirers and cat-loving friends. first in intelligence, in my
opinion, is far in
Our Cats, thatpopular weekly publication, advance of the latter."
Therefore, with a hope
opened a list in their columns, the result being that Harrison Weir may yet live to see the
a handsome piece of plate, which the veteran English short-haired cats still more widely
F.R.H.S. was asked to accept. In his reply loved and appreciated, and given better classi-
"
acknovyledging the gift, he writes Kindest
: fication atôtir shows, I will pass on to my
and best wishes warm-hearted and
to those chapter on present-day cats and cat clubs.
truly unforgetful friends who have contributed and the many other institutions and societies
towards the very handsome testimonial." which are the outcome of the rapid strides
Then he goes on to allude to the first cat show that have been made in the cat fancy since
and to his prophecy regarding the growing the day when Harrison Weir was laughed
"
popularity of the cat family : Did I
expect at by his incredulous and astonished rail-
the outcome to be what it is ? Yes, and no. way companion as they travelled together
I fully expected large shows and more of them, to the first Cat Show held at the Crystal
'
and a Cat Press,' and in the papers cat Palace in 1871.
LADY ALEXANDER'S "

BROTHER BUMP."
CHAMPION SHORT-HAIRED BLUB.
i8
SLEEPING BEAUTIES.
(.Photo: Mrs. S. Francis Clarke.)
CHAPTER II.
CATS OF TO-DAY.
" "
term Cat is applied in its widest cat vocative, puss."
;
I do not think that in
THE sense to all feline animals. The follow- any other country there is a pet name for the
names by which the

ing are the various cat, just as there is no word in any foreign
cat is known and it is
in different countries, language that breathes the same tender
"
curious to note that, with two exceptions, truth to the hearts as home." Puss and
they all begin with a
"
C " or a " K," and home The terms seem so closely connected
!
differ very little in pronunciation Irish and : with each other, and suggest peaceful hap-
Scotch, Cat ; French, Chat ; Dutch, Kat ; Dan- piness and restful repose.
ish, Kat ; Swedish, Katt ; Truly, the history of

German, Katti or Katze> ; the cat has been a strangely
Italian, Gatto ; Portuguese chequered one. Perhaps,
and Spanish, Gato ; Polish, because she is such a secret,
Kot ; Russian, Kots ; Turk- complex, and independent
ish, Keti; Welsh, Cetti; Corn- creature she has remained
ish, Katt ; American, Katz. somewhat of a puzzle to
In the English house and humankind, and is therefore
home we call her " puss," to a great extent misunder-
and it is the name which ap- stood ; but those who will
peals most to our hearts. take the trouble to consider

No woman likes to be called the cat and try to understand
a " cat," but to be likened to her, will find that puss is-
a puss or pussy is suggestive none of those things she has
of something or someone soft been accused of being. It
and pretty, with gentle, win- is only those who are in
ning ways. Archbishop constant contact with cats
Whately has said that only who understand how intelli-
one English noun had a true MISS F. SIMPSON'S " BONNIE BOY. gent they really are al-
;
"
vocative case, Nominative, (Photo: Gunn &* Stuart, Richmond.') though their intelligence is
CATS OF TO-DAY.
quite in a different mould from that of the sea Home a dog and a cat have been placed
dog. may mention
I that the household cat in the lethal chamber, and it was observed
outnumbers, it is said, the household dog in that the dog died in five minutes, whereas
London by the proportion of four to one. This the cat breathed for forty minutes longer. A
fact may be accounted for by the non-taxation short time ago I received the following letter
of cats. The question of the taxation of cats from a cat fancier :
has very often been raised, and I do not think

"
who At ii p.m. two kittens, a few hours old, were
that anyone really values his cat would
but the proposal placed in a pail of water, and left there for rather
object to pay a yearly tax ;
over ten minutes. Seeing them at the bottom

is as unpractical as it is ridiculous, and it is
with their months open, it was taken for granted
certain that taxation would not help in
they were dead the bodies were then trans-
;
exterminating the poor, disreputable, half- ferred to the ashpit, and early next morning
they
starved members of the feline tribe, who have were discovered to be alive and quite chirpy.
no fixed abode and whose only means of exist-
Restoring them to the mother, they have grown
ence is by plunder. nice, strong, healthy little kits, and have just-
The figure and number nine seems to be left for comfortable homes."
an important one in connection with cats.

There is a popular saying that a cat has nine In Thistleton Dyer's interesting book on
"
lives. The expostulating tabby in Gay's English Folk-lore," reference is made to-
" "
Fables says to the old beldame :
this subject. Cats," he says, from their
" great suppleness and aptitude to fall on their
infamy to serve a hag,
'Tis
feet, are commonly said to have nine lives ;
Cats are thought imps, her broom a nag
Every Man
'
;
hence Ben Johnson, in in his
And boys against our lives combine, '
Because, 'tis said, your cats have nine."

Humour,' says, 'Tis a pity you had not ten
'
lives a cat's and your own.'
"
Cats probably owe this reputation to their In the Middle Ages a witch was empow-
extraordinary powers of endurance, and cer- ered to take cat's body nine times," so writes
tain it is that they have a greater tenacity an eminent old zoologist.
to life than any other animal. At the Batter- The "cat-o'-wme-tails" is a dreaded object
to some light-fingered and heavy-handed
miscreants. I have heard a magistrate
remark that he considers this form of pun-
ishment the best way in which to give hints
AT WORK AND PLAY

"
(Photo: C. Reui, Wis

to the wicked. Garrotting was virtually stamped one of very recent date I will refer to here.
out by its use. Wife-beating would be less It may be remembered that in the winter of
common if the brute-husband were treated 1901 a vessel named the Salmon was wrecked.
to a taste of the cat-o'-nine-tails. This imple- On the morning of the accident, this vessel
ment of torture consists of nine pieces of cord was lying alongside the Sturgeon, and her
put together, and in each cord are nine knots. two cats, who had all their lives shown the
Consequently every stroke inflicts a large most perfect contentment with their home
number of long and severe marks not unlike and surroundings, made desperate efforts to get
the clawing and scratching of a savage cat, on board the Sturgeon. The crew drove them
producing crossing and re-crossing wounds. off again and again, and the ship's dog attacked
In my long and varied them, but they would not
experience of cats, I have be deterred, and when
noticed that more of the Salmon at last cast
these creatures succumb off, the two cats landed
to the common enemy at with one frantic and final
about nine years of age spring on to the Sturgeon's
than at any other period. deck. It seems absurd
We have heard of cats to argue that those cats
attaining the age of knew of the coming dis-
twenty years, but the aster, yet why should

following account sur- they take such a sudden
passes all previous re- and utterly unreasonable
cords of longevity in aversion to the ship which
the feline world : had always been their
home ? And why should
To THE EDITOR OF THE they insist on making
Stock-Keeper, their way to another
Sir, Seeing you have vesselfrom which they
a column in your paper de-
had been so inhospitably
voted to cats, I thought it
?
repulsed
might interest your read-
ers to hear that in our vil-
We have many proofs
of the extraordinary ex-
lage there is a cat thirty- KITTEN BELONGING TO MRS. E. S. OWEN,
one years She is quite tent to which a cat's
old. DETROIT, MICHIGAN.
and looks like living BY "KlNG OF THE SILVERS" "BLESSED DAMOZEL." sense of hearing and smell
lively,
(Pflota : Albany Art Union, New York.} On my
a few more years. It are developed.
belongs to a poor widow, who told me she had voyage out to Australia flying fish would some-
it as a kitten when she married. (Her hus- times fall on to the deck. The cats that are
band lived and has been
twenty-seven years, always somewhere about the ship might be
dead four.)
comfortably curled up asleep below, but the
Newbury, Bucks. W. B. HERMAN.
peculiar sound would fetch them up in a greal
Itis strange that the poor dead bodies of hurry, and they would rush to secure the prize.
cats have often been used as objects of foolish The crew used to amuse themselves sometimes
and vulgar so-called sport. Dead cats and by trying to imitate the noise in various ways
rotten eggs were, and are sometimes still, con- to deceive them ;
but the cats were not to be
" "
sidered legitimate missiles to make use of at had they could distinguish the peculiar
borough and county elections. thud of the flying fish from all other sounds.
All sorts of stories are related of pussy's Various theories have been put forward to
superhuman intelligence, but the most uncanny account for the marvellous instinct which a
THE ANTIQUARIES.
(From t/ie painting by Madame Runner.)
2*
cat possesses, enabling her to find her way was proved, for after the fire was extinguished,
home although miles and miles of untraversed the charred bodies of mother and child were
country lay between her and the place from found lying side by side.
which she has been taken. It is contended A clever writer has stated that " the human
that a cat which is conveyed in a bag or blind- race may be divided into people who love cats
folded will have its sense of smell in full exer- and people who hate them the neutrals being
;
cise, and will, by this means take note of the few in numbers." This is very true. There
successive odours encountered on the way, are also differences of opinion as to whether
and that these will leave in its mind sufficient cats are desirable inmates of a household or
information of the route so as to make it an not, but there can be no question as to the great
easy matter for the animal to find itsway back utility of these animals, and it is only natural
again. Be this as it may, many of us can state to suppose that they were created for the pur-
facts which are pose of suppress-
even stranger ing rats and mice
than fiction of and other ver-
mysterious reap- min. There is a
pearances of cats popular notion
who, with a hom- that if a cat is
ing instinct as petted and well

true as any car- fed she will be-
rier - pigeon, re- come less useful
turn to the haven as a mouser.
where they would This is a fallacy,
be. for the cat's in-
The instinct clination is to
of maternity is, hunt the mouse
perhaps, more or rat, not for
largely developed food, but for

in the cat than in sport, and an ani-
"
KEPWICK VIOLET AND KEPWICK HYACINTH
any other animal. BLUES BELONGING TO THE HON. MRS. MACLAREN MORRISON. mal that is en-
No creature (Photo : J. R. Clarke, Think.) feebled byneglect
shows such anx- and starvation is
iety for the safety and welfare of her offspring not in the best condition to successfully catch
as she does, and often her natural timidness will itsprey. This love of sport is not, however,
give place to bold and fearless courage when inherent in all cats, but is hereditary in the
her little ones have been in any difficulty or feline tribe as it is in the human race.
danger. Mivart tells us of a cat that plunged may not be generally known that the
It
into a swiftly running stream and rescued her Government pays annual sums for the purpose
three drowning kittens, bringing them one by of providing, keeping, and feeding numerous
" "
one in safety to the shore.During a fire in a harmless, necessary cats in their public
London theatre, which took place a few years dockyards, and stores, thereby attest-
offices,
ago, a poor cat with her family was left for- ing to the worth and capability of pussy's
gotten at the back of the stage. Three times services.
the faithful mother rushed into the flaming In the National Printing Office in France
building and reappeared each time with a kitten a considerable number of cats are employed
in her mouth. But alas! with fatal persistence in keeping the premises clear of rats and mice
the devoted creature returned to rescue the which would otherwise work havoc amongst
remaining one, and that she reached the spot the stock of paper always stored in large
OF TO-DAY.
quantities.
In Vienna, cats are placed on mice. Now rarely one is nibbled, and every
active service in the municipal buildings. At morning dozens of lifeless bodies are cleared
many of our great rail- away. Curiously
way stations there is a enough these dead mice
feline staff engaged in have their tails eaten
the various warehouses off, for apparently this
and offices. The farmer cat has a weakness for
will readily admit the the appendage, whereas,
usefulness of puss in usually the head is
his barns, stables, out- considered the delicate

houses and fields morsel amongst the fe-
Farmers are notori line race. It seems that
ous grumblers, but they although the cat is left
would have gr ater alone with all the flut-
cause for discontent tering birds at night,
and disappointment if she never has attempt-
rats and mice were al- ed to molest them in
lowed to live and thrive, any way.
and breed and multiply I lately had occa-
on their premises. The MISS SAVERYS BLUE PERSIAN KITTEN. sion to visit one of our
newly sown peas and (Photo: H Warschaiuski, Si Leonards-on-Sea.) London theatres during
corn stacks would suffer the daytime, when it
to a terrible extent, and the broods of ducklings was empty and observing a big brown cat
;
and chickens would speedily vanish if puss did walking about amongst the stalls, I made
not keep a vigilant eye and silently but surely some remark about him to the official who
fulfil the duties of her accompanied me. He
calling. said they found it quite
In the live stock de- impossible to get along
partment of the Army without a cat they had
;
and Navy Stores in Lon- tried, but the place be-

don, an orange Persian came overrun with mice.
cat may be seen During pussy's
about
strolling occupation of
amongst the the empty play-
cages of birds house plenty of
of every sort. bodies were dis-
The attendant covered, but
informed me never a live
she had been mouse had been
on the premises seen disporting
three or four itself.
years, and had The cats in

saved the com- A PAIR OF SHORT-HAIRED BROWN TABBIES. Gove r n m e n t
"
pany a tidy (Photo: T. Fall, Baker St., W.) service in Ame-
sum." Previ- rica are very
ous to obtaining ner services the packets of numerous. The army has a regular corps of
bird-seed disappeared like magic, for they them kept at the commissary depots of the
were demolished wholesale by the swarms of great cities. It is customary for the officer
in charge of each depot to submit to the Of all animals the cat appears most to re-
War Department a request for an allowance sent being taught or trained to do tricks. Puss
for meat and milk.
the cats of has a natural antipathy to be
More than three hundred cats are forced to do anything, or remain
in the employ of the Post Office anywhere against her will. Hence
Department, distributed among the few exhibitions of really clever
about fifty of the largest offices. performing cats in comparison
The New York City office expends with the marvellous feats achieved
sixty dollars annually in cats'- by dogs. It has been stated that
meat. At Pittsburg, there is a the cat is the hardest animal to
"cold-storage" breed of cats, teach ;
it takes years to train a
which has special qualifications cat to perform some simple trick

for enduring extreme cold. These which a dog would learn in as
cats are short tailed, with long many weeks. Once a cat is trained,
and heavy fur, and their eyebrows it becomes a very valuable pos-
and whiskers are extraordinarily session. We have all seen the
long and strong. It is said they Happy Family, consisting of
do not thrive when transferred monkeys, guinea-pigs, canaries,
to an ordinary atmosphere. pigeons, and mice, whilst a cat
The following extract from the is seated
demurely in the midst
Daily Mail of February ist, 1902, of this incongruous assembly. No
gives us an account of a most doubt some training was required
exemplary, well trained, and up- CAT CALENDAR. to cause puss to disregard the
to-date cat, and opens up a fresh (.By kind permission of Ra natural instincts of her race.
field for the utility and agility of The cat is a most cleanly crea-
our domestic pets notan absolutely fresh ture, and perhaps more particular about her
field indeed, if one recalls the fact that Puss appearance than any other animal. As Miss
"
was already a " retriever in ancient Egypt. Agnes Repplier, in her delightful book.
" The
Fireside Sphinx," says:

A PING-PONG CAT.
"Pussy's adroitness is
Hunting for balls is un-
equalled only by her deli-
doubtedly the one great draw-
cacy and tact. Her clean-
back to ping-pong. Might I
liness and her careful atten-
suggest a novel and easy
method of accomplishing this tion to her toilet show re-
difficult and unpleasant task ? spect for herself and for us."
My cat is now an expert in One of the strangest
the art of finding ping-pong and most profitable trades
balls. Immediately the ball in London is the wholesale
touches the floor the cat is and retail business of horse-
after it, and brings it from its meat for cats. In barrows
hiding-place to the side of the and carts the hawkers of
table at which I am playing,
this horse-flesh cry their
thus saving me from unneces- CAT CALENDAR.
(By kind permission o/ Raphael Tuck &> Co.)
wares throughout the city
sary exertion. F. S. W.
and suburbs, and find a
The thought suggests itself that pussy's teeth ready sale for them. It is stated that
and claws might work serious havoc amongst 26,000 maimed, or past work, are
horses,
the ping-pong balls, and that some of these slaughtered and cut up every year to feed our
would be produced in a mutilated condition. household pets. Each horse means on an
CATS OF TO-DAY.
average 275 pounds of meat, and this is sold birthday. His occupation was also given
'
"
by pussy's butcher in half pennyworths skew- mouse-catcher, worker on his own account.'
ered on bits of wood. The magnitude of this A description of the ordinary domestic cat
trade can be estimated by the fact that it keeps is
hardly necessary, but before I pass on to
constantly employed thirty wholesale sales- mention matters of general interest concern-
men. I may here mention that a cats'-meat i
ng ca ts of to-day, I will give a quotation from
men's supper was organised last year in London a Board School boy's essay, which speaks for
by the editor of Our Cats, assisted by Mr. Louis itself :
Wain and others and a most

;
"The house-cat is a four-legged quadruped,
entertainment was given at the City of New the legs as_usual being at the corners. It is
York Restaurant. The applications for tickets what is some times called a tame animal, though
were so numerous that 400 men had to be re- it feeds on mice and birds of Its colours
prey.
fused and when the 250 guests were seated,
; are striped, it does not bark, but breathes through
it was
clearly proved that its nose instead of its mouth:
every available inch of Cats also mow, which you

accommodation had been have all heard. Cats have
nine liveses, but which is
utilised. Having been
can testify to
I
seldom wanted in this
present,
the excellent supper and country, coz' of Christian-
ity. Cats eat meat and
entertainment provided most anythink speshuelly
for the cats'-meat men where you can't afford;
of London. This is all about cats."
The most casual ob-
server cannot have failed Perhaps my readers
to remark the wonderful may think that after
development of late years such a lucid description
" "
in Catty Christmas of the subject in hand,
souvenirs, thus giving further comments are
proof of the growth of CAT CALENDAR. unnecessary !
love and admiration for {By kind permission of Raphael Tuck d-3 Co.)
I will proceed, how-
pussy. We have cat al- ever, give a glance
to
manacks, cat calendars, and cat annuals, and round at the Cat Fancy in general before men-
I can
testify to the innumerable Christmas tioning particulars of Clubs and Cats of the
cards with designs of cats of all sorts and present day. The question has often been
conditions which have found their way into asked whether the Cat Fancy will ever be-
my hands expressive of good wishes at the come as popular and fashionable as the breed-
festive season. ing of dogs, poultry, and birds ? I think this
The official mind would probably frown at question be answered in the affirmative,
may
the suggestion that the census returns should when we considerthat during last year a dozen
be enlivened with incidental humour. How- and more large cat shows have been held in
ever, after the last census, the following state- different parts of England and Scotland, to
ment appeared in the press :
say nothing of numerous mixed shows where
" a section for cats was provided. Every year
An enumeratorgoing over a return paper
in
found that the household cat had been included the number of fanciers increases, and although
as a member of the
family. It was described
this particular hobby is almost entirely
'
as Jim,' the relationship to the head of the confined to the gentler sex, yet it is really sur-
prising to find how many more men are be-
'
family being lodger.' The entry then stated

that he was of the male sex,
single, aged one last ginning to take an interest in the pussies, and
are keenly excited in the winnings of the interest has been manifested, better classifi-
household pet or the king of the cattery. As cation given, and a larger number of cats
"
a friend once said to me, You know what exhibited. It was, therefore, considered ad-
men are if only the cats win prizes, my hus-

;
visable to have some definite organisation,
band does not mind, but it is a different and the National Cat Club was instituted in
matter if I return from a show with no award ; 1887, with Mr. Harrison Weir as president. I will
then he declares we must get rid of all the now proceed to give a list, which I believe to be
"
cats ! I am afraid that cat fanciers must complete and correct, of the various other clubs
be looked upon as a rather quarrelsome set, and societies in England and America which
and there is no doubt that petty jealousies have been organised and which are all at this
and spiteful gossip retard in many ways the present time in thoroughly good working order.
development and im- LIST OF CAT CLUBS
provement of the fancy. AND SOCIETIES.
Another question The National Cat Club,
that is often asked is founded 1887. Hon. sec.,
whether cats can be Mrs. A. Stennard-Robin-
made to in son, 5, Great James Street,
pay or,
Bedford Row, London,
other words, whether
W.C. Annual subscrip-
cat breeding is a profit-
tion, i guinea.
able undertaking. The Cat Club, founded
From my own experi- 1898. Hon. sec., Mrs.
ence, which has ex- Bagster, 15 A, Paternoster
tended over a number Row, London, E.G. An-
nual subscription,
of years, I can unhesi-
i guinea.
tatingly say I have de- The Northern Counties'
rived not only much Cat Club, founded 1900.
pleasure but a good Hon. sec., Mrs. Herbert
deal of from Ra.nsome, Altrincham.
profit
Annual subscription, IDS.
keeping cats, and also The Silver and Smoke
I have started many MR HARRISON WEIR. Cat
.
Persian Society,
friends in the fancy (piuto-. c. E. corke, smenoaks.) founded 1900. Hon. sec.,
who have gone on and Mrs. H. V. James, Back-
prospered. The dangers that beset begin- Annual subscription, 55.
well, near Bristol,
ners are many, and the chief difficulty is to Hon. sees., Miss Kerswill
Black and White Club.
and Miss White Atkins. Entrance fee, is.; annual
know how to limit the number of our pussies
subscription, 45.
and so avoid overcrowding, or retaining poor The Blue Persian Cat Hon.
Society, founded 1901.
stock which will not prove creditable or profit- sec., Simpson, Durdans House, St.
Miss Frances
able. Cat keeping on an extensive scale means Margaret's-on-Thames. Annual subscription, 55.
a large outlay, followed by constant and un- The Siamese Club, founded 1900. Hon. sec.,
I do not intend, however,
Mrs. Baker, i3,Wyndham Place, Bryanston Square, W.
tiring attention.
Annual subscription, 4.5. to working classes, 2s. 6d.
;
in' this chapter to enter into
any details as to The Orange, Cream, Fawn and Tortoise-shell
the care and management of cats, for this and Hon. sec., Miss Mildred Beal,
Society, founded 1900.
other subjects connected with their interests Ronaldkirk Rectory, Darlington. Annual subscrip-
will be fully dealt with later on. tion, IDS.
The Chinchilla Cat Club, founded May,
1901 Hon. .
In my
preceding chapter I alluded to the
sec., Mrs. Balding, 92, Goldsmith Avenue, Acton.
first Cat Show held at the
Crystal Palace in Annual subscription, 53.
1871. This exhibition of cats has become The Short-haired Cat Club, founded 1901. Hon.
an annual fixture, and year by year greater sec., Mrs. Middleton, 67, Cheyne Court, Chelsea.
CATS OF TO-DAY. 27
The Scottish Cat Club, founded 1894. Hon. sec., Vice-Presidents. The Right Hon. the Countess
J. F. Dewar, 2, St. Patrick Square, Edinburgh. An- of Warwick, The Viscountess Maitland, The Mar-
nual subscription, 53. chioness of Dufferin and Ava, The Countess of
The Midland Counties Cat Club, founded at Aberdeen, The Lady Hothfield, Lady Willoughby,
Wolverhampton, 1901. Hon sec., Miss Cope, 136, Lady Reid, The Hon. Mrs. McLaren Morrison, The
Bristol Road, Birmingham. Annual subscription, 53. Lady Granville Gordon, Lady Decies, The Hon. Mrs.
The British Cat Club, founded 1901: Hon. sec., Baillie, Madame Ronner, Mr. Isaac Woodiwiss, Mr.
Sir Claude Alexander, Faygate Wood, Sussex. Sub- Sam Woodiwiss.
scription, 53. Louis Wain (President), Lady Decies,
Committee.
The Manx Cat Club, founded 1901. Miss Hester Lady Alexander, The Hon. Mrs. McLaren Morrison,
Cochran,Witchampton,Wimborne. Subscription, 53. Mrs.Vallance, Mrs. Balding, Miss Hamilton, Dr. Roper,
The Beresford Cat Club (Chicago), founded 1899. Mrs. Herring, Mrs. Ransome, Mrs. G. H. Walker.
President, Mrs. Clinton Locke corresponding secre-
;
Hon. Sec. and Treasurer. Mrs. A. Stennard j
tary, Mrs. A. Michelson, 220,
Robinson, 13, Wyndham Place,
East Sixtieth Street, Chicago.
Bryanstone Square, W. (Tele-
Annual subscription, resident
graphic address "Bow-wow,
members, 2 dollars non-resi-;
London.")
dent, i dollar. The National Cat Club was
The Chicago Cat Club, organised (i) to promote hon-
founded 1899. President, Mrs. esty in the breeding of Cats, so
Leland Norton, Drexel Ken- as to ensure purity in each dis-
nels, Drexel Boulevarde, tinct breed or variety (2) to
;
Chicago. determine the classification re-

The Louisville Cat Club, quired, and
to encourage the
founded 1900. Corresponding adoption of such classification
secretary,Miss E. Converse. by breeders,, exhibitors, judges,
Annual subscription, 50 cents. and the committees of all Cat
The Pacific Cat Club, found- Shows (3) to maintain and
;
ed 1900. Corresponding secre- keep the National Register of

tary, Mrs. A. H. Brod, 114, Cats; (4) to assist the Showing
Brodcrick Street, San Francisco. and Breeding of Cats, by hold-
Annual subscription, i dollar. ing Cat Shows under the best
The Atlantic Club, founded sanitary conditions, giving
in New York, 1902. Correspond- Championship and other prizes,
ing secretary, Dr. Ottolengui, and otherwise doing all in its
So, West Fortieth Street, New MR. LOUIS WAIN. power to protect and advance
York. (Photo : Lascelles & Co.) the interests of Cats and their
owners.
Since the formation of the National Cat The National Cat Club.is also a Court of Inquiry
Club, many changes in its constitution have and Appeal in all matters relating to Cats, or affect-
taken place. On the retirement of Mr. Harri- ing the ownership of Cats, and so saves the expense
to its Members of litigation.
son Weir from the
presidency, Mr. Louis Wain The National Cat Club founded its Stud Book
was appointed, and still holds the office. The some twelve years ago, and it is the only reliable source
N.C.C. is fortunate in having so
energetic a of information concerning the pedigree of Cats. The
hon. sec. and treasurer as Mrs. Stennard- Registration Fee is is. for the Register of Names,
Robinson, whose name is so well known in the but for the Stud Book the fee is 55. for Approved
" " Cats exhibited under N.C.C. Rules.
doggy world. The following is a list of
officers of the National Cat Club at the time The two principal shows of the National
of writing, and a summary of the objects for Cat Club are held annually at the Botanical
which the Club was organised : Gardens in connection with the Ladies' Kennel
THE NATIONAL CAT CLUB. Association in June, and at the Crystal Palace
Patron. H.H. Princess Victoria of
in October. In 1901 the total number of cats
Schleswig
Holstein. shown at the Palace was 601, and the entries
President.- -Her Grace the Duchess of Bedford. numbered 1,021. There were 106 classes
provided long- and short haired cats.

for - The National Cat Club reigned alone until
The following is the definition of the classes :
1898, when Lady Marcus Beresford started
and founded the Cat Club. This ardent cat
DEFINITION OF CLASSES.
lover has done more for pussy than anyone in
Open Classes. Open to all Cats, Prize-winners or She is most lavish in her generosity
the fancy.
Novices.
and unwearying in her efforts to promote the
Limit Classes. For Cats of any age that have not
welfare of the Club. It was Lady Marcus who
won Three First Prizes.
Novice Classes. For Cats of any age that have first started the idea of holding cat shows in
never won a First Prize aid of charity. The

at any Show. Cat Club's first show,
Special Novice Cats. held at St. Stephen's
For Cats or Kittens
over 6 months that have
Hall, Westminster, in
never won a Prize of 1899, was in aid of the
any sort at a Crystal Children's Guild of
Palace Show. the Deptford Fund.
Neuter Classes. For In 1900 the fami-
Gelded Cats.
lies of the soldiers
Stud Classes. For
Male Cats that have and sailors who had
sired Kittens which are fallen in the Trans-
entered a ad on exhibi- vaal were benefited
tion in this Show. to a large extent by
BtoodQuenn Class.
the proceeds of the
For Queen Cats whose
Kittens are entered in
show. In 1901 the
this Show. Children's Hospital,
Selling Class. For Great Ormond Street,
Cats of any colour or was the charity se-
Sex to be sold at a price lected to receive a
not exceeding 3 guineas
handsome donation
in Long - haired or 2
of 100. The West-
guineas in Short haired
:
and Foreign. minster shows have

Ring Class. For Cats always been splen-
shown in collar, and lead.
didly managed, a
Kitten. Classes. noticeable feature
Single entries to be over
being the wonderful
3 months and under 8 LADY MARCUS BERESFORD.
array of beautiful
months, unless other- (From a painting by Edward Hushes.)
wise stated. special prizes offered
For 2 Cats, age over 6 months.
Brace. for competition. The following is the list of
Team. For three or more Cats, age over 6 months. officials connected with the Cat Club :
No Cats can be entered in brace or teams unless

also entered in one other class. THE CAT CLUB.
The money prizes in each class are First, (Founded by Lady Marcus Beresford.)
i ; Second, ros. Third, 53. The list of
; The objects of the Club are the general good
of the
Cat, the promoting of true breeding of Cats, the hold-

special prizes, including Challenge Trophies
and medals, numbered 262 at the last Crystal ing of a Winter Show, so that Cats may be exhibited
at their best, and taking other steps that shall be for
Palace Show in 1901.
the welfare of the Cat.
In addition to the two regular fixtures of the
The annual Subscription is i is., payable on
N .C.C. other catshows are held in different places
,
election,and on the ist of January in each succeed-
in connection with the Club and under its rules. ing year.
CATS OF TO-DAY. 29
A Stud Book and a Register of Cats are kept by and required to register their cats in each
the Club. club they exhibit at the respective shows.
if
Presidents. Lily, Duchess of Marlborough Edith,
It would be a great benefit to the cat world
:
Duchess of Wellington ;
Lord Marcus Beresforu.
in general and to the exhibitor in particular
Vice-Presidents. Isabella, Countess Howe Vis-
;
countess Maitland, Viscountess Esher, Lady Ridley, if some arrangement could be made whereby
Lady de Trafford, The Hon. Mrs. Bampfylde, Lady one independent register should be kept,
Lister, Lady Gooch, Mrs. Barnet, Mrs. Alfred files, and that both clubs might work together
Mrs. Walter Campbell, Mrs. Chaine, Mrs. George and assist each other in endeavouring to
Dawkins, Mrs. Gary Elwes, Mrs. C. Hill, Mrs. King, and verify all entries made in the
scrutinise
Mrs. Nicholay, Mrs. Tottie, Mrs. Pestoa Whyte,
Lord Walter Gordon Lennox, A, E. Bateman, Esq., joint register, so that inaccuracies should be
Colonel Chaine, Henry King, Esq. detected and fraud prevented.
LITTER OF SIAMESE KITTENS.

BELONGING TO LADY MARCUS BERESFORD.
(Photo.: T. Fall, Baker St., W.)
Committee. Lady Marcus Beresford, Mrs. Vary The Northern Counties Cat Club is affiliated
Campbell, Mrs Dean, Mrs. Paul Hardy, Mrs. C. Hill, with the N.C.C., and has quite a large number
Miss Anderson Leake, Mrs. R. Blair
Maconochie, of members. This enterprising club holds
Mrs. Neild, Mrs. Simon, Mrs. Mackenzie
Stewart,
Mr. L. P. C. Astley, Mr. Gambier Bolton, Rev. P. L. two shows in Manchester every year, which
Cosway, Mr. W. R. Hawkins, Mr. E. W. Witt. hitherto have been capitally managed by the
Hon. Treasurer. Lord Marcus Beresford.
energetic hon. sec. As a natural sequence a
Hon. Secretary. Mrs. C. J. Bagster, 15 A, Pater-
Midland Counties Club has lately been started,
noster Row, London, E.G.
having its working centre at Birmingham. No
There is
ample room for two parent
really doubt arrangements will be made for holding
clubs, as the making such rapid strides,
Fancy
is a cat show in this or some other equally central
and, no doubt, well-appointed shows with good Midland town.
do a great deal to benefit breeders
classification The Scottish Cat Club is in a flourishing
and assist Between the National
fanciers. condition, and has been steadily working up
Cat Club and the Cat Club there is one members since 1894. A
show is annually held
point
of serious and over the border are
disagreement, namely, as regards reg- in Edinburgh, fanciers
istration. At present members are expected taking a much keener interest in cats.
In America the fancy has gone ahead in a At the Cat Show held in January, 1902, as
wonderful way. It was in 1895 that the first many as 75 classes were provided, and it is
cat show of general interest was held at Madison plain to see from these that Americans have
Square Gardens, New York. There had pre- not the same antipathy for broken colours
viously been some private attempts to have that is, cats with white markings as we have
exhibitions of cats in connection with poultry in England, as there are classes specially for
and pigeon shows. In 1896 an American Cat orange and white, and black and white cats.
Club was organised, which did some good work. In another part of this work I shall refer to
Then Chicago started a Cat Club in January, varieties and breeds of cats existing in America
1899, and this was followed by a most success- which differ from those in England. The
ful enterprise on the part of Mrs. Clinton Locke, Beresford Cat Club have an extremely well
who founded the Beresford Cat Club, called arranged stud book and register, which is pub-
after Lady Marcus Beresford, lished annually. I am sure
and now numbering about that the Cat Fancy in Ame-
200 members. In January, rica has a great future before
1900, the club held its first it, and we cannot help being
big show. The classification greatly struck with the earn-
was most comprehensive
of a estness, thoroughness, and
nature, and the list of special enthusiasm with which
prizes a very liberal one. Americans have taken up
This show is now an annual this hobby. When we con-
and the Cat Club of
fixture, sider the great distances in
England sends medals and the States and the paucity

prizes to be competed for. of good stud cats, and the
Many of the best cats ex- few opportunities of exhibit-
hibited at these shows have ing at well organised shows,
been exported from Eng- we cannot fail to admire the
land, and Americans are energy and enterprise dis-
"PUCK III.
very keen in trying to pro- THE PROPERTY OF THE PRINCESS VICTORIA OF
played by our American
cure the very best possible SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN. fellow-fanciers.
stock high prices in many Specialist Clubs for Cats
cases being offered to induce English fanciers are of
very recent
growth. The first was
to part with prize-winning specimens. started by an ardent breeder of silver Persians
The following is a list of officials of the in 1900. It was then called the Silver Society,
BERESFORD CAT CLUB OF AMERICA. and it included smokes and silver tabbies. The
title of thissociety has since been changed to
Officers.
the Silver and Smoke Persian Cat Society. In
Mrs. Clinton Locke, 2825 Indiana Ave., (President);
Mrs. Charles H. Lane, 5323 Madison Ave., (First Vice- the following year Blue Persian Breeders be-
President} ; Mrs. F. A. Howe, 3041 Grand Boulevard stirred themselves and formed a society for this
(Second Vice-President) ; Mrs. A. A. Michelson, 220 most popular breed. In the same year the
E. 6oth Street (Corresponding Secretary) ; Miss L. C.
Orange, Cream, and Tortoiseshell Society, the
Johnstone, 5323 Madison Ave. (Recording Secretary)
Siamese Club, and the Chinchilla Club were in-
;
Mrs. Elwood H. Tolman, 5403 Madison Ave. (Trea-

augurated, also a Manx Club came into
exist-
surer).
Directors.
ence, and two clubs for short-haired cats were
Mrs. J.H.Pratt, 5816 Rosalie Court; Mrs. Lincoln started. Particulars concerning these special-
Nicholson, Lee Centre, Illinois Miss Louise Fergus,
;
ist societies and their objects will be found in
3220 Sheridan Road Mrs. Blanch P. Robinson,
;
future chapters on the various breeds of cats.

6, Langley Place ; Mrs. Vincent E. Gregg, 736 North
Park Avenue. It will be noticed bv the list of clubs given
CATS OF TO-DAY.
that for brown tabby and black and white are the funniest animals we have to deal with."
Persians no societies have as yet been formed, And it isvery true that these creatures, being
but doubtless ere long these varieties will be so complex, require to be specially studied,
gathered into the fold of specialist clubs. and our principal veterinaries, who lead busy
A good deal of discussion has taken place lives, are just a little superior to the many ail-
in"catty circles as to the desirability of having ments and infirmities of these too often despised
specialist societies, but I am sure a vast and animals. It is therefore a subject of satis-
marked improvement has taken place in the faction for cat fanciers that two clever and kind
different breeds since their formation, and the animal-loving men have taken up the doctoring
fact of publishing a standard of points has of cats,
"
and_by personal experience are learn-
"
certainly assisted breeders in coming to a more ing pretty pussy's ways in sickness and
correct idea of what constitutes a good cat of in health. Mr. Ward, of Manchester, and
a particular breed. The "Salvo," of Hertford Heath,
number of challenge prizes, are now two household
medals and specials offered names in the cat fancier's
by these societies at various vocabulary. To the many
shows act as an incentive to excellent remedies prepared
exhibitors, and thus entries by these clever specialists I
increase and competition shall refer later on in my
becomes keener. Specialist work. Suffice ithere to say
cl,ubs are not altogether that when in doubt or diffi-
popular with the parent culty about your pussy's

clubs, who regard them with state of health I would re-
rather a suspicious and commend you to write to

jealous eye. They think either of these common-
that exhibitors may join sense practitioners.
these less expensive socie- The cat literature of the
tiesand yet continue to present day has been
show and win prizes with- steadily on the increase.
out subscribing to the club The first paper to supply
that holds the show. No special cat columns was
MRS. CLINTON LOCKE AND HER SIAMESE
doubt there is something KITTENS "CALIF AND " BANGKOK." Fur and Feather, which,
in this, and specialist clubs as its title infers, treats be-
should beready and willing not only to sides of birds, rabbits, poultry, cavies, mice.
offer prizes for which their members
only can This weekly paper has a large circulation
compete, but they ought also to guarantee amongst the various fanciers. In 1899 Our
classes, and perhaps give a donation towards Cats was started, and is widely read by the
the expenses of the show.
ever-growing circle of cat lovers, and claims the
There have been quite a number of catty " The
only news
j
unique distinction of being
cases in our courts of late
years, and these paper in the world solely devoted to cats." In
generally seem to cause considerable amuse- both these papers there are stud advertise-
ment to the legal as well as to the public mind. ments of cats and a register of visits of queens
At a recent trial, where a lady was wrongfully and births of kittens.
accused of starving a Persian cat, the In America the chief organs in the cat
magis-
trate, wishing for information, inquired of the world are The Cat Journal, The Pet Stock
witness (who was a
veterinary surgeon) how News, and Field and Fancy.
long a cat could live without food. The reply And now a few words on those most ex-
"
was, I am sure I could not
say, sir, for cats cellent institutions which should appeal to the
hearts of the animal loving public I mean the have been taken in. Not a day passes without
homes for poor stray and starving cats. It is several wretched cats having to be destroyed
a mercy that there are now several of these at once on admission, and 80 per cent, are
I have per- destroyed within twenty-four hours of admit-
refuges in our great metropolis.
sonally visited Gordon Cottage at Argyle Road, tance. No charge is made to thepoor, and only
Hammersmith, and the London Institution in is. 6d. for a painless death in the lethal cham-
Camden Town. The objects of both these ber is asked from those who can afford this
institutions are practically the same, namely : most merciful mode of destroying life. The
(i) To receive and collect homeless and dead cats are cremated at the Battersea Dogs'
diseased cats and painlessly destroy them. Home at a charge of 3d. each body. A motor-
THE CATS PLAYGROUND : ROYAL LONDON INSTITUTION FOR STARVING

CATS AT CAMDEN TOWN.
{Photo: Cassell &> Company. Limited.')
(2) To provide a temporary home "for car is employed to go round and collect stray
lost cats. cats, and will call at any house if due notice
(3) To board cats at a moderate weekly has been given to the hon. manageress. It is
charge. estimated that the number of cats in London
The Camden Town Her
Institution to which is close upon three quarters of a million, of
Majesty the Queen has graciously given Her which from 80,000 to 100,000 are homeless. It
Patronage, was founded by Mrs. Morgan in is during the summer months, when house-
1896, and up to the end of 1901 has received holders leave town for their holidays, that poor
the enormous number of 47,212 lost and pussy is forsaken and forgotten, and no pro-
starving cats. The average received weekly vision being made for her, she is forced to take
is 300, and in one day as many as 91 cats to the streets, where she seeks in vain to stalk
CATS OF TO-DAY. 33
the wily London sparrow or pick up any scraps In our sister isle there is a Cats' Home,
from the gutter. The humbler folk very fre- established sixteen years ago by Miss Swifte
quently manifest vastly greater solicitude for in Dublin, and she has most gallantly carried
the Tom or the Tabby of their hearths than do out the beneficent objects with which she
their social superiors. All lovers of cats owe a started her humane work. No doubt she and
debt of gratitude to those truly noble ladies other founders of similar institutions have had
who have begun and carry on such a merciful to suffer a considerable amount of ridicule,
work in our midst. To attempt to alleviate for with many human beings the cat is
suffering must appeal to all ;

and even those regarded as little deserving of commiseration
ROYAL LONDON' INSTITUTION FOR LOST AND STARVING CATS.

(Photo : Cassell & Company, Limited.)
who have an instinctive dislike to harmless or kindness. It is, however, a sign of increased
cats cannot fail to see the immense benefit
justice and benevolence that these homes for
to be derived
by the public at large from cats do exist and obtain public support, al-
the noble endeavour to clear our London
though the funds received are, according to
streets, squares, parks, and accounts, very inadequate to meet all
empty houses of all
these poor forlorn and friendless creatures. the expenses. This must surely be partly
At. the Battersea Home for
Lost Dogs there because these splendid institutions are so
are also splendid known
arrangements for stray cats, little to the general public.
and at a very small week cats can Our American cousins are not behindhand
charge per
be taken in to board. The
^
catteries are in their laudable endeavours to cope with the
capitally arranged, and the feeding is ex- question of lost and starving cats, and an
cellent.
institution similar to our Battersea Home was
started in the early 'eighties in the district It was as early as 1874 that this institution
of Boston, and is called the " Ellen M. Gifford was founded, and in 1889 it was reorganised
Sheltering Home for Animals." The lady and incorporated as the " Morris Refuge for
giving her name to this humane institution Homeless and Suffering Animals," having for
"
left a large sum of money to endow the home, its motto The Lord is good to all, and His
and over the office is a tablet bearing the tender mercies are over all His works."
following extract from one of Miss Gifford's The efforts of the charitable ladies who so
letters about the time the home was opened :
ably assisted in the establishment of these in-
THE CART OF THE ROYAL LONDON INSTITUTION FOR LOST AND STARVING CATS.
(Photo: Cassell & Company, Limited.)
" have been followed by others, and a

If only the waifs, the strays, the sick, the stitutions
abused would be sure to get entrance to the proposal to found a home for animals in
home, and anybody could feel at liberty to bring Montreal has, I believe, proved successful.
in a starved or ill-treated animal and have it
Miss Winslow tells us that there are several
cared for without pay, my object would be
cat asylums and refuges in the Far West, and
attained. March 27, 1884." a Sheltering Home at Brighton, Mass. In
According to Miss Helen Winslow, the 1901 a Cat Refuge was started in Chicago by
"
authoress of Concerning Cats," there is a well-known cat-lover, Mrs. Leland Norton,
another institution in Philadelphia which does and probably, as time goes on, some further
not limit its good work to tending cats and organised attempt will be made to deal with
dogs, but cares for all living and suffering the question of lost and starving cats in
animals, bringing relief to the unfortunate American towns.
creatures by means of a painless death. The love of the cat still lingers in Egypt,
CATS OF TO-DAY. 35
and I have been told that free rations to starv- an honest livelihood in this overcrowded
ing cats are dealt out every day at the Palace work-a-day world, might thus combine
of the Cadi and the Bazar of Khan Kheleel ; pleasure with profit. Many fanciers feel the
also that a cats' home has been founded in difficulty and well nigh impossibility of leaving
Cairo for the lodg- their catteries for
ing and feeding of any length of time,

homeless cats. and few have a per-
There was a re- manent and respon-
port that in order sible caretaker on
to cope with the the premises. An
innumerable lost opening, therefore,
and starving cats presents itself not
the American Legis- only for boarding
lature had decided homes for cats, but
to enforce a bill for for temporary helps
licensing cats, but who could be en-
if such a law came gaged by the week
into existence in THE HON. PHILIP WODEHOUSE S
"
SILVER SAINT. or month to take
any country the re- (Photo : Clarke & Co., Norwich.) charge of the cat-
sult would surely tery during the ab-
be that thousands of cats with good homes sence of the owner. Of course, such a person
would be thrust out into the streets, and that should have had experience with cats and kit-
rats and mice would multiply to an alarming tens, and above all should be an animal lover.
extent. It is estimated that in New York city To dwellers in any of our large cities the
alone 60,000 cats depend for their daily food sojourn in some country place would come as
on gar- a boon and
bage and a blessing,
the mice and if the
and rats owner of
that they thecattery
capture. is fully as-
Therefore, sured of
if each cat the capa-
catches bilities of
three mice the care -
or rats a taker, then

week, the all anxiety
sum total of mind as
am ounts to the wel-
to over fare of the
A BEVY OF BLUES BELONGING TO MISS SAVERV
9,000,000 (Photo : ll'aschenki, St. Leonanls-on-Sea.) pets would
a year !
be allayed.
I have often wondered why some of our There is a secluded corner in Hyde Park
numerous "distressed ladies" do not set up known as the Dog's Cemetery, and amongst
private homes for the care of cats. A really the many headstones I noticed two or three
comfortable home for cats an erected in of lost pussies who have
country is memory
enterprise in which many a woman, who is been privileged to rest in this quiet burying
hopelessly at sea for some means of earning ground.
When we
see poor pussies packed into dirty SANCHO : AN OLD FRIEND.
A large brown Irish retriever buried in
the shops of dealers of beasts and
:
cages in
the Vicarage Garden of St. Paul's, Hagger-
birds in our great metropolis, and when we
ston : a stone to his memory is on the school
are the sight of the wretched
made sad by wall, with this inscription :
starving cats of our streets, we can breathe "

In the centre of this lawn lies
no better wish for them than a speedy
of misery, even
SANCHO,
deliverance from their life if
a gentleman in all but humanity ;
it be to embark with the grim ferryman in

thorough-bred, single in mind, true
their free transportation to the Feline of heart for seventeen years the
;
faithful and affectionate friend of

Elysium.
his master, who loved him, and now
" There shall the worthies of the whiskered race, for him
'
faintly trusts the larger

Elysian mice o'er floors of sapphire chace,
'
Hope contained, it may be, in

'Midst beds of aromatic marum stray, Romans viii. 19-21.
Or raptur'd rove beside the milky way." He died April 26, 1883."
A
French writer of the early part of the NOT sparse of friends the world has been to me
eighteenth century, a famous Jesuit Father, By grace of GOD sweetness and light to life
suggests a very strange theory
on the old idea Their love has given many a stormy
; strife,
I am Many a torpor, on my sea,

as to the nature of the soul of animals. pulseless
sure that the question of a future existence for Through them their presence or their memory
Have been or stilled or quickened and to thee,
who during so short a time in this
;
those pets
MyDog, the tribute, as the term, is due,
world have been our faithful and loving com-
MyFriend ! not least of all dear, near, and true
panions must have often entered into the These seventeen years and through the years to be
hearts and minds of true animal lovers. Sure in my heart of immortality.
A wise and good man a writer of some of Must this be all ? I' the great Day of the LORD,
our most beautiful hymns, and who passed to Shall aught that is of good and beauty now
his rest within the last year wrote and gave Be missing ? Shall not each gift be restored ?
" "
me these lines when he lost his faithful dog : Paul says the whole creation why not thou ?
CATS' TOMBSTONES IN THK DOGS' CKMETKKV, HYDK PARK.

(Photo : Cassell & Co., Ltd.)
37
TABBIKS UP A TKKK. 1'hotc: C. Reitt, Wishaia.
CHAPTER III.
CARE AND MANAGEMENT.

N care, management, and feeding of
the haps with rice or Freeman's Scientific Food,
I catsno hard and fast rule can be laid raw meat twice or three times a week cut up
down, for the dispositions and constitu- into fairly small pieces, horse-flesh (if obtained
tions of these animals differ just as much as from a reliable source) twice a week. Lights,
clo those of human
beings. Fanciers must liver, or sardines may be given occasionally,
therefore learn to treat their cats individually Sloppy food in any large quantity should be
and not collectively they must study their
;
avoided but oatmeal well boiled, cornflour,
;
character and make allowances for the fads arrowroot, and several of the well-known
and fancies of the feline race. I am convinced foods, such as Neave's or Mellin's, make a
that a varied diet is the best for cats, and nice change. Spratt's biscuits of various
fanciers should bear in mind kinds, soaked and mixed with
the importance of regularity in stock, are relished by some
the hours of feeding, whether cats. Vegetables should be
two or three or four times a given frequently, and grass
day. Fresh water should al- supplied, as green food purifies
ways be supplied, and un- the blood and keeps the bowels
finished food should not be left in good condition. Persian
standing about. For one or cats require special attention
two pet cats the scraps as regards their coats, and
from the table given with should be combed and
judgment will probably brushed regularly, and, if
suffice ; but in the case the fur becomes matted,
of a
large cattery with the knots should be cut
several inmates, some sort Avoid washing
away.
of system in is cats there are other
feeding your ;
necessary. I would means of cleansing their

sug-
gest that the chief meal coats, particulars of which
for two BLUE PERSIAN.
days a week will be given in the
should be PRESENTED BY Miss PATTERSON TO HER MAJESTY
fish, mixed per- THE QUEEN. chapter on exhibiting.
3*
FEMALE CATS AND KITTENS. ready she may be mated without delay, as
As regards the management of female cats, some cats go off in two or three days, while
it is necessary to start from the time when others are not safe for a fortnight. If possible,
they first arrive at maturity, viz. when they it is well to select a stud cat near at hand,
are first capable of becoming mothers. This especially if your queen is timid and frightened,
"
usually takes place or they come in season," as a long railway journey may upset her.
as it is called after they are seven or eight It is most essential that female cats
months old and though cases have been
;
should be freed from worms before being
known when has happened before six
this allowed to mate or breed, otherwise the kittens
months, it is very unusual. It may there- will probably fall victims to these pests by
fore be laid down as a rule that if a kitten sucking in the disease with the mother's milk.
exhibits extraordinary high spirits, racing and Most cat fanciers know the symptoms which
tearing about, it should be carefully watched, are suggestive of worms and whenever there
;
and not allowed its freedom without super- is a reasonable suspicion of their
presence, then
vision, either out of doors or in the house. it is best at once to resort to some of the many
Queens may be known to be in season by remedies to be obtained from veterinaries and

several symptoms, such as rolling on the ground, cat specialists.
rubbing up against furniture, increased affection A cat's period of gestation is nine weeks, but
for their owners, and often by the curious cries this is often extended to a day or two longer,
it is best to expect a litter about nine
they utter, at times by a soft note of invitation, so that
at other times by shouts of impatience or dis- weeks from the date of the queen's return
tress which resound through the house. Cats from visiting the stud cat. An experienced
should not be mated until they are nine or ten breeder will most likely see symptoms of a cat
months old at least twelve months is a better
; coming in season, and will then do well to
age, though if they are insistent it will not do give a worm powder. Salvo's No. 3 powder
to put them off more than three times, as may be given one morning, and the cat sent
there are records of cats who, having been kept off the next day quite safely. Visiting queens
back on account of extreme youth, have been should be despatched as early in the morning
seriously ill or have never had families at all. as possible and insured, to save delay on the
On the other hand, it is possible these cats road, with the owner's name and address in-
may have had the reproductive instinct abnor- side package, also the name of the cat, as poor
mally strong, though some cause or another

for pussie will be far happier if on her arrival' she
they would always have been unfertile. Pow- hears herself called by her pet name. Tull
ders are sold to quiet cats who are considered instructions should be sent as to the return
too young to become mothers, and two or three journey also it should be stated if the cat
;
small doses of bromide have a decidedly calm- is kept out of doors or indoors, and what food
ing effect. This drug should, however, be she is accustomed to have, number of meals
If going a very long journey
given with caution, as it is a dangerous one per diem, etc.
in unskilled hands. Cats come in season about the queen should not be nailed into a box, or
every three weeks during the spring and padlocked, as occasional delays occur, and
summer but in the autumn and early winter
;
the railway authorities will feed and look after
months nature seems to intend that they an insured cat if packed in a hamper or box
should rest ; therefore, as soon as the year has where they can get at the occupant. Boxes
turned, and in very mild winters even before or hampers with skeleton lids are by far the
Christmas, no time should be lost in selecting best on this account. If the weather is very
the best sires for the various breeding queens, cold and a basket is used, it should be lined,
and arrangements made with their respective and round the sides brown paper is an addi-
owners, so that as soon as ever a queen is tional safeguard against draughts, for which
CARE AND MANAGEMENT. 39
all stations are proverbial. A very delicate weight, while the other hand gently supports
cat or young kitten finds great comfort in the hind-quarters but the less a cat is
;
winter from a hot-water bottle placed inside lifted about the better.
All medicines should
the hamper for it to rest against. Queens be given quietly and quickly, so that there
should have a good meal an hour or two before may be no struggling. The cat's head should
starting, as they often
arrive upset with the be grasped firmly with the left hand, the
journey, and in their strange
new home will fingers and thumb on each side of the
not at first touch any food. Do not put any corners of the mouth, and forced back on
food in the travelling basket. It is not well the shoulders with a firm pressure this ;
for a to mate just after a heavy meal. will cause~heT to open her mouth, when medi-
queen
warm milk, if these agree with the
Fish and cine can be popped quickly down the throat
queen, or a small meat meal, may be offered from a spoon held in the right hand. In the
after a long, cold journey, and, if eaten, the case of a very restless cat, it is advisable to
queen should be allowed to rest an hour or have an assis'tant in administering medicine.
two before introducing her to the stud cat. Amateurs would do well to practise giving
After mating, a queen should be kept quiet water in a spoon to queens who are in health,
for a few days on her return home, as much so that they may become used to this simple
apart from other cats as possible but no un- ;

method of administering medicine. Cats in
easiness need be felt if the visit does not seem kit require three or four meals daily of nour-
to have quieted the queen, as she will settle ishing food raw meat from four to six ounces
down in a few days and cease to think about night and morning, and fish and scraps and
her mate. With regard to treatment of cats vegetables or biscuit, etc., for the midday
in kitten, some queens are gentle and quiet, meal. Half a teaspoonful of cod-liver oil on
and very careful of themselves, others are their food two or three times a week is very
exceedingly bad-tempered, fighting and quar- good for the queens in cold weather ; but
relling, while some amuse themselves by climb- if sickness ensues, of course the oil must be
ing up high places and jumping down, be- discontinued. Never suffer dianhce-a to go on
having in such a wild and excitable fashion
that they not only endanger their own lives,
but run the risk of bringing maimed and
deformed offspring into the world. Cats such
as these should be kept isolated, if
possible,
or at most with
only one
other quiet queen, and
all
high shelves or tall
articles of furniture
should be removed. It
is
always well to be very
careful in
handling cats
in kitten. They must
never be lifted up by
legs, but when
their fore
absolutely necessary to
move or carry them, both
hands should be used to
do so, one
being placed
under the body by the
THREE UTTLE MAIDS.
shoulders to the
carry (Photo: E. Landor, Ealing.)
4o THE BOOK OF THE CAT.
unchecked. This applies to all cats and kittens frequently suffer from constipation, for which
of whatever age, sex, or condition, but is also warm salad oil is far better than castor
especially dangerous when a cat is in kit or oil, as the latter is irritative to the bowels, and
nursing her young. Mr. Ward and Salvo though acting as an aperient, the after effects
prepare powders which will stop the diarrhoea, are increased costiveness. Warm salad oil,
and if persevered with will restore the bowels given a few hours before the birth of kittens,
to their normal condition. Change of diet is is helpful to the mother. For at least a week
also very helpful. If the diarrhoea is before the kittens are expected, a nice cosy
very
violent or persistent, or if no medicine can be bed should be prepared in some retired spot ;
procured, a small quantity of powdered chalk, and, to a novice, the caution would not be
as much as will lie on a sixpence, may be given amiss do not let a cat in kitten sleep on your
every hour or two, three or four times but ; bed, or she will either have her kittens there,
the primary cause, of which diarrhoea is only or will drag the poor little things into the bed
a symptom, should be sought out, and if not the first chance she gets. If a box is to be
discoverable, the advice of a cat doctor should made ready for the cat, it should be of a fair
be obtained. size (about twenty-six inches by eighteen
Persistent diarrhoea not the accompani-
(if inches), and should be placed on its side, and
ment of diseases, such as inflammation of the a bit of wood about
three inches deep nailed
bowels, etc.), is usually caused by indigestion on to the bottom of the side, standing up to
or worms, and sometimes by a stoppage of fur keep the bedding in its place and the kittens
or foodimperfectly digested, which nature from rolling out. This box may be placed
in this way tries to get rid of and if this is
;
on a table or two chairs, so arranged that the
the case, or there is even reason to suspect cat can step in and out from another chair.
it may be, a dose or two of warm salad oil, The floor of the box should be covered
a teaspoon ful every two hours, will often with several thicknesses of flannel or blanket
bring away the obstruction. Cats in kitten in the winter and paper in the summer. Avoid
coloured materials, as the dye will come out
ifthey get wet. A bolster may be placed at
one side of the box stuffed with straw, or hay
or paper torn up very small, to support the
cat's back but should the weather be very
;
cold and the mother delicate, a hot-water

bottle covered with flannel may be used instead,
and is a great comfort. A covering should be
thrown over the box, which may
be pulled down to hide the in-
terior, as cats love to be screened
from observation ;
and also it is
very essential that the tiny

babies should be kept al-
most in the dark for the
firstfortnight, after which
time, when their eyes are
open, the covering can be
raised in the day and low-
ered at night in cold weather.
A PERILOUS PERCH. This box must be placed on

(1'hoto: C. Reid, Wishaw.) the ground as soon as the
CARE AND MANAGEMENT.
kittens can walk about, but retaining the ledge and slowly down the side during an expulsive
already referred to, which will keep them from pain, as the pressure will help the mother and
ground draughts to a great extent. nice little A hasten the birth of the kittens.
box with run attached is the best house for a After the first is born, the rest come compara-
cat and kittens but as these cost about 253.
; tively easily. Very occasionally there is a cross
each, a number of them become costly and presentation but as only those really com-
;
beyond the means of some breeders. The petent should attempt to do anything in this
bed described is the next best thing, far better case, no time should be lost in sending for the
for shy queens than a box or basket used in nearest cat doctor or veterinary. After the
the ordinary way. An empty drawer makes a first kitten~has arrived the birth of which is
good place, but the kit- usually heralded by a
tens should be moved out loud cry of pain from
of it as soon as they can the mother some milk
see, as it is rather too should be made hot, and
dark and close after the as soon as the new baby
blind period is past. has been cleaned the
A cat should sleep mother will gladly drink
in whatever bed is ar- this but on no account
;
ranged for her for at should cold or even luke-

least a week before the warm milk be given the
kittens are expected, and same day, or, indeed, for
when that day arrives two or three days. Nov-
the queen should be ices are sometimes start-
carefully watched, as led at seeing the cat eat-

some cats will have their ing a lump of something
kittens anywhere if not which they fear may be
looked after. For the a kitten but there is
;
sake of those new to the no occasion for alarm,

fancy, it may be as well as merely the after-
it is
to remark that cats birth, the

consumption
become very restless,
MRS. HARDY'S NEUTER " PHARAOH
of which is probably
walking some-about (Photo Schutk's Photographic Galleries.)
:
Nature's provision for
times purring loudly, and affording sustenance to
looking in cupboards and dark corners, while the mother," as an animal in a wild state
occasionally the first noticeable indication that could get no food for at least several hours
the event is about to come off is that the fur after the birth of its offspring. If a cat is
behind is wet, and if this should be the case wild or shy, it is better to leave her alone (with
no time should be lost in carrying the cat most the exception of offering hot milk from time
carefully to her bed, as the kittens may then to time) until all the kittens are born, and
be expected any moment. Some animals like they should not be examined or handled for
to be left entirely alone while some days.
giving birth to
their young others,
especially pets, prefer
; With a gentle queen the first kitten may
to have their owners near to them but if ;
be taken away when the second is born,
there is
any uncertainty it is better to leave well wrapped up in warm flannel and put
her to herself. by the fire, and so on, always leaving one
Experienced breeders will know that should kitten until the lastis warm and dry, when
the labour be dry or very prolonged it is a the others should be returned to the mother.
great help to a cat to pass the hand firmly This plan is most necessary in cold weather
THE BOOK OF THE CAT-.
(especially if the kittens are born out-of-doors), As soon as the kittens are about a week old,
for if the labour is easy and quick it is quite a finger should be passed over their eyes, and
if there is a little ridge on the lids, the eye
impossible for the queen to dry one kitten
before the advent of the next, and by the time should be moistened with eye-lotion twice
they are born they are frequently stone
all daily with a camel-hair brush. If, after ten
cold, and so wet that the mother gives up days, they do not open as is usual, the eyes
the attempt to dry them in despair ;
and should be sponged with warm water, as in this
many kittens, thought to be stillborn, have case they must have become glued together
died in the night in this way. Kittens quite with mucus, which should be cleared away,
cold and nearly dead have been restored (and and the eye moistened with eye-lotion, taking
have lived to a good old age) by being taken at care a little goes well into the eye. The lid
once to the fire and warmed and dried, and should then be smeared with olive oil to pre-
though at first life may appear extinct, time vent adhesion. It is this adhesion of the lids
and patience will work wonders. If the kittens which causes inflammation, and the eyes must
are taken away from the mother at birth as be frequently attended to, so that they may
described above, it is a good opportunity for be kept open, avoiding any very strong light.
If the kittens are born indoors in the summer,
destroying any that are not wanted, because
of sex or colour. When the litter is given to windows should be kept open during the day,
the mother she should be offered milk again, and when the little creatures are about a fort-
and should after: that be left alone several night old put them out in the sunshine for an
hours; but she will most likely welcome a hour or so daily. The mother must be as well
few kind words and loving pats as a reward fed as she was before the kittens were born, but
for- all- she has 'gone through, and will then carefully notice if she suffers from diarrhoea,
cuddle down; contentedly with her little ones. for if this is the case, and change of diet does
; In giving milk do not take the mother out, or not cure it, you may be certain that she is
even make he'r get .up to drink it, on the day nursing too many kittens, and if some of them
of her confinement if' she cannot reach it
;
; are not speedily removed you will lose them all.
Taise her head and shoulders with If a foster-mother can be procured, by all
comfortably,
one hand; until 'she can reach the saucer held means have one, accompanied by one of her
itt the"0trfer~canvenicntly, and do not be in a own kittens if possible. Make a cosy bed
hurryV'as she knows' well the temperature the for her, warming the blanket, and leave her
milk ought to" be, arid will not take it if too in night, when, if she seems settled down,
it till
hot or too cold. Milk should be given night give her two or more kittens as the case may
and morning, and offered during the day, for be, removing her own the following night.
some days after the kittens are born. Cats Do not attempt to interfere with the kittens
that never like it at other times are thankful while the mother is away, and act very gently,
for it when nursing but, on the other hand,
; talking to, and stroking her so that she may
cats that have been fond of milk will turn away not your interference. If no foster-
resent
from it at" these times. Queens usually come mother can be procured, Mr. Ward, of Man-
out every few hours for food, and their meat or chester, has a clever little appliance which he
ordinary meal should be ready for them, as claims can be used instead of a foster-mother.
they will want to eat quickly and return to
it Some fanciers may take upon themselves
their little ones. After the second or third day the task of bringing up the kittens by hand,
a warm, clean blanket should be substituted and in that case wrap them up in warm flannel,
for the one on which the kittens were born, and keeping them by the fire by day, and giving
it is well to do this when the mother is present, them a hot bottle at night, feeding with
as some cats resent interference during their weak milk and water about every two hours
absence. (this should be about half
and half), with a
O jjj
D -S
< "3
U <0
5.1
teaspoonful of lime-water to each cup of milk to overload their stomachs, but to feed them
and water. It should be given warm, not hot, about four times daily. If healthy they will
and the milk scalded, not boiled. In London eat eagerly, but not ravenously ;
a kitten who
or large towns unsweetened condensed milk is greed}' and precipitates itself into the saucer
is better than cow's milk, as the colouring or in itsanxiety to get its dinner may be suspected
preservative acids used by dairymen in the of worms, and when about eight weeks old
latter is very injurious to kittens. This con- a course of Salvo's No. I powders may be given
densed milk should be much diluted, and with safety.
flavoured with small quantities of salt and As soon as the kittens are about a month
sugar. If too strong or too sweet, the food old, a shallow tin of dry earth or ashes (I do
will cause diarrhoea. Kittens will soon learn to not recommend sawdust) should be provided
suck out of an eggspoon ;
but do not give too for them, and it will well repay their owners
much at once, or force the food down their little to spend some portion of the day with the
throats when they object to take any more. little ones and lift them into the earth-pan
At about five weeks old the kittens will when necessary. If this is done two or three
begin tolap and possibly to eat. Many times, the lesson is probably learnt for life.
fanciers are delighted if they will eat and drink Kittens are naturally clean, and will get out
before a month old, and some make the serious of their beds, and run about crying loudly
mistake of trying to coax the little ones to eat for some accommodation for their wants ;
solid food at this tender age. Such persons and if neglected the seeds of dirty habits
this is
do not stop to think how weak are all the are sown, and the poor untaught little ones
digestive organs of these tiny creatures.

The reap a sad harvest of cuffs and sometimes
milk of the mother supplies all that is needful kicks from servants, who naturally dislike the
for their growth and well-being until such time trouble caused by dirty house pets. Even
as Nature makes itself heard in her demands in catteries cleanly habits in cats are much
for further nourishment, and if substantial to be desired. Ifa cat or kitten gets into
food is given to them too soon, or too strong, dirty ways, it should never be beaten and put
it merely goes through the stomach, passing into the tin, but should be gently stroked and
out into the bowels undigested, decomposes, coaxed into good habits. Those who only
and forms slimy mucus which is the hotbed for keep one or two queens will find that if they
worms, even if it does not set up inflammation spend a few minutes playing with the kittens
of the bowels. More kittens die from worms before their meals, they will be well rewarded
and consumption of the bowels than from any by the quicker growth and better digestion
other complaint, and much of this loss of life of the little ones ; but, of course, this is out
is directly traceable to strong food at too tender of the question in a large cattery.
an age. In summer, kittens should be combed daily
Lung disease, gastric catarrh, gastro-enter- with a small tooth comb, as the insects which
itis, are all directly or indirectly set up inhabit their coats not only worry them and
by the non-assimilation of food hence the ;

cause them to scratch out their fur, but they
supreme importance of giving nourishment convey disease from one to another, to say
nothing of sucking out so much blood
which can be digested easily. After six weeks that
scraped raw beef may be given (if the kittens the poor little creatures become absolutely
want to eat) three times daily in very small anaemic, and in this state they fall an easy prey
to the first disease that attacks them. Fleas
quantities, about half a teaspoonful to start
with, and they may have warm milk and water were formerly treated as irritating but other-
with lime in it. This should be followed by wise harmless insects but we are assured on
;
Mellin's, or Benger's Frame Food, as directed the best authority that they are a dangerous
for infants. It is advisable not to allow kittens medium of disease, and that tape-worms are
generated in dogs and cats by their means. day they wake up to the fact that the poor
The poor animals, wildly resenting the annoy- creature is very seriously ill, and they then
ance of these pests, hunt for them with teeth send off in a hurry for medicine which fre-
and tongue, and, swallowing their enemy, may quently arrives too late and the sufferer
; may
also swallow a number of undeveloped tape- be beyond all human aid.
worms, which in their larval or grub state are Double pneumonia, which is perhaps the
secreted in the abdomen of the flea. Tape- quickest and most fatal of all diseases, is not
worms are said to undergo certain metamor- so sudden but that it is ushered in by various
phoses or transformations, and require to symptoms, beginning often a week before the
pass through the body of some other creature attack becomes acute. An animal will seem
than the one they exist in in their mature cold, will creep near the fire, or sit in the fender,
state of being. mope about, refusing to play, sit in a hunch
It is a great mistake to keep kittens with its back up, or is very sleepy and stupid ;
in heated rooms, and the fur is rough there

;
worse still to allow may be sickness, and

them to be close to a the evacuations are of
fire by day and then to a bright yellow colour ;
let the room get cold perhaps has not quite

it
at night. An even finished its meals for a
temperature, cold and few days and the nose

;
dry, is better than sud- ishot and dry, and, if

den changes ;
cats and taken up, the cat feels
kittens love warmth hot and dry all over.
and comfort, but, at When there are several
the same time, all ex- of these symptoms, no
tremes of heat and cold time should be lost in
are bad. Never neglect administering the reme-
the first symptoms of dies named above every
illness ;
note the signs, hour or two until suit-
and if
you are not able able remedies can be
to dose the invalid KITTB;NS BELONGING TO MISS BROMI.EV obtained ;
but do not
yourself send off a wire rely upon them alone,
to some competent cat doctor describing the or think if
you give them persistently they
form the indisposition has taken, and while will pull the" animal through the illness, for
waiting for medicine no harm can be done by they will not, special remedies being needed
giving as much carbonate of soda as will lie on for special symptoms and for various stages
a threepenny-bit in a little water two or three of disease. No two animals are exactly alike,
times daily. Salvo has lately advertised a and the experienced cat doctor will prescribe
medicine which is said to be very valuable for carefully for each individual cat in the same
giving on the first signs of a cat or kitten way as a physician will give different prescrip-
being out of sorts, and which, he says, will take tions to suit the needs of different patients.
down fever, stop colds, and modify attacks of One thing should never be neglected, and this
bronchitis, pneumonia, etc. ;
and for such is keeping up the strength from the first with
fragile little beings as kittens fanciers would do beef-tea, eggs and milk, Brand's Essence,
well to keep this medicine by them. People or animal a
teaspoonful every
Kreochyle
often say that their cats and kittens seem ill hour. As soon as an animal has refused
or out of sorts, and allow this sort of two meals, begin feeding with spoon, as it
thing to
go on quite calmly for a week or so, when one will have so much more strength with which
to battle against disease if fed up well from in noxious gases which escape through the
the first. skin, causing eczema, or in many cases pro-
People who desire to sell kittens for profit ducing inflammation of the bowels or enteritis.
willdo well to part with them at about two Nothing needs more careful attention than
months old, before they start teething, for at the diet of kittens, and nothing is so little
this period of their little lives fresh troubles studied. It would be no exaggeration to say-
begin. Occasionally they suffer
fits, from that all disease, apart from outside or acci-
but though these are sometimes caused by dental causes, such as draughts, cold winds,
cutting their teeth, they are oftener due to the contagion, etc., is in the first place set up
presence of worms. If the gums are swollen by undigested food, and even what may be
and inflamed, a quarter of one of Steedman's railed external causes would often not be harm-
N'KUTER PETS OWNED KY MRS. HASTINGS LEES.

(Photo: The Royal Central Photo Co., Bournemouth.)
teething powders will soothe them, or a few ful to an animal if the digestive organs were
doses of bromide, as prescribed before for in proper working order. Remember, it is
kittens desiring to mate too early, may be not the quantity of food a kitten takes that
given, and excitable kittens should be kept benefits it. The secret of its health and well-
quiet. If kittens are troubled with diarrhoea, being is in the quantity it digests. A kitten
allstarchy food should be avoided, as it is should only digest certain things in certain
never easily digested by animals. The reason proportions, and whatever remains undigested
of this is not far to seek, when we know that produces irritation, and in this case the kitten
the saliva partly digests starch, while the cannot possibly develop, and is generally
juices of the stomach act directly on meat. weakly and fretful.
Animals, instead of masticating their food. Those who have never cared much for cats
by which means the saliva acts vipon it, often will be interested and amused if they bring
bolt it, and it goes into the stomach and is up a family of kittens, and the love and trust
passed out into the large bowel practically of the little creatures will well repay them
undigested, where it decomposes, working off for all their care.
STUD CATS. ful. An additional amount of food may be

A male cat should not be allowed to mate given to a cat whilst he is being used at stud,
under a year old, and if you wish to keep your and always remember to provide grass in
stud in good condition do not allow more some form or other in your stud cat's house.
than two, or at most three, lady visitors a There is no universal remedy for all cats,
week. There is no doubt that a really reliable neither can there be any rule for feeding them.
stud cat is a very profitable possession. The Different cats need different treatment, and
most essential recommendations are a sound those which are kept in a captive state, as are
constitution and absolute health, combined stud cats, should not be fed on the same lines
with a good pedigree and a list of prize-win- as those tfrnt are allowed full liberty.
ning progeny. It is necessary to exhibit your

stud cat at the best cat shows from time to NEUTER CATS.
time, and thus to keep him before the public. Opinions differ as to the best period for a
It is also advisable to advertise him in the cat to be made neuter, but it is generally
cat papers, and it is often useful to have a considered advisable to have the operation
photograph to forward to fanciers who may performed between the ages of five and eight
be unable otherwise to obtain any idea of months. A male cat can be kept as a house-
your cat. Needless to say that for stud pur- hold pet till he is about nine or ten months
poses a cat should possess the highest possible old without any unpleasantness, but after that
qualifications of the breed to which he be- period he must be relegated to an outside
longs, and a massive frame and broad head cattery or stud house. It is cruel to put off
are most desirable in all stud cats. It is a a cat till he shows signs of wishing to
gelding
good plan to allow the visiting queen to be mate, A duly qualified veterinary ought to
within sight of the male for a short time be employed, and an anaesthetic used. The
before she is put in the stud cat's house, and cat should be kept on a low diet for a day or
for this purpose it is convenient to have a two before 'and after the operation. It is very
small movable pen or hutch to place where seldom that any evil effects ensue, and after
the two pussies can hold catty conversation, a few days the puss is quite himself again.
A stud cat cannot, for many and obvious Neuter cats grow to an immense size, and the
reasons, be allowed his full freedom but it ;
Persian varieties develop great length of fur,
is essential that his dwelling place should have which is generally not shed so frequently or
as long and roomy an exercise ground as pos- to such an extent as in the males and females.
sible. It is also possible with some male cats Neuter cats are very docile, and generally
to tether them out-of-doors for a short period rather lazy- and listless for this reason they
;
during the day, in which case great care should are not accounted such good mousers.
be taken to have the lead only as long as will Female cats can also be rendered sexless, but
permit of exercise within a safe distance of in their case the operation is more likely to be
dangerous pitfalls or spreading trees and shrubs. attended with
dangerous I have
results.
The best time for mating is about one hour heard it stated that a female cat ought to be
atter feeding. allowed one litter of kittens before being oper-
most important that stud cats should
It is ated upon. There are not. many very fine
be ingood coat at the time of mating, and that neuters on exhibition at our shows, and this
they should be free from worms. fact may perhaps be accounted for by reason
The usual fee for a visit to a stud cat is of fanciers picking out weedy and altogether
i is., and this should be sent at the same below the mark specimens of their litters to
time as the request for permission to send a be gelded because they do not consider them
queen. A second visit is generally considered worth keeping to breed from. In this way
allowable if the first one has proved unsuccess- several poor specimens of neuters are to be
seen with indifferent markings, white spots, prolific females, Ihave heard the exclamation,
" "
incorrect coloured eyes, and long noses. For I shall end by keeping only neuters
!
a home pet there of course, nothing to come

is, Cat owners in general, and lovers of neuters
up to a fine neuter cat who will not roam, who in particular, might do worse than agitate for
does not attract amorous females, and who more consideration to be extended to these
is content to lie for hours stretched out on grand pets at our leading shows, and I cannot
the drawing-room rug or the kitchen hearth, help thinking that a neuter club or society
the admired of all admirers. From the lips might be formed to assist in this and other
of many rioted breeders of Persian cats who objects connected with the general improve-
have been troubled by wandering males and ment of our neuter cats.
CAROLLING.
(Photo : Mrs. S. F. Clarke.)
49
'
IN A PLAYFUL SORT OF WAY.

(Photo: E. Landof, Baling.)
CHAPTER IV.
HOUSING OF CATS.
' T^HE stock
proper housing of valuable therefore, that shall be a pleasure and a pride
J_ is the first essential subject to be to the owner, and not a source of
worry and
studied by the beginner in the cat grief over perpetual illness amongst the in-
fancy, and one requiring both careful thought mates, it is necessary in the very first incep-
and attention. For I do not hesitate to say tion to study the chief needs of cat nature.
that, of all the domestic animals, the cat is Let us consider these in order. How our
the most difficult to keep healthy and happy typical healthy cattery may be best arranged.
in the unnatural condition of total or partial It must be dry was ever a cat yet seen of
confinement. Belonging to the ferae, its ori- choice sitting in the wet ? It must have
ginal and savage nature still shows glimpses, ample space, both of houses and runs, and
not wholly tamed, in its independence of inducements for exercise a well-branched
character and its roving habits while yet ;
dead tree sunk in the gravelled run is good,
its civilised side shows the keenest appreci- besides divers posts, shelves, and benches.
ation of the comforts to be found in the Let the aspect be bright, with lots of sunshine.
home life. A house cat that enjoys its free- A cat is a devotee of the sun it is the life of
dom to go out as it pleases, to climb the young growing things,and the greatest de-
garden walls, and anon to lie in purring con- stroyer of disease germs and it is very easy
;
tentment before the kitchen hearth, is a by coverings or the growth of climbing plants
creature ailing little. It is the pedigreed pets, to provide temporary shade during the height
in their luxurious prisons, that too often fall of summer. For this last, nothing is better
a prey to disease. To establish a cattery, than that most useful and least fastidious king
of climbers, the Virginian creeper, as
it bestows cat fancier is fortunate enough to be able to
its leafy shade just when required, and har- disregard expense, he can indulge in brick
bours no damp, as the growth of thick, tall houses with every appliance for comfort and
trees is apt to do. elegance of construction. For others, who
Lastly, let the outlook of the cattery be can supply a working plan, an intelligent local
cheerful. Do not select a spot so far from carpenter (when found) can do much. Occa-
the house life that the attendant who feeds sionally, also, it is possible to convert a portion
and cleans is practically the only person the of existing stabling to very efficient uses. But
cats see in the twenty-four hours. A cat I must advise the
beginner, as regards this
A MUSICAL PARTY.
(Photo : E. Landor, Ealing.)
loves to observe, preferably from some secure last suggestion, to be careful. If the stabling
high perch, whence it may see all that passes is modern, and possesses the main requisites
to exchange greetings with the dogs, the I have already spoken about (of dryness, and
gardener, the maids, the tradesmen coming space, and cheerful light), then all is, and will
to the door, and thus fill its imprisoned hours be, well. But if, as is often the case, the stable
with interest. If you disregard this, and put of temptation is old, perhaps unused for some
your cats out of sight in some back yard, they years, is dark, with more than a suspicion of
will mope badly, and also grow very stupid. damp, and a very certain habitat of rats, then
These principal requirements being borne our fancier is emphatically warned against
in mind, individual fancy of building and making any trial of it. short of pulling down
arrangement may follow. Every breeder of and rebuilding. Let him rest assured, it
experience has his own ideas of best design, would in the end mean the loss of money,
according to means and circumstance. If a time, care, and, most likely, breeding stock
HOUSING OF CATS.
too, and certain ill-health among the poor in- along the wall, and to surface this strip with
mates. I know a case in point where a cat cement or asphalt. Upon this, and against
fancier thus utilised a stable. A converted the wall, we will erect our houses, a long
portion of old stabling that looked most de- wooden shed with lean-to roof, divided into
sirable, and kept scrupulously clean, was three main divisions by matchboarding par-
used for a number of young kittens. Very titions, and with a smaller house at either end,
soon a peculiar and most violent form of skin as shown in plan.
disease appeared amongst them, at first as A, the sleeping-room B, a playroom for
;
mere scurfy patches, but swiftly assuming the queens and kittens and C, the third apart-
;
form of contagious fever, which spread with ment for kittening, or cats it is desirable to
frightful rapidity, infecting every cat with isolate awhile. The smaller houses at the
whom they came in contact. Not until after outside ends reserved for stud cats.D, doors
many deaths, and the most cruel sufferings from one apartment to another of wood. The
of those- who struggled through the disease, outside woodwork is of i-inch feather-edged
was it at last discovered to be acute blood matchboarding, well-seasoned deal, a roof
poisoning, produced by the exhalation of sewer of wood, felted and tarred, being preferable
gas from an old sewer running underneath to the use of corrugated iron, which is very hot
the floors. Rats were probably responsible, in summer and very cold in winter an annual ;
either pipes, or coming

by gnawing through the dressing of sand and tar keeps the felt water-
up into the cattery, themselves stricken with tight for many years. Allow good wide eaves,
the foul disease. and have gutter pipes all round. Inside, line
The site of the cattery selected, the pre- the walls with wall felt, and limevvash ;
or an
paration of the ground may be advisable, inner lining of i-inch matchboarding, allow-
certainly on all clay soils. To ensure perfect ing a two-inch space to be packed with saw-
dryncss, the top soil should be removed a foot dust, keeps the house very warm and dry.
or so and filled in with brick rubble or builders' For the brick back wall, .j-inch matchboard-
rubbish. On this foundation, cement con- ing should be sufficient as lining. The dimen-
crete or asphalt may be laid down. Person- sions of the sleeping-room, A, are 12 feet long
ally, for runs and floors, I prefer the cement ; by ii feet wide, and a wire frame partition with
it is easier to keep clean a bucket of water door subdivides
this again into two equal
can swill it from end to end, while it dries parts. Against
! the back wall, at a height of
much faster than the asphalt. Asphalt in about 20 inches from the floor, runs a broad
outside runs is apt to soften in the summer shelf 4 feet wide, having inch-mesh wire net-
sun, and depress into holes, and within the ting half to open on hinges, and
frontage,
houses the smell of the tar remains strong movable wooden partitions sliding in a slot ;
for some months. The cost of the two is much these for the sleeping-pens, each 4 feet deep by
about the same, but in very damp situations 3 feet wide, two on either side the wire frame
the asphalt is preferable, as it prevents all partition, or convertible into one 4 feet by
ground-damp rising through. 6 by sliding wooden division.
removal of
Now to plan out a medium-size cattery that It will be warmer
for the occupants if these
shall be simple in construction and not ruin- pens are roofed in at a height of 3 feet. Cover
ous to the modest beginner, let us suppose we the bench with oilcloth before putting up the
have at our disposal a fair length of brick divisions. This can be washed over daily if
wall say 60 to 70 feet in length facing necessary, and will dry in a few moments, thus
south, on slightly sloping ground. Our first avoiding the dangers of scrubbing wood in
proceeding will be to level and render damp- damp weather. As nothing offensive can soak
proof by a foot of rubble, as heretofore sug- in, a pure atmosphere is preserved, and risk
gested, a strip n
feet wide and about 45 feet of infection is greatly minimised.
A
comfortable sleeping box or basket should here needed, the cats net occupying this room
be provided for each pen, filled in winter with at night. Cover the asphalt floor with lino-
plenty of sweet hay, and in summer with sheets leum or oilcloth, and put up some shelves
of newspaper orbrown paper. A cat loves to 15 inches high up, but within
wide, fairly
repose on paper, and it has the advantage of leaping distance, against the walls a mov- ;
being cheaply renewable and easily burnt after able bench too, to place the cats upon fcr
a day or two's use. Never use old packing brushing and attending to them. Old chairs
straw for bedding. It is frequently full of that can be spared from the house might end
infectious germs, and many skin complaints their service here or if the luxury of a plain
;
have been traced to its use. Neither are wicker chair could be permitted, and furnished
cushions, blankets, old bits of carpet, matting, with one or two cushions in washable slip
etc., to be recommended. They are apt to covers, it would be as pleasant for the owner
become damp prolonged wet weather, and
in when making her visits as for the pussies them-
retain both dirt and odour. A sanitary tin selves.A ball for the kittens, a reel hanging
to hold dry earth or sawdust should be placed from a string, will stimulate healthy romps,
in each cat house, emptied and washed out even amongst the staid grown-up cats, when
every morning by the attendant, when the weary of indoor dozing.
floors are also swept out cr washed over. Room C C is primarily intended for the
A fair-sized window, to open, must be in interesting occasions when new little prize-
the front, and a door, the upper half of which winners are -expected. This is subdivided by-
might also be of glass, to open out into a gravel wire as in sleeping-room, but the partition three
run. Outside wooden shutters for cold nights feet from back wall should be of wood, to ensure
are a great help in keeping the house warm, and privacy to the anxious mother, and to temper
should be provided. the light oilcloth on floor.
;
Having arranged our first room, the playing For the littering nests themselves I describe,
room, B, next must come under consideration. and advise my friends to make trial of, the
This being the central division, the felt lining following plan. Have a sort of shallow
could here be dispensed with, and instead the wooden box, or tray with sides, made about
boards can either be plainly stained and var- 4 feet 6 inches long by 24 inches high and
nished which is also easy to keep perfectly 4-inch sides. This is stained, varnished, and
clean or Willesden damp-proof paper might mounted on wooden feet at the four corners
be nailed over the walls. This paper, made about two inches high ;
a good bed of hay
at the Willesden Company's works, Willesden is put in it, the box is put in a quiet
Junction, N.W., is made in several good corneraway from the light, and a truss of
colours for interior lining, and a house so hung new straw placed upright at one end of ^he
looks very comfortable, and shows to advan- box, leaning against the angle of the wall. A
tage such mural decorations as show prize little of the straw at the bottom may be
The frontage hole to

cards, photos of winners, etc. pulled out to suggest the idea of a
of this room is to be entirely glazed, in small the cat but as a rule she takes to the noticn
;
panes set in a wooden framework, with a brilliantly, and will set to work to dig out a
6-inch high weather board at floor to protect nest for herself with the greatest zest. In
from draughts, the glass protected on the this the kittens are born, safe in a cosy nest
inside by wire netting fastened over it. A at the end of a tunnel of straw. There is ample
window here to open outwards with a bolt, ventilation; they protected from all
ore
and fairly high up, to ensure fresh air in rainy draughts, so that doors may be left open
weather without the wet and damp driving to the fresh air with impunity and they rnv ;
in on a level with the cats a half-glass door

;
in the dark, as kittens naturally should be till
also to run, but no outside shutters will be they walk out into the daylight of their own
desire to explore the world. Then the rest select it growing for themselves. The design
of the tray forms a glorious playground for here suggested capable of either modification
is
the first week or two, when one adventurous or extension. The plan can be enlarged to
mite finds out he can climb up the shallow any extent. For instance, if desired, an
sides, and tumble out on a large strange world attendant's cottage could be built at one end
of floor and trot after mamma. A well-known instead of the stud house, and comprise a
fancier tells me she has not had one litter with special kitchen, and also an upper room, fitted
weak or bad eyes since she adopted the straw with convenient pens for a hospital for the sick
truss plan. members a very necessary adjunct to the
One of these trays might be placed each cattery, as a sick cat should be at once re-
side of the wooden partition, and if necessary moved from healthy companions and kept
its
to shut a nervous or surly cat up with her in aplace quite apart. More stud houses
family, one might be enclosed in a wire front- could be arranged at an angle on one side of
age with door, as the sleeping-pens were ar- the chief runs, or, if
only a very few cats are
ranged. Let there be a good large window in intended to be kept, one of the divisions could
this room, as the kittens, when running about, be dispensed with, perhaps, and the dimensions
will want all the sunshine and air possible. of the other two made smaller. But whatever
This run should be of asphalt, for dryness and your ambitions may be, great or small, when
warmth, with plenty of play places arranged you are about it have the work well done.
in it. An old barrel with the bottom knocked The heating of catteries is a rather vexed
out affords great games, also the tree I have question, many famous breeders affirming that
before spoken of a tree-stump or two, or a
;
stock raised without it are healthier and
heap of dry brushwood stacked in a corner, harder ; others maintaining that a certain
will supply those climbing and hiding holes amount of heat isa necessity for producing a
kittens so greatly enjoy, and afford protection good coat. A very experienced breeder once
from winds. told me the heaviest-coated kittens she ever
A grass run and a gravelled one are designed bred were reared over some hot-water pipes,
in the plan, each having access to the other, and
:
n a temperature of 70 With adult cats !
will allow the cats ample exercising ground having partial freedom and allowed to come
according to weather. An oval flower-bed in into the house in severe weather, and
the centre of the grass plot, planted with with stud cats, I consider the no-heat plan
some evergreen bushes, is a good idea. It decidedly the best but I do not think it
;
affords shelter, and the cats can dig in the dry possible to rear young stock during the colder
earth. For the benches in the gravel run, an part of the year in an outdoor cattery without
old outhouse door, painted and mounted on artificial heat. It is the damp of the English
stout legs, makes a very good one, which the winter which proves so fatal, and damp can-
cats love to sit upon. not be kept out of the very best constructed
The stud houses are simple : a wired-in houses except by the admission of dry heat.
space of 12 feet by n
feet contains a house wiih Kittens that are cold will not play, and if
lean-to roof 4 feet by 8 feet long, iitted you see them huddled together on a cold day
with sleeping bench and box, wired win- looking listless and uneasy, instead of romping,
dows, door for attendant, and small trap- be sure it is fire heat they need.
door for cat. En passant, all doors should A thermometer should hang in each house,
be fitted with good locks, and locked up and the heat be carefully regulated by that, a
after feeding night is done.
at The stud minimum of 48 and a maximum of 55 being
run is gravelled, but a border of grass might suggested. In houses where a flue is practic-
be left on two sides grass is such a necessity able, a stove of the Tortoise pattern is to be
for cats in confinement, and they prefer to recommended, but it needs a high guard around
HOUSING OF CATS. 55
it. For a long range of brick-built houses, an sote in any quantity, or do not carbolic, I
outside flue and boiler, with hot-water pipes approve of, of an

except in cases of illness
running the length of the cattery, would be infectious type, when stronger measures are
found of most service, as it maintains an even obligatory.
and medium warmth throughout, keeps the Xo dirty food dishes, no unchanged water,
building perfectly dry, no soil of any kind,
and can be stoked with should ever
be left
less trouble. In small about on flooring or
wooden houses, very bedding. Let your
excellent results are cattery be kept
given by the use of an as scrupulously clean
oil stove with hot- and sweet as a hos-
water apparatus, such pital, then will your
as are supplied for cats thrive and kit-
small greenhouses. A LITTER BOX. tens be healthy and
The lamp will usually sturdy.
burn twenty -four hours without attention, Do
not elect to start a cattery unless you
is un-get-at-able by the cats, who can neither yourself intend to bestow both time and
singe their tails nor knock it over during trouble upon it. In this, as in every other
the wildest gambols, and if kept clean and occupation or hobby, the one golden rule
"
looked to with care will not cause the slight- is, Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do,
est odour. A quart of paraffin in one of these do it with all thy might."
oil stoves will burn APPLIANCES.
- four
twenty hours, In the preceding
and heat a building 12 section on the cat-
feet by 10 feet to 50.
tery proper, I have
Now, in concluding not spoken of the
this little discourse very useful variety of
upon catteries, the portable houses
final word of advice which are now made
is
always to remem- a speciality of many
ber the importance firms, considering
of absolute cleanliness. them more or less as
There should never accessories to the well
be the least offensive appointed cattery.
smell in the cattery, But in town
small
and if such be noticed gardens, where space
on entering the A USEFUL CAT HOUSE. is valuable and it is
houses in the morn- not convenient to

ing, discover the cause and remedy it at build a large permanent structure, it is quite
once. And do not rely solely upon disinfect- possible to succeed extremely well when two
ants to do this. Too frequently this is but or three cats only are kept by using these
overcoming a bad smell by a stronger, the evil portable houses. They also have the advan-
A good and non-injurious disin- "
remaining. tage of being removable and a tenant's
fectant should always be used in the water for fixture" in the event of leaving one's house,
the daily cleansing of
pans and floors, etc. A very good house is one built by
Camphaleyne or Salubrene are both safe and Messrs. Boulton and Paul, of Norwich (see
effective, but disinfectants that contain creo- illustration). It is a very pretty and well
designed structure, and would be exceedingly enter now and again, when we are fain to retire
ornamental in a sheltered corner of the garden. worsted from the conflict with disease, and
In putting up, however, it should be stood the wisest and kindest thing to do is to put
upon brick piers to raise it at least four inches our pet to sleep. The illustration given on
from the ground, or the wooden flooring would the opposite page depicts a lethal box, as used
soon show damp. Cats kept in these small at the Royal London Institution for Lost and
houses, it must be understood, should have Starving Cats at Camden Town, and is capable
their liberty at least a portion of every fine of holding twelve animals at a time.
and dry day, the runs being wholly inadequate Mr. Ward, the well-known feline specialist
for a cat to be shut in continuously without of Manchester, has patented a lethal box
further scope for exercise. of more moderate dimensions. Mr. Ward,
Anotherillustration is a handy portable not yet having an illustration of it, kindly
"
hutch, intended to be used chiefly in a house or writes me the description as follows : The
room, although it is also convenient for penning box inside is 15 inches by 12 inches by
young kittens out-of-doors on a sunny day. the 12 inches. A sheet of glass is inserted in the
wire run prevent- lid, so that the
ing their straying operator in a y

watch the process.
away. It consists
of a sleeping-box The vapour coal
and small wire run gas passed through
hooked on, and chloroform enters
can be made at through a tube at
the cost of a few end. Two minutes
is sufficient time."
shillings.
The sleeping-box Fanciers, I
is 24 inches long think, will agree

that this simple
by 17 inches wide
and 22 inches high, A POKTABLK HUTCH. peace-giving box
is not among the
is raised three
inches from floor bottom, and has
by a false least of Mr. W'ard's kindly ministrations to the
a large door at back opening with a brass cats he loves so well. Few amongst us can
catch. In front, two side-pieces reduce the bear to see unmoved the terrible last pains of
entry to 12 inches. A handle screwed on the a pet who in its days of health delighted us
top of the box is convenient for carrying. with its beauty.
Feeding utensils we turn to next. For
The run is 3 feet 6 inchesby 24 inches-, made
in four sections, two sides, top and end piece, them nothing is more satisfactory than the
all fitted and hooked together with i-inch unbreakable enamelled ware in white or blue
except, perhaps, for the water pans,
mesh wire netting that it may be easily taken for
apart for carrying or storing away. It makes

which it scarcely weighty enough, and it
is
a useful sleeping-pen, too, for young toms that not infrequently happens that a gay and
are inclined to quarrel together, and so have to frolicsome company of kittens will knock
be shut up separately at night. All the wood- against them, sending them spinning,
and
work stained and varnished, and a square
is the water is spilt upon the floor.
of oilcloth laid on the floor of the sleeping-box. The circular, heavy glazed earthenware
spittoon-shaped, and generally
in-
The next appliance to be considered is a dishes,
"
somewhat gruesome adjunct to the cattery, scribed Pussy," are excellent, and cannot
and belongs to the darker side of our hobby. be overturned.
In spite of every care, illness and death must Besides the plates and saucers for feeding,
HOUSING OF CATS. 57
let the catshave also a saucepan of their own, once.) They will then last free from rust, and
a deep stewpan-shaped one. of blue enamel, can be washed out every morning. Two or
large enough to cook

a sheep's head with three tins of smaller size say, 12 inches by
biscuits. Cook will be far less prone to grum- 8 inches by 2 inches are suggested for kittens,
1-
ble at the necessary cooking for the cats I or for placing in small pens in an emergency.
speak here of a small cattery, when no attend- Baking tins answer this purpose.
ant kept if her saucepans are not pressed

is After washing, it is well to stand these trays
into the service. in the air to sweeten, as if they smell disagree-
But see that all are kept scrupulously clean, able the cats will not u~e them.
" "
nothing left over Messrs.
Whiteley
inthesaucepan to be- supply these zinc
come sour or tainted tins, or they can be
in weather
hot ;
made by any local
and after each meal ironmonger to di-
iscooked, the sauce- mensions given.
pin should be boiled Hot - water appli-
out with soda and ances. These are
scoured clean. very necessary in the
Earth tins. A cattery, and should
great mistake made by no means be for-
in these necessary gotten.
items is having them Many a sick cat's
too deep. I have life has been saved,
seen an old zinc foot- and the critical
bath supplied to two corner in an illness
months old kittens turned, by the timely
with quite six inches comfort and strength
of sawdust in it, and bestowed by the hot-
the owner wondered water bottle or bag,
why she could not or even a brick made
teach her kittens to hot in the oven and
be cleanly in their
wrapped up. In the
habits !
event of winter lit-
A4 inch deep tray I.KTHAL CHAMUKK, ROYAL LONDON INSTITI'TION ters, too, a hot-water
is quite
deep enough, HOME FOR LOST AND STARVING CATS. bag should be always
and this should not (Photo : Cassell & Company, Limited.)
in readiness, in case
be tilled more than it is advisable to
Uvn thirds full, or the cat rakes so much earth remove the first-born kittens from the mother
out on the floor. Neither do they require to for a few hours. Heat will restore a seemingly
be very large, as their weight when filled with dead kitten, as I have said before. The
soil makes them very cumbersome to move, outside dwellers also, how they appreciate
and they get the more quickly knocked out of on a bitter winter's night the hot bottle or
shape. The best size is about 17 inches by wrapped up hot brick to keep them cosy !
14 inches and 4 inches deep, made in stout I know a luxurious stud cat who has a
galvanised iron, with a rim round the edge, hot-water tin made to fit his sleeping box,
and these might be painted some light colour which is filled by the maid every cold night and
with Aspinall's enamel paint. (I advocate slid beneath his hay bed. Assuredly, there is
"
light paint." as any dirt stains are seen at no greater safeguard against winter's chills and
changes of temperature than to provide for under the notice of the Society for the Pre-
your pets sleeping warmly and comfortably vention of Cruelty to Animals.

at night. The hot-bottle plan has many I have seen
big heavy cats jammed into
advantages over the heating of the sleeping margarine hampers, a thin wicker receptacle
houses by stove or lamp during the night. It whose sides slope inwards like a flower-pot,
is better for the animals themselves, as the air where the animal must have suffered agonies
"
is not ex- of cramp in a veritable chamber of little
hausted, and ease." Others are sent weary distances in

they are not shallow, rough grocery boxes with a few holes
so prone to bored for ventilation, subject to be thrown
take a chill about in transit, first on one side then oil the
going from oth'er, the lid perchance nailed on, giving
heated air to thereby much extra trouble to the penning
the outside officials. Little wonder if the cat arrives
rawness of bruised, shaken, frightened nearly to death,
a w i n t e r's and very probably wild and savage.
morning. It Now, as evil is wrought bv want of thought
is much safer, (and common sense) as well as want of heart,
and it is also I have thought it well to comment on these
SPRATT'S TRAVELLING BASKET. much more very wrong and stupid ways of sending our
economical. cats on their journeys before advising better
Personally prefer the indiarubber bag to
I
arrangements.
the old-fashioned stone bottle, and in the Here are two illustrations of excellent
smaller sizes (which are quite large enough) travelling baskets, which fulfil pretty nearly
are not much more expensive than the latter. all requirements for cats travelling singly.
Ifnot filled too full, and wrapped in a wash- The first is made by Messrs. Spratt, and
able cover flannelette is very good it can has an inner skeleton lid, which is much to be
be laid flat under the hay, and the cat will recommended when sending a vicious or very
remain upon it all night. In the case of a timid cat that is likely to make a bolt on the
sick cat the cover should always be of flannel, basket being opened.
to avoid any chill as the bag grows colder. The second, bee-
Then, our list of appliances, proper travel-
in hive shaped, is de-
ling baskets must come under consideration. signedby Mrs. Paul
" "
I say proper advisedly, for how hetero- Hardy, of Chobham.
geneous is the collection of hampers, .boxes, It is of strong white
baskets I had almost added bundles one wicker, the lid fas-
sees brought in by the officials during the re- tening with a rim of
ceiving hours big show
before a Every ! about two inches
variety of package, very many of which are deep over the body
exactly what they ought not to be. Some of the basket, aper-
unnecessarily elaborate, polished wooden cases tures in rim the A USEFUL CAT HASKET.
with brass fittings handsome and durable allowing the wicker
no doubt, but far too cumbersome, and by loops of the fastenings to project when the ;
their very weight inflicting much jar on the cane stick is thrust through these the basket
occupant when moved about while others ;
is absolutely secure not a paw can get out.
are a disgrace to anyone pretending to care This beehive shape has several advantages.
about a cat or even to know what a cat is, The cat can stand up and stretch itself at ease,
many deserving to be straightway brought when tired of lying down. The handle being
1
Q
H
I
5
o
F
X
J
tn
o
u
ffi
u
1
to THE BOOK OF THE CAT.
at the apex, it is carried even by porters luggage, or dropped flat with a bang. \Vith
without the cat being tilted off its legs whilst ; young kittens inside this leads to fatalities.
the dome top prevents any other package being A
label for the travelling basket seems an
piled upon it a disadvantage the flat-typed insignificant item to mention, but an efficient
hamper always has. I line my baskets out- one is as important as that proverbial nail fcr
side with brown paper or oil baize up to the whose absence the horse and the kingdom were
rim, and inside with curtaiji serge, leaving the lost.
lid free for ventilation. TTien, with plenty of have just made the acquaintance of a
I
hay bottom of the basket, the cat will

at the and sent out by a Mr.
first-rate label, devised
travel from one end of England to the other in Foalstone, at sixpence per dozen, from the
comfort and safety, with no danger of taking Aerefair Engineering Works, near Ruabon. It
"
cold even about draughty platforms or
if left is a stout linen label, printed Valuable Live
" " "
in parcel offices. This basket is made by Cat in big block letters below is
; Urgent
Messrs. Bull, of Guildford, at a very moderate in red a good idea, red being more likely to
cost,and lasts for years. attract the casual eye of the railway official.
These baskets are, of course, intended for Spaces are left below for line of travel, via, etc.,
one cat only, or a pair of kittens. A really and date and time of despatch. It is revers-
safe and capable travelling arrangement for a ible, so the sender can fill up witli the return
litter with the mother has yet, I think, to be address if necessary. I always prefer to fasten
devised. I have seen none I think good. the label down at both ends, flat to the basket :
The double compartment hamper I much dis- it is be torn away than when left
less likely to
like. The handles are perforce at each end, hanging loose from one eyelet.
necessitating two carriers who never do it It is by due attention to the details that
so the hamper is dragged by the porter or cat fanciers can to some extent mitigate the
official with one end tilted (the other cat being dangers and risks that must necessarily attend
nearly upside down), is leant up against other the transit of live stock by rail.
6i
WAKING BKACTIKS.
(Pholo: Mrs. S. F. Clarke.-;
CHAPTER V.
EXHIBITING.
MONGST cat fanciers there is a laudable exhibit would be a winner but for its condi-
ambition not only to breed good stock tion," and I have had to put it down in the
but to exhibit it. Certainly there is list. There is no doubt that with long-haired
vastly more gratification and satisfaction in cats a fine full coat will cover a multitude of
obtaining high honours for cats and kittens sins, but cannot alter a long nose or pool-
it
that we have bred ourselves, rather than for shape and bad-coloured eye and in urging
;
those specimens which money has purchased. the importance of condition, I at the same time
If we consider that our cats have
sufficiently deprecate the awarding of prizes to cats that
good points to merit their being entered for have nothing to recommend them but their
a show, we must bear in mind that all the pelage. Seeing, therefore, that a handsome
beauty and form and feature will be thrown specimen may go to the wall for the lack of
away unless our pussies are in good show attention on the part of the owner, it behoves
1
condition. For exhibition purposes condition all cat fanciers and would-be exhibitors to do
means everything, and this is more especially everything in their power to make their cats
the case with the long-haired breeds. A look their very best, so that their pets may be
first-class specimen whose coat is ragged and things of beauty in the show pen. In the dog,
matted cannot fail to suffer in the judges' rabbit, and pigeon fancy a great deal more
estimation when compared with another attention is given to condition than amongst
cat, of inferiorquality perhaps as regards cat fanciers, who need waking up to the fact
points, but yet in the pink of condition, with that nothing goes so far to propitiate a judge
its coat well
groomed, its eye bright, its fur as superb show form and general good appear-
soft and
silky. In the present day many of the ance. There may be standards of points for
sp imens penned are so close together in point the guidance of the awards, but assuredly a
of breed merit that a
very little turns the scale common-sense judge will look with disfavour
one way or the other. I have often said to on a specimen with excellence of breed and
myself, when judging a class of cats, "This correct colour of eye if his coat is draggled and
matted, his tail dirty, and his fur soiled. We brush it This treatment will give a soft
out.
have only to run our minds back to the various and silky appearance to the coat, but for light-
exhibits of well-known fanciers at our large coloured cats the powder is more cleansing.
shows, and we shall find that the most per- Cats require to be educated to the show pen,
sistently successful exhibitors have been those and it is very necessary in some cases to give
who have sent their cats to the shows in the a course of training. For this purpose it is
best condition. Some fanciers, wishing to well to obtain a similar pen to those used at
help on entries at a show, will exhibit their shows, and to place your puss in this for an
Persian cats when quite out of coat. This is hour or two daily. In time he will learn to
a mistake send your entry money if you like
;
come and sit and look out of his temporary
to the secretary, but keep your coatless cats at prison, and when lie makes his d/'but he will
home. As regards the short-haired breeds, not spoil his chances by crouching at the back
these cats should have coats with a gloss and of the show pen, or vex his would-be admirers,
brilliancy like that of a well-groomed horse, who may have recourse to the use of an um-
shining like satin ;
a spiky appearance in the brella or stick to make the exhibit move into
fur denotes poor condition in both long and a more convenient and conspicuous position.
short breeds. Taking it for granted you have decided to
In getting cats ready for exhibition owners send your cat to a show, the first step is to
should look to their comforts in every way. register it in the club under whose rules the
Their houses and beds should be kept clean, show is to be held. At present the National
their coats combed and brushed daily. At- Cat Club and the Cat Club both require
tention shouid be paid to their ears, for if these separate registration, the charge being one
are neglected a cat will continually scratch shilling. It is, however, to be hoped that the
them, and thus injure its appearance by tear- earnest wish of all cat fanciers and exhibitors
ing out its fur. Some fanciers are in favour will ere long be fulfilled, and that one register
of washing their cats, but when we take into willbe kept by an independent person, so that
consideration the usually delicate constitutions pedigrees can be verified and mistakes rectified,
of Persian cats, and the restless, impatient and the confusion caused by a double regis-
nature of these animals, it behoves us to try tration will cease to worry and perplex the
to find some other effectual means
of cleansing cat-loving community. Registration forms
their coats, which in the case of white and are supplied by the secretaries of the respective
silver cats are naturally easily soiled. Experi- clubs, and you must fill in the particulars of
ence has taught me that very good results can your cats as set forth on the forms, a sample
be obtained by damping the coats with a soft of which is here given, together with the regis-
cloth dipped in a weak solution of ammonia tration rules of the National Cat Club :
and water. Follow this up by rubbing some

white powder into the fur and well fingering REGISTRATION.
the parts that are at all greasy. Pears' white The registration rules of the National Cat Club are
as follow
precipitated fuller's earth is the best prepara-
:
tion, and is perfectly harmless. To clean away I. Every Cat exhibited at a show under National Cat Club
Rules must (except such as are exhibited exclusively in Local
the powder use a fairly soft brush, and after Classes, or exhibited in Classes exclusively for litters of
this process has been gone through several kittens), previous to the time of entry for such show, have
been entered in a registry kept by the National Cat Club at
times your cat will be fit for show. Another
their offices.A charge of is. each shall be made for regis-
method of long-haired cats is to
cleaning tration. In such registry shall be inserted the name and
heat a quantity of bran in the oven. Put it breed of the cat, and its breeder's name, the date of birth,
names of sire and dam, and of grand-sires and grand-dams,
into a large bowl or footbath, and stand the
and if the dam was served by two or more cats their several
puss in it. Rub the hot bran well amongst the names must be stated. If the age, pedigree, or breeder's
fur for some minutes, and afterwards carefully name be not known the cat must be registered as breeder,
EXHIBITING.
"
age or pedigree unknown," any or all, as the case may be. The various varieties as recognised by the Club are
If the name of a cat be changed, or an old name re-assumed, as follow :
such cat must be again registered and identified before

exhibition in its altered name. SHORT-HAIRED CATS. LONG-HAIRED CATS.
2. A name which
has been duly registered in accordance 1. SIAMESE. 15. BLACK.
with Rule i cannot be again accepted for registration of a cat 2. BLUE. 16. WHITE.
of the same breed, without the addition of a distinguishing 3. MANX. 17. BLUE.
number, prefix, or affix, for a period of five years, calculated 4. FOREIGN. 18. ORANGE.
from the first day of the year next after the one in which 5. TABBY. 19. CREAM.
the name was last registered but the name of a cat after
;
6. SPOTTED. 20. SABLE.
publication in "Our Cats" and the Stud Book, or which has 7. BICOLOUR. 21. SMOKE.
become eligible for free entry therein, cannot again be 8. TRICOLOUR. 22. TABBY.
assumed. Q. TORTOISKSHELL. 23. SPOTTED.
10. BLACK. 24. CHINCHILLA.
N.13. The name of a cat that has become eligible for free
11. WHITE. 25. TORTOISESHELL.
entry in the Stud Booh in any year shall not be changed after
12. SABLE. 26. BlCOLOUR.
the 3ist of December of that year.
13. TICKS. 27. TRICOLOUR.
Cats do not receive a number on registration. Numbers ABYSSINIAN.
14.
are only assigned to Prize Winners or cats entered in the
Stud Book on publication, on payment of a fee of Five
its be seen that you are requested to
It will
Shillings, in addition to One Shilling for registration. more than one name, and it is very
give
The application for registration must be made on a desirable in the first instance to select an
form as follows uncommon
:
one, which may be considered your
XIMDKK OK BREED AS PER LIST IN MARGIN
cat's exhibition title, but you will doubtless
_COLOUR
have some short pet name for home use. A
I wish to register the following (Sex) by the name of prefix, probably the name of the town or
village in which you live, can be used to
Previously registered by the name of
For this an
specially identify your cat.
extra charge is made. It is well to fill
Signature af Oancr
(Mr., Mrs. or Miss) in the pedigree as far as possible, and every
exhibitor should strive to obtain correct
Address
particulars of date of birth and name of breeder
LATE OWNER
of 'the cat to be exhibited. It is a pity to
(if any) "
label your cat unknown," if with a small
SIRE I G. SIRE amount of trouble exact details can be ob-
tained. At any rate, it is important to
OWNER 01- SIKE DAM
state the names of the two parents. The
DAM G. SlRE_
age of kittens should be counted by months
}
that is, say, from the 2Oth to the 20th.
OWNER OF DAM Having registered your cat, you receive a
_JG. DAM_
notification of such registration, and whether
DATE OF BIRTH
you are intending to exhibit or not it is
very necessary and advisable that your cat
NAME & ADDRESS OF BREEDER
should be duly registered in at least one of
the parent clubs.
A separate fee is charged for each cat or
NOTE. If this name cannot be registered, I select one of the kitten in each class, and the amount must be
following, and nama them in the order named (i) :
forwarded at the same time as the entry is
made. The following is a copy of the entry
form used at the Cat Club's Show at Brighton
Only one cat must bo entered on one form, which
in 1901, and I may mention that the fee for
must be forwarded with a remittance of one shilling to
-Mrs. A. Stennard
Robinson, Hon. Sec., at 5, Great registration has since been raised from 6d.
James Street, Bedford Row, London, W.C. to is. :
ENTRIES CLOSE MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4th, igoi.

Class as per Schedule.
No.
BRIGHTON CHAMPIONSHIP SHOW OF THE CAT CLUB,
TO BE HKLD AT
MELLISOVS HALL, WEST STREET, BRIGHTON,
ON WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13 AND i
4 TH, 1901,
Under the Exhibition Rules of The Cat Club.
RULE AS TO REGISTRATION OF NAMES OF CATS AND KITTENS.

Every Cat or Kitten exhibited at a Show under The Cat Club Exhibition Rules MUST
be Registered at the Cat Club. Fee 6d. Also Entered in Classes num-
bered as per Schedule.
Every Cat or Kitten which may have changed ownership since Registration MUST,
before Exhibition, be Transferred to its new owner in the books of The Cat Club, Nos.
Fee One Shilling.
To change the name of a Cat or Kitten, when allowable, the fee is One Shilling.
See The Cat Club Exhibition Rules, Nos. i to 6, in the Schedule.
CERTIFICATE OF ENTRY.
E f)U'fbj_) <ffrt'ttf)J that the Cat or Kitten to be exhibited by me as below is bona. H
property, and I enter it at my own risk, subject to the Exhibit on Rules of The -*
Jide my
Cat Club, and the Regulations of this Exhibition as arranged by the Committee- Please not to write in this
space
Has this Cat been Registered at The Cat Club (see note abovc)-
Hns thisCat been Transferred (if purchased) to yourself as owner in Iht

books of The Cat Club (sec note above)
Name of Exhibitor (in full)
(Title, Rev., Mr., Mrs., or Miss. (See Rule 3.)"
Address
Kindly fill in the amount en-
Name oT Cat or Kitten (as registered at The Cat Club)
closed for Fees, &c., as
(If in Stud Book, add number.)
under :
Breed- Colo
Cheque
Date of Birth Sex -
See *"
(Male, Female or Neuttr.) Post Office
Exhibition^
Rules tl lireeder- Order ...
.
1166 j5
of The ,l ? <Sire Postal Order...
Cat Club &-
in the & D
Schedule. .5 Cash
Prizes won -
Price (Iffor Sale.) Dale -

.
Total
N.B. No MILK will be given to any Cat or Kitten unless specially requested
here Water will be provided otherwise.
No Entries will be accepted without Fees. Postage Stamps taken Thirteen to the Shilling.
Exhibitors are particularly requested to write distinctly, and also to be careful to name correctly the Class in which they
intend to exhibit their Cat or Cats.
All Correspondence and Entries to be addressed to Miss F. SIMPSON, Durdans House, St. Margaret's-on-Thames.
The exhibiting rules should be carefully always stated in the schedules that the
It is
studied, and intending exhibitors must pay entries close on a particular date, and that
great attention to the classification set forth after tin's none can or will be received. Ex-
in the schedule so as to determine the correct perience proves, however, that this is often
class in which to enter their cats. If there not a law of the Medes and Persians, for the date
remains any cloubt in the mind of the novice, is frequently of an elastic nature, and thereforr-
then it is best to consult some reliable and it is always worth while for an intending
well-known breeder, giving a full description exhibitor to write requesting that, if possible,
of the cat you wish to show. his entry may be received, although it is im-
It is a grievous disappointment if through wardcd after the advertised time of closing.
ignorance or carelessness a good specimen is Many exhibitors are not aware that by pay-
"
labelled Wrong class." ing an extra shilling they can generally secure
EXHIBITING,
a double pen for their cats. It is not usual is taken into consideration in judging, and
for the secretary of a show to send a receipt perhaps a large litter of six may take over a
for entries and fees, as the tallies and labels smaller litter of three, even though the quality
which are forwarded later serve as an acknow- of the trio is in advance of the larger family.
ledgment for these. When by any chance As regards pairs of kittens, I would say select
labels, etc., are not received in time to be two kittens as near alike as possible in colour,
used by exhibitors, or they are lost or mis- size, and quality they need not be of the
;
laid, then the hampers should be addressed same litter, but it is as a " pair " they will be
to the secretary of the show, and a note of judged, so if one exhibit is much inferior to
RICHMOND CAT SHOW :

ARRANGEMENT OF TENTS.
(Photo: Cassell & Compan", Limited.)
explanation enclosed. The entry can then its fellow then the value of the pair is seriously
be looked up, and the pen number discovered. diminished. A defective eye or damaged tail
If cats are entered in joint names, then it is will tell against a cat or kitten in the show
desirable that the owners should let the secre- pen, therefore it isthrow away
useless to
tary know to whom to send the labels and entry fees upon these blemished, though per-
tallies, as if these are only forwarded a day chance dearly loved, creatures.
or two before the show to the partner who The question of ribbons to suit the colours
does not keep the cat, complications may of the various cats is one deserving of con-
arise. are provided at a show,
If litter classes sideration. Many exhibitors make the mistake
it is well for the intending exhibitor to send of using broad ribbons and making very
the whole litter, as the number of the family big bows, but both long and short haired
cats present a neater appearance with narrow who value their cats for their own sakes and
ribbons, and the bow should be stitched in the for their intrinsic worth, to do all in their power
centre, so that it cannot come undone and thus to mitigate the discomforts of a journey and
give a dishevelled appearance to the puss. the risks that must necessarily attend the
The metal tallies will hang more gracefully conveyance of live stock
by rail. Some fanciers
roimd the neck if ran through
a slip ring is make it a rule never to exhibit unless they
the hole of the tally and then the ribbon is themselves can take and bring back their
put through the ring. Cushions and hang- cats, and though this necessarily entails a
ings for the pens are not at all desirable, even great .deal of trouble and some expense, yet
if they are permitted. collect germs
They there is an immense satisfaction in feeling our
and become offensive,moreover it is
and pets are under our own supervision. There
much better that all exhibits should be placed is also an advantage in penning your own
on the same footing namely, a bed of hay cats, and if you arm yourself with a brush and
or straw. comb you are able to give some finishing
owners are unable to accompany their
If touches to pussy's toilet previous to the judges'
exhibits to the show, it is more than ever inspection and awards. Let me recommend
necessary that secure, comfortable, and safe a metal comb, and a brush such as is used for
travelling boxes or hampers should be used Yorkshire terriers, which has long penetrating
for the transit of the cats. It is not advisable, bristles, but is neither too hard nor too soft.
nor is it generally allowable, for more than one Disqualification of cats or kittens at shows
cat to be sent in a hamper to a show. may arise from various causes. First, if the
The question of hampers and travelling cat has not been registered, or if it can be
appliances has been dealt with in a previous proved that the animal has not been in the
chapter, but I would earnestly impress upon possession of the exhibitor for fourteen days
exhibitors not to send their cats away on before the show, or if a wrong pedigree has
journeys, long or short, in tumble-down been given, or the date of birth of a kitten
" "
hampers and unsafe packing cases. Whether is incorrect. Any attempt at faking will
hampers or boxes, I would here suggest that disqualify an exhibit, and in some cases the
whichever is used let the fasteners be secure too free use of powder on white and silver cats
and yet easy to manipulate. Straps should isa disqualification in the eyes of some judges.
be attached to the box or hamper, as in the Exhibitors have been known to dye the chins
confusion and hurry of show work these, if of tabby cats and treat white spots on self-
left loose, may get mislaid. The labels should coloured cats in the same manner. Such
"
be so arranged that they may be conveniently faking," as it is popularly called, is always
turned over for the return journey, where, risky, as well as a most undesirable operation,
on the reverse side, ought to be the owner's and if resorted to ought not to be passed over
name and full address. It is most important by a judge who might detect the artifice and
that these should be distinctly written. I
yet lack the moral courage to expose the
recommend all exhibitors to insure their cats offender. Let me warn exhibitors against
when sending them to a show. The charge the evil practice of over feeding their cats
is 3d. for every i, and having paid our money at shows. It is so much better for a cat
we take our chance, which is perhaps a less to starve for two days than to overload its
hazardous one than if this precaution had stomach with the plentiful supplies brought
been neglected. by an over-anxious exhibitor. The sanitary
The arrangements, or rather want of ar- arrangements at present existing at cat shows
rangements, as regards the transit of live stock do not allow of such a course, and if one meal
on our railways leave much to be desired, and of raw meat and plenty of fresh water is sup-
therefore it behoves fanciers and exhibitors plied by the show authorities pussy will fare
EXHIBITING. 67
a show has a right to lodge a complaint with

the secretary and committee of the club under
whose rules the show is held, if an injustice
has been done to an exhibit in the opinion
of the exhibitor. According to the rules a
deposit has to be paid, which can be reclaimed
"
unless the complaint is considered frivolous."
Show promoters cannot afford to give their
money away without some return or pro-

visional stipulation, and therefore fanciers
must not complain if when a class does not
it is either amalgamated or only half the
fill
advertised prize money is given. This latter

plan is by far the more
satisfactory. There has
probably never been a show of any live stock
held where complete satisfaction has been
" "
MRS. GREGORY'S " SKELLIXGTHORPE PATRICK." given ; but, generally speaking,
grumbling
(Photo : . W. J. Smith, Lincoln.)
is a most mistaken and pernicious habit, and
exhibitors should strive to become good losers.
much better than being stuffed with a variety If they cannot learn this lesson, then the
of dainties brought in paper bags. remedy remains in their own hands, and they
Whilst the inmates of your cattery are had better keep their cats at home rather
attending shows it is a good opportunity to than run the risk of being disappointed them-
give an extra cleansing and airing to their selves and of causing unpleasantness to others.
houses, and on their return be careful to If is obviously wrong, then the
a judgment
destroy the hay or straw contained in the triumph withis the best cat, and we should
hampers or boxes, and thoroughly disinfect take our defeat in a sportsmanlike manner.
these, leaving them out in the open air for a In July, 1902, a cat section in connec-
day or two before packing them away. It tion with the annual dog show was held in
is generally advisable to give a slight aperient the Old Deer Park, Richmond. This proved
to grown cats after they come back from a a great success, and entries numbered over
show, for it often happens that these cleanly three hundred. A
creatures refuse to make use of the scanty fdw words in de-
accommodation provided for them in the scription of this
show pens, and thus complications may arise show may be ap-
unless attention is paid to their wants on
propriate here,
their return. If many cats are kept, and
especially
some are sent to a show, on no account allow in view of
these to mix with your other animals on their
return. It is a wise precaution to keep then
apart for a few days, more especially if you

have young kittens to consider.
The
prize cards should be returned in the
hampers when sent back to exhibitors. If
these are soiled or broken on their arrival,
a request to the
secretary asking for fresh
ones will probably be attended to.
"
INQUIRY.
Every member of a cat club and exhibitor at (Photo : Mrs. S. F. Clarke.)
the photographs (specially taken) which illus- He behaved very well on the lead, and his
trate this chapter. grand shape and wonderful coat made him
Its chief features were the twenty-five an easy first.
entries in the litter classes and the ring Another illustration shows the judges at
class for neuters only. Objection is often work awarding the special prizes, which in
made to litter classes, and yet these are many cases have to be decided conjointly.
certainly the most attractive. I think that Miss Frances Simpson and Mr. C. A. House are
double pens should be provided, and special comparing notes and determining which of the
food ought to be supplied for the little ones. firstprize kittens is deserving of the special
It stands to reason that very young kittens for the best in the show. On this occasion
cannot be fed like the grown cats, and it is only Mrs. Bennet, a well-known breeder of Blue
natural that big pieces of meat are thrust
if Persians, was awarded the coveted prize.
into the pen for the mother the hungry little A general view of one of the rows of pens
creatures will make a rush for it. They bolt is given, but on this particular occasion no
down the hard lumps, and these remain un- covering was supplied for the benching, and,
digested in their tender little stomachs. It is therefore, the aspect of the show pens leaves
not to be wondered at if
gastritis, inflamma- much to be desired. The travelling baskets
tion, and other distressing ailments supervene. being placed under the pens, these should be
It is much better to let the mother do with- hidden from the public gaze in order to give
out her usual meat rations and content her- a neat and tidy appearance to the show. The
self with good, nourishing baby food, such as best material for this purpose is red baize.
Mellin's or Ridge's, rather than run the risk The custom of allowing exhibitors to pen their
of providing her with such which will injure own cats enables them to give their pussies
her little kittens. With ordinary supervision a final brush up before they are subjected to
no evil consequences should ensue from the the critical examination of the judge. Our
introduction of illustration represents Mrs. Peter Brown, a
litter classes, especially at
a one day show. It is not, however, advis- well-known breeder of Blue Persians, attending
"
able to have litter classes at shows held during to the toilet of her beautiful Bunch," who
the winter months. But in perfect, warm on this occasion repeated her successes at
weather no fatalities will be reported. Cer- the Botanic Gardens, and carried off the
tainly the mothers with their families prove highest honours in the Blue Female Persian
a great attraction, and as woollen balls, at- class (see page 73). And now to pass on to
tached from the top of the pens, are provided another portion of our subject.
for the amusement of the kittens, they de-
light themselves and their audience with -their JUDGING.
playful frolics. A
standard of points for all long and short
The ring class for neuters only was an inno- haired cats was drawn up by a sub-committee
vation and proved very successful, and although of the Cat Club, of which I was a member ;
some of these pet pussies declined to show but since specialist clubs have come into
themselves off to the best advantage, yet existence, having each their own list of points,
" "
they did not go for each other as is some- nothing much has been seen or heard of the
times the case when .the males are within Cat Club's standard. It is just as well to
measurable distance of each other. The illus- have some definite lines upon which fanciers
tration given is from a photo specially taken and exhibitors may base their ideas, and so
for this work, and shows the judges deliberat- aim at, if they cannot attain to, the height
ing on the respective merits of the neuter cats. of perfection set forth in these standards.
On this occasion a famous Blue Persian owned They are really not meant for judges, because
by Madame Portier carried off the honours. I venture to assert that a judge is no judge
RICHMOND CAT SHOW :
JUDGES AT WORK.
(I'hoto : Cassell & Company, Limited.)
if he requires anything besides his own per- build of a cat when holding it in his arms or
sonal conviction, experience, and common seeing huddled
it up at the back of its pen ?
sense when called upon to decide the various An agitation is now on foot for having cats
points in the different breeds. A good judge judged in a ring, and, no doubt, in time this
of old china will not search for the mark to will be the order of the day at our shows ;
know whether the specimen is Chelsea or but fanciers will have to train up their cats
Worcester. He will tellyou "it is marked in the way they should go namely, when
all over" that is. he knows a good bit of quite young they mus't be accustomed to a
stuff,even if it should not have the gold lead and also be constantly brought out
anchor of Chelsea or the square mark of amongst strangers. As an example, I would
Worcester ware. So it is with a good all- refer to the starting gate recently introduced
round cat. It appeals at once to the eye of into this country on the racecourse. It was
the connoisseur, just as a worthless specimen no use to attempt it for the old stagers, but
is at once put out of the ranks of winners. trainers soon accustomed the two-year-olds
It is the greatest error not to have thorough to the innovation, and I believe many, if not
confidence in oneself when undertaking to all, the objectors are now converted to the
judge cats, or, in fact, in judging any animal, new system of starting racehorses.
or any thing. No one should undertake to In judging a class, I go round and mark
first
judge they wish to seek the counsel of others.

if the absent cats then note down those that
;
I
The}' must have the courage of their own could not under any circumstances take a
convictions, and, although some amount of prize. If there is a large class say, of twenty
training may be required, I think that judges to thirty specimens I mark off all poor and
are born, not made ;
and people who have not seedy-looking cats until the number is re-
a keen power of observation and a faculty duced to about eight or ten ;

then begin to
I
of coming rapidly to a fixed conclusion can search for the winners. At this point I take
never hope to become satisfactory or com- out each specimen, and, if no judging pen is
someone to assist me, and

petent judges. There are many cat fanciers provided, get I
on whose judgment of a cat I should implicitly by bringing out two cats at a time I can make
rely, and who know a good specimen when comparisons and note down any remarks in
they see it, but if placed before a row of twenty my book for further reference. It often
or thirty cats of a breed they seem to happens that one particular cat will stand
lose their heads and get hopelessly confused, out prominently from all the rest in a class,
"
and then the reporter says, We could not and then there is no difficulty about the first
"
"
follow the awards." There is no doubt that award. always well to give a
It is reserve
cats are severely handicapped.
of and to distribute but not too freely the
judges
cats are such terribly timid, shrink- V.H.C., H.C., and C. cards. It does not do
Firstly,
animals that when dragged out of their to make these too cheap, and scatter them
ing
pens with great difficulty for the doors are all over the class. V.H.C. might be awarded
most inconveniently small they often strug- to a cat in splendid coat, but which failed in
for fear of hurting the head and eyes H.C. to another specimen
gle so violently that, ;
animal or of its escaping, the judge will swiftly with hardly any coat and poor head, but
restoreit to its resting place without having correct in eye and C. to a promising young-
;
obtained much satisfaction from his cursory ster without any serious fault, only with no
examination. Unless judging pens are pro- striking point of merit. A good judge must
vided, there is really no chance of making thus weigh the pros and cons and have a
faircomparisons between two cats which may reason to give himself or anyone else for each
appear of almost equal merit. How is a judge degree of merit, from first prize to the humble
to decide on the form of limbs and general C. And here I would mention that there is
EXHIBITING.
a nice and a very nasty way for an exhibitor specimens and if he has withheld others in
;
to question a judge's award. To be attacked a poor and badly filled class then there is no
"
suddenly with the query, Why have you extra burden put on to the funds of the club.
"
not given ray cat a prize ? is quite enough A great deal should be left to the discretion
to make a judge retire into his shell and refuse of the judge, and in the matter of special
any explanation but if asked to kindly give

; prizes, if one is offered for, say, the best long-
a reason why a certain animal has failed to haired white cat, and only one or two specimens
win, to explain why one specimen, appar-
and are on show, and these are neither of them
ently a fine cat, should be lower than another, good types of tin'sbreed, then the judge should
I am sure any judge would gladly give the be empowered to withhold the prize. Such
inquirer the benefit of his larger experience a course may be an unpopular one, but I am
TYPE OF CAGE AT THE RICHMOND CAT SHOW.

{Photo Cassell & Company, Limited.)
:
and the reason for his awards. It is a mistake sure it is the correct and fairest one, for it is
for a judge to distribute the full complement a farce to award first prize and specials to an
of prizes in a class when and where the /ex- inferior animal just because he happens to be
hibits are not possessing of sufficient merit. without other competitors. Anyone who has
A first prize cat should be a good specimen of judged the large classes of blues and silvers
itskind, and it is much better to withhold this which now appear at our principal shows will
award than to give it to a poor representative bear me out in my suggestion that such classes,
It also reflects discredit on a
of his breed. numbering perhaps thirty and more exhibits,
ludge, for an exhibitor wishing to boast of should be subdivided according to age. Such
"
his honours may publish that his Tommy an arrangement would be welcomed by judge
"
Atkins took first under so-and-so, when and exhibitor alike. At the Crystal Palace
perhaps there were only two cats in the class. Show 1901 the blue kittens numbered
in
It isquite legitimate for a judge to ask per- thirty-nine in the class, male and female, the
mission of the show authorities to award an age limit being three to eight months. How
extra prize in a large class with several fine could a judge be expected to satisfactorily
an " any other colour " class seems absurd. They
are black and blue cats in spite of a few white
hairs, and should be judged as such. They
may never aspire to a first prize, at any rate
at a large show but surely a really fine black
;
or blue cat, with correct eyes, grand head, and
good shape, even with the unfortunate spot,

should and ought to score over a poor specimen
with green eyes and long nose. In the tabby
classes a judge will first consider the ground-
work and markings, and to these premier points
special attention should be given, as there is
a tendency to breed tabby cats which are
barred only on heads and legs, the body mark-
ings being blurred and indistinct. It is not
unlikely that in due time the "any other colour"

class will no longer form part of the classifica-
tion at our large shows. Formerly this used
to be the largest class of any, but nowadays the-
MK. C. A HOUSE, entries are becoming small and beautifully less.
"
EDITOR OF FUR AND FEATHER."
It is not worth while for a fancier to keep these
(Photo: A. & G. Taylor.)
specimens they do not fetch any price, they

award three huge class ? And
prizes in such a are not valuable as breeders, and it is quite a
I know many superb specimens on this
that toss up whether they can win in such a mixed
occasion had to be content with a V.H.C. card, company. I remember the time when blues
" "
which it would have gone to my heart as a were entered in the
any other colour class,
judge to place on their pen. and when blue tabbies were more numerous
If there is a prize offered for the best cat in
the show, the judge or judges have not to con-
sider which is their favourite breed or which
is the most fashionable colour, but just which
cat is the best possible type, which specimen
isthe nearest perfection, and which is exhibited

in the best all-round show condition. In long-
haired classes the length and quality of' coat
and fulness of ruff go a long way towards a
high place in the awards, and, as I have before
remarked, condition a most important factor
is
in the judges' estimation. In the self-coloured

classes of blues and blacks a judge should
make diligent search for white spots on throat
or stomach. Formerly cats thus blemished
were relegated to the "any other" class, but
it has been wisely decided by both clubs that
cats with white spots should be judged in their

own classes, and that this defect should count
as a point or points against them. This is as MR. T. Ii. MASON.
it should be, for to place self-coloured cats in (Photo: C. L. Eastlake, Leeits.)
EXHIBITING. 73
than silvers or blues. It is really a most diffi- and the sarcasm of the reporter will be poured
cult task for a judge to give his awards at a out upon him. No doubt it is a grave mistake
local show where all sorts and conditions of to reverse one's own awards, and yet judges
"
cats are in the one class. Such an are but mortal, and to err is human." It
placed
arrangement is good for neither man nor beast. is hard when cat fanciers take to judging the
THK TOILET.
MRS. PETER BROWN AND HER PRIZE CAT.
{Photo : Cassell & Company, Limited.)
And then, again, at our large shows it behoves judges and their judgments. A judge may be
a judge to be very level-headed to cope with absolutely ignorant of the owners of the cats,
the numerous brace, team, and novice classes, and thus utterly unbiased yet there will not
;
for one cat may be entered in allthese, be- be wanting those who will pick holes in their
sides being in theopen cat and kitten class ; characters, and see in their awards clear proof
and woe betide the unfortunate judge who of personal spite and party favour. The in-
makes a slip, for the wrath of the exhibitor tense suspiciousness of some fanciers and the
readiness with which they impute low motives difference to me had the cat belonged to the
to others is greatly to be deplored. Queen herself ;
I should then have done the
I will here quote from an article by Mr. C. A. same. don't judge cats on what they have
I
House, the well-known editor and judge of previously won or because they belong to any
live stock. Under the heading of " The particular person. I judge them on their
Judging of Cats," Mr. House says: "All my form at the time, and it makes no difference
awards are based on the idea that each breed to me if a cat has won fifty firsts or none at
possesses a distinctive fea.- all.'This reply was more
ture, and that distinctive than the exhibitor had
featuremust be the one to bargained for, but all
which most consideration honest-minded fanciers
is given. After the chief must acknowledge the
features come others, such judge was right. What is
as shape, coat, colour, etc.,

sadly needed in the cat
and the premier awards fancy to-day is more of
should be given to cats this sturdy, unflinching
possessing the best all- determination to judge
round properties. . . . cats and notown- their
Selfs, above all things, ers. Cat exhibitors have
should be pure in colour. much to learn yet, and
For instance, a blue should the sooner the morale of
be blue, and a black, black. the judging arena is raised
Yet a little rustiness of the more healthy will the
colour should not be al- fancy become and the
lowed to outweigh a host more quickly will it ad j
of other good properties. vance."

Colour, however, is hard Another of our well-
to breed rich and pure, known judges, Mr. T. B.
and should at all times be Mason, writing on the same
'
more highly valued than subject, says:- "In my

size, or even coat. The judging engagements I
same with markings. Only have very often come
those who have tried to across exhibits with good
breed markings know how coloured eyes, but not the
difficult it is to get them
BLUE' PERSIAN KITTENS
correct shape. A small eye,
anything approaching per- (Photo: Mrs. S. F. Clarke.) however good the colour
fection. Nothing is more may be, will give the cat
fleeting than marking, and nothing more tanta- a disagreeable, sour expression. With this shape
lising to the breeder. Summing up the matter, of eye we generally see a narrow, long face,
my own opinion is, and has been for years, that which should keep any exhibit out of the prize
the cat fancy has been hindered and hampered list good competitions. Let it, however, be
in
by judges judging the exhibits because they clearly understood, I do not want eyes to have
belong to so-and-so, or had won so-and-so undue weight in the general conditions of cat
under so-and-so. ... I was much amused judging but they are important, and as such
;
at one incident at Westminster where a big ought to have due and careful attention at
champion had suffered defeat. The fair owner the hands of breeders and judges alike. Two
was heckling the judge, and he in reply to her things in the judging of short-hairs weigh
remarks made this answer It makes no:
'
heavily with me, namely, pale colours and

EXHIBITING, 75
heads and white lips.

light-marked
These defects, in my opinion, ought to
those that possess
put out of the money
them in I perfectly
good competition.
agree with
Mr. House about the stand-
ards. They are useful both to the breeder
and judge but for the judge to take the
;
standards and try to judge by them at

any show would be foolish indeed. All
judges are expected to know the varieties
they are called upon to judge, and to

have the faculty to weigh up the good
points and defects of the specimens be-
fore them, and place them accordingly."
TWO KITTKXS BRED BY MISS WILLIAMS.
(I'lwto : H. Jenkins, Lovesto/t.)
MANAGEMENT OF SHOWS.
Now to turn our attention to the manage- manager feels he has valuable live stock in his
ment and upon this question I feel
of shows, temporary possession, of which he has, so to
I am fairly competent to give an opinion, as I speak, to render up account. There are many
have acted as show manager and as show mixed shows held throughout the country
secretary to some of our largest exhibitions where a cat section is given, and it is to be
in London and at Brighton. The office is regretted that in most, if not all cases the
indeed no sinecure, and very few fanciers, poor pussies are badly provided for and
exhibitors, or visitors have any idea of the generally go to the wall. At a dog and cat
enormous amount of forethought required, to show everything goes to the dogs ! Secre-
say nothing of physical and secretarial labours, taries wishing to promote successful cat sec-
to make a big show run smoothly. The re- tions at their mixed shows should secure
sponsibility also is great, for a conscientious some well-qualified person to have entire
control of this department. It certainly is
true that, of all live stock, cats require the

most consideration and supervision, and yet
to the masculine mind of a show secretary
it would appear that the cats can look after
themselves. There is no doubt that the first
step towards making a show successful is to
engage the services of a competent,
energetic, and painstaking manager
and secretary. It is also very de-
sirable to appoint a really good
working show committee, the

members of which should
each undertake some partic-
ular duty in connection with
the show. For instance, one
member might superintend
the feeding, another could
be responsible for obtaining
KITS WITH A TASTE FOK FLOWERS. of
Mrs. S. F. Clarke.) promises special prizes,
(Photo :
another devote him- or herself to verifying the Of course, there are always a certain number
prize tickets placed on the pens, and so on. A of challenge cups, medals, and specials given
system of advertising a show must be decided by the club holding the show, and care should
upon by the show committee, and notices sent be taken to distribute these amongst the
fairly
to the various journals which are circulated various classes. It is usual and advisable to
amongst fanciers. The class and prize tickets limit the competition of the
majority of these
must be ordered in good time either by the special prizes to the members of the club.
secretary of the club or the manager of the I do not approve a special prize being
of
show. offered the best cat in the show, as it
for
The best time of the year for a show as is almost impossible for the
judges to arrive
regards the appearance of Persian cats is in at a satisfactory decision, and considerable
December or January. Then, if ever, these heartburnings are generally the result of
particular cats should be in the best show con- such a competition. A very useful mode of
dition. As regards kittens, the early summer assisting a show is by guaranteeing classes ;
or autumn is the best period, as spring kittens and I would suggest yet another plan, namely,
will then be ready to make their bow to the to subscribe so much towards the expenses of
public. It is much to be regretted that the the show. These are necessarily heavy, and
two principal shows of the National Cat Club it has been stated that no cat show can ever
namely, the Botanic Gardens and the be made a paying affair.
Crystal Palace Shows should be held re- As regards the specialist societies, I think
spectively in June and October, when Persian it seems the correct thing that the club in-
cats are in poor coat. tending to hold the show should instruct its
Quite three months before the date of the secretary to write to the secretary of each
show a managing secretary will start work. specialist society to ask if he is willing to
Catalogues of previous shows must be collected support the show by prizes or by guaranteeing
together, in order to ascertain the names and classes, and to name the latest date for re-
addresses of likely exhibitors. ceiving particulars of the support to be given.
Special prizes are now a great feature at all The specialist societies have their own judges,
cat shows, and a good deal of extra work is and it is only natural when they are offering
entailed by writing to obtain promises of these handsome prizes that a claim should be made
for the various breeds. If possible, it is well for first-class judging in the interests of the
to appoint someone who is in touch with those breed. It is therefore essential, as matters
who are likely to become donors, and to hand at present stand, for one of the judges from
over this department. I would advise anyone the list of the specialist club to be selected
undertaking this branch of the show to have a to give awards in the classes connected with
book, and to head each page with the respective the society. It is important to obtain as full
classes of long and short haired breeds, and a list as possible of special prizes from societies
then when a special is received say, for the and outside donors in good time for insertion
best black Persian cat to place this on the in the schedule, as a tempting list will ensure
page set apart for specials for this particular a better entry. In the schedule the exhibition
breed. Keep a separate list for kittens, and rules of the club should be printed, and in
decline to accept specials given in the form addition there should be a list of arrangements
of stud visits or for cats bred from such-and- in a prominent position setting forth details
such a sire ;
these savour too much of self- as to the opening and closing of the show, the
advertisement. There are so many specialist time up to which exhibits are received, the
societies nowadays, and as these provide their hour at which they may be removed,
earliest
own specials the show executive is consider- and the prices of admission. The names of
ably relieved of the duty of obtaining prizes. the judges, with their respective classes, should
be clearly set forth, and it should be mentioned given as liberal and attractive a one as is
whether classes will or will not be amalgamated possible and practicable, it is well to consider
or cancelled. A few advertisements of stud the number of schedules likely to be required,
cats and trade notices should be obtained, and then start addressing the wrappers. In each
as this means grist to the mill and helps to schedule must be inserted two or three entrj
pay for the printing of the schedules and and registration forms. The entry forms,
catalogues. with fees, are returned to the secretary, and
The question of classification is an all- the registration forms to the person who
important one, and needs the consideration of keeps the register of the club holding the
a careful show committee, well versed in the show. And here I would remark on the mis-
ways of cats and of fanciers. A list of the take it is to have two registers for cats. It
used by one or two big cat clubs
classification is very confusing for exhibitors, and a double
has been given. Of course, at smaller shows expense, as the National Cat Club and the
it often impossible to give separate classes
is Cat Club each charge a shilling. Then, again,
for several breeds or to divide the sexes but ; as the National Cat Club has recently passed
my remarks in this chapter will refer to the a rule disqualifying all cats exhibited at Cat
customs and arrangements of large shows, Club shows, the confusion is worse confounded.
such as those held by the National Cat Club Some having large catteries divide
fanciers
at the Crvstal Palace, and the Cat Club at and send to both National Cat
their exhibits
Westminster. I do not think it is good policy Club and Cat Club shows but this ne\
;
on the part of a show committee or manage- registration rule falls heavily on cat fancier
ment to amalgamate classes. It is much who are keen to exhibit their specimens ant
better to advertise in schedules that when anxious for the pleasure of obtaining prizes,
entries are fewer than, say, four or five, then and desire to profit by showing their stud
the judges are empowered to withhold any cats or having an opportunity of disposing
of the prizes or, again, in the case of a very
;
of their stock. The National Cat Club show
small class, half prize money might be awarded. since the passing of this rule have suffered
Having decided on the classification, and considerably, both from lack of entries anc
by the absence of some of the fine
champion cats having beer
that,
exhibited at Cat Club show ii
the
January, were thus debarred from
appearing at the Botanic Gardens and
"
MINDING SHOP."
(Photo: C. Reid, Wishaw.)
EXHIBITING. 79
Crystal Palace
shows. How much
simpler and better itwould be if
both clubs could and would agree
to have one register kept by an
not necessarily
independent person,
a cntty individual, and that the
feesshould form the salary of such
a person. A small fee might be
charged when reference was de-
sired by fanciers as to the pedigree
of any cats. If the secretary of a
.-how happens to be acquainted
with the members of the cat fancy,
lie will be able to use his discretion
as to the number of entry and
registration forms needed. In
some where he is sending to
cases, " THIEVES."
a well-known breeder and possessor (Photo: Mrs. S. F. Clarke.)
of a large cattery, more numerous

forms will be required. Schedules should be to be forwarded to them, and a list should be
sent out quite a clear month in advance, kept. A secretary will do well to provide him-
and the entries should close about ten days self with strong cord, scissors, brown paper,
before the date of the show. The secretary writing materials, labels, telegraph forms,
will have a book in which he will note down stamps, and other useful articles.
each entry as it is received, placing it under In these days of specialist clubs it is neces-
the correct class heading, and, of course, sary for the secretary to have a list of members
these can only be numbered up when entries of each society supporting the show, as the
close. The entry forms should be filed and prizes being confined to members the judge
kept for reference. Then comes the work of will have to refer to the secretary's office for
arranging and writing the labels, and placing information before making his awards.
these with the tallies, entrance tickets, and The day before the show will be fully occu-
removal orders in envelopes and addressing pied in superintending the arrangement and
them to the These should be
exhibitors. putting up of the benching and pens. A con-
posted four clear days before the show. veniently sized glass case should be ordered
During this time the secretary will be able for the special prizes, and this must be placed
to compile the catalogue for the printer, and in a prominent position. The prizes should
arrange to have an instalment of copies the all be distinctly labelled with the donor's
night before the opening day of the show, also name and the breed of cat for which each is
to draw up the judges' books. Letters should offered. The case should be one which locks
be written to the judges and veterinary sur- up, and then it is not necessary to have any
geons acquainting them with the hour at supervision of the contents. It is best for
which they are desired to present themselves some two members of the show committee to
at the hall, and a complimentary pass ticket undertake the arrangement in the case of the
should be enclosed. A
pass should also be special prizes. Two men should be engaged
sent to the representatives of the Press, to the to take the tickets and money at the entrance
veterinary surgeon, and to those who may gate, and in the sales office a clerk will be
be giving their services as stewards. Dis- required to receive purchase money and give
tant exhibitors will write requesting catalogues receipts. At a large show it is necessary to
So THE BOOK OF THE CAT.
employ four or six stewards to collect

the judges' slips as they complete each
class,and take them to those in the
officeappointed to write out the tickets.
These same stewards should also un-
dertake to place them on the pens.
And here let me say how much better
it would be if some arrangement
could be made
for the prize tickets to
be fixed in a rack at the top of the pen,
instead of being thrust between the .
p|
wires, where a large number almost
MRS. DRURY'S BROWX TABBY, "
hide the cat, and frequently they are PERIWIG."
(Photo : Kerby & Son, Ipswich.)
torn down by the inmates of the pen.
A good manager will have all in order well at all damp, will stick to the long-coated cats.
before the hour when the cats are received, I also prefer dry earth at the back of the
pens
and if the
veterinary engaged is in attendance to sawdust, for the same reason. I trust we
the cats can be examined and, when passed, may ere long be able to provide
something
placed at once in their proper pens. It is very better in the way of a cat pen than those at
important to entrust the work of penning to present in use. The doors should open the
those who are used to handling cats, and no full height of the
cage and two-thirds of the
better men can be found than those employed width, so that the cat can be more easily taken
by Messrs. Spratt, who, as everyone knows, out.
are the universal providers at cat shows, as There is no doubt that, considering the
at every other live-stock exhibition. It is a peculiar nature of cats, some more adequate
question whether hay or straw is best for arrangement should be made in the sanitary
bedding. I incline towards the latter if it accommodation. The earth scattered at the
is the fine wheaten straw, as hay, if it becomes back of the pen amongst the bedding is not
all What we want is a
that could be desired.
false bottom, and an earth pan or tray sunk
in it about two inches deep, on the plan of the
bird cage, so that it can be drawn out and
fresh earth supplied, and replaced. Greater
care should be paid as regards the security
of the fastenings of the pens, and the wires of
some of them are too wide apart, so that young
kittens can easily make an exit. It is well
known that cats have extraordinary powers of
escaping whenever and wherever escape is
possible.
disapprove as strongly as do the cats
I
of disinfectant being sprinkled or placed
any
inside the pens. Each pen must, of course,
bear a number but instead of the different
;
classes beingnumbered, it is much better to

have them named, and the large placards fixed
MISS SIMPSON'S " CAMBYSES." high about the pens by means of split sticks
(Photo : Gunn & Stewart, Richmond.) of Japanese bamboo. Thus anyone seeking
EXHIBITING. 81
the bine or the brown tabby class will have china saucers instead of the usual tins, and
no difficulty in locating it, even without a these are decidedly better in every way. A
catalogue. one-day show is no doubt best for the cats,

It is very important that all exhibits should but for the exhibitors and the executive a
be examined by a qualified veterinary surgeon two-days show is really preferable. If the
before being penned, and if a cat is seriously exhibits are allowed to be penned up till
ill the owner should be at once communicated eleven o'clock on the morning of the show,
with and the specimen returned. If it is a the judging ought to be got through and the
doubtful case, perhaps a running eye or high
temperature, then the cat should be placed
apart in a properly arranged, and if possible
warmed, hospital room to be again examined.
Remember it is always better to disappoint
one exhibitor by refusing his
cat, than to disgust every-
body by bringing their
A LITTER OF BLUES.
(Photo: E. Landor, Eating.)
carefully trained and dearly loved pets into tickets placed on the pens in two hours with
contact with disease. It is necessary to a competent staff, and the show opened at
appoint an official to check off each exhibit one or 1.30.
as it is passed, and in the event of pro- A smart secretary will arrange with his
nounced illness or some other objectionable printer to have a list of awards printed
feature to make a note of this for future with the utmost speed directly after the class
reference. judging is This can either be given
finished.
As regards the feeding of exhibits, I am in in the catalogues themselves or a separate
favour of raw beef or cooked meat cut into sheet inserted in the catalogues. A large
small pieces or else put through a mincing board ought to be hung in a conspicuous and
machine, and water to drink. For many convenient position, and the list of class
reasons not desirable to provide milk
it is it ;
winners and the winners of special prizes
is apt to turn sour, and it
certainly more easily entered on it. This is better than having the
collects germs of disease, and so may prove a slips pinned upon a board. They are .of ten very
fruitful source of evil. indistinctly written, and are apt to get torn
The Cat Club started the idea of having down. Let the closing hour on the first night
be eight or nine o'clock, when the hall should however, this special arrangement lightened
be cleared and the pens covered over. I con- the labours of the judges, and hastened the
sider one good feed of raw meat ought to suffice appearance of the special prize cards on the
I had separate books for the special
during the day, with fresh water continually pens.
supplied. The hour for opening on the second awards, and carefully cut out of the schedules
day may be ten o'clock, and before then the pens the prizes pertaining to each judge. Thus, if
ought to be cleaned out, fresh straw given Mr. A. had black, white, and blue long-haired
where needed, and disinfectant sprinkled up classes, every challenge medal and special
and down the passages between the rows of offered for these cats arranged in order on
I
pens not in them. Careful attention to these one side of the page, with the numbering as
points will ensure the show being free from it appeared with them in the schedule. So
"
disagreeable odours by the time the public are in the left-hand page would be, say, Special
admitted. It is a wise plan to arrange and No. 10, for best long-haired black," and on
"
announce that the show closes, say, at five p.m. the right-hand page Awarded to No ,"
on the second day, so that exhibitors can, in leaving a blank for the judge to fill in the
many cases, get home with their cats the number of the winner. Any prizes that had
same night. It is ex-
unreasonable to to be awarded
in conjunction with other
pect to be allowed to depart before the time judges, such as for best long-haired cat in
fixed, even though in some cases half an hour the show, I made a note of to this effect. Let
would save a train. As regards a one-day me add that I gummed the printed portions
show, almost impossible for a secretary
it is relating to the prizes, cut from the schedule,
and manager to get through the necessary into the judging books, so the judges needed
work and to open in anything like time. neither schedule nor catalogue to refer to.
There must be a scramble, and for the ex- In preparing judges' books it is very helpful
hibitors to be obliged to present themselves to place male and female (M. and F.) after
and some unearthly hour in the
their cats at each catalogue number in the mixed kitten
morning is very trying and most inconvenient. classes, to avoid reference for the special
Then a two-days show is, of course, an ad- awards ;
and this should also be done in the
vantage as regards the entrance money. The catalogue itself, as very often the name of the
Cat Club used to have a stringent rule against kitten does not indicate the sex, and would-be
exhibitors penning their own
but at thecats, purchasers are obliged to make inquiries.
Westminster Show this rule was amended, I am always an advocate for having selling
and cats could be penned by their owners or classes for cats and kittens at shows, where
representatives on the night before the show, the price should be limited to 5 55. in the
but not in the morning. No evil result long-haired and 3 33. in the short-
classes,
followed this concession on the part of the haired classes. It would be an assistance if
authorities, and therefore I trust this very someone who understood cats, and was also
natural desire on the part of the exhibitors a good salesman or saleswoman, undertook to
to see their precious pussies safely into their preside over the selling classes. The 10 per
temporary quarters may always be permitted cent, commission deducted by the show
at Cat Club shows. authorities is a material help, and often a little
In order to facilitate the work of the judges, pressure and persuasion, combined with useful
it is well to have their books carefully and information, will decide a wavering purchaser.
clearly arranged, and this especially applies A class I should like to see introduced into
to the list of special awards. I instituted a our shows one for kittens bred by exhibitors.
is
plan at Westminster Show, in 1901, which gave I am opinion that more encouragement
of
great satisfaction, but which entailed a lot of should be given to fanciers to keep the best
extra work for the secretary. I am sure, of their litters for exhibition. Lady Marcus
EXHIBITING. 3
Beresford had the happy inspiration of start- neuters alone should be eligible, or at any
ing breeders' cups for competition at Cat Club rate until we have trained our young cats to
shows, and special prizes are often given for behave properly on a lead. There need be
the best kitten bred by exhibitors. But these no necessity for the neuters to be entered and
are tiresome awards for a judge to make ;
he penned in the show, but they could be charged
is obliged to make
inquiries from someone a higher fee for the ring class and I believe
;
with a catalogue, and even this reference will that many owners of neuters would not object
not always suffice. It is always pleasant to to their precious pets being on exhibition for
win prizes, but an additional pride would ten or twenty minutes, led by themselves
JUDGING IN THE RING AT THE CRYSTAL PALACE.

(Photo Russell & Sons, Crystal Palace.)
:
naturally be
felt if, in a
large class of kittens into the ring, but who will not let them be
bred by well-known exhibitors, the son or
cramped up in a pen for two days. Neuters
daughter of our own breeding should be are always at a disadvantage in the show
awarded first and special. pen they are too and too
generally large
With respect to a ring class, which is to be and a
lazy properly seen, ring class for
often held at some of the National Cat Club- these specimens would be a very attractive
shows,' I cannot say that itis
very interesting feature at our cat shows. A row of chairs
to see a collection of toms, females, and should be placed round, and sixpence a seat
neuters, long- and short-haired, being dragged charged. It is quite absurd to mix up the
along by their anxious owners, whilst the sexes, and dangerous to allow torn cats to
puzzled judges try hard to decide which of come within fighting distance of each other.
the motley and mixed is most At a recent show great excitement was caused
assembly worthy
of honours. I think that for a ring class in the ring by the sudden attack of one famous
stud cat on another, and it was lucky that Mrs. Neate, a well-known fancier, writes thus
"
nothing worse than a torn and bleeding ear in Fur and Feather It would indeed be a
:
was the result of this onslaught. Another step in the right direction if cat shows were
class I should like to see at some of our large run on (as far as possible) the same lines as
shows, and certainly at the summer N.C.C. dog shows. Much of the absurd mystery that
Show, is a class for stud cats, which should be at present envelops our cat shows would
judged quite irrespective of coat, and- special vanish if exhibitors were permitted to be
attention directed to form of limb, size of present during the judging, and I feel sure
head, and massive build in awarding the that the majority of cat fanciers would not
prizes. This might not be an attractive class, be so wanting in etiquette and good taste as
but it would be an instructive one, and give to hinder the judges or any of the officials
the veterans a chance of proving of what stuff in discharge of their onerous duties." No
they are made. A young untried male will doubt there is much truth in these remark - 1
often take all the honours in his class, and the but, at the same
time, I do not think fanciers
stud cat of a busy season is forced to take a take sufficiently into consideration the very
back place, probably on account of services timid, shrinking nature of the cat when they
rendered. Anyhow, this idea might be advocate open judging. It is often most
carried out as regards the two largest classes difficult for a judge to properly examine a cat.
namely, those for silver and blue Persians. even when he or she is quietly going round
In former days there used to be classes at giving the awards it ;would be still more
some of the shows in which the cats were trying to man and beast if a collection of
judged by weight, but these have wisely been strangers were pressing forward on all sides.
done away with. What I consider is more practical than
The question of open judging at cat open judging for cats is that some arrange-
shows has fre- ment should be made so that judges may be
quently been enabled to compare the points of the various

discussed in exhibits, and purpose I consider that
for this
catty circles, judging pens on movable tables should be

and several fan- provided at all shows, as were adopted by
ciers have given the Cat Club at Westminster. By these
their opinions means the work of the judges would be much
on this subject. simplified, and the cats more satisfactorily
and quickly judged.
Supposing a special prize or medal is offered
for the best cat in the show, then I think it
-is interesting and instructive to have the first
prize winning cats placed, possible, in pens,

if
and to arrange for the award to be given in
public during the show by the judges in con-

junction with each other. Such a plan was
adopted at the last Manchester Cat Show,
and much satisfaction was expressed at this
innovation.
Having given some suggestions as to the
of
classification, I would again refer to points
management in shows. At the closing hour

on the second day the hall should be cleared,
MISS KIRKPATRICK'S BLUE KITTENS.
(Photo : E. Landor, Eating.) and only exhibitors or their representatives
EXHIBITING.
allowed to remain. An efficient staff of attend-

ants should at once set to work to assist in
packing up the cats belonging to those ex-
hibitors who intend taking them away. After
these have all then the manager should
left,
direct his attention towards those exhibits

that should be started by the night mails.
The catalogue must be consulted, and a good
way is to mark with a cross on the pen tickets
those cats that must be packed up ; and, having
previously ordered the railway vans at a
certain time, the precious packages should
be sent off as speedily as possible. Those
exhibits left over till the following morning
should be fed again and started at daybreak.
There is a sense of immense relief when
the last hamper has been fastened down and
"ROSE OF PERSIA.
seen off the premises. And here let me say
(I'hoto: Landor, Ealing.)
how much exhibitors can contribute towards
the speedy and safe despatch of their pets, under any pretext whatever, unless a vet-
ifonly they provide substantial and well
will erinary certificate of illness is obtained.
appointed travelling baskets or boxes. Amidst It is always open to the management to
all thehurry and confusion of packing up advertise an earlier hour for the removal of
an immense amount of extra trouble is given exhibits on payment of a certain sum, but
by having to lace up a hamper with string, this should be made a substantial fine, especi-
or nail down a box that has no other means ally in the case of a prize-winner. lower A
of being made secure ! I speak from ex- figure might be named for other exhibits. As
perience, and therefore I plead for more regards cats or kittens purchased at the show,
consideration to be extended to the show it is certainly an inducement and incentive
manager and his assistants, and, above all, to buyers if there is a rule that these exhibits
to the poor pussies themselves. may be removed at any time.
At every show that is held there are a According to the rules of the two leading
number of exhibitors who try the patience clubs a certain fixed time must elapse before
and courtesy of the manager or secretary, the prizes are sent out. In some cases this is
or both, by requesting to be allowed to a most uncertain and unfixed time, and many
remove their cats before the advertised time. complaints have been made through the cat
Of course, it is only natural that those papers of the long drawn-out period between
fanciers residing at a distance should wish the prize being won and the prize being re-
to make tracks home and catch early trains ceived. No doubt, immediate distribution of
tor their own comfort and convenience and prizes after the show would lead to complica-
the welfare of their pussies. But, looking at tions, for objections might be lodged within
'
the matter from a secretary's and a visitor's the given time allowed by the rules, and such
point of view, it is certainly hard that per- objections would have -to be brought before
haps some of the best prize cats should be the committee of the club therefore it is ;
absent from their pen whilst the public are obvious that competitors must
successful
paying their money at the gate but, having ; allow, say, a month to elapse before showing
made a rule, it is best to stick to it, and no signs of impatience. It is then the manager's
cat should be taken away till the fixed hour business to send the money awards, and the
secretary of the club is generally accountable of ashow which, if well managed, is worthy of
: '
for the distribution of the specials," which the utmost support from the cat-loving com-
certainly call for a special acknowledgment munity.
"
from the recipient to the donor of these prizes. Every mickle makes a muckle," and it
As regards the financial aspect of a cat show, should be the earnest desire of each individual
the important point is to make the entries
first member of a club to do something, however
pay themselves that is. supposing your
for small, towards keeping a balance on the right
prize money in each class is i, ios., and 55., side of their treasurer's accounts.
then you need twelve entries at 35. to carry
you through. And here let me remark that, BUYING AND SELLING.
considering the character of our first-class I believe that a Bow Street magistrate once
shows and the value of the special prizes asserted that anyone owning a stud dog or
offered, I am inclined to think that entry selling a dog was, in the point of law, a dealer.
fees are too low, and that they should be more I do not know if the same decision would
in accordance with the fees charged at dog apply in the cat world. Anyhow, there are
shows. isItalways advisable to make a few fanciers who do not desire at some time
differencebetween members of the club hold- or other to dispose of their cats and kits and, ;
ing the show and outsiders. Thus, if 55. is again, there are many who keep stud cats, yet
the entry fee for members, then 6s. or 75. 6d. cannot be considered dealers in that sense
might be charged to non-members. New of the term. The best way to set about
recruits to a club are often gained by this trying to sell our surplus stock is to advertise
arrangement. The usual commission on sales in the cat papers, in which case it is advisable
is 10 per cent., and then there is the to fully and fairly describe our animals and
gate
money, which somehow is generally disap- to name the price required. If profit is to be
pointing, for truly the outside public are not considered, it is not advisable to keep kittens
partial to cats, nor attracted to exhibitions of more than eight weeks. Very soon after this
the feline race. have always contended that
I period they begin to lose their flumness and
exhibitors themselves ought to be charged an grow leggy in appearance. There is also the
entrance fee say, half - price admission on risk of illness and death. It is better, there-
presentation of their exhibitor's pass, which fore, to be willing to accept a moderate sum
in many cases would only be sixpence, yet for kittens at eight weeks old rather than to
one or two hundred of these small coins would keep them to see how they turn out. It is
"
materially assist the exchequer and surely no ;
a clear case of a bird in the hand is worth
cat fancier would grumble at this tax on their two in the bush."
resources when the}' consider how much have always thought that there is a good
I
trouble and expense is entailed in providing opening for any enterprising person well
them with a favourable opportunity of ex- versed in cat lore and cat fanciers to start
hibiting their pets, and with a possibility of an agency in London, where cats and kittens
winning golden guineas and silver trophies. might be sent on approval, for would-be
Another plan is to advertise in schedules purchasers to call and interview them. There
that exhibitors of more than, say, two entries might be a system of messengers who would
would be allowed a free pass. Fanciers will meet cats and see them off at London stations.
be tempted to send additional cats, and thus In connection with such a cat agency a register
swell the entries, in order to secure their free might be kept of cats for sale or cats wanted and
admission ticket. I do not think it would be arrangements made as at the Army and Navy
" "
a bad plan to have a Contribution Column Stores for having a certain number of animals
on the entry forms for members' and exhibitors' on view. These could be boarded at so much
voluntary donations towards the expenses per week, and commission charged on the sale.
EXHIBITING.
A list of
names and addresses of those willing In these days, when competition is so keen
to receive cats as boarders would be very useful, and occupation so difficult to obtain, the idea
and many ladies who do not choose to advertise of starting a cat agency should commend
could and would, I am sure, avail themselves itself to some who, being in touch with mem-
of the means of letting fanciers know they bers of the cat fancy, and wishing for lucrative
could undertake the charge of pets during their employment, might embark on this novel
owners' absence from home. Many and fre- undertaking. Needless to say, it would be
quent are the letters I receive on this subject, most desirable to have the cat agency in a
especially as the summer vacation approaches. central part of London, and in close proximity,
A day and hour for the visit of an experi- if possible, to some of the main
railway stations.
THE BLUE PERSIAN CAT SOCIETY PEDIGREE FORM.

Breed and Sex Breeder
Colour Date of Birth
Name of Cat
PARENTS. GRAND-PARENTS. GREAT GRAND-PARENTS. GREAT GREAT GRAND-PARENTS.
Sire.
Dam.
{.
Prizes Won, Remarks, &c.__
These Forms, at 8d. per dozen, can be obtained on application to Miss !'. SIMPSON, Hon. Sec., 9, Leonard Place, Kensington, W.
enced veterinary might be arranged, so that I think that, if only as a means of assisting
country fanciers could send or bring their fanciers in the purchase and disposal of their
sick cats for advice. All sorts of cat appli- cats and kittens, this idea of an agency might
ances might be on sale. It would be con- be successfully worked. Many breeders be-
venient to have a writing-room for the use come very disheartened at the inability to
of fanciers, where correspondence on catty find for their kittens.
purchasers A com-
matters could be carried on. Perhaps a tea- plaint was recently made by a lady living in
"
room could be added, and bedrooms, if space the Isle of Wight. She writes No one :
was available, for fanciers coming up to attend seems to care for breeding in this island, and
London shows. Anyhow, a list of suitable people are not willing to give more than about
rooms might be kept which could be personally five shillings for pedigree kittens." No doubt
recommended. fanciers living in the country and away from
any catty centre have but little opportunity into particulars, and, if possible, to send a
of finding a sale for their surplus stock. I
photograph. It is best to give the faults and
would suggest photography as one means of failings as well as the good points, so that
making known the perfections of their pussies. disappointment and disagreement may not
A start in the right direction has been made follow between the purchaser and seller.
by Mr. Landor, of Ealing, whose clever pictures Buyers should endeavour to learn something
of kittens are so well known. He is willing to about the person from whom they purchase
take portraits of pretty, fluffy kits and good their cats and it as well to ask not only for
;
cats on special terms, provided he retains the age and full pedigree, but whether the cat has
copyright of such photographs. It is always been exhibited, and if it has taken any honours,
" MISCHIEF.
(Photo: Mrs. S. F. Clarke.)
handy to have a good photograph to send by and at which shows. sometimes happens
It
post when endeavouring to dispose of our pets, that valuable animals may be picked up for
and by such means fanciers may be spared low prices at shows but there is always a risk,
;
the trouble and risk of sending their valuable and this is especially the case with young .
kittens on approval. kittens, who more

easily contract any disease.
Naturally, for unknown cat fanciers it is In buying a cat or kitten it is always advisable
more difficult to effect sales through advertise- to make inquiries as to the way in which it has
ment, and in their case it is necessary to offer been fed, so as to continue the same regimen
to send on approval at buyer's risk and cost ;
for at least a few days. The pedigree of a
and if an application is made from an entire cat or kitten should be sent at the time of
stranger, then the purchase money should be purchase, and it is much easier to fill this in
deposited in the hands of some reliable and on a properly drawn out form, and certainly
independent third person. Some fanciers en- it ispleasanter to receive the particulars thus
I give a copy of
tirely decline to send their cats on approval, intelligently written out.
and then it is very requisite to enter fully the forms I drew out for the use of blue Persian
EXHIBITING.
OUR PLAY-ROOM.
(From a Painting by Madame Ronney.)
members, but these can, of course, be used is not worth $100, they are disgusted, and
for cats of any breed. have a lot to say about unfair dealing, etc.
Here let me quote from an article in that If a kitten that has been a pet is taken from
excellent American paper, The Cat Journal, its surroundings, and sent on a long journey,
headed " Unreasonable Buyers." The writer the rattle and the unusual conditions of such a
says :~-" One of the most difficult things with trip places her in a state of nervous terror, so
which the cat seller has to contend is the that she very rarely shows off to good advan-
unreasonable buyer. There are buyers who, tage in her new home. The purchaser, if a
rinding a cat to suit them, pay the price and true cat lover, will appreciate all the trouble
are satisfied. There is, however, another class of poor little pussy, and give her the tender-
that it is best to let alone. They are never est treatment and coax her to make the best
satisfied, and blame the seller for everything of her new surroundings. It is a very rare
that happens either on the road or after the thing for a kitten tocome from the box after
kitten is received, and many of them also a long journey looking just as the new owner
think if they are sharp they will be able to buy expected. Tired, homesick, and frightened,
a $100 kitten for $10 or 15, and when they she will not eat, and is altogether a pitiable
get such a kitten and they discover that it looking object. It is always advisable to put
a new room by herself, with a com-
arrival in a prize-winners, and perhaps judges, put them-
fortablebed and conveniences, entirely away selves out to give valuable advice, and often
from the rest of the cats and kittens, and spare no pains in endeavouring to obtain good
allow her to become acquainted with the stock for the novice at reasonable prices.
"
members family gradually. Do not
of the Another question often asked is, Does
"
allow other cats to come bothering around showing pay ? In answer to this query, I
till the new member of the family is entirely give an extract from the pen of the clever
acquainted with its surroundings. Especially weekly correspondent of Fur and Feather,
" "
be very cautious in introducing two male Zaida," who says To those who keep
:
cats. their cats for pleasure, who really love them

" and can afford ' '
must be very cautious in sending
Sellers to despise the small takings
out their stock, and buyers must not expect available, keep your cats at home and do not
too much. Give the new member of the show. Expense does not count with this class
family a little time to know things before you of exhibitor, but risk to the welfare of their
write your letter of complaint. Be sure you best-beloved pussies undoubtedly does. To
are not expecting too much for the price you those who are trying to make money by their
paid." cats, we would urge harden your hearts,
:
"
The question has often been asked, Can learn how to show, where to show, and when
"
cats be made to pay ? and, naturally, to show and recognise the expense, risk, and
;
novices in the fancy wish to know the best trouble involved as part of the unavoidable
way which to make a good start.

in outlay which is to bring in a certain return.
Here would say how much may be done
I Undoubtedly, a show is a heavy expense, and
by well-known and influential members of any will always leave you out of pocket. Even
fancy if they will give themselves a little if
you conduct it on the most selfish terms
' ' ' '
trouble in helping the novice, who, after all, the
give-nothing and take-all-you-can
is the backbone, so to speak, of every fancy, system you will be exceptionally lucky if you
and hence it is very essential that beginners clear your expenses. You cannot expect to
should start on the right lines and with reliable, sellyour kittens well if you do not exhibit.
and therefore profitable, stock. Speaking from "If you possess a stud cat, he must be seen
experience in the cat fancy, I can say that and known before you can hope to have a de-
several persons have come into the ranks and mand for his services. Your own eye must be
gone out of it again, in many cases through continually trained by comparison of your own
sheer disgust because of the deceptions prac- stock with the prize specimens of others. In
tised, and of which they, as novices, have short, you wish to make money, you must
if
been made the victims. I hold that if begin- spend money. On the other hand, never ex-
ners are to be retained as members of a fancy, hibit except at first-rate shows, and never be
they should be treated kindly and liberally tempted to show an animal out of condition.
by the experienced fancier, especially when If you can afford to buy animals already well
it is a question of purchasing stock. It is known in the show world, renown, cats of
much to be lamented that novices are fre- for whose offspring always be a
there will
quently treated manner, and
in a reverse keen demand, you may possibly abstain from
fanciers (so-called) seize upon an opportunity exhibition. This plan, however, involves a
of getting rid of superfluous and often inferior very large initial outlay. Then, again, the
specimens to those who are unable to discover happy people who have won their laurels,
good from bad in the cats offered to them. whose names are always associated with first-
At the same time, it is a pleasing fact that rate animals of a particular breed, they,
there are many true fanciers in the feline indeed, can afford to rest in peace, and show
world who, having made their names as breeders, no more. Other people will buy their kittens,
EXHIBITING.
and do their exhibiting for them, and also do third visit gratis cannot be expected even if
that mournful nursing and burying that too there is no result. A
fee once paid for a visit
often follows a show. Undoubtedly, it is fas- is not returnable.It is sometimes a matter
cinating to show
successfully on the; but, of arrangement between fanciers to have the
whole, we think the most enjoyable shows choice of a kitten instead of the mating fee,
are those where one goes to look at other but this transaction does not commend itself
people's exhibits and leave one's own at home." unless the parties are on very friendly
A few words as to the stud fees and arrange- terms. A clear understanding should be ar-
ments for visiting queens will not here be out rived at on all occasions between the sender
of place. The usual fee for the services of a and the receiver, and thus any after unpleas-
stud cat is fixed at i is., but some fanciers antness may be avoided. It is catty etiquette
are willing to accept less, especially if their to forward the fee when sending the queen j
cat is not a well-known or, at latest, immediately
prize-winner. A higher on her return. Alabel
charge is often made if for the return journey

the railway journey has should be fixed inside the
to be followed by a cab lid of the hamper. This
fare, or if the owner, hav- is a saving of trouble to
ing a valuable stud cat, the owner of the stud, and
does not wish to encourage is also a means of identi-
many visitors. The car- fication.
riage of the queen should In selecting a young

always be defrayed by the kitten for purchase out of
sender, and if a telegram a litter, take note of the
and return insurance is size head and width
of
desired,then these sums between the ears. In self-
expended should be re- coloured kits look out for
funded to the owner of white spots, and avoid
the stud cat. It is de- those with long tails.
sirable to announce the Fanciers should strive to
despatch or intended des- MR. V.W. WESTERN, THE SECRETARY resist the temptation of
OF THE SANDY CLUB SHOW.
patch of a queen, as it buying too many cats and
(Photo : Kingham, Bedford.)
may not be convenient kittens of different breeds.
to receive her. The usual time to keep a To the novice and the beginner I would say,
visitor is from three to six days, and then Buy two or three good specimens, carefully
the owner of the stud cat should give notice selected these will be worth quantities of
;
of the return. In case the first visit proves doubtful ones, which, as a matter of fact,
unsuccessful a second visit is usually allowed have, as a rule, no value at all. Seize every
by courtesy without any extra payment, opportunity which comes across your path
but this must not be taken as a matter of of seeing and examining well-bred, prize-win-
course, and it is best for the owner of the ning cats, and attending shows. The cleverest
queen to ask permission to send again. If fancier and most successful breeder can im-
through a mistake in the time of sending a cat prove himself by observation and education.
apparently fails to mate during two visits, it Do not be offended if you are told by those
can only be by the kindness of the stud cat's who have had a larger and longer experience
owner that a third visit is permitted for the in the fancy, and who are really experts, that
one fee. If, however, the queen has been you have made a mistake in any purchase.
known to have mated on each occasion, a If you resent their criticisms, you may, and
probably will, accumulate much rubbish as a birds. In 1880 pigeons were introduced, and
monument of your own conceit. A great deal in 1883 rabbits were added. Later, in 1899,
may be learnt from books, but more from dogs put in an appearance with four classes.
observation. Above all, do not, when you It was not, however, until 1894 that our friend
pussy,' in whom we are especially interested,

'
have acquired some knowledge, form too
high an estimate of your own powers and of made her debut at Sand}', and as we look at
your own cats a true fancier is always ready
;
the schedule for that year we are driven to
nay, anxious to learn, well recognising that the conclusion that none but a philosopher
ignorance alone claims to be omniscient. could have drawn up such a classification for
our pets. The trouble which we now fre-
LOCAL SHOWS. quently experience at a cat show of being
' '
As an example of the ever-increasing interest wrong classed could not well arise on that
shown in cat sections at local shows, the fol- happy day in August 1894, when eight catteries
lowing account, kindly supplied to me by Mr. were represented in the one and only class, viz.
F. W. Western, the secretary, will be of in-
'
Any variety, any age, male or female.' But

terest : if our pets made a modest bow to the public
"
Sandy Show has long since outgrown in in that year, they have lived to be proud of
size and importance the title it bears, viz. their position. In the succeeding year three
'
The Exhibition of the Sandy and District classes were provided, bringing together 31
Floral and Horticultural Society.' Tne first cats. From this date the cat classes have
schedule, issued in 1869, catered for plants, shown improvement. The year
substantial
flowers, fruit, vegetables, poultry, and cage 1900 found Sandy with five classes and 41
OFFICIALS OF THE N.C.C.C.

(Photo: Mrs. G. H. Walker.}
EXHIBITING. 93
entries. By this time the cat fancy throughout which was founded in 1900. The committee
the country had come into prominence clubs ;
decided on holding a one-day kitten show
had been established, and specialist societies in September of that year, and the judges
were springing into existence. With a leap selected were Miss D. Champion, Miss Frances
forward the cat section of the 1901 show num- Simpson, Mr. T. B. Mason, and Mr. L. P.
bered 20 classes. This was far too bold a bid Astley. Entries came up well, numbering 154,
for popularity to be lightly esteemed. The and novel undertaking was in every way
this
support was obtained of the Cat Club, the a great success. The Northern Counties Cat
Silver Society (to-day the Silver and Smoke Club kitten show is now an annual fixture,
Persian Cat Society), the Short-haired Cat and on October ist of 1902 a really splendid
Society, and the Siamese Club. exhibition of promising youngsters was held
"
Generous aid was given by many individual at Bellevue, Manchester. Twenty-two classes
lovers of cats, and fifty special prizes, in addi- were arranged, and over fifty specials offered.
money, were offered.
tion to the class prize Entries were twenty in excess of the pre-
The show was attended with success, both vious year, and would have been still higher
as regards the number (about 150) and the in number had not sickness prevented several
quality of the exhibits. From a public point well-known silver breeders from exhibiting.
of view, moreover, the result was most gratify- The litter class numbered 17, and these, with
ing. the splendid blue classes, were the chief glory
"
The cat tent was crowded throughout the of the show. There were 18 pairs of blue
day, and this section was acknowledged on kittens and 40 entries in single blue kittens,
every hand to have been one of the best features and it was most noticeable how few of these
of the show. specimens failed in eyes. There were rows
" With such success of gleaming orange orbs that rejoiced the
attending their first
earnest venture in cats, it is not surprising to heart of the Hon. Sec. of the Blue Persian Cat
find that the committee resolved still further Society.
to increase the classification. In August 1902, The kitten show of 1902 may fairly be classed
therefore, 32 classes were arranged, of which as another success for theNorthern Club.
21 were guaranteed. Special prizes numbered A similar show for cats and kittens is held
85, and the cat section had the support of all annually in December in Manchester by this
the specialist societies. enterprising club. I am indebted to Mrs. G. H.
"
With such attractions the splendid entry Walker for the group of officials and mem-
of 1901 was eclipsed, and at the very worst bers of the Northern Club. The photo was
time of the year for cats as many as 266 taken by Mrs. Walker at the Manchester
entries were made. Long-haired cats were kitten show of 1902.
decidedly well represented, and in the blue In connection with the dog show of the
kitten class 21 specimens were penned. In Ladies' Kennel Association, an exhibition of
the short-haired classes some noted winners cats is now held annually at Harrogate under
appeared. the rules and patronage of the National Cat
"
Ring classes were provided, and proved a Club. The first venture in this popular and
g^reat
attraction to the public. The local fashionable water resort was made by Mrs.
classes were proof that Mrs. F. W. Western Stennard Robinson in 1901, when entries
has succeeded in interesting some of her came in splendidly ;
but rain descended most
friends in the hobby, and the specimens to disastrously, and seriously interfered with
which the honours fell would have done well the success of the show and the attendance
in the keenest competition." of visitors. In the weather proved
1002
Mention was made in the list of clubs on a most favourable, but the cat section suffered
previous page of theNorthern Counties Cat Club, considerably as regards numbers of exhibits in
consequence of the date clashing with that of accept with pleasure the scheme submitted to
the Sandy Show, held also on August 28th. the public by the secretary of the S.S.P.C.S."
On this occasion the Hon. Mrs. McLaren The Scottish Cat Club, which has Lady
Morrison was advertised as judge, but owing to Marcus Beresford for its President, holds its
ill-health her place was taken by Mrs. Stennard annual show during the winter months, and
Robinson, and Mr. J. B. Townend, of the its exhibition follows
closely on that of the
National Cat Club, undertook the manage- Midland Counties.
ment. The Midland Counties Cat Club held Under the list of winter shows mention
its first show in Birmingham. The classifica- may be made of the
following, where, in
tion was on a liberal scale, and several of connection with other live stock, cats play
the classes were guaranteed. Several of the a more or less important part Peter- :
specialist clubs supported this first venture of borough, Sheffield. Hounslow, Kendal, Bedford,
the Midland Counties Caterham, Hinck-
Cat Club. A new ley. Hamilton, Don-
departure in the caster, Yarmouth,
matter of shows Stratford -on- Avon,
may shortly be Bristol, Haverford-
attempted,and a west, Stockton,
scheme has been Cheltenham, Taun-
submitted to the cat Hex-
ton, Epsom,
world by the Hon. ham, Lark hall.
Sec. of the Silver Stirling.
and Smoke Persian In this list I have
Cat Society, that the made no mention of
specialist societies the great champion-
should combine and show of the
ship
hold a show in the National Cat Club,
West of England. held annually at the
Each society is to Crystal Palace in
be asked to bear a SANDY STEALING THE MILK. October, to which
part in the expenses, THE PROPERTY OF Miss HARPER. the whole of cat
(Photo: B. Tugwcll, Haywards Heatlt.)
and secretaries will creation looks for-
probably hold a meeting to consider the best ward with awe and longing. This is one
ways and means of carrying out such an of the greatest events in the cat world,
undertaking. It is not intended that such a and is always eagerly looked forward to by
show should be in any opposition to those . fanciersin all parts of the British Isles,
held by the parent clubs, and registration in In the schedule for the exhibition in 1902
either of these clubs will be enforced but, to ;
no fewer than 216 special prizes were offered,
quote the words of a well-known fancier and Many of these were given by the following
supporter of the specialist societies, "It is specialist clubs, who generously supported
simply a way of escape from the enforced this annual fixture : The Blue Persian Cat
division of interests, and a means for permit-
Society, the Silver and Smoke Persian Cat
ting the cats of all club persuasions to meet Society, the Chinchilla Cat Club, the Orange,
on equal ground. As matters
stand, now Cream and Tortoiseshell Society, the Siamese
open competition a
thing of the past,
is Cat Club, the Manx Cat Club, and the British
and the sooner it becomes a possibility again Cat Club.
the better for the cat fancy. On this ground, The names of the judges acting on this
therefore, we think all unbiassed minds will occasion were as follow Mrs. Greenwood,
:
EXHIBITING. 95
Miss Forestier Walker, Miss G. Jay, Miss Westminster Aquarium, about the beginning
Cochran, Miss F. Simpson, Mr. Louis Wain, of January, and it is at this season that the
Mr. Sam Woodiwiss, Mr. C. A. House, and really finest exhibition of Persian cats is
Mr. Jung. witnessed, for at no other time are long-haired

In our latter-day shows the work of the cats in such grand coat and good condition as
judges considerably augmented by the
is in the middle of winter.
numerous specials that have to be awarded It is no wonder, therefore, with so many
amongst the winners in the well-filled classes, shows held throughout the length and breadth
and as regards the Crystal Palace show of of the land, that the cult of the cat is becoming
1902, the patience and skill of the judges making more and more widely known and appreciated,
these awards were taxed to the uttermost. and that the fancy is really assuming such
The Cat Club's show has been held for three proportions that there can be no doubt of
years in succession at St. Stephen's Hall, its permanent position amongst us.
SILVER CATS BELONGING TO MRS. CLARK, OF ASHBRITTLE.

9b
CHAPTER VI.
THE POIXTS OF A CAT.
entering upon the distinctive be set straight in the head, not slanting
BEFORE breeds of cats, of which I propose to like those of a Chinese. In the Persian
treat fully in the ensuing chapters, I varieties a fringe of overhanging fur greatly
would draw attention to the accompanying improves and softens the expression. The
diagram of a cat, and will proceed to point colour varies in different breeds, but in green,
out the general contour of the animal, whether orange, or blue eyes, purity and depth of
long or short haired. colour should prevail. Very often an orange
Having given a table of reference, I will eye is spoilt by an inner rim of green, and a
take the points of the cat as arranged in blue eye weakened by a paler shade
is of
order:
blue, giving the appearance of an opal.
No. i, Ears : These should be small, and . No. 3, Skull Should be broad, with width
:
rounded at the tops, carried somewhat for- between the eyes and ears.
ward, and not wide open at the base. In the No. 4, Cheeks Well developed. :
Persian varieties especially the inner surface No. 5, Face and nose These should be :
" "
should be hidden by a growth of fur extend- short the contrary, a
;
if snipey appearance
ing from the face, termed ear tufts. It is a is
given to the cat, which quite spoils the
beauty in the cat to have the ears set well expression.
apart, giving an appearance of greater width to No. 6, Chest : Should be full and broad.
the head. The outer portion of the ears should No. Neck7, : Short and full.
be evenly covered with soft, short, downy fur. Nos. 8 and 9, Shoulder and fore arm :
No. 2, Eyes These ought to be round,

: These call for no special remarks but in ;
large, and full. A small, beady eye is a male cats especially firm and massive limbs
great disfigurement in a cat. The eyes should are most desirable.
POAVTS" Of A CAT. 97
No. 10, Paw : A large, broad paw, with may be perfect in all points, and yet if in
short but not stumpy feet. In the Persian either the long- or short-haired varieties the
varieties the tufts are an additional beauty. coat lacks softness of texture, and in Persians
Nos. ii and 12. Body and back : There the fur is matted or draggled, such specimens
is a diversity of opinion as to whether a cat cannot expect to find favour in the eyes of
should be long in the body or of cobby build. a critical judge, or even an ordinary lover of
I to the latter as regards beauty of
incline cats. In short-haired breeds there is an un-
form, but I am of opinion that female cats mistakable gloss on the coat of a cat that is
with long bodies are the best breeders. All in good health. A spikey appearance of the
cats should be low in the legs. fur always denotes poor condition, and greatly
No. 13, Tail or brush In both breeds this
: detracts from the charms and chances of our
should be short rather than long, and in the pets or show cats. A great deal depends in
Persian varieties broad and spreading. The keen competition upon condition. It turns the
tail should be carried almost on a level with scale in a vast majority of instances. There-
the body, and slightly curving upwards to- fore, as great attention should be paid to
wards the end. A too-tapering tail is a defect. this point as to those set forth in the list I
Nos. 14, 15, and 16 call for no further have given.
remark beyond the desirability of symmetry A
small yet distinctive feature in a cat is
in form. the whiskers, and these vary in colour, accord-
The foregoing list of points in a cat may be ing to the breed. They should be strong and
of some serviceto novices in the fancy, but yet sensitive, and curving slightly inwards.
it is necessary to add that, as in all animals, It is supposed to be a sign of strength if a
condition is a very important factor. cat A cat's whiskers attain a great length.
(Photo: C. Reid, Wisha-u.)

A BLUE PERSIAN BELONGING TO MRS. WELLS.
(Photo :
Ward, Hounslow.)
CHAPTER VII.
LONG-HAIRED OR PERSIAN CATS.
classing all long-haired cats as Persians In the foregoing references to the diagram
IN I
may be
wrong, but the distinctions, of the cat I have touched upon the points of
apparently with hardly any difference, the animal, which are practically the same as
between Angoras and Persians are of so fine a regards the form of body and limb in both long-
nature that I must be pardoned if I ignore the and short-haired breeds of cats.
class of cat
commonly which
called Angora, In comparing the dispositions of these two
seems gradually to have disappeared from our breeds, I think it is generally allowed that
midst. Certainly, at our large shows there is Persian cats are not so amiable, or so reli-
no special classification given for Angoras, and able in their temper, as the short-haired varie-
in response to many inquiries from animal ties. I am inclined to think, however, that
fanciers I have never been able to obtain they are more intelligent, and have a greater
any definite information as to the difference make themselves at home
instinctive desire to
between a Persian and an Angora cat. Mr. in their surroundings. are apparently as
They
Harrison Weir, in his book on cats, states that keen hunters of prey as the short-haired cats.
the Angora differs somewhat from the Persian When we come to the question of stamina and
in that the head is rather smaller and ears general health, I certainly think the Persian
"
larger, fur more silky with a tendency to must, so to speak, go to the wall."
woolliness. It is a common belief that, in human beings,
It is, however, my intention to confine my if the hair
grows long and thick it is a sign
division of cats to long-haired or Persian cats, of great strength and a good constitution :
and short-haired or English and foreign cats. but as regards cats the longer the coat the
In both these breeds there are " self-coloured," weaker the animal. This I have specially
" " "
broken-coloured," and any other coloured noticed in Persian kittens, and have remarked
varieties. that little mites with unusually long fur are
LOXG-HAIRED OR PERSIAN CATS. 99
the most difficult to rear, and suffer from ex- indeed very vexatious and tantalising, after
treme delicacy. Perhaps in-breeding amongst having entered a grand-coated cat a month
Persian varieties has been more carried on before a show, to find your precious pet
than with the short-haired breeds, which are persistently scratching out her fluffy frill and
allowed a greater freedom of choice, and there- shedding the chief glory of her breed before
fore are the result of natural selection. the eventful day when you had hoped to reap
Apart from the question of health and golden awards.
strength, Persian cats require a great deal As regards Persian kittens, the change of
more care and attention on account of the coat takes place between the ages of three and
long fur. In the spring Persian cats begin six months. In some cases long-haired kittens
to shed their coats, and this process continues will -east their fur to such an extent as to
through the summer months, and it is not present the appearance of an uneven short-
tillabout October that the new fur begins haired specimen, whereas in others the shed-
to grow again. Persian cats may be con- ding process is so gradual that the transition
sidered in condition during the
their finest stage from a kitten to a cat is hardly more
months of December and January. It is a discernible in the long- than in the short-haired
wise provision of Nature that during the breeds. Any severe illness may cause the
coldest months these somewhat delicate cats fur to come out of Persian cats at any season
should have their warmest clothing. It has of the year, and the growth of the new coat
often been a matter of surprise that cat shows will be retarded by poor condition of the skin.
should ever be held in the summer, when In both long- and short-haired cats, as in other
long-haired pussies present a most unkempt animals, the teeth are the chief guide in
and moth-eaten appearance. In this con- deciding the age, and a kitten may be said to
dition they arc not likely to win converts to become a cat after six months, when the adult
the cult of the cat but from an educational
;
dental process is completed, and the second
point of view these unclothed specimens give set of teeth has become established. And
the judge an opportunity of displaying his here would quote from Mr. John Jennings'
I
"
ability, for it needs a really capable judge, interesting book on Domestic or Fancy
with experience, knowledge, and good common- Cats" hi-support of. my twofold classification:
"
sense, to allow for absence of coat, and to Of the many varieties or breeds of the cat
place the awards accordingly. Under summer
skies shape and bone will have their innings,
whereas a grand winter coat may hide a
multitude of sins that even the eagle eye of
the most astute judge may fail to discover.
At the same time, for a breed
" "
of cats called long-haired the
coat ought to demand the greatest
consideration for ;
what is the
good of the most perfect shape
in a Persian cat, if it is exhibited
out of coat and almost like an
English short-hair in a class set
apart for long-haired specimens ?
No doubt many breeders of
Persians have been led through
disappointment to join the ranks '
OWNED BY LADY MARCUS BEKESFORD.

GENTIAN','
of short-hair breeders, for it is (I'liolo : B. Landor, Eating.)
with which we are now familiar, it must be similar in the different varieties of either
remembered however crossed, selected,
that, long- or short-hair, but even in the wild cat
re-crossed, domesticated, or what not, we the anatomy is similar, the slight variation
have but two breeds on which the super- being in a great measure explained by its
structure of what is known to-day as the different conditions of life and diet, and is in
' '
classification of varieties has been reared unison with the fact of how even the ordinary
viz. the long-hair or Eastern cat, and the short- domestic cat will undergo a change in taking
hair or Euro- up a semi-wild, outdoor existence."
pean. The At the present time there is no doubt that
' '
term breed long-haired cats are the more popular, and,
is even here judging by the entries at our large shows, the
used advisedly, numbers may be taken as four to one. A
for whatever slight reaction has set in since short-haired
societies have been formed, but the fascina-
tion for fluffy pets and pretty pussies will,
I think, always predominate, for the less at-
tractive points of the English domestic cat
do not appeal so strongly to the heart and
the eye of the general public.
It may be remarked by the readers of The
' :
"
Book of the Cat that very few pictures of
short-haired cats are reproduced and it is ;
just because the long-haired pussies are so

much more attractive that they are brought
into greater prominence in this work. It is
more difficult to obtain nice photographs of
short-haired cats, probably because the owners
of these less expensive pets do not think it is
worth while to spend their money or to go to
MRS. HERRING'S " CHAMPION JIMMY." any trouble over having a good picture taken.
(Photo W. Morice, Lewisham High Road.)
: As regards the coloured plates appearing in
this work, care has been taken to instruct the
the outer covering or coat, colour, or length of artists to bring out as prominently as possible
fur, the contour of each and all is practically the special points of the cats, long- and short-
the same. haired. It is the first time that coloured
Nor is this confined to mere outline. Take plates of the different kinds of cats have been
the example, which measured in
skull, for attempted and it is hoped that, as types of
;
the usual manner with shot, making due each breed, these will prove useful to fanciers
allowance for difference in size, is not only and instructive to the cat-loving public.
101
THE HON. MRS. MCLAREN MORRISON'S CATTERY AT KEPW1CK.
CHAPTER VIII.
SOME NOTABLE CATTERIES.

entering upon a description of of the grounds, and will accommodate a large
BEFORE
the various breeds, it may be interesting number of cats. The runs are arranged with
to myreaders to give a short account, boxes, benches, chairs, and ladders, and the
with illustrations (photographs for which have sleeping places, built of brick, are most com-
been specially taken for this chapter), of the fortably fitted up. By a system of wooden
catteries of some well-known fanciers who blinds the strong sea breezes and the bright rays
have not confined themselves to any special of the summer sun can be regulated. There
breed or variety. are side blinds and top blinds. The floors of
Lady Decies' catteries, at her pretty summer the spacious catteries are wood, covered with
residence at Birchington-on-Sea, are indeed cork carpet, and they are raised about a
most arrangements, and every
perfect in their foot from the ground, so that there is a free
detail for the comfort and
well-being of the current of air passing under the boards, thus
inmates is considered. The stud cats have securing absolute freedom from any damp.
separate single houses, with good-sized wired- In the house there are three rooms set apart
in runs, and luxurious and
cosy sleeping apart- by Lady Decies for her pussies. In two of
ments in the rear. these the queen mothers have their families,
The main cattery is in a sheltered portion and the other is used as the cats' kitchen.
7*
IO2 THE BOOK OF THE CAT.
The beds for the cats are specially designed of the pussies are having their mid-day meal.
by Lady Decies. The walls of the cats' rooms The celebrated " Blue Boy II." occupies a
are adorned with pictures by Louis Wain, house, and in the background is a grass run,
and there is a display of prize cards won by securely wired in, which is used as a play-
"
Lady Decies' famous cats. Zaida," so well ground for the pussies. In the hot summer
known as the winning silver female, is the weather this is shaded by the lovely spreading
privileged occupant of Lady Decies' boudoir, beech trees of Windsor Park.
and here the aristocratic little lady makes her- The stud cats' houses are splendidly ar-
self at home on the soft cushions and couches. ranged with sleeping places and nice large
"
The famous Lord Southampton " is now runs. The space in the centre in front of
in the possession of Lady Decies, and resides these runs is used as an exercise ground for
in one of the up-to-date catteries at Beresford the females and kittens. The garden-house
Lodge. He was purchased at a very high cattery indeed, an ideal one, being a bower
is,
price. Since his change of ownership he has of roses in the summer-time, and in winter
not frequently appeared in public, but in the an ivy-clad retreat. This house is divided
past he was a noted winner. It is, however, into two apartments, and these are generally
as a silver sire that he attained his success used for the queen mothers and their families.
and made his name. It is well-nigh im- On the shelves along the windows the pussies
possible to mention his numerous winning sit and sun themselves.
children. His name in a pedigree is a safe Truly the lives of inmates of the Bishops-
guarantee for quality and colour. gate catteries are spent in peace and plenty,
The two Siamese cats have warm quarters and when their little span of life is over they
in the stable cottage. find a resting place under the shadow of the
LadyDecies' pets comprise both long- and grand old trees, and a little white tombstone
"
short-haired cats. Among the latter Xeno- with a loving inscription marks the spot of
"
phon is generally considered as the best pussy's last long sleep.
specimen brown tabby, and has a long
of a Lady Marcus Beresford has had almost
prize-winning record. A woman and a boy every breed of cat under the sun at her cat-
are kept to attend to the wants of these aris- teries, but of recent years she has specially
tocratic animals. taken up silvers, blues, and Siamese, and a
The Bishopsgate cattery may be said to grand specimen of each of these varieties is
have won a worldwide renown, and those who in the stud at Bishopsgate. Amongst some
have been privileged to visit the ideal residence owned by Lady Marcus
of the celebrated cats
"
of Lady Marcus Beresford will agree with me Beresford may mention
I Lifeguard," a
" "
that it impossible to give any idea either
is grand orange of massive build Tachin ;
"
by photography or description of the delight- . and Cambodia," two imported Siamese with
"
ful dwelling places set apart for the pussies perfect points Cora," a tortoiseshell-and-
;
"
belonging to this true lover and fancier of the white of great beauty, and Kismet," a brown
feline race. tabby of exquisite shape, both imported and ;
"
There is the cat cottage, where the attend- Cossy," a smoke that has found a home in
ant has her rooms, and where the other apart- America. At the present time three of the
ments are especially fitted up for the cats. most notable inmates of the Bishopsgate cat-
Here the Siamese have their quarters, and the tery, representing blues, silvers, and Siamese, are
sun streams in at the windows, which face due "Blue Boy II.," "Beetle," and "King of Siam."
south. Opposite to the cottage, as may be One of the largest catteries in Scotland,
seen in the illustration, are some of the cat where the fancy grows apace, is owned by
houses, and in the centre is the kitchen. The Mrs. Mackenzie Stewart, of Seagate House.
cat attendant stands at the door, and some Irvine. Mrs. Stewart has possessed several
It was as Mrs. Warner, in 1889, that

the Hon. Mrs. McLaren Morrison first
exhibited a black cat called "Imp"
at the Crystal Palace Show and as ;
black cats are said to bring luck, this

puss took a first, and, thus encouraged,
his owner commenced her " "
catty
career. In the following year, I note,
by the catalogue, that Mrs. H. Warner
had fourteen entries, and amongst
these were two imported cats and
the celebrated black Persian " Satan,"
who departed this life in 1902. As
late as 1897 this superb fellow, with
glorious orange eyes, won everything

he could (in spite of his age) at the
Crystal Palace. There remains a
worthy son of this worthy sire at the
"
Kepwick cattery, named Lucifer."
It was in 1890 that Mrs. McLaren
A SLEEPING BOX IN LADY DECIES CATTERY. 1

Morrison, then Mrs. H. Warner, made
(Photo : Cassell & Company, Limited.')
her name as an exhibitor of white
Persians for no less than six of this
;
notable cats of different breeds. Her blue breed put in an appearance and gained prizes
stud cat "Ronald" has made himself a name at Sydenham. Mrs. McLaren Morrison writes :
in the south of England as well

as in the north. Mrs. Stewart
has had silvers, creams, brown tab-
bies, and is now the owner of the
"
celebrated black .
stud cat Dick
Fawe," who has sired many -winning
kittens. The severe weather of this
part of Scotland seems to suit these

Persian cats, for a healthier, hardier
set of pussies one could not wish to
see than those disporting themselves
in the pleasantly situated catteries
of Seagate House. Mrs. Mackenzie
Stewart is a most enthusiastic fancier,
and often takes the long journey down
South to bring her pets to the Lon-
don shows. She has acted as judge
in Scotland and England, and a con-
tingent from the Seagate cattery is

generally to be seen and admired at
most of our large shows.
To old fanciers and exhibitors the LADY DECIKS VISITING HER PETS.
name of Mrs. H. Warner is familiar. (Photo Cassell & Company, Limited.)
:
"
I have always been lucky with black cats, the face of very great difficulties. I do not
both long- and short-haired but I especially ;
much care about running the risk of showing,
love white Persians, and, in fact, at one time but a true fancier likes to support all well-
'
I owned a white cattery.' I may say I still arranged cat shows."
'
have some good specimens namely, Muse- Mrs. Collingwood, of Leighton Buzzard, is a
fer,'
'
Queen of the Pearls,' and '
Lily.' I love most ardent lover but it is only of

of cats,
the imported cats, and always get them when recent years that she has been before the
I can. I have nine now at Kepwick. One public as a fancier and exhibitor. During
of these hailsfrom Patagonia and one from this time, however, many have been the
Afghanistan. My cat- honours showered on

tery at one time was the lucky inmates of
twice again as full as the Bossington cat-
now but my losses
; tery.
have been great, and Mrs. Collingwood
I have reduced the has great difficulty,
numbers so that I so she tells me, in
may give more atten- keeping her number
tion to the young down to about
of cats
stock. thirty She likes
!
"
It is only recently these be equally
to
I have
really gone in divided between long-
for orange Persians, and short-haired pus-
encouraged by the sies ;
so there are
' '
wins of Puck at the all sorts and varieties.
Botanical. I love this Blues have been great
beautiful variety, but favourites, and Mrs.
consider the queens Collingwood is on
of this breed very deli- the Blue Persian Cat
cate. I have owned Society Committee.
some fine blues at "
Royal Bobs," a big,
different times, and massive blue male,
purchased for 25 a has done a lot of
beautiful fellow, bred winning. He was
'
from Beauty Boy,' bred by the Princess
at the Crystal Palace MRS. MACKENZIE STEWART'S CATTERY
Victoria of Schleswig-
many years ago ; but, His sister
Holstein.
alas he came home only to die. " "
! Fore- Jill one
also inhabits of the twelve cat-
most amongst my blues ranked my late houses distributed over five acres of the
Champion
'
Monarch,' who held the Beresford Bossington grounds. These smaller houses
Cup. Of have taken up silvers.
late years I are mostly on wheels. The larger houses are
My first Chinchilla was Champion Nizam,' '
kept for females and their families, and some-

' '
ancestor of such cats as St. Anthony and times a corner of the hay-loft is set apart for
' '
Ameer.' I bought Nizam '
at the Crystal a nursing mother. The male cats have their
Palace in the early days of silvers, and he only liberty during the morning, and then the
took second prize, because, I was assured, he was females enjoy their afternoons
out. Mrs.
' '
too light for first. I have a few Russians. Collingwood does not keep a stud cat, but there
I am most devoted to pussies, and have my are neuter pets that have their run about the
tried to persevere in breeding good stock in house, and have their meals in a corner of the
io6 THE BOOK OF THE CAT.
dining-room. Mrs. Collingwood intends going principal shows this enthusiastic is a

lady
in strongly for smokes in the future and and
; prominent figure, in the quantity and
although possessed of extremely good short- quality of her exhibits she generally leads the
haired cats, this ambitious fancier is desirous way.
of breeding a perfect silver tabby and a like- At some of our large shows Mrs. Herring has
" "
wise equally perfect orange tabby. James entered from 25 to 30 cats and I have known
;
is a beautiful specimen of a silver tabby, and and seen these arrive with their mistress in a
during this year alone has won eight first large omnibus or van. It is no light under-
prizes. At Altrincham he had the honour of taking to prepare such a number of pussies
claiming championship for show, and then to
and silver medal for the convey them carefully to
best cat in
show,the the place of exhibition.
beating all the long- Mrs. Herring started
haired cats that gener- with a short-haired sil-
ally carry off this coveted ver tabby called "Chin,"
prize ;
and at the Crys- and then turned her
tal Palace he was the attention to long-haired
admired of all admirers, brown tabbies and al- ;
with a number of prize though every variety of

tickets covering his pen. cat, both long- and
I know many cat-loving short-haired, may be said
people, do not
but I to have existed from
think have ever seen
I time to time in the
greater devotion shown Lestock catteries, yet it
to the feline race than is is with tabbies
perhaps
displayed at Bossington. that Mrs. Herring has
chiefly made her name
Mrs. Collingwood is ever
ready to support cat and fame. Champion
shows by entries, by "
"Jimmy was a superb
guaranteeing classes, and specimen of a well-
by giving handsome marked silver tabby, and
prizes. Her cats are he carried everything
always shown in the before him in the show
pink of condition, and it pen. He
passed away in
is seldom they appear THE IM "'A * TREE, MRS. CLARKE'S CATTERY
1900, and I do not think
(fhoto: Mrs. S. F. Clarke.)
in the pens unless their we shall see his like again.
devoted mistress is in attendance. Mrs. Col- Amongst many celebrities in the feline
lingwood kindly had the accompanying photo- world which have been born or bred, or have
graphs specially taken for this chapter. found their habitation at the Lestock cattery, I
"
Perhaps no name is better known in the cat may mention King Saul," the noted tortoise-
world than that of Mrs. Herring, of Lestock shell torn who still holds a unique position at
House, Lee, who has for nearly twenty years our shows, and won the Coronation Cup at
been a prominent fancier and breeder of both "
the Botanical show. King Alfred," a long-
long- and short-haired cats. Mrs. Herring is haired silver tabby, and " King David," a
a member of the National Cat Club Committee, massive blue, are also well-known winners
and also belongs to several of the specialist of the present day. Mrs. Herring bred some
clubs, and is a member of the Cat Club and sensational silver tabby long-haired kittens,
"
the Northern Counties Cat Club. At all the and two of these The Duchess " and
SOME NOTABLE CATTERIES. TO?
"
''Princess were
Lestock exhibited re- us how
she manages in her town residence
spectively at the Westminster and Crystal at Louth. Here are her notes.
Palace shows, and both were speedily claimed
at the high catalogue price.
"
Floriana," a
BREEDING BLUE PERSIANS IN LIMITED SPACE.
huge, handsome long-haired brown tabby, who "The successful breeding of blue Persian cats
formerly belonged to Mrs. Herring, has recently in a space so limited that a grass run or green
found a home in America. Siamese and trees are things to be desired rather than at-
Russian cats have not been strangers to this tained, requires nice judgment and great care.
cattery, where sometimes the number of The space at command for cat keeping and
my
inmates has been over forty Within the
!
breeding purposes only a back yard, some
is
last few years Mrs. Herring has had to reduce 14 yards long by 6 yards wide. This very
her stock, owing to the complaints of neigh- limited space is further curtailed, on one side,
MRS. CLARKE S CATTERY.

hours, who showed no sympathy with the by my husband's laboratory ;

while the cat-
feline race,and some excellent, well-arranged tery and its covered run cut off another strip
cat-houses had to be removed, as they some- at the end, of 7 yards by 2 yards, reducing the
what encroached on a neighbouring garden ground available for open air exercise and run
wall. It must have been a trying time, and to a patch about 18 feet by 12 feet, and a
the weeding-out process a most difficult one, nagged portion some 21 feet by 6 feet.
for such a really warm-hearted and devoted a The space between the front of the labora-
'
fancier as Mrs. Herring, whose pussies are all tory and the nagged path being occupied by a
pets, and who personally supervises her cat- small independent house and covered run, is
tery at Lestock House. very useful either for isolation or a.s a separate
It is not given to all, particularly in large home for growing kittens. The boundary
towns, to have at their disposal such an wall is supported by 4-foot wire netting sup-
amount of waste space as their more fortunate ported by 3-foot iron stanchions, thus allowing
brethren of the country. I have therefore a free edge at the top of about 12 inches to be
asked Mrs. S. F. Clarke, whose cat photographs bent inwards and left loose. This I find a suf-
have been a delight to all our readers, to tell ficient safeguard against my own cats getting
io8 THE BOOK OF THE CAT.
out or strange cats getting in a very important in frontabout the same height, and there
matter at alltimes, but especially so at certain securely fastened. This arrangement insures
periods, if breeds are to be kept pure and pussy not only a reasonable temperature, but also a
not allowed to make her own arrangements. never-ending source of exercise and amuse-
"If I were ment for both cats and kittens, some gambol-
asked for the ling above, while others hide beneath the sheet.
very best design An ordinary sun blind along the front com-
for building, fit- pletes the summer arrangements. The front
ting up, and fur- of the covered run is closed in with inch mesh
nishing a small wire netting from ground to roof, fitted on the
cattery, I fear inside with removable shutters, 18 inches high,
I could only and, above these, removable window-sashes,
answer that re- closing in as desired. These are held in place
quirements dif- with turn-buttons, so they are easily removed
fer so in indi- or replaced in a couple of minutes, a great con-
vidual cases venience in wet or changeable weather, and
that it is improving very cosy in the winter. The run is
possible to draw fitted with shelves for the cats to lie upon, a
a hard-and-fast table, sleeping boxes, earth pans, two chairs,
line that will and an artificial tree covered with cork, which
meet all circum- is a source of great pleasure when the cats
stances. Here are confined by bad weather to the run. The
THE HON. MRS. MCLAREN
MORRISON. is a photo of my open run consists, as before mentioned, of a
(.Photo .- Esmi Callings, Hove.) OWn(p.I07). It space about 18 feet by 12 feet this is covered
;
is the outcome with gravel (which in such limited space should

of personal experience, and answers my re-
my be renewed at least once a year), with the
quirements fairly well. It is a lean-to structure, exception of a strip some 18 inches wide
about 7 yards long by 2 yards wide. The back by 6 feet long on the west side, and two small
and one end is formed by the north and west corners on the east side, reserved for grass.
boundary walls, while the east end joins the This grass reserve, which is most important
dwelling-house, thus giving it a south aspect for the keeping of Persian cats in good health,
and complete shelter from north and east is renovated every spring with fresh lawn seed,
winds. divided into two unequal por-

It is and should either of the patches suffer unduly
tions, the smaller (east) portion, 6 feet by 6 from special attentions from the pets, it is
feet, forming the cat-house proper the longer ;

wired in so as to protect it until it recovers.
portion is the covered run. The front of the By plan my cats secure a supply of grass
this
house is wood, with a lining of
built of i-inch all the year round. In the centre of the gravel
wood leaving an air space of about 3 inches space I have another artificial tree (see photo),
between the outer and inner surface of the about 8 feet high it is as great a favourite
;
front and dividing partition. The roof is of as the one in the run, and as it is hung with a
corrugated iron, with a ceiling of wood about loose cord, a few ping-pong balls, etc., it is a
4 inches below. This arrangement of double never-ending source of fun and frolic. To
walls and roof secures reasonable warmth in the supplement the ground space, I place ladders
winter, but not quite sufficient coolness for leading to the tops of the roofs of the out-
mothers and kittens during the height of the buildings and cattery, which afford extra
summer. So the roof is then covered with a space for exercise and a charming, interesting,
large white sheet hooked to the wall about 12 and envious outlook for the cats into my
inches above the roof and carried over a rail neighbour's garden. It is surprising how soon
SOME NOTABLE CATTERIES. IOQ
the kittens learn to climb up and enjoy the space such as we are considering I would not
roofs. on any account recommend the keeping of a
" The want
The sleeping house contains two wired-in stud cat. of necessary exercise
runs going round two sides, about 2 feet by would be cruelty to it and the very limited
;
12 feet long, containing nest-box, earth pan, surroundings unfair to those who might wish
etc. These are very useful for keeping a queen for his services.
"
and litter of small kittens in. There are also It is of imperative importance that the
two smaller wired-in runs, 2 by 6 feet,
feet queens you commence with be of pure blue
fitted like the larger ones, so that a cat may be pedigree ;
if prize-winners so much the better,
shut up at any time if necessary. The queens as their kittens will sell more readily.
"
sleep in the smaller runs in the winter. Be- When mating, be sure that your queen is in
neath the runs a small cupboard is very useful perfect health, and do not mate her too young
for odds and ends of all kinds. in my opinion twelve months is young
"In so limited a space cleanliness is of the enough, in the interest of mother and family.
utmost importance. The house and runs should See that the stud cat chosen be also of the
be swept out, and the earth pans should be best possible strain. That he be a noted prize-
changed, washed, and disinfected every day. winner is of less importance than that he
The question of supplying dust for the pans should be able to produce kittens that will win.
may prove a source of anxiety to the breeder He must have size, bone, strength, soundness
confined to a limited space. In winter the of colour,
dwelling-house fires supply about sufficient length of
ashes daily in summer I
;
am compelled to coat, and
fall back upon sawdust, which answers the good eyes.
purpose very well, only entailing a little extra These are
litter in the runs and more
grooming of the indispens-
coats. Whatever the difficulty in this direc- able require-
tion, itmust be overcome and the pans daily ments if good
changed. The floors and shelves, both in cat- blues are to
house and covered run, should be washed with
hot water containing some disinfectant at
least once a week, and the wired-in runs for
cats and kittens thoroughly done out with
hot Sanitas distemper every time they are re-
quired for fresh occupants. All bedding should
be changed at least once a week, and as little
of it used as possible in summer. All plates,
etc., used for food must be thoroughly washed
after each meal.
"
In a space such as I have described my cats
have to be kept, for they are allowed into the
dwelling-house by special invitation only but ;
they each receive this treat at least once during MRS. COLLINGWOOD AND "JAMES II.
the day.
(Photo : Alice Hughes, Cower Street.)
"As to the number of queens : two or three are
ample where space is so limited. Where the be produced. He should especially be strong
fresh air run is a back those points where your queen may be
yard, blues are the very in
best of all colours, as with a somewhat weak thus if the queen be de-
daily grooming ;
they always look clean and presentable. In a ficient in length of coat or frill, or in colour,
no THE BOOK OF THE CAT.
shape, or boldness of eye, see that, the selected begin, at two weeks old, feeding them three
stud-cat excels in those points, and so, as far times a day with a few drops of warm sweet-
as possible, and balance the points
correct ened milk from a spoon, increasing the quan-
required between the parents. One must not tity very gradually as they grow. I never
expect to find perfection in any one cat. By wake the kittens to feed them sleep is as
using care, judgment, and forethought in necessary as but always arrange to
food ;
mating our pets, we shall go a good way towards feed them just after the little ones wake they ;
establishing in our strain the points necessary are then hungry, and that is the best time to
to build up the perfect blue Persian. assist and relieve the mother. It is surprising
"
All my kittens have been born in a Japanese how soon the kits enjoy being fed and look out
dress basket, with the lid standing on its side for the friendly spoon.
"
and the bottom half thrust into it cradlewise. As soon as the little ones can get out of their
The outside of the basket proper is trimmed bed they must be introduced to a shallow tin
with a flounce, which helps to
keep out filled with ashes or earth. I prefer ashes to
draughts over the top

;
is thrown a small sawdust for very little kittens, and I find at a
cloth table-cover, which covers, at will, the month old they will regularly use it. This early
whole or part of the opening, thus making the lesson in cleanliness is invaluable, as later on,
little one's house a pretty thing to lock at. with reasonable care, they never forget it.
When any one of queens is about to have
my When the kittens are from three weeks to a
' '
a family her, which I consider
I flee-flea month old I remove them, with the mother
most essential for the future comfort of both (or foster-mother), to their own little run in
mother and kittens then I bring her into the
; the cattery, where I visit them three or four
house three or four days before the expected times a day. When they grow stronger, and
event. For the time being the expectant as early as the weather will permit, they are
mother becomes the house cat. I let her find introduced to the open-air run, the sunshine,
her own bed, which has already been prepared and the other cats.
"
for her, by carefully closing all other places she begin the grooming as early as possible,
I
might be likely otherwise to choose. When daily brushing the little things in their bed or
her time comes I stay with her during her on my lap it improves the fur, and the more
;
trouble ;
but never interfere unless it is abso- they are groomed the sooner they get to like and
lutely necessary. enjoy it. When grooming kittens two or three
"
A
few encouraging words, and the fact that months have three or four try-
old, I generally
one near, seems to give her comfort.
is If a ing to getunder the brush at the same time,
queen shows much exhaustion, I give a little endeavouring to push the favoured one out of
Brand's Essence with a few drops of brandy in a the way. am
strongly of opinion that the
I
spoon but if all goes smoothly I let well alone.

;
frequent handling of kittens does not do them
There is no need to press food upon the mother ; any harm, but does tend to improve their
she will not require it until some time after the temper and increase their gentleness. When
births are complete. A little warm milk or I have callers the kittens are invariably
gruel offered between the births may sometimes fetched, introduced to, and fondled by the
prove a comfort but many queens will not

; visitors, so that they become not the least
touch it. For about three weeks, that is to afraid of strangers as a result, when they go
;
say until the little ones creep out of their beds, to new homes they come out of their basket
I keep the queen and her family in the dwelling- without fear, making themselves immediately
house with me, changing her bed every other at home, much to the comfort of themselves
day. After the first week I make it a rule to and their new owners.
"
handle the kittens at least once a day, and if The best time to dispose of kittens is at
the queen has more than three to bring up I about eight weeks old. Breeders with limited
space must sell young and quickly, keeping must, even the price does not seem any-
if
only the one or two of the season thev may thing approaching the true value of the kittens.
either wish to show or turn into next year's The first loss will be the known loss most
brood queens. To get overcrowded is to certainly far less than that involved in the risk
court disease and disappointment, so sell early of keeping one or two more kittens than
youi
for the best price you can get ;
but sell you space should accommodate."
A MORNING MEAL AT BOSSINGTON.

(Photo: A. J. Anderson & Co., Luton.)
112
"
BLACK PERSIAN JOHNNIE PASTE, OWNED BY DR. ROPER.
(Photo: Lavender, Bromley.)
CHAPTER IX.
BLACK PERSIANS.
1VTEVER have these truly handsome cats takes away enormously from the value of the
i.\ amount of admiration and
received the specimen, for either show or breeding purposes.
attention which they deserve. There In some other varieties of Persian cats two,
are fewer breeders of black Persians than of or even three, colours for eyes are permissible ;
any other variety, the two most noted fanciers but a really good black cat must have the full
being Dr. Roper and Mr. Robert Little. Both round eyes of deep orange, and very attrac-
of these gentlemen have owned and exhibited tive are these gleaming orbs, shining forth
very handsome specimens Miss Kirkpatrick
;
from their dense black surroundings. When
has also bred some lovely black kittens. The black cats are changing their coats they often
entries in the black classes at our shows are present a very rusty appearance, and newly
almost invariably the smallest but as a
;
born kittens are sometimes like balls of brown
specialist club for black and white Persians fluff.These, however, frequently grow up
has been started, it is hoped more encourage- the very best-coloured blacks. This breed is
ment will be given to the breeders of these very strong and healthy, and often grow into
handsome self-coloured cats. large, massive cats. A tortoiseshell female is
As in the other self-coloured cats, the chief a splendid mate for a black male, and some
point absolute uniformity of colour through-
is of the most noted blacks have been bred in
out. It is fatal for a black cat to have a brown, thisway. Two brown tabbies will generally
rusty tinge ; should be a glossy jet black,
it produce one, if not more, good blacks in a
betraying no bands or bars in the full light, litter.
and having no undercoat of a lighter shade, Black cats have been found very use-
and, above all, no spot or tuft of white hairs ful to breeders of silver tabbies and smokes
on the throat. This latter is a very common for this reason that these two breeds re-
fault amongst black cats, and it is one which quire to have their markings and colourings
BLACK PERSIANS.
intensified.That is, a silver tabby with dark grey or blue is seen it is a great defect. The
markings is not a true type, and a smoke nose should be black, and the pads of the feet
grey
with an upper coat of cinder colour does not also.
represent the true smoke. Therefore the I do not remember

having seen or heard of
introduction of a black cross is often a great an imported Persian black cat. In an article
advantage to these breeds. There is certainly on imported cats in Our Cats the writer
not much demand for black kittens, and we (whose name is not given) says: "White cats
never hear of very high prices being asked or with blue eyes are not often to be obtained
given for these, or, indeed, for full-grown cats. from abroad, neither are the blacks warranted
But as " every dog has his day," so, perhaps, to possess the amber eyes voted correct by
there is a good time coming for blacks and ; up-to-date cattists. I know cf a black
queen
certainly beginners in the fancy might do worse straightHrwn the land of cats and the palace
than to provide themselves with a thoroughly of the Shah himself it had the most glorious
;
CHAMPION " MENKLIK III. (AMERICAN).

THE PROPERTY OF MRS. BOND, WASHINGTON.
good black queen, for, anyhow, in exhibiting emerald eyes it is possible to imagine as
the chance of honours is very much greater different from the ordinary run of green as
than when competing in classes in which there flaming amber is from faded yellow. This
are so many entries, as in the case of blues and cat, a Persian had a coat as
among Persians,
silvers. black as the proverbial jet perfectly black
For very obvious reasons black cats are throughout long and straight, of fine, silky
the very best animals for those living in texture, but not giving one the impression of
London or near large towns. They can never massiveness that is such a prominent feature
present a dirty appearance, and, therefore, in of the type of imported cat. Moderate in size,
this particular they will always score over the slightly built, with an expression so foreign that
whites, creams, and silvers. To keep their it amounted to weirdness. this cat could with
coats glossy and bright black cats should be a dash of imagination have been worked up
well brushed and groomed. They will repay into the incarnation of a spirit, a soothsayer,
tor this care and attention. Our American the veiled beauty of a harem, a witch, snake
cousins call self-coloured cats " solid," and charmer what you choose but always re-
;
as applied to blacks this is main something far apart from prosaic England,
especially expres-
sive, for a black should not have a suspicion something tinged with romance and the
of any other colour than a dense black. If, picturesqueness cf the mystical East. This
when the coat is blown apart, a shading of black cat was undoubtedly a typical Persian. * 1
8
As there such a dearth of good black cats
is black, should it have ascribed to it a numberless
in England, it is a pity some enterprising variety of bad omens, besides having certain
breeder does not try to import a really splendid necromantic power ? In Germany, for in-
specimen, which might bring luck to himself stance, black cats are kept away from children
and the fancy. as omens of evil and if a black cat appealed
;
In looking back to the old catalogues of in the room of one lying ill, it was said to
Crystal Palace shows, I find the same scarcity portend death. To meet a black cat in the
'
of blacks exhibited as at the present day. In twilight was held unlucky. In the good old
" '
1886 the black male class is marked no times a black cat was generally the only
entry," and in 1889 Mrs. H. Warner (now the colour that was favoured by men reported to
Hon. Mrs. McLaren Morrison) makes the sole be wizards, and black cats were said to be
" "
and only entry of Imp in the black class. the constant companions of witches and in ;
It was in the following year, however, that such horror and detestation were they then
this same well-known lady fancier exhibited held that when the unfortunate creatures
"
Satan," a black that was never beaten whilst were ill-treated, drowned, or even burned,
it lived. It was the most remarkable of very frequently, we are told, their cats suffered
unapproachable excellence I can remember martyrdom at the same time. It is possible
a veritable triton among minnows. that one of the reasons for such wild, savage
In many of the accounts of our largest superstition may have arisen from the fact of
shows I remark such paragraphs as these : the larger amount of electricity to be found
"
Good blacks with orange eyes were con- by friction in the coat of the black cat than of
spicuous by their absence." Or again: "The any other ; experiments prove there is but
black classes, as usual, were poorly filled." It very little either in that of the white or the
is, therefore, high time that this beautiful red tabby cat. Be this as it may, still the fact
breed should receive more attention at the remains that, for some reason or other, the
hands of fanciers, and that not only beginners black cat is held by the prejudiced ignorant
but those who are well known in the cat world as an animal most foul and detestable, and
should take up blacks, and, as the expression wonderful stories are related of their actions
"
goes, run them for all they are worth." At in the dead of the night during thunderstorms.
present Dr. Roper's and Mr. R. Little's black Yet, as far as can discover, there appears
I
Persians have it all their own way. Mrs. temper or habit in

little difference either of
Lenty Collins frequently has a look in with the black cat distinct from that of any other
her wonderful big-eyed " Forest Beauty," and colour, though it is maintained by many
Mrs. Crowther, in the North, is faithful to this even to this day that black cats are far more
her favourite breed of cats ;
but we want vicious and spiteful, and of higher courage,
some more dusky beauties to swell the ranks and this last I admit. Still, when a black cat
'
of black Persians. , is enraged and its coat and tail are well set
As everyone knows, a vast deal of super- up,' its form distended, its round, bright,
stition connected with a black cat. This is
is
orange eye all aglow with anger, it certainly
what Harrison Weir has to say on the subject :
presents to even the most impartial observer,
" ' '
It is often said, 'What's in a name ?
'
The to say the least of it, a most uncanny
object, whatever it is, by any other would appearance. But, for all this, their admirers
be the same and yet there is much in a
; are by no means few and, to my thinking, a
;
name. But this is not the question at issue, jet-black cat, fine and glossy in fur and elegantly
which is that of colour. Why should a black formed, certainly has its attractions."
cat be thought so widely different from all But although black cats are supposed to be
others by the foolish, unthinking, and ignorant ? harbingers of evil under some conditions, yet
Why, simply on account of its colour being in others they are credited with miraculous
BLACK PERSIANS. iii
it is you should procure the best of

essential
stock, and be prepared to give a fair sum for
such, otherwise you are almost sure to be dis-
appointed in your results, and, maybe, retire
as a fancier of this colour and try some other ;
but you will meet with the same fate if you

hold the same views as to expense. A black
Persian should be perfect in colour, with
absence of white hairs, cobby in shape, short
in leg, tail bushy and not too long, eyes large
and deep-orange, a good broad head, ears short
with tufts and well set apart, short face, coat
long and silky.
"
Having stated the points, I will now
give
K1TTKX BRED BV MISS KIRKI'ATKICK.

my" experience of breeding.
In my opinion, it is most important the
(Photo : K. Landor, Baling.)
sire should be a black, and one of his parents
healing powers. In Cornwall, sore eyes in a black, whatever colour the queen is. I have
children are said to be cured by passing the had greatest success in breeding from a black
tail of a black cat nine times over the part sire and a tortoiseshell queen. Through this
affected ;
and in some parts of the country cross you may get either blacks or tortoise-
' '
the presence in the house of a black cat is shells. As an instance I quote Johnnie Fawe
'
(black) and Champion

'
both an antidote and a cure for epilepsy. Dainty Diana (tor-

1 think that most cat fanciers are inclined toiseshell). From these I have bred many
'
to believe in the possible luck that a stray good blacks, amongst them Dick Fawe,'
'
black cat may bring them, and perhaps be Lady Victoria,' and other good ones also ;
more inclined to take in a stranger of this good tortoiseshells, three of them having taken
particular breed than one of another colour. championships. Blacks may also be bred
There is an old Scotch proverb that says : from a black and a blue, or two blacks in
" this case, cross the sire with one of his pro-
Whenever the cat o' the house is black,
geny, which I have found very successful. I
The lasses o' lovers will have no lack."
admit there are other ways of breeding blacks,
The celebrated Fawe "
''
strain of black but in my experience the three ways I have
Persians is well known in the fancy. Dr.
Roper has sent me some notes on his famous
prize-winning cats, together with some useful
information regarding the breed with which
his name has become associated :
"
For many years black Persians were a
most popular breed but, like fashions, for;
the time being other colours, I regret to see,

are obtaining more notice from fanciers. For
years I plodded away to breed what I con-
sidered a perfect black Persian at last my ;
labours were crowned with success.

\Yhat
can equal a richly coloured, heavily coated,
deep orange-eyed black ? MRS. LITTLE'S BLACK PERSIAN
"
COLLKKN."
"
In breeding blacks, like any other colour, (I'lio/o: D. Kn/tle, Beckenlmm.)
suggested have proved to be the most satis- the age of six months. I remember once
giving
factory. away a kitten at three months old which I called
" iron grey and thought would or could never be
In breeding, to be sure of success so far
as the eyes are concerned, if
possible it is better black. Six months after I saw friend, whomy
that both parents should have orange eyes, thanked me very much for the lovely black
the deeper the better but it is most essential
;
kitten. Two months after seeing him I saw
the sire should have good orange eyes. Not- the cat there were no white hairs, and the
:
withstanding the queen's eyes being light colour was a perfect black. This last Rich-
amber, by crossing with a good orange-eyed mond show I showed a black kitten,
aged seven
sire the kittens are very likely to have good- months it took a first, a second, and a special.
;
coloured eyes, but not vice versd. As an in- At three months old I thought it was going to
stance, I once purchased a very handsome be a smoke. It was claimed by the Hon.
THE CAROL SINGKRS.

(Photo : E. Laniior, Ealing.)
black queen, perfect in all points with the Mrs. McLaren Morrison. I have a kitten
exception of the eyes, which were very light now, aged three months, perfectly bronze in
'
amber. I mated her to Dick Fawe,' who had colour and a grey frill. I have no doubt at
the deepest orange eyes I have yet seen in a seven months old it will be a perfect black.
black the kittens developed orange eyes. I
; I have given these illustrations in order that
have mated in the opposite way, and the result .those who
are thinking of going in for blacks
has been unsatisfactory so far as the eyes have should not give up all hope of the kittens be-
been concerned, and if breeding for show the coming black until the age I have stated.
"
colour of the eyes is most important. The late I my kittens from January to July,
breed
Mr. Welburn, a well-known judge, once said and find they do much better in the catteries,
in one of his reviews of blacks at a large show mine being separate
all of ;
and I find Spratt's
(I think it was the Crystal Palace),

'
I scarcely movable runs most useful. In showing blacks
think that eyes alone should carry an award, they should be brushed and rubbed with a
yet it is
always best to uphold the desired pro- Selvyt cloth daily one month previously and
perties so hard to obtain.' kept matted hair. The application of
free of
"
Having bred a litter of black kittens, it American Bay Rum in small
Brilliantine or
is unwise to make up your mind what colour quantity brushed on gives a perfect gloss to
they are going to be until they have attained their coats."
w'
H
<
o
CO
K
U
0.
n
n8
CHAPTER X.
WHITE PERSIANS.
A GREAT change has taken place of late

years in the quantity and quality of these
beautiful cats, for whereas formerly blue
with
fiery
points
human
with
peculiar
beings, they are extremely
their fellows.
to
There are two
white cats they are
eyes were considered quite a rarity, now it is frequently stone deaf, and they very often
seldom we see any yellow-eyed white cats have odd-coloured eyes. Certainly the deaf-
exhibited at our principal shows. The most ness is a drawback, and in selectinga white
perfect type of a white Persian is assuredly cat care should be taken to ascertain if the
JUNGFRAU, SIRE AND GRANDSIKK OK MANY AMERICAN WINNERS.

(Photo: W. F. Arnold, Oak Park, III.)
to be found amongst the imported cats ;

there specimen is possessed of sound hearing. Need-
is a certain beauty of form and silkiness of less to say, there are many ways of arriving
fur which is not possessed by the specimens at the solution of what is really a mysterious
bred in this country. They are also generally dispensation Providence, for why should
of
distinguished by unusually long coats, round one particular breed of the feline race be so
heads, tiny ears, and wonderful toe tufts. constantly minus this useful sense ? Then,
One of the most lovely white imported cats again, as regards the quaint arrangement of
was exhibited by Lady Marcus Beresford at different-coloured eyes. One might not be so
the Westminster Cat Club Show in 1900. The surprised if the
eyes of white cats were some-
best judges declared that there was not a times pink, for their noses are pink, and the
with " Nourmahal," but her career
fault to find cushions of their feet, and, as in human beings,
was a short one. These imported cats are we might expect to have albinos amongst
often of a rather savage
disposition, and, cats, namely white with pink eyes but ;
although they can be sweet-tempered enough Harrison Weir states he has never seen pink-
WHITE PERSIANS. iig
eyed whites, although it has been asserted mention Mrs. Finnic Young and Miss Hunt,
that they exist. This peculiarity, however, who are perhaps the most successful breeders
of odd eyes seems only to be found in white of whites in Scotland and in the south we
;
cats, the two colours being blue and yellow. have Mrs. Pettit, whose tribe of blue-eyed
Occasionally white cats have wonderful sea- whites I had recently the pleasure of seeing.
green eyes and, although these are decidedly

;
No' more lovely specimens could be imagined,
very uncommon, no colour is so com- and I counted more than a dozen long-coated,
pletely in accord with the purity of the coat full-grown, bonnie blue-eyed beauties, walking
as eyes of heavenly blue. The tone should about in the woods surrounding Mrs. Pettit's
be not so much of a sapphire as of the deep -
dwelling-place near St. Leonards on Sea.
-
forget-me-not blue. One of the drawbacks The illustration shows Mrs. Pettit surrounded
to white Persians is the difficulty of keeping by eight of her pretty white pussies. Mrs.
them in spotlessly clean condition. This is Westlake, Mrs, Xott, Miss White Atkins, and
absolutely impossible if they are living in or Miss Kerswill are all successful and enthusi-
near a town, and certainly a white cat soiled astic breeders of white Persians.
is a white cat spoiled. Several well-known fanciers keep one white
As regards the mating of blue-eyed white cat amongst their flock. I may mention the
cats, I have been told by experienced breeders Hon. Mrs. McLaren Morrison, the owner of
"
of this variety that kittens with blue eyes are Musafer," a famous imported puss, and Lady
"
just as frequently bred from odd-eyed parents, Decies, the former possessor of Powder Puff,"
or, at least, when one of the parents has dif- who has recently been presented to H.H. Prin-
ferent-coloured eyes. It is easy to tell whether cess Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein. There is
the baby blue eyes are likely to retain their always a keen demand for white kittens,
colour or turn yellow. If at about three either as pretty pets or, if with correct-coloured
weeks or a month old the blue becomes tinted eyes, for breeding purposes, and, doubtless,
with green, then surely but sadly may we when more encouragement is given to this
make up our minds that these kittens have beautiful variety, there will be an increase of
not a distinguished career before them, fanciers of the white cat, whose praises have
for they will see and be seen with yellow eyes. been sung in fairy tales, nursery rhymes,
It is a pity to try mating white cats with
any other variety, as broken - coloured cats
will probably be the result.
It frequently
happens that white kittens, when quite young,

have smudges of grey on their heads these ;
gradually disappear. In America white cats

seem prime favourites, and the demand ex-
ceeds the supply for importation of white
Persians with blue eyes. At the last Beres-
-ford Cat Club Show the entries in the white
classes were very large. The classification
included and provided for golden- and blue-
eyed whites, and these were subdivided ac-
cording to sex, and all the classes were well
filled. Mrs. Clinton Locke's "Lord Gwynne"
isa noted white stud cat on the other side of
''
the water, as is also Mrs. Colbourn's Paris."
The devotees of the white cat in our own MRS. MCLAREN'S WHITE PERSIAN " LADVSMITH."
country are not many in number. I may (.Photo: C. Reid Wishaw.)
w
WHITE PERSIANS. 121
and by novelists who have a weakness for litter of three by Champion

'
White Friar '-
describing interiors with a beautiful white all were blue-eyed.

"
Persian cat reclining on the hearthrug. As to deafness, I cannot account for it at
I am indebted for the following notes on all, as it often appears, though both parents
white Persians to Miss M. Hunt, whose beau- have perfect hearing.
" " "
tiful white cat Crystal appeared on an Since Mrs. Finnie I purchased Young and
earlier page, and by an unfortunate mistake '
White Friar in 1900, '
whites have become
was stated to be the property of Mrs. Finnie much more plentiful in Scotland, and the com-
Young :
petition is now very keen indeed up North.
"
The blue-eyed white Persian is, I consider, '
White Friar '
has had a very successful
one of the most interesting to breed, and, in career_ since he came into our hands, both as
my experience, no more delicate or difficult sire and on the show bench, and can still hold
to rear than any other Persian. his own against all comers. He has won
"
have had them now for nearly four years,
I sixteen first prizes since 1900, besides cham-
and, I think I may say, with a good deal of pionships and numerous specials."
' '
success. I bought Crystal in 1898, when Mrs. Champion, whose name is well known
four months old, and she " "
certainly has in catty circles, and who has now left these
been a good investment. Out of the sixteen shores for America, did a great deal to estab-
white kittens she lias had, ten of them have lisha thoroughly good strain of white, blue-
been blue-eyed. " "
eyed Persians. Her celebrated White Friar
"
The very best kitten I owned was never (now in the possession of Mrs. Finnie Young
exhibited he went to Mrs. Champion, who
; and Miss Hunt) is justly considered the finest
considered him the best and healthiest kitten male specimen in the fancy. Certainly he
for his age she had ever seen.
"
Unfortunately, could only have been beaten by his son White
he died suddenly shortly after she had him. He Tsar," bred by Mrs. Champion from her
was by Champion 'White Friar' ex Crystal,' '
"White Witch." This cat, which assuredly

and was one of the same litter as Jovial '
would have had a notable career, was sold by
Monk,' which did so much winning for Miss Mrs. for
Champion 20 to Mrs. Colbourn, in
Ward, who purchased him from me at the America. He
arrived in poor condition and
' '
Crystal Palace, where he took Crystal first. died shortly afterwards. I remember seeing
herself has only once been beaten by a white an absolutely perfect white Persian kitten at
"
cat, and that had not even blue eyes but she ; Mrs. Champion's. It was by White Friar "
' '
was in splendid coat, and Crystal was quite ex He had startling deep blue
"Crystal."
put of coat. Most judges are agreed, I think, eyes, tiny ears, and broad, round head, and at
' '
that Crystal is the best
blue-eyed white nine weeks old his coat measured nearly three
female in the country. inches across. Alas though healthy and
!
"
The colour of the eyes of white kits can be strong, this proved too perfect a specimen for
and " Crystal Friar
"
told much earlier than in any other colour ;
this world, succumbed
some Ican tell as soon as they are open, others to the epidemic of gastritis then raging amongst
I am not quite sure of till they are about a our feline pets. Referring back to celebrated
fortnight old. The eyes are generally bright white Persian cats of the past, I well recollect
blue from the beginning, without a shade of the marvellous size and splendid coat of Mrs.
"
kitten grey in them. I do not think that both Lee's Masher." who took the cat world by
parents having blue eyes makes much differ- storm when exhibited at the Crystal Palace in
ence to the number of blue-eyed kits in the 1890. This enthusiastic fancier paid 21 for
If one parent is
"
litter. blue-eyed and the Masher," whose show career was shortened
other odd-eyed the result is often just as good. by an accident. This cat was remarkable in
I know of a green-eyed queen which had a those days, if only for his grand blue eyes.
shows. Mrs. Westlake, Mrs. Pettit, Mrs.
Finnic, and Miss Hunt are all possessed of
imported white cats, which have proved
worthy ancestors of many prize-winning kittens.
There have not been any very notable female
white cats exhibited since the appearance of
"
Lady Marcus Beresford's Nourmahal," with
" "
the exception of Miss M. Hunt's Crystal
"
and Mrs. most lovely
Pettit's Piquante
"
Pearl," bred by her from her stud cat King of
" "
the Pearls and Beautiful Pearl." This cat
is as near perfection as possible, and has
,
carried off highest honours whenever exhibited.
Mrs. Pettit began breeding white Persians in
1896, and has kept faithful to this breed ever
since. This enthusiastic breeder always accom-
panies her exhibits, and her precious Pearls
are never seen at the smaller mixed shows. I
"
CRYSTAL. have always heard that white kittens are
THE PROPERTY OF Miss M. HUNT
(I'hoto : C. Reid, Wishaui.) difficult to rear, and Mrs. Pettit, who should
be well qualified to give her testimony on this
"
The well-known breeder and judge Mr. point, says :Without a doubt blue-eyed
A. A. Clarke, whose name is more
closely white Persians are the most delicate cats in
connected with blue Persians, once owned existence." A well-known authority on cats,
"
a famous female called Miss Whitey." I writing to one of the cat papers, says "What :
remember that this really remarkable cat was a change has taken place in our white classes,
exhibited in 1887 at the Crystal Palace, and long- and short-haired A few years ago
!
again in the following year, when at four years white cats with green or yellow eyes frequently
old she took first prize and silver medal in a were prize-winners, and a blue-eyed white was
strong class of nine females. It seems to me looked upcn as a rarity. Now blue eyes have
that these cats, as I recollect them, appeared it alltheir own way, and judges are becoming
half as large again as the present-day champion more and more exacting as to the depth of
winning whites but whether this was in con-
; tone and quality of the blue tint. If we could
sequence of more profuse coat or a generally obtain a white Persian with the glorious eye
bigger build of animal I cannot at this distance of the Siamese, it would be a treasure indeed."
of time pretend to determine. A gentleman who has lived for ten years in
Amongst the well-known prize-winners and Assam says that he never saw in that part of
stud white Persian cats of the present day I India any long-haired cats except blue-eyed
may mention Miss White Atkin's massive- whites. He also gives an amusing account of
"
limbed White Knight," whose broad skull is the usual way of obtaining a cat cf this variety
"
especially remarkable in a show-pen, and com- fcr a pet. You give in-
It is as follows :
mends itself to the notice of the judge. Miss structions to a native, who offers to procure
" "
Harper's Blue-eyed Wanderer has great you one at a certain price, but gives you no
quality and lovely texture of coat. He was in idea where or how he means to procure it.
truth a wanderer in the streets of a London In about a week's time he appears with the
"
suburb, and, although labelled breeder and cat and claims the money. Things progress
pedigree unknown," he has almost always favourably with your new possession for a time,
held his own in the white classes at our largest but suddenly and unaccountably your puss
WHITE PERSIANS. 123
disappears. You are calling on some friend Mrs. Westlake, writing from Camden Town,
or acquaintance, and, to your surprise and says :
"
astonishment, there on the armchair lies, acquaintance with white Persian cats
My
ago, when I imported a
'
curled up, your cat Thus it will be seen
!
began some years
that the wily native makes a small income white female as a pet. I was so delighted
out of one cat, by stealing or enticing it with her that, although for a London resident
away from the original purchaser and calmly white cats would seem the least desirable, I
re-selling it to one of the
neighbours." decided to import two blue-eyed whites for
Mrs. Clinton Locke, the president of the breeding purposes. It was a litter from these
Beresford Cat Club, has owned some beautiful two cats that tempted me to take up exhibit-
white Persians which she has imported from ing, _This litter consisted of all blue-eyed
time to time. This ladv writes thus to Our kittens, the tone of the blue being exceptionally
"
WHITE BUTTB:RFLY."
THE PROPERTY OF Miss WHITE ATKINS.
(Photo: E. E. Lipputt, Leamington.)
'
Cats : The first white Persian I ever owned deep. Since then I have, of course, often had
was brought to me many years ago from a different tale to tell, and odd-eyed kittens
Persia by a distinguished traveller, and its have sometimes predominated. This curious
eyes were amber, showing that the white cats freak of nature connected with white cats
brought from their native land have not seems unaccountable. The two colours are
always blue eyes. The descendants of this generally yellow and blue, but I have seen
cat, mated to both amber and blue eyed cats, green and blue. I have also remarked on the
have thrown blue eyes. Two odd-eyed cats very brilliant tone of the one blue eye.
have also given blue-eyed kittens but a pair of "
; There is a popular belief that almost all
blue-eyed cats has by no means always thrown blue-eyed cats are deaf. All I can say is
blue eyes with every kitten in the litter." that I have never had a blue-eyed white
One of our most persistent and consistent that was deaf. I have, however, often come
breeders and fanciers of white Persians is across those that were stone deaf, and others
Mrs. Westlake, and therefore I am glad to be with defective hearing. Again an unaccount-
able to put forward a few of her able freak.
experiences
as to the peculiarities of the breed. "
White Persian cats have been declared
to be the most difficult to breed and delicate to with a soft towel, and finally brush thoroughly
rear. My opinion that the delicacy is much
is with a clean and not too hard brush. Your
more in their coats than their constitutions ;
efforts will be rewarded with success, and
that is, of course, in comparison with other though puss may be considerably bored during
foreign varieties, none of which are as hardy the process, she will not resent it so much as a
as the British. tubbing. I find that white females are far
"
A
few remarks as to the cleansing of more diligent as regards their toilet than the
white cats may be useful. As a dweller in males, who seem always to have more of the
London, I need scarcely say that unless I Eastern languor and indolence in their nature.
occasionally gave personal attention to my I have remarked and no doubt it is more
pussies they would not always be in the show noticeable in the white breed that as soon
condition that I as young kittens are beyond their mother's
would desire. control they exhibit a marked antipathy to
Some fanciers keeping their coats in anything like decent
condition. Sometimes they will
make a feeble attempt at washing
themselves; but something will
excite their attention, and cff they
will go, or perhaps in sheer fatigue
will fall asleep during the toilet.
Thus white kittens will very soon

present a most unkempt appear-
ance, and the poor mother gazes
sadly at them as though the
cares of a family were too much
for her, and she no longer wishes
to own what was once her pride
and }oy a spotless litter !
It has been stated that white

IMPORTED BLUE-EYED TOM, '
MUSAFER.
cats are wanting in expression,
(Photo: V. R. Clarke, Think.)
probably because of the lack of
wash their white Persians, but I have markings to give character to the face ;
but
come to the conclusion that this treatment breeders of whites will nevertheless agree
tends to coarsen the soft silkiness of the with me that they have even greater force of
fur ;
and therefore, for this reason, and also expression, not being assisted by any markings.
because there is a risk of cats catching cold, I have found white cats to be most affectionate,
especially in winter, I advocate dry cleaning, and very conservative in their tastes. I have
and suggest the use of Pears' white precipitated owned some white Persians with light sea-
fuller's earth. One plan is to place the cat green eyes, and although these are not correct,
on a large sheet or towel, mix a little ammonia yet I must say they were strikingly beautiful
in warm water, dip your hands in this, and and very uncommon. I have been offered
pass them over and over the fur, letting it high prices by Americans and others for my
'
become thoroughly moistened but not wet. imported white female, but my blue-eyed
'
Then well sprinkle the coat with the powder, darling will, I think, end her days with
and by keeping the animal in front of the fire her devoted mistress in dear, dirty, old
the fur will soon become quite dry. Then rub London."
12-
CH AFTER XI.
BLUE PERSIANS.
FAMOUS pub-
A 1 i s h e r once
gave the fol-
tabbies.
continued
known as one
For some years
;
of
but
the
Mr. A.
this state of things
A. Clarke, so well
pioneers of the National
lowing advice to a Cat Club, and as a breeder, exhibitor, and
young author: judge,- agitated with other fanciers, myself
"
Never take it for amongst the number, to obtain a better classi-
granted that your fication for the self-coloured blues, and in 1889
readers have
any the schedule at the Crystal Palace Show con-
"
previous knowledge tained a class for Blue self-coloured with-
of your subject, but out white." For some time this breed of cats
"
credit them with was termed self blues," in contradistinction
ordinary intelli- to the blues with tabby markings which
many
gence." To all fe- were formerly so very common in the fancy.
JACK AM) line fanciers the In 1890 it was decided to divide the sexes
(I'linto: II. Warsclikanki,
heading of this in blue cat classes, and let the kittens
the
St. Leonanis-on-Sea.)
chapter is a familiar compete with black and white. The result was
household term, but to novices in the cat an entry of eight in each class, my famous
" " " "
world and to outsiders the term blue as Beauty Boy taking first in the male,
applied to a cat may sound rather absurd. and Mrs. H. B. Thompson's celebrated
Winks " first
"
Truth to tell, the name is misleading, and yet in the female division. At
the same used " "
is in describing certain breeds Brighton in the same year the self-blue
of domestic animals, such as dogs, rabbits, class was adopted with success.
etc. There is also a fur much used for trim- The famous blue stud cats of that period
mings of ladies' jackets, etc., called blue fox, were Mr. A. A. Clarke's " Turco," Miss Bray's
" "
and this is very much akin to the colour and Glaucus," and my own Beauty Boy."
texture of the fur of the blue Persian cat, Amongst other exhibitors of blues about this
which, however, varies in tone from a dark time I may men-
slate to a pale lilac-blue. tion Mrs. Warner
It is over twenty years ago since I ex- (now the Hon.
" "
hibited the first blues at the Crystal Palace Mrs. McLaren
Cat Show, and they created quite a sensation, Morrison), Mrs.
for no one seemed to have seen any cats of Vallance, Mrs.
this peculiar shade before. Some called them Wells, Mrs. Hunt,
grey or lilac, and others London smoke or Mrs. H.B.Thomp-
slate colour. One of my pair of blue kittens son, Mrs.Ellerton,
was quickly claimed at catalogue price, and I and Miss F. Moore.
bought in the other, fearing I should lose her In 1891 blues
also. She, in her turn, became the mother of came very mucli
many celebrated blues. In those early days to the fore, and
of the fancy blue Persians were entered in the entries at the JILL.
the
"
any other variety
"
class, and most of Crystal Palace
THE PEOTERTY F Miss B*
(I'hoto: H. tISarsclikarski,
the specimens exhibited were in reality blue numbered 15 St. I.conards-on-Sea.)
males and 17 females. At Cruft's Show in defective cats to have a look in. I
may men-
"
the year 1894 a grand blue, called \Voo- tion that the nose of a blue Persian is a few
loomooloo," was exhibited by Mrs. W. R. shades darker than its fur, and the toe-pads
Hawkins, and this cat became one of the most yet a little darker.
famous of stud cats. Many of the finest blues As will be seen from the standard of points
of to-day are descended from this noted sire. for blues, which will be found later on in
" "
Mrs. H. B. Thompson's Don Juan was this chapter, the highest marks are given for
for many years greatly in request as a stud soundness of colour. There is a tendency to
cat, and many beautiful blues claim him as breed very light blues, and popular fancy
their ancestor. favours this particular type. I am inclined,
" "
A little later Moko became famous as however, to prefer a good sound medium blue
the sire of a sensational kitten exhibited by as being the best and safest for breeding
Mr. C. W. Witt at the Westminster Show of purposes. The lovely pale blues are beautiful
"
1900. Moko " was sold at a high figure to to look at, but are seldom absolutely sound in
Mrs. Barnett, and is now in the possession of colour. Blues, whether dark or light, should
Mrs. Singleton, of Yeovil. Mr. A. A. Clarke be the same tint throughout, so that when the
was considered the best judge of this variety, coat blown apart the colour at the roots
is
and at the Palace and Brighton he did much is same as at the tips. A white under-
the
to encourage the breed by offering handsome coat is a serious blemish, and this often
special prizes in the blue classes. appears when silver blood may be traced
It is true that the prize-winning cats of in the ancestry of a blue cat. We have
ten and fifteen years ago would have had but quite dropped the term of self-blue, and yet
a poor chance in the present-day competi- this well expresses the uniformity of colour
tions, chiefly for the reason that cats of the which is so desirable. As tiny kittens blues
past could look at a judge with bright green frequently exhibit tabby markings but fan- ;
eyes and yet be awarded the highest ciers need not worry over these apparent
honours. Nous avons changJ tout cela, and defects, for as the coat grows the bars and
now a blue cat without the much-to-be-desired stripes are no longer visible.
orange eyes fetches but a small price, and is It also sometimes happens that a kitten
at a great disadvantage in the show-pen. exhibits quite a light ruff, but this is generally
An up-to-date judge may, however, be led shed with the second coat, and eventually
into giving too great a prominence to this disappears. There are some cats erroneously
point and thus sacrifice soundness of colour, called blues by novices in the fancy, but which
shape, and form. Then, again, I remember in reality are blue smokes. These have pro-
when a white spot on the throat of a blue bably been bred from blues and smokes, and
Persian was not considered a serious defect ;
thus the type of each is seriously damaged.
now a few straggling white hairs will cause If it is desired to breed sound-coloured blues,
anguish to the owner, and a judge will promptly then it is undesirable to cross them with any
put down the specimen for this blemish. other colour save and except blacks. I have
Blue cats with white spots used to be rele- found good results from mating blues and
" "
gated to the any other colour class but ; blacks, more especially with a view to obtain-
recently both the National Cat Club and ing the deep amber eyes of the black Persians,
the Cat Club have wisely decided that such which, for some reason or other, are generally
cats should be judged in their own classes. larger, rounder, and deeper in colour than
However, I think that owners of these speci- what we can produce in blues. Certainly all
mens would do well to keep them away from broken breeds and tabbies should be avoided
the show bench, where the competition in when mating blues. I have heard of white
blues is now too keen to give any chance for cats being bred with blues to get a pale tint
CO
I 7
S?
8j
w .>
CO
BL UE PERSIANS. 12':
of blue but white toes, chests, and spots have

;
Ihave often, however, observed that a
often been the results of such experiments. I kitten of unsound colour is to be found in
have bred blue Persians ever since I took up litters bred from two sound-coloured blues ;
the fancy, which is longer ago than I care to the kitten may have a white undercoat or be
remember, and I have found them strong and full of white hairs, or have a shaded ruff but ;
hardy cats, requiring no special food, and experienced breeders will soon discover that
enjoying the best of health without any such blemishes are but temporary, and that the
cosseting or coddling. I do not consider that ugly duckling of a family may develop into
blues usually obtain any great size or weight, the flower of the flock. It therefore, very
is,
nor are they generally massive in build or interesting to make experiments and to keep
profuse in coat. an apparently worthless specimen to see what
Ten or fifteen years ago I used to have my it turns~irito when the first months of infancy
blue kittens bespoken for about 5 each before are passed and the kitten coat has been shed.
they were born but nowadays, when blues
;
I have known a young blue of sound colour
are so plentiful, one must be content with completely transformed in this particular by
lower prices, and the average sum for a good a severe illness. Her fur became a sort of
blue kittenis three guineas. Still, I am sure pepper-and-salt mixture a sprinkling of white
that for beginners in the fancy, wishing to and dark grey but this same cat, contrary to
;
combine pleasure and profit, there is no better the prophecy of an able judge, has again
investment than a good sound blue queen changed her coat, and is now a perfectly sound
with orange eyes. The demand for blue blue, even from tip to root. It was evident
kittens really larger than for youngsters of
is that her illness had affected her coat, and that
any other breed. They make superb pets, when she regained her usual health she re-
but it is to be regretted that blue neuters are covered her correct coat. As regards the eyes
generally spoilt with green eyes, doubtless for in blues, it is not possible to give any exact time
the reason that the possession of good orange for thechange in colour from the baby blue to
eyes tempts the owner or purchaser to reserve the dreaded green or hoped-for orange. This
the specimen for stud or breeding purposes. change takes place gradually, and sometimes
As one of the first breeders and exhibitors of the period extends till a kitten is almost a cat.
blue Persians am in a position to speak
I feel I There are many blue cats with what may be
with authority, and I am of opinion that no called indefinitely coloured eyes; that is, neither
breed has made such rapid strides, either in orange, nor yellow, nor green. This most un-
improvements or popularity, as blues. In satisfactory state of things may be generally
this statement I am
supported by our best accounted for by a circle of green round the
professional judge, Mr. T. B. Mason, who, pupil, which, according to the time of day, will
writing to me on the subject, says "I find ten : be wide or narrow. Thus it is that cats with
good blues at the present time to one we came this defect sometimes described with
are
"
across two or three years ago. I am of opinion good yellow eyes," and advertised as such,
that in no colour of cats have we seen more and then, when received by the purchaser, a
distinct progress than we see in blue Persians.'' glint of green is plainly visible in the inner
Such a statement, coming from our most circle. The perfect eye in a blue should be
able and ubiquitous judge, is a valuable one. .
absolutely unshaded ;
and there are two dis-
Mr. Mason has had a large experience in cat tinct types of eyes, namely, the golden eye
judging during the last few years, and his 'and the orange eye. The former resembles a
duties take him north and south, cast and west. golden coin in tint, and the latter has the dash
As regards the breeding of blues, I consider of red which is to be seen in copper. Both
that to obtain the true sound colour blues these coloured eyes are correct, and much to
should only be bred to blues. be admired in blue Persians, and no doubt
as time goes on we shall find it will be the rule white (which is no colour), and this is the more
and not the exception to see these perfect curious because black mated with white gener-
eyes amongst the blues of the future. It must, ally produces either one colour or the other,
however, be borne in mind that in the point or breaks black and white or white and black ;
of eyes cats throw back, and two parents with the blue being, as it were, a weakened black
good orange eyes may yet produce one or or a withdrawal by white of some, if not all, of
more kittens with pale eyes of yellow or green- the brown or red, varying in tint
according to
ish hue. Although I have dilated at length the colour of the black from which it was
bred,
on the superiority of the orange eye in blues, dark grey, or from weakness in the stamina
I do not wish it to be thought that a weedy, of the litter. When once the colour or break
from the black is acquired, it is then
easyjto go
on multiplying the different
shades and varieties of tint and tone,
from the dark blue-black to the very
light, almost white grey. If whole-
THK ARTIST.
boneless cat, even with eyes of deepest hue, coloured blues are in then parti-
request,
would find favour in my sight for in blues,
; colours, such as white and black, or black and
as in all breeds of Persians, what we to white, are best excluded."
ought
seek after most earnestly are good massive Many of our leading cat fanciers "go in"
limbs, plenty of bone, and broad skulls. There exclusively for blues, and keep faithful to
are too many Persian cats of hare-like propor- this one breed alone. I give a list of these,
tions, and we
really want some of the type of and trust I may be pardoned if I have left
a good old English tabby introduced into the out the name of any enthusiastic breeder and
more aristocratic long-haired breeds. lover of blues and blues alone : Mrs. Hill,
It will be Mrs. Wells, Mrs. P. Hardy, Mrs. H. Ransome,
interesting to up-to-date breeders
of blues to hear what the veteran cat lover and Mrs. Bennet, Mrs. Mocatta, Mrs. S. F. Clarke
fancier Harrison Weir had to say about them (Louth), Mrs. Cartwright, Mrs. Gregory (Lin-
fifteenyears ago. In his well-known bcok, coln), Mrs. H. B. Thompson, Mrs. O'Brien
"
Our Cats," he thus alludes to the breed :
Clarke, Miss Jay, Miss Bennet, Miss Messer,
"
Blue in cats is one of the most extra- Miss Patterson, Miss Goddard, Rev. P. L.
ordinary colours of any, for the reason that it Cosway, Mrs. Swanson, Mrs. Curwen, Mrs.
is a mixture of black (which is no
colour) and Duffin, Mrs. W. M. Hunt, Mrs. Slingsby, Mrs.
BLUE PERSIANS. 129
Vice-Presidents : Viscountess Gort, Lady Danvers,

the Hon. Mrs. Maclaren Morrison, Mrs. Collingwood,
Mrs. W. M. Hunt, Miss Violet Hunt, Mrs. Clinton
Locke, Mrs. Lionel Marks, Mrs. Herbert Ransome,
Mrs. Mackenzie Stewart, Mrs. H. B. Thompson, Mrs.
Woodcock, Sir H. Jerningham, K.C.M.G., Sir B.
Simpson, K.C.M.G., Rev. P. L. Cosway, Frankfort
Moore, Esq., R. Stoiks, Esq.
Committee : Mrs. Baldwin, Mrs. Russell Biggs,
Mrs. Bishop, Mrs. P. Brown, Mrs. P. Hardy, Mrs.
Collingwood, Mrs. H. L. Mocatta, Miss H. Patterson,
Mr. Gambier Bolton.
Hon. Treasurer: Mr. Russell Biggs, i, Garden
Court, Temple.
Hon. Secretary : Miss F. Simpson, 9, Leonard Place,
Kensington, W.
Judges : Lady Marcus Beresford, Mrs. P. Hardy,
Mrs. W. M. Hunt, Miss G. Jay, Miss K. Sangster,
Miss F. Simpson, Mr. C. A. House, Mr. T. B. Mason,
Mr. F. Norris, Mrs. Mackenzie Stewart, Miss E.
Goddard, and Miss Kirkpatrick.
BLUE KITTENS BRED BY MISS KIKKl'ATKICK.
The chief objects of this society are as
(1'hoto : E. Landor, Ealing.)
follow : To promote the breeding and exhibit-
Singleton, Miss Savery, Mrs. Eustace, Mrs. ing of blue Persian cats to define precisely,
;
Hitchcock, Miss Hooper, Miss Violet Hunt, Miss and to publish a description of, the true
Humfrey, Mrs. Kennaway, Mr. H. Maxwell, type of blue Persian cat, and to urge the
.Mrs. Ponder, Miss Rigby, and Mr. C. W. Witt. adoption of such type on breeders, exhibitors,
There are, of course, a large number of and judges, as the only recognised and un-
fancierswho, amongst other breeds of cats, varying standard by which blue Persian cats
keep one or two blues, and several keep should be judged the improvement of the
;
blues and silvers only. I think I may safely classification, and, if necessary, the guarantee-
say that blue Persians have the largest ing of classes for these cats at shows supported
number of admirers, and certain it is that at by the society the selection of specialist
;
all our large shows the blue classes are the

best filled. At the Cat Club Show held at
Westminster in 1899 the number of entries
in the blue female class was a record one
there were no less than 48, and the blue males
mustered 42.
Seeing, therefore, how popular this
breed had become, in April, 1901, I
founded and started the Blue
Persian Cat Society, a book of
v rules was drawn up, and the
following ladies and gentlemen
appointed as officials of the
society :
BLUE PERSIAN CAT SOCIETY.

Founded April 241/1, IQOI.
Presidents Viscountess Maitland,
:
MRS. ROBINSON S BLUE KITTKNS.
Mrs. Maconochie, Miss Gertrude Jay. (Photo: J. Joyner, Cheltenham.)
make the awards at such shows. Members should not be deterred from showing
judges to
if they do not come up to the high standard
their cats
The annual subscription to the Blue Persian
set forth in the above definition.
Cat Society is five shillings, payable by each
member on election. At the general meeting very few, if any, blue Persians
It is true that
of the society, held in April, 1902, the number come up to the high standard here given,
of members on the books was 183, and the but still there is a very marked improve-
honorary secretary reported that during the ment in the breed during the last year or two.
past year twelve cat shows had received the
The number of green-eyed blues are steadily
support of the society, and numerous hand- and surely decreasing, and the colour of the
coat and size of head are points
that have been carefully attended
to. In reading the list of blue cats
placed at stud in the columns of
the cat papers we cannot help
being impressed with the enor-
mous strides made of recent years
in this breed of cats alone. In a
recent copy of Our Cats I counted
MRS. WELLS' CATTERY.

(I'hoto : Cassell & Company, Limited.)
some challenge prizes, badges,

and specials had been offered for
competition.
The following is the standard
of points drawn up by the com-
mittee of the Blue Persian Cat
Society and approved of by the
members of the society :
STANDARD OF POINTS FOR BLUE PERSIAN CAT. twenty-five stud advertisements of blues, and
this does not nearly represent the entire number
Coal (30).-Any shade of blue allowable sound ;
of blues used for stud purposes by fanciers.

and even ;
free from markings, shadings,
in colour
or any white hairs. Fur long, thick, and soft in This breed of Persians has become very popular
texture. Frill full. in America, and several fine cats have been
Head (25). Broad and round, with width be- exported, and have carried off the highest
tween the ears. Face and nose short. Ears small and honours at the New York Cat shows, held
tufted. Cheeks well developed. under the auspices of the Beresford Cat
Eyes (20). Orange ; large, round, and full. Club.
Body (15). Cobby, and low on the legs. Mrs. Clinton Locke, the president of the
Tail (10). Short and full, not tapering. club, is an enthusiastic breeder and admirer
BLUE PERSIANS.
and has possessed the finest speci-

of blues, abundance of grass. Mrs. Wells' blues are
mens among American fanciers. noted for their wonderfully fine coats. Her
" " "
The names of two good " all-round judges stud cat Blue Noble has sired many noted
"
appear on the blue Persian
namely, list, winners, and My Honey," a lovely queen,
Mr. C. A. House and Mr. T. B. Mason, and has the deepest orange eyes I have ever seen.
exhibitors of this special breed as, indeed, Mrs. Wells takes the greatest interest in her
of any other may feel quite sure that their cats, and each and all are pets in fact, so ;
is the care and devotion bestowed

precious pets will receive justice at the hands great upon
of these two careful adjudicators. them that Mrs. Wells is very seldom persuaded
Mr. E. Welburn, also a blue Persian judge, into exhibiting any of her beautiful blues, and
was long known and respected in the fancy, never lets- them attend any shows unless she
and his death in 1902 herself is able to ac-
was a great loss to company them.
the cat world. Two Mrs. Wells' cottage
silverbowls have been is situated in a most
subscribed for by his rural district of Isle-
many admirers in worth, and one might

memory of this upright fancy oneself miles and
judge, and these are miles away from the
competed for annually busy haunts of men.
at the two largest At the time the photos
shows of the National illustrating these cat-
Cat Club and the Cat teries were taken Mrs.
Club. Wells had eighteen
Miss Jay and Miss blue kittens, besides
Frances Simpson have several grow n-u p
frequently given their representatives of her
services as judges at favourite breed. At
some of the shows one time Mrs. Wells
which have received was bitten with the
"
the patronage of the KOKELES KISSI." silver fever, and began
Blue Persian Cat BRED BY MRS. BENNET.
to breed this variety ;
(Photo: H. Warsclikowski, St. Leonards-on-Sefi.)
Society. but the litters did
In conclusion, I would say that I am very not give satisfaction, and she determined to
hopeful of being able at some future time to return to blues with what success can be
hold a show for blue Persians, and by divid- learnt from a visit to the gardens at
ing and subdividing to give an attractive and Isleworth.
liberal classification. Miss Gertrude Jay started cats in 1891,
Ihave pleasure in giving a short account, and her name will always be connected with
with illustrations, of some of the catteries blues. Nothing has ever been exhibited to
"
belonging to blue breeders. compare with her wonderful female The
"
Mrs. Wells, of Isleworth, was one of the Mighty Atom as regards beauty and shape
first exhibitors of blue Persians, and has been of head. This cat, now, alas no more, !
faithful to this breed for many years. She has swept the board wherever it was shown. Twice
wonderfully well-planned catteries, and, having she carried off the highest honours for best
plenty of space at her command, the cats are cat in the show at the Crystal Palace. It is
able to enjoy lots of
liberty in large wired- true that grand specimen lacked the
this
in runs, planted with shrubs, and with an
orange eyes, but no judge could pass over
such a perfect type of cat, despite her one the cat that I would soonest have given to me
" "
fault, and thus The Mighty Atom reigned that day, with the object of showing it again
" "
supreme. and " Doris," two of
Trixie at once. The point to be decided is the best
Miss Jay's noted blues, have also both won cat that day. It is no use beginning to think
specials for the best cat in the show at the which cat will be the best in a month's time
Crystal Palace. Miss Jay is fortunate in hav- or which cat might have been best a month
ing some descendants of these precious cats ago it is there that day which is best ? And,
;
in the luxurious catteries at Holmwood (of to my mind, if I award first to the cat I would
which an illustration is given). Many lovely rather have, with the one object of continu-
blues may be seen revelling in the well- ing to show it, that surely must be the best cat
appointed houses set apart at the end of the in my opinion, and to that cat the first card
long terrace for their special use. Miss Jay goes. And so on through the class, only giving
about a year ago retired from the cat fancy, one V.H.C., one H.C., and one C., unless the
and withdrew her name from the two clubs but ;
class is a very large one. I know some judges
she is still a vice-president of the Blue Persian who say commended cards are very cheap, and
Cat Society, and often acts as judge. Her they please the exhibitors. True but are you;
name always draws a good entry, and, as not pleasing them in a wrong way by making
a well-known fancier once remarked to me, them think their cat is better than it is ? "
"
You can be sure of getting your money's Mrs. Herbert Ransome is well known in
worth when Miss Jay has the handling of the the feline world as a successful breeder of
classes." The following few remarks from blue Persians, and as the hard-working secre-
''
SCARED."
Two BLUES BELONGING TO LADY MARCUS BERESFORD.
{Photo: Cassell & Company, Limited.)
Miss Jay on her method of judging will be tary of the Northern Counties Cat Club, and
read with interest : more recently as the editor of Our Cats.
" "
"
I fear my way judging is unlike most
of Her two blue stud cats, " Darius and Darius
other people's, because I do not judge by III.," have earned a great reputation, not only
points unless it comes to a close fight between in theshow-pen, but as the sires of many lovely
"
two cats. Of course, I consider shape and prize-winning kittens, notably Orange Blos-
colour first, and then I mark all those un- som Thorpe," owned by Mrs. Slingsby, of
of
worthy to be in any prize list next get to ; Ouseburn, Yorkshire.

work with the remainder, and this I do, as I only of recent years that the name of
It is
say, unlike most other judges, for I pick out Mrs. Paul Hardy has become known in the
BLUE PERSIANS. 133
felineworld as a breeder of blue Persians. Mrs. several Scottish shows. Later he came under
Hardy was a member of the Cat Club Com- the notice of Mrs. Mackenzie Stewart, into
mittee, but on her removal to some distance whose hands he passed, and received a good
from London she resigned her post. To her deal of favour at the hands of the judges,
the Cat Club is indebted for a very beautiful From Mrs. Stewart he passed into the possession
design of a medal which, in silver and bronze, of the late Dr. Longwill, and was sire of the
CAST OK THE CAT CLUB MEDAL.

DESIGNED BY MRS. P. HARDY.
is competed for at the Westminster and other famous Crystal Palace winning female blue,
"
shows (sec illustration). Dolly Gray," in 1902.
Her first adventure into the domain of Mrs. Hardy's success has not been achieved
cat-keeping was in the case of a very fine blue without some set-backs, more particularly of
cat named "Juliet," whose first few litters recent years, since her cattery has been en-
were not a great success, so that sensible larged, and she has had to fight her way
cat took matters into her own hands. She against disease and death. Her own account
chose for her mate the raggedest black torn is so vivid that I quote it, so that fanciers
she could find, and though, of course, the in a like evil condition may fight for the lives
results of this mesalliance were not at all satis- of their pets to the last :
"
factory from the show judge's point of view, was singularly free from illness of any
I
" "
in later years, when suitably mated, Juliet kind amongst them, and I lived for some time
did not once throw back to a wrong-coloured happy in the belief that the Persian puss was
kitten. I am not sure that I can follow Mrs. in no wise different from her short-coated
Hardy to the logical conclusion of her deduc- sister in the robust possession of nine lives so ;
tions from this fact, but I think it is worthy I added cat unto cat, and bred for show when ;
of notice by those extremists who hold the swiftly Nemesis overtook me. I showed five
view that an incorrect mating in the first full-grown cats at the first Westminster show,
instance spoils a queen for the rest of her and twenty-four hours show was over
after the
life.
my best blue queen, a young beauty whose
It was at the Crystal Palace show of 1897 proud owner I had been only for one brief
that Mrs. Hardy exhibited her first litter from month, died of acute pneumonia. A few days
"
her blue stud Wooshoo," and she was then later influenza showed itself amongst the
awarded a first, a special, and two or three others, and all four were down with it.
"
silver medals. Another famous cat in Mrs. What a time I had, with the experiences
Hardy's establishment was a blue, named of a ward-nurse But I pulled them through,
!
"
Mark Antony," who met with success at all but one young kitten of four months, in
MISS G. JAY'S CATTEKY.

(Photo: W. Field, Putney.)
whom acute laryngitis developed, and so she to dre?s and go out of doors to the stable-
had to be put to sleep. yard, with a dimly burning lantern.
" ' '
"
Wooshoo was given up by the vet., as he In every cat lover's career there must be
piled so many complications into his system some such saddening memories. Saddest when,
one after the other, developing bronchitis, after the efforts of the night, and you have left
gastritis, and jaundice on the top of the hopeful the morning will bring improvement,
original complaint. Poor for twenty-
fellow, you return in the early dawn to note on enter-
four hours he lay unconscious, but I kept his ing a sign that causes youi heart to beat
heart going by doses of pure alcohol every two heavily your patient's bed is empty !
"
hours, while fought the disease with hot
I You know what that means, and look round.
fomentations, medicated steamings, and other Yes, there in a corner, flat, stiff, and draggled,
proper remedies. where he has crawled in the last uneasy seeking
" "
For just one month I had to hand-feed him, for air, your poor pet, still for ever
is !
and then one afternoon it occurred to him he Mrs. Hardy, in connection with illnesses, has
might try his minced oyster by himself, greatly some advice to offer as regards medicines which
to my joy and triumph and when he feebly
; she has tested herself, and which I think will
washed his face afterwards I felt like setting be of service to my readers :
"
the church bells ringing ! While not intending to say anything
"
I am convinced, in serious cat illness, it is
authoritatively upon the subject of remedies
the night nursing that does the trick and deter- for various cat ills, all of which will be most
mines whether your patient is to live or die. ably and exhaustively gone into by the writer
It is somewhat of an effort, I admit, to have to of later chapters in this book, I might perhaps
arise two or three times a night (nearly
in mention one or two things of which I have
always in the bitter weather, when these had personal experience, restoratives rather
epidemics occur), and, in my case, to be obliged than drugs, which I now keep always at hand.
BLUE PERSIANS.
" a preparation of beef called Soma-
'
One is persevered with until the bowels are normal.

tose.' It is sold in i oz. or 2 oz. tins, is in the Never give milk in any form, either plain,
form of a fine soluble powder, and has this boiled, or in puddings, to a cat that is suffer-
advantage over certain beef essences that it ing from looseness of the bowels. Another
will keep good any length of time, and has hint I may be allowed, perhaps, to give
little :
not to be used up directly the tin is opened ;

Don't wait for illness to come before you train
while it is no more expensive, and a little will your kittens to take medicine from a spoon.
"
go a long way if used as directed. I teach all my youngsters to drink easily
"
I make it by putting some boiling water from a spoon, beginning with something nice
into a saucer, sprinkling about a teaspoonful sweetened milk or the .like, going on to
on the water, and allowing it to dissolve cold water and, when necessary, a drop or two
slowly till cold, when it would look like weak of Salvo's Preventive in it. Then, when it
tea. It is a most powerful restorative and becomes necessary for a real

nasty dose, they
stimulant, and given cold in teaspoonful doses are not in the least nervous of the spoon before-
can be retained in the worst case of stomach hand, and the dose is down and gone before
irritation. they discover anything unusual. Never have
"
A second good thing is Plasmon powder. I to wrap round any of my cats, or get
cloths
I was recommended to try this by a cat lover, people to hold them by main force but some ;
for a case of dyspeptic sickness of a chronic cats will nearly turn themselves inside out when
character. For delicate kittens it is most a spoon is held to their mouths All the fault !
valuable, and believe the very worst cases of

I of early training. Badly brought up ! You
diarrhoea or dysentery can be cured, and the must be very patient with a young kitten ;
patient saved to grow up strong and healthy, never do anything in a hurry. When once you
if a diet of Plasmon have gained a cat's confidence it will let you
jelly, given cold, with
alternate meals of Somatose, also given cold, be do anything to it."
REV. "
p. L. COSWAY'S IMPERIAL BLUE. G.
(Photo: &J. Hall, Wakeficld.)
" UN SAUT PERILLEUX."
(From a Painting by Madame Ronner.)
137
CHAPTER XII.
SILVER OR CHINCHILLA PERSIANS.
no the animal. There has been a great deal of

PERHAPS
breed or variety discussion as to the correct name by which
of cat has been these delicately tinted Persians should be
so much thought called.
about, talked about, The National Cat Club began by classify-
and fought about in ing them for the Crystal Palace show in 1894
the fancy as the sil- as Chinchillas, and they have kept to this,
ver or chinchilla although it is really a most misleading title,
Persian. If blues as the cats are quite unlike the fur which
are a new variety, we know as chinchilla, this being dark at the
then silvers are of roots and lighter towards the tips. Now, cats
still more recent of this variety ought to be just the reverse.
JACK FROST."
'
BREO nv MRS. Mix, OLO FORT origin. Years ago It is difficult to give a correct idea of the
BATTERY, NEW YORK.
(Photo: A. Lloyd, Amsterdam, N.Y.)
this cat did not exist real colour and appearance of these cats. The
to say, we
that is fur at the roots is a peculiar light silver, not
should not recognise the silver Persian of to- white, as one might imagine, until some pure
day as the silver of bygone times, for the white is placed beside it, and this shades to
simple reason that the only class of silver a slightly darker tone a sort of bluish lavender
in the fancy formerly was the silver tabby. to the tips of the coat. The Cat Club intro-
In those days there were self-coloured cats duced the term " self silver," but this is
and tabby, or marked cats, and broken- suggestive of one colour only, without any
coloured cats. Previous to the introduction shadings whatever. Another class, called
"
of a Chinchilla class at the Crystal Palace in shaded was added but then, again,
silvers," ;
1894, the class for silver tabbies included blue tabby markings are not shadings. Formerly,
" "
tabbies with or without white," and it is blues used to be called self blues," but this
curious to read in the old catalogues of the isentirely done away with, and now we never
Crystal Palace shows the titles given to the think of using this term, and speaking of them
various cats by the owners, some describing as blues we understand there should be the
their cats as "chinchilla tabby," "light grey one and only colour.
tabby," "silver grey," "silver chinchilla," Surely, then, the simplest term and the
"
blue or silver striped." We
may infer that most descriptive of these beautiful cats is
"
these cats were either blue tabbies or silver," pure and simple, for whether dark
silver tabbies, or something betwixt and or light they are all silvers, and so we should
between. I distinctly remember the large have blues and blue tabbies, orange and orange
number of cats which in these enlightened days tabbies, silver and silver tabbies.
we should find it difficult indeed to classify. Then comes the question of what is nearest
" "
It is often said, What'sa name ?
in But perfection in this variety of cat, which has
still, in trying to describe a particular breed come upon us of late years, evolved from the
of cat, it is as well to endeavour to find silver tabby and the blue. The ideal silver, to
a term which expresses as nearly as pos- use the words of a well-known breeder of these
sible both the colour and the appearance of cats, should be the palest conceivable edition
of a smoke cat, with fur almost white at the
roots and palish silver grey at the tips, and
as free from markings as a smoke. I do not
go the length of declaring that silvers cannot

be too light, for I think that it is the delicate
tips of silvery blue that lend such a charm
and give such distinction to this variety.
Without these delicate tippings a silver cat
would look inartistic and insipid. There has
been of late quite a
amongst silver rage
breeders to produce a totally unmarked
specimen but fanciers would do better to
;
endeavour to obtain a light shaded silver free

from tabby markings with the broad head
and massive limbs, which at present are
qualities not often met with in this variety.
I am quite aware this is a most difficult task,
"
but we must remember that allgood things " STAR DUVALS."
SILVER PERSIAN OWNED AND BRED BY Miss MEESON.
come hard," even in breeding cats, and if it
(Photo : F. Parsons, Southend-on-Sea.)
were not so half the interest for fanciers
would be gone. ness the fur bears to that of the chinchilla.
Having, therefore, considered what a per- But the chinchilla cat, as at present in request,
fect silver cat ought to be, I will give a bears no resemblance to the little rodent.
description of the type of cat generally bred Most of the exhibits are of a dirty white,
and exhibited as a silver. I read the following tinged with lavender, with a quantity of
account in one of our daily papers, evidently marks and stripes on the face, body, and
written by a non-admirer of these lovely paws." Now is not a pleasing picture,
this
"
cats : The chinchillas are very fashionable, and one that would be considered libellous
and very difficult to breed in perfection. by a silver breeder. It is, however, true that
They took their name from a supposed like- at present our silvers are too full of
tabby
markings, and in many cases the
undercoat is not silvery white, but
light grey or pale blue. There are
many silver cats with dark spine
lines and shaded but they are sides,
heavily barred on the head and legs,

and the tail is frequently almost
black. It is a case of tabby blood
which needs breeding out of the
silvers, and which, no doubt, will be
obliterated in time, so that two dis-
tinct types of silvers will only exist

the delicately tipped or shaded silvers,
and the richly marked and barred
silver tabbies. Just as in the case of
1
THE AHSKXT-MIXDKI) BEGGAR. the blue Persians it took a long

OWNED BY MRS. NEILD.
: E. Lamtor, Ealing.) while to eradicate the tabby markings
(I'lioto
which showed the existence of tabby blood, ance, and noses are too long.
However, great
so amongst silvers the bar and stripes need improvement taking place, and with the
is
to be carefully bred out, and we shall hope, numerous stud cats now at the disposal of
in the good time coming, to have not self fanciers, there ought to be no difficulty in
silvers, but a very near approach to this making a suitable selection.
namely, a perfectly unmarked but yet not The question as to the correct colour of eyes
wholly unshaded silver cat. for a chinchilla or silver cat is still a vexed
There is a greater delicacy amongst silver question. In self-coloured cats the broad line
cats, and more difficulty in rearing the kittens, is clearly laid down blue eyes for whites,
"
OMAR."
THE PROPERTY OF Miss A. POLLARD
(Copyright 1901 G. Hitler, Elizabeth, N.Y.)
than in any other breed, and this may be orange for blacks, and orange for blues but ;
accounted for by the immense amount of in- when we come to the more nondescript cats
breeding that was carried on indiscriminately such as silver and smoke and tortoiseshell
at the beginning of the rage for silver cats ;
there seems to be a wider margin given, and
y
also the desire to obtain lightness of colour the line drawn
is not so hard-and-fast. Still,
caused breeders to lose sight of the grave I think always well to have some high
it is
disadvantages of loss of bone and stamina. standard of perfection in each breed, so that
Therefore it is that among the silver cats fanciers may breed up to it, and to my mind
exhibited at our shows we seldom find massive the bright emerald green eye is the ideal for a
limbs or broad heads or full cheeks. There silver cat. I have seen very fine amber eyes
is a tendency to hare-like proportions, and which could not fail to attract admiration but ;
the faces have a pinched and snipey appear- if these are admitted, then all sorts of eyes,
not amber but wishy-washy yellow, will be the There is one rather peculiar feature in the
inevitable result. So many silver cats have eyes some silver cats. This is the dark
of
eyes that
may be described as neither one rim which often encircles the eye. This rim
thing nor the other. Often one hears the re- decidedly enhances the beauty of the eye,
" and makes it look larger than it really is,
mark, Oh but! if you see So-and-so's eyes
in the right they are a
light
lovely green." But viewed by
the ordinary eye of a critical
judge, they appear an uncertain
and also throws up the colour.
Light, almost white, ear-tufts and

THREE PRETTY SILVERS.
toe-tufts are adjuncts which go to
(Photo: C. Reid, Wishatv.)
make up a perfect silver cat. The
yellow. Therefore it is best to set up a nose is of a dull brick red, darkening slightly
standard, and I think it is

becoming an almost towards the edges.
undisputed fact that silver cats of perfect Few Persian cats suffer so severely during
type should have green eyes, and by green the process of shedding their coats as silvers,
let it be understood that the deeper the tone and they present a most ragged appearance
the better will they accord or contrast with at this period of their existence. The lovely
the pale silvery coat. undercoat almost disappears,
fluffy light silver
I would here impress upon fanciers the and the top markings stand out very dis-
great importance of striving to obtain the tinctly, so that a cat that in full feather
large, round, full eye, which gives such ex- would be considered a unmarked speci-
light,
pression to a cat's face. How many of our . men will appear streaked and dark after the
silvers of to-day are spoiled by small, badly coat has been shed. As regards the silver
shaped or half-open eyes I do not think
!
kittens, it is a curious fact that these, when
sufficient importance is attached by our born, are often almost black or, at any rate,
judges to this
point of
of eye. size
Many generally very dark in colour, resembling
are carried away by the correctness of colour, smokes. It is seldom that a silver kitten is
and fail to deduct a sufficient number of light at birth, but gradually the markings and
points for a beady, badly shaped small eye. shadings will lessen, and perhaps just the one
Colour is fleeting, and with age our cats mite that was looked upon as a bad black will
may the brilliancy of green or orange,
lose blossom forth into the palest silver. In this
but bold large eyes, placed well apart and not respect, silver kits are most speculative, but
too deeply sunk, will be lasting points in in another they are cruelly disappointing, for
favour of our pets. a kitten at three months old may be a verit-
SILVER OR CHINCHILLA PERSIANS. 141
able thing of beauty, and ere it has reached After much discussion, Lady Marcus Beres-.
the age of eight months, bars and stripes will ford moved, and Mrs. Champion seconded,
have, so to speak, set in severely, and our the following definition of Shaded Silvers :
unmarked specimen of a silver kit develops SHADED SILVERS.

into a poorly marked tabby cat. I may say Colour pale, clear silver, shaded on face, legs, and
:
that if the kittens are going to be really pale back, but having as few tabby markings as possible.
silvers they will in the majority of cases have Any brown or cream tinge a great drawback. Eyes
green or orange. Value of points :
very pale faces and paws, with little or no Head 20

marking, whilst the body will be fairly even Colour of coat . . . . . . . .
25
dark grey perhaps almost black. In a week Coat and condition . . . . . . 20
or two a change takes place, as the under- Colour, shape, and expression of eyes 10
coat begins to grow, and it will be noticed Shape . . . . . . . .

..15
Brush . . . . . . . . 10
that the kittens become more even in colour,
Total 100
the contrast between their light face and dark
backs will not be nearly so accentuated, and From this list it will be seen that for colour
by the time they are nine or ten weeks old the highest points are given, and that eyes
they will look almost unmarked. The reason may be green or orange. But during the
for this is that the dark fur they are born two years which have elapsed since the forma-
with is really only the extreme tips of the tion of the Silver Society, there has been a
hair, and as their coats grow in length this decided desire on the part of breeders for
shading becomes more dispersed. green eyes only, and certainly our best qualified
And here I will allude to the so-called three- silver judges are not partial to any other
fold classification which was part of the scheme coloured eyes in this variety. In an article
" "
of the Silver Society, founded by Mrs. Cham- on the colour of eyes in silvers, Zaida of
"
pion in 1900. At the inaugural meeting Mrs. Fur and Feather writes Eye colouring :
Stennard Robinson took the chair. Voting threatens to become a matter of fashion.
papers had previously been distributed Some eight years ago we received from a first-
amongst the members, asking for their votes rate fancier and exhibitor a letter respecting
on the question of establishing three classes a chinchilla cat, which later became a great
for silvers namely, chinchillas, shaded
silvers, and silver tabbies. The votes
recorded were fifty-four in favour of
the threefold classification, and nine
against it. So this was carried by a
large majority, and the question of
points discussed and settled as follows :
CHINCHILLAS.
As pale and unmarked silver as possible.
Any brown or cream tinge to be considered
a great drawback. Eyes to be green or
oi'ange. Value of points as follows :
Head . . . . . . . . . . 20
Shape . . . . . . . .
..15
Colour of coat . . . . . .
25
Coat and condition. . . . . . 20
Colour, shape, and expression of eyes 10
Brush. . . . . . . . 10 " SHAH OF PERSIA.
Total . 100 THE PROPERTY OF MRS. ANNINGSON.
'
prize-winner. It is useless,' wrote this lady, knows a black or white or brown tabby, but
'
to think of exhibiting her on account of her how can we exhibitors discern between the
green eyes.' What
a change of opinion has number of shadings on our silver cats as to
marked the flight of eight years " ! which class they belong ? Do kindly air my
It will be observed that, as regards the grievance, and oblige."
description of chinchillas and shaded silvers, It was quite pathetic to see the faces of dis-
there is a distinction and yet no very great appointed exhibitors at the Westminster show
difference, and herein lay the difficulty of of 1901, when several beautiful creatures who
retaining these two classes at our shows. The had travelled many a weary mile to be penned
lightest silvers were deemed eligible for the and admired were rewarded with a " Wrong
"
chinchilla class,and then came the question Class ticket only. They were either too
for exhibitor and judge to draw the line be- light or too dark for the class in which their
tween the two so-called varieties, and to decide owners had entered them, and all hope of
what degree of paleness constituted a chin- honour and glory and golden coins and silver
chilla and what amount of dark markings cups vanished into thin air At one show I
!
would relegate the specimen into the shaded recollect a cat was accounted by the judge a
silver class. The cat world became agitated, chinchilla and a shaded silver, and he came
exhibitors were puzzled, and judges exasper- off very well with special prizes for both
ated. There were letters to the cat papers varieties. No doubt he really was either one
"
on the silver muddle." Show secretaries or the other, or both !
were worried with inquiries. I recollect a Itwas no wonder, therefore, that a reaction
would-be exhibitor writing to me sending set in, and exhibitors and judges felt alike that
a piece of her silver cat's fur, and asking something must be done, and that, at any rate
whether her puss should be in the chinchilla
or shaded silver class but even with her
;
"
FULMEK ZAIDA."
SILVER, OWNED BY LADY DECIES.
(Photo : E. Landor, Baling.)
lengthy description and the sample before me, for a time, it would be better to have only the
I dared not venture an opinion, and I used two classes for silvers and silver tabbies, and
generally to reply to such letters by saying that specials might be given to encourage the
I did not know in which class to enter my lightest cats. The abolition of the threefold
own silver cat, and so I was going to keep classification was therefore taken into consider-
him at home. ation whenthe Silver Society was broken up
One correspondent, appealing through the by the departure of Mrs. Champion to America,
" and Smoke Persian Cat Society
columns of the papers, wrote Everyone : and the Silver
SILVER OK CHINCHILLA PERSIANS.
came into existence, with Mr. H. V. James tinted silvers is the palest. We shall gradually
as Hon. Secretary. but surely breed out the tabby markings if
The following are the objects of the fanciers will, so to speak, nail the right colour
Society : to the mast and keep on striving to breed
The title which (under the name of

of this Society, U P to ê P el"f ect type.
The Silver Society) was founded in July, 1900, is
To quote Mr. C. A. House " What is :
"
THE SILVER AND SMOKE PERSIAN CAT SOCIETY." wanted is for breeders to work on standard
The objects of the Society and not push forward
lines,
are :
with such persistency their

i. To improve the breeds of
own pet particular whims.
long-haired silver (or chin-
chilla), shaded silver, sil-
All that is required is for
ver tabby, and smoke breeders to be determined
coloured cats and kittens, to breed honestly and con-
male, female, and neuter.
sistently for what the stand-
2. To guarantee extra classes
ard advocates, and leave
for these breeds at shows
severely alone all ex-
supported by
the Society, cesses and exaggerations.
when neces- Let us have chinchillas
sary. from markings by all
free
3. To offer prizes
for the said means, but let us keep
breeds at shows our shadings, our silver
supported by colour, remembering that
the Society. silver is of a bluish
pure
4. To hold shows and is not the
tinge,
independently,
or in conjunc- whitey-brown article some
tion with other would have us accept as
TROUBADOR.
Societies or SILVER, BRED BY MRS. E. N. BARKER.
the ideal in chinchilla
Clubs when it cats." The same author-
shall be deemed expedient by the members.
ity, writing on the threefold classification,
5. To elect specialist judges to make the awards "
says I have always maintained that the
:
at shows supported by the

Society.
6. To establish and maintain a standard of threefold classification in silvers was a mis-
points for the above-mentioned breeds. take, and the majority of breeders, I am
pleased to know, are coming round to that
It was in March, 1902, that
voting papers view. My opinion, when first enunciated, was
on this
burning question were sent out to not popular. With some it is not to-day,
members of the new society, with the follow- But many who at one time could not see the
ing result For the threefold classification, 20
:
;
force of my arguments now do so, and there
Therefore, by the wish of the is a more general
against, 32. feeling that the craze for self
majority, it was decided to give up the three- silvers is not conducive to the welfare of the
fold classification for the silvers as a breed."
present.
The Silver and Smoke Persian Cat Society Amongst the well-known breeders, fanciers,
is now in a most and exhibitors of silvers in the present day,
flourishing condition, with
about 150 members. It is the fervent hope I may mention
Lady Marcus Beresford, who
and earnest endeavour of each and all of the owns some beautiful specimens of the cele-
fanciers of silvers in the society to breed a brated " Lord Southampton " strain. A hand-
perfectly unmarked specimen, and with perse- somer type of silver female cannot be met
verance we may in time puzzle the judge to "
with than Dimity," bred by Miss Cochran,
decide which cat in a large class of lightly and presented by her to Lady Marcus Beres-
ford. Lady Decies isthe proud possessor of a number of ladylike looking studs that fail
"
the incomparable Zaida," whose record of miserably in these
very essential points.
wins is a marvellous one. As all the cat Breeders should aim at the happy medium
" "
world knows, Zaida is accounted the light- between the liliputian and the leviathan, but
est and most unmarked specimen in the fancy. not be content unless their silver studs turn
Mrs. W. R. Hawkins has bred some wonder- the scales at 10 Ib. As regards the mating
fully good silvers, and was the owner of of silvers, a broad line to lay down is to avoid
"
Sweet Lavender," which has been acknow- tabby markings. It is for this reason that
ledged as one of the best of this breed that smokes have been wisely selected by most
ever existed. The following are the principal breeders as the best cross for a silver. It is
silver breeders : The Hon. Mrs. McLaren more than probable that in many cases some
Morrison, Mrs. G. H. Walker, Mrs. Neild, nondescript sort of kittens will be the result.
Mrs. Russell Biggs, Mrs. Wcllbye, Mrs. Martin, These sort of light smokes are exceedingly
Mrs. T. Drake, Mrs. Cubitt, Mrs. Marriott, pretty cats and make fascinating pets, but
Mrs. Balding, Mrs. Poole, Mrs. Ormerod, Mrs. they are useless for breeding purposes or
Fawsett, Miss White Atkins, Miss Snell, Miss exhibiting. have known of some handsome
I
Horsman, Miss Dell, Miss Meeson, The Hon. specimens that have wandered from class to
Philip Wodehouse, Miss Chamberlayne. class, only to be disqualified in each and
"
During the last few years a very large either, and it was a case of, When judges
"
number of silver catshave been placed at disagree, who shall decide ?
stud, but we regard three cats as the

may Several experiments have been tried of
founders of the breed or as the pillars of crossing a white Persian with a silver in order
" to get pale coloured kittens, but this appears
the silver strain Silver Lambkin."
namely,
" " seldom to succeed unless the whites have
Lord Southampton," and Lord Argent."
To these worthy ancestors a very large pro- silver blood in them. Some breeders have
tried blues with silvers, but there is the danger
portion of the silvers of to-day can trace their
But this noble trio is naturally being of introducing the grey blue undercoat which
lineage.
"
superseded by such stud cats as Silver gives such a smudgy appearance to a silver
"
Starlight," "Tintagel," Cambyses," "The and suggestive of a badly coloured smoke.
is
" It does not at all follow that the mating of

Absent-minded Beggar," Pathan of Dingley,"
two light silvers will produce light coloured
"Jupiter Duvals," "St. Anthony," "Rob
" and unmarked kittens, yet this cross and the
Roy of Arrandale," The Silver Sultan." and
smoke are the safest. It must be a work of
many others. There is, therefore, now no
excuse for in-breeding, which used to be time, as we have before said, to breed out the
carried on to a great extent when so limited tabby markings of many generations.

a number of sires were forthcoming. To in- The name of Mrs. Balding is as well known
discriminate and injudicious in-breeding may be to breeders of silvers of the past as it is at
the present day. In the past, however, it was
largely attributed the great delicacy amongst
silver cats. There is no doubt that the as Miss Dorothy Gresham this enthusiastic
number of fatalities silver kittens fancier won her laurels. I well remember the
among is
sensation caused by the appearance in the
far in excess of that of any other breed. Then,
again, the size of silver cats compares unfavour- show pen of the
"
Silver Lambkins " at the
ably with others, and they are wanting in Crystal Palace in 1888. To breeders, ex-
muscle and bone. We do not want huge, hibitors, and cat fanciers generally the follow-
coarse, heavy silvers, but breeders and judges ing account of chinchillas from the earliest
sometimes show an utter disregard for size days, specially written for this book by Mrs.
and strength, and the consequence is we see Balding, should be exceedingly interesting :
" There
probably no variety of long-
is tabbies. They must, however, not be alto*
haired cat which has caused so much dis- gether despised, as they have been the stepping-
cussion, notwithstanding that, with the ex- stones which have led to the creation of the
ception of the light-coloured reds, which have chinchilla.
' "
been designated creams,' the chinchilla is It is like twenty years ago that,
something
the cat which has most recently gained dis- amongst the competitors in the classes for
tinction as a separate variety. The notoriety long-haired tabbies at the Crystal Palace and
which the. chinchilla enjoys has been in great other important shows, was occasionally to be
part brought about by the delicacy of its seen an alien with the ground colour of the
appearance and the difficulty that has been silver tabby, but with very few stripes on
TWO VIEWS.
(Photo: E. Landor, Baling.)
experienced in the production of a perfect the body. These cats were evidently sports
specimen. Many cats are called chinchillas from the silver tabby, so much so that the
and are exhibited as such, often winning class for that section was the only one open
prizes, but very few indeed are of the pale to them and, although they invariably
;
silver tint, with bright emerald eyes, and with showed great quality, breeders were loth to
no bars or stripes on the legs or head. exhibit them in the medley of different
"
The
chief subjects that have been under coloured tabbies, where one of their chief
discussion in connection with the chinchilla beauties the absence of stripes became a
cat have been the colour of eyes and the shade Their only chance of dis-
disadvantage.
of the coat but, with regard to the former, I
; tinction lay in putting in an appearance at
think it must be acknowledged that green is provincial shows, where the authorities were
a more suitable accompaniment to silver than sometimes to be induced to attach two cat
yellow or orange, and, as regards the latter, classes to the rabbit division one for long-
that silver, with dainty sheen evenly distri- haired of any colour, and the other for short-
buted, is more
to be desired than a patchy haired. In this indiscriminate assemblage,
grey, dull hue and unattractive to the
in no colour having been stated, chinchillas when
eye. As a matter of fact, these shaded grey present wrought great havoc, although it
specimens are in reality only ill-marked silver cannot be denied that the judges of the day
10
gave precedence to a well - marked silver uninitiated highly prized by owners of

so
tabby. chinchillas being mistaken for a grubby

of
"
Amongst theseoutcasts was a cat of white. Miss Florence Moore, who later on
striking beauty, whose like has not been seen had one of the best and largest catteries in
' ' ' '
again. This was Sylvie,' of unknown pedi- the country, bred Queenie from her Judy,'
gree,owned by the late Mrs. Christopher, at winner of many first prizes, a heavily marked
whose death she became the property of the silver tabby of Mrs. Brydges' noted breed,
late Miss Saunders, of Peterborough. A and
'
Fez,' a light silver cat with indefinite

beautiful portrait of this exquisite chinchilla stripes.
' "
is given in Mr. Harrison Weir's book Our Brydges can claim the distinction
Mrs.
Cats.' When judging at the Crystal Palace in of having owned, something like half a cen-
1886, this connoisseur and judge of world- tury ago, some' of the first long-haired cats
wide repute awarded her first prize, medal, ever imported into England. A coincidence
and special for the best long-haired cat, worthy of note is that though there is no
getting over the difficulty of her silvery, record of her having bred or possessed a
unmarked coat by calling her a very light chinchilla, two never-to-be-forgotten pairs of
blue tabby, though the puzzle was to find the chinchilla kittens Miss Florence Moore's
' ' '
tabby. and
Chloe Dinah,' winners of first and
"
Another chinchilla of the early 'eighties medal on three successive occasions at the
Queenie,' who
'
was Miss Florence Moore's Crystal Palace, Brighton, and Bexley, 1887
would, had chinchilla classes been provided at (they being the only chinchillas at any of
'
that time, have been loaded with champion- these shows), and Miss Gresham's Silver
ships and honours. In colour she was as Lambkins,' who swept the board in 1888,
light as any of our present-day celebrities, and winning the specials at the Crystal Palace from
might easily, from her freedom from markings, forty-six pairs of other competitors of all
have earned the dubious compliment of the colours could in each case trace descent to
' ' '
the Cheltenham stock Chloe and Dinah,'
' '
through the afore-mentioned Judy and the

' '
Silver Lambkins,' through their sire Rah-
man,' also bred by Mrs. Brydges.
"
Still more remarkable, these two couples
of youthful prodigies were first cousins, on

the other side of their pedigrees, the noted
"Fluffy II.' and 'Beauty' being bred by
Mrs. Vallance.
" '
Chinnie,' the Mother of chinchillas, is
familiar in name to every breeder of this
lovely variety, and the following letter, of

the early 'eighties, relating to her birth and
buying, will perhaps prove interesting to the
up-to-date silver fancier. It is copied from
the original in the possession of Mrs. Val-
lance. One guinea appears to have been a
price to talk of in those days. Now, one
would be tempted to hide the fact of such a
small amount, and if a specimen were offered
" to us at this low figure we should certainly
MRS. BALDING S SILVER LAMBKIN.
(Photo : E. Landor, Ealing.) desire it to be sent on approval.
-
THE VICARAGE, SANDAL MAYNER,
NEAR WAKEFIELD,
October 141/1, 1882.
'
To Mrs. VALLAXCE.
MADAM, The kitten I have to sell is quite
'
pure bred. The mother I bought for is. when \
quite a kitten from prize parents. The father is

one we bred partly from Mrs. Radford's breed and
partly from a splendid torn cat that was found
living wild at Babbicombe, and that we had in our
possession for some months, but unfortunately he
is lost again now I am afraid permanently. I
think this kitten promises to be very like the mother.
She is very handsome and has good points brush,
ear tips, and so on but I consider her rather small.
But the kitten may be finer, as the father is a large
cat. Miss Grant's are related to ours on the father's
side, but Mrs. Radford's very distantly, if at all.
'
do not think these Angora kittens are delicate.
I
We have never failed in rearing them. The more

new milk they have, and the better feeding, the finer
cats they are likely to make. We do not have much MRS. BALDING S "FLUFFIE TOD.
trouble in keeping ours at home, as we live some dis-
tance from the village. always give ours theirWe
principal meal at 6 p.m., and keep them shut up in as being as large, or larger, than any cats of
a hay-loft until next morning. If you have a box other colours, and the majority of them have
wherever the kitten lives, with sifted sand or cinders
also the purity of colour, broad heads, and
in it, kept in a corner, you will find that the best
short legs so often lacking in large cats. The
way to ensure habits of cleanliness. If I hear nothing
from you to the contrary I will send the kitten on legginess and want of quality which frequently
Wednesday morning, igth, by the early train from accompanies size doubtless cause our leading
Derby station and if you are not satisfied with
;
judges to deem it of little account.
the kitten I am willing for it to be returned within "
The name chosen by Mrs. Vallance for
a day or two, if the return journey is paid and I am
let know beforehand when
her new
acquisition proves that even in those
to expect it.
'
I remain, yours truly, early days the term chinchilla was in vogue.
' '
'
GRACE HURT.' Chinnie's wins were third Maidstone,
Sittingbourne, V.H.C. Oxford, Maidstone.
A letter redolent and old-world
of lavender Her charming mate
Fluffy I.,' a very
little
'
deliberation, but words of wisdom for all that. pure with

silver undecided tabby markings,
The reported delicacy of long-haired cats would also showed the quality of coat and cherub
trouble us less if we had more of the new milk face which their descendants have been
for
and hay-loft system. Raw meat, raw eggs, unsurpassed. He was bred in 1883 by Miss
new milk, fresh air, grass, and water are the Acland from imported cats, and won first and
sole ingredients required to rear the most medal at Maidstone, Cheltenham, and Ealing,
valuable kitten. second Ryde, V.H.C. Crystal Palace, Oxford,,
' '
another interesting
Chinnie's
size is and Lincoln. His career ended in 1886, when
point. She grew to medium weight, but was he disappeared. Tradition whispers he was
remarkable for symmetry of form rather than destroyed in the village.
bulk. " ' '
In April, 1885, Chinnie produced a
"
Some of the loveliest chinchillas are small, litter
'
by Fluffy I.,' two members of which

but 'Nizam,' 'Tod Sloan,' 'Ameer,' 'Silver '
Vezzoso '
and Beauty '
have earned un- '
' ' '

Lambkin,' Laddie,' Lord Argent,' Silver dying fame in the annals of chinchilla history.
' '
Cherub,' and
' '
Mist,' St. Anthony stand out Vezzoso,' a marvel of lavender loveliness, in
the property of Miss Howe, of Bridgyate,

near Bath, and later, by a breeding arrange-
ment with the Miss Greshams (now Mrs.
Bridgwater and Mrs. Balding), had three
remarkable litters of chinchilla kittens, the
'
first Rahman,' who shortly afterwards
by
strayed from home and was lost. This was
the litter which produced four queens, in-
'
cluding the two

Silver Lambkins,' and
which (with the exception of one renamed
'
Mimi,' who went to America with her owner)

all unfortunately died.
"
The second of Bridgyate Beauty's
' '
litters was by Mrs. Shearman's 'Champion
Perso,' a magnificent light smoke with re-

markable coat and wonderful mane, winner of
a large number of first and special prizes. In
this lot was a torn kitten destined to be a pillar
'
of the chinchilla stud book, the Silver
"
SEA FOAM." named
Lambkin,' after his deceased half-
THE PROPERTY OF MR. LAUGHTON.
sisters. The chief beauties of this remarkable
hisone brief year of existence won first in the cat are his sizeand muscular frame, the length
open class and silver medal for best in show and thickness and the enormous frill
of coat,
Albert Palace, 1885, first Louth, Maidstone, inherited from 'Champion Perso,' which spreads
second Frome, third Lincoln. Elizabethan like round his shoulders and falls
"In fatal 1886 Vezzoso,' who belied his '
to his feet in front, a cascade of silvery white
'
exquisite appearance by being very un- fluff several inches long. To Perso may '
'
domesticated, like his maternal grandfather be traced in some degree Lambkin's Silver
'
the wild cat of Babbicombe, roamed to success as the sire of unmarked cats, and to
'
return no more. Lost in the woods
'
is his
' '
Beauty their pale colour, green eyes, and

epitaph. perfect shape, which have won for her de-
"
An
even more tragic fate befel Fluffy II.,' '
scendants by
'
Lambkin '
upwards of 150
'
the 1886 son of Fluffy I.' and Chinnie,' who
'
first prizes.
" '
after winning first Crystal Palace, first and At the time Silver Lambkin was bred '
silvermedal for best in show Brighton, second there was no chinchilla stud cat, and no one
Albert Palace and Ealing, and had thought of trying to breed chinchillas,
siring the two
before-mentioned kittens of the year, died in for whom, as before stated, there was no
1887 from the effects of an accident in which encouragement at shows or at home.
he was internally injured. "
Thus within little The third litter which brought further
more than a year Mrs. Vallance lost three of ' '
fame to Beauty was by Bonny Boy,' who '
the most promising young cats in the early 'nineties was placed second in the
anyone could
possess. At the time their owner scarcely class for silver tabbies at the Crystal Palace,
realised their value, and allowed them absolute but was considered by admirers of chinchillas
freedom, with such sad results. to be the best cat in the whole show an
"
But undoubtedly the best result of the honour, however, which came to him a month
' ' ' '
Fluffy and Chinnie Beauty,' alliance was '

later when at Brighton he was awarded the
from whom, already stated, came the
as special for the most perfect specimen of the
'
Silver Lambkins.' As a kitten she became Persian breed in the exhibition ; he had
SILVER OR CHINCHILLA PERSIAATS. 149
the first prize to a heavily marked silver tabby,

previously been claimed at Sydenham, by the
Hon. Mrs. McLaren Morrison, at his catalogue thus totally ignoring the
object. desired
6 6s., and was afterwards renamed This occurred at the Crystal Palace in 1893
price of
'
Nizam.' or 1894. The two first classes ever given for
" chinchillas were this one and that given at
The only information that could be ob-
tained about this beautiful cat was that he Cruft's first cat show at Westminster, held
was exhibited by Mrs. Davies and that he in March, 1894.

"
came from Wales. Report suggested that he The next that was heard of
'
Twin '
was
was imported, but there is no evidence of any that she had suc-
chinchilla cat having been sent from abroad. cumbed from the
MRS. WELLBYE'S " SILVER LOTUS."

{Photo : E. Lamlor, Eating.)
" ' ' ' '
Beauty's litter by Nizam consisted '

effects of registered as
swallowing a needle. I,'
of one male and four females, two of which,

'
I, Beauty's Daughter,' remained the whole of

as Twin and I 'so named because they
'
her lifetime at The Lodge, Penge, where, when

'
were so exactly alike won first prizes and paired with the pale blue Champion Bundle,'
'
Southampton Duchess was the result, the

'
medals wherever shown. Another was sold by
me to Mrs. Martin, which, as
'
Lambkin Queen,' latter the mother of the Silver Lambkin's
' '
was the foundation of the afterwards noted

'
most sensational son Champion Lord South-

cattery at High Wycombe. 'Twin' eventually ampton,' who was sold by Mrs. Greenwood
went to Mr. Lawton, who renamed her ' Queen for 60, when he became the property of
of the Mist.' Mated with 'Silver Lambkin' Lady Decies, this being probably the highest
'
she produced Sea Foam,' the first chinchilla price that has ever been given in England for
to win a prize in a class solely confined to cats a cat of any variety. 'Champion Lord South-
of the colour. There was an amusing coin- ampton,' who has been a very great winner, is
cidence about this win, inasmuch as after remarkable for the lightness of colour and slight
considerable trouble had been taken to get a markings of his kittens, this being undoubtedly
separate class for chinchillas, the judge gave due to the strain of blue in his blood. Many
10*
beautiful cats own him as sire, notably Miss as one of the most perfect of his kind. Mrs.
' '
Leake's Seraph,' Mrs. Bluhm's Silver Sultan,'
'
'
Martin's St. Anthony,' whose name appears
Mrs. Neild's Absent-minded Beggar,' Miss in the pedigrees of several winners, is a brother
'
White Atkins' Tintagel,' Mrs. Tyrwhitt of
'
Ameer.'
' ' "
Drake's Musa,' Mrs. Rickett's Empress As the sire of Lady Decies' Champion '
'
Josephine,' Mrs. Earwaker's Buxton Cloud.' Fulmer Zaida,' the most lovely chinchilla
Mrs. Geo. Walk- *
female that
er's 'Woodheys has ever been
Fitzroy,' Mrs. seen, 'Silver
'
Barnes' Nour- Laddie,' who is
mahal,' winner now unfortun-

of the Chinchilla
ately gone to his
Club challenge happy hunting-
for the best kit-
grounds, can
ten, 1899, and a claim to have
daughter of been one of the
'
Champion Ful- most noted of

mer Zaida,' sires, more par-
shown by Lady ticularly as he
Decies at the was also the
Crystal Palace father of many
in 1901, also others of great
"
'
Green - eyed MRS. WELLBYE S SILVER DOSSIE.
(Photo : E. L andor, Ealing.) value, promi-
Monster.' nent
"
amongst
'
Whilst speaking of Tintagel it may be '
which were Miss Horsman's 'Aramis,' Miss
'
remembered that he sired a charming, litter Snell's
'
Starlight,' Silver Cherub,' Lady of

'
'
exhibitedby Mrs. Poole, which were first at the Quality (one of the most perfect chinchillas
National Cat Club show at the Crystal Palace, ever bred), 'Charterhouse Pixie' (the dam of
and one of which won as a single kitten at 'Tod Sloan'), and numberless others.
"
the Botanic Gardens in 1902. Not only as a chinchilla, but when com-
" ' '
Other famous progeny of Silver Lambkin peting with all breeds of cats, both long and
' ' '
are Silver Mist,' Watership Caesar (who won '
short haired, Champion Fulmer Zaida has
'
the gold medal at Boston, U.S.A., for the best proved her excellence, and has on more than
'
cat in the show, 1902), Silver Tod Sloan,' one occasion secured the cup at the Crystal
'Silver Owl,' Mrs. Bluhm's 'Silver Lily,' Palace for the best cat in the whole show.
' '
Silver Squire,' and
Mowgli,' the last named She was bred by Mrs. Bluhm, one of the pioneers
bred by Mrs. Dunderdale, but later the property of chinchillas, and, it is stated, has now won
of Mrs. Smyth, of Forest Hill, one of the 136 first and special prizes, and that Lord
most enthusiastic admirers of chinchillas, who Decies has refused 90 for her.
" '
has in her possession the stuffed figure of
'
Zaida has also produced some first-class
'
Beauty.' kittens, amongst which was Miss Stisted's

"
A chinchilla that gained a considerable
'
Pearl,' the owner of the latter pretty queen

'
notoriety was Sweet Lavender,' the property being a most devoted admirer of the chin-
of Mr. Hawkins. This was a beautiful speci- chilla and sparing no expense to further its
men, very light in colour. The latter was interests.

"
also a distinctive feature of the Hon. Mrs. Mrs. Bluhm's strain of chinchillas are all
'
McLaren Morrison's Ameer,' a son of
'
Lamb- very light in colour, and show great quality,
kin Queen,' who stands prominently forward which may also be said of those of Mrs. Wellbye,
OR CHINCHILLA PERSIANS.
whose '
Silver
' '
Lotus and Veronica,' daughters When the challenge cups of the National Cat
of
'
Silver Squire and ' '
Dossie,' did so much Club were designed in 1897, it was decided that
winning in their day. the beauty and interest attached to them
"
Miss Meeson has also shown considerable should be enhanced by immortalising on each
enthusiasm in her endeavour to reach the the most representative cat of the long-haired
ideal, her best efforts having resulted in and short-haired varieties. For the latter the
' ' '
Jupiter Duvals,' of wide fame. great Xenophon was chosen without hesi-
"
Two clubs have been formed in connection tation. Then came the more difficult task
with the chinchilla cat one, the Silver Society, of deciding upon a recipient for the distinction
embraced other coloured cats besides the from the long-haired ranks, which claim so
becoming the Silver
chinchilla, this eventually much oi-the beauty and wealth of winnings
and Smoke Persian Cat It was owing of the cat world as to render the
Society. singling out
to this club encouraging shaded, or marked, of one a matter of consideration. To hasten
silver cats and orange eyes that the Chinchilla the termination of the discussion Mrs. Stennard
Club was formed by Mrs. Balding. This Robinson sent for a collection of cat photo-
Club has the honour of having as patron graphs which had been left to her by the late
H.S.H. Princess Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein, Miss Portman, the well-known Kara Avis of ' '
who owns and exhibits some beautiful chin- the Lady's Pictorial. Amongst these the hon.
chillas, and Lord Decies as vice-president. secretary of the N.C.C. pointed out one with
"
The Chinchilla Club gives its support and no name attached as the most beautiful
specials, besides guaranteeing classes at any photograph of the lot. This was recognised
show whose management apply The con- by most of the committee as being Silver
'
ditions on which the specials are presented Lambkin,' so the honour fell to him.
is that the cats to which they are awarded
"By some error at the makers' the long-
must be the property of members of the club, haired cat was placed on both
challenge cups,
prize-winners in their respective classes, and and it was determined by the club that the
registered cats. superfluous model which had to be removed
"
The club prizes usually consist of half a and replaced by
'
Xenophon
'
should be
guinea in each class, and the more coveted mounted as a
Special of the club's badge for the best chin- letter-weight
chilla of either sex. Badges were selected in and given as a
place of the ubiquitous medal, because most
challenge prize
of the dainty professional beauties very soon for kittens,
obtain a considerable number of the latter, to be won
and smart little badges were more appre- three times
ciated. before be-
"
The club's
present challenge trophy for
chinchilla kittens is a solid silver model of
'
Silver Lambkin,' offered by the hon. secretary
for competition amongst its members ;
it is
also open to members of the National Cat Club,

in acknowledgment of the compliment paid
by the latter to the original in choosing his

statuette to surmount
challenge cup. their
The history of the origin of this special
little
has never appeared in print before, and as

I was not present at the committee meeting .\IRS. WKI.LUYK'S SILVER " VERONICA.'
'
referred to, I tell the tale as 'twas told to me.' (Photo : E. Landor, Eating.)
coming the property of the winner. After the Crystal Palace show, smokes an equal
some keen competition, covering about half a oddity, blue eyes in a white cat a comparatively
dozen shows, Mrs. Martin won it outright in unnoticed point, and cream - coloured cats
1899, when it was replaced by the present entirely unknown.
"
exactly similar model. The colour of the chinchilla has been bred
"
The endeavour of the Chinchilla Cat Club, in ways. In bygone days, when
various
of which all the leading breeders and most chinchilla cats were flukes or freaks and few
successful are members, is to
exhibitors and far between, methods which would now
continue work that has been done to
the be considered somewhat eccentric were re-
improve chinchillas, and to produce a new sorted to by the first breeders of the colour.
variety the colour of the palest shade of the The useful from which black,
tortoiseshell,
'
fur (dyed) known as blue fox,' or a very light red, cream, or tabby cats can be got, was
shade of pigeon blue. Without doubt such a pressed into the service, and, paired with a silver
result can be obtained by careful selection and or light blue tabby not too clearly marked,
the little more.' Darwin's words on the would occasionally, amid the multi-coloured
'
subject of selection are attractive to all kittens for which tortoiseshells are proverbial,
owners of live stock. He says :
'
Improvement throw a medium chinchilla or light silver tabby,

is by no means due to crossing different breeds. which with careful selection might, a generation
All the best breeders are strongly opposed or two
later, develop into something approach-
to this practice, except sometimes amongst ing a good chinchi la.
"
closely allied sub-breeds. And when a cross But it is, perhaps, more difficult to foretell
has been made, the closest selection is far with cats than any other animal what the
more indispensable even than in ordinary result of pairing will be with anything like
cases. If selection consisted merely in certainty. This
particularly applies to the
separating some very distinct variety and ordinary English cat, as it is impossible to guess
breeding from it, the principle would be so at the mixture of different-coloured creatures
obvious as to be hardly worth notice ;
but which have preceded it, and any of which
'
the importance consists

great in the effect may influence the progeny of its descendants.
produced by the accumulation in one direction A fancier who would produce any particular
during successive generations .of differences specimen must, amongst other gifts, be
absolutely unappreciable by an uneducated equipped with the patience of biblical cele-
eye. Not one man in a thousand has the brities and prepared to wait seven years, as
accuracy of eye and judgment sufficient to one enthusiast actually did before arriving at
become an eminent breeder. Few would . . . the fulfilment of his desires in the shape of a
readily believe in the natural capacity and

well-marked tabby kitten.
"
years of practice requisite to become even a
With pedigree cats, of course, the chances,
skilful pigeon fancier.' of unexpected reappearing in their pro-
traits
"
The Chinchilla Cat Club is also prepared geny are considerably lessened, and, given
to encourage cats of new colours, which should desirable connections on both sides of some
now be not so very difficult to produce, con- years' standing, the personal attributes of a
sidering the points that have been brought out coming litter may be predicted more or less
in those varieties that were well known, the successfully. One of the loveliest of smokes
latter showing that it is possible to breed to a the correct black, with white undercoat, with-
standard if judgment used in the endeavour
is out the shadow of a stripe was from a brown
to do so. Some of us remember the time tabby queen, from brown tabby parents, and
when a blue cat, either long- pr short-haired a chinchilla bred from a chinchilla dam and
(now the largest classes), was a rara avis when

smoke sire. Again, a brown tabby with
Mrs. Lee's
'
Meo was the only Siamese at
'
white paws, whose appearance did not suggest
SOUTHERN CATTERY, SHOWING ENTRANCE TO INFIRMARY AND INDOOR CATTERY.
MKS. WALKER VISITING HER PETS.

TWO VIKWS OF WOODHEYS CATTKKY.
the bluest of blood, mated with the same dominant strain, the offspring naturally par-
chinchilla sire, produced in a litter three chin- takes of the peculiarities of both.
"
and two faintly marked
chillas silver tabbies, Colour, in chinchillas, is the most import-
which would nowadays have been styled ant point. It should be of palest silver, lav-
' '
shaded silvers by followers of the dubious ender tint,and lighter in fact, practically
hue. Needless to say, these instances are not white at the roots. There should be no dark
given to encourage the idea of breeding chin- blotches or stripes or brown tint on the back
chillas from brown tabbies, but as illustrations or about the nose. A rusty hue is, however,
sometimes caused by the action of the sun
or wind. As regards bars or stripes on head,
these should be as few and light in colour as
possible, with a view to breeding them out

altogether in the future.
"
The coat should be long and thick, of fine,
soft texture, much thicker and longer round
the neck, forming a decided frill and mane,
the latter reaching well down the fore legs.
It should also be longer on the hinder
part of the thighs, forming culotte, and very
bushy on the tail, which should be short and
wide. The legs should be slightly feathered,
with tufts of hair between the toes. There
should also be tufts in the ears, which should
be very small and set low.
"
The head should be wide at the forehead
and short in the muzzle, well filled up below
11
SILVER BLOSSOM. the eyes, giving it a round appearance. The
OWNED BY MRS. WALKER. eyes large and luminous, in colour emerald
Finiilow & High Wycombe.)
green with black lids. Green and yellow
(Photo : Co.,
mixture is permissible, but not so picturesque

that just as the results of pairing a cat with as the green yellow in the eyes is not desirable.
;
one of nondescript pedigree cannot be guessed, In shape the chinchilla should have a level
so in an animal carefully bred for generations back, and be only slightly long in the couplings.
so indelibly have the characteristics of the The legs should be short, with round paws,
breed or variety been stamped upon it the latter well padded. When in full coat the
by past ancestors that it is practically im- hair should nearly reach the ground and the frill
possible for them to become obliterated or envelop the back of the head, making a very
submerged. fascinating whole."
"
Thus the type once fixed survives, though The following is the standard of points as
it be by the aid of the most incongruous con- drawn up by the Chinchilla Cat Club. It is
nection, such as a brown tabby. Had the also used in America as a basis for criticism :
latter been the patrician bred from progenitors

of her colours, and the chinchilla been the one i . Colour of Coat. Palest silver, laven-
der tint preferred, nearly white
of doubtful lineage, the result must, of course,
at roots. No dark stripes, blotches,
have been reversed, and the kittens, in all
or brown tint. Darker tips to the
probability, would have followed the brown long hairs give the coat an appear-
tabby strain. parent cat when
If neither ance of being lightly peppered
of distinct varieties can boast a particularly with a darker shade. The whole
appearance of the cat to be very catteries, certainly in those devoted to silver

pale 30 cats. Therefore I suspect fanciers who have
2. Coat. Long and thick . . . . 20
Texture of Coat. Fine and soft 10
succeeded (all honour to the few !) and those
3. . .
4. Tufts of hair inside and round the ears who mean to succeed in breeding silver Persian
and between the toes . . . . 10 cats of possessing a larger stock of patience
5. Head. Broad and round; forehead and of having acquired a larger experience
wide, ears small and set low, nose than their brothers and sisters whose love
short . . . . . .
25
has turned towards the blue, black, or white
6. Shape. Back not too short
level, ;
legs short, paws round brush pussies.

;
"
short, wide, and carried low . . 20 With these last three one may be tolerably
7. Eyes. Large, luminous, and green sure always taking forgranted some know-
(if green mixed with
in colour
ledge of fairly pure coat colour, and at a
yellow, 5 points only allowed) . . 10
4 very early age the best kittens of the litter
To breeders of silver Persian cats an article may be picked out those having greatest
by Mrs. Neild will be valuable and instructive. breadth of skull, smallest ears, etc. But the
Mrs. Neild has made, so to speak, a speciality silver litters are a veritable surprise packet,
of silvers, and owns two noted silver studs and remain so for an irritatingly long period.
" "
the Absent-minded Beggar " and Lord Personally, have found that those kittens
I
Hampton." There are always some good sil- which, when born, have very pale almost
ver queens, and very frequently some choice white unbarred faces and fore legs are ulti-
kits, disporting themselves in the well-arranged
catteries at Hart Hill, Bowdon, where Mrs.
Neild has a kennel of Borzois and a cattery
of silvers.
This is what Mrs. Neild says regard-
ing the breeding and rearing of silver
Persian cats :
"
Perhaps of the many varieties of
Persian cats and, indeed, they are
a goodly number as they now
appear on our show cata-
logues and schedules the sil-
vers may claim their owners to
be the most sporting of cat
breeders. Certainly, to breed
successfully it is essential that
one should possess the not too

common virtues of unlimited
" "
patience and perseverance.
SILVER BLOSSOM'S TWO BUDS.
(Photo: Mr;. G. H. Walker.)
Also experience is
necessary.
"A common occurrence among even old mately those which grow palest. I take no
hands is to assign a kitten one of a new notice of the colour of the coat on the back,
litter under inspection, as
being of little
'
sides, hind legs, or tail, even if striped, as

' '
good except as a pet to be sold at a small frequently happens, for all these markings
sum to a good home,' and a few weeks later generally vanish if as I before said the face
discover this same kitten to be the pick of the and fore legs are unbarred. I must, however,
litter. In short, the old, old story of the own to one kitten who was born jet black.
' '
ugly duckling incessantly repeats itself in our She was by Mrs. Champion's Lord Argent
156 Tllf: BOOK OF THE CAT.
and a shaded silver queen of my own breeding, ah !
happy accompaniment greater cousti-
When a montli old dubbed her a very bad
I tutional vigour.
"
smoke ; at three months she was coatless a We are, I believe, too apt, if owning a
most indecent person, having shed her
little pale queen, to mate IKT with the palest known
coat more completely than I had ever seen stud, disregarding other very important con-
in cat or kitten. When, after a provokingly siderations in the all-absorbing wish to breed
' '
long period, she again consented to appear the wonderful dirty white king or queen of
clothed, her dress was of palest silver, un- silvers. Sometimes this atom (verily so) of
adorned by any markings except a very faint perfection does make its appearance, and is
smudge on her forehead and which, alas, enthusiastically greeted. But what of the
spoilt her for show a darker tinge on her mite itself? A tiny, sickly scrap of a kitten,
broken tail. How constantly ailing.
is it that to our best refusing to grow or
some accident al- to Weigh, exeept at
ways happens ? So, a rate of less than

as I could not ex- halt the average
hibit her, I sold her blue kitten of its
to a delightful home own age. But ex-

in the North of Eng- traordinary care
land, and her en- Lvps the mite alive
tliusiastic owner until one day some
wrote to me a few chance draught or a
'weeks since that maid's carelessness
her big babies by ends our careful
'Lord Hampton' nursing, and tin-
were as pale as the poor owner of that

'
mother, who herself lovely dirty white

'
grew steadily of a "wii.n TOM." kit at last realises

fainter silver. SII.VKK, HRKU r.v MRS. G. 11. WAI .M ;;.
that this other
" (I'ltoto: Mrs. G. 11. Walker.)
Unfortunately, good-bye means it
more than any other breed of cats lack
silvers may be wiser to mate that same pale queen
bone, caused, of course, by the unavoidable to the strongest, hardiest, biggest-boned stud
when this variety of cat
in-breeding practised possible to be found among our silver studs,
was introduced and so enthusiastically
first even if he is rather barred.
"
welcomed, and when but one or two fanciers Now mark. From the result of this
owned a cat of such shade. Another article mating, keep the best of the female kittens
on this subject, by a lady who may really and marry her if possible, not betore
claim have established this breed, will
to is eighteen (at any rate, fifteen) months
explain to the reader more than it is in my old to a stud unrelated, sturdy, of un-
power or province to declare. doubtedly splendid health, for preference

To go back to the subject of our small paler than and boasting grand head
herself,
silvers, in-bred to delicacy. We should now and the essential tiny ears and short
remember how many good sires, absolutely nose. Then you may dream your dreams
unrelated and within easy reach, are placed with a chance of their resulting in a golden
at our disposal. Therefore, surely there reality.
"
can be no possible excuse if in a compara- If breeders would but spend rather more
tively short time we do not manage to own thought when they select husbands for their
silvers big in bone and limb, and owning pussies, they would be indeed repaid. am I
"
not speaking, of course, to the fortunate few Do me urge all whom it may concern
let
who have won their laurels, and of whom I to keep Madame in close confinement for
would I might learn ; although I rather several days after her return home. Indeed,
suspect their but the
secret of success is in the interest of the owner of both stud and
result of continual study, coupled with ex- queen this is of vast importance, and many a
treme care. Would not an enormous increase disappointment is due to this seemingly small
of size and weight soon become evident in neglect. Puss does not always return as one
the occupants of our catteries if, when a would wish, however great the care given her
queen was about to be mated, her owner whilst away on her holiday, and may take
would first carefully study the list of points her matrimonial affairs into her own paws
provided by the Silver and Smoke Persian with results^ most unsatisfactory to everyone
Cat Society (previously quoted in this work), but herself. When the kits arrive, do not if
jotting down those good qualities to which you have reason to expect valuable kittens as
she believes her queen may lay claim, and a result of the mating leave more than two
then selecting that sire possessing the points or three with the mother (I am, of course,
most wanting in her own cat of course, never speaking of silver kittens) for reasons I
forgetting relationship ? The old rule about shall directly state. By far the best plan is
'
in-breeding is once twice oat,' as all old

in, to procure (some time before the birth of
fanciers know ;
but where silver Persian cats both litters) a good big English cat as foster
are in question, I would most strongly urge mother, one known to have brought up a
that this adage be disregarded, and, as a rule, previous litter not an old cat. The usual
avoid in-breeding entirely until a stronger race method of substituting her foster for her
of silver cats established, cats with frames
is own babies is to take away the mother cat
equal to those big blue beauties we see at for a few minutes of course, out of sight
our shows. I think that in a comparatively and, removing one of her own kittens, rub
short time of course, always avoiding tabby the little silver baby with the hay of the nest
blood, breeding chiefly for bone our silver and against the other kittens so that the
cats may be very different to those of to- strange smell sense of all others so wonder-
day, those who own too fairylike limbs to be fully developed in animals may not raise
beautiful. suspicion in the foster mother. Then the
"
A word about our famous
and, by the sires next day remove one or two more.
"
way, we may congratulate ourselves on having May I, at this point, plead that the little
within reach so many beauties. Often I have kittens taken from their mother for your
lettersasking for advice as to which stud benefit should not be drowned ? If they
such and such a queen shall visit and, in ;

must be sent along the silent road to
addition the above suggestions,
to I would the Quiet City, let it be done mercifully
remind the owner that length of journey and by chloroform. Such wee things may
should be taken into consideration, and the rest easily in a big biscuit box, the lids
fact that if the chosen sire is extremely popular of which usually close tightly, and about
it maybe that a better result may be gained I oz. of chloroform poured on a piece of
if the queen is sent to one not so much in flannel or sponge laid on a small saucer
request, especially if the owner of the stud by their side will send them painlessly to
cat has not been warned before of the visit of sleep.
"
your pussie. However, most owners of stud The reason I strongly advise that the
cats are extremely careful in limiting the English foster should nurse the best of the
'
number of visitors, and few object to keeping litter is but an echo of the old cry, Want of
Sir Thomas free for a week beforehand if bone.' Fed by the sturdy British puss, the
given due notice. delicate tiny balls of silver fluff will gain
''FUR AND FEAT H E R."

(Photo : Mrs. S. F. Clarke )
greater strength, and be mothered for a much milk as they like (although, as a rule,
longer period than would be possible with my cats drink water), but it should be boiled,
their real parent. and one tablespoonful of lime-water added
"
It is necessary to remember that, al- to each half-pint. When I once urged this
though the foster mother needs extra food care of the foster mother to a friend who
when nursing just as in the case of the owned two kittens she was extremely anxious
silver mother more caution must be exer- to rear, I was laughed to scorn, and assured
cised when beginning the more liberal diet, that such fussiness about a strong English cat
for very probably, if this is forgotten, a was more than foolish. Yet I would remind
liver attack which will also affect the breeders who are inclined to agree with the
precious kits will be the result of her un- above opinion that on the perfect health of
usually liberal
fare. Remember, also, to your head nurse rests the future of your
inquire of the owner of your foster as to how much-prized litter. On her depends their
she has been fed. With this knowledge, com- growth, their first chance of throwing off
mon sense and careful watching of cat and their natural delicacy. Mr. House, in one of
kittens will quickly show if it would be better his articles lately published in Fur and Feather,
to increase or diminish her meals either in advises that kittens should be kept with and
quantity or quality. It is of enormous value fed by their mothers as long as sixteen weeks.
to bespeak the foster mother, if possible, In my humble opinion this is too great a
four or five weeks before the birth of the strain on any Persian cat, but there may
kittens, for then it will not hurt to give her be great wisdom in keeping the kits with the
what is almost certain to be necessary i.e. mother or foster for as long as it is possible
a worm powder. without overtaxing the cat. The same
"
I
always allow my mother pussies as authority speaks of a relay of foster mothers.
I confess this puzzles me, for I should imagine sleeping dens of the pussies. There is a.
that the food supplied by the second mother maid in attendance on these fortunate cats,
would be too weak in quality (as Nature and the man who looks after the kennels,
provides it shall be of different quality to suit of dogs also gives a helping hand.
the age of all and every kind of baby) for In one of the pictures will be seen a stair-
the big kits after that of the first foster, and case, and this leads to three charmingly
I should have also imagined the second foster arranged rooms. All the appliances and
would refuse to nurse kits so much bigger utensils connected with the animals are kept
than those she had just left. in one of these apartments. Another is set
"
When my weeks old I give
kits are four apart for mothers and their families, and a
them raw lean beef scraped, not chopped third is
kepjt
in case of illness for an isolation
beginning with half a teaspoon ful daily, then ward. In one of the loose boxes near at
the same quantity twice daily, then three times hand the cooking for the pussies is carried
a day; and at the same time teach them to on, and there is a larder specially for the
lap, using a plate, which, being shallower than cats' food. Mrs. Walker devotes much of
a saucer, causes less choking and fear to the her time to looking after her pets, and great
little
things." has been her sorrow over the untimely death
Mrs. G. H. Walker, of Woodheys Park, is of some of her treasured pussies. After
the chief supporter of the Northern Counties one of the large shows, infection crept into
Cat Club, and is a member of the National her cattery, and worked most cruel havoc.
Cat Club Committee. For several years she Such losses as Mrs. Walker sustained were
has been a well-known breeder and exhibitor enough to damp the ardour of the most
of silver Persians, and has a most excellently enthusiastic cat lover and fancier ; but the
planned cattery, which I had the pleasure of lady of Woodheys Grange bravely faced
seeing when on a visit to Woodheys Grange. the situation, and
period sad
after a of
Mrs. Walker kindly had some views taken, once again resumed her hobby
reflection she
specially for reproduction in these pages. I with renewed interest. At the Northern
consider the arrangements for the pussies' Counties Cat Show at Manchester in 1902
comfort and well-being as
complete as it is possible to
make them. The floors of the
outside catteries, which face
south, are cemented, so that
they can be washed over
every day. The roofs are
boarded, and then covered
with galvanised iron, so that
all the rain runs away easily.
The spacious apartments are
fitted with benches and
ledges, and trunks of trees
and leafy shrubs are planted
in the ground for the cats'
special amusement and ex-
ercise. The kennels which,
for the purpose of photo-
graphing them have been "THE SILVER LAMBKINS."
placed outside are the cosy By "
RAHMAN "
ex " BEAUTY."
i6o THE BOOK OF THE CAT.
Mrs. Walker exhibited a really wonderful coat. Its very daintiness and seeming pride
silver kitten. I
say wonderful, for this in itself is quite charming. One is reminded
"
youngster, from
bred the owner's Wood- of a pretty child dressed out in its
party frock,
"
heys Fitzroy and " Countess," was the most for puss appears to know it is well dressed
unshaded and unmarked specimen of a silver and show her charms to the
desirous to
I have ever seen. This unique specimen will best advantage. She dances, pirouettes, and
be watched with interest by silver fanciers. throws herself into the most graceful and
May his shadings ever grow less !
entrancing attitudes, until we feel in sympathy
The average number inmates of this of with the Egyptians of old and are willing to
cattery is about thirty, but at one period falldown and worship our adorable pets. We
of Mrs. G. H. Walker's catty career the silver all love beauty, but to those who love cats
fever ran high, and there were sixty-three there is something beyond even beauty, for
cats and kits within the precincts of the only they who keep and care and treat them
spacious and luxurious catteries of Woodhey? well know the comfort these little creatures are,
Grange. and the happiness they can bestow by their
Mrs. Martin, of High Wycombe, who has sweet caressing ways, perhaps more especially
often acted as judge, has been a most successful to those whose hearts are starved of human
"
breeder of silvers, and the progeny by St. love, but still to all whose sympathies are
Anthony," her noted sire, have distinguished wide of the varieties of silver cats. I will first
themselves by winning over one hundred prizes. treat of the chinchilla.
" " "
St. Anthony has retired into private life, The Crystal Palace show of 1895 or 1896
but he will always be remembered if only by was the first I remember with a class for
his two children
"
Silver Dove " and "
Fascin- chinchillas previous to that, I believe, they
;
"
ation." Mrs. Martin says, I am all in favour were not recognised as such, but were shown
of the male being older than the queen in with the silver tabbies. Strictly speaking, the
breeding silvers also select a good-coated stud
; name chinchilla is a misnomer as applied to
cat, short in the legs. Eyes are a worry just these cats. The soft grey coat of the little
now. Of course, I like green best, but if a animal called the chinchilla,whose lovely
cat is
good but colour of eye, this
in all points fur is so much prized as an article of ladies'
should not upset an award. I find that if a dress, differs diametrically from the cat so
kitten is born almost self silver, it will develop called.
"
into an indifferent silver tabby later but if ; The fur of the chinchilla is dark at the
the body is dark, and head and legs light and roots, and shades quite pale grey at the tips.
clear, you may hope for a very unmarked The cat's fur, on the contrary, is absolutely
specimen in due time." pale grey, almost white at the roots, but
" "
Mrs. Wellbye's silver cats Dossie," Silver tipped with black at the outer edges.
" " "
Lotus," and Veronica were at one time The points as laid down by the Silver
'
well-known winners, and for length of coat and Society are as follow : Chinchillas should be
beauty of eye have seldom been surpassed. as pale and unmarked silver as it is possible
Mrs. Wellbye is a most astute judge of silvers, to breed them.'
"
and her remarks on this her favourite breed The aim of the breeder of this variety,
will be read with interest : therefore, is to obtain a cat with none of the
"
This handsome variety of the Persian markings of the original stock (the silver tabby),
ranks high in the estimation of cat lovers ;
the dark tippings to be slight and faint.
"
indeed, its ardent admirers consider it the Breeders have found this ideal most dim-
creme dc la creme of the cat world. And why cult to obtain although some kittens are born
;
not 1
Surely there
nothing is
compare to pale all over, with no markings; in a few weeks
with a lovely young chinchilla Persian in full or maybe months the hope of the family
ul
CU t
ffl
ffl
O
Pi
a
is no more, for the lighter the kitten the more full coat (the fur being from three to seven
delicate.
'
Whom the gods love, die young.' inches long on the tail sometimes as much
Or, again, if the cherished one lives over its as nine inches) the tiny neckings are lost in
baby troubles, and

on the change from
starts wavy, tossing, billowy coat. But let the
its first, or kitten coat, to the second coat, too coat become damp, however slightly, it will
often do the markings appear, the shadings be seen that the dark edges are clearly in
get darker, or fine black hairs are seen amongst evidence.
"
the pale grey. Some of the best chinchilla As, however, breeders could not always
kittens have been born quite dark, and with produce the pale shade of silver, the litters,
"
JUI'ITER DUVALS."
OWNED AND BRED BY Miss S. MEESON.
(Photo : F. Parsons, Smithend-on-Sea.)
tiny stripes all over. At a month or six weeks even withmost careful mating, being
the
these marks have disappeared, and later the generally assorted
in good, bad, and in-
coat has become an even silver. different so far as colour was concerned,
'
The breeder must not even then build many fine cats dark silvers had no place
high hopes. Again change may occur. There assigned to them.
no cat which varies so much "
is it is quite ; It was then suggested that a class should
'
chameleon-like in this respect. be given at the shows to be called shaded
"
A few years ago the Cat Club adopted silver,' the
points according to the Silver
the name of ' '
self silver as applied to the Society being as follows :
chinchilla another misnomer, as a self silver " '

Shaded should be defined as pale,
silvers
should have no clear silver, shaded on face, legs, and back,
tippings or shadings, and the
silver cat has not been bred that had fur but having as few tabby markings as possible/
the same shade " The dark or shaded
from roots to
throughout tips. silvers, it was under-
'The slight dark edging to the fur con- stood, should have pale, clear undercoats ;
stitutes to most people the charm in these but instead of the fleckings of the self silver
silvers. Sometimes it is almost imperceptible (so called), the dark edges ran a considerable
to the casual observer or when the cat in into the fur. The shaded silver is a
; is way
11
that the markings should show up to advan-
tage. How to reconcile the two is the puzzle,
for the longer the coat the less the markings
are evident, as the stripes are merged in the
flowing coat, so that we sometimes see at the

cat shows exhibits woefully out of coat placed
in the first rank, as the markings are much
more distinct. It follows, then, in this variety
of the silver, a long coat is distinctly a dis-
advantage when competing at shows.
"
Having now obtained three types for
silvers, and the Cat Club willing to give
classes for them at the great shows held in
St. Stephen's Hall, Westminster, the outcome
was looked forward to with much interest.
But it was one thing to get four types, and
quite another matter to get silver breeders
to understand the fine distinction conse- ;
THH ELDER MISS BLOSSOM. quently, the cats were entered in self silver,
SILVER, OWNED BY Miss HORSMAN. shaded and silver tabby classes in-
silver,
discriminately. The result was, of course,

handsome cat, but too often much marked on muddle and confusion, many exhibitors having
' '
the face and barred on the legs, a defect most the mortification of finding Wrong Class
difficult to overcome. Many cat fanciers on the cat pens.
' "
describe the shaded silver as a spoilt tabby.' At a recent show held at Westminster
"
The third in the group of silvers is the under the auspices of the Cat Club, the judge
silver tabby. The points are here stated : was asked by the Honorary Secretary to go
"
round the classes first, and if any exhibit was
'
The colour of a silver tabby should be
a pale, clear silver, with distinct black mark- wrongly placed to re-classify before judging.
ings.' This worked satisfactorily so far as disqualifi-
" This have been
variety ought in equity to cation was concerned.
"
mentioned first, as it is the original stock, but At this show, however, the judge was con-
it has been overshadowed by the superior fronted with another difficulty, it being found
attractions of the chinchilla. (Silver tabby that most of the cats in the classes for shaded
enthusiasts will perhaps pardon this eulogy of silver had deviated materially from the stand-
my favourite breed.) There is not the slight- ard of points laid down by the Silver Society.
est doubt this handsome cat, the silver tabby, Instead of the clear, pale undercoat, the fur
has suffered materially from the craze for the was a dark grey right down to the skin. The
newer variety, and consequently the type has majority of these cats were quite dark, and,
not been kept pure. They have been mated rightly speaking, were not silvers that is, if
over and over again with cats of less markings one bears in mind the metal so named. It is
in the hope of breeding chinchillas, until at difficultto say in what class they could be
the present day there are very few silver placed, unless a new class was created, to be
clouded or oxydised silver.' If we go
'
tabbies true to type. called
"
The position of the silver tabby in the on to these subdivisions we shall not know
feline scale is very peculiar. As a Persian it where to stop. Self silver or chinchilla,
is,of course, necessary that its coat should be shaded silver, clouded silver, and silver tabby
long and fine, whilst as a tabby it is desirable a truly appalling problem for the bewildered
judge to decide, for the majority of exhibitors carries a soft, silky coat. In the silver kitten
would not appreciate the variations. class the sexes were not divided, and Miss
"
It may come to this eventually, but at Ford's lovely kittens scored first and third.
the present time the threefold classification A sweeter face and rounder head than that
"
leads to much confusion, for as nearly or possessed by Silver Button," the first prize
very nearly all silver cats are more or less winner, would be difficult to find, and Miss
tabby marked, so will exhibitors be in doubt Ford be congratulated on having bred
may
as to the class to which their cats rightly such a gem. Mr. T. B. Mason judged the silver
belong. classes at this show, and he doubtless experi-
"
It is a question if the introduction of the enced some difficulty in testing the colour of
shaded class at shows has not done more harm the exhibits in the bad light of St. Stephen's
than good, for as previously we saw very few Hall, more especially as on the opening day of
of the dark silvers it not
being worth breeding the show a dense fog hung over the city.
the variety when there was no class in which Another difficulty which must present itself
to show them so now the tendency of ex- to our most capable judges is the awarding of
hibits, as anyone who attends shows can see, specials offered for silvers and shaded silvers.
is to run to darkness rather than and Perhaps the easiest way out of this difficulty
light ;
breeding for colour, purity of colour, and ab- isto give the shaded silver prizes to the darkest
sence of markings has received a set-back, for cats but all are shaded, even the palest, and
;
with some judges colour is nothing, and prizes therefore some judges might justify them-
'
will be showered upon a spoilt tabby if it
'
selves they awarded both sets of specials
if
happens to have, perhaps, a broader head or a to the one cat. At this show Lady Marcus
bulkier body good points, as everyone will Beresford offered three special prizes in each
allow, but points which the common or garden silver cat class for the palest specimens, one
cat may possess and we do not pit our of these in the male class being won
;
dainty by her own
chinchillas against alland sundry. handsome "Beetle," a son of the famous
"
Without wishing in any way to detract ;
'Lord Southampton." The classification for

from the good qualities which the more plebeian silvers at the specialist societies' show at Bath,
branches of the cat tribe undoubtedly possess,
it is
impossible not to award the palm for
grace and beauty to the highly bred aristo-
cratic chinchilla. Coal and iron are useful,
but we give our admiration to diamonds and
pearls."
Before closing the chapter on silvers, I will
allude to the Cat Club show held at St.
Stephen's Hall, Westminster Aquarium, in

January, 1903. On this occasion there was
quite a record entry in the male silver class,
which contained twenty-one cats. The list
was headed by Mr. J. F. Dewar's handsome
"Father O'Flynn II." Many well-known
prize winners had to be content with a V.H c.
card in this class of
quantity and quality.
The females numbered eighteen, and here
again
a noted winner was awarded the
highest
honours. Miss Chamberlayne's
" "Cap and "DOLLY DAYDREAM."
Bells is and
very pale pure in colour, and (Photo: E. Landor, Baling.)
which followed close after the Westminster Members of the specialist society for the
show, was the largest that has ever been given, encouragement of silvers must on this occasion
consisting of classes for novices and breeders, have felt proud of the liberal classification and
in addition to the ordinary division and sub- of the long list of handsome special prizes
division for cats and kittens. The sensible plan offered for their favourite breed of long-
of a ring class for neuters only was adopted. haired cats.
I WANT TO GO HOME.
165
"THE MARQUIS OF DINGLEY.

SILVER TABBY, OWNED BY Miss ANDERSON LEAKE.
CHAPTER XIII.
SILVER TABBY PERSIANS.

^ I A HERE can be no question that a really known to give the highest award to an out-
_L good silver tabby will
carry off the of-coat specimen just because the markings are
palm even from the most exquisite more evident than in a cat in full pelage.
"
unmarked silver cat, and in this assertion I Harrison Weir states that Tabby is not a
"
feel have the support of all our professional
I Persian colour," and goes on to say, Nor
"
judges, for with the mere man," it is well have I ever seen an imported cat of that
known, the pale silvers do not stand high colour." His definition of a silver tabby
them " wishy-washy,"
"
in favour. Men call reads thus :
Markings :
Jet-black lines, not
insipid, and wanting in expression, and are too broad, scarcely so wide as the ground
generally displeased at this sport in the fancy colour shown between, so as to give a light
that has spoiled the handsome silver tabbies and brilliant effect. When the black lines are
of years gone by. broader than the colour space, it is a defect,
No doubt there is just cause for complaint, being then black marked with colour, instead
for the inter-breeding of silvers with silver of colour with black. The lines must be
tabbies has undoubtedly done much to destroy clear, sharp, and well-defined, in every way
the clear defined markings which in tabby distinct, having no mixture of the ground
cats is their chief glory. Now, of course, it colour. Head and legs marked regularly,
iseasily understood that these tabby markings the rings on the throat and chest being in no
in a long-haired cat cannot be so distinct as
way blurred or broken, but clear, graceful, and
those that appear to such advantage in the continuous lips, cushions of feet, and the
;
"
short-haired breeds. The better the coat backs of hind legs, and the ear points, black."
the weaker the markings," may be said of And here it will be interesting to give the
Persian silver tabbies, and judges have been discussion which took place and the list of
11*
points drawn up at the inaugural meeting of Head and expression 25

the Silver Society in 1900, and which standard Colour and markings 25
is still adhered to in the Colour of eyes
present Silver and . .
5
Smoke Persian Cat Society :

Coat and condition 2O
SILVER TABBIES. Shape

At the meeting of the Silver Society, discussion Brush 10
arose as to whether the markings on silver tabbies Total IOO
MISS LEAKE'S SUMMEK CATTKKY.

should be broad or narrow. Lady Marcus Beres- The adoption of the preceding descriptions and
ford proposed that Miss Leake and Mrs. scale of points as a whole was carried unanimously.
Herring
should be asked to express an opinion, both being
breeders of prize winners. Miss Leake said she
As regards the eyes of a silver tabby, Harrison
thought there were two distinct types of cats, the
Weir says " deep bright yellow." The Silver
" "
one with broad markings, the other with narrow Society gives an option of orange or green ;
stripes, and that both were correct silver tabbies, but the mandate of present-day fashion and
the superior beauty of either being a matter of per-
personal bias is in favour of green eyes for
sonal opinion. Mrs. Herring agreed, and said the
silver tabbies. From an artistic point of view,
markings should be a dense black. Miss Leake con-
sidered they should be black at the tips, but shading there no doubt emerald green is a better
is
to light at the roots. Mr. Abbott objected to the contrast to silver than yellow or orange.
word " dense," as black was black, and the word The Rev. R. Maynard, whose name has for
" "
distinct was substituted. Finally the following
was resolved The colour of a silver
many years been connected with silver tabbies,
:
tabby should in the of the
be a pale clear silver, with mark-
distinct black recently complained papers
ings, any brown or cream tinge to be considered tendency to breed green eyes in this variety.
detrimental. The eyes should be orange or green : He writes "In former days we never had
:
SILVER TABBY PERSIANS. 167
In
anything to do with a cat that had green eyes, tabbies, of long- or short-haired cats.
and now that so much is being done to improve judging a class of tabbies, first and foremost
the feline race, why should we try to think in the judge's estimation must rank the mark-
"
the green eye right and even desirable ? ings, and in Persian tabbies coat must next
"
Another authority says : The fiat has gone be taken into consideration. I have always
forth that silver tabbies are to have green thought that judging long-haired tabby cats
eyes. Happily there still remains room for in a ring classwould be specially welcomed
a difference of opinion on the subject, for the both by judges and exhibitors, for it is when
oldest and most perfect breeds of silver tabbies a good cat of this breed runs or walks the
have always been distinguished by their deep beauty of his markings can be seen and
hazel eyes." admired^ -Then the dark spine lines will
This vexed question of eyes, certainly show up to advantage, the side markings
" "
outside the self ought not to be
classes, will stand out, and the bars on the legs and
one of such vast importance. As Louis Wain the rings round the neck may be clearly dis-
aptly writes when complaining of this undue cerned. I think it is not to be wondered at
"
proportion of points, Everyone, judges and that fanciers who have bred tabby cats are
exhibitors alike, are bitten by the craze for not easily satisfied as regards and silvers.
selfs
mine declared, " I always miss the
'
the correct coloured eyes.'
'
It is a fault A friend of
stripes which give a tabby cat such a sweetly

expressive countenance." Yet in spite of the
beauty of the silver tabby, there are very few
fanciers of this variety, and to those wishing
to take up Persians I could not recommend a
more interesting field for speculative breeding.
SILVER TABBY KITTENS OWNED BY H.H. THE PRINCESS VICTORIA OF SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN.

that judges are prone to commit, and The number

truly good show specimens can be
of
one point ought not to be allowed to counted on the fingers of one hand. Silver
outweigh
others, and it is just this balancing of merits Tabby classes at our shows are full of nonde-
with a mingling of common sense that makes script cats with shaded silver bodies and
the good all-round
judge, whether of self or markings only on legs and head.
Whenjudging the silver tabbies at the and hope to show him at Westminster.
Crystal Palace in 1902, I was greatly struck 'Shrover III.' is just like his father 'Shrover
with the number of cats and kittens which II.,' but not exhibit him, as I am too
I shall
"
ought really have been marked
to Wrong afraid of losing him. I have suffered man
y
Class," for some of these were absolutely
'
losses after shows. Shrover III.' is a fine,
wanting in any definite marks at all some ; big fellow, even better marked than his father,
had faint grey pencilling on the head and legs, with long silky, wavy coat, lovely eyes, and
but not a sign of the dense mottling on the a perfect temper."
sides. It is, no doubt, disappointing to Mrs. Herring has bred some fine silver tabbies,
"
exhibitors to have their specimens labelled notably Duchess Lestock," a sensational
"
Wrong Class," or for really lovely kittens kitten at the Westminster show of 1900, when
to be passed over without even a card ;
but she was claimed at a high price by Mrs. G. H.
it is only by thus treating exhibits so lacking Walker, of Woodheys Park. Mrs. Herring's
" " "
in the essential point of the class for which King Alfred was the sire of Shrover II.,"
"
they are entered that fanciers will learn and is quite one of the best." Miss Anderson
to discern between the genuine article and Leake is justly celebrated as a most enthusi-
what may be called a spurious one. These astic and successful breeder of silver tabbies,
pretty nondescript silvers, which are neither and is our greatest authority on this variety.
one thing nor the other, should be disposed As far back as 1887 " Topso of Dingley " was
of as pets but to enter them at our shows
;
exhibited by Miss Leake at the Crystal Palace.
in classes for tabbies only throwing away
is This cat was said to be of Irish descent, but
money and risking the animals. No cat has his ancestors were sunk in oblivion. Not so,
come nearer to the perfect ideal of a silver however, his progeny, for the winnings of his
" "
tabby in our day than Lady Pink's Shrover son Champion Felix," owned by Miss F.
II.," now gathered to his fathers. He Moore, of Beckenham, are fresh in the minds
possessed the wonderfully clear silvery white of those who, like myself, can remember
ground with distinct dark markings, and was beautiful cats of bygone years. In 1889
" "
always the admired of all admirers at our Miss Leake entered Topso and two toms
"
leading shows. Lady Pink is not without in a class for blue or silver tabbies, with or
" "
some worthy descendants of her famous without white." Felix was also in this
" "
Shrover II.," and writes to me thus I :
class, as a winner of the Challenge Cup. Miss
"
have a smoke male A. Leake's Abdul Zaphir " and the present
"
by 'Shrover II.,' representatives of the breed Abdul Hamet "
" "
and Marquis of Dingley are house-
hold names amongst silver tabby fanciers.
Miss Derby Hyde has long been faithful
to this breed, and " Thames Valley Silver
King
"
and " King Alfred " have often
had to fight it out together at our shows,
sometimes one being favoured by the
judge and sometimes the other carrying
off the honours. Miss Cope has recently
been bitten with the silver fever, and her
tabby kittens are always to the fore.

Her "Roiall Fluffball" took firstand seven
specials atWestminster in 1901, and her
" "Silver Tangle" is a well-known winner.
BEAUTIFUL DUCHESS."
OWNED BY MRS. G. H. WALKER. Mr. Furze, another Midland fancier, is also
WINTER QUARTERS A']' DIXGI.KY HILL.

(Photo: Cassell & Company, Limited.)
making a speciality of silver tabbies, and the

Hon. P. Wodehouse possesses a fine silver of tabbies the blotched and the pencilled
"
tabby female in Silver Saint." Mrs. varieties ; and it is a matter of choice which is
"
Slingsby owns Don Pedro," a beautiful considered the handsomest. But it does not do
specimen, and Miss Meeson has bred some to mate these two varieties together. A well-
good silver tabbies as well as silvers. But known authority on breeding silver tabbies
the ranks need filling, and with the assist- writes thus in Fur and Feather: great "A
ance of the society now in existence the deal has been said as to the disadvantage of
classification at shows will become more crossing chinchillas with silver tabbies, but
liberal, and instead of silvers and browns being we think this applies more to the detriment
often placed together at our smaller shows, of chinchillas than of tabbies. Provided the
separate classes are guaranteed, for it is cer- tabby, on one side, is of a very decided type,
tainly most unfair on judge and exhibitor to the chinchilla, having come originally from
place these two very distinct breeds together. the same stock, may not prove a bad cross.
"
Comparisons are odious," we are told, and
'
Miss Cope's Silver Tangle,' for instance,
certainly it is hard on the brownies for the one of the best-marked silver tabby queens,
more brilliant silvers to be placed side by side is the child of the chinchilla '
Silver Chieftain,'
in competition. As regards the mating of and of a queen bred from a silver tabby sire.
silver tabbies, the essential point to try and A good young queen, belonging to Mr. Hoddi-
breed for is markings, and it behoves the fancier nott, was bred from '
Lord Argent and a '
to endeavour to find a with bold, mother.

' '
sire dis- tabby Champion Felix was bred
'
tinct tabby markings, and if it is desired to from Topso,' a heavily marked tabby, and
'
strengthen the colour, then a black is not at Lady Pink,' a cat that would nowadays have
all a bad cross. There are two distinct kinds been called a light shaded silver with white
' '
markings. Climax came of the same tabby. Instead of breeding for the preserva-
parents, and both have broad dark markings, tion of markings, everyone worked their hard-
and transmitted them to their offspring. The est to breed out markings, -and real tabby
union of two strongly marked silvers is not kittens were almost unsaleable. Those that
always a complete success. A brown tabby were produced were very frequently ventured,
makes a most excellent cross, and some of the and sold at a low price for pets. The lightest
purest and best silvers we have seen have been specimens in a litter were preserved for breeding
obtained in this way. Of course, you must purposes, and rarer and rarer became the
be prepared for a brown tabby kitten or two ;
deeply marked silver tabby. But at last the
but you need not fear sandy smudges and tide has turned, and people are beginning to
yellow noses. The colour seems to be con- realise that there is a character, a beauty,
centrated in one or two examples, and leaves and a contrast of colouring in a good tabby,
the silver free. In short, in colour breeding which lend to them a charm all their own.
we must be content with one or two perfect Added to this, they are exceedingly rare and
specimens in a litter, and, retaining them, try difficult to produce.
"
again for yet further perfection." Competent judges agree that to breed
'The cat fancy needs some new sensational regular, symmetrical, and well-coloured mark-
cat to appear on its horizon, and if only a ings is no easy task, for contrast is the grand
perfect silver tabby, male or female, could be point in a silver tabby. His ground coat
penned at one of our leading shows a great from tip to tail should be pure pale white
impetus would be given to this variety, and silver. On this light silver ground-work lie
a thoroughly good strain might be established. the most beautiful even dark mottlings,
Then we should not read such remarks as dark to the point of blackness. These mark-
"
these from the pen of the reporter The :
ings are most difficult to describe. A dark
silver tabbies, we regret to say, were only a striperuns the whole length of the spine.
shade of days that are gone. There is room Then comes a light stripe on either side, then
for an enterprising enthusiast in this breed. two more dark stripes, but these are broken
The beautiful clear with deep
silver colour just behind the shoulder by a transverse bar
black markings seems to be quite a thing of of light silver, and widen on the shoulder into
"
the past. Who will revive them ? And considerable sized patches. The markings on
" "
echo answers, Who ? the sides are not stripes, but patches, elliptical
From such an authority as Miss Anderson in shape, generally three in and number,
Leake the following article on silver tabbies partially encircled by dark
stripes. The
will be of great interest, and the photos of shoulder is particularly heavily barred and
her cattery at Dingley Hill, Bradfield, near striped, as are also the hind quarters. The
Reading, have been specially taken to illus- legs are barred throughout their length, the
trate these notes : face should be dark, with dark tufts, and the
"
Possibly amongst the rarest of our long- back part of the hind legs from the knee
haired cats may be classed the really well- downwards is black, as in a Southdown sheep.
" The head is most
marked silver tabby. Twenty years ago he beautifully pencilled,
existed,and was, indeed, more commonly met the cheeks possess double or treble swirls, the
with than to-day. For at that time chinchillas eyes are outlined by dark rims on the fore- ;
were practically unknown, save for a few head the lines form a complete triangle,
scarce specimens, and the silver cats of that which is repeated at the nape of the neck.
' '
day were more commonly called grey The chest is encircled with a perfect dark ring,
'
Persians, and were nearly always tabbies. called the Lord Mayor's chain,' but this is
But with the popularity of the pale chinchillas concealed when the large light frill is in full
began the downfall of the heavily marked beauty, as is also the neck triangle. The
I
o
m
g
S
D
H
n
X .=
H =
of coat. There are some people who would

rob him of his crowning glory in order that
his beautiful striping may the better appear.
But surely it were better for them to confine
themselves to short-haired cats if they can-
not appreciate the marvel of long-haired tabby
markings. For marvellous they truly are,
when we consider that the dark marks are
only formed by tips to the hair of some quarter
of an inch in length. When the coat is quite
short these tips are massed together, and the
blackness is, so to speak, concentrated. When
the hair is from two to
at its full length of
four inches it can be readily understood that
the long floating locks mix and mingle with
MISS COPE'S " STARLET-, the paler coat, and some distinctness of
marking is lost. The massive frill and the
whiskers often contain all the different shades long light shoulder tufts give the cat a very
of colour found in the coat. The ear tufts pale frontage and if he be placed in a show
;
should be long and light. The tail is generally pen side by side with a cat whose coat is
ringed from trunk to tip, but this is not notice- just coming, whose marks show up, in all
able after to the No
kittenhood, owing great probability he will take a second place.
length of the hair. Also the hair to the root stroking, blowing of the coat, or other device
is much darker in colour on the tail than on will show off a tabby cat. He must be made
the body. to get up and walk. Then the long coat falls
"
The
correct colour for the eyes of a silver apart, the spine lines reveal themselves, the
tabby is neither green, orange, nor yellow, side patches fall into place, and bars, stripes,
but hazel a deep nut-brown. This shade swirls, and rings all are to be seen. Even
of eye is very difficult to obtain, and it then you will not see them all at once, but
fades with age but once seen, its beauty and
; as he moves and turns one by one the points
suitability to the colouring of the cat will will show themselves. As a show cat, a
never be denied. Many of the most noted tabby is not a success, for his period of perfect
prize-winners have not possessed this coveted

beauty exceedingly short. When he pro-
is
hazel eye. The nose is by preference dark, poses to moult he changes colour, and if you
but this, so far, has not been considered as a are unwise enough to exhibit him at this stage
point. ominous whispers of 'Brown tabby blood'
"
Not only evenness and regularity of will pass from mouth to mouth. For a
markings go to the making of a good tabby, thorough good rusty brown shade, commend
but sharpness and depth of colour in the dark me to a moulting silver tabby. Then a little
parts, and clearness of colour in the light later he completely loses his side markings,
parts. A
great deal has been said of late and you must wait until the new coat makes
regarding the depth of the black markings ; its appearance before you can venture him
but it is quite as necessary to insist on the in the show pen. In the first beauty of that
purity of the silver tone. No suspicion of new coat, when the hair is about an inch long,
brown must be tolerated, neither any blue nor he is a dream of colour contrast, and some-
grey tone. how suggests such ineffable cleanliness !
"
"There no question that, as a tabby, a
is How to breed silver tabbies is a moot
long-haired cat is handicapped by his length point. One thing is certain, that if we expect
SfLl'KR TABBY PERSIA A 'S. 173
whole litters of well-marked kittens we shall is too often the case, with spoilt silvers, too
be grievously disappointed. Personally, we heavily marked to be called chinchillas, too un-
have had the best from pairing two
results evenly or lightly marked to be correct tabbies."
marked cats slightly related and of good silver I have mentioned Miss Cope as a breeder
pedigrees. A smoke of silver origin is another of silver tabbies. Her remarks on her favour-
good cross, but the sire should always be a ite breed are as follows :
"
tabby. The blacker the kittens are at birth There is no doubt that until quite re-
the better. There is no sign of light under- cently interest in this fascinating breed had,
coat, but generally narrow pencillings of to a great extent, died out, owing to the
silver are to be seen, and face and paws are craze for chinchilla breeding. But I hope
fairly light. The kittens which at birth show their day-is-coming again. There is a marked
contrast of dark and light rarely turn out good improvement already shown in the silver
tabbies. The markings, as a rule, become too tabby classes at the best shows.
"
faint. At a month old the light markings Mr. St. George Mivart, in his celebrated
should widen and develop, and at three months book, asks, What is a cat ?
'
But even so '
old the full beauty will be seen. Before the simple a question as that appears from his
change to cat coat, many of the kittens be- statement to be more easily asked than
come more shaded than marked, and up to answered. The same may be said of the
the sixth or eighth month there is always a question,
'
What
a silver tabby is ?
'
I will
possibility of their proving disappointing. If, endeavour to answer the question by giving
however, after this age the markings return, my own idea of what may be considered to
harden, and develop, they will endure for be a perfect type of a silver tabby. The
ever, except during periods of moulting. In
extreme old age both the purity of colouring
and distinctness of markings are lost. Ex-
posure to the sun considerably injures the
colour of the silver tabby cats, giving
them a brown tinge. We believe exhibitors
of magpies never allow their birds to enjoy
the rays of the sun for a similar reason,
but it is a question whether it is not
wiser to
study the beneficial effects of a
sun-bath on the health of our cats rather than
the slight detriment to
their coats caused
by its
enjoyment. have said nothing about
I
size and shape. The silver tabby should be

a large cat, with good bones, and
very heavily
coated. The old-fashioned cats were very
long, low on the legs, and a trifle narrow in
head. Nowadays we have remedied this
defect, and the modern cats are decidedly
more cobby than their progenitors. The
ears should be set wide and be small
apart,
and not too sharply pointed. If only fanciers
will now devote themselves to the production
of such cats as I have tried to describe, we
shallsoon see the silver tabby classes at our
A PAIR OF SILVER TABBIES.
shows filled with typical animals, instead of, as (Photo: E. Landor, Baling.)
chief point of a silver tabby should be clear- the hazel eye, enhanced by dark rims. Hap-
ness and distinctness of markings the ; pily, latitude is allowed in this direction in
sharper they are the better. My ideal cat the standard drawn up by the Silver Society,
would have the two spine stripes clear and which decrees the colour shall be the green
well denned from shoulder to base of tail, or orange. But with all these, my ideal
' '
set off by the epaulet behind each front silver tabby must have perfect shape of body,
leg. On each side of the body should appear so far as it is possible to obtain it, as well as
what may be called the horseshoe both sides ; luxuriance of coat. The long, thin-bodied,
should match exactly. The hind-quarters snipy-headed, spindle-legged cat is an abomin-
well barred. The fore-legs should also be ation. The ideal cat must be cobby, with
barred, each in symmetrical correspondence short, thick legs, the head broad and massive,
MISS DERBY HYDE'S

'THAMES VALLEY SILVER KING.
(Photo: E. Lander, Eating.)
with the other. The double cheek swirls, the ears small, well tufted and set wide apart,
markings on the forehead, which may be the nose short and wide at the tip, the tail
easily imagined to take the shape of a lyre, short and wide at the extreme end I con-
the shaded eyebrows and whiskers, and dark sider a pointed tail very undesirable. The
outlines to the eyes, all these give a character coat of the ideal silver tabby should be long
to the face not found except among tabbies. - and thick, and the texture as silky as possible.
More or less conspicuous will be the dark "
Having described my ideal silver tabby,
lines across the chest, known as the
'
Mayor's the next question is how to get it. When I

Chain.' Occasionally some more favoured succumbed to the fascination of the long-
animal is found to have two such lines. The haired beauties some years ago, I resolved to
beauty of all these markings thrown up
is breed only from the very best stock obtain-
by the ground colour of the coat, which should able, and I have unflinchingly adhered to
be a clear bright silver. The whole effect, if this rule. I would like to impress upon any-
one may so describe it, is like a piece of elabor- one starting this delightful hobby that it is
ately wrought black lace on lustrous silvery absolutely a waste of time and money to
silk. The colour of the eyes is somewhat a attempt breeding from any but the best.
vexed question. Some fanciers prefer green. The observance of this principle will save
Personally, I think nothing is more lovely than many disappointments, much heart-burning,
and not a little money. Having made up is no mean authority, and whose suggestions
one's mind which breed one admires most, I have often followed with advantage, re-
'
cently said If I were asked to pick out in a

it is far keep to that particular
better to :
win worth having, certain cattery a pair of silver tabby Persians

variety, and success
than to dabble in a variety of breeds with which would be likely to make a good match,
only a moderate amount of success. To a I should proceed on lines similar to the follow-
rigid observance of these principles

I owe ing Shape and size with quality of coat
:
any honours in the show pen which have I should expect the dam to possess. Marking,
been awarded to me. use taking
It is of little colour, length of coat, colour of eye, and
up the breeding of long-haired silver tabbies strength of bone, I should demand in my
unless one is possessed of unlimited patience sire. This is, of course, if I were selecting
and perseverance. Itsometimes very dis-
is from cats whose ancestry was quite unknown
to me. My reasons for so doing are because
appointing to find the kitten one fondly hoped
would prove a coming champion merging in nine times out of ten the sire influences
into a shaded silver exquisite in colour and the outward characteristics of the progeny,
as far as head, shape, and coat are concerned, while in like ratio the dam exercises her
but none the less not a silver tabby. Here influence over those points which are more
comes in the study of pedigree. It by no hidden. The dam has far more to do with
means follows that the mating of two tabby shape than generally supposed, and I
is
parents will result in a litter of pure tabby would rather breed from a bad-headed male
kittens, unless both sire and dam are of pure than a bad-headed queen. Quality of coat
silver tabby lineage. Hence purity of pedigree must always be looked for in the queen.'
"
on both sides is of great importance. With regard to in-breeding I have no
"If there is a trace of chinchilla blood in hard-and-fast rules to lay down. The whole
the ancestry it is certain to manifest' itself at matter, in spite of what one and another
odd times in the progeny. Nevertheless, do not may say, is too experimental and speculative
despise your shaded silver, if it be a queen, for anyone to dogmatise. The authority I
providing all other points are perfect. As have just quoted remarks on this matter :
'
Miss Leake says and I quite agree with her It sometimes happens that a fancier
puts
You no longer have a show specimen, but
'
together two animals which excel in some

you have a cat that, crossed with a heavily particularproperty, yet not one of their
marked cat, will probably provide you with progeny above the standard of mediocrity,
is
splendid silver tabbies.' This, however, can so far as that property is concerned.' Ex-
scarcely be called the true science of breeding, perience has shown importance ofme the
as the progeny of two such cats may hark back studying the weak dam. These
points of the
to some of the original characteristics. I try to remedy in
selecting the stud cat.
"
My own practice is to mate silver But with all my care I sometimes find the '
tabby with tabby invariably, and of

silver best laid schemes gang aft agley.'
. . .
" For the

the purest pedigree I can find. I should successful keeping of cats and
never breed from a sire that I knew possessed rearing of healthy kittens, my prescription
a brown tabby ancestry. I would far rather
begins and ends with two words liberty and
choose a good black sire, and in this way fresh air. have found cats can stand any
I
strengthen the markings. Of course, one amount of providing, of course, they

cold,
would not expect a mating of this kind to have never had artificial heat previously.
produce a litter of champion silver tabbies ;
Two things must be carefully guarded against
but if I secured one well-marked kitten I damp and draught. These are fatal. Kit-
should feel quite repaid. On the general tens so reared will be healthier, grow better
question of breeding, Mr. C. A. House, who coats, and will be much better able to stand
the wear and tear of show life. My own cats early stage, and whose colouring is so ex-
live in wooden houses, raised at one
least quisite at eight or nine weeks old, are apt to
foot from the ground, the size at least seven prove deceptive in the end, and often develop
and a half feet by five and a half feet. Each into shaded silvers."
house is fitted with an inner wire door, as To Miss Cope's last statements I can add
well as the outer wooden one. Along the my testimony, but I will also mention a curious
entire length of the upper part of one side is case coming under my direct notice and re-
" "
a wire netting window, with a broad shelf garding
"
my own" silver stud cat. Cambyses
beneath. This opening has also a "
fitted isby Mowgli (a noted pale silver of Silver
sliding shutter fitted with glass panels. I Lambkin " strain) and a handsome silver tabby
am thus able to give ventilation at will, or unknown to fame, being a house pet. When
"
fasten them up securely in bad weather. In I became possessed of
Cambyses," then five
one corner of the house is a cosy sleeping months old, he was a decided silver tabby,
box in another corner an equally cosy
:
taking after his mother ;
he has since shed all
chair. All cats love a chair. Cats kept out- his markings, except faint grey pencillings on
side, when they are admitted to the house, head and legs, and is one of the lightest silvers
invariably find out the most comfortable at stud. When mated to smokes and silvers
corner of the most comfortable chair. In I have not known or heard of any tabbies in
such a house as I have described, kittens can the litters but on one occasion, when crossed
;
be successfully reared there is ample room ;

with a silver tabby, he had some very densely
for them to scamper round should a wet marked tabbies. I have remarked that this
day keep them in. Unless it is absolutely beautiful breed of Persians has not been taken
raining all my cats have the run of a large up by American fanciers in the same enthu-
garden the whole day, and are only shut up siastic manner as have blues, orange, and
at night. I never coddle my kittens, but especially silvers. In an account given by
try to bring them up as naturally as possible. Field and Fancy of the Beresford Cat Club
"
I am sometimes asked how it is my show in New York, January, 1903, I find
kittens attain such good proportions. The mention made that over 125 long-haired cats
secret, if secret there be. lies in this I never were entered, and that in the silver classes
allow my mother cats to nurse more than alone there were thirty-five entries, almost as
two kittens after the first week. If a foster many as were entered in the whole long-haired
cannot be found, I select the two I consider section of the previous year. The smoke male
the most promising, and the lethal chamber class was cancelled, but eight females of this
claims the rest. Some may consider this breed put in an appearance. No mention is
foolish. I can only say I would far rather made of silver tabbies. Amongst the winners
rear two thoroughly healthy kittens than of the challenge cups offered by the Atlantic
"
five or six little puny things that will require Cat Club, a silver tabby called Queenie,"
weeks of care and attention, and then fail owned by Mrs. Wagner, carried off the trophy.
to reach the end in view. Baby silver tabbies, Miss A. Leake, of silver tabby fame in the
I must admit, are not altogether things of English fancy, has exported some of her stock,
1
beauty and of joy. More often than not they and no doubt our American cousins will not
are dark and uninteresting. The time to let this beautifulbreed remain long neglected,
decide which is the best marked kitten is but some enthusiastic fancier will establish a
while the coat is comparatively short. When strain on the other side of the herring pond.
compelled to make a selection, I usually give At the Westminster Cat Club show of 1903,
the preference to the darker kittens. Ex- held about the same time as the Beresford
perience has taught me that the lighter kittens, New York show, the entries in the three classes
so attractive in themselves, even at that provided for silver tabbies numbered twenty-
seven, whichis an increase on previous years, who is the best-marked silver tabby that is
but with two or three exceptions quality was now before the public. Miss Cope must
lacking. No new names appeared in the cata- be proud of having bred so fine a specimen
"
logues, and Miss Anderson Lecke and Miss by Miss Anderson Lecke's Abdul Hamel
Cope carried off the highest honours. of Dingley," whose picture appropriately
The winner in the female class was Roiall forms the heading of this chapter on silver
Fluff ball," whose portrait appears below, and tabbies.
"
ROIALL FLUKKBALL."
THE PROPERTY OF Miss COPE.
(Photo: E. S. Baker & Son, Hirminxh
12
I 78
MKS. STEAD'S SMOKK LITTER BY " RAXJL"

(Photo : Russell & Sons, Baker Street.)
CHAPTER XIV.
SMOKE PERSIANS.
T is only a good time will be in store for breeders of
I within re- handsome variety.
this
cent years Smokes may therefore be called a new
that smoke breed, and it is a very distinctive one, made
Persian cats up, it were, of the
as three self colours
have really black, white, and blue. It is a shaded cat
come into no- without markings, the fur being pure white
tice at all, and underneath and gradually assuming almost a
even now these black tone on the outer coat. The face,
lovely cats may paws, and back down to the tip of the tail
be said to be are the darkest parts, shading to a dark grey
sadly neglected down the sides and on the under part of the
in the fancy. It tail. A very great beauty in smokes is the
was not till the frill and ear tufts, which lend an air of
light
year 1893 that much distinction to this breed. The great
they were con- failings in many smokes is the appearance of
especially mar the
" " " sidered suffici- these
1
JO AND TINY (SMOKES). tabby markings ;
(I'hoto: Cross, Brooklyn, N.Y.) ently popular beauty of head and face, and take away from
to deserve a their value in the show pen. The tail should
class to themselves. They were formerly be from any rims of light and dark,
quite free
" "
relegated to the any other colour class, and and should have the upper part an even dark
very often at smaller shows this is where we colour, and underneath a cinder grey. Some
find the smokes penned. A really good smoke smokes are so dense in the surface coat as to
is a thing of beauty, and it seems certain that be really black cats with white under-coats,
as the fancy expands and the Silver and having none of the modulated grades of dark
Smoke Cat Society looks after their interests, and light grey. These cats are often minus
SMOKE PERSIANS. 179
the light ear tufts and ruff, and therefore strain the markings may be retained. For this
cannot be regarded as correct smokes. Then, reason it is most undesirable to mate smokes
again, there are light smokes which might with tabbies ;
neither is it advisable to select
almost be called silver smokes very beautiful a blue as a cross. The blue tinge destroys the
cats to look at, but far removed from the purity of the white under-coat, which is one
ideal smoke. of the glories of a perfect smoke. It is a
" like to like " in
Perhaps at some future time there may be case of breeding smokes, and,
a special classification for these cats, which failing this, choose a good black sire for your
are now without an abiding place at our queen with amber eyes. This is especially
shows. It is most important that the coat advantageous if your queen should be light
of a smoke should be long and of the true in colour and throw light kittens but if she ;
Persian flakiness, otherwise the chief beauty is already too dark, mate with a chinchilla,
of the contrast between the light under-coat avoiding, if

possible, a green-eyed one.
and dark outer-coat is not seen to full advan- Above all things shun, as you would Sin,
tage. tabbies of any colour, and let your choice
on a heavily coated I have been
I think I may say without fear of con- fall sire.
tradiction that, of all

long-haired breeds, told by smoke fanciers that it is much more
smokes present the most altered and abso- difficult to breed a good smoke female than
lutely dishevelled appearance when out of a male, and that the latter sex predominates
coat. The glory of the light frill disappears, in litters.
and multitudes of lines and streaks can be here give the officially approved table
I will
plainly discerned. Then a very rusty brown showing the proportion of marks which should
tinge appears on the back, and the rich, be awarded for points
glossy black surface coat vanishes. I owned of smokes. This is as
a lovely smoke cat once that at certain times drawn up by the Silver
of the year may say,
and, I most part for and Smoke Persian Cat,
of the year was nothing better than a bad Society, which has Mrs.
black, his only claim to the title of smoke H. V. James,
being the general appearance of a dark cat our principal
that had spent his life in an ashpit. But breeder of
when " "
Pepper was in full feather, he was smokes, as
a joy to behold. Honorary
It is curious that when the kittens are Secretary :
firstborn they appear almost a dead black,

with no trace of a white under-coat. This
appears gradually as the kittens grow, and
at three weeks old the lighter coat becomes
visible. Their faces and paws should be
intensely black when born, as the tendency
in smokes is to get lighter and not darker.
If a kitten is born with the appearance of
a smoke itwill generally turn into what
I have termed a silver smoke later on.
As with black kittens, so with smokes :
they
are often very rusty in appearance, but this
will disappear with their kitten coat. This
also applies to tabby markings, though, of MISS BARTLETT'S TWO SMOKE KITTENS.
course., if there is any tabby blood in the (Photo-. E. Landor, Baling.)
i8o THE BOOK OF THE CAT.
SMOKES. "
winners :
Lady Marcus Beresford's Cossey,"
"
Smoke cats should be black, shading to smoke Mrs. H. V. James's Backwell Jogram,"
" "
(grey), with as light an under-coat as possible ; light Mrs. Sinkins' Teufel," Mrs. Stead's Ranji,"
frill and ear tufts ; eyes to be orange.
Mrs. StillwelPs "Victoria," Miss Snell's
Value of points :
" "
Dusky Girl," Mrs. Collingwood's Minouche,"
Head and expression . . . . 20
Rev. P. L. Cosway's
"
Maritana," Mrs.
Colour of eye . . . . . .
..15 Neild's "Silver Mrs. Hamilton's
Colour of under-coat . . . . . . 10 Soot,"
Absence of markings . . . . . .
15 "Bulger," Miss Rose's "Judge." Perhaps
Coat and condition . . . . 20 the most consistent and successful breeder
Tail . . . . . . . . 10 of smokes now in the fancy is Mrs. H. V.
Shape 10
James, who
. . .
1893, and has been

. . . . .
started in
Total .-. . . . . loo faithful to this breed ever since. I have
had the pleasure 'of visiting Mrs. James's
I think there are no fanciers or breeders of smoke cattery, and lovelyI felt that the
smokes who that any option should be
feel old-fashioned garden surrounding the Grange
given as to the colour of eyes in this breed, for, at Backwell was an ideal place for
truly
as in the black cats, the eyes should be amber successfully rearing stock of any kind,
live
or light golden. However, I must confess and all the pussies were pictures of robust
that brilliant green eyes are to be preferred health. I am glad to be able to insert the
to the pale yellow, which too often spoil the following valuable article on smoke Persians
beauty of many of the smokes now exhibited. from the pen of Mrs. James, who is certainly
I should never place an indifferent smoke our best authority on this breed.
"
with orange eyes over a good specimen with Before entering upon the distinctive points
eyes of emerald green. In the early days of of smokes, I will give a short account of my
the fancy, smokes were entered in the " any smoke cattery, and how I first took up this
"
other variety class, and were sometimes breed. It is curious to look back and see
called Smoke Blues or Smoke Chinchillas. what mere chances govern our actions. I
In 1891 Miss Manley (now Mrs. Strick) ex- have all my life been devoted to Persian cats
hibited a fine smoke called " Bayadere." of one colour or another, but never intended
Amongst the names of our oldest smoke to go in for any special breed. However, in
breeders who still continue to breed I may 1893 I purchased a blue kitten, which, on its
mention Mrs. Cartwright, of Upwood. In 1895 arrival, appeared far from well. The man
this lady showed smokes at Cruft's show bred who sold it offered, if it died, to replace it.
from her "Timkins." The Upwood cats are In a few days I was in a position to accept
very pure in colour, having the dense outer this offer,for the kitten succumbed, and
coat very white at the roots. At one time the another which was also supposed to be a
Lindfield smokes held their own everywhere, blue was sent to replace it. As time went
Miss Molony winning first at the Crystal on this kitten darkened, and, much to my
"
Palace in 1893 with Lindfield Bogie." Mrs. disgust, turned to a deep cinder colour. In
Bluhm, better known as a silver breeder, also 1894 there was a grand West of England Cat
owned about this time a famous smoke female Show held at Bristol, and, to please an old
" servant who had taken great care of the
called Smuttie."
'
Mrs. Robert Little has for years combined kitten, I entered Jubilee.' I was not much
' '
the breeding of smokes with blacks. In up in cat showing then, but smoke
"
1897 Namouska," a smoke female, won seemed to answer the description of the
first at the Crystal Palace, and her descendants kitten better than any other colour ; so into
continue their career as first-class smokes. the smoke he went, and, to my surprise,
class
In more recent times the following are noted carried everything before him. This started
w
C/J
D
O
12*
' '
my career as an exhibitor. I showed Jubilee had bad times, and have lost sometimes
my
again at Graft's and Brighton the next year, as many as twelve cats and kittens in a few
where he again carried off firsts, and was days from distemper, and once or twice a
described as the best smoke cat seen since very promising female has strayed into the
'
the days of the famous Mildew.' woods and been seen no more. I hope, how-
"
At the Palace in 1894, I bought a smoke ever, that for some
years, at least, Jubilee's
' '
female kitten from Miss Bray as a mate for descendants will continue to flourish, as there
'Jubilee.' This mating proved successful, are a number of
'
Jogram's
'
kittens scattered
and I had several grand litters of smokes, over England, and several have left these
most of which, I am sorry to say, went to shores for America.
ranks of neuter pets, being given "
swell the In mating my smoke queens I have several
as presents to my friends. In time I learnt times tried a black sire, and have always been
wisdom, however, and kept my smokes my- successful in getting good smokes from this
'
self.
'
Jubilee's career as a show cat was cross. 'Jubileean example, being by

II.' is
unfortunately cut short after his Brighton

'
Johnnie Roper's famous black

Fawe,' Dr.
win in 1894. He escaped one night, and in Persian. I have only once years ago tried a
a fight with another cat had his ears so torn blue cross, but the result was a mixed litter of
that I was unable to exhibit him again. A blacks and blues. I have found that all the
year later, when I was away from home, he blue queens mated with 'Jogram' have had
was let out one day, and never returned, chiefly blacks. Smokes may be considered a
having, I expect, been trapped in the woods. very hardy breed, perhaps from the fact
At that period my smokes nearly died out, that there has been little in-breeding so far.
as I had only one litter a few weeks old by 'Jogram' an unheated wooden house
lives in
Of the two smokes one was pro- all the year round, and has never even had a
'
Jubilee.'
mised, and the other I kept, and he is still cold. Kittens will also stand the same treat-
'
alive as Champion Backwell Jogram.' So ment.
"
I think I may consider I have had my share And now I will endeavour to give my
of luck, though, like most breeders, I have ideas as to the points which go to make up
a perfect smoke. A good smoke is perhaps
one of the most beautiful of the many beau-
tiful breeds of long-haired cats, a bad smoke
one of the plainest. The novice for whom
this article is principally written may there-
fore be glad to have a clear definition of a
smoke to start with.
"
The
definition drawn up by the Silver
Society when it first started reads as follows :
A smoke cat must be black, shading to smoke

'
(grey), with as light an under-coat as possible,

and black points, light frill and ear tufts ;
'
eyes to be orange.' But the word black,'

having sometimes led novices to suppose that
a black cat possessed of a white under-coat
is a smoke, it would be perhapssafer to say
'
a smoke is a deep cinder-coloured cat shading
to grey, with a white under-coat,' etc. In
" order to distinguish the difference between
MRS. A. M. STEAD'S SMOKE PERSIAN CH. RANJI.'
(Photo: E. N. Collins, S. Norwood.)
black and the true cinder-colour of the smoke,
SMOKE PERSIANS. 183
it isan excellent plan to keep a sound

black cat in a smoke cattery.
"
Smokes are, comparatively speaking, one
.of the newer breeds of long-haired cats, and
arose from the crossing of blues, blacks, and

silvers, and appeared as a freak in litters of
blues or silvers, and, being beautiful, were
kept by their owners. No serious attempt,
however, them until
was made to breed
quite recently. beauty and a hardy con-
If
stitution count for much, they should be

more popular even than they are at present ;
but no doubt the extreme difficulties of

breeding a good, unmarked shaded cat deter
"
CHAMPION
many breeders from taking them up. With BACKWELL JOGKAM.
a whole-coloured cat it is fairly plain sailing
when a sound in shape and bone, has
strain, are making a fatal mistake. The kitten thus
been established but with a shaded cat it
;
bred goes to a new home and
expected to is
is quite another matter. Litter after litter produce smokes as good as herself. She is
of kittens appear, grand strong in in shape, mated with a smoke male, and when the
limbs, apparently perfect in shading. In a litter arrives perhaps no smokes,
there are
few months the kittens moult, and the shading she having thrown back to her sire, so as a
becomes perhaps a hopeless jumble of light breeder she is useless. Smoke to smoke must
and dark. Where it should be dark it has be the except
rule, when, for
in special cases
turned light, and vice versa. Still worse, the instance, the queen is on the light side then ;
shading disappears, and the markings the a cross with a black may be found to be
bugbear of all smoke breeders appear, show- necessary. Or the queen may be too dark
ing traces of the far-away silver tabby an- and given to breeding black kittens. Then
cestors. These markings have perhaps been the choice should fall on a silver as free as
lying dormant for a generation, and appear possible from silver tabby relations. On no
as a reminder of the silver tabby origin of account must a tabby of any colour be chosen
the smoke. or a sire with any white. A blue should also
"
To all smoke breeders who wish to succeed be avoided, as the under-coat is liable to take
'
I would say, Never part with a well-shaped the blue shade and become blurred instead
smoke until at least a year old, lest you find of white at the roots.
"
you have, in rejecting the apparently ugly Orange eyes are much prized in smokes,
duckling and keeping the gem, thrown away and I believe, from my own experience in
the substance for the shadow.' On the sub- breeding smokes for the last ten years, that it
ject of mating, there much
be said.
is to is from the mothers that the kittens get their
I am afraid many owners of smoke queens eye colour. If the queen has pale green eyes
mate with any coloured cat which takes you may mate her with all the orange-eyed
their fancy in the hopes of
getting something sires kingdom, and the eyes will still
in the
in the litter besides smokes. be pale. But
if the queen has deep orange
"
I have sometimes heard owners say, eyes, the kittens will inherit them also, even
'
Oh ! I mate my smoke queen with all sorts should the sire have only pale eyes.
She always has one or two good "
of colours. Thanks to careful mating by some of our
smokes in each litter.' That mav be true, smoke breeders, smokes are not the flukes
but if a smoke strain is to be built up, you they once were, and a smoke queen, well
mated, may now be relied upon to produce smoke breeder, owns a splendid stud cat called
" "
whole litters of smoke kittens. As a rule, the Teufel that has made a name for himself
kittens at birth are quite black, and remain as a first prize winner. This cat is as nearly
so for a week or so and my experience has been
;
a perfect specimen as it is possible to find.
that if a kitten shows any trace of grey at Mrs. Sinkins has written a few notes on
birth, it will grow up too light. There are, smokes.
"
however, a few well-known queens who throw I must consider
myself honoured in being
almost silver kittens, which remain so for asked to write about smoke Persians in 'The
weeks, and then shed this kitten coat for a Book the Cat,' as I am, comparatively
of
darker one so no hard-and-fast rule can be
; speaking, a beginner in the cat fancy, only
laid down as to what a smoke kitten should having kept Persians for three years or so.
look like when born. Try in -
breeding for I began by buying a well-bred
queen in kitten,
coat to avoid the sleek
woolly-coated or and she presented me with two chinchillas
smoke, and aim at getting a cat with a coat of and a perfect smoke female, which I named
'
the true Persian flakiness described by Mr. Teufella,' and showed at Westminster in
Harrison Weir in his book on Persian cats, 1899. She carried all before her, winning
otherwise the chief beauty -the light under- everything in her class, and was claimed at
and dark outer-coat not seen to advantage
is once at catalogue price. From a silver half-
as the cat moves. One point to be remem- sister of hers I then bred Teufel,' whose
'
bered in this breed coat grow-

is that the new picture is in this issue, and who is a great
ing is dark just at the These marks, roots. pet, being extremely sweet-tempered and
when the smoke is changing coat, have often affectionate. His chief characteristics are his
been mistaken for tabby markings, so for absolutely unmarked black face and the lovely
this reason it is most unwise ever to show a white under-coat, so desirable in a perfect
smoke when out of coat. Wait until your smoke, and for which he received a special this
cat is in full coat before accusing it of having spring (1902) at Westminster. I hope some
tabby markings. of his descendants will take after him in
"
There is a fashion in smokes, as in every- these respects and make smokes increasingly
thing else ; and at present in England the popular.
"
very dark smokes -are the rage, .but in America In my opinion, it is a fatal mistake to
the light ones are more sought after. That mate smokes with blues, as they then lose
'
grand cat Watership Caesar,' who was con- thiswhite under-coat. I think one obtains it
sidered too light for English taste, was last best by mating a smoke-bred smoke cat with
year bought by the late Mrs. Thurston and either a silver-bred smoke or else with a silver
taken to America, where he carried off all the cat, as unmarked as possible, who possesses a
smoke honours, also taking the prize for the smoke ancestor. Some day I should like to
best cat in the show. The same happened to try mating a black with a pale silver, just as
'
Lady Marcus Beresford's Cossey,' a lovely an experiment.

"
cat of the lighter type. The tide may turn, As to eye colour, there can be no two
however, even in England, where the opinions. The deeper the orange, the better.
"
slightly lighter smokes may share the honours I do not find smokes at all delicate, no
with their darker brothers. It is better, more common or garden cat. All
so than the
however, to be on the safe side and breed for my queens have entire freedom, one in par-
the darker smoke, as the lighter are apt to ticular being a first-rate ratter and mouser,
lose the smoke characteristics and overstep even catching moles sometimes. And they
the line which divides them from a shaded live out of doors in unheated houses all the
silver." year round, even in the most severe winter.
"
Mrs. Sinkins, to whom I have alluded as a It seems hard that all Persians should have
SMOKE PERSIANS. 185
' '
to pass through an ugly period luckily a standard up to which I try to breed. I find
short one when they change their coats, the kittens go through several stages before
looking ragged and certainly not their best. they approach this perfection. For instance,
Smokes and blacks then show the brown tinge a kitten I had in the spring of 1902 lightened
even worse than chinchillas, as it gives them considerably, and developed markings on the
face, but at eight months old he was nearly
-
the poverty stricken appearance of rusty
moulting though I must say Teufel has
' '
up to the standard. A litter of six I have

so far been the exception, taking all honours recently bred were entirely unmarked at
at one show when in full moult. birth, being, in Five are
fact, quite black.
"
However, their good time fully corn- now medium-coloured smokes, and one a very
MRS. SIXKINS' SMOKE PERSIAN ''

TEUFEL."
pensates for the shabby period, and a typical dark one, with beautiful light under-coat. I
smoke, with his large orange eyes set in his strongly adviseall breeders not to despair of
black face, with light ear tufts and frill, his colouring until their kittens are fully grown.
white under-coat showing with every move- Permanent markings are, of course, very
ment, is a thing of beauty hard to beat, and detrimental, and there is always great anxiety
I feel sure the smoke variety has a great as to the final colour of the eyes. If, however,
future before it." both parents are good in this respect, the
"
Mrs. Stead, the owner of Champion result is generally satisfactory."
" "
Ranji and Rhoda," a winning smoke The following article on smoke cats in
female, has kindly given me her opinion on America is taken from Field and Fancy of
smokes :
October, 1902 :
" "
My ideal of perfect smoke cats is that Smokes, with us, will probably rank with
they should be black, shading to smoke grey, the silvers, and are destined to always hold a
with as light an under-coat as possible, light measure of popularity, though we have not
frill and ear tufts, eyes orange. This is the such a very strong lot in fact, we may say
;
1 86 THE BOOK OF THE CAT,
that good smokes are never so numerous any- bodies are very handsome, but more often
where as to become a nuisance, and we may than not they are streaky and are smoke
fairly congratulate ourselves at this stage of tabbies. After mature consideration and
the game upon what we have had and bred. after seeing a good many, we, as well as other
"
Opinions differ as to what is a smoke, and
'
breeders, still think that unless the South-
'
at times we have to be rather lenient in the down cats, as some have called them, are
judging of these cats, forthey are apt to be very good we had better stick to the old
off colour too light or too streaky. No one definition of a smoke, and demand them dark
has yet, in America, taken up the colour enough.
"
solely to breed smokes and
nothing else, A really dark, rich smoke without marks
which seems a pity, for they can be bred and is,without doubt, one of the richest in colour-
kept with blacks, and each sets off the other, ing of all our long-hairs, and the stars are
and when come to the cattery the
visitors few. One may go away from the original
contrast is made more apparent. definition of a smoke, but when brought face
"
Those not conversant with the colour are to face with a good one it forces one to con-
apt to think anything smoky is a smoke fess that this is the article, and, when
genuine
exhibition cat, and no doubt, when good, in grand condition, a thing of beauty and a
those cats with dark faces and paws and light joy for ever."
"
I.UCY CLAIRK."
OWNED BY MRS. CLINTON LOCKE.
09
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MRS. SINGLETON'S " ORANGE GIRL.

(Photo :
J. G. Christopher, Crcwkerne.)
CHAPTER XV.
ORANGE PERSIANS.
the short-haired varieties, these cats Persians now exhibited have shaded bodies,
IN are sometimes called red tabbies but ;
with tabby marking on head, face, and paws.
I do not think the term gives such a The body markings, never very strong in
true idea of the correct tone of colour, which Persian tabbies, are even less distinct in the
should be just that of a ripe orange when in orange than in the silver varieties. It may
perfection. As I write I have in my mind's therefore be said that in judging this breed
eye the mass of bright colour presented by a as they are represented in the show pen to-
pile of oranges in a greengrocer's shop, and day, colour is taken into consideration first,
this is the tone that is to be desired in our and tabby markings are of less account. As
orange cats. There is a dash of red in the regards other distinctive features of this breed,
ideal orange cat, suggestive, perhaps, of the I may say that it is the exception, and not the
blood-oranges with which at Christmastide we rule, to findgood round heads and short noses.
are familiar. Anyhow, an orange cat should The I have ever seen in any
longest faces
be as far removed as possible both from sandy felines have been those possessed by orange
or yellow or, as I have heard them called, Persian and short-haired cats. I have really
lemon-coloured cats. sometimes felt quite sorry for a magnificent

" "
I have left out the term
tabby from the puss of this colour whose nose was so self-
heading of this chapter, and I think advisedly ;
assertive that every other point, however
for in the Persian varieties the
markings are excellent, seemed to be lost sight of, and that
gradually but surely vanishing, and orange nose with the accentuated terminus stood out
cats may be said to stand in the same relation with distressing prominence. Until the year
to orange tabbies as shaded silvers do to silver 1894 the classification at the Crystal Palace
tabbies. I mean that most of the orange was " brown or red tabby, with or without
iSS THE BOOK OF THE CAT.
white," and the descriptions given in the

catalogue by some owners on entering their
"
cats read brown and red," " red-marked
" "
tabby," spotted red tabby," sandy Persian."
In 1895 orange and cream cats were placed
together in one class.
A specialist society for orange, cream, fawn,
and tortoiseshell cats was founded in 1900,
and although the number of members is small,
yet they have proved a strong body of staunch
supporters of these breeds, and a really
astonishing amount of good work has been
done by these few enthusiasts. The classifica-
tion at large shows has been greatly
the
supplemented, and, whereas before the forma-
tion of the society the sexes were never Photo] lal.
separated, now this energetic little club asks "

SWAGGEK."
and BRED BY MRS. VIDAL.
for, obtains, often
guarantees extra
classes. The result, therefore, to breeders of the colours, being divided. This was really a
orange and cream cats is much more satis- splendid testimony to the efforts of a specialist
factory, and males and females have their society of less than two years' standing. It
respective classes and right well have they

; is such a short time ago that
orange, cream,
been filled. It was in 1900 that classes for and tortoiseshell cats were relegated to the
creams were introduced at shows. " "
At the any other colour class, even at our largest
Richmond show in 1902 there were thirteen shows ;
now it is often remarked by reporters
entries in male and thirteen in female in the cat papers that the well-filled cream and
orange
and cre a m orange classes were the chief attractions of
classes, the the show.
sexes, but not I will here give a copy of the circular issued
by the honorary secretary inviting members

!to join, and the points for orange cats, as
drawn up by the specialist society, which were

decided upon at the inaugural meeting :
ORANGE, CREAM, FAWN, AND TORTOISE-

SHELL SOCIETY.
LONG AND SHORT HAIRED.
As have been lately formed to promote the
societies
interests of one or more colours in the cat world, it
has been thought by a few fanciers of orange, cream,
fawn, and tortoiseshell cats that there is an opening
for a society for the purpose of encouraging the breed-
ing of these colours. The objects of such a society

would be :
(i) To secure better classification for these varie-

ties at the different shows.
(2} To encourage fanciers to breed and show these

11 " BLLWAYDA.' colours by offering special prizes, etc.
PUCK," SON OF MKS. VIDAL's
THE PROPERTY OF MRS. MOXON. (3) To improve the type of cat bred.
(Plwto: E. D. Percival, Ilfracombe.) (4) To secure recognition for all shades of orange,
ORANGE PERSIANS. 189
cream, and fawn and, inasmuch as many fanciers

;
to colour and other points of excellence. It is
tints for
disagree as to the merits of the different the same when a class is given for sable or
to encourage the breeding and showing of
eyes, brown tabby, silver or shaded silver. In such
specimens with green, orange, hazel, and blue eyes.
classes it would be unfair to consider either
Miss Mildred Beal, Romaklkirk Rectory, Darling-
the society, the tabby markings in the one or the amount
ton, has undertaken to act as hon. sec. to
and will be glad to hear from any fanciers who may of shadings in the other. Of course, it is
possible that in time orange cats may be bred
wish to support it.
November, 1900. to such perfection that two distinct classes
" "
ORANGE SELF OR TABBY POINTS. will be given, namely orange (selfs) and
" In former years blues
Colour and marking. Colour to be as bright as orange tabby."
possible, and either self or markings to be as distinct (selfs) and. blue tabbies were included in one
is can be got. 25. class, but gradually blue
Coat. To be silky, very long, tabbies have been disappear-
and fluffy. 25.
Size and Shape. To be ing from our midst. If,
large,
therefore, orange tabbies I
not coarse, but massive, with
plenty of bone and substance ;
mean, of course, long-haired
short legs. 20. cats should likewise be-
Head. To be round and broad, come extinct, our browns
with short nose, ears small and
and silvers would be the sole
well opened. 15.
Eyes. To be large and full,
representatives of tabbies in
and bright orange or hazel. 5.
the long-haired varieties.
Condition. 10. As regards the eyes in
orange Persians, the stand-

It will be noticed that the ard given in the foregoing
heading of these
points is list of the specialist society
"orange or tabby"; but,

self is "bright orange or hazel."
as I have pointed out, the I should prefer the terms
"
cats exhibited as orange Per- golden bronze or hazel,"
sians are neither self-coloured as there is a special shade of
nor can they be called tabby. gold with a dash of bronze
BENJAMIN OF THK DURHAMS
'
So it remains to be seen THE PROPERTY OF MRS. D'ARCY HILDYARD.

or brown which seems to
which type of cat will in due (Photo: Burgess, Market Lavington.) tone best with the bright
course be the established one. coats of these cats. Cer-
I incline towards a self-coloured orange in tainly the pale yellow or greenish-yellow eye
the Persian breeds, and a very handsome cat is not desirable better a bright green eye. I
this would be of just one tone of bright even often wonder if ever fanciers will be fortunate
colour, perhaps slightly lighter on the flanks enough to breed an orange Persian with bright
and stomach, under the tail, and with a frill blue eyes, such as are seen in whites and
of paler tone. In fact, very much the type of Siamese. I have heard of a short-haired
a smoke cat, in two shades of brilliant orange. orange cat with blue eyes, and sometimes I
At the same time, if real orange tabbies can be have been told by a fancier of the Persian
bred with the distinct body markings these tribe that they had bred an orange, and its
should be encouraged. eyes had not turned from the deep kitten blue
At the Cat Club shows it has been custom- at four months, so they were fondly hoping
ary to give the classification for orange cats they were going to astonish the cat world but ;
marked or unmarked, so that then the judge their hopes were dashed to the ground, for
may not have to take tabby markings into surely and sadly a change came o'er the colour
consideration, but give his awards according of that cat's eyes, and it was a case of the
igo THE BOOK OF THE CAT.
blue that failed I once noticed an advertise-
!
Orange cats make a splendid foil for other
ment one of our cat papers which announced,
in varieties. This is
especially the case as
"
For sale, a unique orange Persian male with regards blues and blacks the contrast in
;
"
perfect deep blue eyes but I also remarked
;
colour enhances the beauty of each. I know
that the age of this unique specimen was not one lady who, having an eye to the artistic,
"
TORRINGTON SUNNYSIDES."
THE PROPERTY OF MRS. G. W. VIDAL.
(Photo: G. W. Vidal.)
given, and 'I did not think it was worth while keeps a blue and an orange neuter, and a lovely
to write and inquire. pair they make. I think the largest cat I ever
The texture of coat in this breed ought to be saw was an orange neuter that simply filled
particularly soft and silky, and is often of great theshow pen with a mass of bright colour but
length and thickness. The kittens when born he had a white shirt front and white gloves !
are usually dull colour, and gradually

in As regards mating orange cats, they make
brighten as they grow older. As is well known a good cross with blacks and tortoiseshells and ;
to cat fanciers, orange females are rarer than if a brown tabby lacks the admired tawny or
orange males, so their market value is higher. golden then an orange may assist to
tint,
There is, therefore, always a flutter of excite- brighten and improve the general tone, and do
ment on the arrival of a litter, and too often away, perchance, with that drabbiness which
fate has decreed that all are males ! is so undesirable in a brown tabbv.
I do not think orange cats have ever been Spackman in 1894 ; this orange cat was not
" "
very popular, and I have remarked at shows much marked, and Lifeguard was bred
that a certain number of people refuse to give from him. It was about this date that un-
anything but a passing contemptuous glance marked orange Persians became more fashion-
" "
at the classes which contain what they call able. Among females, Lifeguard's sister,
" "
those yellow cats." Goldylocks," owned by Mrs. Marriott, was
A very common defect among orange Persian one of the very best queens ever shown. Mrs.
cats is the white or very light chin. Some- Foote, who is still well known in the fancy,
times there is the still more damaging blemish of had several beautiful orange females, notably
a white spot on the throat, spreading, perhaps, "Marigold," "Buttercup," and "Cowslip."
further down the chest. It is very rare to find With these-cats Mrs. Foote tried to breed un-
an orange that has really a dark under-lip, and marked creams and oranges, " Ripon," a noted
chin level in tone with the body colour. The cream, being the sire. She built up several
white lip is a bugbear to breeders and exhi- storeys of her catty castle, but then sold them
"
bitors, for Nature repeats itself, and judges to Lady Marcus Beresford. Trilby," litter
"
make notes of the defect and in these up-to-
;
sister to Zoroaster," a famous cream, was
date catty days of specialist clubs and standards one of the brightest and deepest coloured
of points a cat full of quality failing in one orange females or, indeed, orange cats that
particular is too often
white elephant, if
a has ever been seen.
desired for anything more than a pet. I have Coming down to the present day, I may re-
observed that orange cats will sometimes mark that the number of orange cats placed at
develop a light or nearly white chin in their stud is very limited. A great loss to the ranks
old age. "
I never consider a white of male orange Persians was Lifeguard," for-
spot or tuft
of white hairs such a blemish to a cat if these merly the property of Lady Marcus Beresford.
are on the stomach, as compared with the same This cat was almost unmarked, of a beautiful
defect on the throat. Such a spot would not bright shade, and had an unusually round head
be so likely to be handed down to successive and short face, with Ion? silky coat. He was
generations ;and, of course, a blemish that
has to be sought for in an obscure part of the
body is not such an eyesore in a self or tabby
cat. I have often observed
orange cats with
very light hair underneath which has almost
approached white but such defects are some-
;
times only temporary, whereas a white

spot on
the throat or a white chin remains once and
for ever.
In the early days of the
fancy, orange cats
were decidedly more tabby marked than
they
day. A noted one of this
are in the present
"
type was Cyrus the Elamite," born in 1889,
and bred by Mrs. Kinchant, an enthusiastic
fancier at that and later In 1893 and
periods.
1894 Mr. Heap exhibited a handsome orange,
"
Prince Charlie," at the He
Crystal Palace.
also owned another, called " Prince Lyne," of
the same breed, the celebrated tortoiseshell
" " "
LIFKGUAKn."
Queen Elizabeth being the mother of both FORMERLY THE PROPERTY OF LADY MARCUS BERESFORD.
these cats. " "
Puff was exhibited Mrs.
by (Photo -. E. Landor, Ealing.)
purchased by Miss Cartmell, who is well known Vidal, and sent out to Mr. Storey in Chicago. A
"
as an enthusiastic breeder of orange Persians, son of Torrington Sunnysides " has also found
"
but who never exhibits. This lady has been a home in a Chicago cattery. Red Knight "
very successful in breeding numerous fine was sent by the writer to Mrs. Colburn,
female orange cats, and many a winner has and an article in the American Field and
in
been born to blush unseen in the Barham mention is thus made of him
" '
Fancy Red :
Cattery, near Canterbury. Knight,' an orange male, with deepest orange

Another noted winner and stud cat is eyes, was imported from England. He is a
"Torrington Sunnysides," of whom a portrait very good type, and has sired some beautiful
'
is given. This cat is the property of Mrs. kittens, notably two by Miss Adams' Daffodil,'
ONE OF MRS. NEATE S OUT-DOOR CATTERIES AT WEKNHAM.
G. H. Vidal, and has done a lot of winning. very specimens of pure orange, with cobby
fine
His colour is exceptionally good, and he has bodies, wide heads, tiny ears set far apart,
sired several prize kittens, some of which have and beautiful coats. They have been fed on
been sent out to America and gained distinc- 1
and Miss Adams is going to call the
Force,"
" '
tion over the water. Torrington Sunny- male Sunny Jim.' Another son, seven
"
sides has a most luxurious house in the months old, of the same parentage, is the largest
spacious garden surrounding Mrs. Vidal's cat ever seen for his age, and if he continues
residence at Sydenham. The photograph is by growing will certainly be enormous."
Mr. G. W. Vidal, who dislikes taking orange cats, One of Mrs. Vidal's orange kittens,
"
Puck "
because the tone is so difficult to reproduce by name, is now owned by Mrs. Moxon, of
in photography, Mrs. Davies, of Caterham, Ilfracombe, from whom I have obtained a
has owned some good orange cats. Her male photograph for reproduction.
"
Hamish " was a grand specimen, but was A few notes on orange Persian cats by Mrs,
only twice exhibited, when he gained highest Vidal will be interesting to my readers :
"
honours. He was then purchased by Mrs. It is difficult to imagine a more gorgeous
colour than a really good orange lying full very rarely seen. The absence of markings
it is
length in the sun. There is, however, rather usually means absence of the rich orange colour
a prejudice against them, chiefly because some so much admired. Any white on chin or bib
' ' '
of course, a blemish, and for
people persist in calling them sandy or red,' is, breeding or
both of which names are quite misleading. I show purposes such an animal is perfectly
have several times had people say to me when useless.
"
visiting my cattery,
'
I have always thought An orange stud cat is a very useful animal
I did not like sandy cats, but I have never to have in a cattery, for crossing with him will
before seen a cat of such a lovely colour as the improve many colours, viz. tortoiseshell, brown,
one you have just shown me.' Six years ago, grey, and sable tabbies while if he is mated
;
to a blue_ queen the kittens, if orange, are

beautiful in colour brighter, I think, than if
two orange cats are mated together.. In
CURIOSITY.
when I first took up cat

rearing, it was rare to mating with other coloursit is a toss-up what
see any orange cats at the shows, but now they colour will predominate, but the only way
and the creams form one of the most beautiful to ensure all orange kittens is to mate with
classes, and they have a specialist society of orange queens, when, according to my experi-
their own and an energetic secretary in Miss ence with my stud cat (' Torrington Sunny-
Mildred Beal. sides '), the results are all orange. Mated with
"
There are two classes of oranges, one which tortoiseshells the orange kittens are very
good ;
has the ordinary tabby markings, more or but mated with blacks the strongest colour
less distinct, and the other which is necked ' '
carries the day, and the kittens are mostly
all over the back in small patches, and which black or tortoiseshell, seldom orange. Silvers,
is
usually not nearly so bright in colour as the chinchillas, and smokes should, of course,
' '
so-called markings. The correct thing
tabby never be mated with oranges, as the result
is to breed a totally unmarked orange and, ; would be. a horrible mixture Orange queens
!
although many people claim this for their pets, were at one time very rare, and even now
13
are not plentiful, being

delicate and difficult to
rear.
"The time at which the
kittens change the colour
of their eyes from the
baby blue to orange varies

a great deal in individual
animals, from seven to
twelve weeks. When the
eyes are very deep blue,

they change to bright rich
orange or hazel but if of
;
a pale blue, they change

very quickly to a poor MRS. NEATE'S CAT HOUSES.
yellow, and never get the
rich dark orange which
the deeper blue get. Therefore rejoice when eyes ! All who have been accustomed to
you see your kittens with deep blue eyes. frequent the show pens will remember
Some of our kittens have had the most lovely Miss M. Beal's splendid old
orange queen
deep blue eyes, and great has been our sorrow
'
Jael,' who up to the

last, although
as we found the inevitable change coming on. nearly fourteen years old, always took first
If I could only manage to get some kittens with prize, and was a very good specimen of what
the permanent blue eyes that the best white an orange queen should be- of a bright rich
cats have, I should indeed be proud but
; orange, without any suspicion of light under
thinking of the kittens with terrible white her chin or chest (the usual weak point), and
chins and under -coats, which would crop having the splendid head, short nose, and good
up in every litter and would have to be cobby shape which all breeders strive for.
drowned, quite deters me from sending my Short-haired orange cats are often seen about
orange queens to white studs with blue our towns and villages, and are always
called 'sandy,' but are not,
I think, held in much ac-
count. They are distinct from,
'
the so - called red tabby,'
which is a recognised colour
in our shows."
Among the prize
-
winning
females of the present day I
must not forget to notice Mrs.
Singleton's "Orange Girl," bred
from Miss Beal's noted strain.
This cat has had many honours
showered upon her during a
very short career, and as there
must always be a scarcity of
queens in this breed, this fine
ANOTHER VIEW OF MRS. NEATK S specimen is a valuable posses-
CAT HOUSES. sion.
So long as there are two cat clubs and two A herd of pure-bred goats supply the inmates
registers there will be a confused multiplicity
of the cattery with milk, and rabbits, which
of names, and so yet another orange male abound, form their staple food when in season.
called
"
Puck " inhabits the cat world. This The largest of the outhouses is fitted with a
handsome fellow is owned by the Hon. Mrs. Tortoise stove, carefulty guarded. The pride
McLaren Morrison, to whom I had the pleasure of Mrs. Neate's cattery is, of course, the famous
of awarding first prize and many specials at orange stud "The King's Own." He is the sire
"
the Botanic show held in June, 1902. His vivid of the two winning orange queens Mehitabel
" "
colouring and well-shaped limbs and splendid of the Durhams and Glory of Prittlewell."
"
eyes will always make him a conspicuous Fitting mates for him are Wernham
"
specimen in the show pen. Alas his photo-! Titmouse "^(tortoiseshell-and-white), Evening
" "
graph does him but scant justice. Quite a Primrose (a cream daughter of Cham-
" "
surprise packet appeared at the Crystal Palace pion Midshipmite and Hazeline "), also
"
show of 1902 by the appearance of a very Mimosa " (an orange bred by Miss Cartmell
" "
handsome young male in William of Orange from
"
Richmond Bough " and " Mistletoe ") ;
exhibited by Mrs. Stillwell, and bred from these occupy the house adjoining the stables.
" " " " "
Dr. Roper's noted black Johnnie Fawe and Champion Bundle and Betsy Jane," a
"
tortoiseshellqueen Dainty Diana." This lovely little blue with glorious orange eyes, are
cat was awarded first and many specials, and the only blues of the establishment. Latterly
was claimed by Lord Decies at catalogue price. Mrs. Neate has reduced her own stock of breed-
As " William " was not a year old when he ing queens, and makes a speciality of receiving
won his laurels,may readily be believed that
it cats during the holidays. Judging by the
he has a distinguished career before him, and number of cat fanciers who sent their pets to
may add another to the long list of winners Mrs. Neate during the summer of 1902, it is
owned and exhibited by Lady Decies. No certain that a great want has been most
orange male cat is better known in the fancy efficiently supplied. Not only does Mrs. Neate
"
than that splendid fellow The King's Own," give personal supervision to her catty boarders
belonging to Mrs. Neate. He has had a most and visitors, but they have splendid caretakers
successful career, and may be considered as on the premises. These custodians are Mrs.
nearly self-coloured an orange as any yet Neate's big St. Bernard and a chow-chow, who
exhibited. jealously guard the Wernham cattery. These
Mrs. Neate is a devoted admirer of this breed dogs are on the very best terms with the
and also a great cat lover, and has recently feline inmates, and the strange pussies very
started an arrangement for boarding cats, and soon appear to settle down to an amicable
truly I know of no place better adapted for cat-and-dog life. The accompanying photo-
successful cat keeping than the home of Mrs. graphs, as will be seen, were taken in the depth
Francis Neate, at Wernham, near Marlborough ;
of winter. These brick-built houses, slate
situated as it is in the very heart of the country, roofed and with wooden floor, are splendidly
a mile from any other house, her cats can enjoy adapted for keeping the cats snug and warm
their liberty with perfect safety. during the cold weather. One of the buildings
A large range of brick-built and slated out- illustrated is 25 feet by 15 feet, and has three
houses has been converted into catteries and windows. This house is provided with large
comfortably fitted. All have wooden floors, table, shelves, and chairs, and cosy sleeping-
wire doors, and large runs attached. A number boxes. An outside wire run, of the same
of portable houses and runs are dotted about length and width as the building, is erected for
the kitchen garden and meadows. An empty an exercise ground in summer weather.
cottage serves as an isolation hospital, or place Mrs. Neate has kindly supplied me with a
of quarantine for cats returning from shows. few notes on orange Persian cats :
" '
Red Ensign was claimed
'
in 1897, at Boscombe show, that I
It was fancy generally, at
claimed the winner in a class of twenty-six the show, and is now a house pet.
"
kittens, my now
well-known orange Persian The best orange kittens I have bred were
from my Wernham Titmouse,' a tortoiseshell-
'
stud
'
The King's Own.' The same year, at
and-white who owns an orange dam, and The
'
the Crystal Palace, I purchased a lovely orange

King's Own
'
female kitten sired Champion by Mrs. Pettit's
'
the whole litter were females,
;
'
King of Pearls and the tortoiseshell-and-white and redder than any oranges I have seen.
'
Dainty Doris.' From her I fondly hoped to These never lived to see a show, and their death
establish a breed of blue-eyed oranges, which was one of the greatest disappointments I
feature would be charming in the variety but ;
have experienced in my career. The demand
alas she came home to sicken and die, as so
! for good orange and cream females is greater
many another valuable kitten has done, and I than the supply in fact, these colours are
;
have never since been able to obtain an orange decidedly booming,' and better classification
'
of either sex siredby a blue-eyed white. is given for them at our principal shows.
" "
most difficult to breed oranges without
It is At the Crystal Palace show of 1898 there
white lips and chins the pink nose, too, is a ;
were only four entries in the open class for
feature in the breed that I do not like. orange and cream males, and four of the same
"
I have found crossing an varieties in the female class,
orange male with compared to the
a cream female the surest way to breed sound- ten entries in orange and cream male classes
coloured specimens of both sexes and varieties, and the same number in the female classes at
'
e.g. Mehitabel of the Durhams (a really rich- '

the Cat Club's show, held at Westminster,
coloured unmarked orange queen, and quite 1902. These facts speak for themselves of the
free from the objectionable light shading on increased interest now taken in these varieties.
and chin) "
lips she was bred by Mrs. D'Arcy
; Unlike some of the warmer tinted of us
Hildyard from her cream female Josephine
'
humans, orange cats of both sexes are particu-

' '
of the Durhams and The King's Own.' larly sweet tempered, showing great attach-
Again,
from a blue male and a tortoiseshell queen you ment to their owners. They are of strong
are more
certain of breeding good oranges constitution and attain to great size, being at
(though seldom of the female sex) than from from the in-breeding that is practised
present free
mating tortoiseshell and orange together in ; amongst many other varieties of our show cats.
the latter case more often than not black A small piece of sulphate of iron in the drinking
kittens predominate in the litter, and there is water will enrich the colour of orange and
rarely, if ever, an orange female amongst them. tortoiseshells, besides being an excellent tonic,
" '
Mrs. Vidal's famous orange stud Torring- especially during the moulting season.
"
ton Sunnysides '
was a son of my light blue Orange Persian cats do not, as a rule, make
'
Champion Bundle
'
and a tortoiseshell dam good photographs, they as
expression lack
'
Torrington Owlet,' herself of an orange compared to the short-haired tabby varieties

' '
strain. Mrs. Walford Gosnall's Rufus (whose of this colour."
name discloses his colour) was also the result Beal, of Romaldkirk, near Dar-
The Misses
'
of this union. Red
Ensign,' the orange kitten lington, have long been associated with orange
" "
who won first and three specials at Westminster and cream cats. Jael was quite unique
in was bred by me from Champion
1902,
'
as an orange female, and at fifteen years of
' '
Bundle and Mimosa,' an orange queen of age could yet win in her class by reason of her
cream breeding, and with his litter brother grand colour, perfectly shaped head, short face,
' '
Scarlet Lancer took first and silver medal and tiny, well-set ears. Such a cat stands out
for the best pair of kittens. The latter is now in any breed, and such a cat may never again
the property of Miss Cartmell, and has grown " "
be bred. Jael died in 1902, after a long
into a fine cat. Unfortunately for the cat and successful career.
3
1}
e
b.
13*
" " '
Miss Beal's male orange Minotaur is one ing him with Hazeline,' one of my cream
of the most beautiful cats of this breed now queens, have got a splendid litter of seven pure
exhibited, and has quite the best round head oranges. This, I think, proves that the cream
and with sweetest expression. These are
face, and orange cross is good, and that they breed
qualities too often lacking in orange cats. very true. Oranges bred by crossing other
Miss Beal's name is, perhaps, more closely colours seem to me rather spasmodic, if I may
associated in the cat world with cream cats, use the term. When breeders try crossing
and in my next chapter on this breed she has an orange and a tortoiseshell they very often
kindly supplied some notes. get blacks and blues as well as oranges on the ;
Another fancier both orange and cream

of other hand, from a blue and a tortoiseshell cross
cats is Mrs. D'Arcy-Hildyard, and to her I sometimes an orange is obtained. But they do
am indebted for the following notes on orange not seem able to count exactly on the results.
"
Persian cats :
Reliability is what I claim from the cream
"
Until comparatively lately I confined my- and orange cross. I emphatically believe in
self entirely to the breeding of creams, and my mating creams to creams if you wish to get a
efforts were attended with considerable success, good pale colour and few markings, and
both in multiplying the number of cats of oranges and creams crossed have certainly
that colour I bred thirteen one year and in produced good specimens of both colours for
filling the classes given for cream females. I me. I speak from my own experience.
was "
particularly lucky in breeding many I hope to do great things by trying a
' '
creams of the gentler sex. cross between my orange torn Benjamin
"
The birth of the Orange and Tortoiseshell '
and Mehitabel.' Miss Winifred Beal's Mino- '
Society fired me with ambition to start breed-

'
taur was the result of a cross between a
ing oranges. I was much fascinated with the cream and a tortoiseshell. Her well-known
' '
colour, though I hate their being penned beside Garnet is the daughter of a cream and a
the creams at shows, as they completely take blue. At present there is, to my mind, no
all colour out of the
lighter animals and give orange female on the show bench to compare
them a washed-out appearance. I started by with the late Jael,' owned by Miss Mildred
'
crossing my cream queen 'Josephine of the Dur- Beal, whose brilliant colour and perfect head
'
hams with Mrs. Neate's famous The King's '
with its tiny ears made her hold her own at all
Own.' This proved a most satisfactory cross, the shows up to within two months of her death
the results being three rich-coloured unmarked at quite a venerable age but I hope in ;
orange kittens, one male and two females. I the future, as oranges become more popular
sold one female to Miss Scratton, of Prittlewell and breeders work hard at producing good
Priory, and it has, I hear, grown into a very we may see her like again. I was
specimens,
handsome cat ; the other two
kept, and they
I . much taken at Richmond show with Mrs. Sin-
won all before them at Manchester Kitten Show, gleton's 'Orange Girl,' and also with the kitten
1901, and were shown at Slough after, where of that colour exhibited by the same lady at
the male was claimed. The remaining one, Manchester. Every year, I think, shows that
'
Mehitabel of the Durhams,' I kept, and she the general world is becoming more alive to the
won me many prizes last winter, and being beauties of orange and cream cats, as proved
'
mated this year to Champion Romaldkirk both by the large increase in entries of these
'
Admiral has presented me witli a litter of colours at the principal shows and the great
two creams and an orange. Certainly creams demand for kittens when any are offered for
and oranges cross well, and often I think sale. Undoubtedly breeders owning creams
produce a brighter and deeper tone of colour should stick to them, if they wLh to produce
than is obtained from other shades. I have good oranges see the many splendid speci-
' ' '
lately purchased an orange torn, and by cross- mens sired by Midshipmite and Admiral.'
" "
hard matter to say decisively what
It is a I think the time is approaching when the
tint orange kittens should be when born, i orange and cream cats are going to be among
have known them enter the world a bad cream, the most attractive classes at our bigger shows.
and gradually grow redder till they develop Already the classes are much better filled than
into the brilliant colour we all look to see in a when I first joined the fancy, and you always
cat of orange hue. Personally, I prefer them find an admiring crowd in front of their pens.
born a dark shade ; they usually lighten and I wish, though, that a nice sprinkling of blues
brighten a little, but on the whole I think that could always be placed between the two
is the more satisfactory of the two. It is colours at shows. The close company of the
distinctly discouraging to see a washed-out oranges is so excessively unbecoming to the
OUT IX THE COLD.

(Photo : E. Lnndor, Eating.)
looking kitten when you are expecting a bright creams, while when you see the three colours
orange one. together they are especially lovely. To see
"
Fanciers differ about the eyes which are cream and orange cats at their best they should
supposed to be correct in this breed. Hazel be at large in the country and running about
eyes are universally acknowledged to be the on the green grass."
right thing. Personally, I admire green, or In 1902 an Orange and Cream Cat Club was
rather eau-de-nil eyes, as giving more contrast started by a few enthusiastic breeders of these
to the colour of the coat, but you do not often varieties over in America. The Misses Beal,
see them. I have always wished to breed a Mrs. Vidal, and Miss Frances Simpson were
cream with blue eyes I do not mean the baby elected as honorary members. The follow-
blue, but the colour -that Siamese have and ing is an extract from Field and Fancy, the
only the other day I sold a kitten three months American weekly paper :
old with brilliant blue eyes of this tint, and

ORANGE CATS.
shall be anxious to know whether
they change There is very little doubt that this is a colour that
in time or not. has from the beginning of the fancy in America been
20O THE BOOK OF THE CAT.
very popular, and has had a very strong hold upon ones, both in colour and type but the orange
;
the American love for colour. But, of course, as is queens are not destined to at present make heavy
generally the case with the popular ones, the supply classes by themselves. Though the standard calls
has never been too plentiful, and probably never will for orange eyes, it is a curious coincidence that the
be as regards the queens, for they only appear once most consistently successful cat of recent times has
in a while, according to what seems to be one of been Miss Beal's " Jael," who had green eyes but
;
Nature's rules, that the queens should be tortoise- so good was her colour, so good her type, that she
shells. generally won when exhibited.
The Orange and Cream Club is probably destined Thestruggle carried on in the British Isles for some
to do a great deal for the variety, which is one of the years to breed these cats without marks has been
colours from which it takes its name. Breeding hardly a success, and there have not been very many
orange cats opens quite a field, for in attaining your evolved of that colour that were really without marks,
end you can at the same time indulge in other colours, and it is a great question if in this craze for absence of
for undoubtedly a cross with a tortoiseshell will be marks they have not been passing by a lot of good
found necessary to keep the colour sufficiently cats. As far as we personally are concerned in the
intense, and at other times it may be quite as well matter, we see little to be gained by the absence of
to throw in a little black. The tendency for the marks in the orange cats. If the colour had been
queens to be tortoiseshells may possibly be somewhat very prolific in numbers might have been a good
it
overcome in time, but these inherent traits in colours idea to try and split up the classes, but they were
in animals and birds are often so strong that they never too well filled, and there is room still for plenty
have a knack of reappearing even after several more, though we cannot complain so much at th&
generations. We occasionally see queens of the representation that they have had in America last
orange colour, and these are usually high quality season, either in numbers or quality.
HIGHER EDUCATION.
201
CHAPTER XVI.
CREAM OR FAWN PERSIANS.
T VHIS may be
said to be
the very
are silvers. Certainly, good creams of to-day
are very slightly barred on head or legs or tail,
and this cannot be said as regards some of
latest variety in our best silver cats. This is probably to be
Persian breeds, accountgd_for by the cautious and wise dis-
and one which crimination used in mating creams by selecting
bids fair to be- blues or tortoiseshells, and thus avoiding
come very fash- tabby-marked cats. It is a peculiarity of
ionable. The cream cats that the eyes are generally almond-
" "
term cream shaped, and are set rather slanting in the head.
describes exactly It is rare and a great treat to see bold, round,
what is the de- owl-like eyes in cream cats. These in colour
sired tint of these should be golden or hazel, the brighter the
MRS. CLINTON LOCKE S CREAM cats, but few and colour the better. I will here give the points
KITTEN. far between are of cream or fawn cats, as drawn up by the

the specimens specialist society :
which are pale and even enough in colour to

CREAM OR FAWN.
be correctly described as creams. No doubt,
Colour. To be as pure as possible without marking
in times past now and again a cream cat
" " or shading, either paler or darker, dulness and white
would be seen exhibited in the any variety to be particularly avoided. All shades from the
class, but then they might be designated as palest fawn to be allowable. 25.
freaks or flukes. Now, however, fanciers of Coat. To be very long and fluffy. 25.
these cats have a system in their matings, and Size and shape. To be
not coarse, but
large
massive, with plenty of bone and substance short
therefore, as a result, there is a breed of cats
;
legs. 20.
established which until late years were not
Head. To be round and broad, with short nose,
recognised or classified. ears small and well opened. 15.
It is true that the cream Persians seen in the Eyes. To be large and full, and bright orange or
show pens are often much darker than is hazel in colour. 5.
implied
Condition. 10.
by the name, and, indeed, are really fawn-
coloured. The great thing, however, is to Much has
obtain an even tint throughout, whether dark been done
or light, and to avoid any patches, streaks, or by this en-
tabby markings. Ithink the very pale creams ergetic spe-
are more dainty and fascinating than the darker cialist so-
cats, but the lighter the coat the more difficult ciety to get
it isto obtain perfect uniformity of colour. Of a better
course, there will always be a certain amount classifica-
of shading in cream cats that
the spine-line
is, t i o n f o r
will be slightly darker, shading off on the sides creams at

and under the stomach and tail. I think that our shows ;
creams are making more rapid strides towards and p e r-

"
attaining the almost unmarked " stage than haps,astime A CREAMY SMILE.
2O2 THE BOOK OF THE CAT.
goes on and a larger number of fanciers take (a blue and an orange). This cat was pur-
up these breeds, a distinct classification will be chased from Mrs. Foote by Lady Marcus
given for creams and fawns. It may always be Beresford, and eventually disappeared when
a little difficult to draw the line between the in the possession of Miss Cockburn Dickinson.
two but such a division of colours would, I
;
Mr. McLaren Morrison in 1893 owned a pale
"
think, give satisfaction to the breeders of both cat called Devonshire Cream." In the follow-
creams and fawns, for at present judges are ing year Miss Taylor bred a splendid speci-
"
more inclined to give men from Tawny,"
a preference to the her noted tortoise-
-
palest coloured cats, shell. This cat, called
"
perhaps because more Fawn," was an ab-
beautiful and more -
solutely self coloured
difficult to breed. fawn with brown eyes,
In the former breeds, and would do some
more especially blues winning if alive now
and silvers, that I have to compete in our
described in this work up-to-date classes for
it would have been cream or fawn. It was
impossible to name all in 1895 that Miss Beal
those cats that were first exhibited some of
noted in the fancy, for her creams, upon
the simple reason that which at that time she
their name is legion ;
did not set much store,
but it is different in a more interested as she
breed like creams, for, was in blues but of ;
as I mentioned in the her now celebrated

MRS. F. NORRIS S CREAM KITTEN
beginning of this (Photo: E. Lander, Baling.)
strain more anon.
chapter, in times past One of the best-
"
it was a case of only here and there a known creams of late years is Zoroaster,"
cream Persian appearing on the scene, then bred by Mrs. Bagster from her tortoiseshell
vanishing perhaps to America, or else being "Pixie." This was a remarkably large pale
purchased for a pet and retiring from public cat with glorious eyes, but he was a good deal
" "
life. These sports in the fancy were not patched in colour when I saw him at Mrs.
seriously taken up, and no one thought of Mackenzie Stewart's cattery. Mrs. Cartwright
"
trying to establish a strain so that one can,
;
bred a well-shaped light cream, Upwood
"
as it were, put one's finger on the cats of this Junket," by Timkins," a blue, and a daughter
"
variety, if not so easily in the present day, of Cyrus the Elamite." Mrs. Davies, of
certainly in the past. Caterham, has often had creams in her posses-
"
The first recorded cream Persian in cata- sion, notably Lord Cremorne," quite one of
"
logues or stud books is Cupid Bassanio," the palest seen in the show pen. Two noted
born in 1890, bred by Mrs. Kinchant ;
no creams now placed at stud are Mrs. Norris's
pedigree is given. He was
big, a broad-
"
Kew Ronald " and Mrs. Western's " Matthew
headed, heavily coated cat, with a good many of the Durhams." Both these cats arc bred
"
marks and shadings, and was sold to Mrs. from Miss Beal's famous Heavenly Twins."
"
Preston Whyte, and passed on to Miss Norman. Regarding Matthew," a reporter in Our Cats
In the same year Mrs. Kinchant exhibited thus writes after the Botanic show of 1901 :
" " "

cream kittens at Brighton. Ripon was Creams are, we prophesy, the coming cats.
another well-known cream of imported parents There seems to us great possibilities in this
CREAM OR FAWN PERSIANS. 203
'
variety. Matthew of the Durhams 'is one '
honorary secretary of the Beresford Club, Miss

" "
of the cats we would bring forward in support Johnstone. This lady exhibited Laddie
of this view. Eminently aristocratic, breath- at the big Chicago Cat Show, where he
ing an might be the
air of refinement, this cat won high honours, and in a letter received
petted darling of a princess whose cats are all from Miss Johnstone I learn he is growing a
selected by a connoisseur." Mr. Western is grand fellow and, in fact, is quite la creme de
justly proud of his purchase, for he claimed la creme in catty society over the water.
this fine cat at the Sandy show, 1901, when he The picture of a perfect kitten on the opening
was exhibited by Mrs. D'Arcy Hildyard. page of this chapter represents a cream female,
"
Matthew " has on four separate occasions "
Jessica Kew," bred by Mrs. Clinton Locke
"
taken second to his father ".Admiral's first. from " Lockhaven Daffodil," sired by Miss
"
He has sired some lovely creams, notably Johnstone's Laddie Kew." Mrs. Clinton
"
Wynnstay Myrtle," also owned by Mrs. F. Locke is justly proud of this lovely kitten, and
Western. This female is one of the best of her writes: "Jessica is the finest kitten I have
breed, and is sure to have some influence over ever seen all her points are perfect. She was
;
the creams of the future. At the Crystal five weeks old when this photo was taken.
Palace show of 1902, where she was awarded Her grandfather was my
'
Victor,' an orange,
first and many specials, she was the admired of her great-grandmother a tortoiseshell - and -
all admirers. As a rule, cream females have white."
been very much behind the males in quantity I have mentioned Mr. F. Norris as a breeder
and quality. of creams and
Almost the the owner of
first two were the handsome
bred by Miss pair of cats
Hester Coch- illustrated on
ran e from He
this page.
"Cyrus the has kindly

Elamite" and supplied me
"Brunette." with the fol-
"Creme d'Or" lowing notes :
isquite one of "Cream cats

the best, and are of a mod-
was owned by ern colour in
Mrs. Wellbye, Persians, but
who sold her are now being
to Mrs.Xorris. more freely
This cat de- bred and find-
clined to enter ing numerous
into any mat- KEW RONALD AND "KEW LADDIK. supporters.
rimonial alli-
(Photo : E. Lamior, Baling.) There are,
ance for some however, very
time, but at last presented her owner with a few good ones in the fancy, for size and
"
family by Darius," Mrs. Ransome's noted colour are difficult to obtain. The great
blue. Two of these cats, " Kew Laddie " and failing with them is that, although they are
"
Kew Ronald," are well known in their called cream cats, the best and soundest
"
different spheres. Kew Laddie " I pur- coloured ones are really of a fawn shade. So
chased to send out to Mrs. Clinton Locke, many show markings, patches, or shadings,
in Chicago, and she presented him to the whereas the colour should be one shade and
would know the reason well enough,
which is that they have been too much
in-bred. If breeders will only try the
blue cross more, they will, I am sure,

be pleased, and we shall see a better
cat being shown. Breeding from blue
you will get pure creams and some
cream and blue mixed. Keep the blue
and cream females, and when old
enough mate them to a cream, and
you will get some fine sound-coloured
cream kits.
"
It is very curious that there has
been nothing yet bred in males to beat
' ' '
the twin cats Admiral and Mid-
shipmite.'
"
In females the best I have seen is
'
Miriam of the Durhams,' who has a
lovely body and coat, but is long in face
' '
sound throughout ;
better be a little dark in and has those bad-shaped eyes. Creme d'Or
colour rather than shade from cream to white, runs her close, as she has such a good head,
as is the case with so many specimens ex- with perfect eye, but is a wee bit long in the leg."
hibited. Miss Beal's females "Calliope" and "Mignon-
"
"For one grand-headed and good-eyed cot ette were both noted prize-winning cream
you see a dozen snipy, long-faced ones with females. Mrs. D'Arcy Hildyard has been most
curious slit eyes, instead of a short, snub head, successful in her endeavours to breed creams
with glorious big round golden eyes. from creams, and a letter from her in Our Cats
"
In my opinion, to get the short head, good of April, IQOI, will be interesting to breeders
eye, finebody shape, and short legs, it is best of this variety :
to mate a cream with a good cobby blue. From BREEDING OF CREAMS.

my experience nothing beats a blue, although SIR, Being much interested in the breeding of
should like to say a few words on the
you can mate them with a red, tortoiseshell, creams, I
or black. Mating two creams together

I do not advocate, unless one of them
has a distinct out-cross in the first

generation to totally different blood.
"All the creams shown are descended
brothers Romald-
'
from Miss Beal's two
' '
kirk Admiral and Romaldkirk Mid-
shipmite,' and to keep the colour,
breeders have bred and into them
in
again and
; that is why they have
lost so much in type and character,
which would have been improved by
using an out-cross.
" '
I have heard people say, Cream
females will not breed.' If they only
MRS. D'ARCY HILDYARD'S CREAM KITTENS.
studied the question a minute, they (Photo : E. Yeoman, Barnard Castle.)
CREAM OR FAWN PERSIANS. 205
subject and state my experience. Though only a

novice, I have up to date succeeded in breeding
twenty creams two in 1899, thirteen in 1900, and

seven this year. I began by mating my mixed blue
" " "
and cream queen Senga to a cream torn D'Arcy,"
which I bought from Mr. Hutchinson, of Egglestone.
From this pair I got four kittens, all females two
cream and two marked blues. I kept the creams
" "
Josephine and " Hazeline," winners at Westmin-
ster as kittens, first and second special and medal,
"
1900. Later on in the year I mated them, Hazeline"
" " "
to Miss Beal's Midshipmite," Josephine to her
"
Admiral." Both litters were entirely cream,
" " " "
Josephine producing six kittens, Hazeline pro-
ducing five, two of which I have kept.
"
Matthew "
and " Miriam of the Durhams " both won as kittens
"
at Manchester, and Miriam " has since taken first
and specials at Barnard Castle, Westminster, and
" "
Reading. Matthew is growing into a very hand-
some cat, and I hope at the Botanic.
to exhibit him
"
On Saturday last, Hazeline " again
April ijth,
kittened and produced five creams, having again been
mated to " Midshipmite. '
This I think distinctly

proves that good ci earns can be got from a pair of
" "
the same colour. On April i4th Senga also pre-
sented me with two more creams, also two marked
blues, this time the result of a mating with Miss
"
Beale's Romaldkirk Toza." "MIRIAM OF THE DURHAMS.
AGNES D'ARCY HILDYARD. (Photo: . yeoman, Barnard Castle.)
Mrs. Barton Collier has two good creams, the fawns and oranges, and that their com-
"Bruin" and "Dolly of Brough." Again plementary queens are the blue tortoiseshells
these cats are from Miss Beal's strain, the male and the ordinary tortoiseshells. No harm is
being a fawn and the female quite one of the ever done to a cream or orange strain by cross-
palest of creams. ing with black, and it may do much good to
Miss H. Cochran, who formerly took a great the latter by deepening the colour of the
"
interest in this breed, writes :I should be
oranges, and promoting patchiness as opposed
inclined tomate a pale cream male or female to streakiness in the tortoiseshells."
with a white, and the progeny with an un- I have made frequent mention of Miss Beal's
marked orange, or vice versa. I had a litter noted creams during my chapters on orange
' ' '
from Buttercup and Zoroaster,' consisting and cream cats. These two celebrated cham-
of two oranges, two fawns, and a cream. The pions are commonly known in the fancy as the
fawn and creams were females, but all died in "
Heavenly Twins," their registered names
Romaldkirk Admiral " and " Romald-
made "
their youth. I other attempts with being
similar crosses, as had been told it was im-
I
kirk Midshipmite." They are really fawn
possible to breed cream queens, and in the first Persian cats, very sound in colour, well made,
year all the creams were queens, and the males big boned, and are always exhibited in the pink
red !
My idea was to select a male of the of condition, and at all seasons of the year
required colour, and mate a queen of suitable are in marvellous coat. Certainly, the cold
breeding with him, then to mate the resulting climate of the Romaldkirk cattery, which is
queens with their own father. I believe this situated 730 feet above the sea level, must,
plan would have been a success if I had followed anyhow, suit this variety of Persian cat. I
it up. My idea is that the natural males are the day will come when these well-
suppose
tried and well-seasoned veterans will have to demand for cats and kittens and of this colour,
retire from public life and make way for some at the big shows they usually have two classes,
of their already noted offspring. In the North, i.e. male and female, for them. They were
"
South, East, and West these Heavenly Twins" certainly slow in coming into general favour,
have reigned supreme, and Miss Beal must owing, I think, to the following facts First, :
almost have lost count of the number of prizes that the specimens formerly exhibited failed
won by them, which, I think I am safe in very noticeably in head, being very narrow in
saying, would give an exact record of the face arid long in nose secondly, that cream
;
number of times exhibited.

In response to my females were practically unknown ; and, thirdly,
request, Miss Beal has sent me some notes re- that a show, where they are generally seen,
garding her cattery arrangements, She says : is emphatically the worst place to see cream
"
Most of the houses Persians to advantage, as
are farm buildings
old the journey and being in
round about our stable a town, etc., takes off the
yard, and I have recently spotlessness of their coat
utilised an old granary and dulls their colour, and
which is over the coach- the dingy grey of the pens
house. This is about 40 and the yellow of the straw
feet long, and has a room combine to spoil the effect
at one end, with five win- of their colour.
dows and good ventilation "The place, without
above. In addition I have doubt, to see creams to
three big cat houses and perfection is the country,
a loft, where most of the where against a background
' '
queens reside Middy and . of vivid green lawn their

' ' '
Admiral (the Heavenly pure, soft colouring is in-
Twins ') have small wooden deed a thing of beauty,
houses, felted inside and and rarely fails to com-
out, with wired runs and
CHAMPION ROMAI.DK1KK ADMIKAL.
mand admiration. The
concrete floors. (Photo: G. W. Vidals.)
colour is rather difficult
ic
have the use of two
I to describe, and there are
laundries and a tool-house fitted with fire- two distinct tones of colour bred, the one
places, and these I reserve in case of illness." which is generally seen and is so far most
There are no cats exhibited in better coat successful at shows being a cream rather deep
and condition than those that come from the in almost buff, with a distinct pink
shade,
Romaldkirk cattery, and the Misses Beal may tinge about it, which is very different from the
be justly proud of their splendid specimens washed-out orange or sandy colour some people
of creams, oranges, tortoiscshells, and blue imagine it to be. The other tone of cream
Persians. W.
Beal has kindly supplied
Miss colour is much paler in shade, but, instead of
me with a short article on cream and fawn the it
pink,inclines to a lemon tinge, and,
' '
Persians :
though paler, it is, as a rule, more flaky and
"
The cream and fawn Persian was a few uneven than the darker shades, and it is also
'
years ago looked upon as a sport,' and when very apt to fade into white underneath.
cream kittens appeared in an orange strain "
Nearly all the best-known creams are bred
they were considered spoilt oranges, and were in the first place from orange and blue strains,
either given away, sold for a few shillings, or in though creams have appeared as freaks in
many cases destroyed as useless. Now, how- many colours silvers, tabbies, etc. but I be- ;
ever, it is very different ;

there is a growing lieve the present strains sprang from crossing
CREAM OK FAWN PERSIANS. 207
blue and orange, and you can generally rely on in trying to breed good creams. One point to
getting some creams by crossing a tortoise- be aimed at is to keep the colour as level as pos-
shell, cream, orange, or blue tortoiseshell queen sible, whetherbe of a dark or light shade, and
it
with a blue sire. But, so far, reversing the mat- tokeep pure, not tinged with blue or dull.
it
ing, i.e. a blue queen

with a cream or orange Among other faults to be bred out are the light
sire, is not successful from the cream breeders' lip and chin, which are very common defects, and
point of view, though very good from that of the long head, which is still seen sometimes,
those breeders who want blues, as the kittens though creams have improved vastly in this
generally excel in purity of colour. Cream respect in the last few years. Creams have
females are now fairly common, and so in a been taken up greatly in America as well as
few years there ought to be a well-established oranges, and there they seem to be formidable
strain of cream-bred creams but, as in all
;
rivals in -popularity to the silvers, which have
other breeding for colour, people are apt to so far over here outdone them in that respect.
"
get surprises for instance, one strain of cream One great point in favour of creams is their
females mated to a cream sire invariably hardiness, for they do not possess the delicate
produces whole litters of creams, while another constitutions which seem to belong to most of
strain, more cream-bred than the first named, the other very pale varieties of Persians. With
mated to the same sire produces equal numbers other coloured cats blues, silvers, etc.
of creams and orange-and-creams. If people creams make a splendid contrast, and with
wish to start breeding creams, and cannot oranges add greatly to the effect of a group.
afford a cream female, it is a good plan to buy They also cross well with several colours
a well-bred nondescript coloured female, either blue, black, tortoiseshell, etc. for breeding ;
blue-and-cream, tabby, tortoiseshell, or any- and many breeders think the result of the
thing that has cream or orange about it, and growing fancy for these colours, i.e. cream and
if it is
properly mated there are nearly sure orange for, though so different, they are hard
to be one or two creams thus a cream strain
: to deal with separately will be that they will
can be gradually built up. be better catered for at shows as to classes, and
"
There are several things to be remembered more extensively bred than they are at present."
MRS. F. WESTERN'S " MATTHEW OF THE

DURHAMS."
(Photo: E. Yeoman, Barnard Castle.)
208
"
TOPSY OF MEREVALE."
THE PROPERTY OF MRS. BIGNELL.
(Photo: O, Hardee, Chislelmrst.)
CHAPTER XVII.
TORTOISESHELL PERSIANS.
years ago, when I first took

up bodies, namely black, red, and yellow, in
MANY
the cat iancy, I used to think tor- distinct patches or blotches, solid in colour and
ugly and commonplace, and
toiseshells well broken up, with no trace of stripes, bars,
I am afraid even now I have not that or tabby markings. A brindling effect is to
admiration for the breed which I feel a be avoided, and a white spot on chin is a great
really good specimen of this variety ought blemish. It is most undesirable that the black
to inspire. To begin with, it is seldom that should predominate, in which case the specimen
a truetype of long-haired tortoiseshell is will lack brilliancy. The three colours should,
seen or exhibited, and perhaps this may if possible, be pretty evenly distributed over
account for the breed being so much neg- the body, legs, and tail, and should not run
lected.They are not taking-looking cats, into each other. The red and yellow may
and make a poor show in the pen. I have preponderate over the black with good effect.
often remarked, however, that this is a favourite A blaze, so called, up the face is considered
breed with the sterner sex, and that our pro- correct, and should be of the red or yellow,
this
fessional men judges will almost invariably and in a straight line from the nose upwards.
"
pick out a tortoiseshell when judging an any- This is a very distinctive feature in the breed,
"
other colour class, and give it some mark of and one that judges will look for in a good
distinction. This may be accounted for by show specimen. It is incorrect for the tail to
the fact that, of all varieties, a really good be in any way ringed with the The
colours.
tortoiseshell is most difficult to breed, and texture of the coat is often coarser and more
therefore any specimen approaching perfection hairy in this breed, and it is not usually so long
should be encouraged. There are splashed and and flowing as in other varieties of Persian
sable tortoiseshells. and tortoiseshell tabbies, cats. is no difference of opinion as to
There
all handsome cats of their kind, but not the the correct colour for the eyes of tortoiseshells.
genuine article. Real tortoiseshells may be They should be a bright golden or orange, and
called tricolour cats, for they should bear three these seem in perfect harmony with the colour-
colours, like a tortoiseshell comb, on their ing of the coat. Tortoiseshells never attain
TORTOISESHELL PERSIANS. 209
any great size, and may be called a small Tortoiseshells may be said to have had
breed of Persian cats. I give the list of points no past. There are no celebrities in feline
"
as drawn up by the specialist society :
history save and except Queen Elizabeth,"
and not only was she the finest of her breed,
TORTOISESHELL.
but she also made her name famous by severely
Colour and marking. The three colours black,
injuring Mr. W. R. Hawkins, who was examin-
orange, and yellow to be well broken and as bright
and well denned as possible free from tabby mark-
;
ing her when making his awards and I have ;
ings, no white. 30. good reason or rather bad reason for recol-
Coat. To be silky, very long, and fluffy. 20. lecting her, on account of her fixing her teeth
Size and shape. To be large not coarse, but into my hand when I was removing her from
massive, with plenty of bone and substance short
her basket to pen her at the Westminster show
;
legs. 25.
To be round and broad, with short nose, in 1899. It seems that she had a great objec-
Head.
ears small and well opened. 15. tion to travelling, and resented making an
Eyes. To be large and full, and bright orange or exhibition of herself in public She was a
!
hazel in colour. 5.
grand specimen, however, and, besides always
Condition. 10.
carrying off highest honours herself, she was
are quite one of the most interesting
They the mother of many prize-winning orange and
"
from which to breed, and experiments can be tortoiseshell cats, amongst others Prince
"
tried successfully in crossing a tortoiseshell Charlie," "Prince Lyne," and Mattie." I
queen with black, cream, orange, and blue have failed to obtain a photograph of this
cats. The litters will often be a study in celebrated cat and, even had I succeeded,
;
I have known one a tortoiseshell makes a tetribly poor picture

variety. family to consist
of a black, a white, a cream, an orange, and when reproduced in photography, for the
a blue ! The owner of such a litter would reason that the yellow comes out only fairly
have something to suit all comers. A really light, orange appearing as dark as the
the
good tortoiseshell queen may, therefore, be black patches.

considered a valuable property. And what of Miss H. Cochran had a dear old pet puss
a tortoiseshell torn ? A mine of wealth would called "Brunette," a dark tortoiseshell, and
such a possession be to any fancier. Among from her were bred
short-haired cats a tortoiseshell torn is a rare some of the first
animal, but I do not think a long-haired speci- cream females ever
men has ever been seen or heard of. Several exhibited. The
experiments have been tried, but it remains Hon. Mrs.
for some skilful and scientific breeder to solve McLaren
the problem of the manner and means to be M orrison
employed to produce males of this breed. The has a good
classification at our smaller shows for tortoise- tortoise-
shells is generally of a
meagre and discouraging
description. There are so few specimens that
executives of shows fight shy of giving a class
for even tortoiseshell and tortoiseshcll-and-
white together. So tortoiseshells are mixed
" "
up in the any other colour class, and there-
fore this breed can seldom, if ever, be really
judged on its own merits, or comparisons made
between the different specimens that are ex-
hibited. At our largest shows there are classes
provided, which, however, are poorly filled. Miss H. COCHRAN'S TORTOISESHELL " BKUXETTK."
14
Miss Mildred Beal, who with her sister is
so well known in connection with cream and
orange cats, is also the owner of some fine

" "
tortoiseshells. Wallflower named) (well so
is the mother of a noted prize-winning cream
" "
called Sunlocks." Pansy," Miss M. Beal's
special pet, well-known tortoiseshell.
is a
"
Snapdragon," another prize-winner, was ex-
'ported to America, where quite a number of
the Romaldkirk cats have found their home.
We need a few more enthusiastic admirers of
tortoiseshells like Miss M. Beal to take up this
rather despised breed and follow in her foot-
" "
steps. Some notes by the owner of Pansy
"
TOPSY. will be of interest :
OWNED BY Miss SARGENT. "

Even who will go into raptures
fanciers
(Pltoto :
J. P. Bennett, West Norwood.)
over the blue, orange, cream, or silver members
" "
shell, Curiosity by name. The best three of the establishment have no admiration to
specimens now before the public are Dr. Roper's spare for a tortoiseshell, however striking its
" "
Dainty Diana," Miss M. Beal's Pansy," Miss record of prizes may be and yet to those who ;
"
Kate Sangster's Royal Yum," and Mrs.Yum breed and understand them there is something
"
Bignell's Topsy of Merevale." As regards very fascinating about these quaint creatures,
the last-named, Mrs. Bignell has kindly sup- though the taste for them is certainly an
" "
plied me with particulars of Topsy's acquired one.
"
litters when mated with different-coloured cats. Among non-catty people great ignorance
" "
Topsy's first litter in 1896, when mated prevails as to what colour a tortoiseshell cat
"
to the Duke of Kent " (a blue), was two really is. Many people, if asked to describe
creams and two smokes. When mated to a tortoiseshell cat. would say that it was a sort
" "
Johnnie Fawe (a black) her kittens were of sandy colour all over ;
others imagine that
' '
all dusky hue. Again, when
of the father's the chintz cat, as it is called in the North
crossed with another blue m'ale her litter con- white with black and red patches has a right
sisted of two orange males and a tortoiseshell to the name. So let it be said at once that
female, and again to the same cat one black three colours, orange, yellow, and
namely,
male and two orange males. "Topsy" is a black, and these only, enter into the composi-
noted prize-winner, and one of her smoke tion of the true tortoiseshell. There must be
"
children, Lucy Claire," went out to Chicago, no white, neither should there be any trace of
and is considered the finest smoke specimen in tabby markings, though this is very difficult
the American fancy. Dr. Roper's "Dainty to attain. The three colours should be patched
" '
broken all over the cat, and the more
'
Diana is one of the best-known tortoiseshells, or

and her colouring as good as any exhibited ;
distinct each separate colour is in these patches
she is the mother of many winners. Miss the better. Brilliancy of colour is another
Kate Sangster, who is a great admirer of this point which breeders have to consider many ;
"
breed, writes My Champion Royal
:
'
Yum tortoiseshells have far too large a proportion
Yum '
was bred from a black and a tortoise- of black in their colouring, which gives them
shell, and her grandsire was a cream. She is a dingy and uninteresting appearance, and is
over .seven years old, and has had twenty- two sure to go against them in the show pen. The
kittens, namely, five cream, five blue, five eyes should be orange, and in other points,
orange, four black, and three tortoiseshell." such as shape, head, and texture of coat, the
K
H
0,
H
H
GQ
a
o ^
f-H
s I
w
U
en
I-H
O
H
O
H
TORTOISESHELL PERSIANS. 211
standard is the same as for the other varieties sufficient interest to gratify any quantity of
of long-haired cats. feline vanity.
" "
One curious fact in connection with long- At present, breeders hardly seem to recog-
haired tortoiseshells, which is well known to nise the great value of a tortoiseshell queen
fanciers, may be mentioned, namely, the non- for breeding almost any variety of self-coloured
existence of the male sex. Among short- cat. the queen is mated to an orange, a
If
toms are exceedingly rare,

haired tortoiseshells cream, or a blue torn, she will be very likely to
though one or two do exist but an adult long-
; produce at least one or two really good speci-
haired male appears to be absolutely unheard mens of the same colour as the sire, and some-
of. The writer knows of one male kitten born times a far larger proportion of the litter will
' '
some years ago, but it was either born dead favour him. Much, of course, depends upon
or diedin very early infancy. Darwin's how the queBn herself is bred, and this no doubt
theory that the orange torn and tortoiseshell accounts for disappointment in some cases.
"
queen were originally the male and female Tortoiseshells compare very favourably
of the same variety borne out by the fact
is with the other varieties of long-haired cats in
that until recently orange females were also the matter of intelligence. The writer knows
rare. Of late years a good many of these have one which enjoys the well-earned reputation
been bred and reared, and therefore, if the of being the cleverest thief in the cattery.
Darwinian theory be correct, it seems hard to Nothing is safe from her nimble paws she has ;
believe that the tortoiseshell torn must be often been known to remove the lid from the
regarded as unattainable. If the difficulty saucepan in which the meat for the cattery
has been successfully overcome in the one case, supper had been placed, and make off with the
why not in the other ? Breeding with this contents and if the cook's back should be
;
object in view very slow work, for some

is turned for only half a minute, woe to to-
tortoiseshell queens will produce litter after morrow's dinner or to anything else tempting
litter without a single kitten of their own which may chance to be within reach !
; '
colour, and a family con- Though tortoiseshells may

sisting entirely of tortoise- be distinguished for brains, some
shells would be as wel- of them certainly fail consider-
come as it is rare. But it ably in temper. They seem to
would be a pity to despair find it most difficult to keep the
of breeding the long peace with the other members
looked for torn ;
if he ever of the cattery. I sincerely hope
does make his appearance, thisbreedwill receive more atten-
he will be hailed with tion from fanciers in the future.
"
MISS KATK SANGSTKK'S ROYAL YUM YUM."
(I'lwto: W. V. Amey, Lanilpoft.)
212
CHAPTER XVIII.
TORTOISESHELL-AND-WHITE PERSIANS.
cats,both long- and short-haired, shell-and-white should be. She was not a
-L have always had a great fascination white-and-tortoiseshell, as so many now seen
for me. One of my first Persian pets in the show pen might be called. In these
was a tortoiseshell-and-white, with a gorgeous cases the white predominates, and in reality
coat, stand-out frill, and wide-spreading tail, the four colours should be about equally
PEGGY OWNED BY Miss TEKKILL.

(Photo: W. Baker, Birmingham.)
She was so stately and dignified that we distributed. The patches and
of black, red,
called her "The Lady Mayoress." In those yellow should cover the back, head, and tail,
days cats were of no account, and shows leaving the chest and paws and part of the
were non-existent. My pretty pet roamed at hind-quarters white. There should be patches
will and made her own matrimonial arrange- of the three colours on each side of the face,
ments the kittens were consequently mostly
: with a white blaze up the nose.
As in the tortoiseshells, so in this breed
consigned to the bucket.
it is
With my present knowledge of the feline better for the brighter colours rather than
" " I believe an old-
race, I realise that The Lady Mayoress the black to predominate.
was a grand specimen of what a tortoise- fashioned name for this breed was chintz cats.
TO R TOISESHELL-AND WHITE PERSIANS. -
213
I think they might also be called patchwork

cats !There is a. great deal in the manner
in which the colours are distributed on either
side of the head, for expression in a cat goes
n long way, and if the patches are badly
the effect
placed and unevenly distributed
may be displeasing, and perhaps grotesque.
Harrison \Yeir, in writing of this breed,
says: "In a
good and - white
tortoiseshell -
there should be more white on the chest, belly,

and hind legs than is allowable in the black-
and-white cat. This I deem necessary for
artistic beauty when the colour is laid on in
patches, although it should be even, clear, and

distinct in its outlinethe larger space of white
;
adds brilliancy to the red, yellow, and black

colouring. The face is one of the parts which
should have some uniformity of colour, and
yet not so, but a mere balancing of colour ;
that is to say, there should be a relief in black,

with the yellow and red on each side, and so
in the body and tail. The nose should be
white, the eyes orange, and the whole colouring
rich and varied, without the least tabbiness,'
' MISS YEOMAN , S TOKTOISESHELL-AXD-WHITE
"
MARY II."
either brown or grey, or an approach to it, such
(Photo: D. Pym, Streatlmm.)
being highly detrimental to its beauty."
This is another of the breeds of long-haired suddenly developed dropsy, and succumbed to
cats that may be said to have no history in the this rather unusual complaint amongst cats.
fancy, and I doubt if tortoiseshell-and-whites Mrs. Davies possessed a fine tortoiseshell-and-

"
will ever be taken up seriously. There will white named Chumly," and Mrs. Bamp-
" "
always remain the difficulty of obtaining good fylde's was a good type. Many of
Susan
mates for the queens, as males in this variety the cats exhibited have either too much or
are almost as rare as in the tortoiseshells. It too little white, and often there is a grave sus-
would seem that the corresponding males to picion of tabby amongst the black and orange.
tortoiseshells and tortoiseshell-and-whites are Coming down to the present-day cats, I may
"
orange and fawns. I do not remember ever mention Mr. Furze's Beauty of Birming-
having seen or heard of a long-haired tortoise- ham " and " Peggy Primrose," both of which
shell-and-white torn cat ;
and as regards notable he disposed of after shows where they were
females, these have never at any time been exhibited. There is no doubt these cats are
numerous, and few really good specimens have very taking in the show pen, where darker
been exhibited. feline beauties are at a considerable dis-
The most perfect type was Lady Marcus advantage.
"
Beresford's Cora," an imported cat of great I have had a difficulty in obtaining any
size and beautiful shape. Her colouring and good photographs illustrative of these cats,
markings were lovely, and her round snub for, as with tortoiseshells, the colouring cannot
face and short nose lent great charm to this be successfully portrayed by any grada-
unique specimen. It was a grievous loss to tions in tone, so that the orange and black
her owner and the fancy when poor " Cora " both appear dark on a white ground, and
14*
214 THE BOOK OP 1HE CAT.
thus the individuality of the breed is lost. black or orange cats, and it is a toss-up what
It is painting, when it may be
different in the progeny may be. Creams are sometimes
generally noticed that artists choose to depict bred by mating with blues, but there is alwaj'S
these broken-coloured cats in preference to the danger of white spots and white toes. I
the self-coloured ones. In Madame Ronner's once mated a pretty tortoiseshell - and - white
lovely pictures, of which several adorn these with my silver " Cambyses," and the result
pages, it will be remarked that almost all was a good pale silver and an almost un-
the fascinating fluffy kittens are patched in marked cream. Considering all things, I can-
colour. not prophesy any future for this breed in the
As I have remarked, one of the reasons why fancy in fact, I think there is every chance
;
these cats have not been seriously taken up of these really pretty pussies disappearing
by fanciers the
difficulty experienced in
is from our midst. At the Westminster show
selecting suitable mates that will be likely to of 1903 there was only one solitary entry in
perpetuate the breed. In fact, this is not the tortoiseshell-and-white class This was
!
possible with any degree of certainty. Tor- Miss Yeoman's " Mary II.," whose portrait
toiseshell - and - whites may be crossed with appears on the foregoing page.
AT HOMK.
(From a Painting by Madame Ronner.)
21 =
"
MISS SIMPSON'S BROWN TABBY PERSIMMON.
CHAPTER XIX.
BROWN TABBY PERSIANS.
prize-winning kitten was a brown that no Persian cats are so healthy and
MY first
tabby, exhibited many years ago at the

He became my stud
strong as
and as such
brown tabbies. They are a hardy
have frequently recom-
Crystal Palace. race, I
" mended novices in the fancy to start with a
cat Rajah," called after an Indian prince
" "
who was visiting us at that time. Rajah good brown queen, and with ordinary care they
was wholly and devotedly attached to the may reasonably expect to rear litter after
lady of his choice, namely, my blue Persian litter without the difficulties and disasters that
"
Mater." These two names occur in the one hears of in connect on with the bringing
pedigree of many a prize-winner of the present up of Persian kittens in general.
and very numerous were the lovely litters I know there is a kind of idea that brown
day,
I reared from this eminently respectable pair tabbies are a common sort of cat, and this
" "
of Persians. I never knew either Rajah or breed is often spoken of in a most dis-
"Mater" troubled with a day's illness, and if paraging way. Then, again, the ignorant in
one of their kittens had died such an event the cat world have an extraordinary notion
would have caused as much astonishment as that tabbies are always females Perhaps !
grief. But I must return to my tabbies. because we sometimes hear a meddlesome or

I cannot explain it, but certain it is that gossiping woman called a "tabby" and I
of all the feline race (blues not excepted) the had a dear old friend who always bade me
" "
warmest corner in heart has always been
my beware of tabby bipeds among catty com-
kept for the brown tabbies. There is some- munities !
thing so comfortable and homely about The word "tabby" is supposed to have had
these dear brownies they seem to have more its origin in a certain street in Bagdad called
and expressive countenances than
intelligent "Atab," which was
chiefly inhabited by
any other cats, and I am firmly of opinion weavers of a particular kind of material called
2l6 THE BOOK OF THE CAT.
"
Atabi." This is what Harrison Weir says on tabbies the splashed or heavily marked, and
" '
the subject : The word tabby was derived
'
the barred or ticked. I think the former the
from a kind of taffeta, or ribbed silk, which handsomer breed, with the well denned and
when calendered, or what is now termed evenly balanced side markings, the dark spine
'
watered,' is by that process covered with line (not too wide), the clear
rings round the
wavy lines. This stuff in bygone times was chest (commonly called the " Lord
Mayor's
'
often called tabby,' hence the cat with lines chain "), the paws ringed in graduated bars to
or markings on its fur was called a tabby cat. the foot. On the head and face the markings
' '
Certain it is that the word tabby only should be very clear and distinct, the narrow
referred to the marking or stripes, not to the dark head lines running symmetrically till
absolute colour, for in they join the broad
'Wit and Drollery 'is spine-line. The ruff
the following : should be of the light
Her petticoat of satin, shade, and ears of the
Her gown of crimson same tone lend great
tabby. distinction to this cat.
Be that as it may, As in the other tabby
I think there is little breeds, the browns are
doubt that the fore- terribly addicted to
going was the origin white chins in fact,
;
of the term. Yet it I think it is

certainly
was also called the rarer to find a brown
brindled cat, or the \
tabby without this
tiger cat, and with V blemish than an

some the grey cat orange, more pains
'
graymalkin.'
'
We having been taken to
are told also by the eradicate the evil in
same authority that orange tabbies. There
tabby cats in Nor- " isno denying the fact
MISS MELI.OK'S BROWN TABBY LADY SHOLTO.'
folk and Suffolk were
(Photo: N. N. Stat/iam, Matlock Bridge.)
that brown tabbies
called cyprus cats, are a very neglected
cyprus being a reddish-yellow colour, so that breed, and at present the only one, except
the term may have applied to orange as well tortoiseshell -
and - white, that is not taken
as brown tabbies. The term " "
tiger cat is, I up by a specialist society. This is a crying
believe, often used in America, and it well shame, and it remains for some ardent admirer
describes the true type of a brown tabby. The of the dear brown tabbies to form a club,
groundwork should be of a bright tawny shade, and to try to breed really good specimens of
with a dash of burnt sienna, the markings a the golden-brown order not the drab or grey
;
dark seal brown almost black. As regards animals that are so frequently seen at our
the colour of eyes in brown tabbies, I prefer shows, and which are very far removed from
the golden or orange ;
but some of the finest the genuine article.
cats in this variety have possessed the green I do not think that any breed can produce
eye, and some fanciers are disposed to prefer such fascinating kittens. They have such re-
this colour, which I think should be the markably intelligent expressions, and, as a rule,
speciality of the silvers. Anyhow, a good the sturdy cobby shape and broad heads of
brilliant green is preferable to a washed-out brown tabbies are very conspicuous. This breed
undecided yellow. should distinctly be massive in build, with
There are two distinct types of brown plenty of bone and muscle ;
in fact, with
BROWN TABBY PERSIANS. 217
brown tabbies the larger the better, if well whether near or distant, this beautiful breed
proportioned. With the sterner sex brown will gain all the admiration and attention that
tabbies are decided favourites, and I cannot help it deserves. There is a distinct kind of brown
noticing that the very few fanciers who have tabby, so called, which may better be de-
taken up this breed amongst the gentler sex scribed as sable. These cats have not the
are what might be termed strong-minded. regular tabby markings, but the two colours
I have also remarked that when once are blended one with another, the lighter sable
fanciers start breeding brown tabbies they tone predominating. At the Crystal Palace
"CHAMPION CRYSTAL.
OWNCD BY C. H. JONES, PALMYRA, N.Y.
continue, and this cannot be truly said of Cat Show 1902 the class was for brown
of
other breeds silvers, for instance but I would
; tabby or sable. I was judging, and, considering
fain see a steady increase to the ranks of the mixed entries, I felt that markings must
breeders of brown tabby Persians, and more not be of the first importance, and so awarded
encouragement given at shows. I know that first and second to Miss Whitney's beautiful
as matters now stand fanciers complain they sable females, the third going to a well-marked
cannot get any market for their tabby kittens, though out of condition brown tabby. These
and that classification is poor at shows and sable-marked cats are rare, but still more beau-
prizes scarce. It is all too true, but
surely it is tiful would be a cat entirely of the one tawny
" "
a long lane that has no turning," and as every colour a self sable, without markings. The
dog has its day, so perhaps in the future, most suitable factors to obtain this colour,"
"
so writes Mrs. Balding, would probably be Very few and far between have been good
tortoiseshell - and - sable tabby, as free from brown tabbies in the history of the fancy.
marking and as red in ground colour as Amongst the males two names may be said
possible. Across of orange, bright coloured to stand out conspicuously Miss Southam's
" " "
and as nearly as obtainable from unmarked Birkdale Ruffie and my own Persim-
ancestors, would be Some nine years
useful. mon." Both these cats, of quite different types,
ago I purchased a dimly marked bright sable have gone to their rest.
Molly,' shown by Mrs. Davies
'
coloured cat, As regards the famous Birkdale strain, the
at the Crystal Palace, with a view to producing following account, kindly supplied to me by
' '
a self-coloured sable cat but Molly unfor-
;
Miss Southam, will be of interest :
"
tunately died, andabandoned the idea." The
I There is no doubt that, until quite recently,
nearest approach to a self-sable I have ever .our old friend the tabby has been deliberately
come across was a cat I obtained for the placed in the background, and regarded in the
Viscountess Esher, which had, alas been ! show world with an indifference which has
neutered. He was almost unmarked, and of proved an unmistakable stumbling block to the
the colour of Canadian sable, with golden eyes improvement of this particular breed.
"
a most uncommon specimen. Nor is this very much to be wondered at,
Another species is the spotted tabby, but I when we take into consideration the hideous
have never seen a true specimen in Persians. combination of the drab, colourless browns,
Some brown tabbies are ticked or spotted on dowdy greys, and indistinct markings which
the sides, but they have the spine line and had hitherto constituted the chief charms of
ings on neck, head, and tail. the typical tabby. Instead, it would appear
A ROOM IN BKAYKOKT CATTERY.

(Photo : W. Lawrence, Dublin.)
TABBY PERSIANS. 219
that the commonplace and unattractive grey

was openly encouraged, rather than otherwise ;
for, although the silver tabby was provided

with a classification of his own, only one class
"
was relegated to brown and grey tabbies,"
either colour being considered equally worthy
of carrying off premier honours !
"
It was at this period, when the nondescript
tabby was reigning supreme, that Champion

' '
Birkdale Ruffie made his debut in the show
world, my sister, Miss Emily Southam, being
the first to bring the sable tabby into prom-
inence. \Yhether, however, it was that the
public was not sufficiently up-to-date ap- to
preciate the sudden departure from the usual

sombre colours with which it had hitherto
been satisfied to a brilliant sable, or whether
he was particularly unfortunate in his choice
of judges, it is difficult to
say at any rate, it ;
was not until four years after his first appear-

ance in the show pen that he met with the
justice that his many beautiful points so
richly deserved. In fact, after exhibiting him
at several shows, where he was deliberately
MISS WHITNEY AND HER NEUTER
passed over for other and most inferior cats,
HROWN TABBY.
he being in the pink of condition, my sister
(Photo : W. Lawrence, Dublin.)
was so annoyed at the treatment he received
that she simply burnt the schedules which was judge. Again, in 1897, he was shown with
poured in upon her and kept him at home, great success at the Crystal Palace, winning
determined he should not be further insulted first prize, championship, and special.
" '
by such flagrant injustice ! This was the occasion of Birkdale
"
was England Cat Show
'
It at the \Yest of Ruffie's last appearance before the public,
' '
in 1894 that Birkdale Ruffie scored his first as was during the following month my sister
it
real success I believe under Mr. Gresham was taken dangerously ill, and for this reason
winning two first prizes in the open and novice his pen at the Brighton show was empty.
classes and two specials. Here at last his After her death we determined to subject him
beautiful sable colouring, his dense black no more to the trials and discomforts of the
markings, and wonderfully expressive show pen, so Ruffie,' who was now seven
'
face
were appreciated. years old and a great pet, both for his own
''
The year 1896 was the occasion of his sake and that of his mistress, only too gladly
sensational win at the Crystal Palace show. retired into the privacy of home life, spending
He simply swept the board, carrying every- the cold winters by the fireside in his own
thing before him first prize,
championship, little snug retreat, and in the long summer days
several specials, and the special given
by the lying under his bower of shady hops, lazily
'
King (then Prince of Wales) for the best watching his facsimile, his little son Master
rough-coated cat in the show, the prize being Ruffie,' growing up more beautiful each day
a handsomely framed portrait of the King and ready to take up the thread of his father's
with his autograph attached. Mrs. Vallance famous career in the exhibition world.
22O THE BOOK OF THE CAT.
" ' '

made which makes him appear to be a some-
Into the latter Master Ruffie his legs,
debut without any numerous anxieties
of the what smaller cat than his father. In fact, at
encountered by his celebrated parent. The the Crystal Palace show he was pronounced
way was paved for him, and when he appeared by the judges
" '
to be perfect in every point.
'
at the Crystal Palace show in 1899, in all the Birkdale Ruffie was noted for the ex-
full glory of his youth and beauty, it was treme beauty of his expression he had cer- ;
difficult for the judges to realise that it was tainly one of the most characteristic faces ever
not their old favourite who was now confront- seen in a cat, and his son inherits the same.
ing them through the wires ! The former was constantly the subject of
"
Master Ruffie has only been shown on
' '
sketches in the illustrated papers, those by
two occasions in 1897 as a kitten, and in Mr. Louis Wain being especially lifelike.
"
1899 at the Crystal Palace, when he returned Some of
'
Master Ruffle's
'
descendants are,
home with his box literally filled with cards, I believe, in the possession of Miss Witney,
his winnings including three first prizes, four and have met with great success in the show
specials, and a championship. pen.
" "
I am sorry we can manage to get no really Our cattery is built on the principle of
good photo of Master Ruffie.' Time after
'
shepherds' huts, each house having a separate
time we have attempted it in studios, out of wire run, with shrubs planted, and a thick
doors, by means of professionals and amateurs wall of ivy in the background, which gives a
including many kind relatives and friends picturesque appearance to the whole of the
In summer a mass of luxuriant
'
with their ever-ready little Kodaks ! Master little colony.
Ruffie
'
steadfastly refuses to face the camera. hops makes a welcome shade from the hot
Again and again the button is pressed in sun.
"
vain, and only the glimpse of a vanishing tail The houses are warmed by gas stoves, on
upon the negative is all we have to show as which the cats love to purring contentedly,
sit,
' '
Ruffle's portrait ! and with the pretty
" '
But we have only to look at Birk- curtained windows, car-
'
dale Ruffle's' picture, and we have Master pets, wickerwork arm-
'
Ruffie too The only difference between
!
chairs, and cosily cush-
them is that the. latter is a very cobby ioned benches, I think
' '
little fellow, being perhaps shorter in the Master Ruffie and his
seven feline playmates
have a pretty easy time
in this tempestuous
world !
'
The one bone of
contention that the cats have
is
appropriated the sunniest cor-

ner of the garden, their houses
having the much desired south-
ern aspect, which our gardener
looks at with longing eyes for
his beloved peaches and early
peas. Happily, he bears the

little occupants no grudge, and
when we go from home takes

MISS WHITNEY'S
"
BKAYKOKT PRINCESS. over the whole of the cattery
(Photos: W.Lawrence, Dublin.) into his charge."
my dear from the country to London obliged me to

give a few
Here let me details of
"Persimmon" was a well- board him out.
departed puss.
"Persimmon" sired some splendid kittens,
known character in the fancy, and had the
distinction of being a champion in the National
which whenever shown proved themselves
-
their
Cat Club and the Cat Club. It was in 1899 worthy of sire's
long prize winning
at Brighton, I was greatly taken record. At the Crystal Palace show of 1902
when, judging
" "
LOXSDALE CHRYSALIS AND LONSDALE MOTH.
BRED BY MRS. GREGORY.
(Photo: W. G. Lai'is, Bath.)
with a wonderful-headed brown tabby that Miss Whitney exhibited two of his progeny
came under my awards. I gave him first a superb neuter "Persimmon Laddie,"
in his and when later I obtained a
class, who covered himself with glory and his
catalogue and saw his price was a very reason- cage with cards, and a beautiful kitten
able one, I purchased him, and I may say that had previously won at Manchester and
I never made a better bargain, in or out of has since been purchased at a high figure by
" "
the cat fancy. Persimmon (as I after- a lover of the brownies. At the Specialist
"
wards called him, in memory of the Derby Show at Bath Persimmon
in January, 1903,
"
winner) was bred by Mr. Heslop, of Darlington, Laddie was again and won in
to the fore,
that astute and clever cat fancier and his ;
the open and ring classes. Persimmon " was
"
"
grandsire was Brown Prince," a noted a great loss, for good brown tabbies are
Northern prize-winning tabby. I have never rare. I hope, however, to purchase a fine,
"
seen such a wonderful head as that which well-grown son of my dear old Simmy," and
made " Persimmon's " chief glory. as "Persimmon II." I trust it may be a case
His face was very round, and his nose of "like son," and that by-and-
father like
quite a snub, and he was blessed with tiny by we may quite a long list of brown
find
" "
ears and short tail. His shape was perfect, tabby Persians at stud in the columns of
but the markings on his back were rather too the catty papers.
heavy, and alas he had a white under-lip.
! I thinkmay with truth assert that brown
I
But, taking him all round, he was a grand tabbies arcmore appreciated, 'and that better
specimen, and a most lovable puss. He fretted specimens are produced in the North than in
himself to death when a change of residence the South of England. I have mentioned
sixteen in all. When, how-

" "
ever, Queen Caterpillar
was mated to Mrs. Gregory's
blue Persian, her kittens were
all black.
A picture of two pretty
brown tabby kittens bred by
Mrs. Gregory appears in this
chapter. I am happy to say
that Mrs. Gregory intends

to continue breeding brown
tabbies,and has kept a
handsome specimen from one
MRS. D'ARCY HILDYARD'S " SULPHURLAND. of her recent litters to per-
:
(Photo: BoxeH & Co., Scarboro'.) petuate the strain. Mrs.

Drury, of Graffham, is very
Mr. Heslop as having owned some splendid faithful to the brownies, and in her lovely
specimens, and at one time he used to exhibit old-fashioned cottage near Petworth she is
quite a number at our Southern shows. Miss always surrounded by several of her pet
Eggett, of Manchester, has a grand tabby of pussies. She writes as follows :
" "
the golden order named Cleopatra." Mrs. When first I received a margarine basket,
Whittaker some nice specimens, and
has and out of it came a little brown fluffy kitten,
Mrs. Mackenzie's "Cleo" was much admired Iknew no more about Persian cats than the
at the Westminster show in 1900, when she man in the moon in fact, he probably knew
took first in her class. Mrs. Ricketts has more, as he is frequently the only witness to
always been partial to the breed, and Mrs. their nocturnal gambols. I had heard of such
" "
Stead's Timber has done some winning. things as Persian cats, yet never remember
" "
Miss Gray's Lady Babbie was one of the having seen one. However, kind friends soon
"
finest brown queens that used to visit Per- gave me a helping hand, and as time went on
simmon," and another was Miss Meeson's and my fluffy kitten became a
fluffy cat, being
"
Jolie," whom I used greatly to admire. passionately fond of animals, I soon found out
'
Miss Derby Hyde exhibits a wonderful copper- the very fascinating ways of dear Miss Wiggs,'
"
coloured brown tabby called Maraquetta," so named because the fur on her head in her
who, if only possessed of a good head and kitten days would stand erect, and it is the
shorter face, would be a splendid specimen. only name she condescended to answer to.
"
Mrs. Davies formerly owned Susan," a cat She has been and is so still, in spite of all her
now in the possession of Mrs. G. Wilson, very maternal cares and five years' experience
good in colour and markings, but failing in one of the healthiest pussies imaginable, and
head and face. Mr. Western, of Sandy, has has never had one day's illness since she came
"
a good male in Wynstay Monarch." In into possession, though I believe, in her
my
the West of England Mrs. Hellings and Mrs. babyhood, distemper nearly carried her off ;
Gregory are admirers and breeders of brown and all her children have been equally healthy
tabbies. in fact, I have never lost one of her kittens,
Mrs. Gregory, of Bath, started breeding which is, I imagine, almost a unique experi-
brown tabbies in 1899. Her female (a black) ence.
" " ' '
she mated to her stud cat Azor," and, Miss Wiggs came from a blue father and
curiously enough, all the litters have consisted a silver mother, but has, with one exception,
of brown tabbies, the kittens numbering always had brown babies, even when mated to
"
a silver. The varied beauties of blues, silvers, Perhaps, financially, blues or silvers may
whites, and blacks have never taken such a hold be greater successes, but brownies have been
upon me as compared with the fascination of my first love and will always remain so. I
the browns, and it is quite a wonder to me am only sorry I cannot show what a lovely
' '
more do not breed them. Nothing

fanciers head and sweet face dear Miss Wiggs has, but
looks handsomer, to my mind, than a rich brown, she absolutely declines to be photographed.
"
tabby male with tawny markings, like a young hope more fanciers may realise
In time I
lion, and judging from my experience they how and markings a good brown
rich in colour
amply repay any trouble taken by their loving tabby is, and then we may hope to see this
beautiful breed brought more to the fore at all
ways and robust health. I have a son of
' '
'
Miss Wiggs
'
and poor old Persimmon now, the leading shows.
" ' '
who follows me like a little dog, even out in the As

Mis? Wiggs has been the foundress
road, and goes for a walk running by my side. of my cattery, perhaps a short description of
" her would not be amiss. She is a ticked tabby
Perhaps what would astonish a stranger
most on coming to see me is the way my catty that is to say, she has not the broad, dark
family lives in peace and contentment with stripes with tawny splashes her ground colour;
the dogs, and very often I find two or three is a beautiful golden brown, and down the
kittens in the dogs' basket very busily occupied back and sides are pencilled stripes, more like
cleaning my
little bull-terrier. It is a point of the markings on a silver. Round her face,
honour amongst the happy family that they nose, and ears she has most lovely golden brown
never touch each other's food, and very rarely shades eyes are green they used to be
;
is this broken, and not infrequently we see amber her head is very broad and well shaped
; ;
three, and perhaps four, cats sitting round the and her expression is very sweet.
dog while he eats his dinner, waiting for any "When mated to a silver, as she has been
leavings, and the same with the dog. Persians twice, the litters have been equally divided
have the reputation of being bad mousers. two silvers and two brownies but both silvers ;
'
Miss Wiggs makes quite the exception, and
'
and browns in that case had broad dark and
on one occasion caught and killed two mice light markings, in no way resembling the ticking
at the same time one she held ;
in her paws and the other in

her mouth. Young rats also
she has many times brought in,
to show what a useful little
person she is, and her children
follow in her footsteps.
"
In a great measure I at-
tribute my brownies' good
health to the open-air life they
lead. From early morning to
when darkness approaches they
have the run of a large garden,
even on a wet day. They go
in and out of the houses as
they like never sleep indoors,

;
always in a very dry little out-

side cattery in summer on
'
PIONEER BOBS.
benches, and in winter in nice
OWNED BY Miss M. WASHBURN, SMITH'S FALLS, ONT.
boxes with straw. (Photo: E. F. Briggs, Smith's Falls, Ont.)
224 THE BOOK OF THE CAT;
of the mother. But when mated to poor old Palace a mass of red-brown fur, of the style
' '
Persimmon kittens have been equally
the of "Persimmon Laddie," but with more dis-
divided, always two resembling the maternal tinct markings and a very keen, almost fierce,
'
side exactly, and two following out Per- expression ;
in fact, he looked like a wild
simmon's '
beautiful splashes. When mated animal !
to a brown tabby all the kittens were brown. Then " Master Ruffie " appeared as a kitten,
She has never thrown a black but her ;
and later as a mild edition of his sire. From
'
daughter, whose father was Abdul Zaphir,' this celebrated strain Miss Whitney's lovely
and who I also mated to Persimmon,' had '
sables are descended. This enthusiastic fan-
two blacks and two very dark tabbies in her cier has kindly written some notes on her
' '
litter. Wiggs has in all her five litters had favourite breed. Her cats are all pets, and
only two females. Her average is four or five . lead a life
luxury of in their town and country
kittens ;
she looks after them entirely herself, houses on the other side of the Irish Channel.
and has never been the worse for so doing ;
Miss Whitney says :
"
but I do not allow her more than one family I am
pleased to see that brown tabbies are
a year, and until the kittens can lap she is fed coming to the front again, after being such a
every two hours." long time in the background. It now rests
The best-marked brown tabby I have ever with fanciers of this charming variety of the
"
seen was Lady Marcus Beresford's' Bas- feline species to improve them in all points.
sorah," who was unfortunately given away We hear often that they should be a rich tan
and lost. Her markings looked like oil paint- in ground colour,clear and dense in markings,
ing, they stood out in such distinct relief- profuse in coat, ruff and frill, large round head,
Another specimen of a different type was small ears, and no white lip. I should con-
imported by Lady Marcus Beresford, namely sider this a perfect specimen but where is such ;
"
Kismet." She was of the ticked order, with to be had ? I do not say it will not be obtained,
small pencilled markings, very compact and but up to this have never seen it.
I Now
cobby in shape. Mrs. Herring has always what we are to endeavour is to breed up to
possessed good brown tabbies. To begin with, this high standard. This will take time, no
"
Adolphe," who used formerly to win every- doubt but, above all, do not let us give up
;
"
thing till his son, Prince Tawny Boy," everything for markings, though they are very
stepped into his shoes, to be displaced later essential.
" "
by his own son, Prince Adolphe," and his My idea of a brown
tabby is that it
"
exquisite daughter, Floriana," now in must tawny ground colour. How
be of a rich
" "
America. Another good son of Adolphe's could a brown tabby be called a brown if
"
was Mrs. Bonar's Lord Salisbury." To go it is only a greyish drab ? I should prefer to do
back as far as I can recollect, there was Mr. without such perfect markings, but to have
" " "
Horrel's Nero," and Mrs. Pearce's Juliet the more desirable rich colour, and, above all,
" " Lind-
and Rosebud," also Miss Malony's plenty of coat, ruff, and frill if it has not ;
"
fields Lion and the Hon. Mrs. McLaren these latter qualities, it could not be called a
Morrison's
"
Cetewayo
"
and " Mazawattee," Persian, which must have an abundance of
this latter a really wonderful cat which was im- fine soft-textured coat. If we only breed for
'
ported by Mrs. Davies at the same time as the marking, why not mate to a short-hair,'
"
celebrated Nizam," and reported to be his which is more likely to be perfect in that point ?
brother. Anyway, he resembled him greatly But then, where would be our true Persian ?
in everything but colour. Now, as to white lip, I have never seen a good
For sables we, of course, go to the Birkdale brown tabby without it, but I hear that there
" I would
strain. I remember the incomparable Birk- are such, though they fail in colour.
" cat with
dale Ruffie in his full glory at the Crystal prefer the well-coated good colour
and markings and a white one that lip to I feel sure I shall remain faithful to them to
failed in these other
points had no and the end of my career as a cat fancier. At
white lip (I do not mean when it extends to a present I have not a cat of any other colour
white throat). Now if we happen to breed a .
in my cattery.
"
good kitten without a white lip, and should I still have '
Ruffle,' who is now a very

strive to mate her to a really well-marked large splendidly marked, but per-
neuter,
stud cat, even should he fail in colour perhaps not quite up to the standard in other
'
haps we might get even one kitten nearly points for the English show bench. Bray-
'
It would Fina say, a sable tabby, being
reaching perfection as the result. fort is, I
may
reward the patience, expense, and time but ; particularly rich in colour all throughout
we need never expect a pro- indeed, more often of an auburn
fusely coated cat to show as
4an than brown. She is very
distinct markings as an in- profuse in coat, carrying a long
feriorly coated one will. I body-coat and a big ruff and
breed nothing but brown tab- frill. She is a very large cat,
bies, but cannot say I have yet with plenty of bone, and well
obtained perfection. I have, made, with a fine-shaped head.
"
LOKNA DOONE."
BUED BY MRS. ELLIS, TORONTO.
however, secured coat and colour, and expect She was once mistaken for a male by a well-
' '
to attain the other desirable points in the near known judge. Fina was bred by Miss
future, as we must all persevere, but always
' '
G. Southam, and is by Master Ruffie ex
'
let us breed up to the standard of the true Bluette,' her sire being a son of the famous
'
Persian. Champion Birkdale Ruffle.'
" "
became interested in cats by being
I first She was already a winner when I pur-
given a nice brown tabby Persian kitten, which chased her, and has since won many times,
'
I called Ruffle,' and got very fond of him ; including second and special at Bristol, 1899,
but as he seemed lonely I thought of getting in a mixed sex class, being beaten by a male.
another kitten as a companion for him, so I At Belfast, in 1900 the following year she was
then purchased a pretty little silver tabby beaten out of first by her sister,
'
Brayfort
from Miss Cochran ;
but after some time, of Princess.' She then took second at West-
all the varieties I saw, none pleased me so well minster, 1902 first at Reading,
;
and first
as the brown tabbies. have gone
This breed I and championship at the Crystal Palace, 1901
in for the few and 1902. Again
altogether during past years, and first at the Bath Specialist
15
Show in the same year, where her gorgeous late

'
Champion Persimmon
'
ex
'
Fina.' He
colouring was called in question and an un-
_
won first and special at the kitten show in
supported protest was made that she was dyed !
October, 1902, and first and two specials at
"
BIRKDALE RUFFIE."
'
(Photo :
J. A. Kay, Soulhport.)
She is a most successful breeding cat, her the Crystal Palace show, 1902 his wins speak
;
produce being usually winners. Her sister, to his merit.

'
"
Brayfort Princess,' is also a sable tabby, and I find all cats very strong and healthy,
my
carries an immense coat, ruff, and frill it is ; and even in the coldest winter they never have
denser than Fina's,' and I. fancy but for the
'
artificial heat. I attribute having never lost

' '
latter would have been more heard
Princess a pet after a show to taking them away at
of as a winner, as, except on one or two occa- night. Unless something unforeseen
very
sions, she has been usually beaten by 'Fina.' occurred, nothing would induce me to leave
" '
Brayfort Persimmon Laddie is by Cham-

' '
a cat of mine in a show.
'
pion Persimmon ex
'
Brayfort Fina.' He made I have mating to a good brown

found
his public appearance at Bristol when he was tabby much the most successful. I tried
four months
old, taking first and special in a mating to an orange, but did not like the
tabby kitten class and third in novice, against
'
results. I always mated to the late Cham-
an entry of twenty-five adults then he won ; pion Persimmon,' and had never fewer than
first and special in kittens, and second in open six kittens in a litter sometimes eight all
to his mother's first at Belfast in 1900 also he ;
strong and healthy. Twice only have I lost
took first and special for best long-haired any, and on these occasions the fault lay with
neuter at Manchester in 1901 first, Liverpool ; ;
the foster mothers.
and and two " In
first specials at the Crystal Palace, the spring and summer my cats get
1902. He is too well known to comment on. a run out in the garden every day; the two
He is a wonderful sable colour, and is superb neuters go on leads, but the females have
' '
in coat. Brayfort Sable Boy is also by the their indeed, unless I were present
liberty ;
"
Lucy Johnstone is the fortunate owner
Miss
'
'
Fina would not leave the house. Their
'
rooms look out on the grass terrace, so they of Persimmon Squirrel,' a son of the noted
'
can come in or out as they please till their brown tabby Persimmon,' who lately died.
breakfast time, which is at about ten o'clock. Good brown tabbies are very scarce, and she
They are groomed every morning between should congratulate herself on this possession,
8 and 8.30 o'clock, winter and summer, as, according to all accounts, he is destined to
and always fed
regularly. Theirsleeping make a good hit."
houses, as in photo, are about four feet long, Another American lady, Mrs. Gotwalts, of
lined round with oilcloth, so they can be Pittsburg, wrote to me for a brownie, and
washed when necessary. In the winter the I sent her one bred by Mrs. Bignell, and
bedding is hay, and in summer, shavings. The the cat has, I believe, had some good litters.
houses are sufficiently long to allow for sanitary The most famous brown tabby, however, over
boxes during the breeding time. I find Hall's the herring pond was Mr. E. N. Barker's won-
"
washable distemper very nice for the cattery derful King Humbert." This cat arrived
walls, and looks so bright and fresh.
it The in America in 1885, and made a considerable
floor-covering is linoleum." stir in catty circles. Mr. Barker is said to
In America brown tabbies are beginning to have refused a thousand dollars for him from
find favour, and several good specimens have a New York millionaire. I remember when
"
been exported. Arlington Hercules," who Mr. Barker was over, acting as judge at the
took first at Westminster in 1901, was shipped Westminster Cat show, he sought, but did
to Mrs. Sarmiento and Mrs. Cutler, and I sent a not find anything to beat his noted brown
"Persimmon" kitten out by Mrs. Robert Locke tabby now gone to its last home. Mr. Barker,
to Mrs. Clinton Locke, the president of the writing of this breed, says :
Beresford Club. He was passed on to her "If I were asked suddenly why I admire
honorary secretary, and in Field and Fancy of brown tabby Persians, the liking must
December, 1902, the following notice appears : be partly attributed to face markings and
"
BIKKDALE RUFFIE S CATTERY.
colour, and to one who grows accustomed to coloured and smarter show cat never stood in
these they fascinating and add to the
are a pen or outside, and he loved to show himseli
general beauty of the cat, and seem natural and off. The best kitten bred from him was
"
as though they ought to be there, and one is Jasper." He was
very short in leg, and
not so overweighted with a sense of continual quite lost in coat, his feet being hardly visible."
sameness as may be apparent in a whole colour. To the readers of that very excellent
I must confess, personally speaking, I have American publication The Cat Journal the
become used to bars and stripes. I miss them handsome portrait of " Crystal," the brown
when I contemplate a self-coloured Persian. tabby, is very familiar. The editor, Mr.
"
I once had a good many brown tabby C. H. Jones, writes thus to me '"
I am :
Persians, and people did not fancy them, sending you some pictures as promised. The
'
as they said, 'They are so like ordinary is son of
'
large photo Champion Crystal,'
'
cats a great mistake ;
but by gentle Humbert,' a beautiful cat as to type and
persuasion I managed to get one or two disposition. A peculiar thing about Crys- '
adopted. One lady some time afterwards tal's

'
kittens is that they do not show very
'
candidly confessed, I could not now be satis- long hair till they are several months old."
fied with any other kind, I should miss the And now a few remarks as regards the
stripes so much on the face.' That is just it ;
mating of brown tabbies. have tried
I
in a tabby you have a little more than your several experiments, but if were wishing
I
neighbours, who go in for self-coloured cats, to breed fine specimens I should continue
and, though for the time being they are not to mate brown tabbies with brown tab-
quite so fashionable, you can chuckle to your- bies. Such mating frequently results in a
you own one, and feel quietly superior
self if black or two, and these are generally good
to fashionand the common herd, and hold your ones. The orange cross is sometimes success-
tabby still closer to your heart, and purr ful inintroducing a brighter tone, but I confess
softly yourself with 'satisfaction at its
to I have not had very good results from these
possession for I think one may say that for
; attempts. I have on several occasions mated
good all-round, everyday, reliable qualities, blues to my brown tabby stud, and although
the brown tabby stands pre-eminent. blue tabbies have appeared in the litters, I have
" His constitut'on
being good, he is not also obtained blues with very grand heads,
peevish he stands cold and heat, change

; plenty of bone, and massive build. My famous
"
of climate and surroundings, better on an Beauty Boy," a well-known winner and sire
" "
average than any. Brown tabbies should have of bygone days, was bred from Rajah (a
the under-coat a good golden hue, the markings brown) and "Mater" (a blue). I have been
black, clear, and distinct, rather too many told by silver breeders that a brown tabby cross
than too few. A good-shaped body, lots of with chinchillas has often proved advantageous.
bone, a bold head, red nose, golden eyes, well It might be imagined that the silvers would
marked on the chest, and no light colour on be tinged with brown or streaked, but I have
the lips and chin. These cats may with been assured this is by no means usual, and
advantage be a good size. With care, the that the litters consist of good brown tabbies
under colour may be bred to a grand copper and equally pure silvers.
colour a grey hue in brown tabbies is most
;
A well-known breeder of silvers says :
"
undesirable." Although it may be incorrect to cross silvers
As regards brown tabbies in America, " King and browns, it is often most successful. My
Humbert " and his children have always held first torn was a brown tabby with a white
"
their own. Humbert " was bred in England, chin, and being mated with a silver queen the
and as he is now dead I may be allowed to say kittens were good browns and exquisite silvers,
that when fit and in good condition a better- and there were lots of winners amongst them.
Many were very pure in colour,

of the silvers BROWN TABBIES IN AMERICA.
'
with lovely markings. My old Climax,' The brown tabby cat, whose fate seemed to hang in
'
the balance for some time, is now, in America, on the
whose pedigree was pure silver (' Topso and
road to social prominence, and daily we hear of the
Lady Pink '), was the sire of the noted
'
' ' progress of the breed, so that the classes next winter
brown tabby Birkdale Ruffie.' seem to promise greater results than ever. From all
Before closing my article, I would remark over we hear of brown tabbies being bred and reared,
that the brown tabby and sable, though often and, what is more, finding homes at remunerative
In looking at the reasons for the popularity
classed together, must not be confounded. prices.
of the browns we do not have far to seek, for when
The brown tabby is supposed to be the common
once well tried, these cats wheedle their way into your
ancestor of all our cats, and hence the tendency affections by the strength and vitality they display,
to revert to that colour, as in the case of the
blue Rock pigeon. This being the case,
surely we should have brown tabby

cats
more nearly approaching perfection than any
other colour. They appear in very unex-
pected places in a litter of chinchillas or
blacks, or among our oranges, and sometimes
where no brown ancestor can be traced. In
the brown tabby there seems to be little or no
inclination to lose the markings, as in other
tabbies rather the contrary, for they overdo
;
themselves sometimes, and form into solid

black patches, thus causing the dark saddle,
which is a serious fault in this breed. Query :
Would generations in-breeding produce a

of
self brown, as with oranges and chinchillas ?
I rather doubt it, as I think the common

" "
ancestor would, so to speak, chip in and
assert himself.
As regards the sables, I may remark
that they are late in maturing and do not
BROWN TABBY GOOXIE.
acquire their marvellous colouring till about
the second year. Anyway, they rarely make as a rule ;
and the general average being level in their
a sensation on their first
appearance. As I temper, with plenty of common sense, as well as bold,
am " lovable are satisfactory to deal with.
write I thinking of Persimmon Laddie," cats, very
Besides these attributes, when bred properly, their
who seems have developed his glorious
to
colour is most fascinating, and has a faculty of grow-
copper coat in the course of a year, and when ing upon one, and weaker colours seem tame by
seen at the Crystal Palace show of 1902 was comparison.
a"s near
perfection in the matter of colouring So far as we can
say, that as regards the brown
as could be desired. I hope that in time this tabbies, the whites and orange, there have been more
concentrated efforts to breed good ones by design
breed of Persians may find more admirers, and
than in any of the colours, though the silver breeders
that with patience and perseverance a really
are now coming up.
good strain of grand-coloured, dark-chinned, Taking a general look at our cats of this colour, we
and above all splendidly marked brown tabby have little to be ashamed of, and the stock is good
cats maybe seen at our shows. enough to make the nucleus of a fine lot of show cats,
for they inherit their goodness from several genera-
In America, as will be seen from the follow-
tions of the colour, which is much to the point.
ing extract from Field and Fancy, the brownies Our breeders will find that to breed good tabbies
are making good headway they will have to keep to blood lines, select the best-
:
15*
marked ones, and not switch about in search of the cat with a narrow band down the centre of the
all sorts of blood crosses for the way to breed tabbies
; back, and thin, narrow lines radiating therefrom.
is to keep to the colour and get the marks, which too These marks may be very distinct when the cat is
many crosses with solid-coloured cats are liable to young, but are not strong enough for a long-haired
spoil. After a time the purely bred and carefully cat, and the marks are lost when the coat grows.
bred strains will stand out and perpetuate themselves, Though these cats are not the best of exhibition cats,
and the chance-breds go to the wall.
will they are very useful to breed to those too heavily
It has been surmised that the reason why the marked. No. 2 is the cat that is heavily marked and
browns are so hardy is that possibly they more carries too much black, and is often too grey in his
nearly approach the natural colour of cats in a wild body colour, but these, by being carefully bred to
state, and are perhaps not quite so artificial but ;
other colours, may throw the desired cat or No. 3, ;
the number that will be bred of superlative colouring the cat with the orange body colour and the distinct
to fill the standard from a show point of view will black marks covering about a third of the surface
never be too numerous to command
high prices, and of the cat. This latter we hope to see in greater
the greater the competition the greater the value of numbers now that an organised effort is being made
the variety, as we see in our dogs. For it is in the to breed the colour true.
popular breeds that the prices rule the highest, and A great of our browns are clear of one great
many
the scarce ones seldom realise the same figures, fault, which the light chin and throat, and it is
is
because there is not the same keen competition to to be hoped that this will be continued.
get the best. Another fault that wants improving, and which is
When we look back we can call to mind quite a the prevailing fault in one of our prominent strains,
few good brown tabbies in the last seven years, and isa rather sour green eye, and this has been the cause
not very many bad ones, and for uniform quality our of somethem having to take a back seat on occa-
of
browns have been the equal of any colour. sions. yeSar was fortunately a great educator
Last
Breeders should be careful to select those with the for some of our best breeders, and they are now
brown or red body colour, and with the stripes as dis- experimenting along the right lines, and are aware,
tinct as possible. In our own experience with the when they lose, why it is so. As the years roll on
colour we have found three varieties, and these are those who do learn will not expect to win over better
best described as they appear at birth. No. i is cats just because they think they ought.
A TRIO OF TABBIES.
(Photo: C. ReiJ, Wishaw.)
231
A PICTURESQUE GKOUP.
CHAPTER XX.
"
ANY OTHER COLOUR PERSIANS.
the early days of the fancy all sorts and and rightly so, for by degrees the various
IN conditions of cats were entered in this breeds have been improved, and the number
class. Blacks, whites, and tabbies were of specimens have increased, and the execu-
considered important enough to have classes tives of shows have gone with the times and
assigned to them then the rest were all huddled

; provided separate classes for each breed as
and muddled together in the "any other vari- occasion seemed to arise. So orange and cream
"
ety class. Even it is no easy
in these days cats are no longer relegated to what we now
" "
matter to place the awards in a mixed class ;
call the any other colour class, and tortoise-
but formerly the judge must have felt puzzled shells and tortoiseshell-and-whites are sepa-
over the prizes, and probably finally gave the rately dealt with therefore it is only tabby-
;
highest awards to the breed of cat which he and-whites, nondescript smokes, blue tabbies,
most admired. I do not mean anything per- and black-and-whites that are received into
"
sonal ; but, as I write,I recollect a
very large the fold of the somewhat despised any other
"
class in 1887 at the Crystal Palace, two
years colour class. Blues and blacks with white
before a class for blues was instituted. Mr. spots used to be entered in this class, but of
A. A. Clarke was judging, and a female blue, recent years both cat clubs have wisely decided
"
Fanny," which I had given to Mrs. W. M. that such cats must be entered in their own
Hunt as a birthday present, was awarded first. classes, for a blue is a blue and a black a black,
She was a beautiful specimen, and but for her and having a blemish does not alter their
green eyes would have been a remarkable cat breed, but takes so many points away from
even in these up-to-date days of the fancy. them and, of course, their chances of success
;
"
Whereas, therefore, for many years this any even with every other quality is small indeed
"
other variety class was the largest in the when in competition with pure self-coloured
show, it has gradually become beautifully less cats.
ablest judges now, alas no longer in our !
midst wrote thus in Our Cats of December

1900 :
SIR, In your issue of the 24th I notice at the

meeting of the Silver Society Mr. Boutcher asked the
opinion re the decision of myself at the Palace as
against that of Mr. House at Brighton. In defence
of my own award, I
unhesitatingly say that, in
the same "
classification as at the Palace, Lord
Sylvester's" class was the A.O.C., in which I
fearlessly awarded him
first prize. Of course, Mr.
House has just as much right to his opinion as I have
to mine but, whether right or wrong, / do know
;
" Lord "

Sylvester is not a smoke, both on
my own
knowledge of colour and of that set forth in the
standards. I am, yours truly, E. WELBURN.
Surely common-sense view to

this is the
"
take. year A Lord Sylvester " was
later
purchased by Mrs. Champion, and travelled

out with her to America, where, no doubt, this
splendid animal receives all the admiration he
deserves, in whatever class he is entered on
the other side of the herring pond.
A GROTESQUELY MARKED KITTEN.
Since writing these lines I have read an
article in Field and Fancy on the New York
"
I amof opinion that ere long the any other Cat Show of January, 1903, and the following
" " In the '
colour class, at least at our principal shows, mention is made :
'
any other colour

'
will cease to exist, and mismarked cats, white-
'
Lord Sylvester was to the front, looking
spotted cats, and doubtful smokes will no splendid."
longer be considered worth entering, and fan- As regards the advisability of doing away
" "
owning such specimens will make up their
'ciers with the any other colour class, I will quote
minds to keep their pets at home. from a letter written by that well-known
"
For instance, Mrs. Boutcher, a silver fancier Mr. W. R. Hawkins Why should :
breeder, owned a magnificent cat, a son of one class in a show be given up to the bad
"
Lord Argent." He was a superbly shaped specimens or mismarked cats of each colour ?
'
and grandly coated animal, and was neither Surely the intended use of the any other
a silver nor a smoke in fact, what might be
'
colour class was that when any definite colour
termed a silver smoke. His face was dark, had no class of its own it should not be ex-
and tail and paws, and his body was a pale cluded from the show, but take refuge in the
'
silver-grey,shaded to almost white at the '
any other colour class for instance, at ;
"
roots. Hisowner entered him in the any the Brighton show (1900) we had no class for
"
other colour class one year, and he was cream, orange, or tortoiseshell. They were,
' '
disqualified by the judge then he was next

; therefore, shown in the any other colour
located in the smoke class, but as a different class, and being good cats of definite breeds
judge was making the awards he was again were a credit to the class, and in no way a dis-
" "
marked wrong class." This noble Lord grace. But what do we often see ? A blue
"
Sylvester was the cause of much correspond- with a white spot or some other freak winning.
ence in the cat papers, and discussion ran high I say this is absolutely wrong, and that a blue
as to what manner of cat he was. One of our with a white spot is in reality a bad blue, and
OTHER COLOUR" PERSIANS. 233
"
should not be encouraged. In the same way, The cats known as
'
A.O.C.'s
'
or
'
any
a tabby-and-white is a bad tabby, and ought other colour,' because
they are of a colour
not to go to a show at all, but even if shown for which no class is provided, are hard to
' '
has no right in the any other colour class, write about, because they have no history.
according to my ideas." They are not bred from A.O.C.'s, and A.O.C.'s
There is one cat that is fast vanishing from are not bred from them. They are either
our midst. I mean the black - and - white pedigreeless or, more commonly, the result of
Persian, and yet I confess an evenly marked indiscreet crossing of two definite colours, as,
specimen is a handsome animal. By black and for example, when the owner of a white queen
white I mean the ground should be black, wishes to breed a litter of blue kittens. More
dense and glossy the feet, chest, and nose
; rarely they result from a cross which' has been
white, with a blaze of white coming to a point resorte4 to to fix some special point, as when a
up the centre of the face. The eyes of such a white and a blue with particularly massive
cat should be orange. heads or wonderful orange eyes have been
Another type is the white-and-black cat, but mated with a view to producing a strain noted
unless the black patches are evenly balanced, for their
eyes. Years ago the classes were
especially in the face, the effect is not pleasing interesting, as they introduced all new colours.
"
Harrison Weir I remember an A.O.C. class at the
(see illustration, page 232). Crystal
gives particulars of some curiously marked Palace not many years ago containing seven
" smoke
cats coming under his notice one entirely entries, allgood smokes soon ;
after
white with black ears another white with a ;
classes were given, and then chinchillas
black tail only ;
another had the two front began to appear in this class. These cats
feet black, all else being white." being specially provided for, creams were the
cannot say I have any leaning towards
I most noticeable A.O.C.'s but now the blue ;
tabby-and-white cats, or orange-and-white, tabbies and broken-coloured cats that is,

these being the least attractive of any in the some colour and
fancy. Blue-and-whites are seldom seen, but white usually
the photos on pp. 234-5 represent some sweetly occupy the A.O.C.
pretty kittens of this variety. Their sire was class. Notable
'
Yani," a noted blue owned by Miss E. God- instances of cats

dard, and their mother a black-and-white. Blue
tabbies, so common fifteen or twenty years ago,
are no longer to be seen, at least
only here and
there at shows, and they have no value really
beyond being pretty pets. A cat that has done
some winning and has sired some lovely kittens,
but must, strictly speaking, be considered an
"any other colour" cat, is "Blue Robin,"
formerly the property of Miss H. Cochran, and
now in the possession of Mr. C. W. Witt. This
is a blue cat with a
tabby-marked head. He
was bred from blues and silvers, and his chin,
ear tufts, and
eyebrows are silver, and his
nose pink. As will be seen from his
picture,
on page 236, he has a grand head and beautiful
expression. I am indebted to Miss Hester "
Cochran the following
for " LOCKHAVKN COLBUKN.' 1
notes on any A GOOD EXAMPLE OF PERFECT BLACK-AND-WHITE MARKINGS.

other coloured " cats :
(Photo : Koehne & Bretsinan, Chicago.)
with white spots were 'Cain,' 'Nankipoo,' and tinguished by his great coat, made his mark
'
Kingfisher,' all grand blues with this blemish. in the A.O.C. classes.
" "
In 1892 Mrs. Pattison's exquisitely shaped Of blue tabby cats which have won well
' '
and coated orange-and-white Chicot (pedi- (mostly bred from blues and silver tabbies)
greeless), then shown as tabby with or without there is a long list. They became common
white, established a record by winning as best through the craze for blues, as silver queens
in show at the Crystal Palace. Other tabby - were sent to blue toms. Later the desire for
and-white cats have done well. chinchillas started them afresh,
Miss Malony used to show some as blue queens were sent to chin-
'
good ones the best, Lindfield

;
chilla toms.
"
Sweet William,' was a blue tabby- Mrs. Herring's 'Braemar' was
' ' '
and - white, very massive and a son of Cceruleus by Turko
'
Upwood Dew
' ' ' '
heavily coated, son of the smoke and Camera

' ' '
Lindfield Bogie.' Mrs. Pearce, are from the Timkins strain ;
of New Barnet, also used to win

'
Miss Jebb's Julius Caesar,' Miss
with tabby-and-white cats, and Rae's 'Romanoff,' Miss Nicholay's
' '
Mr. Law's Buffer was a cele- ' '
Sacho,' and Miss Jay's Holm-

brity day, but whether
in his wood Skittles
'
were all celebrated
he was a brown tabby or an cats. Some of these have thrown
A.O.C. is doubtful he was later ;
beautiful kittens, both blues and
known as 'Leopold.' The Hon. chinchillas and as a makeshift,
;
Mrs. McLaren Morrison had a when a correctly coloured cat of

really good silver tabby with the required pedigree is unavail-
they may, when
'
white feet in Kepwick Silver able, judiciously
'
King and later Miss Snell's

; mated, be found useful but good ;
grand-headed 'Wonderland' breeders will part with all mis-

made a small sensation. marked kittens for pets. The
"
Another good cat which won best and most definitely coloured
in an A.O.C. class is Lady Mait- A.O.C. I ever saw was Mrs.
'
THE CONQUEST OF THE AIR. '
land's Cheeky Blue,' a lovely (Photo : E. Lamior, Baling.)
Davies' Sin Li,' a deep self-
blue with a sprinkling of white coloured chocolate - brown cat.

hairs on her body. Blue and smoke tortoise- He was supposed to be one of three Swiss
shells are freaks, and not really exhibition mountain cats imported to this country, and
cats at all, but are by some people considered he was a most handsome and interesting
useful for
breeding. Personally, I do not animal. Unfortunately, he died young, leaving
think they are capable of producing anything no progeny. Another interesting A.O.C. cat
which a definitely coloured cat of proper I have seen was a short-haired neuter, red,
ancestry cannot produce as well or better. with black stripes and white paws and chest.
When cream queens were unavailable they had In the future I hope to see a variety of strange
to be used, but now they are becoming un- cats in the A.O.C. classes, but at present they
necessary. is Miss W. Beal's
Perhaps the best are very uninteresting. Good suggestions for
'
R. Mrs. D'Arcy Hildyard's
Fluffie.'
Sengo
'
future colours are red, orange, blue, or white
of the Durhams was another.
'
Miss Taylor's with black chestnut-brown
stripes, self-
' '
Tawney began life as a blue with a few coloured, and black with white tips to the fur.
yellow marks, and wound up as a good tor- So far as I can see, it should be possible by
toiseshell, though a trifle too red. Mrs. crossing with various foreign breeds to produce
Cunliffe Lee's 'Tiger,' a kind of yellow-brown, in a few years' time cats of all these colours."
" "
more ticked than marked, and principally dis- One of the finest any other colour cats
CO
2
33
Q
Z
w
o
2
O
Q
2
03
K
U
"ANY OTHER COLOUR" PERSIANS. 235
of the present day is now in the possession of

" "
Miss Moxon, of Ilfracombe. Cinder was
purchased from Mrs. Davies, who has a rare
cats.
faculty of picking up uncommon-looking
"
Miss Moxon writes I am sending you a
:
Cinder,' who is a
'
detailed description of
difficult cat to describe, and is quite the hand-
' '
somest cat I have ever seen. By handsome

I mean striking, as she attracts everyone's
attention, and very often visitors to our well-
filled cattery have not a glance to spare for
our other specimens." The following is the

description of this very uncommon long-haired
cat :
" '
Tors Side Cinder,' winner of many prizes,
including second Brighton A.O.C. kitten class,
1899 first A.O.C. kitten, medal, and two
;
first and special

specials, Westminster, 1900 ;
"
for best cat in show, Maidstone, etc.
MARCUS SUPERBUS," A SILVER SMOKE.
" OWNED BY Miss SHAW.
'
Cinder
'
was described to me by the
(Photo : Mo/at, Edinburgh.)
lady from whom
I bought her in 1901 as a
'
very peculiar colour a kind of tortoiseshell sion to her face. Head exceptionally fine,
creamy smoke.' She has a dark seal-brown considerable breadth of skull, small tufted
mask and ears, except for one creamy orange ears, short broad face, very sweet expression.
(tortoiseshell) splash above left eye, and Round orange eyes, for which she has won
another under chin. These give great expres- more than one special. Fine outstanding frill
of a creamy smoke colour fur on ;
chest very long and feathery, of a

creamy, bluish smoke shade, with a
pale cream knot in centre. Seal spine
line, splashed with creamy brown,
shading gradually lighter to shoulder
knots and side puffs, which are of a
rather darker tint than the frill.
Paws and legs of a dark seal-brown ;
waistcoat and knickers of a bluish

cream. Splendid thick brush upper-
side to match spineline, under-side of
a bluish cream shade. Slightly bluish
tint all over, distinct under-coat of
palest cream shading to soft creamy
blue."
American have always shown
fanciers
a partiality for broken-coloured cats,
and orange-and-white and blue-and-
white cats have classifications given
for them at the leading shows. In
GRACE BEFORE MEAT.
E. Lamtor, Eating.) England there is a marked antipathy
(Photo :
to these cats, chiefly because they have little Speculative, but, I must add, persevering
or no value for breeding, though they un- fanciers might derive interest and amusement
doubtedly make pretty pets. As a sign of the from trying to breed out - of - the - common
times, I may mention that at the Westminster specimens. A
black-and-white, spotted like
" "
show in 1903 the three any other colour a Dalmatian hound, or a cat marked with
classes for males, females, and kittens had zebra stripes, could doubtless be produced in
to be cancelled, no entries having been made. time by careful and judicious selection.
" BLUE ROBIN."

(Photo: Witcomb & Son, Salisbury.)
237
CHAPTER XXI.
NEUTER CATS.
T to pay the extra fee for the use of an an-

has been my
experience
in the past year or two aesthetic.
that the demand for have been told on good authority that if
I
neuter cats, or, in other a female cat is to be made neuter she ought
words, household to be allowed to have one litter before the
is on operation is performed. Neuter cats are
pet pussies,
" "
the increase ;
and essentially for the one cat person. They
I am inclined to be- undoubtedly make a grand show when ex-
lieve that if some hibited, but those who are possessed of

fanciers made a these are generally very dis-
pet pussies
speciality of these inclined them run the risks and dis-
to let
comforts a show I have advocated

cats they might do of pen.
a trade. having neuters shown only in the ring, on the
MISS KIRKPATKICK S thriving
"
CHILI." As itowners of
is,
lead. If this course were adopted, I think
(Photo: E. LanJor, Ealing.) male kittens do not
care to undertake
the trouble and responsibility of having them
gelded, or doctored, as this process is some-
times called, and novices in purchasing are
always very anxious that the operation should
have taken place before they become possessed
of their pets. A selling class for neuters at
our large shows would not be at all a bad idea,
but the age should be limited to eight months,
or at most ten months, as it is only natural
that purchasers should desire pussies before
they reach the prime of life, so that they may
grow up as pets in the home. For reasons
that are easily understood, it is necessary, if
you wish to have a house pet of unimpeach-
able manners, to have your male cat doctored
when he arrives at years of discretion.
For my own part I consider between five
and eight months the best time for a cat to
be gelded, but I have often known successful
operations taking place much later. It is.
however, most important that the torn should

not previously have shown any desire to
mate. In all cases a cat should be kept " KING CY."
on low plain two or three days
diet for
SILVER NEUTER BELONGING TO Miss AVERY JONES.
before being neutered, and it is more humane (Photo : F. Bromhead, Ciijton.)
23S THE BOOK OF THE CAT.
owners would not mind
exhibiting their less keen in catching rats and mice, and
they
precious cats, as they could be sent or taken are proverbially very clean in their habits. One
home after their turn round. Certainly neuters great advantage that neuters have over the
are the only cats that ought to be led into the other long-haired breeds is that
they retain
ring, and in this way their fine proportions their lovely coats
nearly all the year round.
and generally heavy coats can be seen and In spite, however, of the many points in favour
judged to the best advantage. It is too often of neuter cats, they are nevertheless rather
a practice with fanciers to have the worst of looked down upon in the fancy. Certainly, at
the litter kept for a pet and made neuter, and our shows no cats are more attractive to visitors
therefore we see many blues with light green than the big burly neuters, and I would fain
eyes, and cats with the blemish of a white see a better classification for these
really fine
spot, in the classes set apart for gelded cats ; animals.
and a beautiful, almost perfect, neuter is
if A specialist society was started in 10,01 by
exhibited, fanciers are apt to protest at what an admirer of these cats, but either
through
"
they consider is a grave mistake." From lack of energy or want of enthusiasm the work
the lips of some noted and over-wrought was not carried on, and the club died a natural
breeders of Persian cats I have heard the ex- death. It remains for some other fancier with
" "
clamation, I shall go in for neuters only ! a love for pet pussies to start a society, for
This has been called forth, perhaps, by a as it is the neuters fare badly at our shows,
succession of failing litters or by a rampageous the classes provided never numbering more
stud cat that than two, and the special prizes being few and
has fought far between. Formerly neuters were judged
with the by weight, and I remember some
specimens
neighbour's exhibited at the Palace that really looked like
torn or has pigs fatted up for market. It was in 1886
that the classification for neuters at the Crystal
"
Palace show ran thus : Gelded cats, not
judged by weight, but for beauty of form,
markings, etc." Happily, therefore, this state
of things has been abolished, and
though
neuters should be big, massive cats, yet they
need not, and should not, be lumps of inert
fat and fur. It is true that a big show cat
appeals to the non-exhibitor, and visitors to
our shows are always greatly impressed with
huge animals over filling their all too small
pens. The heaviest and biggest neuter I have
ever seen was possessed by Mrs. Reay Green.
This enormous silver turned the scale at 20 Ib.
I believe the record weight at the Crystal
" BELVEDERE TIGER.
MISS CHAMBERLAYNK S Palace was 25 Ib. It is a libel to say that
(Photo :
J. A tkins, Upper Norwood.)
neuter cats are lazy and uninteresting. I
wandered off on amorous thoughts intent, have always possessed a neuter, either a blue
perhaps never to return, or on returning to or a brown tabby, and these beloved pets have
bring disease to the cattery. Certainly, for ably fulfilled their duties as mice-catchers of
"
a thoroughly comfortable domestic pet there the establishment. My Bonnie Boy," who
is nothing like a neuter cat. They are more but recently joined the noble army of neuters,
affectionate, and with children more docile, not is as keen as a knife, and will sit for hours
NEUTER CATS. 239
likely hole, and never a mouse

like to see more of them, not fewer, and a neuter
watching a
his clever clutches. He kills them in- class forevery colour in a show. In many a house-
escapes
hold cats are now disliked through the ill-advised
stantly, and then amuses himself for hours action of some member of the family in starting
dancing about and throwing his dead prey with breeding with more zeal than knowledge, and without
wild delight into the air. Then, again, he is, proper convenience. If a lovely neuter, or even
I am sorry to say, just as destructive with the two or three, reigned in their glory, there would be
an end to the trouble, to the groans of the other
poor London sparrows, and many a time I
have had to chastise my pet for stalking the
game in our little back garden.
Miss H. Cochran, writing of neuters, says :
"
There are, without doubt, a great number
of people who like to keep a cat, especially a
Persian, for a pet pure and simple one that
will be the admiration of all, and of service in
ridding the house of mice and rats. They will

attain a greater size, and in nine cases out of ten
retain all the pretty habits and antics of their
kittenhood. Neuter cats are often very trouble-
some in a large cattery
they fight with each
;
other and with the queens, which have a poor

chance against their superior size. I think
they do it for fun."
In Fur and Feather "Zaida" thus writes of
neuters :
Undoubtedly it is a crying mistake for neuter cats

to be allowed to in open classes, but
compete per-
sonally should be delighted to see more classes for
I
them at shows, and much greater interest taken in

them. Sometimes one is
tempted to think the
ordinary run of cats has deteriorated in general
beauty, remembering the splendid animals, both
English and foreign, which we used to see in friends'
houses in our childhood but the real explanation
; "
" BEXON'I."
lies in
the fact that
formerly house " cats were
almost entirely kept as pets, and handsome kittens THE PROPERTY OF Miss COTTOR.
(Photo: F. Wallace, Dalkeith.)
were obtained for the purpose.
Nowadays anything
not good enough for breeding from is made a members of the family, to the " wasn't .engaged
neuter, to
and fanciers undoubtedly look on them with a certain wait on cats
"
of the servants.
contempt. Why should this be more the case with
cats than with horses ? For a
perfect household pet In the schedule of the Beresford Cat Club
the neuter cat holds its
own, if only the public would New
show, held at York, January, 1903, the
universally acknowledge it. But too often every
classification for
gelded cats reads thus
purchaser of a kitten starts breeding, and multiplies :
"
a race of weedy, ill-kept Class 25, neuter, white or black Class 26,
animals, who do little credit ;
to their owner. A cat with kittens is undoubtedly a neuter, blue or smoke ;

Class 27, neuter,
'
any
charming sight but a female cat is more or less of other colour
'
Class 28, neuter, any colour
;
;
a worry, and is, besides,

only in coat for a very short
time each year. Then a torn cat tabby with white." It will be seen, therefore,
roams, fights, and that in America a much more liberal classi-
is often
objectionable, but the stay-at-home cat is
always a thing of beauty, never requires fication is given for long-haired neuters, and
periods of
seclusion, will mouse and rat with the for short-haired there are three classes pro-
best, and be
a credit to any establishment. In we should vided. do not know, nor have
short, I I heard of,
any remarkable American neuters, and no twenty-eight prizes and many specials,
first
photographs have been received by me for and his championship before he was a year old.
reproduction in this work. I had an offer of 20 for him. The greatest
Ifwe go back some years in the fancy, I
' '
honour Blue Boy received was a caress from
"
remember Miss Sangster's Royal Hector," a her Majesty, then Princess of Wales.
MISS ADAMSON S CHINCHILLA NEUTER.
"
blue of great celebrity also same owner's
;
I often take my pet out for a walk on a
"
Royal Bogey," a handsome black with a collar,and he quite easily led, and people
is
white star. Miss Boddington's cobby, woolly- often stop and ask if it is really a cat. I send
" " The Book
'
coated white Ba Ba
appeared later in you his photo for reproduction in of
exquisite form, winning well till he was eleven the Cat.'

"
One of " Blue Boy's " wins was
years old. At this same period Mrs. Herring's at the Richmond show,
1902, where he was
" admired the
little smoke Ally Sloper" and Miss Molony's greatly for dignified way in
" " himself on a lead. In
big, heavily coated black Uncle Quiz were which he comported
" "
noted winners. these up-to-date days, however, Blue Boy
"
Then we come to Mrs. Willman's Charlie," has to run the gauntlet with superior coloured
" "
eyes, but in shape, size, and coat
a fine blue of Beauty Boy strain, and Miss he holds his
" "
Knight's Albion Joey," one of the finest own. Miss Kirkpatrick's Chili," now no
neuters ever exhibited, a huge smoke with the more, was a beautiful creature a silver} 7
roundest of heads, a trifle marked and not smoke, almost a smoke tabby, with a wonder-
good in eye, but a glorious animal. ful fleecy coat and grand frill. Mrs. Reay
"
A little later came Madame Portier's Blue Green has always been the proud possessor of
" "
Boy," and, as I have received some notes from superb neuters Mosca," a blue Abdul ;
"
the owner of this magnificent cat, I will give Zephir," a chinchilla and later
; Ajax,"
" who has done some winning. Viscountess
I am very proud of my
'
them : Blue Boy,'
born on St. Patrick's Day, 1895. He has won Esher also has quite a cattery of neuters. I
XEL'TER CATS. 241
" "
procured for her a sable, almost unmarked and honours, and Miss Chamberlayne's Tiger is
a handsomely marked brown tabby. Miss

very rich in colour, a white with limpid sea- "
green eyes, and a Siamese with perfect points.
Meeson's Fluff Duvals," another brownie,
" "
Miss Cochran's Patpaw (now in the posses- won first at the Crystal Palace and Brighton,
sion of Viscountess Esher), a son of the cele- and after a second at Westminster came home
"
brated tortoiseshell Tawney," is rather small to die Miss Averay Jones has a splendid
!
"
for a neuter, but full of quality, with wonderful chinchilla neuter King Cy," a possession too
"
orange eyes. Persimmon Laddie," owned by precious to be risked at any exhibition.
Miss Whitney, is, perhaps, the most perfect So much for the long-haired pet pussies, and
specimen that has been seen in the pen of the we will take a glance at past and present short-
neuter classes. He is not a brown and not a haired neuters. A lovely coated cat was
"
tabby, but a sable and, having the blood of
; Tiger of-K-epwick," owned by Mrs. MacLaren
" " "
the Birkdale Ruffies and Champion Per- Morrison, a brown tabby, as his name denotes.
"
simmon in his veins, he
it is no wonder Then Mrs. Butler's orange, which for many
carries all before him. No photograph can years won at the Crystal Palace and Brighton.
do him justice. Mr. Lane had a good yellow-eyed white,
"
Mrs. Boyce's Fur " could beat any male
"
Leonidas." Mrs. Herring owned a well-
chinchilla now on the show bench for in ; marked brown tabby in " Sir Peter Teazle."
colour, shape, and head he is well-nigh per- Of most remarkable short-haired
late years the
"
fect. Mrs. Millar's Lord Bute " is a neuters have been Miss Cartwright's really
" "
monstrous black, and in spite of his green lovely Siamese Chote and Lady Alex-
" "
eyes is generally in the prize list ;
but in ander's blues, Brother Gamp and " Tom
" NIGEL THE RAVEN."

MRS. MELLER'S SHORT-HAIRED BLACK NEUTER.
"
Mrs. Curtis's Baron Bonelli " he met Gamp," who are rarely, if ever, defeated,
more than his match at the Crystal Palace in A richly coloured orange tabby neuter,
1902. This black cat (a son of " Johnnie "
Red" Eagle," also hailed from the same cat-
Fawe ") has all the good points of " Patpaw," tery.
including his gorgeous eyes, and he is very large. In judging neuters, I think it is rather a
Miss Holmes' " Blue Tut " has won mistake to go too much by points.
many I consider
16
size should be a most important factor, also because he stood no chance in a class of twenty
coat and general effect. Of course, in close or thirty cats, and yet would take first as a
competition points would come into question ;
neuter in a class of six or eight. The neuter
but I really think that a large, heavily classeshave not grown as have the other class* -.
coated neuter, whose colour was a trifle un- As home cats neuters should be encouraged,
' '
sound, or whose markings or eyes were below and I feel sure that many are kept at home
'
par. should not be placed below a small mean- in fear of the dreaded blues,' which are
looking cat who, however, excelled in these usually unbeatable." Mr. Wain also com-
points. plains of the poor classification for neuters at
Louis Wain, writing on a general survey of our shows, and on this particular occasion he
the Crystal Palace show of 1900, referring to states that the cats were such extremely fine
the neuter class that he judged, says : animals that they needed classes of their own
"Neuters have suffered somewhat through for him to do justice to their merits. Cer-
' '
the extended schedule of the whole cats. tainly there ought at least to be three classes
At one time it was quite a usual thing for provided for neuters at our large shows, viz. :
exhibitors to have their' cats neutered to pre- Neuters, self-coloured (blue, black, and white) ;
" "
serve the natural beauties of a fine cat, and neuters, tabby, any colour ;
and neuters,
"
very often a really handsome cat was neutered any other colour."
MADAME POKTIKKS NEUTER "BLUE BOY.

(I'lioto : Hana, London.)
RASCALS.
(/>o;;i Pointing by Madame Henriette Ronncr.)
244
CHAPTER XXII.
MANX CATS.
quaint cats are rapidly and surely and to prove this assertion I will tell an inci-
THESE coming into notice in the fancy. As a dent in connection with a prize-winning Manx
breed they are intelligent and affection- of to-day. A friend of mine living in London
ate, and, I believe, splendid sporting cats. took compassion on a little stray black kitten
They are undoubtedly great favourites amongst who came crying for food. She fed him, and
the sterner sex, perhaps because they are such repeatedly tried to find poor pussy's owner,
keen and plucky As a breeder of
ratters. but in vain. I was appealed to to know what
Persian cats, and having become used to the had better be done, and when I saw the little
beautiful wide-spreading tails of these cats, I black fellow strongly recommended my
I
confess there is something grotesque and un- friend to keep it and exhibit it at the next
finished, to eyes, in the Manx, and from
my large show, as I considered he would go in and
choice I should not care to keep these tail- win easily. She followed my advice in the
less pussies as pets. They do not appeal to latter respect, but placed too low a figure on
"
me and to my sense of the beautiful. Having, Nig," as she declared sne did not wish to go
therefore, never kept or bred Manx cats, I feel in for Manx. I warned her he would be sold,
diffident in writing about them but I have ;

and sure enough that clever and astute judge
carefully studied those exhibited, and have of cats of uncommon breeds, Mrs. H. C.
also had opportunities of judging of their Brooke, snapped him up at catalogue price ;
points whilst visiting friends who have fallen and since then he has blossomed forth into a
" "
victims to the fascinations of these curious champion, and as King Clinkie has taken
felines. I know a good Manx when I see one, highest honours whenever shown. It is only
just to state that Mrs. Brooke most generously

"
handed over some of her winnings to King
"
Clinkie's former owner.
I will therefore proceed to give my opinion
of Manx cats, due deference to
but with all
my fellow fanciers who have had personal

I think I have
experience with the breed.
judged every species of cat, long- and short-
haired, except Manx but if I were given a
;
class of this breed upon which to adjudicate, I

should first closely examine their tails, or, to
be more correct, the place where the tails
ought not to be ! I remember in former times
stump-tailed cats, called Manx, used to win
comfortably at shows, but in our up-to-date
times I should make a black mark in my
judging book against those cats with a stump
or an appendage, or even a mere excrescence.
TYPE OF MANX KITTEN.
(Photo: Russell & Sons,
I do not fear contradiction when I state that
Windsor.)
MAXX CATS. 245
a Manx cat of the true type should have no
particle of tail only a tuft of hair, which

ought to be boneless.
The next point for which I should search
would be the length hind quarters, which
of
lends such great individuality to this breed
of cat. Xo doubt the lack of tail in itself
makes a cat's hind legs look long, but we

want more than that we need a very short
;
back, so that from the point of the quarters

to the hocks there is a continuous and de-
cided outward slope. In fact, the hind legs
stand right back from the body, like a well-
trained hackney's in the show ring. Coat I
should next consider, as this differs, or should
differ, considerably from both the long- and
short-haired breeds. It should bear more re- "
GOLFSTICKS.
semblance to the fur of a rabbit, being longer OWNED BY Miss SAMUELS.
and softer than that of our common or garden (Photo: Albert Hester, Clapton, N.E.)
cats. I think a good-shaped round head as
desirable in a Manx as in other breeds. As one of the vessels of the Spanish Armada went
regards colour, the most common would seem down in the memorable year 1558, and that
to be tabbies, either silver, brown, or orange, among the rescued were some tailless cats
and often there is a mixture of white. Self- which had been procured during one of the
coloured Manx seem to be much rarer, and vessel's voyages to the Far East. The cats
Harrison Weir tells us he does not recollect first swam to the rock, and then made their
having seen a white Manx. way to the shore at low tide ;

and from these
As regards the colour of eyes in Manx cats, have sprung all the so-calledManx cats which
it is the custom to say that they do not matter are now to be found in many parts of Great
in this breed but, nevertheless, a cat that
; Britain, Europe, and America.
" '
has the correct colour of eye must necessarily The tale seems a bit tall,' and yet the
beat an animal that has just the opposite to writer feels so satisfied of its truth that he
what is set forth in the standard for short- would welcome any change in the name of
haired English cats. this peculiar variety of the domestic cat to
A
lady friend of mine, who was brought up sweep away the idea that they sprang from
in the Isle of Man, has told me that she always the Isle of Man originally.
"
understood that Manx cats came from a cross Any traveller in the Far East Japan,
with a rabbit, but if this supposition is correct China, Siam, and the Malay region who is a
it seems too
strange to be true that cats and lover of animals must have noticed how rarely
rabbits should only form matrimonial alliances one meets with a really long-tailed cat in these
in the little island off our coast ! It would regions, for instead one meets with the kink-
appear more probable, therefore, that a foreign tailed (i.e. those with a bend or screw at the
breed of cat was brought to the island, and the tip of the tail), the short kink-tailed (i.e. those
following article from the pen of Mr. Gambier with a screw tail like the bull-dogs), the forked-
Bolton gives his ideas on the subject : tailed those having tails which start quite
(i.e.
"
In the Isle of Man to-day we find a rock straight, but near the tip branch out into two
named the Spanish Rock, which stands close forks), and finally the tailless (or miscalled
into the shore, and tradition states that here Manx) cats ;
and the naturalist Kgempfer states
16*
"
definitely that the specimens of this breed Kink-tailed, screw-tailed, fork-tailed, and
now so common in parts of Russia all came absolutely tailless cats have all been exhibited
originally from Japan. Again, anyone who at Britishshows of recent years, and the writer,
breeds these tailless cats, and keeps the breed from a personal knowledge of nearly all breeds,
quite pure, must have noticed how they differ has no hesitation in recommending the latter
inappearance and habits from the common as companions, their quaint and doglike ways
They are, and should be,

short-haired cats. making them general favourites whenever they
much smaller in size the coat should be
;
are met with.
"
longer and more
'
rabbity
'
;
the
'
call
'
is much There are at present six distinct types of
'
nearer that of the jungle cat of the East than Manx, or rumpy,' cats being exhibited at our
SPECIMEN OF A MANX TABBY.

that of the ordinary cat and their habits, like

; shows, viz. The long straight-backed cat, the
:
those of the Siamese cats, are much more dog- long roach-backed cat, the long straight-
like. In all these points they keep closely backed cat with high hind quarters, the short
to what the writer firmly believes to be their straight-backed cat, the short roach-backed
original type, the domesticated cats of the Far cat, the short-backed cat with high hind
East. quarters. The last type is the correct one, the
"
The photographs illustrating this article first is the worst and commonest type, the
give some idea of the general appearance of others are intermediate and should be judged
these delightfully quaint little creatures, and accordingly.
"
one notices immediately the great point that Manx cats should always be judged in a
all judges look for, viz., the high hind quarters, good, large, empty pen, and never in their own
which is so typical of the tailless breed of pens, or when held by the judge.
"
cats, the few hairs, which represent the spot Coat. Exactly the opposite to the ordinary
where the tail should be, constantly appearing domesticated short-haired cat. A long and
even a few hours after birth, although there is open outer coat and a soft, close under coat
not a sign of a caudal appendage beneath them. is the correct thing."
MA XX CATS. 247
"
At one time, we may presume, the Manx having a very small rudimentary tail," such as one
or two bones.
cat was kept pure in the Isle of Man but, ;
I have seen, I think, Manx cats of most of the
alas the natives, with an eye to the main
!
colours mentioned by you, but the most common are

chance, have been led into manufacturing a the grey or tabby.
spurious article, and many more tailless cats I have never heard of wild cats found here, and I
and kittens than ever were born have been do not think there is any tradition about them.
sold to tourists eager to carry home some A few years ago I had a very fine torn cat (bred in
souvenir of the island to their friends on the my own and with no sign of
house), black all over,
a tail. I lost
presume
it. was stolen by some
I it
mainland. I have been told that the landing
tripper. Trippers are frequently on the look-out for
pier is a frequent resort of dealers in so-called Manx cats, and I fear that many tailed kittens are
Manx where the unwary traveller is way-
cats, deprivedôf their tails to meet the demand.
laidand sold On some out-of-the-way farms
!
on the island I believe none but tailless cats [LETTER II.]
have been kept for generations, and some Ramsey,

i
/th July, 1898.
genuine specimens may thus be picked up, if
the tourist gives himself the trouble to go off
Thank you for letting me see the interesting
lettersabout Manx cats. I suppose the Society
the beaten tracks.
wants to have a standard by which to judge them.
The following letters which appeared in Our . .I am sure we should all be interested to hear
.
Cats, in the issue of June 3Oth, 1900, will be what they have to say on the subject, and we may
be able to add some general information.
read with interest. They were written by two
To take the questions in order I should say that
gentlemen prominent position in the Isle
of
of Man, but as they did not wish to be identi- grey tabby (barred, not spotted) is the most natural
and correct, if one may so speak. I think it is cer-
fied as authorities on cats their names were
tainly most common. I have known tortoiseshell,
not given :
black-and-white, black, white, and perhaps others,
[LETTER I.]
which I now forget. The eye, so far as I know, is
the same as in the common
English tabby.
Castletown, Isle of Man,
1 2th
Certainly we have cats with tails the rumpy being
July, 1898.
the rare form. Perhaps one in a litter, and one or two
I received yesterday your letter respecting Manx
of them with half-tails.
I fear I am unable to aid
cats. you much in your As to what they are supposed to be, I have of
inquiries as to the Manx cat, for any personal in- course heard the Spanish Armada story. My own
formation I can give.
belief is that they have originated in a sport, e.g. as
When was a boy there was a kind of tradition
I
we find in dogs and fowls, and have been perpetuated
that the tailless cat was brought here by the Spanish
as curiosities, and in modern times on account of
Armada. We have a headland called " Spanish
their commercial value.
Head," where it has been believed that some tailless do not know that there is any type which can be
I
cats escaped and took refuge here, and that from
said to bemore true than another with regard to size
such cats all the so-called Manx cats have been
and shape of head, etc. The height at the hind legs
derived. During my life I have frequently met is perhaps more apparent than real, caused by the
persons who have travelled in Spain, and I think I
have always asked from such persons if they had abrupt ending, without the falling tail as in ordinary
cats.
ever met with tailless cats there, but I never met
Professor Owen made a preparation, which may be
anyone who had seen them. I never heard any other seen at the British
Manx cat alleged. They Museum, showing the bones (if any)
(traditional) origin of the
of the tail. I think in a perfect specimen there
are very common here, but not so common as cats
should be no bones. Of course, there are all degress
with tails. Both cats with and cats without tails
of stumps.
associate together. In my own house we have always
kept cats, and in almost every litter of kittens there
are some with and some without tails.
It is only of recent years that any English
I have two
fanciers have tried to breed true Manx
tailless cats now one is a kitten of a few weeks old.
It has no sign of a cats. Miss Samuel has been very success-
tail, but is (as designated here) a
pure rumpy. The mother is one also, but she has ful in establishing a strain which again
a little fur tuft. I have frequently seen kittens and again breeds true to type. The " Golf-
" "
sticks and " Kangaroo," two noted winners, D-Tail," a silver tabby, won respectively
are owned by her. In former days Miss first and second at the Westminster show in
" " "
Bugden's Gorrie," Mr. Woodiwiss's Manx 1902. It is so usual to see Breeder and pedi-
"
King," "Pickles," "Belle," and "Beauty," gree unknown after almost all the entries in
all good cats, accounted for most of the prizes. the Manx classes that these two cats were dis-
Miss Jay, whose name is more familiarly known tinguished by having a certified pedigree. It
" "
in connection with blue Persians, has always was a grievous loss when D-Tail disappeared
been partial to Manx cats, and used to exhibit very mysteriously from his home in St. John's
" "
at the Crystal Palace. The last time I visited Wood. Manx
Silverwing passed from Mr.
the Holmwood cattery I was much struck with Bolton's possession to that of Mr. Foulstonc's,
the number of tortoiseshell Manx cats running and was later purchased by Mr. A. Ward, the
about the stable yard. Miss Jay has quite a well-known cat specialist. As will be seen
family of these but, needless
;
to say, they from the illustration on page 251, this puss is
are all of the female sex Mrs. Herring has
! almost a spotted tabby.
not been unmindful of this breed, and has Lady Marcus Beresford has lately shown a
exhibited some good great partiality for
specimens. Miss Manx. I think I am

Dresser has owned right in stating that
Manx cats for many the first one that in-
and shown habited the Bishops-

years
some good ones. gate a>tlery was a
Her "Belle Mahone" beautiful white called
" " ;
that
and Moonlight "Mona,' I
were nice tabbies, procured lor her.
free from tail, and This finespecimen

"
Bonhaki Junior" was brought from
was a fine- the island direct,
very
shaped silver tabby-
and proved herself
a ratter
and-white ; but, un- splendid ;
he had but, alas ! she did

fortunately,
a which al- not live long to en-
stump
ways kept him back. joy the luxuries of
Mrs. Mosely has ex- her new home.
hibited some good There are, however,
no fewer than five
blacks. Lady Alex-
ander owned several Manx now at
prize-winning Manx, Bishopsgat c
but these have "Jack," a silver
passed into the tabby; "Patch," a

hands of Miss Hester tortoiseshell;
ORANGE MANX.
Cochran. The best of OWNED BY MRS. CLINTON LOCKE.
"Satanella." a
" F inley, black female and
these are Balloch- (rlwto : S. S. Chicago.) ;
"
myle Bell Stump," Stumps," a brown
a curiously spotted tabby, absolutely tailless. tabby male. The most recent addition is
" " " " " Inve before men-
Bell Spitz and Strathcona are also King Clinkie," whom I
good specimens in Miss Cochran's possession. tioned as being owned by Mrs. H. C. Brooke.
Mr. Gambier Bolton owned and bred some Does he ever think of his former struggling
" now that his are those of
fine cats. Manx Primrose," a black, and existence, ways
MANX CATS. 249
One THE PROGENY' OF A TAILLESS CAT OF THE ISLE OF MAN.

pleasantness and peace
? of the latesc
of the specialist clubs is the Manx Club, A cat brought from the Isle of Man (felis catus
anura) to Germain en Lave, of which the pedigree
S.
formed by Miss Hester Cochran in 1901,
_^
is unknown, was mated with ordinary long-tailed
with annual subscription of IDS.
an this-
cats, and among twenty-four kittens the four fol-
;
has been reduced to 55., and the members lowing different kinds appeared :
in the beginning of 1903 numbered about I. Kittens with ordinary long tails.
II. Kittens with short and stump tails.
twenty. The club has, as far as possible, III. Kittens without tails, like the mother.
devoted its limited funds to guaranteeing a IV. Kittens without the least sign of a tail.
MRS. H. c. BROOKE'S MANX, "KATZEXJA.MMKK.''

(Photo: A. R. Picket!, Be.rley Heath.)
better classification for Manx cats at the prin- The comparison between the influence of the sire
cipal shows, and when unable to afford a
and that of the dam on the young is interesting :
I kitten like the mother.

guarantee has given special prizes for competi-
1 litter.
2 6 kittens, 5 like the mother, I like the father.
tion. The efforts of this small body of fanciers 3 - 2 "
5 ..
have been substantially rewarded by the great 3 i ,,2

4 i ,.3
improvement in the quantity and quality of
the Manx cats exhibited during the last
It will be seen that the influence of the mother
eighteen months. Miss H. Cochran, who has
predominates.
given up all other cats for Manx, is the hon.
and Lady Alexander hon. treasurer.
secretary, Manx cats may be considered shy breeders,
Committee Lady Alexander, Miss H. Cochran,
: and constantly the litter will consist of one
Mrs. Herring, and Miss White Atkins. No kitten only I have been told that they are
!
doubt in time the officials and members ot excellent mothers but, in the words of a
;
the Manx Club will be able to acid to their Manx fancier, " they only care to have one
number. family a year, queens won't breed at
many
The following is translated from a para- all, and heaps of males are very funny and
" Another
graph in a German weekly paper called Mutter take no notice of their wives !
Erde, and appeared in Our Cats of March breeder of Manx informs me that these cats
ist. 1900 : seem entirely fearless with dogs, and that her
canines arid felines live together in perfect was only one entry in the class), the awards at
amity. I believe Mr. H. C. Brooke once ex- these shows have always been reasonable and
hibited a Manx in the same pen as a bull-dog sound, and free from the absurdities which too
at the South London Bull-dog Show of 1893. often sicken fanciers and render the judge
And now, having mentioned Mr. Brooke's ridiculous at other shows. When we find an
name, I am pleased to say that this well- all-round judge openly stating that a Manx
isbut a tailless cat, and that he could manu-
facture perfect specimens, it is high time that
that judge's name, however excellent a judge
he may be of other breeds, should be inscribed
upon the tablets of every Manx fancier's
memory, and when he again officiates he
should be saved the trouble of going over cats
which he neither likes nor understands.
'"What is a Manx but a tailless cat ? '
some may ask. Well, a cat with, perhaps,
an inch of tail, though in my opinion unfit
to win a prize, may possibly be really a
better Manx, more calculated to do good to
the breed, than an absolutely tailless cat. It
may possess more Manx character, and this
BALLOCHMVLE BELL SPITZ.

Manx character is a thing not understanded '
'
OWNED nv Miss HESTER COCHRAN. of the people and here it is that those judges
;
score who have taken a real interest in and

known and successful fancier of Manx, as well studied the breed. A cat may have a couple
as foreign, cats has kindly written an article of joints of tail, crooked or straight, and yet
on this variety, which is his pet speciality : be a pure Manx though, as we strive for per-
;
"
On this breed I think I may claim to write fection, I consider that such cats should be
with some authority, as have kept it for a
I relegated to the stud, or at most only be placed
'
number of years, and it has always been my in the money if the competition be very weak,
favourite breed of cat. I believe I may, with- and then never awarded any high prize.
" If
out boasting, say that I have of late years been breeders of Manx were more careful,
of some service to the breed, by constantly there should be no difficulty in obtaining
agitating for the Manx classes to be entrusted litters without any tail whatever. No cat
to judges who take some interest in the variety ; can be a really typical Manx who is long-cast
for it is a lamentable fact that there are num- in the body. A short, cobby body is an essen-
bers of people, good judges of the more popular tial in a show Manx. So also is a round, short
breeds, who are quite willing to adjudicate skull. These points are usually noticeable
upon the Manx classes without possessing the when the kittens are young as they grow
;
slightest qualifications, and these usually older they disappear, frequently to return
merely judge the Manx as a tailless cat, which when the cat has outgrown its kittenhood.
is all wrong. During the last few years I But the most important Manx property is the
am glad to say that the National Cat Club, at great length of hind leg, which absolutely
almost all its shows, instead of tacking the marks the typical Manx as a cat quite distinct
Manx classes on to the list of any all-round from a tailless cat with this should be coupled
;
judge, has appointed capable judges and ;

a round, guinea-pig-like rump, round as an
whilst, of course, no judge has ever succeeded orange, which, of course, can only be obtained
in pleasing all concerned (except when there when there is absolutely no tail. Even a tuft
MANX CATS.
of gristle or hair, as found in many of the best considered last. think a good black is the
I
in itself but a very nicest colour for a Manx, and, of course, the
specimens, though trifling
'
'
defect, detracts from

typical rumpy
this eyes should be of the colour sought for in
appearance, by giving a more or less angular ordinary black cats. A pure blue-eyed white
appearance to the hind quarters, unless, that is,
isvery pretty, and also very scarce. Tabby-
it be situated so far back between the hip- and-white I personally do not care for. Silver
bones that it in no way projects. As typical tabbies are uncommon and very handsome.
Tortoiseshells are also pretty and quaint.
specimens showing this rumpy formation to
"
perfection, I may mention the late
'
Champion The fur of the Manx should be just a little

'
and Premier Katzenjammer,' and Balloch- longer and softer than that of the ordinary
myle Bell Stump,' probably two of the best short-haired cat. Now and then we see long-
ever seen in this respect. Had these two been haired -Manx advertised, but these are, of
mated, what glorious progeny should have course, mongrels or abortions, and by no means
resulted. Now these two cats, whilst possessing Manx cats.
"
the round rumpy formation to perfection, did What is the origin of the Manx ? That is
not excel so much in length of hind leg, and a question which in all probability will never
for superlative excellence in this property we be answered. The theory that it originated
must turn to another celebrated couple, the from a cat (or cats) having lost its tail by
tabby Champion and Premier Bon- do not consider worth a moment's
'
late silver accident I
'
haki and 'King Clinkie,' who has just passed consideration. Such a cat might well have
into the possession of Lady Marcus Beresford, tailless progeny, but that would have nothing
and who at the age of about fifteen months to do with the abnormal length of the hind
has already twice won championship awards. legs, which in good specimens is patent to the
Now, these two cats exhibited the great length most superficial observer, and which makes
of hind leg which gave them when in motion the gambols of a couple of Manx a comical
the desired comical rabbity action ;
but
in roundness of rump they lost to the
other two, being somewhat more an-
gular.
'
To gain absolute perfection we re-
quire roundness of nlmp united to great:
length of hind leg. These are the great
characteristics Manx, to which
of the
every Manx
judge worthy of the name
will attach the greatest importance. Then
come other body properties shortness of
back, general cobbmess, roundness of
skull, small ears, shortness of face ; then,
last of all, colour. And here it is that
the average all-round judge goes

astray,
for in too many cases he attaches too
much weight to colour, a
good instance MANX CAT.
of which occurred when
Ballochmyle
'
(Photo: Gambier Ballon, F.Z.S. [Rcgil.].)

Bell Stump,' above referred to, whose
colour, though quaint, is not very pleasing, sight calculated to excite laughter in the most
was placed below a long-cast cat of a taking mournfully disposed person.
"
'Colour, but in no wise a typical Manx. Quaint is the old versified explanation,
"As I before remarked, colour should be which I remember hearing some years ago.
It ran, if I remember rightly, somewhat like why absolute taillessness should not be
this : attained in ninety-nine kittens out of each
Noah, sailing o'er the seas, hundred. have bred many, but none have
I
Ran high and dry on Ararat. had the crooked stumps we often see in other-
His dog then made a spring, and took
wise good specimens.
The tail from
a pussy cat.
off "
I do not care for large Manx, which gener-
Puss through the window quick did fly,
And bravely through the waters swam, ally look coarse. Here, again, the all-rounder
Nor ever stopped, till, high and dry, often goes astray, and unduly favours a large
She landed on the Man.Isle of
cat.
Thus tailless puss earned Mona's thanks, "
I can heartily recommend the Manx as a
And ever after was called Manx.
pet, and the quaintness of his movements are
"
The most feasible explanation, in my certainly a recommendation. My cats are all
opinion, though of course it can be but a house pets, so that I can watch them and enjoy
' '
theory, that these cats were originally im-

is their company ;
the cattery cat is abhor-
ported from the East. Asiatic cats of domes- rent to me. I cannot understand why so few
tic varieties show remarkable variety in the people go in for rationally breeding this quaint
shape of their tails, as witness the kinks often variety. I had hoped that the recent purchase
found in the tail of the Siamese cat, and the by his Majesty of two couples of the breed
knot tails of other varieties. This subject will might have given it a fillip.
"
be referred to again in a subsequent paper. To the
breed, I may perhaps
illustrate
"
It is also noticeable that many Manx, like be accused of egotism in giving the portrait
the Siamese, are very dog-like in their habits, of one of our own cats, but as he is dead it
showing extreme affection for their owners. is less invidious than if living specimens were
'
Poor old Katzen jammer,' for instance, would selected, and as they were awarded the very
follow me to the railway station, and many a highest prizes by the very greatest authorities
time on my return, from town have I found him they may safely be taken as near perfection.
'
sitting in the middle of a field waiting for me, The silver tabby Champion and Premier
'
and on seeing me he would accompany me Bonhaki was bred by Mr. Jungbluth, one of
home just like a dog. the keepers of the monkey house at the Zoo.
"
To return to the question of the Manx He made his debut at the Botanic Gardens as a
cat's tail, this should, of course, be like snakes kitten, when he was much admired by the then
in absent. What we want is for the Princess of Wales, and Mr. Wain awarded him
Iceland
spinal column to come to an end high up on the championship. This success he followed up
the back, so that on placing the finger where by winning four others under various j udges,and
the tail would begin a hollow or depression is died at the early age of twenty-seven months.
' '
felt. This is the perfection, but it is not always Champion and Premier Katzenjammer was
obtainable in even the very best specimens. bred at home he did not commence his show
;
Next to be desired is when only a little tuft of career till and then he had to meet
late,
'
gristle and hair, with at most a suggestion of Bonhaki,' after whose death, however, he
a twisted and withered bone, is present. Then was unbeaten, and had earned his champion
comes a distinct caudal vertebra, if twisted title at the time of his death from gastritis last
or abnormal in shape so much the better but ; year, which robbed me of one of the most
in my opinion more than two joints should not affectionate
'
pals man ever had,

'
and I am
be allowed in show specimens at all, though not ashamed to own that many and bitter
such cats, as. I remarked above, may be valu- were the tears I shed over his grave.
"
able at stud for breeding from. But I see no In conclusion, I would advise Manx fan-
reason, if Manx breeders would pay more ciers to do their best to accustom their cats
attention, and incompetent judges were barred, to seeing strangers, to being handled, and to
Q
W
w
>.
I
O
Q
2
n
q
2
5
O
00
MANX CATS. 253
the show pen for when a cat is nervous and

; boldly; and when a judge has a large number
crouches in a heap it is most difficult to see of classes to get through in a short space of
whether the desired shape of hind quarters and time, in very likely an ill-lighted building, he
rabbity action are present. They can best be cannot spend half an hour coaxing each cat
seen when the cat holds itself fearlessly and to show its action."
MR. WARDS MANX " SILVERWIXG.
(Photo : H. Glacier, Longzight.)

A LITTKR BY TACHINY
OWNED BY LADY MARCUS BERESEORD.
(Photo :
J. Fall, Baker Street.)
CHAPTER XXIII.
SIAMESE CATS.
HAVE often remarked at our cat shows had many opportunities of observing them in
I that strangers in the fancy will inquire sickness and in health. I have seen grown-up
and ask to be directed to the Siamese specimens go out like the snuffing of a candle
class, and many and varied are the exclama- with acute pneumonia, almost before one has
tions of surprise and admiration expressed realised they were even ailing. These creatures
-by them on seeing, perhaps for the first are quite human in the way they look at you
time, a row of Siamese cats seated in their with those bonnie blue eyes, and when you
pens. Nor is it always necessary to direct talk to them they seem to answer in their
visitors to theSiamese classes, for generally croaking voice. I can well understand what
these animals will betray their whereabouts companionable cats these may become, and tc*
by the unique tone of their voice, which is fanciers of this unique breed other cats must
distinguishable at a great distance. appear lacking in interest and wanting in

There is certainly a great fascination about intelligence.
this peculiar breed of cats, which is yearly From time to time there have been discus-
becoming more popular and fashionable. But sions in our cat papers on Siamese cats in
fanciers are also learning a lesson in the school general, and on their kinked or kinkless tails
of experience, where frequently the fees are in particular. It is certain that those cats
high, that they dare not trust their valuable known to us as royal Siamese are not the only
specimens on the show bench. Siamese cats species in Siam, the common cat of the country
seem to be more sensitive than even the most being tabby or black. So many of my friends
delicate of long-haired breeds, and if attacked who are fanciers of Siamese have
and breeders
by any of the ills that catty flesh is heir to kindly supplied me
with interesting facts con-
they do not appear to have any stamina to cerning this variety, that I do not intend to
bear up against the ravages of the disease. enter into any details, but will state that in
Their recuperative powers are almost nil, and 1902 a Siamese Cat Club was started by several
they rarely pull through a severe illness. I enthusiastic admirers of this breed, and the
have never kept Siamese myself, but I have members have certainly done much to improve
SIAMESE CATS. 255
STANDARD OF POINTS FOR THE " "

the classification at shows, by offering prizes ROYAL SIAMESE
and guaranteeing classes. CAT.
The following is a list of the officials of the Body Colour. As light and even as possible, cream
being most desirable, but fawn also admissible, with-
specialist club, with a standard of points for out streaks, bars, blotches, or any other mark-body
royal Siamese cats :
ings.
President. Mrs. Vary Campbell. Points, i.e. mask, ears,
legs, feet, and tail, dark
and " "
Vice-Presidents. The Lady Decies, Mrs. Vyvyan, clearly defined, of the shade known as seal
Miss Sutherland, The Hon. Mrs. McLaren Morrison, brown.
Mrs. Chapman, and Miss H. Cochran. Mask. Complete, i.e. connected by tracings with
the ears, neither separated by a pale
Committee. Mrs. Parker-Brough, Mrs. Carew Cox, ring (as in
Miss Derby Hyde, Mrs. C. B. Robinson, Mrs. A. kittens) nor blurred and indistinct, the desideratum
"
being to preserve the marten face," an impression
Spencer, Miss Forestier Walker, Mr. Gambier Bolton,
and Mr. C. W. Cooke. greatly by a good mask.
aTcTecT
Eyes Bright and decided blue.

Hon. Treasurer. Mrs. Parker-Brough, Springfield,
Coat Glossy and close lying.
Kettering.
Shape. Body rather long, legs proportionately
Hon. Secretary. Miss Forestier Walker.
slight.
Hon. Auditor. Conrad W. Cooke. Head. Rather long and pointed.
THE GARDEN CATTERY AT BISHOPSGATE.

(Fhotoi: Casse/I & Company, Limited.)
General Appearance. With points emphasised way, but recognised as distinct breeds. The Siamese
above, a somewhat curious and striking looking cat, Club is young, and not infallible but, containing as
;
of medium size if weighty, not showing bulk, as

;
it does most of the principal breeders and exhibitors,
" "
this would detract from the admired svelte appear- its committee would like to record their opinion on
ance. In type, in every particular, the reverse of some few points which have appeared in the Press,
the ideal short-haired domestic cat, and with properly in order to avoid a silence which might be construed
preserved contrasts of colour, a very handsome as consent. With regard to colour, they cannot agree
animal, often also distinguished by a kink in the tail. that a royal can be too light in body colour, nor can
"
Remarks. While admit- they endorse we like a
ting that blues, blacks, rich cream body, choco-
whites, tabbies, and other late saddle, and the points
coloured cats may be also glossy black, shading away
cats of Siam, these being to chocolate." Another
common to all parts of the paper advises the mating
world, this club recognises of royal Siamese with the
only as Siamese cats those chocolate variety. It is
cats the points of which true that the young kittens
conform to the above are very pretty, but after
standard, and is, in fact, six months old quickly
desirous of encouraging the become dark and blurred.
breeding of those particular The great beauty of royal
cats first made known to Siamese is the contrast
British fanciers as the between the sharply de-
"
Siamese. fined, deepest brown mark-
-'
royal
The points of the ings and a body of as
" "
Siamese are
chocolate light a cream as possible.
the same as above, with A third paper gives the
the exception of body information that an exhibi-
colour. tor known to it has bred
VALUE OF POINTS. prize
-
winning Siamese
colour 20 from a cross between a
Body
IO white cat with blue eyes
Shape
Coat 10 and a Siamese queen. It
Head IO also mentions another case
2O where such crossing has

Eyes
Mask 15 produced good Siamese
kittens, and thinks "that
Density of points 15
MRS. ROBERTS LOCKE, WITH many other people have,
Total 100 AM) " with more suc-
. . . .
BANGKOK." or less
cat failing to obtain (Photo: S. S. Finlcy, Chicago.) cess, followed the same
Any
the above marks
of tactics. The above ex-
75
and acci-
shall not be eligible for the club's challenge prizes periment has often been tried, purposely
and medals. but no case is known to the writers where
dentally,
the result has been anything like Siamese, the kittens
after the formation of the All Siamese
It was shortly always favouring the English parent.
Siamese Cat Club that the following letter are born white, and therefore if the children of one
white parent died quite young such a mistake might
appeared in Fur and Feather: be natural. It certainly would be very unfair to
POINTS OF THE SIAMESE. sell such kittens, as their progeny would inherit,
and
not even neces-
The committee of the Siamese Club wish to draw might pass on, an English parentage,
attention to the unfortunate diversity of opinion sarily white. A white or is, be, merely an albino
may
(Signed). A. Forestier Walker, Jean A.
concerning Siamese cats expressed in articles which variety.
May Robinson, L. Parker-Brough, S. E.
appear from time to time in some of the papers which Spencer,
devote a portion of their issue to cat news. One great Backhouse, Constance Carew Cox.
object of the Siamese Club is to encourage the dis-
tinct breeding of the royal cat of. Siam and also of the
Miss Forestier Walker and Mrs. Vyvyan
chocolate cat of Siam both beautiful in their own were amongst the first to introduce Siamese cats
SIAMESE CATS. 257
into England, and they have always owned a have china or ultramarine blue eyes the ;
direct descendant from the first and famous more slender, darker cats have deeper-coloured
" The chocolate cats
Tiam-o-Shian," and many eyes. (2)
are the prize-winners they are deep brown in colour,
have reared and shown from showing hardly any mark-
this celebrated strain. Miss ings, and have blue eyes.
"
Forestier- Walker has fre- All Siamese kittens are
quently acted as judge of white when born, but in a

Siamese, and took a very few days slight markings
active part in the formation appear on tail, ears, and
of the specialist club for this paws, and by four months
breed. She has kindly fur- old the markings are dark
nished me with the follow- and complete, excepting
ing notes, and given me those which connect the face
some photographs of Mrs. and head ;
these are seldom
Vyvyan's cats :
perfect before eight months
"
Siamese cats were first old.
"
introduced into England The sometimes
tails are
about twenty-five years ago, which is not a fault
straight, ;
but were not often seen until but a knot or kink in the
a few years later. Among tail is a peculiarity of the
the earliest were those breed, and therefore desir-
THE PROPERTY OF W. MARGETSON, ESQ.
belonging to Sir Robert (Photo: H.J. Comley,
able. In England it has
Stroud.)
Herbert, Lady Dorothy been asserted that this is a
Nevill, the Rev. S. Baring-Gould, Mrs. Cun- defect, but in Siam highly prized, and
it is
liffe Lee, Mrs. Vyvyan, and Since cats from the royal palace which have been
myself.
then they have become fairly common. given bv the King as presents of value to
"There are two important people
distinct varieties have had this dis-
in the present day. tinction. In the
(i) The ro3'al cat East a cat with a
of Siam, cream- kinked tail fetches
coloured in body, a higher price.
with sharply de- "
The Siamese
fined seal - brown have a great affec-
markings on head, tion for animals,
ears, legs, feet, and there is no
and tail ; eyes a doubt that the
decided blue. cats are much val-
The cats generally ued, those in the
become darker royal palace hav-
after two years TIAM-O-SHIAN I \
ing been kept ex-
but where OWNED BY MRS. VYVYAN.
old, ceptionally pure.
(Photo :
Speight, Kittering.)
"
great care has There is a
been taken in breeding the true
royal cats legend that the light-coloured cats, with blue
keep the light colour longer. In any case the eyes, represent silver the dark cats, with
;
body colouring should be even, not blotched yellow eyes, gold ;

and that the possessor of
or striped. The larger, lighter-coloured cats both will always have plenty. This rather
17
gives the idea that originally the eyes of the cats in the past, I may mention the Hon. Mrs.
pure chocolate cat were yellow, and that McLaren Morrison, Lady O'Malley, Lady
the present variety has been crossed with the Decies, Mrs. Brodie, Mr. Temple, Mr. Gambier
royal cat. Bolton, Miss Moore, Mrs. Elliott Hill, Mrs.
" "
Mr. Young, of Harrogate, had some years Cunliffe Lee (owner of the celebrated Meo "),
ago a chocolate cat with yellow eyes. and Mrs. Carew Cox, who later in this article
"
Another belief is that they receive the some account of her " King Kesho "
will give
souls of their owners at death, and it is well and the breed with which her name is still
known that the King of Siam associated. Mrs. Herring has
had one on board his yacht exhibited good specimens from
when visiting Europe a few time to time. Mrs. Chapman's
" "
years ago. \Yally Pug used to cross
"
It a great mistake to
is the Irish Channel to visit
mix the varieties, as the result English cat shows. Mr. Young
after they become adult is a and Mr. Inman, both of Har-
blurring of the markings and rogate, favoured this breed,
a patchy coat. and had some lovely cats.
" Mrs. Nield owned a charming
The males are extremely
"
powerful, and will kill strange little female named Mintha-
"
cats and fight dogs. They are mee ;
and Miss Sutherland,
devoted wives and
to their who lives in the south of
children, and to their owners. France, used to breed a lot

They areexceedingly intelli- of good Siamese from her
"
gent. With the dogs of the imported Prince of Siam."
house they will be on excellent Several of her breeding have
OWNED BY LADY MARCUS BEKKSFORD.
terms. (Photo : Russell & been sold in England, and
Sons, Windsor.)
" have won at shows. Mrs.
The litters vary in size,
but four to five is the usual number. The Patton Bethune has often exhibited, and is an
kittens are difficult to rear, as they suffer from ardent admirer of the breed. Mrs. Parker
"
worms and teething, but after seven or eight Brough, in whose care Tiam-o-Shian IV." is
months old there is little danger. Some placed by Mrs. Vyvyan, is well known as a
think a meat diet best, but I find it Siamese breeder, as also Mrs. Spencer, of
is
people
satisfactory to bring them up on lighter food, Eye Vicarage, who exports quite a number of
such as Ridge's food, milk, gravy, and fish, cats ;
one of her breed owned by Mr. E.
until they begin to cut their teeth, when Ratcliffe is a beautiful animal. Mrs. Vary
meat is required. Campbell, the president of the Siamese Club,
"
A pair from the Palace were given to Mrs. is a generous supporter of the breed. Mr. and
Vyvyan and myself in 1884-5, and we have Mrs. W. R. Hawkins have always had some
been very mating when
careful in breeding, fine specimens and Mrs. Hankey, Miss H.
;
possible with such good cats as Mrs. Lee's Cochran, Miss Derby Hyde, and Miss Armitage
are among others who owned some notable
' '
celebrated Meo,' Miss Moore's Siam,' Mrs.
"
Mechi,' etc,
'
and have bred in Siamese cats. Mrs. Backhouse's
Champion
Harrington's
"
consequence the famous Tiam-o-Shians II.,
' '
Eve was a distinguished prize-winner, and
"
III., and IV.,
'
Polyphema,'
'
Susa,'
'
Kitya Mrs. Robinson's Ah Choo " was chosen as

Kara,'
'
Goblin,'
'
Champion Eve,'
'
Mafeking,' a model for the medal of the Siamese Club.

'
Vishuddha,'
'
Ah Choo,'
'
Suzanne,' and many But it is chiefly as the owner of the celebrated

" "
others." Champion Wankee that Mrs. Robinson is
Among fanciers and importers of Siamese known in the cat fane}' in general, and among
SIAMESE CATS. 259
" "
Siamese breeders in particular. Wankee they get dark there is a tendency to call them
"
was the first Siamese to win the title of Cham- chocolates. I know of
only one real chocolate
'
pion." He was bred in Hong-Kong, his mother Mr. C. Cooke's Zetland Wanzies so con-
'
Xims " being a stolen palace kitten.

'
sider them more likely to be a freak than a
"
Wankee " was six months old when he distinct variety.
"
arrived in England : and was born in Sep- Of the royals there seem to be two types
tember, 1895. He has
thirty prizes, won over in England the one rather a small, long-
:
but was never shown till June, 1898, there- headed cat, with glossy, close-lying coat and
fore losing the time in which most Siamese deep blue eyes, and with a decided tendency
cats gain their honoursnamely, between six to darken with age is generally the imported
months and two years, when they are pale in cat or having imported parents the other is ;
colour of coat. a largerôrt, with a rounder head, a much
Many are the prize kittens he has sired, too thicker, longer, and less close-lying coat, and
numerous to mention. Mrs. Robinson, who the eyes a paler blue (these cats do not darken
is a memberof the National Cat Club com- as much or as soon as the other type, and have
mittee, has frequently acted as a judge of generally been bred for several generations in
Siamese, and has kindly written the following England).
"
account for this chapter : The kittens are born absolutely white, and
"
One the most beautiful of the short-
of in about a week a faint pencilling comes round
haired cats is undoubtedly the royal cat of the ears, and gradually all the points come. At
Si am, and the breed is greatly increasing in four or five months they are lovely, as gener-
popularity ;
but is never likely to be common, ally they retain their baby whiteness, which
MR. RATCLIFFE'S SIAMESE.

(Photo: Hartley, Burnley.)
as the cats are delicate in this The contrasts well with their almost black ears,
country.
best that drawn up by the
description is
deep brown markings, and blue eyes. Some
Siamese Cat Club in their standard of points. much
kittens are longer than others in getting
The points of the chocolate Siamese are the dense, these making the lightest cats.
same as the royal, with the exception of "
This breed is said to be kept very care-
body colour, which is a dark rich brown all
fully in the palace in Bangkok hence the title
over, thus making the markings less noticeable. ' '
royal and isby no means the common

All Siamese cats darken with
age, and when cat of Siam. One gentleman (a missionary),
who had lived there fifteen years, had during has sent me some charming photographs of
that time seen only three. A few years ago her pets. She writes :
"
there was a pair of these cats in the Zoological I have
very few cats at present I lost so ;
Gardens at Bangkok, but they were very poor many beautiful Siamese last year, and I think
specimens. I made rather a mistake in having their skins

"
They have occasionally been given by the made into mats '
Cora,' the mother of my

!
King as presents of great value, and several Siamese cats and kits, is still a beauty, and I
pairs have come to England in this way also
; really think she improves with age and ;
kittens have undoubtedly been stolen from though her eyes are not all I could wish for in
the palace from time to time. colour, yet her kittens have always had the
'
There is a legend that these cats were kept desired tone of blue. I have now a lovely
exclusively and with great care in the King's

' ' '
daughter of Cora and Champion Wankee,'

palace, as resting places for royal souls. The aged nine months. When she was a few hours
Siamese are Buddhists, and consequently old I put her to be fostered by our old English
believe in the transmigration of souls ;
but garden tabby, who makes her headquarters in
LADY MARCUS BERESFORD S

" URSULA.
{Photo : E. Landor, Ealing.)
with the growth of Western ideas and Western the greenhouse. This kitten has never had a
scepticism I doubt this being admitted. day's illness. She leads a wild life, catching
" birds and mice, and nibbling the tips oft the
They are very intelligent, almost doggy in
their ways, and very affectionate, but not ferns much to the gardener's annoyance. I
universally friendly. The males are great am hoping to send her to our next National
'
fighters, and freely use their terrible voices ; Cat Club show, if I can catch her that day,
but they are well suited for house pets, as they but she is generally up a tree when wanted !
"
seem happiest with their human friends. I find the way to succeed in breeding and
"
The first specimens were brought to rearing Siamese kittens is to only keep a few.
England about twenty-five or thirty years ago, I strongly believe in putting them forth into
and Mr. Harrison Weir says that among those cottage homes. Distemper spreads like wild-
who possessed them were Lady Dorothy Nevill, fire amongst this breed, and it is heartrending
strange how
'
whose cats were imported and presented by to lose whole litters at once. It is
Sir R. Herbert of the Colonial Office. The late much stronger the females are than the males.
Duke of Wellington imported the breed, also I have never lost a female kitten yet but, ;
"
Mr. Scott of Rotherfield.' alas !
many a promising male."
Miss Armitage, of Chaseleyfield, Pendleton, I remember a beautiful male bred by Miss
SIAMESE CATS. 261
the slightest sign of sickness. I send a great

Armitage that she exhibited at one of the
Manchester shows. "Sam Sly" was as near number of kittens away to purchasers, and I
perfection as possible, and after taking am most particular in the way I pack the kits
in the way of prizes, medals, and for their journey.The basket outside should
everything
championships this fine fellow came home and be covered with thick brown paper, leaving
died Mrs. Spencer, of Eye Vicarage, to whom
! just a square piece in the lid for ventilation.
I have alluded as a Siamese fancier, has bred Inside I line with new house flannel, and place
so many large litters of kits that I wrote to a soft cushion at the bottom, and if very cold
ask if would kindly give me and my
she weather I put an indiarubber hot-water
readers the benefit of some of her experience bottle under the cushion. If the cats have to
in rearing young Siamese. She writes in pass through London, I arrange with the
reply : District Messengers Company to meet the
" '
Royal Siam came from the royal cat and convey it to its destination or to
'
My
palace, and I consider him a splendid specimen. another station. Thus dangerous delays are
I did not breed from him until he was between avoided at a very little cost."
three and four years old, which may be one As everyone knows, Lady Marcus Beresford
of the reasons why all the kittens by him are has always been especially fond of Siamese
so wonderfully strong and healthy. He has cats, and many splendid specimens have
never ailed anything since I have had him. inhabited the Bishopsgate cat cottage. At
I have never placed him at stud, but have present "King of Siam" and "Khoula," and
"
allowed a few friends to send their queens to a quaint little female called
It," represent
visit him. Neither have I ever exhibited him, this breed. In the days gone by "Tachin"
for he is far too precious a pet to be allowed and "
Cambodia " were the admired of all
'
to run any risks. queen Princess Mai-

My admirers, and I doubt if ever a more perfect
'
mowne is also a fine strong cat, a daughter pair has landed on these shores. These cats
' '
of Mrs. King Kesho
Carew Cox's and many ; were given to Lady Marcus Beresford twelve
are the prize-winners bred from these two. I
years ago by the late Lord William Beresford,
heat my catteries during the day in winter, who brought them straight from the palace
and at night in cold weather I give the^cats a at Bangkok. Lady Marcus writes :
"
hot stone bottle in their sleeping boxes, for it I never once had
any trouble or anxiety
is the damp and cold of our English winter with them dear, gentle, friendly little people,
nights which are so dangerous. The windows so clever and attractive. I have never seen
of my catteries face south, and this
import- is
any I have so admired. They had many fine,
ant in rearing Siamese. I always allow my healthy litters, scattered about now amongst
cats an abundance of fish I give
;
mixed
this various friends. My success all round was
with bread soaked in water twice a day, with great with them no illness of any kind, till one
' '
another meal of something different, thus day a fiend poisoned both Tachin and Cam- '
making three meals a day. I boil all the milk. bodia,'and some of their six months kittens.
Sometimes I give a little cod-liver oil over I have replaced them with some bred in
their food with very beneficial results. If the England and my opinion is that, as a rule,
;
kittens have bad colds or any trifling ailment, the imported ones are much the stronger. A
I indulge them with a little
finely cut up raw Siamese imported from the temple at
pair of
I have been breeding Siamese for over
beef. Bangkok I purchased from Mrs. Vary Campbell,
five years, and I have only lost one kitten of and had the great misfortune to lose them.
my own rearing. I think the reason of
my They from the royal Siamese, being
differed
success is that I never pass over the most darker and having a more pointed head
trifling symptom of illness, and it is
very neces- and face, and their eyes were larger and
sary to take the temperature of Siamese at fuller.
17*
"
I Siamese cats are much
consider that tunate enough to pick up newly imported ones,
cleverer than other breeds, and with patience even if you have to pay a good price for
can be taught several clever tricks. I in- them, they will prove a good investment and ;
tend to go in more largely for them in the perhaps you may be able to get some from one
future." of our numerous cat fanciers, though they are
Several of Lady Marcus Beresford's Siamese very scarce at present and difficult to obtain.
found their way and Mrs. Hawkins'
into Mr. My advice is to get the best possible pair, and
possession, and were exhibited from time to let them breed in the spring in the house, if
time, always gaining great distinction. Mrs. you can let them have a spare room, which
Hawkins possesses a daughter of "Tachin," need not be warmed in any way. Leave the
and so hopes to keep up this unique strain. mother quietly with the kittens and, having ;
Mrs. Hawkins has some of the best arranged provided a warm bed and bedding for them
and very solidly built catteries at Brighton, previously, leave them to nature as much as
of which I
give These are
an illustration. possible, just going in now and then to see
specially adapted for the breeding of Siamese that all is going on all right, and giving the
and silvers, the two varieties which find mother warm milk, etc., and coaxing her to
favour at Shalimar. A long experience with get used to you.
Siamese enables Mrs. Hawkins to write with "Siamese cats are particularly gentle and
authority, and I give her notes as given to affectionate, and if you are kind to them
me for the benefit of my readers :
they soon get to know and love you. It
"
The thing you have to consider with
first is a pity their nature is not more copied
regard to these animals is that when newly by human beings then we should not
imported they are naturally delicate, and must have so much dissension and wrangling in
be hardened off, so to speak, just as our our cat fancy. But this is a digression !
delicate foreign birds have to be that is to ;

As the kittens get on it is as well to have
say, you cannot treat them at first as you would a warm place outside prepared ready for
our ordinary fireside cats. If you are for- them but do not put them out too soon,
;
and if any show the slightest suspicion of

cold they must be brought! in and allowed
to get over it completely before being turned
out in the garden or outhouses, with the
others.
"
My own
Siamese kittens were born in a
cat house in my garden at Brighton, but
they were June kittens, so by that time we
were having very nice weather. The father
and mother I had as kittens ;
I pulled them
through their baby ailments
successfully,
and as soon as the weather was pro-
pitious and sunny I put them in

their outside houses. Siamese and
chinchilla kittens (both of which
I
go in for) must be hardened off
gradually. They are just like Eng-
lish children brought from abroad,
who have be carefully nurtured
to
" CORA. at firstand trained to get used to
MISS AKMITAGE S
(I'lioto : Salmon Sr Katchan, New Bond Street, W.)

our English climate.
SIAMESE CATS. 263
" are born quite white, and at about

What we want is to establish a really kittens
fourteen days the points begin to look rather
healthy, strong strain of Siamese
in England,
and by following the above suggestions I grey, turning at two months to a deep seal-
think it is possible to do it not without brown, while the rest of the body usually
difficulty, as, of course,
it takes a little time remains white or cream for at least a couple
and trouble (like everything else), but what of years (the whiskers and claws remain white).
is worth having is worth trying for. The colouring process resembles nothing so
" much as that of a meerschaum pipe. There
I say I won with my Siamese at
may
Brighton shows every time I exhibited them, are distinct varieties of Siamese known to
and am now starting breeding them again and ;
I think that everyone who will have the

patience to go in for this charming variety will
find themselves well repaid, as the kittens
command 5 to 10 each if successfully reared,
and sometimes more. Of course,
one must keep a careful watch
over their diet, and not over-feed
(this is a great point, as they will
contract skin diseases if you do) ;
but all these things apply as much

to all cats,and I cannot see why
Siamese should be more difficult
to breed and establish thoroughly
in England than other cats. One
of mine, a female, is out now (and
has been all the winter) in a brick
cat-house, and is perfectly well.
I have been told Siamese are so
delicate that people cannot rear 1'AIk OF SIAMESH BKI.ON'aiXG TO MRS. ARMITAGE.
(Photo : Salmon & Batchan, New Bond Street, W.)
them. This is often the fault of
the people themselves, for if they will not fanciers the palace or royal cat, the temple
take a little trouble over animals they cannot cat (chocolate), and there is likewise the
expect to make money by them. By this common cat of the country, which is also
I do not mean fussing and worrying your found within the palace. The points of the
servants over them. Look after them your- chocolate cat are identical for shows with those
selves, see that they are all right every of the royal except colour, but the im-
day body
(a day quite sufficient), and
good feed twice a is
ported chocolate is often dark chocolate, with
then your Siamese will soon be as healthy and blue eyes, stumpy tail with a marked kink,
strong as your other cat?. All the points of a short legs, and heavy, thick body. There are
good Siamese are so well known that I need not many chocolates exhibited, owing to the
not touch upon them here. Start with a good preference given to the royal variety.
strain, be careful, be patient, and you will be "It must be understood that there is no defin-
rewarded in the end." iteroyal breed as such, but the palace breed
have mentioned Mrs. Parker Brough as a
I seems to have originated by selection. The
breeder of Siamese cats, and I am indebted to Siamese as a nation are lovers of anything
her for the following account of her favourite quaint or uncommon, and the white-bodied
breed
"
:
cats in Bangkok seem to have been given to, or
A peculiarity of royal Siamese is that the bought by, the inhabitants of the palace, until
they have established a breed of their own, and though others of the same litter may have quite
reproduced the cat that fanciers know to-day straight tails. There is a peculiarity in breed-
as the royal cat of Siam. This should explain ing Siamese i.e. the rarity of female kittens
a point which has given rise to much contro- in a litter, the average seeming to be five males
versy, as travellers agree that other cats than to two females. This may be due to the
royal Siamese are to be found inside the palace, often led by these cats
artificial lives so and, ;
yet the King and Prince Damurong have given if corroborates the theory of Herr Schenk,
so,
from time to time royal Siamese to friends, the Austrian doctor, of the probabilities of
naturally choosing for a present the cat that sex at birth. Three of the most noted male
has the most value in their eyes. That is to cats exhibited in England have been Mrs.
' ' '
say, that the term royal Siamese or royal Robinson's 'Champion Wankee,' Mrs. Vyvyan's
' '
cat of Siam is a descriptive term applied to a Tiam-o-Shian IV.,' and Mrs. Parker Brough's
'
and should imply no
particular variety of cat, Koschka.' Probably Mrs. Backhouse's
more than this. We have a parallel case in '
Champion Eve and Mrs.

'
Vyvyan's Poly-
'
' '
King Charles spaniels.' The temple cat is phema were the best females exhibited.
'
under the care of the Jan priests, who have Koschka '
was, perhaps, the finest cat we

the greatest reverence for animal life, and ever saw, having eyes of the most glorious blue
' '
whose temple is a sanctuary for all animals. imaginable. Koschka died after the West-
''
Those who have kept Siamese will readily minster show of 1900. Owners run a great
understand that, given a climate to suit them, risk in sending their Siamese (especially kittens)
only one breed of cat would be left in the to shows, as in addition to being more liable to
temple i.e. the Siamese, for this breed is dis- take cold, are apt to fret themselves at being
ill
tinguished as much by its pluck and activity separated from their mistresses. Many fanciers
as by hatred for any other breed of cat. The are leaving off showing Siamese for that reason
common cat of Siam is very much the same as for instance, the Siamese classes were can-
anywhere else, except that the Malay kink in celled at the Westminster show of 1903 owing
the tail is to be found in many of them. Until to lack of entries.
"
recently the Siamese was but little known in It is hard to say how they should be kept
Europe, but occasionally was to be found in and how they should be fed. Some Siamese
the various zoological gardens. At present thrive by being treated just the same as
there is a fine female specimen to be seen ordinary cats, but they are few and far between.
at the Zoo at Frankfort-on-the-Main, having We have known cats which have been allowed
been purchased from the King of Roumania. to run about in the snow, and in and out of
One or two are to be seen at Berlin, and we draughts, and remain perfectly healthy and ;
understand some are to be seen at the Hague. others, who seem quite strong as long as they
London has the first one it has had for six are taken care of, catch cold and die if they
years, but it is not shown owing to its want of get their feet wet. However, if their cattery
condition. is kept constantly at a temperature of 50
"
A point on which the Siamese fancy is degrees, and they are fed on scraped beef, milk
divided is whether the ideal cat should have (without boracic acid or preservative), water,
a kink in the tail or not. The Club remains and vegetables they seem to do better than
under any other conditions. Personally, we
'
Champion Wankee
'
neutral. has a decided
kink, looking, in fact, as though the tail had have two catteries indoor and outdoor. The
'
been caught in a door in his early youth. indoor one is fitted up with
foster-mothers,'
'
Tiam-o-Shian IV.,' on the contrary, has none. as used for chickens, on legs about three feet
This kink is a peculiarity of the animals of the from the ground. We
find this very necessary
Malay Peninsula, and sometimes is so marked, owing to the draughts on the floor. The rooms
as to make the tail appear like a corkscrew, can be quickly warmed to any temperature
SIAMESE 'CATS. 205
required, even in the depth of winter. We

like our grown-up cats loose about the house,
but it is impossible to allow kittens their full
liberty when there are many of them, as they

are bound to get into mischief and do much
damage to the furniture, climbing up curtains
and breaking ornaments on mantelpieces and
scratching leather, etc. Of course, they are
allowed downstairs a portion of every day
when their mistress is able to look after them.
They are most fascinating, frolicsome little
creatures. The outdoor catteries for use in
summer consist of a house and greenhouse,
with covered runs leading from them, and so
arranged that any or every cat can be isolated
at will. These arrangements have taken a
great deal of anxiety off our shoulders.
"
This breed is certainly the noisiest, least
dignified, most intelligent, and most active of
all the cats. They are dog-like in their MRS. ROBINSON S
" CHAMPION WANKEE.
nature, and can be easily taught to turn back (Photo : E. Landor, Ealing.
somersaults, and to retrieve, and in the country

take long walks like a terrier. seal-brown of the paws, mask, and tail and
"
If they think it is meal-time and they the white or cream of the rest of the body,
fancy themselves neglected, they cry like which should not be disfigured by bars or
children. The points of the perfect royal blotches. Age should be taken into considera-
Siamese lie which should be a most
in the eyes, tion in judging this contrast. There are many
perfect blue, and the contrast between the beautiful kittens shown that we never hear of
again after they have grown up, age having
blurred their coats, thereby making the con-
trast less defined.
"
For travelling short distances there are
few better travelling cases than a Canadian
cheese box, with holes bored in the side. They
are cheap (say 4d.), light, and damp and
draught proof, and can be burnt after once
using."
It will be gathered from the accounts given
by Siamese fanciers that these cats, though
delicate, with the exercise of care may be
reared like ordinary ones of other breeds.
Miss Cochran is very emphatic on this
point. She says :
"
If Siamese are treated like common
English cats, given plenty of fresh air and

proper food, they are hardy and healthy ;
MRS. ROBINSON'S " AH CHOO.
BKKD BY MRS. VVVVAN.
and by proper food I mean a meat diet
'Photo: E. Landor, Baling.) raw shin of beef, and as often as possible
2 66 THE BOOK OF THE CAT.
any kind of bird with the feathers on, or penetrating eyes appear to see so far and so
fowls' heads and mice. The fur and feathers much, whose intelligence seems almost human,
act as a mechanical vermifuge. If the Siam- and who seldom stay with us for long. Unfor-
ese cats are coddled, they will certainly die. tunately, these cats are difficult to rear, the
They have naturally rather delicate lungs, and constant damp of our climate affecting their
for these fresh air
is absolutely necessary ; lungs and producing frequent colds and coughs,
a close, hot atmosphere and heated rooms lowering vitality and causing debility.
"
are fatal." There are two recognised varieties of this
Mrs. Carew Cox I have alluded to as one of breed- the royal and the chocolate. The
the pioneers of the Siamese fancy, and she former is certainly the most beautiful in appear-
"MAFEKIXG.
THE PROPERTY OF MRS. VyvyAN.
(Photo: E. Lamtor, Baling.)
stillremains an ardent admirer of this breed, ance, the seal-brown points sometimes black
and often acts as judge. She has kindly in adults relieving the pale but rich cream
written a very valuable article specially for colour of the rest of the body, and the brown
thiswork, and I have therefore great pleasure mask forming a grand setting for the superbly
in giving her interesting experience in this blue eyes. The mask on the face should circle
chapter on Siamese : well above the eyes, but should not extend
"
Only those who
possess Siamese can under- into the ear space the cream colour should
;
stand how reluctantly a lover of this breed be in evidence beyond the circle the cars;
takes up a pen to endeavour to do justice to its should be seal and well and distinctly put on
characteristics i.e. the seal or brown should not
it is
attempting the impos-
like merge into
sible. One feels one must step softly so to the cream the legs, feet, and tail should be
;
speak in the presence of these wonderfully of the same shade of seal, the darker the
fascinating creatures, whose thoughtful yet better. The tail of a Siamese cat has been
SIAMESE CATS. 267
the of considerable discussion and

subject retained her pale colouring and her well-
argument, some preferring the straight tail and defined points to the last, and was the mother
some the kinked. The former is surely the of many very beautiful kittens. Male cats are
most to be desired for appearance sake but ; generally larger than females, and possess
the latter undeniably adds to the quaint and voices, which demand instant attention.
"
foreign appearance of the cat, and in Hong- The chocolate Siamese are of a rich choco-
Kong preference is given to them and higher late or dark seal, with still more intense points.
'
prices paid for kinks.' The eyes should be These cats usually possess eyes of rich amber.
large and luminous, of a bright shade of true I have Miss Forestier-Walker's kind permis-
blue, appearing flame-coloured at night or by sion to utilise the following most interesting
THE LATE "

KING KESHO."
(Photo :
Phillips, Croydon.)
artificial light good are often and hitherto unpublished extract from a
;
specimens
spoiltby small eyes, pale in colour. There letter received by her in October, 1902 :
appear to be two am
'
distinct types the compactly and give you
I
very pleased to write
built, short in body, short on legs, and round the following information re Siamese cats.
in head and the long-bodied, long-faced,
;
During a stay of some thirteen years in the
lithe, sinuous, and peculiarly foreign-looking Straits Settlements I have visited Siam on
variety. I am informed that the small cats several occasions, and on one of these visits
are held in great esteem in Siam, some of the the present King of Siam gave a friend of mine
females being quite liliputian. It is a matter a pair of cats. These cats were what the King
for regret that as the cat
ages the beautiful called palace cats, were very valuable and
clearcream colouring becomes cloudy and dark.
perfect specimens, with short twisted tails. It
There have been exceptions to this rule the also interest to know that the Siamese
'
:
may you
late Polyphema,' owned by Mrs. Vyvyan, have a superstition about their cats, and like
268 THE BOOK OF THE CAT,
to have both breeds in their houses i.e. the success. Of course, the dose for kittens must
dark, coffee-coloured ones
yellow with or be administered in minute quantity- just a
golden-coloured eyes, and the cream-coloured small pinch given in warm olive oil early in
with blue or silver eyes. The idea is that the the morning after an all-night fast. In giving
yellow-eyed cats will bring gold and the blue- the powder to adults I always enclose it in
hence if you have both breeds capsules. In cases of weakness or exhaustion
eyed silver,
there will always be plenty in the house.' a few drops of brandy or whisky in a tea-
"
I advocate that all kittens should be spoonful of warm milk works wonders. It is
reared by healthy English foster-mothers, and often necessary to give some sort of tonic after
am convinced that if breeders would adopt medicine of this description.
"
this plan we should in time succeed in establish- Siamese kittens should be well fed not ;
ing a far stronger breed of cats. As matters much at a time, but little and often lean
now stand, the kittens inherit scraped beef or mutton, veget-
and develop any ailment or ables, stale bread and gravy,
weakness to which their boiled fish, rabbit, raw eggs,
mothers may be subject, so milk (previously boiled); in fact,
that from the very commence- anything light and nourishing.

ment of their existence they The remains of a meal should
have but little chance of be- never be left on the floor.
coming strong and healthy These kittens' digestions are
enough to withstand our cli- not strong, and their intestines
mate of many moods. are most delicately formed.
" The colour
Plenty of sun and air they of the eyes of
'
require, but damp and draughts Siamese kittens should be well

are fatal. All young kittens determined at eight weeks.
should be encouraged to take They most interesting and
are
exercise empty cotton reels
; playful at this age a tunnel;
cause hours of amusement, made of newspapers will afford

also a rabbit's foot tied on endless amusement, and after
to string or otherwise corks LADY MARCUS BERESFORD S
a long and energetic game oi
; "
CAMBODIA."
of any description must be
(Photo : E. Laniior, Baling.) play they will sleep for hours.
It is not desirable to lift
avoided. Large bones should
be given when the kittens are two months old or handle them more than can be avoided
small ones, whilst they are very young. In cases of
they assist the growth of teeth ;
such as of game, chicken, or fish, are danger- bad colds or coughs, a simple but usually
ous. The best and safest of all is a bullock's effective remedy is a mixture of three penny-
foot boiled down and pulled apart these bones ;

worth of oil of almonds and three pennyworth
for a considerable time. of syrup of violets, mixed by a chemist a
will occupy kittens
"
Worms thrice abso-
quarter of a teaspoonful
is
cause an enormous mortality daily (it
lutely necessary to shake the
bottle thoroughly
amongst Siamese, and are, I feel convinced, at
the root of nearly every ailment from which cats before administering the medicine). For an
or kittens suffer therefore, however reluctant
;
adult an eggspoonful three times daily may
one feel as to giving medicine to young- be given. Cod-liver oil is always safe (also
may
sters of tender age, it is better to do this the best olive oil), and helps to build up the
than to run the risk of these odious parasites constitution. As a tonic I know of nothing to
establishing themselves, they are most

for equal half-grain (coated) quinine pills, given
early each morning for a few days now
and
difficult to dislodge permanently. I have used
Saunder's worm powders with considerable again. In cases of bronchitis, Carvill's Air
SIAMESE CATS. 269
and to effect a perma-

nent cure the treatment
must be very persistent.
"
I do not know when
Siamese were first intro-

duced into England, but
Lady Dorothy Nevill
possessed some several
years ago. Sir Robert
Herbert imported some ;
PUGS PAYING A VISIT TO

THE SIAMKSK.
Purifier (about a tea-
spoonlul) should be
placed in boiling water,
and the cat or kitten
made to inhale the
steam several times
daily, and particularly
the first thing in the
morning and the last
at night.
"
For adults suffer-
ing from bad throat
complaint and total
refusal of all food I
have found no remedy

to equal the following MRS. HAWKINS CATTKRY.
if
prescription, given
in time. I have administered itwith great and Miss Forestier-Walker and her sister (Mrs.
success to numberless cats :
Forty drops Vyvyan), who have owned and bred many
Calvert's pure carbolic acid, two drachms beautiful specimens, first made acquaintance
spirits of wine, six ounces pure water. Not with this breed in 1883, and soon afterwards
' ' ' '
quite half a teaspoonful to be mixed with were presented with Susan and Samuel
a teaspoonful of warm milk, poured down direct from the palace at Bangkok. 'Tiam-o-
the throat three times daily for very young ; Shian I.' also came from Bangkok. All these
cats a smaller quantity of the mixture should cats had kinked tails. From 'Susan' and
be given. I doubt if it would be advisable to '
Tiam - o - Shian I.' mated with Mrs. Lee's
'
Even if the cat does Medu,' and Miss
'
give it to young kittens. Meo,' Mr. Harrington's
' '
not swallow the whole dose, it acts beneficially Moore's Siam descended, amongst others,
as a mouth-wash anddisinfectant, apparently the following well-known and typical cats :
removing an unpleasant taste and re-establish- Bangkok," Tiam-o-Shian II.,' Goblin, "Kitza
' '
' '
ing the power to smell the loss of this sense Kara,' 'Queen Rhea,' King Wallypug,' Prince
often preventing a sick cat from eating. Weak '
of Siam,' Tiam-o-Shian III.,' 'Adam,' 'Eve,'
eyes, sickness, and diarrhoea are tedious ail-
'
'Cupid,' 'Mafeking,' Rangsit,' 'Vishuddha,'

ments to which all kittens are very subject, '
Tiam-o-Shian IV.,'
'
Suzanne,' Ah Choo,'
'
' '
Tornito,' and Evangeline.' In awarding and several medals and specials. He also-
prizes in the Siamese classes at the Cat Club carried all before him at Bath in March, 1894.
' '
show at Westminster in 1901 1 found Suzanne Unfortunately, he died that year from con-
quite the best cat present, and upon referring gestion of the lungs.
" '
subsequently to a catalogue was not surprised King Kesho,' the well-known male (sire
to find that Mrs. Vyvyan was her owner. of many beautiful kittens), I bought from
Champion Wankee for a long time held his

' '
Mr. Forsgate in 1894 he claimed descent from ;
own in the show pen, and has sired some very the Duchess of Bedford's, Mrs. Seton-Kerr's,
good kittens but, of course, as is usual, age
;
and Miss Forestier-Walker's cats ; he had
has darkened him. large bold eyes of a glorious shade of blue,
"Mrs. Robinson's 'Ah Choo '. and Mr. and very dark points he won many prizes ;
' '
Zetland Wanzes
'
Cooke's are well-known and specials, but died in 1897. Lido,' a male
'
cats of to-day. Lady Marcus Beresford's bred by Mrs. Chapman and sired by Champion
' '
King of Siam is imported, has glorious Wankee,' was descended from some of the
eyes of sapphire-blue, and sires exceptionally best of his time he was of the long-bodied,
;
good kittens he is short on the leg, has a coat

; narrow-faced type, most graceful in his
'
like satin and an excellent constitution. Royal movements.
Siam,' the property of Mrs. Spencer, of Eye "Amongst the many females I have pos-
'
Vicarage, Suffolk (who has bred some of the sessed, Cameo was one of my best, her
'
best kittens I have ever seen), is a superb pale body colour being relieved by intensely
creature with eyes of deepest blue he was ;
dark points this little pet died suddenly in
;
given to a friend of Mrs. Spencer in Siam, July, 1896, from failure of the heart's action.
is a genuine royal palace-bred specimen with
'
Koko '
was a very large cat, comparatively
bright blue eyes, a handsome cat with, strictly coarse in appearance for one of this variety ;
typical points, and he is never ill Miss ! she won the Duchess of Bedford's special at
'
Harper's (late) Curly Tail,' a daughter of Holland Park in 1896, for the best adult
' '
King Kesho,' was an excellent example of Siamese. Princess To-To,' 1900, bred by
the breed, all her points were very good ;
Mrs. Bennet, became a great favourite no ;
unfortunately her life was not of long duration words of mine could ever do justice to her re-
she died a victim to dropsy. It is so long markable individuality, her fascinating moods,
ago since I first possessed a Siamese kitten that her expressive little face and sense of the comic.
I cannot remember from whom I purchased She loved to be sung to sleep, closing her
her she was a very perfect
;
little creature, eyes with an unmistakable air of enjoyment and
absolutely adorable with her quaint way? confidence, and clearly requesting an encore
appealing and yet assertive nature. when the song ceased. I taught her to dance,
" and every night
After her death from rapid decline I at ten o'clock she frantically
tried put aside all thoughts of securing
to enjoyed prancing round the room on her
another, and not until September, 1893, did hind legs.
" little companions to whom
I again fall a victim to the attractions of this Alas, that these
breed, purchasing a female of about one year we are permitted to become so deeply attached
old from Zache, of Great Portland Street. I should be only lent us to brighten our weary
' '
named her
'
Yuthia she was '
supposed ;
to way for so short a period To-To was !
have been imported, had very expressive blue always very delicate, and after lying at death's
eyes, and she lived until February, 1899. door on several occasions she finally entered
" In with her very last breath she crept into
October, 1893 immediately after the in ;
Yolanda,' the female I now

'
Crystal Palace show I became the owner of my arms to die.

'
Kitza Kara,' a very perfect male, bred by own, was presented to me by Mrs. Hankey, and
Miss Forestier-Walker, which won first prize bred, I believe, by Mrs. Foote. She is a small
SIAMESE CATS. 2',L
cat with very blue eyes, and has recently had things, which he keeps under one particular
a litter of five kittens by Lady Marcus Beres- cushion, hunting them out when he feels
' '
ford's King of Siam ;
these kittens all inclined to play for so large a cat he is
;
possessed the gloriously blue eyes to which remarkably athletic, and as yet his health
both of their parents can lay claim. has caused me no anxiety.
" Attache "
(a neuter) was given to me who own
' '
It is highly desirable that all
in October, 1900, when six months old, by cats should keep a few simple medicines
Mrs. Spencer, of Eye Vicarage, Suffolk he ; always at hand. Personally, I am never
is a very large and powerful creature, with without the remedies previously alluded to.
massive limbs, and an unconquerable an- Delay, in neglecting to note and treat at the
tipathy to all other cats of any description, very commencement certain symptoms of ill-
'
excepting only my Russian neuter, whose ness, often proves fatal, whereas a stitch in
"ROMEO" AND "JULIETTE."

THE PROPERTY OF MRS. VARY CAMPBELL.
(Photo :
J. Clat>pcrton, Galashiels.)
presence he tolerates. So great is his aver- *ime saves nine,' and may even save one of the
sion to even the semblance of a cat, that nine lives that a cat is (or was) supposed to
he has attacked a print an as-
life-size of possess."
sertive-looking Persian that acted as a stove The love of Siamese cats has not seemed as
ornament in the room he occupied during the yet to have developed in America, and speci-
summer months, scratching it several times mens of the breed are few and far between.
across and and then retiring behind it,
across, Lady Marcus Beresford sent out two good cats
evidently to watch the effect from another to Mrs. Clinton Locke, and I believe several
point of view He has large and luminous
!
fine litters have been reared, and some fine
eyes, in whose unfathomable depths linger exhibits appeared at recent shows. I give
many and varied expressions he is of a ;
an some of these
illustration of pets, with
peculiarly jealous disposition, capable of in- Mrs. Robert Locke, on page 256.
tense devotion. In spite of his living the In the foregoing remarks of noted breeders
life of a recluse, he is
by no means a victim of this variety many useful hints are given,
of ennui, possessing his own special play- and some peculiarities of the breed mentioned.
I would, however, draw attention to a curious tion to a Siamese house cat is the trying
and rather remarkable fact in connection with nature of its unmelodious voice. Siamese are
Siamese cats. rather prolific breeders, the litters being gener-
When they are ill, a sprinkling of white hairs ally large ones, and the females, as a rule, in
invariably appears all over the face and head. the minority.
The bright blue of the eye vanishes, leaving it I do not believe that Siamese will ever be-
a sort of pale opal colour. It often takes come common in England, for many reasons.
many weeks before the cat regains its ordinary These cats are expensive to purchase, difficult
appearance. Harrison Weir, in his allusions to rear, and fanciers are afraid to risk them
to Siamese, tells us that he had observed a in the show pen but in spite of these draw-
;
"
great liking of these cats for the woods," backs, I think, as time goes on, and the Siamese
and goes on to describe them as not passing Club extends its labours, we shall see and hear
along like an ordinary cat, but quickly and more of these really curious creatures, for what
quietly creeping from bush to bush nor do ; we call the royal Siamese bears no resemblance
they seem afraid of getting their feet wet to any other cat, and the distinguishing
likethe feline tribe in general. The male differences, being so great, tend to make the
Siamese will take a most friendly and parental breed one of our best show cats and a clear
interest in the welfare of madame's family ;
class to itself, for the Siamese of the purest
indeed, he shows a great liking always to have blood should not be crossed with other cats.
the company of a lady, and frets greatly when We have heard of " any other colour " Siamese,
left alone. but these cats of varied hue claiming to be
The males however, antagonistic to
are, Siamese are but the offspring of a cross. We
others 'of their and fight with a terrible
sex, have been told of black and blue and tabby
persistency. I have heard of a stalwart fellow Siamese but the fanciers of Siamese look
;
who, being allowed his liberty, cleared the neigh- askance at these freaks, and feel that it is
bourhood wandering toms. When
of all other worse than useless to attempt to produce
made neuter, Siamese become most charming any other variety than that which we have
home pets, and can be taught to do tricks learned by custom to designate the Royal
more easily than other cats. The sole objec- cat of Siam.
A COSY CORNER. ,
{From a Painting by Madame Ronncr.)
18
274
"
ASHBRITTLE PETER.'
THE PROPERTY OF MRS. E. A. CLARK.
CHAPTER XXIV.
SHORT-HAIRED CATS.
a census could be taken of the cats in place of honour was given to the long-haired
IF England, or even in London, I suppose or Persian cats and now, as all the world
;
the proportion of short-haired cats to knows or, at any rate, all the cat world
long-haired cats would be about ten to one. at every show the short-haired cats are in a
In the cat fancy, however, the breeders of very small minority.
Persians in comparison with those of the At one time not so very long ago there
more numerous.
short-haired varieties are far was a
danger of these breeds becoming
In former days, when cat shows were first an unknown quantity at our shows. This
held at the Crystal Palace, the premier position would have been a grievous pity so some ;
was given to the short-haired breeds. On champions of the household or homely puss
reference to the catalogues up to 1895 I find arose, and Sir Claud and Lady Alexander
the following heading at the commencement : founded in 1901 the British Cat Club, to
"
Class I. Short-haired Cats He Cats, Tortoise-
:
encourage the breeding, exhibiting, and kind
shell or Tortoiseshell -
and -White." Then treatment of these cats. The subscription
followed the rest of the short-haired varie- first started at 55., but was reduced to 2s. 6d.,
ties, including Siamese, Manx, and blue (self so as to try to get. members of the poorer
colour). classes to join and take an interest in the
The long-haired breeds, therefore, in those welfare of pussy. A
number of goodly
days had to play second fiddle, so to speak. members' names are now on the list, and much
It was in 1896, when the National Cat Club has been done in supporting shows by offer-
took over the Crystal Palace shows, that the ing specials chiefly in money and in the
W
u
Q
H
K
X
I I
c
(Q ^
H ^
K*
K ~
W ^
I
3! .5
Q ^~
2
s
o
H
J
Id
X
w
u
</)
o
H
K
O
H
SHORT-HAIRED CATS. 275
generous guaranteeing of classes. The hon. I do not think such cats are to be found
secretary and treasurer Claud Alexander,
is Sir now in our midst, and so I presume this
Faygate Wood, Sussex. There is a Scottish species long-haired cat has

of died out.
"
branch of this club, of which the secretary is Anyhow, the term Russian," when now
Miss Leith, Ross Priory, Alexandria, N.B. used, is meant to designate the self-coloured,
It was also in 1901 that the Short-haired smooth-haired cat with which we are all
Cat Society was founded by Mr. Gambier familiar. Certainly, the have
best blues I
Bolton, whose name is so well known in the always remarked are those that have been
animal world. At most of the principal shows bred in England, or that, at least, can boast
this society is represented, and some hand- an English sire or dam and, after writing
;
some challenge cups and prizes are placed for right and Jeft to breeders of British cats, I
competition. The hon. secretary is Mrs. have had a difficulty in obtaining any really
Middleton, 67, Cheyne Court, Chelsea, and the good photographs. I cannot, however, com-
annual subscription is 55., and 2s. 6d. to work- plain of the pictures of blue short-hairs
ing classes. which illustrate these pages, and which

In considering the short-haired breeds, I have been really showered upon me. Ihave
will divide them into three sections viz. failed, however, to be able to illustrate
selfs or whole colours, broken colours, and the difference between the foreigners and
any other distinct variety. The Siamese Britishers.
and Manx cats I have dealt with in previous That there are two distinct types of these
chapters, and foreign cats will have a corner blue cats apparent to anyone who observes
is
to themselves later on so I propose to deal

;
the specimens exhibited at our shows. The
first with those interesting short-haired self- foreign or imported variety have wedge-
coloured cats formerly called Russian or Arch- shaped faces, and are longer and larger in the
angel, and which in America are termed head, with prominent ears otherwise, in ;
Maltese. colour and coat, they are similar to those bred

There has been a good deal of discussion in England, and which partake of the same
lately as to the points desirable in these cats, formation as an ordinary British cat. In
which of recent years have clearly be-
come a species of British cats, and there-
fore are rightly classed as such at our
shows, instead of as Russians. Yet this
latter name sticks to the variety, and no
doubt there are still some real foreign
short-haired blues to be found, differ-

ing, however, in type from those we
have become accustomed to breed and
exhibit in England. Harrison Weir and
John Jennings, in their book on cats
in the early days of the fancy, deal
with cats called Russians amongst the
long-haired breeds, and these are de-
scribed by them as larger in body and
shorter in leg than Persians, with a
coat of woolly texture interspersed with
wiry, coarse hairs. In colour we are
told they were generally dark tabby, "
BALLOCHMYLE BLUE QUEEN.
the markings being rather indistinct. BELONGING TO LADY ALEXANDER.
describing the correct texture of coat of BLUE RUSSIANS.

these short-haired blues, I would
I am very interested in the discussion on blue Russians,
compare as years ago I had a perfect type of a blue Russian,
it to plush, for the hair does not lie softly which had been imported. When Russians were
on the slope, but has a tendency to an judged as Russians it won well at shows, so you may
upright growth, and yet the coat should not like to have a description of the cat which is, 1
have any suspicion of coarseness or rough- believe, a correct one, according to several authorities
ness to the touch. We know the difference

on Russian cats. A
real Russian should be longer in
the leg than the English blue. The head is pointed
between silk and cotton plush, and it is to and narrow the ears large, but round tail long, full
; ;
the former I would liken the correct coat of near the body, but very tapering. According to the
these blues. Needless to say that, as in all English taste, it is not a pretty cat, and only excels
self - coloured over the British blue in the colour and quality of its
cats, the coat, which is much shorter and softer than the latter.
The true colour is a real lavender-blue, of such softness
colours and shines like silver in a strong
brilliancy that it
should be ab- The eyes are amber. I think it a great mis-
light.
" "
solutely even take to give Russian in our show classification
of a bluish now, as these are really almost extinct in England, I
lilac tint, -
believe, and our principal clubs have been wise
"
enough to drop the title for Short-haired Blues,"
without any " "
in the same way that Persian has been dropped
sootiness or "
for Long-haired Cats." The last time I showed my
rusty shade. Russian was at the Westminster show, in a class
first
As in other for Russians. She was, however, beaten by the

breeds of round-headed British blue, although she was, 1
believe, the only Russian in the class. In iqoi the
"selfs," the "
class was altered to Short-haired Blues," which
y o u n g k i t- was more correct, as few of the blues shown then had
tcns exhibit
anything of the Russian about them, either in shape
distinct tab- or coat. As hese classes are no-* arranged, it would
be unfair to judge them except by the standard of our
by markings,
but these own short-haired cats, and I think that if a club wants
to encourage Russians it should give the extra class,
vanish as the "
Blue Russian," and it be judged as such.
let I
coat grows, must own disappointing for a Russian owner, who,
it is
" "
and many a seeing Russian Blue only given in the schedule,
ringed tail enters his cat accordingly, and gets beaten by a short-
which may haired blue failing in just the points that the Russian
is I know my feelings after Westminster,
correct in.
have caused "
1899,' when my Russian was described as grand
distress to
MRS. CARKW COX S BLUE MALE colour, texture of coat, failing to winner in width of
"
BAYARD.'.' .
'
the breeder head. and smallness of ears." The blue short-hairs

will as time now shown are, I know, far more beautiful with their
on without a round heads and shorter legs but, unfortunately,
goes be proudly held aloft ;
the beautiful is not always the correct type. As

suspicion of any blemish. The blues now
British cats, however, they are both beautiful and
exhibited appear generally to fail in eye, the
correct, so why not drop the Russian name alto-
colour being yellow, and often green or greenish- gether ? I had a most amusing talk with a blue
yellow whereas a special feature of this breed
;
Russian (?) owner the other day, and a good laugh
" "
should be a deep orange eye, round and full. with him over the ancestors of his Russian
blues. ANNIE P. JAMES.
Another fault which is sometimes apparent
is too thick a tail, which is suggestive of a At the Crystal Palace show of 1902 Mr.
long-haired ancestor. The following is an Woodiwiss judged the blue classes, and awarded
interesting letter from Mrs. H. V. James first to a cat having the English type of head.
which appeared in Fur and Feather : He gave as his reasons that although he
SHORT-HAIRED CATS 277
considered the long nose and thin head the right manyin num-
shape for a Russian, yet, he added, "I am not ber, nor has
here to judge on those lines; I have to judge there ever
according to the standard, which gives prefer- appeared any
ence to round head, neat ears, and short nose ; startling ly
and, although I
really believe Mrs. Walker's good speci-
blue Moscow ' '
to be the nearest in type to men in the
those I have seen
in Eastern countries, yet show pen.
according our English breeders' standard
to Mr. Woodi-
it is out of it, and I can only wiss kept and
give it reserve."
Mr. Mason, our ablest judge of all classes of e x h i b it_e d
cats, upheld Mr. Woodiwiss in his awards, and several line
makes the following remarks in Fur and specimens SHERDLEV ALEXIS.
Feather of February, 1003, in reporting on the "Blue Boy,"
Manchester show "I hope exhibitors and " "
: Blue King," and Blue Queen." The two
breeders of short-haired self-blues will take latter have been passed on to Lady Alexander.
my remarks in the spirit in which they are Mr. Mariner, of Bath, is an old exhibitor and
written. I am glad to see that the Manchester great enthusiast of this breed. Mrs. Mjddleton,
committee named the Mrs. Herring, Mrs.
' '
classes Blues (Male) Crowther, Miss Butler,
'
and Blues (Female).' Mrs. Illingworth, and
To call them Russians Mrs. Pownall have all
is amistake, seeing from time to time been
that a very large num- possessed of fairly good
ber of those exhibited Russians so called.
are crosses from some Mr. Cole used to show
other varieties. To a lovely fat-faced cat
all intents the self called "Muff," but she
blues, as we find them had green eyes. Mr.
" "
to-day, have little of SHERDLEY SACHA II."
"
SHERDLEY SACHA Dewar's
I." Firkins
the Russian blood in and Mr. McNish's "St.
them. Then why call them Russian ? "
Why Juan are blues that have made their name.
not '
self blues," and
judge them on the same The three principal breeders at the present
lines as the British short-haired cats ? What time of these cats are Lady Alexander, Mrs.
I want to obtain is a uniform type. To go Michael Hughes, and Mrs. Carew Cox. It is
for two op- at the Crystal Palace shows that an oppor-
posite types tunity is given of admiring the fine team of
"
in one class blues from the Faygate cattery. Brother
"
ofexhibits Bump has won a first prize whenever he has
cannot be appeared in the show pen, and, curiously
right or ad- enough, each time under a different judge. He
vantageous is a full champion, and special prizes have been
to breeders or showered upon him. Besides this handsome

exhibitors." fellow, Lady Alexander owns another male
" "
Breeders of Blue King and two good females.
short - haired At Sherdley Hall, in Lancashire, there is
blues have quite a colony of blues owned by Mrs. Michael

"SHKRDLEY MicHAKi.." ncverbeen Hughes.
18*
The cats are reared in outside and unwarmed effaced before they are many weeks old. In
houses, with ample wired-in runs. All the one case a kitten (now a large neuter) had
Sherdley cats are prize-winners. I am able to until fivemonths of age two broad black
" "
give illustrations of Alexis Michael and the stripes down his back on either side of his
"
two Sachas." The first named has been spine they were so decided in appearance
;
quoted as a typical British blue. that it seemed very doubtful that they would
Mrs. Carew Cox a most ardent supporter
is ever disappear. However, at six months old
and successful breeder of short-haired blues. he was a perfectly self-coloured cat This is,!
As she has had a long and varied experience, of course, most remarkable and unusual, and
I asked her to send me some notes. I have amongst all the many kittens of this breed
pleasure in publishing them for the benefit of that I have reared for the past thirteen years
my" readers : there has never been another presenting a

Blue short-haired cats many of them similar appearance.
"
imported from Northern Russia make very The eyes of a Russian should be golden
desirable pets, presenting, as they do, a neat, in colour, or deep orange. To procure deep-
'
coloured eyes, experiments have been made in
'
smart, tailor-built appearance all the year

round, and possessing the great intelligence crossing Russians with Persians, but the results
usually to be met with in all short-haired I have seen
so far as have not proved satis-
breeds. They have the advantage over many factory, and to an experienced eye the cross is
other varieties in that they are, as adults, perceptible. I believe there is no really recog-
strong, healthy nised standard

cats not at all of points for this
liable, as a rule, breed, which un-

to pulmonary at- til quite recently
tacks. Kittens, was co m
p a r a-
however, require t ve1y
i little
both care and known. I note
patience to rear that there is a
successfully, and, very fair demand
strange to say, for Russians
attain sounder at the present
constitutions time chiefly,
when brought up strange to say,
by healthy Eng- from the North
lish foster-moth- of England. The
ers. Females shape of the head
aremore difficult in many of those
"
to rear t han MARIA. is more
imported
OWNED BY MRS. WOODCOCK.
males. A Russian (Photo: S. Richardson, Standish.)
pointed than
cat should be of round ; indeed,
an even shade of blue throughout, even the some have long, lean,pointed heads and
skin itself being often in fact, generally of faces, with big ears. The backs of the ears
a bluish tinge. There should be no stripes should be as free from hair as possible some, ;
or bars, and for exhibition purposes there I remark, are entirely devoid of hair on the
should no white patches. Kittens fre-

be upper parts of their ears at least, if there is
quently have body markings when very young, any, it is not perceptible^ to the naked eye.
also rings on their tails; but in pure-bred Others, again, have ears covered with peculiarly
specimens these defects generally become fine, close, silky hair. Some imported blues are
very round in face and head, with tiny ears, both parents were English bred. As, how-
and eyes set rather wide apart. These are ever, it is not always possible to identify the
surely the prettiest, and are generally given sires of household cats, I venture to doubt
the preference at shows but, of course, it ;

these assertions. It is sometimes possible to
cannot be denied that the long-faced variety breed blues from a black English female mated
present the most foreign appearance, more to a Russian male. This experiment does not
especially when this type also possesses a lithe always succeed, as some blacks never breed
and rather lean body. The whiskers, eye- blues, although mated several times consecu-
lashes, and tip of nose should tively with Russians. A white
all be dark blue. English female mated to a
"
The coat should be short male simply produces
and close, glossy, and silver}' ;
white kittens at least, this
sometimes it is rather woolly
and furry, Nature having <blue has been my experience. Cats
imported from Archangel are
evidently provided these cats generally of a deep, firm blue
with their warm, close coats throughout the eyes and
;
to enable them to resist the ears rather larger than those

severities of their native of English cats, the head and
climates, short-haired blues legs longer. In many of the
existing also in the north of Russian peasants' cabins can

Norway, Iceland, and I am be seen a curious coloured
told in some parts of the MKS. CAKEW COX " YUI.A.
S print (executed in Moscow).
United States. Many years It represents the burial of
ago some blues (with faint tabby markings) the cat after a dramatic fashion, and derives its
were imported from the north of Norway ; origin from a very interesting Russian legend.
'
these were called Canon Girdlestone's The cat is represented as slate-coloured.
"
breed.' I owned two very pretty soft -looking It is often impossible to decide the ulti-
creatures. Blue-and-white cats have been mate colour of a kitten's eyes until it is four
imported from the north of Russia, and are months old. They vary very much, some-
particularly attractive when evenly marked. times giving one the impression that they are
"
Some blues are far paler in colour than green, and perhaps a few days aftei wards one
others. Amongst my kittens are frequently discovers them to be yellow As these cats !
some very beautiful lavender-blues I have ; become better known they naturally increase
remarked that these are rather more deli- in popularity, and I should not be surprised
cate in constitution than those of darker to hear of several well-established kennels
hue. As these cats advance in years they of this breed in the immediate future.
frequently become a rustv brown during the "It man}' years ago since I first made
is
summer months, or when acquiring a fresh acquaintance with this breed but I find I ;
coat ;
this discolorationprin- asserts itself made no notes at the time, so cannot give full
cipally at the joints of legs and feet. The fur particulars. In 1889, however, I purchased a
of a very old cat becomes dull and rough, smooth blue, whose owner declared her to be
losing the soft and glossy appearance identical a Siamese she certainly resembled a puma-
with the blue Russian in his prime. shaped Siamese in her body outline and move-
There are some people who appear to
; '
ments and I believe I entered her in the stud

wish to assert that there is an English breed book as such. Dwiua won many prizes at
' '
of blues, and I have been told strange tales of Palace and other shows in
'
Crystal any
'
unexpected meetings in country villages with variety classes, was a most faithful creature,
cats of this colour, whose owners declared that reared many families, and lived until June,
1901. In 1890 I owned a very pretty soft- lives she was imported, and has been a great
;
looking blue female she was, in fact, a blue winner in her time, but is getting an old cat
tabby (one of Canon Girdlestone's breed) ;
now. She is the mother of my stud cat
Bayard,' who was born in 1898, and whose
'
also a male of the same variety. They had

' ' '
evidently been the victims of tape-worm for a sire was King Vladimir.' Fashoda was
considerable period, and finally succumbed born in 1896, and was imported she is a ;
owing to the presence of these odious parasites large, strong cat, and a winner of many prizes.
' ' ' '
in overwhelming numbers. That same year Odessa is a daughter of Fashoda by
Yula came to me in 1901,
' ' ' ' '
Kola a very pretty blue-and-white female Blue Gown.'
'
became mine. She was imported from Kola, and was imported from Archangel. Sing
'
and after changing hands more than once Sing (neuter) is the cat that as a kitten
whilst at sea she was
finally exchanged at the had the peculiar black stripes down his spine
London Docks for a leg of mutton ! A very alluded to previously He was born on Easter
lovable little cat was Monday, 1899, a son
'Kola,' with very of 'Fashoda' and
round face and very
'
Muchacho.' He has
soft fur. She lived two toes off one of
until November, 1900, his hind feet the re-
and evidently died sult of a heavy weight
from old age, becom- falling upon his foot
ing feeble and tooth- when a kitten ;
he
less, but quite able to suffered greatly from
enjoy the soft food shock, and every day
that was specially pre- foi three weeks he
pared for her. These paid visits to the
' '
two old pets Dwina doctor, who dressed
' '
and Kola were a his foot, having previ-
great loss, after twelve ously amputated the
and ten years' com- toes. The little fellow
'
panionship. Ling- had a sad time, but

'
popo an extremely he does not miss his

beautiful blue was toes now.
LADY ALEXANDER OF BALLOCHMYI.E. " '
imported from Arch- (Photo: Lafayette, Ltd.)

Muchacho,' the
angel, very sound in stud cat that has sired
colour, rather long in face and legs, sleek, sinu- so many winning kittens, is a son of Mrs.
' '
ous, and
graceful, peculiarly lethargic in her Herring's (late) Champion Roguey and my
'
movements, and dainty in her deportment. I (late) Lingpopo.' I sold him as a kitten, but
bought her in 1893, when she was seven months after two people had had him I again became
old. Unfortunately, a disease of the kidneys his owner, and now he will never leave me
'
carried her off when in the flower of her exist- until he is called to the
happy hunting
'
ence. Moscow '
(1893) was a very successful grounds

'
that I hope, and think, must be
blue Russian sire of many kittens he won ; prepared for all faithful creatures somewhere
' "
many first and special prizes he died in 1897, ; beyond the veil.'
during my absence from home. In 1895 Lady In America the classification given for these
"
Marcus Beresford presented me with a very cats at the Beresford Cat Club show is Blue
handsome kitten a male with a very thick or Maltese," but I have not heard of any ardent
yet close coat, and very compact in shape. fanciers of this breed over the water. More
'
Olga came to me in 1893 or 1894, and still

'
will be written on the so-called Maltese cat by
one well qualified to give information later BRITISH BLUE (SHORT-HAIR).

on in this work. Head. Round and flat, with good space between
the ears, which are small and well set on.
I have always been told what
delightful pets
Shape. Cobby in build, round quarters, and good
these blues become, being extremely intelli- in bone substance.
gent and affectionate. Mrs. Bagster, the Cat Coat. Short and close, of sound blue colour
Club's hon. secretary, owns a splendid fellow throughout. Legs and feet shade lighter in colour,
one of Mrs. Carew Cox's well-known strain. with no bars or markings.
At the time of writing there is no specialist Eyes. Deep orange in colour.
club for short-haired but RUSSIAN BLUE.
they are
blues,
Head longer in formation, has space between the
included in the list of the British Cat Club,
ears, more prominent in ears, and well-tapered face ;
founded by those ardent supporters of the
fairly round under the cheek bone, thin, falls away
short-haired breeds, Sir Claud and Lady Alex- under the eye.
ander. No standard of points has been drawn Comes out rather longer in back. Less bone sub-
stance.
up for these cats, but the following definitions
Colour same as the British short-hair, with no bars
are descriptive of the two types exhibited at or markings.
our shows :
Eyes deep orange colour.
BALLOCHMYLE CHAMPION BROTHER BUMP."

282
- -
_
SHORT-HAIKED TABBY KITTENS.

CHAPTER XXV.
SHORT-HAIRED CATS.
\ ND now I will take a general glance over rich black stripes or bars ;
no white. Eyes, orange
j~\ the other short-haired breeds commonly or green.
called English or British cats. Orange or Red Tabby. Colour, light orange or red,
with darker stripes or bars no white. Eyes, hazel,
As regards points, these are the same as in
;
or golden brown.
the long-haired varieties. I give a list as
Tabby and White. Colour, any shade of tabby with
drawn up by a sub-committee of the Cat Club white. Eyes, orange or green.
for the use of fanciers and judges : N.B. Where more than one colour is given for the
eyes, the first one is to be preferred to the second or
SHORT-HAIRED CATS. third.
White. Colour, pure white. Eyes, blue. The Sub-Committee, FRANCES SIMPSON.
Black. Colour, pure and rich black ; no white: GAMBIER BOLTON.
Eyes, orange.
Torioiseshell. Colour, patched yellow, orange and It will therefore be seen that texture and
black no
stripes no white. Eyes, orange.
length of coat are really the distinguishing
; ;
Torioiseshell and White.

Colour, white, patched
with yellow, orange and black no stripes. Eyes,
;
points between the two varieties. It is just
as grave a mistake for a Persian cat to have

orange.
Silver Tabby. Colour, silver grey, marked with a short, close coat as it is for one of British
rich black stripes or bars; no pure white. Eyes, type to possess any of that woolliness or length
green or orange. of fur which denotes a mesalliance. The com-
Spotted Tabby. Colour, any shade of light colour,
monest species of all short-haired cats may be
evenly marked with spots of a darker shade or black ;
no stripes no pure white. Eyes, orange, yellow or

;
said to represented by broken-coloured
be
specimens that is, orange-and-white, tabby-
green.
Brown Tabby. Colour, golden brown, marked with and-white, and black-and-white. These sorts
of cats we most frequently see about our silver are always well represented at the
public streets and in the homes of country principal shows, and of late years competition
cottagers. At our shows this type of cat has been much keener in these classes. It is
"
which would be classedany other
as when we come to markings that the long-
"
colour is fast disappearing from our midst. haired breeds must take a back seat, so to
In America I observe that a class is still speak and the British puss has an easy walk-
;
specially reserved for

orange-and-white cats, over. In the short, close coat, the broad or
and it would seem that this is rather a favourite narrow bands of the darker colour show up in
breed with our cousins over the water. grand relief on the ground-work of a rich,
A good black, with rich glossy coat and deep though paler, shade. The rings round the
amber eyes, is, to my mind, one of the choicest neck and_tail, and the bars on the legs are seen
of our short-haired breeds. These cats are to great perfection. It will be easily under-
often marred by the white spot at the throat, stood, therefore, that markings in short-
and, of course, green eyes predominate to a haired tabbies claim the first and greatest
very great extent. As in the long-haired cats, consideration, and that these should be sharp
blue-eyed whites are coming much more to the and distinct, great care is needed in mating and
fore, and on the show bench, at least, we do breeding.
not see many other specimens with yellow or A serious and rather common defect amongst
green eyes. silver tabbies is a tinge of brown about the
Our British tabbies orange, brown, and face generally on the nose. Orange-tabby
ANOTHER VIEW OF LADY DECIES' CATTERY.

(Pfcoto: Cassell & Company, Limited.)
females are rarer than males. The peculiar tortoiseshell torn is a most rare and uncommon
species known as spotted tabbies is becoming animal. A number of clever fanciers and
very rare, and whereas formerly some of this breeders have used their best endeavours and
breed were generally exhibited at large shows, patiently persevered in the fruitless attempt
we now seldom see them. Spotted tabbies are to breed tortoiseshellmale cats. In my long
usually brown or silver. I do not recollect experience have
I never known of anyone who
having heard of an orange-spotted tabby. The has succeeded, and those specimens that have
spots should be spread uniformly over the been exhibited from time to time have been
body, feet, and tail, and if on the face so much picked up quite by chance. I recollect, many
the better. A perfect specimen should not years ago, at the Crystal Palace show, seeing
the pen of a short-haired cat
smothered with prize cards,
and the owner of the puss
^^^ ^ standing proudly by, in-

forming inquirers that it was
a tortoiseshell torn that lay
hidden behind his awards.
This man had been paid a
shilling by a London cook
to take away the trouble-
some beast out of her area !
He had taken it away to

some purpose, and his sur-
prise at finding himself and
his cat famous was amusing
to behold.
A very beautiful cat is the
(Photo: E. Landor, Baling.) English tortoiseshell - and -
white when the colours are

have a suspicion of a stripe or bar anywhere. well distributed, the red and black showing up
Harrison Weir considers that 'the spotted tabby so splendidly on the snowy ground-work. I
is much nearer approach to the wild English

a must sav I far prefer those cats to the tortoise-
cat and some other wild cats in the way of shells, which are often so dingy in appearance.
colour than the ordinary broad-banded tabby. In this breed the male sex is conspicuous by
Amongst writers on cats such as Harrison : its absence. The two breeds that have made
Weir and Mr. Jennings priority of place is great strides of late years amongst long-haired
given to the tortoiseshell cat, and this breed cats namely, creams and smokes are very
heads their list of short-haired breeds. So also rarely met with in the short-haired varieties.
formerly in the Crystal Palace catalogue, to I know, however, of a silver tabby that, when
which I have before alluded, tortoiseshells lead mated to a black, throws smoke kittens. These
the way. Here, again, the patchy nature of are quaint and pretty, with bright green eyes.
the three colours-is or, at least, ought to be The under-coat is snowy white, and gleams
the distinguishing feature, and the long-haired through the dark outer fur, giving a very
cat of the same variety loses some of its indi- distinguished appearance. It is a pity some
viduality by reason of the length of fur, causing fanciers do not seriously take up the breeding
a mingling or blurring of the colours. of cream short-haired cats, as I think they
It is a strange fact in natural history, which would repay any trouble spent over them.
no one has attempted to explain, that the They should, of course, be as pale and even
without any markings, and

in colour as possible, truly beautiful, but the first, in my opinion, is
with deep amber eyes. I can only recall one far in advance of the latter in intelligence.
or two, and these not at all perfect specimens. In point of fact, in animal life, in-that way it
Amongst our present-day fanciers of short- has no peer; and, again, the rich colourings
haired cats I may mention Sir Claude and Lady are, I think, more than equal to the softened
Alexander, who have splendid specimens cf beauty of the longer-coated. I do not think
many of the breeds. Mrs. Collingwood has that the breeding of short-hairs is yet properly
recently almost discarded Persians for the understood."
British beauties, being specially partial to silver A correspondent writing to Our Cats, com-
and orange tabbies. Lady Decies for
many plaining of the classification for short-hairs at
" "
years owned the invincible Champion Xeno- shows, say_sj All fanciers of that beautiful
"
phon a brown tabby of extreme beauty animal the British cat feel how they are handi-
who died in 1902. There are several fine short- capped when they receive schedules of the
hairs at the spacious catteries at Birchington. various shows and compare the classification
Mrs. Herring's name has always been associ- of short- and long-haired cats. Far better it
"
ated with Champion Jimmy," the noted silver would be honestly to announce a foreign cat '
"
tabby, and she is also the owner of King- show,' with a rider that a few English may
Saul," one of the few tortoiseshell toms that compete if they choose. 'Tis a pity, in many
appear at our shows. Many other specimens ways for, given a little encouragement, the
;
have been bred by this well-known fancier. standard of the poor, everyday, homely pussy
Mr. Harold Blackett has a trio of famous would be raised, and we would not see so much
prize-winning silver tabbies, and Mrs. Bonny wanton cruelty and neglect attached thereto."
is a noted breeder of browns and silvers.
"
This enthusiastic fancier writes For many
:
years past I have devoted myself to the cult

of the British tabby cat it has been
; my one
hobby. Really good specimens of browns and
silvers are scarce. Certainly silvers have in-
creased in numbers during the last few years,
and the quality has improved. They are
difficultto rear, more especially the males."
Mrs. Bonny's celebrated brown female
"
tabby,
Heather Belle," died in 1903. A silver
" tabby,
Dame Fortune " her daughter by Mrs. .
"
Collingwood's Champion James II." created
quite a sensation at the Westminster and other
shows. Miss Derby Hyde has always been
faithful to short-haired, Mr.
blue-eyed whites.
Kuhnel is noted for his gorgeous-coloured and
finely marked orange tabbies. Many breeders
of Persians keep one or two short-haired
specimens, and I cannot help believing that,

as time goes on, we shall have a larger number
of fanciers British cats.
taking up
Harrison Weir, in
"
comparing the two varie-
ties, writes :I am disappointed at the
neglect of the short-haired English cat, by the
AN AMERICAN BEGGING CAT.
ascendancy of the foreign long-hair. Both are (Photo: A. C. Hopkins.)
golden-amber eyes the workmanlike spotless

;
white, with its clear blue eye the aristocratic ;
silver, with its rich tabby markings, its soft

emerald or orange eye or the pale, lavender- ;
hued blue, with its coat of velvet-like texture ?

''
Thanks to such enthusiastic breeders as
Lady Alexander, Mrs. Herring, Lady Decies,
Mr. Sam Woodiwiss, Mr. R. P. Hughes, Mr.
Kuhnel, Mr. Louis Wain, and several
others, we are not likely to allow the English
short-haired variety to deteriorate. I myself
think there has been a great improvement in

the specimens penned the last few years. The
fault we must guard against is the loss of size
and stamina, which can only be averted by
judicious mating. The increasing number of
shows in America, the Colonies, and even on
" the Continent, should stimulate breeders of the
EBONY OF WIGAN.
OWNED uy Miss JOAN WOODCOCK. short-haired variety to extend their catteries,
(Photo : S. Richardson, Stcmdish.)
for no doubt in a few years there will be a
"
In America short-hairs have not taken strong demand for the English-bred, short-
on," and at the various shows the specials haired cat. to the present only in England
Up
offered are as small in number as the entries has anything like a systematic rule been fol-
made. I never hear of. any exportations of lowed out, which is most essential in fact, :
British cats to American fanciers but perhaps ; the only course possible to obtain good speci-
some enthusiast of the breed will start a short- mens is to follow out a system of breeding as
haired cattery. There is certainly room for near perfect as possible for, as in
everything
such an enterprise, and the sturdier Britisher else where breeding concerned, the old
is
'
would more easily resist the trials of an Atlantic maxim of
'
blood will tell holds good.
"
trip and the terrors of a three days' show. The stud books should be kept up to date,
I have been fortunate in obtaining -the kind and stud registrations should be followed out,
assistance of two of our best authorities on just as in the dog world. I can imagine
short-haired cats namely, Mr. H. E. Jung many of my readers who do not take up cats
and Mr. T. B. Mason. Some notes by these as a hobby saying,
'
The ordinary common
competent judges will be read with interest. garden cat suits my purpose ;
he is affectionate,
Mr. H. E. Jung says : he catches mice, and that is all I require.'
"
It is a matter of regret that this variety at But how much more satisfactory it is to be
'
shows is not so fully represented as it should able to say, My cat is blue-blooded, has an
be, taking into consideration the large number aristocratic pedigree, ishandsome he goes to ;
of cat exhibitors. There is no doubt that the shows, perhaps wins, and he is still affectionate ;
prettier long-haired variety secures greater he also catches the mice as well as his brother
support from the lady exhibitors. of lower birth and less striking appearance.'
"
In addition to the characteristic of being You must also bear in mind he does not require
a native production of the British Isles, they any daintier feeding. I consider it is always
have certainly a great advantage in their racy, pleasanter in cat, dog, or horse to own a dis-
workmanlike appearance, which is lacking in tinguished-looking an animal than ill-bred,
the long-haired variety. What is handsomer ungainly one that neither pleases nor satisfies
than a sleek-coated black, with its grand, the eye.
" white have ever seen penned, winner of nine

would here remark upon the absence of
I I
men who take up breeding cats as a hobby, first prizes and championships, the property
and yet the short-haired variety is essentially of Lady Alexander. This cat has held her
a man's breed. They require very little own in her class for the last seven years a
grooming and attention compared to the long- most remarkable feat.
haired varieties. Silver tabbies I must certainly class

"
Several of the most prominent judges of among the most aristocratic of the breeds.
cats are also recognised authorities in the dog Fanciers will tell you how difficult it is to
world. I may mention the late Mr. Enoch obtain a good one. Either the tabby mark-
'
\Ydburn ;
Mr. F. Gresham, the keen, all- ings are not clear, nor sufficiently defined,
'
round judge Mr. L. P. C. Astley, also at
;
the black is jjot dense enough, the butterfly
home both in one or the other Mr. Sam ; markings are not distinct, or the eyes are not
Woodiwiss, the well-known fancier and expert ;
of the correct colour. To get anything like a
Mr. Lane, who also adjudicates on both breeds ;
is a great feat, and only
perfect type in silvers
and Mr. Louis Wain, to whom we are indebted the outcome of judicious mating. One of the
for those delightful pictures depicting cat life. great faults of many silvers on the bench to-
"
Tortoiseshells are most difficult cats to day is that they are deficient in size, and unless
breed. Either they come too dark or too
light, or the colours are not sufficiently well
blended. One of the singularities of the
breed is the nearly entire absence of males
in every litter ;
in fact, I remember the
saying was that a tortoiseshell torn was as
scarce as the dodo. At the
present time, however, we
have two good toms viz.
'Champion Ballochmyle
Samson,' winner of no fewer
than twelve first prizes and
championships, the property
of Lady Alexander, and
'
Champion King Saul,'

winner of numerous cham-
pionships and first prizes,
owned by Mrs. Herring.
Both these males are very
SLEEPING AND WAKING TABBIES.
good, and whenever they T. Fall, Baker Street, W.)
(Photo :
have been penned together

it has always been a difficult matter for me to we attend to this I am afraid that shortly we
decide the winner. In females, '
are likely to produce a diminutive type which,
Ballochmyle
' '
Bountiful Bertie (sire, Champion Balloch- of course, is greatly to be avoided. I hardly
myle Samson '), also the property of Lady think this breed is sufficiently supported,
Alexander, winner of several firsts and cham- taking into consideration the richness in colour
'
pionships Fulmer May,' the property of

; and markings of the silver tabby.
"
Lady Decies, winner of many firsts they are Among the many winning males, Cham-
'
both grand females, of the right colour and stands

'
out very prominently,
pion Jimmy
the tortoiseshell-and-white '
won numerous
type ;
Champion having championships and
Ballochmyle Otter,' the best tortoiseshell-and- first prizes he was the property of Mrs. Herring.
;
'
Others of note were James II.,' the property ships, first prizes, and specials, afterwards
'
of Mrs. Collingwood Sedgemere Silver King,' ; changing hands and becoming the property of
owned by, Mr. Sam Woodiwiss. Prominent in Lady Decies. still following up his winning
career after an unbroken record of second to
'
the female classes were the noted queen,
'
Champion Shelly,' owned by Mr. H. W. none.' I think I am correct in saying this

Bullock, shown some years ago by that ;
cat has won more money and specials than
the Fancy,' owned by
'
noted sire, King of any short-haired cat ever exhibited.
"
Mr, Sugden. It is notable he sired both Red tabbies, again, are one of the difficult
' '
'
Champion Jimmy and Champion Shelly.' varieties to obtain. The dense, dark red tabby
'Silver Queen,' winner of many firsts and markings against the light red ground is only
specials, the property of the
Hon. Mrs. McLaren the result of judicious mating and breeding.
' " '
Morrison Sedgemere
;
Silver Queen.' owned Among the many notable males, Bal-
by Mr. Sam Woodi- lochmyle Perfection,'
wiss; 'Silver Queen,' the property of Lady
the property of Mr. Alexander, winner of
Harold Blackett ;
some 100 first prizes,
and that grand fe- championships, and

'
male, Sweet
Phillis,' specials, the sire of
'
the property of Mrs. Champion Balloch-
Herring. myle Goldfinder' and
"
Ballochmyle No
'
Very few good

'
brown tabbies are Fool (the mother of
benched,, and breed- 'Ballochmyle Red

ers, I am afraid, get Prince '), stands out
very disheartened at very p r o m i n e n t ly.

'
the :
result .
of their Champion Perfec-
efforts. I despair to tion,' despite his ten
think of the litters I years, has still the
have seen, and not grand dense mark-
a good one amongst ings and colour as of
'
them. The rich old. In Ballochmyle

A BLACK-AND-WHITE BKITISHKR.
bro\vn sable colour Perfection' we have
(Photo: A. IVarschcan'ski, St. Leonards-on-Sea.)
a of the old
is .
very seldom met chip
with, and now that the world-renowned cham- block. Then a later red tabby, Mrs. Colling-
no more, '
wood's 'Clem,' is a good-coloured red. Mr.
pion of champions, Xenophon,' is
we have only Flying Fox and King of Lee

' ' ' '
Kuhnel, of Bradford, for many years held
his own in this handsome breed in fact, most
anything like the type you expect in this hand-
some breed. Of Champion Xenophon I am ' '
of the present-day winners can be traced, from
afraid we can truly say, We shall ne'er look on

'
that fancier's cattery.
" There seems to
his like again.' His wonderful colour, mark- Blues (self-coloured).
and be a great difference of as to the
ings, size approached the ideal short-haired opinion
cat. I believe he was either bred by Mr. shape and make of head of these cats. Some
look a round, full head of the
Heslop, or came under his keen eye, and, like judges for
a good many others, was brought down south English-bred cat; others, the long
head of
think that difference
by that fancier to make a name. the Eastern variety. I
"He was claimed by Mr. Sam Woodiwiss, arises to a great extentaccording to where
who showed him for some years, and he these cats originally came from. I have
secured for his owner numerous champion- heard the opinions of some who give Arch-
CO
H
<
o
o
CO ^
z
<
H
D
J
CQ
angel as the port of origin others, Malta. ;

difficult fault to breed out. It is noticeable
If the cat originated from Archangel, one that the females in this breed are so very
a
would naturally expect long head of Eastern small, and in marked contrast to the toms.
"
type. The specimens, however,, from Malta The chief points one desires in this breed
have certainly the round head and more of are closeness of coat, size, and a distinct light
the English-bred type. The chief points, in blue eye (not washy). Among the numerous
'
my opinion, apart from the shape of head, is winners are Ballochmyle Snow King,' formerly
body colour, shape, colour of eye, and closeness owned by Mr. Sam Woodiwiss, and now the
'
of coat. They are no doubt a very handsome property of Lady Alexander Ballochmyle ;
' '
breed. In colour they are a light blue, with a Billie Blue Eyes and Biddy Blue Eyes,' the
delicate lavender bloom pervading the whole property of Mrs. Herring.
"
coat. BJackiy ~I am sorry to say, are some-
"
Of the many good ones that come to what neglected, considering how striking they
my memory,
'
Moscow '
(Russian-bred), a big are. The dense black coat, the contrast-
"
CHAMPION BALLOCHMVLK OTTEK," TORTOISKSHKLL-AND-WH1TE.
OWNED BY LADY ALEXANDER.
'
winner, owned by Mrs. Carew-Cox ; Champion ing grand amber eye, should always find a
Ballochmyle Blue King,' winner of seven weak spot in the heart of every exhibitor of
championships and first prizes, owned by Lady the short-haired varieties. The points we
'
Alexander; Champion Brookside Iris,' late look for are chiefly closeness of coat, the black
'
owner Mrs. Pownall Blue Boy,' owned by ; of great density, pure amber eyes set in a
Mr. Sam Woodiwiss Ballochmyle Brother ;
'
good round head topped with small ears. I can

Bump
'
and
'
Ballochmyle Sister Goose,' the well imagine my readers will say, A pure '
property of Lady Alexander a big winner. amber eye how is it to be got ? It is such a
"
White English cats appear to have lost rarity.' I know, however, that by careful
less in size than many others, as two of the mating it is not only possible, but most
'
largest winners of to-day viz.
Ballochmyle distinctly certain, as Mr. R. J. Hughes,
Snow King '
and '
Ballochmyle Billie Blue the late owner of that lovely female Amber
'
'
Eyes will testify. The white retains the Queen,' one of the best-eyed cats I have seen,
racy, workmanlike character of the true can He, in fact, has bred many of
testify.
English-bred cat. One
very prevalent fault is : the best-eyed winners of late years Amber :
'
they lean very much towards a broken coat Queen,' winner of numerous firsts and cham-
(a good many of the white cats penned to-day pionships, the property of Miss Una Fox ;
have this failing) it is, no doubt, a

very
;
'
Ballochmyle Black Bump,' owned by Lady

19
Alexander, and formerly the property of Mr. of the North Country short-hairs so far ahead
'
Hughes ;Sedgemere Black King,' winner of of all others, he had little or no idea that in so
several championshipsand first prizes, origin- brief a time the cat fancy would develop into
ally owned by Mr. Sam Woodiwiss. such an important one as it is at the present
" In recent years we have seen the
An explanation may be deemed due to time.
my readers for having included blues amongst National Cat Club, the Cat Club, and a great
the English types, but as the clubs have many specialist clubs formed for the special
recognised this breed, and sanctioned their object of breeding cats to perfection in colour
being catalogued amongst the English exhibits, and markings. Standards have been made and
I felt justified in adopting this course ; more issued by noted breeders, who have met
together and have exchanged
ideas, so that at the present
1
time we have standards that

are ideals of perfection.
Shape, colour, markings, coat,
and colour of eyes for each
separate variety are all plainly
stated. All this interest, to-
gether with the holding of
many big shows in different

parts of the kingdom, have
brought into prominence a
great host of fanciers, includ-
ing many ladies holding high
"
positions in the best class of
1
CHAMPION BALLOCHMVLE PERFECTION.

OWNED BY LADY ALEXANDER. society. No wonder, then,
that there should be a call for
particularlyas the country of origin still a standard work dealing with all varieties of
remains a matter of speculation." cats. In the few remarks I have to make
Mr. T. B. Mason's name is a household on short-haired cats I shall take the self
one in the cat fancy, and 'this most popular colours first. They are, I believe, our oldest
judge has been kind enough to set down variety ; the black or the white cat is to be
some of his many experiences, and a little found in many a household. In some parts
of his universal knowledge, for the benefit of of the North when was a boy it was said
I
my" readers. to be a sign of good luck to have a sound-

For more than twenty-five years I have coloured black cat, with a coat like a raven's
taken a very great interest in all our minor wing, with not a white hair to be found
If you have one like this in your
pets, so the breeding and exhibiting of cats in it.
has had a large share of my attention. I look home, with a good round head, neat ears, and
at the past, and compare it with the present, rich orange eyes, let me ask you to take great
and I am more than satisfied with the progress care of it. If you reside in a district where
made and the high-water mark of excellence shows are held either in connection with the
attained. In the 'eighties, when that noted local agricultural society or in the winter
North Country breeder the late Mr. Young, of time in the town hall in connection with the
Harrogate, was hard at work laying the local fanciers' society by all means enter it,
foundations of markings and colour in the and you will find you have an exhibit of
silver tabby, orange tabby, and the tortoise- real value. We possess grand examples of
'
shells, which has resulted in making the strains first-class blacks in Lady Alexander's Black
Bump,' Lady Decies' Charcoal and Sham-

' '
'
be used, by mixing the offspring well to-
rock,' Mrs. Nott's King of Blacks,' and many

'
gether. I know a great many breeders are

other present-day winners. In self whites not in favour of this in-breeding. This is,
'
Lady Alexander's King,'

'
Blue Snow Billie without doubt, their loss. In all branches
'
Eyes,' and Snow '
Bump Mrs. Western's ; in-breeding is the sure road to success.

'
and the Hon. A. Wodehouse's "
'
Prickly Pearl ;
To go outside
at every cross, or too
'
White Devil are about the best living, and
'
often, brings with it a lot of trouble and

in condition and coat hard to find fault with. disappointment. To all my advice is, having
The eyes of the self white must be a rich- got the strains of noted sires in your youngsters,
coloured blue. The shorter and fuller you so mix them that all the good and little of the
can get both the self black and the self white bad points will come out as the result of your
the better will be the chances of their winning breeding. That you will not get all winners
prizes a long, coarse coat, big or badly set-
;
is a sure conclusion, but my experience is
on ears, and long, thin, snipy faces are little and it is formed after thirty years' breeding of
or no good in the show pen. In your breed- fancy pet stock that in this way you are
ing arrangements you do not need at this time more likely than in any other to breed winners.
of the day to make many experiments. In Anyone who has seen Lady Alexander's
' '
breeding self whites the great aim is to obtain Brother Bump,' Mrs. Hughes' Alexis,' Miss
' '
shape and colour of eyes. So many good sires

'
Butler Ayton's Blue Bell and Blue Stock-
'
are to be obtained that if
you are deficient in ings,' Mrs. Carew-Cox's Fashoda,' and Mrs.
' '
bone, shape, or colour of eyes, you can with Dewar's Firkens cannot but fall in love with
careful mating obtain these in some cases this colour. All that is needed to make this
with the first cross. My
opinion is that in one our most popular varieties is uni-
of
breeding whites no other colour should be formity in shape. In my opinion these cats
mixed with them. In the breeding of blacks should be judged on the same lines as our self
you are altogether on another matter. It is a blacks and self whites.
"
well-known fact that the cross with the self I now come to the tabbies silver, orange,
blue is a most distinct advantage. It not only and brown. What a
gives tone and soundness to both the blue and lovely variety they
the black, but it also adds lustre. are, and what a fine
"
For a long time we have called the picture any of the
self blues Russians. No doubt they, in
the first instance, came from the East but ;
since they were imported into this country
they have been mixed in a great measure with

self blacks, and in some cases with long-haired
blues, to get strong, short, round heads, so
that at the present time we have few very
pure-bred Russians in this country.
'
My advice to those who are breeding self

blues or self blacks all means put one
is, by
cross of blacks in the blues, if the
especially
black has orange eyes. It is in eyes that most
of our self blues fail. Let me, however, give
here a word of warning. Do not mix the
colours too often, or you will
get the blues too
dark or nearly like black. If
yon get one MRS. BAKKKK'S " TYXESIDE LILY."
cross of the black and blue, use it as it should
(Photo : E C. Fanner, Bedford.)
MISS HARPER'S CATTERY, BRIARLEA, HAYWARD'S HEATH.
ANOTHER VIEW OF BRIARLEA CATTERIES.

(Photo: E. Harper.')
'
three colours makes if they are seen in full coat

'
Belle Bradford,' Mr.
of Thompson's Red
'
and .clear markings ! In silvers the old-time Rufus,' and Mr. Kuhnel's Coronation King,'
champion The Silver King was without a
' '
all of them getting close on the standard both
doubt the foundation of most of our present-day in colour and markings.
" '
winners. Mrs. Herring's Jimmy,' the noted

'
In browns the old champion Xeno-
'
female 'Shelly,' and a host of others that at phon is, to my mind, the best tabby of
the moment I cannot remember are worthy of any colour ever seen in the show pen ;
his
A CORNER OF THE BOSSINGTON CATTERIES.

(Photo: A. J. Anderson & Co., Litton.)
the great deeds of the past. In the present day picture is before me as I pen these lines. I
champions are to be found Mrs. Collingwood's well remember giving him the first and
'
special for best cat in the show ; since that

'
James II.,' Mrs. Herring's Sweet Phyllis,'

Mrs. Bonny's Heather Belle and
'
Dame ' '
time how many times he has won the cham-
'
Fortune,' Mrs. Turner's Masterpiece,' Mrs. pionship I cannot say. His loss will be
'
Western's Princess,' and last, but not least, great, both to the fancy and also to Lady
'
Flying Fox (the property of Messrs.

' ' '
Mr. Blackett's noted team, including Silver Decies.
' '
and Silver Star.' In the orange we have a Ainsley and Graham), Mrs. Pratt's Tommy
' '
strong lot, including Lady Alexander's capital Jacks,' and Mrs. Oliver's Danefield Vera are
'
team Perfection,'
'
Red Prince,'
'
Miss Per- all but in this colour of tabbies
good ones ;
'
fection,' and Mother Pop '
Mrs. Temple's the competition is not half so keen as it is in
'
Dr. Jim,' Mrs. Collingwood's
'
Clem '
and silver and orange.
19*
"
One standard governs all the three colours.
'
In the browns we have two distinct
The ground or body colour must be pure, colours the sable colour and the old brown
and clear from any other colour. In a great colour. The old cat that I have referred to
many well-marked ones I meet in the show of Lady was a sable tabby. No doubt
Decies'
pen the rusty brown tinge on nose, ears, this colour is the more taking of the two, but
and brindled in the body markings puts both are useful, and the old brown coloui
them out of the prize list. It is a great mis- must not by any means be overlooked in our
take to cross the silver tabby with the brown liking for the sable colour. In all the colours of
tabby or with one that has in its pedigree the tabbies we find that the chief bad points are
brown tabby blood. If the black markings the white lips in the sables mostly, the white
need a darker shade, my advice is use for once spots in the chest in our orange, and the rusty
the self black. If you mousy colour in our
do not get the desired silvers. The colour of
effect the first cross, eyes, too, in our
the youngsters mated browns and sables is
together have been far from what it ought
known to breed some to be. Some eyes are
really good ones. By a pale green, some a
all means, if possible, pale yellow. All this
get into your silvers p roves that the
green eyes. I am breeders at times go
aware that the stand- too far in the out-
ard says green or crossing, and bring in
orange eyes but in all
; with it faults that
cases where the com- crop up when those
petition is very keen crossings are nearly
the orange eyes are a forgotten.
"
distinct disadvantage. In the breeding of
"
In the breeding of browns nothing more
the orange tabby you is needed than what
need to be very care- OWNED BY LADY ALEXANDER.

we have namely,
ful. The use of the (Photo : Russell & Sons, Crystal Palace.) the sable colour ones
tortoiseshell has been and the old coloured
found to be very advantageous in fact, some ; browns. The blending together of these
of our best orange tabbies have been bred two colours put any breeder on the high-
will
from the tortoiseshells. The mixing of these to success. I am more than surprised
way
two varieties, if done carefully, will bring that this variety is not stronger than it is
success on both sides but care should be
; at the present time. I am sure, of all the
taken not to bring too much of the tortoise- race and colours of tabbies they are the easiest
shell into the orange, or, on the other hand, to breed, and yet we find they are the fewest
carry too much orange into the tortoiseshell. in number at our big shows. In looking for
The pale yellow eye an orange is a great
in a real good tabby, do not miss the chest, feet,
point against winning in the keen competi-
it and tail. We have a great lot of good cats if
tion which we have at the present time. body markings and colour were all that was
"
The eyes must be a very rich orange, needed, but when it comes to the ringed tail,
to match the body colour, which should the rings around the chest, and the markings
be two or three shades lighter than the right down
to the toe ends, then they
'
come a
markings. cropper,' as we say in the North.
w
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2
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i
<a
-4
Q "S
I
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<
s
J
n
SHORT-HAIRED CATS. 29:
'
Champion King Saul.' Females are very

' ;
One more important point before I finish.
What a painful task it is to the judge to find strong, and well represented in Mrs. Pratt's
' '
very good all-round ex- Tib of Rochdale and

hibits that have plain Messrs. Graham and
'
head markings. The face Ainsley's Sunine.'

"
and cheeks are right in The tortoiseshell-and-
ground colour and the ;

white is a most lovely
pencil markings on the and taking variety, com-
fore-face, running into monly called the 'chintz-
'
the markings behind the and-white in our home-
ears, and those on the steads. Very few and
cheeks are of the faintest far between are good
colour, and inmany cases specimens to be found,
broken. Such head and yet in the show pens
markings and colour spoil these tri-colour cats have
many otherwise really a great advantage over
good cats. their fellow-felines. Lady
"
I now come to the Alexander has exhibited
tortoiseshells a mixture some splendid tortoise-
orange and black. I
'
of shell -- and
whites, Bal-
have dealt with mixing of lochmyle Otter being
'
colours in my remarks on
MRS. A. M. STEAD'S BROWN TABBY.
(Photo: E. N. Collins, South Norwood.)
one of the best (see illus-
the orange tabbies. All tration, page 289). very A
I need say here is, mind that in your tortoise- common drawback in this variety is the mix-
shells you do not get the
orange markings, ture of tabby with the orange and white,
The most successful breeder in the North of instead of the patches of black. I feel sure
this variety the if variety were
this
late Mr. Young, of
only taken up more
Harrogate made we should see a
tabby markings in remarkable advance-
a tortoiseshell a dis- ment both in mark-
qualification in the ings and in colour.
show pen. The pre- The patches white,
sence of any white is
orange, and black
also a very great in an ideal specimen
drawback, and this should be, if possi-
is often found in ble, about equal in
small patches on the and well
number,
chest or on the belly.
placed on the body,
You can have both head, and feet they ;
too light and too '' look very charming

-MRS. COLLINGWOOD S JAMKS II.
much orange colour, (Photo Russell & when
you see a
:
Sons, Crystal Palace.)
or you can have
really good one. I
them too dark or too much black. Equal a few more fanciers and breeders of
hope
colours and well mixed is about the right short-haired cats will be coming forward, so
thing, with good orange eyes. At the present that the number exhibited at our shows may
time we have Lady Alexander's and Mrs.
'
steadily increase."
Hei ring's males Champion Samson' and In this hope I do most heartily for
join,
2Cj6 THE BOOK OF THE CAT.
although my name mostly connected with

is deficit to pay of several pounds, a thing which
the long-haired breeds, I am such a lover of ought not to be.
all cats that I feel as anxious for one variety I the Manx, Siamese, and blues
find that
as another to obtain friends and favour. It are generally able to take care of themselves
is specially in the South of England that the at shows, or they have clubs and secretaries
interest in our short-haired breeds is on the who look after their interests; but the " common
"
wane, and it behoves all fanciers to strive to or garden puss needs a kindly hand to assist
assist in keeping alive the love of the British in drawing him to the front, for, as that well-
"
cat in our midst. known lover of the domestic cat," Harrison
"
In 1902 Sir Claud and Lady Alexander Weir, writes, Why should not the cat that
most generously guaranteed the whole of sits purring in front of us before the fire be
these classes, and although they themselves an object of interest, and be selected for its
"
made a very numerous entry, yet there was a colour, markings, and form ?
" BEN-MY-CHREE."
OWNED BY Miss G. E. SILLAR.
(Photo: J. W. Thomas, Colwyn Bay.)

297
BURMESE CAT.
(Photo: E. Latuior, Baling)
CHAPTER XXVI.
SOME FOREIGN CATS.
is not intended in the following notes to was a common animal in England, plainly
IT enter into a description of the various show that F. catus was not the ancestor of
beautiful and interesting wild felines, for jF. domestica, although the two will freely inter-
although some of these such as the Ocelot, breed. Many years ago, for instance, the old
the Geoffrey's Cat, and the Wild Cat are not Spanish wild cat which used to be kept at the
infrequently seen in the pens at our leading Zoological Gardens in the so-called aviaries,
shows, such matter really comes more within now occupied by the civets, mated with his
the province of a natural history than of the cage mate a tortoiseshell-and-white queen -
present work. and of these cross-bred kittens both Sir Claud

Two varieties alone may justly claim some Alexander and the writer of these lines pos-
slight attention here, these being the Egyptian sessed specimens.

cat (Felis maniculata] and the European wild It is usually assumed that the Egyptian or
cat (F. catus). It might reasonably be Caff re cat is the progenitor of the majority of
imagined that our common cat was derived the domestic cats. This is the variety which
from the last-named, considering that at one was domesticated, revered, and embalmed by
time it was a common animal all over England, the ancient Egyptians. It is found over the
as well as on the Continent. The untamable whole of Africa, and it is quite easy to under-
ferocity of this variety which is probably the stand how, with its eminently tamable dis-
least amenable of all living creatures has position, it gradually spread over Europe. Our
doubtless prevented its ever having been so-called Abyssinian cats, to which reference
domesticated, and the high value which, as will be made later on, bear a very striking
we learn from old writings, was placed upon resemblance to this handsome variety of cat.
the domestic puss at a time when the wild cat The domestic cats of other parts of the
world, however, are undoubtedly derived from for me to come on with them
for their cat shows, but
the smaller wild cats of the- countries in ques- I could not go. They were never on exhibition as ;
Thus this is a small city, I feared

they would be stolen. I
tion. probable that several varieties
it is
have made every endeavour to get another mate for
have a share in the creation of the Indian "
Nellie," but have not been successful. I never
domestic cats, of which Blyth distinguished allowed them to mate, as they were brother and
two varieties. The fulvous variety he con- sister, and I thought it might alter
"
Nellie's
"
beau-
sidered to be derived from the Indian jungle tiful form, which is round and handsome, with
body
cat (F. chaus), a fulvous cat which in its rather long. In winter they have a light fur on back
high
and ridge of tail, which falls off in warm weather.
legs, shorter tail, and
slightly tufted ears
and it is of note that some of the best
They stand the cold weather same as other cats. They
worthy are not like the hairless dogs, whose hide is solid and
Abyssinians have large and slightly tufted ears tough they are soft and delicate, with very loose skin.
;
marks the approach to the lyncine group. " "

Nellie has a very small head, large amber eyes,
The spotted kinds he traces to the leopard cat, extra long moustache and eyebrows her voice now ;
is a good baritone, when

the desert cat, and the rusty-spotted cat. young it sounded exactly
like a child's. They have great appetites, and are
A
most extraordinary variety, of which next
quite dainty eaters fried chicken and good steak is
to nothing appears to be known, is the hairless
their choice. Have never been sick an hour. The
cat, and we cannot do better than quote in enclosed faded picture is the only one I have at
extenso the description given by the owner of present it is very lifelike, as it shows the wrinkles
;
"
what, if his surmise should unhappily prove in its fine, soft skin. Dick " was a very powerful
to be correct, was the last pair of these cat could whip any dog alone
; his courage, no
;
peculiar
doubt, was the cause of his death. He always was
animals, a portrait of which we give. the boss over our dogs; I have priced
"
Nellie
"
at
300 dollars. She is me to keep
too valuable a pet for
Albuquerque, New Mexico, in a small town. would value
Many wealthy ladies
February ^rd, 1902. her at her weight in gold if they knew what a very
MR. H. BROOKE.
C. rare pet she is. I think in your
position she would
Dear Yours of January aoth is at hand. In
Sir, be a very good investment to exhibit at cat shows
answer would say my hairless cats are brother and and other select events, as she doubtless is the only
sister. I got them from the Indians a few miles from hairless cat now known. I have written to Old
this place. The old Jesuit Fathers tell me they are Mexico and all over this country without finding
the last of the Aztec breedknown only in New Mexico. another. I would like to have her in some
large
I have found them the most intelligent and affection-
museum, where she would interest and be appreciated
ate family pets I have ever met in the cat line
they ;
by thousands of people. Trusting this will reach you
are the quickest inaction and smartest cats I have ever in safety, I am, very truly yours, F. J. SHINICK.
seen. They are fond of a warm bath, and love to
sleep under the clothes at night with our little girl. We
can only add, whilst deeply regretting
They seem to understand nearly everything that is that Mr. Shinick did not mate his cats, the
said to them but I have never had time to train
;
them. They are marked exactly alike with mouse- earnest hope that we may hear that he has
coloured backs with neck, stomach, and legs a,
;
discovered the existence of other specimens.
delicate flesh tint. Their bodies are always warm Should it prove that a parcel of street curs
and soft as a child's.
They love to be fondled and are responsible for this curious variety becom-
caressed, and are very playful will run up and down
ing extinct, even such confirmed dog lovers as
;
your body and around your waist like a flash.

" " ourselves are almost tempted to acquiesce in
Dick "
Nellie "
weighs about eight pounds, and
weighed ten pounds but I am sorry to say we have
;
a universal and everlasting muzzling order !
"
lost Dick." We have never allowed them to go It is to be regretted that no information is
given
out of the house, as the dogs would be after them. as to whether the dentition of these cats was
They were very fond of our water spaniel, and would
abnormal and imperfect, as is the case with
"
sleep with her, Dick "~was a sly rascal, and would
the Mexican hairless dogs.
steal out. One night last year he stole out, and the
dogs finished him. His loss was very great, as I may Very curious and handsome is the Indian
"
never replace him. The Chicago Cat Club valued cat Indischer Fiirst," exhibited by Mrs. H.
them at 1,000 dollars each. They were very anxious C. Brooke. His most striking peculiarities
3
<
u
X
a
are the length and slenderness of his limbs, a lost soul, his owner arrived at the conclusion
the extreme shortness of his coat, and his that he had no convenience for restraining
thin and tapering tail, which reminds the him, and at last yielded to persuasion, and
observer of that of a pointer. His ears are handed him over to his present proprietors
small, but as a kitten they were of enormous sundry gold coins of the
for consideration of
size, and with his long and pointed head gave realm and a kitten with seven toes on each
him a most weird appearance. The voice of foot.
this cat is very variable, and far more resembles It is a very remarkable thing that the Asiatic
the raucous call of the Siamese than the voice cats are so subject to abnormal formations of
of any European cat. the tail. The Siamese cats, as is well known,
This cat has had a very adventurous exist- very frequently possess kinked tails. In
ence. He, with his litter sister, was originally Burma also cats are found some tail-less,
stolen from a hotel in Bombay by an English some with crooked or twisted stumps. These
sailor. On the way home he twice fell over- cats, when
spotted, are very striking when ;
board, but, more fortunate than his com- of an ordinary colour they simply recall an
panion, was safely rescued. He also suffered indifferent Manx.

shipwreck in the Sobraon on Yung Yung Japan also
possesses tail-less cats but ;
Island. On arriving nearer home he dis- those with ordinary caudal appendages also
appeared, and was only after several days' occur, and are probably the most numerous.
absence discovered in the bowels of the ship, There is said to be a variety of Chinese cat
as black as the coal amongst which he had which is remarkable for its pendent ears. We
been sojourning. His last exploit was to fall have never been able to ascertain anything
in the docks, after which the sailor handed him definite with regard to this variety. Some
over to a shoemaker at Leytonstone, where he years back a class was provided for them at a
was discovered by his present owner. After certain Continental cat show, and we went
he had twice escaped from bondage and aston- across in the hope of seeing and, if
possible,
ished the natives of that place by perambulat- acquiring some specimens but, alas, the class
;
ing the housetops, lamenting in the tones of was empty We have seen a stuffed specimen
!
in a Continental museum, which was a half-
long-haired cat, the ears being pendent down

the sides of the head instead of erect ; but do
not attach much value to this.
We have seen specimens of a very tiny
domestic cat, full-grown individuals of which
weigh only about three pounds. Those we
saw came from South America.
A cat called the Mombassa cat, from the
East of Africa, is said to have a short coat of a
wiry texture. There are, of course, no cats
indigenous to Australia. An American writer
gives it as his opinion that a certain strain of
Australian cats is derived from imported
Siamese cats. A specimen we possessed last
year, which was born on a ship during the
passage from Australia, and which exactly
resembled its dam, certainly had every appear-
ance of being of Eastern origin. It had the
AFRICAN CAT.
(Photo: E. Landor, Ealing.) marten-shaped head, and a triple kink in the
CO
H
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5
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-
s
SOME FOREIGN CATS. 301
tail ;
its voice also resem-
bled that of the Siamese.
In colour it was grey,
with darker spots.
A very taking variety
is the Abyssinian. A
good specimen should
very strongly resemble
what one might well ex-
pect the Egyptian cat to
become after generations
of domestication. Since
"
the death of Sedgemere
Bottle and " Sedgemere
"
"
Peaty there have been
no cats penned of such
superlative merit as were
these two specimens. The
"
photograph of Sedgemere
"
Peaty which we give MANX AND ABYSSINIAN SEDGEMERE PEATY "
ON THE RIGHT).
("
hardly does justice to the (Photo : A. R. Dresser.)
cat. The colour of an
Abyssinian should be a sort of reddish-fawn, possible, judges for these interesting strangers
" "
each individual hair being ticked like that who do really take some interest in them. I am
of a wild rabbit hence the popular name of bound to say that of late years the National
"
bunny cat." The great difficulty in breed- Cat Club has done its best to meet the wishes
ing these cats is their tendency to come too of owners in this respect, and with gratifying
dark and too heavily striped on the limbs ; results, as witness thegood classes at the
the face should be rather long, the tail short Crystal Palace show, where there were no
and and the ears large. These points
thick, fewer than eleven Abyssinians penned a
"
are well shown by Little Bunny Teedle Tit," record number !
first in the Abyssinian class at the 1902 The Cat Club, on the other hand, has persist-
Crystal Palace cat show, though in colour she ently neglected them, having on almost every
was not the best penned. The Abyssinian occasion handed them over to some all-round
should not be a large, coarse cat. A small judge who knows little and cares less about
cat of delicate colouring and with the above- them, with the natural result that exhibitors
mentioned body properties is by far to be pre- are disgusted. Take, for instance, the last
ferred to the large, coarse, dark specimens one show, when a very dark, almost sooty Abys-
sees winning under some all-round judges, sinian was placed above a very fair specimen
merely because of their size. merely because the latter had about a dozen
More than any other varieties have the white hairs on its throat The value of the
!
foreign cats suffered from the negligence of show winner may be gauged from the fact that its
committees and the awful judging of all-round owner, a lady well known in the cat world,
judges, plus the equally awful reports fur- expressed her intention of having him neu-
nished by all-round reporters At the best,
! tered and keeping him merely as a pet. The
knowledge of the different varieties of foreign same judge, in dividing the prizes amongst the
catsis
absolutely in its infancy. It should be Manx cats, appeared to think the colour of the
the aim of large shows to provide, whenever throat of far more importance than the shape
of the hindquarters in this section. Again, and arrangements of markings to be studied,
of what value does the reporter flatter himself by those who will devote their attention to
his writings can be when we read in a so-called foreign cats. To the search for something
critique of a spotted Geoffrey's cat and of an new we owe the beautiful Siamese. Will no
"
ocelot that they are pretty tiger-marked one pay some attention to the other varieties
"
specimens ? We wonder if the gentleman of the feline tribe from distant lands ?
They
ever saw a tiger. are well worth
and the addition of more
it,
There is much that is fascinating much, nay foreign cats at our shows would be interesting
almost all to learn, the most beautiful colours and instructive. H. C. BROOKE.
GEOKFROY S WILD CAT.

(Photo : Cassell & Company, Limited.')
303
"
THE STORM KING."
OWNED BY Miss C. WALLACE.
(Photo : Lewis Studio, East Brady, Pa,)
CHAPTER XXVII.
CATS IN AMERICA.
REVIEW
A the cat fancy
in America
of Madison Square Garden,
8th, 1895. This show
New York, on May
was organised by Mr.
James T. Hyde, an Englishman, who has been
carries us over so closely identified with the horse shows at the
vast an expanse of Garden for many years, and the idea of hold-
territory, that it is ing a cat show came to him suddenly, from
not easy at one having attended the Crystal Palace show.
fell swoop really The first cat show in New York was a great
to do it justice. success from the time the doors opened till its
W The only way that close, though the temperature which was for
seems feasible is to part of the time as high as 96 degrees was
take the fancy by hard upon the cats, especially those that had
districts and as the justcome from England. When we returned
"RADO. ;
BLUE, OWNED BY MRS. KRESS. cat fancy exempli- home the morning after the show there was a
(Photo: Branch, Minneapolis.) fied by shows may white frost Part of the judging was done
!
be said to have and well done by the late Dr. Huide-

arisen in the east, this district should, I think, koper, who had picked up a good deal of his
have the pride of place, though it has for a cat lore while a medical student at Paris and
time to give way to the reign of the cat further Edinburgh and in London. Miss Hurlburt and
towards the setting of the sun. Mr. T. Farrer Rackham were the other judges.
On referring to Mrs. Pierce's notes, it will In regard to this show which marks the
be seen that Maine had its cat shows long beginning of the cat fever in America, that spread
before we had some of us come to America. outside of the State of Maine I think I ought
The cat fancy as it is now in America may to point out what was chiefly remarkable, and
have been said to have sprung into a steady the parts of the show that were destined to bear
existence with the first show held in the upon the future. In the first place, the prize
for the best cat in the show was won by a and the results obtained were not over-
brown tabby a native, or, as some people estimated by those who promoted the show,
designate them, Maine cats. This cat was in and the bringing together of many staunch
every way a good one but he was a gelding,
;
breeders who had sprung up in the meantime
and, of course, in May, much ahead of the made possible to organise the Atlantic Cat
it
breeding cats as to plumage ; but, still, there Club, which has gathered such headway in the
was little dissatisfaction at the awards. Of year of its existence that it is becoming one
English cats there were not more than about of the most powerful factors in the American
eight, and several died soon after and of all ;
cat fancy. The show held at Madison Square
those shown at this our first show the only ones in 1903, with the fine collection of challenge
that have really made any mark or real im- cups and the many other valuable specials,
pression upon the cat fancy in America may speaks to the gathering interest and the strength
" "
of the fancy in the district, and the club
be mentioned King Humbert," Topaz," is
"Minnie," and "The Banshee." The first- being every day still further
strengthened ;
named were all brown or grey tabbies, the last and, if the treasury balance is any indication,
a white. Cats bred from these are still win- the future of the Atlantic Cat Club will be
ning, and their descendants keep their names very marked, especially as many people of
green in the annals of present-day stud books. wealth and influence are being enrolled upon
White cats had always been popular in the books and are becoming most enthusiastic
America, and the first show produced speci- upholders of the cat in New York.
mens as good as, or even better than I have In discussing the eastern affairs, we must
ever seen in this city up to now, in fact,
;
not leave out the Boston shows, which have
we have never had anything to beat "Ajax," been a steady factor for some years, and gave
who made his first and last bow to the public opportunities to the more northern cats to
here. meet and compete together. These shows
No other shows occurred for some time till have been kept alive by Mr. T. Farrer Rack-
the autumn, when an exhibition was held at ham, to a great extent, and from the opening
Newburgh, sixty miles up the Hudson River, to of the cat fancy up to now he has been a
be repeated the next year, with the New York steady promoter of the interests of the cat,
show of 1896 in between. At this latter great and has steadily worked to keep up the interest.
improvement had been made in colours and In thinking of the breeders of the eastern
varieties and, in fact, all concerned had
; portion of this continent we have to range over
made considerable advance in the meantime a good deal of territory, and even the State of
as to knowledge of different varieties of cats. New York alone takes us quite out west, and
At the second show in New York a club was from Mrs. Conlisk (who lives at Gowanda, and
"
formed, intended to be the National, but it who owns " Bitterne Silver Chieftain and
" "
died, and affairs were in a comatose condition as a daughter of Whychwood," besides Silver
regards shows in New York until the consent of Belle," who came from England lately) our
Mr. Crawford, the manager of the poultry show, thoughts drift down to Pittsburg to Mrs. L.
was obtained for the holding of a cat show in T. Hodges, who is making a speciality of
January, 1902, in the concert hall which opens smokes and silvers, and has commenced well
out of the main hall at Madison Square. This by winning in kittens at Cleveland with
show, though a small one, was well attended, "Wahanita," "Southampton," and "The
and though the entries only numbered about Dusky Pilgrim" a capital smoke, since sold
no, the quality of many of the cats was very for 50. Mrs. Mix, although in New York
much ahead of the five years before, and the State, lives 180 miles to the westward of New
classes of silvers were good enough for any York City but, still, the effect the cats that
;
country. The impetus gained by this show she has imported from England have had upon
CATS IN AMERICA. 305
the young stock and the futureof our cats in under the care of Mrs. Hall, and these at the
certain has
lines been very marked. As a present time are doing a great deal of winning,
"
sire of good ones no cat has exceeded King not so much by cats purchased as by home
of the Silvers," and his children have been bred ones. For instance, I may mention
"
picked on several occasions for best in show, Lord Lossie," who has some of the cream
and the influence that these may have in the of the English blood in his veins and lately
;
"
future cannot yet be fully estimated. The has come to this cattery Sir Robert," the
winnings of this cattery have been many, but black, a winner at the Crystal Palace, and
THE OLD FORT CATTERY.
as the home of good breeding stock and as the who repeated his triumphs at other shows
"
practical founder of a strain for the future here. Dollie Button," a black daughter of
this cattery is destined to rank very high in
"
Persimmon," is largely aiding this cattery
our annals. At the Old Fort cattery reside as a mother and a show cat.
" " "
King of the Silvers," Jack Frost," Tortie Dr. Ottolengui's advent into the fancy in
Diana Fawe," "
Lady Lollypop," and many January, 1902, as secretary of the Atlantic
other good ones, and from this cattery to many Club gave an impetus to things in general that
parts of the country have gone cats that for only future times can show the full effect. The
type and quality have not been excelled. cat fraternity needed an organiser and a
Not far from here at Saratoga is the worker to bring it together, and he was found
summer residence of Dr. Ottolengui's cats, just at the right time.
20
called TheCat Journal, which, no doubt,
is one of the principal factors in keeping up
the interest in the cat in general. Though on
account of Mr. Jones's other business engage-
ments it is not possible for him to report shows,
he brings out this paper monthly at great
personal cost to himself and with little chance
of profit on anything like a fitting scale at
present so that we may say that, consider-

;
ing the work of the paper is done after busi-

ness hours and is largely supported by his own
purse, we cannot help but think that it is
most probable the cat family never found a
more enthusiastic and disinterested devotee
in the whole course of its history. Mr. Jones
gave up his exhibition cats, and yet for sheer
love of the race and from motives of pure
humanity he still continues to move heaven
and earth for their support, and must always
be reckoned one of the foremost exponents of
the cat in America, and one of the staunchest
friends the cat ever had.
Among fanciers in the vicinity of New York

" PARIS." must be enumerated Miss A. L. Pollard, who
MRS. COLBURN AND HER WHITE PERSIAN
has imported and bred a few good cats, and
(Photo: F. Schnabd, Chicago.)
"
has made a name for herself with Omar,"
"
Miss Lincoln, of Worcester, Massachusetts, by St.
Anthony." Miss Pollard's
place is
has done quite a little work for the good of situated at Elizabeth, New Jersey, about fifteen
the majority but has not had the best of
;
miles from New York, and so is practically in
"
luck with her cats so far, and Mrs. A. G. Brown, the metropolitan district. Purity," the white
of Melrose, Massachusetts, -is a steady breeder which was so successful in England, and the
"
of whites and other colours, and she has in her tortoiseshell Woodbine," are factors in this
"
cattery His Majesty," the white that has cattery, which is quite a large one, and very
won many prizes and is the sire of winners. well arranged. The crops of kittens have
Mrs. Neel, atUrbana, New York, estab- been most successfully reared and distributed,
lished a cattery, and has been a very hard in fact with more success than many of our
worker in the cause, doing good from her fanciers have been able to show.
experience in a medical way, by writing Mrs. W. S. Hofstra, the president of the

for the papers, by upholding the shows Atlantic Cat Club, lives on Long Island, the
often a good distance from home and by other side of New York, and devotes herself
the general support she has afforded to all to her Siamese and Persians, and has had a
who made use of the help she was willing to very decided influence in the development of
give. the club over which she so ably presides.
Whilst in this direction I must not forget The Lindenhurst Cattery at Ridgefield, New
Mr. C. H. Jones, who commenced as a breeder Jersey, is also becoming prominent, and in
and exhibitor, though his business kept him Brooklyn the Misses Ward have done very
away from home a great deal yet the fever ; good work and have reared some fine cats and
grew upon him until he started a newspaper kittens. The keynote of this establishment
CATS IN AMERICA. 37
" "
has been Robin," an orange tabby son of Argent Moonbeam II." was best in the
"
Persimmon," who seems to breed back to show of January, 1903.
his sire, and begets a good many brown tabbies Mrs. Gotwalts, of Pottstown, Pennsylvania,
as well as oranges. must not be omitted from the eastern con-
We must not leave New York State without tingent, for she has the nucleus of a good
"
remembering Mrs. F. L. Norton, of Cazenovia, cattery, and owns a son of Blue Boy II."
" "
who has built one of the most beautiful cat- called Amesh," and she has some Per-
teries in America, and has spared no expense simmon " blood in the cattery, and also some
" "
or trouble to stock it with good cats and here ;
of the smoke blood of the Backwell strain
" "
reside Sussex Timkins," Sweetheart," and obtained from Mrs. Harold James. Mrs.
many others known to fame. Gotwalts keeps fine cats, and is very fond of
Mrs. Champion, now settled at Hart Park, breeding "her own, in which she takes much
New Brighton, Staten Island, New York, with pride.
her two daughters, is doing a great deal for Mrs. Brown, of Millerton, New York, has
the cats of America, and the two Misses bred and kept cats for some time, but does not
Champion probably have to do for some
will favour the shows much.
time a good deal of the judging for us. Mrs. Washington has come to the fore of late,
Champion's cats did well at the first New but has not within her borders many regular
York show at which they made their appear- breeders outside of Mrs.
ance, and "Lord Argent," "Silver Flash," Hazen Bond, who exhibited
" "
Argent Puffy," "Moonbeam II., "and Lord with a good deal of success
"
Silvester are becoming household words. during the season of 1901-
BRUSHWOOD CATTERY.
(Photo: F. Schnabel, Chicago.)
308 THE BOOK OF THE CAT:
1902, and Miss Eleanor Burritt, who most spring of 1902. Dr. Frank Abbott is stirring
successfully brought to a termination a good up the fanciers of Connecticut, and a little
show in Washington in December, 1902 arid ;
while from now there would probably be a
this will, no doubt, be followed by others in good deal more to say about this region, which
years to come. holds such breeders as Mrs. Copperberg, Miss
Our travels in search of cats do not take us Anna Marks, Mrs. Ida Palmer, and others.
very far south, for in these regions the fleas I leave the Maine and the northern division
alone make the rearing of cats in anything to Mrs. Pierce, who was born there, and has
like numbers an impossibility. Mrs. B. M. known this region and history for many
its
Gladding most pluckily tried it at Memphis, years, and who can cover it so much better.
Tennessee, but has been obliged to give it up, Mrs. M. B. Thurston was much missed as
though she was one of our most promising an exhibitor, as for a time she was very suc-
cat lovers. cessful, but more with cats she bought than
The Connecticut cats bid fair to be quite a with cats she bred.
factor in the American race for prominence in Miss K. L. Gage, of Brewster's, New York,
catty matters, and within the borders of Con- is not now so prominent as of yore, but
necticut we have to record a few breeders. still for a time was energetic in disseminating
In 1903 we have a show at Stamford, good cats, and was the owner of the silver
"
Connecticut, which is an important place, and tabby Whychwood," who bids fair to leave
where the show now begun might assume quite a name behind him.
extensive proportions Stamford are
;
for at The New York show of 1903 revealed to us that
many large country houses, and it is a centre we are making steady progress in long-haired
that can well afford to have the best of every- silvers, and the probability is that at the
thing. present time, if we could make up a team of
Connecticut has within her borders the four or five of our best and take them to
possibilities of future greatness, and is at England, we should give a good account of
present emerging from comparative obscurity, ourselves.
though always having had some good fanciers. At this show the
blacks, thanks to recent
Miss Lucy Nicholls was, for a time, perhaps importations, were much better than hereto-
one of the best known, but she died in the "
fore ;
and Miss Hurlburt's Eddie Fawe,"
Dr. Ottolengui's "Sir Robert previous "a
winner at the Palace and Miss Lincoln's
" "
Jack Fawe made a trio that we may be
proud of.
The blues were a decided improvement on

last year, and so were the whites and Miss ;
" "
Pollard had Purity and the blue-eyed
" "
Fairy put down in splendid shape, and
won well.
Orange cats are always pretty popular in

America, and are, owing to Miss Ward and
Mrs. Copperberg, coming well up to the front.
"
In the silvers Mrs. Champion's Argent
Moonbeam II." carried all before him in males,
and Mrs. Conlisk took queens with
first in
"Silver Belle" a big one and a good one.
MISS L. c. JOHNSTON'S
" PERSIMMON SQUIRREL." The " Blessed Damozel " is perhaps our best
(Photo: Finlcy, Chicago.) queen, and there is really nothing to beat her
in female division
the but ;
she was not put down for

competition, as her owner
does not approve of a four
days' show. Mrs. Mallorie
had a big strong silver
"Silver Glen" second to
"Argent Moonbeam II."

The silver tabbies are coming
along well, and so are the
smokes, and one "TheDusky
"
Pilgrim," a son of The Pas-
sionate Pilgrim," who has
been altered was sold for
"
50. The Passionate Pil-
grim," a very light and mas-
sively built cat, promises to
be a great loss to breeders, as
he is an almost complete out A RECEPTION ROOM IN A CHICAGO CATTERY.
cross, but he has left severa (Photo-, s. E. wngu, Chicago.)
good kittens. Mrs. Mix, who

was judging, brought out some beautiful not placed second as a matter of its import-
"
silvers, and her home-bred Jack Frost ance, but simply comes in in chronological
was a notable cat. order. The first show to be held there was
"
Arlington Hercules," the brown tabby, three years after the first in New York, and
made his first

appearance in New York, and was promoted and managed by Mrs. Leland
was very much admired. Prices ran high for Norton ;
and this show was such a decided
good cats, especially smokes and silvers, as success that a club was formed, called the
these are new to Americans. The blue colour Chicago Cat Club, which held together for
they are more familiar with from the long some years, but was in the end dwarfed by its
acquaintance with the short-haired blues or rival the Beresford Cat Club. This came into
Maltese but there is no denying the fact
;
being in 1899, and grew to such dimensions
that the blues are always dangerous when it that the club soon numbered over 300 members,
comes to judging for specials, for in their all- and reached in January, 1902, to the highest
round quality they show the care that has place by far of any American cat club, having
been bestowed upon them in England. at the show in Chicago over 250 cats, which
" "
Old Tortie Diana Fawe is still our best was at least 100 in excess of any show ever
tortoiseshell, without much apparent chance held up to that time in America,
of being deposed. Not the least important work done by this
Mr. H. T. Draper an old Londoner, who club was the inauguration of a stud book,
has exhibited short-hairs steadily since 1895 which has now three volumes, and contains
is still with us, and taking prizes as a record of nearly all of the cats that have
before ;
he has been a very steady supporter been factors in the development of the fancy
of the short-hairs for years. in America. No doubt a greater part of the
success of the Beresford Club has been brought
DISTRICT NO. 2. about by the energy and management of Mrs.
District No. 2, that we shall consider next, Clinton Locke, aided by the corresponding
is the city and region of Chicago, which is secretary (Miss L. C. Johnstone), and it is
20*
3io THE BOOK OF THE CAT.
" "
impossible to compute the work they have produced several winners. Lupin was bred
"
done. The mass of information collected in by Miss Beal, and is by Romaldkirk Mid-
" " "
the stud books will always be the basis for shipmite ex Daisy Belle," by Romaldkirk
" "
the future, and on this may be built the stud Toga." Lupin was selected at Romald-
book in use by the whole of America. kirk by myself when a promising kitten of
The vicinity of Chicago has been the centre six months, and to say that he fulfilled his
of the cat fancy in America, and in this city promise is sufficient, for he grew in size and
and its vicinity there have been more steady stature, and retained his beautiful golden
breeders and more people who have selected, eyes. He is now owned by Mrs. White.
bred, and reared the best cats they could The winning kitten of the 1901 show was
" "
obtain, so that, of course, the shows have from the two ("Melrose Lassie and Lupin"),
been the biggest and best ever held in America. and Dr. Ottolengui's two winning queens in
" "
The one striking feature of the Chicago shows 1902 "Lady Lola" and Isis are bred
has always been the white long-haired cats. from the same two. It is curious to watch
Of late another club has started, called the how blood will tell, for in the
winning blue
Orange and Cream Club, which may be said male at Washington, December, 1902, we
"
to have had Chicago for its birth-place, and had some of the same blood again in Lord
" " "
this club flourishes and prospers. Lossie," by Lucullus ex Dollie Dutton,"
We can best gauge the Chicago division by who was by " Persimmon," " Lucullus " being
" " " "
looking over the breeders and taking a glance a son of Lupin ex Lucy Claire late the
at the shows, and as I was judge there at property of Mrs. Falconer Sinclair, and known
"
the show of 1901 and also in 1902 I have had in England as Baby Flossie." Among other
the opportunity to make acquaintance with celebrities of Mrs. Locke's cattery were " Lord
"
many of the owners and many of the cats. Gwynne the white imported from England
If we turn back to the Beresford Cat Club through the kind offices of Mr. A. A. Clarke
stud book we find among the officers of the and this cat at once made a name for himself
year many of our best known breeders, and as the sire of
"
True Blue," " Mars," " Prosper
"
I commence with Mrs. Clinton Locke, the Le Gai," and many other good cats. St.
" " "
president. It must not be imagined that Tudno and Blackbird were two blacks
" "
this was her first attempt at cat breeding, that did well for Mrs. Locke, and St. Tudno
for she had been a breeder of long-haired cats sired the winning black in 1902, who very
for years, and I must sav I had heard of nearly annexed the prize for best in show.
Mrs. Locke many years before I ever had the The " Beadle," another of Mrs. Locke's blues
pleasure of meeting her, and her cats were well that must not be forgotten, was a cat bred by
known before the advent of cat shows. Mrs. Mrs. Dean, and he did yeoman service in
Locke has made a name with several colours his time, and has left many promising young
and breeds, and has imported and bred ones. Mrs. Locke has been the owner of
" " "
Persians, Siamese, Russians, etc., and the good Siamese, and from Siam and Sally
" " " "
last two shows displayed the fact that she Ward she bred Calif and Bangkok,"
held a strong hand in most of these.
' %
Mel- who them at the Chicago
carried all before
rose Lassie" a blue sent over in 1900 from show of 1902, and were the best pair I have
England by Miss Frances Simpson, and who seen this side the water, and would have
developed into a beautiful quality cat with given a good account of themselves anywhere.
" "
lovely orange eyes was the best at the Chicago Mrs. Locke's Russians Blue Royal and
" " obtained from
show in 1901. This cat the next year was Schuyla were respectively
not shown for competition, and the premier Mr. Towlerton, of Wakefield, and Mrs. Carew-
"
honours went to her kennel mate Lupin," Cox, and have passed into other hands after
and these two when mated together have winning many prizes. Among other Chicago
CATS IN AMERICA.
ladies who have been very prominent in cat Mrs. Jerome H. Pratt has usually been an
breeding for many years we must not forget exhibitor at the Chicago show. She won her
"
Mrs. Cratty, who built up a beautiful strain of championship with Sir Henry Irving," a
whites from a pair she obtained in Switzer- very richly marked silver tabby by "Whych-
"
land twelve years ago. Mrs. Cratty has now wood," who was by Charlbury Silver King."
the rearing of Mrs. Tolman has always been an energetic
given up breeding, finding
kittens too great a tax upon her powers but ;
officer of the Beresford Club, and is very
as a consistent and steady breeder, instead energetic at the shows, and in cats her fancy
of simply a buyer and runs to creams, of
exhibitor of other which she has brought
people's efforts, she out several winners.
will be much missed. Mrs. L. Nicholson (for-
Mrs. W. Eames Col- merly Mrs. F. Fisk
burn has at the pre- Green) has been a
sent time probably one prominent and good
of the largest and supporter of past
most successful cat- Chicago shows.
teries in America. In Mrs. F. W. Story has
1901 she made a repu- been known as a suc-
tation with her cat cessful breeder of
"
Paris," which was orange cats and some
bred by herself, and whites, and in having
which, besides winning obtained possession of
in the strongest of the fine orange "Ham-
"
company, has been a ish will, no doubt,
most successful and find herself in a few
prolific sire of white years in the position
kittens, agood many of being a prominent
of which have taken breeder of this colour.
honours on the bench. "
Bunch," the former
Mrs. Colburn also pos- stud cat belonging to
sesses two very fine this cattery, did good
blacks "Blackthorn," service in his .
day,
MRS. E. N. BARKER.
which she imported and is responsible for
ONE OF THE PIONEERS OF T HE AMERICAN CAT FANCY.
from Asia, and "Black- (Photo :
few winners
a but ;
J. Hiibner, Rutherford, N.J.)
berry Fawe," sent to the absence of any

her from England by Miss Frances Simpson. details in the American catalogues of the shows
Many people who have visited the cattery of makes it difficult to arrive at a very accurate
late are heard to speak enthusiastically of the estimate of all his performances.
quality of the inmates and of the perfection In speaking of Chicago we shall have to
of the appointments and the include Miss Hazelton, who has turned out
way the cattery
"
is fitted
up. Miss L. C. Johnstone, the ever busy several winners, all descended from Sap-
secretary of the Beresford Club, has been a pro- phire," that she bought of Mrs. Barker in
minent exhibitor, and has taken many honours 1896. Mrs. Fred E. Smith has been one
with "Blue Flash," "Persimmon the
"
Squirrel," of shining lights among the Chicago
and Kew Laddie." " Blue Flash " grew into breeders, and has been a consistent winner at
a beautiful cat, taking at the
Chicago show, Chicago shows she now holds a strong hand
;
1902, the special for best queen in the show. in the white division, and was fortunate
enough to pick up on the Pacific coast a fine ones, but the principal wins in the highest
"
male in Light of Asia," who was imported of the specials were made by imported cats.
"
from Asia. Swampscott," another good cat, The advent of some nice new whites was
makes his appearance every year, and usually welcomed, as usual, and "Toddles" is an addi-
finds himself in the prize list, and he has the tion to our list of white males, and is a nice
most fascinating way of turning up in splendid cobby sort, bred from "Light of Asia." "Little
coat at most of the shows. This cat is a Miss Eiger," one of Mrs. Cratty's breeding
pure Maine cat, if we may so call him but as ;
and own particular strain, won in the blue-
an example of vigour eyed white queens.
" "
and good health, year Lupin kept on his
after year, he stands winning career, and
pre-eminent. Mrs. took the prize for the
Smith is now building best in show once
up a strain of silvers more, and this, under
of her own composing, judges who had never
which may be very seen him before, seems
valuable to the atten- to endorse the esti-
uated strains of the mate made of him
"
ordinary breeder, who heretofore. Melrose
is only too glad to Lassie," shown this
welcome something year again for com-
that will be an out- petition, took the first,
cross and will not prize in blue queens.
spoil the silver colour. Blacks, taking the
Mrs. C. E. S. Blinn open and novice to-
is another breeder who gether, came out
is always present at " " strongly, and black
1
SILVER HAIR AND TIPTOE.
the shows, and whose seems to be one of our
OWNED BY MRS. PIERCE.
cats usuallv find their (Photo : Howland, Cincinnati.') strongest colours.
" "
way into the prize list. Prince of Orange
'
Mrs. Blinn is a consistent breeder who does is still invincible at this show in orange
not always make
herself very prominent, but males, and the orange queens coming are
"
she obtains the results on the quiet. along nicely. Mrs. Sarmiento's John Bull,"
Mrs. Blanche Robinson has bred several of in much better form than last year, again
her own prize-winners, and her black " Othello," sweeps the deck in the silver class. The
of which we spoke previously, is more than a silver tabbies still continue to prosper. "Arling-
"
good one. The name of Mrs. McKenzie will ton Hercules went down, for the first time,
"
always be associated with Prince of Orange," at this show, largely on a question of eye
whose name will designate his colour, and this colour.
cat is a hard one to beat in any orange class, Smokes gone by have not made
in the year
for he is very rich and deep in tint. much advance West, and this year the
in the
In 1902 there were two shows held in cream females outnumber the males, and a
"
Chicago by the Beresford Cat Club, one in descendant of Kew Laddie " takes the eye
December, 1902, or just a month earlier than of the public with colour, coat, and points.
usual, really representing what would have Mrs. C. A. White, who in the spring bought
" "
been, in the natural course, the 1903 show. Lupin and Melrose Lassie," was most
This show did not reveal to us any very successful at this show, and is probably des-
great changes ;
there are a few new home-bred tined to be one of our successful breeders,
and with the co-operation of her husband (Dr. as regards getting to several shows a year, for
White), who very clever with animals, the

is Detroit is accessible to Cleveland, Rochester,
assistance she will receive will very largely Cincinnati, and Chicago, all of which are
help to bring her to the front. good shows so this gives the Detroit fanciers
;
Mrs. White the lady who is organising

is the chance to come out at several shows
a home for deserted dogs and cats, with besides their own in the course of the winter.
a hospital attached, and on a scale and At Detroit reside several of our most enter-
with a foresight that is certainly remark- prising and successful breeders and exhibitors ;
able. Considering that Dr. White is the for the Detroit fancier not content simply to
is
head of the Veterinary College in Chicago, stay at home and only take part in the one
the benefit that may accrue to the dogs and local show of the year, but is to be found
cats in the future from the opportunity of at a good many, even so far away as New
humane study that this will give will be York. In the list of these we place Mrs. F. J.
incalculable. This, when put alongside of the Sarmiento and Mrs. Dwight Cutler, who own
"
horrible revelations that we are treated to the well-known cats Arlington Hercules,"
*' ""
anent vivisection, hope, have the
may, I Bar Abdul," Marriame," Dingley Belle,"
" "
effect of swinging the balance the other way, Champion Floriana," Brownie Pink," etc.
and help to show the rash experimenters that The history of these and their wins is written
there are people in this world who recognise on the sands of time and will not be lost for
the individuality of the animal creation, and many years, and they represent the enterprise
that we who use them for our own ends and of buying and importing the best English
have crowded them out of their place in strains and taking care of them.
Nature to a certain extent should at the same Mrs. Owen, at the Owena Cattery, has been
time look at the other side of the picture, and an important factor at many shows for the
should consider the debt we owe to them last two years. Mrs. W. M. Chapman is well
during their short lives that humanity, known to show-goers, and has won a good
practised towards many honours, and
the dumb animals, rather in a way not
is nothing more than too common here
their just due. that is, by breeding
A great many of her own
cats. This
the same cats won has been done with
at Chicago at this skill and patience ;
" "
last show, Lupin for Mrs.
Chapman
being again best cat has selected the
in show, and among parents with fore-
the younger brigade thought, and has not
MISS R. WARD S
" ROBIN.
the most remarkable been one of those
(Photo : Gardner & Co., Brooklyn, N.Y.)
was a lovely cream who has paid large
kitten owned by Mrs. Locke, which is by sums for breeding stock.The keynote, more
"
Kew Laddie." Toodles," a white son of been a fine brown
or less, of this strain has
Light of Asia," was the best white. tabby obtained from Canada some years ago
viz. "Prince Rupert," who goes back in his
DISTRICT NO. 3. pedigree to cats owned by Mr. A. A. Clarke,
District No. 3, which we shall assign to the and also to some imported by Mrs. Cumber-
Detroit contingent, is certainly one of our land, of Port Hope, Ontario,
most important. The Detroit fanciers are Mrs. W. J. Stanton deserves mention in
situated more in a central position that is, the Detroit list as a breeder of short-haired
" "
orange-and-tortoiseshells, with and without Queenie was the sensation of the Cleveland
white, and I must say I watch this lady's show in 1902, and is destined to win a great
career with interest, for she has brought out deal more in the future.
several winners in her specialities, and is Mrs. Ferris has
developed a faculty for
probably destined to make things interesting bringing out good orange and brown tabby
in the short-haired division. cats. Mrs. C. F. Russell, Mount Pleasant,
Mrs. N. C. Ellis is another of the Detroit Michigan, is also well known. Mr. G. G.
breeders likely to be heard of at show times, Brown, of East Cleveland, Ohio, deserves more
and Mr. and Mrs. Franklin have both made a than a passing mention, for though not a
name for themselves with cats of their own cat breeder, he has made it his business for
breeding. We must not. forget Mrs. Hemen- two years to organise and carry through two
"
way, who was the owner of Royal Bengal," of the bestshows in the country at Cleveland,
THREE LITTLE GRANDCHILDREN OK '

PERSIMMON.
OWNED BY MRS. HOFSTRA.
(Photo: Maiceau, New York.)
a fine brown tabby, and several good orange which have been of material help to the
cats bred by herself. fancy, and did a great deal of good. What
Cincinnatiis our next point of interest, cats are kept at the Brown homestead are
though Ihave not had the opportunity of short-hairs and some nice Manx, but in other
meeting so many of the Ohio breeders as I lines, such as poultry and dogs, Mr. Brown is
should like, but this is destined, I feel sure, hard to beat.
to be one of the prominent fancier sections in Mrs. D. E. Peters, of North Baltimore,
the future. In passing through Ohio we must Ohio, has owned quite a few good cats, in-
never forget that Ohio has the two important cluding some that came from Romaldkirk,
shows of Cleveland and Cincinnati, and holds but of late she has signified her intention of
within her gates Mrs. E. R. Pierce, whose selling out.
tastes run to orange and creams Mrs. Chas. ; Indianapolis, though rather south-westerly,
McCloud, of Marysville, Ohio and Mrs. Wag- ; is more in this division, and contains a good
ner, of Sandusky, who brought a very fine lot many cats and some breeders, though they
of long-haired cats to Cleveland this year. have not been able up to now to come to shows
Mrs. Wagner is well known, and has been for and meet the more northern and eastern cats.
some time a breeder "
of blacks ;
her silver tabby Miss N. H. Wilson, whose prefix is Spokane,"
"
is well known ;
and so is the cattery of nice white queen by Fluff," who is respon-
Mrs. Ida M. Shirk, who has carried on sible for some of the good kittens.
the business under the name of the Linden We next journeyed to the home of Mrs.
Cattery. Bell, who has one queen and two very strong
kittens. Mrs. however,
Bell, intends to
DISTRICT NO. 4. CANADIAN CATS. strengthen her cattery soon by the acquisition
The two pioneers of the cat in Canada
i.e. of some good queens.
the two who were most prominent as breeders Leaving Mr. and Mrs. Bell, we journeyed to
when I went to the first Canadian shows the ferry and went over to the Island, getting
were Mrs. Cumberland, of Port Hope, Ontario, a glimpse of the beauties of Toronto and
"
whose prefix or affix of " Demain bespeaks her a fine view of the water front and the sub-
early efforts. Even earlier than Mrs. Cum- urban attractions. We landed at the house
berland, the cats belonging to Mr. A. Burland, of Mrs.McAdley, and were introduced to
an Englishman, attained prominence, and the the grandest lot of brown tabbies we ever
blood that he brought from England mostly remember to have seen, outside, perhaps,
from Mr. A. A. Clarke is now diffused into Mrs. Cutler's, which we should not like to
or among many of our best-known catteries. compare, not having seen them. We may
Wehad a dim suspicion in fact, more safely say that nothing so good was shown
than a dim suspicion that there was tucked last year as Mrs. McAdley's. At the head
"
away in Canada more than one good cat and ;
of the list Prince," a grand old cat,
is
so, being in Toronto, we made an exploration, imported from Ireland seven years ago, and
thanks to the help of Mrs. Ellis and Mr. Boyd. there are few cats extant to-day, or ever
Our first visit was to the Pioneer Cattery, were, that can take his measure. His head
where we found the ravages of gastritis had is magnificent, and he is short on the leg,
been severely felt only the week before, and, of has plenty of bone, grand colour, no weak
course, some of the very best, including some colouring around the lips or chin, and, what
"
we had portrayed lately, had succumbed. The is more, he sires the right sort. Paddy,"
most noted inmate was " Marie," a cat of his daughter, is the peer of any brown tabby
good type, very sound and in good condition, queen we have seen in the ring for a long time,
with capital eyes of a good, rich orange she and we saw nothing to beat her in England
should breed something good and we hope ;
two years ago.
we can say it without offending anyone Mrs. Ellis has adopted the kittens, and
this cat, old as she is, is the peer of any these will not pass out of Canada under
brown tabby put down in America last year, pretty stiff figures, and wherever they appear
and we only hope she will live to breed one in the show room they will have to be reckoned
more good litter, which should be retained with by the very best.
to perpetuate the race. We got back to our hotel at p.m., after n
It was only a short walk to Mrs. Mallock's, a most enjoyable day among enthusiastic and
who is rejoicing in the possession of a very cute painstaking fanciers, and we had unfortunately
young black male, capital in style, with a to leave out one house for lack of time. Another
"
lovely coat and colour, named Furzo," bred cat enthusiast who has some good Romaldkirk
by Mr. Empey, of Montreal. stock to sell viz. Miss Cottle journeyed
After lunch we drove to see Miss Cox, who over from Kingston on purpose to have a
has the same nice white male we saw there catty talk at the dog show. We feel sure
six j'ears ago, and he has done yeoman service that the Canadian contingent will have to be
"
in the meantime. Cadi," a young brown reckoned with in the future as breeders, and
tabby male, is a year old, and a credit to in brown tabbies are a hard proposition. As
any
cattery. Miss Cox is also the possessor of a soon as they get hold of some better cats of
" " "
the other colours they will be up with us, ampton ex Peggy," by Champion Silver
though we do not see some of the best of the Mist," is making a big reputation through
other colours, notably Miss Cottle's and the her children, and the second generation is
Montreal blacks. now beginning to win as did the first. This
blood is very successful wherever found, and
DISTRICT NO. 5. this is, no doubt, largely owing to the kittens
" "
California is which can
a district by itself, by King of the Silvers," though The Pas-
never be in active touch with the east, and the sionate Pilgrim," who goes back through his
"
future cat of California may probably be the sire to Whychwood," is as good as anything
Siamese, for the demand for
growing them is Mrs. Barker has yet produced and this is
;
everyday, and the climate favours them. Cali- saying a good deal, for she has bred a great
fornia is too warm to coat the long-hairs, and many winners in many colours, and the effect
the vermin are too promiscuous in most parts to of cats imported or bred by her is seen at
make the rearing or caring for the long-hairs a every show we go to, and the ramifications
pleasant occupation. Mrs. C. H. Hoag and of blood lines spread over America would
Mrs. C. E. Martling have been two of the most make a book in itself.
energetic in promoting the cat as a fancy in The very best cats from England will win
California, and several shows have been held, here every time they are shown in good trim,
but at present in the language of the slang and in picking cats for best in show the greater
"
there is not much doing," except in Siamese ; part of the prizes go to English cats, or to
so that in taking a look over the pastfrom a cats bred from English parents. The crossing
high point and looking down, we cannot say of the nativeswith the English is very suc-
that up to now we can point to many families cessful in some cases, and, no doubt, the
or strains that have yet made their mark in changes of blood will in the future work to
America that is, a mark that is very con-
; the good of the majority, for in size, shape,
spicuous, for there has not been time. and coat many of the American cats are very
But still there are signs of strains that will good, but fail in type and quality.
be matters of history, and there are families The cat fever in its present form may be said
that may be called distinctive, because the to be so comparatively new as an industry
descendants win under different judges with that has not been easy to give a comprehen-
it
sufficient regularity to make this noticeable. sive view of the whole. Some exhibitors have
Some have sketched in my other
of these I come up suddenly, and after seeming to have
notes but probably the most far-reaching
;
carried all before them have disappeared as
of the families that win in all colours is the suddenly as they came, while others have kept
"
Humbert " strain, which emanates from on right through, though these are few by
"
Mrs. Barker's King Humbert," imported comparison with the great possibilities. We are
in 1895. Not only did this cat sire a lot now passing through the early days of organisa-
"
of winners himself, but cats with the Hum- tion, and the future is not always too clear ;
"
bert blood to the third and fourth gen- but, still, have tried to give the most pro-
I
"
eration, such as Prince of Orange," etc., minence to those who have braved the light
are still winning all over the country. Judg- of day and have supported the shows, and
"
ing by present appearances, the King of this, really, is the only practical test of where
"
the Silvers family, coupled with his sire we any of us stand. If I were to enumerate
"
Bitterne Silver Chieftain," is forging to the all I have heard of, and the many people who
front, and is marking out a path of its own are interested in, the cat in America, there
as regards winnings in public. One cat is no doubt but that a good deal more space
"
The Blessed Damozel," bred by Mrs. Barker than I have at my command would be used
"
in England, and by Champion Lord South- two or three times over and such is the size
;
of the country that it is only possible to give would not make many mistakes if the classes
a light sketch of the whole and I do not ;
were not too big for them. Of course, the
that I shall, or anyone else could, fact must be recognised here, as elsewhere,
expect
begin to do justice to, or could in any way that a judge improves with experience, and
really gauge, the number of people interested

I hazard the opinion that the fewer cats he
in cats in America. In ten years' time I owns the better he may judge, though I per-
expect to see cities that now bring together sonally prefer for my own stock a judge who
has at some time bred
perhaps 100 cats, then
having shows contain- the variety. I cannot
ing hundreds for in ; say that I have found

most places, even the judging of cats in
where shows have been America a very diffi-
held, we have hardly cult matter, up to
scratched the surface, now, for classes have
and in
perhaps only been, as a rule, small,
one out of 100 import- and in most cases
ant and possible towns the winners stood out
have we ever had a well ;
and though, no
show. The extent of doubt, there have
the possibility of the been differences of
future can only be opinion upon what I
slightly grasped by have done, I have not
those who have had many qualms of
touched the fancy, conscience over past
but those of us who doings. The weakest
have worked for many spot in the American
years at it see signs of cat shows has been
growth now that may the tendency of own-
increase the fancy as ers to over-estimate the
a snowball will grow value of their cats in
the further you roll many cases, and the
it the faster it grows disappointment of de-
AN AMERICAN BEAUTY.
in proportion. We
(Photo: A. Lloyd, Amsterdam, New York.)
feat comes sometimes
are only just waking. severely upon very
The future alone can say whether we shall enthusiastic people but there is no hope for ;
succeed but we must face the fact that in

; a fancier who cannot surfer defeat and come
America the cat fancy, as a whole, is an im- again for some more, so I think we need not
possibility, and that cats as exhibition cats waste our tears upon these, for they were
can only, as a rule unless belonging to rich never destined to succeed. Want of quality
people meet each other in competition if is another weak spot we have to contend
within reasonable distance of each other. with, and comes from the eye not
this often
having been trained to the best. Size as a

JUDGING IN AMERICA. factor of beauty is another fetish we have to
In 1900, I arn not afraid to say, we had destroy with a rude hand, but our people are
not more than two judges capable of judg- apt pupils, and those who stay in the game are
ing a small show correctly all the way very anxious to be on the right track, though
through. To-day we have a great many it will take some a few years longer to learn
breeders who could do very fair work, and the give and take, to withdraw gracefully,
"
and to admit that there may be another side called a beast," I hope posterity will say
"
to a question. own position to-day is that
My I was a just beast."
I am as much interested in the fancy as ever, It might be as well to refer to the score
but do not find the necessity for doing the
I card to show where in cases such as we have
work in so severe a manner now, for there are had to contend with it has done a great deal
so many capable of carrying on what has of good. One hundred points make perfec-
been done, and the future is pretty well assured ; tion, and the question arose in one's mind
so that for the health of the fancy at large before using the score card as to whether the
it is better that too much should not be budding exhibitor would be for ever crushed
"CHAMPION MISS DETROI T."

OWNED BY MRS. GROSE AND MRS. OWEN.
(Photo: D. D. Spellman, Detroit.)
monopolised by two or three pairs of hands, and by finding that the cherished one came out
some of us old-timers who- began in 1893 and of the score card ordeal with about 75 points
1894, and before that, are allowing the younger instead of the possible 100 so that when it;
blood to take its share of the tasks. has been selected by a club for a show I have
In judging cats, as in other stock, it seems warned the owners of the danger but to the ;
to me that one of the greatest criterions as everlasting credit of our fanciers I may say
to the success of our efforts as judges is the that I have not had to register a kick because
success in many cases of cats or kittens bred of a low score,and many even novices
from those we have put in the front rank. were more than pleased with a score of eighty.
And only time can tell the force of what we If I may point out a failing in English judging
have done. If in the future I see cats doing and we see the same thing here in the dog
as well as they are this season, bred from fancy the criticism is left to the reporter,
those I have put in the prize list, and judged who has not the time or the opportunity for
by other judges, then shall I feel repaid for finding the real faults nor the space at com-
work done in the past, and not until then can mand to do justice to the exhibits.
I be sure I have been right. It would be The task of explaining to exhibitors why
impossible to go back through the last eight their animals have lost is not an agreeable
years and their troubles and experiences, and one ;
but in a land like this, where nearly
though in many cases I know I
may have been all have been beginners, this has been an
absolute necessity, and the dose must be as is the case with Madame Ronner and the
swallowed or no progress is made, and, as in Continental fanciers ; and, if so, there seems
the case of the score card, no doubt the having to be no reason for discouraging them, and
to give a reason is likely to keep us from we may as well first make up our minds to
giving prizes to one point at the expense of the fact that, in trying to force English ideas
all the rest. Two great factors we have had down the throats of the people of another
to consider here are type and quality, the two country with too violent a hand, we may do
weakest points in our cats and if we had
;
a lasting injury to the fancy at large.
run to extremes in eye colour we should have Another thing I might refer to, and that is
made no progress in type or perhaps quality. that the average American exhibitor does not
Great stress has been laid upon markings in favour giving prizes to long-haired cats when
tabby cats, with very good results, and we out of coat, and the strength of the fancy and
are rapidly accumulating a good lot of tabbies its future popularity lies in presenting to the
especially in the Detroit district, where public the cats in their best dress, and this
tabbies are popular, which is a thing to be mostly is the only logical way we can give out
grateful for. We have never thought it well the principal prizes and appeal to the good
here to discourage the orange tabbies for the sense of those who come to see them for the ;
sake of unmarked orange, and we have some general public, when not experts, can only
very good orange tabbies whose number is on judge from appearance. The strength in
the increase ;
and if the plain orange can range England lies in the fanciers themselves, who
'THE COMMISSIONER.
(Photo: Arthur, Detroit.)
up beside the orange tabbies, all well and have the opportunity of seeing so much more
good. But I shall be an advocate, if there is and of learning. Our future here lies in being
a danger of one hurting the other, of making able to gather recruits by presenting the cats
separate classes, for we do not want to drive to them in as perfect a form as possible, and
out the good orange tabbies, which are very therefore we have to depend upon the public.
popular, and the average American who loves Our shows have to be in the winter, when the
an orange cat at the present moment does not cats are in coat, and the dangers of exposure to
care whether it is marked or unmarked. the weather are very great, all of which is a
Cats with white hair are much in favour, good deal to the disadvantage of the fancier.
MALTESE CATS. head are the purer type of blue cat. On some,
A great deal of interest has been taken in when judging, I find very good heads with
England in the subject of blue cats in America, clean-cut features, round, well-developed cheeks,
which are often called Maltese, and really among with fairly long bodies, very even in colour.
the rank and rile of the public this is the name No doubt the preponderance of blue cats
they go by. So celebrated had some strains before the advent of the cat shows was largely
become that off-coloured cats bred from these owing to the selection of blue kittens in the
cats are sometimes called Maltese, and the litters,which left a great many blue sires to
idea seemed to have gained considerable roam the streets by night and sire blue kittens.
ground that this was a separate breed but ; In many cases I have found families who
evidence of this fact is much
lacking in
very had never heard of cat shows that had strains
most parts, and in travelling over a good deal of blue or Maltese cats, and took pride in keep-
of the country and finding them thousands oi ing the strain as pure as possible. And one
miles apart, I must confess that I have never great factor is that the blues have always had
been able to trace the origin of these cats nor the name of being excellent mousers, and were
to find outany reason for their numbers. valued as such. Besides this supposed strong
I have been led to think that they are point in their composition, they have always
the same, or were the same, in the beginning had a reputation for great intelligence and
as the blue Russian or Archangel cat, and of being good-tempered and reliable about
that they were brought to this country many the house with children and young folk.
years ago, and that the name was given them Like the Plymouth Rock fowl, the Maltese
by sailors or others. The tradition possibly cat has been one of the institutions of the
has been handed down in the same way as the American continent, and there seems to be
name Angora has remained fastened to the
of some ground for believing the original tradi-
long-hairs with the average public here, and tion connected with the name Maltese
will be many more years in dying, for the band that the Maltese cat came from the East
of fanciers who know better is but a drop in and was treasured as something out of the
the bucket in this great land. No doubt the common, and fell among friends. Some are
name of Maltese moved with the cat to the light and some are dark, and some have
west as families moved, for in the case of the white spot on the chest, but on most
native-born Americans the migration west there is not much evidence of tabby mark-
has been often gradual thus some moved,
:
ings neither do you see this in the young
;
we will say, as far as Ohio, their sons and kittens in the same way as the Russians
daughters moved to Illinois, and the next are said to be at an early age. I have seen
generation went still further, and the much- fiveand six pure light blue kittens in a litter,
prized Maltese cat drifted on with his and the father and mother were both of the
name. same colour.
Probably a good many of the so-called In quite out-of-the-way places you will,
Maltese are just blue specimens of the ordin- upon going to judge the short-hairs, find some
ary short-haired cat and, in fact, there has
; blues, and often with deep brown eyes and
;
never been anyone of my acquaintance who if I were to make a comparison between the
had any ideas as to points or type but the ;

average American blue and what I saw in
colour was the feature to be looked at. We England as Russians, I should say the American
find Maltese cats of and cobby
the short cats are mostly lighter in colour, and do not
type besides the long and more extended have quite so glossy coats. Perhaps if taken
species, but the latter predominate, and I up and selected for a few generations, these
am inclined to agree with some English judges features would come out more strongly.
that the fairly long cats with a cleaner cut One of the worst features of the popularity
CATS IN AMERICA. 32!
of the Maltese, from the point of view of the them but, still, the fact is pretty evident
;
breeder of long-hairs, has been that the blue that short-haired blues have been a popular
colour has been so common that when the colour for a long time, and there are so many
blue Persian was introduced he was not, in that everyone, whether cat fancier or not, is
this country, considered peculiar. Among quite used to the colour. The native-born
the Maine cats, so called, the blue or Maltese American, as a rule, calls this cat the Maltese,
colour was not at all uncommon, and plenty and the name, as I said before, will cling for
of this colour are to be found. Some people many a day to come. In judging these cats,
who bred them obtained their stock from Paris, I must say that the proportion of small or
"AJAX," BLUE-EYED WHITE.

OWNED HY MR. W. J. STEVENS.
(Photo: Coleman, Westfield, Mass.)
and no doubt the Chartreuse blue of olden short, round-headed cats is small, and that
times had a good deal to do with many of these. these in America, at least are not the most
The oldest blue cat I ever saw was one common and I, personally,
type of blue cat ;
reared on a farm ;
he had always lived out of in judging have usually inclined to the more
doors, more or less, and was the farm cat. lengthy cat with longer face and bigger ears,
His age was twenty-four years, and as he was though I think it is possible to find plenty
born at the same time as the oldest son, who without absolutely mean-looking heads. We
was also twenty-four years old, the evidence do not want a ferret's head on a cat, for there
was pretty good that the age was correct. is a happy medium.
It must not be supposed from this that blue
cats are so numerous as to overshadow other WILD SPECIES.
colours in North America, for we have short- We cannot leave the American exhibition cats
hairs in all the common colours, and lots of without saying a word upon the wild species,
21
some of which find their way into the show- to have inherited by how, perhaps, more
rooms on more than one or two occasions. savoir faire under show conditions.
Of course, the cougar or mountain lion our When on a ranch in the wilds with a few
biggest species is out of court on account of cats and dogs, where quarters were limited,
his size but still,
;
if history is to be believed, I could never see that there was a natural
this fineanimal was never injurious to man, antipathy between cats and dogs, for the
and has not been known in recent times to bitches would rear kittens and vice versA, and
attack man, though he is fitted by size and the friendship was great between them so
strength to do a great deal of damage. The much so that they would play together for
next in order is the lynx, and though this hours, and there was no danger in leaving
animal is pictured as very fierce, there is as dogs and cats together, shut up in the house,
much evidence to show, in other ways, that when we were absent. In later times I have
if taken young and domesticated, the lynx had twenty cats or more running around with
is amenable to reason and is very intelligent, as many dogs, and never had a cat killed, and
full of humour, and not afflicted with excessive only two or three occasions when any trouble
nervousness. I have seen specimens exhibited, started. The supposed antipathy between
and one in particular that was the constant cat and dog seems to be an acquired taste in
playmate of a little child and this cat spent

;
a certain measure, and personally I do not
four days in a show playing most of the time believe in the antipathy being natural or a
with all the children that came along, and fact, for the two will live together in peace
was the coolest and most unconcerned cat if not set upon each other by man.
in the hall.Evidently the lynx shares the From a few observations I believe the lynx
great brain of the cat family which
power is capable of domestication of course, his
;
those who are well acquainted with cats size precludes his being numerous, but in this
are willing to concede to them, added to a variety there are possibilities as yet not suffi-
calmness of temperament foreign to some of ciently tried out.
our so-called domesticated breeds that ought Of other cats, in contradistinction to this,
we may mention that beautiful cat the ocelot.
This cat is fairly plentiful, and is not very
MRS. CLARENCE HOUCK S CATTERY,

"ORCHARD RIDGE," NEW SCOTLAND, N.Y.
difficult to obtain when young and though ;

the tamest and best-natured cats I ever came
handsome and can be reared and across in the show-room, and certainly the most
they are so
left torun about the house till a year old, as beautiful short-haired cat possible to imagine.
they arrive ma- at On one or two

turity they become occasions we have
what the ladies call had Australian cats
" The and they
impossible." exhibited,
ocelot with increas- were funny little
ing age grows hope- beasts,sitting up

lessly savage, and like a. and
squirrel,
will kill anything put with much the same
in his cage that he shape of head. When
is capable of hand- genuine they are
ling, and even to his most quaint, but do

keeper 'he is a prob- not seem to live long
lem. This evidence here. A very clever
is not hearsay, but fake was carried out
is from one who tried with these cats at
for a longtime to do some of the early
something with these shows or, rather, I
beautiful animals. should not say with
They are, when in these cats, but an
condition, one of our imitation of these
handsomest speci- cats. When the sup-
mens of the cat ply became limited,
tribe. someone became
One of the most clever enough to aug-
fascinating little cats ment the number by

I ever
judged was a shaving the long and
little Marguay cat ragged native short-
from Brazil, exhib- MRS. CHARLES A. WHITE. and so well was hairs,
AN AMERICAN CAT FANCIER.
ited by the Zoological done that they not it
(Photo Bolls, Chicago). :
Society of Chicago, only won prizes, but

and though quite small and delicate-looking, on one occasion one was bought by a judge
it seemed
perfectly healthy, and, as in the after winning, when to his purchaser's disgust
case of the lynx, was as tame and affec- a month or two later he turned out to be an
tionate as possible, and seemed delighted to ordinary yellow torn with his coat on !
be noticed and handled. I cannot help think- The Australian cat fell into disfavour after
ing that if obtainable and kept pure this would a few of these experiences, and it has not
make one of the most beautiful of exhibition been possible to resuscitate him.
cats. Small, of a reddish-brown colour, and We often hear of the Pampas cat of South
clearly spotted all over, with beautifully America being in certain catteries, but so far
shaped and small ears, which are black-and- at the shows none have been produced, and
white, this cat is gentle, sweet, sizeable, I am inclined to think these also are of the
and possible as a pet. I have never seen it impossible brigade on account of their savage
excelled by anything among the cat tribe ; disposition. It is a pity that some enter-
and having handled this cat a good many prising fancier does not try to tame these
times during the show, I
may say it was one of wild species.
3-24 THE BOOK OF THE CAT.
SOME OF THE DIFFICULTIES IN AMERICA. to be very conducive to a gate but the draw-
;
Our English readers will, no doubt, wonder back of this arrangement is that in most cases
at a good man}' things wo do in America ;
the poultry people want to make as much
but, never having*had the experience of our money as possible, and so keep the cats penned
conditions, they would not be able to appre- forfour or five days, which in many cases
ciate what it is that keeps the fancy back. In means death to the cats.
the first on this continent anything
place, The cost of the hall being so great, and the
except poultry shows and dog shows is an prize money being consequently kept down
unknown quantity, and many of those who to try to balance things, with the entry fees
take up the cat fancy with enthusiasm are also put up, which, all added to the
away
perfectly innocent of any show experiences, travelling long distances and the added ex-
and have few to teach them so that until a
; pense of hotel bills, makes the lot of the
show or two has been held in a certain neigh- American cat exhibitor not too rosy, and it is
bourhood our affairs are apt to be a little something to wonder at that the fancy has
mixed. For instance, the common idea of a ever developed at all.
tortoiseshell cat is as often as not a heavily Distance from place to place is another
marked tabby of the brown tabby persuasion, factor, and when you read in England of the
or it may be an orange tabby, or it may be a New York and then the Chicago show the
mixture of many colours. Until a show has week yon hardly realise that they are
after,
been held in a town, very few of the inhabitants 1,000 miles apart, and that if living in New
know whether they have good cats or not, and York and you want to show in Chicago it may
they are as likely to bring the bad as the good. cost you 20 in travelling expenses alone.
The idea has prevailed to a large extent that Another thing show committees have to
it is
very expensive to get up shows, and so face is the expense of the judge, and the
the only opportunity made use of has been difficulty finding suitable sires within
of
when a poultry show is being held and the reasonable distance is one of the many draw-
promoters of this are asked for a little space, backs with which American fanciers have to
which they may grant, as the cats are found contend.
" THE BLESSED DAMO/.EI..

OWNED AND BRED BY MRS. E. N. BARKER.
(Photo: Jo:. Hubner, Rutherford, NJ.)

325
"
TOBEY," A MAINE TRICK CAT.
OWNED BY Miss CHAPLE.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
MAINE CATS.
my earliest recollection I have had about them there. They are much like other
FROM from one to several long-haired cats of people they go into heroics over things they
that variety often called Maine cats. As know less about.
to how and when they came, I would say, like Not the craze for long-haired cats
until
"
Topsy, they just growed," for their advent struck the West did they think much about
reaches far back beyond the memory of the selling cats their very best would be given
;
oldest inhabitant. to their dearest friends. When I think of

Our own family circle was never complete the number have had given
of beauties that I
without one or more cats not always long- me on my return visits because I would be
haired, but that variety always held the place good to them, it makes me wish for the good
of honour. old times when the little dears were beyond
"
As early as 1861 my younger brother and price in filthy lucre."
myself owned jointly a beautiful long-haired I think the
first really important develop-
black, pointed with white he bore up for

;
ment cat fancy that took deep and
of the
several years under the remarkable name of lasting root in me occurred in 1869, when I
"
Captain Jenks of the Horse Marines." I saw for the first time a pair of blue-eyed white
have no recollection of his earlier history or Persian kittens that landed, to say the least,
advent. I fancy, however, that these cats free of duty, in a sailmaker's pocket, from a
came into Maine much in the same way and foreign vessel, which put into a seaport town
about the same time that they did in England. for repairs after a severe storm.
The Maine people having had them so long, This Mr. P
being a great lover of
,
it is difficult to arouse
any great enthusiasm cats, while on board the vessel making repairs,
21*
admired a beautiful white Persian cat with kittens landed. I think he was
quite as good
a family of kittens, belonging to the cook, a specimen of Persian as the one that came
who gave him a pair of them. They grew and from the original kittens. They were both
were nursed with tenderest care, the female cat show winners at the same time, although
developing much the better quality in hair ;
"
Baba " (or " Babie ") was in his dotage
but females were not highly prized at that when " Dot " was in his prime. We were
time. not thinking of pedigrees then, but merely
They were both kept two or three years to who had the best cat.
get a good male for a gelding. I was told "Baba" at that time belonged to Mrs.
that they destroyed all the female kittens ;
Mason (formerly Mrs. Philbrook), and won the
but at last they were rewarded, and then the cup over everything in the Boston show.
original pair were sent to a relative in the
"
Dot " was not at the Boston show, but won
country. first in his class at Bangor, Maine, which was
From that time on long-haired blue-eyed held at about the same time.
white kittens sprang up in most unexpected
"
Dot " was sent to the Bangor show to
"
places. At they have appeared
intervals please Mr. Robinson, owner of Richelieu,"
and almost disappeared several times for who had the management of it, and without
want of care in "breeding, but with this draw- the slightest thought of winning. He brought
back they will still frequently come forth in home a gorgeous silver butter-dish, elaborately
the same fine type. inscribed, which sat about at least ten years
"
I owned a very fine specimen called Dot," before being given to the cook. Oh, that
who became a noted winner, and who came I had it now, that its picture might grace
from this strain about eleven years after the these pages !
For intelligence and affection " Dot " was

by far the superior cat. I have never seen his
equal. Although deaf, his other senses were
so keen that we hardly realised he did not
hear. He would answer to the slightest
beckon, and was always watching for a call.
He was quite proud of his beauty, and never
failed at his mistress's receptions to speak to
each person present before taking his seat in
the window.
At one time some office girls who passed
our house every day on the way to their work
told me he was usually on the gate-post at
seven o'clock in the morning to salute them
and wave his plume to them. Each one
" "
stroked his head, said Pretty kitty and !
passed on. He then took his morning roll on

the lawn, and was ready for his breakfast.
His benevolence and tender feeling for cats
of low degree was displayed by his keeping a
cat two winters his protege was an example
;
of the sad-eyed forlorn cat (one sad eye, the

other closed beyond repair) spirit completely
;
" " broken by neglect. As soon as the weather

HKNNESSY.
OWNED BY MRS. HALL, BELFAST, MAINE. became cool, " Dot " would usher his sad
MAINE CATS. 327
friend into the kitchen every morning and ask

for breakfast for him, then sit back on the rug
the while,and with utmost satisfaction
expressed in song watch the tramp cat eat
it. Where he kept his friend when he was not
eating we knew not he was invisible.
;
He also excelled as a traveller, making

several short journeys. When with me he
scorned a basket, much preferring to sit on
the seat and look out of the window and inci-
dentally entertain the other passengers by his

unusual privileges in cat travelling.
He developed an unusual taste for moisture,
often sitting on a garden bench through a heavy
shower, while his frolics in a light snowfall
were most entertaining.
Taking him all in all, I have not yet seen
a finer pet cat. We sent him to rest in the
happy hunting grounds at the age of ten
years.
I would like to say a few words here in
regard to American cat shows. We are con- ''

IH.UK DANUBE."
.
tinually hearing it stated, or seeing it written BRED BY MRS. E. R. PIERCE.
by the clubs and those who are new to the

"
fancy, The first cat show ever held in this rich in fine specimens of the long-haired cats.
country," and so forth, was, we will say, That was before they began to sell. I have in
according to their light, some three years ago. mind their brown tabbies.
That is true so far as clubs go, but large cat We often hear it said by people who know
shows were held spasmodically in all the them not that the Maine cats are unhealthy,
large and some small eastern cities as far back that they have worms and I have to admit
;
as the 'seventies. it, and that they sometimes die like other cats ;
"
I have a
photograph of Richelieu," but here is one that didn't until he had
owned by Mr. Robinson, of Bangor, Maine, rounded out his full seventeen years.
"
who had won first in his class at Boston, On page 329 is a picture of Leo," brown
New York, and Philadelphia previous to tabby, born 1884, died 1901 presented to Mrs.;
1884, when he was shown at Bangor, Maine, Persis Bodwell Martin, of Augusta, Maine, by
in a limited show of the one hundred best cats. Mrs. E. R. Pierce, when he was six months old.
He was a silver or bluish tabby, very lightly He lived a life of luxury and ease, having
marked about seven years old at the time
; ; his meals served by his mistress's own hand in
weight about twenty pounds he was, as his ; the upper hall, where he chose to spend his
picture shows, rather a coarse-grained variety ;
time for the later years of his life.
a drug store cat. If I may be permitted, I would ask com-
"
I know nothing of his early history ;
but parison between the picture of Leo " and
his owner had the cat fad a well-developed any thoroughbred brown tabby first, colour
case and travelled from city to city to show of muzzle, length of nose, size and shape of
his cat, much as we are all doing now twenty eyes, breadth of forehead,' size of ears, length
years later. of hair in the ears, and on the head. In body
"
At that time Maine, near the coast, was markings Leo " would fall off, as his hair
was so extremely long that the markings brought to Rockport, Maine, from France he ;
became somewhat confused. was a blue-eyed white."

They have had some extremely fine brown This line of whites, while in the same
tabbies in Maine. In the summer of 1900 locality, and unrelated to
are quite distinct
"
I bought Maxine " there the mother of the whites mentioned, of which " Dot "
first
"
Young Hamlet," who won over his sire was given as a type.
" "
But her reference
Prince Rupert year he was shown.
the first to her early exploits with
She was, or is, very much the type of the Manx cats clears the air as to how these dif-
" "
King Humbert stock, though she has no ferent varieties first got root in Maine. This
pedigree whatever. instance is only one in many where pets of
It is one of Nature's own secrets how they every variety were bought in foreign ports to
keep bringing forth now and then, not amuse the children on shipboard otherwise,;
always these fine types. as in one case I can call to mind, the children
I have before me a most interesting letter would make pets of the live stock carried to
from a Maine lady, one of my contemporaries. supply the captain's table with fresh meals
explain that Maine at that time
I will first chickens, lambs, etc. until it would be
was one of the largest ship-building States in impossible to eat the little dears after they
the Union, residents of the seaport towns and were served by the cruel cook.
cities being often masters of their own float- Therefore birds of plumage and singers,
ing palaces, taking their families with them to cats, dogs, and even monkeys, found their way
foreign countries, and having in many towns to nearly all the coast towns many more in
quite social sets, like the army set or official the past than at this time, when sailing vessels
set in other sections. have passed their usefulness as money-making
Mrs. Thomas, to whose letter I refer, was institutions, and those that do go out are
the daughter of the late Captain Stackpole, not commanded by their owners paid cap- ;
who commanded his own ship for many years, tains, as a rule, cannot take their families
taking his wife and little daughter with him. with them, and the supply of cats from that
That was before our Civil War. She says : source has been cut off for many years, so
"
I was always very fond of cats before they those we find there now can safely be called
had to have a pedigree. In my younger natives.
days, en route for California, we stopped at Up to this point I have been writing of the
Juan Fernandez, and I got a little wild cat. cats of the long, long ago, and perhaps only
"
Later on, when in Europe, I got a Manx interesting to myself, being as full of plain
cat from the Isle of Man
was a great
;
it facts as Gradgrind.
curiosity, and not considered very handsome, Before coming down to some of the fine cats
with its bob-tail, and hind legs so much longer of the present day, I will say that I am told
than the front ones. It came to an untimely by an eye-witness that on a little island quite
end by running up a flue, and was smothered well off the coast which is inhabited by only
to death. three families, and where a few gentlemen

"
The wild cat did not flourish on condensed have a quiet nook to fish in summer,
milk, and lived but a short time. Bad luck they found pure white Persian cats with
has followed me right along, but I keep right the most
heavenly-blue eyes. So far as
on like an old toper, and don't know enough is known, no other cats are on the island. I
to stop." had the promise of a pair last year, but cruel

In writing of her own cat, the mother of fate had visited them in their sheltered nook,
"
Swampscott," she says : and the kittens that year died. The promise
"
I cannot tell you much about my cat's still holds good, and I do not want to believe
"
pedigree only that her great-grandfather was it a fish story." Time alone can finish it.
MAINE CATS. 329
I really know nothing of the cats that are very like it while at their summer home on
said to be found on the islands but no doubt
;
the coast of Maine. The fad is contagious,
they are much the same as those found all and they have the fever running very high
if
along the New England coast. they send back east to their "handy-man"
For a long time the long-haired cats seemed to get them a long-haired cat, and these cats
to be confined mostly to the coast towns and become popular. Clubs are formed to discuss
"
cities ;
but the giving their best to their points and exchange knowledge, shows become
"
sisters and their cousins and their aunts a necessity, large premiums are offered, numer-
have spread them inland, as well as scattered ous valuable specials become a feature, cats
them over nearly every State in the Union. must be found to fit them, the home market
They thrive as well as any other long-haired at a low figure is looked over, many Attic
cat. No doubt they do still better in Maine, treasures are brought out, and have often
"
LEO." BKOWX TAIiBY.
OWNED BY MRS. P. MARTIN.
(Photo : Bunion, Hallowell.)
but the difference comes from the fact that tipped the scales in favour of the Yankee cat.
they have the freedom of living a natural We all turn green with envy. Before another
life, without dopes or over-coddling. Their show we must import a ready-made winner
offspring are beautiful, because they are from at any cost ! In the meantime, the demand
their own choosing, and not from compulsory for the home-grown article is increasing, and
mating often distasteful, no doubt. prices are getting much
inflated, the dealers in
About 1895 or 1896 the cat fad struck the large cities keeping their buyers busy in the
Middle West. The time was ripe for its New England field during the fall and winter
development. The high, the low, the rich, months. But the stock of kittens has been
the poor have all felt its force, as the real love looked over by the summer residents or
of animal pets is no respecter of persons, and visitors the real cream disappeared with
;
this fancy has made the whole world kin. the first frost to some winter homes in the
A few people who had never seen a cat show big cities ;
the dealers getwhat is left at
"
in their native land go across," attend a almost any price they please to pay, many of
cat show, or pick up a cat at a bargain on the the specimens being indifferent, and some,
" "
streets of London ;they fetch it home, no doubt, mongrels.
and, lo ! their neighbour has seen something In the last few years I have known less of
the Maine cats, except through the shows and now somewhat scattered, but all
showing
a few that I have owned myself, which have form, bone, and sinew.
great, strength,
'; "
not been shown much or proved remarkable Mrs. Chapman's Cusie Maxine a fine
"
in any way but among the gems that have
; type of brown tabby, dam of Young Ham-
" "
shown out with more or less brilliancy when let," who won over his sire Prince Rupert
"
on the bench we find Cosie," a brown tabby, was also a Maine cat.
taking first and special for best cat in show Mr. Jones, of The Cat Journal, has from
in New York, 1895. Mrs. Lambert brings time to time had some fine brown tabbies of
"YELLOW H. 14 BEAUTY."
OWNED BY MRS. STAPLES.
" "
out Patrique in New York in 1896 blue, the Maine stock, winners at some of the
and a nice one. larger shows.
"King Max" first brought out by Mrs. A representative of the whites, who has
fair
Taylor won in Boston first in 1897-98-99, only acquitted himself well at the various shows
"
to be beaten by his sire Donald " in 1900. in competition with large classes, is
"
Swamp-
Mrs. Mix has shown a fine Persian type scott," owned by Mrs. F. E. Smith, of Chicago.
"
from Maine called the
Dairy Maid." I He comes from Mrs. Georgia Thomas's white
"
believe has also
she Imogene," from the cats Camden, Maine, his maternal great-
at
same place a tortoiseshell. grandsire coining from France.
Mrs. Julius Copperberg's " Petronius," of "
Midnight
"
a younger black cat, winning
whom we all expected great
things, was from second at Cincinnati to a cat from New Hamp-
a line of creams coming well down from a shire in better coat, and second in Chicago
fine cream brought from some Mediterranean in 1901 in large classes has since become a
port by one Captain Condon about fifteen gelding and pet of Mrs. J. J. Hooker, of Cin-
years ago. I have secured for friends several cinnati. He comes from a line of blacks
kittens from his cat's descendants, which are owned by a retired sea-captain named Ryan,
MAINE CATS. 331
who had one time four generations of black

at nearly so ;
his hair is very dark, rather brown-
cats. They loved their cats like babies, and ish at the tip, but as white as snow at the skin.
for years looked for people suitable to give I have begged them to show him at Boston
their kittens to. I have been the flattered or New York. The answer is always the
"
recipient three times in the last dozen years same Not for any amount of money or
:
' '
of these beautiful black diamonds. prizes. Tags wouldn't like it he would ;
"
Antonio," a gelding, now owned by Mrs. be unhappy. Wouldn't you, Tagsie ? "
' '
A. B. Thrasher, of Cincinnati, Ohio, is also a fine The smokes have not been well developed
representative of this stock. See photograph. there In a letter lately received in
yet.
In the last few years, since cats there are regard to that variety, I am told that one of
at such a premium and
old age getting nearer the regular agents said he found only about
every day, these good people have hardened one in 200. The silvers and chinchillas are
their hearts, and now sell like others to the not common. The strong colours predomi-
highest bidder. nate, whites, blacks, blues, orange, and creams,
"
I can also think of Peter the Great," a tabbies also being well divided and distributed
neuter cream and white, owned by Mrs. Carl along the coast, and for quite a distance back,
Schmidt, shown at Detroit, Michigan, 1901. perhaps sixty miles or more but I have not ;
"
Also "Black Patti originally owned by known of -their appearing to any extent in the
"
Miss Ives and Rufus," both Maine cats, northern portion of the State, which is less
now owned in Detroit, and winners in some of thickly settled.
the Middle West shows ;
and many, many Having had this fancy from my infancy
other winners whose place of nativity is a and before it became a fashion, I took kindly
sacred secret with their owners, which we will to all the new developments. I have since
not wilfully expose to public gaze until our had some experience with imported and kennel-
native cats have been accorded the place that bred cats, and from time to time had oppor-
isdue to them. tunities of seeing the best we have in our
I would like to tell you of some of the hand- shows, and I fully believe that cats that have
some geldings in Maine. No cat is too good their freedom, as most of the Maine cats have
for a pet with them. They may be seen on for the greater part of their lives, are healthier
nearly every lawn or stoop but as that is a
; than kennel cats can be. The cool climate and
out of the province of this story I will
little long winters, with clean air full of ozone, is
only describe one a beautiful smoke owned what needed to develop their best qualities,
is
by Dr. and Mrs. E. A. Wilson at their beau- and, with a few years of careful breeding for
tiful home in Belfast, Maine. He is now ten types, they would be able to compete quite
years old ;
his mask and feet are black, or successfully in an international cat show.
F. R. PIERCE.
(i
MRS. BAGSTER'S DEMIDOFF."
332
A SNAPSHOT.
CHAPTER XXIX.
CAT PHOTOGRAPHY FOR AMATEURS.
\ LL who are also amateur

lovers of the cat all the better. At all events use a lens which
_~A_ photographers must have seen with will give you good definition at a large aper-
envious admiration the lovely cat picture. A
good make of roller-blind shutter is
tures by Madame Ronner, the more racy and an important accessory, with a sufficient length
amusing sketches by Louis Wain, and the of tubing to the pneumatic release to enable
many beautiful photographs which so greatly one to move about freely while holding the
enhance the instructive and pictorial value of ball and to get close up to the cats while
"
this Book of the Cat." making either time or instantaneous exposures.
To the amateur wishing to take up this The camera stand should be very firm and rigid.
I like best to work in the open air, my
fascinating, though somewhat difficult, branch
of photographic art, I venture to offer a few studio being the small open run of my
cattery. If the light is too direct or strong
suggestions.
The subject naturally divides itself into two I diffuse it by stretching light blue art
distinct commercial and the

branches the muslin curtains above the table or stand
""
artistic.By commercial
the I mean all upon which the cats are arranged. These
photographs taken with the special aim of curtains run with rings upon cords stretched
showing the shape and points of the cat from from the boundary walls on each side, so that
the fancier's, owner's, or purchaser's point of they may be moved in any way the lighting
"
view. In the artistic," I include all those may require. For background a dark plush
pictures where the cat is used as a model only. curtain will be found useful. Avoid figured
In either kind of work almost any sort of backgrounds, as they detract from the value
camera and lens will do, providing it will and crispness of the cats and accessories. An
yield a fair definition and admit of
rapid example of what I mean will be seen in my
exposures. If one possesses a portrait lens picture on page 158 of the present work,
CAT PHOTOGRAPHY FOR AMATEURS. 333
where the feathers in the hat, one of the motives as much as possible and the latter displayed
of the composition, are almost lost in the to the best advantage. Let us take this some-
scrolls of the curtain used for background. what extreme example : A friend has a
Three things are absolutely necessary to domestic pet a so-called Persian, but with
successful photography of cats for either com- weasel head, long back legs and tail, large
mercial or artistic purposes time, patience, ears, small eyes, short coat, but some slight
and an unlimited number of good quick plates. pretence to a frill. What can we do ? To take
Of all animals the cat is possibly the most un- him in profile will result in a very sorry carica-
satisfactory sitter should we attempt by force
ture of the noble Persian ;
so we coax pussy
to secure the pose we desire. By coaxing we to bend her back by sitting on her hind legs,
can generally get what we wish. Patience is and so partly hiding them as well as apparently
the keynote of success. Before commencing, shortening her back, inducing her also to curl
make up your mind as to what points you her long and scanty tail round her feet. We
wish to show then pose your cat gently and
;
brush out the ear tufts, if she has any, and
wait patiently until the pose becomes easy. press up the fur at the base of the ears, for
She may jump down or take a wrong pose or this will tend to make them look smaller.
go to sleep a dozen times or more, but never Having placed the camera well in front of and
mind, give plenty of time. It is here where nearly on a level with the cat, so as to fore-
patience tells. Wait and coax until you see shorten the nose and head, while showing
just what you desire, then release the shutter what frill there is, a sharp squeaking sound will
and make the exposure. At this point never make pussy open her eyes to their full extent ;
hesitate or think twice especially with kittens we press the ball, the exposure is made, and
or the desired pose may be gone, and will we have secured a fairly presentable photo-
possibly cost you hours of waiting again to graph of our friend's perchance charming pet,
secure it. yet most indifferent Persian cat.
Before photographing a cat for its general Afew good examples of cats taken for the
appearance or for any special points, it is purpose of showing points should prove use-
essential to have thoroughly groomed and
it ful, especially to the novice, and many such
got up as carefully as for show. Speaking examples are to be found in this present work
"
generally, the coat of a long-haired cat should on the cat for instance p. 29, Litter of
:
never be roughened it altogether spoils the

;
Siamese Kittens"; p. 100, "Champion Jimmy";
shape of the animal, and does not in any way p. 138, "Star Duvals"; p. 139, "Omar";
improve the appearance of length, quality, or p. 145, "A Perfect Chinchilla"; and p. 150,
"
texture of the coat. In all cats where their Dossie." With these examples and the many
markings are one of their chief points such others that are to be found scattered through
"
as tabbies and tortoiseshells, etc. this rough- the pages of The Book of the Cat," the
ening should be specially avoided. There is, would-be photographer of the cat for her show
possibly, one exception to this advice, and points should have little difficulty in setting
that is in the case of smokes, where it may be, up a standard to work to, and by patience
and sometimes is, desirable to turn back a and perseverance succeed in attaining it.
small patch of the fur to show the quality Turning now to the more artistic side of
and purity of the silver under-coat. In such cat photography, we find our real difficulties
cases the turning back must be done begin, for in photographing for the showing of
only for
this purpose, and in such a natural
way as points we seldom have to deal with more than
not to interfere with the general flow of the one cat at a time. is when we attempt
It
fur or the shape of the cat. In posing a cat, to two or more cats or
deliberately pose
it is well to remember its faults as well as its kittens, to carry out a preconceived idea, that
good points, so that the former may be hidden our real troubles begin, and also that the
patient skill of the amateur wins its best and so hope to make a picture. Accident does
"
reward. Looking through the pages of The occasionally present us with something worth
Book of the Cat," we find many good examples having, but far more often it offers us results
of how the cat should be used in picture only fit for the waste-paper basket.
making. The reproductions Madame
of Before commencing, be sure you have an
Ronner's charming pictures show how they idea to work out in your picture, and of the
may be handled with palette and brush but, ;

lines you hope to follow in giving it expression.
alas here we photographers labour under an
! If possible, make a rough sketch no matter
immense disadvantage. However artistic our how rough of this idea, showing the position
taste, however good and pretty our intended not only of the cats, but also of the accessories
composition may we
cannot, as the artist
be, needed. Be careful to keep the composition
with pencils and brushes can, make individual simple and not to overcrowd it. This sketch
sketches of pussies in the different positions will greatly assist you in
arranging your pic-
needed and bring them together in the finished ture andposing your cats. Before you
picture. Whether we use two or more cats, attempt to pose the cats it is absolutely neces-
they must each be kind enough to take the sary that all accessories should be fixed so
pose we desire simultaneously ;
hence our that they cannot be knocked over, or the cats
AMATEUR PHOTOGRAPHERS.
greater difficulty. However, the illustrations will get frightened arid be useless as sitters for
on pages i, 128, 199, and many
37, 49, 88, a long time to come. That cats are nervous
others indicate the wide field open to the photo- should never be forgotten, and any chance
grapher with a little taste and vast patience. of startling them guarded against.
strictly
In this class of photography it is of no use to When your background, and accessories
table,
go to work in a haphazard fashion, snap- are all in their places, put your camera in
shotting our cats in all kinds of positions, trust- position, arrange the picture on the ground-
ing to mere luck to yield something worth glass, and see that you get all well within the
keeping then to give a sounding title to it,
; size of the plate i it is safer to have the picture
CAT PHOTOGRAPHY FOR AMATEURS. 335
on the ground-glass a little smaller than the The rough sketch of the cat in the basket
plate will allow, as, if one tries to get it to its was first prepared, and the brush attached to
utmost size, one may find in developing that it in such a manner that it would move freely
one of the models has moved back on the up and down for about an inch or so then ;
table an inch more, perhaps, than calculated it and the rest of the accessories were
firmly
upon, and as a result have half a cat on one arranged upon the table. The cat. in the
PLAYING AT \V OK K .
side instead of a The background,

whole one. basket was then made to take her place, but
however, should be large enough to fully cover keep in she would not ;
as soon as the brush
the ground-glass. Focus the foreground and moved paw, out she would
to attract the artist
nearer accessories, stop down to F. 8, set the jump ;
was allowed to run,
so for the time she
shutter to about ?V to vo second (accord- until the artist was posed and an endeavour
ing to light and nature of subject), insert the made to infuse life into him by moving the
"
slide containing the rapid plate, draw the brush. But it was "no go sit down he would, ;
flap under the dark cloth, and if at all windy until the introduction of a feather woke him
tie this last to the camera. Now you are ready up. His companion was then slipped into
for the cats and a suitable moment of light. the basket but, alas ;
success was not yet.
!
As have already remarked, I do my photo-

I For about two hours we had to begin over and
graphing out of doors. I therefore choose a over again, when at last the pose of both
bright warm day, when there are plenty of kittens was obtained simultaneously and the
fleecy clouds about ;
so that by taking advan- picture taken in ^V of a second. Such a sub-
tage of their position in front of the sun, and ject with the kitten tamely sitting at the
by the help afforded by my muslin curtains, handle of the brush would not in any way
I am able to modify the harsh contrasts have realised my intention.
incidental to working in broad daylight. I must again point out the great convenience,
The Artist " (page 128) was, perhaps, one
'
especially in this class of work, of the extra

most difficult subjects I have attempted.
of the length of tubing, which allows you, while hold-
Without apparent life and go such a subject ing the release in one hand, to pose your models
would be worthless. with the other, and then expose without the
fatal loss of time that would be entailed by of the red, yellow, and black seen in our
having to step back to the camera or by giving furry friends are well defined in the resulting
the word to an assistant. picture.
A
subject suggestive of a picture will often Cat? used as models should, if possible, be
turn up when least expected and, at the time, in the pink of condition the prettier the
impossible to take. I always make a note of model the more pleasant the picture. The
these, and they come as a basis for future use best time to photograph a cat is about one
" "
and worked out at leisure.
to be Thieves hour after a light meal. Immediately after a
(page 79) was suggested by noting the fond- meal most cats want to wash and sleep. A
"
ness of two of my kittens for melon, Amateur hungry cat or kitten makes the worst of sitters ;
"
Photographers by a group of kittens playing itsthoughts are too much turned towards the
round some photo frames put out to print, inner man. Never overtax your cats, give them
and " Mischief " (page 88) by a frolicsome plenty of rest during a sitting, and never lose
kitten overturning a small bottle of ink and your temper and attempt by force to secure a
playing with the little black pool. pose it only frightens the cats, and can never
;
Isochromatic plates should be used in all result in satisfactory work. Time and patience
cases where there are mixed colours in the should always in the end achieve what you
brown tabbies,
cats' furs, as in tortoiseshells, desire.
etc. mixtures of red, black, and yellow cannot
;
Artistic photography having been for some
be truly rendered with ordinary plates. The years a pleasant and recreative hobby with me,
only extra precaution necessary in their use is I can assure my friends who keep cats for
absolute freedom from actinic light in the dark pleasure, and those who find pleasure in the
room. Double ruby glass in the window, or, camera, that by uniting the two hobbies they
if artificial light is used, an extra thickness of will discover a field of enjoyment and artistic
red tissue paper round the developing lamp, possibilities which neither pursuit alone can
will answer the purpose and make everything afford. To all such the preceding notes are
safe. With this little extra care, nice crisp offered as humble finger-posts, indicating rather
negatives are obtained, while the relative value than assuring the road to success.
LUCY CLARKE.
IN THE STUDIO.
(.Photo : Mrs. S. F. Clarke.)
357
TABITHA S AFTERNOON TEA.

(Photo : C. Reid, Wishaw, N.B.)
CHAPTER XXX.
REARING OF KITTENS.
may truly be said that the subject most purrs with pride, here is the investment that
IT interesting to cat fanciers is the successful has to swell our credit column. And ignor-
rearing of kittens, and pages might be ance here spells loss.
written on what to do and what not to do in If a large number yearly are successfully
"
order to bring up a family of kits in health and raised, a still larger number sadly pass out,"
strength. Experience teaches us many tilings, and might claim the baby's plaintive epitaph :
and certainly during the number of years I " Since I am so quickly done for
have been breeding Persian kittens I have had
I wonder what I was begun for "
!
ample opportunity of judging what food suited

the little mites best, and which was the surest Neither does the comfortablelaw of the
" "
method of bringing up a wholesome litter of survival of the fittest seem to hold good
kittens. I am sure that in the olden days here. At least, Nature and the exhibitor arc
there was less delicacy amongst Persian kittens at variance in their ideas of such, for always
than at this present time. it is our choicest, our sure and certain cham-
"With the advent of the first family the pion, that slips our too eager grasp.
anxieties of the novice begin. Perhaps a Here is our experimental nest of champions ;
goodly sum has been risked in the purchase of they are but two days old, and in this early
a pedigree queen, or else with much careful- stage of their existence the less they are
ness and taking thought a valuable kitten has handled and examined and the mother inter-
been reared to happy matronhood. So far fered with, the better.
well ;
the trouble has been slight, but the Attend to two things darkness and fresh
account book shows all on the debit side. air ;
and leave them alone till they introduce
Now, as we gaze upon the tiny blind bobbing themselves of their own accord to your notice.
atoms, over which the mother croons and Shift on to a clean nest the second day after
22
338 THE BOOK OF THE CAT,
birth. It is safer not to do so before, as I their existence. I never used to allow my

have known a belated kitten arrive twenty- kittens meat until they were about four or
four hours after the rest of the family, and in five months
old, and during the period of
the case of an excitable or inexperienced weaning from their mothers it is most essential
mother she will by then be more composed, that all food given such as Mellin's, Ridge's
and can be coaxed out to feed while the and Benger's should be made very thinly at
change of bed is being made. Hay, short and first, so as not in to try the tender
any way
sweet, is the best bedding much better than digestions of the little creatures.
blankets or cushions. Many fanciers use boxes I believe that most of the ills that kittens'
turned on their sides and curtained. These, flesh is heir to, proceed from indigestion. The
while giving the necessary darkness, are not tendency in fanciers is to overload the stomach
sufficiently ventilated ; the air in them wee kittens, forgetting that it is not the
of the
cannot circulate freely, and becomes stuffy amount of food eaten that nourishes the tiny
and foul, vapours ascend, and the wood creatures, but the quantity they are able to
becomes unsanitary digest, and this must
in a very short time. necessarily be small
Bad eyes follow as for some weeks after
a matter of course, they have learnt to
and the anxious, feed themselves.
worried novice won- Another mistake
ders "how
they can that is made is
possibly have taken giving milk that is

cold when they have too rich. In large
"
been so guarded towns we generally
from fresh air !
get our milk watered
and seals them up for us, but in the
still more! If, A HAPPY MOTHER. country the milk is
therefore, a box is richer, and needs
used, let there be holes for ventilation, or mixing with warm water. It is not so im-
arrange for the covering to reach only partly portant in the country as in London and other
over the top. large towns to have the milk boiled, but
In an outside cattery or attic or room guard it is at all times and in all places a wise
against too much light and any draught, but precaution. In preference to risking the
let in the outside air by keeping the window town dairy milk, flavoured with boracic, and
open during the day. If winter kittens are most deadly to the systems of both kittens
to be reared, heat the room to an average and babies, I advise a good brand of Swiss
of 55 degrees, and have the window open, milk such as Nestle's being employed, or,
taking precautions naturally against rain better still, Plasmon powder, made to a jelly
or snow beating in. according to directions on packet, and one
Whenthe kittens reach the age of three teaspoonful of this jelly thinned out with hot
weeks, they will require some food beyond water and sweetened. Do not give raw meat
that provided by the mother, who, if nursing tillthe teeth are fairly through and they can
a large family, is perhaps showing signs of bite sharply then give it scraped with a blunt
;
wear. It is when the process of weaning knife, not cut ;

and remember that raw meat
begins that trouble generally arises. is three times as digestible and nourishing as
I am inclined to put down the growing cooked meat one tiny meal of meat a day, a
delicacy of Persian kittens to the injudicious teaspoonful per kitten to begin with. Do not
feeding with solids at too early a period of give them fish while under three months old.
REARING OF KITTENS. 339
Rice a very indigestible food for kittens,

is water added to a saucer of any liquid is very
especially cold but rice-water, strained from
; advisable, as it strengthens the limbs and
rice boiled to a pulp and given quite cold, is use- forms bone. If a kitten under a month or six
ful in checking diarrhoea. weeks old is unfortunate

Melox isa most useful food enough have a severe
to
for kittens of ten weeks illness, whether epidemic
old and upwards, soaked or accidental, my advice
for an hour or two in a is to chloroform it. At
little good gravy, and given so tender an age the con-
crumbly (not sloppy), and stitution rarely recovers
a little scraped raw meat from the strain.
mixed with it. For younger Although this article has
ones a tablespoonful of red no intention of encroach-
gravy from a cooked joint, ing upon that treating
poured some bread-
over specially of diseases, our
crumbs, proves an appetis- aim and object being to
ing meal. MRS. BONNY'S " DAME FORTUNE. rear such healthy sturdy
Small meals at short in- (Photo: L. R. Stickclls,Cmnbrook.)
families of kittens that
tervals are infinitely better they shall never have any
than heavy meals at long intervals, and if diseases, yet, en passant, it might not be
a young kitten is left for many hours till half amiss to remark what a valuable medicine for
famished, it will in all probability eat too the first symptoms of distemper is Pacita, a
much and suffer in consequence. From four herbal medicine that can be obtained in both
to ten weeks six or seven powder and pill form.
meals in the twenty-four The latter is to be pre-
hours are none too many. ferred, as, the smell being
I am presuming that till very nasty, kittens rebel
that age they will be with against it. Half of No. i
their mother at night, size pill is sufficient for a

which will do away with kitten under three months,
the necessity of providing to be given fasting in the
food between 9 p.m. (when morning an hour before
the last meal should be food for three mornings.
given) and 8 a.m. Give al- It reduces fever and clears
ways a light and warm meal the system in a wonderful
for the breakfast. After manner.
ten weeks lessen to five The question of outdoor
meals, after three months exercise must now be dis-
four,and give four till six cussed. 1 speak of summer
months old, when they may kittens only. Winter kit-
be fed as adults, unless one tens viz. those born from
M R S. BO NNY S '
DKREB1 K
should be delicate or has (I'lioto : L.R. Slickells, Cranbrook.)
November to February-
been through severe illness. are, I think, a mistake. Out
The best test of a properly thriving kitten of season, like forced green peas at Christmas,
is its weight, and i Ib. for each month of they have not a good start in life the damp ;
age is a fair average,

occasionally exceeded and darkness of those months very deterrent
is
by very big-boned and robust kittens. For upon young life. Nature's plan of arranging
young growing kittens a teaspoonful of lime- for the new lives to come chiefly in the spring
when days are lengthening and sunshine lias for ;

it may even be necessary to put them
power, is the They grow with the
wisest. in all four corners for a little while to convince
days, and have the summer to romp through some obstinate or dullard member of the
and grow big and strong before the leaves fall. family.
It is a mistaken policy that of exposing to A cat's confidence is harder to win than a
risks under the intention of hardening. We dog's, but once you have gained it the animal
must remember that the Persian cat is an will trust you implicitly, and will bear pain or
exotic, and that the present system of breeding nasty dosing at your hands without resentment.
for coat and show points does not tend to I think kittens should be handled from
early
make the race hardier on the days. I do not advocate a valuable kitten
; contrary,
probably the constitution is more delicate than being sent up to a humar nursery, to be
in its native country, imported cats invariably hugged flat or carried head downwards by the
boasting a vigour and hardihood that our too-adoring occupants ;
but kittens should be
pedigree specimens sadly lack. It is not cold thoroughly accustomed to human society and
that injures frost and snow can be borne by
;
to being picked up, caressed, and handled.
grown-up Persians with impunity, and even It will make show career tar
their subsequent
enjoyment. It is the damp that kills, and less and greatly augment their
of a terror,
upon consideration we shall see that this is chances of success and in the case of all
;
largely a question of coat. male cats, whether for stud or neuter, it is very
Look at your English sleekly groomed puss convenient to train them to walk on a lead.
as she comes leaping across some dewy field in Begin by using a light ribbon, and two kittens
the early morning, pressing through a thick, led together on separate leads will come more
wet hedge. She gives herself a shake examine ; willingly than one. The first lessons in walks
her fur not a dewdrop has adhered, hardly
:
might terminate at the feeding dish, so that
are her pads damp. Now pick up your the kits would quickly associate this new
Persian gentleman who has taken a slight form of exercise with something to eat.
hunting stroll through the same ground his : It sometimes happens that young kittens
stomach fur is soaked, clinging like wet linen are too early bereft of maternal care from some
" "
to him ;
his knickerbockers are disreput- cause or other. Mr. A. Ward, of Manchester,
able, his frill
clammy and it will take him
; has invented an artificial foster-mother (see
a good hour to get himself clean and respect- page 343). This consists of a glass vessel
able once more. The soft woolly under-coat covered with flannel, and having indiarubber
of the Persian holds water like a sponge, where teats. This is filled with warm milk and
the close short coat of the British cat shakes water, and the kittens help themselves !
it off as from duck's feathers. This is the true It is only of comparatively recent date
secret of the delicacy of the Persian. So in that any serious attention has been given to
rearing kittens, let your first care be, avoid the successful breeding of Persian kittens.
damp. A demand has arisen for animals that
A
sick kitten generally forgets its manners, approach perfection, according to a recognised
however carefully it has been trained to the standard of points, and it may not be un-
use of the dry earth or sawdust box it seems ; profitable to devote a few pages to the con-
to feel too bad to care how it behaves, so due sideration of how these can be best obtained.
allowance must be made at the time but in ; Formerly a long-haired cat was not much
health, cleanly behaviour must be insisted upon thought of unless he really deserved his name,
from the time they begin to trot about their but nowadays coat is rather at a discount on
nursery. Begin by placing a very shallow the show bench.
tray of nice dry fine earth in one or two corners Points, points, points colour of eyes, colour
that the kittens seem to have a predilection of coat, shape, expression, and what not
these are all considered first, and length and trophies, and have to be won four times before
beauty of coat are rather apt to be overlooked. becoming the property of the exhibitor.
"
The amateur cat lover should provide him- Over against the mistaken motto of Hap-
"
self with a female cat or kitten of fine health hazard we must place the password of
and luxuriant and treat it precisely like
coat, "Selection" if we would become successful
" " Selection
any other well done by domestic pussy. breeders. clever, thoughtful, pains-
Probably by the time she is twelve months taking selection lies beneath all real success.
old she will have insisted on matrimony. This I am
not denying that excellent results are
is worth a little consideration and trouble, obtained occasionally by accident, but these
but if the choice lies be- happy flukes want follow-
tween a healthy, hardy longing up if any permanent

haired torn at large in your good is to be effected.
own neighbourhood Having a queen
and a pedigreed of a given colour,
A LITTER OF EIGHT, BELONGING TO MISS SAVEKY.

d'hoto: H. Warschawski, St. Leonanls-on-Sea.)
prisoner at a distance, I should recommend you should, as a rule, mate her only with a cat
the local monsieur. of the same colouring, and be especially careful
What you want is
physique and a fine not to cross self-colours with tabbies.
appearance, and you are more likely to get Now selection, as too often understood,
them in this way. means just this : A
male cat makes a great
Many owners of Persians have been quite sensation at a show and wins many prizes.
content to rear saleable kittens of average He is the right colour, therefore to him you
merit, and trust for their show reputation to will send your queen. What can be simpler ?
fine animals bought from others. Why this fuss about the difficulty of breeding ?
To encourage breeders special prizes are But' you are a novice, and know nothing of
offered shows to those who win a first
at the value of the pedigree owned by the winning
prize with a cat whose mother was in the monsieur. It is not so much he himself as
exhibitor's possession at the time of the his inherited tendencies you have to consider,
kitten's birth. They are very handsome for assuredly they will reappear in his children.
22*
34-2 THE BOOK OF THE CAT.
"
An old hand Yes, a grand head,
will tell you, has colour or markings to perfection, whilst
but where he got it from is a miracle, with the head is poor. Well, then, they must be
such parents "; or, "Colour? Yes, first-rate, mated with an eye to remedying these defects,
but he was the only one clear from sandy and a near relative possessing these strong
in the litter." Well, what can a bewildered points will be likely to prove the most success-
novice do ? Remember, you have to try to ful cross ;
for in-breeding careful, cautious,
cap each your queen's defects with a cor-
of and judicious is another secret of the success-
responding virtue in her mate. If she is ful breeder. But cne word of caution to the
snipey in face, make head a chief point if she ; novice Never be persuaded to breed from
:
fails in colour, lay great stress on colour ; an unhealthy animal, be his or her points what
and so on. My advice is, do not send her to they may, and never allow your queens to
a new star who has but just arisen in the sky mate when thoroughly debilitated and out of
of the cat world until you know a little more health for this lies at the bottom of the diffi-
;
about your business. Mark your catalogue culty experienced in carrying out the next
at shows. Study the cats and kittens whose point we have to consider i.e. the successful
points please you and who are filling the prize rearing of kittens. If cat fanciers could learn
lists, and then notice their sire's name. When this lesson, we should hear far less of infant
you find the same name repeated again and mortality.
again, and always attached to animals of con- For the ordinary mode of kitten rearing it
sistent merit, you will not do far wrong to is essential to have
proper out-door quarters,
choose the owner for your queen's mate. and, if possible, quarters isolated from each
But after having exercised all possible care other. There is nothing more suitable than
in the selection of a male cat, we must not the portable houses so readily obtained ;
but
expect the litter of kittens to be perfection. these must be on a dry foundation.
All breeders know that there is, as a rule, one Sunshine, fresh air, and wholesome food
kitten in each litter which far surpasses its are the essentials of a kitten nursery. More-
fellows in beauty. over, there must never be many young things
Perhaps one will possess the type of head kept together. Otherwise, some imlucky day
you so covet, but you will find a sad-faced kitten looking down
the colour is in- its nose,and in two or three days more your
ferior. Another whole tribe will be down with distemper and
your hopes for the year shattered.
I know it sounds brutal, but I cannot re-
frain from saying that sentiment is
the ruin of successful kitten rearing.
Some tiny morsel develops a skin
trouble, has chronic diarrhrea, bad
eyes or snuffles, and we tenderly nurse
it for many weary weeks and perhaps
save it.
A victory ? Yes, if the morsel

were a gem of great value, one of
" "
the surprise babies in colour or
shape that now and again visit every

cattery, it may have been worth pay-
ing the cost. For pay we shall have
" " "
STAR OF THE SPHERES AXD SON OF ROY.
to, make no doubt of that. Your
BRED BY Miss E. A. CHAMBERLAYNE.
(Photo : Russell & Sons, Baker Street.)
kitten nursery will never be quite so
healthy again, and in spite of all

precautions Far more of the trouble with kittens comes
you will very probably carry sickness to your from defective digestion than from any other
other stock. I would never breed from un- cause, and I suspect we frequently overload
healthy animals, and I would at once destroy their little inte-
a very sick kitten of tender age. riors. When
Lethal boxes rob the act of inhumanity, nature makes
and you will probably have one little tomb- the small cat
stone to erect instead of a dozen ! turn away from
One great feature of success is the boarding- its dinner, we
out system. Any woman really fond of cats fall into a panic
who will take a kitten into the bosom of her and pour~beef
"
family and rear it is a perfect boon. Of course, essence down THE FOSTER-MOTHER.
(Photo H.
she must be well paid, but if she is successful
: Glacier, Longsight.)
its throat. Pro-
you can afford to be liberal. bably a short fast was all that was required,
In these cases it better only to put out
is and it is a mistake to force food until
your choice specimens that you wish to attain some hours have elapsed. In fact, healthy
some age before sale or to keep for stock. The surroundings and common -sense treatment
others should be sold off at about eight to ten are the main secrets of successful kitten
weeks old at moderate prices. rearing.
THK "
FOSTER-MOTHER IN ACTION.
(Photo : H Glacier, Longsight.)
344
(Photo: E. Lanitor, Baling.)
CHAPTER XXXI.
COLOUR BREEDING.
/^>OLOUR breeding is a most fascinating that good white cats have not been bred from
V_^ pursuit ; but, unfortunately, the average coloured parents, but this is unnecessary and
cat fancier lacks the -patience to follow undesirable, because there is a risk of intro-
it out to a satisfactory conclusion. ducing coloured patches and smudges and
is no correspond-
There is no doubt that by judicious cross- yellow or green eyes, and there
breeding new colours could be produced, and ing advantage to be gained. In the same way
I think that they will be produced in time. I do not consider that it is a good thing to
I have seen a chocolate-brown cat and a yellow breed from white cats with yellow or odd eyes.
cat with black stripes, and no doubt they will Blue-eyed kittens have been bred from two
yellow-eyed parents, and frequently when
appear again ;
also chestnut-brown cats and one
white cats striped with black may be bred. parent has yellow or odd eyes the kittens are
The point which I wish to discuss on this all blue-eyed, but this can in no way be
occasion is not so much the experimental cross depended upon.

as the cross which is desirable to improve Black cats are a little more difficult to
existing colours. I do not consider that a handle than whites, because a white is neces-
sarily white, while there is sometimes a
white cat should be crossed with any other diver-
colour. There is no advantage to be gained sity of opinion where a black is concerned.
in this case by crossing, as we already have The most important point to keep before us
white cats good in bone, substance, head, in black-breeding is the colour of eyes.
shape, etc., and no other colour of cat possesses Whatever we cross with we must be careful
blue eyes. I do not for a moment suggest that we do not lose the orange eyes, for they
COLOUR BREEDING. 34!
are most elusive, and we are, theretore, some- colour do not approve, because we have
I
what limited in our selection of suitable crosses. many different blue strains, among which can
A smoky or dirty black an abomination,
is be found all the different points which are
and for this reason I consider that from the desired. Comparisons are odious, but it I
point of view of the black cat all crosses with refer to the Bath show of 1903 I can explain
" "
blues, smokes, or silvers should be avoided ;
what I mean. Skellingthorpe Patrick is
in any case a good silver would be impossible a beautiful cat in all points except eyes,
because of its
green eyes. A rusty black is but
"
Don Carlos " and several other blue
undesirable, but a rusty kitten usually makes males in the class had glorious orange eyes.
a better-coloured cat than a smoky one, though I have often heard that crossing a blue with
there are notable exceptions to this rule. A a white will produce very pale blue kit-
good orange-eyed tortoiseshell or red tabby, or tens have not found this to be so, and
;
I
an orange, are all suitable mates for a black. it seems unlikely, for mate a black cat with
A curious thing I have noticed is that the best a white one as often as you like, and you may
blacks are bred from bright clear-coloured wait a lifetime before they breed a blue kitten ;
cats, and that dull colours, such as smokes, therefore why should a dark blue and a white
blues,and fawns, do not, as a rule, produce produce a pale blue kitten ? Sometimes cross-
"
good coloured
- kittens. For this reason I ing with a black is recommended to get the
"
PATRICIA," HROWN TABBY.
BRED ny Miss FANNY EI.I.IS, TORONTO.
should prefer blacks bred from an orange-eyed orange eyes," but it must be remarked that
silver tabby to those bred from a dark brown the proportion of black cats with good orange
tabby. On the whole, a brightly coloured eyes is quite as low as that of blues. When
tortoiseshell will be found to throw the best this cross is resorted to, let the black parent
blacks. be the male, as otherwise the kittens may very
Of the crossing of blues with any other likely all be black.
It is the misfortune of the smoke cat that cross with whatever is least
likely to introduce
it has been indiscriminately and unintelligently stripes a self-coloured
i.e. cat, or preferably a
crossed with the black and the silver tabby, shaded one. Of course, any tinge of red or
and, worst of all, with the blue. Strangely brown is to be avoided, and, therefore, the only
shaded cat left to us is the smoke, and a green-
enough, there seems to be some close affinity
between the smoke and the silver tabby, eyed smoke is certainly the safest cross we can
and should be our object, as far as possible,

it get, as it is sufficiently akin to the chinchilla
to keep them apart. To this connection is to obviate the risk of a violent out-cross. The
attributable the prevalence of green eyes and black think, the next best cross, for it is
is, I
leg and face markings among smoke cats.

In just possible that the colours may not inter-
crossing smokes there are many difficulties to ferewith one another, and that we shall get
contend with. We
must keep the light under- pure black and clear silver kittens of course,
coat, but avoid markings ;
we must have the a green-eyed black must be used. Third on
black face and legs the list comes the
and retain the light white ; but this
frill ;
and we must cross makes for ab-
have orange eyes. sence of markings,
All crosses with tabby and therefore de-
must be avoided, or mands great caution,
we shall never get rid as thereby the black
of face pencillings ; noses and e y e 1 i d s
but judicious crosses which add so much
of black, blue, or to the charm of a
(best of all) chinchilla chinchilla may be
may be of service. lost and the result be
A black cross is merely a dingy, dirty
better than blue be- MISS GODDARI) S PAIR OF KITTKXS white cat. This ani-
cause, though either (rhoto : E. Ltitutor, Ealinx.) mal, though not par-
endangers the under- ticularly attractive
coat, it will intensify the black mask and legs. in itself, is, I need hardly say, invaluable
The one advantage of a blue cross is that it for crossing again either with a clear-coloured
will,sooner than any other, help to eliminate chinchilla, a black, or
even a blue.
markings but the blue kittens from such a
; A blue cross is, as a rule, rather objection-
cross must be sternly
rejected, as their colour able, because seems to produce a muddy,
it
will never be satisfactory. The chinchilla is dull colour, but there is no doubt that it
the best cross for the smoke so far as colour may occasionally be resorted to with success.
is concerned, and an orange-eyed chinchilla I should suggest that the blue parent (a green-
should be of service for breeding smokes with eyed one, of course) should be the sire, as
light frills and good under-coats. A cross of when the reverse is the case the kittens are
chinchilla may with advantage follow a black frequently blue tabby.
cross. I do not think any colours besides those I
We now get to the subject of chinchilla have mentioned should be crossed with chin-
breeding it is ; a matter of common know- chillas, though I must confess that chinchilla
ledge that chinchillas were produced as the kittens occasionally turn up most unexpectedly.
result of careful in-breeding, and, therefore, I recollect a very pale one appearing in a litter
until the breed is more firmly
established, any whose sire was a cream of brown tabby and
sudden outcross is likely to cause a reversion cream parentage, and whose dam was a pale
to the barred ancestors. The idea, then, is to blue bred from a blue and a blue tabby. There
COLOUR BREEDING. 347
may have been silver tabby blood in the understood, Ihave no fault to find I can ;
strain, but certainly no chinchilla. For all forgive him even his white chin, because he is
this I do not recommend a cream or tortoise- such a magnificent animal but he is not a
;
shell cross, as the chances are all against the tabby, and should not be shown as such.
kittens being any good, and it is laying up a In the brown tabby we want dense black
store of disappointments in the next genera- markings on a clear golden-brown ground.
tion. We have all possessed cats which, The black is there right enough, but it wants
though beautiful in themselves, never threw breaking up." A cross of strongly marked
a kitten worth keeping. red tabb}' is the thing ;
I had a little cat

my- not a " self - orange,"
self bred from two chin- mind you that would
chillaparents. The only make things
dam was a well-known worse but the best-
winner, and her ances- coloured red, with a
try was, I knew, irre- dark chin, that can be
proachable, and the found. When the
sire'sappeared to be markings want intensi-
equally so, though I

fying, as may be the
was told afterwards case after the red cross,
that he often sired we must mate with a
brown tabby kittens. black but I do not
;
But my queen (herself think this will be neces-

a prize-winner), no sary, as brown tabbies
matter how she was rarely "wash out " as
mated, invariably silvers do. It is curi-
threw brown tabby ous to note that many
kittens. years ago I bred quan-
We now come to the tities of
beautifully
very fascinating subj ect marked silver tabbies
of tabbies, and I may and brown tabbies from
as well say at once that a brown tabby sire and
any amount of crossing a sandy, silver tabby
is for the present de-
1
LOLLYPOP ONE OK LADY MARCUS BERESFORD S dam, both of unknown

sirable and even neces- SILVERS. The silvers
pedigree.
(Photo: IL. Lamior, Euling.)
sary, but must be
it were clear and pure in
done systematically and under a careful and colour, with capital black markings, and the
experienced eye. The novice* is likely to fail browns had good rich colouring. This is a
because he does not understand the essential cross I should certainly hesitate to recom-
points of a tabby. Let him keep before his mend, but there are possibilities concealed
mind the fact that if two distinct black stripes therein, and it is worth an occasional experi-
run the whole length of the spine and if the ment with the sole object of rescuing the
chest markings are good there is not likely to degenerate tabby markings.
be much wrong with his cat's other markings. It is a curious fact that while the tabby is
In the brown tabby, the markings have supposed to be the common ancestor of all
become too heavy, they have run together and our cats, the tabby markings should be the
spread into a heavy black saddle while the ; most difficult point to retain in the pedigree
ground colour has lost warmth and white chins cat.
are prevalent. With the " sable " cat, be it A brown tabby cat with a good-coloured
chin should always be retained to breed from, chillas (" Tuan," I may mention, was a distant
" " "
even if it fails in some other points. cousin of Fairy ") ; by Silver Lustre
It is, I know, the general opinion that the there were two chinchillas and two silver
craze for chinchillas has ruined the silver tabby, tabbies. I then parted with her, and she
"
but I do not feel convinced that this is so. I afterwards had, by Silver Chieftain," a litter
am of the opinion that the constant breeding of silver tabbies and chinchillas, including
" " "
of silver tabby to silver tabby will eventually Silver Tangle and Silver Sprite." After
result in the production of poorly marked cats. that date I have no record of her doings, but
" "
Let me give an example Felix Mottisford
: it can be seen that she
certainly showed an
"
was a very heavily barred son of Champion inclination on her own account towards chin-
" " chilla kittens, and this, I take it, was the result
Felix," and Patz was also heavily barred
and bred from silver tabbies. Two of their of the continued mating together of silver
" " "
kittens were Silver Midget and My tabby cats. I do not consider any other cross
" " than black is admissible in a silver tabby strain,
Fairy." Midget was a prettily marked
silver tabby, but much lighter than her but the introduction of black blood is neces-
parents, and showed a strong tendency to sary from time to time if markings are to be
" "
throw unmarked kittens. Fairy was cer- retained. I go so far as to say that a cross of
tainly a silver tabby, but her markings were green-eyed black in every third generation
entirely on the surface, and as she grew older would be a wise precaution.
faded away until she was more shaded than The red tabby, the orange, and the tortoise-
barred. Mated with a blue, she produced four shell are rather hopelesslymixed up at present.
"
chinchilla kittens ; mated with Lord South- The self-orange (so called) did not exist a few-
ampton," there were two well-marked silver years ago, but of late a premium has been put
tabbies and two chinchillas (this litter included on absence of marking, and a lot of cats with
" " "
Dimity and Abbess of Broomholme ") ;
self-coloured or shaded bodies and striped faces
"
mated with Silver Lambkin," there was one appear in the orange classes and win all the
"
chinchilla kitten Fitz Eustace" and the prizes. I have no fault to find with the shade
"
rest were silver tabbies ;by Tuan," a much of colour of these cats they are a beautiful
;
more marked cat, the kittens were all chin- bright clear orange, but if they are to be self-
coloured the face markings
must go. Crossing with blue
gets over this difficulty, but
we- immediately lose bright-
ness of colour and get dull
yellows and fawns. Tortoise-
shell is a safe cross, but the
ancestry of the tortoiseshell

must be carefully inquired
into, and one bred from black
and tortoiseshell is best, or
we can go direct to the black.
Tabby cats or any of a blue-
or grey colour should be-
avoided in this connection.
Clear, pale yellow creams
may be bred from oranges and
tortoiseshells but these must
;
THKEE LITTLE AMERICANS. not be confounded with the

COLOUR BREEDING. 349
fawn-coloured cats, often called creams, which a preponderance of yellow. The obvious
aremore common and easy to breed. Though remedy is our old friend the black. All the
creams and fawns occasionally appear in the best tortoiseshells are bred from blacks, and
same litter this is generally a black and a red tabby or
the fault of their ancestors, orange will generally throw
and can be accounted for if some good tortoiseshells. To
the pedigree is known on both produce tortoiseshell-and-
sides. As a matter of fact, whites cross a tortoiseshell
I have never seen one of with a black-and-white rather
these clear yellow creams than with a white, but avoid
which was not descended, red tabby, as a tortoiseshell-
however remotely, from and - white cat frequently
Mrs. Kinchant's strain. Ex- shows tabby markings for
amples of the colour I mean this breeding.
are "Cupid" Bassanio," The red tabby has nearly
"Zoroaster," Dairy Maid," died out among long-haired
"
Mistletoe," and a few of cats, though it flourishes in
their descendants. the short-haired variety, but
To breed fawn creams is, by crossing a brown tabby
comparatively, a simple mat- with an orange might be
it
ter, as a cross of blue and revived. No

doubt there
orange will almost invari- " would be a few mis-marked
HOLMLEA THISTLEDOWN.
ably produce some fawn OWNED BY MRS. KEEP, SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES kittens in the litter, but the
kittens, especially if the dam chances would be in favour
is blue. When the dam is orange or tortoise- of a good red tabby, and the colour could
shell there will often be a number of blue then be preserved by crossing with black
tortoiseshell kittens which are valueless. and tortoiseshell only.
Some people like them to breed fawn creams Of course, it is no use trying experiments in
from, but I have never found them more use- cross-breeding in the hope of obtaining definite
ful for this purpose than a
correctly coloured results unless we are satisfied as to the pedi-
tortoiseshell.
gree of the cats employed for at least two
Tortoiseshells are entirely neglected by generations, or all our calculations may be
fanciers nowadays, and are
only used as a upset. For example, when breeding for
stepping-stone to more fashionable colours. chinchillas, if we used a black bred from
There is no doubt that a tortoiseshell can be a brown tabby mother the results would be
got to breed anything I
! knew a queen which disastrous.
bred magnificent blacks, blues, creams, oranges, A point to be carefully noted in cross-
fawns, and smokes, whether mated to a blue, breeding is to select a cat with eyes of a colour
a cream, or a smoke, and I believe she also desired in the breed which he is destined to
threw chinchilla kittens to a chinchilla sire. improve, whether those eyes would be correct
To breed tortoiseshells for the show pen we in his own family or not. This suggests a use
must not indulge in any haphazard matings. for our rejected green-eyed blues and blaeks
The fault of the tortoiseshells is, as a rule, that and our orange-eyed silvers.
the red and yellow has run all over the black, My notes, as may be observed, are on the
and instead of having a clear patchwork of red, subject of long-haired cats, but they will be
yellow, and black, we have a blur containing found equally applicable to short-hairs.
HESTER COCHRAN.
33
CHAPTER XXXII.
THE CAT'S PLACE IN NATURE : ITS ANCESTRY, CLASSIFICATION, STRUCTURE,
AND DISTRIBUTION.
T a very remote period in the history Creswell bone caves, and other places. The
of animal life when the struggle for exist- skull,which is very typical and cat-like in
ence was pre-
rife, the carnivorous and form, is remarkable for the extraordinary
daceous animals (to which the existing cat development of the upper canine teeth, which
belongs) occupied a position in the scale of
in some species exceed seven inches in length.
creation as important as the one they hold to- The Machoerodus was about the size of a lion.
day. We find locked up in the rocks of the The ancestors of our cat were certainly more
tertiary and recent pleistocene formations the specialised in parts of their organisation. The
bones and teeth of these ancient cats along nearer we approach the recent forms a greater
with those of the animals upon which they uniformity in structure prevails, until we get
lived. in the existing cat-like group (Felis) probably
These ancestors of our cat had a tolerably wide the most consolidated and uniform of all the
geographical distribution, and they apparently generic mammalia.

differed considerably in size, as do the different
members of the cat family. The
FAMILY CHARACTERISTICS.
existing
crested cat (F. crestata) was probably as large Under the generic title of Felis are in-
as a tiger more re- cluded over fifty-one distinct species, of

cent remains having which the lion, tiger, leopard, puma, and our
a closer affinity to common domesticated cat may be taken as
existing cats are representative. They inhabit every region on
found plentifully in the earth's surface, except the extreme northern
caves and in the latitudes, and vary in size from the tiger and
deeper beds of lion to the little red-spotted cat of India, which
rivers and lakes does not exceed fifteen or sixteen inches in
almost all over the length. But it is, as already indicated, very
British Islands. uniform in order as regards structural points.
Probably the most All have well-developed, retractile claws, the
remarkable of these only exception being the cheetah, whose claws
B extinct cat-like are only partially retractile all have five ;
creatures is the toes on the fore feet, and four on the hind
Machcerodus, the feet ;
all the teeth are cusped, or pointed, and
skulls of which specialised for flesh-eating, as well as for ag-
FIG. I. BKAIN OF CAT. (Fig. ii.), with por- gressive purposes. The incisors in front of the
A, Right hemisphere of cerebrum ;
tions of its skeleton, upper and lower jaws are small, the four
B, Cerebellum Medulla; c, associated with the canines well grown and long, with a cutting
oblongata D, Olfactory bulb
edge on the inner side the molars, or cheek
;
K, Convolu-
bones of other ani-
(nerve of smell)
;
;
tion, or Gyrus ; F, Fissure. mals, have been teeth, have one to five cusps, points, or lobes.
found in the cave All the members
of the family are digiti-
deposits in Brazil, North and South America, grade (i.e. use only the extremity of the toes
India, Persia, many parts of Europe, as well as in walking) the tympanic bulla, or ear-bone,
;
in the British Islands viz. Kent's Cavern, is large and prominent ;

the general form of
THE CAT'S PLACE IN NATURE.
the skull is rounded and broad across the The bony framework or skeleton is light,
orbits, or eye-sockets (the latter are, with two and, for the purpose of an elementary descrip-
exceptions, open or incomplete behind) the ; tion, is readily divisible into three parts
clavicle, or collar-bone, is reduced to a short, viz. (i) the skull (2) the axial skeleton, com-
;
curved, splint-like bone ;

in many species it prising the bones of the neck, thorax, loins,
is absent. and tail (3) the appendicular skeleton or
;
The stomach always simple, intestines

is limbs. The
skull is short, rounded, and broad
relatively short, tongue covered with minute across the orbits or eye-sockets, which are
spines. In many species the pupil of the eye large in proportion to the skull. The pos-
contracts in one direction only, thus giving it terior rim-of the orbit is, with three exceptions,
a linear and upright form. The majority of out of the fifty-one species viz. the fishing-
the species are nocturnal the habits of the
;
cat (F. voverrina), the rusty spotted cat (F .
genus are very diverse. The lion apparently rubiginosa), and the flat-headed cat (F.
prefers the drier, sandy areas covered with planiceps) incomplete or open. The teeth
short, scrubby vegetation ;

others prefer the of the fully adult cat should be thirty in
dense forests, and live much in the trees. number sixteen in the upper jaw and four-
Many species are found at considerable alti- teen in the lower. They are, divided by the
tudes, the snow leopard being found at 18,000 comparative anatomist into three
or sets
feet. All the members of the group can swim, groups viz. incisors, canines, premolars, and
and several species (i.e. the fishing cat of molars their number and position being con-
India and Southern China) are adepts at catch- cisely expressed by a dental formula thus :
ing fish, but immersion is invariably avoided. I 'i C. 1, PM. f, M. T. The six incisors in
The colours of the different members of the the upper and lower jaw are small, simple-
genus Felis vary considerably. It may be a pointed teeth, with a simple fang or root.
uniform, tawny, pale brown, or a grey as in Then we have a long canine or flesh tooth C C '.
the lion, puma, eyra. tiger The

striped is the most important functional tooth the cat
transversely the ocelot has bands or rows of
;
more or less fused spots the serval and several

;
other species have solid black spots the ;
leopard, clusters of spots, forming a kind of

star;
the jaguar has the spots arranged in an
open ring. In the clouded leopard of Southern
India the markings are composed of irregular
groups of lines and spots, merging into the
ground colour of the animal's coat. A black
variety of the common leopard is
occasionally
found in a wild state. Albinos, or white forms,
are extremely rare in nature, though quite
common in the domesticated cat.
GENERAL STRUCTURE OF THE CAT.

The natural food of all the cat tribe in a
state of nature carnivorous, and the whole
is
FIG. II. SKULL OF THE GREAT SABRE-TOOTHED CAT.
organisation of the group is specialised and FROM THE CAVES OF BRAZIL. (Macliarodtts Neogoeus.)
adapted for aggressive or, if need be, defensive

purposes. The body is compressed laterally, has, for with it and its fellow the living,
and has a considerable amount of
flexibility struggling prey is seized, retained, and killed,
in it as a whole. I n the upper
jaw, immediately after the
canine, are three premolars PM. These are The Axial Skeleton (see p. ^354) consists of
the second or permanent series, and succeed the bones forming the neck, thorax, loins, and
the kitten's milk-teeth. The first one is very tail. The neck is relatively short, and con-
small, and has only a single cusp the second ;
sists of seven bones number almost con-
a
,
is .larger, and has two usps the third is the
;
stant throughout animal
the kingdom, the
"
largest, and is sometimes called the sec- giraffe, the hippopotamus, and the whale
"
torial tooth. It has three pointed cusps and having the same number. Succeeding these
three fangs, or roots. Immediately behind it, are the dorsal, or thoracic, vertebrae (thirteen
and placed somewhat transversely, is the innumber), each one supporting two ribs one
single true molar. It is a small tooth, of on each side. Then follow the seven vertebras
B.
IT.
FIG. III. SUPERFICIAL FLEXOR FIG. IV. BONES AND PRINCIPAL LIGA-
TENDONS OF THE CAT'S MENTS OF A CAT'S TOE, SHOWING FIG. V. PADS OF CAT S
LEFT FORE-FOOT MECHANISM OF RETRACTILE CLAW. LEFT FORE-FOOT.

A, Perforatus, or flexor sub- A, or terminal phalanx; B, Middle;
Distal A, Plantar pad ; B, Digital pad ;
digitorum ; B,Perforans, or c, Proximal D, Perforatus tendon

; E, Per-
; c, Pisiform pad.
flexor profitndus digitorutn. forans tendon F, Elastic ligament.
;
obtuse form, and indefinitely cusped it has ; composing the lumbar region. They are stout,
no predecessor in the kitten's milk set. thick bones, with long, transverse processes
In the lower jaw, immediately after the for the attachment of certain muscles sup-
canine tooth, there are only two premolars porting the body cavity, etc. No ribs are
(PM. PM'.) in the permanent set which have attached to these bones. Immediately behind
predecessors, the last tooth (M.) being the only are three smaller bones forming the sacrum, to
true molar, and having no predecessor in the which the pelvis, or hip-bones, are articulated.
milk set. Occasionally, in the lower
jaw there The terminal bones of the axial skeleton are
is a small premolar
corresponding to the first the tail, or caudal, and vary from nineteen to
premolar of the upper jaw. In the kitten twenty-one.
from about six or seven weeks to about five The Ribs (thirteen on each side) are ex-
months old, there are only twenty-six teeth, tremely light, elastic, and slender. Nine of
the number and form being very similar to these on each side join the sternum or breast-
the adult set. The two permanent molars in bone directly, and are called true ribs the re- ;
the upper and lower jaw are absent. mainder are free, and terminate in cartilaginous
THE CAT'S PLACE AY MATURE. 353
points, which are adherent to the true rib seizing its prey,
terminations, for support. the greater power

The Sternum, or breast-bone, consists of of the flexor ten-
eight bones, from each joint of which springs dons stretches

a rib-like costal cartilage, to which the true the weaker elas-
ribs are articulated. The cat's collar-bone or tic ligament, the
clavicle is very short and rudimentary it has ;
claw is
brought
a slight attachment to the acromion process of down, and so a
the scapula, the other end terminating in the powerful grip is
muscles of the chest. It is often absent. obtained. The

The Appcndicular Skeleton includes the fore under-surface of
and hind limbs. The fore limb in the cat, as the cat's fore and
in the majority of mammals (see plate, hind feet is pro-
FIG. VI. CATS SKULL'
.
P- 355 )> i s a subtriangular bone, flat with tected by certain VIEW FROM ABOVE.
a ridge on the outer side for the attach- hardened pads of
ment of certain muscles moving the leg. subcutaneous and fibrous tissue viz. the
In a small hollow on the posterior plantar pad, giving chief support to the leg,
or lower border is articu- and the digital pads pro-
lated head of the
the tecting the claws, etc.
hnmcrus (4), or arm-bone ; These pads are, of course,
its lower or distal end is of additional use in aiding
expanded, and receives the the cat's noiseless and

end of the ulna (10), which stealthy progression.
with the radius (9) forms The cat's hind limb is
the bones of the forearm. articulated by a ball and

The wrist or carpal bones socket joint to the hip-bone
(8) include seven small or pelvis (20), which is
bones, the upper row being again firmly united to the

FIG. \i.b. CAT'S SKULL, SIDE VIEW
attached to the radius, the WITH LOWER JAW IN PLACE. three bones forming the
lower row to the five pha- sacrum D. The thigh-bone
langes of the toes (7) to ;
these latter are or femur (19) sustains the whole body, and
articulated the bones of the digits, or fingers. has many powerful muscles attached to it
The terminal concerned in the springing movements so
bones of the cat's characteristic of the animal ;
to its lower end
foot arc encased is articulated the principal bone of the lower
by powerful leg, the tibia (13). At the union of these two
hooked claws bones on the anterior side is the
knee-cap, or
(Fig. in.). When patella (12). On the outer aspect of the tibia
at rest, the claw is a slender bone, the fibula (18), its outer end
isbrought to the being attached to a prominence on the tibia,

outer side of the the lower end to one of the large bones (the
middle phalanx astragalus) which form the, tarsus of the foot.
by the elastic The Tarsal bones (14) consist of seven bones,
ligament F, the the largest of which is the os calcis (17), or
flexor tendons heel-bone, to which powerful muscles are
being
c
relaxed. attached. Succeeding the tarsal bones are the
KIG. VI. C. CATS SKULL FROM
"'hen the cat is four bones forming the metatarsal bones (the
i:i-:i.o\v, WITHOUT LOWER JAW,
SHOWING PALATAL SURFACE. on the point of fifth or inner toe being absent, though often
23
present in the dog). To these are attached lives too much in the lap of luxury for them to
the phalanges of the toes, with the claws, etc., attain to a proportionate development.
similar to the fore foot. A well-known writer has estimated that
A better idea of the superficial muscles of there are 500 muscles concerned in the move-
the cat is obtained from an examination of the ments of the cat's body.
plate than by any technical description. It The cavity of -the cat's body is separated
FIG. VII. SUPERFICIAL MUSCLF.S OF A CAT.

i. Maxillaris. 16. Fascia lata covering deeper muscles. 30. Flexor carpi ulnaris.
2. Caninus, or Nasalis. 17. Biceps femoralis. 31. Superficial Extensors of Toes.
3. Orbicularis. 18. Semi-tendinosus. 32. Annular or Wrist Ligament.
4. Temporalis. 19. Gastrocnemius. 33. Extensor communis digitorum.
5. Mastoideus. 20. External Saphenous Vein. 34. Flexor carpi radial is.
6. Cephalo-humeral. 21. Point of Heel, or Os Calcis. 35. Extensor carpi raclialis.
7. Posterior and anterior portions of 22. Plantar or Flexor Tendons of Sole of 36. Triceps.
8. Infraspinatus. [Trapezius. Foot. 37. Scapular deltoid.
9. Latissimus dorsi. 23. Kxtensor Tendons of Toes. 38. Acromion deltoid.
TO. Great Oblique. 24. Internal or Inner Saphenous. 39. Mastoideus.
ii. Prominence of Hip-bone. 25. Sartorius. 40. Sterno-h void.
12. Gluteus niedius. 26. Rectus abdominis. 41. Parotid Gland.
13. Prominence of Thigh-bone, or Femur. 27. Serratus magnus. 42. Masseter Muscle.
14. Gluteus maximus. 28. Pectoralis major. 43. External Maxillary Vein.
15. Muscles concerned in the movements 29. Elbow, or Olecranon Process of 44. Zigomaticus.
of the Tail. Ulna. 45. Zigomalicus labialis.
will be seen that for its size the cat's muscles into two unequal compartments by a muscular
are well developed its kin, the lion and partition called the midriff or diaphragm. In
;
tiger,
are known for their grodigious strength in the anterior or foremost cavity are the two
bearing away young oxen, deer, antelopes, etc., lungs, and the heart and its blood-vessels ;
in
upon which they live, as well as for their the larger or most posterior compartment is
leaping powers and agility and courage. the stomach, intestines, liver, kidneys, etc.
Although the cat's muscles are identical Without a considerable number of diagrams
with those of its more powerful relatives, it it is difficult to convey in a popular manner
THE CAT'S PLACE NATURE. 355
some peculiarities of these internal organs. complicated appearance as compared with the
The cat's tongue (Fig. x.) is, however, very simpler livers of other animals. The gall-
characteristic of the order, and is easily ob- bladder is present in the usual position. The
served. It is supplied with the usual glands cat's heart is somewhat small for the si/e of
common to all mammals viz. tonsils (B), the animal, and is not so pointed at its apex
flattened soft papillae (c), four circumvallate as in other animals the veins entering the
;
papilla' (D),
conical papillae (E), and the more heart, and the branching of the arteries leaving
Fid. VIII. SKELETON OE A CAT.

A. CERVICAL OR NECK BONES (7 in number).B. DORSAL OR THORACIC BONES (13 in number, each bearing a rib). C. LUMBAR
BONKS (7 in number). D. SACRAL BONES (3 in number). K. CAUDAL OR TAIL BONES (19 to 21 in number).
i. Cranium, or Skull. 8. Carpal or Wrist-bones. 14. Tarsal Bones.

2. Scapula, or Shoulder-blade. 9. Radius. 15. Metatarsal Bones.
3. Clavicle, or Collar-bone. 10. Ulna, 16. Phalanges of Hind Toes.
" Calcis."
4. Humerus. ii. Costal cartilages, uniting ends of Ribs 17. Heel-bone, or
5. Sternum, or Breast-bone. to Sternum. 18. Fibula.
6. Phalanges of the Toes. 12. Patella, or Knee-cap. 19. Femur, or Thigh-bone.
7. Metac^rpal Bones. 13. Tibia. 20. Pelvis, or Hip-bone.
minute fungiform papillae (F). The peculiarity it, are nearly identical with those of closely
of the cat's tongue is that the conical papilhe allied animals. The time required for the
are specialised into horny processes or hooks, complete circulation of the blood throughout
as shown in E F, and are of value not only in the body of the cat is fourteen to sixteen
assisting to clear the flesh from bones, but are seconds. The pulse, each beat of which corre-
of undoubted use in cleaning the animal's fur. sponds to one contraction of the left ventricle
The cat also has the parotid, sublingual, and of the heart, may easily be felt on the inner
other glands concerned in the preparation of side of the fore-paw, about an inch above the
the food for primary digestion. prominence of the radius it
may also be felt
;
The cat's liver is mainly on its right side ;

at the same place as the horse's pulse on the
it is divided into several lobes, which give it a inner side of the lower jaw. There are two
other situations on the cat's body where it In all the higher mammals
the eye can
may be felt, but to find the exact point accommodate itself to the varying influence of
requires some intimate anatomical knowledge. light. This is mainly done by means of the
The temperature, or normal heat, of the body central black part or pupil (Fig. ix., A). The
of the cat is 100 F. it may, however, be is merely a hole in the iris, or coloured
; pupil
slightly above or below this. part of the eyeball (B), and it is by its contrac-
The brain of the cat, following the general tion or expansion that the exact amount of light
structure of the higher mammals, is divided necessary admitted to act upon the sensitive
is
into very similar areas or divisions. The retina at the back of the eye. The form of the
larger or more anterior portion is called the pupil varies considerably in different animals.
cerebrum I., A), and is divided
into right In the cat's eye during bright sunshine it is
(Fig.
and left hemispheres. Its surface is divided into reduced to a thin vertical line at dusk it ;
convolutions or gyri (E) by certain shallow expands to a nearly circular form. This ver-
fissures, which have received specific

names. tical reduction is by no means common to the
attached to the under-surface entire cat family. In very many species the
Very intimately
FIG. IX. THE CAT'S EYE.

AT DAY-TIME. AT NIGHT-TIME.
A. Contracted linear pupil. A. Expanded and nearly circular pupil. C. C'at'seye, showing the third
B. Iris. [nans). B. Iris. eyelid or nictitating mem-
C. Nictitating membrane (Plica semilu- C. Nictitating membrane. brane fully extended.
D. Opening of the Harclerian Gland Duct. D. Opening of Harderian Duct.
of this part of the brain are the olfactory lobes pupil retains a rounded form even when con-
(D), in which are situated certain nerves contracted to its minimum.
cerned in the sense of smell. The hinder and On the inner angle of the cat's eye there
smaller part of the brain is called the cere- is a curious semi-transparent fold of skin,
bellum (B), and is much darker in colour than called by naturalists the plica semilunaris, or
the cerebrum. Its surface is made up of nictitating membrane. In reptiles and birds
numerous small foldings of its substance, this is a very important factor in the preserva-
which, on section, look like the branches of tion of the eye from external injuries, and it
a small tree these branches finally fuse and
; acts also as a regulator of the admission of
terminate on the under-side of the base of light. It is well developed in nocturnal
the brain. reptiles and birds, and as the cat's ancestors
Intimately associated in a most complex were doubtless more nocturnal than they are
manner with the cerebrum and cerebellum is now, it probably was in active use. It is,
the medulla oblongata (c), an enlarged part of however, useless now, the cat having no control
the spinal cord. The brain of the cat, it may over it. It is one of many interesting vestigial
be remarked, is not nearly so highly organised structures the cat carries about with it of its
as that of the dog. former ancestry from a lower-organised animal.
THE CAT'S PLACE IN NATURE. 357
THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE CAT FAMILY.

7
areknown to inhabit this region. The best-
Long-continued and systematic study of the known are the lion, leopard, serval, Egyptian
habits of living animals has led to the division cat, caracal lynx, and cheetah. The Oriental
of the surface of the world into specific, areas, or Indian region includes a strip of southern
called Zoogeographical regions, Persia, the whole of India,
of which there are six viz. (i) China, and the Malay peninsula,
PaUearctic region (2) Ethi- Borneo, and other islands of
opian or African region ; (3) the East Indian Archipelago.
Oriental or Indian region (4) ;
There are about sixteen species
Australian region (5) Xearctic
; inhabiting this region. The best-
or North American region and ;
known examples of the cat family
(6) Neotropical or South Ameri- here are the lion (inhabiting the
can region. The cats of the southern portions of Persia),
Old World and of the New World tiger, leopard, cheetah, clouded
are, with the exception of the leopard, and a great variety of
debatable northern lynx, speci- the smaller species.
fically distinct. No native cats The Nearctic or North Ameri-
exist in Australia. can region includes Greenland
The Palsearctic region com- and the whole of the continent
prises the whole of Europe, part of North America down to
X. SURFACE OK THE
of North Africa, and extends CAT'S TONGUE.' Mexico City and Vera Cruz.
eastward to Kamtchatka, and Tllere ar6 Olll y S6Ven indigenous
A.-Epiglottis or upper cartilage
includes the islands of
Japan. of windpipe.
species of the cat family, the
B. Tonsil.
There are about twenty one
-
C. Flattened or soft papilla;. best-known being the puma,
D. Circumvallate papillae.
known species of the cat family E. Horny conical papilla?. which also extends into the neo-
E.I. The same enlarged.
inhabiting this extensive area, F. Fungiform papilla;. tropical region, the northern
the best-known being the tiger, and the bay lynx.
which is found in Mongolia ;
the common The Neotropical or South American region
leopard, widely distributed in Southern Siberia ; extends from Vera Cruz in Central America,
the snow leopard, wild cats, the lynx, and many through the whole of South America to Pata-
others. The Ethiopian or African region in- gonia. About thirteen well-marked species of
cludes the whole of the continent of Africa up the cat family inhabit this region. The better-
to the tropic of Cancer, and the greater part of known species are the puma, jaguar, ocelot,
Arabia and Madagascar. About nine species margay, pampas cat, and the curious eeyra.
ROBERT HOLDING.
23*
35*
THE DISEASES OF CATS, AND THEIR TREATMENT.

By HENRY GRAY, M.R.C.V.S.
ADMINISTRATION OF MEDICINE. it is not necessary to open the mouth. The

the treat- operator grasps the head with his left hand,
INment of and taking the spoon in his right he slowly
the dis- and carefully drops the liquid between the
eases of the teeth, or into the space between the cheek and
cat, the cor- teeth, at the angle of the mouth. For the cat,
rect method a coffee-spoon is preferable to a tea-spoon, and
of adminis- care must be taken that too much is not
tering what- poured into the mouth at once. The dose
ever medica- should be administered drop by drop, and
ments are time allowed for swallowing.
deemed ne-
DISEASES OF THE STOMACH.
cessary is a
most import- Vomiting, though a symptom common to
ant consider- many diseases, may be quite natural in some
ation. To the instances, such as over-feeding or during the
uninitiated weaning period, when the mother-cat eats a
and timid the lot of animal food and then brings it home
GIVING MEDICINE. task is gener- and vomits it up for her young kittens to feed
ally a difficult upon.
one, and may, in some cases, appear almost The act consists of ejecting the contents
impossible but with a little practice, aided
;
of the stomach up through the gullet and then
by courage and determination, the difficulties out of the mouth.
can nearly always be overcome. The admin- The causes of vomition are various Worms :
istration of medicine, however, is seldom so travelling from the bowel into the stomach,
easy in the case of the cat as in that of emetics, expectorants, poisons, foreign bodies
the dog. (as hair, cork, pins, etc.) ;
bad or altered food,
Some cats are so gentle that the mouth blood-poisoning, distemper, gastritis, tumours,
can easily be opened by means of the index tuberculosis, jaundice, diseases of the kidneys,
finger and thumb of the left hand acting etc., may produce it.
as a wedge between the jaws. The palm of Itmay also occur from parasites in the
the hand rests on the top of the head, while ear, foreign bodies in the mouth, and as a
the finger and thumb gently but firmly press symptom of brain disease, such as meningitis.
the cheeks at the angle of the jaws inwards, Treatment. This depends upon the cause,
until they intervene between the finger and which should be removed if possible. When
thumb of the operator and the posterior teeth due to foreign bodies or altered food, an emetic
of the patient. (especially the hypodermic injection of Vo to
The jaws being thus kept open, and the oV grain of apomorphine hydrochloride) would
head at the same time raised, the right hand most likely remove the source of trouble. If
of the operator drops the pill or powder at the the foreign body cannot be removed by simple
back of the mouth between the tongue and means, an operation may be deemed necessary.
palate. This having been accomplished, the If due to inflammation of the stomach, bismuth
right hand is passed under the lower jaw, so and aerated soda-water are of great value.
as to keep the head raised until the animal Ice and cocaine or chloretone are occasionally
swallows, while the left hand is withdrawn useful when these have failed. Sometimes it
from its previous position and the jaws allowed is necessary to wash the stomach out with
to close, thus facilitating the act of swallowing. mild antiseptics. If of nervous origin, a hypo-
For the administration of liquid medicine dermic injection of TV to | grain of morphine, or
THE DISEASES OF CATS, AND THEIR TREATMENT. 359
five-minim doses of tincture of opium or bromide water should be given every four hours.
of potassium, given by the mouth, may prove Bismuth subnitrate or carbonate in five-grain
successful. When resulting from tumours or doses may be shaken on the tongue an hour
tuberculosis, humanity dictates that the lethal before these two latter are administered.
chamber should be called into requisition and If this means of treatment should prove
the animal put out of its misery. Easily ineffectual after twenty-four hours, one may
assimilable and non -
irritating food only conclude that the disease is of a severe type,
should be given for a few days. Aerated and in this case one to five minims of the
soda-water forms the best drinking fluid. liquid extract of opium in a little mucilage, or
Gastritis, or inflammation of the stomach, chloretone, to 2\ grains, should be given
is sometimes called gastric fever, and when of every three hours. Feeding by means of rectal
a mild type, gastric catarrh. Its causes are suppositories, or injection of an ounce of milk
variable. It may be due to altered or de- containing a little common salt, may be
composed food, distemper, microbes of various attempted. Finally, if this fail, washing out
kinds, large doses of emetics or aperients, the stomach with borax or boracic acid, or
mineral poisons, chills, absorption of dressing chinosol and warm water, and a hypodermic
applied to the skin, or licking the same off. injection of bullock's or sheep's serum might
It is also caused by worms, especially the broad- be tried.In gastric inflammation due to in-
necked tapeworm (Tcenia crassicollis), travelling fection the hypodermic injection of quinine
into the stomach and setting up irritation. hydrochloride or trichloride of iodine will some-
Again, diseases of the uterus, liver, kidneys, times answer when everything else has failed.
and other organs give rise to gastritis. It Cocaine and orthoform have no advantage over
frequently rages as an epizootic, causing con- opiates, especially the denarcotised prepara-
siderable mortality in some catteries, especially tions, in soothing the stomach. Ice in small
after cat shows. pieces pushed down the throat sometimes
Symptoms. The disease is ushered in by answers in assuaging the thirst when the soda-
sudden vomiting of the food, followed by the water does not. In the chronic form, doses
repeated rejection of ropy mucus, and then, of to | grain of calomel or mercury with
if the case is severe, this is succeeded by a thin, chalk given with bismuth three times a day
clear, greenish yellow or bloody fluid saliva ; are beneficial in many instances.
flows from the mouth, the thirst is great, Enteritis, or inflammation of the in-
especially for cold water, which is generally testines or bowels, frequently co-exists with
expelled almost as soon as taken there is
; gastritis, and then the disease takes on the
a distressed appearance, restlessness, or a fre- term of gastro-enteritis.The causes, like those
quent shifting of the posture. As a rule, the of gastritis, are various. It may be. due to
animal prefers to lie on its belly full length, infection, bad food, drugs, foreign bodies, chills,
with its limbs resting on cold objects. distemper, intussusception or irritating enemas,
Pressure on the region of the stomach etc. There also seems to be a special con-
causes moaning and sometimes vomiting. tagious type of this disease which frequently
After the lapse of some time, when a fatal causes great mortality in catteries, especially
termination is advancing, the eyes appear with kittens. Generally the small intestine
sunken, the pupils become dilated, the ex- forms the seat of the disease, which may in
pression is sad, the animal becomes cold and rare cases, however, extend the whole length
indifferent to his surroundings, the mouth of the bowel, which is sometimes lined with a
gives off an offensive odour, and the coat is croupy or diphtheritic membrane.
dull, open, and lustreless. The animal dies The symptoms are restlessness, great pain,
either in a comatose state or from sudden frequent crying or moaning, offensive and
failure of the heart during a fit of vomiting. profuse and frequent diarrhoea, the dejections
Treatment. If recognised
early, an emetic varying in colour and consistence and fre-
is sometimes very useful in cutting short the quently containing blood, and sometimes vomit-
complaint. No food or ordinary water should ing, especially when the stomach is implicated ;
be allowed until twenty-four to forty-eight thirst is intense, food is refused, the animal is
hours have elapsed since the last vomiting ; cold, haggard, and depressed ;
its fur is dull,
but a teaspoonful of Brand's essence of beef open, and lustreless, and becomes soiled, giving
jelly and two to four teaspoonfuls of aerated off an abominable odour. When the abdomen
the cause of the diarrhoea
manipulated, the animal cries or moans from Treatment.
is If is
the pain caused. If the pupils are dilated and due to irritating food, a dose of castor-oil will
the expression has an anxious appearance, and be beneficial. When due to catarrh of the
emaciation is rapid, a fatal termination may bowels, the carbonate, subnitrate, or salicylate
be anticipated. of bismuth, in five-grain doses, two or three
The treatment varies according to the cause. times a day, is the most appropriate treat-
If the case is seen in the early stage a tea- to a ment. If it is associated with distemper or
dessert-spoonful of castor-oil containing i to 2\ typhus, the bismuth salts mentioned above, or
minims of liquid extract of opium may be tannablin or tannigen, in 2\- to 5-grain doses,
given at once, to clear out any irritating are suitable. For chronic diarrhoea, 2\ to 5
material from the bowels and also to allay grains of salicylate of bismuth, with i to 5
pain and irritation or morphine in TV to TV
; grains of /3-naphthol, given three times a day on
grain doses may be injected under the skin the food, is generally followed by recovery.
every four hours. Bismuth salicylate, in five- Failing this, a mixture composed of dilute
grain doses, should be dropped on the tongue sulphuric acid, concentrated infusion of cloves,
about the same time. Starch enemas con- and concentrated infusion of haematoxylin
taining liquid extract of opium may also be should be tried.
administered. Boiled milk containing bicar- When the diarrhcea is due to irritation of
bonate of soda should be given in small and the so-called large or posterior bowel, injections
repeated quantities. containing starch, laudanum, and tannic acid
Turpentine stupes frequently applied to the should be used.
abdomen are recommended, but, where this is As long as the diarrhcea lasts, no meat or
objected to, the floor of the abdomen may be meat infusions should be given, but milk, rice-
painted with tincture of capsicum, or tincture pudding, bread and milk, and such-like food
of iodine, until soreness is produced, the hair are suitable.
being first clipped off. Constipation is an impaction of faeces in
In those cases of epizootic nature, isolation the hind bowel, and is generally due to weak-
is called for. The food and surroundings ness of this portion of gut, or results from a
should be changed, and the catteries and cleanly animal having no place to evacuate
utensils thoroughly cleansed and disinfected. its faeces in. Sometimes it is due to a ball of
In the chronic form a powder composed of fur, and occasionally foreign bodies, such as
bismuth salicylate 2 to 5 grains, and /3- cat's-meat skewers, being swallowed along with
naphthol i to 2 J- grains, should be shaken on the meat by a greedy animal. When due to
the tongue three times a day. Milk and rice paralysis of the bowel, which is occasionally
form the best diet. seen in young cats, the abdomen becomes
Diarrhoea, like vomiting, is not a disease distended by the faeces in the bowel. It also
of itself, but an expression of many different occurs as a symptom of spinal paralysis. The
affections. It may be salutary or otherwise. non-passage of fasces seen in cats when not
It may be due to aperients, irritating or well and not taking solid food must not be
indigestible food, microbes, diseases of the , confounded with constipation.
bowels, kidneys, and liver. It frequently The symptoms, as a rule, are the non-
results from distemper or gastro-enteritis, passage of fseces for some time, distension of
tuberculosis, intestinal catarrh, and from lick- the abdomen, and impaction of the bowel with
ing applications put on the skin in the treat- fasces which can be felt by manipulating the
ment of skin affections. Sour milk, tainted abdomen.
miik or fish, and chills will also induce it. In Treatment. A dose of castor-oil and an
kittens improper food, especially during hot enema of soapy water or glycerine will gener-
weather, is a common
cause. ally put matters right. If these means do not
The symptoms are a looseness of the de- succeed, massage or kneading of the bowels,
jections from the bowels, which are passed by grasping the abdomen with the hand and
several times a day. The stools vary in alternately compressing and relaxing the grasp,
colour according to the food taken by the will assist to stimulate the intestines to force
animal, or according to the severity of the on their contents. Of course, this only applies
cause they are generally of a very offensive
;
when impaction is due to soft material and
odour, and may contain blood. not hard foreign bodies, which, in this latter
THE DISEASES OF CATS, AND THEIR TREATMENT.
case, should be removed by the fingers or quently become detached, and pass with the
forceps. If any irritation of the mucous faeces, on which they are seen. They are
membrane, evidenced by frequent straining as generally termed by fanciers maw-worms.
if to pass faeces, remains after the bowels have Treatment. The worms should be expelled,
been relieved, an enema of warm salad-oil, and fleas, lice, or mange-mites destroyed, so as
containing a few drops of liquid extract of to prevent a recurrence of the trouble.
opium, will allay it, and prevent straining. Another tapeworm of the cat is the Teenia
In case of the bowel remaining weakened or crassicollis, or broad-necked species. It is
paralysed so as to bring about a recurrence of seen only in cats that kill and eat rats and
the constipation, pills containing TV grain of the mice, in the liver of which the larval form of
alcoholic extract of nux vomica should be ad- this parasite resides.
ministered morning, noon, and night after food. It a- big, coarse tapeworm, measuring
is
eighteen to thirty inches in length, and having

WORMS, OR INTERNAL ANIMAL PARASITES. no well-defined neck.
Cats, like all other animals, are liable to Treatment. For the expulsion of tape-
be infested with worms, which may not cause worms there are many remedies, the best of
any disturbance, unless in great numbers or which are areca nut, kamala, oil of male fern,
when another disease is in existence. pomegranate, and kousso, but as the dose of
The Common Round -worm is very preva- these in the crude is generally too bulky for
the cat, it is advisable to give either of them,
lent in young kittens, generally when they are
living on milk, upon which these worms thrive.
with the exception of the male fern, in their
Their natural residence in the cat is in the alkaloidal form, as :
small intestine, but sometimes they wander Koussein tO 2 grams.

from here into the stomach, and set up vomit- Kamalin to 2
Arecoline to
ing and occasionally convulsions.
Pelletierine to
Treatment. The worms should be expelled
and the animal fed on nutritious and stimu- Any one of these may be given either in
lating food, such as raw fish, raw meat, and pill or tabloid form, or rubbed up with milk
fresh birds. The milk, to which is added a sugar, as a powder on an empty stomach after
pinch of salt, should be boiled. The best the animal has fasted at least twelve hours, and
remedy to expel these worms is santonin repeated every third or fourth morning. A
given along with or followed by an aperient. dose of castor-oil or jalap should be given
The following is a convenient formula : an hour after. The oil of male-fern is best
administered in a capsule. Powdered pumpkin
Santonin i
gram.
Calomel seed may be sprinkled on the food,
*
This powder is to be dropped on the back DISEASES OF THE KIDNEYS.

of the tongue of an adult cat after fasting Diseases of the kidneys, such as degener-
twelve hours, every other morning, until four ation, fatty degeneration, parasitic disease,
doses have been given. Half this quantity is tuberculosis, cancer, acute and chronic Bright's
suitable for a cat three or four months old, and disease, and calculi are not rare, but, as
a quarter for a kitten of a month to six weeks the space at our command is limited, we
of age. only mention them.
The commonest Tapeworm of the cat is Incontinence, or the involuntary passage
the Teenia elliptica vel felis, with which fifty of urine, is usually due to weakness of the
per cent, or more are affected. It is caused bladder, brought about by over-distension.
by fleas, lice, and mange-mites which have at It sometimes results from injury to the spine
some time or another infested the cat. and calculi.
They do not seem to cause much harm, The treatment that is best suited for this is
even when numbering hundreds. In one case the administration of TV grain of the alcoholic
that I encountered the cat was in the pink of extract of nux vomica and 1 grain of quinine
condition, and yet I found 700 of these worms. in a pill three times a day. If there be
It is a delicate tapeworm with joints re-
irritability of the bladder, soda bicarbonate
sembling a cucumber in outline. The ripe 2 grains and extract of henbane grain in a
-J
joints, which are often of a reddish tint, fre- pill should be given.
" "
Retention of urine is generally caused by animal suffering from a cold should be
a calculus or chalky material blocking up the isolated from the rest as soon as possible, as
urethra or canal leading from the bladder, and it is difficult to distinguish a simple case
" "
preventing the exit of the fluid. If relief of catarrh from the early stage of a case of
is not given to the bladder that is, if the distemper. A warm place, well ventilated, but
obstruction is not immediately removed the free from draughts, is essential.
urine decomposes and then sets up inflamma- Raw meat, scraped and given three times
tion of the bladder, and death takes place a day, is the best diet. Fish, milk, bread-and-
from unemic poisoning. milk, or rice-pudding should be offered.
Symptoms. The cat seems in pain, and Asmall pilule of half a grain of quinine
makes ineffectual attempts to pass its urine ; sulphate should be dropped at the back of
it strains to no purpose it seems restless,
;
the mouth three times a day. The nostrils
getting up, lying down, rolling on its side, and eyelids should be sponged with a warm
swishing its tail, looking towards its side, and solution of boric acid, containing eight grains
crying. After a time the animal becomes to the ounce of water, and afterwards smeared
If the abdomen is with a little white vaseline three times a day.
drowsy and indifferent.
manipulated, the bladder will be felt to be Sanitas or turpentine should be sprinkled on
distended, hard, and painful. the floor of the room. Great relief is often
Treatment. The only rational treatment is given by inhaling the fumes of eucalyptus oil
to remove the obstruction and pass the catheter dropped into a jug of boiling water.
immediately, a special silver catheter, half the Chronic Nasal Catarrh, sometimes called
size of the smallest human catheter, being re- "feline glanders," differs from the preceding
quired for this purpose. If the urine is bloody,
complaint, inasmuch as it runs a longer and
it may be necessary to wash out the bladder more persistent course it may, however, follow
;
with a warm solution of boracic acid and on simple catarrh which has been neglected.
alkalis and sedatives, but no meat or meat Distemper is one of the commonest causes of
extracts should be given. it, but it is also seen after diphtheria. It may
occur as a symptom of tuberculosis, foreign
DISEASES OF AIR PASSAGES AND LUNGS. bodies in the nasal channels, malignant growths,
A Common Cold, or coryza, or acute nasal such as sarcoma or cancer attacking the tur-
catarrh, or cold in the head, is caused by binated bones, diseased bone, or teeth, etc.
exposing the cat to the inclement weather, or When neglected, it may last for months or
washing it and not thoroughly drying after- even years, and is frequently incurable.
wards. may
It also be due to the
irritating Symptoms. There is a persistent gluey,
vapours of chloroform or ether used by odourless, or sometimes foetid discharge either
inhalation to produce anaesthesia. Letting a of a gelatinous or yellowish appearance, with
cat out in the cold and wet after it has been or without streaks of blood from the nostrils,
used to a warm, dry dwelling sometimes results the outsides of which are sometimes ulcerated.
in a cold. It is not contagious, but is fre- The throat may be swollen the appetite and
;
quently mistaken for distemper. general condition of the animal are often pre-
Symptoms. There is frequent sneezing, and served. Sometimes there is an abscess in the
sometimes a cough a clear watery discharge
;
inner corner of the eye.
trickles from the corner of the eyelids and Treatment. In those cases that are due to
nostrils. After a time this discharge becomes malignant tumours or tuberculosis, and, in
gluey, thick, and yellowish or greenish the ; consequence, incurable, merciful destruction of
eyelids become partially closed, and the haw the animal is called for. If due to foreign
protrudes over the front of the eyeball food ;

bodies as fish-bones, pieces of grass, or food,
is refused, or sparingly eaten the fur is dull
;
or to diseased teeth they should be removed.
and open warm or dark corners are sought
;
Syringing the nostrils, so as to wash the
for ;
the animal trembles and seems miserable. diseased lining membrane of the nasal channels,
If the throat is sore, there is a cough; the with some mild antiseptic is the only means to
breathing wheezy, and a discharge may
is insure success. The mode of procedure is this :
issue from the angles of the mouth. These A skilled assistant must firmly secure the
symptoms generally pass away in a few days. animal between his hands that is, he holds
Treatment. Where many cats are kept, an the limbs firmly then the operator grasps the
head with his left hand, taking care to keep causes, such as exposure to cold, chills after
the mouth shut by means of the thumb and washing, medicines passing down the wind-
index finger, and steadies it on the table and ; pipe, foreign bodies, blood-poisoning, small
with the right hand he carefully and gently worms, and principally distemper or tuber-
It may be associated with pleuris}
passes the pipe of the syringe up one of the
culosis.
nasal channels and then presses out the fluid. or bronchitis, and is then termed pleuro-pneu-
\Yhen this is finished, the other nostril is monia or broncho-pneumonia respectively ;
served the same. and also sometimes with a purulent collection

The following is a suitable formula for the or tuberculosis, and then it receives the names
solution to be injected :
septic pneumonia or tubercular pneumonia, or
Alum .
Boric Acid ....

. .
Liquid Extract of Hydrastis

.
.30
2
2
grains.
drachms.
phthisis.
Symptoms.
a
At first there is intense shiver-
greatrdesire for warmth, loss of appetite,
.
ing,
Warm Water . . .
pint.
dull appearance, dull cough, sickness, difficulty
This should be used every other day until of breathing, which after some days becomes
some benefit is derived from it. If the disease laboured or panting. On auscultation of the
is not amenable after a fortnight's adoption of chest the characteristic sounds may be heard.
this treatment, the following should be substi- At first fine crepitations, then a day or two
tuted : after the tubular or blowing sounds, and when
Glycerine
Warm Water
....
Tincture of Iodine (B. P.) . 10 minims.
6 ounces.
I ounce.
convalescence sets in the fine crackling or
crepitating sounds are heard again. The
cough becomes more frequent and the appe-
. . .
Pills of iron, quinine, arsenic, and such-like, tite increases. On the other hand, if there be
as well as plenty of flesh food along with no improvement, the coat becomes dull and
cod-liver oil, should be given. Fresh air is open, the eyes sunken, and the pupils dilated ;
invigorating, and a change to the seaside some- the flanks move up and down like a pump-
times does miracles. Eucalyptus sprinkled handle, and the breath becomes foetid food
;
about the cat's box is useful, because it acts is totally refused, and diarrhoea sets in, a fatal
not only as an antiseptic, but as a stimulant termination is to be anticipated.

to the mucous membrane of the nostrils. Treatment. The animal should be kept in
Bronchitis, or inflammation of the bron- a temperature of 60 F., and fresh air, but no
chial or air tubes, may occur as a sequel draughts, allowed. The sides are to be rubbed
to catarrh or during its course, and may also with oil of mustard, or painted with tincture
accompany distemper. It is also due to small of iodine, or an ointment composed of one part
worms in the tubes washing followed by ex-
;
of tartar emetic to eight of lard. Quinine
posure to draughts medicine, especially light
;
sulphate, | grain alcoholic extract of nux
;
powders, going down the windpipe, etc. It is vomica, yV grain ;

and extract of digitalis,
frequently due to tuberculosis. i grain, in a pill, be administered every
may
Symptoms. There is a frequent cough, the four hours, and nourishing food given. In the
breathing is wheezy, and sometimes quickened case of tubercular pneumonia, which is gener-
or difficult. The desire for warmth is great ;
ally chronic, the animal should be destroyed.
there is shivering, ana perhaps a discharge Pleurisy, or inflammation of the covering of
from the eyes and nose. On listening to the the lungs or internal lining of the chest cavity,
chest by means of the stethoscope, wheezing in the cat as well as in the dog, is chiefly due
or hissing or bubbling sounds will be heard. to tuberculosis. It may, however, result from
Treatment, The animal should be kept in pneumonia, abscess in the lung, cancer, para-
a constant temperature of 60 F., and have sites, injuries, foreign bodies, gunshot wounds,
warm milk and beef administered to it. The cold, etc. It is generally accompanied with a
throat and sides should be rubbed with oil of dirty sanious, or clear amber-tinted, or port-
mustard. Inhalations of steam are useful wine - coloured fluid, sometimes containing
when expectoration seems difficult. Kermes yellowish- white strings of lymph floating in it
mineral (two grains) and powdered squill (one in the chest cavity. One or both sides may
grain) should be given. be affected. It is usually fatal.
Pneumonia, or inflammation of the sub- Symptoms. The cat has an anxious, painful
stance of the lungs, may be due to various facial expression, and moans, or rather grunts,
and sometimes attempts to bite when the chest by which we know the disease. It is difficult
is touched or made to move ;
theabdomen is to detect in the body after about a week.
retracted, and the breathing, which is short The disease varies in severity according to
and jerky, seems to be performed by the flanks. the degree of virulence of the microbe. If
There is a slight or suppressed cough, but this this is very virulent, it causes a very acute or
is often absent. The animal wastes away, the septic disease, as is observed in the typhus or
coat becomes dull and open and lustreless, and gastro-enteric outbreak, which kills off a large
the hairs are easily pulled out. The creature number of animals within a few days or even
hides under the furniture and refuses its food, hours. If it is of a milder strength, we get
and when a fatal termination is at hand, the subacute form with localisations, such as
the flanks move up and down like a pump- we usually see in distemper. There is also a
handle, the breathing becomes difficult and chronic form, which lasts a long time, and
suffocative, the mouth, which is offensive, which tries the patience of the owner as well
being opened at every inspiratory and ex- as the vitality of the sufferer. Finally, a
piratory effort the tongue becomes purplish,
;
chronic wasting or cachectic form is sometimes
" "
the elbows turn out, the cat assumes a squat- observed ;
it resembles the
going light in
ting position on all-fours, and a foetid diarrhoea birds and other animals, and may be mis-
sets in. taken for starvation, which it simulates very
Treatment. Although generally fatal, treat- much.
ment may be desired to be attempted. The The microbe may exist in a healthy cat's
chest should be painted with tincture of iodine body for weeks without causing it any dis-
or oil of mustard if there be much pain, a
;
turbance perhaps, the animal catches
until,
hypodermic injection of morphine will prove cold, or depressed in some other manner.
is
useful, and a pill composed of {- grain pow- However, an apparently healthy animal with
dered digitalis leaves, grain sulphate of
-J-
this microbe in it may be infective for othei"
quinine, and i grain of iodide of potassium, cats.

administered three times a day. When the Period of Incubation. This varies according
breathing becomes difficult in consequence of to the degree of virulency of the microbe and
the accumulation of fluid in the chest cavity, the state of the cat's system and the surround-
it may be deemed advisable to draw the fluid ings in which it is kept. A
very virulent
off by means of a trocar.
Nourishing liquid infection has a much shorter period of in-
food, such as milk, Mosquera's beef jelly, or cubation than a mild infection. Whereas the
eggs, should be given, little and often. former may cause distemper in from two to five
days, the latter takes from one to three weeks.
DISTEMPER. It seems doubtful whether the specific microbe
Distemper is a contagious, inoculable fever, causes the symptoms we usually see in dis-
due to a specific microbe (the cocco-bacillus, temper, or if these are due to a secondary
or pasteurella of Lignieres), and is similar, if infection resulting from the invasion of the
not identical, to that causing distemper in normal microbes of the body, which have
the dog. Krajewsky, Laosson, Lignieres, and become virulent, and prey upon their hosts.
others have experimentally demonstrated its. Duration of Disease.
the This, like the
identity, but I have never observed the cat period of incubation, varies also according to
naturally giving the dog distemper, nor vice the degree of virulence of the virus. A
very
versa, and I believe this is the experience of virulent virus kills in a few days or even hours,
most veterinary surgeons in this country. or the animal recovers very quickly. It is
The microbe of distemper which belongs not so with a virus of a milder degree of viru-
to the same class of micro-organisms, the lence, which may cause symptoms that take
pasteurella, that causes influenza in the horse, from one to five or six weeks to disappear,
fowl cholera, swine-fever, guineapig dis- if the animal recover. In other cases the
temper, etc. is generally found in the blood, disease shows itself in so mild a form that it
which it alters to such a degree as to make so appears like an ordinary catarrh, and recovery
profound an impression on the system as to is established within a few
days.
diminish its natural resistance to the ordinary In a few instances death takes place sud-
germs, which become, in consequence, increased denly before any premonitory symptoms have
in virulence, and cause the various phenomena had time to develop.
The principal sources of propagation of the cat may frequently have a recurrence of dis-
infection are cat shows, catteries (especially temper at least two or three times, and then
those belonging to people who exhibit), homes succumb to it.
for lost and stray cats, and institutions that One season it may appear as a contagious
take in these animals as boarders. The cat catarrh, another season as an infectious sore
dealer's shop is not free from blame many throat, and at other times as a bronchitis or
newly purchased kittens develop distemper a pneumonia, and, lastly, as a contagious gas-
few days after purchase, contracted, no doubt, tritis or gastro-enteritis. Frequently all these
at the dealer's. Many cases have been traced forms may co-exist in a single outbreak, and
to the cattery where the female has been sent often a single animal exhibits the whole of
to stud. Hampers, cages, and persons coming these manifestations. For the convenience of
from infected catteries are so many media of descriptiorrf)f-the symptoms of this multiform
contagion. Even if a cat has apparently re- malady we divide it into five principal forms,
covered from the disease, it may still give off as follow :
infection and contaminate other cats for a 1. The Catarrhal, attacking chiefly the
variable but uncertain period. eyes and nostrils.
Although the disease may be seen at all 2. The Pharyngeal or Tonsillar, affecting
times of the year, it is most prevalent during the region of the throat.
spring and autumn, especially if the weather 3. The Pulmonary or Chest form.
is changeable and wet. 4. The Abdominal or G'-astro-enteric.
Moisture of the atmosphere favours the 5. The Cachectic or Wasting.
increase of distemper. Wet, following very The Catarrhal form of distemper is that
dry weather, continuous dampness and rain, which is generally seen in the cat, and is the
all predispose an animal to the disease. Where least fatal of any. The first symptoms noticed
catteries orhomes for lost and strays are con- are a watery discharge from one and some-
tinuously being washed out and not properly times both eyes, the lids of which may be
dried, especially in damp weather, before the partially or completely closed, so as to hide
cats are allowed into the rooms, distemper is the front of the eye, and a frequent licking of
very prevalent. the upper lip and nose as if they were parched
Where too many cats are crowded into a and burning. After a day or so the inner
given space, especially if the place is badly lining of the eyelids may be very much red-
lighted and not very well ventilated, this is dened, swollen, and giving rise to a yellow-
favourable for the contamination of the in- white or greenish-white thick discharge, which
mates. adheres to the lids and seals them together.
The mortality varies according to the breed There may also be shivering fits, a dull open
of the animal, its surroundings, and the degree coat, and a great desire for warmth (this being
of virulence of the infection. Seasons and so intense in some cases that the animal fre-
periods have also some bearing on it. Common- quently gets under the grate when a fire is in
bred cats allowed to roam out in the open at it). There is sneezing, followed by a snuffling
their will are more likely to recover from the kind of breathing the nostrils discharge a
;
disease, but if confined to cages or in catteries, thick, ropy, whitish or greenish matter, which
or in the house, the mortality is quite twenty- clings to their openings, and very often closes
five per cent. The long-haired cats are less re- them up. When the pharynx or larynx is the
sistant against it, and as many as fifty percent, seat of catarrh there are frequent fits of cough-
die. In the Siamese breed of cats, the fatality ing. The appetite is diminished or absent, but
isas high as ninety out of every hundred. The thirst is, as a rule, great. There may also be
younger the animals, the greater the death- seen at times vomiting, diarrhoea, or constipa-
rate ;yet, on the other hand, if old animals tion. Emaciation gradual and slight, or
is
are very fat or anaemic from want of fresh air rapid and great, varying according to the
and exercise, the mortality is just as high. severity of the symptoms.
Many cats are resistant at one time against The breathing is not much
altered in the
the infection, others have it in a mild form, and majority of cases, but in a few instances it
yet others have it severely but this does not
; becomes frequent. The temperature rises
always prevent them from having it again at a few degrees, but this is variable, and it is
some future period. My experience is that a sometimes normal. The body and limbs feel
3 66 THE BOOK OF THE CAT.
cold to the touch, and sometimes give off an purulent foetid discharge from one or both
offensive odour. The tongue, lips, hard and ears, but this is quite exceptional, and is
soft palates, and gums (especially around the mostly seen in cases having a fatal termination.
teeth) are occasionally ulcerated. Now and If the prostration is very great, and there is
again the eyes become the seat of ulceration, rapid loss of weight and condition, and the
which on rare occasions becomes perforated at ; discharge from the mouth, nostrils, and eyes-
other times they become affected with a severe becomes foetid, coupled with total loss of
inflammation, which extends to the whole eye- appetite, and no abatement of the other
ball and destroys this organ. There is at symptoms, a fatal termination is to be antici-
times dulness or drowsiness, and the animal pated. Late in the complaint the pharyngeal
seeks dark corners or gets under the furniture. mucus may becomeof a dirty colour or
Many cats from sheer nervousness, especially sanious purple spots appear on the tongue,
;
in strange places, avoid the fire and seek gums, and lips, and there is a moan or cry
obscure or lofty positions. Recovery generally emitted at each respiratory effort convulsive ;
takes place within a fortnight or three weeks, movements of the muscles of the temples,
but death may take place within twenty-four shoulders, and thighs set in, and death takes
to forty-eight hours from the commencement place from intoxication. The temperature
of the attack. rises at first, but when a fatal termination
The Pharyngeal, Tonsillar, or Throat form is to be anticipated it falls below the normal.
is the most deadly manifestation of distemper. The Pulmonary or Chest form, although not
The first symptom to attract attention is so frequently seen in the cat as in the dog, may
the drivelling of clear, ropy albuminous appear from the outset as a distinct localisa-
saliva from the corners of the mouth. The tion, or follow or intervene during an attack
animal crouches upon all four of its limbs ;
of the other forms as a complication. It may
there is a frequent gulping movement, or may not be ushered in by shivering fits ;
and a sound is emitted from the throat as the coat dull and open, there is
becomes
if there was an attempt to swallow the thick sneezing or coughing, or both tears run from ;
ropy saliva which clings about the mouth and the eyes, and mucus issues from the nostrils,
pharynx ;
the swallowing seems difficult or and there is a great desire for warmth. The
impossible food is refused, but thirst is
; temperature is elevated, and varies from 102.5
constant, although the animal seems incapable to 106, but rarely running a typical course.
of swallowing there is a great dulness or
;
The cough, when present, is frequent and
depression, and the cat appears indifferent to rattling or harsh, and sometimes dull. On
its surroundings. listening to the chest wheezing, rattling, or
On examination of the outside of the throat blowing, or rubbing, or splashing sounds may
it isfound swollen and painful, the glands are be heard. Emaciation is either gradual or
enlarged, and there appears to be a gurgling rapid, thirst is generally great, but the appe-
noise at each inspiration and expiration. On tite is diminished or absent.
inspection of the mouth and back of the throat, The breathing is either quickened or the
the tongue and pharynx are found to be .
inspiratory and expiratory efforts may be
covered with a thick, ropy, bubbling saliva, prolonged and accompanied or not with a
the mucous membrane is swollen and con- moan or grunt, which is sometimes associated
gested, and the soft palate is of a pinkish or with fluid in the chest cavity, which is known
even dark reddish arborescent appearance, due by the pumping or lifting action of the flanks,
to the congested state of the small blood- this effusion in one or both of the pleural sacs
vessels. Sometimes ulcers appear on the hard being either of a clear greenish or amber-
and soft palates. After a day or so the de- tinted or bloody or dirty yellowish appearance,
pression increases, there is a discharge from and sometimes of a foetidodour. Besides
the eyes and nostrils, which appears at first pleurisy, which is only occasionally encoun-
as a clear viscid fluid, and afterwards becomes tered, there may be pneumonia, broncho-
yellowish or dirty green in colour, and, if the pneumonia, or bronchitis, according to the
animal lives long enough, ultimately bloody, structure of lung involved in this form of
in consequence of it irritating the mucous distemper. (For a description of these local-
membranes and surrounding skin of the eyes isations or complications, sec under their
and nose. There may also be a catarrhal or respective headings.)
The lesions of the lungs may be slight, and some instances the breath becomes
In
the symptoms may be severe on the foetid the teeth, gums, tongue, and lips are
yet ; ;
contrary, the lesions may be extensive, and covered with a dirty brown or greenish slimy
the resulting symptoms comparatively slight. material and frequently the gum around the
;
If the fever remains high, the appetite abol- neck of the teeth is spongy, and bleeds on the
ished, the pupils dilated, the breathing plaintive slightesttouch. Occasionally the bone into
and very and prostration great, death
rapid, which the teeth are inserted becomes exposed,
soon takes place from failure of the heart due ulcerated,or necrosed. Ulcers are at times
to intoxication. In many cases, though, the seen on the lips and tongue.
fever not intense, and yet death supervenes.
is The Chronic Cachectic or Wasting form is
The Abdominal, Gastric, or Gastro-enteric sometimes encountered as a chronic wasting
form of distemper is oftener seen than either malady, not showing many symptoms beyond
the pharyngeal or pulmonary form, and may gradual emaciation, great weakness, intense
occur as a very acute and rapidly fatal thirst, ravenous or capricious appetite, and
manifestation, or as a chronic disease. It occasionally diarrhoea. At other times the
frequently accompanies the other forms. In animal goes off its appetite, sits about in a
acute cases there is sudden vomiting of food, mopish manner, has a staring and dull coat,
quickly followed by a frequently repeated the mucous membranes are pallid, the haw pro-
ejection of thick, slimy, and frothy mucus, truding over the front of the inner portion of
and ultimately by a thin, watery, serous fluid, the eyeballs, and becomes light in weight.
which is of an olive-green or yellowish appear- It very occasionally happens in these
ance. The thirst is intense, and no sooner is wasting cases that the skin becomes the seat
water sipped than it is expelled. There is fre- of parasitic mange, and, in consequence, gives
quent diarrhoea the stools at first seem fluid,
;
off an offensive mousy or mouldy odour. If
then become watery, sometimes bloody, and treatment is not skilfully and early adopted,
very foetid. The appetite is suppressed, and death takes place, and on post-mortem ex-
the animal becomes cold and indifferent to its amination the remains simulate those of an
surroundings, the facial expression is pinched, animal having died from starvation. It may
the eyes are semi-closed the coat is dull and
;
follow on the other forms of manifestation.
open, and on pressure over the region of the Skin eruptions are rarely noticed in dis-
stomach pain is evinced by a moan or cry, temper of the cat, but sometimes one sees on
and death usually takes place in a few hours. kittens a scabby eruption resembling ecthyma,
There is not as a rule any discharge from the the discharge of which mats the hairs in these
eyes and nostrils. young creatures. Female cats, when pregnant,
In the subacute cases, beyond a slight frequently abort in fact, nearly every cat in
catarrhal discharge from the eyes and nostrils, this condition in a cattery affected with dis-
there may be either vomiting or diarrhoea temper will miscarry, making it appear as if
often both and at other instances vomiting it were a special contagious disease.
and constipation. When the bowels are the The ears occasionally become the seat of
principal seat of the disease, vomiting is rare, acute catarrh or ulceration, and give rise to
but diarrhoea is generally persistent. Thirst an offensive discharge. This complication is
is great, and food is refused or taken sparingly. mostly associated with the pharyngeal form.
The animal is dull, cries if moved or if the The cornea of the eye is sometimes the
abdomen is manipulated emaciation is rapid,
; seat of ulceration, which generally disappears
and the animal dies in a state of exhaustion. as the animal recovers. The whole eyeball
In the chronic cases there may or may not occasionally partakes of inflammation, which
be any catarrhal symptoms, but there is a destroys it.
chronic and persistent diarrhoea, and some- When the eyes of young kittens become the
times vomiting. The appetite is capricious seat of catarrh, the eye is generally destroyed,
or sometimes ravenous, thirst moderate, and and consequently the sight is lost. The
emaciation gradual, and liquid faeces may be nervous type, showing itself as excitement,
expelled on the least effort, as by coughing ; convulsions, chorea, meningitis, or paralysis,
the fur or pelage around the tail becomes although seen, is somewhat rare in this
soiled, and, in consequence, the animal gives creature.
off an offensive odour. Death may occur either suddenly from
"
convulsions, or rapidly from intoxication, or Treatment. An old maxim is, Prevention
is better than cure," and ought to be carried
slowly from exhaustion.
When due to intoxication, clonic, convul- out as far as possible by isolating all those
sive, or twitching movements of the muscles animals that have been in contact with the
of the temples, shoulders, and hind limbs infection.
precede, and are even seen shortly after, Animals coming from homes for lost and
death. Frequently death takes place without stray cats, cat shows, dealers in cats, should
any symptoms of the disease having been be kept apart from those in the cattery for at
noticed. In this case it appears to be due to least a fortnight, to see if they develop the
the rapidity of the formation of the toxin or complaint. The place of isolation should have
poison of the microbe, which causes intense no communicatioa with the building or house
shock to the system. in which the majority of healthy cats are
Diagnosis. In many instances this disease kept. The baskets, cages, clothing, etc.,
is mistaken for a simple catarrh, diarrhoea, or should be thoroughly 'Washed and disinfected
sore throat a mistake unfortunate where other before they are used again for sound cats. It
cats are concerned. It is true that the first ought not to be forgotten that persons who
stage of distemper frequently resembles either have been in contact with sick animals may
of these simple complaints, which are not con- carry the infection on their hands or clothes.
tagious, and generally only affect one out of When distemper has declared itself in a
several animals kept together, and run their cattery and the inmates have recovered, the
course in a few days ;
whereas in distemper the place should be thoroughly scrubbed, disin-
disease usually runs a prolonged course, is verj' fected, and afterwards lime-washed or re-
prostrating, and in many instances fatal, and, painted. Boiling water and soda, used with
beyond all, contagious. On the other hand, it the aid of a scrubbing-brush, is much more
may resemble diphtheria, which is contagious, reliable to remove infection than many of the
but has false membranes on the soft palate, so-calleddisinfectants, which frequently do
pharynx, larynx, and tonsils, which are absent not destroy the virus, but often injure the
in distemper. cats. After the habitation has been scrupu-
Prognosis. Distemper is a most treacherous lously cleansed,it may be well to disinfect it
disease, and one of which even an expert with chlorinated lime (i Ib. to the gallon of
cannot foretell the result. Many instances cold water), which should be brushed all over
occur in which an animal appears to be on the floor, walls, partitions, etc. Baskets,
the right road towards recovery, when a hampers, etc., should be served likewise.
relapse suddenly sets in and carries off the Metal and earthenware utensils may be boiled
poor creature. If the appetite is moderate, in strong soda-water.
the emaciation not rapid or great, the diarrhoea Before any cats are again put into the
not intense or too frequent, and no complica- place, the doors and windows should be opened
tions set in after the end of the first week, for at least a week, and fresh air and daylight
recovery may be anticipated. On the other admitted, as they are the best destructors of
hand, if the weakness be progressive and micro-organisms.
prolonged, emaciation rapid and great, an Where valuable cats are kept and the risk
offensive odour is given off from the body, of distemper is great, it would be advisable
eyes sunken in their orbits, pupils dilated, for the owner to have the cats immunised, or
and the facial expression is haggard, death is rendered proof against the disease, by means
to be expected. Again, relapses (which are of the Pasteurian system of vaccination with
commonly encountered), early youth, obesity, the attenuated microbe of distemper, as intro-
complications, the breed of the animal (such duced into practice by Professor Lignieres and
as Siamese and long-haired varieties, especially Dr. Phisalix. Several degrees of strength of
light-coloured animals), are generally un- the vaccine are used. The animal is at first
favourable towards a certain recovery. vaccinated or inoculated with a mild degree
Chronic nasal catarrh, chronic pneumonia of virus, and afterwards with vaccine of
or phthisis, and persistent diarrhoea may also gradually increased virulence, so that the
give trouble after the distemper has run its most virulent virus (which would quickly kill,
ordinary course, and will have to be reckoned or cause the disease in a severe form in
with. an animal not previously inoculated with the
milder vaccines) would not produce any dis- In case there is repeated vomiting, a powder
composed of
turbance in the vaccinated creature.
Medical or Curative Treatment. The sick Bismuth carbonate . .
5 grains,
animal should be kept in a well-lighted and Cocaine hydrochloride \ grain,
. .
well-ventilated but not draughty room, which should be shaken on the tongue every four
of
ought to be dry, and kept at a temperature hours until twenty-four hours have elapsed
about 60. The floor should be covered with since the last vomiting took place. If there
a thick layer of fresh pine sawdust, heaps of should be a persistent and profuse diarrhoea,
which should be placed in tins, boxes, or old it must be moderated, but not suppressed,
convenience of the animals.
grains of tannigen given morn-
for the
coal-scuttles
by means of 2-J-
If the cat is seen in the first stage of the noon, and night. When there are any
ing,
disease, an emetic of } to grain of tartar convulsions -or much pain, i to grain of
emetic in a teaspoonful of warm water may extract of opium in pill should be administered
be given to clear out the stomach and bronchial morning and night.
tubes. In place of this drug, -3V to ^V grain such as
Light and easily digested food
of hydrochloride of apomorphine in tabloid
peptonised milk, Mosquera's beef jelly, Benger's
iorm may be injected under the skin. After peptonised food, etc. should be given in small
the emetic has passed off, easily digested and and repeated quantities during the earlier or
nourishing food, such as milk, should be active stages of the disease. Later on, in the
offered, and, if refused, forced upon the convalescent stage, scraped raw beef, boiled
animal. When the
is fairly good,
appetite fish, pudding, etc., may be offered.
rice
to J grain of calomelmay be given twice a chemical food and cod-liver oil,
Parrish's
day, but must be stopped as soon as it causes given by some cat-owners during the acute
vomiting or intense diarrhoea. stage of distemper when there is no appetite,
When the appetite is bad, quinine sulphate are harmful and cruel remedies.
(t- grain) given three
times a day for a length-
ened period may be useful in remedying it. DISEASES OF THE EAR.
The eyes and nostrils should be bathed The external ear in the cat is short, upright,
three times a day with the following lotion :
triangukr, pointed, and opens in front. Its
in some cats Persians has a
Chinosol
Rose-water ...
. . .
.8
3i grains,
ounces ;
apex
tuft of hair
especially
growing from the inside. In the
outer margin the ear doubles on itself, forming
and then smeared with an ointment composed
a pouch, in which lumps of dirt, ear-mites,
of
etc., frequently accumulate.
Boracic Acid drachm,
Cold Cream
.
.
.
4 drachms.
A Serous Cyst, or abscess, forms between
the skin and cartilage of the inside, and some-
When the throat is very much inflamed, it times also of the outside, of the ear or ears.
should be painted on the outside, after all The ear is swollen, feels tense, has a bluish
the hair is clipped off from ear to ear, with or reddish tint, but is not very painful. The
tincture of iodine or the setherial tincture of contents of this swelling are a thin, reddish
capsicum, three times a day, until soreness is fluid and a blood clot, which separate the skin
produced. As it is a difficult job to paint the from the cartilage and its covering.
inside of the cat's throat, the following powder It is always associated with ear-mites, and
dropped on the tongue will act in a similar generally results in the ear shrinking and be-
manner
coming drawn down, which, when both ears
:
Quinine sulphate : . .
grain. are affected, give the animal a peculiar ap-
Borax 2^ grains.
pearance, resembling some wild variety of the
. . . .
To be given morning, noon, and night.

cat tribe that usually carries these organs in
If there is either pleurisy or pneumonia, or a semi-pendulous manner.
both combined, the hair should be cut off Treatment. It can be prevented by keeping
over the ribs, and the skin painted with a the cat's ears clean and free from ear-mites.
solution of tartar emetic (composed of i drachm When it is present, the cyst should be freely
of the drug to an ounce of spirit), and then opened (which can be done painlessly by pre-
wrapped up with a binder, under which a viously injecting a few drops of a 4 per cent,
layer of cotton-wool is placed. solution of cocaine), the blood clot carefully
24
removed, and the inner surface of the cavity ment composed of oil of stavesacre (2 drachms)
washed out with a 5 per cent, solution of and almond oil (6 drachms), mixed together,
chinosol. The ear must be gently pulled and poured in every day until all signs of irri-
to and, con- tation have passed away, care being taken to
every day prevent shrinking,
sequently, deformity. wipe off the superfluous dressing from the
True Canker is an inflammation of the ears after each dressing.
deeper part of the cavity of the ear, accom-

DISEASES OF THE EYE.
panied with a chronic foetid, whitish, cheesy,
or gluey discharge, and sometimes ulceration, In certain respects the eye of the cat differs
and, rarely, warty-looking growths. It usually from that of the other domesticated animals.
runs a long course, unless skilfully treated, and It resembles the eye of the dog in its shape,
is liable to recur. which is somewhat rounded and globular. The
Treatment. The ear should be carefully membrana nictitans, haw, or third eyelid, is not
washed out with tincture of calendula, and so well developed as in some other animals, as
then well dried with cotton-wool, and after- the cat is able to protect the eye with the paw
wards have finely sifted boracic powder blown to a considerable extent. The tapctum lucidum
down the cavity. This treatment should be is of a brilliant metallic golden yellow or
carried out at least every other day until greenish (in Siamese and albino cats pinkish
recovery takes place. colour), and is so well developed that it probably
Quite 90 per cent, of long-haired varieties enables the animal to see better at night, by
and cross-breeds suffer from Parasitic Canker. reflecting the rays of light a second time
It is seen in kittens a month old, as well through the retina.
as in aged cats, and is conveyable to the dog. It is also the cause of the well-known glare
The ferret also is liable to it. of the cat's eyes in the dark.
It is due to the ear-mite called Symbiotes The iris, or curtain, is yellowish-green, orange,
auricularum, which was first found in the ear or golden in most cats ;
sometimes it is amber-
of the dog by Professor Henng, of Stuttgart, coloured, and in other cases golden, with a
in 1834, and in the cat by Huber, of Memingen, tinge of metallic green around the pupillary
in 1860. circumference. Some cats, especially white
It resembles the mange and cheese mites in cats, have the iris of one of the eyes of a bluish
general characters, and is only with difficulty white appearance, and the other a golden,
seen with the naked eye. When viewed in amber, or greenish golden colour.
strong sunlight, it appears as a small whitish The Siamese cat and many white cats have
or cinnamon-coloured woolly speck, resembling pale blue or bluish eyes. The shade of the iris
a grain of meal or flour crawling about on the generally varies with the colour of the cat's
brownish dirt in the ears. These mites nearly fur, and is taken into consideration in the
always collect together in large colonies. judging of points at shows.
There is frequent scratching of the ears with The pupil, or opening in the centre of the
the hind limb. The cat suddenly stops, sits when widely dilated,
iris, is circular in shape,
down, inclines its head to one side, and but when contracted it becomes vertically
scratches away as if it gave it great pleasure elliptical, and may become so narrow as to
to do so. In some cases, however, it becomes appear as a mere thin perpendicular slit.
quite frantic, and swears. Frequently there The

optic disc, or entrance of the optic nerve
is an abrasion of the skin behind the ears due before it expands in the cavity of the eyeball
to this scratching, and occasionally the flap of to form the retina, is small, round, and cupped,
the ear becomes the seat of a serous abscess, and of a clear grey colour, and the veins in it
which I have described. can be distinguished from the arteries which
When the mite wanders over the drum of radiate from the optic disc. The choroidal
the ear, especially in warm weather, some cats vessels are rarely seen, but in the Siamese cat
are seized with convulsions, others become they are seen in the red peripheral zone.
delirious, and many reel about as if intoxi- Kittens, like puppies, are, as a rule, born
cated. with the eyelids closed, and this condition lasts
Treatment. The ears should be washed out usually from nine to twelve days, when the
with warm soap and water, and then well dried membrane joining the two lids together wastes
with cotton-wool, and afterwards have a lini- and finally gives way. Sometimes, however,
the eyelids do not become separated, or only fore, on no account be removed. It frequently
become so at one part, so that surgical inter- becomes inflamed during distemper, catarrh,
vention may be necessary to separate the or ophthalmia, or from injuries, but should
partially or completely closed lids. not in these cases be removed, as if it were a
I have, on several occasions, seen kittens foreign body or new growth a simple soothing,
;
born with their eyes open, but have not been antiseptic lotion will put it right as the original
able to satisfy myself if the condition was due disease abates and strength is regained.
to any prolongation of the period of utero- Frequently in the cat, as in the dog, just
gestation. below the inner angle of the eye socket an
The eyelids are sometimes the seat of ring- abscess forms. This is due to pus in the cavity
worm, mange, follicular scabies, or eczema, and of the jaw bones, called also the antrum of
as these affections are usually present in other highmore,_above the teeth, and is generally
parts of the body, they can easily be diagnosed caused by some disturbance or disease of the
by means of the naked eye or the microscope. tooth. When the tooth immediately below
The best remedy for any of these diseases, the abscess is removed, and the abscess cavity
when situated on the eyelids, is : is washed out with some astringent, recovery
usually takes place. It should, however, be

Yellow oxide of mercury 4 grams,
White vaseline i ounce. borne in mind that the teeth below the eye
are frequently diseased, and no abscess is
These ingredients are to be well mixed by a caused by them.

competent chemist, and a small piece, about A fistula may form immediately below the
the size of a pea, is to be well rubbed on the inner angle of the eyelids. It results from an
affected part or parts every morning. Care abscess which opens, and then heals up, to
must be taken that no superfluous ointment is break out again. This process goes on until a
left on the hairs, as most cats will rub it off permanent opening or fistula remains, from
with their paws, which they will immediately which a discharge of matter issues. This is
lick,and so may become poisoned. connected with some disturbance, or even
The eyelids occasionally become turned in- disease, of the tooth or teeth immediately
wards, so that the hairs covering it rub on the below it. When the tooth or teeth are re-
glassy portion of the eyeball, and frequently moved, and the opening occasionally well
set up irritation, inflammation, and opacity, washed out with some astringent, it heals up,
and a copious discharge of tears. This is and no further trouble is seen. However, it
termed entropium, and requires an operation. is sometimes due to tuberculosis, and the
When the eyelid is turned outwards from the mere removal of teeth does not do away with
eyeball, the condition takes the name of the fistula. It is mostly mistaken for a
ectropium, which rarely calls for any inter- lachrymal fistula.
ference, as it does not injure the animal, even Sometimes the conjunctiva, or the pinkish
if it is unsightly. A very rare anomaly of the membrane lining the inner surface of the eye-
'
eyelid in the cat is when the hairs of it take lids and the frontof the eyeball, becomes the
an unusual direction, and rub on the glassy seat of disease.
portion of the eyeball, and, like entropium, set A non-inflammatory swelling of it is seen,
up irritation, inflammation, and smokiness of due to an serum. This is called
infiltration of
it. This is termed trichiasis, and requires an chemosis. has the appearance of a palish
It
operation to remedy it.
pink swelling all round the eye, which seems
The
eyelids are also
subject to wounds, sunken in the orbit but does not seem in-
bruises, abscesses, warts, and Meibomian cysts, flamed or painful. It may quickly disappear
which do not call for special attention. The on dropping a few minims of a 4 per cent,
third eyelid, haw, or membrana nictitans solution of cocaine hydrochloride into the
though, as before stated, it is not so well eye. It is liable to recur at some future
developed in the cat as in some other animals- time.
is liable, in
debilitating diseases, such as dis- Conjunctivitis, or inflammation of the mem-
temper, anaemia, etc., to protrude persistently brane covering the inner lining of the eyes and
over the inner part of the front of the eyeball. the front of the eyeball, is also termed external
It will, however, resume its normal or simple ophthalmia. It is frequently seen in
position
as the cat regains strength, and should, there- the cat during distemper, diphtheria, catarrh,
372 THE BOOK OF THE CAT;
or from an injury to, or presence of a foreign thick, yellowish matter flows out, the eyes are
body in, the eye. ulcerated and perforated, the inner surfaces of
The animal evidently dreads the light, as the eyelids are inflamed, and soon after the
the eyelids are partially closed, and the haw is contents of the eye protrude as a fleshy mass.
drawn a little way over the front of the eyeball. Treatment. If the eyes are destroyed, the
Tears run down the face, and, if the eyelids animal should be put into the lethal chamber
are separated, and the internal lining thus at once. On the other hand, if there is no
exposed, it will be found that it is swollen and ulceration of the eyeball, the eyelids should be
reddened from the distension of the small separated and the eyes and under-surface of
blood-vessels. After a day or two, the dis- the eyelids constantly irrigated for a quarter
charge alters in character, and instead of being of an hour at a time with a warm solution of
watery, as before, appears as yellowish white chinosol. The eyelids must not be allowed to
thick matter, flowing from or sticking to the become sealed up, else matter will collect and
inner corner of the eye. The lining membrane press on the delicate eyeballs and destroy
may become so swollen that it laps over the them. It may be advisable to paint the inside
lids, and the eyeball seems to have sunk into of the eyelids with a 10 per cent, solution of
its orbit. nitrate of silver.
Sometimes it is associated with the presence The cornea, or clear, glassy transparent mem-
on the conjunctiva of small, round, pinkish brane of the front of the eyeball, is frequently
bodies, the size of a pin's head, which com- involved in the disease just described, or it
pletely disappear as the affection passes off, may become inflamed or ulcerated independent
leaving the mucous membrane as they found of it.
it. Frequently, there are reddish-yellow granu- Inflammation of the cornea, termed Corneitis,
lations or greyish- white, semi-transparent, or keratitis, or external ophthalmia, may result
glistening bodies, of the size of a rape-seed or from conjunctivitis, injuries, distemper, diph-
less, scattered over the conjunctival membrane, theria, or disease of the brain or nerves, sun-
or protruding from it. stroke, etc.
To these two latter varieties of conjunctivitis It is very prevalent during the cold winds
the terms of follicular and granular are re- of spring, and in the majority of instances
spectively applied. They both seem contagious. seems to be contagious. It appears in the
Treatment. If the catarrh of the eyes is due form of patchy congestion or inflammation,
to a foreign body, it must be removed. The or at a later stage as ulceration.
cat should be kept in a dark, warm place, free One or both eyes may be affected. There
from draughts and away from the fire, and the is a dread of light, a continual flow of tears,
eye bathed with a warm lotion composed of and frequent winking of the eyelids, or almost
The cornea, usually
Boracic acid .....8
the following ingredients :
8 grains.
complete closure of them.
glassy and transparent, becomes clouded by
Rose-water ...
Cocaine hydrochloride .
. i ounce.
a smoky or milky white film, which has a
rounded or irregular form.
If there are any granules on the conjunctiva, Blood-vessels, which in the normal state are
the lining membrane of the lids should be absent, appear on the cornea, spreading from
everted, after the eye has been cocainised, and a part or all round the circumference towards
painted with a 10 per cent, solution of nitrate the centre of the eye. If the inflammation is
of silver or rubbed with a stick of intense and prolonged, the eyeball perforated,
copper
sulphate, care being taken that the superfluous and the contents bulge outwards and become
material is afterwards washed off with warm
rough, dirty, and leathery in appearance, this
water. condition is generally seen either as the result
The Purulent Ophthalmia of the New-born is of an injury, or from improper treatment, or
seen in young kittens as soon as their
eyes are neglect of a simple affection of the eye. In
opened, or even before, and is a very serious distemper the inflammation usually expends
complaint, as it generally attacks the eyeball, on some particular spot or spots in one or
itself
which it destroys, and consequently the sight both eyes. These spots may appear as mere
is lost. This disease seems contagious. milky-white patches, or they may present an
There is a bulging of the eyelids, which are
appearance which might lead an ordinary
glued together. When these are separated, a observer to the conclusion that a small piece
had been dug out of the eye. They may To bathe the eye,by means of allowing the
occur either in the centre of the cornea, or a lotion to drop by squeezing a piece of lint
little above it, or sometimes a little towards saturated with it between the eyelids several
the outer angle of the eye. times a day.
At the outset the cornea at the particular When the eye is irretrievably lost, and sup-
spot or spots in which the inflammation is puration commences in the interior of the eye,
localised becomes softened, then bulges, and it is necessary to remove the whole
eyeball.
finally gives way, so that a depression or ulcer However, this should not be performed in the
is lefton the eye. Some time after this ulcer case of distemper until after the original disease
becomes filled up with granulations of a dirty abates, else removal of one eye will probably
red colour, which afterwards become absorbed, end in destruction of the other.
when the cure is complete. Frequently two GeneraL_Remarks on the Eye. In all affec-
ulcers appear side by side. tions of the eyes, a careful examination of them
Sometimes, when these ulcerations are im- should be made by an experienced qualified
properly treated or neglected, or associated veterinary surgeon. As, however, in some
with great debility or anaemia, the white speck out-of-the-way places professional aid is diffi-
remains as a permanent blemish, or in the cult, if not impossible, to obtain, a few brief
more serious cases the ulcer perforates the hints as to general treatment should be useful.
eye, and the contents of which bulge and cause Many amateurs, in their anxiety to effect a
what is termed a staphyloma, from its resem- speedy and complete cure, attempt too much,
blance to a grape, or the whole eye may become use powerful and irritating drugs (often also in
involved in the inflammation and be totally improper proportions), and frequently, with
destroyed. In these cases of the destroyed or the best intentions in the world, succeed in
" "
lost eyes, the whole eyeball has a greenish- permanently injuring or even destroying the
white appearance, and seems to bulge out from sight. It is therefore better, in the absence of
the socket in consequence of the general professional aid, and especially in the earlier
swelling of the organ. It may give way or stages of inflammation of the eyes, to trust to
become ulcerated, giving rise to a continual mild and palliative treatment, and to " give
discharge, and if not removed causes great nature a chance."
pain and exhaustion. In all cases of recent inflammation, soothing
Treatment. The cat should be kept in the applications should be used, such as warm
dark, and soothing antiseptics applied to the infusion of poppy-heads or camomile flowers,
eye. warm milk, cocaine drops, etc. If the in-
The solution lecommended for conjunctivitis flammation is associated with increased tension
is also very serviceable here. If the eye affection of the eyeball, due to an excessive quantity of
is due to distemper or any other general disease, fluid within it, or is accompanied
by deep
of course, necessary to treat this disease,
it is, ulceration, the increased tension should be
in addition to the local applications to the eye. reduced by means of the eserine drops.
When ulceration takes place, the following Lotions containing either lead or silver nitrate
drops are recommended : should not be used in inflammation of the
Eserine salicylate .
1 grain. cornea associated with ulceration, as the former
Distilled water 2 drachms. is apt to leave a white
spot or patch, and the
To be instilled between the eyelids, by means latter a brown or blackish stain.
of an eye-dropper, two or three times a day. Last, but by no means least, animals affected
Tf, however, there is much vascularity, the with disturbance of the eyes should be kept
in the dark, or atany rate away from the fire
following drops are advisable :
or fromany glaring light, and should be shielded

Atrophine sulphate . .
-J grain.
Cocaine hydrochloride . . 6 grains. from draughts. The general health should also
Distilled water . . .2 drachms. be looked to, and nourishing food given.
After all the acute symptoms have passed
DISEASES OF THE SKIN.
away, the indolent granulations may require
treatment. A suitable application for this The cat is very fortunately free from many of
is the skin complaints that affect the dog. Never-
purpose :
Chinosol . . .
-3? grains. theless, domestication and improper surround-
Rose-water . . . .8 ounces. ings the curses of health demand a few
24*
victims now and again, and hence the much- The nostrils and eyes may be blocked up by
maligned cat is not exempt from this bane. the thickened crusts, so that the animal can
The diseases are either contagious and con- see, or breathe through the nostrils, only with
veyable from one cat to another, or simple and difficulty. The cat hides or strays away, it
not spread by contact. mopes and seems sad it becomes emaciated,
;
The contagious skin diseases are due either and indifferent to its surroundings, and finally
to an animal parasite (as in mange) or to a succumbs to exhaustion or some concurrent
vegetable parasite (as in ringworm). disease. It may be associated with ringworm
Sarcoptic Mange is a contagious skin dis- or parasitic ear canker it is nearly
;
always
ease of the cat due to an animal parasite or accompanied by the elliptical tapeworm.
mange-mite, termed Sarcoptes minor, var. cati. It quickly kills within five or six weeks if
It generally attacks ill-fed, neglected, and no treatment or bestowed on

attention is
badly housed cats which are allowed to stray, the cat, especially if young but where it is
;
and is seen chiefly in the -autumn. It fre- partially treated, it may linger for months,
quently occurs as an epizootic, and where no even years. Cold weather retards its progress,
attention is bestowed on the victims it is very but its energy is renewed in the following
fatal. spring. It spreads slowly on well-cared-for
The adult or mature mite has an almost cats.
circular body. Whenviewed under the micro- Treatment. The mangy cat should be kept
scope, its limbs seem to be under its body. It isolated from the healthy animals, and kept
has eight pairs of legs in the adult and six in away from children. Its basket, bedding, or
the larval stage. In the female the hind legs cage should be boiled, burnt, or thoroughly
are provided at the extremities with bristles disinfected. The cat must be carefully dressed
only ;but in the male the central pair of hind with sulphurated lime lotion, which should be
legs are provided with suckers, although the applied by means of a piece of lint every day,
outer pair have bristles. It does not excavate taking care that the animal is kept warm and
a subcutaneous gallery, or burrow, like the well fed.
mange-mites of other animals, but makes a Follicular Mange is due to a caterpillar-
simple nest, that appears as a minute eminence. shaped mite the Demodex or Acarus follicu-
The larvae, nymphse, and males wander in the lorum, var. cati which inhabits the sebaceous
midst of the crusts. follicles of the skin. It is sometimes found in
It is capable of being transmitted to man, the ears, nose, and head of the cat, but rarely
and to the dog, rat, horse, and ox. causes severe itchiness. It produces pimples
Whatever part of the body it first touches, and scabs, which are only of short duration,
it always goes to the head to do its injurious and seldom occasions trouble. It is frequently
work. At first small reddish pimples, no associated with sarcoptic mange. The parasite
larger than a pin's head or a turnip-seed, is a quarter smaller than that of the dog.
appear; these exude a yellowish fluid which Treatment. A lotion composed of sulphur-
dries and forms crusts. The animal scratches, ated potash (i drachm), glycerine (-J- oz. to
the hair falls off, numerous other scales 6 parts of rose-water), applied by means of
appear, and become thicker and thicker, until lint to the affected part once a day, generally
the whole head and ears become encased in a suffices to cause its disappearance.
cast of dirty yellowish crusts. The crusts may Grey Ringworm, or Tinea tonsurans, is not
be absent in young kittens or cats, but slightly- a common affection of the cat. It is due to a
adherent scales are seen instead. vegetable parasite or mould, termed the Tricho-
After a time the disease spreads to the neck phyton felineum, which attacks the hairs, these
and shoulders, elbows and thighs, or even to becoming much altered and broken, and their
the whole body. In kittens or young cats ends split up and frayed like a brush. There
the complaint is more likely tp spread to will be noticed circular or oval bald patches,
various parts of the body, but in older animals covered with an abundance of scales, which are
it is generally confined to the head, or head of a slaty or greyish appearance, and vary
and neck, but may, as in young cats, spread to according to the colour of the animal. These
the other parts or to the whole body, the skin are seen on the head and limbs and round the
of which, after some time, becomes wrinkled,
eyelids and mouth, but also on other parts of
and gives off a musty odour. the body. They ma}' run into one another,
and form large patches. There may be itchi- cat to cat, from man to cat, and from rats and
ness and scratching and in this latter case
;
mice to man and cat. It may be associated
the crusts may be covered with blood and with mange and parasitic ear canker.
resemble eczema. Treatment. The cat affected with yellow
Treatment. As this disease is conveyable to ringworm should be kept away from children
other cats, to the horse, ox. dog, and children, and other cats the affected patches may
:
the affected animal should be isolated and be painted with the following :
the patches dressed with tincture of per- drachm.

Salicylic acid 1
chloride of iron once every third day. (Whole Ether 2 drachms.

families, and even a whole school, have been Spirit of wine ounce.
known to become affected with ringworm Glycerine 4 drachms,
from a cat.) Camphor- water to 3 ounces.
Yellow Ringworm, or Tinea favosa, or favus, The term "Eczema is given to all those skin
"
also termed honeycomb ringworm," is a eruptions that are characterised by pimples
commoner disease in the cat than grey ring- and vesicles followed by scabs and scales, and
worm. It is due to a vegetable parasite named accompanied with great itchiness.
Achorion Qmnckeanum, which causes at first It is said to be non-contagious, and as far
yellow-coloured crusts that are arranged as as the cat is concerned this seems to me to be
cup-shaped masses, which disturb the hairs so true. On the other hand, in the dog some of
that they are shed. These cup-shaped masses the varieties of eczema appear to be spread
resemble a honeycomb in appearance, hence its by contact. It very often runs a chronic
name. The sulphur-yellow colour after a time course, and frequently recurs.
changes to a dirty yellow or grey. The patches It generally affects the back, loins, root of
may be circular or zigzag, and raised above the tail, and back of the thighs, although any part
skin, but the centre is depressed so as to give of the body may be attacked. There is great
them a cup-shaped appearance. They vary in itchiness, the animal bites or licks itself, the
size from a pin's head to a shilling, or larger. skin becomes red, pimples the size of a head
They may run into one another, so that the of a millet seed, or even a small pea, appear ;
form is no longer present. The hairs
circular these, after a time, burst, and a fluid issues
and lustreless, and can be easily pulled
are stiff from them and dries, forming scabs. Some-
out. They seem to grow in the centre of the times the itchiness is so intense as to cause the
"
cups." After a time the parasite loosens the animal to bite or lick itself until the skin
hair in the follicle, so that it is shed. becomes raw and bleeding. In rare instances
It prefers to affect the root of the claws, or it produces a kind of mania for licking, which
the belly, sides of the chest, elbows, head, base is followed by epileptiform seizures. The hair
of ears, nose, and then spreads all over the falls off, leaving bare patches, or it becomes
body. When it attacks the head, it ensheaths matted together by the gluey discharge and
the face and scalp as if clay had been moulded ultimately sheds itself.
to the parts, so that the eyes become hidden In suckling cats, after sudden deprivation of
from view. their offspring, an eczematous eruption may
The cat hides itself, or strays away it ; appear on the belly, back, and loins, but it is
moans or mews, crouches on all fours, and not, as a rule, severe.
seems utterly miserable. The skin gives off The she-cat, especially of the light-coloured
an abominable odour, which resembles mouldy variety, when not allowed to breed, is often
decaying wood in a damp, dark building, or troubled with a scattered vesicular eruption,
a mousy smell. When the disease is in an which is too difficult to eradicate, and is very
advanced stage, the animal dies from exhaus- liable to recur.
tion or some concurrent disease. In the castrated male cat it is very common
It affects old cats as well as young ones, and to find a papularand vesicular eruption, which
said they contract it from mice and rats,
it is breaks out every spring and autumn.
which become affected behind the ears. A The causes of eczema in the cat are an un-
week or a fortnight elapses before any symptom natural, sedentary life and an abundance of
appears after infection. Young animals are rich food without any compensatory or suffi-
easily infected, but older ones may resist it. cient exercise in the fresh air. Hot weather,
It is transmissible to children and adults, from especially when accompanied by wet, pre-
disposes to it, but the affection is seen also in are burnt. The crevices or corners of the
the cold months of the year. cat's house should be sprinkled with oil of
Treatment. The animal suffering from turpentine, or Sanitas powder.
eczema should be allowed as much exercise Fortunately for the cat, it is affected with
of its functions in the open aii as possible. only one variety of louse, the Cat Louse (Tricho-
Grass or freshly boiled green vegetables, or dectcs subrostratus), which differs from the flea
asparagus, should be put within its reach. in being wingless and not jumping from but
Raw meat, uncooked fish with the bones in, or only quitting the cat by accident. It has
birds with the feathers on, or bullock's liver three-articled antennae the head has five sides
;
are suitable as ordinary food. Rice-pudding, to it the body is oval, and in the female
;
oatmeal, and milk should not be given. notched behind. Its colour is yellowish-brown.
The treatment of the skin is chiefly local. It is not a blood-sucker, but attacks the
The itchiness must be allayed. This can be hair and eats the epidermis, preferably that of
obtained by applying precipitated sulphur the head, neck, back, and limbs, where it
(2 drachms), zinc oxide (2 drachms), mixed in causes intense itching. It develops rapidly
olive oil (2 ounces) twice a day to the affected upon poorly fed, weak, or debilitated animals.
parts. If the eruptions are spread over a There is, besides itchiness, loss of hair, scurfi-
wide area, the hair should be cut off close to ness, and nits (eggs) in more or less large
the skin before applying the dressing. For numbers, which by their presence indicate that
internal treatment a powder composed of the skin has not received sufficient attention.
calomel (J- to J grain) and bicarbonate of The nits, or eggs, are attached to the hair.
sodium (a to 5 grains) should be given twice Treatment. The hair may be sprayed with
a day. If the disease runs a chronic course, equal parts of vinegar and concentrated in-
arsenic bromide or iodide ( T ff grain in a
-J-
fusion of quassia. Moreover, should the
pilule) should be given three times a day. animal lick itself after this dressing is ap-
plied, it will act as a tonic. Raw meat, or
EXTERNAL ANIMAL PARASITES. fish, cod-liver oil, etc., should be given.
The Cat Flea (Pulex serraticeps, var. cati).
The cat flea is identical with, but rather PAINLESS DESTRUCTION OF CATS.
smaller than, that of the dog. It differs from Aknowledge of how painlessly to destroy a
the flea of mankind (Pulex irritans) by having cat's lifeis very important to the owner of a
black, blunt spines, seven to nine in number, cat who is not in reach of a veterinary surgeon
arranged as the teeth of a comb, at the pos- the proper person to undertake this duty
terior border of the prothorax and at the under ordinary circumstances.
inferior border of the head. It is a trouble- The most humane method i? to place
some pest by irritating and disturbing rest. It the animal in a small air-tight box, into
prefers to attack the cat when she issuckling. which has been placed previously two to four
The flea plays an important part in the drachms of chloroform on a sponge or piece of
evolution of the elliptical tapeworm (Tcema lint or cotton-wool, which produces at first
elliptica) by harbouring the intermediary anaesthesia or painless sleep, and afterwards

cysticercus, the ingestion of which gives rise death from failure of the respiration and heart.
to the development of this tapeworm in the It does not cause a suffocative feeling or sen-
intestine. sation like coal-gas, or spasm, as does prussic
Treatment. The cat should have powdered acid. Care must be taken not to take the cat
pyrethrum well rubbed into its skin, and then out of the box too soon, or else life, not quite
combed out, care to be taken that the combings extinct, may return.
INDEX.
Blue Smokes, 126 Cat Photography, 332 ; Grouping, 334 ; Isochro-
Blue and White Persians, 233 matic Plates, 336 Length of Exposure, 335
;
Abscess of the Ear, 369 of the Eye, 371 ;

Board School Essay on Cats, 25 Cats, i, 18 Action of the Claws, 353 Amateur
; ;
Abyssinian Cats, 297, 301 Boarding Houses for Cats, 195 Photography, 338; Anatomy, 351, 354; An-
Albinos, 351 Body of Cat, 351 cestry, 350 on Armorial Bearings, 13 in Art,
; ;
Alice in Wonderland, 15 Bolton, Mr. G., on Manx Cats, 245 15 ;Average Aee at Death, 20 Black, 114 ; ;
Alice through the Looking-g'ass, 15 Bones and Principal Ligaments of Cat's Toe, 352 Brain of, 350 Buying and Selling, 86 Care
; ;
Amateur Cat Photography, 332 Bones in Structure of Cat, 352 and Management, 37 ; Catteries, 50 ; of Cele-
"
brated People, 10 ; Classification. 350 ; " Cold
America Cat Fancy, 30, 303 ''Any Other Colour
:
; Bonny, Mrs., on Short-haired Cats, 285
Persians in, 235 ; Brown Tabby Persians, 227, Bordeaux Museum, 6 Storage" Breed, 2\\ Common Brown Tabby,
229; Cats' Homes in, 33 Difficulties of Show- ; Boston, U.S., Cats' Home, 34 229 ; Dentition, 99, 352 ; Diseases, 358 ; Do-
ing, 324 ; Fanciers, 304 ; Judging, 317 ; Litera- Botanic Gardens National Cat Club Shows, 27 mesticated, 6; Earliest Egyptian Representa-
ture, 31 ; Short-haired Cats, 286 ; Shows, 327 ; Bougeant, Father, 12 tion, 5; in Egypt, 2, 297 j Emblem of Moon,
Smoke Persians, 184 ; Stud Cats, 305 ; Stud Boulak Museum, 3 4; Exhibiting, 61 ; Feeding in Illntss, 358;
Cats' Register, 309 Wild Cats at bhows, 322 ;
Brain of Cat, 350, 356 Foreign Names for, 18 ; Friendships with
American Cat Clubs, 30 Brand's Essence, 45 Dogs, 322 ; Generic Family Name, 350 ;
Anaesthetics, 557 Breastbone of Cat, 353 Geographical Distribution, 350 Head on ;
Anatomy of Ca<, 351 Breeding, 38,347; " in America, 316. 324; "Any Pasht, 3 ; in Heraldry, 12 ; in history, 8 ;
Ancestry of Cat, 350 Other Colours 233 Black Persians, 112, 115
; ; Homeless in London, 32 ; Household, 19 ;
Angora Cats. 0,8 Blue Persians, 107, 126 Blue Short-hairs, ; Housing of, 49; Insurance, 66; Intelligence,
Animal Worship. 2
" 979 Brown Tabby Persians, 228 Chinchillas,
; ; 18, 20; Judging, 70; Longevity, 20; Long-
"
Any Other Colour Persians, 233 ; in America, 152, 160; Colour, 344, 349; Cream Persians, haired Foreign, 17 ; Mating, 38 ; Medical
235 ; Mating, 233
Fanciers, 234
; 204 ; Darwin on, 152 ; Financial Aspect, 26 ; Treatment, 31, 271, 373; in Middle Ages, 8;
Appendicular Skeleton of Cat, 353 Manx Cats, 250; Markings, 74; Orange Per- the Hon. Mrs. McLaien Morrison on, 105;
Archangel Cats, 275. 279 sians, 190 ; Pedigree Cats, 152 ; Red Tabby Mummy, i ; Neck bones, 352 ; in Nursery
Armitage, Miss, on Siamese Cats, 260 Short-hairs, 288 ; Short-hairs, 284, 291, 294 ; Rhymes, 14 ; Painless Destruction, 376 Pedi- ;
Armorial Bearings and Cats, 13 Sjamese Cats, 256, 258 ; Silver Persians. 144 ; gree, 27 ; Performing, 24 ; Place in Nature,
Arnold, Matthew, n Silver and Chinchillas, 143 ; Silver Tabbies, 350 ; Points, 96 ; in Public Offices, 22 ; Re-
Art. The Cat in, 15 169, 172 ; Smoke Persians, 182 ; Tortoiseshells, produced in Ware, 16 ; Ribs, 352 ; Senses of
Artificial Foods for Ki ten, 338 (
209, 295 ; White Persians, 119 Smell and Hearing, 20 ; Short-haired English,
Artificial
Foster-mother, 340 Brighton, Massachusetts, Cats' Home, 34 17 ; Skeleton, 555 ; Stray, 33 ; Structure, 350 ;
Heat in Cattery, 54
Artificial Brindled Cat, 216 Superstitions, 13, 115; Toy, in British Mu-
Asphalt Floor for Cattery, 51 British Cat Club, 27, 274 seum, 5 ; Utility of, 22 ; Vertebrae, 352 Wash- ;
Assam, 122 British Museum, 5 ing, 37 ; when Travelling, 58 ; Worship in

Atab, 215 Broken Colours, ô, 231 Egypt, 3
Atlantic Cat Club, 27, 304 ; Silver Tabby Winners, Bromide, 46 Cats' Home, Dublin, 33
176 Bronchitis, 363 Cats'-meat, 24
Australia, Origin of Cats in, 300; Wild Cats, 323 Brooke, Mr. H. C-, on Manx Cats, 250 Catteries, 101, 131 ; American, 304 ; Appli-
49,
Axial Skeleton of Cat, 352 Brooklyn Cattery, 306 ances, 55 ; at Battersea Home, 33 ; Lady
Brough, Mrs. Parker, on Siamese Cats, 263 Marcus Beresford's, 102 Miss Beal's, 206 ', ;
Brown, Mrs. Peter, 68 Breeding Rooms, 52 ; Brooklyn, 3c6 ; Miss

Brown Tabby Persians, 215 in America, 227, ; 229 ; Cartmell's, 192 Cazenovia, 307 ; Cleanliness,
;
B Mrs. Barker on, 227 Classification, ; 217 ; 44, 55 Mrs. Coll ing wood's, 105 ; Lady Decics',
;
Colour Breeding, 347 Mrs. Drury on, ;

222 ; 10,1; Disinfectants, 55; Distemper, 364, 368;
Kittens, 225 Markings, 216
; Mating, ;
228 ; Drainage, 51 ; Earth Tins, 57 Fetdine in, ;
Backgrounds in Cat Photography, 332 Points, 228 ; Sables, 217, 224, 229 ;
Miss 37 ; Feeding Utensils, 56 ; Flooring, 51 ; Hart
Balding, Mrs., on Chinchilla Persians, 144 Southam on, 218 White Lip, 224
; ; Miss Park, Slaten Island, 307 ; Mrs. Hawkins',
Barker, Mr. E. M., on Brown Tabby Persians, Whitney on, 224 262; Heating, 54, 57; Mrs. Herring's, 106 ;
227 Brown Tabby Short-haired Cats, 288, 291 Mrs. Jame/, 180 Miss A. Leake's, 170;
;
Basalt Cat Statues, 5 Bubastes, 3 Lethal Box, 56 Littering Nests, 52 Linden,

; ;
Battersea Dogs' Home, 19 Bull, Messrs., Travelling Basket, 60 Indianapolis, 315 ; Millerton, New York, 307 ;
Beal, Miss, on Cream Persians, 206 ; on Tortoise- Bunny Cat, 301 Mrs. Neate's, 195; Old Ford, 305 Dr. Otto- ;
shell Persians, 210 Burial Cuscoms, 6 Owena, 313

cengui's, 305 ; Photographing ;
Bedding, 52 ; at Shows, 80 Burma, 300 in, 332; Pioneer, Toronto, 315; Plan of, 51;
Beds fur Oimnfl in Kit, 40 Burmese Cats, 300 Playing Room, 52 Portable, 55 Ridgefield, ; ;
Bennet, Mrs., 68 Buying and Selling Cats, 86 New Jersey, 306; Runs, 54; Sleeping Boxes,
Bentham, J., n 52 ;Siames- Cats, 261 ; Miss Southam's, 220;
Beresford Cat Club, Chicago, 27, 30; Blue Short- Mrs. Spent er's, 261 Mrs. McKenzie Stewart's,
;
hairs Classification, 280 ; Neuters, 239 ; Stud 104 Stud Houses, 54 Treatment of Kittens
; ;
Book, 309 in. 338; Ventilation, 5?; Mrs. G. Walker's,

Beresford, I.ady Marcus, 28 ; Cattery, 101 ; on 159; Worcester, Mass., 306
Siamese Cat *, 261 1
Caffre Cat, 297 Cazenovia, U.S., 307

Berlin Museum, 5 Cairo, Cats' Home, 35 Cement Floor for Cattery, 51
Bible, Reference to Cat in, 2 California, Cat Fancy, 316 Challenge Trophy for Chinchilla Kittens, 151
Black Persians, 112 ; Coats, 113, 117 ; Colour Cambyses Tradition, Champfleury, M., on Cats of Egypt. 5 on Cats ;
Breeding. 345; Eyes, 112, 116 Mr. R. Little ; Cameras, Photographic, in Cat Photography, 332 in Heraldry, 13; in Nursery Rhymes, 14
on, 117
; Mating, 115, 344; Dr. Roper on, 115 Camphaleyne, 55 Charity, Cat Shows in Aid of, 28
Black Short-haired Cats, 289 Canada, Cat Fancy, 315 Cheeks of Cat, 96
Black and White Club, 26, 117 Canadian Cats, 315 Cheetah, The, 350
Black and White Persians, 233 Canker, 369 Chemosis, 371
Bladder, Distension of the, 361 Carbonate of Soda, 45 f hest of Cat, 96'
Blue Persian Cat Society, 26, 30 Objects, 179 ; Carroll, Lewis, 14 Chesterfield, n
Pedigree Form, 87 Castor-oil, 360 Chicago Cat Club, 27, 30, 309 on Hairle=s Cats, 298 ;
Blu? Persians, 125 Catteries, 131 Mrs. Clarke

; ; Cat Club, The, 26 ; Annual Shows, 95, 163 ; Chicago Cat Fanciers, 310 Home, 34, 313 ; ;
on, 107 Eyes, 127 ; Fanuers, 128, ; Foundation, 28 ; Medal, 1^3 Register, 78 ; ; Shows, 312
Kittens, no, 127 Mr. T. B. Mason on, 127 ; Registration, 29, 62 Stud Book, 29
; China, 6, 300
Mating, ic7, 126 Points, 126, 130 ; Cat Clubs and Societies, List of, 26 Chinaware, 16
Blue Short-haired Cats, 275; British, 276; Mrs Cat Family, The, 350 Chinchilla Cat Club, The, 26, 30, 151 ; Standard
Carew Cox on, 278 Coat, 279 Fanciers, 277 ; ; Cat Fancy, 25, 90 of Points, 154
"
Canon Girdlestone's Breed, 279 Mrs. Jnme ; Cat Journal," American Paper, 89, 306 Chinchilla Persians, 137; Mrs. Balding on, 144;
on, 265 ; Mating, 279 ; Place of Origin, 288 Cat-louse, 376 Colour, 154, 346 ; Eyes, 346; Mating, 143,
Points x 277, 281 Ruisian, 276, 291 ; Cat-o'-nine-tails, 19 160 ; Points, 141, 154, 160 ; Show Cats, 147
Chinese Cat, 300 Dumas, n Gautier, Bon, 11

Chintz Cats, 210, 212 Dyer, Thistleton, 19 Gelded Cats, 237
Chocolate Siamese Cat, 256 Gelding, 47, 237
Christmas Cards, Cats on, 25 Geoffrey's Cat, 297, 302
Chronic Nasal Catarrh, 362 Geographical Distribution of Cat Family, 350
Cincinnati Cat Shows, 314 Gestation, 38
Clan Chattan, 13 Ear : of Cat, 96 ; Abyssinian Cat, 298 ; Blue Gloss on Coat, 97
Clarke, Mrs. S. F., on Breeding Blue Persians, Short-hairs, 278 ; Chinese Cats, 300 ; Diseases, Goethe, n
107 369 Gordon Cottage, 32
Classes, Definition of, 28 Ear -bone of Cat, 350 Gotwalts, Mrs., 307
Classification at Shows, 78 Ear Mites, 370 Government Cats, 22
Clavicle of Cat, 351 Ear-tufts, 96 ;
in Chinchillas, 154; Silver Tabbies, Gowanda, U.S., 304
Claws of Cat, 350, 35^ 172 ; Smoke Persians, 178 Grass, Necessity of, ic8
Cleanliness in Catteries, 44 Ectropium, 371 Great Britain, Cats in, 6
Cleveland Shows, 314 Eczema, 46, 375 Greeks and Cats, 6
Clouded Leopard, 351 Egypt, i ; Animal Worship, 2 ; Cat-faced Goddess, Grey Ringworm, 374
Coat of Cats, 37, 98, 113, 340 ; Abyssinian Cat, 3 ; Earliest Cat Representations, 5 ; Home for Greymalkin, 216
301 ; Black Persian, 117 Chinchilla, 154
; Cats, 33 ; Mahommedan Cat Cult, 4 ; Mum-
Cream Persian, 201 ; in Exhibiting, 61, 62
; mies, 2 ; Old Cat Pictures, 5 ; Modern Cats
in Illness, 45 ;in Judging Long-haired in, 34 ; Symbolic Eye in Cat Images, 5
Hairless Cats, 298
Classes, 72 ; Manx Cat, 245, 251 ; Neuters, Egyptian Cut, 297
Electricity in Black Cats, 114
Hana, 5
238 ; Orange Persian, 190 Preparing for
;
Ellen M. Gilford's Sheltering Home for Animals, Hardy, Mrs. P. Travelling Basket Designed by,
:
Photography, 333 ; Short-hairs, 270, 282, 289 ;
Silver Persians, 140, 165, 174 ; Smoke Persians, 58 on Treatment of Cats in Illness, 134
;
34 Hart Park, New Brighton, 307
178, 184 ; Stud Cats, 47 ; White Persians, 118, Enemas, 360
Treat-nent Hawkins, Mrs., 232 on biamese Cats, 262 ;
124 Enteritis, 358 ; for, 360
Cochran, Miss H., on "Any Other Colour*' Entropium, 371
Hay as Bedding, 338
Heart of Cat, 356
Persians, 233 ; on Cream Persians, 205 ; on Epilepsy, 8
Neuters, 239 ; on Siamese Cats, 265 Evacuations in Illness, 45, 364 Heating Cattery, 54
Heliopolis, 4
Cod-liver Oil, 39, 261 Exhibiting, 61
Heraldry, Cats in, 12
Cold Storage Breed of Cats, 24 Eye : of Cat, 96, 344, 351 ; Black Persian, 112, Herring, Mrs., 106
Collar-bone of Cat, 351 116 ; Blue Persian, 126 ; Blue Short-hairs,
Hildyard, Mrs. D'Arcy, on Cream Persians, 204
278 ; Brown Tabby Persian, 216 ; Chinchillas,
;
Collingwood, Mrs., 105 on Orange Persians,
Colour Breeding, 344 ; Black Cats, 345 ; Chin- 154 ; Cream Persians, 201 ; Colour Breeding, 198
Hind limb of Cat, 353
chillas, 346; Crossing for, 344; Eyes, 3^5; 345 ; Diseases of the, 370 in Distemper, 365, ;
Homes for Stray and Starving Cats, 32 ; Boarding,
Smokes, 346 ; White Cats, 354 367 ; General Remarks, 373 ; Horopollo on, in
Colour of Eyes, 96 4 ; Illustrated, 356 ; in Judging, 74 ; Kittens,
35 ; Chicago, 313 ; in Dublin, 33
Common Cold, 362 42, 338 ; Maltese Cats, 320 ; Manx Cats, 245 ;
Homing Instinct, 21
Common Round-worm, Hooker, Mrs. J. J., 330
*'
361 Orange Persians, 189, 199 ; Siamese Cats, 257,
Horseflesh, 24, 37
Concerning Cats," by H. Winslow, 34 267 ; Silver Persians, 139, 166, 172, 174 ; Hot-water Bottle, 39, 57
Condition, Importance of, 97 Smokes, 180, 183 ; Tabby Short-hairs, 294 ;
Tortoiseshells, 210 ; White Persians, 118 ;
House, Mr. C. A. on Judging, 74 :on Silver ;
Conjunctivitis, 371
Connecticut Cat Fancy, 308 WhiteShort-hairs, 289
Breeding, 143 on Silver Tabbies, 175
;
Constipation, 40, 360 Eyelids, Diseases of the, 371 Housing of Cats, 49

Howel the Good, 6
Cope, Miss, on Silver Tabbies, 173
Cornea, Inflammation of the, 372 Hugo, Victor, n
Corneitis, 372
Hunt, Miss M., on White Persians, 121
Cougar, The, 322 Hyde Park, Dogs' Cemetery, 35

Cough 362 Face and Nose of Cat, 96
Cowper, ii Faking, 66, 323 l(
Cox, Mrs. Carew, on Blue Short-hairs, 278 ; on Fanciers, 27 ; in America, 304 ; Any Other Class,"
Siamese Cats, 266 234 ; Blue Persian, is3 ; Blue Short-hairs,
Ice in Sickness, 358
Cream or Fawn Persians, 201 Miss H. Cochran
; 277 ; Brown Tabby Persian, 217 ; in California,
Illness, Symptoms of, 44
on, 205 ; Colour Breeding, 348 Mrs. D'Arcy ; 310 ; in Canada, 315
Chicago, 309, 313 ; in ;
Hildyard on, 204 ; Markings, 201 ; Mating, in Detroit, 313 J Maine Cats, 330 Manx In-breeding, 90, 156, 184, 341, 348
;
India : Domestic Cats, 298 ; Fables 6
204, 207; Mr. Morris on, 203; Noted Cats, Cats, 247 ; Neuters, 240 in New York, 306 ; ;
of,
Points, 201 in Ohio, 314 Indianapolis, 314

203 ; Orange Persians, 191 Short-
; ;
Inflammation of the Stomach, 358
Cremation, 32 hairs, 285, 293 ; Siamese Cats, 256, 258 ;
Crested Cat, 350 Inoculation for Distemper, 368

Silvers, 143, 168, 288 Smokes, 180 Tor- ; ;
Crossing (see Breeding and Mating} Instinct, 21

toiseshell, 287 ; White Persians, 119
Crystal Palace National Cat Club Shows, 27' Fawe Insurance, 66
Strain, 115 Iris of Cat's Eye, 370
Cusp of Tooth, 352 Feeding of Cats, 24, 37 ; Utensils, 56
Isle of Man, 245, 249
Cyprus Cat, 8, 216 Feet of Cat, 353
Isochromatic Plates in Photography, 336
Felis, Generic Title, 350
Female Cats, 38 Eczema Italy, 6
; in, 375 ; Splaying, 47,
" "
Field and Fancy : on Brown Tabbies, 229 ; on
Darwin, 152, 211 Orange Persians, 199 ; on Smokes, 185
D'Aveunes, M. P., 13 Fish as Food, 37 ; for Kittens, 338 James, Mrs. H. V., on Blue Short-hairs, 276 on ;
Deafness, 118, 121 Fishing Cat, 351 Smokes, 180

Dental Formula for Cat, 321 Fistula of Eyelids, 371 Japan, 300 ; Tailless Cats of, 246
Dentition, 99 Fits in Kittens, 46 Japanese Cats, 300
Detroit Cat Fancy, 313 Flea, The Cat, 44, 376 ; Cause of Tapeworm, 361 Jay, Miss, on Judging:, 132
Devil as Black Cat, 8 Flooring for Cattery, 51 Jennings, Mr. J., on Classification, 99 ; on Russian
Diagrams: Bones and Principal Ligaments of Folklore, 13, 114, 115 Cats, 275
Cat's Toe, 352 ; Brain of Cat, 350 ; Eye, 356 ; Follicular Mange, 374 Johnson, Dr., n
Pad of Cat's Left Fore-foot, 352 ; Points of Food, 37, 39, 373 Jones, Mr., Brown Tabbies of, 330
Cat, 96 ; Skeleton of Cat, 355 ; Skull of Cat, Foreign Cats, 297 ; Judging, 301 Judge, 1 80
353 ; Skull of Machcerodus Neogocus, 351 ; Fore-limb of Cat, 353 Judging, 68; in America, 317; Blue Persians,
Superficial Flexor Tendons of Cat's Left Foot, Forestier- Walker, Miss, on Siamese Cats, 257, 126, 131 ;
Blue Short-hairs, 277 ;Foreign Cats,
352 ; Superficial Muscles of Cat, 354 ; Surface 267
of Cat's Tongue, 357 Fossil Cat Remains, 350
Diana, Goddess, 6 Foster-mother, 42, 157 Dosing, 158; for Siamese
;
Diarrhoea, 39, 42, 360; in Enteritis, 358; in Kittens, ^268; Mr. Ward's Artificial, 340 Colours, 72 ; Siamese Cats, 265 ; Silver
Kittens, 46 ; in Pneumonia, 363 Rice-water ; France, Cat in, 6 ; on Signboards, 13 Persians, 162 ; Tabbies, 72, 295
to Check, 339 Freeman's Scientific Food, 37 Jung, Mr. H. E. 286 t
Dibdin, 13 Frill of Persians, 178. 189

Diet, 37, 39 ; in Illness, 373 Fur of Cat, 7, 40 ; Condition, 97 ; in Exhibiting,
Diphtheria, 362 62 ; in Illness, 45 ; of Neuters, 47 ; of
Diseases : of the Ear, 369 ; Eye, 370 ; Kidneys, Persians, 96, 98, 138
*'
361 ; Skin, 373 Fur and Feather ": on Eyes, 141; on Neuters, Katzen Family, 13
Disinfectants, 55 239 ; on Showing, 90 ; on Siamese Cats, 256 Kidneys, Diseases of the, 361
Distemper, 339, 362 ; Curative Treatment, 368 ; King, His Most Gracious Majesty the, 219, 240
Diagnosis and Prognosis, 368 ; Mortality King James of Scotland, 8
from, 365 ; Various Forms, 365 Kircher, A., 6
Distension of the Bladder, 361 Kittens, 38, 40, 122, 175, 337 Black Persian, 116 :
Dogs' Cemetery, 35 Gall-bladder of Cat, 356 Blue Persians, no, 127, 345 Blue bhort ;
Drainage of Catteries, 51 Gastritis, 358 hairs, 276, 279; Boarding-out System, 343
Dublin Cats* Home, 33 Brown Tabbies, 216, 225
Gastro-enteritis, 358 Breeding, 340 ;
INDEX. 379
Chinchilla, 346 ; Chinchilla Challenge Trophy, Milk, Cows, 41, 158; in Enteritis, 358; or Pets, Neuters as, 48
151 ; Cleanliness, 44, 340 Colour Breeding,
;
Kittens. 41, 338 Pettit, Mrs., on White Persians, 122
345 ; Danger of Damp to, 340 ; Defective Millerton, N.Y., 307 Philadelphia Cats' Home, 34
Digestion, 343 Destruction of Sickly, 341 ;
;
Milton, J., 14 Phisalix, Dr., 368
Distemper, 367 Eyes, 42, 370; Feeding, 42,
; Mind, Swiss Painter, 15 Phthisis, 363
158, 338, 339; F osier-mothers, 268, 340; Fur, Mivart, G., n Pierce, Mrs. E. R., on Maine Cats, 325
Mohr au Chat, 13 Pioneer Cattery, Toronto, 315
99; Handling, 340; Illness, 45; Insects in,
44; Maltese, ^20; Manx, 249; Mismarked, Moncrietf, n Pittsburg Cattery, 304
234 Orange Persian, 190, 194, 199
;
Outdoor ;
Montreal Cats' Home, 34 Plasmon Powder, 135
Exercise, 339 Pairs at Shows, 65
; Persian, ; Moon, Cat Emblem of, 4 Pleurisy, 363
Purulent Oph- Morgan, Mrs., 32 Plica Semilunaris in Cat's Eye, 357
337 Photographing, 333 ;
;
thalmia, 372 Sale of, 46, 343 ; Selection, 91 ;

;
Morris Refuge for Homeless and Suffering Ani- Plutarch, 4
Show, Northern Club, 93 ; Siamese, 257 ; mals, 34 Pneumonia, 45, 363
Silvers, 140, 155, 173 ; Smokes, 179, 346 ; Morrison, Mrs.- McLaren, 105 Points of Cat, 97, 333 ; in Selecting Stud Cats, 341
Teeth, 352 ; Treatment after Birth, 40, 337 ; Mountain Lion, The, 322 Popular Superstitions, 13
Mouse Portable Hutch, 56
Weaning, 44, 159 ; Weight, 339 ; White Per- in Arabian Legend, i
Muezza, 10 Portier, Mme., 68

Mummies, Cat, i, 4 ; Kitten, 3 Pottsdown Cattery, 307
Muscles of Cat, 355 Prizes at Shows, 28, 79, 85 ; Special, 76
Pulse of Cat, 356
Label for Travelling Basket, 60 Puma, The, 350
Labour, Treatment during, 41 N Purulent Ophthalmia of the New-born, 372
Ladies Kennel Association, 93 Naples, 6
Lady Decies' Cattery, 101 Nasal Catarrh, 362
Lambert, M. Eugene, 16 Nasal Discharge, 362
Landor, Mr., 88 National Cat Club, 26 Championship Show, 94 ; ;
Leake, Miss A., on Silver Tabbies, 170 Classes, 27, soi Manx Cat Judging, 251 ; ;
Lebrun, Mme., 15 Objects in View, 27 Register, 78; Registra- ;

Her Most Gracious Majesty the, 32, 240
Leopard, The, 350 tion, 29, 62 Stud Book, 27 ; Varieties re-
;
" aueen,
ueens, 38 ; Feeding, 42 ; Handling, 39 ; in
Les Chats," 5 cognised by, 63
Season, 38 ; Selection of Stud Cat, 340 ; Visit-
Lesdiguieres, Mme, de, 10 Neate, Mrs,, on Orange Persians, 195
Lethal Boxes and Chambers, 19, 32, 343, 376 Neck of Cat, 96 ; Neck Bones, 352 ing* 39, 9i
"
Lettres sur les Chats," n Neuter Cats, 47, 237 in America, 331 Miss H. ; ;
Quinine Sulphate, 363
Lice, 361 Cochran on, 239; Fanciers, 240; Persian, 47,
Liguieres, Prof., 368 127; Points, 238, 242; Ring Class at Rich-
Lime-water, 158, 339 mond Show, 68 ; Short-haired, 241 ; Showing,
Lion," The, 350, 351; and Cat in Legend, i; 8} Training. 340
;
Colour, 351 New York : Cat Fancy, 35, 306 ; First Show, 303
Rail, Cats Travelling by, 66
Ljston, R., ii Nield, Mrs., on Silver Persians, 155
Literature on Cats, 31 Raphael of Cats, The, 15
Nine, Number, 19 Raw Meat for Kittens, 338
Litter Classes, 68 Normal Temperature of Cat, 356
Red-spotted Cat of India, 350
Little, Mr. R., on Black Persians, 117 Norris, Mr. F. on Cream Persians, 203
,
Red Tabby Cats, 194, 288
Liver, of Cat, 356 Northern Counties Cat Club, The, 26, 29 ; Kitten
Red Tortoiseshell Persians, 208
Locke, Mrs. C., on White Persians, 123 Show, 93
London Institution, Camden Town, 32 Registration : Cat Club, 29 ;
National Cat Club,
Norton, Mrs. L., Cats' Refuge, 34
27, 62 ; at Shows, 78
Long-haired Cats, 98 Nunneries, Cats in, 10
Repplier, Miss A., 24
Lord Mayor's Chain, 216 ; in Silver Tabbies, 170, Nursery Rhymes, 14 Ribs of Cat, 352
174
Louisville Cat Club, 27 Rice, 37, 339
Rice-water, 339
Louvre, The, 5
Richelieu, Cardinal, 10
Lusus, 6
Ridgefield Cattery, 306
Lynx, The, 322 Ocelot, The, 297, 302, 322 ; Colour, 321 Ring. Judging in, 70; Ring Class National Cat
Ohio, Cat Fancy, 314 Club Shows, 83
M Old Deer Park, Richmond, 67 Ringworm, 374
Maau, 5 Old Fort Cattery, 305 Robinson, Mrs. C., on Siamese Cats, 259
Machcerodus, 350 Old and New London, 13 Romans and Cats, 6
Maine Cats, 321, 325, 328 ; Brown Tabbies, 328 ;
Ophthalmia, 371 ; External, 372 Ronner, Mme. H., 16
Fanciers, 330; Neuters, 331 ; Shows, 303
Male Cats, Opiates, 359, 360 Roper, Dr., on Black Persians, 115
47 ; Training on Leads, 340 Orange and Cream Cat Club, 199
Maltese Cats, 275, 320 ; Kittens, 320 ; Markings, Russia, 279
20 ; Points, 321
Orange, Cream, Fawn, and Tortoiseshell Society, Russian Cats, 279
26, 30, 1 88
Mange, 374 Orange Persians, 187 ; Colour Breeding, 196, 348 ;
Mange Mites, 361, 374
Fanciers, 191 Mrs. D'Arcy Hildyard on, 198 ;
Manx Cat Club, 27, 30, 249
;
Markings, 187, 193 ; Mating, 190, 193, 196,

Manx Cats, 244 ; Mr. G. Bolton on, 245 ; Mr. H. 198 ; Mrs. Neate on, 195 ; Points, 188 ; Mrs.
Sable Cat, 347
C. Brooke on, 250 ; Coat, 245 Fanciers, 247 ; ;
Vidal on, 192 St. John, Festival of, 8
Kittens, 249 ; Mating, 250 ; Origin, 251 ; Salubrene, 55
Orange-and- White Persians, 233
Points, 245, 250 ; Types, 246 Verses on 252 ;
Orange Tabby Short-hairs, 291 ; Mating, 294 Salvo, 31 ;
Worm
Powders, 38
Markings of Coais, 74, 319 ; in Brown Tabbies, Origin of Cat, i Sancho, an Old Friend, 36
228 ; Maltese, 320 ; Orange Persians, 187 ; Sandy Show, 92
Ottolengui,
" Dr., 305
Short-hairs, 283, 288, 290, 295 ; Siamese Cats, Our Cats," Serial, 17 on Classification of Short- ;
Sanskrit Writings, i
257 Silver Persians, 138, 165, 169
;
hairs, 285 ; First Number, 31 ; on Manx Cats. 247 Santonin, 361
Martin, Mrs., on Silver Persians, 160 "Our Cats," Work by H. Weir, 16 Saratoga Cattery, 305
Mason, Mr. T. B. : on Blue Persians, 127 ; on Outdoor Exercise for Kittens, 339 Sarcoptic Mange, 374
Judging, 74; on Short-hairs, 290 Owena Cattery, 313 Scott, Sir W., IT
Maternal Instinct in Cat, 22 Scottish Cat Cluh, 27 .29 ; Annual Show, 94
"
Mating, 38, 316 ; Any Other Colours," 233 ; Best Sectorial Tooth, 352
Age for Queens, 109; Black Persians, 112, Selection in Breeding, 152, 340
115; Blue Persians, 107, 126; Blue Short- Self Blues, 125, 137
hairs, 279 ; Brown Tabbies, 228 ; Chinchillas, PacificCat Club, 27 Self Silvers, 137, 161
152, 160; Cross-breeding, 334; Diet during, Pads on Cat's Foot, 353 Serval, The, 351
38; Hints on, 91; Manx Cats, 250; Orange Painless Destruction of Cats, 376 Sessa, M., 13
Persians. 190, 193 ; Pedigree Cats, 152 ; Pampas Cats, 323 Shaded Silvers, 137, 161
Shorthairs, 284, 288, 291, 294 ; Siamese, 256, Parasites, External, 376 ; Internal, 361 Shakespeare, W., n
258 ; Silvers, 143, 144, 172, 175 ; Smokes, 182 ; Parasitic Canker, 370 Shelley, P. B., n
Stud Cats, 47 ; Stud Fees, 91 ; Tortoiseshells, Pasht, 3 Short-haired Cat Club, The, 26
209, 214, 295 ; White Persians, 119 Patent Foods for Cats, 37, 45, 131, 339 Short-haired Cat Society, The, 275
Maynard, Rev. R., on Silver Tabbies, 167 Paw of Cat, 97 Short-haired Cats, 17, 98, 274 ; in America, 286,
Meat, Raw, as Food, 37 for Kittens, 338 ; Pedigree Cats, 27 Mating of, 152, 175, 340
; 321 ; Black, 289 ; Blue, 288 ; Blue, in America,
Medal, Cat Club, 133 Peluse, 5 321 ; Mrs. Bonny on, 285 ; Broken Colours,
Medicine, 39, 135, 358 ; Bromide, 38 ; for Diar- Pennant, on Wild Ca's, 7 282 ; Brown Tabby, 288, 294 ; Clubs for, 30 ;
rhoea, 40 ; for Show Cats, 67 in Teething, ; Pens, Sleeping in Cattery, 51 in Shows, 65
:
; Coat, 282 Fanciers, 274, 285, 293 ; Judging,
;
46 ; Worm Powders, 38, 361 Persian Cats, 98 in America, 325 ; Breeding of ; 295 ; Mr. Jung on, 286 ; Mr. T. B. Mason on,
Meibomian Cysts, 371 Kittens, 340 at Cat Club Shows, 95
; Coats, ; 290 ; Markings, 283 ; Mating, 284, 291 ; Neu-
Melox, 339 37 99. 34; Colour of Eyes, 112; Ear-tufts, ters, 241 ; Points, 282 ; Red Tabby, 288 ;
Melrose, Mass., Cattery, 306 96 154, 172, 178 Imported, 113 In-breeding, ; ; Russian Blues, 291 Showing, 62
; Silver ;
Middle Ages, Cat Fables, 8, 10 99 Photographing, 333

; Rearing Kittens, ; Tabby, 287 ; Spotted Tabby, 284 ; Tabby,
Midland Counties Cat Club, 27, 29, 94 337 Sensitiveness to Damp, 340
; Showing, ; 291, 294; Tortoiseshell, 284, 295; H. Weir
Milk, Condensed, 43, 338 62, 76, loo Tail, 97 Toe-tufts, 97
; ; on, 285 ; White, 289
3*0 THE BOOK OF THE CAT.
Soda-water, 258 Trichiasis, 371

Shoulder and Fore-arm of Cat, 96
Trick Training, 24
Showing, 97, 116, 129 in America. 324 Somatose, 135
Cats at, 301 ; m True Canker, 369
;
Abyssinian Soul of Animals, 36 "

Shows, 25, 67, 85 " ;
Roundh ads
America, 304, 319, 327 A.O.C." Class, 233 ; ; South American Dwarf Cats, 300 Twenty Lookes over'
all the of the
Southdown Cats, 186 World, 8
Bedding at, 80 Best Time lor Persians, 76 ; ;
and Midland Counties Cat
Black and White Persian Classes, 112; Specialist Clubs, 30 ;
California, 316 Chinchilla Class, 137 ; Classi- Club, 94 and Shows, 76

;
;
fication, 64, 78, 169, 188 ; Cleveland, U.S., 314 ; Specialists, Veterinary, 31 U
Connecticut, 308; Crystal Palace (1871), 17 I Spencer, Mr?., on Siamese Cats, 261
Danger of Distemper, 304 ; Despatch of Prizes, Speos, 3 Undigested Food, 46, 360
6b Entries and Fees, Splaying, 4 ', 237 Unreasonable Buyers, 89
85 ; Disqualifications,
"
;
64, 65 ;" Faking for, 66 ; Feeding at, 66, 81 ; Sporting Instinct, 22 Urine, Incontinence of, 361
Financial Aspect 90 Foreign Cats, 301 of, 86, ; ; Spratt's Biscuits, 37
Illness at, 81 ; Judging Books, 82 Kittens, ; Staphyloma, 373
Litier Classes, 65 Local, 02 Management, ; ; Statuary, 13
75 Mixed, 75 Naming
;
of Cats, 63;
National ; Stead, Mrs.", on Smoke Persians, 185
Cat Club, 27, 94 Neuters. 237 New York, ; ;
Sternum of Cat, 353 Vegetables as Food, 37
304 Ohio, 314 Open Judging. 84 Pedigree
; ; ; Stewart, Mrs. Mackenzie, 104 Ventilation, 52, 338
Particulars, 63 Penning, 8p Persians, 100 ; ;
; Stomach of Cat, 351 Vertebra: of Cat, 352
Prize Tickets, 80 Registration, 78 Sales, 84; ; ; Stray Cats, Homes for, 32 Veterinary Surgeon at Shows 80
Selling Classes, 82; Shaded Silver Class,
i6e ; Structure of Cat, 350, 351 Victoria, H.R.H., Princess of Schleswig-Holstein,
Stud Cats, 47, 109 ; in America, 30, 305 Blue
Short-haired Cats, 274, 285, 250; SilverPersians,
;
27, 105, 119, ist
Chinchillas, 148 Fees Vida Mrs. G. H., on Orange Persians, 192
1
Persian-*, 125, 130 ; ;

,
(or, 47, 91 Food, 47 Mating, 47

; Orange ; ;
Vomiting, 35 i
Persians, 191, 193; at Shows, 84; Siamese,
Silver Persians, 144, 168 Tortoise-
Various, 28 Veterinary Surgeon at, 81 258, 265 ;
W
;
;
Siam, 257 Chocolate Cat of, 256

;
Common Cat ; 284 ; White Persians, 1.2
shell,
of Iron, 196
of, 264 Royal Cat of, 254
; Sulphate
Siamese Cat Club, The, 26, 30. 255, 259 Sun, Need of, for Health, 49, 342 Wain, Louis, 16 on Eyes, 167 on Neuters, 242
; ;
Siamese Cats, 254, 271 in America, 271 Miss ; ; Superficial Flexor Tendons, 352 Walker, Mrs. G. H.. 159
Armitage on, 260 Breeding, 172 Lady ; ; Superficial Muscles of Cat, 354 Ward, Mr., 31 Artificial Foster-mother, 42, 340;
;
Marcus Beresford on, 261 ; Mrs. Parker Superstitions, 144 Lethal Box, 56
Brough on, 263 Chocolate Colour, 256 Miss ; ; Surface of Cat's Tongu;, 357 Washing Cats, 37, 124
Cochran on, 265 Mrs. Carew Cox on, -.66 ; ; Swinburne, n Water, 37
Delicacy, 254 Eyes, 272 ; Fanciers, 256, 258
; Syringing Nasal Passages, 362 Watertowl, 5
Feeding, 264 Fighting Propensities, 272
;
; Wean ng Kittens, 159
Freaks, 272 Mrs. Hawkins on, 262
; Judg- ;
Weir, Harrison, i ; on Angoras, ^8 on Black > ;
ing, 265 Kittens, 257. 268

; Legends, 257, ; 'ats, 114; on Blue Persians, 128;
' on Cat
260 Markings, 257
; Mating, 256, 258, 262 ; ; Proverbs, i=; on Curious Markings, 233 ;
;
Origin of Title
"
Royal," 259 Points, 255, ; Tabby Cat, i, 215 Harrison Weir on, 216 ;
"Our Cats," by, 16 President N.t.C., 26; ;
259, 265 ; Recognised Varieties, 266 Mrs. ; Tabby Fenians,' 165 Colour Breeding, 3+7 ;
on Russian Cats. 275 on Short-hairs, 284, ;
C. Robinson on, 259 Mrs. Spencer on, 261 ; ; Tabby Short-haired Cats. 291 Colour Breeding, ;
285 on Siamese Cats, 272 on Silver Tabbies.
; ;
Superstitions, 268 Throat Complaints, 269 ; ; .

34 ) ; Mating, 294 165 on "Tabby Cat," 6 on Tortoiseshell-
;
2 ;
Voice, 254, 272 ; Miss Forestier- Walker on, Tabby-and-White Persians, 233 aud-White Per-ians, 213
257, 267 Siamese Wellbye, Mrs., on Silver Persians, 160
Signboards, Cat on, 13 Tail or Brush. 97 ; in Eastern Cats, 245 ;
Westlake, Mrs., on White Persians, 123
" Silver Lambkin " Cats, 254, 257, 264, 266;
Silver Persians, 172,
Challenge Trophy, 151
Terminal Bones Whately, Archb shop, 18
Silver Persians, 137, 161 ; Coats, 140 ; Fanciers, 774 Smoke Persians, 178
;
;
While Persians, 118 in America, 304 Breeding, ; ;
143 ; Kittens. 139, 158 ; Markings, 138 ; Mrs. in, 352 344 Cleaning Coat, 124
;
Deafness 123; ;
Martin on, 160 ; Mating, 143 ; Mrs. Nield on, Tailless Cats, 245 Fanciers, 119 Miss M. Hunt on, 121 ; ;
155 ; Points. 137, 141 Queens, 157 ; Specialist ; Tapeworm, 361 Kittens, 121 Mrs. C. Locke on, 123 ;
Mrs. ;
Club, 30; Mrs. Wellbye on, 160 Tarsal Bones of Cat, 354 Westlake on, 123
Silver and Smoke Persian Cat Society, 26, 30, 143, Taxation of Cats, 19 White and Black Persians, 233
151 Techau, 5 , White Short-haired Cats 289
as Guide to Age, 99 of
Silver Society, 141, 151 ; Smokes Denned by, 182 Teeth of Cat, 350 ;
;
Whitney, Miss, on Brown Tabbies, 224
Silver Tabby Persians, 165; Colour, 170; Miss Kittens, 352 Whiskers, of Cat, 97 ; o< Silver Tabbies, 172, 174
Cope on, 163 ; Fanciers, 168 ; Mr. House on, Terminal Bones of Cat's Foot, 353 WildCats, 7, 13; in America, 322; Anatomy of,
175; In-breedine, 348; Miss Leake on, 170 ; Thebes, 3 Paintings, 5

; ico European, 297
;
Mating, 172, 175 ; Points, 162, 166, 170, 174 ; Thomas, Mrs. G., 330 Window, Miss H., 34
H. Weir on, 165 Tiger, The, 350, 351 Wire Netting, 108
Silver Tabby Short-haired Cats, 287, 291 ; .
Tiger Cat, an .
Witchcraft, 8, 19
Toe tufts, 97 in Blue Persians, 126 in Chin-
Fanciers, 288
;
;
Worcester, Mass., Cattery, 306
Sinkins, Mrs., on Smoke Persians, 187 chillas, 154 ; in White Persians, ti8 Wordsworth, W.. M
Sires, Choice of, 38 Toes of Cat, 350 Worms, 38 Gastritis caused by, 358
;
Kit'ens, ; m
Dla g ra
Skeleton of Cat, 3 i Diagram, 355
"
; Tongue of Cat, 351, 355
Miss M. Beal on,
;
7';.357 44; Medicines, 361; In Siamese Cats, 268;
Skellingthorpe Patrick," 345 Tortoiseshell Persians, 208, 211 ;
Treatment, 361 Vomiting caused by, 358 ;
Skin, Diseases of the, 373 210; Colour Breeding, 3(5, 3-P! Mating,
Skull of Cat, 06, 351, 353 209, 211 Points, 209,
; 210; Scarcity of
Sleeping Boxes, 52 Males, 209
Smoke Persians, 178; in America, 184; Colour Tortoiseshell Short-haired Cats, 287; Fanciers,
Breeding. 346; Eys, 180, 183, 346 ; Fanciers, 287 ; Markings, 295 ; Mating, 295 Yellow Ringworm, 375
" Field and Tortoiseshell-and- White Tertians, 212 Mating,
180 ; Fancy" on, 185 ; Mrs. H. V. ;
James on, 180 ; Kittens, 346 Markings. 346 ; ;
Mating, 179, 182, 184, 346 ; Points, 178, 180, Tortoiseshell-and-White Short-haired Cats, 293
T**2 ; Mrs. Sinkins on, 184 Mrs. Stead on, 185 ;
"Touch not the cat, but the glove," 13 u
Snow Leopard, The, 351 Travelling Baskets, 38, 58, 65 Zaida," 102, 144
PRINTED BY CASSELL & COMPANY, LIMITED. LA BKLLK SAUVAGE, LONDON, E C.

RETURN CIRCULATION DEPARTMENT
202 Main Library
LOAN PERIOD 1
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THE LIBRARY

WITH 12 COLOURED PLATES, AND NEARLY

CASSELL AND COMPANY, LIMITED

II. CATS OF TO-DAY . . 18

CARE AND MANAGEMENT

SOME NOTABLE CATTERIES

XVII. TORTOISE-SHELL PERSIANS 2O8

XVIII. TORTOISESHELL-AND-WHITE PERSIANS .

XXL NEUTER CATS ........

XXII. MANX CATS . . .244

MAINE CATS .........

LIST OF COLOURED PLATES.

BLUE AND CREAM PERSIANS

BLACK AND WHITE PERSIAN CATS

BROWN TABBY AND SILVER PERSIANS . . . . . .160

SILVER TABBY AND ORANGE AND 'WHITE PERSIANS . . .

TORTOISESHELL TOM, AND SILVER TABBY SHORT-HAIRED CATS .

Mrs. McLaren's White Persian

Young 16 Richmond Cat Show Judges at Work 69

Perfect Chinchilla (two views) . .

Starving Cats ....

Sandy Stealing the Milk ... 92

Mrs. Wellbye's Silver Veronica

Miss Kirkpatrick's " Chili"

" Roiall Fiuffball " . .

....... Neuter " Blue Boy

" " " Silver Hair " and " "

Miss Goddard's Pair of Kittens . .

perience in as simple and interesting a form as possible, so that the book

necessary cat,' and that has ever been, and

is a lonely home without a cat and for awhile

at their true worth, and then suggested a show of cats!

animals ever created.

THE BOOK OF THE CAT.

CATS OF THE PAST.

to solve. security can there be for us and for the animals

that more than 3,000 years ago the cat lived

of sacred animals, she was worshipped in the

extent to our homely tabby. Paintings and OF THE GODDESS PASHT.

twisted round and round the

were always standing upright.

found in wooden coffins at

PUSS AS A RETRIEVER : AN EGYPTIAN WALL PAINTING.

three, and then four, and then five, until

- and the "from nose to base

improvement and at shoulders, i foot

known at that pe-

Animals" points out some of the

all events, so long asis London

And now us quit this dark page of his-

sorrowful and indignant. It was in France le dire ? On le voit bien.

poor cat, Hime, my acquaintance, and in some reads thua :

fully comprehensive work on the Cat, and has

becoming cats, perfectly understand the cat

once famous Jesuit, Father Bougeant, who

" Such is one of those big-whiskered and well-

hunting, for the rest enjoying life peaceably,

a female cat (une chatte) come on the scene to

although these animals are pretty creatures,

when they are well brought up they become as

derange all his philosophy ;

by curious ornamentation, and Dibdin in one of says :

sign of a cat, this com- sign, she put over her