,illustration3 ,,black ,,persian4 7,painted specially by ,madame ,henriette ,ronner47 ,,the ,,book ,,of ,,the ,,cat ,,by 444 ,,frances ,,simpson ,,with #ab ,,coloured ,,plates1 ,,and ,,nearly #cej ,,illustrations ,,in ,,the ,,text ,,from ,,photographs ,,and ,,drawings ,,cassell ,,and ,,company1 ,,limited ,,london1 ,,paris1 ,,new ,,york ,,and ,,melbourne4 ,,mcmiii ,,all ,,rights ,,reserved ,,contents4 ,,chapter ,,page ,i4-- ,,cats ,,of ,,the ,,past #a ,,ii4-- ,,cats ,,of ,,to-,,day #ah ,,iii4-- ,,care ,,and ,,management #cg ,,iv4-- ,,housing ,,of ,,cats #di ,v4-- ,,exhibiting #fa ,,vi4-- ,,the ,,points ,,of ,a ,,cat #if ,,vii4-- ,,long-,,haired ,,or ,,persian ,,cats #ih ,,viii4-- ,,some ,,notable ,,catteries #aja ,,ix4-- ,,black ,,persians #aab ,x4-- ,,white ,,persians #aah ,,xi4-- ,,blue ,,persians #abe ,,xii4-- ,,silver ,,or ,,chinchilla ,,persians #acg ,,xiii4-- ,,silver ,,tabby ,,persians #afe ,,xiv4-- ,,smoke ,,persians #agh ,,xv4-- ,,orange ,,persians #ahg ,,xvi4-- ,,cream ,,or ,,fawn ,,persians #bja ,,xvii4-- ,,tortoiseshell ,,persians #bjh ,,xviii4-- ,,tortoiseshell-,,and-,,white ,,persians #bab ,,xix4-- ,,brown ,,tabby ,,persians #bae ,,xx4-- 8,,any ,,other ,,colour0 ,,persians #bca ,,xxi4-- ,,neuter ,,cats #bcg ,,xxii4-- ,,manx ,,cats #bdd ,,xxiii4-- ,,siamese ,,cats #bed ,,xxiv4-- ,,short-,,haired ,,cats #bgd ,,xxv4-- ,,short-,,haired ,,cats 7continued7 #bhb ,,xxvi4-- ,,some ,,foreign ,,cats #big ,,xxvii4-- ,,cats ,,in ,,america #cjc ,,xxviii4-- ,,maine ,,cats #cbe ,,xxix4-- ,,cat ,,photography ,,for ,,amateurs #ccb ,,xxx4-- ,,rearing ,,of ,,kittens #ccg ,,xxxi4-- ,,colour ,,breeding #cdd ,,xxxii4-- ,,the ,,place ,,of ,,the ,,cat ,,in ,,nature #cej ,,the ,,diseases ,,of ,,cats1 ,,and ,,their ,,treatment #ceh ,,index #cgg ,,list ,,of ,,coloured ,,plates4 ,,black ,,persian ,frontispiece ,,black-,,and-,,white ,,persian ,,cats ,to face page #aaf ,,blue ,,and ,,cream ,,persians #abf ,,brown ,,tabby ,,and ,,silver ,,persians #afj ,,smoke ,,and ,,orange ,,persians #ahf ,,tortoiseshell ,,and ,,tortoiseshell-,,and-,,white ,,persians #baj ,,silver ,,tabby ,,and ,,orange-,,and-,,white ,,persians #bcd ,,brown ,,tabby ,,and ,,orange ,,tabby ,,short-,,haired ,,cats #beb ,,tortoiseshell ,,tom1 ,,and ,,silver ,,tabby ,,short-,,haired ,,cats #bgd ,,blue-,,and-,,white ,,short-,,haired ,,cats #bhh ,,manx ,,and ,,siamese #bid ,,foreign ,,cats #cjj ,,list ,,of ,,illustrations4 ,,page 8,white to ,move0 #a ,mummy of a ,cat #a ,the ,god ,cat #b ,an ,egyptian ,wall-,painting3 ,the ,adoration of the ,goddess ,pasht #b ,the ,worship of ,pasht in the ,temple of ,bubastes #c ,mummified ,kitten #c ,a ,cat ,god of ,egypt #c ,puss as a ,retriever3 ,an ,egyptian ,wall-,painting #d ,an ,egyptian ,toy ,cat #e ,a ,mineral ,lusus #f ,puss in ,warfare #g ,a ,group of ,cats in ,pottery #i ,tomb of a ,cat which belonged to ,madame de ,lesdiguires #aj ,the ,printer's ,mark of ,melchior ,sessa of ,venice #ab ,a ,cat in ,heraldry #ab ,a ,merchant's ,mark #ab ,alice and the ,cheshire ,cat #ac ,a ,study #ad ,madame ,ronner at ,work #ae 8,crystal10 the property of ,mrs4 ,finnie ,young #af ,lady ,alexander's 8,brother ,bump0 #ag ,sleeping ,beauties #ah ,miss ,f4 ,simpson's 8,bonnie ,boy0 #ah ,kitten at ,work and ,play #ai ,kitten belonging to ,mrs4 ,owen #bj ,the ,antiquaries #ba 8,kepwick ,violet0 and 8,kepwick ,hyacinth0 #bb ,miss ,savery's ,blue ,persian ,kitten #bc ,a ,pair of ,short-haired ,brown ,tabbies #bc ,cat ,calendar #bd ,cat ,calendar #bd ,cat ,calendar #be ,mr4 ,harrison ,weir #bf ,mr4 ,louis ,wain #bg ,lady ,marcus ,beresford #bh ,litter of ,siamese ,kittens #bi 8,puck ,,iii40 #cj ,mrs4 ,clinton ,locke and her ,siamese ,kittens 8,calif0 and 8,bangkok0 #ca ,the ,cat's ,playground #cb ,royal ,london ,institution for ,lost and ,starving ,cats #cc ,the ,cart of the ,r4 ,l4 ,i4 #cd ,the ,hon4 ,philip ,wodehouse's 8,silver ,saint0 #ce ,a ,bevy of ,blues belonging to ,miss ,savery #ce ,cats' ,tombstones at the ,dogs' ,cemetery1 ,hyde ,park #cf ,tabbies up a ,tree #cg ,blue ,persian belonging to ,her ,majesty the ,queen #cg ,three ,little ,maids #ci ,a ,perilous ,perch #dj ,mrs4 ,hardy's ,neuter 8,pharaoh0 #da 8,the ,raiders0 ,caught #dc ,kittens belonging to ,miss ,bromley #de ,neuter ,pets owned by ,mrs4 ,hastings ,lees #df ,carolling #dh ,in a ,playful ,sort of ,way #di ,a ,musical ,party #ej ,the ,ideal ,cattery #ec ,a ,litter ,box #ee ,a ,useful ,cat ,house #ee ,a ,portable ,hutch #ef ,lethal ,chamber1 ,r4,l4,i4 #eg ,spratt's ,travelling ,basket #eh ,a ,useful ,cat ,basket #eh ,a ,gang of ,poachers #ei ,waking ,beauties #fa ,richmond ,cat ,show3 ,arrangement of ,tents #fe ,mrs4 ,gregory's 8,skellingthorpe ,patrick0 #fg 8,inquiry0 #fg ,richmond ,cat ,show3 ,judges at ,work #fi ,type of ,cage at the ,richmond ,cat ,show #ga ,mr4 ,c4 ,a4 ,house #gb ,mr4 ,t4 ,b4 ,mason #gb ,the ,toilet #gc ,blue ,persian ,kittens #gd ,kits with a ,taste for ,flowers #ge ,two ,kittens bred by ,miss ,williams #ge ,richmond ,cat ,show3 ,the ,ring ,class #gg ,minding ,shop #gh ,thieves #gi ,mrs4 ,drury's ,brown ,tabby 8,periwig0 #hj ,miss ,simpson's 8,cambyses0 #hj ,a ,litter of ,blues #ha ,judging in the ,ring at the ,crystal ,palace #hc ,miss ,kirkpatrick's ,blue ,kittens #hd 8,rose of ,persia0 #he ,mischief #hh ,our ,play-room #hi ,mr4 ,f4 ,w4 ,western #ia ,officials of the ,n4,c4,c4,c4 #ib ,sandy ,stealing the ,milk #id ,silver ,cats belonging to ,mrs4 ,clark of ,ashbrittle #ie ,the ,points of a ,cat #if ,tailpiece #ig ,blue ,persians belonging to ,mrs4 ,wells #ih 8,gentian10 owned by ,lady ,marcus ,beresford #ii ,mrs4 ,herring's 8,champion ,jimmy0 #ajj ,the ,hon4 ,mrs4 ,mc,laren ,morrison's ,cattery #aja ,scenes at 8,bishopsgate0 #ajc ,a ,sleeping ,box at ,lady ,decies' ,cattery #ajd ,lady ,decies ,visiting her ,pets #ajd ,mrs4 ,mackenzie ,stewart's ,cattery #aje ,the ,imitation ,tree1 ,mrs4 ,clarke's ,cattery #ajf ,mrs4 ,clarke's ,cattery #ajg ,the ,hon4 ,mrs4 ,mc,laren ,morrison #ajh ,mrs4 ,collingwood and 8,james ,,ii40 #aji ,a ,morning ,meal at ,bossington #aaa ,black ,persian 8,johnny ,fawe0 #aab 8,champion ,menelik ,,iii40 #aac ,kitten ,bred by ,miss ,kirkpatrick #aae ,mrs4 ,little's ,black ,persian 8,colleen0 #aae ,the ,carol ,singers #aaf 8,jungfrau0 #aah ,mrs4 ,mc,laren's ,white ,persian 8,ladysmith0 #aai ,mrs4 ,pettit with her ,white ,persians #aba 8,crystal0 #abb 8,white ,butterfly0 #abc 8,musafer0 #abd 8,jack0 and 8,jill0 #abe ,the ,artist #abh ,blue ,kittens bred by ,miss ,kirkpatrick #abi ,mrs4 ,robinson's ,blue ,kittens #abi ,mrs4 ,wells's ,cattery #acj 8,rokeles ,kissi0 #aca ,scared #acb ,cast of the ,cat ,club ,medal #acc ,miss ,g4 ,jay's ,cattery #acd ,rev4 ,p4 ,l4 ,cosway's 8,imperial ,blue0 #ace 8,un ,saut ,prilleux0 #acf 8,jack ,frost0 #acg 8,star ,duvals0 #ach 8,the ,absent-,minded ,beggar0 #ach 8,omar0 #aci ,three ,pretty ,silvers #adj 8,shah of ,persia0 #ada 8,fulmer ,zaida0 #adb 8,troubadour0 #adc ,a ,perfect ,chinchilla 7two views7 #ade ,mrs4 ,balding's 8,silver ,lambkin0 #adf ,mrs4 ,balding's 8,fluffie ,tod0 #adg 8,sea ,foam0 #adh ,mrs4 ,wellbye's 8,silver ,lotus0 #adi ,mrs4 ,wellbye's 8,silver ,dossie0 #aej ,mrs4 ,wellbye's ,silver 8,veronica0 #aea ,two ,views of ,woodheys ,cattery #aec 8,silver ,blossom0 #aed 8,silver ,blossom's0 ,two ,buds #aee 8,wild ,tom0 #aef 8,fur and ,feather0 #aeh 8,the ,silver ,lambkins0 #aei 8,jupiter ,duvals0 #afa 8,the ,elder ,miss ,blossom0 #afb 8,dolly ,daydream0 #afc 8,i want to go home60 #afd 8,the ,marquis of ,dingley0 #afe ,miss ,leake's ,summer ,cattery #aff ,silver ,tabby ,kittens owned by ,princess ,victoria of ,schleswig-,holstein #afg 8,beautiful ,duchess0 #afh ,winter ,quarters at ,dingley ,hill #afi ,in the ,studio #aga ,miss ,cope's 8,starlet0 #agb ,a ,pair of ,silver ,tabbies #agc 8,thames ,valley ,silver ,king0 #agd 8,roiall ,fluffball0 #agg ,mrs4 ,stead's ,smoke ,litter by 8,ranji0 #agh 8,jo0 and 8,tiny0 #agh ,miss ,bartlett's ,two ,smoke ,kittens #agi ,mrs4 ,james's ,cat ,houses at ,backwell #aha ,mrs4 ,stead's ,smoke ,persian 8,champion ,ranji0 #ahb 8,champion ,backwell ,jogram0 #ahc ,mrs4 ,sinkins' ,smoke ,persian 8,teufel0 #ahe 8,lucy ,claire0 #ahf ,mrs4 ,singleton's 8,orange ,girl0 #ahg 8,puck0 #ahh 8,swagger0 #ahh 8,benjamin of the ,durhams0 #ahi 8,torrington ,sunnysides0 #aij 8,lifeguard0 #aia ,one of ,mrs4 ,neate's ,outdoor ,catteries at ,wernham #aib 8,curiosity0 #aic ,mrs4 ,neate's ,cat ,houses 7two views7 #aid 8,musing0 #aig 8,out in the ,cold0 #aii 8,higher ,education0 #bjj ,mrs4 ,clinton ,locke's ,cream ,kitten #bja ,a ,creamy ,smile #bja ,mrs4 ,norris's ,cream ,kitten #bjb 8,kew ,ronald0 and 8,kew ,laddie0 #bjc ,miss ,beal and her ,kittens #bjd ,mrs4 ,d',arcy ,hildyard's ,cream ,kittens #bjd 8,miriam of the ,durhams0 #bje 8,champion ,romaldkirk ,admiral0 #bjf ,mrs4 ,f4 ,western's 8,matthew of the ,durhams0 #bjg 8,topsy of ,merevale0 #bjh ,miss ,h4 ,cochran's ,tortoiseshell 8,brunette0 #bji ,miss ,sargent's 8,topsy0 #baj ,miss ,kate ,sangster's 8,royal ,yum ,yum0 #baa 8,peggy ,primrose0 #bab ,miss ,yeoman's 8,mary ,,ii40 #bac 8,at ,home0 #bad ,miss ,simpson's 8,persimmon0 #bae ,miss ,mellor's 8,lady ,sholto0 #baf 8,champion ,crystal0 7,american7 #bag ,a ,room in ,brayfort ,cattery #bah ,miss ,whitney and her ,neuter ,brown ,tabby #bai 8,brayfort ,princess0 and 8,brayfort ,fina0 #bbj 8,lonsdale ,chrysalis0 and 8,lonsdale ,moth0 #bba ,mrs4 ,d',arcy ,hildyard's 8,sulpherland0 #bbb 8,pioneer ,bobs0 #bbc 8,lorna ,doone0 #bbe 8,birkdale ,ruffie0 #bbf 8,birkdale ,ruffie's0 ,cattery #bbg ,brown ,tabby 8,goozie0 #bbi ,a ,trio of ,tabbies #bcj ,a ,picturesque ,group #bca ,a ,grotesquely-marked ,kitten #bcb 8,lockhaven ,colburn0 #bcc 8,the ,conquest of the ,air0 #bcd 8,grace before ,meat0 #bce 8,marcus ,superbus10 a ,silver ,smoke #bce 8,blue ,robin0 #bcf ,miss ,kirkpatrick's 8,chili0 #bcg 8,king ,cy0 #bcg ,miss ,chamberlayne's 8,belvedere ,tiger0 #bch 8,benoni0 #bci ,miss ,adamson's ,chinchilla ,neuter #bdj 8,nigel the ,raven0 #bda ,madame ,portier's ,neuter 8,blue ,boy0 #bdb ,rascals #bdc ,type of ,manx ,kitten #bdd 8,golfsticks0 #bde ,specimen of a ,manx ,tabby #bdf ,orange ,manx #bdh ,mrs4 ,h4 ,c4 ,brooke's ,manx 8,katzenjammer0 #bdi 8,ballochmyle ,bell ,spitz0 #bej ,manx ,cat #bea ,mr4 ,ward's ,manx 8,silverwing0 #bec ,a ,litter by 8,tachin0 #bed ,the ,garden ,cattery at ,bishopsgate #bee ,mrs4 ,roberts ,locke1 with 8,calif10 8,siam10 and 8,bangkok0 #bef 8,si0 #beg 8,tiam-o-,shian0 #beg 8,it0 #beh ,mr4 ,ratcliffe's ,siamese #bei ,lady ,marcus ,beresford's 8,ursula0 #bfj ,miss ,armitage's 8,cora0 #bfb ,pair of ,siamese belonging to ,mrs4 ,armitage #bfc ,mrs4 ,robinson's 8,ah ,choo0 #bfe 8,champion ,wankee0 #bfe 8,mafeking0 #bff ,the late 8,king ,kesho0 #bfg ,lady ,marcus ,beresford's 8,cambodia0 #bfh ,pugs ,paying a ,visit to the ,siamese1 ,mrs4 ,hawkins' ,cattery #bfi 8,romeo0 and 8,juliette0 #bga ,a ,cosy ,corner #bgc 8,ashbrittle ,peter0 #bgd 8,ballochmyle ,blue ,queen0 #bge ,mrs4 ,carew ,cox's ,blue male 8,bayard0 #bgf 8,sherdley ,michael0 #bgg 8,sherdley ,alexis0 #bgg 8,sherdley ,sacha ,i40 and 8,,ii40 #bgg ,maria #bgh ,mrs4 ,carew ,cox's 8,yula0 #bgi ,lady ,alexander of ,ballochmyle #bhj 8,champion ,ballochmyle ,brother ,bump0 #bha ,short-haired ,tabby ,kittens #bhb ,another ,view of ,lady ,decies' ,cattery #bhc ,lady ,decies' 8,champion ,xenophon0 #bhd ,an ,american ,begging ,cat #bhe 8,ebony of ,wigan0 #bhf ,sleeping and ,waking ,tabbies #bhg ,a ,black-and-,white ,britisher #bhh 8,champion ,ballochmyle ,otter0 #bhi 8,champion ,ballochmyle ,perfection0 #bij ,mrs4 ,barker's 8,tyneside ,lily0 #bia ,two ,views of ,briarlea ,catteries #bib ,a ,corner of the ,bossington ,catteries #bic ,tortoiseshell ,male 8,samson0 #bid ,mrs4 ,a4 ,m4 ,stead's ,brown ,tabby #bie ,mrs4 ,collingwood's 8,james ,,ii40 #bie 8,ben ,my ,chree0 #bif ,burmese ,cat #big ,mexican ,hairless ,cats #bii ,african ,cat #cjj ,manx and ,abyssinian #cja ,geoffroy's ,wild ,cat #cjb 8,the ,storm ,king0 #cjc 8,rado0 #cjc ,the ,old ,fort ,cattery #cje ,mrs4 ,colburn and her ,white ,persian 8,paris0 #cjf ,brushwood ,cattery #cjg ,miss ,johnston's 8,persimmon ,squirrel0 #cjh ,a ,reception ,room in a ,chicago ,cattery #cji ,mrs4 ,e4 ,n4 ,barker #caa 8,silver ,hair0 and 8,tiptoe0 #cab ,miss ,ward's 8,robin0 #cac ,three ,little ,grandchildren of 8,persimmon0 #cad ,an ,american ,beauty #cag 8,champion ,miss ,detroit0 #cah 8,the ,commissioner0 #cai 8,ajax0 #cba ,orchard ,ridge ,cattery #cbb ,mrs4 ,charles ,a4 ,white #cbc 8,the ,blessed ,damozel0 #cbd 8,tobey10 a ,maine ,trick ,cat #cbe 8,henessey0 #cbf 8,blue ,danube0 #cbg 8,leo10 owned by ,mrs4 ,martin #cbi 8,yellow ,h4 #adth ,beauty0 #ccj ,mrs4 ,bagster's 8,demidoff0 #cca ,a ,snapshot #ccb ,amateur ,photographers #ccd ,playing at ,work #cce ,in the ,studio #ccf ,tabitha's ,afternoon ,tea #ccg ,a ,happy ,mother #cch ,mrs4 ,bonny's 8,dame ,fortune0 #cci 8,derebie0 #cci ,a ,litter of ,eight belonging to ,miss ,savery #cda 8,star of the ,spheres0 and 8,son of ,roy0 #cdb ,the ,foster-,mother #cdc ,the ,foster-,mother in ,action #cdc 8,arrived ,safely0 #cdd 8,patricia0 #cde ,miss ,goddard's ,pair of ,kittens #cdf 8,lollypop0 #cdg ,three ,little ,americans #cdh 8,holmlea ,thistledown0 #cdi ,brain of ,cat #cej ,skull of the ,great ,sabre-toothed ,cat #cea ,superficial ,flexor ,tendons of a ,cat's ,left ,foot #ceb ,bones and ,principal ,ligaments of a ,cat's ,toe #ceb ,pads of ,cat's ,left ,fore-foot #ceb ,skull of a ,cat #cec ,skeleton of a ,cat #ced ,skeleton of a ,cat #cee ,a ,cat's ,eye #cef ,tongue of a ,cat #ceg ,giving ,medicine #ceh ,,introduction ,fanciers have long felt the want of a work dealing in a popular manner with cats1 and it was therefore with great pleasure that ,i undertook to write ,,the ,,book ,,of ,,the ,,cat1 and to give the results of a long experience in as simple and interesting a form as possible1 so that the book might be instructive to cat fanciers1 and also readable to that portion of the community which loves cats for themselves and not only for their prizes and pedigrees4 ,it is possible that the beautiful reproductions in this work may result in the conversion of some cat haters1 who1 seeing the error of their ways1 may give poor puss a corner in their hearts4 ,dogs are more essentially the friends of men1 and cats may be considered as the chosen allies of womankind4 ,in the past1 as ,i have endeavoured to show1 many noted celebrities of the sterner sex have shown a sympathetic feeling for the feline race4 ,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 mankind1 even in this busy work-a-day world4 ,i have given a full description of the various breeds1 and have suggested advice as to the feeding1 housing1 and general treatment of cats4 ,the chapters on the management of shows1 containing also simple rules for the guidance of exhibitors1 will1 ,i trust1 prove useful and instructive4 ,in my work ,i have received most valuable assistance1 for which ,i am deeply grateful1 from ,mr4 ,h4 ,gray1 the well-known veterinary surgeon1 whose chapter on the diseases of cats will1 ,i am sure1 be very interesting to breeders and fanciers4 ,to ,mr4 ,h4 ,c4 ,brooke ,i must tender my sincere thanks for his chapter on foreign cats1 and to ,mr4 ,e4 ,n4 ,barker for his excellent survey of the ,american cat fancy1 and to ,mrs4 ,pierce for her notes on ,maine cats4 ,mr4 ,robert ,holding's chapter on the anatomy of the cat1 with its excellent diagrams1 forms a valuable addition to the work4 ,to ,mrs4 ,s4 ,f4 ,clarke ,i am greatly indebted for the number of clever photographs with which she has so kindly supplied me4 ,to many of my 8catty0 friends ,i offer grateful thanks for interesting items1 paragraphs1 and pretty photographs2 and last1 but not least1 ,i have to thank that veteran1 ,harrison ,weir1 for his kindly encouragement1 and ,i feel ,i cannot do better than quote from his letter1 received on the completion of my work--enclosing a few remarks for my preface3-- 8,miss ,frances ,simpson has kindly dedicated her labour of love1 the fascinating ,,book ,,of ,,the ,,cat1 to me1 and truly the honour is great4 ,words cannot convey my feelings1 but out of its fulness the heart speaketh--,thanks6 ,i carry my mind back to the long1 long ago1 when the cat was a god or ideal1 and worshipped4 ,then later1 #8our gentle ,will' called it #8the harmless1 necessary cat1' and that it has ever been1 and more than that to many4 ,it is a lonely home without a cat2 and for awhile--and ,i hope for long--cats are the fashion4 ,thirty years ago it was apparent to me that cats were not valued at their true worth1 and then ,i suggested a show of cats6 ,let anyone try to start anything new1 though novelty is said to charm6 ,many were the gibes1 jokes1 and jeers that were thrown at me then4 ,but nothing succeeds like success4 ,now1 if ,i may without offence say a few words as to present-day shows1 it is that they have not answered my expectations4 ,why8 ,because particular breeds are catered for and run after4 ,why such breathless talk all about long-haired cats1 be they blues or silvers8 ,this is not cat breeding4 ,i want1 ,i wish1 and1 if ,i live1 ,i hope to see far more of the #8harmless1 necessary cat' at our shows2 for a high-class short-haired cat is one of the most perfect animals ever created4 8,far more ,i might1 and perhaps am expected to add2 but my life's work is well-nigh done4 ,he who fights honourably the good fight sinks at last4 ,miss ,frances ,simpson has rendered me her debtor2 and others1 beside myself1 will tender her grateful thanks for her work in the cause of the cat and for the welfare of the fancy4 ,adieu60 ,mr4 ,harrison ,weir's words are precious to me1 and now that my 8labour of love0 is ended ,i can only re-echo his wish and express a hope that the many pages ,i have devoted to the 8harmless1 necessary cat10 whose fireside friendship ,i have enjoyed all the years of my life1 may awaken and arouse a greater interest in and admiration for these gentle1 complex creatures1 who in return for a little understanding will give a great deal of love4 ,,frances ,,simpson4 ,,kensington1 ,august1 #aijc4 ,illustration3 8,,white ,,to ,,move40 ,photo3 ,mrs4 ,s4 ,f4 ,clarke ,,the ,,book ,,of ,,the ,,cat4 ,,chapter ,i4 ,,cats ,,of ,,the ,,past4 ,illustration3 ,,mummy ,,of ,a ,,cat4 7,at the ,british ,museum47 ,the origin of the cat has puzzled the learned1 and the stock from whence it sprang is still1 in the opinion of some1 a mystery for the zoologist to solve4 ,historians tell us that the feline race came into existence about the same time as the horse4 ,reference is made to the cat in ,sanskrit writings over #b1jjj years old1 and still earlier records are found in the monumental figures1 inscriptions1 and cat mummies of ancient ,egypt4 ,these carefully-preserved relics of the past assist us in answering the question as to how this least tameable of animals became domesticated4 ,there are many legends concerning ,puss and the manner in which she first sprang into existence4 ,a surprising account of the cat's creation is found in the works of an ,arabian naturalist4 ,it is as follows3 8,when ,noah made a couple of each kind of animal enter the ,ark1 his companions1 as well as the members of his family1 said to him1 #8,what security can there be for us and for the animals so long as the lion shall dwell with us in the same vessel8' ,the patriarch betook himself to prayer and entreated the ,lord ,god4 ,immediately fever came down from ,heaven and seized upon the king of beasts1 so that tranquility of mind was restored to the inhabitants of the ,ark4 ,but there was in the vessel an enemy no less harmful--this was the mouse4 ,the companions of ,noah called his attention to the fact that it would be impossible for them to preserve their provisions and their clothes intact4 ,after the patriarch had addressed renewed supplications to the ,most ,high1 the lion sneezed1 and a cat ran out of his nostrils4 ,from that time forth the mouse became so timid that it contracted the habit of hiding itself in holes40 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,god ,,cat4 7,from an old ,wood-cut47 ,so runs the legend1 and in an old ,italian picture representing the departure from the ,ark we may observe a big brindled cat leading the procession of animals with an air of dignity and self-satisfaction4 ,according to the ,arabic scholar ,damirei1 there was no cat in the ,garden of ,eden4 ,it is a singular fact that nowhere in the canonical books of the ,old ,testament nor in the ,new ,testament is the cat mentioned1 and if we take into consideration the number of books connected with the life1 manners1 customs1 and religions of the ,egyptians1 this omission is the more striking4 ,the only ,biblical reference to cats occurs in the ,book of ,baruch1 chap1 vi41 v4 #bb4 ,this is a letter by ,jeremy to the ,children of ,israel1 who were taken captive by ,nebuchadnezzar to ,babylon4 ,some ,hebrew scholars have asserted that the animals that prowled and cried among the ruins of ,babylon were jackals1 and not cats4 ,but however much the origin of the feline tribe is wrapped in mystery1 we are certain that more than #c1jjj years ago the cat lived and was loved along the banks of the ,nile4 ,the ancient city of the ,pharaohs paid her homage2 she was admitted into the ranks of sacred animals1 she was worshipped in the temples4 ,jewels were placed in her ears and necklaces about her neck4 ,figures of cats were kept in the home and buried in the tomb4 ,trinkets representing both the goddess and the cat were worn upon the person1 to indicate special devotion on the part of the wearer4 ,there seems but little doubt that the ancient and well-beloved cat of the ,egyptians was a barred or marked animal1 answering to some extent to our homely tabby4 ,paintings and statuettes of this type frequently occur1 and therefore we may it take for granted that the ,egyptians1 who were so realistic and true to ,nature when dealing with the animal world1 would have presented cats of other species had they existed4 ,according to the historian1 animal worship was first introduced into ,egypt by ,chores1 the second king of the ,second ,dynasty4 ,illustration3 ,,an ,,egyptian ,,wall-,,painting3 ,,the ,,adoration ,,of ,,the ,,goddess ,,pasht4 7,british ,museum47 ,the ,egyptians made gods of many living creatures of all kinds1 amongst others the bull1 the crocodile1 the ibis1 the hawk1 the beetle1 and the asp2 but the cat appears to have held the highest place in their hearts4 ,not only was it preserved from injury1 beloved and venerated during life1 but at its death it was buried with all respect1 and everyone mourned for it with outward and visible signs of grief1 even to the extent of shaving off their eyebrows4 ,the ,egyptian's idea of a correct burial involved mummification1 so that all the parts might be preserved and thus kept from annihilation against the day of resurrection4 ,a rich man's cat was very elaborately mummified4 ,different-coloured stuffs were twisted round and round the body1 forming curious patterns in two colours4 ,the head would be carefully encased and sometimes gilded2 the ears were always standing upright4 ,these curious mummies look something like bottles of rare wine done up in plaited straw4 ,sometimes the mummy would be enclosed in a bronze box with a statue of a cat seated on the top4 ,mummies of cats with painted faces have been found in wooden coffins at ,bubastes1 ,speos1 ,artemidos1 ,thebes1 and elsewhere4 ,here is an illustration of a kitten brought to me from the ,boulak ,museum4 ,the picture gives but little idea of the care and neatness which must have been employed in wrapping up the dear little dead bodies4 ,the linen used is of the finest4 ,the ears of the tiny kitten are each separate and distinct1 and the muzzle of the creature shows distinctly through the delicate wrappings4 ,scarcely a good museum in the country now that has not some specimens of cat mummies4 ,in some of these we notice that eyes have been added after the mummy has been encased and the embalmment completed4 ,most of the cats that died in the far-away time were thus embalmed and sent for burial to the holy city of ,bubastes1 near ,thebes1 on the banks of the ,nile4 ,illustration3 ,,mummified ,,kitten4 7,in the possession of ,miss ,simpson47 ,the ,temple of ,bubastes1 according to ,herodotus1 was the fairest in all ,egypt1 and here special reverence was paid the cat4 ,the local goddess of this city was ,pasht1 who was represented as a woman with a cat's head4 ,cats were kept in the temples sacred to them1 and doubtless the head cat of the ,pasht's temple was a very splendid specimen1 who1 living the life of great luxury1 would be buried with the pomp and magnificence of a royal personage4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,worship ,,of ,,pasht ,,in ,,the ,,temple ,,of ,,bubastes4 7,british ,museum47 ,illustration3 ,a ,,cat ,,god ,,of ,,egypt4 7,from the ,british ,museum47 ,it was at ,bubastes1 on the banks of the ,nile1 that an annual festival in honour of the goddess ,pasht was held4 ,we are not told whether the cats took any part in the proceedings4 ,from the towns and villages within hail1 pleasure parties were sent in boats up and down the river to the city1 and on their passage the men and women who crowded these boats made merry all the long summer day4 ,the women clashed their cymbals and danced1 and the men played on their flutes4 ,seventy thousand people1 it is said1 assembled at this feast1 and they sacrificed victims and drank a good deal of wine4 ,perhaps the cats were treated to an extra dish of some dainty to mark this red-letter day in the annals of their patroness and goddess4 ,a curious custom1 which probably had its origin in these pilgrimages to the sacred shrine1 had until recent years survived amongst the ,egyptian ,moslems1 who when they were starting on their way to ,mecca always set apart one camel for the conveyance of several cats1 and some ancient dame was told off to take charge of the precious animals4 ,she was honoured with the title of 8,mother of ,cats40 ,her office was not an enviable one1 and probably it was found that a woman was unable to wrestle satisfactorily with the refractory travellers1 for at a later date a man was substituted to carry the pussies to the ,holy ,city4 ,illustration3 ,,puss ,,as ,a ,,retriever3 ,,an ,,egyptian ,,wall-,,painting4 7,at the ,british ,museum47 ,thebes appears to have been a favourite burying-place for cats1 and also a place called ,beni ,hasan1 one hundred miles from ,cairo4 ,a few years ago some excavations were made near this town1 and thousands of little mummied bodies were found that had rested peacefully for centuries4 ,their graves were desecrated1 their burying ground plundered1 and tons and tons of mummied forms were carted away to the neighbouring fields to serve the useful1 if not romantic1 purpose of manure6 ,according to ,horopollo1 the cat was worshipped in the temple of ,heliopolis1 because the size of the pupil of the animal's eye is regulated by the rising and waning of the sun4 ,plutarch1 however1 states in his treatise on 8,isis and ,osiris0 that the image of a female cat was placed at the top of the sistrum as an emblem of the moon4 8,this10 says the historian1 8was on account of the variety of her fur1 and because she is astir at night2 and furthermore1 because she bears firstly one kitten at a birth1 and at the second two1 at the third three1 and then four1 and then five1 until the seventh time1 so that she bears in all twenty-eight1 as many as the moon has days4 ,now this1 perchance1 is fabulous1 but 'tis most true that her eyes do enlarge and grow full at the full moon1 and that on the contrary they contract and diminish at the decline of the same40 ,among other fables of classic naturalists and historians may be mentioned the following by ,herodotus3 8,if a fire occurs1 cats are subject to supernatural impulses2 and while the ,egyptians ranged in lines with gaps between them1 are much more solicitous to save their cats than to extinguish the fire1 these animals slip through the empty spaces1 spring over the men's shoulders1 and fling themselves into the flames4 ,when such accidents happen1 profound grief falls upon the ,egyptians40 ,whether these frenzied cats did or did not commit suicide is open to doubt1 but that they would plunge fearlessly into water is an acknowledged fact4 ,this is attested by paintings representing sporting scenes in the valley of the ,nile4 ,men and women used to go out on fowling excursions in a boat to the jungles and thickets of the marsh land1 or to lakes in their own grounds1 which abounded with wild fowl1 and there among the tall reeds knock down the bird with a stick4 ,into these happy hunting grounds they took a cat who would jump into the water and retrieve the game as it fell4 ,there is a painting taken and brought from a tomb in ,thebes1 which is now in the ,british ,museum1 and ,wilkinson1 in his 8,manners and ,customs of ,ancient ,egyptians10 writes as follows3 8,a favourite cat sometimes accompanied the ,egyptian sportsmen on these occasions1 and the artist intends to show us1 by the exactness with which he represents the animal seizing the game1 that cats were trained to hunt and carry the water-fowl40 ,illustration3 ,,an ,,egyptian ,,toy ,,cat4 7,at the ,british ,museum47 ,one of the earliest representations of the cat is to be found in the ,necropolis of ,thebes1 which contains the tomb of ,hana1 who probably belonged to the ,eleventh ,dynasty4 ,there is a statue of the king standing erect1 with his cat ,bouhaki between his feet4 ,the large basalt statues1 of which there are so many in the ,british ,museum1 both seated and standing1 are examples of great interest4 ,they have mostly the disc of lunar divinity above their heads and the royal asp above the forehead4 ,m4 ,champfleury1 in his delightful book1 8,les ,chats10 gives a good deal of information regarding the cats of ancient ,egypt1 and mentions the existence of funerary statues of women which bear the inscription ,techau1 the cat1 in token of the patronage of the goddess ,bast4 ,frenchmen occasionally call their wives ma chatte without attaching any hieratic association to that term of endearment4 ,according to ancient documents in the ,louvre1 we are enabled to surmise the name by which the cat was known in ,egypt4 ,it was ,mau-,ma1 ,maau1 or ,maon4 ,a tablet in the ,berlin ,museum1 bearing the representation of a cat1 dates from #afjj ,b4,c41 and another1 two hundred years older1 has an inscription in which the word 8,mau0 appears4 ,amongst old ,egyptian images in bronze and earthenware1 we may often find the cat crouching with the symbolic eye1 emblem of the sun1 engraved upon its collar4 ,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 teeth4 ,there is a tradition that ,cambyses devised a scheme for the capture of the town of ,peluse1 which1 if true1 is one example among many of the devotion of the ,egyptians to cats4 ,it was in the fourteenth year of his reign that this king of ,persia tried to effect an entry into ,egypt1 and he is said to have hit upon a clever strategy4 ,knowing that the garrison of the town was entirely comprised of ,egyptians1 he put at the head of his army soldiers each carrying in their arms a cat4 ,the ,egyptians1 alarmed lest they might injure the sacred animals when destroying their enemies1 consented rather to be vanquished4 ,but for their scruples they might perhaps have repulsed the invaders1 for the ,persian soldiers could not well have done their share of the fighting while clasping in their arms restless and terrified cats6 ,it is strange that the cat was almost neglected by the ,greeks and ,romans4 ,it is true that ,grecian art working on such grand sweeping lines might fail to follow the insignificant yet graceful curves of the cat4 ,therefore no ,greek monument is adorned with a figure of the idol of ,egypt1 and ,homer never gives a passing mention of the cat4 ,among the ,greeks the cat was sacred to the goddess ,diana4 ,mythologists pretend that ,diana created the cat in order to throw ridicule upon the lion1 an animal supposed to have been called into existence by ,apollo with the intention of frightening his sister4 ,this he followed up by producing a mouse1 which ,hecate's cat immediately ate up4 ,a cat was often emblazoned on the shields and flags of ,roman soldiers4 ,that the cat was known at an early period in ,italy we have proof in the curious mosaic in the ,museum at ,naples1 which depicts one pouncing upon a bird4 ,the date of this has been fixed at about one hundred years prior to the ,christian era4 ,in the ,bordeaux ,museum there is a tomb of the ,gallo-,roman period with a representation of a girl holding a cat in her arms and with a cock at her feet4 ,in those days the playthings and domestic animals belonging to children were buried with them4 ,from some of the oldest ,indian fables we learn that the cat was domesticated in that country at a very early period4 ,her first appearance into ,china would seem to have been about #djj ,a4,d4 ,there is a curious ancient ,chinese saying to the effect that 8,a lame cat is better than a swift horse when rats infest a palace40 ,amongst the curious freaks in the natural world are mineral lusus4 ,these are stones1 agates1 or marbles1 which1 by the action of the soil1 air1 or water during thousands of years1 have assumed various forms1 which we may interpret to represent human heads1 trees1 animals1 and so forth4 ,this illustration of a mineral lusus is taken on a reduced scale from a book by ,aldrovandus1 an ,italian naturalist of the seventeenth century4 ,the figure of the cat occurs1 he says1 in a slab of marble4 ,it was also reproduced by ,athanasius ,kircher1 the ,jesuit1 who copied many of ,aldrovandus's engravings4 ,illustration3 ,a ,,mineral ,,lusus4 7,from an old ,engraving47 ,i think the most casual observer would pronounce this illustration to be the representation of a cat2 and if1 as we are led to believe1 this and other figures are really the result of natural causes1 we can only marvel at the wonderful correctness of outline and form in which through countless ages the substances comprising the specimen have arranged themselves4 ,we have no record that the cat became domesticated in ,great ,britain and ,france before the ninth century1 when it would seem that she was by no means common1 and considered of great value2 for in the time of one of the old ,princes of ,wales1 who died in #idh1 the price of a kitten before it could see was fixed at a penny1 after it had captured a mouse1 twopence2 and if it gave further proofs of its usefulness it was rated at fourpence4 ,this same prince1 ,howel the ,good1 issued an order that anyone who stole or killed a cat that guarded the prince's granary was to forfeit a milch ewe1 its fleece1 and lamb1 or as much wheat as when poured on the cat suspended by its tail 7the head touching the floor7 would form a heap high enough to cover the top of the tail4 ,this is not only curious1 as being an evidence of the simplicity of ancient customs1 but it goes far to prove that cats were not aborigines of these islands4 ,the large price set on them--if we consider the high value of specie at that time--and the great care taken of the improvement and breed of an animal that multiplies so quickly1 are almost certain proofs of their being little known at that period4 ,no doubt wild cats abounded in our islands1 and this creature is described by ,pennant as being three or four times as large as the house cat4 ,the teeth and claws are1 to use his expression1 8tremendous10 and the animal is altogether more robust4 ,the tail of the wild cat is thick and as large at the extremity as it is in the centre and at the base2 that of the house cat tapers to the tip4 ,this ferocious creature1 well named the ,british tiger1 was formerly common enough in the wooded and mountainous districts of ,england1 ,scotland1 and ,wales1 but owing to the attention paid to the preservation of game it has gradually become almost if not entirely exterminated4 ,in olden times1 when wild cats were hunted and captured1 the principal use they were put to was to trim with their fur the garments of the ladies in the various nunneries scattered over the land4 ,a writer of the ,middle ,ages says3 8,the peasants wore cat skins1 badger skins1 c40 ,it would appear that lambs' and cats' skins were of equal value at that period4 ,harrison ,weir1 in his work on cats1 tells us that in #ahga and #ahgb a wild cat was exhibited at the ,crystal ,palace by the ,earl of ,hopetoun2 he also mentions that as late as #ahhi ,mr4 ,edward ,hamilton1 ,m4,d41 writing to the ,field1 gives information of a wild cat being shot at ,inverness-shire4 ,he states3 8,a fine specimen of a wild cat was sent to me on ,may #crd1 trapped on the ,ben ,nevis range4 ,its dimensions were3 from nose to base of tail1 #a foot2 height at shoulders1 #a foot #b inches40 ,in ,july1 #aijj1 a paragraph to the following effect appeared in the ,stock-,keeper3-- 8,the ,zoological ,society have just acquired a litter of wild cats4 ,this is the only instance where a whole litter has been sent to the ,gardens4 ,it was taken not far from ,spean ,bridge1 ,inverness-shire40 ,illustration3 ,,puss ,,in ,,warfare 7vide p4 #h74 7,from a #afth ,century ,,ms47 ,the late ,professor ,rolleston1 in an article on the 8,domestic ,cats of ,ancient and ,modern ,times0 7,journal of ,anatomy and ,physiology71 has well explained much of the confusion about cats in former writers and their so-called interpreters4 ,he shows how loosely now1 as long ago1 the word 8cat0 and its classic equivalents may be employed4 ,just as we still speak of civet cats and martens4 ,up to the beginning of this century the wild cat was wrongly thought to be the original of the tame species4 ,yet apart from more exact evidence this is shown to be an error if we note the value set upon domestic cats in former centuries4 ,the ,rev4 ,dr4 ,fleming1 in his 8,history of ,british ,animals0 7#ahbh71 points out some of the distinctions between the two species4 ,he also alludes to the spotted variety1 termed the ,cypress ,cat1 as noticed by ,menet1 who wrote the earliest book on ,british ,natural ,history in #affg4 8,it is a curious fact10 says ,mr4 ,j4 ,e4 ,herting1 an eminent naturalist1 8that in ,ireland1 notwithstanding reports to the contrary1 all endeavours to find a genuine wild cat have failed1 the so-called #8wild cat' of the natives proving to be the #8marten cat1' a very different animal40 ,in the early ,middle ,ages1 according to tradition1 cats were utilised in a strange manner4 ,the illustration on p4 #g depicts a ,german fortress which it was desired by the enemy to set on fire4 ,not being able1 one may suppose1 to effect this by treachery1 the foes pressed into their service both biped and quadruped4 ,on the back of the pigeon and cat alike1 a flask of inflammable matter is attached1 and furnished with a time fuse to ignite at the proper moment4 ,there is a broad road for the cat to travel1 and we must presume that the gate of the fortress was left open for her entrance4 ,the pigeon would be supposed to cut the cord of the flask with her beak when just over the magazine and let it drop at an auspicious moment4 ,this cut is reduced from a coloured drawing in an unpublished manuscript volume dated #aege1 in which is a great variety of illustrations of fireworks for war and recreation4 ,it is strange that the cat1 which was an object of worship and adoration to the ,egyptians1 should1 during the long1 dark years of medival history1 be looked upon as a diabolical creature4 ,the only pleasant legend handed down to us from the ,middle ,ages is that of 8,dick ,whittington and his ,cat40 ,there are records to show that this worthy citizen was thrice ,lord ,mayor of ,london1 and we have always been led to believe that it was to his cat he owed his wealth and prosperity4 ,at all events1 so long as ,london is ,london1 ,whittington will ever be associated with his cat4 ,innumerable are the legends that gather round the cat during the ,middle ,ages4 ,it was believed that the devil borrowed the coat of a black cat when he wished to torment his victims4 ,sorcerers pretended to cure epilepsy by the help of three drops of blood taken from the vein under a cat's tail4 ,at numerous trials for witchcraft1 puss figured as the wicked associate of the accused4 ,cats were offered by sorcerers as oblations to ,satan1 and they were flung into the fire at the ,festival of ,st4 ,john4 ,all praise to ,louis ,,xiii41 who as the ,dauphin interceded for the lives of these poor pussies thus annually sacrificed4 ,it was thought to bring good luck to a house if a cat were cooked alive in a brick oven1 and in ,scotland she was roasted before a slow fire as a means of divining the future4 ,the mania of witchcraft had pervaded all ranks1 even the holy profession1 whose duty it should be to preach peace and goodwill4 ,hundreds of wretched old women were sent out of life 8in a red gown0 7the slang of that day for being burnt 8quick0 or alive71 after undergoing the most excruciating tortures to make them confess the impossibilities for which they suffered4 ,in #aeia1 when ,king ,james of ,scotland was crossing from ,denmark1 a great tempest arose at sea4 ,this was supposed to have been caused by a 8christened cat0 being placed in the vessel by witches4 ,the following is an extract from an old pamphlet3 8,againe it is confessed that the said christened cat was the cause that the ,kings ,majestie's shippe had a contrarie wind to the rest of the shippes in his companie1 for when the rest of the shippes had a fair and good winde1 then was the winde contrarie and altogether against his ,majestie40 ,thus1 in the past as in the present day1 blame was laid upon the poor harmless puss1 where no blame was due4 ,in an old book called 8,twenty ,lookes over all the ,roundheads of the ,world10 published in #afdc1 we read3-- ,illustration3 ,a ,,group ,,of ,,cats ,,in ,,pottery4 7,from ,figures in ,cases at the ,british ,museum47 8,in the ,reigne of ,queene ,mary 7at which time ,popery was much exalted7 then were the ,roundheads 7namely1 the monks and friars7 so odious to the people1 that in derision of them a cat was taken on a ,sabbath day1 with her head shorne as a ,fryer's and the likeness of a vestment cast over her1 with her feet tied together1 and a round piece of paper like a singing ,celse between them2 and thus was she hanged in a gallows in ,cheapside1 neere to the ,crosse1 in the ,parish of ,st4 ,matthew4 ,which cat1 being taken down1 was sent to ,doctor ,pendleton 7who was then preaching at ,st4 ,paul's ,cross71 commanding it to be shown to the congregation4 ,the ,round-head ,fryers cannot abide to heare of this cat40 ,at the coronation of ,elizabeth there is an account given1 in the ,hatton correspondence1 of an effigy of the ,pope being carried through the streets and afterwards burnt with several live cats1 which1 we are told1 8squalled in a most hideous manner0 as soon as they felt the fire4 ,after a famous ,french trial in the seventeenth century1 a woman condemned as a murderess was hung in an iron cage over a slow fire1 and fourteen poor unoffending cats were made to share the same fate4 ,it is difficult to conceive by what train of thought civilised beings could arrive at such a pitch of wicked and horrible cruelty4 ,why should a gentle1 shrinking1 graceful little creature be thus made the savage sport of devils in human form8 ,there seems1 however1 to have been one haven of rest for poor persecuted pussy during the ,middle ,ages1 and that was in the nunneries4 ,here1 at least1 she would be kindly treated1 let us hope4 ,it is said that this fact has something to do with the cat's traditional association with old maids4 ,and now let us quit this dark page of history1 where the shameful treatment of an innocent race makes the lover of the poor pussies sorrowful and indignant4 ,it was in ,france that1 after the period when the cat was given over to the ways of the witch and the sorcerer1 we find her yet again taking her proper place in the home and the heart of the highest in the land4 ,writers of natural history and others frequently denounce the cat as an animal incapable of personal attachment1 yet puss has wooed and won the friendship and affection of many notable men4 ,cats1 the most politic1 the most polite1 and in proportion to their size the most powerful of beasts--realising almost literally ,napoleon's favourite maxim1 8,iron hand in velvet glove0--have the permanent fame of being loved by that most eminent of ,frenchmen1 ,cardinal ,richelieu1 who delighted to watch the frolics of a number of kittens by which he was generally surrounded in his leisure hours4 ,in this tendresse he resembled a still more famous ,churchman6 ,a cat went to sleep once1 we are told1 on the sleeve of ,mahomet's robe4 ,the hour of prayer arrived1 and he chose rather to cut away his sleeve than to disturb the slumbers of his beloved ,muezza4 ,illustration3 ,,tomb ,,of ,a ,,cat ,,which ,,belonged ,,to ,,madame ,,de ,,lesdigui,,res4 ,chateaubriand makes frequent mention of the cat in his 8,memoires40 ,he received a present of a cat from the ,pope4 ,moncrieff wrote a series of quaintly worded letters on cats1 and the book has some curious illustrations4 ,in this we read of the pussies of many grand dames of the ,french ,court of that day4 ,we give an illustration taken from this book1 which represents the tomb of a cat which belonged to ,madame ,lesdiguires1 and bears this inscription3-- ,,une ,,chatte ,,jolie4 ,sa maitresse qui n'aima rien ,l'aima jusques la folie4 ,pourquoi le dire8 ,on le voit bien4 ,moncrieff had to suffer an immense amount of ridicule on account of his charming 8,lettres sur les ,chats10 which the author himself calls 8a gravely frivolous book40 ,victor ,hugo had a favourite cat he called 8,chanoine10 and ,gautier's cat slept in his bed1 and always kept him company at meals4 ,petrarch loved his cat as he loved his ,laura4 ,dr4 ,johnson used to indulge his cat ,hodge with oysters1 which he would go out himself to purchase4 ,chesterfield provided for his cat in his will4 ,sir ,walter ,scott's love of dogs did not prevent him delighting in the company of a 8conversable cat10 and ,hunse1 of ,hunsefield1 seems to have possessed a large share of the great man's affection1 and when he died his master wrote thus to ,richardson3 8,alack-a-day6 my poor cat1 ,hime1 my acquaintance1 and in some sort my friend of fifteen years1 was snapped at even by that paynim1 ,nimrod4 ,what could ,i say to him1 but what ,brantme said to some ferrailleur who had been too successful in a duel3 #8,ah1 mon grand ami1 vous avez tu mon autre grand ami4'0 ,amongst famous ,french novelists several have been cat lovers1 especially ,dumas1 who in his 8,mmoires0 makes notable mention of 8,le ,docteur40 ,cowper1 ,shelley1 ,wordsworth1 ,swinburne1 and ,matthew ,arnold all wrote lovingly of cats4 ,but ,shakespeare1 although he makes forty-four distinct mentions of cats1 never has a good word for poor pussy4 ,in 8,all's ,well that ,ends ,well0 he gives vent to his dislike4 ,bertram rages forth3-- 8,i could endure anything before me but a cat1 and now he's cat to me40 ,in 8,cymbeline0 occurs this passage3--8,in killing creatures vile as cats and dogs02 and in 8,midsummer ,night's ,dream0 ,lysander is made to exclaim3--8,hang off1 thou cat1 thou burr1 thou vile thing40 ,romeo cries out3-- 8,every cat and dog ,and little mouse1 every unworthy thing40 ,from these quotations alone we may infer that1 at any rate1 dogs and cats were not favourites with the great bard4 ,there is only one mention of cats in ,dante4 ,he compares to cats the demons who1 with their hooks1 claw the 8barterers0 7i4e4 abusers of their office as magistrates71 when these sinners try to emerge from the hot pitch wherein they are punished4 ,he says of one of these wretches3--8,tra male gatte era venuto il sorco40 7,inf4 ,,xxii41 #eh47 ,translation3--8,among wicked cats the mouse came40 ,in the 8,westlosthcher ,divan0 of ,goethe1 written in his old age1 but full of youthful spirit and of the freshest allusions to ,eastern things1 the cat is called one of the four 8favoured beasts10 i4e4 animals in a state of grace1 admitted into ,paradise1 in a verse very near the end of the poem1 which being literally translated1 reads thus3-- 8,this cat of ,abuherriras0 7a friend of the prophet ,mahomet7 8purrs about the ,lord1 and coaxes4 ,since he is ever a holy beast whom the ,prophet stroked40 ,robert ,liston1 who1 as everyone knows1 was the leading ,london surgeon in the middle of the nineteenth century1 was passionately attached to his cat1 and used to introduce it to his guests at the dinner parties which1 according to the custom of a past generation1 he gave his medical friends4 ,on these occasions the cat would gravely walk round the dinner table during dessert to be admired by the guests in succession1 and it once happened that the top of its tail got into the wineglass of ,dr4 ,anthony ,todd ,thoruson1 ,liston's famous colleague at ,university ,college ,hospital4 ,this man promptly struck the animal4 ,liston was so enraged that he started from his seat and denounced his guest in language more forcible than elegant4 ,jeremy ,bentham1 who introduced by their names to ,lord ,brougham the cats seated on chairs round his table1 deserves honour1 not only as the foremost of modern jurists but also because1 in his 8,principles of ,morals and ,legislation10 he had expressed better than others the claims of brutes to kind treatment4 ,the great scholar and eminent writer1 ,st4 ,george ,mivart1 has given the world a wonderfully comprehensive work on the ,cat1 and has used the maligned feline as his type for an introduction to the study of back-boned animals4 ,it is he who remarks3--8,we cannot1 without becoming cats1 perfectly understand the cat mind40 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,cat ,,in ,,heraldry4 7,from ,frank's ,collection of ,book ,plates47 ,perhaps the unkindest picture given to us of a cat is from the pen of the naturalist ,buffon4 8,the cat0 7says this unsympathetic student7 8is an unfaithful animal1 kept only from necessity in order to suppress a less domestic and more unpleasant one1 and although these animals are pretty creatures1 especially when they are young1 they have a treacherous and perverse disposition1 which increases with age1 and is only disguised by training4 ,they are inveterate thieves2 only when they are well brought up they become as cunning and flattering as human rascals40 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,printer',s ,,mark ,,of ,,melchior ,,sessa1 ,,of ,,venice4 7,from a ,print at the ,british ,museum47 ,chateaubriand1 referring to these scathing remarks1 says3--8,buffon has belied this animal4 ,i am labouring at her rehabilitation1 and hope to make her appear a tolerably good sort of beast40 ,illustration3 ,a ,,merchant',s ,,mark4 7,from a ,print at the ,british ,museum47 ,a charming reference to the ways of cats occurs in a curious and interesting book by a once famous ,jesuit1 ,father ,bougeant1 who lived in the first half of the eighteenth century4 ,there is an ,english translation of this work1 which has passed also into other languages and several editions4 ,this is the passage translated3-- 8,such is one of those big-whiskered and well-furred tom cats1 that you see quiet in a corner1 digesting at his leisure1 sleeping if it seems good to him1 sometimes giving himself the pleasure of hunting1 for the rest enjoying life peaceably1 without being troubled by the events which agitate us1 without tiring his mind by a thousand useless reflections1 and little caring to communicate his thoughts to others4 ,truly it needs only that a female cat 7une chatte7 come on the scene to derange all his philosophy2 but are our philosophers wiser on such occasions80 ,the cat1 as the emblem of independence and liberty1 has been used in heraldry1 statuary1 and signboards4 ,in the sixteenth century a well-known firm of printers named ,sessa1 at ,venice1 adopted the device of a cat surrounded by curious ornamentation1 and ,dibdin in one of his works tells us that whenever you see ,sessa's cat you may be sure the book is a good one and worth reading4 ,ever since the days when the ,romans carried on their banners the design of a cat1 this combative and courageous animal has been a favourite symbol of warriors and nobles4 ,the wife of ,king ,clovis1 ,clotilde1 had a cat sable upon her armorial bearings1 springing at a rat1 and on the famous ,katzen family's shield was a cat holding a mouse in its mouth4 ,in ,scotland the ,clan ,chattan was known by the emblem of a wild cat with the significant motto1 8,touch not the cat1 but0 7meaning without7 8the glove40 ,their chief was called ,mohr au chat1 or the great wild cat4 ,m4 ,champfleury1 dealing with cats in heraldry1 tells us that the ,french ,republic resumed heraldic possession of the cat and added it to its glorious shield of arms2 and an illustration is given in his book of the republican painter's figure of ,liberty holding a pike surmounted with a ,phrygian cap1 and at her feet is seated a cat4 ,in past1 rather than in present1 days the cat was used on signboards1 especially in ,france4 ,we read of 8,la ,maison du chat pelote0 7i4e4 which rolls itself up71 and 8,la ,maison du chat qui pche40 ,in the ,lombards' quarter of ,paris1 8,le ,chat ,noir0 was formerly a familiar figure above restaurants and confectioners4 ,in ,england we often come across 8,the ,cat and the ,fiddle0 as a signboard to old country village inns1 and in ,cassell's 8,old and ,new ,london0 a writer says3--8,piccadilly was the place in which #8,the ,cat and ,fiddle' first appeared as a publichouse sign4 ,the story is that a ,frenchwoman1 a small shopkeeper1 had a very faithful and favourite cat1 and that in lack of any other sign1 she put over her door the words3 #8,voici un chat fidle4' ,from some cause or other1 the #8,chat ,fidle' soon became a popular sign in ,france1 and was speedily ,anglicised into #8,the ,cat and ,fiddle1' because the words form part of one of our most popular nursery rhymes40 ,illustration3 ,,alice ,,and ,,the ,,cheshire ,,cat4 ,from 8,alice's ,adventures in ,wonderland10 by ,lewis ,carroll4 7,by permission of ,messrs4 ,macmillan ,co41 ,limited47 ,many are the popular traditions1 maxims1 proverbs1 and superstitions connected with the cat4 ,in olden days her every movement was looked upon as a sign of ill-omen or of good luck4 ,old nurses would drive a cat out of the bedroom with much significance of manner1 that it might not 8suck the child's breath40 ,there is a superstition that a cat will not remain in a house with an unburied corpse4 ,m4 ,presse d',aveunes gives an account of a curious cat superstition4 8,when a woman gives birth to twins1 boys or girls1 the last born of the two1 whom they call #8barecy' 7sometimes both71 has at times1 and it may be all its life long1 an irresistible craving for particular eatables2 and in order to satisfy more easily its gluttonous desires1 it assumes the shape of different animals1 and especially that of the cat4 ,during the transmigration of the spirit into another shell1 the human body is as a corpse1 but when the spirit has satisfied its desires it retakes its proper form40 ,he continues3 8,having one day killed a cat which had made inroads upon my larder1 a druggist of the neighbourhood came to me in a great fright and entreated me to spare all animals1 for he said he had a daughter who had the misfortune to be a #8barecy1' and that she was often in the habit of assuming the shape of a cat in order to eat the sweetmeats served at my table40 ,illustration3 ,a ,,study4 7,from the painting by ,madame ,ronner47 ,milton tells us 8that when the cat washes her face over her eares1 we shall have a great store of raine40 ,a cat sneezing is supposed to bring luck to a bride on her wedding day4 ,sailors have in all times been prone to superstition as regards cats4 ,a black cat's appearance on the ship foretells disaster1 but if a cat should disappear overboard the greatest consternation is caused amongst the crew4 ,very plentiful are the nursery rhymes1 fairy tales1 and stories concerning cats--a good-sized book would not contain them4 8,the cat10 says ,m4 ,champfleury1 8is the nurse's favourite and the baby's earliest friend4 ,it plays its part in little rhythmical dramas1 cunningly presented to the drowsy child1 who falls asleep with a familiar image parading fantastically through his brain40 ,french nursery rhymes are much prettier than ,english4 ,for instance1 this bald and commonplace statement is not calculated to catch the attention of the juvenile mind3-- 8,great ,a1 little ,a1 bouncing ,b1 ,cat's in the cupboard1 and can't see me40 ,how much softer and daintier are the following lines3-- 8,a1 ,b1 ,c1 ,le chat est all ,dans la neige2 en retournant ,il avait les souliers tout blancs40 ,in passing1 ,i should say it is strange that to the ,french a cat is always masculine1 and to the ,english feminine4 ,in the days of good ,queen ,anne the story of pussy's venturesome journey to ,london was put into verse1 and what child has not listened eagerly to these lines from that time down to our present day8 8#8,pussy-cat1 ,pussy-cat1 ,where have you been8' #8,i've been to ,london ,to see the ,queen4' 8#8,pussy-cat1 ,pussy-cat1 ,what did you do there8' #8,i frightened a little mouse ,under her chair4'0 ,in 8,alice in ,wonderland0 ,lewis ,carroll has given the world 8a childish story0 which will never cease to delight both young and old4 ,in this we read of the 8,cheshire ,cat0 which grinned down upon the guests assembled at the royal croquet party1 and having incurred the anger of the ,queen1 was in danger of having its head cut off by order of the infuriated monarch4 ,the other volume by the same author--8,alice ,through the ,looking-,glass0--opens with a description of the way in which ,dinah the cat washed her children's faces3--8,first she held the poor thing down by its ear with one paw1 and then with the other paw she rubbed its face all over the wrong way1 beginning at the nose40 ,then follows an animated conversation between ,alice and the kitten4 ,all the world knows of the love ,lewis ,carroll had for children1 and ,i can assert he had an affection also for cats1 for when a child he spoilt and petted me and my kitten4 ,i only wish ,i could remember the deliciously impossible stories he was wont to tell me of fairies1 goblins1 and pussy-cats4 ,harrison ,weir1 in his book on cats1 has gathered together a number of curious cat proverbs4 ,some are very familiar1 such as3 8,a cat may look at a king02 8,care will kill the cat02 8,when the cat is away the mice will play10 and a very significant one is3 8,when the maid leaves the door open the cat's in fault40 ,the quaint saying1 8,when candles are out all cats are gray0 is a very expressive one4 ,when we consider the cat in art1 it is among ,eastern painters we find the most delicate and skilful studies4 ,next to the ,egyptians1 the ,chinese and ,japanese have excelled in the artistic treatment of animals4 ,in many of the ,dutch interiors given to us by ,flemish artists1 the domestic cat may be seen curled up on the hearth1 or sitting erect1 bearing somewhat the appearance of being stuffed with bran4 ,illustration3 ,,madame ,,ronner ,,at ,,work4 7,photo3 ,alexandre1 ,brussels7 ,in many of the early ,italian sacred pictures we find the cat depicted1 but great painters1 like ,titian1 ,velasquez1 and ,murillo1 seem to have preferred the dog as an adjunct to their portraits4 ,raphael and ,salvator both considered puss a worthy subject for their brush4 ,in ,m4 ,champfleury's interesting book on cats he gives a facsimile from the powerful pencil of ,mind1 whom ,madame ,lebrun has termed 8the ,raphael of ,cats40 ,the attitudes are so true to nature that the cat seems alive4 ,mind was a native of ,berne1 and in #ahji1 on account of a scare of madness amongst cats1 eight hundred were put to death4 ,this was a heartbreak to the cat-loving painter1 who1 however1 managed to save his favourite pet ,minette from the wholesale massacre4 ,very quaint reproductions of cats have been made in the following wares3 ,whieldon1 ,salt ,glaze1 ,agate1 and ,staffordshire4 ,with ,chinese and ,japanese cat figures we are all familiar2 they are grotesque rather than beautiful4 ,coming down to the cat artists of the present day1 we would mention ,madame ,henriette ,ronner1 who has justly deserved the great reputation that she has acquired in her own country as well as ours4 ,it is in depicting kittens in their ever-varying moods that ,madame ,ronner most excels4 ,whether playing havoc with antique lace1 as in 8,un ,bout de ,toilette10 scattering an artist's materials1 as in 8,mischief10 or dragging jewels from a casket1 her kittens are instinct with vitality1 and are portrayed in a manner implying knowledge of their anatomical structure1 as well as in a most appreciative perception of their youth and beauty4 ,most lovers of cats are acquainted with ,madame ,ronner's artistic volume containing so many faithful and lovely reproductions of several of her best pictures1 and an interesting account of her life and work written by ,mr4 ,m4 ,h4 ,spielmann4 ,another famous painter of cats is ,m4 ,eugne ,lambert1 who may be said to divide the honours with ,madame ,ronner in portraying with fidelity and artistic taste the feline race4 ,among ,english animal painters we have none who can come anywhere near to these two celebrated ,french artists in their marvellous delicacy of touch and subtle skill in depicting cat and kittens4 ,in these latter days who is there amongst us1 young and old1 who has not enjoyed a hearty laugh over the comical cats of ,louis ,wain8 ,in his particular line1 he is unique1 for no one has ever portrayed cats in such various attitudes and with such deliciously expressive countenances4 ,the adjectives and adverbs of the ,cataract of ,lodore would not suffice to describe the varied emotions of these funny felines4 ,a ,christmas without one of ,louis ,wain's clever catty pictures would be like a ,christmas pudding without the currants6 ,illustration3 8,,crystal10 ,,the ,,property ,,of ,,mrs4 ,,finnie ,,young4 7,photo3 ,c4 ,reid1 ,wishaw47 ,to ,harrison ,weir cats and cat lovers owe a debt of gratitude4 ,he has done much to raise the standard of the feline race1 and in his excellent book called 8,our ,cats10 he thus writes in his preface3-- 8,long ages of neglect1 ill treatment1 and absolute cruelty1 with little or no gentleness1 kindness1 or training1 have made the cat self-reliant2 and from this emanates the marvellous powers of observation1 the concentration of which has produced a style analogous to reasoning1 not unmixed with timidity1 caution1 wildness1 and a retaliative nature4 ,but should a new order of things arise1 and it is nurtured1 petted1 cosseted1 talked to1 noticed1 and tamed with mellowed firmness and tender gentleness1 then in but a few generations much evil that bygone cruelty has stamped into its wretched existence will disappear1 and it will be more than ever1 not only a useful1 serviceable helpmate1 but an object of unceasing interest1 admiration1 and cultured beauty1 and thus being of value1 it will be profitable40 ,it was ,harrison ,weir who instituted and carried out the first ,cat ,show held at the ,crystal ,palace in #ahga1 and since then he has taken an active part in the cat world4 ,of late years1 however1 he has been failing in health1 and it was suggested that some testimonial should be offered to him in his declining years by his many admirers and cat-loving friends4 ,our ,cats1 that popular weekly publication1 opened a list in their columns1 the result being a handsome piece of plate1 which the veteran ,f4,r4,h4,s4 was asked to accept4 ,in his reply acknowledging the gift1 he writes3--8,kindest and best wishes to those warm-hearted and truly unforgetful friends who have contributed towards the very handsome testimonial40 ,then he goes on to allude to the first cat show and to his prophecy regarding the growing popularity of the cat family3--8,did ,i expect the outcome to be what it is8 ,yes1 and no4 ,i fully expected large shows and more of them1 and a #8,cat ,press1' and in the papers cat columns for the universal and worthy favourite cat4 ,but in another way ,i am disappointed1 and that is for the neglect of the short-haired ,english cat by the ascendancy of the foreign long-hair4 ,both are truly beautiful1 but the first in intelligence1 in my opinion1 is far in advance of the latter40 ,therefore1 with a hope that ,harrison ,weir may yet live to see the ,english short-haired cats still more widely loved and appreciated1 and given better classification at our shows1 ,i will pass on to my chapter on present-day cats and cat clubs1 and the many other institutions and societies which are the outcome of the rapid strides that have been made in the cat fancy since the day when ,harrison ,weir was laughed at by his incredulous and astonished railway companion as they travelled together to the first ,cat ,show held at the ,crystal ,palace in #ahga4 ,illustration3 ,,lady ,,alexander',s 8,,brother ,,bump40 ,,champion ,,short-,,haired ,,blue4 ,illustration3 ,,sleeping ,,beauties4 7,photo3 ,mrs4 ,s4 ,francis ,clarke47 ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,,cats ,,of ,,to-,,day4 ,the term 8,cat0 is applied in its widest sense to all feline animals4 ,the following are the various names by which the cat is known in different countries1 and it is curious to note that1 with two exceptions1 they all begin with a 8,c0 or a 8,k0 and differ very little in pronunciation3 ,irish and ,scotch1 ,cat2 ,french1 ,chat2 ,dutch1 ,kat2 ,danish1 ,kat2 ,swedish1 ,katt2 ,german1 ,katti or ,katze2 ,italian1 ,gatto2 ,portuguese and ,spanish1 ,gato2 ,polish1 ,kot2 ,russian1 ,kots2 ,turkish1 ,keti2 ,welsh1 ,cetti2 ,cornish1 ,katt2 ,american1 ,katz4 ,illustration3 ,,miss ,f4 ,,simpson',s 8,,bonnie ,,boy40 7,photo3 ,gunn ,stuart1 ,richmond47 ,in the ,english house and home we call her 8puss10 and it is the name which appeals most to our hearts4 ,no woman likes to be called a 8cat10 but to be likened to a puss or pussy is suggestive of something or someone soft and pretty1 with gentle1 winning ways4 ,archbishop ,whately has said that only one ,english noun had a true vocative case1 8,nominative1 cat2 vocative1 puss40 ,i do not think that in any other country there is a pet name for the cat1 just as there is no word in any foreign language that breathes the same tender truth to the hearts as 8home40 ,puss and home6 ,the terms seem so closely connected with each other1 and suggest peaceful happiness and restful repose4 ,truly1 the history of the cat has been a strangely chequered one4 ,perhaps1 because she is such a secret1 complex1 and independent creature she has remained somewhat of a puzzle to humankind1 and is therefore to a great extent misunderstood2 but those who will take the trouble to consider the cat and try to understand her1 will find that puss is none of those things she has been accused of being4 ,it is only those who are in constant contact with cats who understand how intelligent they really are2 although their intelligence is quite in a different mould from that of the dog4 ,i may mention that the household cat outnumbers1 it is said1 the household dog in ,london by the proportion of four to one4 ,this fact may be accounted for by the non-taxation of cats4 ,the question of the taxation of cats has very often been raised1 and ,i do not think that anyone who really values his cat would object to pay a yearly tax2 but the proposal is as unpractical as it is ridiculous1 and it is certain that taxation would not help in exterminating the poor1 disreputable1 half-starved members of the feline tribe1 who have no fixed abode and whose only means of existence is by plunder4 ,the figure and number nine seems to be an important one in connection with cats4 ,there is a popular saying that a cat has nine lives4 ,the expostulating tabby in ,gay's ,fables says to the old beldame3-- 8',tis infamy to serve a hag1 ,cats are thought imps1 her broom a nag2 ,and boys against our lives combine1 ,because1 'tis said1 your cats have nine40 ,cats probably owe this reputation to their extraordinary powers of endurance1 and certain it is that they have a greater tenacity to life than any other animal4 ,at the ,battersea ,home a dog and a cat have been placed in the lethal chamber1 and it was observed that the dog died in five minutes1 whereas the cat breathed for forty minutes longer4 ,a short time ago ,i received the following letter from a cat fancier3-- 8,at #aa p4m4 two kittens1 a few hours old1 were placed in a pail of water1 and left there for rather over ten minutes4 ,seeing them at the bottom with their mouths open1 it was taken for granted they were dead2 the bodies were then transferred to the ashpit1 and early next morning they were discovered to be alive and quite chirpy4 ,restoring them to the mother1 they have grown nice1 strong1 healthy little kits1 and have just left for comfortable homes40 ,in ,thistleton ,dyer's interesting book on 8,english ,folk-lore10 reference is made to this subject4 8,cats10 he says1 8from their great suppleness and aptitude to fall on their feet1 are commonly said to have nine lives2 hence ,ben ,johnson1 in #8,every ,man in his ,humour1' says1 #8',tis a pity you had not ten lives--a cat's and your own4'0 8,in the ,middle ,ages a witch was empowered to take cat's body nine times10 so writes an eminent old zoologist4 ,illustration3 ,,kitten ,,at ,,work ,,and ,,play4 7,photo3 ,c4 ,reid1 ,wishaw47 ,the 8cat-o'-nine-tails0 is a dreaded object to some light-fingered and heavy-handed miscreants4 ,i have heard a magistrate remark that he considers this form of punishment the best way in which to give hints to the wicked4 ,garrotting was virtually stamped out by its use4 ,wife-beating would be less common if the brute-husband were treated to a taste of the cat-o'-nine-tails4 ,this implement of torture consists of nine pieces of cord put together1 and in each cord are nine knots4 ,consequently every stroke inflicts a large number of long and severe marks not unlike the clawing and scratching of a savage cat1 producing crossing and re-crossing wounds4 ,illustration3 ,,kitten ,,belonging ,,to ,,mrs4 ,e4 ,s4 ,,owen1 ,,detroit1 ,,michigan4 ,,by 8,,king ,,of ,,the ,,silvers0--8,,blessed ,,damozel40 7,photo3 ,albany ,art ,union1 ,new ,york47 ,in my long and varied experience of cats1 ,i have noticed that more of these creatures succumb to the common enemy at about nine years of age than at any other period4 ,we have heard of cats attaining the age of twenty years1 but the following account surpasses all previous records of longevity in the feline world3-- ,,to ,,the ,,editor ,,of ,,the ,stock-,keeper1 ,sir1--,seeing you have a column in your paper devoted to cats1 ,i thought it might interest your readers to hear that in our village there is a cat thirty-one years old4 ,she is quite lively1 and looks like living a few more years4 ,it belongs to a poor widow1 who told me she had it as a kitten when she married4 7,her husband lived twenty-seven years1 and has been dead four47 ,newbury1 ,bucks4 ,w4 ,b4 ,,herman4 ,it is strange that the poor dead bodies of cats have often been used as objects of foolish and vulgar so-called sport4 ,dead cats and rotten eggs were1 and are sometimes still1 considered legitimate missiles to make use of at borough and county elections4 ,all sorts of stories are related of pussy's superhuman intelligence1 but the most uncanny one of very recent date ,i will refer to here4 ,it may be remembered that in the winter of #aija a vessel named the ,salmon was wrecked4 ,on the morning of the accident1 this vessel was lying alongside the ,sturgeon1 and her two cats1 who had all their lives shown the most perfect contentment with their home and surroundings1 made desperate efforts to get on board the ,sturgeon4 ,the crew drove them off again and again1 and the ship's dog attacked them1 but they would not be deterred1 and when the ,salmon at last cast off1 the two cats landed with one frantic and final spring on to the ,sturgeon's deck4 ,it seems absurd to argue that those cats knew of the coming disaster1 yet why should they take such a sudden and utterly unreasonable aversion to the ship which had always been their home8 ,and why should they insist on making their way to another vessel from which they had been so inhospitably repulsed8 ,we have many proofs of the extraordinary extent to which a cat's sense of hearing and smell are developed4 ,on my voyage out to ,australia flying fish would sometimes fall on to the deck4 ,the cats that are always somewhere about the ship might be comfortably curled up asleep below1 but the peculiar sound would fetch them up in a great hurry1 and they would rush to secure the prize4 ,the crew used to amuse themselves sometimes by trying to imitate the noise in various ways to deceive them2 but the cats were not to be 8had0--they could distinguish the peculiar thud of the flying fish from all other sounds4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,antiquaries4 7,from the painting by ,madame ,ronner47 ,various theories have been put forward to account for the marvellous instinct which a cat possesses1 enabling her to find her way home although miles and miles of untraversed country lay between her and the place from which she has been taken4 ,it is contended that a cat which is conveyed in a bag or blindfolded will have its sense of smell in full exercise1 and will1 by this means take note of the successive odours encountered on the way1 and that these will leave in its mind sufficient information of the route so as to make it an easy matter for the animal to find its way back again4 ,be this as it may1 many of us can state facts which are even stranger than fiction of mysterious reappearances of cats who1 with a homing instinct as true as any carrier-pigeon1 return to the haven where they would be4 ,illustration3 8,,kepwick ,,violet0 and 8,,kepwick ,,hyacinth40 ,,blues ,,belonging ,,to ,,the ,,hon4 ,,mrs4 ,,mclaren ,,morrison4 7,photo3 ,j4 ,r4 ,clarke1 ,thirsk47 ,the instinct of maternity is1 perhaps1 more largely developed in the cat than in any other animal4 ,no creature shows such anxiety for the safety and welfare of her offspring as she does1 and often her natural timidness will give place to bold and fearless courage when her little ones have been in any difficulty or danger4 ,mivart tells us of a cat that plunged into a swiftly running stream and rescued her three drowning kittens1 bringing them one by one in safety to the shore4 ,during a fire in a ,london theatre1 which took place a few years ago1 a poor cat with her family was left forgotten at the back of the stage4 ,three times the faithful mother rushed into the flaming building and reappeared each time with a kitten in her mouth4 ,but alas6 with fatal persistence the devoted creature returned to rescue the remaining one1 and that she reached the spot was proved1 for after the fire was extinguished1 the charred bodies of mother and child were found lying side by side4 ,a clever writer has stated that 8the human race may be divided into people who love cats and people who hate them2 the neutrals being few in numbers40 ,this is very true4 ,there are also differences of opinion as to whether cats are desirable inmates of a household or not1 but there can be no question as to the great utility of these animals1 and it is only natural to suppose that they were created for the purpose of suppressing rats and mice and other vermin4 ,there is a popular notion that if a cat is petted and well fed she will become less useful as a mouser4 ,this is a fallacy1 for the cat's inclination is to hunt the mouse or rat1 not for food1 but for sport1 and an animal that is enfeebled by neglect and starvation is not in the best condition to successfully catch its prey4 ,this love of sport is not1 however1 inherent in all cats1 but is hereditary in the feline tribe as it is in the human race4 ,it may not be generally known that the ,government pays annual sums for the purpose of providing1 keeping1 and feeding numerous 8harmless1 necessary cats0 in their public offices1 dockyards1 and stores1 thereby attesting to the worth and capability of pussy's services4 ,in the ,national ,printing ,office in ,france a considerable number of cats are employed in keeping the premises clear of rats and mice which would otherwise work havoc amongst the stock of paper always stored in large quantities4 ,in ,vienna1 cats are placed on active service in the municipal buildings4 ,at many of our great railway stations there is a feline staff engaged in the various warehouses and offices4 ,the farmer will readily admit the usefulness of puss in his barns1 stables1 outhouses and fields4 ,farmers are notorious grumblers1 but they would have greater cause for discontent and disappointment if rats and mice were allowed to live and thrive1 and breed and multiply on their premises4 ,the newly sown peas and corn stacks would suffer to a terrible extent1 and the broods of ducklings and chickens would speedily vanish if puss did not keep a vigilant eye and silently but surely fulfil the duties of her calling4 ,illustration3 ,,miss ,,savery',s ,,blue ,,persian ,,kitten4 7,photo3 ,h4 ,warschawski1 ,st ,leonards-on-,sea47 ,in the live stock department of the ,army and ,navy ,stores in ,london1 an orange ,persian cat may be seen strolling about amongst the cages of birds of every sort4 ,the attendant informed me she had been on the premises three or four years1 and had saved the company a 8tidy sum40 ,previous to obtaining her services the packets of bird-seed disappeared like magic1 for they were demolished wholesale by the swarms of mice4 ,now rarely one is nibbled1 and every morning dozens of lifeless bodies are cleared away4 ,curiously enough these dead mice have their tails eaten off1 for apparently this cat has a weakness for the appendage1 whereas1 usually the head is considered the delicate morsel amongst the feline race4 ,it seems that although the cat is left alone with all the fluttering birds at night1 she never has attempted to molest them in any way4 ,illustration3 ,a ,,pair ,,of ,,short-,,haired ,,brown ,,tabbies4 7,photo3 ,t4 ,fall1 ,baker ,st41 ,w47 ,i lately had occasion to visit one of our ,london theatres during the daytime1 when it was empty2 and observing a big brown cat walking about amongst the stalls1 ,i made some remark about him to the official who accompanied me4 ,he said they found it quite impossible to get along without a cat2 they had tried1 but the place became overrun with mice4 ,during pussy's occupation of the empty playhouse plenty of bodies were discovered1 but never a live mouse had been seen disporting itself4 ,the cats in ,government service in ,america are very numerous4 ,the army has a regular corps of them kept at the commissary depts of the great cities4 ,it is customary for the officer in charge of each dept to submit to the ,war ,department a request for an allowance for the cats of meat and milk4 ,more than three hundred cats are in the employ of the ,post ,office ,department1 distributed among about fifty of the largest offices4 ,the ,new ,york ,city office expends sixty dollars annually in cats'-meat4 ,at ,pittsburg1 there is a 8cold storage0 breed of cats1 which has special qualifications for enduring extreme cold4 ,these cats are short tailed1 with long and heavy fur1 and their eyebrows and whiskers are extraordinarily long and strong4 ,it is said they do not thrive when transferred to an ordinary atmosphere4 ,illustration3 ,,cat ,,calendar4 7,by kind permission of ,raphael ,tuck ,co47 ,the following extract from the ,daily ,mail of ,february #ast1 #aijb1 gives us an account of a most exemplary1 well trained1 and up-to-date cat1 and opens up a fresh field for the utility and agility of our domestic pets--not an absolutely fresh field indeed1 if one recalls the fact that ,puss was already a 8retriever0 in ancient ,egypt4 ,a ,,ping-,,pong ,,cat4 ,hunting for balls is undoubtedly the one great drawback to ping-pong4 ,might ,i suggest a novel and easy method of accomplishing this difficult and unpleasant task8 ,my cat is now an expert in the art of finding ping-pong balls4 ,immediately the ball touches the floor the cat is after it1 and brings it from its hiding-place to the side of the table at which ,i am playing1 thus saving me from unnecessary exertion4 ,f4 ,s4 ,w4 ,the thought suggests itself that pussy's teeth and claws might work serious havoc amongst the ping-pong balls1 and that some of these would be produced in a mutilated condition4 ,of all animals the cat appears most to resent being taught or trained to do tricks4 ,puss has a natural antipathy to be forced to do anything1 or remain anywhere against her will4 ,hence the few exhibitions of really clever performing cats in comparison with the marvellous feats achieved by dogs4 ,it has been stated that the cat is the hardest animal to teach2 it takes years to train a cat to perform some simple trick which a dog would learn in as many weeks4 ,once a cat is trained1 it becomes a very valuable possession4 ,we have all seen the ,happy ,family1 consisting of monkeys1 guinea-pigs1 canaries1 pigeons1 and mice1 whilst a cat is seated demurely in the midst of this incongruous assembly4 ,no doubt some training was required to cause puss to disregard the natural instincts of her race4 ,the cat is a most cleanly creature1 and perhaps more particular about her appearance than any other animal4 ,as ,miss ,agnes ,repplier1 in her delightful book1 8,the ,fireside ,sphinx10 says3 8,pussy's adroitness is equalled only by her delicacy and tact4 ,her cleanliness and her careful attention to her toilet show respect for herself and for us40 ,illustration3 ,,cat ,,calendar4 7,by kind permission of ,raphael ,tuck ,co47 ,one of the strangest and most profitable trades in ,london is the wholesale and retail business of horsemeat for cats4 ,in barrows and carts the hawkers of this horse-flesh cry their wares throughout the city and suburbs1 and find a ready sale for them4 ,it is stated that #bf1jjj horses1 maimed1 or past work1 are slaughtered and cut up every year to feed our household pets4 ,each horse means on an average #bge pounds of meat1 and this is sold by pussy's butcher in half pennyworths skewered on bits of wood4 ,the magnitude of this trade can be estimated by the fact that it keeps constantly employed thirty wholesale salesmen4 ,i may here mention that a cats'-meat men's supper was organised last year in ,london by the editor of ,our ,cats1 assisted by ,mr4 ,louis ,wain and others2 and a most successful entertainment was given at the ,city of ,new ,york ,restaurant4 ,the applications for tickets were so numerous that #djj men had to be refused2 and when the #bej guests were seated1 it was clearly proved that every available inch of accommodation had been utilised4 ,having been present1 ,i can testify to the excellent supper and entertainment provided for the cats'-meat men of ,london4 ,illustration3 ,,cat ,,calendar4 7,by kind permission of ,raphael ,tuck ,co47 ,the most casual observer cannot have failed to remark the wonderful development of late years in 8,catty0 ,christmas souvenirs1 thus giving proof of the growth of love and admiration for pussy4 ,we have cat almanacks1 cat calendars1 and cat annuals1 and ,i can testify to the innumerable ,christmas cards with designs of cats of all sorts and conditions which have found their way into my hands expressive of good wishes at the festive season4 ,the official mind would probably frown at the suggestion that the census returns should be enlivened with incidental humour4 ,however1 after the last census1 the following statement appeared in the press3-- 8,an enumerator in going over a return paper found that the household cat had been included as a member of the family4 ,it was described as #8,jim1' the relationship to the head of the family being #8lodger4' ,the entry then stated that he was of the male sex1 single1 aged one last birthday4 ,his occupation was also given--#8mouse-catcher1 worker on his own account4'0 ,a description of the ordinary domestic cat is hardly necessary1 but before ,i pass on to mention matters of general interest concerning cats of to-day1 ,i will give a quotation from a ,board ,school boy's essay1 which speaks for itself3-- 8,the house cat is a four-legged quadruped1 the legs as usual being at the corners4 ,it is what is sometimes called a tame animal1 though it feeds on mice and birds of prey4 ,its colours are striped1 it does not bark1 but breathes through its nose instead of its mouth4 ,cats also mow1 which you have all heard4 ,cats have nine lives1 but which is seldom wanted in this country1 coz' of ,christianity4 ,cats eat meat and most anythink speshuelly where you can't afford4 ,this is all about cats40 ,perhaps my readers may think that after such a lucid description of the subject in hand1 further comments are unnecessary6 ,i will proceed1 however1 to give a glance round at the ,cat ,fancy in general before mentioning particulars of ,clubs and ,cats of the present day4 ,the question has often been asked whether the ,cat ,fancy will ever become as popular and fashionable as the breeding of dogs1 poultry1 and birds8 ,i think this question may be answered in the affirmative1 when we consider that during last year a dozen and more large cat shows have been held in different parts of ,england and ,scotland1 to say nothing of numerous mixed shows where a section for cats was provided4 ,every year the number of fanciers increases1 and although this particular hobby is almost entirely confined to the gentler sex1 yet it is really surprising to find how many more men are beginning to take an interest in the pussies1 and are keenly excited in the winnings of the household pet or the king of the cattery4 ,as a friend once said to me1 8,you know what men are2 if only the cats win prizes1 my husband does not mind1 but it is a different matter if ,i return from a show with no award2 then he declares we must get rid of all the cats60 ,i am afraid that cat fanciers must be looked upon as a rather quarrelsome set1 and there is no doubt that petty jealousies and spiteful gossip retard in many ways the development and improvement of the fancy4 ,another question that is often asked is whether cats can be made to pay--or1 in other words1 whether cat breeding is a profitable undertaking4 ,from my own experience1 which has extended over a number of years1 ,i can unhesitatingly say ,i have derived not only much pleasure but a good deal of profit from keeping cats1 and also ,i have started many friends in the fancy who have gone on and prospered4 ,the dangers that beset beginners are many1 and the chief difficulty is to know how to limit the number of our pussies and so avoid overcrowding1 or retaining poor stock which will not prove creditable or profitable4 ,cat keeping on an extensive scale means a large outlay1 followed by constant and untiring attention4 ,i do not intend1 however1 in this chapter to enter into any details as to the care and management of cats1 for this and other subjects connected with their interests will be fully dealt with later on4 ,illustration3 ,,mr4 ,,harrison ,,weir4 7,photo3 ,c4 ,e4 ,corke1 ,sevenoaks47 ,in my preceding chapter ,i alluded to the first ,cat ,show held at the ,crystal ,palace in #ahga4 ,this exhibition of cats has become an annual fixture1 and year by year greater interest has been manifested1 better classification given1 and a larger number of cats exhibited4 ,it was1 therefore1 considered advisable to have some definite organisation1 and the ,national ,cat ,club was instituted in #ahhg1 with ,mr4 ,harrison ,weir as president4 ,i will now proceed to give a list1 which ,i believe to be complete and correct1 of the various other clubs and societies in ,england and ,america which have been organised and which are all at this present time in thoroughly good working order4 ,,list ,,of ,,cat ,,clubs ,,and ,,societies4 ,the ,national ,cat ,club1 founded #ahhg4 ,hon4 sec41 ,mrs4 ,a4 ,stennard ,robinson1 #e1 ,great ,james ,street1 ,bedford ,row1 ,london1 ,w4,c4 ,annual subscription1 #a guinea4 ,the ,cat ,club1 founded #ahih4 ,hon4 sec41 ,mrs4 ,bagster1 #ae;,a1 ,paternoster ,row1 ,london1 ,e4,c4 ,annual subscription1 #a guinea4 ,the ,northern ,counties' ,cat ,club1 founded #aijj4 ,hon4 sec41 ,mrs4 ,herbert ,ransome1 ,altrincham4 ,annual subscription1 #ajs4 ,the ,silver and ,smoke ,persian ,cat ,society1 founded #aijj4 ,hon4 sec41 ,mrs4 ,h4 ,v4 ,james1 ,backwell1 near ,bristol4 ,annual subscription1 #es4 ,black-and-,white ,club4 ,hon4 secs41 ,miss ,kerswill and ,miss ,white ,atkins4 ,entrance fee1 #as42 annual subscription1 #ds4 ,the ,blue ,persian ,cat ,society1 founded #aija4 ,hon4 sec41 ,miss ,frances ,simpson1 ,durdans ,house1 ,st4 ,margaret's-on-,thames4 ,annual subscription1 #es4 ,the ,siamese ,club1 founded #aijj4 ,hon4 sec41 ,mrs4 ,baker1 #ac1 ,wyndham ,place1 ,bryanston ,square1 ,w4 ,annual subscription1 #ds42 to working classes1 #bs4 #f;d4 ,the ,orange1 ,cream1 ,fawn and ,tortoisshell ,society1 founded #aijj4 ,hon4 sec41 ,miss ,mildred ,beal1 ,ronaldkirk ,rectory1 ,darlington4 ,annual subscription1 #ajs4 ,the ,chinchilla ,cat ,club1 founded ,may1 #aija4 ,hon4 sec41 ,mrs4 ,balding1 #ib1 ,goldsmith ,avenue1 ,acton4 ,annual subscription1 #es4 ,the ,short-haired ,cat ,club1 founded #aija4 ,hon4 sec41 ,mrs4 ,middleton1 #fg1 ,cheyne ,court1 ,chelsea4 ,the ,scottish ,cat ,club1 founded #ahid4 ,hon4 sec41 ,j4 ,f4 ,dewar1 #b1 ,st4 ,patrick ,square1 ,edinburgh4 ,annual subscription1 #es4 ,the ,midland ,counties ,cat ,club1 founded at ,wolverhampton1 #aija4 ,hon sec41 ,miss ,cope1 #acf1 ,bristol ,road1 ,birmingham4 ,annual subscription1 #es4 ,the ,british ,cat ,club1 founded #aija3 ,hon4 sec41 ,sir ,claude ,alexander1 ,faygate ,wood1 ,sussex4 ,subscription1 #es4 ,the ,manx ,cat ,club1 founded #aija4 ,miss ,hester ,cochran1 ,witchampton1 ,wimborne4 ,subscription1 #es4 ,the ,beresford ,cat ,club 7,chicago71 founded #ahii4 ,president1 ,mrs4 ,clinton ,locke2 corresponding secretary1 ,mrs4 ,a4 ,michelson1 #bbj1 ,east ,sixtieth ,street1 ,chicago4 ,annual subscription1 resident members1 #b dollars2 non-resident1 #a dollar4 ,the ,chicago ,cat ,club1 founded #ahii4 ,president1 ,mrs4 ,leland ,norton1 ,drexel ,kennels1 ,drexel ,boulevarde1 ,chicago4 ,the ,louisville ,cat ,club1 founded #aijj4 ,corresponding secretary1 ,miss ,e4 ,converse4 ,annual subscription1 #ej cents4 ,the ,pacific ,cat ,club1 founded #aijj4 ,corresponding secretary1 ,mrs4 ,a4 ,h4 ,brod1 #aad1 ,broderick ,street1 ,san ,francisco4 ,annual subscription1 #a dollar4 ,the ,atlantic ,club1 founded in ,new ,york1 #aijb4 ,corresponding secretary1 ,dr4 ,ottolengui1 #hj1 ,west ,fortieth ,street1 ,new ,york4 ,illustration3 ,,mr4 ,,louis ,,wain4 7,photo3 ,lascelles ,co47 ,since the formation of the ,national ,cat ,club1 many changes in its constitution have taken place4 ,on the retirement of ,mr4 ,harrison ,weir from the presidency1 ,mr4 ,louis ,wain was appointed1 and still holds the office4 ,the ,n4,c4,c4 is fortunate in having so energetic a hon4 sec4 and treasurer as ,mrs4 ,stennard ,robinson1 whose name is so well known in the 8doggy0 world4 ,the following is a list of officers of the ,national ,cat ,club at the time of writing1 and a summary of the objects for which the ,club was organised3-- ,,the ,,national ,,cat ,,club4 ,patron4--,h4,h4 ,princess ,victoria of ,schleswig-,holstein4 ,president4--,her ,grace the ,duchess of ,bedford4 ,vice-,presidents4--,the ,right ,hon4 the ,countess of ,warwick1 ,the ,viscountess ,maitland1 ,the ,marchioness of ,dufferin and ,ava1 ,the ,countess of ,aberdeen1 ,the ,lady ,hothfield1 ,lady ,willoughby1 ,lady ,reid1 ,the ,hon4 ,mrs4 ,mc,laren ,morrison1 ,the ,lady ,granville ,gordon1 ,lady ,decies1 ,the ,hon4 ,mrs4 ,baillie1 ,madame ,ronner1 ,mr4 ,isaac ,woodiwiss1 ,mr4 ,sam ,woodiwiss4 ,committee4--,louis ,wain 7,president71 ,lady ,decies1 ,lady ,alexander1 ,the ,hon4 ,mrs4 ,mc,laren ,morrison1 ,mrs4 ,vallance1 ,mrs4 ,balding1 ,miss ,hamilton1 ,dr4 ,roper1 ,mrs4 ,herring1 ,mrs4 ,ransome1 ,mrs4 ,g4 ,h4 ,walker4 ,hon4 ,sec4 and ,treasurer4--,mrs4 ,a4 ,stennard ,robinson1 #ac1 ,wyndham ,place1 ,bryanstone ,square1 ,w4 7,telegraphic address--8,bow-wow1 ,london407 ,the ,national ,cat ,club was organised 7#a7 to promote honesty in the breeding of ,cats1 so as to ensure purity in each distinct breed or variety2 7#b7 to determine the classification required1 and to encourage the adoption of such classification by breeders1 exhibitors1 judges1 and the committees of all ,cat ,shows2 7#c7 to maintain and keep the ,national ,register of ,cats2 7#d7 to assist the ,showing and ,breeding of ,cats1 by holding ,cat ,shows under the best sanitary conditions1 giving ,championship and other prizes1 and otherwise doing all in its power to protect and advance the interests of ,cats and their owners4 ,the ,national ,cat ,club is also a ,court of ,inquiry and ,appeal in all matters relating to ,cats1 or affecting the ownership of ,cats1 and so saves the expense to its ,members of litigation4 ,the ,national ,cat ,club founded its ,stud ,book some twelve years ago1 and it is the only reliable source of information concerning the pedigree of ,cats4 ,the ,registration ,fee is #as4 for the ,register of ,names1 but for the ,stud ,book the fee is #es4 for ,approved ,cats exhibited under ,n4,c4,c4 ,rules4 ,the two principal shows of the ,national ,cat ,club are held annually at the ,botanical ,gardens in connection with the ,ladies' ,kennel ,association in ,june1 and at the ,crystal ,palace in ,october4 ,in #aija the total number of cats shown at the ,palace was #fja1 and the entries numbered #a1jba4 ,there were #ajf classes provided for long- and short-haired cats4 ,the following is the definition of the classes3-- ,,definition ,,of ,,classes4 ,open ,classes4--,open to all ,cats1 ,prize-winners or ,novices4 ,limit ,classes4--,for ,cats of any age that have not won ,three ,first ,prizes4 ,novice ,classes4--,for ,cats of any age that have never won a ,first ,prize at any ,show4 ,special ,novice ,cats4--,for ,cats or ,kittens over #f months that have never won a ,prize of any sort at a ,crystal ,palace ,show4 ,neuter ,classes4--,for ,gelded ,cats4 ,stud ,classes4--,for ,male ,cats that have sired ,kittens which are entered and on exhibition in this ,show4 ,brood ,queen ,class4--,for ,queen ,cats whose ,kittens are entered in this ,show4 ,selling ,class4--,for ,cats of any colour or ,sex to be sold at a price not exceeding #c guineas in ,long-haired or #b guineas in ,short-haired and ,foreign4 ,ring ,class4--,for ,cats shown in collar1 and lead4 ,kitten ,classes4--,single entries to be over #c months and under #h months1 unless otherwise stated4 ,brace4--,for #b ,cats1 age over #f months4 ,team4--,for three or more ,cats1 age over #f months4 ,no ,cats can be entered in brace or teams unless also entered in one other class4 ,the money prizes in each class are ,first1 #a2 ,second1 #ajs42 ,third1 #es4 ,the list of special prizes1 including ,challenge ,trophies and medals1 numbered #bfb at the last ,crystal ,palace ,show in #aija4 ,in addition to the two regular fixtures of the ,n4,c4,c41 other cat shows are held in different places in connection with the ,club and under its rules4 ,illustration3 ,,lady ,,marcus ,,beresford4 7,from a painting by ,edward ,hughes47 ,the ,national ,cat ,club reigned alone until #ahih1 when ,lady ,marcus ,beresford started and founded the ,cat ,club4 ,this ardent cat lover has done more for pussy than anyone in the fancy4 ,she is most lavish in her generosity and unwearying in her efforts to promote the welfare of the ,club4 ,it was ,lady ,marcus who first started the idea of holding cat shows in aid of charity4 ,the ,cat ,club's first show1 held at ,st4 ,stephen's ,hall1 ,westminster1 in #ahii1 was in aid of the ,children's ,guild of the ,deptford ,fund4 ,in #aijj the families of the soldiers and sailors who had fallen in the ,transvaal were benefited to a large extent by the proceeds of the show4 ,in #aija the ,children's ,hospital1 ,great ,ormond ,street1 was the charity selected to receive a handsome donation of #ajj4 ,the ,westminster shows have always been splendidly managed1 a noticeable feature being the wonderful array of beautiful special prizes offered for competition4 ,the following is the list of officials connected with the ,cat ,club3-- ,,the ,,cat ,,club4 7,founded by ,lady ,marcus ,beresford47 ,the objects of the ,club are the general good of the ,cat1 the promoting of true breeding of ,cats1 the holding of a ,winter ,show1 so that ,cats may be exhibited at their best1 and taking other steps that shall be for the welfare of the ,cat4 ,the annual ,subscription is #a #as41 payable on election1 and on the #ast of ,january in each succeeding year4 ,a ,stud ,book and a ,register of ,cats are kept by the ,club4 ,presidents4--,lily1 ,duchess of ,marlborough2 ,edith1 ,duchess of ,wellington2 ,lord ,marcus ,beresford4 ,vice-,presidents4--,isabella1 ,countess ,howe2 ,viscountess ,maitland1 ,viscountess ,esher1 ,lady ,ridley1 ,lady de ,trafford1 ,the ,hon4 ,mrs4 ,bampfylde1 ,lady ,lister1 ,lady ,gooch1 ,mrs4 ,barnet1 ,mrs4 ,alfred ,bles1 ,mrs4 ,walter ,campbell1 ,mrs4 ,chaine1 ,mrs4 ,george ,dawkins1 ,mrs4 ,cary ,elwes1 ,mrs4 ,c4 ,hill1 ,mrs4 ,king1 ,mrs4 ,nicholay1 ,mrs4 ,tottie1 ,mrs4 ,peston ,whyte1 ,lord ,walter ,gordon ,lennox1 ,a4 ,e4 ,bateman1 ,esq41 ,colonel ,chaine1 ,henry ,king1 ,esq4 ,committee4--,lady ,marcus ,beresford1 ,mrs4 ,vary ,campbell1 ,mrs4 ,dean1 ,mrs4 ,paul ,hardy1 ,mrs4 ,c4 ,hill1 ,miss ,anderson ,leake1 ,mrs4 ,r4 ,blair ,maconochie1 ,mrs4 ,neild1 ,mrs4 ,simon1 ,mrs4 ,mackenzie ,stewart1 ,mr4 ,l4 ,p4 ,c4 ,astley1 ,mr4 ,gambier ,bolton1 ,rev4 ,p4 ,l4 ,cosway1 ,mr4 ,w4 ,r4 ,hawkins1 ,mr4 ,e4 ,w4 ,witt4 ,hon4 ,treasurer4--,lord ,marcus ,beresford4 ,hon4 ,secretary4--,mrs4 ,c4 ,j4 ,bagster1 #ae;,a1 ,paternoster ,row1 ,london1 ,e4,c4 ,illustration3 ,,litter ,,of ,,siamese ,,kittens4 ,,belonging ,,to ,,lady ,,marcus ,,beresford4 7,photo3 ,t4 ,fall1 ,baker ,st41 ,w47 ,there is really ample room for two parent clubs1 as the ,fancy is making such rapid strides1 and1 no doubt1 well-appointed shows with good classification do a great deal to benefit breeders and assist fanciers4 ,between the ,national ,cat ,club and the ,cat ,club there is one point of serious disagreement1 namely1 as regards registration4 ,at present members are expected and required to register their cats in each club if they exhibit at the respective shows4 ,it would be a great benefit to the cat world in general and to the exhibitor in particular if some arrangement could be made whereby one independent register should be kept1 and that both clubs might work together and assist each other in endeavouring to scrutinise and verify all entries made in the joint register1 so that inaccuracies should be detected and fraud prevented4 ,the ,northern ,counties ,cat ,club is affiliated with the ,n4,c4,c41 and has quite a large number of members4 ,this enterprising club holds two shows in ,manchester every year1 which hitherto have been capitally managed by the energetic hon4 sec4 ,as a natural sequence a ,midland ,counties ,club has lately been started1 having its working centre at ,birmingham4 ,no doubt arrangements will be made for holding a cat show in this or some other equally central ,midland town4 ,the ,scottish ,cat ,club is in a flourishing condition1 and has been steadily working up members since #ahid4 ,a show is annually held in ,edinburgh1 and fanciers over the border are taking a much keener interest in cats4 ,in ,america the fancy has gone ahead in a wonderful way4 ,it was in #ahie that the first cat show of general interest was held at ,madison ,square ,gardens1 ,new ,york4 ,there had previously been some private attempts to have exhibitions of cats in connection with poultry and pigeon shows4 ,in #ahif an ,american ,cat ,club was organised1 which did some good work4 ,then ,chicago started a ,cat ,club in ,january1 #ahii1 and this was followed by a most successful enterprise on the part of ,mrs4 ,clinton ,locke1 who founded the ,beresford ,cat ,club1 called after ,lady ,marcus ,beresford1 and now numbering about #bjj members4 ,in ,january1 #aijj1 the club held its first big show4 ,the classification was of a most comprehensive nature1 and the list of special prizes a very liberal one4 ,this show is now an annual fixture1 and the ,cat ,club of ,england sends medals and prizes to be competed for4 ,many of the best cats exhibited at these shows have been exported from ,england1 and ,americans are very keen in trying to procure the very best possible stock--high prices in many cases being offered to induce ,english fanciers to part with prize-winning specimens4 ,the following is a list of officials of the ,,beresford ,,cat ,,club ,,of ,,america4 ,officers4 ,mrs4 ,clinton ,locke1 #bhbe ,indiana ,ave41 7,president72 ,mrs4 ,charles ,h4 ,lane1 #ecbc ,madison ,ave41 7,first ,vice-,president72 ,mrs4 ,f4 ,a4 ,howe1 #cida ,grand ,boulevard 7,second ,vice-,president72 ,mrs4 ,a4 ,a4 ,michelson1 #bbj ,e4 #fjth ,street 7,corresponding ,secretary72 ,miss ,l4 ,c4 ,johnstone1 #ecbc ,madison ,ave4 7,recording ,secretary72 ,mrs4 ,elwood ,h4 ,tolman1 #edjc ,madison ,ave4 7,treasurer74 ,directors4 ,mrs4 ,j4 ,h4 ,pratt1 #ehaf ,rosalie ,court2 ,mrs4 ,lincoln ,nicholson1 ,lee ,centre1 ,illinois2 ,miss ,louise ,fergus1 #cbbi ,sheridan ,road2 ,mrs4 ,blanch ,p4 ,robinson1 #f1 ,langley ,place2 ,mrs4 ,vincent ,e4 ,gregg1 #gcf ,north ,park ,avenue4 ,illustration3 8,,puck ,,iii40 ,,the ,,property ,,of ,,the ,,princess ,,victoria ,,of ,,schleswig-,,holstein4 ,at the ,cat ,show held in ,january1 #aijb1 as many as #ge classes were provided1 and it is plain to see from these that ,americans have not the same antipathy for broken colours--that is1 cats with white markings--as we have in ,england1 as there are classes specially for orange-and-white1 and black-and-white cats4 ,in another part of this work ,i shall refer to varieties and breeds of cats existing in ,america which differ from those in ,england4 ,the ,beresford ,cat ,club have an extremely well-arranged stud book and register1 which is published annually4 ,i am sure that the ,cat ,fancy in ,america has a great future before it1 and we cannot help being greatly struck with the earnestness1 thoroughness1 and enthusiasm with which ,americans have taken up this hobby4 ,when we consider the great distances in the ,states and the paucity of good stud cats1 and the few opportunities of exhibiting at well organised shows1 we cannot fail to admire the energy and enterprise displayed by our ,american fellow fanciers4 ,specialist ,clubs for ,cats are of very recent growth4 ,the first was started by an ardent breeder of silver ,persians in #aijj4 ,it was then called the ,silver ,society1 and it included smokes and silver tabbies4 ,the title of this society has since been changed to the ,silver and ,smoke ,persian ,cat ,society4 ,in the following year ,blue ,persian ,breeders bestirred themselves and formed a society for this most popular breed4 ,in the same year the ,orange1 ,cream1 and ,tortoiseshell ,society1 the ,siamese ,club1 and the ,chinchilla ,club were inaugurated1 also a ,manx ,club came into existence1 and two clubs for short-haired cats were started4 ,particulars concerning these specialist societies and their objects will be found in future chapters on the various breeds of cats4 ,it will be noticed by the list of clubs given that for brown tabby and black-and-white ,persians no societies have as yet been formed1 but doubtless ere long these varieties will be gathered into the fold of specialist clubs4 ,a good deal of discussion has taken place in catty circles as to the desirability of having specialist societies1 but ,i am sure a vast and marked improvement has taken place in the different breeds since their formation1 and the fact of publishing a standard of points has certainly assisted breeders in coming to a more correct idea of what constitutes a good cat of a particular breed4 ,the number of challenge prizes1 medals and specials offered by these societies at various shows act as an incentive to exhibitors1 and thus entries increase and competition becomes keener4 ,specialist clubs are not altogether popular with the parent clubs1 who regard them with rather a suspicious and jealous eye4 ,they think that exhibitors may join these less expensive societies and yet continue to show and win prizes without subscribing to the club that holds the show4 ,no doubt there is something in this1 and specialist clubs should be ready and willing not only to offer prizes for which their members only can compete1 but they ought also to guarantee classes1 and perhaps give a donation towards the expenses of the show4 ,illustration3 ,,mrs4 ,,clinton ,,locke ,,and ,,her ,,siamese ,,kittens 8,,calif0 ,,and 8,,bangkok40 ,there have been quite a number of catty cases in our courts of late years1 and these generally seem to cause considerable amusement to the legal as well as to the public mind4 ,at a recent trial1 where a lady was wrongfully accused of starving a ,persian cat1 the magistrate1 wishing for information1 inquired of the witness 7who was a veterinary surgeon7 how long a cat could live without food4 ,the reply was1 8,i am sure ,i could not say1 sir1 for cats are the funniest animals we have to deal with40 ,and it is very true that these creatures1 being so complex1 require to be specially studied1 and our principal veterinaries1 who lead busy lives1 are just a little superior to the many ailments and infirmities of these too often despised animals4 ,it is therefore a subject of satisfaction for cat fanciers that two clever and kind animal loving men have taken up the doctoring of cats1 and by personal experience are learning 8pretty pussy's ways0 in sickness and in health4 ,mr4 ,ward1 of ,manchester1 and 8,salvo10 of ,hertford ,heath1 are now two household names in the cat fancier's vocabulary4 ,to the many excellent remedies prepared by these clever specialists ,i shall refer later on in my work4 ,suffice it here to say that when in doubt or difficulty about your pussy's state of health ,i would recommend you to write to either of these common-sense practitioners4 ,the cat literature of the present day has been steadily on the increase4 ,the first paper to supply special cat columns was ,fur and ,feather1 which1 as its title infers1 treats besides of birds1 rabbits1 poultry1 cavies1 mice4 ,this weekly paper has a large circulation amongst the various fanciers4 ,in #ahii ,our ,cats was started1 and is widely read by the ever-growing circle of cat lovers1 and claims the unique distinction of being 8,the only newspaper in the world solely devoted to cats40 ,in both these papers there are stud advertisements of cats and a register of visits of queens and births of kittens4 ,in ,america the chief organs in the cat world are ,the ,cat ,journal1 ,the ,pet ,stock ,news1 and ,field and ,fancy4 ,and now a few words on those most excellent institutions which should appeal to the hearts of the animal loving public--,i mean the homes for poor stray and starving cats4 ,it is a mercy that there are now several of these refuges in our great metropolis4 ,i have personally visited ,gordon ,cottage at ,argyle ,road1 ,hammersmith1 and the ,london ,institution in ,camden ,town4 ,the objects of both these institutions are practically the same1 namely3-- 7#a7 ,to receive and collect homeless and diseased cats and painlessly destroy them4 7#b7 ,to provide a temporary home for lost cats4 7#c7 ,to board cats at a moderate weekly charge4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,cats' ,,playground3 ,,royal ,,london ,,institution ,,for ,,starving ,,cats ,,at ,,camden ,,town4 7,photo3 ,cassell ,company1 ,limited47 ,the ,camden ,town ,institution to which ,her ,majesty the ,queen has graciously given ,her ,patronage1 was founded by ,mrs4 ,morgan in #ahif1 and up to the end of #aija has received the enormous number of #dg1bab lost and starving cats4 ,the average received weekly is #cjj1 and in one day as many as #ia cats have been taken in4 ,not a day passes without several wretched cats having to be destroyed at once on admission1 and #hj per cent4 are destroyed within twenty-four hours of admittance4 ,no charge is made to the poor1 and only #as4 #f;d4 for a painless death in the lethal chamber is asked from those who can afford this most merciful mode of destroying life4 ,the dead cats are cremated at the ,battersea ,dogs' ,home at a charge of #c;d4 each body4 ,a motorcar is employed to go round and collect stray cats1 and will call at any house if due notice has been given to the hon4 manageress4 ,it is estimated that the number of cats in ,london is close upon three quarters of a million1 of which from #hj1jjj to #ajj1jjj are homeless4 ,it is during the summer months1 when householders leave town for their holidays1 that poor pussy is forsaken and forgotten1 and no provision being made for her1 she is forced to take to the streets1 where she seeks in vain to stalk the wily ,london sparrow or pick up any scraps from the gutter4 ,the humbler folk very frequently manifest vastly greater solicitude for the ,tom or the ,tabby of their hearths than do their social superiors4 ,all lovers of cats owe a debt of gratitude to those truly noble ladies who have begun and carry on such a merciful work in our midst4 ,to attempt to alleviate suffering must appeal to all2 and even those who have an instinctive dislike to harmless cats cannot fail to see the immense benefit to be derived by the public at large from the noble endeavour to clear our ,london streets1 squares1 parks1 and empty houses of these poor forlorn and friendless creatures4 ,illustration3 ,,royal ,,london ,,institution ,,for ,,lost ,,and ,,starving ,,cats4 7,photo3 ,cassell ,company1 ,limited47 ,at the ,battersea ,home for ,lost ,dogs there are also splendid arrangements for stray cats1 and at a very small charge per week cats can be taken in to board4 ,the catteries are capitally arranged1 and the feeding is excellent4 ,in our sister isle there is a ,cats' ,home1 established sixteen years ago by ,miss ,swifte in ,dublin1 and she has most gallantly carried out the beneficent objects with which she started her humane work4 ,no doubt she and other founders of similar institutions have had to suffer a considerable amount of ridicule1 for with many human beings the cat is regarded as little deserving of commiseration or kindness4 ,it is1 however1 a sign of increased justice and benevolence that these homes for cats do exist and obtain public support1 although the funds received are1 according to all accounts1 very inadequate to meet all the expenses4 ,this must surely be partly because these splendid institutions are so little known to the general public4 ,our ,american cousins are not behindhand in their laudable endeavours to cope with the question of lost and starving cats1 and an institution similar to our ,battersea ,home was started in the early #8eighties in the district of ,boston1 and is called the 8,ellen ,m4 ,gifford ,sheltering ,home for ,animals40 ,the lady giving her name to this humane institution left a large sum of money to endow the home1 and over the office is a tablet bearing the following extract from one of ,miss ,gifford's letters about the time the home was opened3-- 8,if only the waifs1 the strays1 the sick1 the abused would be sure to get entrance to the home1 and anybody could feel at liberty to bring in a starved or ill-treated animal and have it cared for without pay1 my object would be attained4 ,march #bg1 #ahhd40 ,according to ,miss ,helen ,winslow1 the authoress of 8,concerning ,cats10 there is another institution in ,philadelphia which does not limit its good work to tending cats and dogs1 but cares for all living and suffering animals1 bringing relief to the unfortunate creatures by means of a painless death4 ,it was as early as #ahgd that this institution was founded1 and in #ahhi it was reorganised and incorporated as the 8,morris ,refuge for ,homeless and ,suffering ,animals10 having for its motto 8,the ,lord is good to all1 and ,his tender mercies are over all ,his works40 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,cart ,,of ,,the ,,royal ,,london ,,institution ,,for ,,lost ,,and ,,starving ,,cats4 7,photo3 ,cassell ,company1 ,limited47 ,the efforts of the charitable ladies who so ably assisted in the establishment of these institutions have been followed by others1 and a proposal to found a home for animals in ,montreal has1 ,i believe1 proved successful4 ,miss ,winslow tells us that there are several cat asylums and refuges in the ,far ,west1 and a ,sheltering ,home at ,brighton1 ,mass4 ,in #aija a ,cat ,refuge was started in ,chicago by a well-known cat lover1 ,mrs4 ,leland ,norton1 and probably1 as time goes on1 some further organised attempt will be made to deal with the question of lost and starving cats in ,american towns4 ,the love of the cat still lingers in ,egypt1 and ,i have been told that free rations to starving cats are dealt out every day at the ,palace of the ,cadi and the ,bazr of ,khan ,kheleel2 also that a cats' home has been founded in ,cairo for the lodging and feeding of homeless cats4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,hon4 ,,philip ,,wodehouse',s 8,,silver ,,saint40 7,photo3 ,clarke ,co41 ,norwich47 ,there was a report that in order to cope with the innumerable lost and starving cats the ,american ,legislature had decided to enforce a bill for licensing cats1 but if such a law came into existence in any country the result would surely be that thousands of cats with good homes would be thrust out into the streets1 and that rats and mice would multiply to an alarming extent4 ,it is estimated that in ,new ,york city alone #fj1jjj cats depend for their daily food on garbage and the mice and rats that they capture4 ,therefore1 if each cat catches three mice or rats a week1 the sum total amounts to over #i1jjj1jjj a year6 ,i have often wondered why some of our numerous 8distressed ladies0 do not set up private homes for the care of cats4 ,a really comfortable country home for cats is an enterprise in which many a woman1 who is hopelessly at sea for some means of earning an honest livelihood in this overcrowded work-a-day world1 might thus combine pleasure with profit4 ,many fanciers feel the difficulty and well-nigh impossibility of leaving their catteries for any length of time1 and few have a permanent and responsible caretaker on the premises4 ,an opening1 therefore1 presents itself not only for boarding homes for cats1 but for temporary helps who could be engaged by the week or month to take charge of the cattery during the absence of the owner4 ,of course1 such a person should have had experience with cats and kittens1 and above all should be an animal lover4 ,to dwellers in any of our large cities the sojourn in some country place would come as a boon and a blessing1 and if the owner of the cattery is fully assured of the capabilities of the caretaker1 then all anxiety of mind as to the welfare of the pets would be allayed4 ,there is a secluded corner in ,hyde ,park known as the ,dog's ,cemetery1 and amongst the many headstones ,i noticed two or three erected in memory of lost pussies who have been privileged to rest in this quiet burying ground4 ,illustration3 ,a ,,bevy ,,of ,,blues ,,belonging ,,to ,,miss ,,savery4 7,photo3 ,waschenki1 ,st4 ,leonards-on-,sea47 ,when we see poor pussies packed into dirty cages in the shops of dealers of beasts and birds in our great metropolis1 and when we are made sad by the sight of the wretched starving cats of our streets1 we can breathe no better wish for them than a speedy deliverance from their life of misery1 even if it be to embark with the grim ferryman in their free transportation to the ,feline ,elysium4 8,there shall the worthies of the whiskered race1 ,elysian mice o'er floors of sapphire chace1 ',midst beds of aromatic marum stray1 ,or raptur'd rove beside the milky way40 ,a ,french writer of the early part of the eighteenth century1 a famous ,jesuit ,father1 suggests a very strange theory on the old idea as to the nature of the soul of animals4 ,i am sure that the question of a future existence for those pets who during so short a time in this world have been our faithful and loving companions must have often entered into the hearts and minds of true animal lovers4 ,a wise and good man--a writer of some of our most beautiful hymns1 and who passed to his rest within the last year--wrote and gave me these lines when he lost his faithful dog3-- ,,sancho3 ,,an ,,old ,,friend4 ,a large brown ,irish retriever3 buried in the ,vicarage ,garden of ,st4 ,paul's1 ,haggerston3 a stone to his memory is on the school wall1 with this inscription3-- 8,in the centre of this lawn lies ,,sancho1 a gentleman in all but humanity2 thoroughbred1 single in mind1 true of heart2 for seventeen years the faithful and affectionate friend of his master1 who loved him1 and now for him #8faintly trusts the larger ,hope' contained1 it may be1 in ,romans viii4 #ai-ba4 ,he died ,april #bf1 #ahhc40 ,,not sparse of friends the world has been to me ,by grace of ,,god2 sweetness and light to life ,their love has given2 many a stormy strife1 ,many a pulseless torpor1 on my sea1 ,through them--their presence or their memory-- ,have been or stilled or quickened2 and to thee1 ,my ,dog1 the tribute1 as the term1 is due1 ,my ,friend6 not least of all dear1 near1 and true ,these seventeen years--and through the years to be ,sure in my heart of immortality4 ,must this be all8 ,i' the great ,day of the ,,lord1 ,shall aught that is of good and beauty now ,be missing8 ,shall not each gift be restored8 ,paul says 8the whole creation0--why not thou8 ,illustration3 ,,cats' ,,tombstones ,,in ,,the ,,dogs' ,,cemetery1 ,,hyde ,,park4 7,photo3 ,cassell ,co41 ,ltd47 ,illustration3 ,,tabbies ,,up ,a ,,tree4 ,photo3 ,c4 ,reid1 ,wishaw4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,,care ,,and ,,management4 ,in the care1 management1 and feeding of cats no hard-and-fast rule can be laid down1 for the dispositions and constitutions of these animals differ just as much as do those of human beings4 ,fanciers must therefore learn to treat their cats individually and not collectively2 they must study their character and make allowances for the fads and fancies of the feline race4 ,i am convinced that a varied diet is the best for cats1 and fanciers should bear in mind the importance of regularity in the hours of feeding1 whether two or three or four times a day4 ,fresh water should always be supplied1 and unfinished food should not be left standing about4 ,for one or two pet cats the scraps from the table given with judgment will probably suffice2 but in the case of a large cattery with several inmates1 some sort of system in feeding is necessary4 ,i would suggest that the chief meal for two days a week should be fish1 mixed perhaps with rice or ,freeman's ,scientific ,food1 raw meat twice or three times a week cut up into fairly small pieces1 horse-flesh 7if obtained from a reliable source7 twice a week4 ,lights1 liver1 or sardines may be given occasionally4 ,sloppy food in any large quantity should be avoided2 but oatmeal well boiled1 cornflour1 arrowroot1 and several of the well-known foods1 such as ,neave's or ,mellin's1 make a nice change4 ,spratt's biscuits of various kinds1 soaked and mixed with stock1 are relished by some cats4 ,vegetables should be given frequently1 and grass supplied1 as green food purifies the blood and keeps the bowels in good condition4 ,persian cats require special attention as regards their coats1 and should be combed and brushed regularly1 and1 if the fur becomes matted1 the knots should be cut away4 ,avoid washing your cats2 there are other means of cleansing their coats1 particulars of which will be given in the chapter on exhibiting4 ,illustration3 ,,blue ,,persian4 ,,presented ,,by ,,miss ,,patterson ,,to ,,her ,,majesty ,,the ,,queen4 ,,female ,,cats ,,and ,,kittens4 ,as regards the management of female cats1 it is necessary to start from the time when they first arrive at maturity1 viz4 when they are first capable of becoming mothers4 ,this usually takes place--or they 8come in season10 as it is called--after they are seven or eight months old2 and though cases have been known when this has happened before six months1 it is very unusual4 ,it may therefore be laid down as a rule that if a kitten exhibits extraordinary high spirits1 racing and tearing about1 it should be carefully watched1 and not allowed its freedom without supervision1 either out of doors or in the house4 ,queens may be known to be in season by several symptoms1 such as rolling on the ground1 rubbing up against furniture1 increased affection for their owners1 and often by the curious cries they utter1 at times by a soft note of invitation1 at other times by shouts of impatience or distress which resound through the house4 ,cats should not be mated until they are nine or ten months old at least2 twelve months is a better age1 though if they are insistent it will not do to put them off more than three times1 as there are records of cats who1 having been kept back on account of extreme youth1 have been seriously ill or have never had families at all4 ,on the other hand1 it is possible these cats may have had the reproductive instinct abnormally strong1 though for some cause or another they would always have been unfertile4 ,powders are sold to quiet cats who are considered too young to become mothers1 and two or three small doses of bromide have a decidedly calming effect4 ,this drug should1 however1 be given with caution1 as it is a dangerous one in unskilled hands4 ,cats come in season about every three weeks during the spring and summer2 but in the autumn and early winter months nature seems to intend that they should rest2 therefore1 as soon as the year has turned1 and in very mild winters even before ,christmas1 no time should be lost in selecting the best sires for the various breeding queens1 and arrangements made with their respective owners1 so that as soon as ever a queen is ready she may be mated without delay1 as some cats go off in two or three days1 while others are not safe for a fortnight4 ,if possible1 it is well to select a stud cat near at hand1 especially if your queen is timid and frightened1 as a long railway journey may upset her4 ,it is most essential that female cats should be freed from worms before being allowed to mate or breed1 otherwise the kittens will probably fall victims to these pests by sucking in the disease with the mother's milk4 ,most cat fanciers know the symptoms which are suggestive of worms2 and whenever there is a reasonable suspicion of their presence1 then it is best at once to resort to some of the many remedies to be obtained from veterinaries and cat specialists4 ,a cat's period of gestation is nine weeks1 but this is often extended to a day or two longer1 so that it is best to expect a litter about nine weeks from the date of the queen's return from visiting the stud cat4 ,an experienced breeder will most likely see symptoms of a cat coming in season1 and will then do well to give a worm powder4 ,salvo's ,no4 #c powder may be given one morning1 and the cat sent off the next day quite safely4 ,visiting queens should be despatched as early in the morning as possible and insured1 to save delay on the road1 with the owner's name and address inside package1 also the name of the cat1 as poor pussie will be far happier if on her arrival she hears herself called by her pet name4 ,full instructions should be sent as to the return journey2 also it should be stated if the cat is kept out of doors or indoors1 and what food she is accustomed to have1 number of meals per diem1 etc4 ,if going a very long journey the queen should not be nailed into a box1 or padlocked1 as occasional delays occur1 and the railway authorities will feed and look after an insured cat if packed in a hamper or box where they can get at the occupant4 ,boxes or hampers with skeleton lids are by far the best on this account4 ,if the weather is very cold and a basket is used1 it should be lined1 and round the sides brown paper is an additional safeguard against draughts1 for which all stations are proverbial4 ,a very delicate cat or young kitten finds great comfort in winter from a hot-water bottle placed inside the hamper for it to rest against4 ,queens should have a good meal an hour or two before starting1 as they often arrive upset with the journey1 and in their strange new home will not at first touch any food4 ,do not put any food in the travelling basket4 ,it is not well for a queen to mate just after a heavy meal4 ,fish and warm milk1 if these agree with the queen1 or a small meat meal1 may be offered after a long1 cold journey1 and1 if eaten1 the queen should be allowed to rest an hour or two before introducing her to the stud cat4 ,illustration3 ,,three ,,little ,,maids4 7,photo3 ,e4 ,landor1 ,ealing47 ,after mating1 a queen should be kept quiet for a few days on her return home1 as much apart from other cats as possible2 but no uneasiness need be felt if the visit does not seem to have quieted the queen1 as she will settle down in a few days and cease to think about her mate4 ,with regard to treatment of cats in kitten1 some queens are gentle and quiet1 and very careful of themselves1 others are exceedingly bad-tempered1 fighting and quarrelling1 while some amuse themselves by climbing up high places and jumping down1 behaving in such a wild and excitable fashion that they not only endanger their own lives1 but run the risk of bringing maimed and deformed offspring into the world4 ,cats such as these should be kept isolated1 if possible1 or at most with only one other quiet queen1 and all high shelves or tall articles of furniture should be removed4 ,it is always well to be very careful in handling cats in kitten4 ,they must never be lifted up by their fore legs1 but when absolutely necessary to move or carry them1 both hands should be used to do so1 one being placed under the body by the shoulders to carry the weight1 while the other hand gently supports the hind quarters2 but the less a cat is lifted about the better4 ,all medicines should be given quietly and quickly1 so that there may be no struggling4 ,the cat's head should be grasped firmly with the left hand1 the fingers and thumb on each side of the corners of the mouth1 and forced back on the shoulders with a firm pressure2 this will cause her to open her mouth1 when medicine can be popped quickly down the throat from a spoon held in the right hand4 ,in the case of a very restless cat1 it is advisable to have an assistant in administering medicine4 ,amateurs would do well to practise giving water in a spoon to queens who are in health1 so that they may become used to this simple method of administering medicine4 ,cats in kit require three or four meals daily of nourishing food--raw meat from four to six ounces night and morning1 and fish and scraps and vegetables or biscuit1 etc41 for the midday meal4 ,half a teaspoonful of cod-liver oil on their food two or three times a week is very good for the queens in cold weather2 but if sickness ensues1 of course the oil must be discontinued4 ,never suffer diarrha to go on unchecked4 ,this applies to all cats and kittens of whatever age1 sex1 or condition1 but is especially dangerous when a cat is in kit or nursing her young4 ,mr4 ,ward and ,salvo prepare powders which will stop the diarrha1 and if persevered with will restore the bowels to their normal condition4 ,change of diet is also very helpful4 ,if the diarrha is very violent or persistent1 or if no medicine can be procured1 a small quantity of powdered chalk1 as much as will lie on a sixpence1 may be given every hour or two1 three or four times2 but the primary cause1 of which diarrha is only a symptom1 should be sought out1 and if not discoverable1 the advice of a cat doctor should be obtained4 ,illustration3 ,a ,,perilous ,,perch4 7,photo3 ,c4 ,reid1 ,wishaw47 ,persistent diarrha 7if not the accompaniment of diseases1 such as inflammation of the bowels1 etc471 is usually caused by indigestion or worms1 and sometimes by a stoppage of fur or food imperfectly digested1 which nature in this way tries to get rid of2 and if this is the case1 or there is even reason to suspect it may be1 a dose or two of warm salad oil1 a teaspoonful every two hours1 will often bring away the obstruction4 ,cats in kitten frequently suffer from constipation1 for which also warm salad oil is far better than castor-oil1 as the latter is irritative to the bowels1 and though acting as an aperient1 the after effects are increased costiveness4 ,warm salad oil1 given a few hours before the birth of kittens1 is helpful to the mother4 ,for at least a week before the kittens are expected1 a nice cosy bed should be prepared in some retired spot2 and1 to a novice1 the caution would not be amiss--do not let a cat in kitten sleep on your bed1 or she will either have her kittens there1 or will drag the poor little things into the bed the first chance she gets4 ,if a box is to be made ready for the cat1 it should be of a fair size 7about twenty-six inches by eighteen inches71 and should be placed on its side1 and a bit of wood about three inches deep nailed on to the bottom of the side1 standing up to keep the bedding in its place and the kittens from rolling out4 ,this box may be placed on a table or two chairs1 so arranged that the cat can step in and out from another chair4 ,the floor of the box should be covered with several thicknesses of flannel or blanket in the winter and paper in the summer4 ,avoid coloured materials1 as the dye will come out if they get wet4 ,a bolster may be placed at one side of the box stuffed with straw1 or hay or paper torn up very small1 to support the cat's back2 but should the weather be very cold and the mother delicate1 a hot-water bottle covered with flannel may be used instead1 and is a great comfort4 ,a covering should be thrown over the box1 which may be pulled down to hide the interior1 as cats love to be screened from observation2 and also it is very essential that the tiny babies should be kept almost in the dark for the first fortnight1 after which time1 when their eyes are open1 the covering can be raised in the day and lowered at night in cold weather4 ,this box must be placed on the ground as soon as the kittens can walk about1 but retaining the ledge already referred to1 which will keep them from ground draughts to a great extent4 ,a nice little box with run attached is the best house for a cat and kittens2 but as these cost about #bes4 each1 a number of them become costly and beyond the means of some breeders4 ,the bed described is the next best thing1 far better for shy queens than a box or basket used in the ordinary way4 ,an empty drawer makes a good place1 but the kittens should be moved out of it as soon as they can see1 as it is rather too dark and close after the blind period is past4 ,illustration3 ,,mrs4 ,,hardy',s ,,neuter 8,,pharaoh40 7,photo3 ,schutk's ,photographic ,galleries47 ,a cat should sleep in whatever bed is arranged for her for at least a week before the kittens are expected1 and when that day arrives the queen should be carefully watched1 as some cats will have their kittens anywhere if not looked after4 ,for the sake of those new to the fancy1 it may be as well to remark that cats become very restless1 walking about sometimes purring loudly1 and looking in cupboards and dark corners1 while occasionally the first noticeable indication that the event is about to come off is that the fur behind is wet1 and if this should be the case no time should be lost in carrying the cat most carefully to her bed1 as the kittens may then be expected any moment4 ,some animals like to be left entirely alone while giving birth to their young2 others1 especially pets1 prefer to have their owners near to them2 but if there is any uncertainty it is better to leave her to herself4 ,experienced breeders will know that should the labour be dry or very prolonged it is a great help to a cat to pass the hand firmly and slowly down the side during an expulsive pain1 as the pressure will help the mother and hasten the birth of the kittens4 ,after the first is born1 the rest come comparatively easily4 ,very occasionally there is a cross presentation2 but as only those really competent should attempt to do anything in this case1 no time should be lost in sending for the nearest cat doctor or veterinary4 ,after the first kitten has arrived--the birth of which is usually heralded by a loud cry of pain from the mother--some milk should be made hot1 and as soon as the new baby has been cleaned the mother will gladly drink this2 but on no account should cold or even lukewarm milk be given the same day1 or1 indeed1 for two or three days4 ,novices are sometimes startled at seeing the cat eating a lump of something which they fear may be a kitten2 but there is no occasion for alarm1 as it is merely the afterbirth1 the consumption of which is probably ,nature's provision for affording sustenance to the mother1 as an animal in a wild state could get no food for at least several hours after the birth of its offspring4 ,if a cat is wild or shy1 it is better to leave her alone 7with the exception of offering hot milk from time to time7 until all the kittens are born1 and they should not be examined or handled for some days4 ,with a gentle queen the first kitten may be taken away when the second is born1 well wrapped up in warm flannel and put by the fire1 and so on1 always leaving one kitten until the last is warm and dry1 when the others should be returned to the mother4 ,this plan is most necessary in cold weather 7especially if the kittens are born out of doors71 for if the labour is easy and quick it is quite impossible for the queen to dry one kitten before the advent of the next1 and by the time they are all born they are frequently stone cold1 and so wet that the mother gives up the attempt to dry them in despair2 and many kittens1 thought to be stillborn1 have died in the night in this way4 ,kittens quite cold and nearly dead have been restored 7and have lived to a good old age7 by being taken at once to the fire and warmed and dried1 and though at first life may appear extinct1 time and patience will work wonders4 ,if the kittens are taken away from the mother at birth as described above1 it is a good opportunity for destroying any that are not wanted1 because of sex or colour4 ,when the litter is given to the mother she should be offered milk again1 and should after that be left alone several hours2 but she will most likely welcome a few kind words and loving pats as a reward for all she has gone through1 and will then cuddle down contentedly with her little ones4 ,in giving milk do not take the mother out1 or even make her get up to drink it1 on the day of her confinement2 if she cannot reach it comfortably1 raise her head and shoulders with one hand1 until she can reach the saucer held in the other conveniently1 and do not be in a hurry1 as she knows well the temperature the milk ought to be1 and will not take it if too hot or too cold4 ,milk should be given night and morning1 and offered during the day1 for some days after the kittens are born4 ,cats that never like it at other times are thankful for it when nursing2 but1 on the other hand1 cats that have been fond of milk will turn away from it at these times4 ,queens usually come out every few hours for food1 and their meat or ordinary meal should be ready for them1 as they will want to eat it quickly and return to their little ones4 ,after the second or third day a warm1 clean blanket should be substituted for the one on which the kittens were born1 and it is well to do this when the mother is present1 as some cats resent interference during their absence4 ,as soon as the kittens are about a week old1 a finger should be passed over their eyes1 and if there is a little ridge on the lids1 the eye should be moistened with eye-lotion twice daily with a camel-hair brush4 ,if1 after ten days1 they do not open as is usual1 the eyes should be sponged with warm water1 as in this case they must have become glued together with mucus1 which should be cleared away1 and the eye moistened with eye-lotion1 taking care a little goes well into the eye4 ,the lid should then be smeared with olive oil to prevent adhesion4 ,it is this adhesion of the lids which causes inflammation1 and the eyes must be frequently attended to1 so that they may be kept open1 avoiding any very strong light4 ,if the kittens are born indoors in the summer1 windows should be kept open during the day1 and when the little creatures are about a fortnight old put them out in the sunshine for an hour or so daily4 ,the mother must be as well fed as she was before the kittens were born1 but carefully notice if she suffers from diarrha1 for if this is the case1 and change of diet does not cure it1 you may be certain that she is nursing too many kittens1 and if some of them are not speedily removed you will lose them all4 ,if a foster mother can be procured1 by all means have one1 accompanied by one of her own kittens if possible4 ,make a cosy bed for her1 warming the blanket1 and leave her in it till night1 when1 if she seems settled down1 give her two or more kittens as the case may be1 removing her own the following night4 ,do not attempt to interfere with the kittens while the mother is away1 and act very gently1 talking to1 and stroking her so that she may not resent your interference4 ,if no foster-mother can be procured1 ,mr4 ,ward1 of ,manchester1 has a clever little appliance which he claims can be used instead of a foster-mother4 ,illustration3 8,,the ,,raiders0 ,,caught6 7,photo3 ,e4 ,landor1 ,ealing47 ,some fanciers may take upon themselves the task of bringing up the kittens by hand1 and in that case wrap them up in warm flannel1 keeping them by the fire by day1 and giving them a hot bottle at night1 feeding with weak milk and water about every two hours 7this should be about half and half71 with a teaspoonful of lime-water to each cup of milk and water4 ,it should be given warm1 not hot1 and the milk scalded1 not boiled4 ,in ,london or large towns unsweetened condensed milk is better than cow's milk1 as the colouring or preservative acids used by dairymen in the latter is very injurious to kittens4 ,this condensed milk should be much diluted1 and flavoured with small quantities of salt and sugar4 ,if too strong or too sweet1 the food will cause diarrha4 ,kittens will soon learn to suck out of an eggspoon2 but do not give too much at once1 or force the food down their little throats when they object to take any more4 ,at about five weeks old the kittens will begin to lap and possibly to eat4 ,many fanciers are delighted if they will eat and drink before a month old1 and some make the serious mistake of trying to coax the little ones to eat solid food at this tender age4 ,such persons do not stop to think how weak are all the digestive organs of these tiny creatures4 ,the milk of the mother supplies all that is needful for their growth and well-being until such time as ,nature makes itself heard in her demands for further nourishment1 and if substantial food is given to them too soon1 or too strong1 it merely goes through the stomach1 passing out into the bowels undigested1 decomposes1 and forms slimy mucus which is the hotbed for worms1 even if it does not set up inflammation of the bowels4 ,more kittens die from worms and consumption of the bowels than from any other complaint1 and much of this loss of life is directly traceable to strong food at too tender an age4 ,lung disease1 gastric catarrh1 gastro-enteritis1 are all directly or indirectly set up by the non-assimilation of food2 hence the supreme importance of giving nourishment which can be digested easily4 ,after six weeks scraped raw beef may be given 7if the kittens want to eat7 three times daily in very small quantities1 about half a teaspoonful to start with1 and they may have warm milk and water with lime in it4 ,this should be followed by ,mellin's1 or ,benger's ,frame ,food1 as directed for infants4 ,it is advisable not to allow kittens to overload their stomachs1 but to feed them about four times daily4 ,if healthy they will eat eagerly1 but not ravenously2 a kitten who is greedy and precipitates itself into the saucer in its anxiety to get its dinner may be suspected of worms1 and when about eight weeks old a course of ,salvo's ,no4 #a powders may be given with safety4 ,as soon as the kittens are about a month old1 a shallow tin of dry earth or ashes 7,i do not recommend sawdust7 should be provided for them1 and it will well repay their owners to spend some portion of the day with the little ones and lift them into the earth pan when necessary4 ,if this is done two or three times1 the lesson is probably learnt for life4 ,kittens are naturally clean1 and will get out of their beds1 and run about crying loudly for some accommodation for their wants2 and if this is neglected the seeds of dirty habits are sown1 and the poor untaught little ones reap a sad harvest of cuffs and sometimes kicks from servants1 who naturally dislike the trouble caused by dirty house pets4 ,even in catteries cleanly habits in cats are much to be desired4 ,if a cat or kitten gets into dirty ways1 it should never be beaten and put into the tin1 but should be gently stroked and coaxed into good habits4 ,those who only keep one or two queens will find that if they spend a few minutes playing with the kittens before their meals1 they will be well rewarded by the quicker growth and better digestion of the little ones2 but1 of course1 this is out of the question in a large cattery4 ,in summer1 kittens should be combed daily with a small tooth tomb1 as the insects which inhabit their coats not only worry them and cause them to scratch out their fur1 but they convey disease from one to another1 to say nothing of sucking out so much blood that the poor little creatures become absolutely anmic1 and in this state they fall an easy prey to the first disease that attacks them4 ,fleas were formerly treated as irritating but otherwise harmless insects2 but we are assured on the best authority that they are a dangerous medium of disease1 and that tapeworms are generated in dogs and cats by their means4 ,the poor animals1 wildly resenting the annoyance of these pests1 hunt for them with teeth and tongue1 and1 swallowing their enemy1 may also swallow a number of undeveloped tapeworms1 which in their larval or grub state are secreted in the abdomen of the flea4 ,tapeworms are said to undergo certain metamorphoses or transformations1 and require to pass through the body of some other creature than the one they exist in in their mature state of being4 ,illustration3 ,,kittens ,,belonging ,,to ,,miss ,,bromley4 ,it is a great mistake to keep kittens in heated rooms1 and worse still to allow them to be close to a fire by day and then to let the room get cold at night4 ,an even temperature1 cold and dry1 is better than sudden changes2 cats and kittens love warmth and comfort1 but1 at the same time1 all extremes of heat and cold are bad4 ,never neglect the first symptoms of illness2 note the signs1 and if you are not able to dose the invalid yourself send off a wire to some competent cat doctor describing the form the indisposition has taken1 and while waiting for medicine no harm can be done by giving as much carbonate of soda as will lie on a threepenny-bit in a little water two or three times daily4 ,salvo has lately advertised a medicine which is said to be very valuable for giving on the first signs of a cat or kitten being out of sorts1 and which1 he says1 will take down fever1 stop colds1 and modify attacks of bronchitis1 pneumonia1 etc42 and for such fragile little beings as kittens fanciers would do well to keep this medicine by them4 ,people often say that their cats and kittens seem ill or out of sorts1 and allow this sort of thing to go on quite calmly for a week or so1 when one day they wake up to the fact that the poor creature is very seriously ill1 and they then send off in a hurry for medicine which frequently arrives too late2 and the sufferer may be beyond all human aid4 ,double pneumonia1 which is perhaps the quickest and most fatal of all diseases1 is not so sudden but that it is ushered in by various symptoms1 beginning often a week before the attack becomes acute4 ,an animal will seem cold1 will creep near the fire1 or sit in the fender1 mope about1 refusing to play1 sit in a hunch with its back up1 or is very sleepy and stupid2 the fur is rough2 there may be sickness1 and the evacuations are of a bright yellow colour2 perhaps it has not quite finished its meals for a few days2 and the nose is hot and dry1 and1 if taken up1 the cat feels hot and dry all over4 ,when there are several of these symptoms1 no time should be lost in administering the remedies named above every hour or two until suitable remedies can be obtained2 but do not rely upon them alone1 or think if you give them persistently they will pull the animal through the illness1 for they will not1 special remedies being needed for special symptoms and for various stages of disease4 ,no two animals are exactly alike1 and the experienced cat doctor will prescribe carefully for each individual cat in the same way as a physician will give different prescriptions to suit the needs of different patients4 ,one thing should never be neglected1 and this is keeping up the strength from the first with beef-tea1 eggs and milk1 ,brand's ,essence1 or animal ,kreochyle-- a teaspoonful every hour4 ,as soon as an animal has refused two meals1 begin feeding with spoon1 as it will have so much more strength with which to battle against disease if fed up well from the first4 ,people who desire to sell kittens for profit will do well to part with them at about two months old1 before they start teething1 for at this period of their little lives fresh troubles begin4 ,occasionally they suffer from fits1 but though these are sometimes caused by cutting their teeth1 they are oftener due to the presence of worms4 ,if the gums are swollen and inflamed1 a quarter of one of ,steedman's teething powders will soothe them1 or a few doses of bromide1 as prescribed before for kittens desiring to mate too early1 may be given1 and excitable kittens should be kept quiet4 ,if kittens are troubled with diarrha1 all starchy food should be avoided1 as it is never easily digested by animals4 ,the reason of this is not far to seek1 when we know that the saliva partly digests starch1 while the juices of the stomach act directly on meat4 ,illustration3 ,,neuter ,,pets ,,owned ,,by ,,mrs4 ,,hastings ,,lees4 7,photo3 ,the ,royal ,central ,photo ,co41 ,bournemouth47 ,animals1 instead of masticating their food1 by which means the saliva acts upon it1 often bolt it1 and it goes into the stomach and is passed out into the large bowel practically undigested1 where it decomposes1 working off in noxious gases which escape through the skin1 causing eczema1 or in many cases producing inflammation of the bowels or enteritis4 ,nothing needs more careful attention than the diet of kittens1 and nothing is so little studied4 ,it would be no exaggeration to say that all disease1 apart from outside or accidental causes1 such as draughts1 cold winds1 contagion1 etc41 is in the first place set up by undigested food1 and even what may be called external causes would often not be harmful to an animal if the digestive organs were in proper working order4 ,remember1 it is not the quantity of food a kitten takes that benefits it4 ,the secret of its health and well-being is in the quantity it digests4 ,a kitten should only digest certain things in certain proportions1 and whatever remains undigested produces irritation1 and in this case the kitten cannot possibly develop1 and is generally weakly and fretful4 ,those who have never cared much for cats will be interested and amused if they bring up a family of kittens1 and the love and trust of the little creatures will well repay them for all their care4 ,,stud ,,cats4 ,a male cat should not be allowed to mate under a year old1 and if you wish to keep your stud in good condition do not allow more than two1 or at most three1 lady visitors a week4 ,there is no doubt that a really reliable stud cat is a very profitable possession4 ,the most essential recommendations are a sound constitution and absolute health1 combined with a good pedigree and a list of prize-winning progeny4 ,it is necessary to exhibit your stud cat at the best cat shows from time to time1 and thus to keep him before the public4 ,it is also advisable to advertise him in the cat papers1 and it is often useful to have a photograph to forward to fanciers who may be unable otherwise to obtain any idea of your cat4 ,needless to say that for stud purposes a cat should possess the highest possible qualifications of the breed to which he belongs1 and a massive frame and broad head are most desirable in all stud cats4 ,it is a good plan to allow the visiting queen to be within sight of the male for a short time before she is put in the stud cat's house1 and for this purpose it is convenient to have a small movable pen or hutch to place where the two pussies can hold catty conversation4 ,a stud cat cannot1 for many and obvious reasons1 be allowed his full freedom2 but it is essential that his dwelling place should have as long and roomy an exercise ground as possible4 ,it is also possible with some male cats to tether them out of doors for a short period during the day1 in which case great care should be taken to have the lead only as long as will permit of exercise within a safe distance of dangerous pitfalls or spreading trees and shrubs4 ,the best time for mating is about one hour after feeding4 ,it is most important that stud cats should be in good coat at the time of mating1 and that they should be free from worms4 ,the usual fee for a visit to a stud cat is #a #as41 and this should be sent at the same time as the request for permission to send a queen4 ,a second visit is generally considered allowable if the first one has proved unsuccessful4 ,an additional amount of food may be given to a cat whilst he is being used at stud1 and always remember to provide grass in some form or other in your stud cat's house4 ,there is no universal remedy for all cats1 neither can there be any rule for feeding them4 ,different cats need different treatment1 and those which are kept in a captive state1 as are stud cats1 should not be fed on the same lines as those that are allowed full liberty4 ,,neuter ,,cats4 ,opinions differ as to the best period for a cat to be made neuter1 but it is generally considered advisable to have the operation performed between the ages of five and eight months4 ,a male cat can be kept as a household pet till he is about nine or ten months old without any unpleasantness1 but after that period he must be relegated to an outside cattery or stud house4 ,it is cruel to put off gelding a cat till he shows signs of wishing to mate4 ,a duly qualified veterinary ought to be employed1 and an ansthetic used4 ,the cat should be kept on a low diet for a day or two before and after the operation4 ,it is very seldom that any evil effects ensue1 and after a few days the puss is quite himself again4 ,neuter cats grow to an immense size1 and the ,persian varieties develop great length of fur1 which is generally not shed so frequently or to such an extent as in the males and females4 ,neuter cats are very docile1 and generally rather lazy and listless2 for this reason they are not accounted such good mousers4 ,female cats can also be rendered sexless1 but in their case the operation is more likely to be attended with dangerous results4 ,i have heard it stated that a female cat ought to be allowed one litter of kittens before being operated upon4 ,there are not many very fine neuters on exhibition at our shows1 and this fact may perhaps be accounted for by reason of fanciers picking out weedy and altogether below the mark specimens of their litters to be gelded because they do not consider them worth keeping to breed from4 ,in this way several poor specimens of neuters are to be seen with indifferent markings1 white spots1 incorrect coloured eyes1 and long noses4 ,for a home pet there is1 of course1 nothing to come up to a fine neuter cat who will not roam1 who does not attract amorous females1 and who is content to lie for hours stretched out on the drawing-room rug or the kitchen hearth1 the admired of all admirers4 ,from the lips of many noted breeders of ,persian cats who have been troubled by wandering males and prolific females1 ,i have heard the exclamation1 8,i shall end by keeping only neuters60 ,cat owners in general1 and lovers of neuters in particular1 might do worse than agitate for more consideration to be extended to these grand pets at our leading shows1 and ,i cannot help thinking that a neuter club or society might be formed to assist in this and other objects connected with the general improvement of our neuter cats4 ,illustration3 ,,carolling4 7,photo3 ,mrs4 ,s4 ,f4 ,clarke47 ,illustration3 8,,in ,a ,,playful ,,sort ,,of ,,way40 7,photo3 ,e4 ,landor1 ,ealing47 ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,,housing ,,of ,,cats4 ,the proper housing of valuable stock is the first essential subject to be studied by the beginner in the cat fancy1 and one requiring both careful thought and attention4 ,for ,i do not hesitate to say that1 of all the domestic animals1 the cat is the most difficult to keep healthy and happy in the unnatural condition of total or partial confinement4 ,belonging to the fer1 its original and savage nature still shows glimpses1 not wholly tamed1 in its independence of character and its roving habits2 while yet its civilised side shows the keenest appreciation of the comforts to be found in the home life4 ,a house cat that enjoys its freedom to go out as it pleases1 to climb the garden walls1 and anon to lie in purring contentment before the kitchen hearth1 is a creature ailing little4 ,it is the pedigreed pets1 in their luxurious prisons1 that too often fall a prey to disease4 ,to establish a cattery1 therefore1 that shall be a pleasure and a pride to the owner1 and not a source of worry and grief over perpetual illness amongst the inmates1 it is necessary in the very first inception to study the chief needs of cat nature4 ,let us consider these in order4 ,how our typical healthy cattery may be best arranged4 ,it must be dry--was ever a cat yet seen of choice sitting in the wet8 ,it must have ample space1 both of houses and runs1 and inducements for exercise--a well-branched dead tree sunk in the gravelled run is good1 besides divers posts1 shelves1 and benches4 ,let the aspect be bright1 with lots of sunshine4 ,a cat is a devotee of the sun--it is the life of young growing things1 and the greatest destroyer of disease germs2 and it is very easy by coverings or the growth of climbing plants to provide temporary shade during the height of summer4 ,for this last1 nothing is better than that most useful and least fastidious king of climbers1 the ,virginian creeper1 as it bestows its leafy shade just when required1 and harbours no damp1 as the growth of thick1 tall trees is apt to do4 ,illustration3 ,a ,,musical ,,party4 7,photo3 ,e4 ,landor1 ,ealing47 ,lastly1 let the outlook of the cattery be cheerful4 ,do not select a spot so far from the house life that the attendant who feeds and cleans is practically the only person the cats see in the twenty-four hours4 ,a cat loves to observe1 preferably from some secure high perch1 whence it may see all that passes--to exchange greetings with the dogs1 the gardener1 the maids1 the tradesmen coming to the door1 and thus fill its imprisoned hours with interest4 ,if you disregard this1 and put your cats out of sight in some back yard1 they will mope badly1 and also grow very stupid4 ,these principal requirements being borne in mind1 individual fancy of building and arrangement may follow4 ,every breeder of experience has his own ideas of best design1 according to means and circumstance4 ,if a cat fancier is fortunate enough to be able to disregard expense1 he can indulge in brick houses with every appliance for comfort and elegance of construction4 ,for others1 who can supply a working plan1 an intelligent local carpenter 7when found7 can do much4 ,occasionally1 also1 it is possible to convert a portion of existing stabling to very efficient uses4 ,but ,i must advise the beginner1 as regards this last suggestion1 to be careful4 ,if the stabling is modern1 and possesses the main requisites ,i have already spoken about 7of dryness1 and space1 and cheerful light71 then all is1 and will be1 well4 ,but if1 as is often the case1 the stable of temptation is old1 perhaps unused for some years1 is dark1 with more than a suspicion of damp1 and a very certain habitat of rats1 then our fancier is emphatically warned against making any trial of it1 short of pulling down and rebuilding4 ,let him rest assured1 it would in the end mean the loss of money1 time1 care1 and1 most likely1 breeding stock too1 and certain ill-health among the poor inmates4 ,i know a case in point where a cat fancier thus utilised a stable4 ,a converted portion of old stabling that looked most desirable1 and kept scrupulously clean1 was used for a number of young kittens4 ,very soon a peculiar and most violent form of skin disease appeared amongst them1 at first as mere scurfy patches1 but swiftly assuming the form of contagious fever1 which spread with frightful rapidity1 infecting every cat with whom they came in contact4 ,not until after many deaths1 and the most cruel sufferings of those who struggled through the disease1 was it at last discovered to be acute blood poisoning1 produced by the exhalation of sewer gas from an old sewer running underneath the floors4 ,rats were probably responsible1 either by gnawing through the pipes1 or coming up into the cattery1 themselves stricken with the foul disease4 ,the site of the cattery selected1 the preparation of the ground may be advisable1 certainly on all clay soils4 ,to ensure perfect dryness1 the top soil should be removed a foot or so and filled in with brick rubble or builders' rubbish4 ,on this foundation1 cement concrete or asphalt may be laid down4 ,personally1 for runs and floors1 ,i prefer the cement2 it is easier to keep clean--a bucket of water can swill it from end to end1 while it dries much faster than the asphalt4 ,asphalt in outside runs is apt to soften in the summer sun1 and depress into holes1 and within the houses the smell of the tar remains strong for some months4 ,the cost of the two is much about the same1 but in very damp situations the asphalt is preferable1 as it prevents all ground-damp rising through4 ,now to plan out a medium-size cattery that shall be simple in construction and not ruinous to the modest beginner1 let us suppose we have at our disposal a fair length of brick wall--say #fj to #gj feet in length--facing south1 on slightly sloping ground4 ,our first proceeding will be to level and render damp-proof by a foot of rubble1 as heretofore suggested1 a strip #aa feet wide and about #de feet along the wall1 and to surface this strip with cement or asphalt4 ,upon this1 and against the wall1 we will erect our houses1 a long wooden shed with lean-to roof1 divided into three main divisions by matchboarding partitions1 and with a smaller house at either end1 as shown in plan4 ,a1 the sleeping-room2 ,b1 a playroom for queens and kittens2 and ,c1 the third apartment for kittening1 or cats it is desirable to isolate awhile4 ,the smaller houses at the outside ends reserved for stud cats4 ,d1 doors from one apartment to another of wood4 ,the outside woodwork is of #a-;inch feather-edged matchboarding1 well-seasoned deal1 a roof of wood1 felted and tarred1 being preferable to the use of corrugated iron1 which is very hot in summer and very cold in winter2 an annual dressing of sand and tar keeps the felt watertight for many years4 ,allow good wide eaves1 and have gutter pipes all round4 ,inside1 line the walls with wall felt1 and limewash2 or an inner lining of #a-;inch matchboarding1 allowing a two-inch space to be packed with sawdust1 keeps the house very warm and dry4 ,for the brick back wall1 -inch matchboarding should be sufficient as lining4 ,the dimensions of the sleeping-room1 ,a1 are #ab feet long by #aa feet wide1 and a wire frame partition with door subdivides this again into two equal parts4 ,against the back wall1 at a height of about #bj inches from the floor1 runs a broad shelf #d feet wide1 having inch mesh wire netting frontage1 half to open on hinges1 and movable wooden partitions sliding in a slot2 these for the sleeping-pens1 each #d feet deep by #c feet wide1 two on either side the wire frame partition1 or convertible into one #d feet by #f by removal of sliding wooden division4 ,it will be warmer for the occupants if these pens are roofed in at a height of #c feet4 ,cover the bench with oilcloth before putting up the divisions4 ,this can be washed over daily if necessary1 and will dry in a few moments1 thus avoiding the dangers of scrubbing wood in damp weather4 ,as nothing offensive can soak in1 a pure atmosphere is preserved1 and risk of infection is greatly minimised4 ,a comfortable sleeping box or basket should be provided for each pen1 filled in winter with plenty of sweet hay1 and in summer with sheets of newspaper or brown paper4 ,a cat loves to repose on paper1 and it has the advantage of being cheaply renewable and easily burnt after a day or two's use4 ,never use old packing straw for bedding4 ,it is frequently full of infectious germs1 and many skin complaints have been traced to its use4 ,neither are cushions1 blankets1 old bits of carpet1 matting1 etc41 to be recommended4 ,they are apt to become damp in prolonged wet weather1 and retain both dirt and odour4 ,a sanitary tin to hold dry earth or sawdust should be placed in each cat house1 emptied and washed out every morning by the attendant1 when the floors are also swept out or washed over4 ,a fair-sized window1 to open1 must be in the front1 and a door1 the upper half of which might also be of glass1 to open out into a gravel run4 ,outside wooden shutters for cold nights are a great help in keeping the house warm1 and should be provided4 ,having arranged our first room1 the playing room1 ,b1 next must come under consideration4 ,this being the central division1 the felt lining could here be dispensed with1 and instead the boards can either be plainly stained and varnished--which is also easy to keep perfectly clean--or ,willesden damp-proof paper might be nailed over the walls4 ,this paper1 made at the ,willesden ,company's works1 ,willesden ,junction1 ,n4,w41 is made in several good colours for interior lining1 and a house so hung looks very comfortable1 and shows to advantage such mural decorations as show prize cards1 photos of winners1 etc4 ,the frontage of this room is to be entirely glazed1 in small panes set in a wooden framework1 with a #f-;inch high weather board at floor to protect from draughts1 the glass protected on the inside by wire netting fastened over it4 ,a window here to open outwards with a bolt1 and fairly high up1 to ensure fresh air in rainy weather without the wet and damp driving in on a level with the cats2 a half-glass door also to run1 but no outside shutters will be here needed1 the cats not occupying this room at night4 ,cover the asphalt floor with linoleum or oilcloth1 and put up some shelves #ae inches wide1 fairly high up1 but within leaping distance1 against the walls2 a movable bench too1 to place the cats upon for brushing and attending to them4 ,old chairs that can be spared from the house might end their service here2 or if the luxury of a plain wicker chair could be permitted1 and furnished with one or two cushions in washable slip covers1 it would be as pleasant for the owner when making her visits as for the pussies themselves4 ,a ball for the kittens1 a reel hanging from a string1 will stimulate healthy romps1 even amongst the staid grown-up cats1 when weary of indoor dozing4 ,room ,c4 ,c is primarily intended for the interesting occasions when new little prize-winners are expected4 ,this is subdivided by wire as in sleeping-room1 but the partition three feet from back wall should be of wood1 to ensure privacy to the anxious mother1 and to temper the light2 oilcloth on floor4 ,for the littering nests themselves ,i describe1 and advise my friends to make trial of1 the following plan4 ,have a sort of shallow wooden box1 or tray with sides1 made about #d feet #f inches long by #bd inches high and #d inch sides4 ,this is stained1 varnished1 and mounted on wooden feet at the four corners about two inches high2 a good bed of hay is put in it1 the box is put in a quiet corner away from the light1 and a truss of new straw placed upright at one end of the box1 leaning against the angle of the wall4 ,a little of the straw at the bottom may be pulled out to suggest the idea of a hole to the cat2 but as a rule she takes to the notion brilliantly1 and will set to work to dig out a nest for herself with the greatest zest4 ,in this the kittens are born1 safe in a cosy nest at the end of a tunnel of straw4 ,there is ample ventilation2 they are protected from all draughts1 so that doors may be left open to the fresh air with impunity2 and they are in the dark1 as kittens naturally should be till they walk out into the daylight of their own desire to explore the world4 ,then the rest of the tray forms a glorious playground for the first week or two1 when one adventurous mite finds out he can climb up the shallow sides1 and tumble out on a large strange world of floor and trot after mamma4 ,a well-known fancier tells me she has not had one litter with weak or bad eyes since she adopted the straw truss plan4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,ideal ,,cattery4 ,one of these trays might be placed each side of the wooden partition1 and if necessary to shut a nervous or surly cat up with her family1 one might be enclosed in a wire frontage with door1 as the sleeping-pens were arranged4 ,let there be a good large window in this room1 as the kittens1 when running about1 will want all the sunshine and air possible4 ,this run should be of asphalt1 for dryness and warmth1 with plenty of play places arranged in it4 ,an old barrel with the bottom knocked out affords great games1 also the tree ,i have before spoken of2 a tree-stump or two1 or a heap of dry brushwood stacked in a corner1 will supply those climbing and hiding holes kittens so greatly enjoy1 and afford protection from winds4 ,a grass run and a gravelled one are designed in the plan1 each having access to the other1 and will allow the cats ample exercising ground according to weather4 ,an oval flower-bed in the centre of the grass plot1 planted with some evergreen bushes1 is a good idea4 ,it affords shelter1 and the cats can dig in the dry earth4 ,for the benches in the gravel run1 an old outhouse door1 painted and mounted on stout legs1 makes a very good one1 which the cats love to sit upon4 ,the stud houses are simple3 a wired-in space of #ab feet by #aa feet contains a house with lean-to roof #d feet by #h feet long1 fitted with sleeping bench and box1 wired windows1 door for attendant1 and small trapdoor for cat4 ,en passant1 all doors should be fitted with good locks1 and locked up after feeding at night is done4 ,the stud run is gravelled1 but a border of grass might be left on two sides--grass is such a necessity for cats in confinement1 and they prefer to select it growing for themselves4 ,the design here suggested is capable of either modification or extension4 ,the plan can be enlarged to any extent4 ,for instance1 if desired1 an attendant's cottage could be built at one end instead of the stud house1 and comprise a special kitchen1 and also an upper room1 fitted with convenient pens for a hospital for the sick members--a very necessary adjunct to the cattery1 as a sick cat should be at once removed from its healthy companions and kept in a place quite apart4 ,more stud houses could be arranged at an angle on one side of the chief runs1 or1 if only a very few cats are intended to be kept1 one of the divisions could be dispensed with1 perhaps1 and the dimensions of the other two made smaller4 ,but whatever your ambitions may be1 great or small1 when you are about it have the work well done4 ,the heating of catteries is a rather vexed question1 many famous breeders affirming that stock raised without it are healthier and harder2 others maintaining that a certain amount of heat is a necessity for producing a good coat4 ,a very experienced breeder once told me the heaviest-coated kittens she ever bred were reared over some hot-water pipes1 in a temperature of #gj6 ,with adult cats having partial freedom and allowed to come into the house in severe weather1 and with stud cats1 ,i consider the no-heat plan decidedly the best2 but ,i do not think it possible to rear young stock during the colder part of the year in an outdoor cattery without artificial heat4 ,it is the damp of the ,english winter which proves so fatal1 and damp cannot be kept out of the very best constructed houses except by the admission of dry heat4 ,kittens that are cold will not play1 and if you see them huddled together on a cold day looking listless and uneasy1 instead of romping1 be sure it is fire heat they need4 ,a thermometer should hang in each house1 and the heat be carefully regulated by that1 a minimum of #dh and a maximum of #ee being suggested4 ,in houses where a flue is practicable1 a stove of the ,tortoise pattern is to be recommended1 but it needs a high guard around it4 ,for a long range of brick-built houses1 an outside flue and boiler1 with hot-water pipes running the length of the cattery1 would be found of most service1 as it maintains an even and medium warmth throughout1 keeps the building perfectly dry1 and can be stoked with less trouble4 ,in small wooden houses1 very excellent results are given by the use of an oil stove with hot-water apparatus1 such as are supplied for small greenhouses4 ,the lamp will usually burn twenty-four hours without attention1 is un-get-at-able by the cats1 who can neither singe their tails nor knock it over during the wildest gambols1 and if kept clean and looked to with care will not cause the slightest odour4 ,a quart of paraffin in one of these oil stoves will burn twenty-four hours1 and heat a building #ab feet by #aj feet to #ej4 ,now1 in concluding this little discourse upon catteries1 the final word of advice is always to remember the importance of absolute cleanliness4 ,there should never be the least offensive smell in the cattery1 and if such be noticed on entering the houses in the morning1 discover the cause and remedy it at once4 ,and do not rely solely upon disinfectants to do this4 ,too frequently this is but overcoming a bad smell by a stronger1 the evil remaining4 ,a good and non-injurious disinfectant should always be used in the water for the daily cleansing of pans and floors1 etc4 ,camphaleyne or ,salubrene are both safe and effective1 but disinfectants that contain creosote in any quantity1 or carbolic1 ,i do not approve of1 except in cases of illness of an infectious type1 when stronger measures are obligatory4 ,no dirty food dishes1 no unchanged water1 no soil of any kind1 should ever be left about on flooring or bedding4 ,let your cattery be kept as scrupulously clean and sweet as a hospital1 then will your cats thrive and kittens be healthy and sturdy4 ,illustration3 ,a ,,litter ,,box4 ,do not elect to start a cattery unless you yourself intend to bestow both time and trouble upon it4 ,in this1 as in every other occupation or hobby1 the one golden rule is1 8,whatsoever thy hand findeth to do1 do it with all thy might40 ,,appliances4 ,in the preceding section on the cattery proper1 ,i have not spoken of the very useful variety of portable houses which are now made a speciality of many firms1 considering them more or less as accessories to the well-appointed cattery4 ,but in small town gardens1 where space is valuable and it is not convenient to build a large permanent structure1 it is quite possible to succeed extremely well when two or three cats only are kept by using these portable houses4 ,they also have the advantage of being removable and a 8tenant's fixture0 in the event of leaving one's house4 ,illustration3 ,a ,,useful ,,cat ,,house4 ,a very good house is one built by ,messrs4 ,boulton and ,paul1 of ,norwich 7see illustration74 ,it is a very pretty and well designed structure1 and would be exceedingly ornamental in a sheltered corner of the garden4 ,in putting up1 however1 it should be stood upon brick piers to raise it at least four inches from the ground1 or the wooden flooring would soon show damp4 ,cats kept in these small houses1 it must be understood1 should have their liberty at least a portion of every fine and dry day1 the runs being wholly inadequate for a cat to be shut in continuously without further scope for exercise4 ,another illustration is a handy portable hutch1 intended to be used chiefly in a house or room1 although it is also convenient for penning young kittens out of doors on a sunny day1 the wire run preventing their straying away4 ,it consists of a sleeping box and small wire run hooked on1 and can be made at the cost of a few shillings4 ,illustration3 ,a ,,portable ,,hutch4 ,the sleeping box is #bd inches long by #ag inches wide and #bb inches high1 is raised three inches from floor by a false bottom1 and has a large door at back opening with a brass catch4 ,in front1 two side-pieces reduce the entry to #ab inches4 ,a handle screwed on the top of the box is convenient for carrying4 ,the run is #c feet #f inches by #bd inches1 made in four sections1 two sides1 top and end piece1 all fitted and hooked together with #a-;inch mesh wire netting that it may be easily taken apart for carrying or storing away4 ,it makes a useful sleeping-pen1 too1 for young toms that are inclined to quarrel together1 and so have to be shut up separately at night4 ,all the woodwork is stained and varnished1 and a square of oilcloth laid on the floor of the sleeping box4 ,the next appliance to be considered is a somewhat gruesome adjunct to the cattery1 and belongs to the darker side of our hobby4 ,in spite of every care1 illness and death must enter now and again1 when we are fain to retire worsted from the conflict with disease1 and the wisest and kindest thing to do is to put our pet to sleep4 ,the illustration given on the opposite page depicts a lethal box1 as used at the ,royal ,london ,institution for ,lost and ,starving ,cats at ,camden ,town1 and is capable of holding twelve animals at a time4 ,mr4 ,ward1 the well-known feline specialist of ,manchester1 has patented a lethal box of more moderate dimensions4 ,mr4 ,ward1 not yet having an illustration of it1 kindly writes me the description as follows3--8,the box inside is #ae inches by #ab inches by #ab inches4 ,a sheet of glass is inserted in the lid1 so that the operator may watch the process4 ,the vapour--coal gas passed through chloroform--enters through a tube at end4 ,two minutes is sufficient time40 ,fanciers1 ,i think1 will agree that this simple peace-giving box is not among the least of ,mr4 ,ward's kindly ministrations to the cats he loves so well4 ,few amongst us can bear to see unmoved the terrible last pains of a pet who in its days of health delighted us with its beauty4 ,feeding utensils we turn to next4 ,for them nothing is more satisfactory than the unbreakable enamelled ware in white or blue--except1 perhaps1 for the water pans1 for which it is scarcely weighty enough1 and it not infrequently happens that a gay and frolicsome company of kittens will knock against them1 sending them spinning1 and the water is spilt upon the floor4 ,the circular1 heavy glazed earthenware dishes1 spittoon-shaped1 and generally inscribed 8,pussy10 are excellent1 and cannot be overturned4 ,besides the plates and saucers for feeding1 let the cats have also a saucepan of their own1 a deep stewpan-shaped one of blue enamel1 large enough to cook a sheep's head with biscuits4 ,cook will be far less prone to grumble at the necessary cooking for the cats--,i speak here of a small cattery1 when no attendant is kept--if her saucepans are not pressed into the service4 ,but see that all are kept scrupulously clean1 nothing 8left over0 in the saucepan to become sour or tainted in hot weather2 and after each meal is cooked1 the saucepan should be boiled out with soda and scoured clean4 ,earth tins4 ,a great mistake made in these necessary items is having them too deep4 ,i have seen an old zinc footbath supplied to two months old kittens with quite six inches of sawdust in it1 and the owner wondered why she could not teach her kittens to be cleanly in their habits6 ,a #d inch deep tray is quite deep enough1 and this should not be filled more than two thirds full1 or the cat rakes so much earth out on the floor4 ,neither do they require to be very large1 as their weight when filled with soil makes them very cumbersome to move1 and they get the more quickly knocked out of shape4 ,the best size is about #ag inches by #ad inches and #d inches deep1 made in stout galvanised iron1 with a rim round the edge1 and these might be painted some light colour with ,aspinall's enamel paint4 7,i advocate 8light paint0 as any dirt stains are seen at once47 ,they will then last free from rust1 and can be washed out every morning4 ,two or three tins of smaller size--say1 #ab inches by #h inches by #ba inches--are suggested for kittens1 or for placing in small pens in an emergency4 ,baking tins answer this purpose4 ,after washing1 it is well to stand these trays in the air to sweeten1 as if they smell disagreeable the cats will not use them4 ,illustration3 ,,lethal ,,chamber1 ,,royal ,,london ,,institution ,,and ,,home ,,for ,,lost ,,and ,,starving ,,cats4 7,photo3 ,cassell ,company1 ,limited47 ,messrs4 ,whiteley supply these zinc tins1 or they can be made by any local ironmonger to dimensions given4 ,hot-water appliances4 ,these are very necessary in the cattery1 and should by no means be forgotten4 ,many a sick cat's life has been saved1 and the critical corner in an illness turned1 by the timely comfort and strength bestowed by the hot-water bottle or bag1 or even a brick made hot in the oven and wrapped up4 ,in the event of winter litters1 too1 a hot-water bag should be always in readiness1 in case it is advisable to remove the first-born kittens from the mother for a few hours4 ,heat will restore a seemingly dead kitten1 as ,i have said before4 ,the outside dwellers also1 how they appreciate on a bitter winter's night the hot bottle or wrapped up hot brick to keep them cosy6 ,i know a luxurious stud cat who has a hot-water tin made to fit his sleeping box1 which is filled by the maid every cold night and slid beneath his hay bed4 ,assuredly1 there is no greater safeguard against winter's chills and changes of temperature than to provide for your pets sleeping warmly and comfortably at night4 ,the hot-bottle plan has many advantages over the heating of the sleeping houses by stove or lamp during the night4 ,it is better for the animals themselves1 as the air is not exhausted1 and they are not so prone to take a chill going from heated air to the outside rawness of a winter's morning4 ,it is much safer1 and it is also much more economical4 ,illustration3 ,,spratt',s ,,travelling ,,basket4 ,personally ,i prefer the indiarubber bag to the old-fashioned stone bottle1 and in the smaller sizes 7which are quite large enough7 are not much more expensive than the latter4 ,if not filled too full1 and wrapped in a washable cover--flannelette is very good--it can be laid flat under the hay1 and the cat will remain upon it all night4 ,in the case of a sick cat the cover should always be of flannel1 to avoid any chill as the bag grows colder4 ,then1 in our list of appliances1 proper travelling baskets must come under consideration4 ,i say 8proper0 advisedly1 for how heterogeneous is the collection of hampers1 boxes1 baskets--,i had almost added bundles--one sees brought in by the officials during the receiving hours before a big show6 ,every variety of package1 very many of which are exactly what they ought not to be4 ,some unnecessarily elaborate1 polished wooden cases with brass fittings--handsome and durable no doubt1 but far too cumbersome1 and by their very weight inflicting much jar on the occupant when moved about2 while others are a disgrace to anyone pretending to care about a cat or even to know what a cat is1 many deserving to be straightway brought under the notice of the ,society for the ,prevention of ,cruelty to ,animals4 ,i have seen big heavy cats jammed into margarine hampers1 a thin wicker receptacle whose sides slope inwards like a flower-pot1 where the animal must have suffered agonies of cramp in a veritable chamber of 8little ease40 ,others are sent weary distances in shallow1 rough grocery boxes with a few holes bored for ventilation1 subject to be thrown about in transit1 first on one side then on the other1 the lid perchance nailed on1 giving thereby much extra trouble to the penning officials4 ,little wonder if the cat arrives bruised1 shaken1 frightened nearly to death1 and very probably wild and savage4 ,now1 as evil is wrought by want of thought 7and common sense7 as well as want of heart1 ,i have thought it well to comment on these very wrong and stupid ways of sending our cats on their journeys before advising better arrangements4 ,here are two illustrations of excellent travelling baskets1 which fulfil pretty nearly all requirements for cats travelling singly4 ,the first is made by ,messrs4 ,spratt1 and has an inner skeleton lid1 which is much to be recommended when sending a vicious or very timid cat that is likely to make a bolt on the basket being opened4 ,the second1 beehive shaped1 is designed by ,mrs4 ,paul ,hardy1 of ,chobham4 ,it is of strong white wicker1 the lid fastening with a rim of about two inches deep over the body of the basket1 apertures in the rim allowing the wicker loops of the fastenings to project2 when the cane stick is thrust through these the basket is absolutely secure--not a paw can get out4 ,illustration3 ,a ,,useful ,,cat ,,basket4 ,illustration3 8,a ,,gang ,,of ,,poachers0--,,kittens ,,belonging ,,to ,,miss ,,alice ,,dell4 7,photo3 ,e4 ,landor1 ,ealing47 ,this beehive shape has several advantages4 ,the cat can stand up and stretch itself at ease1 when tired of lying down4 ,the handle being at the apex1 it is carried--even by porters--without the cat being tilted off its legs2 whilst the dome top prevents any other package being piled upon it--a disadvantage the flat-typed hamper always has4 ,i line my baskets outside with brown paper or oil baize up to the rim1 and inside with curtain serge1 leaving the lid free for ventilation4 ,then1 with plenty of hay at the bottom of the basket1 the cat will travel from one end of ,england to the other in comfort and safety1 with no danger of taking cold even if left about draughty platforms or in parcel offices4 ,this basket is made by ,messrs4 ,bull1 of ,guildford1 at a very moderate cost1 and lasts for years4 ,these baskets are1 of course1 intended for one cat only1 or a pair of kittens4 ,a really safe and capable travelling arrangement for a litter with the mother has yet1 ,i think1 to be devised4 ,i have seen none ,i think good4 ,the double compartment hamper ,i much dislike4 ,the handles are perforce at each end1 necessitating two carriers--who never do it--so the hamper is dragged by the porter or official with one end tilted 7the other cat being nearly upside down71 is leant up against other luggage1 or dropped flat with a bang4 ,with young kittens inside this leads to fatalities4 ,a label for the travelling basket seems an insignificant item to mention1 but an efficient one is as important as that proverbial nail for whose absence the horse and the kingdom were lost4 ,i have just made the acquaintance of a first-rate label1 devised and sent out by a ,mr4 ,foalstone1 at sixpence per dozen1 from the ,aerefair ,engineering ,works1 near ,ruabon4 ,it is a stout linen label1 printed 8,valuable ,live ,cat0 in big block letters2 below is 8,urgent0 in red--a good idea1 red being more likely to attract the casual eye of the railway official4 ,spaces are left below for line of travel1 vi1 etc41 and date and time of despatch4 ,it is reversible1 so the sender can fill up with the return address if necessary4 ,i always prefer to fasten the label down at both ends1 flat to the basket3 it is less likely to be torn away than when left hanging loose from one eyelet4 ,it is by due attention to the details that cat fanciers can to some extent mitigate the dangers and risks that must necessarily attend the transit of live stock by rail4 ,illustration3 ,,waking ,,beauties4 7,photo3 ,mrs4 ,s4 ,f4 ,clarke47 ,,chapter ,v4 ,,exhibiting4 ,amongst cat fanciers there is a laudable ambition not only to breed good stock but to exhibit it4 ,certainly there is vastly more gratification and satisfaction in obtaining high honours for cats and kittens that we have bred ourselves1 rather than for those specimens which money has purchased4 ,if we consider that our cats have sufficiently good points to merit their being entered for a show1 we must bear in mind that all the beauty and form and feature will be thrown away unless our pussies are in good show condition4 ,for exhibition purposes condition means everything1 and this is more especially the case with the long-haired breeds4 ,a first-class specimen whose coat is ragged and matted cannot fail to suffer in the judges' estimation when compared with another cat1 of inferior quality perhaps as regards points1 but yet in the pink of condition1 with its coat well groomed1 its eye bright1 its fur soft and silky4 ,in the present day many of the specimens penned are so close together in point of breed merit that a very little turns the scale one way or the other4 ,i have often said to myself1 when judging a class of cats1 8,this exhibit would be a winner but for its condition10 and ,i have had to put it down in the list4 ,there is no doubt that with long-haired cats a fine full coat will cover a multitude of sins1 but it cannot alter a long nose or poor shape and bad-coloured eye2 and in urging the importance of condition1 ,i at the same time deprecate the awarding of prizes to cats that have nothing to recommend them but their pelage4 ,seeing1 therefore1 that a handsome specimen may go to the wall for the lack of attention on the part of the owner1 it behoves all cat fanciers and would-be exhibitors to do everything in their power to make their cats look their very best1 so that their pets may be things of beauty in the show pen4 ,in the dog1 rabbit1 and pigeon fancy a great deal more attention is given to condition than amongst cat fanciers1 who need waking up to the fact that nothing goes so far to propitiate a judge as superb show form and general good appearance4 ,there may be standards of points for the guidance of the awards1 but assuredly a common-sense judge will look with disfavour on a specimen with excellence of breed and correct colour of eye if his coat is draggled and matted1 his tail dirty1 and his fur soiled4 ,we have only to run our minds back to the various exhibits of well-known fanciers at our large shows1 and we shall find that the most persistently successful exhibitors have been those who have sent their cats to the shows in the best condition4 ,some fanciers1 wishing to help on entries at a show1 will exhibit their ,persian cats when quite out of coat4 ,this is a mistake2 send your entry money if you like to the secretary1 but keep your coatless cats at home4 ,as regards the short-haired breeds1 these cats should have coats with a gloss and brilliancy like that of a well-groomed horse1 shining like satin2 a spiky appearance in the fur denotes poor condition in both long and short breeds4 ,in getting cats ready for exhibition owners should look to their comforts in every way4 ,their houses and beds should be kept clean1 their coats combed and brushed daily4 ,attention should be paid to their ears1 for if these are neglected a cat will continually scratch them1 and thus injure its appearance by tearing out its fur4 ,some fanciers are in favour of washing their cats1 but when we take into consideration the usually delicate constitutions of ,persian cats1 and the restless1 impatient nature of these animals1 it behoves us to try to find some other effectual means of cleansing their coats1 which in the case of white and silver cats are naturally easily soiled4 ,experience has taught me that very good results can be obtained by damping the coats with a soft cloth dipped in a weak solution of ammonia and water4 ,follow this up by rubbing some white powder into the fur and well fingering the parts that are at all greasy4 ,pears' white precipitated fuller's earth is the best preparation1 and is perfectly harmless4 ,to clean away the powder use a fairly soft brush1 and after this process has been gone through several times your cat will be fit for show4 ,another method of cleaning long-haired cats is to heat a quantity of bran in the oven4 ,put it into a large bowl or footbath1 and stand the puss in it4 ,rub the hot bran well amongst the fur for some minutes1 and afterwards carefully brush it out4 ,this treatment will give a soft and silky appearance to the coat1 but for light-coloured cats the powder is more cleansing4 ,cats require to be educated to the show pen1 and it is very necessary in some cases to give a course of training4 ,for this purpose it is well to obtain a similar pen to those used at shows1 and to place your puss in this for an hour or two daily4 ,in time he will learn to come and sit and look out of his temporary prison1 and when he makes his dbut he will not spoil his chances by crouching at the back of the show pen1 or vex his would-be admirers1 who may have recourse to the use of an umbrella or stick to make the exhibit move into a more convenient and conspicuous position4 ,taking it for granted you have decided to send your cat to a show1 the first step is to register it in the club under whose rules the show is to be held4 ,at present the ,national ,cat ,club and the ,cat ,club both require separate registration1 the charge being one shilling4 ,it is1 however1 to be hoped that the earnest wish of all cat fanciers and exhibitors will ere long be fulfilled1 and that one register will be kept by an independent person1 so that pedigrees can be verified and mistakes rectified1 and the confusion caused by a double registration will cease to worry and perplex the cat-loving community4 ,registration forms are supplied by the secretaries of the respective clubs1 and you must fill in the particulars of your cats as set forth on the forms1 a sample of which is here given1 together with the registration rules of the ,national ,cat ,club3-- ,,registration4 ,the registration rules of the ,national ,cat ,club are as follow3-- #a4 ,every ,cat exhibited at a show under ,national ,cat ,club ,rules must 7except such as are exhibited exclusively in ,local ,classes1 or exhibited in ,classes exclusively for litters of kittens71 previous to the time of entry for such show1 have been entered in a registry kept by the ,national ,cat ,club at their offices4 ,a charge of #as4 each shall be made for registration4 ,in such registry shall be inserted the name and breed of the cat1 and its breeder's name1 the date of birth1 names of sire and dam1 and of grand-sires and grand-dams1 and if the dam was served by two or more cats their several names must be stated4 ,if the age1 pedigree1 or breeder's name be not known the cat must be registered as breeder1 age or pedigree 8unknown10 any or all1 as the case may be4 ,if the name of a cat be changed1 or an old name re-assumed1 such cat must be again registered and identified before exhibition in its altered name4 #b4 ,a name which has been duly registered in accordance with ,rule #a cannot be again accepted for registration of a cat of the same breed1 without the addition of a distinguishing number1 prefix1 or affix1 for a period of five years1 calculated from the first day of the year next after the one in which the name was last registered2 but the name of a cat after publication in 8,our ,cats0 and the ,stud ,book1 or which has become eligible for free entry therein1 cannot again be assumed4 ,n4,b4--,the name of a cat that has become eligible for free entry in the ,stud ,book in any year shall not be changed after the #cast of ,december of that year4 ,cats do not receive a number on registration4 ,numbers are only assigned to ,prize ,winners or cats entered in the ,stud ,book on its publication1 on payment of a fee of ,five ,shillings1 in addition to ,one ,shilling for registration4 ,the application for registration must be made on a form as follows3-- ,,number ,,of ,,breed ,,as ,,per ,,list ,,in ,,margin,,colour ,i wish to register the following 7,sex7 by the name of ,previously registered by the name of ,signature of ,owner 7,mr41 ,mrs4 or ,miss7 ,address ,,late ,,owner 7if any7 ,,sire ,g4 ,,sire ,,owner ,,of ,,sire ,g4 ,,dam ,,dam ,g4 ,,sire ,,owner ,,of ,,dam ,g4 ,,dam ,,date ,,of ,,birth ,,name ,,address ,,of ,,breeder ,,note4--,if this name cannot be registered1 ,i select one of the following1 and name them in the order named3 7#a7 7#b7 7#c7 ,only one cat must be entered on one form1 which must be forwarded with a remittance of one shilling to ,mrs4 ,a4 ,stennard ,robinson1 ,hon4 ,sec41 at #e1 ,great ,james ,street1 ,bedford ,row1 ,london1 ,w4,c4 ,the various varieties as recognised by the ,club are as follow3-- ,,short-,,haired ,,cats4 #a4 ,,siamese4 #b4 ,,blue4 #c4 ,,manx4 #d4 ,,foreign4 #e4 ,,tabby4 #f4 ,,spotted4 #g4 ,,bicolour4 #h4 ,,tricolour4 #i4 ,,tortoiseshell4 #aj4 ,,black4 #aa4 ,,white4 #ab4 ,,sable4 #ac4 ,,ticks4 #ad4 ,,abyssinian4 ,,long-,,haired ,,cats4 #ae4 ,,black4 #af4 ,,white4 #ag4 ,,blue4 #ah4 ,,orange4 #ai4 ,,cream4 #bj4 ,,sable4 #ba4 ,,smoke4 #bb4 ,,tabby4 #bc4 ,,spotted4 #bd4 ,,chinchilla4 #be4 ,,tortoiseshell4 #bf4 ,,bicolour4 #bg4 ,,tricolour4 ,it will be seen that you are requested to give more than one name1 and it is very desirable in the first instance to select an uncommon one1 which may be considered your cat's exhibition title1 but you will doubtless have some short pet name for home use4 ,a prefix1 probably the name of the town or village in which you live1 can be used to specially identify your cat4 ,for this an extra charge is made4 ,it is well to fill in the pedigree as far as possible1 and every exhibitor should strive to obtain correct particulars of date of birth and name of breeder of the cat to be exhibited4 ,it is a pity to label your cat 8unknown10 if with a small amount of trouble exact details can be obtained4 ,at any rate1 it is important to state the names of the two parents4 ,the age of kittens should be counted by months--that is1 say1 from the #bjth to the #bjth4 ,having registered your cat1 you receive a notification of such registration1 and whether you are intending to exhibit or not it is very necessary and advisable that your cat should be duly registered in at least one of the parent clubs4 ,a separate fee is charged for each cat or kitten in each class1 and the amount must be forwarded at the same time as the entry is made4 ,the following is a copy of the entry form used at the ,cat ,club's ,show at ,brighton in #aija1 and ,i may mention that the fee for registration has since been raised from #f;d4 to #as43-- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --- ,,entries ,,close ,,monday1 ,,november #d,,th1 #aija4 ,class as per ,schedule4 ,,brighton ,,championship ,,show ,,of ,,the ,,cat ,,club1 ,no4 ,,to ,,be ,,held ,,at ,,mellison',s ,,hall1 ,,west ,,street1 ,,brighton1 ,,on ,,wednesday ,,and ,,thursday1 ,,november #ac,,th ,,and #ad,,th1 #aija1 ,under the ,exhibition ,rules of ,the ,cat ,club4 ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --- ,,rule ,,as ,,to ,,registration ,,of ,,names ,,of ,,cats ,,and ,,kittens4 ,also ,entered in ,classes numbered as per ,every ,cat or ,kitten exhibited at a ,show under ,the ,cat ,schedule4 ,club ,exhibition ,rules ,,must be ,registered at the ,cat ,club4 ,fee #f;d4 ,nos4 ,every ,cat or ,kitten which may have changed ownership since ,registration ,,must1 before ,exhibition1 be ,transferred to its new owner in the books of ,the ,cat ------------------------- ,club4 ,fee ,one ,shilling4 ,please not to write in this space ,to change the name of a ,cat or ,kitten1 when allowable1 the fee is ,one ,shilling4 ,see ,the ,cat ,club ,exhibition ,rules1 ,nos4 #a to #f1 in the ,schedule4 ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --- ,,certificate ,,of ,,entry4 ,kindly fill in the amount enclosed for ,i hereby ,certify that the ,cat or ,kitten to be exhibited for ,fees1 c41 as by me as below is bona fide my property1 and ,i enter it under3-- at my own risk1 subject to the ,exhibition ,rules of ,the ,cat ,club1 and the ,regulations of this ,exhibition as s4 d4 arranged by the ,committee4 ,cheque ,has this ,cat been ,registered at ,the ,cat ,club ,post ,office 7see note above7 ---- ,order ,has this ,cat been ,transferred 7if purchased7 to ,postal yourself as owner in the books of ,the ,cat ,club ,order 7see note above7 ---- ,cash ,name of ,exhibitor 7in full7 ---- ----------- 7,title1 ,rev41 ,mr41 ,mrs41 or ,miss4 ,see ,rule #c47 ,total ----------- ,address ---- ------------------------- ,name of ,cat or ,kitten 7as registered at ,the ,cat ,club7 ---- 7,if in ,stud ,book1 add number47 ,breed ---- ,colour ---- ,see ,date of ,birth ---- ,sex ---- ,exhibition 7,male1 ,female or ,neuter47 ,rules ,breeder ---- #a to #f of ,the ,sire ---- ,cat ,club ,dam ---- in the ,schedule4 ,prizes won ---- ,particulars must be given as registered at ,the ,cat ,club4 ,price 3 3 7,if for ,sale47 ,date ---- #aija4 ,n4,b4--,no ,,milk will be given to any ,cat or ,kitten unless specially requested here----4 ,water will be provided otherwise4 ,,one ,,form ,,is ,,sufficient ,,for ,,one ,,cat ,,or ,,kitten ,,in ,,any ,,number ,,of ,,classes4 ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- --- ,no ,entries will be accepted without ,fees4 ,postage ,stamps taken ,thirteen to the ,shilling4 ,exhibitors are particularly requested to write distinctly1 and also to be careful to name correctly the ,class in which they intend to exhibit their ,cat or ,cats4 ,all ,correspondence and ,entries to be addressed to ,miss ,f4 ,,simpson1 ,durdans ,house1 ,st4 ,margaret's-on-,thames4 ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---- ,the exhibiting rules should be carefully studied1 and intending exhibitors must pay great attention to the classification set forth the schedule so as to determine the correct class in which to enter their cats4 ,if there remains any doubt in the mind of the novice1 then it is best to consult some reliable and well-known breeder1 giving a full description of the cat you wish to show4 ,it is a grievous disappointment if through ignorance or carelessness a good specimen is labelled 8,wrong class40 ,it is always stated in the schedules that the entries close on a particular date1 and that after this none can or will be received4 ,experience proves1 however1 that this is often not a law of the ,medes and ,persians1 for the date is frequently of an elastic nature1 and therefore it is always worth while for an intending exhibitor to write requesting that1 if possible1 his entry may be received1 although it is forwarded after the advertised time of closing4 ,many exhibitors are not aware that by paying an extra shilling they can generally secure a double pen for their cats4 ,it is not usual for the secretary of a show to send a receipt for entries and fees1 as the tallies and labels which are forwarded later serve as an acknowledgment for these4 ,when by any chance labels1 etc41 are not received in time to be used by exhibitors1 or they are lost or mislaid1 then the hampers should be addressed to the secretary of the show1 and a note of explanation enclosed4 ,the entry can then be looked up1 and the pen number discovered4 ,if cats are entered in joint names1 then it is desirable that the owners should let the secretary know to whom to send the labels and tallies1 as if these are only forwarded a day or two before the show to the partner who does not keep the cat1 complications may arise4 ,if litter classes are provided at a show1 it is well for the intending exhibitor to send the whole litter1 as the number of the family is taken into consideration in judging1 and perhaps a large litter of six may take over a smaller litter of three1 even though the quality of the trio is in advance of the larger family4 ,as regards pairs of kittens1 ,i would say select two kittens as near alike as possible in colour1 size1 and quality2 they need not be of the same litter1 but it is as a 8pair0 they will be judged1 so if one exhibit is much inferior to its fellow then the value of the pair is seriously diminished4 ,a defective eye or damaged tail will tell against a cat or kitten in the show pen1 therefore it is useless to throw away entry fees upon these blemished1 though perchance dearly loved1 creatures4 ,illustration3 ,,richmond ,,cat ,,show3 ,,arrangement ,,of ,,tents4 7,photo3 ,cassell ,company1 ,limited47 ,the question of ribbons to suit the colours of the various cats is one deserving of consideration4 ,many exhibitors make the mistake of using broad ribbons and making very big bows1 but both long and short-haired cats present a neater appearance with narrow ribbons1 and the bow should be stitched in the centre1 so that it cannot come undone and thus give a dishevelled appearance to the puss4 ,the metal tallies will hang more gracefully round the neck if a slip ring is run through the hole of the tally and then the ribbon is put through the ring4 ,cushions and hangings for the pens are not at all desirable1 even if they are permitted4 ,they collect germs and become offensive1 and moreover it is much better that all exhibits should be placed on the same footing--namely1 a bed of hay or straw4 ,if owners are unable to accompany their exhibits to the show1 it is more than ever necessary that secure1 comfortable1 and safe travelling boxes or hampers should be used for the transit of the cats4 ,it is not advisable1 nor is it generally allowable1 for more than one cat to be sent in a hamper to a show4 ,the question of hampers and travelling appliances has been dealt with in a previous chapter1 but ,i would earnestly impress upon exhibitors not to send their cats away on journeys1 long or short1 in tumble-down hampers and unsafe packing cases4 ,whether hampers or boxes1 ,i would here suggest that whichever is used let the fasteners be secure and yet easy to manipulate4 ,straps should be attached to the box or hamper1 as in the confusion and hurry of show work these1 if left loose1 may get mislaid4 ,the labels should be so arranged that they may be conveniently turned over for the return journey1 where1 on the reverse side1 ought to be the owner's name and full address4 ,it is most important that these should be distinctly written4 ,i recommend all exhibitors to insure their cats when sending them to a show4 ,the charge is #c;d4 for every #a1 and having paid our money we take our chance1 which is perhaps a less hazardous one than if this precaution had been neglected4 ,the arrangements1 or rather want of arrangements1 as regards the transit of live stock on our railways leave much to be desired1 and therefore it behoves fanciers and exhibitors who value their cats for their own sakes and for their intrinsic worth1 to do all in their power to mitigate the discomforts of a journey and the risks that must necessarily attend the conveyance of live stock by rail4 ,some fanciers make it a rule never to exhibit unless they themselves can take and bring back their cats1 and though this necessarily entails a great deal of trouble and some expense1 yet there is an immense satisfaction in feeling our pets are under our own supervision4 ,there is also an advantage in penning your own cats1 and if you arm yourself with a brush and comb you are able to give some finishing touches to pussy's toilet previous to the judges' inspection and awards4 ,let me recommend a metal comb1 and a brush such as is used for ,yorkshire terriers1 which has long penetrating bristles1 but is neither too hard nor too soft4 ,disqualification of cats or kittens at shows may arise from various causes4 ,first1 if the cat has not been registered1 or if it can be proved that the animal has not been in the possession of the exhibitor for fourteen days before the show1 or if a wrong pedigree has been given1 or the date of birth of a kitten is incorrect4 ,any attempt at 8faking0 will disqualify an exhibit1 and in some cases the too free use of powder on white and silver cats is a disqualification in the eyes of some judges4 ,exhibitors have been known to dye the chins of tabby cats and treat white spots on self-coloured cats in the same manner4 ,such 8faking10 as it is popularly called1 is always risky1 as well as a most undesirable operation1 and if resorted to ought not to be passed over by a judge who might detect the artifice and yet lack the moral courage to expose the offender4 ,let me warn exhibitors against the evil practice of over feeding their cats at shows4 ,it is so much better for a cat to starve for two days than to overload its stomach with the plentiful supplies brought by an over-anxious exhibitor4 ,the sanitary arrangements at present existing at cat shows do not allow of such a course1 and if one meal of raw meat and plenty of fresh water is supplied by the show authorities pussy will fare much better than being stuffed with a variety of dainties brought in paper bags4 ,illustration3 ,,mrs4 ,,gregory',s 8,,skellingthorpe ,,patrick40 7,photo3 ,w4 ,j4 ,smith1 ,lincoln47 ,whilst the inmates of your cattery are attending shows it is a good opportunity to give an extra cleansing and airing to their houses1 and on their return be careful to destroy the hay or straw contained in the hampers or boxes1 and thoroughly disinfect these1 leaving them out in the open air for a day or two before packing them away4 ,it is generally advisable to give a slight aperient to grown cats after they come back from a show1 for it often happens that these cleanly creatures refuse to make use of the scanty accommodation provided for them in the show pens1 and thus complications may arise unless attention is paid to their wants on their return4 ,if many cats are kept1 and some are sent to a show1 on no account allow these to mix with your other animals on their return4 ,it is a wise precaution to keep them apart for a few days1 more especially if you have young kittens to consider4 ,the prize cards should be returned in the hampers when sent back to exhibitors4 ,if these are soiled or broken on their arrival1 a request to the secretary asking for fresh ones will probably be attended to4 ,every member of a cat club and exhibitor at a show has a right to lodge a complaint with the secretary and committee of the club under whose rules the show is held1 if an injustice has been done to an exhibit in the opinion of the exhibitor4 ,according to the rules a deposit has to be paid1 which can be reclaimed unless the complaint is considered 8frivolous40 ,show promoters cannot afford to give their money away without some return or provisional stipulation1 and therefore fanciers must not complain if when a class does not fill it is either amalgamated or only half the advertised prize money is given4 ,this latter plan is by far the more satisfactory4 ,there has probably never been a show of any live stock held where complete satisfaction has been given2 but1 generally speaking1 8grumbling0 is a most mistaken and pernicious habit1 and exhibitors should strive to become good losers4 ,if they cannot learn this lesson1 then the remedy remains in their own hands1 and they had better keep their cats at home rather than run the risk of being disappointed themselves and of causing unpleasantness to others4 ,if a judgment is obviously wrong1 then the triumph is with the best cat1 and we should take our defeat in a sportsmanlike manner4 ,illustration3 8,,inquiry40 7,photo3 ,mrs4 ,s4 ,f4 ,clarke47 ,in ,july1 #aijb1 a cat section in connection with the annual dog show was held in the ,old ,deer ,park1 ,richmond4 ,this proved a great success1 and entries numbered over three hundred4 ,a few words in description of this show may be appropriate here1 especially in view of the photographs 7specially taken7 which illustrate this chapter4 ,its chief features were the twenty-five entries in the litter classes and the ring class for neuters only4 ,objection is often made to litter classes1 and yet these are certainly the most attractive4 ,i think that double pens should be provided1 and special food ought to be supplied for the little ones4 ,it stands to reason that very young kittens cannot be fed like the grown cats1 and it is only natural that if big pieces of meat are thrust into the pen for the mother the hungry little creatures will make a rush for it4 ,they bolt down the hard lumps1 and these remain undigested in their tender little stomachs4 ,it is not to be wondered at if gastritis1 inflammation1 and other distressing ailments supervene4 ,it is much better to let the mother do without her usual meat rations and content herself with good1 nourishing baby food1 such as ,mellin's or ,ridge's1 rather than run the risk of providing her with such which will injure her little kittens4 ,with ordinary supervision no evil consequences should ensue from the introduction of litter classes1 especially at a one day show4 ,it is not1 however1 advisable to have litter classes at shows held during the winter months4 ,but in perfect1 warm weather no fatalities will be reported4 ,certainly the mothers with their families prove a great attraction1 and as woollen balls1 attached from the top of the pens1 are provided for the amusement of the kittens1 they delight themselves and their audience with their playful frolics4 ,the ring class for neuters only was an innovation and proved very successful1 and although some of these pet pussies declined to show themselves off to the best advantage1 yet they did not 8go0 for each other as is sometimes the case when the males are within measurable distance of each other4 ,the illustration given is from a photo specially taken for this work1 and shows the judges deliberating on the respective merits of the neuter cats4 ,on this occasion a famous ,blue ,persian owned by ,madame ,portier carried off the honours4 ,he behaved very well on the lead1 and his grand shape and wonderful coat made him an easy first4 ,another illustration shows the judges at work awarding the special prizes1 which in many cases have to be decided conjointly4 ,miss ,frances ,simpson and ,mr4 ,c4 ,a4 ,house are comparing notes and determining which of the first prize kittens is deserving of the special for the best in the show4 ,on this occasion ,mrs4 ,bennet1 a well-known breeder of ,blue ,persians1 was awarded the coveted prize4 ,a general view of one of the rows of pens is given1 but on this particular occasion no covering was supplied for the benching1 and1 therefore1 the aspect of the show pens leaves much to be desired4 ,the travelling baskets being placed under the pens1 these should be hidden from the public gaze in order to give a neat and tidy appearance to the show4 ,the best material for this purpose is red baize4 ,the custom of allowing exhibitors to pen their own cats enables them to give their pussies a final brush up before they are subjected to the critical examination of the judge4 ,our illustration represents ,mrs4 ,peter ,brown1 a well-known breeder of ,blue ,persians1 attending to the toilet of her beautiful 8,bunch10 who on this occasion repeated her successes at the ,botanic ,gardens1 and carried off the highest honours in the ,blue ,female ,persian class 7see page #gc74 ,and now to pass on to another portion of our subject4 ,,judging4 ,a standard of points for all long and short-haired cats was drawn up by a sub-committee of the ,cat ,club1 of which ,i was a member2 but since specialist clubs have come into existence1 having each their own list of points1 nothing much has been seen or heard of the ,cat ,club's standard4 ,it is just as well to have some definite lines upon which fanciers and exhibitors may base their ideas1 and so aim at1 if they cannot attain to1 the height of perfection set forth in these standards4 ,they are really not meant for judges1 because ,i venture to assert that a judge is no judge if he requires anything besides his own personal conviction1 experience1 and common sense when called upon to decide the various points in the different breeds4 ,a good judge of old china will not search for the mark to know whether the specimen is ,chelsea or ,worcester4 ,he will tell you 8it is marked all over0--that is1 he knows a good bit of stuff1 even if it should not have the gold anchor of ,chelsea or the square mark of ,worcester ware4 ,so it is with a good all-round cat4 ,it appeals at once to the eye of the connoisseur1 just as a worthless specimen is at once put out of the ranks of winners4 ,illustration3 ,,richmond ,,cat ,,show3 ,,judges ,,at ,,work4 7,photo3 ,cassell ,company1 ,limited47 ,it is the greatest error not to have thorough confidence in oneself when undertaking to judge cats1 or1 in fact1 in judging any animal1 or any thing4 ,no one should undertake to judge if they wish to seek the counsel of others4 ,they must have the courage of their own convictions1 and1 although some amount of training may be required1 ,i think that judges are born1 not made2 and people who have not a keen power of observation and a faculty of coming rapidly to a fixed conclusion can never hope to become satisfactory or competent judges4 ,there are many cat fanciers on whose judgment of a cat ,i should implicitly rely1 and who know a good specimen when they see it1 but if placed before a row of twenty or thirty cats of a breed they seem to lose their heads and get hopelessly confused1 and then the reporter says1 8,we could not follow the awards40 ,there is no doubt that judges of cats are severely handicapped4 ,firstly1 cats are such terribly timid1 shrinking animals that when dragged out of their pens with great difficulty--for the doors are most inconveniently small--they often struggle so violently that1 for fear of hurting the animal or of its escaping1 the judge will swiftly restore it to its resting place without having obtained much satisfaction from his cursory examination4 ,unless judging pens are provided1 there is really no chance of making fair comparisons between two cats which may appear of almost equal merit4 ,how is a judge to decide on the form of limbs and general build of a cat when holding it in his arms or seeing it huddled up at the back of its pen8 ,an agitation is now on foot for having cats judged in a ring1 and1 no doubt1 in time this will be the order of the day at our shows2 but fanciers will have to train up their cats in the way they should go--namely1 when quite young they must be accustomed to a lead and also be constantly brought out amongst strangers4 ,as an example1 ,i would refer to the starting gate recently introduced into this country on the racecourse4 ,it was no use to attempt it for the old stagers1 but trainers soon accustomed the two-year-olds to the innovation1 and ,i believe many1 if not all1 the objectors are now converted to the new system of starting racehorses4 ,illustration3 ,,type ,,of ,,cage ,,at ,,the ,,richmond ,,cat ,,show4 7,photo3 ,cassell ,company1 ,limited47 ,in judging a class1 ,i first go round and mark the absent cats2 then ,i note down those that could not under any circumstances take a prize4 ,if there is a large class--say1 of twenty to thirty specimens--,i mark off all poor and seedy-looking cats until the number is reduced to about eight or ten2 then ,i begin to search for the winners4 ,at this point ,i take out each specimen1 and1 if no judging pen is provided1 ,i get someone to assist me1 and by bringing out two cats at a time ,i can make comparisons and note down any remarks in my book for further reference4 ,it often happens that one particular cat will stand out prominently from all the rest in a class1 and then there is no difficulty about the first award4 ,it is always well to give a 8reserve0 and to distribute--but not too freely--the ,v4,h4,c41 ,h4,c41 and ,c4 cards4 ,it does not do to make these too cheap1 and scatter them all over the class4 ,v4,h4,c4 might be awarded to a cat in splendid coat1 but which failed in head and eyes2 ,h4,c4 to another specimen with hardly any coat and poor head1 but correct in eye2 and ,c4 to a promising youngster without any serious fault1 only with no striking point of merit4 ,a good judge must thus weigh the pros and cons and have a reason to give himself or anyone else for each degree of merit1 from first prize to the humble ,c4 ,and here ,i would mention that there is a nice and a very nasty way for an exhibitor to question a judge's award4 ,to be attacked suddenly with the query1 8,why have you not given my cat a prize80 is quite enough to make a judge retire into his shell and refuse any explanation2 but if asked to kindly give a reason why a certain animal has failed to win1 and to explain why one specimen1 apparently a fine cat1 should be lower than another1 ,i am sure any judge would gladly give the inquirer the benefit of his larger experience and the reason for his awards4 ,it is a mistake for a judge to distribute the full complement of prizes in a class when and where the exhibits are not possessing of sufficient merit4 ,a first prize cat should be a good specimen of its kind1 and it is much better to withhold this award than to give it to a poor representative of his breed4 ,it also reflects discredit on a judge1 for an exhibitor wishing to boast of his honours may publish that his 8,tommy ,atkins0 took first under so-and-so1 when perhaps there were only two cats in the class4 ,it is quite legitimate for a judge to ask permission of the show authorities to award an extra prize in a large class with several fine specimens2 and if he has withheld others in a poor and badly filled class then there is no extra burden put on to the funds of the club4 ,a great deal should be left to the discretion of the judge1 and in the matter of special prizes1 if one is offered for1 say1 the best long-haired white cat1 and only one or two specimens are on show1 and these are neither of them good types of this breed1 then the judge should be empowered to withhold the prize4 ,such a course may be an unpopular one1 but ,i am sure it is the correct and fairest one1 for it is a farce to award first prize and specials to an inferior animal just because he happens to be without other competitors4 ,anyone who has judged the large classes of blues and silvers which now appear at our principal shows will bear me out in my suggestion that such classes1 numbering perhaps thirty and more exhibits1 should be subdivided according to age4 ,such an arrangement would be welcomed by judge and exhibitor alike4 ,at the ,crystal ,palace ,show in #aija the blue kittens numbered thirty-nine in the class1 male and female1 the age limit being three to eight months4 ,how could a judge be expected to satisfactorily award three prizes in such a huge class8 ,and ,i know that many superb specimens on this occasion had to be content with a ,v4,h4,c4 card1 which it would have gone to my heart as a judge to place on their pen4 ,illustration3 ,,mr4 ,c4 ,a4 ,,house1 ,,editor ,,of 8,,fur ,,and ,,feather40 7,photo3 ,a4 ,g4 ,taylor47 ,illustration3 ,,mr4 ,t4 ,b4 ,,mason4 7,photo3 ,c4 ,l4 ,eastlake1 ,leeds47 ,if there is a prize offered for the best cat in the show1 the judge or judges have not to consider which is their favourite breed or which is the most fashionable colour1 but just which cat is the best possible type1 which specimen is the nearest perfection1 and which is exhibited in the best all-round show condition4 ,in long-haired classes the length and quality of coat and fulness of ruff go a long way towards a high place in the awards1 and1 as ,i have before remarked1 condition is a most important factor in the judges' estimation4 ,in the self-coloured classes of blues and blacks a judge should make diligent search for white spots on throat or stomach4 ,formerly cats thus blemished were relegated to the 8any other0 class1 but it has been wisely decided by both clubs that cats with white spots should be judged in their own classes1 and that this defect should count as a point or points against them4 ,this is as it should be1 for to place self-coloured cats in an 8any other colour0 class seems absurd4 ,they are black and blue cats in spite of a few white hairs1 and should be judged as such4 ,they may never aspire to a first prize1 at any rate at a large show2 but surely a really fine black or blue cat1 with correct eyes1 grand head1 and good shape1 even with the unfortunate spot1 should and ought to score over a poor specimen with green eyes and long nose4 ,in the tabby classes a judge will first consider the ground-work and markings1 and to these premier points special attention should be given1 as there is a tendency to breed tabby cats which are barred only on heads and legs1 the body markings being blurred and indistinct4 ,it is not unlikely that in due time the 8any other colour0 class will no longer form part of the classification at our large shows4 ,formerly this used to be the largest class of any1 but nowadays the entries are becoming small and beautifully less4 ,it is not worth while for a fancier to keep these specimens--they do not fetch any price1 they are not valuable as breeders1 and it is quite a toss-up whether they can win in such a mixed company4 ,i remember the time when blues were entered in the 8any other colour0 class1 and when blue tabbies were more numerous than silvers or blues4 ,it is really a most difficult task for a judge to give his awards at a local show where all sorts and conditions of cats are placed in the one class4 ,such an arrangement is good for neither man nor beast4 ,and then1 again1 at our large shows it behoves a judge to be very level-headed to cope with the numerous brace1 team1 and novice classes1 for one cat may be entered in all these1 besides being in the open cat and kitten class2 and woe betide the unfortunate judge who makes a slip1 for the wrath of the exhibitor and the sarcasm of the reporter will be poured out upon him4 ,no doubt it is a grave mistake to reverse one's own awards1 and yet judges are but mortal1 and 8to err is human40 ,it is hard when cat fanciers take to judging the judges and their judgments4 ,a judge may be absolutely ignorant of the owners of the cats1 and thus utterly unbiased2 yet there will not be wanting those who will pick holes in their characters1 and see in their awards clear proof of personal spite and party favour4 ,the intense suspiciousness of some fanciers and the readiness with which they impute low motives to others is greatly to be deplored4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,toilet4 ,,mrs4 ,,peter ,,brown ,,and ,,her ,,prize ,,cat4 7,photo3 ,cassell ,company1 ,limited47 ,i will here quote from an article by ,mr4 ,c4 ,a4 ,house1 the well-known editor and judge of live stock4 ,under the heading of 8,the ,judging of ,cats10 ,mr4 ,house says3--8,all my awards are based on the idea that each breed possesses a distinctive feature1 and that distinctive feature must be the one to which most consideration is given4 ,after the chief features come others1 such as shape1 coat1 colour1 etc41 and the premier awards should be given to cats possessing the best all-round properties4444 ,selfs1 above all things1 should be pure in colour4 ,for instance1 a blue should be blue1 and a black1 black4 ,yet a little rustiness of colour should not be allowed to outweigh a host of other good properties4 ,colour1 however1 is hard to breed rich and pure1 and should at all times be more highly valued than size1 or even coat4 ,the same with markings4 ,only those who have tried to breed markings know how difficult it is to get them anything approaching perfection4 ,nothing is more fleeting than marking1 and nothing more tantalising to the breeder4 ,summing up the matter1 my own opinion is1 and has been for years1 that the cat fancy has been hindered and hampered by judges judging the exhibits because they belong to so-and-so1 or had won so-and-so under so-and-so4444 ,i was much amused at one incident at ,westminster where a big champion had suffered defeat4 ,the fair owner was heckling the judge1 and he in reply to her remarks made this answer3 #8,it makes no difference to me had the cat belonged to the ,queen herself2 ,i should then have done the same4 ,i don't judge cats on what they have previously won or because they belong to any particular person4 ,i judge them on their form at the time1 and it makes no difference to me if a cat has won fifty firsts or none at all4' ,this reply was more than the exhibitor had bargained for1 but all honest-minded fanciers must acknowledge the judge was right4 ,what is sadly needed in the cat fancy to-day is more of this sturdy1 unflinching determination to judge cats and not their owners4 ,cat exhibitors have much to learn yet1 and the sooner the morale of the judging arena is raised the more healthy will the fancy become and the more quickly will it advance40 ,illustration3 ,,blue ,,persian ,,kittens4 7,photo3 ,mrs4 ,s4 ,f4 ,clarke47 ,another of our well-known judges1 ,mr4 ,t4 ,b4 ,mason1 writing on the same subject1 says3--8,in my judging engagements ,i have very often come across exhibits with good-coloured eyes1 but not the correct shape4 ,a small eye1 however good the colour may be1 will give the cat a disagreeable1 sour expression4 ,with this shape of eye we generally see a narrow1 long face1 which should keep any exhibit out of the prize list in good competitions4 ,let it1 however1 be clearly understood1 ,i do not want eyes to have undue weight in the general conditions of cat judging2 but they are important1 and as such ought to have due and careful attention at the hands of breeders and judges alike4 ,two things in the judging of short-hairs weigh heavily with me1 namely1 pale colours and light-marked heads and white lips4 ,these defects1 in my opinion1 ought to put out of the money those that possess them in good competition4 ,i perfectly agree with ,mr4 ,house about the standards4 ,they are useful both to the breeder and judge2 but for the judge to take the standards and try to judge by them at any show would be foolish indeed4 ,all judges are expected to know the varieties they are called upon to judge1 and to have the faculty to weigh up the good points and defects of the specimens before them1 and place them accordingly40 ,illustration3 ,,kits ,,with ,a ,,taste ,,for ,,flowers4 7,photo3 ,mrs4 ,s4 ,f4 ,clarke47 ,illustration3 ,,two ,,kittens ,,bred ,,by ,,miss ,,williams4 7,photo3 ,h4 ,jenkins1 ,lowestoft47 ,,management ,,of ,,shows4 ,now to turn our attention to the management of shows1 and upon this question ,i feel ,i am fairly competent to give an opinion1 as ,i have acted as show manager and as show secretary to some of our largest exhibitions in ,london and at ,brighton4 ,the office is indeed no sinecure1 and very few fanciers1 exhibitors1 or visitors have any idea of the enormous amount of forethought required1 to say nothing of physical and secretarial labours1 to make a big show run smoothly4 ,the responsibility also is great1 for a conscientious manager feels he has valuable live stock in his temporary possession1 of which he has1 so to speak1 to render up account4 ,there are many mixed shows held throughout the country where a cat section is given1 and it is to be regretted that in most1 if not all cases1 the poor pussies are badly provided for and generally go to the wall4 ,at a dog and cat show everything goes to the dogs6 ,secretaries wishing to promote successful cat sections at their mixed shows should secure some well-qualified person to have entire control of this department4 ,it is certainly true that1 of all live stock1 cats require the most consideration and supervision1 and yet to the masculine mind of a show secretary it would appear that the cats can look after themselves4 ,there is no doubt that the first step towards making a show successful is to engage the services of a competent1 energetic1 and painstaking manager and secretary4 ,it is also very desirable to appoint a really good working show committee1 the members of which should each undertake some particular duty in connection with the show4 ,for instance1 one member might superintend the feeding1 another could be responsible for obtaining promises of special prizes1 another devote him- or herself to verifying the prize tickets placed on the pens1 and so on4 ,a system of advertising a show must be decided upon by the show committee1 and notices sent to the various journals which are circulated amongst fanciers4 ,the class and prize tickets must be ordered in good time either by the secretary of the club or the manager of the show4 ,the best time of the year for a show as regards the appearance of ,persian cats is in ,december or ,january4 ,then1 if ever1 these particular cats should be in the best show condition4 ,as regards kittens1 the early summer or autumn is the best period1 as spring kittens will then be ready to make their bow to the public4 ,it is much to be regretted that the two principal shows of the ,national ,cat ,club--namely1 the ,botanic ,gardens and the ,crystal ,palace ,shows--should be held respectively in ,june and ,october1 when ,persian cats are in poor coat4 ,quite three months before the date of the show a managing secretary will start work4 ,catalogues of previous shows must be collected together1 in order to ascertain the names and addresses of likely exhibitors4 ,special prizes are now a great feature at all cat shows1 and a good deal of extra work is entailed by writing to obtain promises of these for the various breeds4 ,if possible1 it is well to appoint someone who is in touch with those who are likely to become donors1 and to hand over this department4 ,i would advise anyone undertaking this branch of the show to have a book1 and to head each page with the respective classes of long and short-haired breeds1 and then when a special is received--say1 for the best black ,persian cat--to place this on the page set apart for specials for this particular breed4 ,keep a separate list for kittens1 and decline to accept specials given in the form of stud visits or for cats bred from such and such a sire2 these savour too much of self-advertisement4 ,there are so many specialist societies nowadays1 and as these provide their own specials the show executive is considerably relieved of the duty of obtaining prizes4 ,of course1 there are always a certain number of challenge cups1 medals1 and specials given by the club holding the show1 and care should be taken to distribute these fairly amongst the various classes4 ,it is usual and advisable to limit the competition of the majority of these special prizes to the members of the club4 ,i do not approve of a special prize being offered for the best cat in the show1 as it is almost impossible for the judges to arrive at a satisfactory decision1 and considerable heartburnings are generally the result of such a competition4 ,a very useful mode of assisting a show is by guaranteeing classes2 and ,i would suggest yet another plan1 namely1 to subscribe so much towards the expenses of the show4 ,these are necessarily heavy1 and it has been stated that no cat show can ever be made a paying affair4 ,as regards the specialist societies1 ,i think it seems the correct thing that the club intending to hold the show should instruct its secretary to write to the secretary of each specialist society to ask if he is willing to support the show by prizes or by guaranteeing classes1 and to name the latest date for receiving particulars of the support to be given4 ,the specialist societies have their own judges1 and it is only natural when they are offering handsome prizes that a claim should be made for first-class judging in the interests of the breed4 ,it is therefore essential1 as matters at present stand1 for one of the judges from the list of the specialist club to be selected to give awards in the classes connected with the society4 ,it is important to obtain as full a list as possible of special prizes from societies and outside donors in good time for insertion in the schedule1 as a tempting list will ensure a better entry4 ,in the schedule the exhibition rules of the club should be printed1 and in addition there should be a list of arrangements in a prominent position setting forth details as to the opening and closing of the show1 the time up to which exhibits are received1 the earliest hour at which they may be removed1 and the prices of admission4 ,the names of the judges1 with their respective classes1 should be clearly set forth1 and it should be mentioned whether classes will or will not be amalgamated or cancelled4 ,a few advertisements of stud cats and trade notices should be obtained1 as this means grist to the mill and helps to pay for the printing of the schedules and catalogues4 ,illustration3 ,,richmond ,,cat ,,show3 ,,the ,,ring ,,class4 7,photo3 ,cassell ,company1 ,limited47 ,the question of classification is an all-important one1 and needs the consideration of a careful show committee1 well versed in the ways of cats and of fanciers4 ,a list of the classification used by one or two big cat clubs has been given4 ,of course1 at smaller shows it is often impossible to give separate classes for several breeds or to divide the sexes2 but my remarks in this chapter will refer to the customs and arrangements of large shows1 such as those held by the ,national ,cat ,club at the ,crystal ,palace1 and the ,cat ,club at ,westminster4 ,i do not think it is good policy on the part of a show committee or management to amalgamate classes4 ,it is much better to advertise in schedules that when entries are fewer than1 say1 four or five1 then the judges are empowered to withhold any of the prizes2 or1 again1 in the case of a very small class1 half prize money might be awarded4 ,illustration3 8,,minding ,,shop40 7,photo3 ,c4 ,reid1 ,wishaw47 ,having decided on the classification1 and given as liberal and attractive a one as is possible and practicable1 it is well to consider the number of schedules likely to be required1 and then start addressing the wrappers4 ,in each schedule must be inserted two or three entry and registration forms4 ,the entry forms1 with fees1 are returned to the secretary1 and the registration forms to the person who keeps the register of the club holding the show4 ,and here ,i would remark on the mistake it is to have two registers for cats4 ,it is very confusing for exhibitors1 and a double expense1 as the ,national ,cat ,club and the ,cat ,club each charge a shilling4 ,then1 again1 as the ,national ,cat ,club has recently passed a rule disqualifying all cats exhibited at ,cat ,club shows1 the confusion is worse confounded4 ,some fanciers having large catteries divide their exhibits and send to both ,national ,cat ,club and ,cat ,club shows2 but this new registration rule falls heavily on cat fanciers who are keen to exhibit their specimens and anxious for the pleasure of obtaining prizes1 and desire to profit by showing their stud cats or having an opportunity of disposing of their stock4 ,the ,national ,cat ,club shows since the passing of this rule have suffered considerably1 both from lack of entries and by the absence of some of the fine champion cats that1 having been exhibited at the ,cat ,club show in ,january1 were thus debarred from appearing at the ,botanic ,gardens and ,crystal ,palace shows4 ,how much simpler and better it would be if both clubs could and would agree to have one register kept by an independent person1 not necessarily a catty individual1 and that the fees should form the salary of such a person4 ,a small fee might be charged when reference was desired by fanciers as to the pedigree of any cats4 ,if the secretary of a show happens to be acquainted with the members of the cat fancy1 he will be able to use his discretion as to the number of entry and registration forms needed4 ,in some cases1 where he is sending to a well-known breeder and possessor of a large cattery1 more numerous forms will be required4 ,schedules should be sent out quite a clear month in advance1 and the entries should close about ten days before the date of the show4 ,the secretary will have a book in which he will note down each entry as it is received1 placing it under the correct class heading1 and1 of course1 these can only be numbered up when entries close4 ,the entry forms should be filed and kept for reference4 ,then comes the work of arranging and writing the labels1 and placing these with the tallies1 entrance tickets1 and removal orders in envelopes and addressing them to the exhibitors4 ,these should be posted four clear days before the show4 ,during this time the secretary will be able to compile the catalogue for the printer1 and arrange to have an instalment of copies the night before the opening day of the show1 also to draw up the judges' books4 ,letters should be written to the judges and veterinary surgeons acquainting them with the hour at which they are desired to present themselves at the hall1 and a complimentary pass ticket should be enclosed4 ,a pass should also be sent to the representatives of the ,press1 to the veterinary surgeon1 and to those who may be giving their services as stewards4 ,distant exhibitors will write requesting catalogues to be forwarded to them1 and a list should be kept4 ,a secretary will do well to provide himself with strong cord1 scissors1 brown paper1 writing materials1 labels1 telegraph forms1 stamps1 and other useful articles4 ,illustration3 8,,thieves40 7,photo3 ,mrs4 ,s4 ,f4 ,clarke47 ,in these days of specialist clubs it is necessary for the secretary to have a list of members of each society supporting the show1 as the prizes being confined to members the judge will have to refer to the secretary's office for information before making his awards4 ,the day before the show will be fully occupied in superintending the arrangement and putting up of the benching and pens4 ,a conveniently sized glass case should be ordered for the special prizes1 and this must be placed in a prominent position4 ,the prizes should all be distinctly labelled with the donor's name and the breed of cat for which each is offered4 ,the case should be one which locks up1 and then it is not necessary to have any supervision of the contents4 ,it is best for some two members of the show committee to undertake the arrangement in the case of the special prizes4 ,two men should be engaged to take the tickets and money at the entrance gate1 and in the sales office a clerk will be required to receive purchase money and give receipts4 ,at a large show it is necessary to employ four or six stewards to collect the judges' slips as they complete each class1 and take them to those in the office appointed to write out the tickets4 ,these same stewards should also undertake to place them on the pens4 ,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 pen1 instead of being thrust between the wires1 where a large number almost hide the cat1 and frequently they are torn down by the inmates of the pen4 ,illustration3 ,,miss ,,simpson',s 8,,cambyses40 7,photo3 ,gunn ,stewart1 ,richmond47 ,a good manager will have all in order well before the hour when the cats are received1 and if the veterinary engaged is in attendance the cats can be examined and1 when passed1 placed at once in their proper pens4 ,it is very important to entrust the work of penning to those who are used to handling cats1 and no better men can be found than those employed by ,messrs4 ,spratt1 who1 as everyone knows1 are the universal providers at cat shows1 as at every other live stock exhibition4 ,it is a question whether hay or straw is best for bedding4 ,i incline towards the latter if it is the fine wheaten straw1 as hay1 if it becomes at all damp1 will stick to the long-coated cats4 ,i also prefer dry earth at the back of the pens to sawdust1 for the same reason4 ,i trust we may ere long be able to provide something better in the way of a cat pen than those at present in use4 ,the doors should open the full height of the cage and two thirds of the width1 so that the cat can be more easily taken out4 ,illustration3 ,,mrs4 ,,drury',s ,,brown ,,tabby1 8,,periwig40 7,photo3 ,kerby ,son1 ,ipswich47 ,there is no doubt that1 considering the peculiar nature of cats1 some more adequate arrangement should be made in the sanitary accommodation4 ,the earth scattered at the back of the pen amongst the bedding is not all that could be desired4 ,what we want is a false bottom1 and an earth pan or tray sunk in it about two inches deep1 on the plan of the bird cage1 so that it can be drawn out and fresh earth supplied1 and replaced4 ,greater care should be paid as regards the security of the fastenings of the pens1 and the wires of some of them are too wide apart1 so that young kittens can easily make an exit4 ,it is well known that cats have extraordinary powers of escaping whenever and wherever escape is possible4 ,i disapprove as strongly as do the cats of any disinfectant being sprinkled or placed inside the pens4 ,each pen must1 of course1 bear a number2 but instead of the different classes being numbered1 it is much better to have them named1 and the large placards fixed high about the pens by means of split sticks of ,japanese bamboo4 ,thus anyone seeking the blue or the brown tabby class will have no difficulty in locating it1 even without a catalogue4 ,it is very important that all exhibits should be examined by a qualified veterinary surgeon before being penned1 and if a cat is seriously ill the owner should be at once communicated with and the specimen returned4 ,if it is a doubtful case1 perhaps a running eye or high temperature1 then the cat should be placed apart in a properly arranged1 and if possible warmed1 hospital room to be again examined4 ,remember it is always better to disappoint one exhibitor by refusing his cat1 than to disgust everybody by bringing their carefully trained and dearly loved pets into contact with disease4 ,it is necessary to appoint an official to check off each exhibit as it is passed1 and in the event of pronounced illness or some other objectionable feature to make a note of this for future reference4 ,illustration3 ,a ,,litter ,,of ,,blues4 7,photo3 ,e4 ,landor1 ,ealing47 ,as regards the feeding of exhibits1 ,i am in favour of raw beef or cooked meat cut into small pieces or else put through a mincing machine1 and water to drink4 ,for many reasons it is not desirable to provide milk2 it is apt to turn sour1 and it certainly more easily collects germs of disease1 and so may prove a fruitful source of evil4 ,the ,cat ,club started the idea of having china saucers instead of the usual tins1 and these are decidedly better in every way4 ,a one-day show is no doubt best for the cats1 but for the exhibitors and the executive a two-days show is really preferable4 ,if the exhibits are allowed to be penned up till eleven o'clock on the morning of the show1 the judging ought to be got through and the tickets placed on the pens in two hours with a competent staff1 and the show opened at one or #a4cj4 ,a smart secretary will arrange with his printer to have a list of awards printed with the utmost speed directly after the class judging is finished4 ,this can either be given in the catalogues themselves or a separate sheet inserted in the catalogues4 ,a large board ought to be hung in a conspicuous and convenient position1 and the list of class winners and the winners of special prizes entered on it4 ,this is better than having the slips pinned upon a board4 ,they are often very indistinctly written1 and are apt to get torn down4 ,let the closing hour on the first night be eight or nine o'clock1 when the hall should be cleared and the pens covered over4 ,i consider one good feed of raw meat ought to suffice during the day1 with fresh water continually supplied4 ,the hour for opening on the second day may be ten o'clock1 and before then the pens ought to be cleaned out1 fresh straw given where needed1 and disinfectant sprinkled up and down the passages between the rows of pens--not in them4 ,careful attention to these points will ensure the show being free from disagreeable odours by the time the public are admitted4 ,it is a wise plan to arrange and announce that the show closes1 say1 at five p4m4 on the second day1 so that exhibitors can1 in many cases1 get home with their cats the same night4 ,it is unreasonable to expect to be allowed to depart before the time fixed1 even though in some cases half an hour would save a train4 ,as regards a one-day show1 it is almost impossible for a secretary and manager to get through the necessary work and to open in anything like time4 ,there must be a scramble1 and for the exhibitors to be obliged to present themselves and their cats at some unearthly hour in the morning is very trying and most inconvenient4 ,then a two-days show is1 of course1 an advantage as regards the entrance money4 ,the ,cat ,club used to have a stringent rule against exhibitors penning their own cats1 but at the ,westminster ,show this rule was amended1 and cats could be penned by their owners or representatives on the night before the show1 but not in the morning4 ,no evil result followed this concession on the part of the authorities1 and therefore ,i trust this very natural desire on the part of the exhibitors to see their precious pussies safely into their temporary quarters may always be permitted at ,cat ,club shows4 ,in order to facilitate the work of the judges1 it is well to have their books carefully and clearly arranged1 and this especially applies to the list of special awards4 ,i instituted a plan at ,westminster ,show1 in #aija1 which gave great satisfaction1 but which entailed a lot of extra work for the secretary4 ,i am sure1 however1 this special arrangement lightened the labours of the judges1 and hastened the appearance of the special prize cards on the pens4 ,i had separate books for the special awards1 and carefully cut out of the schedules the prizes pertaining to each judge4 ,thus1 if ,mr4 ,a4 had black1 white1 and blue long-haired classes1 every challenge medal and special offered for these cats ,i arranged in order on one side of the page1 with the numbering as it appeared with them in the schedule4 ,so in the left-hand page would be1 say1 8,special ,no4 #aj1 for best long-haired black10 and on the right-hand page 8,awarded to ,no4 444410 leaving a blank for the judge to fill in the number of the winner4 ,any prizes that had to be awarded in conjunction with other judges1 such as for best long-haired cat in the show1 ,i made a note of to this effect4 ,let me add that ,i gummed the printed portions relating to the prizes1 cut from the schedule1 into the judging books1 so the judges needed neither schedule nor catalogue to refer to4 ,in preparing judges' books it is very helpful to place male and female 7,m4 and ,f47 after each catalogue number in the mixed kitten classes1 to avoid reference for the special awards2 and this should also be done in the catalogue itself1 as very often the name of the kitten does not indicate the sex1 and would-be purchasers are obliged to make inquiries4 ,i am always an advocate for having selling classes for cats and kittens at shows1 where the price should be limited to #e #es4 in the long-haired classes1 and #c #cs4 in the short-haired classes4 ,it would be an assistance if someone who understood cats1 and was also a good salesman or saleswoman1 undertook to preside over the selling classes4 ,the #aj per cent4 commission deducted by the show authorities is a material help1 and often a little pressure and persuasion1 combined with useful information1 will decide a wavering purchaser4 ,a class ,i should like to see introduced into our shows is one for kittens bred by exhibitors4 ,i am of opinion that more encouragement should be given to fanciers to keep the best of their litters for exhibition4 ,lady ,marcus ,beresford had the happy inspiration of starting breeders' cups for competition at ,cat ,club shows1 and special prizes are often given for the best kitten bred by exhibitors4 ,but these are tiresome awards for a judge to make2 he is obliged to make inquiries from someone with a catalogue1 and even this reference will not always suffice4 ,it is always pleasant to win prizes1 but an additional pride would naturally be felt if1 in a large class of kittens bred by well-known exhibitors1 the son or daughter of our own breeding should be awarded first and special4 ,illustration3 ,,judging ,,in ,,the ,,ring ,,at ,,the ,,crystal ,,palace4 7,photo3 ,russell ,sons1 ,crystal ,palace47 ,with respect to a ring class1 which is often held at some of the ,national ,cat ,club shows1 ,i cannot say that it is very interesting to see a collection of toms1 females1 and neuters1 long- and short-haired1 being dragged along by their anxious owners1 whilst the puzzled judges try hard to decide which of the motley and mixed assembly is most worthy of honours4 ,i think that for a ring class neuters alone should be eligible1 or at any rate until we have trained our young cats to behave properly on a lead4 ,there need be no necessity for the neuters to be entered and penned in the show1 but they could be charged a higher fee for the ring class2 and ,i believe that many owners of neuters would not object to their precious pets being on exhibition for ten or twenty minutes1 led by themselves into the ring1 but who will not let them be cramped up in a pen for two days4 ,neuters are always at a disadvantage in the show pen--they are generally too large and too lazy to be properly seen1 and a ring class for these specimens would be a very attractive feature at our cat shows4 ,a row of chairs should be placed round1 and sixpence a seat charged4 ,it is quite absurd to mix up the sexes1 and dangerous to allow tom cats to come within fighting distance of each other4 ,at a recent show great excitement was caused in the ring by the sudden attack of one famous stud cat on another1 and it was lucky that nothing worse than a torn and bleeding ear was the result of this onslaught4 ,another class ,i should like to see at some of our large shows1 and certainly at the summer ,n4,c4,c4 ,show1 is a class for stud cats1 which should be judged quite irrespective of coat1 and special attention directed to form of limb1 size of head1 and massive build in awarding the prizes4 ,this might not be an attractive class1 but it would be an instructive one1 and give the veterans a chance of proving of what stuff they are made4 ,a young untried male will often take all the honours in his class1 and the stud cat of a busy season is forced to take a back place1 probably on account of services rendered4 ,anyhow1 this idea might be carried out as regards the two largest classes--namely1 those for silver and blue ,persians4 ,in former days there used to be classes at some of the shows in which the cats were judged by weight1 but these have wisely been done away with4 ,illustration3 ,,miss ,,kirkpatrick',s ,,blue ,,kittens4 7,photo3 ,e4 ,landor1 ,ealing47 ,the question of open judging at cat shows has frequently been discussed in catty circles1 and several fanciers have given their opinions on this subject4 ,mrs4 ,neate1 a well-known fancier1 writes thus in ,fur and ,feather3--8,it would indeed be a step in the right direction if cat shows were run on 7as far as possible7 the same lines as dog shows4 ,much of the absurd mystery that at present envelops our cat shows would vanish if exhibitors were permitted to be present during the judging1 and ,i feel sure that the majority of cat fanciers would not be so wanting in etiquette and good taste as to hinder the judges or any of the officials in discharge of their onerous duties40 ,no doubt there is much truth in these remarks2 but1 at the same time1 ,i do not think fanciers take sufficiently into consideration the very timid1 shrinking nature of the cat when they advocate open judging4 ,it is often most difficult for a judge to properly examine a cat1 even when he or she is quietly going round giving the awards2 it would be still more trying to man and beast if a collection of strangers were pressing forward on all sides4 ,what ,i consider is more practical than open judging for cats is that some arrangement should be made so that judges may be enabled to compare the points of the various exhibits1 and for this purpose ,i consider that judging pens on movable tables should be provided at all shows1 as were adopted by the ,cat ,club at ,westminster4 ,by these means the work of the judges would be much simplified1 and the cats more satisfactorily and quickly judged4 ,supposing a special prize or medal is offered for the best cat in the show1 then ,i think it is interesting and instructive to have the first prize-winning cats placed1 if possible1 in pens1 and to arrange for the award to be given in public during the show by the judges in conjunction with each other4 ,such a plan was adopted at the last ,manchester ,cat ,show1 and much satisfaction was expressed at this innovation4 ,having given some suggestions as to the classification1 ,i would again refer to points of management in shows4 ,at the closing hour on the second day the hall should be cleared1 and only exhibitors or their representatives allowed to remain4 ,an efficient staff of attendants should at once set to work to assist in packing up the cats belonging to those exhibitors who intend taking them away4 ,after these have all left1 then the manager should direct his attention towards those exhibits that should be started by the night mails4 ,the catalogue must be consulted1 and a good way is to mark with a cross on the pen tickets those cats that must be packed up2 and1 having previously ordered the railway vans at a certain time1 the precious packages should be sent off as speedily as possible4 ,those exhibits left over till the following morning should be fed again and started at daybreak4 ,illustration3 8,,rose ,,of ,,persia40 7,photo3 ,e4 ,landor1 ,ealing47 ,there is a sense of immense relief when the last hamper has been fastened down and seen off the premises4 ,and here let me say how much exhibitors can contribute towards the speedy and safe despatch of their pets1 if only they will provide substantial and well-appointed travelling baskets or boxes4 ,amidst all the hurry and confusion of packing up an immense amount of extra trouble is given by having to lace up a hamper with string1 or nail down a box that has no other means of being made secure6 ,i speak from experience1 and therefore ,i plead for more consideration to be extended to the show manager and his assistants1 and1 above all1 to the poor pussies themselves4 ,at every show that is held there are a number of exhibitors who try the patience and courtesy of the manager or secretary1 or both1 by requesting to be allowed to remove their cats before the advertised time4 ,of course1 it is only natural that those fanciers residing at a distance should wish to make tracks home and catch early trains for their own comfort and convenience and the welfare of their pussies4 ,but1 looking at the matter from a secretary's and a visitor's point of view1 it is certainly hard that perhaps some of the best prize cats should be absent from their pen whilst the public are paying their money at the gate2 but1 having made a rule1 it is best to stick to it1 and no cat should be taken away till the fixed hour under any pretext whatever1 unless a veterinary certificate of illness is obtained4 ,it is always open to the management to advertise an earlier hour for the removal of exhibits on payment of a certain sum1 but this should be made a substantial fine1 especially in the case of a prize-winner4 ,a lower figure might be named for other exhibits4 ,as regards cats or kittens purchased at the show1 it is certainly an inducement and incentive to buyers if there is a rule that these exhibits may be removed at any time4 ,according to the rules of the two leading clubs a certain fixed time must elapse before the prizes are sent out4 ,in some cases this is a most uncertain and unfixed time1 and many complaints have been made through the cat papers of the long drawn out period between the prize being won and the prize being received4 ,no doubt1 immediate distribution of prizes after the show would lead to complications1 for objections might be lodged within the given time allowed by the rules1 and such objections would have to be brought before the committee of the club2 therefore it is obvious that successful competitors must allow1 say1 a month to elapse before showing signs of impatience4 ,it is then the manager's business to send the money awards1 and the secretary of the club is generally accountable for the distribution of the 8specials10 which certainly call for a special acknowledgment from the recipient to the donor of these prizes4 ,as regards the financial aspect of a cat show1 the first important point is to make the entries pay for themselves--that is1 supposing your prize money in each class is #a1 #ajs41 and #es41 then you need twelve entries at #cs4 to carry you through4 ,and here let me remark that1 considering the character of our first-class shows and the value of the special prizes offered1 ,i am inclined to think that entry fees are too low1 and that they should be more in accordance with the fees charged at dog shows4 ,it is always advisable to make a difference between members of the club holding the show and outsiders4 ,thus1 if #es4 is the entry fee for members1 then #fs4 or #gs4 #f;d4 might be charged to non-members4 ,new recruits to a club are often gained by this arrangement4 ,the usual commission on sales is #aj per cent41 and then there is the gate money1 which somehow is generally disappointing1 for truly the outside public are not partial to cats1 nor attracted to exhibitions of the feline race4 ,i have always contended that exhibitors themselves ought to be charged an entrance fee--say1 half-price admission on presentation of their exhibitor's pass1 which in many cases would only be sixpence1 yet one or two hundred of these small coins would materially assist the exchequer2 and surely no cat fancier would grumble at this tax on their resources when they consider how much trouble and expense is entailed in providing them with a favourable opportunity of exhibiting their pets1 and with a possibility of winning golden guineas and silver trophies4 ,another plan is to advertise in schedules that exhibitors of more than1 say1 two entries would be allowed a free pass4 ,fanciers will be tempted to send additional cats1 and thus swell the entries1 in order to secure their free admission ticket4 ,i do not think it would be a bad plan to have a 8,contribution ,column0 on the entry forms for members' and exhibitors' voluntary donations towards the expenses of a show which1 if well managed1 is worthy of the utmost support from the cat-loving community4 8,every mickle makes a muckle10 and it should be the earnest desire of each individual member of a club to do something1 however small1 towards keeping a balance on the right side of their treasurer's accounts4 ,,buying ,,and ,,selling4 ,i believe that a ,bow ,street magistrate once asserted that anyone owning a stud dog or selling a dog was1 in the point of law1 a dealer4 ,i do not know if the same decision would apply in the cat world4 ,anyhow1 there are few fanciers who do not desire at some time or other to dispose of their cats and kits2 and1 again1 there are many who keep stud cats1 yet cannot be considered dealers in that sense of the term4 ,the best way to set about trying to sell our surplus stock is to advertise in the cat papers1 in which case it is advisable to fully and fairly describe our animals and to name the price required4 ,if profit is to be considered1 it is not advisable to keep kittens more than eight weeks4 ,very soon after this period they begin to lose their fluffiness and grow leggy in appearance4 ,there is also the risk of illness and death4 ,it is better1 therefore1 to be willing to accept a moderate sum for kittens at eight weeks old rather than to keep them to see how they turn out4 ,it is a clear case of 8a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush40 ,i have always thought that there is a good opening for any enterprising person well versed in cat lore and cat fanciers to start an agency in ,london1 where cats and kittens might be sent on approval1 for would-be purchasers to call and interview them4 ,there might be a system of messengers who would meet cats and see them off at ,london stations4 ,in connection with such a cat agency a register might be kept of cats for sale or cats wanted and arrangements made as at the ,army and ,navy ,stores for having a certain number of animals on view4 ,these could be boarded at so much per week1 and commission charged on the sale4 ,a list of names and addresses of those willing to receive cats as boarders would be very useful1 and many ladies who do not choose to advertise could and would1 ,i am sure1 avail themselves of the means of letting fanciers know they could undertake the charge of pets during their owners' absence from home4 ,many and frequent are the letters ,i receive on this subject1 especially as the summer vacation approaches4 ,a day and hour for the visit of an experienced veterinary might be arranged1 so that country fanciers could send or bring their sick cats for advice4 ,all sorts of cat appliances might be on sale4 ,it would be convenient to have a writing-room for the use of fanciers1 where correspondence on catty matters could be carried on4 ,perhaps a tearoom could be added1 and bedrooms1 if space was available1 for fanciers coming up to attend ,london shows4 ,anyhow1 a list of suitable rooms might be kept which could be personally recommended4 ,,the ,,blue ,,persian ,,cat ,,society ,,pedigree ,,form4 ,breed and ,sex---------------------------- ,breeder-------------------------------- -- ,colour--------------------------------- --------- ,date of ,birth---------------------- ,name of ,cat---------------------- ,,parents4 ,,grand-,,parents4 ,,great ,,grand-,,parents4 ,,great ,,great ,,grand-,,parents4 ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- -------------------- ,sire4 ex ---------------------------------------- ------------------------------------ ex ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------- ex ---------------------------------------- ------------------------------------ ex ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- -------------------- ,dam4 ex ---------------------------------------- ------------------------------------ ex ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------- ex ---------------------------------------- ------------------------------------ ex ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- -------------------- ,prizes ,won1 ,remarks1 c4 ---------------------------------- ,these ,forms1 at #h;d4 per dozen1 can be obtained on application to ,miss ,f4 ,,simpson1 ,hon4 ,sec41 #i1 ,leonard ,place1 ,kensington1 ,w4 ,in these days1 when competition is so keen and occupation so difficult to obtain1 the idea of starting a cat agency should commend itself to some who1 being in touch with members of the cat fancy1 and wishing for lucrative employment1 might embark on this novel undertaking4 ,needless to say1 it would be most desirable to have the cat agency in a central part of ,london1 and in close proximity1 if possible1 to some of the main railway stations4 ,i think that1 if only as a means of assisting fanciers in the purchase and disposal of their cats and kittens1 this idea of an agency might be successfully worked4 ,many breeders become very disheartened at the inability to find purchasers for their kittens4 ,a complaint was recently made by a lady living in the ,isle of ,wight4 ,she writes3 8,no one seems to care for breeding in this island1 and people are not willing to give more than about five shillings for pedigree kittens40 ,no doubt fanciers living in the country and away from any catty centre have but little opportunity of finding a sale for their surplus stock4 ,i would suggest photography as one means of making known the perfections of their pussies4 ,a start in the right direction has been made by ,mr4 ,landor1 of ,ealing1 whose clever pictures of kittens are so well known4 ,he is willing to take portraits of pretty1 fluffy kits and good cats on special terms1 provided he retains the copyright of such photographs4 ,it is always handy to have a good photograph to send by post when endeavouring to dispose of our pets1 and by such means fanciers may be spared the trouble and risk of sending their valuable kittens on approval4 ,illustration3 8,,mischief40 7,photo3 ,mrs4 ,s4 ,f4 ,clarke47 ,naturally1 for unknown cat fanciers it is more difficult to effect sales through advertisement1 and in their case it is necessary to offer to send on approval at buyer's risk and cost2 and if an application is made from an entire stranger1 then the purchase money should be deposited in the hands of some reliable and independent third person4 ,some fanciers entirely decline to send their cats on approval1 and then it is very requisite to enter fully into particulars1 and1 if possible1 to send a photograph4 ,it is best to give the faults and failings as well as the good points1 so that disappointment and disagreement may not follow between the purchaser and seller4 ,buyers should endeavour to learn something about the person from whom they purchase their cats2 and it as well to ask not only for age and full pedigree1 but whether the cat has been exhibited1 and if it has taken any honours1 and at which shows4 ,it sometimes happens that valuable animals may be picked up for low prices at shows2 but there is always a risk1 and this is especially the case with young kittens1 who more easily contract any disease4 ,in buying a cat or kitten it is always advisable to make inquiries as to the way in which it has been fed1 so as to continue the same regimen for at least a few days4 ,the pedigree of a cat or kitten should be sent at the time of purchase1 and it is much easier to fill this in on a properly drawn out form1 and certainly it is pleasanter to receive the particulars thus intelligently written out4 ,i give a copy of the forms ,i drew out for the use of blue ,persian members1 but these can1 of course1 be used for cats of any breed4 ,illustration3 ,,our ,,play-,,room4 7,from a ,painting by ,madame ,ronner47 ,here let me quote from an article in that excellent ,american paper1 ,the ,cat ,journal1 headed 8,unreasonable ,buyers40 ,the writer says3--8,one of the most difficult things with which the cat seller has to contend is the unreasonable buyer4 ,there are buyers who1 finding a cat to suit them1 pay the price and are satisfied4 ,there is1 however1 another class that it is best to let alone4 ,they are never satisfied1 and blame the seller for everything that happens either on the road or after the kitten is received1 and many of them also think if they are sharp they will be able to buy a #ajj kitten for #aj or #ae1 and when they get such a kitten and they discover that it is not worth #ajj1 they are disgusted1 and have a lot to say about unfair dealing1 etc4 ,if a kitten that has been a pet is taken from its surroundings1 and sent on a long journey1 the rattle and the unusual conditions of such a trip places her in a state of nervous terror1 so that she very rarely shows off to good advantage in her new home4 ,the purchaser1 if a true cat lover1 will appreciate all the trouble of poor little pussy1 and give her the tenderest treatment and coax her to make the best of her new surroundings4 ,it is a very rare thing for a kitten to come from the box after a long journey looking just as the new owner expected4 ,tired1 homesick1 and frightened1 she will not eat1 and is altogether a pitiable looking object4 ,it is always advisable to put a new arrival in a room by herself1 with a comfortable bed and conveniences1 entirely away from the rest of the cats and kittens1 and allow her to become acquainted with the members of the family gradually4 ,do not allow other cats to come bothering around till the new member of the family is entirely acquainted with its surroundings4 ,especially be very cautious in introducing two male cats4 8,sellers must be very cautious in sending out their stock1 and buyers must not expect too much4 ,give the new member of the family a little time to know things before you write your letter of complaint4 ,be sure you are not expecting too much for the price you paid40 ,the question has often been asked1 8,can cats be made to pay80 and1 naturally1 novices in the fancy wish to know the best way in which to make a good start4 ,here ,i would say how much may be done by well-known and influential members of any fancy if they will give themselves a little trouble in helping the novice1 who1 after all1 is the backbone1 so to speak1 of every fancy1 and hence it is very essential that beginners should start on the right lines and with reliable1 and therefore profitable1 stock4 ,speaking from experience in the cat fancy1 ,i can say that several persons have come into the ranks and gone out of it again1 in many cases through sheer disgust because of the deceptions practised1 and of which they1 as novices1 have been made the victims4 ,i hold that if beginners are to be retained as members of a fancy1 they should be treated kindly and liberally by the experienced fancier1 especially when it is a question of purchasing stock4 ,it is much to be lamented that novices are frequently treated in a reverse manner1 and fanciers 7so-called7 seize upon an opportunity of getting rid of superfluous and often inferior specimens to those who are unable to discover good from bad in the cats offered to them4 ,at the same time1 it is a pleasing fact that there are many true fanciers in the feline world who1 having made their names as breeders1 prize-winners1 and perhaps judges1 put themselves out to give valuable advice1 and often spare no pains in endeavouring to obtain good stock for the novice at reasonable prices4 ,another question often asked is1 8,does showing pay80 ,in answer to this query1 ,i give an extract from the pen of the clever weekly correspondent of ,fur and ,feather1 8,zaida10 who says3--8,to those who keep their cats for pleasure1 who really love them and can afford to despise the small #8takings' available1 keep your cats at home and do not show4 ,expense does not count with this class of exhibitor1 but risk to the welfare of their best-beloved pussies undoubtedly does4 ,to those who are trying to make money by their cats1 we would urge3 harden your hearts1 learn how to show1 where to show1 and when to show2 and recognise the expense1 risk1 and trouble involved as part of the unavoidable outlay which is to bring in a certain return4 ,undoubtedly1 a show is a heavy expense1 and will always leave you out of pocket4 ,even if you conduct it on the most selfish terms--the #8give-nothing' and #8take-all-you-can' system--you will be exceptionally lucky if you clear your expenses4 ,you cannot expect to sell your kittens well if you do not exhibit4 8,if you possess a stud cat1 he must be seen and known before you can hope to have a demand for his services4 ,your own eye must be continually trained by comparison of your own stock with the prize specimens of others4 ,in short1 if you wish to make money1 you must spend money4 ,on the other hand1 never exhibit except at first-rate shows1 and never be tempted to show an animal out of condition4 ,if you can afford to buy animals already well known in the show world1 cats of renown1 for whose offspring there will always be a keen demand1 you may possibly abstain from exhibition4 ,this plan1 however1 involves a very large initial outlay4 ,then1 again1 the happy people who have won their laurels1 whose names are always associated with first-rate animals of a particular breed1 they1 indeed1 can afford to rest in peace1 and show no more4 ,other people will buy their kittens1 and do their exhibiting for them1 and also do that mournful nursing and burying that too often follows a show4 ,undoubtedly1 it is fascinating to show successfully2 but1 on the whole1 we think the most enjoyable shows are those where one goes to look at other people's exhibits and leave one's own at home40 ,a few words as to the stud fees and arrangements for visiting queens will not here be out of place4 ,the usual fee for the services of a stud cat is fixed at #a #as41 but some fanciers are willing to accept less1 especially if their cat is not a well-known prize-winner4 ,a higher charge is often made if the railway journey has to be followed by a cab fare1 or if the owner1 having a valuable stud cat1 does not wish to encourage many visitors4 ,the carriage of the queen should always be defrayed by the sender1 and if a telegram and return insurance is desired1 then these sums expended should be refunded to the owner of the stud cat4 ,it is desirable to announce the despatch or intended despatch of a queen1 as it may not be convenient to receive her4 ,the usual time to keep a visitor is from three to six days1 and then the owner of the stud cat should give notice of the return4 ,in case the first visit proves unsuccessful a second visit is usually allowed by courtesy without any extra payment1 but this must not be taken as a matter of course1 and it is best for the owner of the queen to ask permission to send again4 ,if through a mistake in the time of sending a cat apparently fails to mate during two visits1 it can only be by the kindness of the stud cat's owner that a third visit is permitted for the one fee4 ,if1 however1 the queen has been known to have mated on each occasion1 a third visit gratis cannot be expected even if there is no result4 ,a fee once paid for a visit is not returnable4 ,it is sometimes a matter of arrangement between fanciers to have the choice of a kitten instead of the mating fee1 but this transaction does not commend itself unless the parties are on very friendly terms4 ,a clear understanding should be arrived at on all occasions between the sender and the receiver1 and thus any after unpleasantness may be avoided4 ,it is catty etiquette to forward the fee when sending the queen2 or1 at latest1 immediately on her return4 ,a label for the return journey should be fixed inside the lid of the hamper4 ,this is a saving of trouble to the owner of the stud1 and is also a means of identification4 ,illustration3 ,,mr4 ,f4 ,w4 ,,western1 ,,the ,,secretary ,,of ,,the ,,sandy ,,club ,,show4 7,photo3 ,kingham1 ,bedford47 ,in selecting a young kitten for purchase out of a litter1 take note of the size of head and width between the ears4 ,in self-coloured kits look out for white spots1 and avoid those with long tails4 ,fanciers should strive to resist the temptation of buying too many cats and kittens of different breeds4 ,to the novice and the beginner ,i would say1 ,buy two or three good specimens1 carefully selected2 these will be worth quantities of doubtful ones1 which1 as a matter of fact1 have1 as a rule1 no value at all4 ,seize every opportunity which comes across your path of seeing and examining well-bred1 prize-winning cats1 and attending shows4 ,the cleverest fancier and most successful breeder can improve himself by observation and education4 ,do not be offended if you are told by those who have had a larger and longer experience in the fancy1 and who are really experts1 that you have made a mistake in any purchase4 ,if you resent their criticisms1 you may1 and probably will1 accumulate much rubbish as a monument of your own conceit4 ,a great deal may be learnt from books1 but more from observation4 ,above all1 do not1 when you have acquired some knowledge1 form too high an estimate of your own powers and of your own cats2 a true fancier is always ready--nay1 anxious--to learn1 well recognising that ignorance alone claims to be omniscient4 ,,local ,,shows4 ,as an example of the ever-increasing interest shown in cat sections at local shows1 the following account1 kindly supplied to me by ,mr4 ,f4 ,w4 ,western1 the secretary1 will be of interest3-- ,illustration3 ,,officials ,,of ,,the ,n4,c4,c4,c4 7,photo3 ,mrs4 ,g4 ,h4 ,walker47 8,sandy ,show has long since outgrown in size and importance the title it bears1 viz4 #8,the ,exhibition of the ,sandy and ,district ,floral and ,horticultural ,society4' ,the first schedule1 issued in #ahfi1 catered for plants1 flowers1 fruit1 vegetables1 poultry1 and cage birds4 ,in #ahhj pigeons were introduced1 and in #ahhc rabbits were added4 ,later1 in #ahii1 dogs put in an appearance with four classes4 ,it was not1 however1 until #ahid that our friend #8pussy1' in whom we are especially interested1 made her debut at ,sandy1 and as we look at the schedule for that year we are driven to the conclusion that none but a philosopher could have drawn up such a classification for our pets4 ,the trouble which we now frequently experience at a cat show of being #8wrong classed' could not well arise on that happy day in ,august #ahid1 when eight catteries were represented in the one and only class1 viz4 #8,any variety1 any age1 male or female4' ,but if our pets made a modest bow to the public in that year1 they have lived to be proud of their position4 ,in the succeeding year three classes were provided1 bringing together #ca cats4 ,from this date the cat classes have shown substantial improvement4 ,the year #aijj found ,sandy with five classes and #da entries4 ,by this time the cat fancy throughout the country had come into prominence2 clubs had been established1 and specialist societies were springing into existence4 ,with a leap forward the cat section of the #aija show numbered #bj classes4 ,this was far too bold a bid for popularity to be lightly esteemed4 ,the support was obtained of the ,cat ,club1 the ,silver ,society 7to-day the ,silver and ,smoke ,persian ,cat ,society71 the ,short-haired ,cat ,society1 and the ,siamese ,club4 8,generous aid was given by many individual lovers of cats1 and fifty special prizes1 in addition to the class prize money1 were offered4 ,the show was attended with success1 both as regards the number 7about #aej7 and the quality of the exhibits4 ,from a public point of view1 moreover1 the result was most gratifying4 8,the cat tent was crowded throughout the day1 and this section was acknowledged on every hand to have been one of the best features of the show4 8,with such success attending their first earnest venture in cats1 it is not surprising to find that the committee resolved still further to increase the classification4 ,in ,august #aijb1 therefore1 #cb classes were arranged1 of which #ba were guaranteed4 ,special prizes numbered #he1 and the cat section had the support of all the specialist societies4 8,with such attractions the splendid entry of #aija was eclipsed1 and at the very worst time of the year for cats as many as #bff entries were made4 ,long-haired cats were decidedly well represented1 and in the blue kitten class #ba specimens were penned4 ,in the short-haired classes some noted winners appeared4 8,ring classes were provided1 and proved a great attraction to the public4 ,the local classes were proof that ,mrs4 ,f4 ,w4 ,western has succeeded in interesting some of her friends in the hobby1 and the specimens to which the honours fell would have done well in the keenest competition40 ,mention was made in the list of clubs on a previous page of the ,northern ,counties ,cat ,club1 which was founded in #aijj4 ,the committee decided on holding a one-day kitten show in ,september of that year1 and the judges selected were ,miss ,d4 ,champion1 ,miss ,frances ,simpson1 ,mr4 ,t4 ,b4 ,mason1 and ,mr4 ,l4 ,p4 ,astley4 ,entries came up well1 numbering #aed1 and this novel undertaking was in every way a great success4 ,the ,northern ,counties ,cat ,club kitten show is now an annual fixture1 and on ,october #ast of #aijb a really splendid exhibition of promising youngsters was held at ,bellevue1 ,manchester4 ,twenty-two classes were arranged1 and over fifty specials offered4 ,entries were twenty in excess of the previous year1 and would have been still higher in number had not sickness prevented several well-known silver breeders from exhibiting4 ,the litter class numbered #ag1 and these1 with the splendid blue classes1 were the chief glory of the show4 ,there were #ah pairs of blue kittens and #dj entries in single blue kittens1 and it was most noticeable how few of these specimens failed in eyes4 ,there were rows of gleaming orange orbs that rejoiced the heart of the ,hon4 ,sec4 of the ,blue ,persian ,cat ,society4 ,the kitten show of #aijb may fairly be classed as another success for the ,northern ,club4 ,a similar show for cats and kittens is held annually in ,december in ,manchester by this enterprising club4 ,i am indebted to ,mrs4 ,g4 ,h4 ,walker for the group of officials and members of the ,northern ,club4 ,the photo was taken by ,mrs4 ,walker at the ,manchester kitten show of #aijb4 ,in connection with the dog show of the ,ladies' ,kennel ,association1 an exhibition of cats is now held annually at ,harrogate under the rules and patronage of the ,national ,cat ,club4 ,the first venture in this popular and fashionable water resort was made by ,mrs4 ,stennard ,robinson in #aija1 when entries came in splendidly2 but rain descended most disastrously1 and seriously interfered with the success of the show and the attendance of visitors4 ,in #aijb the weather proved most favourable1 but the cat section suffered considerably as regards numbers of exhibits in consequence of the date clashing with that of the ,sandy ,show1 held also on ,august #bhth4 ,on this occasion the ,hon4 ,mrs4 ,mc,laren ,morrison was advertised as judge1 but owing to ill-health her place was taken by ,mrs4 ,stennard ,robinson1 and ,mr4 ,j4 ,b4 ,townend1 of the ,national ,cat ,club1 undertook the management4 ,the ,midland ,counties ,cat ,club held its first show in ,birmingham4 ,the classification was on a liberal scale1 and several of the classes were guaranteed4 ,several of the specialist clubs supported this first venture of the ,midland ,counties ,cat ,club4 ,a new departure in the matter of shows may shortly be attempted1 and a scheme has been submitted to the cat world by the ,hon4 ,sec4 of the ,silver and ,smoke ,persian ,cat ,society1 that the specialist societies should combine and hold a show in the ,west of ,england4 ,each society is to be asked to bear a part in the expenses1 and secretaries will probably hold a meeting to consider the best ways and means of carrying out such an undertaking4 ,it is not intended that such a show should be in any opposition to those held by the parent clubs1 and registration in either of these clubs will be enforced2 but1 to quote the words of a well-known fancier and supporter of the specialist societies1 8,it is simply a way of escape from the enforced division of interests1 and a means for permitting the cats of all club persuasions to meet on equal ground4 ,as matters now stand1 open competition is a thing of the past1 and the sooner it becomes a possibility again the better for the cat fancy4 ,on this ground1 therefore1 we think all unbiased minds will accept with pleasure the scheme submitted to the public by the secretary of the ,s4,s4,p4,c4,s40 ,illustration3 ,,sandy ,,stealing ,,the ,,milk4 ,,the ,,property ,,of ,,miss ,,harper4 7,photo3 ,b4 ,tugwell1 ,haywards ,heath47 ,the ,scottish ,cat ,club1 which has ,lady ,marcus ,beresford for its ,president1 holds its annual show during the winter months1 and its exhibition follows closely on that of the ,midland ,counties4 ,under the list of winter shows mention may be made of the following1 where1 in connection with other live stock1 cats play a more or less important part3--,peterborough1 ,sheffield1 ,hounslow1 ,kendal1 ,bedford1 ,caterham1 ,hinckley1 ,hamilton1 ,doncaster1 ,yarmouth1 ,stratford-on-,avon1 ,bristol1 ,haverfordwest1 ,stockton1 ,cheltenham1 ,taunton1 ,epsom1 ,hexham1 ,larkhall1 ,stirling4 ,in this list ,i have made no mention of the great championship show of the ,national ,cat ,club1 held annually at the ,crystal ,palace in ,october1 to which the whole of cat creation looks forward with awe and longing4 ,this is one of the greatest events in the cat world1 and is always eagerly looked forward to by fanciers in all parts of the ,british ,isles4 ,in the schedule for the exhibition in #aijb no fewer than #baf special prizes were offered4 ,many of these were given by the following specialist clubs1 who generously supported this annual fixture3--,the ,blue ,persian ,cat ,society1 the ,silver and ,smoke ,persian ,cat ,society1 the ,chinchilla ,cat ,club1 the ,orange1 ,cream and ,tortoiseshell ,society1 the ,siamese ,cat ,club1 the ,manx ,cat ,club1 and the ,british ,cat ,club4 ,the names of the judges acting on this occasion were as follow3--,mrs4 ,greenwood1 ,miss ,forestier-,walker1 ,miss ,g4 ,jay1 ,miss ,cochran1 ,miss ,f4 ,simpson1 ,mr4 ,louis ,wain1 ,mr4 ,sam ,woodiwiss1 ,mr4 ,c4 ,a4 ,house1 and ,mr4 ,jung4 ,in our latter-day shows the work of the judges is considerably augmented by the numerous specials that have to be awarded amongst the winners in the well-filled classes1 and as regards the ,crystal ,palace show of #aijb1 the patience and skill of the judges making these awards were taxed to the uttermost4 ,illustration3 ,,silver ,,cats ,,belonging ,,to ,,mrs4 ,,clark1 ,,of ,,ashbrittle4 ,the ,cat ,club's show has been held for three years in succession at ,st4 ,stephen's ,hall1 ,westminster ,aquarium1 about the beginning of ,january1 and it is at this season that the really finest exhibition of ,persian cats is witnessed1 for at no other time are long-haired cats in such grand coat and good condition as in the middle of winter4 ,it is no wonder1 therefore1 with so many shows held throughout the length and breadth of the land1 that the cult of the cat is becoming more and more widely known and appreciated1 and that the fancy is really assuming such proportions that there can be no doubt of its permanent position amongst us4 ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,,the 8,,points0 ,,of ,a ,,cat4 ,before entering upon the distinctive breeds of cats1 of which ,i propose to treat fully in the ensuing chapters1 ,i would draw attention to the accompanying diagram of a cat1 and will proceed to point out the general contour of the animal1 whether long or short-haired4 ,illustration3 ,,the 8,,points0 ,,of ,a ,,cat4 ,having given a table of reference1 ,i will take the points of the cat as arranged in order3-- ,no4 #a1 ,ears3 ,these should be small1 and rounded at the tops1 carried somewhat forward1 and not wide open at the base4 ,in the ,persian varieties especially the inner surface should be hidden by a growth of fur extending from the face1 termed ear tufts4 ,it is a beauty in the cat to have the ears set well apart1 giving an appearance of greater width to the head4 ,the outer portion of the ears should be evenly covered with soft1 short1 downy fur4 ,no4 #b1 ,eyes3 ,these ought to be round1 large1 and full4 ,a small1 beady eye is a great disfigurement in a cat4 ,the eyes should be set straight in the head1 not slanting like those of a ,chinese4 ,in the ,persian varieties a fringe of overhanging fur greatly improves and softens the expression4 ,the colour varies in different breeds1 but in green1 orange1 or blue eyes1 purity and depth of colour should prevail4 ,very often an orange eye is spoilt by an inner rim of green1 and a blue eye is weakened by a paler shade of blue1 giving the appearance of an opal4 ,no4 #c1 ,skull3 ,should be broad1 with width between the eyes and ears4 ,no4 #d1 ,cheeks3 ,well developed4 ,no4 #e1 ,face and nose3 ,these should be short2 if the contrary1 a 8snipey0 appearance is given to the cat1 which quite spoils the expression4 ,no4 #f1 ,chest3 ,should be full and broad4 ,no4 #g1 ,neck3 ,short and full4 ,nos4 #h and #i1 ,shoulder and fore arm3 ,these call for no special remarks2 but in male cats especially firm and massive limbs are most desirable4 ,no4 #aj1 ,paw3 ,a large1 broad paw1 with short but not stumpy feet4 ,in the ,persian varieties the tufts are an additional beauty4 ,nos4 #aa and #ab1 ,body and back3 ,there is a diversity of opinion as to whether a cat should be long in the body or of cobby build4 ,i incline to the latter as regards beauty of form1 but ,i am of opinion that female cats with long bodies are the best breeders4 ,all cats should be low in the legs4 ,no4 #ac1 ,tail or brush3 ,in both breeds this should be short rather than long1 and in the ,persian varieties broad and spreading4 ,the tail should be carried almost on a level with the body1 and slightly curving upwards towards the end4 ,a too-tapering tail is a defect4 ,nos4 #ad1 #ae1 and #af call for no further remark beyond the desirability of symmetry in form4 ,the foregoing list of points in a cat may be of some service to novices in the fancy1 but it is necessary to add that1 as in all animals1 condition is a very important factor4 ,a cat may be perfect in all points1 and yet if in either the long- or short-haired varieties the coat lacks softness of texture1 and in ,persians the fur is matted or draggled1 such specimens cannot expect to find favour in the eyes of a critical judge1 or even an ordinary lover of cats4 ,in short-haired breeds there is an unmistakable gloss on the coat of a cat that is in good health4 ,a spiky appearance of the fur always denotes poor condition1 and greatly detracts from the charms and chances of our pets or show cats4 ,a great deal depends in keen competition upon condition4 ,it turns the scale in a vast majority of instances4 ,therefore1 as great attention should be paid to this point as to those set forth in the list ,i have given4 ,a small yet distinctive feature in a cat is the whiskers1 and these vary in colour1 according to the breed4 ,they should be strong and yet sensitive1 and curving slightly inwards4 ,it is supposed to be a sign of strength if a cat's whiskers attain a great length4 ,illustration3 7,photo3 ,c4 ,reid1 ,wishaw47 ,illustration3 ,a ,,blue ,,persian ,,belonging ,,to ,,mrs4 ,,wells4 7,photo3 ,ward1 ,hounslow47 ,,chapter ,,vii4 ,,long-,,haired ,,or ,,persian ,,cats4 ,in classing all long-haired cats as ,persians ,i may be wrong1 but the distinctions1 apparently with hardly any difference1 between ,angoras and ,persians are of so fine a nature that ,i must be pardoned if ,i ignore the class of cat commonly called ,angora1 which seems gradually to have disappeared from our midst4 ,certainly1 at our large shows there is no special classification given for ,angoras1 and in response to many inquiries from animal fanciers ,i have never been able to obtain any definite information as to the difference between a ,persian and an ,angora cat4 ,mr4 ,harrison ,weir1 in his book on cats1 states that the ,angora differs somewhat from the ,persian in that the head is rather smaller and ears larger1 fur more silky with a tendency to woolliness4 ,it is1 however1 my intention to confine my division of cats to long-haired or ,persian cats1 and short-haired or ,english and foreign cats4 ,in both these breeds there are 8self-coloured10 8broken-coloured10 and 8any other coloured0 varieties4 ,in the foregoing references to the diagram of the cat ,i have touched upon the points of the animal1 which are practically the same as regards the form of body and limb in both long- and short-haired breeds of cats4 ,in comparing the dispositions of these two breeds1 ,i think it is generally allowed that ,persian cats are not so amiable1 or so reliable in their temper1 as the short-haired varieties4 ,i am inclined to think1 however1 that they are more intelligent1 and have a greater instinctive desire to make themselves at home in their surroundings4 ,they are apparently as keen hunters of prey as the short-haired cats4 ,when we come to the question of stamina and general health1 ,i certainly think the ,persian must1 so to speak1 8go to the wall40 ,it is a common belief that1 in human beings1 if the hair grows long and thick it is a sign of great strength and a good constitution2 but as regards cats the longer the coat the weaker the animal4 ,this ,i have specially noticed in ,persian kittens1 and have remarked that little mites with unusually long fur are the most difficult to rear1 and suffer from extreme delicacy4 ,perhaps in-breeding amongst ,persian varieties has been more carried on than with the short-haired breeds1 which are allowed a greater freedom of choice1 and therefore are the result of natural selection4 ,apart from the question of health and strength1 ,persian cats require a great deal more care and attention on account of the long fur4 ,in the spring ,persian cats begin to shed their coats1 and this process continues through the summer months1 and it is not till about ,october that the new fur begins to grow again4 ,persian cats may be considered in their finest condition during the months of ,december and ,january4 ,it is a wise provision of ,nature that during the coldest months these somewhat delicate cats should have their warmest clothing4 ,it has often been a matter of surprise that cat shows should ever be held in the summer1 when long-haired pussies present a most unkempt and moth-eaten appearance4 ,in this condition they are not likely to win converts to the cult of the cat2 but from an educational point of view these unclothed specimens give the judge an opportunity of displaying his ability1 for it needs a really capable judge1 with experience1 knowledge1 and good common-sense1 to allow for absence of coat1 and to place the awards accordingly4 ,under summer skies shape and bone will have their innings1 whereas a grand winter coat may hide a multitude of sins that even the eagle eye of the most astute judge may fail to discover4 ,at the same time1 for a breed of cats called 8long-haired0 the coat ought to demand the greatest consideration2 for what is the good of the most perfect shape in a ,persian cat1 if it is exhibited out of coat and almost like an ,english short-hair in a class set apart for long-haired specimens8 ,no doubt many breeders of ,persians have been led through disappointment to join the ranks of short-hair breeders1 for it is indeed very vexatious and tantalising1 after having entered a grand-coated cat a month before a show1 to find your precious pet persistently scratching out her fluffy frill and shedding the chief glory of her breed before the eventful day when you had hoped to reap golden awards4 ,illustration3 8,,gentian10 ,,owned ,,by ,,lady ,,marcus ,,beresford4 7,photo3 ,e4 ,landor1 ,ealing47 ,as regards ,persian kittens1 the change of coat takes place between the ages of three and six months4 ,in some cases long-haired kittens will cast their fur to such an extent as to present the appearance of an uneven short-haired specimen1 whereas in others the shedding process is so gradual that the transition stage from a kitten to a cat is hardly more discernible in the long- than in the short-haired breeds4 ,any severe illness may cause the fur to come out of ,persian cats at any season of the year1 and the growth of the new coat will be retarded by poor condition of the skin4 ,in both long- and short-haired cats1 as in other animals1 the teeth are the chief guide in deciding the age1 and a kitten may be said to become a cat after six months1 when the adult dental process is completed1 and the second set of teeth has become established4 ,and here ,i would quote from ,mr4 ,john ,jennings' interesting book on 8,domestic or ,fancy ,cats0 in support of my twofold classification3 8,of the many varieties or breeds of the cat with which we are now familiar1 it must be remembered that1 however crossed1 selected1 re-crossed1 domesticated1 or what not1 we have but two breeds on which the superstructure of what is known to-day as the #8classification of varieties' has been reared--viz4 the long-hair or ,eastern cat1 and the short-hair or ,european4 ,the term #8breed' is even here used advisedly1 for whatever the outer covering or coat1 colour1 or length of fur1 the contour of each and all is practically the same4 ,illustration3 ,,mrs4 ,,herring',s 8,,champion ,,jimmy40 7,photo3 ,w4 ,morice1 ,lewisham ,high ,road47 8,nor is this confined to mere outline4 ,take the skull1 for example1 which measured in the usual manner with shot1 making due allowance for difference in size1 is not only similar in the different varieties of either long- or short-hair1 but even in the wild cat the anatomy is similar1 the slight variation being in a great measure explained by its different conditions of life and diet1 and is in unison with the fact of how even the ordinary domestic cat will undergo a change in taking up a semi-wild1 outdoor existence40 ,at the present time there is no doubt that long-haired cats are the more popular1 and1 judging by the entries at our large shows1 the numbers may be taken as four to one4 ,a slight reaction has set in since short-haired societies have been formed1 but the fascination for fluffy pets and pretty pussies will1 ,i think1 always predominate1 for the less attractive points of the ,english domestic cat do not appeal so strongly to the heart and the eye of the general public4 ,it may be remarked by the readers of 8,the ,book of the ,cat0 that very few pictures of short-haired cats are reproduced2 and it is just because the long-haired pussies are so much more attractive that they are brought into greater prominence in this work4 ,it is more difficult to obtain nice photographs of short-haired cats1 probably because the owners of these less expensive pets do not think it is worth while to spend their money or to go to any trouble over having a good picture taken4 ,as regards the coloured plates appearing in this work1 care has been taken to instruct the artists to bring out as prominently as possible the special points of the cats1 long- and short-haired4 ,it is the first time that coloured plates of the different kinds of cats have been attempted2 and it is hoped that1 as types of each breed1 these will prove useful to fanciers and instructive to the cat-loving public4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,hon4 ,,mrs4 ,mc,l,a,r,e,n ,,morrison',s ,,cattery ,,at ,,kepwick4 ,,chapter ,,viii4 ,,some ,,notable ,,catteries4 ,before entering upon a description of the various breeds1 it may be interesting to my readers to give a short account1 with illustrations 7photographs for which have been specially taken for this chapter71 of the catteries of some well-known fanciers who have not confined themselves to any special breed or variety4 ,lady ,decies' catteries1 at her pretty summer residence at ,birchington-on-,sea1 are indeed most perfect in their arrangements1 and every detail for the comfort and well-being of the inmates is considered4 ,the stud cats have separate single houses1 with good-sized wired-in runs1 and luxurious and cosy sleeping apartments in the rear4 ,the main cattery is in a sheltered portion of the grounds1 and will accommodate a large number of cats4 ,the runs are arranged with boxes1 benches1 chairs1 and ladders1 and the sleeping places1 built of brick1 are most comfortably fitted up4 ,by a system of wooden blinds the strong sea breezes and the bright rays of the summer sun can be regulated4 ,there are side blinds and top blinds4 ,the floors of the spacious catteries are wood1 covered with cork carpet1 and they are raised about a foot from the ground1 so that there is a free current of air passing under the boards1 thus securing absolute freedom from any damp4 ,in the house there are three rooms set apart by ,lady ,decies for her pussies4 ,in two of these the queen mothers have their families1 and the other is used as the cats' kitchen4 ,the beds for the cats are specially designed by ,lady ,decies4 ,the walls of the cats' rooms are adorned with pictures by ,louis ,wain1 and there is a display of prize cards won by ,lady ,decies' famous cats4 8,zaida10 so well known as the winning silver female1 is the privileged occupant of ,lady ,decies' boudoir1 and here the aristocratic little lady makes herself at home on the soft cushions and couches4 ,the famous 8,lord ,southampton0 is now in the possession of ,lady ,decies1 and resides in one of the up-to-date catteries at ,beresford ,lodge4 ,he was purchased at a very high price4 ,since his change of ownership he has not frequently appeared in public1 but in the past he was a noted winner4 ,it is1 however1 as a silver sire that he attained his success and made his name4 ,it is well-nigh impossible to mention his numerous winning children4 ,his name in a pedigree is a safe guarantee for quality and colour4 ,the two ,siamese cats have warm quarters in the stable cottage4 ,lady ,decies' pets comprise both long- and short-haired cats4 ,among the latter 8,xenophon0 is generally considered as the best specimen of a brown tabby1 and has a long prize-winning record4 ,a woman and a boy are kept to attend to the wants of these aristocratic animals4 ,the ,bishopsgate cattery may be said to have won a worldwide renown1 and those who have been privileged to visit the ideal residence of ,lady ,marcus ,beresford will agree with me that it is impossible to give any idea either by photography or description of the delightful dwelling places set apart for the pussies belonging to this true lover and fancier of the feline race4 ,there is the cat cottage1 where the attendant has her rooms1 and where the other apartments are especially fitted up for the cats4 ,here the ,siamese have their quarters1 and the sun streams in at the windows1 which face due south4 ,opposite to the cottage1 as may be seen in the illustration1 are some of the cat houses1 and in the centre is the kitchen4 ,the cat attendant stands at the door1 and some of the pussies are having their midday meal4 ,the celebrated 8,blue ,boy ,,ii40 occupies a house1 and in the background is a grass run1 securely wired in1 which is used as a playground for the pussies4 ,in the hot summer weather this is shaded by the lovely spreading beech trees of ,windsor ,park4 ,the stud cats' houses are splendidly arranged with sleeping places and nice large runs4 ,the space in the centre in front of these runs is used as an exercise ground for the females and kittens4 ,the garden-house cattery is1 indeed1 an ideal one1 being a bower of roses in the summer-time1 and in winter an ivy-clad retreat4 ,this house is divided into two apartments1 and these are generally used for the queen mothers and their families4 ,on the shelves along the windows the pussies sit and sun themselves4 ,truly the lives of inmates of the ,bishopsgate catteries are spent in peace and plenty1 and when their little span of life is over they find a resting place under the shadow of the grand old trees1 and a little white tombstone with a loving inscription marks the spot of pussy's last long sleep4 ,lady ,marcus ,beresford has had almost every breed of cat under the sun at her catteries1 but of recent years she has specially taken up silvers1 blues1 and ,siamese1 and a grand specimen of each of these varieties is in the stud at ,bishopsgate4 ,amongst some of the celebrated cats owned by ,lady ,marcus ,beresford ,i may mention 8,lifeguard10 a grand orange of massive build2 8,tachin0 and 8,cambodia10 two imported ,siamese with perfect points2 8,cora10 a tortoiseshell-and-white of great beauty1 and 8,kismet10 a brown tabby of exquisite shape1 both imported2 and 8,cossy10 a smoke that has found a home in ,america4 ,at the present time three of the most notable inmates of the ,bishopsgate cattery1 representing blues1 silvers1 and ,siamese1 are 8,blue ,boy ,,ii410 8,beetle10 and 8,king of ,siam40 ,illustration3 ,,bishopsgate1 ,,general ,,view4 ,illustration3 ,,cats' ,,exercise ,,ground4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,stud ,,cats' ,,houses4 ,illustration3 ,,cat ,,cottage ,,and ,,kitchen4 ,,scenes ,,at 8,,bishopsgate40 7,photos3 ,cassell ,company1 ,limited47 ,one of the largest catteries in ,scotland1 where the fancy grows apace1 is owned by ,mrs4 ,mackenzie ,stewart1 of ,seagate ,house1 ,irvine4 ,mrs4 ,stewart has possessed several notable cats of different breeds4 ,her blue stud cat 8,ronald0 has made himself a name in the south of ,england as well as in the north4 ,mrs4 ,stewart has had silvers1 creams1 brown tabbies1 and is now the owner of the celebrated black stud cat 8,dick ,fawe10 who has sired many winning kittens4 ,the severe weather of this part of ,scotland seems to suit these ,persian cats1 for a healthier1 hardier set of pussies one could not wish to see than those disporting themselves in the pleasantly situated catteries of ,seagate ,house4 ,mrs4 ,mackenzie ,stewart is a most enthusiastic fancier1 and often takes the long journey down ,south to bring her pets to the ,london shows4 ,she has acted as judge in ,scotland and ,england1 and a contingent from the ,seagate cattery is generally to be seen and admired at most of our large shows4 ,illustration3 ,a ,,sleeping ,,box ,,in ,,lady ,,decies' ,,cattery4 7,photo3 ,cassell ,company1 ,limited47 ,to old fanciers and exhibitors the name of ,mrs4 ,h4 ,warner is familiar4 ,it was as ,mrs4 ,warner1 in #ahhi1 that the ,hon4 ,mrs4 ,mc,laren ,morrison first exhibited a black cat called 8,imp0 at the ,crystal ,palace ,show2 and as black cats are said to bring luck1 this puss took a first1 and1 thus encouraged1 his owner commenced her 8catty0 career4 ,in the following year1 ,i note1 by the catalogue1 that ,mrs4 ,h4 ,warner had fourteen entries1 and amongst these were two imported cats and the celebrated black ,persian 8,satan10 who departed this life in #aijb4 ,as late as #ahig this superb fellow1 with glorious orange eyes1 won everything he could 7in spite of his age7 at the ,crystal ,palace4 ,there remains a worthy son of this worthy sire at the ,kepwick cattery1 named 8,lucifer40 ,illustration3 ,,lady ,,decies ,,visiting ,,her ,,pets4 7,photo3 ,cassell ,company1 ,limited47 ,it was in #ahij that ,mrs4 ,mc,laren ,morrison1 then ,mrs4 ,h4 ,warner1 made her name as an exhibitor of white ,persians2 for no less than six of this breed put in an appearance1 and gained prizes at ,sydenham4 ,mrs4 ,mc,laren ,morrison writes3 8,i have always been lucky with black cats1 both long- and short-haired2 but ,i especially love white ,persians1 and1 in fact1 at one time ,i owned a #8white cattery4' ,i may say ,i still have some good specimens--namely1 #8,musefer1' #8,queen of the ,pearls1' and #8,lily4' ,i love the imported cats1 and always get them when ,i can4 ,i have nine now at ,kepwick4 ,one of these hails from ,patagonia and one from ,afghanistan4 ,my cattery at one time was twice again as full as now2 but my losses have been great1 and ,i have reduced the numbers so that ,i may give more attention to the young stock4 8,it is only recently ,i have really gone in for orange ,persians1 encouraged by the wins of #8,puck' at the ,botanical4 ,i love this beautiful variety1 but consider the queens of this breed very delicate4 ,i have owned some fine blues at different times1 and purchased for #be a beautiful fellow1 bred from #8,beauty ,boy1' at the ,crystal ,palace many years ago2 but1 alas6 he came home only to die4 ,foremost amongst my blues ranked my late ,champion #8,monarch1' who held the ,beresford ,cup4 ,of late years ,i have taken up silvers4 ,my first ,chinchilla was ,champion #8,nizam1' ancestor of such cats as #8,st4 ,anthony' and #8,ameer4' ,i bought #8,nizam' at the ,crystal ,palace in the early days of silvers1 and he only took second prize1 because1 ,i was assured1 he was #8too light' for first4 ,i have a few ,russians4 ,i am most devoted to my pussies1 and have tried to persevere in breeding good stock in the face of very great difficulties4 ,i do not much care about running the risk of showing1 but a true fancier likes to support all well-arranged cat shows40 ,illustration3 ,,mrs4 ,,mackenzie ,,stewart',s ,,cattery4 ,mrs4 ,collingwood1 of ,leighton ,buzzard1 is a most ardent lover of cats1 but it is only of recent years that she has been before the public as a fancier and exhibitor4 ,during this time1 however1 many have been the honours showered on the lucky inmates of the ,bossington cattery4 ,mrs4 ,collingwood has great difficulty1 so she tells me1 in keeping her number of cats down to about thirty6 ,she likes these to be equally divided between long- and short-haired pussies2 so there are all sorts and varieties4 ,blues have been great favourites1 and ,mrs4 ,collingwood is on the ,blue ,persian ,cat ,society ,committee4 8,royal ,bobs10 a big1 massive blue male1 has done a lot of winning4 ,he was bred by the ,princess ,victoria of ,schleswig-,holstein4 ,his sister 8,jill0 also inhabits one of the twelve cat houses distributed over five acres of the ,bossington grounds4 ,these smaller houses are mostly on wheels4 ,the larger houses are kept for females and their families1 and sometimes a corner of the hay-loft is set apart for a nursing mother4 ,the male cats have their liberty during the morning1 and then the females enjoy their afternoons out4 ,mrs4 ,collingwood does not keep a stud cat1 but there are neuter pets that have their run about the house1 and have their meals in a corner of the dining-room4 ,mrs4 ,collingwood intends going in strongly for smokes in the future2 and although possessed of extremely good short-haired cats1 this ambitious fancier is desirous of breeding a perfect silver tabby and a likewise equally perfect orange tabby4 8,james0 is a beautiful specimen of a silver tabby1 and during this year alone has won eight first prizes4 ,at ,altrincham he had the honour of claiming championship and silver medal for the best cat in the show1 beating all the long-haired cats that generally carry off this coveted prize2 and at the ,crystal ,palace he was the admired of all admirers1 with a number of prize tickets covering his pen4 ,i know many cat-loving people1 but ,i do not think ,i have ever seen greater devotion shown to the feline race than is displayed at ,bossington4 ,mrs4 ,collingwood is ever ready to support cat shows by entries1 by guaranteeing classes1 and by giving handsome prizes4 ,her cats are always shown in the pink of condition1 and it is seldom they appear in the pens unless their devoted mistress is in attendance4 ,mrs4 ,collingwood kindly had the accompanying photographs specially taken for this chapter4 ,perhaps no name is better known in the cat world than that of ,mrs4 ,herring1 of ,lestock ,house1 ,lee1 who has for nearly twenty years been a prominent fancier and breeder of both long- and short-haired cats4 ,mrs4 ,herring is a member of the ,national ,cat ,club ,committee1 and also belongs to several of the specialist clubs1 and is a member of the ,cat ,club and the ,northern ,counties ,cat ,club4 ,at all the principal shows this enthusiastic lady is a prominent figure1 and in the quantity and quality of her exhibits she generally leads the way4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,imitation ,,tree1 ,,mrs4 ,,clarke',s ,,cattery4 7,photo3 ,mrs4 ,s4 ,f4 ,clarke47 ,at some of our large shows ,mrs4 ,herring has entered from #be to #cj cats2 and ,i have known and seen these arrive with their mistress in a large omnibus or van4 ,it is no light undertaking to prepare such a number of pussies for show1 and then to convey them carefully to the place of exhibition4 ,mrs4 ,herring started with a short-haired silver tabby called 8,chin10 and then turned her attention to long-haired brown tabbies2 and although every variety of cat1 both long- and short-haired1 may be said to have existed from time to time in the ,lestock catteries1 yet it is with tabbies perhaps that ,mrs4 ,herring has chiefly made her name and fame4 ,champion 8,jimmy0 was a superb specimen of a well-marked silver tabby1 and he carried everything before him in the show pen4 ,he passed away in #aijj1 and ,i do not think we shall see his like again4 ,amongst many celebrities in the feline world which have been born or bred1 or have found their habitation at the ,lestock cattery1 ,i may mention 8,king ,saul10 the noted tortoiseshell tom who still holds a unique position at our shows1 and won the ,coronation ,cup at the ,botanical show4 8,king ,alfred10 a long-haired silver tabby1 and 8,king ,david10 a massive blue1 are also well-known winners of the present day4 ,mrs4 ,herring bred some sensational silver tabby long-haired kittens1 and two of these--8,the ,duchess0 and 8,princess ,lestock0--were exhibited respectively at the ,westminster and ,crystal ,palace shows1 and both were speedily claimed at the high catalogue price4 8,floriana10 a huge1 handsome long-haired brown tabby1 who formerly belonged to ,mrs4 ,herring1 has recently found a home in ,america4 ,siamese and ,russian cats have not been strangers to this cattery1 where sometimes the number of inmates has been over forty6 ,within the last few years ,mrs4 ,herring has had to reduce her stock1 owing to the complaints of neighbours1 who showed no sympathy with the feline race1 and some excellent1 well-arranged cat houses had to be removed1 as they somewhat encroached on a neighbouring garden wall4 ,it must have been a trying time1 and the weeding-out process a most difficult one1 for such a really warm-hearted and devoted fancier as ,mrs4 ,herring1 whose pussies are all pets1 and who personally supervises her cattery at ,lestock ,house4 ,illustration3 ,,mrs4 ,,clarke',s ,,cattery4 7,photo3 ,mrs4 ,s4 ,f4 ,clarke47 ,it is not given to all1 particularly in large towns1 to have at their disposal such an amount of waste space as their more fortunate brethren of the country4 ,i have therefore asked ,mrs4 ,s4 ,f4 ,clarke1 whose cat photographs have been a delight to all our readers1 to tell us how she manages in her town residence at ,louth4 ,here are her notes4 ,,breeding ,,blue ,,persians ,,in ,,limited ,,space4 8,the successful breeding of blue ,persian cats in a space so limited that a grass run or green trees are things to be desired rather than attained1 requires nice judgment and great care4 ,the space at my command for cat keeping and breeding purposes is only a back yard1 some #ad yards long by #f yards wide4 ,this very limited space is further curtailed1 on one side1 by my husband's laboratory2 while the cattery and its covered run cut off another strip at the end1 of #g yards by #b yards1 reducing the ground available for open air exercise and run to a patch about #ah feet by #ab feet1 and a flagged portion some #ba feet by #f feet4 8,the space between the front of the laboratory and the flagged path being occupied by a small independent house and covered run1 is very useful either for isolation or as a separate home for growing kittens4 ,the boundary wall is supported by #d-;foot wire netting supported by #c-;foot iron stanchions1 thus allowing a free edge at the top of about #ab inches to be bent inwards and left loose4 ,this ,i find a sufficient safeguard against my own cats getting out or strange cats getting in--a very important matter at all times1 but especially so at certain periods1 if breeds are to be kept pure and pussy not allowed to make her own arrangements4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,hon4 ,,mrs4 ,mc,l,a,r,e,n ,,morrison4 7,photo3 ,esm ,collings1 ,hove47 8,if ,i were asked for the very best design for building1 fitting up1 and furnishing a small cattery1 ,i fear ,i could only answer that requirements differ so in individual cases that it is impossible to draw a hard-and-fast line that will meet all circumstances4 ,here is a photo of my own 7p4 #ajg74 ,it is the outcome of my personal experience1 and answers my requirements fairly well4 ,it is a lean-to structure1 about #g yards long by #b yards wide4 ,the back and one end is formed by the north and west boundary walls1 while the east end joins the dwelling-house1 thus giving it a south aspect and complete shelter from north and east winds4 ,it is divided into two unequal portions1 the smaller 7east7 portion1 #f feet by #f feet1 forming the cat house proper2 the longer portion is the covered run4 ,the front of the house is built of #a-;inch wood1 with a lining of wood leaving an air space of about #c inches between the outer and inner surface of the front and dividing partition4 ,the roof is of corrugated iron1 with a ceiling of wood about #d inches below4 ,this arrangement of double walls and roof secures reasonable warmth in the winter1 but not quite sufficient coolness for mothers and kittens during the height of the summer4 ,so the roof is then covered with a large white sheet hooked to the wall about #ab inches above the roof and carried over a rail in front about the same height1 and there securely fastened4 ,this arrangement insures not only a reasonable temperature1 but also a never-ending source of exercise and amusement for both cats and kittens1 some gambolling above1 while others hide beneath the sheet4 ,an ordinary sun blind along the front completes the summer arrangements4 ,the front of the covered run is closed in with inch mesh wire netting from ground to roof1 fitted on the inside with removable shutters1 #ah inches high1 and1 above these1 removable window-sashes1 closing in as desired4 ,these are held in place with turn-buttons1 so they are easily removed or replaced in a couple of minutes1 a great convenience in wet or changeable weather1 and proving very cosy in the winter4 ,the run is fitted with shelves for the cats to lie upon1 a table1 sleeping boxes1 earth pans1 two chairs1 and an artificial tree covered with cork1 which is a source of great pleasure when the cats are confined by bad weather to the run4 ,the open run consists1 as before mentioned1 of a space about #ah feet by #ab feet2 this is covered with gravel 7which in such limited space should be renewed at least once a year71 with the exception of a strip some #ah inches wide by #f feet long on the west side1 and two small corners on the east side1 reserved for grass4 ,this grass reserve1 which is most important for the keeping of ,persian cats in good health1 is renovated every spring with fresh lawn seed1 and should either of the patches suffer unduly from special attentions from the pets1 it is wired in so as to protect it until it recovers4 ,by this plan my cats secure a supply of grass all the year round4 ,in the centre of the gravel space ,i have another artificial tree 7see photo71 about #h feet high2 it is as great a favourite as the one in the run1 and as it is hung with a loose cord1 a few ping-pong balls1 etc41 it is a never-ending source of fun and frolic4 ,to supplement the ground space1 ,i place ladders leading to the tops of the roofs of the outbuildings and cattery1 which afford extra space for exercise and a charming1 interesting1 and envious outlook for the cats into my neighbour's garden4 ,it is surprising how soon the kittens learn to climb up and enjoy the roofs4 8,the sleeping house contains two wired-in runs going round two sides1 about #b feet by #ab feet long1 containing nest-box1 earth pan1 etc4 ,these are very useful for keeping a queen and litter of small kittens in4 ,there are also two smaller wired-in runs1 #b feet by #f feet1 fitted like the larger ones1 so that a cat may be shut up at any time if necessary4 ,the queens sleep in the smaller runs in the winter4 ,beneath the runs a small cupboard is very useful for odds and ends of all kinds4 8,in so limited a space cleanliness is of the utmost importance4 ,the house and runs should be swept out1 and the earth pans should be changed1 washed1 and disinfected every day4 ,the question of supplying dust for the pans may prove a source of anxiety to the breeder confined to a limited space4 ,in winter the dwelling-house fires supply about sufficient ashes daily2 in summer ,i am compelled to fall back upon sawdust1 which answers the purpose very well1 only entailing a little extra litter in the runs and more grooming of the coats4 ,whatever the difficulty in this direction1 it must be overcome and the pans daily changed4 ,the floors and shelves1 both in cat house and covered run1 should be washed with hot water containing some disinfectant at least once a week1 and the wired-in runs for cats and kittens thoroughly done out with hot ,sanitas distemper every time they are required for fresh occupants4 ,all bedding should be changed at least once a week1 and as little of it used as possible in summer4 ,all plates1 etc41 used for food must be thoroughly washed after each meal4 8,in a space such as ,i have described my cats have to be kept1 for they are allowed into the dwelling-house by special invitation only2 but they each receive this treat at least once during the day4 8,as to the number of queens3 two or three are ample where space is so limited4 ,where the fresh air run is a back yard1 blues are the very best of all colours1 as with a daily grooming they always look clean and presentable4 ,in a space such as we are considering ,i would not on any account recommend the keeping of a stud cat4 ,the want of necessary exercise would be cruelty to it2 and the very limited surroundings unfair to those who might wish for his services4 8,it is of imperative importance that the queens you commence with be of pure blue pedigree2 if prize-winners so much the better1 as their kittens will sell more readily4 ,illustration3 ,,mrs4 ,,collingwood ,,and 8,,james ,,ii40 7,photo3 ,alice ,hughes1 ,gower ,street47 8,when mating1 be sure that your queen is in perfect health1 and do not mate her too young--in my opinion twelve months is young enough1 in the interest of mother and family4 ,see that the stud cat chosen be also of the best possible strain4 ,that he be a noted prize-winner is of less importance than that he should be able to produce kittens that will win4 ,he must have size1 bone1 strength1 soundness of colour1 length of coat1 and good eyes4 ,these are indispensable requirements if good blues are to be produced4 ,he should especially be strong in those points where your queen may be somewhat weak2 thus if the queen be deficient in length of coat or frill1 or in colour1 shape1 or boldness of eye1 see that the selected stud cat excels in those points1 and so1 as far as possible1 correct and balance the points required between the parents4 ,one must not expect to find perfection in any one cat4 ,by using care1 judgment1 and forethought in mating our pets1 we shall go a good way towards establishing in our strain the points necessary to build up the perfect blue ,persian4 8,all my kittens have been born in a ,japanese dress basket1 with the lid standing on its side and the bottom half thrust into it cradlewise4 ,the outside of the basket proper is trimmed with a flounce1 which helps to keep out draughts2 over the top is thrown a small cloth table-cover1 which covers1 at will1 the whole or part of the opening1 thus making the little one's house a pretty thing to look at4 ,when any one of my queens is about to have a family ,i #8flee-flea' her1 which ,i consider most essential for the future comfort of both mother and kittens2 then ,i bring her into the house three or four days before the expected event4 ,for the time being the expectant mother becomes the house cat4 ,i let her find her own bed1 which has already been prepared for her1 by carefully closing all other places she might be likely otherwise to choose4 ,when her time comes ,i stay with her during her trouble2 but never interfere unless it is absolutely necessary4 8,a few encouraging words1 and the fact that one is near1 seems to give her comfort4 ,if a queen shews much exhaustion1 ,i give a little ,brand's ,essence with a few drops of brandy in a spoon2 but if all goes smoothly ,i let well alone4 ,there is no need to press food upon the mother2 she will not require it until some time after the births are complete4 ,a little warm milk or gruel offered between the births may sometimes prove a comfort2 but many queens will not touch it4 ,for about three weeks1 that is to say until the little ones creep out of their beds1 ,i keep the queen and her family in the dwelling-house with me1 changing her bed every other day4 ,after the first week ,i make it a rule to handle the kittens at least once a day1 and if the queen has more than three to bring up ,i begin1 at two weeks old1 feeding them three times a day with a few drops of warm sweetened milk from a spoon1 increasing the quantity very gradually as they grow4 ,i never wake the kittens to feed them--sleep is as necessary as food2 but always arrange to feed them just after the little ones wake2 they are then hungry1 and that is the best time to assist and relieve the mother4 ,it is surprising how soon the kits enjoy being fed and look out for the friendly spoon4 8,as soon as the little ones can get out of their bed they must be introduced to a shallow tin filled with ashes or earth4 ,i prefer ashes to sawdust for very little kittens1 and ,i find at a month old they will regularly use it4 ,this early lesson in cleanliness is invaluable1 as later on1 with reasonable care1 they never forget it4 ,when the kittens are from three weeks to a month old ,i remove them1 with the mother 7or foster-mother71 to their own little run in the cattery1 where ,i visit them three or four times a day4 ,when they grow stronger1 and as early as the weather will permit1 they are introduced to the open-air run1 the sunshine1 and the other cats4 8,i begin the grooming as early as possible1 daily brushing the little things in their bed or on my lap2 it improves the fur1 and the more they are groomed the sooner they get to like and enjoy it4 ,when grooming kittens two or three months old1 ,i generally have three or four trying to get under the brush at the same time1 endeavouring to push the favoured one out of the way4 ,i am strongly of opinion that the frequent handling of kittens does not do them any harm1 but does tend to improve their temper and increase their gentleness4 ,when ,i have callers the kittens are invariably fetched1 introduced to1 and fondled by the visitors1 so that they become not the least afraid of strangers2 as a result1 when they go to new homes they come out of their basket without fear1 making themselves immediately at home1 much to the comfort of themselves and their new owners4 8,the best time to dispose of kittens is at about eight weeks old4 ,breeders with limited space must sell young and quickly1 keeping only the one or two of the season they may either wish to show or turn into next year's brood queens4 ,to get overcrowded is to court disease and disappointment1 so sell early for the best price you can get2 but sell you must1 even if the price does not seem anything approaching the true value of the kittens4 ,the first loss will be the known loss--most certainly far less than that involved in the risk of keeping one or two more kittens than your space should accommodate40 ,illustration3 ,a ,,morning ,,meal ,,at ,,bossington4 7,photo3 ,a4 ,j4 ,anderson ,co41 ,luton47 ,illustration3 ,,black ,,persian 8,,johnnie ,,fawe0 ,,owned ,,by ,,dr4 ,,roper4 7,photo3 ,lavender1 ,bromley47 ,,chapter ,,ix4 ,,black ,,persians4 ,never have these truly handsome cats received the amount of admiration and attention which they deserve4 ,there are fewer breeders of black ,persians than of any other variety1 the two most noted fanciers being ,dr4 ,roper and ,mr4 ,robert ,little4 ,both of these gentlemen have owned and exhibited very handsome specimens2 ,miss ,kirkpatrick has also bred some lovely black kittens4 ,the entries in the black classes at our shows are almost invariably the smallest2 but as a specialist club for black-and-white ,persians has been started1 it is hoped more encouragement will be given to the breeders of these handsome self-coloured cats4 ,as in the other self-coloured cats1 the chief point is absolute uniformity of colour throughout4 ,it is fatal for a black cat to have a brown1 rusty tinge2 it should be a glossy jet black1 betraying no bands or bars in the full light1 and having no under-coat of a lighter shade1 and1 above all1 no spot or tuft of white hairs on the throat4 ,this latter is a very common fault amongst black cats1 and it is one which takes away enormously from the value of the specimen1 for either show or breeding purposes4 ,in some other varieties of ,persian cats two1 or even three1 colours for eyes are permissible2 but a really good black cat must have the full round eyes of deep orange1 and very attractive are these gleaming orbs1 shining forth from their dense black surroundings4 ,when black cats are changing their coats they often present a very rusty appearance1 and newly born kittens are sometimes like balls of brown fluff4 ,these1 however1 frequently grow up the very best-coloured blacks4 ,this breed is very strong and healthy1 and often grow into large1 massive cats4 ,a tortoiseshell female is a splendid mate for a black male1 and some of the most noted blacks have been bred in this way4 ,two brown tabbies will generally produce one1 if not more1 good blacks in a litter4 ,black cats have been found very useful to breeders of silver tabbies and smokes for this reason--that these two breeds require to have their markings and colourings intensified4 ,that is1 a silver tabby with dark grey markings is not a true type1 and a smoke with an upper coat of cinder colour does not represent the true smoke4 ,therefore the introduction of a black cross is often a great advantage to these breeds4 ,there is certainly not much demand for black kittens1 and we never hear of very high prices being asked or given for these1 or1 indeed1 for full-grown cats4 ,but as 8every dog has his day10 so1 perhaps1 there is a good time coming for blacks2 and certainly beginners in the fancy might do worse than to provide themselves with a thoroughly good black queen1 for1 anyhow1 in exhibiting the chance of honours is very much greater than when competing in classes in which there are so many entries1 as in the case of blues and silvers4 ,for very obvious reasons black cats are the very best animals for those living in ,london or near large towns4 ,they can never present a dirty appearance1 and1 therefore1 in this particular they will always score over the whites1 creams1 and silvers4 ,to keep their coats glossy and bright black cats should be well brushed and groomed4 ,they will repay for this care and attention4 ,our ,american cousins call self-coloured cats 8solid10 and as applied to blacks this is especially expressive1 for a black should not have a suspicion of any other colour than a dense black4 ,if1 when the coat is blown apart1 a shading of grey or blue is seen it is a great defect4 ,the nose should be black1 and the pads of the feet also4 ,illustration3 ,,champion 8,,menelik ,,iii40 7,,american74 ,,the ,,property ,,of ,,mrs4 ,,bond1 ,,washington4 ,i do not remember having seen or heard of an imported ,persian black cat4 ,in an article on imported cats in ,our ,cats the writer 7whose name is not given7 says3--8,white cats with blue eyes are not often to be obtained from abroad1 neither are the blacks warranted to possess the amber eyes voted correct by up-to-date cattists4 ,i know of a black queen straight from the land of cats and the palace of the ,shah himself2 it had the most glorious emerald eyes it is possible to imagine--as different from the ordinary run of green as flaming amber is from faded yellow4 ,this cat1 a ,persian among ,persians1 had a coat as black as the proverbial jet--perfectly black throughout--long and straight1 of fine1 silky texture1 but not giving one the impression of massiveness that is such a prominent1 feature of the type of imported cat4 ,moderate in size1 slightly built1 with an expression so foreign that it amounted to weirdness1 this cat could with a dash of imagination have been worked up into the incarnation of a spirit1 a soothsayer1 the veiled beauty of a harem1 a witch1 snake charmer--what you choose2 but always remain something far apart from prosaic ,england1 something tinged with romance and the picturesqueness of the mystical ,east4 ,this black cat was undoubtedly a typical ,persian40 ,as there is such a dearth of good black cats in ,england1 it is a pity some enterprising breeder does not try to import a really splendid specimen1 which might bring luck to himself and the fancy4 ,in looking back to the old catalogues of ,crystal ,palace shows1 ,i find the same scarcity of blacks exhibited as at the present day4 ,in #ahhf the black male class is marked 8no entry10 and in #ahhi ,mrs4 ,h4 ,warner 7now the ,hon4 ,mrs4 ,mc,laren ,morrison7 makes the sole and only entry of 8,imp0 in the black class4 ,it was in the following year1 however1 that this same well-known lady fancier exhibited 8,satan10 a black that was never beaten whilst it lived4 ,it was the most remarkable of unapproachable excellence ,i can remember--a veritable triton among minnows4 ,in many of the accounts of our largest shows ,i remark such paragraphs as these3 8,good blacks with orange eyes were conspicuous by their absence40 ,or again3 8,the black classes1 as usual1 were poorly filled40 ,it is1 therefore1 high time that this beautiful breed should receive more attention at the hands of fanciers1 and that not only beginners but those who are well known in the cat world should take up blacks1 and1 as the expression goes1 8run them for all they are worth40 ,at present ,dr4 ,roper's and ,mr4 ,r4 ,little's black ,persians have it all their own way4 ,mrs4 ,lenty ,collins frequently has a look in with her wonderful big-eyed 8,forest ,beauty10 and ,mrs4 ,crowther1 in the ,north1 is faithful to this her favourite breed of cats2 but we want some more dusky beauties to swell the ranks of black ,persians4 ,as everyone knows1 a vast deal of superstition is connected with a black cat4 ,this is what ,harrison ,weir has to say on the subject3--8,it is often said1 #8,what's in a name8' ,the object1 whatever it is1 by any other would be the same2 and yet there is much in a name4 ,but this is not the question at issue1 which is that of colour4 ,why should a black cat be thought so widely different from all others by the foolish1 unthinking1 and ignorant8 ,why1 simply on account of its colour being black1 should it have ascribed to it a numberless variety of bad omens1 besides having certain necromantic power8 ,in ,germany1 for instance1 black cats are kept away from children as omens of evil2 and if a black cat appeared in the room of one lying ill1 it was said to portend death4 ,to meet a black cat in the twilight was held unlucky4 ,in the #8good old times' a black cat was generally the only colour that was favoured by men reported to be wizards1 and black cats were said to be the constant companions of witches2 and in such horror and detestation were they then held that when the unfortunate creatures were ill-treated1 drowned1 or even burned1 very frequently1 we are told1 their cats suffered martyrdom at the same time4 ,it is possible that one of the reasons for such wild1 savage superstition may have arisen from the fact of the larger amount of electricity to be found by friction in the coat of the black cat than of any other2 experiments prove there is but very little either in that of the white or the red tabby cat4 ,be this as it may1 still the fact remains that1 for some reason or other1 the black cat is held by the prejudiced ignorant as an animal most foul and detestable1 and wonderful stories are related of their actions in the dead of the night during thunderstorms4 ,yet1 as far as ,i can discover1 there appears little difference either of temper or habit in the black cat distinct from that of any other colour1 though it is maintained by many even to this day that black cats are far more vicious and spiteful1 and of higher courage1 and this last ,i admit4 ,still1 when a black cat is enraged and its coat and tail are well #8set up1' its form distended1 its round1 bright1 orange eye all aglow with anger1 it certainly presents to even the most impartial observer1 to say the least of it1 a most #8uncanny' appearance4 ,but1 for all this1 their admirers are by no means few2 and1 to my thinking1 a jet-black cat1 fine and glossy in fur and elegantly formed1 certainly has its attractions40 ,but although black cats are supposed to be harbingers of evil under some conditions1 yet in others they are credited with miraculous healing powers4 ,in ,cornwall1 sore eyes in children are said to be cured by passing the tail of a black cat nine times over the part affected2 and in some parts of the country the presence in the house of a black cat is both an antidote and a cure for epilepsy4 ,illustration3 ,,kitten ,,bred ,,by ,,miss ,,kirkpatrick4 7,photo3 ,e4 ,landor1 ,ealing47 ,i think that most cat fanciers are inclined to believe in the possible luck that a stray black cat may bring them1 and perhaps be more inclined to take in a stranger of this particular breed than one of another colour4 ,there is an old ,scotch proverb that says3 8,whenever the cat o' the house is black1 ,the lasses o' lovers will have no lack40 ,the celebrated 8,fawe0 strain of black ,persians is well known in the fancy4 ,dr4 ,roper has sent me some notes on his famous prize-winning cats1 together with some useful information regarding the breed with which his name has become associated3-- 8,for many years black ,persians were a most popular breed2 but1 like fashions1 for the time being other colours1 ,i regret to see1 are obtaining more notice from fanciers4 ,for years ,i plodded away to breed what ,i considered a perfect black ,persian2 at last my labours were crowned with success4 ,what can equal a richly coloured1 heavily coated1 deep orange-eyed black8 8,in breeding blacks1 like any other colour1 it is essential you should procure the best of stock1 and be prepared to give a fair sum for such1 otherwise you are almost sure to be disappointed in your results1 and1 maybe1 retire as a fancier of this colour and try some other2 but you will meet with the same fate if you hold the same views as to expense4 ,a black ,persian should be perfect in colour1 with absence of white hairs1 cobby in shape1 short in leg1 tail bushy and not too long1 eyes large and deep orange1 a good broad head1 ears short with tufts and well set apart1 short face1 coat long and silky4 8,having stated the points1 ,i will now give my experience of breeding4 ,illustration3 ,,mrs4 ,,little',s ,,black ,,persian 8,,colleen40 7,photo3 ,d4 ,nottle1 ,beckenham47 8,in my opinion1 it is most important the sire should be a black1 and one of his parents a black1 whatever colour the queen is4 ,i have had greatest success in breeding from a black sire and a tortoiseshell queen4 ,through this cross you may get either blacks or tortoiseshells4 ,as an instance ,i quote #8,johnnie ,fawe' 7black7 and ,champion #8,dainty ,diana' 7tortoiseshell74 ,from these ,i have bred many good blacks1 amongst them #8,dick ,fawe1' #8,lady ,victoria1' and other good ones2 also good tortoiseshells1 three of them having taken championships4 ,blacks may also be bred from a black and a blue1 or two blacks--in this case1 cross the sire with one of his progeny1 which ,i have found very successful4 ,i admit there are other ways of breeding blacks1 but in my experience the three ways ,i have suggested have proved to be the most satisfactory4 8,in breeding1 to be sure of success so far as the eyes are concerned1 if possible it is better that both parents should have orange eyes1 the deeper the better2 but it is most essential the sire should have good orange eyes4 ,notwithstanding the queen's eyes being light amber1 by crossing with a good orange-eyed sire the kittens are very likely to have good-coloured eyes1 but not vice vers4 ,as an instance1 ,i once purchased a very handsome black queen1 perfect in all points with the exception of the eyes1 which were very light amber4 ,i mated her to #8,dick ,fawe1' who had the deepest orange eyes ,i have yet seen in a black2 the kittens developed orange eyes4 ,i have mated in the opposite way1 and the result has been unsatisfactory so far as the eyes have been concerned1 and if breeding for show the colour of the eyes is most important4 ,the late ,mr4 ,welburn1 a well-known judge1 once said in one of his reviews of blacks at a large show 7,i think it was the ,crystal ,palace71 #8,i scarcely think that eyes alone should carry an award1 yet it is always best to uphold the desired properties so hard to obtain4' ,illustration3 ,,the ,,carol ,,singers4 7,photo3 ,e4 ,landor1 ,ealing47 8,having bred a litter of black kittens1 it is unwise to make up your mind what colour they are going to be until they have attained the age of six months4 ,i remember once giving away a kitten at three months old which ,i called iron grey and thought would or could never be black4 ,six months after ,i saw my friend1 who thanked me very much for the lovely black kitten4 ,two months after seeing him ,i saw the cat3 there were no white hairs1 and the colour was a perfect black4 ,this last ,richmond show ,i showed a black kitten1 aged seven months2 it took a first1 a second1 and a special4 ,at three months old ,i thought it was going to be a smoke4 ,it was claimed by the ,hon4 ,mrs4 ,mc,laren ,morrison4 ,i have a kitten now1 aged three months1 perfectly bronze in colour and a grey frill4 ,i have no doubt at seven months old it will be a perfect black4 ,i have given these illustrations in order that those who are thinking of going in for blacks should not give up all hope of the kittens becoming black until the age ,i have stated4 8,i breed my kittens from ,january to ,july1 and find they do much better in the catteries1 all of mine being separate2 and ,i find ,spratt's movable runs most useful4 ,in showing blocks they should be brushed and rubbed with a ,selvyt cloth daily one month previously and kept free of matted hair4 ,the application of ,brilliantine or ,american ,bay ,rum in small quantity brushed on gives a perfect gloss to their coats40 ,illustration3 ,,black-,,and-,,white ,,persian ,,cats4 ,,chapter ,x4 ,,white ,,persians4 ,a great change has taken place of late years in the quantity and quality of these beautiful cats1 for whereas formerly blue eyes were considered quite a rarity1 now it is seldom we see any yellow-eyed white cats exhibited at our principal shows4 ,the most perfect type of a white ,persian is assuredly to be found amongst the imported cats2 there is a certain beauty of form and silkiness of fur which is not possessed by the specimens bred in this country4 ,they are also generally distinguished by unusually long coats1 round heads1 tiny ears1 and wonderful toe tufts4 ,illustration3 8,,jungfrau10 ,,sire ,,and ,,grandsire ,,of ,,many ,,american ,,winners4 7,photo3 ,w4 ,f4 ,arnold1 ,oak ,park1 ,ill47 ,one of the most lovely white imported cats was exhibited by ,lady ,marcus ,beresford at the ,westminster ,cat ,club ,show in #aijj4 ,the best judges declared that there was not a fault to find with 8,nourmahal10 but her career was a short one4 ,these imported cats are often of a rather savage disposition1 and1 although they can be sweet-tempered enough with human beings1 they are extremely fiery with their fellows4 ,there are two points peculiar to white cats--they are frequently stone deaf1 and they very often have odd-coloured eyes4 ,certainly the deafness is a drawback1 and in selecting a white cat care should be taken to ascertain if the specimen is possessed of sound hearing4 ,needless to say1 there are many ways of arriving at the solution of what is really a mysterious dispensation of ,providence1 for why should one particular breed of the feline race be so constantly minus this useful sense8 ,then1 again1 as regards the quaint arrangement of different-coloured eyes4 ,one might not be so surprised if the eyes of white cats were sometimes pink1 for their noses are pink1 and the cushions of their feet1 and1 as in human beings1 we might expect to have albinos amongst cats1 namely white with pink eyes2 but ,harrison ,weir states he has never seen pinkeyed whites1 although it has been asserted that they exist4 ,this peculiarity1 however1 of odd eyes seems only to be found in white cats1 the two colours being blue and yellow4 ,occasionally white cats have wonderful seagreen eyes2 and1 although these are decidedly very uncommon1 no colour is so completely in accord with the purity of the coat as eyes of heavenly blue4 ,the tone should be not so much of a sapphire as of the deep forget-me-not blue4 ,one of the drawbacks to white ,persians is the difficulty of keeping them in spotlessly clean condition4 ,this is absolutely impossible if they are living in or near a town1 and certainly a white cat soiled is a white cat spoiled4 ,as regards the mating of blue-eyed white cats1 ,i have been told by experienced breeders of this variety that kittens with blue eyes are just as frequently bred from odd-eyed parents1 or1 at least1 when one of the parents has different-coloured eyes4 ,it is easy to tell whether the baby blue eyes are likely to retain their colour or turn yellow4 ,if at about three weeks or a month old the blue becomes tinted with green1 then surely but sadly may we make up our minds that these kittens have not a distinguished career before them1 for they will see and be seen with yellow eyes4 ,it is a pity to try mating white cats with any other variety1 as broken-coloured cats will probably be the result4 ,it frequently happens that white kittens1 when quite young1 have smudges of grey on their heads2 these gradually disappear4 ,in ,america white cats seem prime favourites1 and the demand exceeds the supply for importation of white ,persians with blue eyes4 ,at the last ,beresford ,cat ,club ,show the entries in the white classes were very large4 ,the classification included and provided for golden and blue-eyed whites1 and these were subdivided according to sex1 and all the classes were well filled4 ,mrs4 ,clinton ,locke's 8,lord ,gwynne0 is a noted white stud cat on the other side of the water1 as is also ,mrs4 ,colbourn's 8,paris40 ,the devotees of the white cat in our own country are not many in number4 ,i may mention ,mrs4 ,finnie ,young and ,miss ,hunt1 who are perhaps the most successful breeders of whites in ,scotland2 and in the south we have ,mrs4 ,pettit1 whose tribe of blue-eyed whites ,i had recently the pleasure of seeing4 ,no more lovely specimens could be imagined1 and ,i counted more than a dozen long-coated1 full-grown1 bonnie blue-eyed beauties1 walking about in the woods surrounding ,mrs4 ,pettit's dwelling place near ,st4 ,leonards-on-,sea4 ,the illustration shows ,mrs4 ,pettit surrounded by eight of her pretty white pussies4 ,mrs4 ,westlake1 ,mrs4 ,nott1 ,miss ,white ,atkins1 and ,miss ,kerswill are all successful and enthusiastic breeders of white ,persians4 ,illustration3 ,,mrs4 ,mc,l,a,r,e,n's ,,white ,,persian 8,,ladysmith40 7,photo3 ,c4 ,reid ,wishaw47 ,several well-known fanciers keep one white cat amongst their flock4 ,i may mention the ,hon4 ,mrs4 ,mc,laren ,morrison1 the owner of 8,musafer10 a famous imported puss1 and ,lady ,decies1 the former possessor of 8,powder ,puff10 who has recently been presented to ,h4,h4 ,princess ,victoria of ,schleswig-,holstein4 ,there is always a keen demand for white kittens1 either as pretty pets or1 if with correct coloured eyes1 for breeding purposes1 and1 doubtless1 when more encouragement is given to this beautiful variety1 there will be an increase of fanciers of the white cat1 whose praises have been sung in fairy tales1 nursery rhymes1 and by novelists who have a weakness for describing interiors with a beautiful white ,persian cat reclining on the hearthrug4 ,illustration3 ,,mrs4 ,,pettit ,,with ,,her ,,white ,,persians4 7,photo3 ,cassell ,company1 ,limited47 ,i am indebted for the following notes on white ,persians to ,miss ,m4 ,hunt1 whose beautiful white cat 8,crystal0 appeared on an earlier page1 and by an unfortunate mistake was stated to be the property of ,mrs4 ,finnie ,young3-- 8,the blue-eyed white ,persian is1 ,i consider1 one of the most interesting to breed1 and1 in my experience1 no more delicate or difficult to rear than any other ,persian4 8,i have had them now for nearly four years1 and1 ,i think ,i may say1 with a good deal of success4 ,i bought #8,crystal' in #ahih1 when four months old1 and she certainly has been a good investment4 ,out of the sixteen white kittens she has had1 ten of them have been blue-eyed4 8,the very best kitten ,i owned was never exhibited2 he went to ,mrs4 ,champion1 who considered him the best and healthiest kitten for his age she had ever seen4 ,unfortunately1 he died suddenly shortly after she had him4 ,he was by ,champion #8,white ,friar' ex #8,crystal1' and was one of the same litter as #8,jovial ,monk1' which did so much winning for ,miss ,ward1 who purchased him from me at the ,crystal ,palace1 where he took first4 #8,crystal' herself has only once been beaten by a white cat1 and that had not even blue eyes2 but she was in splendid coat1 and #8,crystal' was quite out of coat4 ,most judges are agreed1 ,i think1 that #8,crystal' is the best blue-eyed white female in the country4 8,the colour of the eyes of white kits can be told much earlier than in any other colour2 some ,i can tell as soon as they are open1 others ,i am not quite sure of till they are about a fortnight old4 ,the eyes are generally bright blue from the beginning1 without a shade of kitten grey in them4 ,i do not think that both parents having blue eyes makes much difference to the number of blue-eyed kits in the litter4 ,if one parent is blue-eyed and the other odd-eyed the result is often just as good4 ,i know of a green-eyed queen which had a litter of three by ,champion #8,white ,friar'--all were blue-eyed4 8,as to deafness1 ,i cannot account for it at all1 as it often appears1 though both parents have perfect hearing40 8,since ,mrs4 ,finnie ,young and ,i purchased #8,white ,friar' in #aijj1 whites have become much more plentiful in ,scotland1 and the competition is now very keen indeed up ,north4 #8,white ,friar' has had a very successful career since he came into our hands1 both as sire and on the show bench1 and can still hold his own against all comers4 ,he has won sixteen first prizes since #aijj1 besides championships and numerous specials40 ,mrs4 ,champion1 whose name is well known in 8catty0 circles1 and who has now left these shores for ,america1 did a great deal to establish a thoroughly good strain of white blue-eyed ,persians4 ,her celebrated 8,white ,friar0 7now in the possession of ,mrs4 ,finnie ,young and ,miss ,hunt7 is justly considered the finest male specimen in the fancy4 ,certainly he could only have been beaten by his son 8,white ,tsar10 bred by ,mrs4 ,champion from her 8,white ,witch40 ,this cat1 which assuredly would have had a notable career1 was sold by ,mrs4 ,champion for #bj to ,mrs4 ,colbourn1 in ,america4 ,he arrived in poor condition and died shortly afterwards4 ,i remember seeing an absolutely perfect white ,persian kitten at ,mrs4 ,champion's4 ,it was by 8,white ,friar0 ex 8,crystal40 ,he had startling deep blue eyes1 tiny ears1 and broad1 round head1 and at nine weeks old his coat measured nearly three inches across4 ,alas6 though healthy and strong1 this proved too perfect a specimen for this world1 and 8,crystal ,friar0 succumbed to the epidemic of gastritis then raging amongst our feline pets4 ,referring back to celebrated white ,persian cats of the past1 ,i well recollect the marvellous size and splendid coat of ,mrs4 ,lee's 8,masher10 who took the cat world by storm when exhibited at the ,crystal ,palace in #ahij4 ,this enthusiastic fancier paid #ba for 8,masher10 whose show career was shortened by an accident4 ,this cat was remarkable in those days1 if only for his grand blue eyes4 ,illustration3 8,,crystal40 ,,the ,,property ,,of ,,miss ,m4 ,,hunt4 7,photo3 ,c4 ,reid1 ,wishaw47 ,the well-known breeder and judge ,mr4 ,a4 ,a4 ,clarke1 whose name is more closely connected with blue ,persians1 once owned a famous female called 8,miss ,whitey40 ,i remember that this really remarkable cat was exhibited in #ahhg at the ,crystal ,palace1 and again in the following year1 when at four years old she took first prize and silver medal in a strong class of nine females4 ,it seems to me that these cats1 as ,i recollect them1 appeared half as large again as the present-day champion winning whites2 but whether this was in consequence of more profuse coat or a generally bigger build of animal ,i cannot at this distance of time pretend to determine4 ,amongst the well-known prize-winners and stud white ,persian cats of the present day ,i may mention ,miss ,white ,atkin's massive-limbed 8,white ,knight10 whose broad skull is especially remarkable in a show pen1 and commends itself to the notice of the judge4 ,miss ,harper's 8,blue-eyed ,wanderer0 has great quality and lovely texture of coat4 ,he was in truth a wanderer in the streets of a ,london suburb1 and1 although labelled 8breeder and pedigree unknown10 he has almost always held his own in the white classes at our largest shows4 ,mrs4 ,westlake1 ,mrs4 ,pettit1 ,mrs4 ,finnie1 and ,miss ,hunt are all possessed of imported white cats1 which have proved worthy ancestors of many prize-winning kittens4 ,there have not been any very notable female white cats exhibited since the appearance of ,lady ,marcus ,beresford's 8,nourmahal10 with the exception of ,miss ,m4 ,hunt's 8,crystal0 and ,mrs4 ,pettit's most lovely 8,piquante ,pearl10 bred by her from her stud cat 8,king of the ,pearls0 and 8,beautiful ,pearl40 ,this cat is as near perfection as possible1 and has carried off highest honours whenever exhibited4 ,mrs4 ,pettit began breeding white ,persians in #ahif1 and has kept faithful to this breed ever since4 ,this enthusiastic breeder always accompanies her exhibits1 and her precious ,pearls are never seen at the smaller mixed shows4 ,i have always heard that white kittens are difficult to rear1 and ,mrs4 ,pettit1 who should be well qualified to give her testimony on this point1 says3 8,without a doubt blue-eyed white ,persians are the most delicate cats in existence40 ,a well-known authority on cats1 writing to one of the cat papers1 says3 8,what a change has taken place in our white classes1 long- and short-haired6 ,a few years ago white cats with green or yellow eyes frequently were prize-winners1 and a blue-eyed white was looked upon as a rarity4 ,now blue eyes have it all their own way1 and judges are becoming more and more exacting as to the depth of tone and quality of the blue tint4 ,if we could obtain a white ,persian with the glorious eye of the ,siamese1 it would be a treasure indeed40 ,a gentleman who has lived for ten years in ,assam says that he never saw in that part of ,india any long-haired cats except blue-eyed whites4 ,he also gives an amusing account of the usual way of obtaining a cat of this variety for a pet4 ,it is as follows3--8,you give instructions to a native1 who offers to procure you one at a certain price1 but gives you no idea where or how he means to procure it4 ,in about a week's time he appears with the cat and claims the money4 ,things progress favourably with your new possession for a time1 but suddenly and unaccountably your puss disappears4 ,you are calling on some friend or acquaintance1 and1 to your surprise and astonishment1 there on the armchair lies1 curled up1 your cat6 ,thus it will be seen that the wily native makes a small income out of one cat1 by stealing or enticing it away from the original purchaser and calmly re-selling it to one of the neighbours40 ,mrs4 ,clinton ,locke1 the president of the ,beresford ,cat ,club1 has owned some beautiful white ,persians which she has imported from time to time4 ,this lady writes thus to ,our ,cats3--8,the first white ,persian ,i ever owned was brought to me many years ago from ,persia by a distinguished traveller1 and its eyes were amber1 showing that the white cats brought from their native land have not always blue eyes4 ,the descendants of this cat1 mated to both amber and blue-eyed cats1 have thrown blue eyes4 ,two odd-eyed cats have also given blue-eyed kittens2 but a pair of blue-eyed cats has by no means always thrown blue eyes with every kitten in the litter40 ,illustration3 8,,white ,,butterfly40 ,,the ,,property ,,of ,,miss ,,white ,,atkins4 7,photo3 ,e4 ,e4 ,lipputt1 ,leamington47 ,one of our most persistent and consistent breeders and fanciers of white ,persians is ,mrs4 ,westlake1 and therefore ,i am glad to be able to put forward a few of her experiences as to the peculiarities of the breed4 ,mrs4 ,westlake1 writing from ,camden ,town1 says3-- 8,my acquaintance with white ,persian cats began some years ago1 when ,i imported a white female as a pet4 ,i was so delighted with her that1 although for a ,london resident white cats would seem the least desirable1 ,i decided to import two blue-eyed whites for breeding purposes4 ,it was a litter from these two cats that tempted me to take up exhibiting4 ,this litter consisted of all blue-eyed kittens1 the tone of the blue being exceptionally deep4 ,since then ,i have1 of course1 often had a different tale to tell1 and odd-eyed kittens have sometimes predominated4 ,this curious freak of nature connected with white cats seems unaccountable4 ,the two colours are generally yellow and blue1 but ,i have seen green and blue4 ,i have also remarked on the very brilliant tone of the one blue eye4 8,there is a popular belief that almost all blue-eyed cats are deaf4 ,all ,i can say is that ,i have never had a blue-eyed white that was deaf4 ,i have1 however1 often come across those that were stone deaf1 and others with defective hearing4 ,again an unaccountable freak4 8,white ,persian cats have been declared to be the most difficult to breed and delicate to rear4 ,my opinion is that the delicacy is much more in their coats than their constitutions2 that is1 of course1 in comparison with other foreign varieties1 none of which are as hardy as the ,british4 ,illustration3 ,,imported ,,blue-,,eyed ,,tom1 8,,musafer40 7,photo3 ,v4 ,r4 ,clarke1 ,thirsk47 8,a few remarks as to the cleansing of white cats may be useful4 ,as a dweller in ,london1 ,i need scarcely say that unless ,i occasionally gave personal attention to my pussies they would not always be in the show condition that ,i would desire4 ,some fanciers wash their white ,persians1 but ,i have come to the conclusion that this treatment tends to coarsen the soft silkiness of the fur2 and therefore1 for this reason1 and also because there is a risk of cats catching cold1 especially in winter1 ,i advocate dry cleaning1 and suggest the use of ,pears' white precipitated fuller's earth4 ,one plan is to place the cat on a large sheet or towel1 mix a little ammonia in warm water1 dip your hands in this1 and pass them over and over the fur1 letting it become thoroughly moistened but not wet4 ,then well sprinkle the coat with the powder1 and by keeping the animal in front of the fire the fur will soon become quite dry4 ,then rub with a soft towel1 and finally brush thoroughly with a clean and not too hard brush4 ,your efforts will be rewarded with success1 and though puss may be considerably bored during the process1 she will not resent it so much as a tubbing4 ,i find that white females are far more diligent as regards their toilet than the males1 who seem always to have more of the ,eastern languor and indolence in their nature4 ,i have remarked--and no doubt it is more noticeable in the white breed--that as soon as young kittens are beyond their mother's control they exhibit a marked antipathy to keeping their coats in anything like decent condition4 ,sometimes they will make a feeble attempt at washing themselves2 but something will excite their attention1 and off they will go1 or perhaps in sheer fatigue will fall asleep during the toilet4 ,thus white kittens will very soon present a most unkempt appearance1 and the poor mother gazes sadly at them as though the cares of a family were too much for her1 and she no longer wishes to own what was once her pride and joy--a spotless litter6 8,it has been stated that white cats are wanting in expression1 probably because of the lack of markings to give character to the face2 but breeders of whites will nevertheless agree with me that they have even greater force of expression1 not being assisted by any markings4 ,i have found white cats to be most affectionate1 and very conservative in their tastes4 ,i have owned some white ,persians with light seagreen eyes1 and although these are not correct1 yet ,i must say they were strikingly beautiful and very uncommon4 ,i have been offered high prices by ,americans and others for my imported white female1 but my #8blue-eyed darling' will1 ,i think1 end her days with her devoted mistress in dear1 dirty1 old ,london40 ,,chapter ,,xi4 ,,blue ,,persians4 ,a famous publisher once gave the following advice to a young author3 8,never take it for granted that your readers have any previous knowledge of your subject1 but credit them with ordinary intelligence40 ,to all feline fanciers the heading of this chapter is a familiar household term1 but to novices in the cat world and to outsiders the term 8blue0 as applied to a cat may sound rather absurd4 ,truth to tell1 the name is misleading1 and yet the same is used in describing certain breeds of domestic animals1 such as dogs1 rabbits1 etc4 ,there is also a fur much used for trimmings of ladies' jackets1 etc41 called blue fox1 and this is very much akin to the colour and texture of the fur of the blue ,persian cat1 which1 however1 varies in tone from a dark slate to a pale lilac-blue4 ,illustration3 ,,jack ,,and 7,photo3 ,h4 ,warschkarski1 ,st4 ,leonards-on-,sea47 ,it is over twenty years ago since ,i exhibited the first 8blues0 at the ,crystal ,palace ,cat ,show1 and they created quite a sensation1 for no one seemed to have seen any cats of this peculiar shade before4 ,some called them grey or lilac1 and others ,london smoke or slate colour4 ,one of my pair of blue kittens was quickly claimed at catalogue price1 and ,i brought in the other1 fearing ,i should lose her also4 ,she1 in her turn1 became the mother of many celebrated blues4 ,in those early days of the fancy blue ,persians were entered in the 8any other variety0 class1 and most of the specimens exhibited were in reality blue tabbies4 ,for some years this state of things continued2 but ,mr4 ,a4 ,a4 ,clarke1 so well known as one of the pioneers of the ,national ,cat ,club1 and as a breeder1 exhibitor1 and judge1 agitated with other fanciers1 myself amongst the number1 to obtain a better classification for the self-coloured blues1 and in #ahhi the schedule at the ,crystal ,palace ,show contained a class for 8,blue--self-coloured without white40 ,for some time this breed of cats was termed 8self blues10 in contradistinction to the many blues with tabby markings which were formerly so very common in the fancy4 ,in #ahij it was decided to divide the sexes in the blue cat classes1 and let the kittens compete with black-and-white4 ,the result was an entry of eight in each class1 my famous 8,beauty ,boy0 taking first in the male1 and ,mrs4 ,h4 ,b4 ,thompson's celebrated 8,winks0 first in the female division4 ,at ,brighton in the same year the 8self-blue0 class was adopted with success4 ,illustration3 ,,jill4 ,,the ,,property ,,of ,,miss ,,bennett4 7,photo3 ,h4 ,warschkarski1 ,st4 ,leonards-on-,sea47 ,the famous blue stud cats of that period were ,mr4 ,a4 ,a4 ,clarke's 8,turco10 ,miss ,bray's 8,glaucus10 and my own 8,beauty ,boy40 ,amongst other exhibitors of blues about this time ,i may mention ,mrs4 ,warner 7now the ,hon4 ,mrs4 ,mc,laren ,morrison71 ,mrs4 ,vallance1 ,mrs4 ,wells1 ,mrs4 ,hunt1 ,mrs4 ,h4 ,b4 ,thompson1 ,mrs4 ,ellerton1 and ,miss ,f4 ,moore4 ,in #ahia blues came very much to the fore1 and the entries at the ,crystal ,palace numbered #ae males and #ag females4 ,at ,cruft's ,show in the year #ahid a grand blue1 called 8,wooloomooloo10 was exhibited by ,mrs4 ,w4 ,r4 ,hawkins1 and this cat became one of the most famous of stud cats4 ,many of the finest blues of to-day are descended from this noted sire4 ,mrs4 ,h4 ,b4 ,thompson's 8,don ,juan0 was for many years greatly in request as a stud cat1 and many beautiful blues claim him as their ancestor4 ,a little later 8,moko0 became famous as the sire of a sensational kitten exhibited by ,mr4 ,c4 ,w4 ,witt at the ,westminster ,show of #aijj4 8,moko0 was sold at a high figure to ,mrs4 ,barnett1 and is now in the possession of ,mrs4 ,singleton1 of ,yeovil4 ,mr4 ,a4 ,a4 ,clarke was considered the best judge of this variety1 and at the ,palace and ,brighton he did much to encourage the breed by offering handsome special prizes in the blue classes4 ,it is true that the prize-winning cats of ten and fifteen years ago would have had but a poor chance in the present-day competitions1 chiefly for the reason that cats of the past could look at a judge with bright green eyes and yet be awarded the highest honours4 ,nous avons chang tout cela1 and now a blue cat without the much to-be-desired orange eyes fetches but a small price1 and is at a great disadvantage in the show pen4 ,an up-to-date judge may1 however1 be led into giving too great a prominence to this point and thus sacrifice soundness of colour1 shape1 and form4 ,then1 again1 ,i remember when a white spot on the throat of a blue ,persian was not considered a serious defect2 now a few straggling white hairs will cause anguish to the owner1 and a judge will promptly put down the specimen for this blemish4 ,blue cats with white spots used to be relegated to the 8any other colour0 class2 but recently both the ,national ,cat ,club and the ,cat ,club have wisely decided that such cats should be judged in their own classes4 ,however1 ,i think that owners of these specimens would do well to keep them away from the show bench1 where the competition in blues is now too keen to give any chance for defective cats to have a look in4 ,i may mention that the nose of a blue ,persian is a few shades darker than its fur1 and the toe-pads yet a little darker4 ,as will be seen from the standard of points for blues1 which will be found later on in this chapter1 the highest marks are given for soundness of colour4 ,there is a tendency to breed very light blues1 and popular fancy favours this particular type4 ,i am inclined1 however1 to prefer a good sound medium blue as being the best and safest for breeding purposes4 ,the lovely pale blues are beautiful to look at1 but are seldom absolutely sound in colour4 ,blues1 whether dark or light1 should be the same tint throughout1 so that when the coat is blown apart the colour at the roots is the same as at the tips4 ,a white under-coat is a serious blemish1 and this often appears when silver blood may be traced in the ancestry of a blue cat4 ,we have quite dropped the term of self-blue1 and yet this well expresses the uniformity of colour which is so desirable4 ,as tiny kittens blues frequently exhibit tabby markings2 but fanciers need not worry over these apparent defects1 for as the coat grows the bars and stripes are no longer visible4 ,it also sometimes happens that a kitten exhibits quite a light ruff1 but this is generally shed with the second coat1 and eventually disappears4 ,there are some cats erroneously called blues by novices in the fancy1 but which in reality are blue smokes4 ,these have probably been bred from blues and smokes1 and thus the type of each is seriously damaged4 ,if it is desired to breed sound-coloured blues1 then it is undesirable to cross them with any other colour save and except blacks4 ,i have found good results from mating blues and blacks1 more especially with a view to obtaining the deep amber eyes of the black ,persians1 which1 for some reason or other1 are generally larger1 rounder1 and deeper in colour than what we can produce in blues4 ,certainly all broken breeds and tabbies should be avoided when mating blues4 ,i have heard of white cats being bred with blues to get a pale tint of blue2 but white toes1 chests1 and spots have often been the results of such experiments4 ,i have bred blue ,persians ever since ,i took up the fancy1 which is longer ago than ,i care to remember1 and ,i have found them strong and hardy cats1 requiring no special food1 and enjoying the best of health without any cosseting or coddling4 ,i do not consider that blues usually obtain any great size or weight1 nor are they generally massive in build or profuse in coat4 ,illustration3 ,,blue ,,and ,,cream ,,persians4 7,from a ,painting by ,w4 ,luker1 ,jun47 ,ten or fifteen years ago ,i used to have my blue kittens bespoken for about #e each before they were born2 but nowadays1 when blues are so plentiful1 one must be content with lower prices1 and the average sum for a good blue kitten is three guineas4 ,still1 ,i am sure that for beginners in the fancy1 wishing to combine pleasure and profit1 there is no better investment than a good sound blue queen with orange eyes4 ,the demand for blue kittens is really larger than for youngsters of any other breed4 ,they make superb pets1 but it is to be regretted that blue neuters are generally spoilt with green eyes1 doubtless for the reason that the possession of good orange eyes tempts the owner or purchaser to reserve the specimen for stud or breeding purposes4 ,as one of the first breeders and exhibitors of blue ,persians ,i feel ,i am in a position to speak with authority1 and ,i am of opinion that no breed has made such rapid strides1 either in improvements or popularity1 as blues4 ,in this statement ,i am supported by our best professional judge1 ,mr4 ,t4 ,b4 ,mason1 who1 writing to me on the subject1 says3 8,i find ten good blues at the present time to one we came across two or three years ago4 ,i am of opinion that in no colour of cats have we seen more distinct progress than we see in blue ,persians40 ,such a statement1 coming from our most able and ubiquitous judge1 is a valuable one4 ,mr4 ,mason has had a large experience in cat judging during the last few years1 and his duties take him north and south1 east and west4 ,as regards the breeding of blues1 ,i consider that to obtain the true sound colour blues should only be bred to blues4 ,i have often1 however1 observed that a kitten of unsound colour is to be found in litters bred from two sound-coloured blues2 the kitten may have a white under-coat or be full of white hairs1 or have a shaded ruff2 but experienced breeders will soon discover that such blemishes are but temporary1 and that the ugly duckling of a family may develop into the flower of the flock4 ,it is1 therefore1 very interesting to make experiments and to keep an apparently worthless specimen to see what it turns into when the first months of infancy are passed and the kitten coat has been shed4 ,i have known a young blue of sound colour completely transformed in this particular by a severe illness4 ,her fur became a sort of pepper-and-salt mixture--a sprinkling of white and dark grey2 but this same cat1 contrary to the prophecy of an able judge1 has again changed her coat1 and is now a perfectly sound blue1 even from tip to root4 ,it was evident that her illness had affected her coat1 and that when she regained her usual health she recovered her correct coat4 ,as regards the eyes in blues1 it is not possible to give any exact time for the change in colour from the baby blue to the dreaded green or hoped-for orange4 ,this change takes place gradually1 and sometimes the period extends till a kitten is almost a cat4 ,there are many blue cats with what may be called indefinitely coloured eyes2 that is1 neither orange1 nor yellow1 nor green4 ,this most unsatisfactory state of things may be generally accounted for by a circle of green round the pupil1 which1 according to the time of day1 will be wide or narrow4 ,thus it is that cats with this defect are sometimes described with 8good yellow eyes10 and advertised as such1 and then1 when received by the purchaser1 a glint of green is plainly visible in the inner circle4 ,the perfect eye in a blue should be absolutely unshaded2 and there are two distinct types of eyes1 namely1 the golden eye and the orange eye4 ,the former resembles a golden coin in tint1 and the latter has the dash of red which is to be seen in copper4 ,both these coloured eyes are correct1 and much to be admired in blue ,persians1 and no doubt as time goes on we shall find it will be the rule and not the exception to see these perfect eyes amongst the blues of the future4 ,it must1 however1 be borne in mind that in the point of eyes cats throw back1 and two parents with good orange eyes may yet produce one or more kittens with pale eyes of yellow or greenish hue4 ,although ,i have dilated at length on the superiority of the orange eye in blues1 ,i do not wish it to be thought that a weedy1 boneless cat1 even with eyes of deepest hue1 would find favour in my sight2 for in blues1 as in all breeds of ,persians1 what we ought to seek after most earnestly are good massive limbs1 plenty of bone1 and broad skulls4 ,there are too many ,persian cats of hare-like proportions1 and we really want some of the type of a good old ,english tabby introduced into the more aristocratic long-haired breeds4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,artist4 7,photo3 ,mrs4 ,s4 ,f4 ,clarke47 ,it will be interesting to up-to-date breeders of blues to hear what the veteran cat lover and fancier ,harrison ,weir had to say about them fifteen years ago4 ,in his well-known book1 8,our ,cats10 he thus alludes to the breed3-- 8,blue in cats is one of the most extraordinary colours of any1 for the reason that it is a mixture of black 7which is no colour7 and white 7which is no colour71 and this is the more curious because black mated with white generally produces either one colour or the other1 or breaks black-and-white or white and black2 the blue being1 as it were1 a weakened black or a withdrawal by white of some1 if not all1 of the brown or red1 varying in tint according to the colour of the black from which it was bred1 dark grey1 or from weakness in the stamina of the litter4 ,when once the colour or break from the black is acquired1 it is then easy to go on multiplying the different shades and varieties of tint and tone1 from the dark blue-black to the very light1 almost white grey4 ,if whole-coloured blues are in request1 then parti-colours1 such as white and black1 or black and white1 are best excluded40 ,many of our leading cat fanciers 8go in0 exclusively for blues1 and keep faithful to this one breed alone4 ,i give a list of these1 and trust ,i may be pardoned if ,i have left out the name of any enthusiastic breeder and lover of blues and blues alone3 ,mrs4 ,hill1 ,mrs4 ,wells1 ,mrs4 ,p4 ,hardy1 ,mrs4 ,h4 ,ransome1 ,mrs4 ,bennet1 ,mrs4 ,mocatta1 ,mrs4 ,s4 ,f4 ,clarke 7,louth71 ,mrs4 ,cartwright1 ,mrs4 ,gregory 7,lincoln71 ,mrs4 ,h4 ,b4 ,thompson1 ,mrs4 ,o',brien ,clarke1 ,miss ,jay1 ,miss ,bennet1 ,miss ,messer1 ,miss ,patterson1 ,miss ,goddard1 ,rev4 ,p4 ,l4 ,cosway1 ,mrs4 ,swanson1 ,mrs4 ,curwen1 ,mrs4 ,duffin1 ,mrs4 ,w4 ,m4 ,hunt1 ,mrs4 ,slingsby1 ,mrs4 ,singleton1 ,miss ,savery1 ,mrs4 ,eustace1 ,mrs4 ,hitchcock1 ,miss ,hooper1 ,miss ,violet ,hunt1 ,miss ,humfrey1 ,mrs4 ,kennaway1 ,mr4 ,h4 ,maxwell1 ,mrs4 ,ponder1 ,miss ,rigby1 and ,mr4 ,c4 ,w4 ,witt4 ,illustration3 ,,blue ,,kittens ,,bred ,,by ,,miss ,,kirkpatrick4 7,photo3 ,e4 ,landor1 ,ealing47 ,there are1 of course1 a large number of fanciers who1 amongst other breeds of cats1 keep one or two blues1 and several keep blues and silvers only4 ,i think ,i may safely say that blue ,persians have the largest number of admirers1 and certain it is that at all our large shows the blue classes are the best filled4 ,at the ,cat ,club ,show held at ,westminster in #ahii the number of entries in the blue female class was a record one--there were no less than #dh1 and the blue males mustered #db4 ,seeing1 therefore1 how popular this breed had become1 in ,april1 #aija1 ,i founded and started the ,blue ,persian ,cat ,society1 a book of rules was drawn up1 and the following ladies and gentlemen appointed as officials of the society3-- ,,blue ,,persian ,,cat ,,society4 ,founded ,april #bdth1 #aija4 ,presidents3 ,viscountess ,maitland1 ,mrs4 ,maconochie1 ,miss ,gertrude ,jay4 ,vice-,presidents3 ,viscountess ,gort1 ,lady ,danvers1 the ,hon4 ,mrs4 ,maclaren ,morrison1 ,mrs4 ,collingwood1 ,mrs4 ,w4 ,m4 ,hunt1 ,miss ,violet ,hunt1 ,mrs4 ,clinton ,locke1 ,mrs4 ,lionel ,marks1 ,mrs4 ,herbert ,ransome1 ,mrs4 ,mackenzie ,stewart1 ,mrs4 ,h4 ,b4 ,thompson1 ,mrs4 ,woodcock1 ,sir ,h4 ,jerningham1 ,k4,c4,m4,g41 ,sir ,b4 ,simpson1 ,k4,c4,m4,g41 ,rev4 ,p4 ,l4 ,cosway1 ,frankfort ,moore1 ,esq41 ,r4 ,storks1 ,esq4 ,committee3 ,mrs4 ,baldwin1 ,mrs4 ,russell ,biggs1 ,mrs4 ,bishop1 ,mrs4 ,p4 ,brown1 ,mrs4 ,p4 ,hardy1 ,mrs4 ,collingwood1 ,mrs4 ,h4 ,l4 ,mocatta1 ,miss ,h4 ,patterson1 ,mr4 ,gambier ,bolton4 ,hon4 ,treasurer3 ,mr4 ,russell ,biggs1 #a1 ,garden ,court1 ,temple4 ,hon4 ,secretary3 ,miss ,f4 ,simpson1 #i1 ,leonard ,place1 ,kensington1 ,w4 ,judges3 ,lady ,marcus ,beresford1 ,mrs4 ,p4 ,hardy1 ,mrs4 ,w4 ,m4 ,hunt1 ,miss ,g4 ,jay1 ,miss ,k4 ,sangster1 ,miss ,f4 ,simpson1 ,mr4 ,c4 ,a4 ,house1 ,mr4 ,t4 ,b4 ,mason1 ,mr4 ,f4 ,norris1 ,mrs4 ,mackenzie ,stewart1 ,miss ,e4 ,goddard1 and ,miss ,kirkpatrick4 ,illustration3 ,,mrs4 ,,robinson',s ,,blue ,,kittens4 7,photo3 ,j4 ,joyner1 ,cheltenham47 ,the chief objects of this society are as follow3--,to promote the breeding and exhibiting of blue ,persian cats2 to define precisely1 and to publish a description of1 the true type of blue ,persian cat1 and to urge the adoption of such type on breeders1 exhibitors1 and judges1 as the only recognised and unvarying standard by which blue ,persian cats should be judged2 the improvement of the classification1 and1 if necessary1 the guaranteeing of classes for these cats at shows supported by the society2 the selection of specialist judges to make the awards at such shows4 ,the annual subscription to the ,blue ,persian ,cat ,society is five shillings1 payable by each member on election4 ,at the general meeting of the society1 held in ,april1 #aijb1 the number of members on the books was #ahc1 and the honorary secretary reported that during the past year twelve cat shows had received the support of the society1 and numerous handsome challenge prizes1 badges1 and specials had been offered for competition4 ,illustration3 ,,mrs4 ,,wells' ,,cattery4 7,photo3 ,cassell ,company1 ,limited47 ,the following is the standard of points drawn up by the committee of the ,blue ,persian ,cat ,society and approved of by the members of the society3-- ,,standard ,,of ,,points ,,for ,,blue ,,persian ,,cat4 ,coat 7#cj74--;,any shade of blue allowable2 sound and even in colour2 free from markings1 shadings1 or any white hairs4 ,fur long1 thick1 and soft in texture4 ,frill full4 ,head 7#be74--;,broad and round1 with width between the ears4 ,face and nose short4 ,ears small and tufted4 ,cheeks well developed4 ,eyes 7#bj74--,orange2 large1 round1 and full4 ,body 7#ae74--;,cobby1 and low on the legs4 ,tail 7#aj74--,short and full1 not tapering4 ,members should not be deterred from showing their cats if they do not come up to the high standard set forth in the above definition4 ,it is true that very few1 if any1 blue ,persians come up to the high standard here given1 but still there is a very marked improvement in the breed during the last year or two4 ,the number of green-eyed blues are steadily and surely decreasing1 and the colour of the coat and size of head are points that have been carefully attended to4 ,in reading the list of blue cats placed at stud in the columns of the cat papers we cannot help being impressed with the enormous strides made of recent years in this breed of cats alone4 ,in a recent copy of ,our ,cats ,i counted twenty-five stud advertisements of blues1 and this does not nearly represent the entire number of blues used for stud purposes by fanciers4 ,this breed of ,persians has become very popular in ,america1 and several fine cats have been exported1 and have carried off the highest honours at the ,new ,york ,cat shows1 held under the auspices of the ,beresford ,cat ,club4 ,mrs4 ,clinton ,locke1 the president of the club1 is an enthusiastic breeder and admirer of blues1 and has possessed the finest specimens among ,american fanciers4 ,the names of two good 8all-round0 judges appear on the blue ,persian list1 namely1 ,mr4 ,c4 ,a4 ,house and ,mr4 ,t4 ,b4 ,mason1 and exhibitors of this special breed--as1 indeed1 of any other--may feel quite sure that their precious pets will receive justice at the hands of these two careful adjudicators4 ,mr4 ,e4 ,welburn1 also a blue ,persian judge1 was long known and respected in the fancy1 and his death in #aijb was a great loss to the cat world4 ,two silver bowls have been subscribed for by his many admirers in memory of this upright judge1 and these are competed for annually at the two largest shows of the ,national ,cat ,club and the ,cat ,club4 ,illustration3 8,,rokeles ,,kissi40 ,,bred ,,by ,,mrs4 ,,bennet4 7,photo3 ,h4 ,warschkowski1 ,st4 ,leonards-on-,sea47 ,miss ,jay and ,miss ,frances ,simpson have frequently given their services as judges at some of the shows which have received the patronage of the ,blue ,persian ,cat ,society4 ,in conclusion1 ,i would say that ,i am very hopeful of being able at some future time to hold a show for blue ,persians1 and by dividing and subdividing to give an attractive and liberal classification4 ,i have pleasure in giving a short account1 with illustrations1 of some of the catteries belonging to blue breeders4 ,mrs4 ,wells1 of ,isleworth1 was one of the first exhibitors of blue ,persians1 and has been faithful to this breed for many years4 ,she has wonderfully well-planned catteries1 and1 having plenty of space at her command1 the cats are able to enjoy lots of liberty in large wired-in runs1 planted with shrubs1 and with an abundance of grass4 ,mrs4 ,wells' blues are noted for their wonderfully fine coats4 ,her stud cat 8,blue ,noble0 has sired many noted winners1 and 8,my ,honey10 a lovely queen1 has the deepest orange eyes ,i have ever seen4 ,mrs4 ,wells takes the greatest interest in her cats1 and each and all are pets2 in fact1 so great is the care and devotion bestowed upon them that ,mrs4 ,wells is very seldom persuaded into exhibiting any of her beautiful blues1 and never lets them attend any shows unless she herself is able to accompany them4 ,mrs4 ,wells' cottage is situated in a most rural district of ,isleworth1 and one might fancy oneself miles and miles away from the busy haunts of men4 ,at the time the photos illustrating these catteries were taken ,mrs4 ,wells had eighteen blue kittens1 besides several grown-up representatives of her favourite breed4 ,at one time ,mrs4 ,wells was bitten with the silver fever1 and began to breed this variety2 but the litters did not give satisfaction1 and she determined to return to blues--with what success can be learnt from a visit to the gardens at ,isleworth4 ,miss ,gertrude ,jay started cats in #ahia1 and her name will always be connected with blues4 ,nothing has ever been exhibited to compare with her wonderful female 8,the ,mighty ,atom0 as regards beauty and shape of head4 ,this cat1 now1 alas6 no more1 swept the board wherever it was shown4 ,twice she carried off the highest honours for best cat in the show at the ,crystal ,palace4 ,it is true that this grand specimen lacked the orange eyes1 but no judge could pass over such a perfect type of cat1 despite her one fault1 and thus 8,the ,mighty ,atom0 reigned supreme4 8,trixie0 and 8,doris10 two of ,miss ,jay's noted blues1 have also both won specials for the best cat in the show at the ,crystal ,palace4 ,miss ,jay is fortunate in having some descendants of these precious cats in the luxurious catteries at ,holmwood 7of which an illustration is given74 ,many lovely blues may be seen revelling in the well-appointed houses set apart at the end of the long terrace for their special use4 ,miss ,jay about a year ago retired from the cat fancy1 and withdrew her name from the two clubs2 but she is still a vice-president of the ,blue ,persian ,cat ,society1 and often acts as judge4 ,her name always draws a good entry1 and1 as a well-known fancier once remarked to me1 8,you can be sure of getting your money's worth when ,miss ,jay has the handling of the classes40 ,the following few remarks from ,miss ,jay on her method of judging will be read with interest3-- 8,i fear my way of judging is unlike most other people's1 because ,i do not judge by points unless it comes to a close fight between two cats4 ,of course1 ,i consider shape and colour first1 and then ,i mark all those unworthy to be in any prize list2 next get to work with the remainder1 and this ,i do1 as ,i say1 unlike most other judges1 for ,i pick out the cat that ,i would soonest have given to me that day1 with the object of showing it again at once4 ,the point to be decided is the best cat that day4 ,it is no use beginning to think which cat will be the best in a month's time or which cat might have been best a month ago2 it is there that day--which is best8 ,and1 to my mind1 if ,i award first to the cat ,i would rather have1 with the one object of continuing to show it1 that surely must be the best cat in my opinion1 and to that cat the first card goes4 ,and so on through the class1 only giving one ,v4,h4,c41 one ,h4,c41 and one ,c41 unless the class is a very large one4 ,i know some judges who say commended cards are very cheap1 and they please the exhibitors4 ,true2 but are you not pleasing them in a wrong way by making them think their cat is better than it is80 ,illustration3 8,,scared40 ,,two ,,blues ,,belonging ,,to ,,lady ,,marcus ,,beresford4 7,photo3 ,cassell ,company1 ,limited47 ,mrs4 ,herbert ,ransome is well known in the feline world as a successful breeder of blue ,persians1 and as the hard-working secretary of the ,northern ,counties ,cat ,club1 and more recently as the editor of ,our ,cats4 ,her two blue stud cats1 8,darius0 and 8,darius ,,iii410 have earned a great reputation1 not only in the show pen1 but as the sires of many lovely prize-winning kittens1 notably 8,orange ,blossom of ,thorpe10 owned by ,mrs4 ,slingsby1 of ,ouseburn1 ,yorkshire4 ,it is only of recent years that the name of ,mrs4 ,paul ,hardy has become known in the feline world as a breeder of blue ,persians4 ,mrs4 ,hardy was a member of the ,cat ,club ,committee1 but on her removal to some distance from ,london she resigned her post4 ,to her the ,cat ,club is indebted for a very beautiful design of a medal which1 in silver and bronze1 is competed for at the ,westminster and other shows 7see illustration74 ,illustration3 ,,cast ,,of ,,the ,,cat ,,club ,,medal4 ,,designed ,,by ,,mrs4 ,p4 ,,hardy4 ,her first adventure into the domain of cat keeping was in the case of a very fine blue cat named 8,juliet10 whose first few litters were not a great success1 so that sensible cat took matters into her own hands4 ,she chose for her mate the raggedest black tom she could find1 and though1 of course1 the results of this msalliance were not at all satisfactory from the show judge's point of view1 in later years1 when suitably mated1 8,juliet0 did not once throw back to a wrong-coloured kitten4 ,i am not sure that ,i can follow ,mrs4 ,hardy to the logical conclusion of her deductions from this fact1 but ,i think it is worthy of notice by those extremists who hold the view that an incorrect mating in the first instance spoils a queen for the rest of her life4 ,it was at the ,crystal ,palace show of #ahig that ,mrs4 ,hardy exhibited her first litter from her blue stud 8,wooshoo10 and she was then awarded a first1 a special1 and two or three silver medals4 ,another famous cat in ,mrs4 ,hardy's establishment was a blue1 named 8,mark ,antony10 who met with success at several ,scottish shows4 ,later he came under the notice of ,mrs4 ,mackenzie ,stewart1 into whose hands he passed1 and received a good deal of favour at the hands of the judges4 ,from ,mrs4 ,stewart he passed into the possession of the late ,dr4 ,longwill1 and was sire of the famous ,crystal ,palace winning female blue1 8,dolly ,gray10 in #aijb4 ,mrs4 ,hardy's success has not been achieved without some set-backs1 more particularly of recent years1 since her cattery has been enlarged1 and she has had to fight her way against disease and death4 ,her own account is so vivid that ,i quote it1 so that fanciers in a like evil condition may fight for the lives of their pets to the last3-- 8,i was singularly free from illness of any kind amongst them1 and ,i lived for some time happy in the belief that the ,persian puss was in no wise different from her short-coated sister in the robust possession of nine lives2 so ,i added cat unto cat1 and bred for show2 when swiftly ,nemesis overtook me4 ,i showed five full-grown cats at the first ,westminster show1 and twenty-four hours after the show was over my best blue queen1 a young beauty whose proud owner ,i had been only for one brief month1 died of acute pneumonia4 ,a few days later influenza showed itself amongst the others1 and all four were down with it4 8,what a time ,i had1 with the experiences of a ward-nurse6 ,but ,i pulled them through1 all but one young kitten of four months1 in whom acute laryngitis developed1 and so she had to be put to sleep4 ,illustration3 ,,miss ,g4 ,,jay',s ,,cattery4 7,photo3 ,w4 ,field1 ,putney47 8#8,wooshoo' was given up by the vet41 as he piled so many complications into his system one after the other1 developing bronchitis1 gastritis1 and jaundice on the top of the original complaint4 ,poor fellow1 for twenty-four hours he lay unconscious1 but ,i kept his heart going by doses of pure alcohol every two hours1 while ,i fought the disease with hot fomentations1 medicated steamings1 and other proper remedies4 8,for just one month ,i had to hand-feed him1 and then one afternoon it occurred to him he might try his minced oyster by himself1 greatly to my joy and triumph2 and when he feebly washed his face afterwards ,i felt like setting the church bells ringing6 8,i am convinced1 in serious cat illness1 it is the night nursing that does the trick and determines whether your patient is to live or die4 ,it is somewhat of an effort1 ,i admit1 to have to arise two or three times in a night 7nearly always in the bitter weather1 when these epidemics occur71 and1 in my case1 to be obliged to dress and go out of doors to the stableyard1 with a dimly burning lantern4 8,in every cat lover's career there must be some such saddening memories4 ,saddest when1 after the efforts of the night1 and you have left hopeful the morning will bring improvement1 you return in the early dawn to note on entering a sign that causes your heart to beat heavily--your patient's bed is empty6 8,you know what that means1 and look round4 ,yes1 there in a corner1 flat1 stiff1 and draggled1 where he has crawled in the last uneasy seeking for air1 is your poor pet1 still for ever60 ,mrs4 ,hardy1 in connection with illnesses1 has some advice to offer as regards medicines which she has tested herself1 and which ,i think will be of service to my readers3-- 8,while not intending to say anything authoritatively upon the subject of remedies for various cat ills1 all of which will be most ably and exhaustively gone into by the writer of later chapters in this book1 ,i might perhaps mention one or two things of which ,i have had personal experience1 restoratives rather than drugs1 which ,i now keep always at hand4 8,one is a preparation of beef called #8,somatose4' ,it is sold in #a oz4 or #b oz4 tins1 is in the form of a fine soluble powder1 and has this advantage over certain beef essences--that it will keep good any length of time1 and has not to be used up directly the tin is opened2 while it is no more expensive1 and a little will go a long way if used as directed4 8,i make it by putting some boiling water into a saucer1 sprinkling about a teaspoonful on the water1 and allowing it to dissolve slowly till cold1 when it would look like weak tea4 ,it is a most powerful restorative and stimulant1 and given cold in teaspoonful doses can be retained in the worst case of stomach irritation4 8,a second good thing is ,plasmon powder4 ,i was recommended to try this by a cat lover1 for a case of dyspeptic sickness of a chronic character4 ,for delicate kittens it is most valuable1 and ,i believe the very worst cases of diarrha or dysentery can be cured1 and the patient saved to grow up strong and healthy1 if a diet of ,plasmon jelly1 given cold1 with alternate meals of ,somatose1 also given cold1 be persevered with until the bowels are normal4 ,never give milk in any form1 either plain1 boiled1 or in puddings1 to a cat that is suffering from looseness of the bowels4 ,another little hint ,i may be allowed1 perhaps1 to give3 ,don't wait for illness to come before you train your kittens to take medicine from a spoon4 8,i teach all my youngsters to drink easily from a spoon1 beginning with something nice--sweetened milk or the like1 going on to cold water and1 when necessary1 a drop or two of ,salvo's ,preventive in it4 ,then1 when it becomes necessary for a real nasty dose1 they are not in the least nervous of the spoon beforehand1 and the dose is down and gone before they discover anything unusual4 ,never have ,i to wrap cloths round any of my cats1 or get people to hold them by main force2 but some cats will nearly turn themselves inside out when a spoon is held to their mouths6 ,all the fault of early training4 ,badly brought up6 ,you must be very patient with a young kitten2 never do anything in a hurry4 ,when once you have gained a cat's confidence it will let you do anything to it40 ,illustration3 ,,rev4 ,p4 ,l4 ,,cosway',s 8,,imperial ,,blue40 7,photo3 ,g4 ,j4 ,hall1 ,wakefield47 ,illustration3 8,,un ,,saut ,p,,rilleux40 7,from a ,painting by ,madame ,ronner47 ,,chapter ,,xii4 ,,silver ,,or ,,chinchilla ,,persians4 ,illustration3 8,,jack ,,frost40 ,,bred ,,by ,,mrs4 ,,mix1 ,,old ,,fort ,,battery1 ,,new ,,york4 7,photo3 ,a4 ,lloyd1 ,amsterdam1 ,n4,y47 ,perhaps no breed or variety of cat has been so much thought about1 talked about1 and fought about in the fancy as the silver or chinchilla ,persian4 ,if blues are a new variety1 then silvers are of still more recent origin4 ,years ago this cat did not exist--that is to say1 we should not recognise the silver ,persian of to-day as the silver of bygone times1 for the simple reason that the only class of silver in the fancy formerly was the silver tabby4 ,in those days there were self-coloured cats and tabby1 or marked cats1 and broken-coloured cats4 ,previous to the introduction of a ,chinchilla class at the ,crystal ,palace in #ahid1 the class for silver tabbies included blue tabbies 8with or without white10 and it is curious to read in the old catalogues of the ,crystal ,palace shows the titles given to the various cats by the owners1 some describing their cats as 8chinchilla tabby10 8light grey tabby10 8silver grey10 8silver chinchilla10 8blue or silver striped40 ,we may infer that these cats were either blue tabbies or silver tabbies1 or something betwixt and between4 ,i distinctly remember the large number of cats which in these enlightened days we should find it difficult indeed to classify4 ,it is often said1 8,what's in a name80 ,but still1 in trying to describe a particular breed of cat1 it is as well to endeavour to find a term which expresses as nearly as possible both the colour and the appearance of the animal4 ,there has been a great deal of discussion as to the correct name by which these delicately tinted ,persians should be called4 ,the ,national ,cat ,club began by classifying them for the ,crystal ,palace show in #ahid as ,chinchillas1 and they have kept to this1 although it is really a most misleading title1 as the cats are quite unlike the fur which we know as chinchilla1 this being dark at the roots and lighter towards the tips4 ,now1 cats of this variety ought to be just the reverse4 ,it is difficult to give a correct idea of the real colour and appearance of these cats4 ,the fur at the roots is a peculiar light silver1 not white1 as one might imagine1 until some pure white is placed beside it1 and this shades to a slightly darker tone--a sort of bluish lavender--to the tips of the coat4 ,the ,cat ,club introduced the term 8self silver10 but this is suggestive of one colour only1 without any shadings whatever4 ,another class1 called 8shaded silvers10 was added2 but then1 again1 tabby markings are not shadings4 ,formerly1 blues used to be called 8self blues10 but this is entirely done away with1 and now we never think of using this term1 and speaking of them as blues we understand there should be the one and only colour4 ,surely1 then1 the simplest term and the most descriptive of these beautiful cats is 8silver10 pure and simple1 for whether dark or light they are all silvers1 and so we should have blues and blue tabbies1 orange and orange tabbies1 silver and silver tabbies4 ,then comes the question of what is nearest perfection in this variety of cat1 which has come upon us of late years1 evolved from the silver tabby and the blue4 ,the ideal silver1 to use the words of a well-known breeder of these cats1 should be the palest conceivable edition of a smoke cat1 with fur almost white at the roots and palish silver grey at the tips1 and as free from markings as a smoke4 ,i do not go the length of declaring that silvers cannot be too light1 for ,i think that it is the delicate tips of silvery blue that lend such a charm and give such distinction to this variety4 ,without these delicate tippings a silver cat would look inartistic and insipid4 ,there has been of late quite a rage amongst silver breeders to produce a totally unmarked specimen2 but fanciers would do better to endeavour to obtain a light shaded silver free from tabby markings with the broad head and massive limbs1 which at present are qualities not often met with in this variety4 ,i am quite aware this is a most difficult task1 but we must remember that 8all good things come hard10 even in breeding cats1 and if it were not so half the interest for fanciers would be gone4 ,illustration3 8,,the ,,absent-,,minded ,,beggar40 ,,owned ,,by ,,mrs4 ,,neild4 7,photo3 ,e4 ,landor1 ,ealing47 ,illustration3 8,,star ,,duvals40 ,,silver ,,persian ,,owned ,,and ,,bred ,,by ,,miss ,,meeson4 7,photo3 ,f4 ,parsons1 ,southend-on-,sea47 ,having1 therefore1 considered what a perfect silver cat ought to be1 ,i will give a description of the type of cat generally bred and exhibited as a silver4 ,i read the following account in one of our daily papers1 evidently written by a non-admirer of these lovely cats3 8,the chinchillas are very fashionable1 and very difficult to breed in perfection4 ,they took their name from a supposed likeness the fur bears to that of the chinchilla4 ,but the chinchilla cat1 as at present in request1 bears no resemblance to the little rodent4 ,most of the exhibits are of a dirty white1 tinged with lavender1 with a quantity of marks and stripes on the face1 body1 and paws40 ,now this is not a pleasing picture1 and one that would be considered libellous by a silver breeder4 ,it is1 however1 true that at present our silvers are too full of tabby markings1 and in many cases the under-coat is not silvery white1 but light grey or pale blue4 ,there are many silver cats with dark spine lines and shaded sides1 but they are heavily barred on the head and legs1 and the tail is frequently almost black4 ,it is a case of tabby blood which needs breeding out of the silvers1 and which1 no doubt1 will be obliterated in time1 so that two distinct types of silvers will only exist--the delicately tipped or shaded silvers1 and the richly marked and barred silver tabbies4 ,just as in the case of the blue ,persians it took a long while to eradicate the tabby markings which showed the existence of tabby blood1 so amongst silvers the bar and stripes need to be carefully bred out1 and we shall hope1 in the good time coming1 to have not self silvers1 but a very near approach to this--namely1 a perfectly unmarked but yet not wholly unshaded silver cat4 ,illustration3 8,,omar40 ,,the ,,property ,,of ,,miss ,a4 ,,pollard 7,copyright #aija--;,g4 ,hiller1 ,elizabeth1 ,n4,y47 ,there is a greater delicacy amongst silver cats1 and more difficulty in rearing the kittens1 than in any other breed1 and this may be accounted for by the immense amount of in-breeding that was carried on indiscriminately at the beginning of the rage for silver cats2 also the desire to obtain lightness of colour caused breeders to lose sight of the grave disadvantages of loss of bone and stamina4 ,therefore it is that among the silver cats exhibited at our shows we seldom find massive limbs or broad heads or full cheeks4 ,there is a tendency to hare-like proportions1 and the faces have a pinched and snipey appearance1 and noses are too long4 ,however1 great improvement is taking place1 and with the numerous stud cats now at the disposal of fanciers1 there ought to be no difficulty in making a suitable selection4 ,the question as to the correct colour of eyes for a chinchilla or silver cat is still a vexed question4 ,in self-coloured cats the broad line is clearly laid down--blue eyes for whites1 orange for blacks1 and orange for blues2 but when we come to the more nondescript cats--such as silver and smoke and tortoiseshell--there seems to be a wider margin given1 and the line drawn is not so hard-and-fast4 ,still1 ,i think it is always well to have some high standard of perfection in each breed1 so that fanciers may breed up to it1 and to my mind the bright emerald green eye is the ideal for a silver cat4 ,i have seen very fine amber eyes which could not fail to attract admiration2 but if these are admitted1 then all sorts of eyes1 not amber but wishy-washy yellow1 will be the inevitable result4 ,so many silver cats have eyes that may be described as neither one thing nor the other4 ,often one hears the remark1 8,oh6 but if you see ,so-and-so's eyes in the right light they are a lovely green40 ,but viewed by the ordinary eye of a critical judge1 they appear an uncertain yellow4 ,therefore it is best to set up a standard1 and ,i think it is becoming an almost undisputed fact that silver cats of perfect type should have green eyes1 and by green let it be understood that the deeper the tone the better will they accord or contrast with the pale silvery coat4 ,illustration3 ,,three ,,pretty ,,silvers4 7,photo3 ,c4 ,reid1 ,wishaw47 ,i would here impress upon fanciers the great importance of striving to obtain the large1 round1 full eye1 which gives such expression to a cat's face4 ,how many of our silvers of to-day are spoiled by small1 badly shaped or half-open eyes6 ,i do not think sufficient importance is attached by our judges to this point of size of eye4 ,many are carried away by the correctness of colour1 and fail to deduct a sufficient number of points for a beady1 badly shaped small eye4 ,colour is fleeting1 and with age our cats may lose the brilliancy of green or orange1 but bold large eyes1 placed well apart and not too deeply sunk1 will be lasting points in favour of our pets4 ,there is one rather peculiar feature in the eyes of some silver cats4 ,this is the dark rim which often encircles the eye4 ,this rim decidedly enhances the beauty of the eye1 and makes it look larger than it really is1 and also throws up the colour4 ,light1 almost white1 ear tufts and toe tufts are adjuncts which go to make up a perfect silver cat4 ,the nose is of a dull brick red1 darkening slightly towards the edges4 ,few ,persian cats suffer so severely during the process of shedding their coats as silvers1 and they present a most ragged appearance at this period of their existence4 ,the lovely fluffy light silver under-coat almost disappears1 and the top markings stand out very distinctly1 so that a cat that in full feather would be considered a light1 unmarked specimen will appear streaked and dark after the coat has been shed4 ,as regards the silver kittens1 it is a curious fact that these1 when born1 are often almost black--or1 at any rate1 generally very dark in colour1 resembling smokes4 ,it is seldom that a silver kitten is light at birth1 but gradually the markings and shadings will lessen1 and perhaps just the one mite that was looked upon as a bad black will blossom forth into the palest silver4 ,in this respect1 silver kits are most speculative1 but in another they are cruelly disappointing1 for a kitten at three months old may be a veritable thing of beauty1 and ere it has reached the age of eight months1 bars and stripes will have1 so to speak1 set in severely1 and our unmarked specimen of a silver kit develops into a poorly marked tabby cat4 ,i may say that if the kittens are going to be really pale silvers they will in the majority of cases have very pale faces and paws1 with little or no marking1 whilst the body will be fairly even dark grey--perhaps almost black4 ,in a week or two a change takes place1 as the under-coat begins to grow1 and it will be noticed that the kittens become more even in colour1 the contrast between their light face and dark backs will not be nearly so accentuated1 and by the time they are nine or ten weeks old they will look almost unmarked4 ,the reason for this is that the dark fur they are born with is really only the extreme tips of the hair1 and as their coats grow in length this shading becomes more dispersed4 ,and here ,i will allude to the so-called threefold classification which was part of the scheme of the ,silver ,society1 founded by ,mrs4 ,champion in #aijj4 ,at the inaugural meeting ,mrs4 ,stennard ,robinson took the chair4 ,voting papers had previously been distributed amongst the members1 asking for their votes on the question of establishing three classes for silvers--namely1 chinchillas1 shaded silvers1 and silver tabbies4 ,the votes recorded were fifty-four in favour of the threefold classification1 and nine against it4 ,so this was carried by a large majority1 and the question of points discussed and settled as follows3-- ,,chinchillas4 ,as pale and unmarked silver as possible4 ,any brown or cream tinge to be considered a great drawback4 ,eyes to be green or orange4 ,value of points as follows3-- ,head #bj ,shape #ae ,colour of coat #be ,coat and condition #bj ,colour1 shape1 and expression of eyes #aj ,brush #aj ------ ,total #ajj ,after much discussion1 ,lady ,marcus ,beresford moved1 and ,mrs4 ,champion seconded1 the following definition of ,shaded ,silvers3-- ,,shaded ,,silvers4 ,colour3 pale1 clear silver1 shaded on face1 legs1 and back1 but having as few tabby markings as possible4 ,any brown or cream tinge a great drawback4 ,eyes green or orange4 ,value of points3-- ,head #bj ,colour of coat #be ,coat and condition #bj ,colour1 shape1 and expression of eyes #aj ,shape #ae ,brush #aj ------ ,total #ajj ,illustration3 8,,shah ,,of ,,persia40 ,,the ,,property ,,of ,,mrs4 ,,anningson4 ,from this list it will be seen that for colour the highest points are given1 and that eyes may be green or orange4 ,but during the two years which have elapsed since the formation of the ,silver ,society1 there has been a decided desire on the part of breeders for green eyes only1 and certainly our best qualified silver judges are not partial to any other coloured eyes in this variety4 ,in an article on the colour of eyes in silvers1 8,zaida0 of ,fur and ,feather writes3 8,eye colouring threatens to become a matter of fashion4 ,some eight years ago we received from a first-rate fancier and exhibitor a letter respecting a chinchilla cat1 which later became a great prize-winner4 #8,it is useless1' wrote this lady1 #8to think of exhibiting her on account of her green eyes4' ,what a change of opinion has marked the flight of eight years60 ,it will be observed that1 as regards the description of chinchillas and shaded silvers1 there is a distinction and yet no very great difference1 and herein lay the difficulty of retaining these two classes at our shows4 ,the lightest silvers were deemed eligible for the chinchilla class1 and then came the question for exhibitor and judge to draw the line between the two so-called varieties1 and to decide what degree of paleness constituted a chinchilla and what amount of dark markings would relegate the specimen into the shaded silver class4 ,the cat world became agitated1 exhibitors were puzzled1 and judges exasperated4 ,there were letters to the cat papers on the 8silver muddle40 ,show secretaries were worried with inquiries4 ,i recollect a would-be exhibitor writing to me sending a piece of her silver cat's fur1 and asking whether her puss should be in the chinchilla or shaded silver class2 but even with her lengthy description and the sample before me1 ,i dared not venture an opinion1 and ,i used generally to reply to such letters by saying ,i did not know in which class to enter my own silver cat1 and so ,i was going to keep him at home4 ,one correspondent1 appealing through the columns of the papers1 wrote3 8,everyone knows a black or white or brown tabby1 but how can we exhibitors discern between the number of shadings on our silver cats as to which class they belong8 ,do kindly air my grievance1 and oblige40 ,it was quite pathetic to see the faces of disappointed exhibitors at the ,westminster show of #aija1 when several beautiful creatures who had travelled many a weary mile to be penned and admired were rewarded with a 8,wrong ,class0 ticket only4 ,they were either too light or too dark for the class in which their owners had entered them1 and all hope of honour and glory and golden coins and silver cups vanished into thin air6 ,at one show ,i recollect a cat was accounted by the judge a chinchilla and a shaded silver1 and he came off very well with special prizes for both varieties4 ,no doubt he really was either one or the other1 or both6 ,illustration3 8,,fulmer ,,zaida40 ,,silver1 ,,owned ,,by ,,lady ,,decies4 7,photo3 ,e4 ,landor1 ,ealing47 ,it was no wonder1 therefore1 that a reaction set in1 and exhibitors and judges felt alike that something must be done1 and that1 at any rate for a time1 it would be better to have only the two classes for silvers and silver tabbies1 and that specials might be given to encourage the lightest cats4 ,the abolition of the threefold classification was therefore taken into consideration when the ,silver ,society was broken up by the departure of ,mrs4 ,champion to ,america1 and the ,silver and ,smoke ,persian ,cat ,society came into existence1 with ,mr4 ,h4 ,v4 ,james as ,hon4 ,secretary4 ,the following are the objects of the ,society3-- ,the title of this ,society1 which 7under the name of ,the ,silver ,society7 was founded in ,july1 #aijj1 is 8,,the ,,silver ,,and ,,smoke ,,persian ,,cat ,,society40 ,the objects of the ,society are3-- #a4-- ,to improve the breeds of long-haired silver 7or chinchilla71 shaded silver1 silver tabby1 and smoke coloured cats and kittens1 male1 female1 and neuter4 #b4-- ,to guarantee extra classes for these breeds at shows supported by the ,society1 when necessary4 #c4-- ,to offer prizes for the said breeds at shows supported by the ,society4 #d4-- ,to hold shows independently1 or in conjunction with other ,societies or ,clubs when it shall be deemed expedient by the members4 #e4-- ,to elect specialist judges to make the awards at shows supported by the ,society4 #f4-- ,to establish and maintain a standard of points for the above-mentioned breeds4 ,it was in ,march1 #aijb1 that voting papers on this burning question were sent out to members of the new society1 with the following result3 ,for the threefold classification1 #bj2 against1 #cb4 ,therefore1 by the wish of the majority1 it was decided to give up the threefold classification for the present4 ,illustration3 8,,troubador40 ,,silver1 ,,bred ,,by ,,mrs4 ,e4 ,n4 ,,barker4 ,the ,silver and ,smoke ,persian ,cat ,society is now in a most flourishing condition1 with about #aej members4 ,it is the fervent hope and earnest endeavour of each and all of the fanciers of silvers in the society to breed a perfectly unmarked specimen1 and with perseverance we may in time puzzle the judge to decide which cat in a large class of lightly tinted silvers is the palest4 ,we shall gradually but surely breed out the tabby markings if fanciers will1 so to speak1 nail the right colour to the mast and keep on striving to breed up to the perfect type4 ,to quote ,mr4 ,c4 ,a4 ,house3 8,what is wanted is for breeders to work on standard lines1 and not push forward with such persistency their own pet particular whims4 ,all that is required is for breeders to be determined to breed honestly and consistently for what the standard advocates1 and leave severely alone all excesses and exaggerations4 ,let us have chinchillas free from markings by all means1 but let us keep our shadings1 our silver colour1 remembering that pure silver is of a bluish tinge1 and is not the whitey-brown article some would have us accept as the ideal in chinchilla cats40 ,the same authority1 writing on the threefold classification1 says3 8,i have always maintained that the threefold classification in silvers was a mistake1 and the majority of breeders1 ,i am pleased to know1 are coming round to that view4 ,my opinion1 when first enunciated1 was not popular4 ,with some it is not to-day4 ,but many who at one time could not see the force of my arguments now do so1 and there is a more general feeling that the craze for self silvers is not conducive to the welfare of the silvers as a breed40 ,amongst the well-known breeders1 fanciers1 and exhibitors of silvers in the present day1 ,i may mention ,lady ,marcus ,beresford1 who owns some beautiful specimens of the celebrated 8,lord ,southampton0 strain4 ,a handsomer type of silver female cannot be met with than 8,dimity10 bred by ,miss ,cochran1 and presented by her to ,lady ,marcus ,beresford4 ,lady ,decies is the proud possessor of the incomparable 8,zaida10 whose record of wins is a marvellous one4 ,as all the cat world knows1 8,zaida0 is accounted the lightest and most unmarked specimen in the fancy4 ,mrs4 ,w4 ,r4 ,hawkins has bred some wonderfully good silvers1 and was the owner of 8,sweet ,lavender10 which has been acknowledged as one of the best of this breed that ever existed4 ,the following are the principal silver breeders3 ,the ,hon4 ,mrs4 ,mc,laren ,morrison1 ,mrs4 ,g4 ,h4 ,walker1 ,mrs4 ,neild1 ,mrs4 ,russell ,biggs1 ,mrs4 ,wellbye1 ,mrs4 ,martin1 ,mrs4 ,t4 ,drake1 ,mrs4 ,cubitt1 ,mrs4 ,marriott1 ,mrs4 ,balding1 ,mrs4 ,poole1 ,mrs4 ,ormerod1 ,mrs4 ,fawsett1 ,miss ,white ,atkins1 ,miss ,snell1 ,miss ,horsman1 ,miss ,dell1 ,miss ,meeson1 ,the ,hon4 ,philip ,wodehouse1 ,miss ,chamberlayne4 ,during the last few years a very large number of silver cats have been placed at stud1 but we may regard three cats as the founders of the breed or as the pillars of the silver strain--namely1 8,silver ,lambkin10 8,lord ,southampton10 and 8,lord ,argent40 ,to these worthy ancestors a very large proportion of the silvers of to-day can trace their lineage4 ,but this noble trio is naturally being superseded by such stud cats as 8,silver ,starlight10 8,tintagel10 8,cambyses10 8,the ,absent-minded ,beggar10 8,pathan of ,dingley10 8,jupiter ,duvals10 8,st4 ,anthony10 8,rob ,roy of ,arrandale10 8,the ,silver ,sultan10 and many others4 ,there is1 therefore1 now no excuse for in-breeding1 which used to be carried on to a great extent when so limited a number of sires were forthcoming4 ,to indiscriminate and injudicious in-breeding may be largely attributed the great delicacy amongst silver cats4 ,there is no doubt that the number of fatalities among silver kittens is far in excess of that of any other breed4 ,then1 again1 the size of silver cats compares unfavourably with others1 and they are wanting in muscle and bone4 ,we do not want huge1 coarse1 heavy silvers1 but breeders and judges sometimes show an utter disregard for size and strength1 and the consequence is we see a number of ladylike looking studs that fail miserably in these very essential points4 ,breeders should aim at the happy medium between the liliputian and the leviathan1 but not be content unless their silver studs turn the scales at #aj lb4 ,as regards the mating of silvers1 a broad line to lay down is to avoid tabby markings4 ,it is for this reason that smokes have been wisely selected by most breeders as the best cross for a silver4 ,it is more than probable that in many cases some nondescript sort of kittens will be the result4 ,these sort of light smokes are exceedingly pretty cats and make fascinating pets1 but they are useless for breeding purposes or exhibiting4 ,i have known of some handsome specimens that have wandered from class to class1 only to be disqualified in each and either1 and it was a case of1 8,when judges disagree1 who shall decide80 ,several experiments have been tried of crossing a white ,persian with a silver in order to get pale coloured kittens1 but this appears seldom to succeed unless the whites have silver blood in them4 ,some breeders have tried blues with silvers1 but there is the danger of introducing the grey blue under-coat which gives such a smudgy appearance to a silver and is suggestive of a badly coloured smoke4 ,it does not at all follow that the mating of two light silvers will produce light-coloured and unmarked kittens1 yet this cross and the smoke are the safest4 ,it must be a work of time1 as we have before said1 to breed out the tabby markings of many generations4 ,the name of ,mrs4 ,balding is as well known to breeders of silvers of the past as it is at the present day4 ,in the past1 however1 it was as ,miss ,dorothy ,gresham this enthusiastic fancier won her laurels4 ,i well remember the sensation caused by the appearance in the show pen of the 8,silver ,lambkins0 at the ,crystal ,palace in #ahhh4 ,to breeders1 exhibitors1 and cat fanciers generally the following account of chinchillas from the earliest days1 specially written for this book by ,mrs4 ,balding1 should be exceedingly interesting3-- 8,there is probably no variety of long-haired cat which has caused so much discussion1 notwithstanding that1 with the exception of the light-coloured reds1 which have been designated #8creams1' the chinchilla is the cat which has most recently gained distinction as a separate variety4 ,the notoriety which the chinchilla enjoys has been in great part brought about by the delicacy of its appearance and the difficulty that has been experienced in the production of a perfect specimen4 ,many cats are called chinchillas and are exhibited as such1 often winning prizes1 but very few indeed are of the pale silver tint1 with bright emerald eyes1 and with no bars or stripes on the legs or head4 ,illustration3 ,a ,,perfect ,,chinchilla4 ,,two ,,views4 7,photo3 ,e4 ,landor1 ,ealing47 8,the chief subjects that have been under discussion in connection with the chinchilla cat have been the colour of eyes and the shade of the coat2 but1 with regard to the former1 ,i think it must be acknowledged that green is a more suitable accompaniment to silver than yellow or orange1 and1 as regards the latter1 that silver1 with dainty sheen evenly distributed1 is more to be desired than a patchy grey1 dull in hue and unattractive to the eye4 ,as a matter of fact1 these shaded grey specimens are in reality only ill-marked silver tabbies4 ,they must1 however1 not be altogether despised1 as they have been the steppingstones which have led to the creation of the chinchilla4 8,it is something like twenty years ago that1 amongst the competitors in the classes for long-haired tabbies at the ,crystal ,palace and other important shows1 was occasionally to be seen an alien with the ground colour of the silver tabby1 but with very few stripes on the body4 ,these cats were evidently sports from the silver tabby1 so much so that the class for that section was the only one open to them2 and1 although they invariably showed great quality1 breeders were loth to exhibit them in the medley of different-coloured tabbies1 where one of their chief beauties--the absence of stripes--became a disadvantage4 ,their only chance of distinction lay in putting in an appearance at provincial shows1 where the authorities were sometimes to be induced to attach two cat classes to the rabbit division--one for long-haired of any colour1 and the other for short-haired4 ,in this indiscriminate assemblage1 no colour having been stated1 chinchillas when present wrought great havoc1 although it cannot be denied that the judges of the day gave precedence to a well-marked silver tabby4 8,amongst these outcasts was a cat of striking beauty1 whose like has not been seen again4 ,this was #8,sylvie1' of unknown pedigree1 owned by the late ,mrs4 ,christopher1 at whose death she became the property of the late ,miss ,saunders1 of ,peterborough4 ,a beautiful portrait of this exquisite chinchilla is given in ,mr4 ,harrison ,weir's book #8,our ,cats4' ,when judging at the ,crystal ,palace in #ahhf1 this connoisseur and judge of worldwide repute awarded her first prize1 medal1 and special for the best long-haired cat1 getting over the difficulty of her silvery1 unmarked coat by calling her a very light blue tabby1 though the puzzle was to find the tabby4 8,another chinchilla of the early #8eighties was ,miss ,florence ,moore's #8,queenie1' who would1 had chinchilla classes been provided at that time1 have been loaded with championships and honours4 ,in colour she was as light as any of our present-day celebrities1 and might easily1 from her freedom from markings1 have earned the dubious compliment of the uninitiated so highly prized by owners of chinchillas of being mistaken for a grubby white4 ,miss ,florence ,moore1 who later on had one of the best and largest catteries in the country1 bred #8,queenie' from her #8,judy1' winner of many first prizes1 a heavily marked silver tabby of ,mrs4 ,brydges' noted breed1 and #8,fez1' a light silver cat with indefinite stripes4 ,illustration3 ,,mrs4 ,,balding',s 8,,silver ,,lambkin40 7,photo3 ,e4 ,landor1 ,ealing47 8,mrs4 ,brydges can claim the distinction of having owned1 something like half a century ago1 some of the first long-haired cats ever imported into ,england4 ,a coincidence worthy of note is that though there is no record of her having bred or possessed a chinchilla1 two never-to-be-forgotten pairs of chinchilla kittens--,miss ,florence ,moore's #8,chloe' and #8,dinah1' winners of first and medal on three successive occasions at the ,crystal ,palace1 ,brighton1 and ,bexley1 #ahhg 7they being the only chinchillas at any of these shows71 and ,miss ,gresham's #8,silver ,lambkins1' who swept the board in #ahhh1 winning the specials at the ,crystal ,palace from forty-six pairs of other competitors of all colours--could in each case trace descent to the ,cheltenham stock #8,chloe' and #8,dinah1' through the afore-mentioned #8,judy' and the #8,silver ,lambkins1' through their sire #8,rahman1' also bred by ,mrs4 ,brydges4 8,still more remarkable1 these two couples of youthful prodigies were first cousins1 on the other side of their pedigrees1 the noted #8,fluffy ,,ii4' and #8,beauty' being bred by ,mrs4 ,vallance4 8#8,chinnie1' the ,mother of chinchillas1 is familiar in name to every breeder of this lovely variety1 and the following letter1 of the early #8eighties1 relating to her birth and buying1 will perhaps prove interesting to the up-to-date silver fancier4 ,it is copied from the original in the possession of ,mrs4 ,vallance4 ,one guinea appears to have been a price to talk of in those days4 ,now1 one would be tempted to hide the fact of such a small amount1 and if a specimen were offered to us at this low figure we should certainly desire it to be sent on approval4 ,,the ,,vicarage1 ,,sandal ,,mayner1 ,,near ,,wakefield1 ,october #adth1 #ahhb4 #8,to ,mrs4 ,,vallance4 #8,,madam1--,the kitten ,i have to sell is quite pure bred4 ,the mother ,i bought for #a #as4 when quite a kitten from prize parents4 ,the father is one we bred partly from ,mrs4 ,radford's breed and partly from a splendid tom cat that was found living wild at ,babbicombe1 and that we had in our possession for some months1 but unfortunately he is lost again now--,i am afraid permanently4 ,i think this kitten promises to be very like the mother4 ,she is very handsome and has good points--brush1 ear tips1 and so on--but ,i consider her rather small4 ,but the kitten may be finer1 as the father is a large cat4 ,miss ,grant's are related to ours on the father's side1 but ,mrs4 ,radford's very distantly1 if at all4 #8,i do not think these ,angora kittens are delicate4 ,we have never failed in rearing them4 ,the more new milk they have1 and the better feeding1 the finer cats they are likely to make4 ,we do not have much trouble in keeping ours at home1 as we live some distance from the village4 ,we always give ours their principal meal at #f p4m41 and keep them shut up in a hay-loft until next morning4 ,if you have a box wherever the kitten lives1 with sifted sand or cinders in it1 kept in a corner1 you will find that the best way to ensure habits of cleanliness4 ,if ,i hear nothing from you to the contrary ,i will send the kitten on ,wednesday morning1 #aith1 by the early train from ,derby station2 and if you are not satisfied with the kitten ,i am willing for it to be returned within a day or two1 if the return journey is paid and ,i am let know beforehand when to expect it4 #8,i remain1 yours truly1 #8,,grace ,,hurt4' ,a letter redolent of lavender and old-world deliberation1 but words of wisdom for all that4 ,the reported delicacy of long-haired cats would trouble us less if we had more of the new milk and hay-loft system4 ,raw meat1 raw eggs1 new milk1 fresh air1 grass1 and water are the sole ingredients required to rear the most valuable kitten4 8#8,chinnie's' size is another interesting point4 ,she grew to medium weight1 but was remarkable for symmetry of form rather than bulk40 8,some of the loveliest chinchillas are small1 but #8,nizam1' #8,tod ,sloan1' #8,ameer1' #8,silver ,lambkin1' #8,laddie1' #8,lord ,argent1' #8,silver ,mist1' #8,cherub1' and #8,st4 ,anthony' stand out as being as large1 or larger1 than any cats of other colours1 and the majority of them have also the purity of colour1 broad heads1 and short legs so often lacking in large cats4 ,the legginess and want of quality which frequently accompanies size doubtless cause our leading judges to deem it of little account4 ,illustration3 ,,mrs4 ,,balding',s 8,,fluffie ,,tod40 8,the name chosen by ,mrs4 ,vallance for her new acquisition proves that even in those early days the term chinchilla was in vogue4 #8,chinnie's' wins were third ,maidstone1 ,sittingbourne1 ,v4,h4,c4 ,oxford1 ,maidstone4 ,her charming little mate #8,fluffy ,i41' a very pure silver with undecided tabby markings1 also showed the quality of coat and cherub face for which their descendants have been unsurpassed4 ,he was bred in #ahhc by ,miss ,acland from imported cats1 and won first and medal at ,maidstone1 ,cheltenham1 and ,ealing1 second ,ryde1 ,v4,h4,c4 ,crystal ,palace1 ,oxford1 and ,lincoln4 ,his career ended in #ahhf1 when he disappeared4 ,tradition whispers he was destroyed in the village4 8,in ,april1 #ahhe1 #8,chinnie' produced a litter by #8,fluffy ,i41' two members of which--#8,vezzoso' and #8,beauty'--have earned undying fame in the annals of chinchilla history4 #8,vezzoso1' a marvel of lavender loveliness1 in his one brief year of existence won first in the open class and silver medal for best in show ,albert ,palace1 #ahhe1 first ,louth1 ,maidstone1 second ,frome1 third ,lincoln4 ,illustration3 8,,sea ,,foam40 ,,the ,,property ,,of ,,mr4 ,,laughton4 8,in fatal #ahhf #8,vezzoso1' who belied his exquisite appearance by being very undomesticated1 like his maternal grandfather the wild cat of ,babbicombe1 roamed to return no more4 #8,lost in the woods' is his epitaph4 8,an even more tragic fate befel #8,fluffy ,,ii41' the #ahhf son of #8,fluffy ,i4' and #8,chinnie1' who after winning first ,crystal ,palace1 first and silver medal for best in show ,brighton1 second ,albert ,palace and ,ealing1 and siring the two before-mentioned kittens of the year1 died in #ahhg from the effects of an accident in which he was internally injured4 ,thus within little more than a year ,mrs4 ,vallance lost three of the most promising young cats anyone could possess4 ,at the time their owner scarcely realised their value1 and allowed them absolute freedom1 with such sad results4 8,but undoubtedly the best result of the #8,fluffy' and #8,chinnie' alliance was #8,beauty1' from whom1 as already stated1 came the #8,silver ,lambkins4' ,as a kitten she became the property of ,miss ,howe1 of ,bridgyate1 near ,bath1 and later1 by a breeding arrangement with the ,miss ,greshams 7now ,mrs4 ,bridgwater and ,mrs4 ,balding71 had three remarkable litters of chinchilla kittens1 the first by #8,rahman1' who shortly afterwards strayed from home and was lost4 ,this was the litter which produced four queens1 including the two #8,silver ,lambkins1' and which 7with the exception of one renamed #8,mimi1' who went to ,america with her owner7 all unfortunately died4 8,the second of ,bridgyate #8,beauty's' litters was by ,mrs4 ,shearman's #8,champion ,perso1' a magnificent light smoke with remarkable coat and wonderful mane1 winner of a large number of first and special prizes4 ,in this lot was a tom kitten destined to be a pillar of the chinchilla stud book1 the #8,silver ,lambkin1' named after his deceased half-sisters4 ,the chief beauties of this remarkable cat are his size and muscular frame1 the length and thickness of coat1 and the enormous frill inherited from #8,champion ,perso1' which spreads ,elizabethan like round his shoulders and falls to his feet in front1 a cascade of silvery white fluff several inches long4 ,to #8,perso' may be traced in some degree #8,silver ,lambkin's' success as the sire of unmarked cats1 and to #8,beauty' their pale colour1 green eyes1 and perfect shape1 which have won for her descendants by #8,lambkin' upwards of #aej first prizes4 8,at the time #8,silver ,lambkin' was bred there was no chinchilla stud cat1 and no one had thought of trying to breed chinchillas1 for whom1 as before stated1 there was no encouragement at shows or at home4 8,the third litter which brought further fame to #8,beauty' was by #8,bonny ,boy1' who in the early nineties was placed second in the class for silver tabbies at the ,crystal ,palace1 but was considered by admirers of chinchillas to be the best cat in the whole show--an honour1 however1 which came to him a month later when at ,brighton he was awarded the special for the most perfect specimen of the ,persian breed in the exhibition2 he had previously been claimed at ,sydenham1 by the ,hon4 ,mrs4 ,mc,laren ,morrison1 at his catalogue price of #f #fs41 and was afterwards renamed #8,nizam4' 8,the only information that could be obtained about this beautiful cat was that he was exhibited by ,mrs4 ,davies and that he came from ,wales4 ,report suggested that he was imported1 but there is no evidence of any chinchilla cat having been sent from abroad4 ,illustration3 ,,mrs4 ,,wellbye',s 8,,silver ,,lotus40 7,photo3 ,e4 ,landor1 ,ealing47 8#8,beauty's' litter by #8,nizam' consisted of one male and four females1 two of which1 as #8,twin and ,i'--so named because they were so exactly alike--won first prizes and medals wherever shown4 ,another was sold by me to ,mrs4 ,martin1 which1 as #8,lambkin ,queen1' was the foundation of the afterwards noted cattery at ,high ,wycombe4 #8,twin' eventually went to ,mr4 ,lawton1 who renamed her #8,queen of the ,mist4' ,mated with #8,silver ,lambkin' she produced #8,sea ,foam1' the first chinchilla to win a prize in a class solely confined to cats of the colour4 ,there was an amusing coincidence about this win1 inasmuch as after considerable trouble had been taken to get a separate class for chinchillas1 the judge gave the first prize to a heavily marked silver tabby1 thus totally ignoring the desired object4 ,this occurred at the ,crystal ,palace in #ahic or #ahid4 ,the two first classes ever given for chinchillas were this one and that given at ,cruft's first cat show at ,westminster1 held in ,march1 #ahid4 8,the next that was heard of #8,twin' was that she had succumbed from the effects of swallowing a needle4 #8,i1' registered as #8,i1 ,beauty's ,daughter1' remained the whole of her lifetime at ,the ,lodge1 ,penge1 where1 when paired with the pale blue #8,champion ,bundle1' #8,southampton ,duchess' was the result1 the latter the mother of the #8,silver ,lambkin's' most sensational son #8,champion ,lord ,southampton1' who was sold by ,mrs4 ,greenwood for #fj1 when he became the property of ,lady ,decies1 this being probably the highest price that has ever been given in ,england for a cat of any variety4 #8,champion ,lord ,southampton1' who has been a very great winner1 is remarkable for the lightness of colour and slight markings of his kittens1 this being undoubtedly due to the strain of blue in his blood4 ,many beautiful cats own him as sire1 notably ,miss ,leake's #8,seraph1' ,mrs4 ,bluhm's #8,silver ,sultan1' ,mrs4 ,neild's #8,absent-minded ,beggar1' ,miss ,white ,atkins' #8,tintagel1' ,mrs4 ,tyrwhitt ,drake's #8,musa1' ,mrs4 ,rickett's #8,empress ,josephine1' ,mrs4 ,earwaker's #8,buxton ,cloud1' ,mrs4 ,geo4 ,walker's #8,woodheys ,fitzroy1' ,mrs4 ,barnes' #8,nourmahal1' winner of the ,chinchilla ,club challenge for the best kitten1 #ahii1 and a daughter of #8,champion ,fulmer ,zaida1' shown by ,lady ,decies at the ,crystal ,palace in #aija1 also #8,green-eyed ,monster4' ,illustration3 ,,mrs4 ,,wellbye',s ,,silver 8,,dossie40 7,photo3 ,e4 ,landor1 ,ealing47 8,whilst speaking of #8,tintagel' it may be remembered that he sired a charming litter exhibited by ,mrs4 ,poole1 which were first at the ,national ,cat ,club show at the ,crystal ,palace1 and one of which won as a single kitten at the ,botanic ,gardens in #aijb4 8,other famous progeny of #8,silver ,lambkin' are #8,silver ,mist1' #8,watership ,csar' 7who won the gold medal at ,boston1 ,u4,s4,a41 for the best cat in the show1 #aijb71 #8,silver ,tod ,sloan1' #8,silver ,owl1' ,mrs4 ,bluhm's #8,silver ,lily1' #8,silver ,squire1' and #8,mowgli1' the last-named bred by ,mrs4 ,dunderdale1 but later the property of ,mrs4 ,smyth1 of ,forest ,hill1 one of the most enthusiastic admirers of chinchillas1 who has in her possession the stuffed figure of #8,beauty4' 8,a chinchilla that gained a considerable notoriety was #8,sweet ,lavender1' the property of ,mr4 ,hawkins4 ,this was a beautiful specimen1 very light in colour4 ,the latter was also a distinctive feature of the ,hon4 ,mrs4 ,mc,laren ,morrison's #8,ameer1' a son of #8,lambkin ,queen1' who stands prominently forward as one of the most perfect of his kind4 ,mrs4 ,martin's #8,st4 ,anthony1' whose name appears in the pedigrees of several winners1 is a brother of #8,ameer4' 8,as the sire of ,lady ,decies' #8,champion ,fulmer ,zaida1' the most lovely chinchilla female that has ever been seen1 #8,silver ,laddie1' who is now unfortunately gone to his happy hunting grounds1 can claim to have been one of the most noted of sires1 more particularly as he was also the father of many others of great value1 prominent amongst which were ,miss ,horsman's #8,aramis1' ,miss ,snell's #8,starlight1' #8,silver ,cherub1' #8,lady of ,quality' 7one of the most perfect chinchillas ever bred71 #8,charterhouse ,pixie' 7the dam of #8,tod ,sloan'71 and numberless others4 8,not only as a chinchilla1 but when competing with all breeds of cats1 both long and short-haired1 #8,champion ,fulmer ,zaida' has proved her excellence1 and has on more than one occasion secured the cup at the ,crystal ,palace for the best cat in the whole show4 ,she was bred by ,mrs4 ,bluhm1 one of the pioneers of chinchillas1 and1 it is stated1 has now won #acf first and special prizes1 and that ,lord ,decies has refused #ij for her4 8#8,zaida' has also produced some first-class kittens1 amongst which was ,miss ,stisted's #8,pearl1' the owner of the latter pretty queen being a most devoted admirer of the chinchilla and sparing no expense to further its interests4 8,mrs4 ,bluhm's strain of chinchillas are all very light in colour1 and show great quality1 which may also be said of those of ,mrs4 ,wellbye1 whose #8,silver ,lotus' and #8,veronica1' daughters of #8,silver ,squire' and #8,dossie1' did so much winning in their day4 8,miss ,meeson has also shown considerable enthusiasm in her endeavour to reach the ideal1 her best efforts having resulted in #8,jupiter ,duvals1' of wide fame4 8,two clubs have been formed in connection with the chinchilla cat--one1 the ,silver ,society1 embraced other coloured cats besides the chinchilla1 this eventually becoming the ,silver and ,smoke ,persian ,cat ,society4 ,it was owing to this club encouraging shaded1 or marked1 silver cats and orange eyes that the ,chinchilla ,club was formed by ,mrs4 ,balding4 ,this ,club has the honour of having as patron ,h4,s4,h4 ,princess ,victoria of ,schleswig-,holstein1 who owns and exhibits some beautiful chinchillas1 and ,lord ,decies as vice-president4 8,the ,chinchilla ,club gives its support and specials1 besides guaranteeing classes at any show whose management apply4 ,the conditions on which the specials are presented is that the cats to which they are awarded must be the property of members of the club1 prize-winners in their respective classes1 and registered cats4 8,the club prizes usually consist of half a guinea in each class1 and the more coveted ,special of the club's badge for the best chinchilla of either sex4 ,badges were selected in place of the ubiquitous medal1 because most of the dainty professional beauties very soon obtain a considerable number of the latter1 and smart little badges were more appreciated4 8,the club's present challenge trophy for chinchilla kittens is a solid silver model of #8,silver ,lambkin1' offered by the hon4 secretary for competition amongst its members2 it is also open to members of the ,national ,cat ,club1 in acknowledgment of the compliment paid by the latter to the original in choosing his statuette to surmount their challenge cup4 ,the little history of the origin of this special has never appeared in print before1 and as ,i was not present at the committee meeting referred to1 #8,i tell the tale as 'twas told to me4' ,when the challenge cups of the ,national ,cat ,club were designed in #ahig1 it was decided that the beauty and interest attached to them should be enhanced by immortalising on each the most representative cat of the long-haired and short-haired varieties4 ,for the latter the great #8,xenophon' was chosen without hesitation4 ,then came the more difficult task of deciding upon a recipient for the distinction from the long-haired ranks1 which claim so much of the beauty and wealth of winnings of the cat world as to render the singling out of one a matter of consideration4 ,to hasten the termination of the discussion ,mrs4 ,stennard ,robinson sent for a collection of cat photographs which had been left to her by the late ,miss ,portman1 the well-known #8,rara ,avis' of the ,lady's ,pictorial4 ,amongst these the hon4 secretary of the ,n4,c4,c4 pointed out one--with no name attached--as the most beautiful photograph of the lot4 ,this was recognised by most of the committee as being #8,silver ,lambkin1' so the honour fell to him4 ,illustration3 ,,mrs4 ,,wellbye',s ,,silver 8,,veronica40 7,photo3 ,e4 ,landor1 ,ealing47 8,by some error at the makers' the long-haired cat was placed on both challenge cups1 and it was determined by the club that the superfluous model which had to be removed and replaced by #8,xenophon' should be mounted as a letter-weight and given as a challenge prize for kittens1 to be won three times before becoming the property of the winner4 ,after some keen competition1 covering about half a dozen shows1 ,mrs4 ,martin won it outright in #ahii1 when it was replaced by the present exactly similar model4 8,the endeavour of the ,chinchilla ,cat ,club1 of which all the leading breeders and most successful exhibitors are members1 is to continue the work that has been done to improve chinchillas1 and to produce a new variety the colour of the palest shade of the fur 7dyed7 known as #8blue fox1' or a very light shade of pigeon blue4 ,without doubt such a result can be obtained by careful selection and--#8the little more4' ,darwin's words on the subject of selection are attractive to all owners of live stock4 ,he says3 #8,improvement is by no means due to crossing different breeds4 ,all the best breeders are strongly opposed to this practice1 except sometimes amongst closely allied sub-breeds4 ,and when a cross has been made1 the closest selection is far more indispensable even than in ordinary cases4 ,if selection consisted merely in separating some very distinct variety and breeding from it1 the principle would be so obvious as to be hardly worth notice2 but the importance consists in the great effect produced by the accumulation in one direction during successive generations of differences absolutely unappreciable by an uneducated eye4 ,not one man in a thousand has the accuracy of eye and judgment sufficient to become an eminent breeder4444 ,few would readily believe in the natural capacity and years of practice requisite to become even a skilful pigeon fancier4' 8,the ,chinchilla ,cat ,club is also prepared to encourage cats of new colours1 which should now be not so very difficult to produce1 considering the points that have been brought out in those varieties that were well known1 the latter showing that it is possible to breed to a standard if judgment is used in the endeavour to do so4 ,some of us remember the time when a blue cat1 either long or short-haired 7now the largest classes71 was a rara avis when ,mrs4 ,lee's #8,meo' was the only ,siamese at the ,crystal ,palace show1 smokes an equal oddity1 blue eyes in a white cat a comparatively unnoticed point1 and cream-coloured cats entirely unknown4 8,the colour of the chinchilla has been bred in various ways4 ,in bygone days1 when chinchilla cats were flukes or freaks and few and far between1 methods which would now be considered somewhat eccentric were resorted to by the first breeders of the colour4 ,the useful tortoiseshell1 from which black1 red1 cream1 or tabby cats can be got1 was pressed into the service1 and1 paired with a silver or light blue tabby not too clearly marked1 would occasionally1 amid the multi-coloured kittens for which tortoiseshells are proverbial1 throw a medium chinchilla or light silver tabby1 which with careful selection might1 a generation or two later1 develop into something approaching a good chinchilla4 8,but it is1 perhaps1 more difficult to foretell with cats than any other animal what the result of pairing will be with anything like certainty4 ,this particularly applies to the ordinary ,english cat1 as it is impossible to guess at the mixture of different-coloured creatures which have preceded it1 and any of which may influence the progeny of its descendants4 ,a fancier who would produce any particular specimen must1 amongst other gifts1 be equipped with the patience of biblical celebrities and prepared to wait seven years1 as one enthusiast actually did before arriving at the fulfilment of his desires in the shape of a well-marked tabby kitten4 ,illustration3 ,,southern ,,cattery1 ,,showing ,,entrance ,,to ,,infirmary ,,and ,,indoor ,,cattery4 ,illustration3 ,,mrs4 ,,walker ,,visiting ,,her ,,pets4 ,,two ,,views ,,of ,,woodheys ,,cattery4 8,with pedigree cats1 of course1 the chances of unexpected traits reappearing in their progeny are considerably lessened1 and1 given desirable connections on both sides of some years' standing1 the personal attributes of a coming litter may be predicted more or less successfully4 ,one of the loveliest of smokes--the correct black1 with white under-coat1 without the shadow of a stripe--was from a brown tabby queen1 from brown tabby parents1 and a chinchilla bred from a chinchilla dam and smoke sire4 ,again1 a brown tabby with white paws1 whose appearance did not suggest the bluest of blood1 mated with the same chinchilla sire1 produced in a litter three chinchillas and two faintly marked silver tabbies1 which would nowadays have been styled #8shaded silvers' by followers of the dubious hue4 ,needless to say1 these instances are not given to encourage the idea of breeding chinchillas from brown tabbies1 but as illustrations that just as the results of pairing a cat with one of nondescript pedigree cannot be guessed1 so in an animal carefully bred for generations so indelibly have the characteristics of the breed or variety been stamped upon it by past ancestors that it is practically impossible for them to become obliterated or submerged4 ,illustration3 8,,silver ,,blossom40 ,,owned ,,by ,,mrs4 ,,walker4 7,photo3 ,findlow ,co41 ,high ,wycombe47 8,thus the type once fixed survives1 though it be by the aid of the most incongruous connection1 such as a brown tabby4 ,had the latter been the patrician bred from progenitors of her colours1 and the chinchilla been the one of doubtful lineage1 the result must1 of course1 have been reversed1 and the kittens1 in all probability1 would have followed the brown tabby strain4 ,if neither parent cat when of distinct varieties can boast a particularly dominant strain1 the offspring naturally partakes of the peculiarities of both4 8,colour1 in chinchillas1 is the most important point4 ,it should be of palest silver1 lavender tint1 and lighter--in fact1 practically white--at the roots4 ,there should be no dark blotches or stripes or brown tint on the back or about the nose4 ,a rusty hue is1 however1 sometimes caused by the action of the sun or wind4 ,as regards bars or stripes on head1 these should be as few and light in colour as possible1 with a view to breeding them out altogether in the future4 8,the coat should be long and thick1 of fine1 soft texture1 much thicker and longer round the neck1 forming a decided frill and mane1 the latter reaching well down the fore legs4 ,it should also be longer on the hinder part of the thighs1 forming culotte1 and very bushy on the tail1 which should be short and wide4 ,the legs should be slightly feathered1 with tufts of hair between the toes4 ,there should also be tufts in the ears1 which should be very small and set low4 8,the head should be wide at the forehead and short in the muzzle1 well filled up below the eyes1 giving it a round appearance4 ,the eyes large and luminous1 in colour emerald green with black lids4 ,green and yellow mixture is permissible1 but not so picturesque as the green2 yellow in the eyes is not desirable4 ,in shape the chinchilla should have a level back1 and be only slightly long in the couplings4 ,the legs should be short1 with round paws1 the latter well padded4 ,when in full coat the hair should nearly reach the ground and the frill envelop the back of the head1 making a very fascinating whole40 ,the following is the standard of points as drawn up by the ,chinchilla ,cat ,club4 ,it is also used in ,america as a basis for criticism3-- #a4 ,colour of ,coat4--,palest silver1 lavender tint preferred1 nearly white at roots4 ,no dark stripes1 blotches1 or brown tint4 ,darker tips to the long-hairs give the coat an appearance of being lightly peppered with a darker shade4 ,the whole appearance of the cat to be very pale #cj #b4 ,coat4--,long and thick #bj #c4 ,texture of ,coat4--,fine and soft #aj #d4 ,tufts of hair inside and round the ears and between the toes #aj #e4 ,head4--,broad and round2 forehead wide1 ears small and set low1 nose short #be #f4 ,shape4--,back level1 not too short2 legs short1 paws round2 brush short1 wide1 and carried low #bj #g4 ,eyes4--,large1 luminous1 and green in colour 7if green mixed with yellow1 #e points only allowed7 #aj ,to breeders of silver ,persian cats an article by ,mrs4 ,neild will be valuable and instructive4 ,mrs4 ,neild has made1 so to speak1 a speciality of silvers1 and owns two noted silver studs--the 8,absent-minded ,beggar0 and 8,lord ,hampton40 ,there are always some good silver queens1 and very frequently some choice kits1 disporting themselves in the well-arranged catteries at ,hart ,hill1 ,bowdon1 where ,mrs4 ,neild has a kennel of ,borzois and a cattery of silvers4 ,this is what ,mrs4 ,neild says regarding the breeding and rearing of silver ,persian cats3-- 8,perhaps of the many varieties ,persian cats--and1 indeed1 they are a goodly number as they now appear on our show catalogues and schedules--the silvers may claim their owners to be the most sporting of cat breeders4 ,certainly1 to breed successfully it is essential that one should possess the not too common virtues of unlimited patience and perseverance4 ,also experience is necessary4 8,a common occurrence among even old hands is to assign a kitten--one of a new litter under inspection1 as being of #8little good except as a pet'--#8to be sold at a small sum to a good home1' and a few weeks later discover this same kitten to be the pick of the litter4 ,in short1 the old1 old story of the ugly duckling incessantly repeats itself in our catteries1 certainly in those devoted to silver cats4 ,therefore ,i suspect fanciers who have succeeded 7all honour to the few67 and those who mean to succeed in breeding silver ,persian cats of possessing a larger stock of patience and of having acquired a larger experience than their brothers and sisters whose love has turned towards the blue1 black1 or white pussies4 ,illustration3 8,,silver ,,blossom',s0 ,,two ,,buds4 7,photo3 ,mrs4 ,g4 ,h4 ,walker47 8,with these last three one may be tolerably sure--always taking for granted some knowledge--of fairly pure coat colour1 and at a very early age the best kittens of the litter may be picked out--those having greatest breadth of skull1 smallest ears1 etc4 ,but the silver litters are a veritable surprise packet1 and remain so for an irritatingly long period4 ,personally1 ,i have found that those kittens which1 when born1 have very pale--almost white--unbarred faces and fore legs are ultimately those which grow palest4 ,i take no notice of the colour of the coat on the back1 sides1 hind legs1 or tail1 even if striped1 as frequently happens1 for all these markings generally vanish if--as ,i before said--the face and fore legs are unbarred4 ,i must1 however1 own to one kitten who was born jet black4 ,she was by ,mrs4 ,champion's #8,lord ,argent' and a shaded silver queen of my own breeding4 ,when a month old ,i dubbed her a very bad smoke2 at three months she was coatless--a most indecent little person1 having shed her coat more completely than ,i had ever seen in cat or kitten4 ,when1 after a provokingly long period1 she again consented to appear clothed1 her dress was of palest silver1 unadorned by any markings except a very faint smudge on her forehead and--which1 alas1 spoilt her for show--a darker tinge on her broken tail4 ,how is it that to our best some accident always happens8 ,so1 as ,i could not exhibit her1 ,i sold her to a delightful home in the ,north of ,england1 and her enthusiastic owner wrote to me a few weeks since that her big babies by #8,lord ,hampton' were as pale as the mother1 who herself grew steadily of a fainter silver4 ,illustration3 8,,wild ,,tom40 ,,silver1 ,,bred ,,by ,,mrs4 ,g4 ,h4 ,,walker4 7,photo3 ,mrs4 ,g4 ,h4 ,walker47 8,unfortunately1 silvers more than any other breed of cats lack bone1 caused1 of course1 by the unavoidable in-breeding practised when this variety of cat was first introduced and so enthusiastically welcomed1 and when but one or two fanciers owned a cat of such shade4 ,another article on this subject1 by a lady who may really claim to have established this breed1 will explain to the reader more than it is in my power or province to declare4 8,to go back to the subject of our small silvers1 in-bred to delicacy4 ,we should now remember how many good sires1 absolutely unrelated and within easy reach1 are placed at our disposal4 ,therefore1 surely there can be no possible excuse if in a comparatively short time we do not manage to own silvers big in bone and limb1 and owning--ah6 happy accompaniment--greater constitutional vigour4 8,we are1 ,i believe1 too apt1 if owning a pale queen1 to mate her with the palest known stud1 disregarding other very important considerations in the all-absorbing wish to breed the wonderful #8dirty white' king or queen of silvers4 ,sometimes this atom 7verily so7 of perfection does make its appearance1 and is enthusiastically greeted4 ,but what of the mite itself8 ,a tiny1 sickly scrap of a kitten1 constantly ailing1 refusing to grow or to weigh1 except at a rate of less than half the average blue kitten of its own age4 ,but extraordinary care keeps the mite alive until one day some chance draught or a maid's carelessness ends our careful nursing1 and the poor owner of that #8lovely dirty white kit' at last realises that this other good-bye means it may be wiser to mate that same pale queen to the strongest1 hardiest1 biggest-boned stud possible to be found among our silver studs1 even if he is rather barred4 8,now mark4 ,from the result of this mating1 keep the best of the female kittens and marry her--if possible1 not before she is eighteen 7at any rate1 fifteen7 months old--to a stud unrelated1 sturdy1 of undoubtedly splendid health1 for preference paler than herself1 and boasting grand head and the essential tiny ears and short nose4 ,then you may dream your dreams with a chance of their resulting in a golden reality4 8,if breeders would but spend rather more thought when they select husbands for their pussies1 they would be indeed repaid4 ,i am not speaking1 of course1 to the fortunate few who have won their laurels1 and of whom ,i would ,i might learn2 although ,i rather suspect their secret of success is but the result of continual study1 coupled with extreme care4 ,would not an enormous increase of size and weight soon become evident in the occupants of our catteries if1 when a queen was about to be mated1 her owner would first carefully study the list of points provided by the ,silver and ,smoke ,persian ,cat ,society 7previously quoted in this work71 jotting down those good qualities to which she believes her queen may lay claim1 and then selecting that sire possessing the points most wanting in her own cat--of course1 never forgetting relationship8 ,the old rule about in-breeding is #8once in1 twice out1' as all old fanciers know2 but where silver ,persian cats are in question1 ,i would most strongly urge that this adage be disregarded1 and1 as a rule1 avoid in-breeding entirely until a stronger race of silver cats is established1 cats with frames equal to those big blue beauties we see at our shows4 ,i think that in a comparatively short time--of course1 always avoiding tabby blood1 breeding chiefly for bone--our silver cats may be very different to those of to-day1 those who own too fairylike limbs to be beautiful4 8,a word about our famous sires--and1 by the way1 we may congratulate ourselves on having within reach so many beauties4 ,often ,i have letters asking for advice as to which stud such and such a queen shall visit2 and1 in addition to the above suggestions1 ,i would remind the owner that length of journey should be taken into consideration1 and the fact that if the chosen sire is extremely popular it may be that a better result may be gained if the queen is sent to one not so much in request1 especially if the owner of the stud cat has not been warned before of the visit of your pussie4 ,however1 most owners of stud cats are extremely careful in limiting the number of visitors1 and few object to keeping ,sir ,thomas free for a week beforehand if given due notice4 8,do let me urge all whom it may concern to keep ,madame in close confinement for several days after her return home4 ,indeed1 in the interest of the owner of both stud and queen this is of vast importance1 and many a disappointment is due to this seemingly small neglect4 ,puss does not always return as one would wish1 however great the care given her whilst away on her holiday1 and may take her matrimonial affairs into her own paws with results most unsatisfactory to everyone but herself4 ,when the kits arrive1 do not--if you have reason to expect valuable kittens as a result of the mating--leave more than two or three with the mother 7,i am1 of course1 speaking of silver kittens7 for reasons ,i shall directly state4 ,by far the best plan is to procure 7some time before the birth of both litters7 a good big ,english cat as foster mother1 one known to have brought up a previous litter--not an old cat4 ,the usual method of substituting her foster for her own babies is to take away the mother cat for a few minutes--of course1 out of sight--and1 removing one of her own kittens1 rub the little silver baby with the hay of the nest and against the other kittens so that the strange smell--sense of all others so wonderfully developed in animals--may not raise suspicion in the foster mother4 ,then the next day remove one or two more4 8,may ,i1 at this point1 plead that the little kittens taken from their mother for your benefit should not be drowned8 ,if they must be sent along the silent road to the ,quiet ,city1 let it be done mercifully and by chloroform4 ,such wee things may rest easily in a big biscuit box1 the lids of which usually close tightly1 and about #a oz4 of chloroform poured on a piece of flannel or sponge laid on a small saucer by their side will send them painlessly to sleep4 8,the reason ,i strongly advise that the ,english foster should nurse the best of the litter is but an echo of the old cry1 #8,want of bone4' ,fed by the sturdy ,british puss1 the delicate tiny balls of silver fluff will gain greater strength1 and be mothered for a longer period than would be possible with their real parent4 ,illustration3 8,,fur ,,and ,,feather40 7,photo3 ,mrs4 ,s4 ,f4 ,clarke7 8,it is necessary to remember that1 although the foster mother needs extra food when nursing--just as in the case of the silver mother--more caution must be exercised when beginning the more liberal diet1 for very probably1 if this is forgotten1 a liver attack--which will also affect the precious kits--will be the result of her unusually liberal fare4 ,remember1 also1 to inquire of the owner of your foster as to how she has been fed4 ,with this knowledge1 common sense and careful watching of cat and kittens will quickly show if it would be better to increase or diminish her meals either in quantity or quality4 ,it is of enormous value to bespeak the foster mother1 if possible1 four or five weeks before the birth of the kittens1 for then it will not hurt to give her what is almost certain to be necessary--i4e4 a worm powder4 8,i always allow my mother pussies as much milk as they like 7although1 as a rule1 my cats drink water71 but it should be boiled1 and one tablespoonful of lime-water added to each half-pint4 ,when ,i once urged this care of the foster mother to a friend who owned two kittens she was extremely anxious to rear1 ,i was laughed to scorn1 and assured that such fussiness about a strong ,english cat was more than foolish4 ,yet ,i would remind breeders who are inclined to agree with the above opinion that on the perfect health of your head nurse rests the future of your much-prized litter4 ,on her depends their growth1 their first chance of throwing off their natural delicacy4 ,mr4 ,house1 in one of his articles lately published in ,fur and ,feather1 advises that kittens should be kept with and fed by their mothers as long as sixteen weeks4 ,in my humble opinion this is too great a strain on any ,persian cat1 but there may be great wisdom in keeping the kits with the mother or foster for as long as it is possible without overtaxing the cat4 ,the same authority speaks of a relay of foster mothers4 ,i confess this puzzles me1 for ,i should imagine that the food supplied by the second mother would be too weak in quality 7as ,nature provides it shall be of different quality to suit the age of all and every kind of baby7 for the big kits after that of the first foster1 and ,i should have also imagined the second foster would refuse to nurse kits so much bigger than those she had just left4 8,when my kits are four weeks old ,i give them raw lean beef--scraped1 not chopped--beginning with half a teaspoonful daily1 then the same quantity twice daily1 then three times a day2 and at the same time teach them to lap1 using a plate1 which1 being shallower than a saucer1 causes less choking and fear to the little things40 ,mrs4 ,g4 ,h4 ,walker1 of ,woodheys ,park1 is the chief supporter of the ,northern ,counties ,cat ,club1 and is a member of the ,national ,cat ,club ,committee4 ,for several years she has been a well-known breeder and exhibitor of silver ,persians1 and has a most excellently planned cattery1 which ,i had the pleasure of seeing when on a visit to ,woodheys ,grange4 ,mrs4 ,walker kindly had some views taken1 specially for reproduction in these pages4 ,i consider the arrangements for the pussies' comfort and well-being as complete as it is possible to make them4 ,the floors of the outside catteries1 which face south1 are cemented1 so that they can be washed over every day4 ,the roofs are boarded1 and then covered with galvanised iron1 so that all the rain runs away easily4 ,the spacious apartments are fitted with benches and ledges1 and trunks of trees and leafy shrubs are planted in the ground for the cats' special amusement and exercise4 ,the kennels--which1 for the purpose of photographing them have been placed outside--are the cosy sleeping dens of the pussies4 ,there is a maid in attendance on these fortunate cats1 and the man who looks after the kennels of dogs also gives a helping hand4 ,illustration3 8,,the ,,silver ,,lambkins40 ,,by 8,,rahman0 ex 8,,beauty40 ,in one of the pictures will be seen a staircase1 and this leads to three charmingly arranged rooms4 ,all the appliances and utensils connected with the animals are kept in one of these apartments4 ,another is set apart for mothers and their families1 and a third is kept in case of illness for an isolation ward4 ,in one of the loose boxes near at hand the cooking for the pussies is carried on1 and there is a larder specially for the cats' food4 ,mrs4 ,walker devotes much of her time to looking after her pets1 and great has been her sorrow over the untimely death of some of her treasured pussies4 ,after one of the large shows1 infection crept into her cattery1 and worked most cruel havoc4 ,such losses as ,mrs4 ,walker sustained were enough to damp the ardour of the most enthusiastic cat lover and fancier2 but the lady of ,woodheys ,grange bravely faced the situation1 and after a period of sad reflection she once again resumed her hobby with renewed interest4 ,at the ,northern ,counties ,cat ,show at ,manchester in #aijb ,mrs4 ,walker exhibited a really wonderful silver kitten4 ,i say wonderful1 for this youngster1 bred from the owner's 8,woodheys ,fitzroy0 and 8,countess10 was the most unshaded and unmarked specimen of a silver ,i have ever seen4 ,this unique specimen will be watched with interest by silver fanciers4 ,may his shadings ever grow less6 ,the average number of inmates of this cattery is about thirty1 but at one period of ,mrs4 ,g4 ,h4 ,walker's catty career the silver fever ran high1 and there were sixty-three cats and kits within the precincts of the spacious and luxurious catteries of ,woodheys ,grange4 ,mrs4 ,martin1 of ,high ,wycombe1 who has often acted as judge1 has been a most successful breeder of silvers1 and the progeny by 8,st4 ,anthony10 her noted sire1 have distinguished themselves by winning over one hundred prizes4 8,st4 ,anthony0 has retired into private life1 but he will always be remembered if only by his two children 8,silver ,dove0 and 8,fascination40 ,mrs4 ,martin says1 8,i am all in favour of the male being older than the queen in breeding silvers2 also select a good-coated stud cat1 short in the legs4 ,eyes are a worry just now4 ,of course1 ,i like green best1 but if a cat is good in all points but colour of eye1 this should not upset an award4 ,i find that if a kitten is born almost self silver1 it will develop into an indifferent silver tabby later2 but if the body is dark1 and head and legs light and clear1 you may hope for a very unmarked specimen in due time40 ,mrs4 ,wellbye's silver cats 8,dossie10 8,silver ,lotus10 and 8,veronica0 were at one time well-known winners1 and for length of coat and beauty of eye have seldom been surpassed4 ,mrs4 ,wellbye is a most astute judge of silvers1 and her remarks on this her favourite breed will be read with interest3-- 8,this handsome variety of the ,persian ranks high in the estimation of cat lovers2 indeed1 its ardent admirers consider it the crme de la crme of the cat world4 ,and why not8 ,surely there is nothing to compare with a lovely young chinchilla ,persian in full coat4 ,its very daintiness and seeming pride in itself is quite charming4 ,one is reminded of a pretty child dressed out in its party frock1 for puss appears to know it is well dressed and desirous to show her charms to the best advantage4 ,she dances1 pirouettes1 and throws herself into the most graceful and entrancing attitudes1 until we feel in sympathy with the ,egyptians of old and are willing to fall down and worship our adorable pets4 ,we all love beauty1 but to those who love cats there is something beyond even beauty1 for only they who keep and care and treat them well know the comfort these little creatures are1 and the happiness they can bestow by their sweet caressing ways1 perhaps more especially to those whose hearts are starved of human love1 but still to all whose sympathies are wide of the varieties of silver cats4 ,i will first treat of the chinchilla4 8,the ,crystal ,palace show of #ahie or #ahif was the first ,i remember with a class for chinchillas2 previous to that1 ,i believe1 they were not recognised as such1 but were shown with the silver tabbies4 ,strictly speaking1 the name chinchilla is a misnomer as applied to these cats4 ,the soft grey coat of the little animal called the chinchilla1 whose lovely fur is so much prized as an article of ladies' dress1 differs diametrically from the cat so-called4 8,the fur of the chinchilla is dark at the roots1 and shades quite pale grey at the tips4 ,the cat's fur1 on the contrary1 is absolutely pale grey1 almost white at the roots1 but tipped with black at the outer edges4 8,the points as laid down by the ,silver ,society are as follow3 #8,chinchillas should be as pale and unmarked silver as it is possible to breed them4' 8,the aim of the breeder of this variety1 therefore1 is to obtain a cat with none of the markings of the original stock 7the silver tabby71 the dark tippings to be slight and faint4 ,illustration3 ,,brown ,,tabby ,,and ,,silver ,,persians4 7,from a ,painting by ,miss ,f4 ,marks47 8,breeders have found this ideal most difficult to obtain2 although some kittens are born pale all over1 with no markings1 in a few weeks--or maybe months--the hope of the family is no more1 for the lighter the kitten the more delicate4 #8,whom the gods love1 die young4' ,or1 again1 if the cherished one lives over its baby troubles1 and starts on the change from its first1 or kitten coat1 to the second coat1 too often do the markings appear1 the shadings get darker1 or fine black hairs are seen amongst the pale grey4 ,some of the best chinchilla kittens have been born quite dark1 and with tiny stripes all over4 ,at a month or six weeks these marks have disappeared1 and later the coat has become an even silver4 8,the breeder must not even then build high hopes4 ,again change may occur4 ,there is no cat which varies so much2 it is quite chameleon-like in this respect4 8,a few years ago the ,cat ,club adopted the name of #8self silver' as applied to the chinchilla--another misnomer1 as a self silver should have no tippings or shadings1 and the silver cat has not been bred that had fur the same shade throughout from roots to tips4 8,the slight dark edging to the fur constitutes to most people the charm in these silvers4 ,sometimes it is almost imperceptible to the casual observer2 or when the cat is in full coat 7the fur being from three to seven inches long on the tail--sometimes as much as nine inches7 the tiny fleckings are lost in wavy1 tossing1 billowy coat4 ,but let the coat become damp1 however slightly1 it will be seen that the dark edges are clearly in evidence4 ,illustration3 8,,jupiter ,,duvals40 ,,owned ,,and ,,bred ,,by ,,miss ,s4 ,,meeson4 7,photo3 ,f4 ,parsons1 ,southend-on-,sea47 8,as1 however1 breeders could not always produce the pale shade of silver1 the litters1 even with the most careful mating1 being generally assorted in good1 bad1 and indifferent so far as colour was concerned1 many fine cats--dark silvers--had no place assigned to them4 8,it was then suggested that a class should be given at the shows to be called #8shaded silver1' the points according to the ,silver ,society being as follows3-- 8#8,shaded silvers should be defined as pale1 clear silver1 shaded on face1 legs1 and back1 but having as few tabby markings as possible4' 8,the dark or shaded silvers1 it was understood1 should have pale1 clear under-coats2 but instead of the fleckings of the self silver 7so-called71 the dark edges ran a considerable way into the fur4 ,the shaded silver is a handsome cat1 but too often much marked on the face and barred on the legs1 a defect most difficult to overcome4 ,many cat fanciers describe the shaded silver as a #8spoilt tabby4' ,illustration3 ,,the ,,elder ,,miss ,,blossom4 ,,silver1 ,,owned ,,by ,,miss ,,horsman4 8,the third in the group of silvers is the silver tabby4 ,the points are here stated3-- 8#8,the colour of a silver tabby should be a pale1 clear silver1 with distinct black markings4' 8,this variety ought in equity to have been mentioned first1 as it is the original stock1 but it has been overshadowed by the superior attractions of the chinchilla4 7,silver tabby enthusiasts will perhaps pardon this eulogy of my favourite breed47 ,there is not the slightest doubt this handsome cat1 the silver tabby1 has suffered materially from the craze for the newer variety1 and consequently the type has not been kept pure4 ,they have been mated over and over again with cats of less markings in the hope of breeding chinchillas1 until at the present day there are very few silver tabbies true to type4 8,the position of the silver tabby in the feline scale is very peculiar4 ,as a ,persian it is1 of course1 necessary that its coat should be long and fine1 whilst as a tabby it is desirable that the markings should show up to advantage4 ,how to reconcile the two is the puzzle1 for the longer the coat the less the markings are evident1 as the stripes are merged in the flowing coat1 so that we sometimes see at the cat shows exhibits woefully out of coat placed in the first rank1 as the markings are much more distinct4 ,it follows1 then1 in this variety of the silver1 a long coat is distinctly a disadvantage when competing at shows4 8,having now obtained three types for silvers1 and the ,cat ,club willing to give classes for them at the great shows held in ,st4 ,stephen's ,hall1 ,westminster1 the outcome was looked forward to with much interest4 ,but it was one thing to get four types1 and quite another matter to get silver breeders to understand the fine distinction2 consequently1 the cats were entered in self silver1 shaded silver1 and silver tabby classes indiscriminately4 ,the result was1 of course1 muddle and confusion1 many exhibitors having the mortification of finding #8,wrong ,class' on the cat pens4 8,at a recent show held at ,westminster under the auspices of the ,cat ,club1 the judge was asked by the ,honorary ,secretary to go round the classes first1 and if any exhibit was wrongly placed to re-classify before judging4 ,this worked satisfactorily so far as disqualification was concerned4 8,at this show1 however1 the judge was confronted with another difficulty1 it being found that most of the cats in the classes for shaded silver had deviated materially from the standard of points laid down by the ,silver ,society4 ,instead of the clear1 pale under-coat1 the fur was a dark grey right down to the skin4 ,the majority of these cats were quite dark1 and1 rightly speaking1 were not silvers--that is1 if one bears in mind the metal so named4 ,it is difficult to say in what class they could be placed1 unless a new class was created1 to be called #8clouded or oxydised silver4' ,if we go on to these subdivisions we shall not know where to stop4 ,self silver or chinchilla1 shaded silver1 clouded silver1 and silver tabby--a truly appalling problem for the bewildered judge to decide1 for the majority of exhibitors would not appreciate the variations4 8,it may come to this eventually1 but at the present time the threefold classification leads to much confusion1 for as nearly--or very nearly--all silver cats are more or less tabby marked1 so will exhibitors be in doubt as to the class to which their cats rightly belong4 8,it is a question if the introduction of the shaded class at shows has not done more harm than good1 for as previously we saw very few of the dark silvers--it not being worth breeding the variety when there was no class in which to show them--so now the tendency of exhibits1 as anyone who attends shows can see1 is to run to darkness rather than light2 and breeding for colour1 purity of colour1 and absence of markings has received a set-back1 for with some judges colour is nothing1 and prizes will be showered upon a #8spoilt tabby' if it happens to have1 perhaps1 a broader head or a bulkier body--good points1 as everyone will allow1 but points which the common or garden cat may possess2 and we do not pit our dainty chinchillas against all and sundry4 8,without wishing in any way to detract from the good qualities which the more plebeian branches of the cat tribe undoubtedly possess1 it is impossible not to award the palm for grace and beauty to the highly bred aristocratic chinchilla4 ,coal and iron are useful1 but we give our admiration to diamonds and pearls40 ,illustration3 8,,dolly ,,daydream40 7,photo3 ,e4 ,landor1 ,ealing47 ,before closing the chapter on silvers1 ,i will allude to the ,cat ,club show held at ,st4 ,stephen's ,hall1 ,westminster ,aquarium1 in ,january1 #aijc4 ,on this occasion there was quite a record entry in the male silver class1 which contained twenty-one cats4 ,the list was headed by ,mr4 ,j4 ,f4 ,dewar's handsome 8,father ,o',flynn ,,ii40 ,many well-known prize-winners had to be content with a ,v4,h4,c4 card in this class of quantity and quality4 ,the females numbered eighteen1 and here again a noted winner was awarded the highest honours4 ,miss ,chamberlayne's 8,cap and ,bells0 is very pale and pure in colour1 and carries a soft1 silky coat4 ,in the silver kitten class the sexes were not divided1 and ,miss ,ford's lovely kittens scored first and third4 ,a sweeter face and rounder head than that possessed by 8,silver ,button10 the first prize-winner1 would be difficult to find1 and ,miss ,ford may be congratulated on having bred such a gem4 ,mr4 ,t4 ,b4 ,mason judged the silver classes at this show1 and he doubtless experienced some difficulty in testing the colour of the exhibits in the bad light of ,st4 ,stephen's ,hall1 more especially as on the opening day of the show a dense fog hung over the city4 ,another difficulty which must present itself to our most capable judges is the awarding of specials offered for silvers and shaded silvers4 ,perhaps the easiest way out of this difficulty is to give the shaded silver prizes to the darkest cats2 but all are shaded1 even the palest1 and therefore some judges might justify themselves if they awarded both sets of specials to the one cat4 ,at this show ,lady ,marcus ,beresford offered three special prizes in each silver cat class for the palest specimens1 one of these in the male class being won by her own handsome 8,beetle10 a son of the famous 8,lord ,southampton40 ,the classification for silvers at the specialist societies' show at ,bath1 which followed close after the ,westminster show1 was the largest that has ever been given1 consisting of classes for novices and breeders1 in addition to the ordinary division and subdivision for cats and kittens4 ,the sensible plan of a ring class for neuters only was adopted4 ,members of the specialist society for the encouragement of silvers must on this occasion have felt proud of the liberal classification and of the long list of handsome special prizes offered for their favourite breed of long-haired cats4 ,illustration3 8,i ,,want ,,to ,,go ,,home40 7,photo3 ,e4 ,landor1 ,ealing47 ,illustration3 8,,the ,,marquis ,,of ,,dingley40 ,,silver ,,tabby1 ,,owned ,,by ,,miss ,,anderson ,,leake4 7,photo3 ,cassell ,company1 ,limited47 ,,chapter ,,xiii4 ,,silver ,,tabby ,,persians4 ,there can be no question that a really good silver tabby will carry off the palm even from the most exquisite unmarked silver cat1 and in this assertion ,i feel ,i have the support of all our professional judges1 for with the 8mere man10 it is well known1 the pale silvers do not stand high in favour4 ,men call them 8wishy-washy10 insipid1 and wanting in expression1 and are generally displeased at this sport in the fancy that has spoiled the handsome silver tabbies of years gone by4 ,no doubt there is just cause for complaint1 for the inter-breeding of silvers with silver tabbies has undoubtedly done much to destroy the clear defined markings which in tabby cats is their chief glory4 ,now1 of course1 it is easily understood that these tabby markings in a long-haired cat cannot be so distinct as those that appear to such advantage in the short-haired breeds4 8,the better the coat the weaker the markings10 may be said of ,persian silver tabbies1 and judges have been known to give the highest award to an out-of-coat specimen just because the markings are more evident than in a cat in full pelage4 ,harrison ,weir states that 8,tabby is not a ,persian colour10 and goes on to say1 8,nor have ,i ever seen an imported cat of that colour40 ,his definition of a silver tabby reads thus3--8,markings3 ,jet-black lines1 not too broad1 scarcely so wide as the ground colour shown between1 so as to give a light and brilliant effect4 ,when the black lines are broader than the colour space1 it is a defect1 being then black marked with colour1 instead of colour with black4 ,the lines must be clear1 sharp1 and well defined1 in every way distinct1 having no mixture of the ground colour4 ,head and legs marked regularly1 the rings on the throat and chest being in no way blurred or broken1 but clear1 graceful1 and continuous2 lips1 cushions of feet1 and the backs of hind legs1 and the ear points1 black40 ,and here it will be interesting to give the discussion which took place and the list of points drawn up at the inaugural meeting of the ,silver ,society in #aijj1 and which standard is still adhered to in the present ,silver and ,smoke ,persian ,cat ,society3-- ,,silver ,,tabbies4 ,at the meeting of the ,silver ,society1 discussion arose as to whether the markings on silver tabbies should be broad or narrow4 ,lady ,marcus ,beresford proposed that ,miss ,leake and ,mrs4 ,herring should be asked to express an opinion1 both being breeders of prize-winners4 ,miss ,leake said she thought there were two distinct types of cats1 the one with broad markings1 the other with narrow stripes1 and that both were correct silver tabbies1 the superior beauty of either being a matter of personal opinion4 ,mrs4 ,herring agreed1 and said the markings should be a dense black4 ,miss ,leake considered they should be black at the tips1 but shading to light at the roots4 ,mr4 ,abbott objected to the word 8dense10 as black was black1 and the word 8distinct0 was substituted4 ,finally the following was resolved3--,the colour of a silver tabby should be a pale clear silver1 with distinct black markings1 any brown or cream tinge to be considered detrimental4 ,the eyes should be orange or green3 ,head and expression #be ,colour and markings #be ,colour of eyes #e ,coat and condition #bj ,shape #ae ,brush #aj ------ ,total #ajj ,the adoption of the preceding descriptions and scale of points as a whole was carried unanimously4 ,illustration3 ,,miss ,,leake',s ,,summer ,,cattery4 7,photo3 ,cassell ,company1 ,limited47 ,as regards the eyes of a silver tabby1 ,harrison ,weir says 8deep bright yellow40 ,the ,silver ,society gives an option of 8orange or green02 but the mandate of present-day fashion and personal bias is in favour of green eyes for silver tabbies4 ,from an artistic point of view1 there is no doubt emerald green is a better contrast to silver than yellow or orange4 ,the ,rev4 ,r4 ,maynard1 whose name has for many years been connected with silver tabbies1 recently complained in the papers of the tendency to breed green eyes in this variety4 ,he writes3 8,in former days we never had anything to do with a cat that had green eyes1 and now that so much is being done to improve the feline race1 why should we try to think the green eye right and even desirable80 ,another authority says3 8,the fiat has gone forth that silver tabbies are to have green eyes4 ,happily there still remains room for a difference of opinion on the subject1 for the oldest and most perfect breeds of silver tabbies have always been distinguished by their deep hazel eyes40 ,illustration3 ,,silver ,,tabby ,,kittens ,,owned ,,by ,h4,h4 ,,the ,,princess ,,victoria ,,of ,,schleswig-,,holstein4 7,photo3 ,e4 ,landor1 ,ealing47 ,this vexed question of eyes1 certainly outside the 8self0 classes1 ought not to be one of such vast importance4 ,as ,louis ,wain aptly writes when complaining of this undue proportion of points1 8,everyone1 judges and exhibitors alike1 are bitten by the craze for the #8correct coloured eyes4'0 ,it is a fault that judges are prone to commit1 and truly one point ought not to be allowed to outweigh others1 and it is just this balancing of merits with a mingling of common sense that makes the good all-round judge1 whether of self or tabbies1 of long- or short-haired cats4 ,in judging a class of tabbies1 first and foremost in the judge's estimation must rank the markings1 and in ,persian tabbies coat must next be taken into consideration4 ,i have always thought that judging long-haired tabby cats in a ring class would be specially welcomed both by judges and exhibitors1 for it is when a good cat of this breed runs or walks the beauty of his markings can be seen and admired4 ,then the dark spine lines will show up to advantage1 the side markings will stand out1 and the bars on the legs and the rings round the neck may be clearly discerned4 ,i think it is not to be wondered at that fanciers who have bred tabby cats are not easily satisfied as regards selfs and silvers4 ,a friend of mine declared1 8,i always miss the stripes which give a tabby cat such a sweetly expressive countenance40 ,yet in spite of the beauty of the silver tabby1 there are very few fanciers of this variety1 and to those wishing to take up ,persians ,i could not recommend a more interesting field for speculative breeding4 ,the number of good show specimens can be counted on the fingers of one hand4 ,silver ,tabby classes at our shows are full of nondescript cats with shaded silver bodies and markings only on legs and head4 ,when judging the silver tabbies at the ,crystal ,palace in #aijb1 ,i was greatly struck with the number of cats and kittens which ought really to have been marked 8,wrong ,class10 for some of these were absolutely wanting in any definite marks at all2 some had faint grey pencilling on the head and legs1 but not a sign of the dense mottling on the sides4 ,it is1 no doubt1 disappointing to exhibitors to have their specimens labelled 8,wrong ,class10 or for really lovely kittens to be passed over without even a card2 but it is only by thus treating exhibits so lacking in the essential point of the class for which they are entered that fanciers will learn to discern between the genuine article and what may be called a spurious one4 ,these pretty nondescript silvers1 which are neither one thing nor the other1 should be disposed of as pets2 but to enter them at our shows in classes for tabbies is only throwing away money and risking the animals4 ,no cat has come nearer to the perfect ideal of a silver tabby in our day than ,lady ,pink's 8,shrover ,,ii410 now gathered to his fathers4 ,he possessed the wonderfully clear silvery white ground with distinct dark markings1 and was always the admired of all admirers at our leading shows4 ,lady ,pink is not without some worthy descendants of her famous 8,shrover ,,ii410 and writes to me thus3 8,i have a smoke male by #8,shrover ,,ii41' and hope to show him at ,westminster4 #8,shrover ,,iii4' is just like his father #8,shrover ,,ii41' but ,i shall not exhibit him1 as ,i am too afraid of losing him4 ,i have suffered many losses after shows4 #8,shrover ,,iii4' is a fine1 big fellow1 even better marked than his father1 with long silky1 wavy coat1 lovely eyes1 and a perfect temper40 ,illustration3 8,,beautiful ,,duchess40 ,,owned ,,by ,,mrs4 ,g4 ,h4 ,,walker4 ,illustration3 ,,winter ,,quarters ,,at ,,dingley ,,hill4 7,photo3 ,cassell ,company1 ,limited47 ,mrs4 ,herring has bred some fine silver tabbies1 notably 8,duchess ,lestock10 a sensational kitten at the ,westminster show of #aijj1 when she was claimed at a high price by ,mrs4 ,g4 ,h4 ,walker1 of ,woodheys ,park4 ,mrs4 ,herring's 8,king ,alfred0 was the sire of 8,shrover ,,ii410 and is quite 8one of the best40 ,miss ,anderson ,leake is justly celebrated as a most enthusiastic and successful breeder of silver tabbies1 and is our greatest authority on this variety1 ,as far back as #ahhg 8,topso of ,dingley0 was exhibited by ,miss ,leake at the ,crystal ,palace4 ,this cat was said to be of ,irish descent1 but his ancestors were sunk in oblivion4 ,not so1 however1 his progeny1 for the winnings of his son 8,champion ,felix10 owned by ,miss ,f4 ,moore1 of ,beckenham1 are fresh in the minds of those who1 like myself1 can remember beautiful cats of bygone years4 ,in #ahhi ,miss ,leake entered 8,topso0 and two toms in a class for 8blue or silver tabbies1 with or without white40 8,felix0 was also in this class1 as a winner of the ,challenge ,cup4 ,miss ,a4 ,leake's 8,abdul ,zaphir0 and the present representatives of the breed 8,abdul ,hamet0 and 8,marquis of ,dingley0 are household names amongst silver tabby fanciers4 ,miss ,derby ,hyde has long been faithful to this breed1 and 8,thames ,valley ,silver ,king0 and 8,king ,alfred0 have often had to fight it out together at our shows1 sometimes one being favoured by the judge and sometimes the other carrying off the honours4 ,miss ,cope has recently been bitten with the silver fever1 and her tabby kittens are always to the fore4 ,her 8,roiall ,fluffball0 took first and seven specials at ,westminster in #aija1 and her 8,silver ,tangle0 is a well-known winner4 ,mr4 ,furze1 another ,midland fancier1 is also making a speciality of silver tabbies1 and the ,hon4 ,p4 ,wodehouse possesses a fine silver tabby female in 8,silver ,saint40 ,mrs4 ,slingsby owns 8,don ,pedro10 a beautiful specimen1 and ,miss ,meeson has bred some good silver tabbies as well as silvers4 ,but the ranks need filling1 and with the assistance of the society now in existence the classification at shows will become more liberal1 and instead of silvers and browns being often placed together at our smaller shows1 separate classes are guaranteed1 for it is certainly most unfair on judge and exhibitor to place these two very distinct breeds together4 8,comparisons are odious10 we are told1 and certainly it is hard on the brownies for the more brilliant silvers to be placed side by side in competition4 ,as regards the mating of silver tabbies1 the essential point to try and breed for is markings1 and it behoves the fancier to endeavour to find a sire with bold1 distinct tabby markings1 and if it is desired to strengthen the colour1 then a black is not at all a bad cross4 ,there are two distinct kinds of tabbies--the blotched and the pencilled varieties2 and it is a matter of choice which is considered the handsomest4 ,but it does not do to mate these two varieties together4 ,a well-known authority on breeding silver tabbies writes thus in ,fur and ,feather3--8,a great deal has been said as to the disadvantage of crossing chinchillas with silver tabbies1 but we think this applies more to the detriment of chinchillas than of tabbies4 ,provided the tabby1 on one side1 is of a very decided type1 the chinchilla1 having come originally from the same stock1 may not prove a bad cross4 ,miss ,cope's #8,silver ,tangle1' for instance1 one of the best-marked silver tabby queens1 is the child of the chinchilla #8,silver ,chieftain1' and of a queen bred from a silver tabby sire4 ,a good young queen1 belonging to ,mr4 ,hoddinott1 was bred from #8,lord ,argent' and a tabby mother4 #8,champion ,felix' was bred from #8,topso1' a heavily marked tabby1 and #8,lady ,pink1' a cat that would nowadays have been called a light shaded silver with white markings4 #8,climax' came of the same parents1 and both have broad dark markings1 and transmitted them to their offspring4 ,the union of two strongly marked silvers is not always a complete success4 ,a brown tabby makes a most excellent cross1 and some of the purest and best silvers we have seen have been obtained in this way4 ,of course1 you must be prepared for a brown tabby kitten or two2 but you need not fear sandy smudges and yellow noses4 ,the colour seems to be concentrated in one or two examples1 and leaves the silver free4 ,in short1 in colour breeding we must be content with one or two perfect specimens in a litter1 and1 retaining them1 try again for yet further perfection40 ,the cat fancy needs some new sensational cat to appear on its horizon1 and if only a perfect silver tabby1 male or female1 could be penned at one of our leading shows a great impetus would be given to this variety1 and a thoroughly good strain might be established4 ,then we should not read such remarks as these from the pen of the reporter3 8,the silver tabbies1 we regret to say1 were only a shade of days that are gone4 ,there is room for an enterprising enthusiast in this breed4 ,the beautiful clear silver colour with deep black markings seems to be quite a thing of the past4 ,who will revive them80 ,and echo answers1 8,who80 ,from such an authority as ,miss ,anderson ,leake the following article on silver tabbies will be of great interest1 and the photos of her cattery at ,dingley ,hill1 ,bradfield1 near ,reading1 have been specially taken to illustrate these notes3-- 8,possibly amongst the rarest of our long-haired cats may be classed the really well-marked silver tabby4 ,twenty years ago he existed1 and was1 indeed1 more commonly met with than to-day4 ,for at that time chinchillas were practically unknown1 save for a few scarce specimens1 and the silver cats of that day were more commonly called #8grey' ,persians1 and were nearly always tabbies4 ,but with the popularity of the pale chinchillas began the downfall of the heavily marked tabby4 ,instead of breeding for the preservation of markings1 everyone worked their hardest to breed out markings1 and real tabby kittens were almost unsaleable4 ,those that were produced were very frequently ventured1 and sold at a low price for pets4 ,the lightest specimens in a litter were preserved for breeding purposes1 and rarer and rarer became the deeply marked silver tabby4 ,but at last the tide has turned1 and people are beginning to realise that there is a character1 a beauty1 and a contrast of colouring in a good tabby1 which lend to them a charm all their own4 ,added to this1 they are exceedingly rare and difficult to produce4 8,competent judges agree that to breed regular1 symmetrical1 and well-coloured markings is no easy task1 for contrast is the grand point in a silver tabby4 ,his ground coat from tip to tail should be pure pale white silver4 ,on this light silver ground-work lie the most beautiful even dark mottlings1 dark to the point of blackness4 ,these markings are most difficult to describe4 ,a dark stripe runs the whole length of the spine4 ,then comes a light stripe on either side1 then two more dark stripes1 but these are broken just behind the shoulder by a transverse bar of light silver1 and widen on the shoulder into considerable sized patches4 ,the markings on the sides are not stripes1 but patches1 elliptical in shape1 generally three in number1 and partially encircled by dark stripes4 ,the shoulder is particularly heavily barred and striped1 as are also the hind quarters4 ,the legs are barred throughout their length1 the face should be dark1 with dark tufts1 and the back part of the hind legs from the knee downwards is black1 as in a ,southdown sheep4 8,the head is most beautifully pencilled1 the cheeks possess double or treble swirls1 the eyes are outlined by dark rims2 on the forehead the lines form a complete triangle1 which is repeated at the nape of the neck4 ,the chest is encircled with a perfect dark ring1 called the #8,lord ,mayor's chain1' but this is concealed when the large light frill is in full beauty1 as is also the neck triangle4 ,the whiskers often contain all the different shades of colour found in the coat4 ,the ear tufts should be long and light4 ,the tail is generally ringed from trunk to tip1 but this is not noticeable after kittenhood1 owing to the great length of the hair4 ,also the hair to the root is much darker in colour on the tail than on the body4 ,illustration3 ,,in ,,the ,,studio4 7,from a ,painting by ,madame ,ronner47 ,illustration3 ,,miss ,,cope',s 8,,starlet40 8,the correct colour for the eyes of a silver tabby is neither green1 orange1 nor yellow1 but hazel--a deep nut-brown4 ,this shade of eye is very difficult to obtain1 and it fades with age2 but once seen1 its beauty and suitability to the colouring of the cat will never be denied4 ,many of the most noted prize-winners have not possessed this coveted hazel eye4 ,the nose is by preference dark1 but this1 so far1 has not been considered as a point4 8,not only evenness and regularity of markings go to the making of a good tabby1 but sharpness and depth of colour in the dark parts1 and clearness of colour in the light parts4 ,a great deal has been said of late regarding the depth of the black markings2 but it is quite as necessary to insist on the purity of the silver tone4 ,no suspicion of brown must be tolerated1 neither any blue nor grey tone4 8,there is no question that1 as a tabby1 a long-haired cat is handicapped by his length of coat4 ,there are some people who would rob him of his crowning glory in order that his beautiful striping may the better appear4 ,but surely it were better for them to confine themselves to short-haired cats if they cannot appreciate the marvel of long-haired tabby markings4 ,for marvellous they truly are1 when we consider that the dark marks are only formed by tips to the hair of some quarter of an inch in length4 ,when the coat is quite short these tips are massed together1 and the blackness is1 so to speak1 concentrated4 ,when the hair is at its full length--of from two to four inches--it can be readily understood that the long floating locks mix and mingle with the paler coat1 and some distinctness of marking is lost4 ,the massive frill and the long light shoulder tufts give the cat a very pale frontage2 and if he be placed in a show pen side by side with a cat whose coat is just coming1 whose marks show up1 in all probability he will take a second place4 ,no stroking1 blowing of the coat1 or other device will show off a tabby cat4 ,he must be made to get up and walk4 ,then the long coat falls apart1 the spine lines reveal themselves1 the side patches fall into place1 and bars1 stripes1 swirls1 and rings all are to be seen4 ,even then you will not see them all at once1 but as he moves and turns one by one the points will show themselves4 ,as a show cat1 a tabby is not a success1 for his period of perfect beauty is exceedingly short4 ,when he proposes to moult he changes colour1 and if you are unwise enough to exhibit him at this stage ominous whispers of #8,brown tabby blood' will pass from mouth to mouth4 ,for a thorough good rusty brown shade1 commend me to a moulting silver tabby4 ,then a little later he completely loses his side markings1 and you must wait until the new coat makes its appearance before you can venture him in the show pen4 ,in the first beauty of that new coat1 when the hair is about an inch long1 he is a dream of colour contrast1 and somehow suggests such ineffable cleanliness6 8,how to breed silver tabbies is a moot point4 ,one thing is certain1 that if we expect whole litters of well-marked kittens we shall be grievously disappointed4 ,personally1 we have had the best results from pairing two marked cats slightly related and of good silver pedigrees4 ,a smoke of silver origin is another good cross1 but the sire should always be a tabby4 ,the blacker the kittens are at birth the better4 ,there is no sign of light under-coat1 but generally narrow pencillings of silver are to be seen1 and face and paws are fairly light4 ,the kittens which at birth show contrast of dark and light rarely turn out good tabbies4 ,the markings1 as a rule1 become too faint4 ,at a month old the light markings should widen and develop1 and at three months old the full beauty will be seen4 ,before the change to cat coat1 many of the kittens become more shaded than marked1 and up to the sixth or eighth month there is always a possibility of their proving disappointing4 ,if1 however1 after this age the markings return1 harden1 and develop1 they will endure for ever1 except during periods of moulting4 ,in extreme old age both the purity of colouring and distinctness of markings are lost4 ,exposure to the sun considerably injures the colour of the silver tabby cats1 giving them a brown tinge4 ,we believe exhibitors of magpies never allow their birds to enjoy the rays of the sun for a similar reason1 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 enjoyment4 ,i have said nothing about size and shape4 ,the silver tabby should be a large cat1 with good bones1 and very heavily coated4 ,the old-fashioned cats were very long1 low on the legs1 and a trifle narrow in head4 ,nowadays we have remedied this defect1 and the modern cats are decidedly more cobby than their progenitors4 ,the ears should be set wide apart1 and be small and not too sharply pointed4 ,if only fanciers will now devote themselves to the production of such cats as ,i have tried to describe1 we shall soon see the silver tabby classes at our shows filled with typical animals1 instead of1 as is too often the case1 with spoilt silvers1 too heavily marked to be called chinchillas1 too unevenly or lightly marked to be correct tabbies40 ,i have mentioned ,miss ,cope as a breeder of silver tabbies4 ,her remarks on her favourite breed are as follows3-- 8,there is no doubt that until quite recently interest in this fascinating breed had1 to a great extent1 died out1 owing to the craze for chinchilla breeding4 ,but ,i hope their day is coming again4 ,there is a marked improvement already shown in the silver tabby classes at the best shows4 ,illustration3 ,a ,,pair ,,of ,,silver ,,tabbies4 7,photo3 ,e4 ,landor1 ,ealing47 8,mr4 ,st4 ,george ,mivart1 in his celebrated book1 asks1 #8,what is a cat8' ,but even so simple a question as that appears from his statement to be more easily asked than answered4 ,the same may be said of the question1 #8,what is a silver tabby8' ,i will endeavour to answer the question by giving my own idea of what may be considered to be a perfect type of a silver tabby4 ,the chief point of a silver tabby should be clearness and distinctness of markings2 the sharper they are the better4 ,my ideal cat would have the two spine stripes clear and well defined from shoulder to base of tail1 set off by the #8epaulet' behind each front leg4 ,on each side of the body should appear what may be called the horseshoe2 both sides should match exactly4 ,the hind quarters well barred4 ,the fore legs should also be barred1 each in symmetrical correspondence with the other4 ,the double cheek swirls1 the markings on the forehead1 which may be easily imagined to take the shape of a lyre1 the shaded eyebrows and whiskers1 and dark outlines to the eyes1 all these give a character to the face not found except among tabbies4 ,more or less conspicuous will be the dark lines across the chest1 known as the #8,mayor's ,chain4' ,occasionally some more favoured animal is found to have two such lines4 ,the beauty of all these markings is thrown up by the ground colour of the coat1 which should be a clear bright silver4 ,the whole effect1 if one may so describe it1 is like a piece of elaborately wrought black lace on lustrous silvery silk4 ,the colour of the eyes is somewhat a vexed question4 ,some fanciers prefer green4 ,personally1 ,i think nothing is more lovely than the hazel eye1 enhanced by dark rims4 ,happily1 latitude is allowed in this direction in the standard drawn up by the ,silver ,society1 which decrees the colour shall be the green or orange4 ,but with all these1 my ideal silver tabby must have perfect shape of body1 so far as it is possible to obtain it1 as well as luxuriance of coat4 ,the long1 thin-bodied1 snipy-headed1 spindle-legged cat is an abomination4 ,the ideal cat must be cobby1 with short1 thick legs1 the head broad and massive1 ears small1 well tufted and set wide apart1 the nose short and wide at the tip1 the tail short and wide at the extreme end--,i consider a pointed tail very undesirable4 ,the coat of the ideal silver tabby should be long and thick1 and the texture as silky as possible4 ,illustration3 ,,miss ,,derby ,,hyde',s 8,,thames ,,valley ,,silver ,,king40 7,photo3 ,e4 ,landor1 ,ealing47 8,having described my ideal silver tabby1 the next question is how to get it4 ,when ,i succumbed to the fascination of the long-haired beauties some years ago1 ,i resolved to breed only from the very best stock obtainable1 and ,i have unflinchingly adhered to this rule4 ,i would like to impress upon anyone starting this delightful hobby that it is absolutely a waste of time and money to attempt breeding from any but the best4 ,the observance of this principle will save many disappointments1 much heart-burning1 and not a little money4 ,having made up one's mind which breed one admires most1 it is far better to keep to that particular variety1 and win success worth having1 than to dabble in a variety of breeds with only a moderate amount of success4 ,to a rigid observance of these principles ,i owe any honours in the show pen which have been awarded to me4 ,it is of little use taking up the breeding of long-haired silver tabbies unless one is possessed of unlimited patience and perseverance4 ,it is sometimes very disappointing to find the kitten one fondly hoped would prove a coming champion merging into a shaded silver--exquisite in colour and as far as head1 shape1 and coat are concerned1 but none the less not a silver tabby4 ,here comes in the study of pedigree4 ,it by no means follows that the mating of two tabby parents will result in a litter of pure tabby kittens1 unless both sire and dam are of pure silver tabby lineage4 ,hence purity of pedigree on both sides is of great importance4 8,if there is a trace of chinchilla blood in the ancestry it is certain to manifest itself at odd times in the progeny4 ,nevertheless1 do not despise your shaded silver1 if it be a queen1 providing all other points are perfect4 ,as ,miss ,leake says--and ,i quite agree with her--#8,you no longer have a show specimen1 but you have a cat that1 crossed with a heavily marked cat1 will probably provide you with splendid silver tabbies4' ,this1 however1 can scarcely be called the true science of breeding1 as the progeny of two such cats may hark back to some of the original characteristics4 8,my own practice is to mate silver tabby with silver tabby invariably1 and of the purest pedigree ,i can find4 ,i should never breed from a sire that ,i knew possessed a brown tabby ancestry4 ,i would far rather choose a good black sire1 and in this way strengthen the markings4 ,of course1 one would not expect a mating of this kind to produce a litter of champion silver tabbies2 but if ,i secured one well-marked kitten ,i should feel quite repaid4 ,on the general question of breeding1 ,mr4 ,c4 ,a4 ,house1 who is no mean authority1 and whose suggestions ,i have often followed with advantage1 recently said3 #8,if ,i were asked to pick out in a certain cattery a pair of silver tabby ,persians which would be likely to make a good match1 ,i should proceed on lines similar to the following3--,shape and size with quality of coat ,i should expect the dam to possess4 ,marking1 colour1 length of coat1 colour of eye1 and strength of bone1 ,i should demand in my sire4 ,this is1 of course1 if ,i were selecting from cats whose ancestry was quite unknown to me4 ,my reasons for so doing are because in nine times out of ten the sire influences the outward characteristics of the progeny1 while in like ratio the dam exercises her influence over those points which are more hidden4 ,the dam has far more to do with shape than is generally supposed1 and ,i would rather breed from a bad-headed male than a bad-headed queen4 ,quality of coat must always be looked for in the queen4' 8,with regard to in-breeding ,i have no hard-and-fast rules to lay down4 ,the whole matter1 in spite of what one and another may say1 is too experimental and speculative for anyone to dogmatise4 ,the authority ,i have just quoted remarks on this matter3 #8,it sometimes happens that a fancier puts together two animals which excel in some particular property1 yet not one of their progeny is above the standard of mediocrity1 so far as that property is concerned4' ,experience has shown me the importance of studying the weak points of the dam4 ,these ,i try to remedy in selecting the stud cat4 ,but with all my care ,i sometimes find #8the best laid schemes 444 gang aft agley4' 8,for the successful keeping of cats and rearing of healthy kittens1 my prescription begins and ends with two words--liberty and fresh air4 ,i have found cats can stand any amount of cold1 providing1 of course1 they have never had artificial heat previously4 ,two things must be carefully guarded against--damp and draught4 ,these are fatal4 ,kittens so reared will be healthier1 grow better coats1 and will be much better able to stand the wear and tear of show life4 ,my own cats live in wooden houses1 raised at least one foot from the ground1 the size at least seven and a half feet by five and a half feet4 ,each house is fitted with an inner wire door1 as well as the outer wooden one4 ,along the entire length of the upper part of one side is a wire netting window1 with a broad shelf fitted beneath4 ,this opening has also a sliding shutter fitted with glass panels4 ,i am thus able to give ventilation at will1 or fasten them up securely in bad weather4 ,in one corner of the house is a cosy sleeping box3 in another corner an equally cosy chair4 ,all cats love a chair4 ,cats kept outside1 when they are admitted to the house1 invariably find out the most comfortable corner of the most comfortable chair4 ,in such a house as ,i have described1 kittens can be successfully reared2 there is ample room for them to scamper round should a wet day keep them in4 ,unless it is absolutely raining all my cats have the run of a large garden the whole day1 and are only shut up at night4 ,i never coddle my kittens1 but try to bring them up as naturally as possible4 8,i am sometimes asked how it is my kittens attain such good proportions4 ,the secret1 if secret there be1 lies in this--,i never allow my mother cats to nurse more than two kittens after the first week4 ,if a foster cannot be found1 ,i select the two ,i consider the most promising1 and the lethal chamber claims the rest4 ,some may consider this foolish4 ,i can only say ,i would far rather rear two thoroughly healthy kittens than five or six little puny things that will require weeks of care and attention1 and then fail to reach the end in view4 ,baby silver tabbies1 ,i must admit1 are not altogether things of beauty and of joy4 ,more often than not they are dark and uninteresting4 ,the time to decide which is the best-marked kitten is while the coat is comparatively short4 ,when compelled to make a selection1 ,i usually give the preference to the darker kittens4 ,experience has taught me that the lighter kittens1 so attractive in themselves1 even at that early stage1 and whose colouring is so exquisite at eight or nine weeks old1 are apt to prove deceptive in the end1 and often develop into shaded silvers40 ,to ,miss ,cope's last statements ,i can add my testimony1 but ,i will also mention a curious case coming under my direct notice and regarding my own silver stud cat4 8,cambyses0 is by 8,mowgli0 7a noted pale silver of 8,silver ,lambkin0 strain7 and a handsome silver tabby unknown to fame1 being a house pet4 ,when ,i became possessed of 8,cambyses10 then five months old1 he was a decided silver tabby1 taking after his mother2 he has since shed all his markings1 except faint grey pencillings on head and legs1 and is one of the lightest silvers at stud4 ,when mated to smokes and silvers ,i have not known or heard of any tabbies in the litters2 but on one occasion1 when crossed with a silver tabby1 he had some very densely marked tabbies4 ,i have remarked that this beautiful breed of ,persians has not been taken up by ,american fanciers in the same enthusiastic manner as have blues1 orange1 and especially silvers4 ,in an account given by ,field and ,fancy of the ,beresford ,cat ,club show in ,new ,york1 ,january1 #aijc1 ,i find mention made that over #abe long-haired cats were entered1 and that in the silver classes alone there were thirty-five entries1 almost as many as were entered in the whole long-haired section of the previous year4 ,the smoke male class was cancelled1 but eight females of this breed put in an appearance4 ,no mention is made of silver tabbies4 ,amongst the winners of the challenge cups offered by the ,atlantic ,cat ,club1 a silver tabby called 8,queenie10 owned by ,mrs4 ,wagner1 carried off the trophy4 ,miss ,a4 ,leake1 of silver tabby fame in the ,english fancy1 has exported some of her stock1 and no doubt our ,american cousins will not let this beautiful breed remain long neglected1 but some enthusiastic fancier will establish a strain on the other side of the herring pond4 ,at the ,westminster ,cat ,club show of #aijc1 held about the same time as the ,beresford ,new ,york show1 the entries in the three classes provided for silver tabbies numbered twenty-seven1 which is an increase on previous years1 but with two or three exceptions quality was lacking4 ,no new names appeared in the catalogues1 and ,miss ,anderson ,lecke and ,miss ,cope carried off the highest honours4 ,the winner in the female class was 8,roiall ,fluffball10 whose portrait appears below1 and who is the best-marked silver tabby that is now before the public4 ,miss ,cope must be proud of having bred so fine a specimen by ,miss ,anderson ,lecke's 8,abdul ,hamel of ,dingley10 whose picture appropriately forms the heading of this chapter on silver tabbies4 ,illustration3 8,,roiall ,,fluffball40 ,,the ,,property ,,of ,,miss ,,cope4 7,photo3 ,e4 ,s4 ,baker ,son1 ,birmingham47 ,illustration3 ,,mrs4 ,,stead',s ,,smoke ,,litter ,,by 8,,ranji40 7,photo3 ,russell ,sons1 ,baker ,street47 ,,chapter ,,xiv4 ,,smoke ,,persians4 ,illustration3 8,,jo0 and 8,,tiny0 7,,smokes74 7,photo3 ,gross1 ,brooklyn1 ,n4,y47 ,it is only within recent years that smoke ,persian cats have really come into notice at all1 and even now these lovely cats may be said to be sadly neglected in the fancy4 ,it was not till the year #ahic that they were considered sufficiently popular to deserve a class to themselves4 ,they were formerly relegated to the 8any other colour0 class1 and very often at smaller shows this is where we find the smokes penned4 ,a really good smoke is a thing of beauty1 and it seems certain that as the fancy expands and the ,silver and ,smoke ,cat ,society looks after their interests1 a good time will be in store for breeders of this handsome variety4 ,smokes may therefore be called a new breed1 and it is a very distinctive one1 made up1 as it were1 of the three self colours--black1 white1 and blue4 ,it is a shaded cat without markings1 the fur being pure white underneath and gradually assuming almost a black tone on the outer coat4 ,the face1 paws1 and back down to the tip of the tail are the darkest parts1 shading to a dark grey down the sides and on the under part of the tail4 ,a very great beauty in smokes is the light frill and ear tufts1 which lend an air of much distinction to this breed4 ,the great failings in many smokes is the appearance of tabby markings2 these especially mar the beauty of head and face1 and take away from their value in the show pen4 ,the tail should be quite free from any rims of light and dark1 and should have the upper part an even dark colour1 and underneath a cinder grey4 ,some smokes are so dense in the surface coat as to be really black cats with white under-coats1 having none of the modulated grades of dark and light grey4 ,these cats are often minus the light ear tufts and ruff1 and therefore cannot be regarded as correct smokes4 ,then1 again1 there are light smokes which might almost be called silver smokes--very beautiful cats to look at1 but far removed from the ideal smoke4 ,perhaps at some future time there may be a special classification for these cats1 which are now without an abiding place at our shows4 ,it is most important that the coat of a smoke should be long and of the true ,persian flakiness1 otherwise the chief beauty of the contrast between the light under-coat and dark outer coat is not seen to full advantage4 ,i think ,i may say without fear of contradiction that1 of all long-haired breeds1 smokes present the most altered and absolutely dishevelled appearance when out of coat4 ,the glory of the light frill disappears1 and multitudes of lines and streaks can be plainly discerned4 ,then a very rusty brown tinge appears on the back1 and the rich1 glossy black surface coat vanishes4 ,i owned a lovely smoke cat once that at certain times of the year--and1 ,i may say1 for most part of the year--was nothing better than a bad black1 his only claim to the title of smoke being the general appearance of a dark cat that had spent his life in an ashpit4 ,but when 8,pepper0 was in full feather1 he was a joy to behold4 ,it is curious that when the kittens are first born they appear almost a dead black1 with no trace of a white under-coat4 ,this appears gradually as the kittens grow1 and at three weeks old the lighter coat becomes visible4 ,their faces and paws should be intensely black when born1 as the tendency in smokes is to get lighter and not darker4 ,if a kitten is born with the appearance of a smoke it will generally turn into what ,i have termed a silver smoke later on4 ,as with black kittens1 so with smokes3 they are often very rusty in appearance1 but this will disappear with their kitten coat4 ,this also applies to tabby markings1 though1 of course1 if there is any tabby blood in the strain the markings may be retained4 ,for this reason it is most undesirable to mate smokes with tabbies2 neither is it advisable to select a blue as a cross4 ,the blue tinge destroys the purity of the white under-coat1 which is one of the glories of a perfect smoke4 ,it is a case of 8like to like0 in breeding smokes1 and1 failing this1 choose a good black sire for your queen with amber eyes4 ,this is especially advantageous if your queen should be light in colour1 and throw light kittens2 but if she is already too dark1 mate with a chinchilla1 avoiding1 if possible1 a green-eyed one4 ,above all things shun1 as you would ,sin1 tabbies of any colour1 and let your choice fall on a heavily coated sire4 ,i have been told by smoke fanciers that it is much more difficult to breed a good smoke female than a male1 and that the latter sex predominates in litters4 ,i will here give the officially approved table showing the proportion of marks which should be awarded for points of smokes4 ,this is as drawn up by the ,silver and ,smoke ,persian ,cat ,society1 which has ,mrs4 ,h4 ,v4 ,james1 our principal breeder of smokes1 as ,honorary ,secretary3-- ,illustration3 ,,miss ,,bartlett',s ,,two ,,smoke ,,kittens4 7,photo3 ,e4 ,landor1 ,ealing47 ,,smokes4 ,smoke cats should be black1 shading to smoke 7grey71 with as light an under-coat as possible2 light frill and ear tufts2 eyes to be orange4 ,value of points3-- ,head and expression #bj ,colour of eye #ae ,colour of under-coat #aj ,absence of markings #ae ,coat and condition #bj ,tail #aj ,shape #aj ------ ,total #ajj ,i think there are no fanciers or breeders of smokes who feel that any option should be given as to the colour of eyes in this breed1 for1 as in the black cats1 the eyes should be amber or light golden4 ,however1 ,i must confess that brilliant green eyes are to be preferred to the pale yellow1 which too often spoil the beauty of many of the smokes now exhibited4 ,i should never place an indifferent smoke with orange eyes over a good specimen with eyes of emerald green4 ,in the early days of the fancy1 smokes were entered in the 8any other variety0 class1 and were sometimes called ,smoke ,blues or ,smoke ,chinchillas4 ,in #ahia ,miss ,manley 7now ,mrs4 ,strick7 exhibited a fine smoke called 8,bayadere40 ,amongst the names of our oldest smoke breeders who still continue to breed ,i may mention ,mrs4 ,cartwright1 of ,upwood4 ,in #ahie this lady showed smokes at ,cruft's show bred from her 8,timkins40 ,the ,upwood cats are very pure in colour1 having the dense outer coat very white at the roots4 ,at one time the ,lindfield smokes held their own everywhere1 ,miss ,molony winning first at the ,crystal ,palace in #ahic with 8,lindfield ,bogie40 ,mrs4 ,bluhm1 better known as a silver breeder1 also owned about this time a famous smoke female called 8,smuttie40 ,mrs4 ,robert ,little has for years combined the breeding of smokes with blacks4 ,in #ahig 8,namouska10 a smoke female1 won first at the ,crystal ,palace1 and her descendants continue their career as first-class smokes4 ,in more recent times the following are noted winners3 ,lady ,marcus ,beresford's 8,cossey10 ,mrs4 ,h4 ,v4 ,james's 8,backwell ,jogram10 ,mrs4 ,sinkins' 8,teufel10 ,mrs4 ,stead's 8,ranji10 ,mrs4 ,stillwell's 8,victoria10 ,miss ,snell's 8,dusky ,girl10 ,mrs4 ,collingwood's 8,minouche10 ,rev4 ,p4 ,l4 ,cosway's 8,maritana10 ,mrs4 ,neild's 8,silver ,soot10 ,mrs4 ,hamilton's 8,bulger10 ,miss ,rose's 8,judge40 ,perhaps the most consistent and successful breeder of smokes now in the fancy is ,mrs4 ,h4 ,v4 ,james1 who started in #ahic1 and has been faithful to this breed ever since4 ,i have had the pleasure of visiting ,mrs4 ,james's smoke cattery1 and ,i felt that the lovely old-fashioned garden surrounding the ,grange at ,backwell was truly an ideal place for successfully rearing live stock of any kind1 and all the pussies were pictures of robust health4 ,i am glad to be able to insert the following valuable article on smoke ,persians from the pen of ,mrs4 ,james1 who is certainly our best authority on this breed4 8,before entering upon the distinctive points of smokes1 ,i will give a short account of my smoke cattery1 and how ,i first took up this breed4 ,it is curious to look back and see what mere chances govern our actions4 ,i have all my life been devoted to ,persian cats of one colour or another1 but never intended to go in for any special breed4 ,however1 in #ahic ,i purchased a blue kitten1 which1 on its arrival1 appeared far from well4 ,the man who sold it offered1 if it died1 to replace it4 ,in a few days ,i was in a position to accept this offer1 for the kitten succumbed1 and another--which was also supposed to be a blue--was sent to replace it4 ,as time went on this kitten darkened1 and1 much to my disgust1 turned to a deep cinder colour4 ,in #ahid there was a grand ,west of ,england ,cat ,show held at ,bristol1 and1 to please an old servant who had taken great care of the kitten1 ,i entered #8,jubilee4' ,i was not much up in cat showing then1 but #8smoke' seemed to answer the description of the kitten better than any other colour2 so into the smoke class he went1 and1 to my surprise1 carried everything before him4 ,this started my career as an exhibitor4 ,i showed #8,jubilee' again at ,cruft's and ,brighton the next year1 where he again carried off firsts1 and was described as the best smoke cat seen since the days of the famous #8,mildew4' ,illustration3 ,,mrs4 ,,james',s ,,cat ,,houses ,,at ,,backwell4 7,photo3 ,f4 ,holmes1 ,clifton1 ,bristol47 8,at the ,palace in #ahid1 ,i bought a smoke female kitten from ,miss ,bray as a mate for #8,jubilee4' ,this mating proved successful1 and ,i had several grand litters of smokes1 most of which1 ,i am sorry to say1 went to swell the ranks of neuter pets1 being given as presents to my friends4 ,in time ,i learnt wisdom1 however1 and kept my smokes myself4 #8,jubilee's' career as a show cat was unfortunately cut short after his ,brighton win in #ahid4 ,he escaped one night1 and in a fight with another cat had his ears so torn that ,i was unable to exhibit him again4 ,a year later1 when ,i was away from home1 he was let out one day1 and never returned1 having1 ,i expect1 been trapped in the woods4 ,at that period my smokes nearly died out1 as ,i had only one litter a few weeks old by #8,jubilee4' ,of the two smokes one was promised1 and the other ,i kept1 and he is still alive as #8,champion ,backwell ,jogram4' ,so ,i think ,i may consider ,i have had my share of luck1 though1 like most breeders1 ,i have had my bad times1 and have lost sometimes as many as twelve cats and kittens in a few days from distemper1 and once or twice a very promising female has strayed into the woods and been seen no more4 ,i hope1 however1 that for some years1 at least1 #8,jubilee's' descendants will continue to flourish1 as there are a number of #8,jogram's' kittens scattered over ,england1 and several have left these shores for ,america4 8,in mating my smoke queens ,i have several times tried a black sire1 and have always been successful in getting good smokes from this cross4 #8,jubilee ,,ii4' is an example1 being by #8,johnnie ,fawe1' ,dr4 ,roper's famous black ,persian4 ,i have only once--years ago--tried a blue cross1 but the result was a mixed litter of blacks and blues4 ,i have found that all the blue queens mated with #8,jogram' have had chiefly blacks4 ,smokes may be considered a very hardy breed1 perhaps from the fact that there has been little in-breeding so far4 #8,jogram' lives in an unheated wooden house all the year round1 and has never even had a cold4 ,kittens will also stand the same treatment4 ,illustration3 ,,mrs4 ,a4 ,m4 ,,stead',s ,,smoke ,,persian 8,,ch4 ,,ranji40 7,photo3 ,e4 ,n4 ,collins1 ,s4 ,norwood47 8,and now ,i will endeavour to give my ideas as to the points which go to make up a perfect smoke4 ,a good smoke is perhaps one of the most beautiful of the many beautiful breeds of long-haired cats1 a bad smoke one of the plainest4 ,the novice--for whom this article is principally written--may therefore be glad to have a clear definition of a smoke to start with4 8,the definition drawn up by the ,silver ,society when it first started reads as follows3 #8,a smoke cat must be black1 shading to smoke 7grey71 with as light an under-coat as possible1 and black points1 light frill and ear tufts2 eyes to be orange4' ,but the word #8black1' having sometimes led novices to suppose that a black cat possessed of a white under-coat is a smoke1 it would be perhaps safer to say #8a smoke is a deep cinder-coloured cat shading to grey1 with a white under-coat1' etc4 ,in order to distinguish the difference between black and the true cinder colour of the smoke1 it is an excellent plan to keep a sound black cat in a smoke cattery4 8,smokes are1 comparatively speaking1 one of the newer breeds of long-haired cats1 and arose from the crossing of blues1 blacks1 and silvers1 and appeared as a freak in litters of blues or silvers1 and1 being beautiful1 were kept by their owners4 ,no serious attempt1 however1 was made to breed them until quite recently4 ,if beauty and a hardy constitution count for much1 they should be more popular even than they are at present2 but no doubt the extreme difficulties of breeding a good1 unmarked shaded cat deter many breeders from taking them up4 ,with a whole-coloured cat it is fairly plain sailing when a strain1 sound in shape and bone1 has been established2 but with a shaded cat it is quite another matter4 ,litter after litter of kittens appear1 grand in shape1 strong in limbs1 apparently perfect in shading4 ,in a few months the kittens moult1 and the shading becomes perhaps a hopeless jumble of light and dark4 ,where it should be dark it has turned light1 and vice vers4 ,still worse1 the shading disappears1 and the markings--the bugbear of all smoke breeders--appear1 showing traces of the far-away silver tabby ancestors4 ,these markings have perhaps been lying dormant for a generation1 and appear as a reminder of the silver tabby origin of the smoke4 8,to all smoke breeders who wish to succeed ,i would say1 #8,never part with a well-shaped smoke until at least a year old1 lest you find you have1 in rejecting the apparently ugly duckling and keeping the gem1 thrown away the substance for the shadow4' ,on the subject of mating1 there is much to be said4 ,i am afraid many owners of smoke queens mate with any coloured cat which takes their fancy in the hopes of getting something in the litter besides smokes4 8,i have sometimes heard owners say1 #8,oh6 ,i mate my smoke queen with all sorts of colours4 ,she always has one or two good smokes in each litter4' ,that may be true1 but if a smoke strain is to be built up1 you are making a fatal mistake4 ,the kitten thus bred goes to a new home and is expected to produce smokes as good as herself4 ,she is mated with a smoke male1 and when the litter arrives there are perhaps no smokes1 she having thrown back to her sire1 so as a breeder she is useless4 ,smoke to smoke must be the rule1 except in special cases--when1 for instance1 the queen is on the light side2 then a cross with a black may be found to be necessary4 ,or the queen may be too dark and given to breeding black kittens4 ,then the choice should fall on a silver as free as possible from silver tabby relations4 ,on no account must a tabby of any colour be chosen or a sire with any white4 ,a blue should also be avoided1 as the under-coat is liable to take the blue shade and become blurred instead of white at the roots4 ,illustration3 8,,champion ,,backwell ,,jogram40 8,orange eyes are much prized in smokes1 and ,i believe1 from my own experience in breeding smokes for the last ten years1 that it is from the mothers that the kittens get their eye colour4 ,if the queen has pale green eyes you may mate her with all the orange-eyed sires in the kingdom1 and the eyes will still be pale4 ,but if the queen has deep orange eyes1 the kittens will inherit them also1 even should the sire have only pale eyes4 8,thanks to careful mating by some of our smoke breeders1 smokes are not the flukes they once were1 and a smoke queen1 well mated1 may now be relied upon to produce whole litters of smoke kittens4 ,as a rule1 the kittens at birth are quite black1 and remain so for a week or so2 and my experience has been that if a kitten shows any trace of grey at birth1 it will grow up too light4 ,there are1 however1 a few well-known queens who throw almost silver kittens1 which remain so for weeks1 and then shed this kitten coat for a darker one2 so no hard-and-fast rule can be laid down as to what a smoke kitten should look like when born4 ,try in-breeding for coat to avoid the sleek or woolly-coated smoke1 and aim at getting a cat with a coat of the true ,persian flakiness described by ,mr4 ,harrison ,weir in his book on ,persian cats1 otherwise the chief beauty--the light under- and dark outer coat--is not seen to advantage as the cat moves4 ,one point to be remembered in this breed is that the new coat growing is dark just at the roots4 ,these marks1 when the smoke is changing coat1 have often been mistaken for tabby markings1 so for this reason it is most unwise ever to show a smoke when out of coat4 ,wait until your cat is in full coat before accusing it of having tabby markings4 8,there is a fashion in smokes1 as in everything else2 and at present in ,england the very dark smokes are the rage1 but in ,america the light ones are more sought after4 ,that grand cat #8,watership ,csar1' who was considered too light for ,english taste1 was last year bought by the late ,mrs4 ,thurston and taken to ,america1 where he carried off all the smoke honours1 also taking the prize for the best cat in the show4 ,the same happened to ,lady ,marcus ,beresford's #8,cossey1' a lovely cat of the lighter type4 ,the tide may turn1 however1 even in ,england1 where the slightly lighter smokes may share the honours with their darker brothers4 ,it is better1 however1 to be on the safe side and breed for the darker smoke1 as the lighter are apt to lose the smoke characteristics and overstep the line which divides them from a shaded silver40 ,mrs4 ,sinkins1 to whom ,i have alluded as a smoke breeder1 owns a splendid stud cat called 8,teufel0 that has made a name for himself as a first prize-winner4 ,this cat is as nearly a perfect specimen as it is possible to find4 ,mrs4 ,sinkins has written a few notes on smokes4 8,i must consider myself honoured in being asked to write about smoke ,persians in #8,the ,book of the ,cat1' as ,i am1 comparatively speaking1 a beginner in the cat fancy1 only having kept ,persians for three years or so4 ,i began by buying a well-bred queen in kitten1 and she presented me with two chinchillas and a perfect smoke female1 which ,i named #8,teufella1' and showed at ,westminster in #ahii4 ,she carried all before her1 winning everything in her class1 and was claimed at once at catalogue price4 ,from a silver half-sister of hers ,i then bred #8,teufel1' whose picture is in this issue1 and who is a great pet1 being extremely sweet-tempered and affectionate4 ,his chief characteristics are his absolutely unmarked black face and the lovely white under-coat1 so desirable in a perfect smoke1 and for which he received a special this spring 7#aijb7 at ,westminster4 ,i hope some of his descendants will take after him in these respects and make smokes increasingly popular4 8,in my opinion1 it is a fatal mistake to mate smokes with blues1 as they then lose this white under-coat4 ,i think one obtains it best by mating a smoke-bred smoke cat with either a silver-bred smoke or else with a silver cat1 as unmarked as possible1 who possesses a smoke ancestor4 ,some day ,i should like to try mating a black with a pale silver1 just as an experiment4 8,as to eye colour1 there can be no two opinions4 ,the deeper the orange1 the better4 8,i do not find smokes at all delicate1 no more so than the common or garden cat4 ,all my queens have entire freedom1 one in particular being a first-rate ratter and mouser1 even catching moles sometimes4 ,and they live out of doors in unheated houses all the year round1 even in the most severe winter4 8,it seems hard that all ,persians should have to pass through an #8ugly' period--luckily a short one--when they change their coats1 looking ragged and certainly not their best4 ,smokes and blacks then show the brown tinge even worse than chinchillas1 as it gives them the poverty-stricken appearance of rusty moulting--though ,i must say #8,teufel' has so far been the exception1 taking all honours at one show when in full moult4 8,however1 their good time fully compensates for the shabby period1 and a typical smoke1 with his large orange eyes set in his black face1 with light ear tufts and frill1 his white under-coat showing with every movement1 is a thing of beauty hard to beat1 and ,i feel sure the smoke variety has a great future before it40 ,illustration3 ,,mrs4 ,,sinkins' ,,smoke ,,persian 8,,teufel40 ,mrs4 ,stead1 the owner of 8,champion ,ranji0 and 8,rhoda10 a winning smoke female1 has kindly given me her opinion on smokes3-- 8,my ideal of perfect smoke cats is that they should be black1 shading to smoke grey1 with as light an under-coat as possible1 light frill and ear tufts1 eyes orange4 ,this is the standard up to which ,i try to breed4 ,i find the kittens go through several stages before they approach this perfection4 ,for instance1 a kitten ,i had in the spring of #aijb lightened considerably1 and developed markings on the face1 but at eight months old he was nearly up to the standard4 ,a litter of six ,i have recently bred were entirely unmarked at birth1 being1 in fact1 quite black4 ,five are now medium-coloured smokes1 and one a very dark one1 with beautiful light under-coat4 ,i strongly advise all breeders not to despair of colouring until their kittens are fully grown4 ,permanent markings are1 of course1 very detrimental1 and there is always great anxiety as to the final colour of the eyes4 ,if1 however1 both parents are good in this respect1 the result is generally satisfactory40 ,the following article on smoke cats in ,america is taken from ,field and ,fancy of ,october1 #aijb3-- 8,smokes1 with us1 will probably rank with the silvers1 and are destined to always hold a measure of popularity1 though we have not such a very strong lot2 in fact1 we may say that good smokes are never so numerous anywhere as to become a nuisance1 and we may fairly congratulate ourselves at this stage of the game upon what we have had and bred4 8,opinions differ as to what is a smoke1 and at times we have to be rather lenient in the judging of these cats1 for they are apt to be off colour--too light or too streaky4 ,no one has yet1 in ,america1 taken up the colour solely to breed smokes and nothing else1 which seems a pity1 for they can be bred and kept with blacks1 and each sets off the other1 and when visitors come to the cattery the contrast is made more apparent4 8,those not conversant with the colour are apt to think anything smoky is a smoke exhibition cat1 and no doubt1 when good1 those cats with dark faces and paws and light bodies are very handsome1 but more often than not they are streaky and are smoke tabbies4 ,after mature consideration and after seeing a good many1 we1 as well as other breeders1 still think that unless the #8,southdown' cats1 as some have called them1 are very good we had better stick to the old definition of a smoke1 and demand them dark enough4 8,a really dark1 rich smoke without marks is1 without doubt1 one of the richest in colouring of all our long-hairs1 and the stars are few4 ,one may go away from the original definition of a smoke1 but when brought face to face with a good one it forces one to confess that this is the genuine article1 and1 when in grand condition1 a thing of beauty and a joy for ever40 ,illustration3 8,,lucy ,,claire40 ,,owned ,,by ,,mrs4 ,,clinton ,,locke4 ,illustration3 ,,smoke ,,and ,,orange ,,persians4 7,from a ,painting by ,w4 ,luker1 ,jun47 ,illustration3 ,,mrs4 ,,singleton',s 8,,orange ,,girl40 7,photo3 ,j4 ,g4 ,christopher1 ,crewkerne47 ,,chapter ,,xv4 ,,orange ,,persians4 ,in the short-haired varieties1 these cats are sometimes called red tabbies2 but ,i do not think the term gives such a true idea of the correct tone of colour1 which should be just that of a ripe orange when in perfection4 ,as ,i write ,i have in my mind's eye the mass of bright colour presented by a pile of oranges in a greengrocer's shop1 and this is the tone that is to be desired in our orange cats4 ,there is a dash of red in the ideal orange cat1 suggestive1 perhaps1 of the blood-oranges with which at ,christmastide we are familiar4 ,anyhow1 an orange cat should be as far removed as possible both from sandy or yellow or1 as ,i have heard them called1 lemon-coloured cats4 ,i have left out the term 8tabby0 from the heading of this chapter1 and ,i think advisedly2 for in the ,persian varieties the markings are gradually but surely vanishing1 and orange cats may be said to stand in the same relation to orange tabbies as shaded silvers do to silver tabbies4 ,i mean that most of the orange ,persians now exhibited have shaded bodies1 with tabby marking on head1 face1 and paws4 ,the body markings1 never very strong in ,persian tabbies1 are even less distinct in the orange than in the silver varieties4 ,it may therefore be said that in judging this breed as they are represented in the show pen to-day1 colour is taken into consideration first1 and tabby markings are of less account4 ,as regards other distinctive features of this breed1 ,i may say that it is the exception1 and not the rule1 to find good round heads and short noses4 ,the longest faces ,i have ever seen in any felines have been those possessed by orange ,persian and short-haired cats4 ,i have really sometimes felt quite sorry for a magnificent puss of this colour whose nose was so self-assertive that every other point1 however excellent1 seemed to be lost sight of1 and that nose with the accentuated terminus stood out with distressing prominence4 ,until the year #ahid the classification at the ,crystal ,palace was 8brown or red tabby1 with or without white10 and the descriptions given in the catalogue by some owners on entering their cats read 8brown and red10 8red-marked tabby10 8spotted red tabby10 8sandy ,persian40 ,in #ahie orange and cream cats were placed together in one class4 ,illustration3 8,,puck10 ,,son ,,of ,,mrs4 ,,vidal',s 8,,ellwayda40 ,,the ,,property ,,of ,,mrs4 ,,moxon4 7,photo3 ,e4 ,d4 ,percival1 ,ilfracombe47 ,a specialist society for orange1 cream1 fawn1 and tortoiseshell cats was founded in #aijj1 and although the number of members is small1 yet they have proved a strong body of staunch supporters of these breeds1 and a really astonishing amount of good work has been done by these few enthusiasts4 ,the classification at the large shows has been greatly supplemented1 and1 whereas before the formation of the society the sexes were never separated1 now this energetic little club asks for1 obtains1 and often guarantees extra classes4 ,the result1 therefore1 to breeders of orange and cream cats is much more satisfactory1 and males and females have their respective classes2 and right well have they been filled4 ,it was in #aijj that classes for creams were introduced at shows4 ,at the ,richmond show in #aijb there were thirteen entries in male and thirteen in female orange and cream classes1 the sexes1 but not the colours1 being divided4 ,this was really a splendid testimony to the efforts of a specialist society of less than two years' standing4 ,it is such a short time ago that orange1 cream1 and tortoiseshell cats were relegated to the 8any other colour0 class1 even at our largest shows2 now it is often remarked by reporters in the cat papers that the well-filled cream and orange classes were the chief attractions of the show4 ,illustration3 ,photo ,vidal4 8,,swagger40 ,,bred ,,by ,,mrs4 ,,vidal4 ,i will here give a copy of the circular issued by the honorary secretary inviting members to join1 and the points for orange cats1 as drawn up by the specialist society1 which were decided upon at the inaugural meeting3-- ,,orange1 ,,cream1 ,,fawn1 ,,and ,,tortoiseshell ,,society4 ,,long ,,and ,,short ,,haired4 ,as societies have been lately formed to promote the interests of one or more colours in the cat world1 it has been thought by a few fanciers of orange1 cream1 fawn1 and tortoiseshell cats that there is an opening for a society for the purpose of encouraging the breeding of these colours4 ,the objects of such a society would be3-- 7#a7 ,to secure better classification for these varieties at the different shows4 7#b7 ,to encourage fanciers to breed and show these colours by offering special prizes1 etc4 7#c7 ,to improve the type of cat bred4 7#d7 ,to secure recognition for all shades of orange1 cream1 and fawn2 and1 inasmuch as many fanciers disagree as to the merits of the different tints for eyes1 to encourage the breeding and showing of specimens with green1 orange1 hazel1 and blue eyes4 ,miss ,mildred ,beal1 ,romaldkirk ,rectory1 ,darlington1 has undertaken to act as hon4 sec4 to the society1 and will be glad to hear from any fanciers who may wish to support it4 ,november1 #aijj4 ,,orange ,,self ,,or ,,tabby ,,points4 ,colour and marking4--,colour to be as bright as possible1 and either self or markings to be as distinct as can be got4 #be4 ,coat4--,to be silky1 very long1 and fluffy4 #be4 ,size and ,shape4--,to be large1 not coarse1 but massive1 with plenty of bone and substance2 short legs4 #bj4 ,head4--,to be round and broad1 with short nose1 ears small and well opened4 #ae4 ,eyes4--,to be large and full1 and bright orange or hazel4 #e4 ,condition4--#aj4 ,it will be noticed that the heading of these points is 8orange self or tabby02 but1 as ,i have pointed out1 the cats exhibited as orange ,persians are neither self-coloured nor can they be called tabby4 ,so it remains to be seen which type of cat will in due course be the established one4 ,i incline towards a self-coloured orange in the ,persian breeds1 and a very handsome cat this would be--of just one tone of bright even colour1 perhaps slightly lighter on the flanks and stomach1 under the tail1 and with a frill of paler tone4 ,in fact1 very much the type of a smoke cat1 in two shades of brilliant orange4 ,at the same time1 if real orange tabbies can be bred with the distinct body markings these should be encouraged4 ,at the ,cat ,club shows it has been customary to give the classification for orange cats marked or unmarked1 so that then the judge may not have to take tabby markings into consideration1 but give his awards according to colour and other points of excellence4 ,it is the same when a class is given for sable or brown tabby1 silver or shaded silver4 ,in such classes it would be unfair to consider either the tabby markings in the one or the amount of shadings in the other4 ,of course1 it is possible that in time orange cats may be bred to such perfection that two distinct classes will be given1 namely 8orange0 7selfs7 and 8orange tabby40 ,in former years blues 7selfs7 and blue tabbies were included in one class1 but gradually blue tabbies have been disappearing from our midst4 ,if1 therefore1 orange tabbies--,i mean1 of course1 long-haired cats--should likewise become extinct1 our browns and silvers would be the sole representatives of tabbies in the long-haired varieties4 ,illustration3 8,,benjamin ,,of ,,the ,,durhams40 ,,the ,,property ,,of ,,mrs4 ,d',,arcy ,,hildyard4 7,photo3 ,burgess1 ,market ,lavington47 ,as regards the eyes in orange ,persians1 the standard given in the foregoing list of the specialist society is 8bright orange or hazel40 ,i should prefer the terms 8golden bronze or hazel10 as there is a special shade of gold with a dash of bronze or brown which seems to tone best with the bright coats of these cats4 ,certainly the pale yellow or greenish-yellow eye is not desirable--better a bright green eye4 ,i often wonder if ever fanciers will be fortunate enough to breed an orange ,persian with bright blue eyes1 such as are seen in whites and ,siamese4 ,i have heard of a short-haired orange cat with blue eyes1 and sometimes ,i have been told by a fancier of the ,persian tribe that they had bred an orange1 and its eyes had not turned from the deep kitten blue at four months1 so they were fondly hoping they were going to astonish the cat world2 but their hopes were dashed to the ground1 for surely and sadly a change came o'er the colour of that cat's eyes1 and it was a case of the blue that failed6 ,i once noticed an advertisement in one of our cat papers which announced1 8,for sale1 a unique orange ,persian male with perfect deep blue eyes02 but ,i also remarked that the age of this unique specimen was not given1 and ,i did not think it was worth while to write and inquire4 ,the texture of coat in this breed ought to be particularly soft and silky1 and is often of great length and thickness4 ,the kittens when born are usually dull in colour1 and gradually brighten as they grow older4 ,as is well known to cat fanciers1 orange females are rarer than orange males1 so their market value is higher4 ,there is1 therefore1 always a flutter of excitement on the arrival of a litter1 and too often fate has decreed that all are males6 ,orange cats make a splendid foil for other varieties4 ,this is especially the case as regards blues and blacks2 the contrast in colour enhances the beauty of each4 ,i know one lady who1 having an eye to the artistic1 keeps a blue and an orange neuter1 and a lovely pair they make4 ,i think the largest cat ,i ever saw was an orange neuter that simply filled the show pen with a mass of bright colour--but he had a white shirt front and white gloves6 ,as regards mating orange cats1 they make a good cross with blacks and tortoiseshells2 and if a brown tabby lacks the admired tawny or golden tint1 then an orange may assist to brighten and improve the general tone1 and do away1 perchance1 with that drabbiness which is so undesirable in a brown tabby4 ,illustration3 8,,torrington ,,sunnysides40 ,,the ,,property ,,of ,,mrs4 ,g4 ,w4 ,,vidal4 7,photo3 ,g4 ,w4 ,vidal47 ,i do not think orange cats have ever been very popular1 and ,i have remarked at shows that a certain number of people refuse to give anything but a passing contemptuous glance at the classes which contain what they call 8those yellow cats40 ,a very common defect among orange ,persian cats is the white or very light chin4 ,sometimes there is the still more damaging blemish of a white spot on the throat1 spreading1 perhaps1 further down the chest4 ,it is very rare to find an orange that has really a dark under-lip1 and chin level in tone with the body colour4 ,the white lip is a bugbear to breeders and exhibitors1 for ,nature repeats itself1 and judges make notes of the defect2 and in these up-to-date catty days of specialist clubs and standards of points a cat full of quality failing in one particular is too often a white elephant1 if desired for anything more than a pet4 ,i have observed that orange cats will sometimes develop a light or nearly white chin in their old age4 ,i never consider a white spot or tuft of white hairs such a blemish to a cat if these are on the stomach1 as compared with the same defect on the throat4 ,such a spot would not be so likely to be handed down to successive generations2 and1 of course1 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 cat4 ,i have often observed orange cats with very light hair underneath which has almost approached white2 but such defects are sometimes only temporary1 whereas a white spot on the throat or a white chin remains once and for ever4 ,in the early days of the fancy1 orange cats were decidedly more tabby marked than they are in the present day4 ,a noted one of this type was 8,cyrus the ,elamite10 born in #ahhi1 and bred by ,mrs4 ,kinchant1 an enthusiastic fancier at that and later periods4 ,in #ahic and #ahid ,mr4 ,heap exhibited a handsome orange1 8,prince ,charlie10 at the ,crystal ,palace4 ,he also owned another1 called 8,prince ,lyne10 of the same breed1 the celebrated tortoiseshell 8,queen ,elizabeth0 being the mother of both these cats4 8,puff0 was exhibited by ,mrs4 ,spackman in #ahid2 this orange cat was not much marked1 and 8,lifeguard0 was bred from him4 ,it was about this date that unmarked orange ,persians became more fashionable4 ,among females1 8,lifeguard's0 sister1 8,goldylocks10 owned by ,mrs4 ,marriott1 was one of the very best queens ever shown4 ,mrs4 ,foote1 who is still well known in the fancy1 had several beautiful orange females1 notably 8,marigold10 8,buttercup10 and 8,cowslip40 ,with these cats ,mrs4 ,foote tried to breed unmarked creams and oranges1 8,ripon10 a noted cream1 being the sire4 ,she built up several storeys of her catty castle1 but then sold them to ,lady ,marcus ,beresford4 8,trilby10 litter sister to 8,zoroaster10 a famous cream1 was one of the brightest and deepest coloured orange females--or1 indeed1 orange cats--that has ever been seen4 ,illustration3 8,,lifeguard40 ,,formerly ,,the ,,property ,,of ,,lady ,,marcus ,,beresford4 7,photo3 ,e4 ,landor1 ,ealing47 ,coming down to the present day1 ,i may remark that the number of orange cats placed at stud is very limited4 ,a great loss to the ranks of male orange ,persians was 8,lifeguard10 formerly the property of ,lady ,marcus ,beresford4 ,this cat was almost unmarked1 of a beautiful bright shade1 and had an unusually round head and short face1 with long silky coat4 ,he was purchased by ,miss ,cartmell1 who is well known as an enthusiastic breeder of orange ,persians1 but who never exhibits4 ,this lady has been very successful in breeding numerous fine female orange cats1 and many a winner has been born to blush unseen in the ,barham ,cattery1 near ,canterbury4 ,another noted winner and stud cat is 8,torrington ,sunnysides10 of whom a portrait is given4 ,this cat is the property of ,mrs4 ,g4 ,h4 ,vidal1 and has done a lot of winning4 ,his colour is exceptionally good1 and he has sired several prize kittens1 some of which have been sent out to ,america and gained distinction over the water4 8,torrington ,sunnysides0 has a most luxurious house in the spacious garden surrounding ,mrs4 ,vidal's residence at ,sydenham4 ,the photograph is by ,mr4 ,g4 ,w4 ,vidal1 who dislikes taking orange cats1 because the tone is so difficult to reproduce in photography4 ,mrs4 ,davies1 of ,caterham1 has owned some good orange cats4 ,her male 8,hamish0 was a grand specimen1 but was only twice exhibited1 when he gained highest honours4 ,he was then purchased by ,mrs4 ,vidal1 and sent out to ,mr4 ,storey in ,chicago4 ,a son of 8,torrington ,sunnysides0 has also found a home in a ,chicago cattery4 8,red ,knight0 was sent by the writer to ,mrs4 ,colburn1 and in an article in the ,american ,field and ,fancy mention is thus made of him3-- 8#8,red ,knight1' an orange male1 with deepest orange eyes1 was imported from ,england4 ,he is a very good type1 and has sired some beautiful kittens1 notably two by ,miss ,adams' #8,daffodil1' very fine specimens of pure orange1 with cobby bodies1 wide heads1 tiny ears set far apart1 and beautiful coats4 ,they have been fed on #8,force1' and ,miss ,adams is going to call the male #8,sunny ,jim4' ,another son1 seven months old1 of the same parentage1 is the largest cat ever seen for his age1 and if he continues growing will certainly be enormous40 ,illustration3 ,,one ,,of ,,mrs4 ,,neate',s ,,out-,,door ,,catteries ,,at ,,wernham4 ,one of ,mrs4 ,vidal's orange kittens1 8,puck0 by name1 is now owned by ,mrs4 ,moxon1 of ,ilfracombe1 from whom ,i have obtained a photograph for reproduction4 ,a few notes on orange ,persian cats by ,mrs4 ,vidal will be interesting to my readers3-- 8,it is difficult to imagine a more gorgeous colour than a really good orange lying full length in the sun4 ,there is1 however1 rather a prejudice against them1 chiefly because some people persist in calling them #8sandy' or #8red1' both of which names are quite misleading4 ,i have several times had people say to me when visiting my cattery1 #8,i have always thought ,i did not like sandy cats1 but ,i have never before seen a cat of such a lovely colour as the one you have just shown me4' ,six years ago1 when ,i first took up cat rearing1 it was rare to see any orange cats at the shows1 but now they and the creams form one of the most beautiful classes1 and they have a specialist society of their own and an energetic secretary in ,miss ,mildred ,beal4 ,illustration3 ,,curiosity4 7,photo3 ,mrs4 ,s4 ,f4 ,clarke47 8,there are two classes of oranges1 one which has the ordinary tabby markings1 more or less distinct1 and the other which is #8flecked' all over the back in small patches1 and which is usually not nearly so bright in colour as the so-called #8tabby' markings4 ,the correct thing is to breed a totally unmarked orange2 and1 although many people claim this for their pets1 it is very rarely seen4 ,the absence of markings usually means absence of the rich orange colour so much admired4 ,any white on chin or bib is1 of course1 a blemish1 and for breeding or show purposes such an animal is perfectly useless4 8,an orange stud cat is a very useful animal to have in a cattery1 for crossing with him will improve many colours1 viz4 tortoiseshell1 brown1 grey1 and sable tabbies2 while if he is mated to a blue queen the kittens1 if orange1 are beautiful in colour--brighter1 ,i think1 than if two orange cats are mated together4 ,in mating with other colours it is a toss-up what colour will predominate1 but the only way to ensure all orange kittens is to mate with orange queens1 when1 according to my experience with my stud cat 7#8,torrington ,sunnysides'71 the results are all orange4 ,mated with tortoiseshells the orange kittens are very good2 but mated with blacks the strongest colour carries the day1 and the kittens are mostly black or tortoiseshell1 seldom orange4 ,silvers1 chinchillas1 and smokes should1 of course1 never be mated with oranges1 as the result would be a horrible mixture6 ,orange queens were at one time very rare1 and even now are not plentiful1 being delicate and difficult to rear4 ,illustration3 ,,another ,,view ,,of ,,mrs4 ,,neate',s ,,cat ,,houses4 8,the time at which the kittens change the colour of their eyes from the baby blue to orange varies a great deal in individual animals1 from seven to twelve weeks4 ,when the eyes are very deep blue1 they change to bright rich orange or hazel2 but if of a pale blue1 they change very quickly to a poor yellow1 and never get the rich dark orange which the deeper blue get4 ,therefore rejoice when you see your kittens with deep blue eyes4 ,some of our kittens have had the most lovely deep blue eyes1 and great has been our sorrow as we found the inevitable change coming on4 ,if ,i could only manage to get some kittens with the permanent blue eyes that the best white cats have1 ,i should indeed be proud2 but thinking of the kittens with terrible white chins and under-coats1 which would crop up in every litter and would have to be drowned1 quite deters me from sending my orange queens to white studs with blue eyes6 ,all who have been accustomed to frequent the show pens will remember ,miss ,m4 ,beal's splendid old orange queen #8,jael1' who up to the last1 although nearly fourteen years old1 always took first prize1 and was a very good specimen of what an orange queen should be--of a bright rich orange1 without any suspicion of light under her chin or chest 7the usual weak point71 and having the splendid head1 short nose1 and good cobby shape which all breeders strive for4 ,short-haired orange cats are often seen about our towns and villages1 and are always called #8sandy1' but are not1 ,i think1 held in much account4 ,they are distinct from the so-called #8red tabby1' which is a recognised colour in our shows40 ,illustration3 ,,mrs4 ,,neate',s ,,cat ,,houses4 ,among the prize-winning females of the present day ,i must not forget to notice ,mrs4 ,singleton's 8,orange ,girl10 bred from ,miss ,beal's noted strain4 ,this cat has had many honours showered upon her during a very short career1 and as there must always be a scarcity of queens in this breed1 this fine specimen is a valuable possession4 ,so long as there are two cat clubs and two registers there will be a confused multiplicity of names1 and so yet another orange male called 8,puck0 inhabits the cat world4 ,this handsome fellow is owned by the ,hon4 ,mrs4 ,mc,laren ,morrison1 to whom ,i had the pleasure of awarding first prize and many specials at the ,botanic show held in ,june1 #aijb4 ,his vivid colouring and well-shaped limbs and splendid eyes will always make him a conspicuous specimen in the show pen4 ,alas6 his photograph does him but scant justice4 ,quite a surprise packet appeared at the ,crystal ,palace show of #aijb by the appearance of a very handsome young male in 8,william of ,orange0 exhibited by ,mrs4 ,stillwell1 and bred from ,dr4 ,roper's noted black 8,johnnie ,fawe0 and tortoiseshell queen 8,dainty ,diana40 ,this cat was awarded first and many specials1 and was claimed by ,lord ,decies at catalogue price4 ,as 8,william0 was not a year old when he won his laurels1 it may readily be believed that he has a distinguished career before him1 and may add another to the long list of winners owned and exhibited by ,lady ,decies4 ,no orange male cat is better known in the fancy than that splendid fellow 8,the ,king's ,own10 belonging to ,mrs4 ,neate4 ,he has had a most successful career1 and may be considered as nearly self-coloured an orange as any yet exhibited4 ,mrs4 ,neate is a devoted admirer of this breed and also a great cat lover1 and has recently started an arrangement for boarding cats1 and truly ,i know of no place better adapted for successful cat keeping than the home of ,mrs4 ,francis ,neate1 at ,wernham1 near ,marlborough2 situated as it is in the very heart of the country1 a mile from any other house1 her cats can enjoy their liberty with perfect safety4 ,a large range of brick-built and slated outhouses has been converted into catteries and comfortably fitted4 ,all have wooden floors1 wire doors1 and large runs attached4 ,a number of portable houses and runs are dotted about the kitchen garden and meadows4 ,an empty cottage serves as an isolation hospital1 or place of quarantine for cats returning from shows4 ,a herd of pure-bred goats supply the inmates of the cattery with milk1 and rabbits1 which abound1 form their staple food when in season4 ,the largest of the outhouses is fitted with a ,tortoise stove1 carefully guarded4 ,the pride of ,mrs4 ,neate's cattery is1 of course1 the famous orange stud 8,the ,king's ,own40 ,he is the sire of the two winning orange queens 8,mehitabel of the ,durhams0 and 8,glory of ,prittlewell40 ,fitting mates for him are 8,wernham ,titmouse0 7tortoiseshell-and-white71 8,evening ,primrose0 7a cream daughter of 8,champion ,midshipmite0 and 8,hazeline071 also 8,mimosa0 7an orange bred by ,miss ,cartmell from 8,richmond ,bough0 and 8,mistletoe073 these occupy the house adjoining the stables4 8,champion ,bundle0 and 8,betsy ,jane10 a lovely little blue with glorious orange eyes1 are the only blues of the establishment4 ,latterly ,mrs4 ,neate has reduced her own stock of breeding queens1 and makes a speciality of receiving cats during the holidays4 ,judging by the number of cat fanciers who sent their pets to ,mrs4 ,neate during the summer of #aijb1 it is certain that a great want has been most efficiently supplied4 ,not only does ,mrs4 ,neate give personal supervision to her catty boarders and visitors1 but they have splendid caretakers on the premises4 ,these custodians are ,mrs4 ,neate's big ,st4 ,bernard and a chow-chow1 who jealously guard the ,wernham cattery4 ,these dogs are on the very best terms with the feline inmates1 and the strange pussies very soon appear to settle down to an amicable cat-and-dog life4 ,the accompanying photographs1 as will be seen1 were taken in the depth of winter4 ,these brick-built houses1 slate roofed and with wooden floor1 are splendidly adapted for keeping the cats snug and warm during the cold weather4 ,one of the buildings illustrated is #be feet by #ae feet1 and has three windows4 ,this house is provided with large table1 shelves1 and chairs1 and cosy sleeping boxes4 ,an outside wire run1 of the same length and width as the building1 is erected for an exercise ground in summer weather4 ,mrs4 ,neate has kindly supplied me with a few notes on orange ,persian cats3-- 8,it was in #ahig1 at ,boscombe show1 that ,i claimed the winner in a class of twenty-six kittens1 my now well-known orange ,persian stud #8,the ,king's ,own4' ,the same year1 at the ,crystal ,palace1 ,i purchased a lovely orange female kitten sired by ,mrs4 ,pettit's #8,champion ,king of ,pearls' and the tortoiseshell-and-white #8,dainty ,doris4' ,from her ,i fondly hoped to establish a breed of blue-eyed oranges1 which feature would be charming in the variety2 but alas6 she came home to sicken and die1 as so many another valuable kitten has done1 and ,i have never since been able to obtain an orange of either sex sired by a blue-eyed white4 8,it is most difficult to breed oranges without white lips and chins2 the pink nose1 too1 is a feature in the breed that ,i do not like4 8,i have found crossing an orange male with a cream female the surest way to breed sound-coloured specimens of both sexes and varieties1 e4g4 #8,mehitabel of the ,durhams' 7a really rich-coloured unmarked orange queen1 and quite free from the objectionable light shading on lips and chin72 she was bred by ,mrs4 ,d',arcy ,hildyard from her cream female #8,josephine of the ,durhams' and #8,the ,king's ,own4' ,again1 from a blue male and a tortoiseshell queen you are more certain of breeding good oranges 7though seldom of the female sex7 than from mating tortoiseshell and orange together2 in the latter case more often than not black kittens predominate in the litter1 and there is rarely1 if ever1 an orange female amongst them4 8,mrs4 ,vidal's famous orange stud #8,torrington ,sunnysides' was a son of my light blue #8,champion ,bundle' and a tortoiseshell dam #8,torrington ,owlet1' herself of an orange strain4 ,mrs4 ,walford ,gosnall's #8,rufus' 7whose name discloses his colour7 was also the result of this union4 #8,red ,ensign1' the orange kitten who won first and three specials at ,westminster in #aijb1 was bred by me from #8,champion ,bundle' and #8,mimosa1' an orange queen of cream breeding1 and with his litter brother #8,scarlet ,lancer' took first and silver medal for the best pair of kittens4 ,the latter is now the property of ,miss ,cartmell1 and has grown into a fine cat4 ,unfortunately for the cat fancy generally1 #8,red ,ensign' was claimed at the show1 and is now a house pet4 8,the best orange kittens ,i have bred were from my #8,wernham ,titmouse1' a tortoiseshell-and-white who owns an orange dam1 and #8,the ,king's ,own'2 the whole litter were females1 and redder than any oranges ,i have seen4 ,these never lived to see a show1 and their death was one of the greatest disappointments ,i have experienced in my career4 ,the demand for good orange and cream females is greater than the supply2 in fact1 these colours are decidedly #8booming1' and better classification is given for them at our principal shows4 8,at the ,crystal ,palace show of #ahih there were only four entries in the open class for orange and cream males1 and four of the same varieties in the female class1 compared to the ten entries in orange and cream male classes and the same number in the female classes at the ,cat ,club's show1 held at ,westminster1 #aijb4 ,these facts speak for themselves of the increased interest now taken in these varieties4 8,unlike some of the warmer tinted of us humans1 orange cats of both sexes are particularly sweet-tempered1 showing great attachment to their owners4 ,they are of strong constitution and attain to great size1 being at present free from the in-breeding that is practised amongst many other varieties of our show cats4 ,a small piece of sulphate of iron in the drinking water will enrich the colour of orange and tortoiseshells1 besides being an excellent tonic1 especially during the moulting season4 8,orange ,persian cats do not1 as a rule1 make good photographs1 as they lack expression compared to the short-haired tabby varieties of this colour40 ,the ,misses ,beal1 of ,romaldkirk1 near ,darlington1 have long been associated with orange and cream cats4 8,jael0 was quite unique as an orange female1 and at fifteen years of age could yet win in her class by reason of her grand colour1 perfectly shaped head1 short face1 and tiny1 well-set ears4 ,such a cat stands out in any breed1 and such a cat may never again be bred4 8,jael0 died in #aijb1 after a long and successful career4 ,illustration3 ,,musing4 7,from a ,painting by ,madame ,ronner47 ,miss ,beal's male orange 8,minotaur0 is one of the most beautiful cats of this breed now exhibited1 and has quite the best round head and face1 with sweetest expression4 ,these are qualities too often lacking in orange cats4 ,miss ,beal's name is1 perhaps1 more closely associated in the cat world with cream cats1 and in my next chapter on this breed she has kindly supplied some notes4 ,another fancier of both orange and cream cats is ,mrs4 ,d',arcy ,hildyard1 and to her ,i am indebted for the following notes on orange ,persian cats3-- 8,until comparatively lately ,i confined myself entirely to the breeding of creams1 and my efforts were attended with considerable success1 both in multiplying the number of cats of that colour--,i bred thirteen one year--and in filling the classes given for cream females4 ,i was particularly lucky in breeding many creams of the gentler sex4 8,the birth of the ,orange and ,tortoiseshell ,society fired me with ambition to start breeding oranges4 ,i was much fascinated with the colour1 though ,i hate their being penned beside the creams at shows1 as they completely take all colour out of the lighter animals and give them a washed-out appearance4 ,i started by crossing my cream queen #8,josephine of the ,durhams' with ,mrs4 ,neate's famous #8,the ,king's ,own4' ,this proved a most satisfactory cross1 the results being three rich-coloured unmarked orange kittens1 one male and two females4 ,i sold one female to ,miss ,scratton1 of ,prittlewell ,priory1 and it has1 ,i hear1 grown into a very handsome cat2 the other two ,i kept1 and they won all before them at ,manchester ,kitten ,show1 #aija1 and were shown at ,slough after1 where the male was claimed4 ,the remaining one1 #8,mehitabel of the ,durhams1' ,i kept1 and she won me many prizes last winter1 and being mated this year to #8,champion ,romaldkirk ,admiral' has presented me with a litter of two creams and an orange4 ,certainly creams and oranges cross well1 and often ,i think produce a brighter and deeper tone of colour than is obtained from other shades4 ,i have lately purchased an orange tom1 and by crossing him with #8,hazeline1' one of my cream queens1 have got a splendid litter of seven pure oranges4 ,this1 ,i think1 proves that the cream and orange cross is good1 and that they breed very true4 ,oranges bred by crossing other colours seem to me rather spasmodic1 if ,i may use the term4 ,when breeders try crossing an orange and a tortoiseshell they very often get blacks and blues as well as oranges2 on the other hand1 from a blue and a tortoiseshell cross sometimes an orange is obtained4 ,but they do not seem able to count exactly on the results4 8,reliability is what ,i claim from the cream and orange cross4 ,i emphatically believe in mating creams to creams if you wish to get a good pale colour and few markings1 and oranges and creams crossed have certainly produced good specimens of both colours for me4 ,i speak from my own experience4 8,i hope to do great things by trying a cross between my orange tom #8,benjamin' and #8,mehitabel4' ,miss ,winifred ,beal's #8,minotaur' was the result of a cross between a cream and a tortoiseshell4 ,her well-known #8,garnet' is the daughter of a cream and a blue4 ,at present there is1 to my mind1 no orange female on the show bench to compare with the late #8,jael1' owned by ,miss ,mildred ,beal1 whose brilliant colour and perfect head with its tiny ears made her hold her own at all the shows up to within two months of her death at quite a venerable age2 but ,i hope in the future1 as oranges become more popular and breeders work hard at producing good specimens1 we may see her like again4 ,i was much taken at ,richmond show with ,mrs4 ,singleton's #8,orange ,girl1' and also with the kitten of that colour exhibited by the same lady at ,manchester4 ,every year1 ,i think1 shows that the general world is becoming more alive to the beauties of orange and cream cats1 as proved both by the large increase in entries of these colours at the principal shows and the great demand for kittens when any are offered for sale4 ,undoubtedly breeders owning creams should stick to them1 if they wish to produce good oranges--see the many splendid specimens sired by #8,midshipmite' and #8,admiral4' 8,it is a hard matter to say decisively what tint orange kittens should be when born4 ,i have known them enter the world a bad cream1 and gradually grow redder till they develop into the brilliant colour we all look to see in a cat of orange hue4 ,personally1 ,i prefer them born a dark shade2 they usually lighten and brighten a little1 but on the whole ,i think that is the more satisfactory of the two4 ,it is distinctly discouraging to see a washed-out looking kitten when you are expecting a bright orange one4 8,fanciers differ about the eyes which are supposed to be correct in this breed4 ,hazel eyes are universally acknowledged to be the right thing4 ,personally1 ,i admire green1 or rather eau-de-nil eyes1 as giving more contrast to the colour of the coat1 but you do not often see them4 ,i have always wished to breed a cream with blue eyes--,i do not mean the baby blue1 but the colour that ,siamese have--and only the other day ,i sold a kitten three months old with brilliant blue eyes of this tint1 and shall be anxious to know whether they change in time or not4 8,i think the time is approaching when the orange and cream cats are going to be among the most attractive classes at our bigger shows4 ,already the classes are much better filled than when ,i first joined the fancy1 and you always find an admiring crowd in front of their pens4 ,i wish1 though1 that a nice sprinkling of blues could always be placed between the two colours at shows4 ,the close company of the oranges is so excessively unbecoming to the creams1 while when you see the three colours together they are especially lovely4 ,to see cream and orange cats at their best they should be at large in the country and running about on the green grass40 ,illustration3 ,,out ,,in ,,the ,,cold4 7,photo3 ,e4 ,landor1 ,ealing47 ,in #aijb an ,orange and ,cream ,cat ,club was started by a few enthusiastic breeders of these varieties over in ,america4 ,the ,misses ,beal1 ,mrs4 ,vidal1 and ,miss ,frances ,simpson were elected as honorary members4 ,the following is an extract from ,field and ,fancy1 the ,american weekly paper3-- ,,orange ,,cats4 ,there is very little doubt that this is a colour that has from the beginning of the fancy in ,america been very popular1 and has had a very strong hold upon the ,american love for colour4 ,but1 of course1 as is generally the case with the popular ones1 the supply has never been too plentiful1 and probably never will be as regards the queens1 for they only appear once in a while1 according to what seems to be one of ,nature's rules1 that the queens should be tortoiseshells4 ,the ,orange and ,cream ,club is probably destined to do a great deal for the variety1 which is one of the colours from which it takes its name4 ,breeding orange cats opens quite a field1 for in attaining your end you can at the same time indulge in other colours1 for undoubtedly a cross with a tortoiseshell will be found necessary to keep the colour sufficiently intense1 and at other times it may be quite as well to throw in a little black4 ,the tendency for the queens to be tortoiseshells may possibly be somewhat overcome in time1 but these inherent traits in colours in animals and birds are often so strong that they have a knack of reappearing even after several generations4 ,we occasionally see queens of the orange colour1 and these are usually high quality ones1 both in colour and type2 but the orange queens are not destined to at present make heavy classes by themselves4 ,though the standard calls for orange eyes1 it is a curious coincidence that the most consistently successful cat of recent times has been ,miss ,beal's 8,jael10 who had green eyes2 but so good was her colour1 so good her type1 that she generally won when exhibited4 ,the struggle carried on in the ,british ,isles for some years to breed these cats without marks has been hardly a success1 and there have not been very many evolved of that colour that were really without marks1 and it is a great question if in this craze for absence of marks they have not been passing by a lot of good cats4 ,as far as we personally are concerned in the matter1 we see little to be gained by the absence of marks in the orange cats4 ,if the colour had been very prolific in numbers it might have been a good idea to try and split up the classes1 but they were never too well filled1 and there is room still for plenty more1 though we cannot complain so much at the representation that they have had in ,america last season1 either in numbers or quality4 ,illustration3 ,,higher ,,education4 7,photo3 ,mrs4 ,s4 ,f4 ,clarke47 ,,chapter ,,xvi4 ,,cream ,,or ,,fawn ,,persians4 ,this may be said to be the very latest variety in ,persian breeds1 and one which bids fair to become very fashionable4 ,the term 8cream0 describes exactly what is the desired tint of these cats1 but few and far between are the specimens which are pale and even enough in colour to be correctly described as creams4 ,no doubt1 in times past now and again a cream cat would be seen exhibited in the 8any variety0 class1 but then they might be designated as freaks or flukes4 ,now1 however1 fanciers of these cats have a system in their matings1 and therefore1 as a result1 there is a breed of cats established which until late years were not recognised or classified4 ,illustration3 ,,mrs4 ,,clinton ,,locke',s ,,cream ,,kitten4 ,it is true that the cream ,persians seen in the show pens are often much darker than is implied by the name1 and1 indeed1 are really fawn-coloured4 ,the great thing1 however1 is to obtain an even tint throughout1 whether dark or light1 and to avoid any patches1 streaks1 or tabby markings4 ,i think the very pale creams are more dainty and fascinating than the darker cats1 but the lighter the coat the more difficult it is to obtain perfect uniformity of colour4 ,of course1 there will always be a certain amount of shading in cream cats--that is1 the spine line will be slightly darker1 shading off on the sides and under the stomach and tail4 ,i think that creams are making more rapid strides towards attaining the 8almost unmarked0 stage than are silvers4 ,certainly1 good creams of to-day are very slightly barred on head or legs or tail1 and this cannot be said as regards some of our best silver cats4 ,this is probably to be accounted for by the cautious and wise discrimination used in mating creams by selecting blues or tortoiseshells1 and thus avoiding tabby-marked cats4 ,it is a peculiarity of cream cats that the eyes are generally almond-shaped1 and are set rather slanting in the head4 ,it is rare and a great treat to see bold1 round1 owl-like eyes in cream cats4 ,these in colour should be golden or hazel1 the brighter the colour the better4 ,i will here give the points of cream or fawn cats1 as drawn up by the specialist society3-- ,,cream ,,or ,,fawn4 ,colour4--,to be as pure as possible without marking or shading1 either paler or darker1 dulness and white to be particularly avoided4 ,all shades from the palest fawn to be allowable4 #be4 ,coat4--,to be very long and fluffy4 #be4 ,size and shape4--,to be large--not coarse1 but massive1 with plenty of bone and substance2 short legs4 #bj4 ,head4--,to be round and broad1 with short nose1 ears small and well opened4 #ae4 ,eyes4--,to be large and full1 and bright orange or hazel in colour4 #e4 ,condition4--#aj4 ,illustration3 ,a ,,creamy ,,smile4 ,much has been done by this energetic specialist society to get a better classification for creams at our shows2 and perhaps1 as time goes on and a larger number of fanciers take up these breeds1 a distinct classification will be given for creams and fawns4 ,it may always be a little difficult to draw the line between the two2 but such a division of colours would1 ,i think1 give satisfaction to the breeders of both creams and fawns1 for at present judges are more inclined to give a preference to the palest-coloured cats1 perhaps because more beautiful and more difficult to breed4 ,in the former breeds1 more especially blues and silvers1 that ,i have described in this work it would have been impossible to name all those cats that were noted in the fancy1 for the simple reason that their name is legion2 but it is different in a breed like creams1 for1 as ,i mentioned in the beginning of this chapter1 in times past it was a case of only here and there a cream ,persian appearing on the scene1 then vanishing perhaps to ,america1 or else being purchased for a pet and retiring from public life4 ,these 8sports0 in the fancy were not seriously taken up1 and no one thought of trying to establish a strain2 so that one can1 as it were1 put one's finger on the cats of this variety1 if not so easily in the present day1 certainly in the past4 ,the first recorded cream ,persian in catalogues or stud books is 8,cupid ,bassanio10 born in #ahij1 bred by ,mrs4 ,kinchant2 no pedigree is given4 ,he was a big1 broadheaded1 heavily coated cat1 with a good many marks and shadings1 and was sold to ,mrs4 ,preston ,whyte1 and passed on to ,miss ,norman4 ,in the same year ,mrs4 ,kinchant exhibited cream kittens at ,brighton4 8,ripon0 was another well-known cream of imported parents 7a blue and an orange74 ,this cat was purchased from ,mrs4 ,foote by ,lady ,marcus ,beresford1 and eventually disappeared when in the possession of ,miss ,cockburn ,dickinson4 ,mr4 ,mc,laren ,morrison in #ahic owned a pale cat called 8,devonshire ,cream40 ,in the following year ,miss ,taylor bred a splendid specimen from 8,tawny10 her noted tortoiseshell4 ,this cat1 called 8,fawn10 was an absolutely self-coloured fawn with brown eyes1 and would do some winning if alive now to compete in our up-to-date classes for cream or fawn4 ,it was in #ahie that ,miss ,beal first exhibited some of her creams1 upon which at that time she did not set much store1 more interested as she was in blues2 but of her now celebrated strain more anon4 ,illustration3 ,,mrs4 ,f4 ,,norris',s ,,cream ,,kitten4 7,photo3 ,e4 ,landor1 ,ealing47 ,one of the best known creams of late years is 8,zoroaster10 bred by ,mrs4 ,bagster from her tortoiseshell 8,pixie40 ,this was a remarkably large pale cat with glorious eyes1 but he was a good deal patched in colour when ,i saw him at ,mrs4 ,mackenzie ,stewart's cattery4 ,mrs4 ,cartwright bred a well-shaped light cream1 8,upwood ,junket10 by 8,timkins10 a blue1 and a daughter of 8,cyrus the ,elamite40 ,mrs4 ,davies1 of ,caterham1 has often had creams in her possession1 notably 8,lord ,cremorne10 quite one of the palest seen in the show pen4 ,two noted creams now placed at stud are ,mrs4 ,norris's 8,kew ,ronald0 and ,mrs4 ,western's 8,matthew of the ,durhams40 ,both these cats are bred from ,miss ,beal's famous 8,heavenly ,twins40 ,regarding 8,matthew10 a reporter in ,our ,cats thus writes after the ,botanic show of #aija3--8;,creams are1 we prophesy1 the coming cats4 ,there seems to us great possibilities in this variety4 #8,matthew of the ,durhams' is one of the cats we would bring forward in support of this view4 ,eminently aristocratic1 breathing an air of refinement1 this cat might be the petted darling of a princess whose cats are all selected by a connoisseur40 ,mr4 ,western is justly proud of his purchase1 for he claimed this fine cat at the ,sandy show1 #aija1 when he was exhibited by ,mrs4 ,d',arcy ,hildyard4 8,matthew0 has on four separate occasions taken second to his father 8,admiral's0 first4 ,he has sired some lovely creams1 notably 8,wynnstay ,myrtle10 also owned by ,mrs4 ,f4 ,western4 ,this female is one of the best of her breed1 and is sure to have some influence over the creams of the future4 ,at the ,crystal ,palace show of #aijb1 where she was awarded first and many specials1 she was the admired of all admirers4 ,as a rule1 cream females have been very much behind the males in quantity and quality4 ,almost the first two were bred by ,miss ,hester ,cochrane from 8,cyrus the ,elamite0 and 8,brunette40 8,crme d',or0 is quite one of the best1 and was owned by ,mrs4 ,wellbye1 who sold her to ,mrs4 ,norris4 ,this cat declined to enter into any matrimonial alliance for some time1 but at last presented her owner with a family by 8,darius10 ,mrs4 ,ransome's noted blue4 ,two of these cats1 8,kew ,laddie0 and 8,kew ,ronald10 are well known in their different spheres4 8,kew ,laddie0 ,i purchased to send out to ,mrs4 ,clinton ,locke1 in ,chicago1 and she presented him to the honorary secretary of the ,beresford ,club1 ,miss ,johnstone4 ,this lady exhibited 8,laddie0 at the big ,chicago ,cat ,show1 where he won high honours1 and in a letter received from ,miss ,johnstone ,i learn he is growing a grand fellow and1 in fact1 is quite la crme de la crme in catty society over the water4 ,the picture of a perfect kitten on the opening page of this chapter represents a cream female1 8,jessica ,kew10 bred by ,mrs4 ,clinton ,locke from 8,lockhaven ,daffodil10 sired by ,miss ,johnstone's 8,laddie ,kew40 ,mrs4 ,clinton ,locke is justly proud of this lovely kitten1 and writes3 8,jessica is the finest kitten ,i have ever seen2 all her points are perfect4 ,she was five weeks old when this photo was taken4 ,her grandfather was my #8,victor1' an orange1 her great-grandmother a tortoiseshell-and-white40 ,illustration3 8,,kew ,,ronald0 ,,and 8,,kew ,,laddie40 7,photo3 ,e4 ,landor1 ,ealing47 ,i have mentioned ,mr4 ,f4 ,norris as a breeder of creams and the owner of the handsome pair of cats illustrated on this page4 ,he has kindly supplied me with the following notes3 8,cream cats are of a modern colour in ,persians1 but are now being more freely bred and finding numerous supporters4 8,there are1 however1 very few good ones in the fancy1 for size and colour are difficult to obtain4 ,the great failing with them is that1 although they are called cream cats1 the best and soundest coloured ones are really of a fawn shade4 ,so many show markings1 patches1 or shadings1 whereas the colour should be one shade and sound throughout2 better be a little dark in colour rather than shade from cream to white1 as is the case with so many specimens exhibited4 ,illustration3 ,,miss ,,beal ,,and ,,her ,,kittens4 8,for one grand-headed and good-eyed cat you see a dozen snipy1 long-faced ones with curious slit eyes1 instead of a short1 snub head1 with glorious big round golden eyes4 8,in my opinion1 to get the short head1 good eye1 fine body shape1 and short legs1 it is best to mate a cream with a good cobby blue4 ,from my experience nothing beats a blue1 although you can mate them with a red1 tortoiseshell1 or black4 ,mating two creams together ,i do not advocate1 unless one of them has a distinct out-cross in the first generation to totally different blood4 8,all the creams shown are descended from ,miss ,beal's two brothers #8,romaldkirk ,admiral' and #8,romaldkirk ,midshipmite1' and to keep the colour1 breeders have bred in and into them again2 and that is why they have lost so much in type and character1 which would have been improved by using an out-cross4 8,i have heard people say1 #8,cream females will not breed4' ,if they only studied the question a minute1 they would know the reason well enough1 which is that they have been too much in-bred4 ,if breeders will only try the blue cross more1 they will1 ,i am sure1 be pleased1 and we shall see a better cat being shown4 ,breeding from blue you will get pure creams and some cream and blue mixed4 ,keep the blue and cream females1 and when old enough mate them to a cream1 and you will get some fine sound-coloured cream kits4 8,it is very curious that there has been nothing yet bred in males to beat the twin cats #8,admiral' and #8,midshipmite4' 8,in females the best ,i have seen is #8,miriam of the ,durhams1' who has a lovely body and coat1 but is long in face and has those bad-shaped eyes4 #8,crme d',or' runs her close1 as she has such a good head1 with perfect eye1 but is a wee bit long in the leg40 ,miss ,beal's females 8,calliope0 and 8,mignonette0 were both noted prize-winning cream females4 ,mrs4 ,d',arcy ,hildyard has been most successful in her endeavours to breed creams from creams1 and a letter from her in ,our ,cats of ,april1 #aija1 will be interesting to breeders of this variety3-- ,illustration3 ,,mrs4 ,d',,arcy ,,hildyard',s ,,cream ,,kittens4 7,photo3 ,e4 ,yeoman1 ,barnard ,castle47 ,,breeding ,,of ,,creams4 ,,sir1--,being much interested in the breeding of creams1 ,i should like to say a few words on the subject and state my experience4 ,though only a novice1 ,i have up to date succeeded in breeding twenty creams--two in #ahii1 thirteen in #aijj1 and seven this year4 ,i began by mating my mixed blue and cream queen 8,senga0 to a cream tom 8,d',arcy10 which ,i bought from ,mr4 ,hutchinson1 of ,egglestone4 ,from this pair ,i got four kittens1 all females--two cream and two marked blues4 ,i kept the creams 8,josephine0 and 8,hazeline10 winners at ,westminster as kittens1 first and second special and medal1 #aijj4 ,later on in the year ,i mated them1 8,hazeline0 to ,miss ,beal's 8,midshipmite10 8,josephine0 to her 8,admiral40 ,both litters were entirely cream1 8,josephine0 producing six kittens1 8,hazeline0 producing five1 two of which ,i have kept4 8,matthew0 and 8,miriam of the ,durhams0 both won as kittens at ,manchester1 and 8,miriam0 has since taken first and specials at ,barnard ,castle1 ,westminster1 and ,reading4 8,matthew0 is growing into a very handsome cat1 and ,i hope to exhibit him at the ,botanic4 ,on ,saturday last1 ,april #acth1 8,hazeline0 again kittened and produced five creams1 having again been mated to 8,midshipmite40 ,this ,i think distinctly proves that good creams can be got from a pair of the same colour4 ,on ,april #adth 8,senga0 also presented me with two more creams1 also two marked blues1 this time the result of a mating with ,miss ,beale's 8,romaldkirk ,toza40 ,,agnes ,d',,arcy ,,hildyard4 ,mrs4 ,barton ,collier has two good creams1 8,bruin0 and 8,dolly of ,brough40 ,again these cats are from ,miss ,beal's strain1 the male being a fawn and the female quite one of the palest of creams4 ,miss ,h4 ,cochran1 who formerly took a great interest in this breed1 writes3--8,i should be inclined to mate a pale cream male or female with a white1 and the progeny with an unmarked orange1 or vice vers4 ,i had a litter from #8,buttercup' and #8,zoroaster1' consisting of two oranges1 two fawns1 and a cream4 ,the fawn and creams were females1 but all died in their youth4 ,i made other attempts with similar crosses1 as ,i had been told it was impossible to breed cream queens1 and in the first year all the creams were queens1 and the males red6 ,my idea was to select a male of the required colour1 and mate a queen of suitable breeding with him1 then to mate the resulting queens with their own father4 ,i believe this plan would have been a success if ,i had followed it up4 ,my idea is that the natural males are the fawns and oranges1 and that their complementary queens are the blue tortoiseshells and the ordinary tortoiseshells4 ,no harm is ever done to a cream or orange strain by crossing with black1 and it may do much good to the latter by deepening the colour of the oranges1 and promoting patchiness as opposed to streakiness in the tortoiseshells40 ,illustration3 8,,miriam ,,of ,,the ,,durhams40 7,photo3 ,e4 ,yeoman1 ,barnard ,castle47 ,i have made frequent mention of ,miss ,beal's noted creams during my chapters on orange and cream cats4 ,these two celebrated champions are commonly known in the fancy as the 8,heavenly ,twins10 their registered names being 8,romaldkirk ,admiral0 and 8,romaldkirk ,midshipmite40 ,they are really fawn ,persian cats1 very sound in colour1 well made1 big boned1 and are always exhibited in the pink of condition1 and at all seasons of the year are in marvellous coat4 ,certainly1 the cold climate of the ,romaldkirk cattery1 which is situated #gcj feet above the sea level1 must1 anyhow1 suit this variety of ,persian cat4 ,i suppose the day will come when these welltried and well-seasoned veterans will have to retire from public life and make way for some of their already noted offspring4 ,in the ,north1 ,south1 ,east1 and ,west these 8,heavenly ,twins0 have reigned supreme1 and ,miss ,beal must almost have lost count of the number of prizes won by them1 which1 ,i think ,i am safe in saying1 would give an exact record of the number of times exhibited4 ,in response to my request1 ,miss ,beal has sent me some notes regarding her cattery arrangements4 ,she says3-- ,illustration3 8,,champion ,,romaldkirk ,,admiral40 7,photo3 ,g4 ,w4 ,vidals47 8,most of the houses are old farm buildings round about our stable yard1 and ,i have recently utilised an old granary which is over the coachhouse4 ,this is about #dj feet long1 and has a room at one end1 with five windows and good ventilation above4 ,in addition ,i have three big cat houses and a loft1 where most of the queens reside4 #8,middy' and #8,admiral' 7the #8,heavenly ,twins'7 have small wooden houses1 felted inside and out1 with wired runs and concrete floors4 8,i have the use of two laundries and a tool-house fitted with fireplaces1 and these ,i reserve in case of illness40 ,there are no cats exhibited in better coat and condition than those that come from the ,romaldkirk cattery1 and the ,misses ,beal may be justly proud of their splendid specimens of creams1 oranges1 tortoiseshells1 and blue ,persians4 ,miss ,w4 ,beal has kindly supplied me with a short article on cream and fawn ,persians3-- 8,the cream and fawn ,persian was a few years ago looked upon as a #8sport1' and when cream kittens appeared in an orange strain they were considered spoilt oranges1 and were either given away1 sold for a few shillings1 or in many cases destroyed as useless4 ,now1 however1 it is very different2 there is a growing demand for cats and kittens of this colour1 and at the big shows they usually have two classes1 i4e4 male and female1 for them4 ,they were certainly slow in coming into general favour1 owing1 ,i think1 to the following facts3 ,first1 that the specimens formerly exhibited failed very noticeably in head1 being very narrow in face and long in nose2 secondly1 that cream females were practically unknown2 and1 thirdly1 that a show1 where they are generally seen1 is emphatically the worst place to see cream ,persians to advantage1 as the journey and being in a town1 etc41 takes off the spotlessness of their coat and dulls their colour1 and the dingy grey of the pens and the yellow of the straw combine to spoil the effect of their colour4 8,the place1 without doubt1 to see creams to perfection is the country1 where against a background of vivid green lawn their pure1 soft colouring is indeed a thing of beauty1 and rarely fails to command admiration4 ,the colour is rather difficult to describe1 and there are two distinct tones of colour bred1 the one which is generally seen and is so far most successful at shows being a cream rather deep in shade1 almost buff1 with a distinct pink tinge about it1 which is very different from the washed-out orange or sandy colour some people imagine it to be4 ,the other tone of cream colour is much paler in shade1 but1 instead of the pink1 it inclines to a lemon tinge1 and1 though paler1 it is1 as a rule1 more #8flaky' and uneven than the darker shades1 and it is also very apt to fade into white underneath4 8,nearly all the best-known creams are bred in the first place from orange and blue strains1 though creams have appeared as freaks in many colours--silvers1 tabbies1 etc42 but ,i believe the present strains sprang from crossing blue and orange1 and you can generally rely on getting some creams by crossing a tortoiseshell1 cream1 orange1 or blue tortoiseshell queen with a blue sire4 ,but1 so far1 reversing the mating1 i4e4 a blue queen with a cream or orange sire1 is not successful from the cream breeders' point of view1 though very good from that of those breeders who want blues1 as the kittens generally excel in purity of colour4 ,cream females are now fairly common1 and so in a few years there ought to be a well-established strain of cream-bred creams2 but1 as in all other breeding for colour1 people are apt to get surprises--for instance1 one strain of cream females mated to a cream sire invariably produces whole litters of creams1 while another strain1 more cream-bred than the first named1 mated to the same sire produces equal numbers of creams and orange and creams4 ,if people wish to start breeding creams1 and cannot afford a cream female1 it is a good plan to buy a well-bred nondescript coloured female1 either blue and cream1 tabby1 tortoiseshell1 or anything that has cream or orange about it1 and if it is properly mated there are nearly sure to be one or two creams3 thus a cream strain can be gradually built up4 8,there are several things to be remembered in trying to breed good creams4 ,one point to be aimed at is to keep the colour as level as possible1 whether it be of a dark or light shade1 and to keep it pure1 not tinged with blue or dull4 ,among other faults to be bred out are the light lip and chin1 which are very common defects1 and the long head1 which is still seen sometimes1 though creams have improved vastly in this respect in the last few years4 ,creams have been taken up greatly in ,america as well as oranges1 and there they seem to be formidable rivals in popularity to the silvers1 which have so far over here outdone them in that respect4 8,one great point in favour of creams is their hardiness1 for they do not possess the delicate constitutions which seem to belong to most of the other very pale varieties of ,persians4 ,with other coloured cats--blues1 silvers1 etc4--creams make a splendid contrast1 and with oranges add greatly to the effect of a group4 ,they also cross well with several colours--blue1 black1 tortoiseshell1 etc4--for breeding2 and many breeders think the result of the growing fancy for these colours1 i4e4 cream and orange--for1 though so different1 they are hard to deal with separately--will be that they will be better catered for at shows as to classes1 and more extensively bred than they are at present40 ,illustration3 ,,mrs4 ,f4 ,,western',s 8,,matthew ,,of ,,the ,,durhams40 7,photo3 ,e4 ,yeoman1 ,barnard ,castle47 ,illustration3 8,,topsy ,,of ,,merevale40 ,,the ,,property ,,of ,,mrs4 ,,bignell4 7,photo3 ,o4 ,hardee1 ,chislehurst47 ,,chapter ,,xvii4 ,,tortoiseshell ,,persians4 ,many years ago1 when ,i first took up the cat fancy1 ,i used to think tortoiseshells ugly and commonplace1 and ,i am afraid even now ,i have not that admiration for the breed which ,i feel a really good specimen of this variety ought to inspire4 ,to begin with1 it is seldom that a true type of long-haired tortoiseshell is seen or exhibited1 and perhaps this may account for the breed being so much neglected4 ,they are not taking-looking cats1 and make a poor show in the pen4 ,i have often remarked1 however1 that this is a favourite breed with the sterner sex1 and that our professional men judges will almost invariably pick out a tortoiseshell when judging an 8any other colour0 class1 and give it some mark of distinction4 ,this may be accounted for by the fact that1 of all varieties1 a really good tortoiseshell is most difficult to breed1 and therefore any specimen approaching perfection should be encouraged4 ,there are splashed and sable tortoiseshells and tortoiseshell tabbies1 all handsome cats of their kind1 but not the genuine article4 ,real tortoiseshells may be called tricolour cats1 for they should bear three colours1 like a tortoiseshell comb1 on their bodies1 namely black1 red1 and yellow1 in distinct patches or blotches1 solid in colour and well broken up1 with no trace of stripes1 bars1 or tabby markings4 ,a brindling effect is to be avoided1 and a white spot on chin is a great blemish4 ,it is most undesirable that the black should predominate1 in which case the specimen will lack brilliancy4 ,the three colours should1 if possible1 be pretty evenly distributed over the body1 legs1 and tail1 and should not run into each other4 ,the red and yellow may preponderate over the black with good effect4 ,a blaze1 so-called1 up the face is considered correct1 and this should be of the red or yellow1 and in a straight line from the nose upwards4 ,this is a very distinctive feature in the breed1 and one that judges will look for in a good show specimen4 ,it is incorrect for the tail to be in any way ringed with the colours4 ,the texture of the coat is often coarser and more hairy in this breed1 and it is not usually so long and flowing as in other varieties of ,persian cats4 ,there is no difference of opinion as to the correct colour for the eyes of tortoiseshells4 ,they should be a bright golden or orange1 and these seem in perfect harmony with the colouring of the coat4 ,tortoiseshells never attain any great size1 and may be called a small breed of ,persian cats4 ,i give the list of points as drawn up by the specialist society3-- ,,tortoiseshell4 ,colour and marking4--,the three colours--black1 orange1 and yellow--to be well broken and as bright and well defined as possible2 free from tabby markings1 no white4 #cj4 ,coat4--,to be silky1 very long1 and fluffy4 #bj4 ,size and shape4--,to be large--not coarse1 but massive1 with plenty of bone and substance2 short legs4 #be4 ,head4--,to be round and broad1 with short nose1 ears small and well opened4 #ae4 ,eyes4--,to be large and full1 and bright orange or hazel in colour4 #e4 ,condition4--#aj4 ,they are quite one of the most interesting from which to breed1 and experiments can be tried successfully in crossing a tortoiseshell queen with black1 cream1 orange1 and blue cats4 ,the litters will often be a study in variety4 ,i have known one family to consist of a black1 a white1 a cream1 an orange1 and a blue6 ,the owner of such a litter would have something to suit all comers4 ,a really good tortoiseshell queen may1 therefore1 be considered a valuable property4 ,and what of a tortoiseshell tom8 ,a mine of wealth would such a possession be to any fancier4 ,among short-haired cats a tortoiseshell tom is a rare animal1 but ,i do not think a long-haired specimen has ever been seen or heard of4 ,several experiments have been tried1 but it remains for some skilful and scientific breeder to solve the problem of the manner and means to be employed to produce males of this breed4 ,the classification at our smaller shows for tortoiseshells is generally of a meagre and discouraging description4 ,there are so few specimens that executives of shows fight shy of giving a class for even tortoiseshell and tortoiseshell-and-white together4 ,so tortoiseshells are mixed up in the 8any other colour0 class1 and therefore this breed can seldom1 if ever1 be really judged on its own merits1 or comparisons made between the different specimens that are exhibited4 ,at our largest shows there are classes provided1 which1 however1 are poorly filled4 ,tortoiseshells may be said to have had no past4 ,there are no celebrities in feline history save and except 8,queen ,elizabeth10 and not only was she the finest of her breed1 but she also made her name famous by severely injuring ,mr4 ,w4 ,r4 ,hawkins1 who was examining her when making his awards2 and ,i have good reason--or rather bad reason--for recollecting her1 on account of her fixing her teeth into my hand when ,i was removing her from her basket to pen her at the ,westminster show in #ahii4 ,it seems that she had a great objection to travelling1 and resented making an exhibition of herself in public6 ,she was a grand specimen1 however1 and1 besides always carrying off highest honours herself1 she was the mother of many prize-winning orange and tortoiseshell cats1 amongst others 8,prince ,charlie10 8,prince ,lyne10 and 8,mattie40 ,i have failed to obtain a photograph of this celebrated cat2 and1 even had ,i succeeded1 a tortoiseshell makes a terribly poor picture when reproduced in photography1 for the reason that the yellow comes out only fairly light1 the orange appearing as dark as the black patches4 ,illustration3 ,,miss ,h4 ,,cochran',s ,,tortoiseshell 8,,brunette40 ,miss ,h4 ,cochran had a dear old pet puss called 8,brunette10 a dark tortoiseshell1 and from her were bred some of the first cream females ever exhibited4 ,the ,hon4 ,mrs4 ,mc,laren ,morrison has a good tortoiseshell1 8,curiosity0 by name4 ,the best three specimens now before the public are ,dr4 ,roper's 8,dainty ,diana10 ,miss ,m4 ,beal's 8,pansy10 ,miss ,kate ,sangster's 8,royal ,yum ,yum10 and ,mrs4 ,bignell's 8,topsy of ,merevale40 ,as regards the last-named1 ,mrs4 ,bignell has kindly supplied me with particulars of 8,topsy's0 litters when mated with different-coloured cats4 8,topsy's0 first litter in #ahif1 when mated to the 8,duke of ,kent0 7a blue71 was two creams and two smokes4 ,when mated to 8,johnnie ,fawe0 7a black7 her kittens were all of the father's dusky hue4 ,again1 when crossed with another blue male her litter consisted of two orange males and a tortoiseshell female1 and again to the same cat one black male and two orange males4 8,topsy0 is a noted prize-winner1 and one of her smoke children1 8,lucy ,claire10 went out to ,chicago1 and is considered the finest smoke specimen in the ,american fancy4 ,dr4 ,roper's 8,dainty ,diana0 is one of the best-known tortoiseshells1 and her colouring as good as any exhibited2 she is the mother of many winners4 ,miss ,kate ,sangster1 who is a great admirer of this breed1 writes3 8,my #8,champion ,royal ,yum ,yum' was bred from a black and a tortoiseshell1 and her grandsire was a cream4 ,she is over seven years old1 and has had twenty-two kittens1 namely1 five cream1 five blue1 five orange1 four black1 and three tortoiseshell40 ,illustration3 8,,topsy40 ,,owned ,,by ,,miss ,,sargent4 7,photo3 ,j4 ,p4 ,bennett1 ,west ,norwood47 ,miss ,mildred ,beal1 who with her sister is so well known in connection with cream and orange cats1 is also the owner of some fine tortoiseshells4 8,wallflower0 7well so named7 is the mother of a noted prize-winning cream called 8,sunlocks40 8,pansy10 ,miss ,m4 ,beal's special pet1 is a well-known tortoiseshell4 8,snapdragon10 another prize-winner1 was exported to ,america1 where quite a number of the ,romaldkirk cats have found their home4 ,we need a few more enthusiastic admirers of tortoiseshells like ,miss ,m4 ,beal to take up this rather despised breed and follow in her footsteps4 ,some notes by the owner of 8,pansy0 will be of interest3-- 8,even fanciers who will go into raptures over the blue1 orange1 cream1 or silver members of the establishment have no admiration to spare for a tortoiseshell1 however striking its record of prizes may be2 and yet to those who breed and understand them there is something very fascinating about these quaint creatures1 though the taste for them is certainly an acquired one4 8,among non-catty people great ignorance prevails as to what colour a tortoiseshell cat really is4 ,many people1 if asked to describe a tortoiseshell cat1 would say that it was a sort of sandy colour all over2 others imagine that the #8chintz' cat1 as it is called in the ,north--white with black and red patches--has a right to the name4 ,so let it be said at once that three colours1 namely1 orange1 yellow1 and black1 and these only1 enter into the composition of the true tortoiseshell4 ,there must be no white1 neither should there be any trace of tabby markings1 though this is very difficult to attain4 ,the three colours should be patched or #8broken' all over the cat1 and the more distinct each separate colour is in these patches the better4 ,brilliancy of colour is another point which breeders have to consider2 many tortoiseshells have far too large a proportion of black in their colouring1 which gives them a dingy and uninteresting appearance1 and is sure to go against them in the show pen4 ,the eyes should be orange1 and in other points1 such as shape1 head1 and texture of coat1 the standard is the same as for the other varieties of long-haired cats4 ,illustration3 ,,tortoiseshell ,,and ,,tortoiseshell-,,and-,,white ,,persians4 7,from a ,painting by ,w4 ,luker1 ,jun47 8,one curious fact in connection with long-haired tortoiseshells1 which is well known to fanciers1 may be mentioned1 namely1 the non-existence of the male sex4 ,among short-haired tortoiseshells toms are exceedingly rare1 though one or two do exist2 but an adult long-haired male appears to be absolutely unheard of4 ,the writer knows of one male kitten born some years ago1 but it was either born dead or died in very early infancy4 ,darwin's theory that the orange tom and tortoiseshell queen were originally the male and female of the same variety is borne out by the fact that until recently orange females were also rare4 ,of late years a good many of these have been bred and reared1 and therefore1 if the ,darwinian theory be correct1 it seems hard to believe that the tortoiseshell tom must be regarded as unattainable4 ,if the difficulty has been successfully overcome in the one case1 why not in the other8 ,breeding with this object in view is very slow work1 for some tortoiseshell queens will produce litter after litter without a single kitten of their own colour1 and a family consisting entirely of tortoiseshells would be as welcome as it is rare4 ,but it would be a pity to despair of breeding the long looked for tom2 if he ever does make his appearance1 he will be hailed with sufficient interest to gratify any quantity of feline vanity4 8,at present1 breeders hardly seem to recognise the great value of a tortoiseshell queen for breeding almost any variety of self-coloured cat4 ,if the queen is mated to an orange1 a cream1 or a blue tom1 she will be very likely to produce at least one or two really good specimens of the same colour as the sire1 and sometimes a far larger proportion of the litter will #8favour' him4 ,much1 of course1 depends upon how the queen herself is bred1 and this no doubt accounts for disappointment in some cases4 8,tortoiseshells compare very favourably with the other varieties of long-haired cats in the matter of intelligence4 ,the writer knows one which enjoys the well-earned reputation of being the cleverest thief in the cattery4 ,nothing is safe from her nimble paws2 she has often been known to remove the lid from the saucepan in which the meat for the cattery supper had been placed1 and make off with the contents2 and if the cook's back should be turned for only half a minute1 woe to tomorrow's dinner or to anything else tempting which may chance to be within reach6 8,though tortoiseshells may be distinguished for brains1 some of them certainly fail considerably in temper4 ,they seem to find it most difficult to keep the peace with the other members of the cattery4 ,i sincerely hope this breed will receive more attention from fanciers in the future4 ,illustration3 ,,miss ,,kate ,,sangster',s 8,,royal ,,yum ,,yum40 7,photo3 ,w4 ,v4 ,amey1 ,landport47 ,,chapter ,,xviii4 ,,tortoiseshell-,,and-,,white ,,persians4 ,these cats1 both long- and short-haired1 have always had a great fascination for me4 ,one of my first ,persian pets was a tortoiseshell-and-white1 with a gorgeous coat1 stand-out frill1 and wide-spreading tail4 ,she was so stately and dignified that we called her 8,the ,lady ,mayoress40 ,in those days cats were of no account1 and shows were non-existent4 ,my pretty pet roamed at will and made her own matrimonial arrangements3 the kittens were consequently mostly consigned to the bucket4 ,with my present knowledge of the feline race1 ,i realise that 8,the ,lady ,mayoress0 was a grand specimen of what a tortoiseshell-and-white should be4 ,she was not a white-and-tortoiseshell1 as so many now seen in the show pen might be called4 ,in these cases the white predominates1 and in reality the four colours should be about equally distributed4 ,the patches of black1 red1 and yellow should cover the back1 head1 and tail1 leaving the chest and paws and part of the hind quarters white4 ,there should be patches of the three colours on each side of the face1 with a white blaze up the nose4 ,illustration3 8,,peggy ,,primrose40 ,,owned ,,by ,,miss ,,terrill4 7,photo3 ,w4 ,baker1 ,birmingham47 ,as in the tortoiseshells1 so in this breed it is better for the brighter colours rather than the black to predominate4 ,i believe an old-fashioned name for this breed was chintz cats4 ,i think they might also be called patchwork cats6 ,there is a great deal in the manner in which the colours are distributed on either side of the head1 for expression in a cat goes a long way1 and if the patches are badly placed and unevenly distributed the effect may be displeasing1 and perhaps grotesque4 ,harrison ,weir1 in writing of this breed1 says3 8,in a good tortoiseshell-and-white there should be more white on the chest1 belly1 and hind legs than is allowable in the black-and-white cat4 ,this ,i deem necessary for artistic beauty when the colour is laid on in patches1 although it should be even1 clear1 and distinct in its outline2 the larger space of white adds brilliancy to the red1 yellow1 and black colouring4 ,the face is one of the parts which should have some uniformity of colour1 and yet not so1 but a mere balancing of colour2 that is to say1 there should be a relief in black1 with the yellow and red on each side1 and so in the body and tail4 ,the nose should be white1 the eyes orange1 and the whole colouring rich and varied1 without the least #8tabbiness1' either brown or grey1 or an approach to it1 such being highly detrimental to its beauty40 ,this is another of the breeds of long-haired cats that may be said to have no history in the fancy1 and ,i doubt if tortoiseshell-and-whites will ever be taken up seriously4 ,there will always remain the difficulty of obtaining good mates for the queens1 as males in this variety are almost as rare as in the tortoiseshells4 ,it would seem that the corresponding males to tortoiseshells and tortoiseshell-and-whites are orange and fawns4 ,i do not remember ever having seen or heard of a long-haired tortoiseshell-and-white tom cat2 and as regards notable females1 these have never at any time been numerous1 and few really good specimens have been exhibited4 ,illustration3 ,,miss ,,yeoman',s ,,tortoiseshell-,,and-,,white 8,,mary ,,ii40 7,photo3 ,d4 ,pym1 ,streatham47 ,the most perfect type was ,lady ,marcus ,beresford's 8,cora10 an imported cat of great size and beautiful shape4 ,her colouring and markings were lovely1 and her round snub face and short nose lent great charm to this unique specimen4 ,it was a grievous loss to her owner and the fancy when poor 8,cora0 suddenly developed dropsy1 and succumbed to this rather unusual complaint amongst cats4 ,mrs4 ,davies possessed a fine tortoiseshell-and-white named 8,chumly10 and ,mrs4 ,bampfylde's 8,susan0 was a good type4 ,many of the cats exhibited have either too much or too little white1 and often there is a grave suspicion of tabby amongst the black and orange4 ,coming down to the present-day cats1 ,i may mention ,mr4 ,furze's 8,beauty of ,birmingham0 and 8,peggy ,primrose10 both of which he disposed of after shows where they were exhibited4 ,there is no doubt these cats are very taking in the show pen1 where darker feline beauties are at a considerable disadvantage4 ,i have had a difficulty in obtaining any good photographs illustrative of these cats1 for1 as with tortoiseshells1 the colouring cannot be successfully portrayed by any gradations in tone1 so that the orange and black both appear dark on a white ground1 and thus the individuality of the breed is lost4 ,it is different in painting1 when it may be generally noticed that artists choose to depict these broken-coloured cats in preference to the self-coloured ones4 ,in ,madame ,ronner's lovely pictures1 of which several adorn these pages1 it will be remarked that almost all the fascinating fluffy kittens are patched in colour4 ,as ,i have remarked1 one of the reasons why these cats have not been seriously taken up by fanciers is the difficulty experienced in selecting suitable mates that will be likely to perpetuate the breed4 ,in fact1 this is not possible with any degree of certainty4 ,tortoiseshell-and-whites may be crossed with black or orange cats1 and it is a toss-up what the progeny may be4 ,creams are sometimes bred by mating with blues1 but there is always the danger of white spots and white toes4 ,i once mated a pretty tortoiseshell-and-white with my silver 8,cambyses10 and the result was a good pale silver and an almost unmarked cream4 ,considering all things1 ,i cannot prophesy any future for this breed in the fancy2 in fact1 ,i think there is every chance of these really pretty pussies disappearing from our midst4 ,at the ,westminster show of #aijc there was only one solitary entry in the tortoiseshell-and-white class6 ,this was ,miss ,yeoman's 8,mary ,,ii410 whose portrait appears on the foregoing page4 ,illustration3 ,,at ,,home4 7,from a ,painting by ,madame ,ronner47 ,illustration3 ,,miss ,,simpson',s ,,brown ,,tabby 8,,persimmon40 ,,chapter ,,xix4 ,,brown ,,tabby ,,persians4 ,my first prize-winning kitten was a brown tabby1 exhibited many years ago at the ,crystal ,palace4 ,he became my stud cat 8,rajah10 called after an ,indian prince who was visiting us at that time4 8,rajah0 was wholly and devotedly attached to the lady of his choice1 namely1 my blue ,persian 8,mater40 ,these two names occur in the pedigree of many a prize-winner of the present day1 and very numerous were the lovely litters ,i reared from this eminently respectable pair of ,persians4 ,i never knew either 8,rajah0 or 8,mater0 troubled with a day's illness1 and if one of their kittens had died such an event would have caused as much astonishment as grief4 ,but ,i must return to my tabbies4 ,i cannot explain it1 but certain it is that of all the feline race 7blues not excepted7 the warmest corner in my heart has always been kept for the brown tabbies4 ,there is something so comfortable and homely about these dear brownies--they seem to have more intelligent and expressive countenances than any other cats1 and ,i am firmly of opinion that no ,persian cats are so healthy and strong as brown tabbies4 ,they are a hardy race1 and as such ,i have frequently recommended novices in the fancy to start with a good brown queen1 and with ordinary care they may reasonably expect to rear litter after litter without the difficulties and disasters that one hears of in connection with the bringing up of ,persian kittens in general4 ,i know there is a kind of idea that brown tabbies are a common sort of cat1 and this breed is often spoken of in a most disparaging way4 ,then1 again1 the ignorant in the cat world have an extraordinary notion that tabbies are always females6 ,perhaps because we sometimes hear a meddlesome or gossiping woman called a 8tabby0--and ,i had a dear old friend who always bade me beware of 8tabby bipeds0 among catty communities6 ,the word 8tabby0 is supposed to have had its origin in a certain street in ,bagdad called 8,atab10 which was chiefly inhabited by weavers of a particular kind of material called 8,atabi40 ,this is what ,harrison ,weir says on the subject3--8,the word #8tabby' was derived from a kind of taffeta1 or ribbed silk1 which when calendered1 or what is now termed #8watered1' is by that process covered with wavy lines4 ,this stuff in bygone times was often called #8tabby1' hence the cat with lines or markings on its fur was called a tabby cat4 ,certain it is that the word #8tabby' only referred to the marking or stripes1 not to the absolute colour1 for in #8,wit and ,drollery' is the following3-- ,her petticoat of satin1 ,her gown of crimson tabby4 ,be that as it may1 ,i think there is little doubt that the foregoing was the origin of the term4 ,yet it was also called the brindled cat1 or the tiger cat1 and with some the grey cat--#8graymalkin4'0 ,we are told also by the same authority that tabby cats in ,norfolk and ,suffolk were called cyprus cats1 cyprus being a reddish-yellow colour1 so that the term may have applied to orange as well as brown tabbies4 ,the term 8tiger cat0 is1 ,i believe1 often used in ,america1 and it well describes the true type of a brown tabby4 ,the ground-work should be of a bright tawny shade1 with a dash of burnt sienna1 the markings a dark seal brown--almost black4 ,as regards the colour of eyes in brown tabbies1 ,i prefer the golden or orange2 but some of the finest cats in this variety have possessed the green eye1 and some fanciers are disposed to prefer this colour1 which ,i think should be the speciality of the silvers4 ,anyhow1 a good brilliant green is preferable to a washed-out undecided yellow4 ,illustration3 ,,miss ,,mellor',s ,,brown ,,tabby 8,,lady ,,sholto40 7,photo3 ,n4 ,n4 ,statham1 ,matlock ,bridge47 ,there are two distinct types of brown tabbies--the splashed or heavily marked1 and the barred or ticked4 ,i think the former the handsomer breed1 with the well defined and evenly balanced side markings1 the dark spine line 7not too wide71 the clear rings round the chest 7commonly called the 8,lord ,mayor's chain071 the paws ringed in graduated bars to the foot4 ,on the head and face the markings should be very clear and distinct1 the narrow dark head lines running symmetrically till they join the broad spine line4 ,the ruff should be of the light shade1 and ears of the same tone lend great distinction to this cat4 ,as in the other tabby breeds1 the browns are terribly addicted to white chins2 in fact1 ,i think it is certainly rarer to find a brown tabby without this blemish than an orange1 more pains having been taken to eradicate the evil in orange tabbies4 ,there is no denying the fact that brown tabbies are a very neglected breed1 and at present the only one1 except tortoiseshell-and-white1 that is not taken up by a specialist society4 ,this is a crying shame1 and it remains for some ardent admirer of the dear brown tabbies to form a club1 and to try to breed really good specimens of the golden-brown order2 not the drab or grey animals that are so frequently seen at our shows1 and which are very far removed from the genuine article4 ,i do not think that any breed can produce such fascinating kittens4 ,they have such remarkably intelligent expressions1 and1 as a rule1 the sturdy cobby shape and broad heads of brown tabbies are very conspicuous4 ,this breed should distinctly be massive in build1 with plenty of bone and muscle2 in fact1 with brown tabbies the larger the better1 if well proportioned4 ,with the sterner sex brown tabbies are decided favourites1 and ,i cannot help noticing that the very few fanciers who have taken up this breed amongst the gentler sex are what might be termed strong-minded4 ,illustration3 8,,champion ,,crystal40 ,,owned ,,by ,c4 ,h4 ,,jones1 ,,palmyra1 ,n4,y4 ,i have also remarked that when once fanciers start breeding brown tabbies they continue1 and this cannot be truly said of other breeds--silvers1 for instance2 but ,i would fain see a steady increase to the ranks of breeders of brown tabby ,persians1 and more encouragement given at shows4 ,i know that as matters now stand fanciers complain they cannot get any market for their tabby kittens1 and that classification is poor at shows and prizes scarce4 ,it is all too true1 but surely it is a 8long lane that has no turning10 and as every dog has its day1 so perhaps in the future1 whether near or distant1 this beautiful breed will gain all the admiration and attention that it deserves4 ,there is a distinct kind of brown tabby1 so-called1 which may better be described as sable4 ,these cats have not the regular tabby markings1 but the two colours are blended one with another1 the lighter sable tone predominating4 ,at the ,crystal ,palace ,cat ,show of #aijb the class was for brown tabby or sable4 ,i was judging1 and1 considering the mixed entries1 ,i felt that markings must not be of the first importance1 and so awarded first and second to ,miss ,whitney's beautiful sable females1 the third going to a well-marked though out of condition brown tabby4 ,these sable-marked cats are rare1 but still more beautiful would be a cat entirely of the one tawny colour--a self sable1 without markings4 8,the most suitable factors to obtain this colour10 so writes ,mrs4 ,balding1 8would probably be tortoiseshell-and-sable tabby1 as free from marking and as red in ground colour as possible4 ,a cross of orange1 bright coloured and as nearly as obtainable from unmarked ancestors1 would be useful4 ,some nine years ago ,i purchased a dimly marked bright sable coloured cat1 #8,molly1' shown by ,mrs4 ,davies at the ,crystal ,palace1 with a view to producing a self-coloured sable cat2 but #8,molly' unfortunately died1 and ,i abandoned the idea40 ,the nearest approach to a self sable ,i have ever come across was a cat ,i obtained for the ,viscountess ,esher1 which had1 alas6 been neutered4 ,he was almost unmarked1 and of the colour of ,canadian sable1 with golden eyes--a most uncommon specimen4 ,another species is the spotted tabby1 but ,i have never seen a true specimen in ,persians4 ,some brown tabbies are ticked or spotted on the sides1 but they have the spine line and markings on neck1 head1 and tail4 ,very few and far between have been good brown tabbies in the history of the fancy4 ,amongst the males two names may be said to stand out conspicuously--,miss ,southam's 8,birkdale ,ruffle0 and my own 8,persimmon40 ,both these cats1 of quite different types1 have gone to their rest4 ,as regards the famous ,birkdale strain1 the following account1 kindly supplied to me by ,miss ,southam1 will be of interest3-- 8,there is no doubt that1 until quite recently1 our old friend the tabby has been deliberately placed in the background1 and regarded in the show world with an indifference which has proved an unmistakable stumbling block to the improvement of this particular breed4 ,illustration3 ,a ,,room ,,in ,,brayfort ,,cattery4 7,photo3 ,w4 ,lawrence1 ,dublin47 8,nor is this very much to be wondered at1 when we take into consideration the hideous combination of the drab1 colourless browns1 dowdy greys1 and indistinct markings which had hitherto constituted the chief charms of the typical tabby4 ,instead1 it would appear that the commonplace and unattractive grey was openly encouraged1 rather than otherwise2 for1 although the silver tabby was provided with a classification of his own1 only one class was relegated to 8brown and grey tabbies10 either colour being considered equally worthy of carrying off premier honours6 8,it was at this period1 when the nondescript tabby was reigning supreme1 that ,champion #8,birkdale ,ruffie' made his dbut in the show world1 my sister1 ,miss ,emily ,southam1 being the first to bring the sable tabby into prominence4 ,whether1 however1 it was that the public was not sufficiently up-to-date to appreciate the sudden departure from the usual sombre colours with which it had hitherto been satisfied to a brilliant sable1 or whether he was particularly unfortunate in his choice of judges1 it is difficult to say2 at any rate1 it was not until four years after his first appearance in the show pen that he met with the justice that his many beautiful points so richly deserved4 ,in fact1 after exhibiting him at several shows1 where he was deliberately passed over for other and most inferior cats1 he being in the pink of condition1 my sister was so annoyed at the treatment he received that she simply burnt the schedules which poured in upon her and kept him at home1 determined he should not be further insulted by such flagrant injustice6 8,it was at the ,west of ,england ,cat ,show in #ahid that #8,birkdale ,ruffie' scored his first real success--,i believe under ,mr4 ,gresham--winning two first prizes in the open and novice classes and two specials4 ,here at last his beautiful sable colouring1 his dense black markings1 and wonderfully expressive face were appreciated4 8,the year #ahif was the occasion of his sensational win at the ,crystal ,palace show4 ,he simply swept the board1 carrying everything before him--first prize1 championship1 several specials1 and the special given by the ,king 7then ,prince of ,wales7--for the best rough-coated cat in the show1 the prize being a handsomely framed portrait of the ,king with his autograph attached4 ,mrs4 ,vallance was judge4 ,again1 in #ahig1 he was shown with great success at the ,crystal ,palace1 winning first prize1 championship1 and special4 ,illustration3 ,,miss ,,whitney ,,and ,,her ,,neuter ,,brown ,,tabby4 7,photo3 ,w4 ,lawrence1 ,dublin47 8,this was the occasion of #8,birkdale ,ruffie's' last appearance before the public1 as it was during the following month my sister was taken dangerously ill1 and for this reason his pen at the ,brighton show was empty4 ,after her death we determined to subject him no more to the trials and discomforts of the show pen1 so #8,ruffie1' who was now seven years old and a great pet1 both for his own sake and that of his mistress1 only too gladly retired into the privacy of home life1 spending the cold winters by the fireside in his own little snug retreat1 and in the long summer days lying under his bower of shady hops1 lazily watching his facsimile1 his little son #8,master ,ruffie1' growing up more beautiful each day and ready to take up the thread of his father's famous career in the exhibition world4 8,into the latter #8,master ,ruffie' made his dbut without any of the numerous anxieties encountered by his celebrated parent4 ,the way was paved for him1 and when he appeared at the ,crystal ,palace show in #ahii1 in all the full glory of his youth and beauty1 it was difficult for the judges to realise that it was not their old favourite who was now confronting them through the wires6 8#8,master ,ruffie' has only been shown on two occasions--in #ahig as a kitten1 and in #ahii at the ,crystal ,palace1 when he returned home with his box literally filled with cards1 his winnings including three first prizes1 four specials1 and a championship4 8,i am sorry we can manage to get no really good photo of #8,master ,ruffie4' ,time after time we have attempted it--in studios1 out of doors1 by means of professionals and amateurs--including many kind relatives and friends with their ever-ready little ,kodaks6 #8,master ,ruffie' steadfastly refuses to face the camera4 ,again and again the button is pressed in vain1 and only the glimpse of a vanishing tail upon the negative is all we have to show as #8,ruffie's' portrait6 8,but we have only to look at #8,birkdale ,ruffie's' picture1 and we have #8,master ,ruffie' too6 ,the only difference between them is that the latter is a very cobby little fellow1 being perhaps shorter in the legs1 which makes him appear to be a somewhat smaller cat than his father4 ,in fact1 at the ,crystal ,palace show he was pronounced by the judges to be perfect in every point4 8#8,birkdale ,ruffie' was noted for the extreme beauty of his expression2 he had certainly one of the most characteristic faces ever seen in a cat1 and his son inherits the same4 ,the former was constantly the subject of sketches in the illustrated papers1 those by ,mr4 ,louis ,wain being especially lifelike4 8,some of #8,master ,ruffie's' descendants are1 ,i believe1 in the possession of ,miss ,witney1 and have met with great success in the show pen4 8,our cattery is built on the principle of shepherds' huts1 each house having a separate wire run1 with shrubs planted1 and a thick wall of ivy in the background1 which gives a picturesque appearance to the whole of the little colony4 ,in summer a mass of luxuriant hops makes a welcome shade from the hot sun4 8,the houses are warmed by gas stoves1 on which the cats love to sit1 purring contentedly1 and with the pretty curtained windows1 carpets1 wickerwork armchairs1 and cosily cushioned benches1 ,i think #8,master ,ruffie' and his seven feline playmates have a pretty easy time in this tempestuous world6 ,illustration3 8,,brayfort ,,fina40 ,,miss ,,whitney',s 8,,brayfort ,,princess40 7,photos3 ,w4 ,lawrence1 ,dublin47 8,the one bone of contention is that the cats have appropriated the sunniest corner of the garden1 their houses having the much desired southern aspect1 which our gardener looks at with longing eyes for his beloved peaches and early peas4 ,happily1 he bears the little occupants no grudge1 and when we go from home takes over the whole of the cattery into his charge40 ,here let me give a few details of my dear departed puss4 8,persimmon0 was a well-known character in the fancy1 and had the distinction of being a champion in the ,national ,cat ,club and the ,cat ,club4 ,it was in #ahii when1 judging at ,brighton1 ,i was greatly taken with a wonderful-headed brown tabby that came under my awards4 ,i gave him first in his class1 and when later ,i obtained a catalogue and saw his price was a very reasonable one1 ,i purchased him1 and ,i may say ,i never made a better bargain1 in or out of the cat fancy4 8,persimmon0 7as ,i afterwards called him1 in memory of the ,derby winner7 was bred by ,mr4 ,heslop1 of ,darlington1 that astute and clever cat fancier2 and his grandsire was 8,brown ,prince10 a noted ,northern prize-winning tabby4 ,i have never seen such a wonderful head as that which made 8,persimmon's0 chief glory4 ,illustration3 8,,lonsdale ,,chrysalis0 ,,and 8,,lonsdale ,,moth40 ,,bred ,,by ,,mrs4 ,,gregory4 7,photo3 ,w4 ,g4 ,lewis1 ,bath47 ,his face was very round1 and his nose quite a snub1 and he was blessed with tiny ears and short tail4 ,his shape was perfect1 but the markings on his back were rather too heavy1 and alas6 he had a white under-lip4 ,but1 taking him all round1 he was a grand specimen1 and a most lovable puss4 ,he fretted himself to death when a change of residence from the country to ,london obliged me to board him out4 8,persimmon0 sired some splendid kittens1 which whenever shown proved themselves worthy of their sire's long prize-winning record4 ,at the ,crystal ,palace show of #aijb ,miss ,whitney exhibited two of his progeny--a superb neuter 8,persimmon ,laddie10 who covered himself with glory and his cage with cards1 and a beautiful kitten that had previously won at ,manchester and has since been purchased at a high figure by a lover of the brownies4 ,at the ,specialist ,show at ,bath in ,january1 #aijc1 8,persimmon ,laddie0 was again to the fore1 and won in the open and ring classes4 8,persimmon0 was a great loss1 for good brown tabbies are rare4 ,i hope1 however1 to purchase a fine1 well-grown son of my dear old 8,simmy10 and as 8,persimmon ,,ii40 ,i trust it may be a case of 8like father like son10 and that by-and-by we may find quite a long list of brown tabby ,persians 8at stud0 in the columns of the catty papers4 ,i think ,i may with truth assert that brown tabbies are more appreciated1 and that better specimens are produced in the ,north than in the ,south of ,england4 ,i have mentioned ,mr4 ,heslop as having owned some splendid specimens1 and at one time he used to exhibit quite a number at our ,southern shows4 ,miss ,eggett1 of ,manchester1 has a grand tabby of the golden order named 8,cleopatra40 ,mrs4 ,whittaker has some nice specimens1 and ,mrs4 ,mackenzie's 8,cleo0 was much admired at the ,westminster show in #aijj1 when she took first in her class4 ,mrs4 ,ricketts has always been partial to the breed1 and ,mrs4 ,stead's 8,timber0 has done some winning4 ,miss ,gray's 8,lady ,babbie0 was one of the finest brown queens that used to visit 8,persimmon10 and another was ,miss ,meeson's 8,jolie10 whom ,i used greatly to admire4 ,miss ,derby ,hyde exhibits a wonderful copper-coloured brown tabby called 8,maraquetta10 who1 if only possessed of a good head and shorter face1 would be a splendid specimen4 ,mrs4 ,davies formerly owned 8,susan10 a cat now in the possession of ,mrs4 ,g4 ,wilson1 very good in colour and markings1 but failing in head and face4 ,mr4 ,western1 of ,sandy1 has a good male in 8,wynstay ,monarch40 ,in the ,west of ,england ,mrs4 ,hellings and ,mrs4 ,gregory are admirers and breeders of brown tabbies4 ,illustration3 ,,mrs4 ,d',,arcy ,,hildyard',s 8,,sulphurland40 7,photo3 ,boxell ,co41 ,scarboro'47 ,mrs4 ,gregory1 of ,bath1 started breeding brown tabbies in #ahii4 ,her female 7a black7 she mated to her stud cat 8,azor10 and1 curiously enough1 all the litters have consisted of brown tabbies1 the kittens numbering sixteen in all4 ,when1 however1 8,queen ,caterpillar0 was mated to ,mrs4 ,gregory's blue ,persian1 her kittens were all black4 ,a picture of two pretty brown tabby kittens bred by ,mrs4 ,gregory appears in this chapter4 ,i am happy to say that ,mrs4 ,gregory intends to continue breeding brown tabbies1 and has kept a handsome specimen from one of her recent litters to perpetuate the strain4 ,mrs4 ,drury1 of ,graffham1 is very faithful to the brownies1 and in her lovely old-fashioned cottage near ,petworth she is always surrounded by several of her pet pussies4 ,she writes as follows3-- 8,when first ,i received a margarine basket1 and out of it came a little brown fluffy kitten1 ,i knew no more about ,persian cats than the man in the moon--in fact1 he probably knew more1 as he is frequently the only witness to their nocturnal gambols4 ,i had heard of such things as ,persian cats1 yet never remember having seen one4 ,however1 kind friends soon gave me a helping hand1 and as time went on and my fluffy kitten became a fluffy cat1 being passionately fond of animals1 ,i soon found out the very fascinating ways of dear #8,miss ,wiggs1' so named because the fur on her head in her kitten days would stand erect1 and it is the only name she condescended to answer to4 ,she has been--and is so still1 in spite of all her maternal cares and five years' experience--one of the healthiest pussies imaginable1 and has never had one day's illness since she came into my possession1 though ,i believe1 in her babyhood1 distemper nearly carried her off2 and all her children have been equally healthy--in fact1 ,i have never lost one of her kittens1 which is1 ,i imagine1 almost a unique experience4 8#8,miss ,wiggs' came from a blue father and a silver mother1 but has1 with one exception1 always had brown babies1 even when mated to a silver4 ,the varied beauties of blues1 silvers1 whites1 and blacks have never taken such a hold upon me as compared with the fascination of the browns1 and it is quite a wonder to me more fanciers do not breed them4 ,nothing looks handsomer1 to my mind1 than a rich brown1 tabby male with tawny markings1 like a young lion1 and judging from my experience they amply repay any trouble taken by their loving ways and robust health4 ,i have a son of #8,miss ,wiggs' and poor old #8,persimmon' now1 who follows me like a little dog1 even out in the road1 and goes for a walk running by my side4 8,perhaps what would astonish a stranger most on coming to see me is the way my catty family lives in peace and contentment with the dogs1 and very often ,i find two or three kittens in the dogs' basket very busily occupied cleaning my little bull-terrier4 ,it is a point of honour amongst the happy family that they never touch each other's food1 and very rarely is this broken1 and not infrequently we see three1 and perhaps four1 cats sitting round the dog while he eats his dinner1 waiting for any leavings1 and the same with the dog4 ,persians have the reputation of being bad mousers4 #8,miss ,wiggs' makes quite the exception1 and on one occasion caught and killed two mice at the same time2 one she held in her paws and the other in her mouth4 ,young rats also she has many times brought in1 to show what a useful little person she is1 and her children follow in her footsteps4 8,in a great measure ,i attribute my brownies' good health to the open-air life they lead4 ,from early morning to when darkness approaches they have the run of a large garden1 even on a wet day4 ,they go in and out of the houses as they like2 never sleep indoors1 always in a very dry little outside cattery--in summer on benches1 and in winter in nice boxes with straw4 8,perhaps1 financially1 blues or silvers may be greater successes1 but brownies have been my first love and will always remain so4 ,i am only sorry ,i cannot show what a lovely head and sweet face dear #8,miss ,wiggs' has1 but she absolutely declines to be photographed4 8,in time ,i hope more fanciers may realise how rich in colour and markings a good brown tabby is1 and then we may hope to see this beautiful breed brought more to the fore at all the leading shows4 8,as #8,miss ,wiggs' has been the foundress of my cattery1 perhaps a short description of her would not be amiss4 ,she is a ticked tabby--that is to say1 she has not the broad1 dark stripes with tawny splashes2 her ground colour is a beautiful golden brown1 and down the back and sides are pencilled stripes1 more like the markings on a silver4 ,round her face1 nose1 and ears she has most lovely golden brown shades2 eyes are green--they used to be amber2 her head is very broad and well shaped2 and her expression is very sweet4 ,illustration3 8,,pioneer ,,bobs40 ,,owned ,,by ,,miss ,m4 ,,washburn1 ,,smith',s ,,falls1 ,,ont4 7,photo3 ,e4 ,f4 ,briggs1 ,smith's ,falls1 ,ont47 8,when mated to a silver1 as she has been twice1 the litters have been equally divided--two silvers and two brownies2 but both silvers and browns in that case had broad dark and light markings1 in no way resembling the ticking of the mother4 ,but when mated to poor old #8,persimmon' the kittens have been equally divided1 always two resembling the maternal side exactly1 and two following out #8,persimmon's' beautiful splashes4 ,when mated to a brown tabby all the kittens were brown4 ,she has never thrown a black2 but her daughter1 whose father was #8,abdul ,zaphir1' and who ,i also mated to #8,persimmon1' had two blacks and two very dark tabbies in her litter4 #8,wiggs' has in all her five litters had only two females4 ,her average is four or five kittens2 she looks after them entirely herself1 and has never been the worse for so doing2 but ,i do not allow her more than one family a year1 and until the kittens can lap she is fed every two hours40 ,the best-marked brown tabby ,i have ever seen was ,lady ,marcus ,beresford's' 8,bassorah10 who was unfortunately given away and lost4 ,her markings looked like oil painting1 they stood out in such distinct relief4 ,another specimen of a different type was imported by ,lady ,marcus ,beresford1 namely 8,kismet40 ,she was of the ticked order1 with small pencilled markings1 very compact and cobby in shape4 ,mrs4 ,herring has always possessed good brown tabbies4 ,to begin with1 8,adolphe10 who used formerly to win everything till his son1 8,prince ,tawny ,boy10 stepped into his shoes1 to be displaced later by his own son1 8,prince ,adolphe10 and his exquisite daughter1 8,floriana10 now in ,america4 ,another good son of 8,adolphe's0 was ,mrs4 ,bonar's 8,lord ,salisbury40 ,to go back as far as ,i can recollect1 there was ,mr4 ,horrel's 8,nero10 and ,mrs4 ,pearce's 8,juliet0 and 8,rosebud10 also ,miss ,malony's 8,lindfields ,lion0 and the ,hon4 ,mrs4 ,mc,laren ,morrison's 8,cetewayo0 and 8,mazawattee10 this latter a really wonderful cat which was imported by ,mrs4 ,davies at the same time as the celebrated 8,nizam10 and reported to be his brother4 ,anyway1 he resembled him greatly in everything but colour4 ,for sables we1 of course1 go to the ,birkdale strain4 ,i remember the incomparable 8,birkdale ,ruffie0 in his full glory at the ,crystal ,palace--a mass of red-brown fur1 of the style of 8,persimmon ,laddie10 but with more distinct markings and a very keen1 almost fierce1 expression2 in fact1 he looked like a wild animal6 ,then 8,master ,ruffie0 appeared as a kitten1 and later as a mild edition of his sire4 ,from this celebrated strain ,miss ,whitney's lovely sables are descended4 ,this enthusiastic fancier has kindly written some notes on her favourite breed4 ,her cats are all pets1 and lead a life of luxury in their town and country houses on the other side of the ,irish ,channel4 ,miss ,whitney says3-- 8,i am pleased to see that brown tabbies are coming to the front again1 after being such a long time in the background4 ,it now rests with fanciers of this charming variety of the feline species to improve them in all points4 ,we hear often that they should be a rich tan in ground colour1 clear and dense in markings1 profuse in coat1 ruff and frill1 large round head1 small ears1 and no white lip4 ,i should consider this a perfect specimen2 but where is such to be had8 ,i do not say it will not be obtained1 but up to this ,i have never seen it4 ,now what we are to endeavour is to breed up to this high standard4 ,this will take time1 no doubt2 but1 above all1 do not let us give up everything for markings1 though they are very essential4 8,my idea of a brown tabby is that it must be of a rich tawny ground colour4 ,how could a brown tabby be called a brown if it is only a greyish drab8 ,i should prefer to do without such perfect markings1 but to have the more desirable rich colour1 and1 above all1 plenty of coat1 ruff1 and frill2 if it has not these latter qualities1 it could not be called a ,persian1 which must have an abundance of fine soft-textured coat4 ,if we only breed for marking1 why not mate to a #8short-hair1' which is more likely to be perfect in that point8 ,but then1 where would be our true ,persian8 ,now1 as to white lip1 ,i have never seen a good brown tabby without it1 but ,i hear that there are such1 though they fail in colour4 ,i would prefer the well-coated cat with good colour and markings and a white lip to one that failed in these other points and had no white lip 7,i do not mean when it extends to a white throat74 ,now if we happen to breed a good kitten without a white lip1 and should strive to mate her to a really well-marked stud cat1 even should he fail in colour--perhaps we might get even one kitten nearly reaching perfection as the result4 ,it would reward the patience1 expense1 and time2 but we need never expect a profusely coated cat to show as distinct markings as an inferiorly coated one will4 ,i breed nothing but brown tabbies1 but cannot say ,i have yet obtained perfection4 ,i have1 however1 secured coat and colour1 and expect to attain the other desirable points in the near future1 as we must all persevere1 but always let us breed up to the standard of the true ,persian4 ,illustration3 8,,lorna ,,doone40 ,,bred ,,by ,,mrs4 ,,ellis1 ,,toronto4 8,i first became interested in cats by being given a nice brown tabby ,persian kitten1 which ,i called #8,ruffle1' and got very fond of him2 but as he seemed lonely ,i thought of getting another kitten as a companion for him1 so ,i then purchased a pretty little silver tabby from ,miss ,cochran2 but after some time1 of all the varieties ,i saw1 none pleased me so well as the brown tabbies4 ,this breed ,i have gone in for altogether during the past few years1 and ,i feel sure ,i shall remain faithful to them to the end of my career as a cat fancier4 ,at present ,i have not a cat of any other colour in my cattery4 8,i still have #8,ruffle1' who is now a very large neuter1 splendidly marked1 but perhaps not quite up to the standard in other points for the ,english show bench4 #8,brayfort ,fina' is1 ,i may say1 a sable tabby1 being particularly rich in colour all throughout--indeed1 more often of an auburn tan than brown4 ,she is very profuse in coat1 carrying a long body-coat and a big ruff and frill4 ,she is a very large cat1 with plenty of bone1 and well made1 with a fine-shaped head4 ,she was once mistaken for a male by a well-known judge4 #8,fina' was bred by ,miss ,g4 ,southam1 and is by #8,master ,ruffie' ex #8,bluette1' her sire being a son of the famous #8,champion ,birkdale ,ruffie4' 8,she was already a winner when ,i purchased her1 and has since won many times1 including second and special at ,bristol1 #ahii1 in a mixed sex class1 being beaten by a male4 ,at ,belfast1 in #aijj--the following year--she was beaten out of first by her sister1 #8,brayfort ,princess4' ,she then took second at ,westminster1 #aijb2 first at ,reading1 and first and championship at the ,crystal ,palace1 #aija and #aijb4 ,again first at the ,bath ,specialist ,show in the same year1 where her gorgeous colouring was called in question and an unsupported protest was made that she was dyed6 ,she is a most successful breeding cat1 her produce being usually winners4 ,her sister1 #8,brayfort ,princess1' is also a sable tabby1 and carries an immense coat1 ruff1 and frill2 it is denser than #8,fina's1' and ,i fancy but for the latter #8,princess' would have been more heard of as a winner1 as1 except on one or two occasions1 she has been usually beaten by #8,fina4' ,illustration3 8,,birkdale ,,ruffie40 7,photo3 ,j4 ,a4 ,kay1 ,southport47 8#8,brayfort ,persimmon ,laddie' is by #8,champion ,persimmon' ex #8,brayfort ,fina4' ,he made his public appearance at ,bristol when he was four months old1 taking first and special in a tabby kitten class and third in novice1 against an entry of twenty-five adults2 then he won first and special in kittens1 and second in open to his mother's first at ,belfast in #aijj2 also he took first and special for best long-haired neuter at ,manchester in #aija2 first1 ,liverpool2 and first and two specials at the ,crystal ,palace1 #aijb4 ,he is too well known to comment on4 ,he is a wonderful sable colour1 and is superb in coat4 #8,brayfort ,sable ,boy' is also by the late #8,champion ,persimmon' ex #8,fina4' ,he won first and special at the kitten show in ,october1 #aijb1 and first and two specials at the ,crystal ,palace show1 #aijb2 his wins speak to his merit4 8,i find all my cats very strong and healthy1 and even in the coldest winter they never have artificial heat4 ,i attribute having never lost a pet after a show to taking them away at night4 ,unless something very unforeseen occurred1 nothing would induce me to leave a cat of mine in a show4 8,i have found mating to a good brown tabby much the most successful4 ,i tried mating to an orange1 but did not like the results4 ,i always mated to the late #8,champion ,persimmon1' and had never fewer than six kittens in a litter--sometimes eight--all strong and healthy4 ,twice only have ,i lost any1 and on these occasions the fault lay with the foster mothers4 8,in the spring and summer my cats get a run out in the garden every day2 the two neuters go on leads1 but the females have their liberty2 indeed1 unless ,i were present #8,fina' would not leave the house4 ,their rooms look out on the grass terrace1 so they can come in or out as they please till their breakfast time1 which is at about ten o'clock4 ,they are groomed every morning between #h and #h4cj o'clock1 winter and summer1 and always fed regularly4 ,their sleeping houses1 as in photo1 are about four feet long1 lined round with oilcloth1 so they can be washed when necessary4 ,in the winter the bedding is hay1 and in summer1 shavings4 ,the houses are sufficiently long to allow for sanitary boxes during the breeding time4 ,i find ,hall's washable distemper very nice for the cattery walls1 and it looks so bright and fresh4 ,the floor-covering is linoleum40 ,in ,america brown tabbies are beginning to find favour1 and several good specimens have been exported4 8,arlington ,hercules10 who took first at ,westminster in #aija1 was shipped to ,mrs4 ,sarmiento and ,mrs4 ,cutler1 and ,i sent a 8,persimmon0 kitten out by ,mrs4 ,robert ,locke to ,mrs4 ,clinton ,locke1 the president of the ,beresford ,club4 ,he was passed on to her honorary secretary1 and in ,field and ,fancy of ,december1 #aijb1 the following notice appears3--8,miss ,lucy ,johnstone is the fortunate owner of #8,persimmon ,squirrel1' a son of the noted brown tabby #8,persimmon1' who lately died4 ,good brown tabbies are very scarce1 and she should congratulate herself on this possession1 as1 according to all accounts1 he is destined to make a good hit40 ,another ,american lady1 ,mrs4 ,gotwalts1 of ,pittsburg1 wrote to me for a brownie1 and ,i sent her one bred by ,mrs4 ,bignell1 and the cat has1 ,i believe1 had some good litters4 ,the most famous brown tabby1 however1 over the herring pond was ,mr4 ,e4 ,n4 ,barker's wonderful 8,king ,humbert40 ,this cat arrived in ,america in #ahhe1 and made a considerable stir in catty circles4 ,mr4 ,barker is said to have refused a thousand dollars for him from a ,new ,york millionaire4 ,i remember when ,mr4 ,barker was over1 acting as judge at the ,westminster ,cat show1 he sought1 but did not find anything to beat his noted brown tabby now gone to its last home4 ,mr4 ,barker1 writing of this breed1 says3-- ,illustration3 8,,birkdale ,,ruffie',s0 ,,cattery4 8,if ,i were asked suddenly why ,i admire brown tabby ,persians1 the liking must be partly attributed to face markings and colour1 and to one who grows accustomed to these they are fascinating and add to the general beauty of the cat1 and seem natural and as though they ought to be there1 and one is not so overweighted with a sense of continual sameness as may be apparent in a whole colour4 ,i must confess1 personally speaking1 ,i have become used to bars and stripes4 ,i miss them when ,i contemplate a self-coloured ,persian4 8,i once had a good many brown tabby ,persians1 and people did not fancy them1 as they said1 #8,they are so like ordinary cats'--a great mistake2 but by gentle persuasion ,i managed to get one or two adopted4 ,one lady some time afterwards candidly confessed1 #8,i could not now be satisfied with any other kind1 ,i should miss the stripes so much on the face4' ,that is just it2 in a tabby you have a little more than your neighbours1 who go in for self-coloured cats1 and1 though for the time being they are not quite so fashionable1 you can chuckle to yourself if you own one1 and feel quietly superior to fashion and the common herd1 and hold your tabby still closer to your heart1 and purr softly to yourself with satisfaction at its possession2 for ,i think one may say that for good all-round1 everyday1 reliable qualities1 the brown tabby stands pre-eminent4 8,his constitution being good1 he is not peevish2 he stands cold and heat1 change of climate and surroundings1 better on an average than any4 ,brown tabbies should have the under-coat a good golden hue1 the markings black1 clear1 and distinct1 rather too many than too few4 ,a good-shaped body1 lots of bone1 a bold head1 red nose1 golden eyes1 well marked on the chest1 and no light colour on the lips and chin4 ,these cats may with advantage be a good size4 ,with care1 the under colour may be bred to a grand copper colour2 a grey hue in brown tabbies is most undesirable40 8,as regards brown tabbies in ,america1 8,king ,humbert0 and his children have always held their own4 8,humbert0 was bred in ,england1 and as he is now dead ,i may be allowed to say that when fit and in good condition a better-coloured and smarter show cat never stood in a pen or outside1 and he loved to show himself off4 ,the best kitten bred from him was 8,jasper40 ,he was very short in leg1 and quite lost in coat1 his feet being hardly visible40 ,to the readers of that very excellent ,american publication ,the ,cat ,journal the handsome portrait of 8,crystal10 the brown tabby1 is very familiar4 ,the editor1 ,mr4 ,c4 ,h4 ,jones1 writes thus to me3--8,i am sending you some pictures as promised4 ,the large photo is #8,champion ,crystal1' son of #8,humbert1' a beautiful cat as to type and disposition4 ,a peculiar thing about #8,crystal's' kittens is that they do not show very long-hair till they are several months old40 ,and now a few remarks as regards the mating of brown tabbies4 ,i have tried several experiments1 but if ,i were wishing to breed fine specimens ,i should continue to mate brown tabbies with brown tabbies4 ,such mating frequently results in a black or two1 and these are generally good ones4 ,the orange cross is sometimes successful in introducing a brighter tone1 but ,i confess ,i have not had very good results from these attempts4 ,i have on several occasions mated blues to my brown tabby stud1 and although blue tabbies have appeared in the litters1 ,i have also obtained blues with very grand heads1 plenty of bone1 and massive build4 ,my famous 8,beauty ,boy10 a well-known winner and sire of bygone days1 was bred from 8,rajah0 7a brown7 and 8,mater0 7a blue74 ,i have been told by silver breeders that a brown tabby cross with chinchillas has often proved advantageous4 ,it might be imagined that the silvers would be tinged with brown or streaked1 but ,i have been assured this is by no means usual1 and that the litters consist of good brown tabbies and equally pure silvers4 ,a well-known breeder of silvers says3--8,although it may be incorrect to cross silvers and browns1 it is often most successful4 ,my first tom was a brown tabby with a white chin1 and being mated with a silver queen the kittens were good browns and exquisite silvers1 and there were lots of winners amongst them4 ,many of the silvers were very pure in colour1 with lovely markings4 ,my old #8,climax1' whose pedigree was pure silver 7#8,topso' and #8,lady ,pink'71 was the sire of the noted brown tabby #8,birkdale ,ruffie4'0 ,before closing my article1 ,i would remark that the brown tabby and sable1 though often classed together1 must not be confounded4 ,the brown tabby is supposed to be the common ancestor of all our cats1 and hence the tendency to revert to that colour1 as in the case of the blue ,rock pigeon4 ,this being the case1 surely we should have brown tabby cats more nearly approaching perfection than any other colour4 ,they appear in very unexpected places--in a litter of chinchillas or blacks1 or among our oranges1 and sometimes where no brown ancestor can be traced4 ,in the brown tabby there seems to be little or no inclination to lose the markings1 as in other tabbies2 rather the contrary1 for they overdo themselves sometimes1 and form into solid black patches1 thus causing the dark saddle1 which is a serious fault in this breed4 ,query3 ,would generations of in-breeding produce a self brown1 as with oranges and chinchillas8 ,i rather doubt it1 as ,i think the common ancestor would1 so to speak1 8chip in0 and assert himself4 ,as regards the sables1 ,i may remark that they are late in maturing and do not acquire their marvellous colouring till about the second year4 ,anyway1 they rarely make a sensation on their first appearance4 ,as ,i write ,i am thinking of 8,persimmon ,laddie10 who seems to have developed his glorious copper coat in the course of a year1 and when seen at the ,crystal ,palace show of #aijb was as near perfection in the matter of colouring as could be desired4 ,i hope that in time this breed of ,persians may find more admirers1 and that with patience and perseverance a really good strain of grand-coloured1 dark-chinned1 and above all splendidly marked brown tabby cats may be seen at our shows4 ,in ,america1 as will be seen from the following extract from ,field and ,fancy1 the brownies are making good headway3-- ,illustration3 ,,brown ,,tabby 8,,goozie40 ,,brown ,,tabbies ,,in ,,america4 ,the brown tabby cat1 whose fate seemed to hang in the balance for some time1 is now1 in ,america1 on the road to social prominence1 and daily we hear of the progress of the breed1 so that the classes next winter seem to promise greater results than ever4 ,from all over we hear of brown tabbies being bred and reared1 and1 what is more1 finding homes at remunerative prices4 ,in looking at the reasons for the popularity of the browns we do not have far to seek1 for when once well tried1 these cats wheedle their way into your affections by the strength and vitality they display1 as a rule2 and the general average being level in their temper1 with plenty of common sense1 as well as bold1 lovable cats1 are very satisfactory to deal with4 ,besides these attributes1 when bred properly1 their colour is most fascinating1 and has a faculty of growing upon one1 and weaker colours seem tame by comparison4 ,so far as we can say1 that as regards the brown tabbies1 the whites and orange1 there have been more concentrated efforts to breed good ones by design than in any of the colours1 though the silver breeders are now coming up4 ,taking a general look at our cats of this colour1 we have little to be ashamed of1 and the stock is good enough to make the nucleus of a fine lot of show cats1 for they inherit their goodness from several generations of the colour1 which is much to the point4 ,our breeders will find that to breed good tabbies they will have to keep to blood lines1 select the best-marked ones1 and not switch about in search of all sorts of blood crosses2 for the way to breed tabbies is to keep to the colour and get the marks1 which too many crosses with solid-coloured cats are liable to spoil4 ,after a time the purely bred and carefully bred strains will stand out and perpetuate themselves1 and the chance-breds will go to the wall4 ,it has been surmised that the reason why the browns are so hardy is that possibly they more nearly approach the natural colour of cats in a wild state1 and are perhaps not quite so artificial2 but the number that will be bred of superlative colouring to fill the standard from a show point of view will never be too numerous to command high prices1 and the greater the competition the greater the value of the variety1 as we see in our dogs4 ,for it is in the popular breeds that the prices rule the highest1 and the scarce ones seldom realise the same figures1 because there is not the same keen competition to get the best4 ,when we look back we can call to mind quite a few good brown tabbies in the last seven years1 and not very many bad ones1 and for uniform quality our browns have been the equal of any colour4 ,breeders should be careful to select those with the brown or red body colour1 and with the stripes as distinct as possible4 ,in our own experience with the colour we have found three varieties1 and these are best described as they appear at birth4 ,no4 #a is the cat with a narrow band down the centre of the back1 and thin1 narrow lines radiating therefrom4 ,these marks may be very distinct when the cat is young1 but are not strong enough for a long-haired cat1 and the marks are lost when the coat grows4 ,though these cats are not the best of exhibition cats1 they are very useful to breed to those too heavily marked4 ,no4 #b is the cat that is heavily marked and carries too much black1 and is often too grey in his body colour1 but these1 by being carefully bred to other colours1 may throw the desired cat2 or ,no4 #c1 the cat with the orange body colour and the distinct black marks covering about a third of the surface of the cat4 ,this latter we hope to see in greater numbers now that an organised effort is being made to breed the colour true4 ,a great many of our browns are clear of one great fault1 which is the light chin and throat1 and it is to be hoped that this will be continued4 ,another fault that wants improving1 and which is the prevailing fault in one of our prominent strains1 is a rather sour green eye1 and this has been the cause of some of them having to take a back seat on occasions4 ,last year was fortunately a great educator for some of our best breeders1 and they are now experimenting along the right lines1 and are aware1 when they lose1 why it is so4 ,as the years roll on those who do learn will not expect to win over better cats just because they think they ought4 ,illustration3 ,a ,,trio ,,of ,,tabbies4 7,photo3 ,c4 ,reid1 ,wishaw47 ,illustration3 ,a ,,picturesque ,,group4 7,photo3 ,e4 ,landor1 ,ealing47 ,,chapter ,,xx4 8,,any ,,other ,,colour0 ,,persians4 ,in the early days of the fancy all sorts and conditions of cats were entered in this class4 ,blacks1 whites1 and tabbies were considered important enough to have classes assigned to them2 then the rest were all huddled and muddled together in the 8any other variety0 class4 ,even in these days it is no easy matter to place the awards in a mixed class2 but formerly the judge must have felt puzzled over the prizes1 and probably finally gave the highest awards to the breed of cat which he most admired4 ,i do not mean anything personal2 but1 as ,i write1 ,i recollect a very large class in #ahhg at the ,crystal ,palace1 two years before a class for blues was instituted4 ,mr4 ,a4 ,a4 ,clarke was judging1 and a female blue1 8,fanny10 which ,i had given to ,mrs4 ,w4 ,m4 ,hunt as a birthday present1 was awarded first4 ,she was a beautiful specimen1 and but for her green eyes would have been a remarkable cat even in these up-to-date days of the fancy4 ,whereas1 therefore1 for many years this 8any other variety0 class was the largest in the show1 it has gradually become beautifully less--and rightly so1 for by degrees the various breeds have been improved1 and the number of specimens have increased1 and the executives of shows have gone with the times and provided separate classes for each breed as occasion seemed to arise4 ,so orange and cream cats are no longer relegated to what we now call the 8any other colour0 class1 and tortoiseshells and tortoiseshell-and-whites are separately dealt with2 therefore it is only tabby-and-whites1 nondescript smokes1 blue tabbies1 and black-and-whites that are received into the fold of the somewhat despised 8any other colour0 class4 ,blues and blacks with white spots used to be entered in this class1 but of recent years both cat clubs have wisely decided that such cats must be entered in their own classes1 for a blue is a blue and a black a black1 and having a blemish does not alter their breed1 but takes so many points away from them2 and1 of course1 their chances of success even with every other quality is small indeed when in competition with pure self-coloured cats4 ,illustration3 ,a ,,grotesquely ,,marked ,,kitten4 7,photo3 ,e4 ,landor1 ,ealing47 ,i am of opinion that ere long the 8any other colour0 class1 at least at our principal shows1 will cease to exist1 and mismarked cats1 white-spotted cats1 and doubtful smokes will no longer be considered worth entering1 and fanciers owning such specimens will make up their minds to keep their pets at home4 ,for instance1 ,mrs4 ,boutcher1 a silver breeder1 owned a magnificent cat1 a son of 8,lord ,argent40 ,he was a superbly shaped and grandly coated animal1 and was neither a silver nor a smoke--in fact1 what might be termed a silver smoke4 ,his face was dark1 and tail and paws1 and his body was a pale silver grey1 shaded to almost white at the roots4 ,his owner entered him in the 8any other colour0 class one year1 and he was disqualified by the judge2 then he was next located in the smoke class1 but as a different judge was making the awards he was again marked 8wrong class40 ,this noble 8,lord ,sylvester0 was the cause of much correspondence in the cat papers1 and discussion ran high as to what manner of cat he was4 ,one of our ablest judges--now1 alas6 no longer in our midst--wrote thus in ,our ,cats of ,december1 #aijj3-- ,,sir1--,in your issue of the #bdth ,i notice at the meeting of the ,silver ,society ,mr4 ,boutcher asked the opinion re the decision of myself at the ,palace as against that of ,mr4 ,house at ,brighton4 ,in defence of my own award1 ,i unhesitatingly say that1 in the same classification as at the ,palace1 8,lord ,sylvester's0 class was the ,a4,o4,c41 in which ,i fearlessly awarded him first prize4 ,of course1 ,mr4 ,house has just as much right to his opinion as ,i have to mine2 but1 whether right or wrong1 ,i do know 8,lord ,sylvester0 is not a smoke1 both on my own knowledge of colour and of that set forth in the standards4--,i am1 yours truly1 ,e4 ,,welburn4 ,surely this is the common-sense view to take4 ,a year later 8,lord ,sylvester0 was purchased by ,mrs4 ,champion1 and travelled out with her to ,america1 where1 no doubt1 this splendid animal receives all the admiration he deserves1 in whatever class he is entered on the other side of the herring pond4 ,since writing these lines ,i have read an article in ,field and ,fancy on the ,new ,york ,cat ,show of ,january1 #aijc1 and the following mention is made3 8,in the #8any other colour' #8,lord ,sylvester' was to the front1 looking splendid40 ,as regards the advisability of doing away with the 8any other colour0 class1 ,i will quote from a letter written by that well-known fancier ,mr4 ,w4 ,r4 ,hawkins3--8,why should one class in a show be given up to the bad specimens or mismarked cats of each colour8 ,surely the intended use of the #8any other colour' class was that when any definite colour had no class of its own it should not be excluded from the show1 but take refuge in the #8any other colour' class2 for instance1 at the ,brighton show 7#aijj7 we had no class for cream1 orange1 or tortoiseshell4 ,they were1 therefore1 shown in the #8any other colour' class1 and being good cats of definite breeds were a credit to the class1 and in no way a disgrace4 ,but what do we often see8 ,a blue with a white spot or some other freak winning4 ,i say this is absolutely wrong1 and that a blue with a white spot is in reality a bad blue1 and should not be encouraged4 ,in the same way1 a tabby-and-white is a bad tabby1 and ought not to go to a show at all1 but even if shown has no right in the #8any other colour' class1 according to my ideas40 ,there is one cat that is fast vanishing from our midst4 ,i mean the black-and-white ,persian1 and yet ,i confess an evenly marked specimen is a handsome animal4 ,by black and white ,i mean the ground should be black1 dense and glossy2 the feet1 chest1 and nose white1 with a blaze of white coming to a point up the centre of the face4 ,the eyes of such a cat should be orange4 ,another type is the white and black cat1 but unless the black patches are evenly balanced1 especially in the face1 the effect is not pleasing 7see illustration1 page #bcb74 ,harrison ,weir gives particulars of some curiously marked cats coming under his notice--8one entirely white with black ears2 another white with a black tail only2 another had the two front feet black1 all else being white40 ,i cannot say ,i have any leaning towards tabby-and-white cats1 or orange-and-white1 these being the least attractive of any in the fancy4 ,blue-and-whites are seldom seen1 but the photos on pp4 #bcd-e represent some sweetly pretty kittens of this variety4 ,their sire was 8,yani10 a noted blue owned by ,miss ,e4 ,goddard1 and their mother a black-and-white4 ,blue tabbies1 so common fifteen or twenty years ago1 are no longer to be seen1 at least only here and there at shows1 and they have really no value beyond being pretty pets4 ,a cat that has done some winning and has sired some lovely kittens1 but must1 strictly speaking1 be considered an 8any other colour0 cat1 is 8,blue ,robin10 formerly the property of ,miss ,h4 ,cochran1 and now in the possession of ,mr4 ,c4 ,w4 ,witt4 ,this is a blue cat with a tabby-marked head4 ,he was bred from blues and silvers1 and his chin1 ear tufts1 and eyebrows are silver1 and his nose pink4 ,as will be seen from his picture1 on page #bcf1 he has a grand head and beautiful expression4 ,i am indebted to ,miss ,hester ,cochran for the following notes on 8any other coloured0 cats3-- 8,the cats known as #8,a4,o4,c4's' or #8any other colour1' because they are of a colour for which no class is provided1 are hard to write about1 because they have no history4 ,they are not bred from ,a4,o4,c4's1 and ,a4,o4,c4's are not bred from them4 ,they are either pedigreeless or1 more commonly1 the result of indiscreet crossing of two definite colours1 as1 for example1 when the owner of a white queen wishes to breed a litter of blue kittens4 ,more rarely they result from a cross which has been resorted to to fix some special point1 as when a white and a blue with particularly massive heads or wonderful orange eyes have been mated with a view to producing a strain noted for their eyes4 ,years ago the classes were interesting1 as they introduced all new colours4 ,illustration3 8,,lockhaven ,,colburn40 ,a ,,good ,,example ,,of ,,perfect ,,black-,,and-,,white ,,markings4 7,photo3 ,koehne ,bretzman1 ,chicago47 8,i remember an ,a4,o4,c4 class at the ,crystal ,palace not many years ago containing seven entries1 all good smokes2 soon after smoke classes were given1 and then chinchillas began to appear in this class4 ,these cats being specially provided for1 creams were the most noticeable ,a4,o4,c4's2 but now the blue tabbies and broken-coloured cats--that is1 some colour and white--usually occupy the ,a4,o4,c4 class4 ,notable instances of cats with white spots were #8,cain1' #8,nankipoo1' and #8,kingfisher1' all grand blues with this blemish4 8,in #ahib ,mrs4 ,pattison's exquisitely shaped and coated orange-and-white #8,chicot' 7pedigreeless71 then shown as tabby with or without white1 established a record by winning as best in show at the ,crystal ,palace4 ,other tabby-and-white cats have done well4 ,miss ,malony used to show some good ones2 the best1 #8,lindfield ,sweet ,william1' was a blue tabby-and-white1 very massive and heavily coated1 son of the smoke #8,lindfield ,bogie4' ,mrs4 ,pearce1 of ,new ,barnet1 also used to win with tabby-and-white cats1 and ,mr4 ,law's #8,buffer' was a celebrity in his day1 but whether he was a brown tabby or an ,a4,o4,c4 is doubtful2 he was later known as #8,leopold4' ,the ,hon4 ,mrs4 ,mc,laren ,morrison had a really good silver tabby with white feet in #8,kepwick ,silver ,king'2 and later ,miss ,snell's grand-headed #8,wonderland' made a small sensation4 8,another good cat which won in an ,a4,o4,c4 class is ,lady ,maitland's #8,cheeky ,blue1' a lovely blue with a sprinkling of white hairs on her body4 ,blue and smoke tortoiseshells are freaks1 and not really exhibition cats at all1 but are by some people considered useful for breeding4 ,personally1 ,i do not think they are capable of producing anything which a definitely coloured cat of proper ancestry cannot produce as well or better4 ,when cream queens were unavailable they had to be used1 but now they are becoming unnecessary4 ,perhaps the best is ,miss ,w4 ,beal's #8,r4 ,fluffie4' ,mrs4 ,d',arcy ,hildyard's #8,sengo of the ,durhams' was another4 ,miss ,taylor's #8,tawney' began life as a blue with a few yellow marks1 and wound up as a good tortoiseshell1 though a trifle too red4 ,mrs4 ,cunliffe ,lee's #8,tiger1' a kind of yellow-brown1 more ticked than marked1 and principally distinguished by his great coat1 made his mark in the ,a4,o4,c4 classes4 8,of blue tabby cats which have won well 7mostly bred from blues and silver tabbies7 there is a long list4 ,they became common through the craze for blues1 as silver queens were sent to blue toms4 ,later the desire for chinchillas started them afresh1 as blue queens were sent to chinchilla toms4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,conquest ,,of ,,the ,,air4 7,photo3 ,e4 ,landor1 ,ealing47 8,mrs4 ,herring's #8,braemar' was a son of #8,cruleus' by #8,turko'2 #8,upwood ,dew' and #8,camera' are from the #8,timkins' strain2 ,miss ,jebb's #8,julius ,csar1' ,miss ,rae's #8,romanoff1' ,miss ,nicholay's #8,sacho1' and ,miss ,jay's #8,holmwood ,skittles' were all celebrated cats4 ,some of these have thrown beautiful kittens1 both blues and chinchillas2 and as a makeshift1 when a correctly coloured cat of the required pedigree is unavailable1 they may1 when judiciously mated1 be found useful2 but good breeders will part with all mismarked kittens for pets4 ,the best and most definitely coloured ,a4,o4,c4 ,i ever saw was ,mrs4 ,davies' #8,sin ,li1' a deep self-coloured chocolate-brown cat4 ,he was supposed to be one of three ,swiss mountain cats imported to this country1 and he was a most handsome and interesting animal4 ,unfortunately1 he died young1 leaving no progeny4 ,another interesting ,a4,o4,c4 cat ,i have seen was a short-haired neuter1 red1 with black stripes and white paws and chest4 ,in the future ,i hope to see a variety of strange cats in the ,a4,o4,c4 classes1 but at present they are very uninteresting4 ,good suggestions for future colours are red1 orange1 blue1 or white with black stripes1 chestnut-brown self-coloured1 and black with white tips to the fur4 ,so far as ,i can see1 it should be possible by crossing with various foreign breeds to produce in a few years' time cats of all these colours40 ,illustration3 ,,silver ,,tabby ,,and ,,orange-,,and-,,white ,,persians4 7,from a ,painting by ,miss ,f4 ,marks47 ,one of the finest 8any other colour0 cats of the present day is now in the possession of ,miss ,moxon1 of ,ilfracombe4 8,cinder0 was purchased from ,mrs4 ,davies1 who has a rare faculty of picking up uncommon-looking cats4 ,miss ,moxon writes3--8,i am sending you a detailed description of #8,cinder1' who is a difficult cat to describe1 and is quite the handsomest cat ,i have ever seen4 ,by #8handsome' ,i mean striking1 as she attracts everyone's attention1 and very often visitors to our well-filled cattery have not a glance to spare for our other specimens40 ,the following is the description of this very uncommon long-haired cat3-- 8#8,tors ,side ,cinder1' winner of many prizes1 including second ,brighton ,a4,o4,c4 kitten class1 #ahii2 first ,a4,o4,c4 kitten1 medal1 and two specials1 ,westminster1 #aijj2 first and special for best cat in show1 ,maidstone1 etc4 ,illustration3 ,,grace ,,before ,,meat4 7,photo3 ,e4 ,landor1 ,ealing47 8#8,cinder' was described to me by the lady from whom ,i bought her in #aija as #8a very peculiar colour--a kind of tortoiseshell creamy smoke4' ,she has a dark seal-brown mask and ears1 except for one creamy orange 7tortoiseshell7 splash above left eye1 and another under chin4 ,these give great expression to her face4 ,head exceptionally fine1 considerable breadth of skull1 small tufted ears1 short broad face1 very sweet expression4 ,round orange eyes1 for which she has won more than one special4 ,fine outstanding frill of a creamy smoke colour2 fur on chest very long and feathery1 of a creamy1 bluish smoke shade1 with a pale cream knot in centre4 ,seal spine line1 splashed with creamy brown1 shading gradually lighter to shoulder knots and side puffs1 which are of a rather darker tint than the frill4 ,paws and legs of a dark seal-brown2 waistcoat and knickers of a bluish cream4 ,splendid thick brush--upperside to match spine line1 under-side of a bluish cream shade4 ,slightly bluish tint all over1 distinct under-coat of palest cream shading to soft creamy blue40 ,illustration3 8,,marcus ,,superbus10 ,a ,,silver ,,smoke4 ,,owned ,,by ,,miss ,,shaw4 7,photo3 ,moffat1 ,edinburgh47 ,american fanciers have always shown a partiality for broken-coloured cats1 and orange-and-white and blue-and-white cats have classifications given for them at the leading shows4 ,in ,england there is a marked antipathy to these cats1 chiefly because they have little or no value for breeding1 though they undoubtedly make pretty pets4 ,as a sign of the times1 ,i may mention that at the ,westminster show in #aijc the three 8any other colour0 classes for males1 females1 and kittens had to be cancelled1 no entries having been made4 ,speculative1 but1 ,i must add1 persevering fanciers might derive interest and amusement from trying to breed out-of-the-common specimens4 ,a black-and-white1 spotted like a ,dalmatian hound1 or a cat marked with zebra stripes1 could doubtless be produced in time by careful and judicious selection4 ,illustration3 8,,blue ,,robin40 7,photo3 ,witcomb ,son1 ,salisbury47 ,,chapter ,,xxi4 ,,neuter ,,cats4 ,illustration3 ,,miss ,,kirkpatrick',s 8,,chili40 7,photo3 ,e4 ,landor1 ,ealing47 ,it has been my experience in the past year or two that the demand for neuter cats1 or1 in other words1 household pet pussies1 is on the increase2 and ,i am inclined to believe that if some fanciers made a speciality of these cats they might do a thriving trade4 ,as it is1 owners of male kittens do not care to undertake the trouble and responsibility of having them gelded1 or doctored1 as this process is sometimes called1 and novices in purchasing are always very anxious that the operation should have taken place before they become possessed of their pets4 ,a selling class for neuters at our large shows would not be at all a bad idea1 but the age should be limited to eight months1 or at most ten months1 as it is only natural that purchasers should desire pussies before they reach the prime of life1 so that they may grow up as pets in the home4 ,for reasons that are easily understood1 it is necessary1 if you wish to have a house pet of unimpeachable manners1 to have your male cat doctored when he arrives at years of discretion4 ,for my own part ,i consider between five and eight months the best time for a cat to be gelded1 but ,i have often known successful operations taking place much later4 ,it is1 however1 most important that the tom should not previously have shown any desire to mate4 ,in all cases a cat should be kept on low plain diet for two or three days before being neutered1 and it is more humane to pay the extra fee for the use of an ansthetic4 ,illustration3 8,,king ,,cy40 ,,silver ,,neuter ,,belonging ,,to ,,miss ,,avery ,,jones4 7,photo3 ,f4 ,bromhead1 ,clifton47 ,i have been told on good authority that if a female cat is to be made neuter she ought to be allowed to have one litter before the operation is performed4 ,neuter cats are essentially for the 8one cat0 person4 ,they undoubtedly make a grand show when exhibited1 but those who are possessed of these pet pussies are generally very disinclined to let them run the risks and discomforts of a show pen4 ,i have advocated having neuters shown only in the ring1 on the lead4 ,if this course were adopted1 ,i think owners would not mind exhibiting their precious cats1 as they could be sent or taken home after their turn round4 ,certainly neuters are the only cats that ought to be led into the ring1 and in this way their fine proportions and generally heavy coats can be seen and judged to the best advantage4 ,it is too often a practice with fanciers to have the worst of the litter kept for a pet and made neuter1 and therefore we see many blues with light green eyes1 and cats with the blemish of a white spot1 in the classes set apart for gelded cats2 and if a beautiful1 almost perfect1 neuter is exhibited1 fanciers are apt to protest at what they consider is 8a grave mistake40 ,from the lips of some noted and over-wrought breeders of ,persian cats ,i have heard the exclamation1 8,i shall go in for neuters only60 ,illustration3 ,,miss ,,chamberlayne',s 8,,belvedere ,,tiger40 7,photo3 ,j4 ,atkins1 ,upper ,norwood47 ,this has been called forth1 perhaps1 by a succession of failing litters or by a rampageous stud cat that has fought with the neighbour's tom or has wandered off on amorous thoughts intent1 perhaps never to return1 or on returning to bring disease to the cattery4 ,certainly1 for a thoroughly comfortable domestic pet there is nothing like a neuter cat4 ,they are more affectionate1 and with children more docile1 not less keen in catching rats and mice1 and they are proverbially very clean in their habits4 ,one great advantage that neuters have over the other long-haired breeds is that they retain their lovely coats nearly all the year round4 ,in spite1 however1 of the many points in favour of neuter cats1 they are nevertheless rather looked down upon in the fancy4 ,certainly1 at our shows no cats are more attractive to visitors than the big burly neuters1 and ,i would fain see a better classification for these really fine animals4 ,a specialist society was started in #aija by an admirer of these cats1 but either through lack of energy or want of enthusiasm the work was not carried on1 and the club died a natural death4 ,it remains for some other fancier with a love for pet pussies to start a society1 for as it is the neuters fare badly at our shows1 the classes provided never numbering more than two1 and the special prizes being few and far between4 ,formerly neuters were judged by weight1 and ,i remember some specimens exhibited at the ,palace that really looked like pigs fatted up for market4 ,it was in #ahhf that the classification for neuters at the ,crystal ,palace show ran thus3 8,gelded cats1 not judged by weight1 but for beauty of form1 markings1 etc40 ,happily1 therefore1 this state of things has been abolished1 and though neuters should be big1 massive cats1 yet they need not1 and should not1 be lumps of inert fat and fur4 ,it is true that a big show cat appeals to the non-exhibitor1 and visitors to our shows are always greatly impressed with huge animals over filling their all too small pens4 ,the heaviest and biggest neuter ,i have ever seen was possessed by ,mrs4 ,reay ,green4 ,this enormous silver turned the scale at #bj lb4 ,i believe the record weight at the ,crystal ,palace was #be lb4 ,it is a libel to say that neuter cats are lazy and uninteresting4 ,i have always possessed a neuter1 either a blue or a brown tabby1 and these beloved pets have ably fulfilled their duties as mice-catchers of the establishment4 ,my 8,bonnie ,boy10 who but recently joined the noble army of neuters1 is as keen as a knife1 and will sit for hours watching a likely hole1 and never a mouse escapes his clever clutches4 ,he kills them instantly1 and then amuses himself for hours dancing about and throwing his dead prey with wild delight into the air4 ,then1 again1 he is1 ,i am sorry to say1 just as destructive with the poor ,london sparrows1 and many a time ,i have had to chastise my pet for stalking the game in our little back garden4 ,miss ,h4 ,cochran1 writing of neuters1 says3 8,there are1 without doubt1 a great number of people who like to keep a cat1 especially a ,persian1 for a pet pure and simple--one that will be the admiration of all1 and of service in ridding the house of mice and rats4 ,they will attain a greater size1 and in nine cases out of ten retain all the pretty habits and antics of their kittenhood4 ,neuter cats are often very troublesome in a large cattery2 they fight with each other and with the queens1 which have a poor chance against their superior size4 ,i think they do it for fun40 ,in ,fur and ,feather 8,zaida0 thus writes of neuters3-- ,undoubtedly it is a crying mistake for neuter cats to be allowed to compete in open classes1 but personally ,i should be delighted to see more classes for them at shows1 and much greater interest taken in them4 ,sometimes one is tempted to think the ordinary run of cats has deteriorated in general beauty1 remembering the splendid animals1 both ,english and foreign1 which we used to see in friends' houses in our childhood2 but the real explanation lies in the fact that formerly 8house0 cats were almost entirely kept as pets1 and handsome kittens were obtained for the purpose4 ,nowadays anything not good enough for breeding from is made a neuter1 and fanciers undoubtedly look on them with a certain contempt4 ,why should this be more the case with cats than with horses8 ,for a perfect household pet the neuter cat holds its own1 if only the public would universally acknowledge it4 ,but too often every purchaser of a kitten starts breeding1 and multiplies a race of weedy1 ill-kept animals1 who do little credit to their owner4 ,a cat with kittens is undoubtedly a charming sight2 but a female cat is more or less of a worry1 and is1 besides1 only in coat for a very short time each year4 ,then a tom cat roams1 fights1 and is often objectionable1 but the stay-at-home cat is always a thing of beauty1 never requires periods of seclusion1 will mouse and rat with the best1 and be a credit to any establishment4 ,in short1 we should like to see more of them1 not fewer1 and a neuter class for every colour in a show4 ,in many a household cats are now disliked through the ill-advised action of some member of the family in starting breeding with more zeal than knowledge1 and without proper convenience4 ,if a lovely neuter1 or even two or three1 reigned in their glory1 there would be an end to the trouble1 to the groans of the other members of the family1 to the 8wasn't engaged to wait on cats0 of the servants4 ,illustration3 8,,benoni40 ,,the ,,property ,,of ,,miss ,,cottor4 7,photo3 ,f4 ,wallace1 ,dalkeith47 ,in the schedule of the ,beresford ,cat ,club show1 held at ,new ,york1 ,january1 #aijc1 the classification for gelded cats reads thus3 8,class #be1 neuter1 white or black2 ,class #bf1 neuter1 blue or smoke2 ,class #bg1 neuter1 #8any other colour'2 ,class #bh1 neuter1 any colour tabby with white40 ,it will be seen1 therefore1 that in ,america a much more liberal classification is given for long-haired neuters1 and for short-haired there are three classes provided4 ,i do not know1 nor have ,i heard of1 any remarkable ,american neuters1 and no photographs have been received by me for reproduction in this work4 ,if we go back some years in the fancy1 ,i remember ,miss ,sangster's 8,royal ,hector10 a blue of great celebrity2 also same owner's 8,royal ,bogey10 a handsome black with a white star4 ,miss ,boddington's cobby1 woolly-coated white 8,ba ,ba0 appeared later in exquisite form1 winning well till he was eleven years old4 ,at this same period ,mrs4 ,herring's little smoke 8,ally ,sloper0 and ,miss ,molony's big1 heavily coated black 8,uncle ,quiz0 were noted winners4 ,then we come to ,mrs4 ,willman's 8,charlie10 a fine blue of 8,beauty ,boy0 strain1 and ,miss ,knight's 8,albion ,joey10 one of the finest neuters ever exhibited1 a huge smoke with the roundest of heads1 a trifle marked and not good in eye1 but a glorious animal4 ,a little later came ,madame ,portier's 8,blue ,boy10 and1 as ,i have received some notes from the owner of this magnificent cat1 ,i will give them3--8,i am very proud of my #8,blue ,boy1' born on ,st4 ,patrick's ,day1 #ahie4 ,he has won twenty-eight first prizes and many specials1 and his championship before he was a year old4 ,i had an offer of #bj for him4 ,the greatest honour #8,blue ,boy' received was a caress from her ,majesty1 then ,princess of ,wales4 ,illustration3 ,,miss ,,adamson',s ,,chinchilla ,,neuter4 8,i often take my pet out for a walk on a collar1 and he is quite easily led1 and people often stop and ask if it is really a cat4 ,i send you his photo for reproduction in #8,the ,book of the ,cat4'0 ,one of 8,blue ,boy's0 wins was at the ,richmond show1 #aijb1 where he was greatly admired for the dignified way in which he comported himself on a lead4 ,in these up-to-date days1 however1 8,blue ,boy0 has to run the gauntlet with superior coloured eyes1 but in shape1 size1 and coat he holds his own4 ,miss ,kirkpatrick's 8,chili10 now no more1 was a beautiful creature--a silvery smoke1 almost a smoke tabby1 with a wonderful fleecy coat and grand frill4 ,mrs4 ,reay ,green has always been the proud possessor of superb neuters--8,mosca10 a blue2 8,abdul ,zephir10 a chinchilla2 and later 8,ajax10 who has done some winning4 ,viscountess ,esher also has quite a cattery of neuters4 ,i procured for her a sable1 almost unmarked and very rich in colour1 a white with limpid seagreen eyes1 and a ,siamese with perfect points4 ,miss ,cochran's 8,patpaw0 7now in the possession of ,viscountess ,esher71 a son of the celebrated tortoiseshell 8,tawney10 is rather small for a neuter1 but full of quality1 with wonderful orange eyes4 8,persimmon ,laddie10 owned by ,miss ,whitney1 is1 perhaps1 the most perfect specimen that has been seen in the pen of the neuter classes4 ,he is not a brown and not a tabby1 but a sable2 and1 having the blood of the 8,birkdale ,ruffies0 and 8,champion ,persimmon0 in his veins1 it is no wonder he carries all before him4 ,no photograph can do him justice4 ,mrs4 ,boyce's 8,fur0 could beat any male chinchilla now on the show bench2 for in colour1 shape1 and head he is well-nigh perfect4 ,mrs4 ,millar's 8,lord ,bute0 is a monstrous black1 and in spite of his green eyes is generally in the prize list2 but in ,mrs4 ,curtis's 8,baron ,bonelli0 he met more than his match at the ,crystal ,palace in #aijb4 ,this black cat 7a son of 8,johnnie ,fawe07 has all the good points of 8,patpaw10 including his gorgeous eyes1 and he is very large4 ,miss ,holmes' 8,blue ,tut0 has won many honours1 and ,miss ,chamberlayne's 8,tiger0 is a handsomely marked brown tabby4 ,miss ,meeson's 8,fluff ,duvals10 another brownie1 won first at the ,crystal ,palace and ,brighton1 and after a second at ,westminster came home to die6 ,miss ,averay ,jones has a splendid chinchilla neuter 8,king ,cy10 a possession too precious to be risked at any exhibition4 ,illustration3 8,,nigel ,,the ,,raven40 ,,mrs4 ,,meller',s ,,short-,,haired ,,black ,,neuter4 ,so much for the long-haired pet pussies1 and we will take a glance at past and present short-haired neuters4 ,a lovely coated cat was 8,tiger of ,kepwick10 owned by ,mrs4 ,mac,laren ,morrison1 a brown tabby1 as his name denotes4 ,then ,mrs4 ,butler's orange1 which for many years won at the ,crystal ,palace and ,brighton4 ,mr4 ,lane had a good yellow-eyed white1 8,leonidas40 ,mrs4 ,herring owned a well-marked brown tabby in 8,sir ,peter ,teazle40 ,of late years the most remarkable short-haired neuters have been ,miss ,cartwright's really lovely ,siamese 8,chote0 and ,lady ,alexander's blues1 8,brother ,gamp0 and 8,tom ,gamp10 who are rarely1 if ever1 defeated4 ,a richly coloured orange tabby neuter1 8,red ,eagle10 also hailed from the same cattery4 ,in judging neuters1 ,i think it is rather a mistake to go too much by points4 ,i consider size should be a most important factor1 also coat and general effect4 ,of course1 in close competition points would come into question2 but ,i really think that a large1 heavily coated neuter1 whose colour was a trifle unsound1 or whose markings or eyes were below par1 should not be placed below a small mean-looking cat who1 however1 excelled in these points4 ,louis ,wain1 writing on a general survey of the ,crystal ,palace show of #aijj1 referring to the neuter class that he judged1 says3--8,neuters have suffered somewhat through the extended schedule of the #8whole' cats4 ,at one time it was quite a usual thing for exhibitors to have their cats neutered to preserve the natural beauties of a fine cat1 and very often a really handsome cat was neutered because he stood no chance in a class of twenty or thirty cats1 and yet would take first as a neuter in a class of six or eight4 ,the neuter classes have not grown as have the other classes4 ,as #8home' cats neuters should be encouraged1 and ,i feel sure that many are kept at home in fear of the dreaded #8blues1' which are usually unbeatable40 ,mr4 ,wain also complains of the poor classification for neuters at our shows1 and on this particular occasion he states that the cats were such extremely fine animals that they needed classes of their own for him to do justice to their merits4 ,certainly there ought at least to be three classes provided for neuters at our large shows1 viz43 ,neuters1 self-coloured 7blue1 black1 and white72 neuters1 tabby1 8any colour02 and neuters1 8any other colour40 ,illustration3 ,,madame ,,portier's ,,neuter 8,,blue ,,boy40 7,photo3 ,hana1 ,london47 ,illustration3 ,,rascals4 7,from a ,painting by ,madame ,henriette ,ronner47 ,,chapter ,,xxii4 ,,manx ,,cats4 ,these quaint cats are rapidly and surely coming into notice in the fancy4 ,as a breed they are intelligent and affectionate1 and1 ,i believe1 splendid sporting cats4 ,they are undoubtedly great favourites amongst the sterner sex1 perhaps because they are such keen and plucky ratters4 ,as a breeder of ,persian cats1 and having become used to the beautiful wide-spreading tails of these cats1 ,i confess there is something grotesque and unfinished1 to my eyes1 in the ,manx1 and from choice ,i should not care to keep these tailless pussies as pets4 ,they do not appeal to me and to my sense of the beautiful4 ,having1 therefore1 never kept or bred ,manx cats1 ,i feel diffident in writing about them2 but ,i have carefully studied those exhibited1 and have also had opportunities of judging of their points whilst visiting friends who have fallen victims to the fascinations of these curious felines4 ,i know a good ,manx when ,i see one1 and to prove this assertion ,i will tell an incident in connection with a prize-winning ,manx of to-day4 ,a friend of mine living in ,london took compassion on a little stray black kitten who came crying for food4 ,she fed him1 and repeatedly tried to find poor pussy's owner1 but in vain4 ,i was appealed to to know what had better be done1 and when ,i saw the little black fellow ,i strongly recommended my friend to keep it and exhibit it at the next large show1 as ,i considered he would go in and win easily4 ,she followed my advice in the latter respect1 but placed too low a figure on 8,nig10 as she declared she did not wish to go in for ,manx4 ,i warned her he would be sold1 and sure enough that clever and astute judge of cats of uncommon breeds1 ,mrs4 ,h4 ,c4 ,brooke1 snapped him up at catalogue price2 and since then he has blossomed forth into a champion1 and as 8,king ,clinkie0 has taken highest honours whenever shown4 ,it is only just to state that ,mrs4 ,brooke most generously handed over some of her winnings to 8,king ,clinkie's0 former owner4 ,illustration3 ,,type ,,of ,,manx ,,kitten4 7,photo3 ,russell ,sons1 ,windsor47 ,i will therefore proceed to give my opinion of ,manx cats1 but with all due deference to my fellow fanciers who have had personal experience with the breed4 ,i think ,i have judged every species of cat1 long- and short-haired1 except ,manx2 but if ,i were given a class of this breed upon which to adjudicate1 ,i should first closely examine their tails1 or1 to be more correct1 the place where the tails ought not to be6 ,i remember in former times stump-tailed cats1 called ,manx1 used to win comfortably at shows1 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 appendage1 or even a mere excrescence4 ,i do not fear contradiction when ,i state that a ,manx cat of the true type should have no particle of tail--only a tuft of hair1 which ought to be boneless4 ,the next point for which ,i should search would be the length of hind quarters1 which lends such great individuality to this breed of cat4 ,no doubt the lack of tail in itself makes a cat's hind legs look long1 but we want more than that2 we need a very short back1 so that from the point of the quarters to the hocks there is a continuous and decided outward slope4 ,in fact1 the hind legs stand right back from the body1 like a well-trained hackney's in the show ring4 ,coat ,i should next consider1 as this differs1 or should differ1 considerably from both the long- and short-haired breeds4 ,it should bear more resemblance to the fur of a rabbit1 being longer and softer than that of our common or garden cats4 ,i think a good-shaped round head as desirable in a ,manx as in other breeds4 ,as regards colour1 the most common would seem to be tabbies1 either silver1 brown1 or orange1 and often there is a mixture of white4 ,self-coloured ,manx seem to be much rarer1 and ,harrison ,weir tells us he does not recollect having seen a white ,manx4 ,as regards the colour of eyes in ,manx cats1 it is the custom to say that they do not matter in this breed2 but1 nevertheless1 a cat that has the correct colour of eye must necessarily beat an animal that has just the opposite to what is set forth in the standard for short-haired ,english cats4 ,a lady friend of mine1 who was brought up in the ,isle of ,man1 has told me that she always understood that ,manx cats came from a cross with a rabbit1 but if this supposition is correct it seems too strange to be true that cats and rabbits should only form matrimonial alliances in the little island off our coast6 ,it would appear more probable1 therefore1 that a foreign breed of cat was brought to the island1 and the following article from the pen of ,mr4 ,gambier ,bolton gives his ideas on the subject3-- ,illustration3 8,,golfsticks40 ,,owned ,,by ,,miss ,,samuels4 7,photo3 ,albert ,hester1 ,clapton1 ,n4,e47 8,in the ,isle of ,man to-day we find a rock named the ,spanish ,rock1 which stands close into the shore1 and tradition states that here one of the vessels of the ,spanish ,armada went down in the memorable year #aeeh1 and that among the rescued were some tailless cats which had been procured during one of the vessel's voyages to the ,far ,east4 ,the cats first swam to the rock1 and then made their way to the shore at low tide2 and from these have sprung all the so-called ,manx cats which are now to be found in many parts of ,great ,britain1 ,europe1 and ,america4 8,the tale seems a bit #8tall1' and yet the writer feels so satisfied of its truth that he would welcome any change in the name of this peculiar variety of the domestic cat to sweep away the idea that they sprang from the ,isle of ,man originally4 8,any traveller in the ,far ,east--,japan1 ,china1 ,siam1 and the ,malay region--who is a lover of animals must have noticed how rarely one meets with a really long-tailed cat in these regions1 for instead one meets with the kink-tailed 7i4e4 those with a bend or screw at the tip of the tail71 the short kink-tailed 7i4e4 those with a screw tail like the bull-dogs71 the forked-tailed 7i4e4 those having tails which start quite straight1 but near the tip branch out into two forks71 and finally the tailless 7or miscalled ,manx7 cats2 and the naturalist ,kmpfer states definitely that the specimens of this breed now so common in parts of ,russia all came originally from ,japan4 ,again1 anyone who breeds these tailless cats1 and keeps the breed quite pure1 must have noticed how they differ in appearance and habits from the common short-haired cats4 ,they are1 and should be1 much smaller in size2 the coat should be longer and more #8rabbity'2 the #8call' is much nearer that of the jungle cat of the ,east than that of the ordinary cat2 and their habits1 like those of the ,siamese cats1 are much more doglike4 ,in all these points they keep closely to what the writer firmly believes to be their original type1 the domesticated cats of the ,far ,east4 8,the photographs illustrating this article give some idea of the general appearance of these delightfully quaint little creatures1 and one notices immediately the great point that all judges look for1 viz41 the high hind quarters1 which is so typical of the tailless breed of cats1 the few hairs1 which represent the spot where the tail should be1 constantly appearing even a few hours after birth1 although there is not a sign of a caudal appendage beneath them4 8,kink-tailed1 screw-tailed1 fork-tailed1 and absolutely tailless cats have all been exhibited at ,british shows of recent years1 and the writer1 from a personal knowledge of nearly all breeds1 has no hesitation in recommending the latter as companions1 their quaint and doglike ways making them general favourites whenever they are met with4 ,illustration3 ,,specimen ,,of ,a ,,manx ,,tabby4 7,photo3 ,c4 ,reid1 ,wishaw47 8,there are at present six distinct types of ,manx1 or #8rumpy1' cats being exhibited at our shows1 viz43 ,the long straight-backed cat1 the long roach-backed cat1 the long straight-backed cat with high hind quarters1 the short straight-backed cat1 the short roach-backed cat1 the short-backed cat with high hind quarters4 ,the last type is the correct one1 the first is the worst and commonest type1 the others are intermediate and should be judged accordingly4 8,manx cats should always be judged in a good1 large1 empty pen1 and never in their own pens1 or when held by the judge4 8,coat4--,exactly the opposite to the ordinary domesticated short-haired cat4 ,a long and open outer coat and a soft1 close under-coat is the correct thing40 ,at one time1 we may presume1 the ,manx cat was kept pure in the ,isle of ,man2 but1 alas6 the natives1 with an eye to the main chance1 have been led into manufacturing a spurious article1 and many more tailless cats and kittens than ever were born have been sold to tourists eager to carry home some souvenir of the island to their friends on the mainland4 ,i have been told that the landing pier is a frequent resort of dealers in so-called ,manx cats1 where the unwary traveller is waylaid and sold6 ,on some out-of-the-way farms on the island ,i believe none but tailless cats have been kept for generations1 and some genuine specimens may thus be picked up1 if the tourist gives himself the trouble to go off the beaten tracks4 ,the following letters which appeared in ,our ,cats1 in the issue of ,june #cjth1 #aijj1 will be read with interest4 ,they were written by two gentlemen of prominent position in the ,isle of ,man1 but as they did not wish to be identified as authorities on cats their names were not given3-- ,,letter ,i4 ,castletown1 ,isle of ,man1 #abth ,july1 #ahih4 ,i received yesterday your letter respecting ,manx cats4 ,i fear ,i am unable to aid you much in your inquiries as to the ,manx cat1 for any personal information ,i can give4 ,when ,i was a boy there was a kind of tradition that the tailless cat was brought here by the ,spanish ,armada4 ,we have a headland called 8,spanish ,head10 where it has been believed that some tailless cats escaped and took refuge here1 and that from such cats all the so-called ,manx cats have been derived4 ,during my life ,i have frequently met persons who have travelled in ,spain1 and ,i think ,i have always asked from such persons if they had ever met with tailless cats there1 but ,i never met anyone who had seen them4 ,i never heard any other 7traditional7 origin of the ,manx cat alleged4 ,they are very common here1 but not so common as cats with tails4 ,both cats with and cats without tails associate together4 ,in my own house we have always kept cats1 and in almost every litter of kittens there are some with and some without tails4 ,i have two tailless cats now--one is a kitten of a few weeks old4 ,it has no sign of a tail1 but is 7as designated here7 a pure rumpy4 ,the mother is one also1 but she has a little fur tuft4 ,i have frequently seen kittens having a very small 8rudimentary tail10 such as one or two bones4 ,i have seen1 ,i think1 ,manx cats of most of the colours mentioned by you1 but the most common are the grey or tabby4 ,i have never heard of wild cats found here1 and ,i do not think there is any tradition about them4 ,a few years ago ,i had a very fine tom cat 7bred in my own house71 black all over1 and with no sign of a tail4 ,i lost it4 ,i presume it was stolen by some tripper4 ,trippers are frequently on the look out for ,manx cats1 and ,i fear that many tailed kittens are deprived of their tails to meet the demand4 ,,letter ,,ii4 ,ramsey1 #agth ,july1 #ahih4 ,thank you for letting me see the interesting letters about ,manx cats4 ,i suppose the ,society wants to have a standard by which to judge them4444 ,i am sure we should all be interested to hear what they have to say on the subject1 and we may be able to add some general information4 ,to take the questions in order ,i should say that grey tabby 7barred1 not spotted7 is the most natural and correct1 if one may so speak4 ,i think it is certainly most common4 ,i have known tortoiseshell1 black-and-white1 black1 white1 and perhaps others1 which ,i now forget4 ,the eye1 so far as ,i know1 is the same as in the common ,english tabby4 ,certainly we have cats with tails--the rumpy being the rare form4 ,perhaps one in a litter1 and one or two of them with half-tails4 ,as to what they are supposed to be1 ,i have of course heard the ,spanish ,armada story4 ,my own belief is that they have originated in a sport1 e4g4 as we find in dogs and fowls1 and have been perpetuated as curiosities1 and in modern times on account of their commercial value4 ,i do not know that there is any type which can be said to be more true than another with regard to size and shape of head1 etc4 ,the height at the hind legs is perhaps more apparent than real1 caused by the abrupt ending1 without the falling tail as in ordinary cats4 ,professor ,owen made a preparation1 which may be seen at the ,british ,museum1 showing the bones 7if any7 of the tail4 ,i think in a perfect specimen there should be no bones4 ,of course1 there are all degrees of stumps4 ,it is only of recent years that any ,english fanciers have tried to breed true ,manx cats4 ,miss ,samuel has been very successful in establishing a strain which again and again breeds true to type4 ,the 8,golfsticks0 and 8,kangaroo10 two noted winners1 are owned by her4 ,in former days ,miss ,bugden's 8,gorrie10 ,mr4 ,woodiwiss's 8,manx ,king10 8,pickles10 8,belle10 and 8,beauty10 all good cats1 accounted for most of the prizes4 ,miss ,jay1 whose name is more familiarly known in connection with blue ,persians1 has always been partial to ,manx cats1 and used to exhibit at the ,crystal ,palace4 ,the last time ,i visited the ,holmwood cattery ,i was much struck with the number of tortoiseshell ,manx cats running about the stable yard4 ,miss ,jay has quite a family of these2 but1 needless to say1 they are all of the female sex6 ,mrs4 ,herring has not been unmindful of this breed1 and has exhibited some good specimens4 ,miss ,dresser has owned ,manx cats for many years and shown some good ones4 ,her 8,belle ,mahone0 and 8,moonlight0 were nice tabbies1 free from tail1 and 8,bonhaki ,junior0 was a very fine-shaped silver tabby-and-white2 but1 unfortunately1 he had a stump which always kept him back4 ,mrs4 ,mosely has exhibited some good blacks4 ,lady ,alexander owned several prize-winning ,manx1 but these have passed into the hands of ,miss ,hester ,cochran4 ,the best of these are 8,ballochmyle ,bell ,stump10 a curiously spotted tabby1 absolutely tailless4 8,bell ,spitz0 and 8,strathcona0 are also good specimens in ,miss ,cochran's possession4 ,mr4 ,gambier ,bolton owned and bred some fine cats4 8,manx ,primrose10 a black1 and 8,d-,tail10 a silver tabby1 won respectively first and second at the ,westminster show in #aijb4 ,it is so usual to see 8,breeder and pedigree unknown0 after almost all the entries in the ,manx classes that these two cats were distinguished by having a certified pedigree4 ,it was a grievous loss when 8,d-,tail0 disappeared very mysteriously from his home in ,st4 ,john's ,wood4 8,manx ,silverwing0 passed from ,mr4 ,bolton's possession to that of ,mr4 ,foulstone's1 and was later purchased by ,mr4 ,a4 ,ward1 the well-known cat specialist4 ,as will be seen from the illustration on page #bea1 this puss is almost a spotted tabby4 ,illustration3 ,,orange ,,manx4 ,,owned ,,by ,,mrs4 ,,clinton ,,locke4 7,photo3 ,s4 ,s4 ,finley1 ,chicago47 ,lady ,marcus ,beresford has lately shown a great partiality for ,manx4 ,i think ,i am right in stating that the first one that inhabited the ,bishopsgate cattery was a beautiful white called 8,mona10 that ,i procured for her4 ,this fine specimen was brought from the island direct1 and proved herself a splendid ratter2 but1 alas6 she did not live long to enjoy the luxuries of her new home4 ,there are1 however1 no fewer than five ,manx now at ,bishopsgate--8,jack10 a silver tabby2 8,patch10 a tortoiseshell2 8,satanella10 a black female2 and 8,stumps10 a brown tabby male4 ,the most recent addition is 8,king ,clinkie10 whom ,i have before mentioned as being owned by ,mrs4 ,h4 ,c4 ,brooke4 ,does he ever think of his former struggling existence1 now that his ways are those of pleasantness and peace8 ,one of the latest of the specialist clubs is the ,manx ,club1 formed by ,miss ,hester ,cochran in #aija1 with an annual subscription of #ajs42 this has been reduced to #es41 and the members in the beginning of #aijc numbered about twenty4 ,the club has1 as far as possible1 devoted its limited funds to guaranteeing a better classification for ,manx cats at the principal shows1 and when unable to afford a guarantee has given special prizes for competition4 ,the efforts of this small body of fanciers have been substantially rewarded by the great improvement in the quantity and quality of the ,manx cats exhibited during the last eighteen months4 ,miss ,h4 ,cochran1 who has given up all other cats for ,manx1 is the hon4 secretary1 and ,lady ,alexander hon4 treasurer4 ,committee3 ,lady ,alexander1 ,miss ,h4 ,cochran1 ,mrs4 ,herring1 and ,miss ,white ,atkins4 ,no doubt in time the officials and members of the ,manx ,club will be able to add to their number4 ,illustration3 ,,mrs4 ,h4 ,c4 ,,brooke',s ,,manx1 8,,katzenjammer40 7,photo3 ,a4 ,r4 ,pickett1 ,bexley ,heath47 ,the following is translated from a paragraph in a ,german weekly paper called ,mutter ,erde1 and appeared in ,our ,cats of ,march #ast4 #aijj3-- ,,the ,,progeny ,,of ,a ,,tailless ,,cat ,,of ,,the ,,isle ,,of ,,man4 ,a cat brought from the ,isle of ,man 7felis catus anura7 to ,s4 ,germain en ,laye1 of which the pedigree is unknown1 was mated with ordinary long-tailed cats1 and among twenty-four kittens the four following different kinds appeared3-- ,i4-- ,kittens with ordinary long tails4 ,,ii4-- ,kittens with short and stump tails4 ,,iii4-- ,kittens without tails1 like the mother4 ,,iv4-- ,kittens without the least sign of a tail4 ,the comparison between the influence of the sire and that of the dam on the young is interesting3-- #a litter4 #a kitten like the mother4 #b #f kittens1 #e like the mother1 #a like the father4 #c #e #c #b #d #c #a #b #e #d #a #c #f #e #c #b ,it will be seen that the influence of the mother predominates4 ,manx cats may be considered shy breeders1 and constantly the litter will consist of one kitten only6 ,i have been told that they are excellent mothers2 but1 in the words of a ,manx fancier1 8they only care to have one family a year1 many queens won't breed at all1 and heaps of males are very funny and take no notice of their wives60 ,another breeder of ,manx informs me that these cats seem entirely fearless with dogs1 and that her canines and felines live together in perfect amity4 ,i believe ,mr4 ,h4 ,c4 ,brooke once exhibited a ,manx in the same pen as a bull-dog at the ,south ,london ,bull-dog ,show of #ahic4 ,and now1 having mentioned ,mr4 ,brooke's name1 ,i am pleased to say that this well-known and successful fancier of ,manx1 as well as foreign1 cats has kindly written an article on this variety1 which is his pet speciality3-- ,illustration3 8,,ballochmyle ,,bell ,,spitz40 ,,owned ,,by ,,miss ,,hester ,,cochran4 8,on this breed ,i think ,i may claim to write with some authority1 as ,i have kept it for a number of years1 and it has always been my favourite breed of cat4 ,i believe ,i may1 without boasting1 say that ,i have of late years been of some service to the breed1 by constantly agitating for the ,manx classes to be entrusted to judges who take some interest in the variety2 for it is a lamentable fact that there are numbers of people1 good judges of the more popular breeds1 who are quite willing to adjudicate upon the ,manx classes without possessing the slightest qualifications1 and these usually merely judge the ,manx as a tailless cat1 which is all wrong4 ,during the last few years ,i am glad to say that the ,national ,cat ,club1 at almost all its shows1 instead of tacking the ,manx classes on to the list of any all-round judge1 has appointed capable judges2 and whilst1 of course1 no judge has ever succeeded in pleasing all concerned 7except when there was only one entry in the class71 the awards at these shows have always been reasonable and sound1 and free from the absurdities which too often sicken fanciers and render the judge ridiculous at other shows4 ,when we find an all-round judge openly stating that a ,manx is but a tailless cat1 and that he could manufacture perfect specimens1 it is high time that that judge's name1 however excellent a judge he may be of other breeds1 should be inscribed upon the tablets of every ,manx fancier's memory1 and when he again officiates he should be saved the trouble of going over cats which he neither likes nor understands4 8#8,what is a ,manx but a tailless cat8' some may ask4 ,well1 a cat with1 perhaps1 an inch of tail1 though in my opinion unfit to win a prize1 may possibly be really a better ,manx1 more calculated to do good to the breed1 than an absolutely tailless cat4 ,it may possess more ,manx character1 and this ,manx character is a thing not #8understanded of the people'2 and here it is that those judges score who have taken a real interest in and studied the breed4 ,a cat may have a couple of joints of tail1 crooked or straight1 and yet be a pure ,manx2 though1 as we strive for perfection1 ,i consider that such cats should be relegated to the stud1 or at most only be placed in the money if the competition be very weak1 and then never awarded any high prize4 8,if breeders of ,manx were more careful1 there should be no difficulty in obtaining litters without any tail whatever4 ,no cat can be a really typical ,manx who is long-cast in the body4 ,a short1 cobby body is an essential in a show ,manx4 ,so also is a round1 short skull4 ,these points are usually noticeable when the kittens are young2 as they grow older they disappear1 frequently to return when the cat has outgrown its kittenhood4 ,but the most important ,manx property is the great length of hind leg1 which absolutely marks the typical ,manx as a cat quite distinct from a tailless cat2 with this should be coupled a round1 guinea-pig-like rump1 round as an orange1 which1 of course1 can only be obtained when there is absolutely no tail4 ,even a tuft of gristle or hair1 as found in many of the best specimens1 though in itself but a very trifling defect1 detracts from this typical #8rumpy' appearance1 by giving a more or less angular appearance to the hind quarters1 unless1 that is1 it be situated so far back between the hip-bones that it in no way projects4 ,as typical specimens showing this rumpy formation to perfection1 ,i may mention the late #8,champion and ,premier ,katzenjammer1' and #8,ballochmyle ,bell ,stump1' probably two of the best ever seen in this respect4 ,had these two been mated1 what glorious progeny should have resulted4 ,now these two cats1 whilst possessing the round rumpy formation to perfection1 did not excel so much in length of hind leg1 and for superlative excellence in this property we must turn to another celebrated couple1 the late silver tabby #8,champion and ,premier ,bonhaki' and #8,king ,clinkie1' who has just passed into the possession of ,lady ,marcus ,beresford1 and who at the age of about fifteen months has already twice won championship awards4 ,now1 these two cats exhibited the great length of hind leg which gave them when in motion the desired comical rabbity action2 but in roundness of rump they lost to the other two1 being somewhat more angular4 8,to gain absolute perfection we require roundness of rump united to great length of hind leg4 ,these are the great characteristics of the ,manx1 to which every ,manx judge worthy of the name will attach the greatest importance4 ,then come other body properties--shortness of back1 general cobbiness1 roundness of skull1 small ears1 shortness of face2 then1 last of all1 colour4 ,and here it is that the average all-round judge goes astray1 for in too many cases he attaches too much weight to colour1 a good instance of which occurred when #8,ballochmyle ,bell ,stump1' above referred to1 whose colour1 though quaint1 is not very pleasing1 was placed below a long-cast cat of a taking colour1 but in no wise a typical ,manx4 8,as ,i before remarked1 colour should be considered last4 ,i think a good black is the nicest colour for a ,manx1 and1 of course1 the eyes should be of the colour sought for in ordinary black cats4 ,a pure blue-eyed white is very pretty1 and also very scarce4 ,tabby-and-white ,i personally do not care for4 ,silver tabbies are uncommon and very handsome4 ,tortoiseshells are also pretty and quaint4 8,the fur of the ,manx should be just a little longer and softer than that of the ordinary short-haired cat4 ,now and then we see long-haired ,manx advertised1 but these are1 of course1 mongrels or abortions1 and by no means ,manx cats4 8,what is the origin of the ,manx8 ,that is a question which in all probability will never be answered4 ,the theory that it originated from a cat 7or cats7 having lost its tail by accident ,i do not consider worth a moment's consideration4 ,such a cat might well have tailless progeny1 but that would have nothing to do with the abnormal length of the hind legs1 which in good specimens is patent to the most superficial observer1 and which makes the gambols of a couple of ,manx a comical sight calculated to excite laughter in the most mournfully disposed person4 ,illustration3 ,,manx ,,cat4 7,photo3 ,gambier ,bolton1 ,f4,z4,s4 ,regd447 8,quaint is the old versified explanation1 which ,i remember hearing some years ago4 ,it ran1 if ,i remember rightly1 somewhat like this3-- ,noah1 sailing o'er the seas1 ,ran high and dry on ,ararat4 ,his dog then made a spring1 and took ,the tail from off a pussy cat4 ,puss through the window quick did fly1 ,and bravely through the waters swam1 ,nor ever stopped1 till1 high and dry1 ,she landed on the ,isle of ,man4 ,thus tailless puss earned ,mona's thanks1 ,and ever after was called ,manx4 8,the most feasible explanation1 in my opinion1 though of course it can be but a theory1 is that these cats were originally imported from the ,east4 ,asiatic cats of domestic varieties show remarkable variety in the shape of their tails1 as witness the kinks often found in the tail of the ,siamese cat1 and the knot tails of other varieties4 ,this subject will be referred to again in a subsequent paper4 8,it is also noticeable that many ,manx1 like the ,siamese1 are very doglike in their habits1 showing extreme affection for their owners4 ,poor old #8,katzenjammer1' for instance1 would follow me to the railway station1 and many a time on my return from town have ,i found him sitting in the middle of a field waiting for me1 and on seeing me he would accompany me home just like a dog4 8,to return to the question of the ,manx cat's tail1 this should1 of course1 be like snakes in ,iceland--absent4 ,what we want is for the spinal column to come to an end high up on the back1 so that on placing the finger where the tail would begin a hollow or depression is felt4 ,this is the perfection1 but it is not always obtainable in even the very best specimens4 ,next to be desired is when only a little tuft of gristle and hair1 with at most a suggestion of a twisted and withered bone1 is present4 ,then comes a distinct caudal vertebra1 if twisted or abnormal in shape so much the better2 but in my opinion more than two joints should not be allowed in show specimens at all1 though such cats1 as ,i remarked above1 may be valuable at stud for breeding from4 ,but ,i see no reason1 if ,manx breeders would pay more attention1 and incompetent judges were barred1 why absolute taillessness should not be attained in ninety-nine kittens out of each hundred4 ,i have bred many1 but none have had the crooked stumps we often see in otherwise good specimens4 8,i do not care for large ,manx1 which generally look coarse4 ,here1 again1 the all-rounder often goes astray1 and unduly favours a large cat4 8,i can heartily recommend the ,manx as a pet1 and the quaintness of his movements are certainly a recommendation4 ,my cats are all house pets1 so that ,i can watch them and enjoy their company2 the #8cattery' cat is abhorrent to me4 ,i cannot understand why so few people go in for rationally breeding this quaint variety4 ,i had hoped that the recent purchase by his ,majesty of two couples of the breed might have given it a fillip4 8,to illustrate the breed1 ,i may perhaps be accused of egotism in giving the portrait of one of our own cats1 but as he is dead it is less invidious than if living specimens were selected1 and as they were awarded the very highest prizes by the very greatest authorities they may safely be taken as near perfection4 ,the silver tabby #8,champion and ,premier ,bonhaki' was bred by ,mr4 ,jungbluth1 one of the keepers of the monkey house at the ,zoo4 ,he made his dbut at the ,botanic ,gardens as a kitten1 when he was much admired by the then ,princess of ,wales1 and ,mr4 ,wain awarded him the championship4 ,this success he followed up by winning four others under various judges1 and died at the early age of twenty-seven months4 #8,champion and ,premier ,katzenjammer' was bred at home2 he did not commence his show career till late1 and then he had to meet #8,bonhaki1' after whose death1 however1 he was unbeaten1 and had earned his champion title at the time of his death from gastritis last year1 which robbed me of one of the most affectionate #8pals' man ever had1 and ,i am not ashamed to own that many and bitter were the tears ,i shed over his grave4 ,illustration3 ,,brown ,,tabby ,,and ,,orange ,,tabby ,,short-,,haired ,,cats4 7,from a ,painting by ,w4 ,luker1 ,jun47 8,in conclusion1 ,i would advise ,manx fanciers to do their best to accustom their cats to seeing strangers1 to being handled1 and to the show pen2 for when a cat is nervous and crouches in a heap it is most difficult to see whether the desired shape of hind quarters and rabbity action are present4 ,they can best be seen when the cat holds itself fearlessly and boldly2 and when a judge has a large number of classes to get through in a short space of time1 in very likely an ill-lighted building1 he cannot spend half an hour coaxing each cat to show its action40 ,illustration3 ,,mr4 ,,ward',s ,,manx 8,,silverwing40 7,photo3 ,h4 ,glacier1 ,longsight47 ,illustration3 ,a ,,litter ,,by 8,,tachin40 ,,owned ,,by ,,lady ,,marcus ,,beresford4 7,photo3 ,j4 ,fall1 ,baker ,street47 ,,chapter ,,xxiii4 ,,siamese ,,cats4 ,i have often remarked at our cat shows that strangers in the fancy will inquire and ask to be directed to the ,siamese class1 and many and varied are the exclamations of surprise and admiration expressed by them on seeing1 perhaps for the first time1 a row of ,siamese cats seated in their pens4 ,nor is it always necessary to direct visitors to the ,siamese classes1 for generally these animals will betray their whereabouts by the unique tone of their voice1 which is distinguishable at a great distance4 ,there is certainly a great fascination about this peculiar breed of cats1 which is yearly becoming more popular and fashionable4 ,but fanciers are also learning a lesson in the school of experience1 where frequently the fees are high1 that they dare not trust their valuable specimens on the show bench4 ,siamese cats seem to be more sensitive than even the most delicate of long-haired breeds1 and if attacked by any of the ills that catty flesh is heir to they do not appear to have any stamina to bear up against the ravages of the disease4 ,their recuperative powers are almost nil1 and they rarely pull through a severe illness4 ,i have never kept ,siamese myself1 but ,i have had many opportunities of observing them in sickness and in health4 ,i have seen grown-up specimens go out like the snuffing of a candle with acute pneumonia1 almost before one has realised they were even ailing4 ,these creatures are quite human in the way they look at you with those bonnie blue eyes1 and when you talk to them they seem to answer in their croaking voice4 ,i can well understand what companionable cats these may become1 and to fanciers of this unique breed other cats must appear lacking in interest and wanting in intelligence4 ,from time to time there have been discussions in our cat papers on ,siamese cats in general1 and on their kinked or kinkless tails in particular4 ,it is certain that those cats known to us as royal ,siamese are not the only species in ,siam1 the common cat of the country being tabby or black4 ,so many of my friends who are fanciers and breeders of ,siamese have kindly supplied me with interesting facts concerning this variety1 that ,i do not intend to enter into any details1 but will state that in #aijb a ,siamese ,cat ,club was started by several enthusiastic admirers of this breed1 and the members have certainly done much to improve the classification at shows1 by offering prizes and guaranteeing classes4 ,the following is a list of the officials of the specialist club1 with a standard of points for royal ,siamese cats3-- ,president4--,mrs4 ,vary ,campbell4 ,vice-,presidents4--,the ,lady ,decies1 ,mrs4 ,vyvyan1 ,miss ,sutherland1 ,the ,hon4 ,mrs4 ,mc,laren ,morrison1 ,mrs4 ,chapman1 and ,miss ,h4 ,cochran4 ,committee4--,mrs4 ,parker ,brough1 ,mrs4 ,carew ,cox1 ,miss ,derby ,hyde1 ,mrs4 ,c4 ,b4 ,robinson1 ,mrs4 ,a4 ,spencer1 ,miss ,forestier-,walker1 ,mr4 ,gambier ,bolton1 and ,mr4 ,c4 ,w4 ,cooke4 ,hon4 ,treasurer4--,mrs4 ,parker ,brough1 ,springfield1 ,kettering4 ,hon4 ,secretary4--,miss ,forestier-,walker4 ,hon4 ,auditor4--,conrad ,w4 ,cooke4 ,,standard ,,of ,,points ,,for ,,the 8,,royal0 ,,siamese ,,cat4 ,body ,colour4--,as light and even as possible1 cream being most desirable1 but fawn also admissible1 without streaks1 bars1 blotches1 or any other body markings4 ,points1 i4e4 mask1 ears1 legs1 feet1 and tail1 dark and clearly defined1 of the shade known as 8seal0 brown4 ,mask4--,complete1 i4e4 connected by tracings with the ears1 neither separated by a pale ring 7as in kittens7 nor blurred and indistinct1 the desideratum being to preserve the 8marten face10 an impression greatly aided by a good mask4 ,eyes4--,bright and decided blue4 ,coat4--,glossy and close lying4 ,shape4--,body rather long1 legs proportionately slight4 ,head4--,rather long and pointed4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,garden ,,cattery ,,at ,,bishopsgate4 7,photo3 ,cassell ,company1 ,limited47 ,general ,appearance4--,with points emphasised above1 a somewhat curious and striking looking cat1 of medium size2 if weighty1 not showing bulk1 as this would detract from the admired 8svelte0 appearance4 ,in type1 in every particular1 the reverse of the ideal short-haired domestic cat1 and with properly preserved contrasts of colour1 a very handsome animal1 often also distinguished by a kink in the tail4 ,remarks4--,while admitting that blues1 blacks1 whites1 tabbies1 and other coloured cats may be also cats of ,siam1 these being common to all parts of the world1 this club recognises only as ,siamese cats those cats the points of which conform to the above standard1 and is1 in fact1 desirous of encouraging the breeding of those particular cats first made known to ,british fanciers as the 8royal0 ,siamese4 ,the points of the 8chocolate0 ,siamese are the same as above1 with the exception of body colour4 ,,value ,,of ,,points4 ,body colour #bj ,shape #aj ,coat #aj ,head #aj ,eyes #bj ,mask #ae ,density of points #ae ------ ,total #ajj ,any cat failing to obtain #ge of the above marks shall not be eligible for the club's challenge prizes and medals4 ,it was shortly after the formation of the ,siamese ,cat ,club that the following letter appeared in ,fur and ,feather3-- ,,points ,,of ,,the ,,siamese4 ,the committee of the ,siamese ,club wish to draw attention to the unfortunate diversity of opinion concerning ,siamese cats expressed in articles which appear from time to time in some of the papers which devote a portion of their issue to cat news4 ,one great object of the ,siamese ,club is to encourage the distinct breeding of the royal cat of ,siam and also of the chocolate cat of ,siam--both beautiful in their own way1 but recognised as distinct breeds4 ,the ,siamese ,club is young1 and not infallible2 but1 containing as it does most of the principal breeders and exhibitors1 its committee would like to record their opinion on some few points which have appeared in the ,press1 in order to avoid a silence which might be construed as consent4 ,with regard to colour1 they cannot agree that a royal can be too light in body colour1 nor can they endorse 8we like a rich cream body1 chocolate saddle1 and the points glossy black1 shading away to chocolate40 ,another paper advises the mating of royal ,siamese with the chocolate variety4 ,it is true that the young kittens are very pretty1 but after six months old quickly become dark and blurred4 ,the great beauty of royal ,siamese is the contrast between the sharply defined1 deepest brown markings and a body of as light a cream as possible4 ,a third paper gives the information that an exhibitor known to it has bred prize-winning ,siamese from a cross between a white cat with blue eyes and a ,siamese queen4 ,it also mentions another case where such crossing has produced good ,siamese kittens1 and thinks that many other people have1 with more or less success1 followed the same tactics4 ,the above experiment has often been tried1 purposely and accidentally1 but no case is known to the writers where the result has been anything like ,siamese1 the kittens always favouring the ,english parent4 ,all ,siamese are born white1 and therefore if the children of one white parent died quite young such a mistake might be natural4 ,it certainly would be very unfair to sell such kittens1 as their progeny would inherit1 and might pass on1 an ,english parentage1 not even necessarily white4 ,a white is1 or may be1 merely an albino variety4--7,signed7 ,a4 ,forestier-,walker1 ,jean ,a4 ,spencer1 ,may ,robinson1 ,l4 ,parker ,brough1 ,s4 ,e4 ,backhouse1 ,constance ,carew ,cox4 ,illustration3 ,,mrs4 ,,roberts ,,locke1 ,,with 8,,calif10 8,,siam10 ,,and 8,,bangkok40 7,photo3 ,s4 ,s4 ,finley1 ,chicago47 ,miss ,forestier-,walker and ,mrs4 ,vyvyan were amongst the first to introduce ,siamese cats into ,england1 and they have always owned a direct descendant from the first and famous 8,tiam-o-,shian10 and many are the prize-winners they have reared and shown from this celebrated strain4 ,miss ,forestier-,walker has frequently acted as judge of ,siamese1 and took a very active part in the formation of the specialist club for this breed4 ,she has kindly furnished me with the following notes1 and given me some photographs of ,mrs4 ,vyvyan's cats3-- ,illustration3 8,,si40 ,,the ,,property ,,of ,w4 ,,margetson1 ,,esq4 7,photo3 ,h4 ,j4 ,comley1 ,stroud47 8,siamese cats were first introduced into ,england about twenty-five years ago1 but were not often seen until a few years later4 ,among the earliest were those belonging to ,sir ,robert ,herbert1 ,lady ,dorothy ,nevill1 the ,rev4 ,s4 ,baring-,gould1 ,mrs4 ,cunliffe ,lee1 ,mrs4 ,vyvyan1 and myself4 ,since then they have become fairly common4 8,there are two distinct varieties in the present day4 7#a7 ,the royal cat of ,siam1 cream-coloured in body1 with sharply defined seal-brown markings on head1 ears1 legs1 feet1 and tail2 eyes a decided blue4 ,the cats generally become darker after two years old1 but where great care has been taken in breeding the true royal cats keep the light colour longer4 ,in any case the body colouring should be even1 not blotched or striped4 ,the larger1 lighter-coloured cats have china or ultramarine blue eyes2 the more slender1 darker cats have deeper-coloured eyes4 7#b7 ,the chocolate cats are deep brown in colour1 showing hardly any markings1 and have blue eyes4 8,all ,siamese kittens are white when born1 but in a few days slight markings appear on tail1 ears1 and paws1 and by four months old the markings are dark and complete1 excepting those which connect the face and head2 these are seldom perfect before eight months old4 8,the tails are sometimes straight1 which is not a fault2 but a knot or kink in the tail is a peculiarity of the breed1 and therefore desirable4 ,in ,england it has been asserted that this is a defect1 but in ,siam it is highly prized1 and cats from the royal palace which have been given by the ,king as presents of value to important people have had this distinction4 ,in the ,east a cat with a kinked tail fetches a higher price4 ,illustration3 8,,tiam-,o-,,shian ,,iv40 ,,owned ,,by ,,mrs4 ,,vyvyan4 7,photo3 ,speight1 ,kettering47 8,the ,siamese have a great affection for animals1 and there is no doubt that the cats are much valued1 those in the royal palace having been kept exceptionally pure4 8,there is a legend that the light-coloured cats1 with blue eyes1 represent silver2 the dark cats1 with yellow eyes1 gold2 and that the possessor of both will always have plenty4 ,this rather gives the idea that originally the eyes of the pure chocolate cat were yellow1 and that the present variety has been crossed with the royal cat4 8,mr4 ,young1 of ,harrogate1 had some years ago a chocolate cat with yellow eyes4 8,another belief is that they receive the souls of their owners at death1 and it is well known that the ,king of ,siam had one on board his yacht when visiting ,europe a few years ago4 ,illustration3 8,,it40 ,,owned ,,by ,,lady ,,marcus ,,beresford4 7,photo3 ,russell ,sons1 ,windsor47 8,it is a great mistake to mix the varieties1 as the result after they become adult is a blurring of the markings and a patchy coat4 8,the males are extremely powerful1 and will kill strange cats and fight dogs4 ,they are devoted to their wives and children1 and to their owners4 ,they are exceedingly intelligent4 ,with the dogs of the house they will be on excellent terms4 8,the litters vary in size1 but four to five is the usual number4 ,the kittens are difficult to rear1 as they suffer from worms and teething1 but after seven or eight months old there is little danger4 ,some people think a meat diet best1 but ,i find it satisfactory to bring them up on lighter food1 such as ,ridge's food1 milk1 gravy1 and fish1 until they begin to cut their teeth1 when meat is required4 8,a pair from the ,palace were given to ,mrs4 ,vyvyan and myself in #ahhd-e1 and we have been very careful in breeding1 mating when possible with such good cats as ,mrs4 ,lee's celebrated #8,meo1' ,miss ,moore's #8,siam1' ,mrs4 ,harrington's #8,mechi1' etc1 and have bred in consequence the famous #8,tiam-o-,shians' ,,ii41 ,,iii41 and ,,iv41 #8,polyphema1' #8,susa1' #8,kitya ,kara1' #8,goblin1' #8,champion ,eve1' #8,mafeking1' #8,vishuddha1' #8,ah ,choo1' #8,suzanne1' and many others40 ,among fanciers and importers of ,siamese cats in the past1 ,i may mention the ,hon4 ,mrs4 ,mc,laren ,morrison1 ,lady ,o',malley1 ,lady ,decies1 ,mrs4 ,brodie1 ,mr4 ,temple1 ,mr4 ,gambier ,bolton1 ,miss ,moore1 ,mrs4 ,elliott ,hill1 ,mrs4 ,cunliffe ,lee 7owner of the celebrated 8,meo071 and ,mrs4 ,carew ,cox1 who later in this article will give some account of her 8,king ,kesho0 and the breed with which her name is still associated4 ,mrs4 ,herring has exhibited good specimens from time to time4 ,mrs4 ,chapman's 8,wally ,pug0 used to cross the ,irish ,channel to visit ,english cat shows4 ,mr4 ,young and ,mr4 ,inman1 both of ,harrogate1 favoured this breed1 and had some lovely cats4 ,mrs4 ,nield owned a charming little female named 8,mintha-mee02 and ,miss ,sutherland1 who lives in the south of ,france1 used to breed a lot of good ,siamese from her imported 8,prince of ,siam40 ,several of her breeding have been sold in ,england1 and have won at shows4 ,mrs4 ,patton ,bethune has often exhibited1 and is an ardent admirer of the breed4 ,mrs4 ,parker ,brough1 in whose care 8,tiam-o-,shian ,,iv40 is placed by ,mrs4 ,vyvyan1 is well known as a ,siamese breeder1 as is also ,mrs4 ,spencer1 of ,eye ,vicarage1 who exports quite a number of cats2 one of her breed--owned by ,mr4 ,e4 ,ratcliffe--is a beautiful animal4 ,mrs4 ,vary ,campbell1 the president of the ,siamese ,club1 is a generous supporter of the breed4 ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,w4 ,r4 ,hawkins have always had some fine specimens2 and ,mrs4 ,hankey1 ,miss ,h4 ,cochran1 ,miss ,derby ,hyde1 and ,miss ,armitage are among others who owned some notable ,siamese cats4 ,mrs4 ,backhouse's 8,champion ,eve0 was a distinguished prize-winner1 and ,mrs4 ,robinson's 8,ah ,choo0 was chosen as a model for the medal of the ,siamese ,club4 ,but it is chiefly as the owner of the celebrated 8,champion ,wankee0 that ,mrs4 ,robinson is known in the cat fancy in general1 and among ,siamese breeders in particular4 8,wankee0 was the first ,siamese to win the title of 8,champion40 ,he was bred in ,hong-,kong1 his mother--8,nims0--being a stolen palace kitten4 8,wankee0 was six months old when he arrived in ,england3 and was born in ,september1 #ahie4 ,he has won over thirty prizes1 but was never shown till ,june1 #ahih1 therefore losing the time in which most ,siamese cats gain their honours--namely1 between six months and two years1 when they are pale in colour of coat4 ,illustration3 ,,mr4 ,,ratcliffe',s ,,siamese4 7,photo3 ,hartley1 ,burnley47 ,many are the prize kittens he has sired1 too numerous to mention4 ,mrs4 ,robinson1 who is a member of the ,national ,cat ,club committee1 has frequently acted as a judge of ,siamese1 and has kindly written the following account for this chapter3-- 8,one of the most beautiful of the short-haired cats is undoubtedly the royal cat of ,siam1 and the breed is greatly increasing in popularity2 but is never likely to be common1 as the cats are delicate in this country4 ,the best description is that drawn up by the ,siamese ,cat ,club in their standard of points4 ,the points of the chocolate ,siamese are the same as the royal1 with the exception of body colour1 which is a dark rich brown all over1 thus making the markings less noticeable4 ,all ,siamese cats darken with age1 and when they get dark there is a tendency to call them chocolates4 ,i know of only one real chocolate--,mr4 ,c4 ,cooke's #8,zetland ,wanzies'--so consider them more likely to be a freak than a distinct variety4 8,of the royals there seem to be two types in ,england3 the one--rather a small1 long-headed cat1 with glossy1 close-lying coat and deep blue eyes1 and with a decided tendency to darken with age--is generally the imported cat or having imported parents2 the other is a larger cat1 with a rounder head1 a much thicker1 longer1 and less close-lying coat1 and the eyes a paler blue 7these cats do not darken as much or as soon as the other type1 and have generally been bred for several generations in ,england74 8,the kittens are born absolutely white1 and in about a week a faint pencilling comes round the ears1 and gradually all the points come4 ,at four or five months they are lovely1 as generally they retain their baby whiteness1 which contrasts well with their almost black ears1 deep brown markings1 and blue eyes4 ,some kittens are much longer than others in getting dense1 these making the lightest cats4 8,this breed is said to be kept very carefully in the palace in ,bangkok--hence the title #8royal'--and is by no means the common cat of ,siam4 ,one gentleman 7a missionary71 who had lived there fifteen years1 had during that time seen only three4 ,a few years ago there was a pair of these cats in the ,zoological ,gardens at ,bangkok1 but they were very poor specimens4 8,they have occasionally been given by the ,king as presents of great value1 and several pairs have come to ,england in this way2 also kittens have undoubtedly been stolen from the palace from time to time4 8,there is a legend that these cats were kept exclusively and with great care in the ,king's palace1 as resting places for royal souls4 ,the ,siamese are ,buddhists1 and consequently believe in the transmigration of souls2 but with the growth of ,western ideas and ,western scepticism ,i doubt this being admitted4 8,they are very intelligent1 almost doggy in their ways1 and very affectionate1 but not universally friendly4 ,the males are great fighters1 and freely use their terrible voices2 but they are well suited for house pets1 as they seem happiest with their human friends4 8,the first specimens were brought to ,england about twenty-five or thirty years ago1 and ,mr4 ,harrison ,weir says that among those who possessed them were ,lady ,dorothy ,nevill1 whose cats were #8imported and presented by ,sir ,r4 ,herbert of the ,colonial ,office4 ,the late ,duke of ,wellington imported the breed1 also ,mr4 ,scott of ,rotherfield4'0 ,illustration3 ,,lady ,,marcus ,,beresford',s 8,,ursula40 7,photo3 ,e4 ,landor1 ,ealing47 ,miss ,armitage1 of ,chaseleyfield1 ,pendleton1 has sent me some charming photographs of her pets4 ,she writes3-- 8,i have very few cats at present2 ,i lost so many beautiful ,siamese last year1 and ,i think ,i made rather a mistake in having their skins made into mats6 #8,cora1' the mother of my ,siamese cats and kits1 is still a beauty1 and ,i really think she improves with age2 and though her eyes are not all ,i could wish for in colour1 yet her kittens have always had the desired tone of blue4 ,i have now a lovely daughter of #8,cora' and #8,champion ,wankee1' aged nine months4 ,when she was a few hours old ,i put her to be fostered by our old ,english garden tabby1 who makes her headquarters in the greenhouse4 ,this kitten has never had a day's illness4 ,she leads a wild life1 catching birds and mice1 and nibbling the tips off the ferns--much to the gardener's annoyance4 ,i am hoping to send her to our next ,national ,cat ,club show1 if ,i can catch her that day1 but she is generally up a tree when wanted6 8,i find the way to succeed in breeding and rearing ,siamese kittens is to only keep a few4 ,i strongly believe in putting them forth into cottage homes4 ,distemper spreads like wildfire amongst this breed1 and it is heartrending to lose whole litters at once4 ,it is strange how much stronger the females are than the males4 ,i have never lost a female kitten yet2 but1 alas6 many a promising male40 ,i remember a beautiful male bred by ,miss ,armitage that she exhibited at one of the ,manchester shows4 8,sam ,sly0 was as near perfection as possible1 and after taking everything in the way of prizes1 medals1 and championships this fine fellow came home and died6 ,mrs4 ,spencer1 of ,eye ,vicarage1 to whom ,i have alluded as a ,siamese fancier1 has bred so many large litters of kits that ,i wrote to ask if she would kindly give me and my readers the benefit of some of her experience in rearing young ,siamese4 ,she writes in reply3-- 8,my #8,royal ,siam' came from the royal palace1 and ,i consider him a splendid specimen4 ,i did not breed from him until he was between three and four years old1 which may be one of the reasons why all the kittens by him are so wonderfully strong and healthy4 ,he has never ailed anything since ,i have had him4 ,i have never placed him at stud1 but have allowed a few friends to send their queens to visit him4 ,neither have ,i ever exhibited him1 for he is far too precious a pet to be allowed to run any risks4 ,my queen #8,princess ,maimowne' is also a fine strong cat1 a daughter of ,mrs4 ,carew ,cox's #8,king ,kesho'2 and many are the prize-winners bred from these two4 ,i heat my catteries during the day in winter1 and at night in cold weather ,i give the cats a hot stone bottle in their sleeping boxes1 for it is the damp and cold of our ,english winter nights which are so dangerous4 ,the windows of my catteries face south1 and this is important in rearing ,siamese4 ,i always allow my cats an abundance of fish2 this ,i give--mixed with bread soaked in water--twice a day1 with another meal of something different1 thus making three meals a day4 ,i boil all the milk4 ,sometimes ,i give a little cod-liver oil over their food--with very beneficial results4 ,if the kittens have bad colds or any trifling ailment1 ,i indulge them with a little finely cut up raw beef4 ,i have been breeding ,siamese for over five years1 and ,i have only lost one kitten of my own rearing4 ,i think the reason of my success is that ,i never pass over the most trifling symptom of illness1 and it is very necessary to take the temperature of ,siamese at the slightest sign of sickness4 ,i send a great number of kittens away to purchasers1 and ,i am most particular in the way ,i pack the kits for their journey4 ,the basket outside should be covered with thick brown paper1 leaving just a square piece in the lid for ventilation4 ,inside ,i line with new house flannel1 and place a soft cushion at the bottom1 and if very cold weather ,i put an indiarubber hot-water bottle under the cushion4 ,if the cats have to pass through ,london1 ,i arrange with the ,district ,messengers ,company to meet the cat and convey it to its destination or to another station4 ,thus dangerous delays are avoided at a very little cost40 ,as everyone knows1 ,lady ,marcus ,beresford has always been especially fond of ,siamese cats1 and many splendid specimens have inhabited the ,bishopsgate cat cottage4 ,at present 8,king of ,siam0 and 8,khoula10 and a quaint little female called 8,it10 represent this breed4 ,in the days gone by 8,tachin0 and 8,cambodia0 were the admired of all admirers1 and ,i doubt if ever a more perfect pair has landed on these shores4 ,these cats were given to ,lady ,marcus ,beresford twelve years ago by the late ,lord ,william ,beresford1 who brought them straight from the palace at ,bangkok4 ,lady ,marcus writes3-- 8,i never once had any trouble or anxiety with them--dear1 gentle1 friendly little people1 so clever and attractive4 ,i have never seen any ,i have so admired4 ,they had many fine1 healthy litters1 scattered about now amongst various friends4 ,my success all round was great with them--no illness of any kind1 till one day a fiend poisoned both #8,tachin' and #8,cambodia1' and some of their six months kittens4 ,i have replaced them with some bred in ,england2 and my opinion is that1 as a rule1 the imported ones are much the stronger4 ,a pair of ,siamese imported from the temple at ,bangkok ,i purchased from ,mrs4 ,vary ,campbell1 and had the great misfortune to lose them4 ,they differed from the royal ,siamese1 being darker and having a more pointed head and face1 and their eyes were larger and fuller4 8,i consider that ,siamese cats are much cleverer than other breeds1 and with patience can be taught several clever tricks4 ,i intend to go in more largely for them in the future40 ,illustration3 ,,miss ,,armitage',s 8,,cora40 7,photo3 ,salmon ,batchan1 ,new ,bond ,street1 ,w47 ,several of ,lady ,marcus ,beresford's ,siamese found their way into ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,hawkins' possession1 and were exhibited from time to time1 always gaining great distinction4 ,mrs4 ,hawkins possesses a daughter of 8,tachin10 and so hopes to keep up this unique strain4 ,mrs4 ,hawkins has some of the best arranged and very solidly built catteries at ,brighton1 of which ,i give an illustration4 ,these are specially adapted for the breeding of ,siamese and silvers1 the two varieties which find favour at ,shalimar4 ,a long experience with ,siamese enables ,mrs4 ,hawkins to write with authority1 and ,i give her notes as given to me for the benefit of my readers3-- 8,the first thing you have to consider with regard to these animals is that when newly imported they are naturally delicate1 and must be hardened off1 so to speak1 just as our delicate foreign birds have to be2 that is to say1 you cannot treat them at first as you would our ordinary fireside cats4 ,if you are fortunate enough to pick up newly imported ones1 even if you have to pay a good price for them1 they will prove a good investment2 and perhaps you may be able to get some from one of our numerous cat fanciers1 though they are very scarce at present and difficult to obtain4 ,my advice is to get the best possible pair1 and let them breed in the spring in the house1 if you can let them have a spare room1 which need not be warmed in any way4 ,leave the mother quietly with the kittens2 and1 having provided a warm bed and bedding for them previously1 leave them to nature as much as possible1 just going in now and then to see that all is going on all right1 and giving the mother warm milk1 etc41 and coaxing her to get used to you4 8,siamese cats are particularly gentle and affectionate1 and if you are kind to them they soon get to know and love you4 ,it is a pity their nature is not more copied by human beings--then we should not have so much dissension and wrangling in our cat fancy4 ,but this is a digression6 ,as the kittens get on it is as well to have a warm place outside prepared ready for them2 but do not put them out too soon1 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 outhouses1 with the others4 8,my own ,siamese kittens were born in a cat house in my garden at ,brighton1 but they were ,june kittens1 so by that time we were having very nice weather4 ,the father and mother ,i had as kittens2 ,i pulled them through their baby ailments successfully1 and as soon as the weather was propitious and sunny ,i put them in their outside houses4 ,siamese and chinchilla kittens 7both of which ,i go in for7 must be hardened off gradually4 ,they are just like ,english children brought from abroad1 who have to be carefully nurtured at first and trained to get used to our ,english climate4 8,what we want is to establish a really healthy1 strong strain of ,siamese in ,england1 and by following the above suggestions ,i think it is possible to do it--not without difficulty1 as1 of course1 it takes a little time and trouble 7like everything else71 but what is worth having is worth trying for4 8,i may say ,i won with my ,siamese at ,brighton shows every time ,i exhibited them1 and am now starting breeding them again2 and ,i think that everyone who will have the patience to go in for this charming variety will find themselves well repaid1 as the kittens command #e to #aj each if successfully reared1 and sometimes more4 ,of course1 one must keep a careful watch over their diet1 and not over-feed 7this is a great point1 as they will contract skin diseases if you do72 but all these things apply as much to all cats1 and ,i cannot see why ,siamese should be more difficult to breed and establish thoroughly in ,england than other cats4 ,one of mine1 a female1 is out now 7and has been all the winter7 in a brick cat house1 and is perfectly well4 ,i have been told ,siamese are so delicate that people cannot rear them4 ,this is often the fault of the people themselves1 for if they will not take a little trouble over animals they cannot expect to make money by them4 ,by this ,i do not mean fussing and worrying your servants over them4 ,look after them yourselves1 see that they are all right every day 7a good feed twice a day is quite sufficient71 and then your ,siamese will soon be as healthy and strong as your other cats4 ,all the points of a good ,siamese are so well known that ,i need not touch upon them here4 ,start with a good strain1 be careful1 be patient1 and you will be rewarded in the end40 ,illustration3 ,,pair ,,of ,,siamese ,,belonging ,,to ,,mrs4 ,,armitage4 7,photo3 ,salmon ,batchan1 ,new ,bond ,street1 ,w47 ,i have mentioned ,mrs4 ,parker ,brough as a breeder of ,siamese cats1 and ,i am indebted to her for the following account of her favourite breed3-- 8,a peculiarity of royal ,siamese is that the kittens are born quite white1 and at about fourteen days the points begin to look rather grey1 turning at two months to a deep seal-brown1 while the rest of the body usually remains white or cream for at least a couple of years 7the whiskers and claws remain white74 ,the colouring process resembles nothing so much as that of a meerschaum pipe4 ,there are distinct varieties of ,siamese known to fanciers--the palace or royal cat1 the temple cat 7chocolate71 and there is likewise the common cat of the country1 which is also found within the palace4 ,the points of the chocolate cat are identical for shows with those of the royal except body colour1 but the imported chocolate is often dark chocolate1 with blue eyes1 stumpy tail with a marked kink1 short legs1 and heavy1 thick body4 ,there are not many chocolates exhibited1 owing to the preference given to the royal variety4 8,it must be understood that there is no definite royal breed as such1 but the palace breed seems to have originated by selection4 ,the ,siamese as a nation are lovers of anything quaint or uncommon1 and the white-bodied cats in ,bangkok seem to have been given to1 or bought by1 the inhabitants of the palace1 until they have established a breed of their own1 and reproduced the cat that fanciers know to-day as the royal cat of ,siam4 ,this should explain a point which has given rise to much controversy1 as travellers agree that other cats than royal ,siamese are to be found inside the palace1 yet the ,king and ,prince ,damurong have given from time to time royal ,siamese to friends1 naturally choosing for a present the cat that has the most value in their eyes4 ,that is to say1 that the term #8royal ,siamese' or #8royal cat of ,siam' is a descriptive term applied to a particular variety of cat1 and should imply no more than this4 ,we have a parallel case in #8,king ,charles spaniels4' ,the temple cat is under the care of the ,jan priests1 who have the greatest reverence for animal life1 and whose temple is a sanctuary for all animals4 8,those who have kept ,siamese will readily understand that1 given a climate to suit them1 only one breed of cat would be left in the temple--i4e4 the ,siamese1 for this breed is distinguished as much by its pluck and activity as by hatred for any other breed of cat4 ,the common cat of ,siam is very much the same as anywhere else1 except that the ,malay kink in the tail is to be found in many of them4 ,until recently the ,siamese was but little known in ,europe1 but occasionally was to be found in the various zoological gardens4 ,at present there is a fine female specimen to be seen at the ,zoo at ,frankfort-on-the-,main1 having been purchased from the ,king of ,roumania4 ,one or two are to be seen at ,berlin1 and we understand some are to be seen at the ,hague4 ,london has the first one it has had for six years1 but it is not shown owing to its want of condition4 8,a point on which the ,siamese fancy is divided is whether the ideal cat should have a kink in the tail or not4 ,the ,club remains neutral4 #8,champion ,wankee' has a decided kink1 looking1 in fact1 as though the tail had been caught in a door in his early youth4 #8,tiam-o-,shian ,,iv41' on the contrary1 has none4 ,this kink is a peculiarity of the animals of the ,malay ,peninsula1 and sometimes is so marked1 as to make the tail appear like a corkscrew1 though others of the same litter may have quite straight tails4 ,there is a peculiarity in breeding ,siamese--i4e4 the rarity of female kittens in a litter1 the average seeming to be five males to two females4 ,this may be due to the artificial lives so often led by these cats2 and1 if so1 corroborates the theory of ,herr ,schenk1 the ,austrian doctor1 of the probabilities of sex at birth4 ,three of the most noted male cats exhibited in ,england have been ,mrs4 ,robinson's #8,champion ,wankee1' ,mrs4 ,vyvyan's #8,tiam-o-,shian ,,iv41' and ,mrs4 ,parker ,brough's #8,koschka4' ,probably ,mrs4 ,backhouse's #8,champion ,eve' and ,mrs4 ,vyvyan's #8,polyphema' were the best females exhibited4 #8,koschka' was1 perhaps1 the finest cat we ever saw1 having eyes of the most glorious blue imaginable4 #8,koschka' died after the ,westminster show of #aijj4 ,owners run a great risk in sending their ,siamese 7especially kittens7 to shows1 as in addition to being more liable to take cold1 are apt to fret themselves ill at being separated from their mistresses4 ,many fanciers are leaving off showing ,siamese for that reason--for instance1 the ,siamese classes were cancelled at the ,westminster show of #aijc owing to lack of entries4 8,it is hard to say how they should be kept and how they should be fed4 ,some ,siamese thrive by being treated just the same as ordinary cats1 but they are few and far between4 ,we have known cats which have been allowed to run about in the snow1 and in and out of draughts1 and remain perfectly healthy2 and others1 who seem quite strong as long as they are taken care of1 catch cold and die if they get their feet wet4 ,however1 if their cattery is kept constantly at a temperature of #ej degrees1 and they are fed on scraped beef1 milk 7without boracic acid or preservative71 water1 and vegetables they seem to do better than under any other conditions4 ,personally1 we have two catteries--indoor and outdoor4 ,the indoor one is fitted up with #8foster mothers1' as used for chickens1 on legs about three feet from the ground4 ,we find this very necessary owing to the draughts on the floor4 ,the rooms can be quickly warmed to any temperature required1 even in the depth of winter4 ,we like our grown-up cats loose about the house1 but it is impossible to allow kittens their full liberty when there are many of them1 as they are bound to get into mischief and do much damage to the furniture1 climbing up curtains and breaking ornaments on mantelpieces and scratching leather1 etc4 ,of course1 they are allowed downstairs a portion of every day when their mistress is able to look after them4 ,they are most fascinating1 frolicsome little creatures4 ,the outdoor catteries--for use in summer--consist of a house and greenhouse1 with covered runs leading from them1 and so arranged that any or every cat can be isolated at will4 ,these arrangements have taken a great deal of anxiety off our shoulders4 8,this breed is certainly the noisiest1 least dignified1 most intelligent1 and most active of all the cats4 ,they are doglike in their nature1 and can be easily taught to turn back somersaults1 and to retrieve1 and in the country take long walks like a terrier4 ,illustration3 ,,mrs4 ,,robinson',s 8,,ah ,,choo40 ,,bred ,,by ,,mrs4 ,,vyvyan4 7,photo3 ,e4 ,landor1 ,ealing47 8,if they think it is meal-time and they fancy themselves neglected1 they cry like children4 ,the points of the perfect royal ,siamese lie in the eyes1 which should be a most perfect blue1 and the contrast between the seal-brown of the paws1 mask1 and tail and the white or cream of the rest of the body1 which should not be disfigured by bars or blotches4 ,age should be taken into consideration in judging this contrast4 ,there are many beautiful kittens shown that we never hear of again after they have grown up1 age having blurred their coats1 thereby making the contrast less defined4 ,illustration3 ,,mrs4 ,,robinson',s 8,,champion ,,wankee40 7,photo3 ,e4 ,landor1 ,ealing47 8,for travelling short distances there are few better travelling cases than a ,canadian cheese box1 with holes bored in the side4 ,they are cheap 7say #d;d471 light1 and damp and draught proof1 and can be burnt after once using40 ,it will be gathered from the accounts given by ,siamese fanciers that these cats1 though delicate1 with the exercise of care may be reared like ordinary ones of other breeds4 ,miss ,cochran is very emphatic on this point4 ,she says3-- 8,if ,siamese are treated like common ,english cats1 given plenty of fresh air and proper food1 they are hardy and healthy2 and by proper food ,i mean a meat diet--raw shin of beef1 and as often as possible any kind of bird with the feathers on1 or fowls' heads and mice4 ,the fur and feathers act as a mechanical vermifuge4 ,if the ,siamese cats are coddled1 they will certainly die4 ,they have naturally rather delicate lungs1 and for these fresh air is absolutely necessary2 a close1 hot atmosphere and heated rooms are fatal40 ,illustration3 8,,mafeking40 ,,the ,,property ,,of ,,mrs4 ,,vyvyan4 7,photo3 ,e4 ,landor1 ,ealing47 ,mrs4 ,carew ,cox ,i have alluded to as one of the pioneers of the ,siamese fancy1 and she still remains an ardent admirer of this breed1 and often acts as judge4 ,she has kindly written a very valuable article specially for this work1 and ,i have therefore great pleasure in giving her interesting experience in this chapter on ,siamese3-- 8,only those who possess ,siamese can understand how reluctantly a lover of this breed takes up a pen to endeavour to do justice to its characteristics--it is like attempting the impossible4 ,one feels one must step softly--so to speak--in the presence of these wonderfully fascinating creatures1 whose thoughtful yet penetrating eyes appear to see so far and so much1 whose intelligence seems almost human1 and who seldom stay with us for long4 ,unfortunately1 these cats are difficult to rear1 the constant damp of our climate affecting their lungs and producing frequent colds and coughs1 lowering vitality and causing debility4 8,there are two recognised varieties of this breed--the royal and the chocolate4 ,the former is certainly the most beautiful in appearance1 the seal-brown points--sometimes black in adults--relieving the pale but rich cream colour of the rest of the body1 and the brown mask forming a grand setting for the superbly blue eyes4 ,the mask on the face should circle well above the eyes1 but should not extend into the ear space2 the cream colour should be in evidence beyond the circle2 the ears should be seal and well and distinctly put on--i4e4 the seal or brown should not merge into the cream2 the legs1 feet1 and tail should be of the same shade of seal1 the darker the better4 ,the tail of a ,siamese cat has been the subject of considerable discussion and argument1 some preferring the straight tail and some the kinked4 ,the former is surely the most to be desired for appearance sake2 but the latter undeniably adds to the quaint and foreign appearance of the cat1 and in ,hong-,kong preference is given to them and higher prices paid for #8kinks4' ,the eyes should be large and luminous1 of a bright shade of true blue1 appearing flame-coloured at night or by artificial light2 good specimens are often spoilt by small eyes1 pale in colour4 ,there appear to be two distinct types--the compactly built1 short in body1 short on legs1 and round in head2 and the long-bodied1 long-faced1 lithe1 sinuous1 and peculiarly foreign-looking variety4 ,i am informed that the small cats are held in great esteem in ,siam1 some of the females being quite liliputian4 ,it is a matter for regret that as the cat ages the beautiful clear cream colouring becomes cloudy and dark4 ,there have been exceptions to this rule3 the late #8,polyphema1' owned by ,mrs4 ,vyvyan1 retained her pale colouring and her well defined points to the last1 and was the mother of many very beautiful kittens4 ,male cats are generally larger than females1 and possess voices1 which demand instant attention4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,late 8,,king ,,kesho40 7,photo3 ,phillips1 ,croydon47 8,the chocolate ,siamese are of a rich chocolate or dark seal1 with still more intense points4 ,these cats usually possess eyes of rich amber4 ,i have ,miss ,forestier-,walker's kind permission to utilise the following most interesting--and hitherto unpublished--extract from a letter received by her in ,october1 #aijb3--#8;,i am very pleased to write and give you the following information re ,siamese cats4 ,during a stay of some thirteen years in the ,straits ,settlements ,i have visited ,siam on several occasions1 and on one of these visits the present ,king of ,siam gave a friend of mine a pair of cats4 ,these cats were what the ,king called palace cats1 were very valuable and perfect specimens1 with short twisted tails4 ,it may also interest you to know that the ,siamese have a superstition about their cats1 and like to have both breeds in their houses--i4e4 the dark1 coffee-coloured ones with yellow or golden-coloured eyes1 and the cream-coloured with blue or silver eyes4 ,the idea is that the yellow-eyed cats will bring gold and the blue-eyed silver1 hence if you have both breeds there will always be plenty in the house4' ,illustration3 ,,lady ,,marcus ,,beresford',s 8,,cambodia40 7,photo3 ,e4 ,landor1 ,ealing47 8,i advocate that all kittens should be reared by healthy ,english foster-mothers1 and am convinced that if breeders would adopt this plan we should in time succeed in establishing a far stronger breed of cats4 ,as matters now stand1 the kittens inherit and develop any ailment or weakness to which their mothers may be subject1 so that from the very commencement of their existence they have but little chance of becoming strong and healthy enough to withstand our climate of many moods4 8,plenty of sun and air they require1 but damp and draughts are fatal4 ,all young kittens should be encouraged to take exercise2 empty cotton reels cause hours of amusement1 also a rabbit's foot tied on to string or otherwise2 corks of any description must be avoided4 ,large bones should be given when the kittens are two months old--they assist the growth of teeth2 small ones1 such as of game1 chicken1 or fish1 are dangerous4 ,the best and safest of all is a bullock's foot boiled down and pulled apart2 these bones will occupy kittens for a considerable time4 8,worms cause an enormous mortality amongst ,siamese1 and are1 ,i feel convinced1 at the root of nearly every ailment from which cats or kittens suffer2 therefore1 however reluctant one may feel as to giving medicine to youngsters of tender age1 it is better to do this than to run the risk of these odious parasites establishing themselves1 for they are most difficult to dislodge permanently4 ,i have used ,saunder's worm powders with considerable success4 ,of course1 the dose for kittens must be administered in minute quantity--just a small pinch given in warm olive oil early in the morning after an all-night fast4 ,in giving the powder to adults ,i always enclose it in capsules4 ,in cases of weakness or exhaustion a few drops of brandy or whisky in a teaspoonful of warm milk works wonders4 ,it is often necessary to give some sort of tonic after medicine of this description4 8,siamese kittens should be well fed2 not much at a time1 but little and often--lean scraped beef or mutton1 vegetables1 stale bread and gravy1 boiled fish1 rabbit1 raw eggs1 milk 7previously boiled72 in fact1 anything light and nourishing4 ,the remains of a meal should never be left on the floor4 ,these kittens' digestions are not strong1 and their intestines are most delicately formed4 8,the colour of the eyes of ,siamese kittens should be well determined at eight weeks4 ,they are most interesting and playful at this age2 a tunnel made of newspapers will afford endless amusement1 and after a long and energetic game of play they will sleep for hours4 ,it is not desirable to lift or handle them more than can be avoided whilst they are very young4 ,in cases of bad colds or coughs1 a simple but usually effective remedy is a mixture of three pennyworth of oil of almonds and three pennyworth of syrup of violets1 mixed by a chemist--a quarter of a teaspoonful thrice daily 7it is absolutely necessary to shake the bottle thoroughly before administering the medicine74 ,for an adult an eggspoonful three times daily may be given4 ,cod-liver oil is always safe 7also the best olive oil71 and helps to build up the constitution4 ,as a tonic ,i know of nothing to equal half-grain 7coated7 quinine pills1 given early each morning for a few days now and again4 ,in cases of bronchitis1 ,carvill's ,air ,purifier 7about a teaspoonful7 should be placed in boiling water1 and the cat or kitten made to inhale the steam several times daily1 and particularly the first thing in the morning and the last at night4 ,illustration3 ,,pugs ,,paying ,a ,,visit ,,to ,,the ,,siamese4 8,for adults suffering from bad throat complaint and total refusal of all food ,i have found no remedy to equal the following prescription1 if given in time4 ,i have administered it with great success to numberless cats3 ,forty drops ,calvert's pure carbolic acid1 two drachms spirits of wine1 six ounces pure water4 ,not quite half a teaspoonful to be mixed with a teaspoonful of warm milk1 poured down the throat three times daily2 for very young cats a smaller quantity of the mixture should be given4 ,i doubt if it would be advisable to give it to young kittens4 ,even if the cat does not swallow the whole dose1 it acts beneficially as a mouth-wash and disinfectant1 apparently removing an unpleasant taste and re-establishing the power to smell--the loss of this sense often preventing a sick cat from eating4 ,weak eyes1 sickness1 and diarrha are tedious ailments to which all kittens are very subject1 and to effect a permanent cure the treatment must be very persistent4 ,illustration3 ,,mrs4 ,,hawkins' ,,cattery4 8,i do not know when ,siamese were first introduced into ,england1 but ,lady ,dorothy ,nevill possessed some several years ago4 ,sir ,robert ,herbert imported some2 and ,miss ,forestier-,walker and her sister 7,mrs4 ,vyvyan71 who have owned and bred many beautiful specimens1 first made acquaintance with this breed in #ahhc1 and soon afterwards were presented with #8,susan' and #8,samuel' direct from the palace at ,bangkok4 #8,tiam-o-,shian ,i4' also came from ,bangkok4 ,all these cats had kinked tails4 ,from #8,susan' and #8,tiam-o-,shian ,i4'--mated with ,mrs4 ,lee's #8,meo1' ,mr4 ,harrington's #8,medu1' and ,miss ,moore's #8,siam'--descended1 amongst others1 the following well-known and typical cats3 #8,bangkok1' #8,tiam-o-,shian ,,ii41' #8,goblin1' #8,kitza ,kara1' #8,queen ,rhea1' #8,king ,wallypug1' #8,prince of ,siam1' #8,tiam-o-,shian ,,iii41' #8,adam1' #8,eve1' #8,cupid1' #8,mafeking1' #8,rangsit1' #8,vishuddha1' #8,tiam-o-,shian ,,iv41' #8,suzanne1' #8,ah ,choo1' #8,tornito1' and #8,evangeline4' ,in awarding prizes in the ,siamese classes at the ,cat ,club show at ,westminster in #aija ,i found #8,suzanne' quite the best cat present1 and upon referring subsequently to a catalogue was not surprised to find that ,mrs4 ,vyvyan was her owner4 #8,champion ,wankee' for a long time held his own in the show pen1 and has sired some very good kittens2 but1 of course1 as is usual1 age has darkened him4 8,mrs4 ,robinson's #8,ah ,choo' and ,mr4 ,cooke's #8,zetland ,wanzes' are well-known cats of to-day4 ,lady ,marcus ,beresford's #8,king of ,siam' is imported1 has glorious eyes of sapphire-blue1 and sires exceptionally good kittens2 he is short on the leg1 has a coat like satin and an excellent constitution4 #8,royal ,siam1' the property of ,mrs4 ,spencer1 of ,eye ,vicarage1 ,suffolk 7who has bred some of the best kittens ,i have ever seen71 is a superb creature with eyes of deepest blue2 he was given to a friend of ,mrs4 ,spencer in ,siam1 is a genuine royal palace-bred specimen with bright blue eyes1 a handsome cat with1 strictly typical points1 and--he is never ill6 ,miss ,harper's 7late7 #8,curly ,tail1' a daughter of #8,king ,kesho1' was an excellent example of the breed1 all her points were very good2 unfortunately her life was not of long duration--she died a victim to dropsy4 ,it is so long ago since ,i first possessed a ,siamese kitten that ,i cannot remember from whom ,i purchased her2 she was a very perfect little creature1 absolutely adorable with her quaint ways appealing and yet assertive nature4 8,after her death from rapid decline ,i tried to put aside all thoughts of securing another1 and not until ,september1 #ahic1 did ,i again fall a victim to the attractions of this breed1 purchasing a female of about one year old from ,zache1 of ,great ,portland ,street4 ,i named her #8,yuthia'2 she was supposed to have been imported1 had very expressive blue eyes1 and she lived until ,february1 #ahii4 8,in ,october1 #ahic--;immediately after the ,crystal ,palace show--,i became the owner of #8,kitza ,kara1' a very perfect male1 bred by ,miss ,forestier-,walker1 which won first prize and several medals and specials4 ,he also carried all before him at ,bath in ,march1 #ahid4 ,unfortunately1 he died that year from congestion of the lungs4 8#8,king ,kesho1' the well-known male 7sire of many beautiful kittens71 ,i bought from ,mr4 ,forsgate in #ahid2 he claimed descent from the ,duchess of ,bedford's1 ,mrs4 ,seton-,kerr's1 and ,miss ,forestier-,walker's cats2 he had large bold eyes of a glorious shade of blue1 and very dark points2 he won many prizes and specials1 but died in #ahig4 #8,lido1' a male bred by ,mrs4 ,chapman and sired by #8,champion ,wankee1' was descended from some of the best of his time2 he was of the long-bodied1 narrow-faced type1 most graceful in his movements4 8,amongst the many females ,i have possessed1 #8,cameo' was one of my best1 her pale body colour being relieved by intensely dark points2 this little pet died suddenly in ,july1 #ahif1 from failure of the heart's action4 #8,koko' was a very large cat1 comparatively coarse in appearance for one of this variety2 she won the ,duchess of ,bedford's special at ,holland ,park in #ahif1 for the best adult ,siamese4 #8,princess ,to-,to1' #aijj1 bred by ,mrs4 ,bennet1 became a great favourite2 no words of mine could ever do justice to her remarkable individuality1 her fascinating moods1 her expressive little face and sense of the comic4 ,she loved to be sung to sleep1 closing her eyes with an unmistakable air of enjoyment and confidence1 and clearly requesting an encore when the song ceased4 ,i taught her to dance1 and every night at ten o'clock she frantically enjoyed prancing round the room on her hind legs4 8,alas1 that these little companions to whom we are permitted to become so deeply attached should be only lent us to brighten our weary way for so short a period6 #8,to-,to' was always very delicate1 and after lying at death's door on several occasions she finally entered in2 with her very last breath she crept into my arms to die4 #8,yolanda1' the female ,i now own1 was presented to me by ,mrs4 ,hankey1 and bred1 ,i believe1 by ,mrs4 ,foote4 ,she is a small cat with very blue eyes1 and has recently had a litter of five kittens by ,lady ,marcus ,beresford's #8,king of ,siam'2 these kittens all possessed the gloriously blue eyes to which both of their parents can lay claim4 ,illustration3 8,,romeo0 ,,and 8,,juliette40 ,,the ,,property ,,of ,,mrs4 ,,vary ,,campbell4 7,photo3 ,j4 ,clapperton1 ,galashiels47 8#8,attach' 7a neuter7 was given to me in ,october1 #aijj1 when six months old1 by ,mrs4 ,spencer1 of ,eye ,vicarage1 ,suffolk2 he is a very large and powerful creature1 with massive limbs1 and an unconquerable antipathy to all other cats of any description1 excepting only my ,russian neuter1 whose presence he tolerates4 ,so great is his aversion to even the semblance of a cat1 that he has attacked a life-size print of an assertive-looking ,persian that acted as a stove ornament in the room he occupied during the summer months1 scratching it several times across and across1 and then retiring behind it1 evidently to watch the effect from another point of view6 ,he has large and luminous eyes1 in whose unfathomable depths linger many and varied expressions2 he is of a peculiarly jealous disposition1 capable of intense devotion4 ,in spite of his living the life of a recluse1 he is by no means a victim of ennui1 possessing his own special playthings1 which he keeps under one particular cushion1 hunting them out when he feels inclined to play2 for so large a cat he is remarkably athletic1 and as yet his health has caused me no anxiety4 8,it is highly desirable that all who own cats should keep a few simple medicines always at hand4 ,personally1 ,i am never without the remedies previously alluded to4 ,delay1 in neglecting to note and treat at the very commencement certain symptoms of illness1 often proves fatal1 whereas a #8stitch in time saves nine1' and may even save one of the nine lives that a cat is 7or was7 supposed to possess40 ,the love of ,siamese cats has not seemed as yet to have developed in ,america1 and specimens of the breed are few and far between4 ,lady ,marcus ,beresford sent out two good cats to ,mrs4 ,clinton ,locke1 and ,i believe several fine litters have been reared1 and some fine exhibits appeared at recent shows4 ,i give an illustration of some of these pets1 with ,mrs4 ,robert ,locke1 on page #bef4 ,in the foregoing remarks of noted breeders of this variety many useful hints are given1 and some peculiarities of the breed mentioned4 ,i would1 however1 draw attention to a curious and rather remarkable fact in connection with ,siamese cats4 ,when they are ill1 a sprinkling of white hairs invariably appears all over the face and head4 ,the bright blue of the eye vanishes1 leaving it a sort of pale opal colour4 ,it often takes many weeks before the cat regains its ordinary appearance4 ,harrison ,weir1 in his allusions to ,siamese1 tells us that he had observed a great liking of these cats for 8the woods10 and goes on to describe them as not passing along like an ordinary cat1 but quickly and quietly creeping from bush to bush2 nor do they seem afraid of getting their feet wet--like the feline tribe in general4 ,the male ,siamese will take a most friendly and parental interest in the welfare of madame's family2 indeed1 he shows a great liking always to have the company of a lady1 and frets greatly when left alone4 ,the males are1 however1 antagonistic to others of their sex1 and fight with a terrible persistency4 ,i have heard of a stalwart fellow who1 being allowed his liberty1 cleared the neighbourhood of all other wandering toms4 ,when made neuter1 ,siamese become most charming home pets1 and can be taught to do tricks more easily than other cats4 ,the sole objection to a ,siamese house cat is the trying nature of its unmelodious voice4 ,siamese are rather prolific breeders1 the litters being generally large ones1 and the females1 as a rule1 in the minority4 ,i do not believe that ,siamese will ever become common in ,england1 for many reasons4 ,these cats are expensive to purchase1 difficult to rear1 and fanciers are afraid to risk them in the show pen2 but in spite of these drawbacks1 ,i think1 as time goes on1 and the ,siamese ,club extends its labours1 we shall see and hear more of these really curious creatures1 for what we call the royal ,siamese bears no resemblance to any other cat1 and the distinguishing differences1 being so great1 tend to make the breed one of our best show cats and a clear class to itself1 for the ,siamese of the purest blood should not be crossed with other cats4 ,we have heard of 8any other colour0 ,siamese1 but these cats of varied hue claiming to be ,siamese are but the offspring of a cross4 ,we have been told of black and blue and tabby ,siamese2 but the fanciers of ,siamese look askance at these freaks1 and feel that it is worse than useless to attempt to produce any other variety than that which we have learned by custom to designate the ,royal cat of ,siam4 ,illustration3 ,a ,,cosy ,,corner4 7,from a ,painting by ,madame ,ronner47 ,illustration3 8,,ashbrittle ,,peter40 ,,the ,,property ,,of ,,mrs4 ,e4 ,a4 ,,clark4 ,,chapter ,,xxiv4 ,,short-,,haired ,,cats4 ,if a census could be taken of the cats in ,england1 or even in ,london1 ,i suppose the proportion of short-haired cats to long-haired cats would be about ten to one4 ,in the cat fancy1 however1 the breeders of ,persians in comparison with those of the short-haired varieties are far more numerous4 ,in former days1 when cat shows were first held at the ,crystal ,palace1 the premier position was given to the short-haired breeds4 ,on reference to the catalogues up to #ahie ,i find the following heading at the commencement3 8,class ,i4 ,short-haired ,cats3 ,he ,cats1 ,tortoiseshell or ,tortoiseshell-and-,white40 ,then followed the rest of the short-haired varieties1 including ,siamese1 ,manx1 and blue 7self colour74 ,the long-haired breeds1 therefore1 in those days had to play second fiddle1 so to speak4 ,it was in #ahif1 when the ,national ,cat ,club took over the ,crystal ,palace shows1 that the place of honour was given to the long-haired or ,persian cats2 and now1 as all the world knows--or1 at any rate1 all the cat world--at every show the short-haired cats are in a very small minority4 ,at one time--not so very long ago--there was a danger of these breeds becoming an unknown quantity at our shows4 ,this would have been a grievous pity2 so some champions of the household or homely puss arose1 and ,sir ,claud and ,lady ,alexander founded in #aija the ,british ,cat ,club1 to encourage the breeding1 exhibiting1 and kind treatment of these cats4 ,the subscription first started at #es41 but was reduced to #bs4 #f;d41 so as to try to get members of the poorer classes to join and take an interest in the welfare of pussy4 ,a goodly number of members' names are now on the list1 and much has been done in supporting shows by offering specials--chiefly in money--and in the generous guaranteeing of classes4 ,the hon4 secretary and treasurer is ,sir ,claud ,alexander1 ,faygate ,wood1 ,sussex4 ,there is a ,scottish branch of this club1 of which the secretary is ,miss ,leith1 ,ross ,priory1 ,alexandria1 ,n4,b4 ,illustration3 ,,tortoiseshell ,,tom ,,and ,,silver ,,tabby ,,short-,,haired ,,cats4 7,from a ,painting by ,w4 ,luker1 ,jun47 ,it was also in #aija that the ,short-haired ,cat ,society was founded by ,mr4 ,gambier ,bolton1 whose name is so well known in the animal world4 ,at most of the principal shows this society is represented1 and some handsome challenge cups and prizes are placed for competition4 ,the hon4 secretary is ,mrs4 ,middleton1 #fg1 ,cheyne ,court1 ,chelsea1 and the annual subscription is #es41 and #bs4 #f;d4 to working classes4 ,in considering the short-haired breeds1 ,i will divide them into three sections--viz4 selfs or whole colours1 broken colours1 and any other distinct variety4 ,the ,siamese and ,manx cats ,i have dealt with in previous chapters1 and foreign cats will have a corner to themselves later on2 so ,i propose to deal first with those interesting short-haired self-coloured cats formerly called ,russian or ,archangel1 and which in ,america are termed ,maltese4 ,there has been a good deal of discussion lately as to the points desirable in these cats1 which of recent years have clearly become a species of ,british cats1 and therefore are rightly classed as such at our shows1 instead of as ,russians4 ,yet this latter name sticks to the variety1 and no doubt there are still some real foreign short-haired blues to be found1 differing1 however1 in type from those we have become accustomed to breed and exhibit in ,england4 ,harrison ,weir and ,john ,jennings1 in their book on cats in the early days of the fancy1 deal with cats called ,russians amongst the long-haired breeds1 and these are described by them as larger in body and shorter in leg than ,persians1 with a coat of woolly texture interspersed with wiry1 coarse hairs4 ,in colour we are told they were generally dark tabby1 the markings being rather indistinct4 ,i do not think such cats are to be found now in our midst1 and so ,i presume this species of long-haired cat has died out4 ,anyhow1 the term 8,russian10 when now used1 is meant to designate the self-coloured1 smooth-haired cat with which we are all familiar4 ,certainly1 the best blues ,i have always remarked are those that have been bred in ,england1 or that1 at least1 can boast an ,english sire or dam2 and1 after writing right and left to breeders of ,british cats1 ,i have had a difficulty in obtaining any really good photographs4 ,i cannot1 however1 complain of the pictures of blue short-hairs which illustrate these pages1 and which have been really showered upon me4 ,i have failed1 however1 to be able to illustrate the difference between the foreigners and ,britishers4 ,illustration3 8,,ballochmyle ,,blue ,,queen40 ,,belonging ,,to ,,lady ,,alexander4 ,that there are two distinct types of these blue cats is apparent to anyone who observes the specimens exhibited at our shows4 ,the foreign or imported variety have wedge-shaped faces1 and are longer and larger in the head1 with prominent ears2 otherwise1 in colour and coat1 they are similar to those bred in ,england1 and which partake of the same formation as an ordinary ,british cat4 ,in describing the correct texture of coat of these short-haired blues1 ,i would compare it to plush1 for the hair does not lie softly on the slope1 but has a tendency to an upright growth1 and yet the coat should not have any suspicion of coarseness or roughness to the touch4 ,we know the difference between silk and cotton plush1 and it is to the former ,i would liken the correct coat of these blues4 ,needless to say that1 as in all self-coloured cats1 the colours should be absolutely even--of a bluish lilac tint1 without any sootiness or rusty shade4 ,as in other breeds of 8selfs10 the young kittens exhibit distinct tabby markings1 but these vanish as the coat grows1 and many a ringed tail which may have caused distress to the breeder will as time goes on be proudly held aloft without a suspicion of any blemish4 ,the blues now exhibited appear generally to fail in eye1 the colour being yellow1 and often green or greenish-yellow2 whereas a special feature of this breed should be a deep orange eye1 round and full4 ,another fault which is sometimes apparent is too thick a tail1 which is suggestive of a long-haired ancestor4 ,the following is an interesting letter from ,mrs4 ,h4 ,v4 ,james which appeared in ,fur and ,feather3-- ,,blue ,,russians4 ,i am very interested in the discussion on blue ,russians1 as years ago ,i had a perfect type of a blue ,russian1 which had been imported4 ,when ,russians were judged as ,russians it won well at shows1 so you may like to have a description of the cat--which is1 ,i believe1 a correct one1 according to several authorities on ,russian cats4 ,a real ,russian should be longer in the leg than the ,english blue4 ,the head is pointed and narrow2 the ears large1 but round2 tail long1 full near the body1 but very tapering4 ,according to the ,english taste1 it is not a pretty cat1 and only excels over the ,british blue in the colour and quality of its coat1 which is much shorter and softer than the latter4 ,the true colour is a real lavender-blue1 of such softness and brilliancy that it shines like silver in a strong light4 ,the eyes are amber4 ,i think it a great mistake to give 8,russian0 in our show classification now1 as these are really almost extinct in ,england1 ,i believe1 and our principal clubs have been wise enough to drop the title for 8,short-haired ,blues10 in the same way that 8,persian0 has been dropped for 8,long-haired ,cats40 ,the last time ,i showed my ,russian was at the first ,westminster show1 in a class for ,russians4 ,she was1 however1 beaten by the round-headed ,british blue1 although she was1 ,i believe1 the only ,russian in the class4 ,in #aija the class was altered to 8,short-haired ,blues10 which was more correct1 as few of the blues shown then had anything of the ,russian about them1 either in shape or coat4 ,as these classes are now arranged1 it would be unfair to judge them except by the standard of our own short-haired cats1 and ,i think that if a club wants to encourage ,russians it should give the extra class1 8,blue ,russian10 and let it be judged as such4 ,i must own it is disappointing for a ,russian owner1 who1 seeing 8,russian ,blue0 only given in the schedule1 enters his cat accordingly1 and gets beaten by a short-haired blue failing in just the points that the ,russian is correct in4 ,i know my feelings after ,westminster1 #ahii1 when my ,russian was described as 8grand colour1 texture of coat1 failing to winner in width of head and smallness of ears40 ,the blue short-hairs now shown are1 ,i know1 far more beautiful with their round heads and shorter legs2 but1 unfortunately1 the beautiful is not always the correct type4 ,as ,british cats1 however1 they are both beautiful and correct1 so why not drop the ,russian name altogether8 ,i had a most amusing talk with a blue ,russian 787 owner the other day1 and a good laugh with him over the ancestors of his 8,russian0 blues4 ,,annie ,p4 ,,james4 ,illustration3 ,,mrs4 ,,carew ,,cox',s ,,blue ,,male 8,,bayard40 ,at the ,crystal ,palace show of #aijb ,mr4 ,woodiwiss judged the blue classes1 and awarded first to a cat having the ,english type of head4 ,he gave as his reasons that although he considered the long nose and thin head the right shape for a ,russian1 yet1 he added1 8,i am not here to judge on those lines2 ,i have to judge according to the standard1 which gives preference to round head1 neat ears1 and short nose2 and1 although ,i really believe ,mrs4 ,walker's blue #8,moscow' to be the nearest in type to those ,i have seen in ,eastern countries1 yet according to our ,english breeders' standard it is out of it1 and ,i can only give it reserve40 ,mr4 ,mason1 our ablest judge of all classes of cats1 upheld ,mr4 ,woodiwiss in his awards1 and makes the following remarks in ,fur and ,feather of ,february1 #aijc1 in reporting on the ,manchester show3--8,i hope exhibitors and breeders of short-haired self blues will take my remarks in the spirit in which they are written4 ,i am glad to see that the ,manchester committee named the classes #8,blues 7,male7' and #8,blues 7,female74' ,to call them ,russians is a mistake1 seeing that a very large number of those exhibited are crosses from some other varieties4 ,to all intents the self blues1 as we find them to-day1 have little of the ,russian blood in them4 ,then why call them ,russian8 ,why not 8self blues10 and judge them on the same lines as the ,british short-haired cats8 ,what ,i want to obtain is a uniform type4 ,to go for two opposite types in one class of exhibits cannot be right or advantageous to breeders or exhibitors40 ,illustration3 8,,sherdley ,,sacha ,,ii40 8,,sherdley ,,sacha ,i40 ,illustration3 8,,sherdley ,,michael40 ,breeders of short-haired blues have never been many in number1 nor has there ever appeared any startlingly good specimen in the show pen4 ,mr4 ,woodiwiss kept and exhibited several fine specimens--8,blue ,boy10 8,blue ,king10 and 8,blue ,queen40 ,the two latter have been passed on to ,lady ,alexander4 ,mr4 ,mariner1 of ,bath1 is an old exhibitor and great enthusiast of this breed4 ,mrs4 ,middleton1 ,mrs4 ,herring1 ,mrs4 ,crowther1 ,miss ,butler1 ,mrs4 ,illingworth1 and ,mrs4 ,pownall have all from time to time been possessed of fairly good ,russians so-called4 ,mr4 ,cole used to show a lovely fat-faced cat called 8,muff10 but she had green eyes4 ,mr4 ,dewar's 8,firkins0 and ,mr4 ,mc,nish's 8,st4 ,juan0 are blues that have made their name4 ,illustration3 8,,sherdley ,,alexis40 ,the three principal breeders at the present time of these cats are ,lady ,alexander1 ,mrs4 ,michael ,hughes1 and ,mrs4 ,carew ,cox4 ,it is at the ,crystal ,palace shows that an opportunity is given of admiring the fine team of blues from the ,faygate cattery4 8,brother ,bump0 has won a first prize whenever he has appeared in the show pen1 and1 curiously enough1 each time under a different judge4 ,he is a full champion1 and special prizes have been showered upon him4 ,besides this handsome fellow1 ,lady ,alexander owns another male--8,blue ,king0--and two good females4 ,at ,sherdley ,hall1 in ,lancashire1 there is quite a colony of blues owned by ,mrs4 ,michael ,hughes4 ,the cats are reared in outside and unwarmed houses1 with ample wired-in runs4 ,all the ,sherdley cats are prize-winners4 ,i am able to give illustrations of 8,alexis ,michael0 and the two 8,sachas40 ,the first named has been quoted as a typical ,british blue4 ,mrs4 ,carew ,cox is a most ardent supporter and successful breeder of short-haired blues4 ,as she has had a long and varied experience1 ,i asked her to send me some notes4 ,i have pleasure in publishing them for the benefit of my readers3-- 8,blue short-haired cats--many of them imported from ,northern ,russia--make very desirable pets1 presenting1 as they do1 a neat1 smart1 #8tailor-built' appearance all the year round1 and possessing the great intelligence usually to be met with in all short-haired breeds4 ,they have the advantage over many other varieties in that they are1 as adults1 strong1 healthy cats--not at all liable1 as a rule1 to pulmonary attacks4 ,kittens1 however1 require both care and patience to rear successfully1 and1 strange to say1 attain sounder constitutions when brought up by healthy ,english foster-mothers4 ,females are more difficult to rear than males4 ,a ,russian cat should be of an even shade of blue throughout1 even the skin itself being often--in fact1 generally--of a bluish tinge4 ,there should be no stripes or bars1 and--for exhibition purposes--there should be no white patches4 ,kittens frequently have body markings when very young1 also rings on their tails2 but in pure-bred specimens these defects generally become effaced before they are many weeks old4 ,in one case a kitten 7now a large neuter7 had until five months of age two broad black stripes down his back on either side of his spine2 they were so decided in appearance that it seemed very doubtful that they would ever disappear4 ,however1 at six months old he was a perfectly self-coloured cat6 ,this is1 of course1 most remarkable and unusual1 and amongst all the many kittens of this breed that ,i have reared for the past thirteen years there has never been another presenting a similar appearance4 ,illustration3 8,,maria40 ,,owned ,,by ,,mrs4 ,,woodcock4 7,photo3 ,s4 ,richardson1 ,standish47 8,the eyes of a ,russian should be golden in colour1 or deep orange4 ,to procure deep-coloured eyes1 experiments have been made in crossing ,russians with ,persians1 but the results--so far as ,i have seen--have not proved satisfactory1 and to an experienced eye the cross is perceptible4 ,i believe there is no really recognised standard of points for this breed1 which until quite recently was comparatively little known4 ,i note that there is a very fair demand for ,russians at the present time--chiefly1 strange to say1 from the ,north of ,england4 ,the shape of the head in many of those imported is more pointed than round2 indeed1 some have long1 lean1 pointed heads and faces1 with big ears4 ,the backs of the ears should be as free from hair as possible2 some1 ,i remark1 are entirely devoid of hair on the upper parts of their ears--at least1 if there is any1 it is not perceptible to the naked eye4 ,others1 again1 have ears covered with peculiarly fine1 close1 silky hair4 ,some imported blues are very round in face and head1 with tiny ears1 and eyes set rather wide apart4 ,these are surely the prettiest1 and are generally given the preference at shows2 but1 of course1 it cannot be denied that the long-faced variety present the most foreign appearance1 more especially when this type also possesses a lithe and rather lean body4 ,the whiskers1 eyelashes1 and tip of nose should all be dark blue4 8,the coat should be short and close1 glossy1 and silvery2 sometimes it is rather woolly and furry1 ,nature having evidently provided these cats with their warm1 close coats to enable them to resist the severities of their native climates1 short-haired blues existing also in the north of ,norway1 ,iceland1 and--,i am told--in some parts of the ,united ,states4 ,many years ago some blues 7with faint tabby markings7 were imported from the north of ,norway2 these were called #8,canon ,girdlestone's breed4' ,i owned two very pretty soft-looking creatures4 ,blue-and-white cats have been imported from the north of ,russia1 and are particularly attractive when evenly marked4 8,some blues are far paler in colour than others4 ,amongst my kittens are frequently some very beautiful lavender-blues2 ,i have remarked that these are rather more delicate in constitution than those of darker hue4 ,as these cats advance in years they frequently become a rusty brown during the summer months1 or when acquiring a fresh coat2 this discoloration asserts itself principally at the joints of legs and feet4 ,the fur of a very old cat becomes dull and rough1 losing the soft and glossy appearance identical with the blue ,russian in his prime4 8,there are some people who appear to wish to assert that there is an ,english breed of blues1 and ,i have been told strange tales of unexpected meetings in country villages with cats of this colour1 whose owners declared that both parents were ,english-bred4 ,as1 however1 it is not always possible to identify the sires of household cats1 ,i venture to doubt these assertions4 ,it is sometimes possible to breed blues from a black ,english female mated to a ,russian male4 ,this experiment does not always succeed1 as some blacks never breed blues1 although mated several times consecutively with ,russians4 ,a white ,english female mated to a blue male simply produces white kittens--at least1 this has been my experience4 ,cats imported from ,archangel are generally of a deep1 firm blue throughout2 the eyes and ears rather larger than those of ,english cats1 the head and legs longer4 ,in many of the ,russian peasants' cabins can be seen a curious coloured print 7executed in ,moscow74 ,it represents the burial of the cat after a dramatic fashion1 and derives its origin from a very interesting ,russian legend4 ,the cat is represented as slate-coloured4 8,it is often impossible to decide the ultimate colour of a kitten's eyes until it is four months old4 ,they vary very much1 sometimes giving one the impression that they are green1 and perhaps a few days afterwards one discovers them to be yellow6 ,as these cats become better known they naturally increase in popularity1 and ,i should not be surprised to hear of several well-established kennels of this breed in the immediate future4 ,illustration3 ,,mrs4 ,,carew ,,cox',s 8,,yula40 8,it is many years ago since ,i first made acquaintance with this breed2 but ,i find ,i made no notes at the time1 so cannot give full particulars4 ,in #ahhi1 however1 ,i purchased a smooth blue1 whose owner declared her to be a ,siamese--she certainly resembled a puma-shaped ,siamese in her body outline and movements--and ,i believe ,i entered her in the stud book as such4 #8,dwina' won many prizes at ,crystal ,palace and other shows in #8any variety' classes1 was a most faithful creature1 reared many families1 and lived until ,june1 #aija4 ,in #ahij ,i owned a very pretty soft-looking blue female--she was1 in fact1 a blue tabby 7one of ,canon ,girdlestone's breed72 also a male of the same variety4 ,they had evidently been the victims of tapeworm for a considerable period1 and finally succumbed owing to the presence of these odious parasites in overwhelming numbers4 ,that same year #8,kola'--a very pretty blue-and-white female--became mine4 ,she was imported from ,kola1 and after changing hands more than once whilst at sea she was finally exchanged at the ,london ,docks for a leg of mutton6 ,a very lovable little cat was #8,kola1' with very round face and very soft fur4 ,she lived until ,november1 #aijj1 and evidently died from old age1 becoming feeble and toothless1 but quite able to enjoy the soft food that was specially prepared for her4 ,these two old pets--#8,dwina' and #8,kola'--were a great loss1 after twelve and ten years' companionship4 #8,lingpopo'--an extremely beautiful blue--was imported from ,archangel1 very sound in colour1 rather long in face and legs1 sleek1 sinuous1 and graceful1 peculiarly lethargic in her movements1 and dainty in her deportment4 ,i bought her in #ahic1 when she was seven months old4 ,unfortunately1 a disease of the kidneys carried her off when in the flower of her existence4 #8,moscow' 7#ahic7 was a very successful blue ,russian sire of many kittens2 he won many first and special prizes2 he died in #ahig1 during my absence from home4 ,in #ahie ,lady ,marcus ,beresford presented me with a very handsome kitten--a male--with a very thick yet close coat1 and very compact in shape4 #8,olga' came to me in #ahic or #ahid1 and still lives2 she was imported1 and has been a great winner in her time1 but is getting an old cat now4 ,she is the mother of my stud cat #8,bayard1' who was born in #ahih1 and whose sire was #8,king ,vladimir4' #8,fashoda' was born in #ahif1 and was imported2 she is a large1 strong cat1 and a winner of many prizes4 #8,odessa' is a daughter of #8,fashoda' by #8,blue ,gown4' #8,yula' came to me in #aija1 and was imported from ,archangel4 #8,sing ,sing' 7neuter7 is the cat that as a kitten had the peculiar black stripes down his spine alluded to previously4 ,he was born on ,easter ,monday1 #ahii1 a son of #8,fashoda' and #8,muchacho4' ,he has two toes off one of his hind feet--the result of a heavy weight falling upon his foot when a kitten2 he suffered greatly from shock1 and every day for three weeks he paid visits to the doctor1 who dressed his foot1 having previously amputated the toes4 ,the little fellow had a sad time1 but he does not miss his toes now4 ,illustration3 ,,lady ,,alexander ,,of ,,ballochmyle4 7,photo3 ,lafayette1 ,ltd47 8#8,muchacho1' the stud cat that has sired so many winning kittens1 is a son of ,mrs4 ,herring's 7late7 #8,champion ,roguey' and my 7late7 #8,lingpopo4' ,i sold him as a kitten1 but after two people had had him ,i again became his owner1 and now he will never leave me until he is called to the #8happy hunting grounds' that ,i hope1 and think1 must be prepared for all faithful creatures somewhere #8beyond the veil4'0 ,in ,america the classification given for these cats at the ,beresford ,cat ,club show is 8,blue or ,maltese10 but ,i have not heard of any ardent fanciers of this breed over the water4 ,more will be written on the so-called ,maltese cat by one well qualified to give information later on in this work4 ,i have always been told what delightful pets these blues become1 being extremely intelligent and affectionate4 ,mrs4 ,bagster1 the ,cat ,club's hon4 secretary1 owns a splendid fellow--one of ,mrs4 ,carew ,cox's well-known strain4 ,at the time of writing there is no specialist club for short-haired blues1 but they are included in the list of the ,british ,cat ,club1 founded by those ardent supporters of the short-haired breeds1 ,sir ,claud and ,lady ,alexander4 ,no standard of points has been drawn up for these cats1 but the following definitions are descriptive of the two types exhibited at our shows3-- ,,british ,,blue 7,,short-,,hair74 ,head4--,round and flat1 with good space between the ears1 which are small and well set on4 ,shape4--,cobby in build1 round quarters1 and good in bone substance4 ,coat4--,short and close1 of sound blue colour throughout4 ,legs and feet shade lighter in colour1 with no bars or markings4 ,eyes4--,deep orange in colour4 ,,russian ,,blue4 ,head longer in formation1 has space between the ears1 more prominent in ears1 and well-tapered face2 fairly round under the cheek bone1 thin1 falls away under the eye4 ,comes out rather longer in back4 ,less bone substance4 ,colour same as the ,british short-hair1 with no bars or markings4 ,eyes deep orange colour4 ,illustration3 8,,ballochmyle ,,champion ,,brother ,,bump40 ,illustration3 ,,short-,,haired ,,tabby ,,kittens4 7,photo3 ,c4 ,reid1 ,wishaw47 ,,chapter ,,xxv4 ,,short-,,haired ,,cats4 ,and now ,i will take a general glance over the other short-haired breeds commonly called ,english or ,british cats4 ,as regards points1 these are the same as in the long-haired varieties4 ,i give a list as drawn up by a sub-committee of the ,cat ,club for the use of fanciers and judges3-- ,,short-,,haired ,,cats4 ,white4--,colour1 pure white4 ,eyes1 blue4 ,black4--,colour1 pure and rich black2 no white4 ,eyes1 orange4 ,tortoiseshell4--,colour1 patched yellow1 orange and black2 no stripes2 no white4 ,eyes1 orange4 ,tortoiseshell-and-,white4--,colour1 white1 patched with yellow1 orange and black2 no stripes4 ,eyes1 orange4 ,silver ,tabby4--,colour1 silver grey1 marked with rich black stripes or bars2 no pure white4 ,eyes1 green or orange4 ,spotted ,tabby4--,colour1 any shade of light colour1 evenly marked with spots of a darker shade or black2 no stripes2 no pure white4 ,eyes1 orange1 yellow or green4 ,brown ,tabby4--,colour1 golden brown1 marked with rich black stripes or bars2 no white4 ,eyes1 orange or green4 ,orange or ,red ,tabby4--,colour1 light orange or red1 with darker stripes or bars2 no white4 ,eyes1 hazel1 or golden brown4 ,tabby and ,white4--,colour1 any shade of tabby with white4 ,eyes1 orange or green4 ,n4,b4--,where more than one colour is given for the eyes1 the first one is to be preferred to the second or third4 ,the ,sub-,committee1 ,,frances ,,simpson4 ,,gambier ,,bolton4 ,it will therefore be seen that texture and length of coat are really the distinguishing points between the two varieties4 ,it is just as grave a mistake for a ,persian cat to have a short1 close coat as it is for one of ,british type to possess any of that woolliness or length of fur which denotes a msalliance4 ,the commonest species of all short-haired cats may be said to be represented by broken-coloured specimens--that is1 orange-and-white1 tabby-and-white1 and black-and-white4 ,these sorts of cats we most frequently see about our public streets and in the homes of country cottagers4 ,at our shows this type of cat--which would be classed as 8any other colour0--is fast disappearing from our midst4 ,in ,america ,i observe that a class is still specially reserved for orange-and-white cats1 and it would seem that this is rather a favourite breed with our cousins over the water4 ,a good black1 with rich glossy coat and deep amber eyes1 is1 to my mind1 one of the choicest of our short-haired breeds4 ,these cats are often marred by the white spot at the throat1 and1 of course1 green eyes predominate to a very great extent4 ,as in the long-haired cats1 blue-eyed whites are coming much more to the fore1 and on the show bench1 at least1 we do not see many other specimens with yellow or green eyes4 ,our ,british tabbies--orange1 brown1 and silver--are always well represented at the principal shows1 and of late years competition has been much keener in these classes4 ,it is when we come to markings that the long-haired breeds must take a back seat1 so to speak2 and the ,british puss has an easy walkover4 ,in the short1 close coat1 the broad or narrow bands of the darker colour show up in grand relief on the ground-work of a rich1 though paler1 shade4 ,the rings round the neck and tail1 and the bars on the legs are seen to great perfection4 ,it will be easily understood1 therefore1 that markings in short-haired tabbies claim the first and greatest consideration1 and that these should be sharp and distinct1 great care is needed in mating and breeding4 ,illustration3 ,,another ,,view ,,of ,,lady ,,decies' ,,cattery4 7,photo3 ,cassell ,company1 ,limited47 ,a serious and rather common defect amongst silver tabbies is a tinge of brown about the face--generally on the nose4 ,orange tabby females are rarer than males4 ,the peculiar species known as spotted tabbies is becoming very rare1 and whereas formerly some of this breed were generally exhibited at large shows1 we now seldom see them4 ,spotted tabbies are usually brown or silver4 ,i do not recollect having heard of an orange-spotted tabby4 ,the spots should be spread uniformly over the body1 feet1 and tail1 and if on the face so much the better4 ,a perfect specimen should not have a suspicion of a stripe or bar anywhere4 ,harrison ,weir considers that the spotted tabby is a much nearer approach to the wild ,english cat and some other wild cats in the way of colour than the ordinary broad-banded tabby4 ,illustration3 ,,lady ,,decies' 8,,champion ,,xenophon40 7,photo3 ,e4 ,landor1 ,ealing47 ,amongst writers on cats--such as ,harrison ,weir and ,mr4 ,jennings--priority of place is given to the tortoiseshell cat1 and this breed heads their list of short-haired breeds4 ,so also formerly in the ,crystal ,palace catalogue1 to which ,i have before alluded1 tortoiseshells lead the way4 ,here1 again1 the patchy nature of the three colours is--or1 at least1 ought to be--the distinguishing feature1 and the long-haired cat of the same variety loses some of its individuality by reason of the length of fur1 causing a mingling or blurring of the colours4 ,it is a strange fact in natural history1 which no one has attempted to explain1 that the tortoiseshell tom is a most rare and uncommon animal4 ,a number of clever fanciers and breeders have used their best endeavours and patiently persevered in the fruitless attempt to breed tortoiseshell male cats4 ,in my long experience ,i have never known of anyone who has succeeded1 and those specimens that have been exhibited from time to time have been picked up quite by chance4 ,i recollect1 many years ago1 at the ,crystal ,palace show1 seeing the pen of a short-haired cat smothered with prize cards1 and the owner of the puss standing proudly by1 informing inquirers that it was a tortoiseshell tom that lay hidden behind his awards4 ,this man had been paid a shilling by a ,london cook to take away the troublesome beast out of her area6 ,he had taken it away to some purpose1 and his surprise at finding himself and his cat famous was amusing to behold4 ,a very beautiful cat is the ,english tortoiseshell-and-white when the colours are well distributed1 the red and black showing up so splendidly on the snowy ground-work4 ,i must say ,i far prefer those cats to the tortoiseshells1 which are often so dingy in appearance4 ,in this breed the male sex is conspicuous by its absence4 ,the two breeds that have made great strides of late years amongst long-haired cats--namely1 creams and smokes--are very rarely met with in the short-haired varieties4 ,i know1 however1 of a silver tabby that1 when mated to a black1 throws smoke kittens4 ,these are quaint and pretty1 with bright green eyes4 ,the under-coat is snowy white1 and gleams through the dark outer fur1 giving a very distinguished appearance4 ,it is a pity some fanciers do not seriously take up the breeding of cream short-haired cats1 as ,i think they would repay any trouble spent over them4 ,they should1 of course1 be as pale and even in colour as possible1 without any markings1 and with deep amber eyes4 ,i can only recall one or two1 and these not at all perfect specimens4 ,amongst our present-day fanciers of short-haired cats ,i may mention ,sir ,claude and ,lady ,alexander1 who have splendid specimens of many of the breeds4 ,mrs4 ,collingwood has recently almost discarded ,persians for the ,british beauties1 being specially partial to silver and orange tabbies4 ,lady ,decies for many years owned the invincible 8,champion ,xenophon0--a brown tabby of extreme beauty--who died in #aijb4 ,there are several fine short-hairs at the spacious catteries at ,birchington4 ,mrs4 ,herring's name has always been associated with 8,champion ,jimmy10 the noted silver tabby1 and she is also the owner of 8,king ,saul10 one of the few tortoiseshell toms that appear at our shows4 ,many other specimens have been bred by this well-known fancier4 ,mr4 ,harold ,blackett has a trio of famous prize-winning silver tabbies1 and ,mrs4 ,bonny is a noted breeder of browns and silvers4 ,this enthusiastic fancier writes3--8,for many years past ,i have devoted myself to the cult of the ,british tabby cat2 it has been my one hobby4 ,really good specimens of browns and silvers are scarce4 ,certainly silvers have increased in numbers during the last few years1 and the quality has improved4 ,they are difficult to rear1 more especially the males40 ,mrs4 ,bonny's celebrated brown female tabby1 8,heather ,belle10 died in #aijc4 ,a silver tabby1 8,dame ,fortune0--her daughter by ,mrs4 ,collingwood's 8,champion ,james ,,ii40--created quite a sensation at the ,westminster and other shows4 ,miss ,derby ,hyde has always been faithful to short-haired1 blue-eyed whites4 ,mr4 ,kuhnel is noted for his gorgeous-coloured and finely marked orange tabbies4 ,many breeders of ,persians keep one or two short-haired specimens1 and ,i cannot help believing that1 as time goes on1 we shall have a larger number of fanciers taking up ,british cats4 ,harrison ,weir1 in comparing the two varieties1 writes3--8,i am disappointed at the neglect of the short-haired ,english cat1 by the ascendancy of the foreign long-hair4 ,both are truly beautiful1 but the first1 in my opinion1 is far in advance of the latter in intelligence4 ,in point of fact1 in animal life1 in that way it has no peer2 and1 again1 the rich colourings are1 ,i think1 more than equal to the softened beauty of the longer-coated4 ,i do not think that the breeding of short-hairs is yet properly understood40 ,a correspondent writing to ,our ,cats1 complaining of the classification for short-hairs at shows1 says3--8,all fanciers of that beautiful animal the ,british cat feel how they are handicapped when they receive schedules of the various shows and compare the classification of short- and long-haired cats4 ,far better it would be honestly to announce a #8foreign cat show1' with a rider that a few ,english may compete if they choose4 ',tis a pity1 in many ways2 for1 given a little encouragement1 the standard of the poor1 everyday1 homely pussy would be raised1 and we would not see so much wanton cruelty and neglect attached thereto40 ,illustration3 ,,an ,,american ,,begging ,,cat4 7,photo3 ,a4 ,c4 ,hopkins47 ,illustration3 8,,ebony ,,of ,,wigan40 ,,owned ,,by ,,miss ,,joan ,,woodcock4 7,photo3 ,s4 ,richardson1 ,standish47 ,in ,america short-hairs have not 8taken on10 and at the various shows the specials offered are as small in number as the entries made4 ,i never hear of any exportations of ,british cats to ,american fanciers2 but perhaps some enthusiast of the breed will start a short-haired cattery4 ,there is certainly room for such an enterprise1 and the sturdier ,britisher would more easily resist the trials of an ,atlantic trip and the terrors of a three days' show4 ,i have been fortunate in obtaining the kind assistance of two of our best authorities on short-haired cats--namely1 ,mr4 ,h4 ,e4 ,jung and ,mr4 ,t4 ,b4 ,mason4 ,some notes by these competent judges will be read with interest4 ,mr4 ,h4 ,e4 ,jung says3-- 8,it is a matter of regret that this variety at shows is not so fully represented as it should be1 taking into consideration the large number of cat exhibitors4 ,there is no doubt that the prettier long-haired variety secures greater support from the lady exhibitors4 8,in addition to the characteristic of being a native production of the ,british ,isles1 they have certainly a great advantage in their racy1 workmanlike appearance1 which is lacking in the long-haired variety4 ,what is handsomer than a sleek-coated black1 with its grand1 golden-amber eyes2 the workmanlike spotless white1 with its clear blue eye2 the aristocratic silver1 with its rich tabby markings1 its soft emerald or orange eye2 or the pale1 lavender-hued blue1 with its coat of velvet-like texture8 8,thanks to such enthusiastic breeders as ,lady ,alexander1 ,mrs4 ,herring1 ,lady ,decies1 ,mr4 ,sam ,woodiwiss1 ,mr4 ,r4 ,p4 ,hughes1 ,mr4 ,kuhnel1 ,mr4 ,louis ,wain1 and several others1 we are not likely to allow the ,english short-haired variety to deteriorate4 ,i myself think there has been a great improvement in the specimens penned the last few years4 ,the fault we must guard against is the loss of size and stamina1 which can only be averted by judicious mating4 ,the increasing number of shows in ,america1 the ,colonies1 and even on the ,continent1 should stimulate breeders of the short-haired variety to extend their catteries1 for no doubt in a few years there will be a strong demand for the ,english-bred1 short-haired cat4 ,up to the present only in ,england has anything like a systematic rule been followed out1 which is most essential3 in fact1 the only course possible to obtain good specimens is to follow out a system of breeding as near perfect as possible--for1 as in everything else where breeding is concerned1 the old maxim of #8blood will tell' holds good4 8,the stud books should be kept up to date1 and stud registrations should be followed out1 just as in the dog world4 ,i can imagine many of my readers who do not take up cats as a hobby saying1 #8,the ordinary common garden cat suits my purpose2 he is affectionate1 he catches mice1 and that is all ,i require4' ,but how much more satisfactory it is to be able to say1 #8,my cat is blue-blooded1 has an aristocratic pedigree1 is handsome2 he goes to shows1 perhaps wins1 and he is still affectionate2 he also catches the mice as well as his brother of lower birth and less striking appearance4' ,you must also bear in mind he does not require any daintier feeding4 ,i consider it is always pleasanter in cat1 dog1 or horse to own a distinguished-looking animal than an ill-bred1 ungainly one that neither pleases nor satisfies the eye4 8,i would here remark upon the absence of men who take up breeding cats as a hobby1 and yet the short-haired variety is essentially a man's breed4 ,they require very little grooming and attention compared to the long-haired varieties4 8,several of the most prominent judges of cats are also recognised authorities in the dog world4 ,i may mention the late ,mr4 ,enoch ,welburn2 ,mr4 ,f4 ,gresham1 the keen1 #8all-round' judge2 ,mr4 ,l4 ,p4 ,c4 ,astley1 also at home both in one or the other2 ,mr4 ,sam ,woodiwiss1 the well-known fancier and expert2 ,mr4 ,lane1 who also adjudicates on both breeds2 and ,mr4 ,louis ,wain1 to whom we are indebted for those delightful pictures depicting cat life4 8,tortoiseshells are most difficult cats to breed4 ,either they come too dark or too light1 or the colours are not sufficiently well blended4 ,one of the singularities of the breed is the nearly entire absence of males in every litter2 in fact1 ,i remember the saying was that a tortoiseshell tom was as scarce as the dodo4 ,at the present time1 however1 we have two good toms--viz4 #8,champion ,ballochmyle ,samson1' winner of no fewer than twelve first prizes and championships1 the property of ,lady ,alexander1 and #8,champion ,king ,saul1' winner of numerous championships and first prizes1 owned by ,mrs4 ,herring4 ,both these males are very good1 and whenever they have been penned together it has always been a difficult matter for me to decide the winner4 ,in females1 #8,ballochmyle ,bountiful ,bertie' 7sire1 #8,champion ,ballochmyle ,samson'71 also the property of ,lady ,alexander1 winner of several firsts and championships2 #8,fulmer ,may1' the property of ,lady ,decies1 winner of many firsts--they are both grand females1 of the right colour and type2 the tortoiseshell-and-white #8,champion ,ballochmyle ,otter1' the best tortoiseshell-and-white ,i have ever seen penned1 winner of nine first prizes and championships1 the property of ,lady ,alexander4 ,this cat has held her own in her class for the last seven years--a most remarkable feat4 ,illustration3 ,,sleeping ,,and ,,waking ,,tabbies4 7,photo3 ,t4 ,fall1 ,baker ,street1 ,w47 8,silver tabbies ,i must certainly class among the most aristocratic of the breeds4 ,fanciers will tell you how difficult it is to obtain a good one4 ,either the tabby markings are not clear1 nor sufficiently defined1 the black is not dense enough1 the butterfly markings are not distinct1 or the eyes are not of the correct colour4 ,to get anything like a perfect type in silvers is a great feat1 and only the outcome of judicious mating4 ,one of the great faults of many silvers on the bench to-day is that they are deficient in size1 and unless we attend to this ,i am afraid that shortly we are likely to produce a diminutive type which1 of course1 is greatly to be avoided4 ,i hardly think this breed is sufficiently supported1 taking into consideration the richness in colour and markings of the silver tabby4 8,among the many winning males1 #8,champion ,jimmy' stands out very prominently1 having won numerous championships and first prizes2 he was the property of ,mrs4 ,herring4 ,others of note were #8,james ,,ii41' the property of ,mrs4 ,collingwood2 #8,sedgemere ,silver ,king1' owned by ,mr4 ,sam ,woodiwiss4 ,prominent in the female classes were the noted queen1 #8,champion ,shelly1' owned by ,mr4 ,h4 ,w4 ,bullock1 shown some years ago2 by that noted sire1 #8,king of the ,fancy1' owned by ,mr4 ,sugden4 ,it is notable he sired both #8,champion ,jimmy' and #8,champion ,shelly4' #8,silver ,queen1' winner of many firsts and specials1 the property of the ,hon4 ,mrs4 ,mc,laren ,morrison2 #8,sedgemere ,silver ,queen1' owned by ,mr4 ,sam ,woodiwiss2 #8,silver ,queen1' the property of ,mr4 ,harold ,blackett2 and that grand female1 #8,sweet ,phillis1' the property of ,mrs4 ,herring4 8,very few good brown tabbies are benched1 and breeders1 ,i am afraid1 get very disheartened at the result of their efforts4 ,i despair to think of the litters ,i have seen1 and not a good one amongst them4 ,the rich brown sable colour is very seldom met with1 and now that the world-renowned champion of champions1 #8,xenophon1' is no more1 we have only #8,flying ,fox' and #8,king of ,lee' anything like the type you expect in this handsome breed4 ,of #8,champion ,xenophon' ,i am afraid we can truly say1 #8,we shall ne'er look on his like again4' ,his wonderful colour1 markings1 and size approached the ideal short-haired cat4 ,i believe he was either bred by ,mr4 ,heslop1 or came under his keen eye1 and1 like a good many others1 was brought down south by that fancier to make a name4 8,he was claimed by ,mr4 ,sam ,woodiwiss1 who showed him for some years1 and he secured for his owner numerous championships1 first prizes1 and specials1 afterwards changing hands and becoming the property of ,lady ,decies1 still following up his winning career after an unbroken record of #8second to none4' ,i think ,i am correct in saying this cat has won more money and specials than any short-haired cat ever exhibited4 8,red tabbies1 again1 are one of the difficult varieties to obtain4 ,the dense1 dark red tabby markings against the light red ground is only the result of judicious mating and breeding4 8,among the many notable males1 #8,ballochmyle ,perfection1' the property of ,lady ,alexander1 winner of some #ajj first prizes1 championships1 and specials1 the sire of #8,champion ,ballochmyle ,goldfinder' and #8,ballochmyle ,no ,fool' 7the mother of #8,ballochmyle ,red ,prince'71 stands out very prominently4 #8,champion ,perfection1' despite his ten years1 has still the grand dense markings and colour as of old4 ,in #8,ballochmyle ,perfection' we have a chip of the old block4 ,then a later red tabby1 ,mrs4 ,collingwood's #8,clem1' is a good-coloured red4 ,mr4 ,kuhnel1 of ,bradford1 for many years held his own in this handsome breed--in fact1 most of the present-day winners can be traced from that fancier's cattery4 ,illustration3 ,a ,,black-,,and-,,white ,,britisher4 7,photo3 ,a4 ,warschawski1 ,st4 ,leonards-on-,sea47 ,illustration3 ,,blue-,,and-,,white ,,short-,,haired ,,cats4 7,from a ,painting by ,w4 ,luker1 ,jun47 8,blues 7self-coloured74 ,there seems to be a great difference of opinion as to the shape and make of head of these cats4 ,some judges look for a round1 full head of the ,english-bred cat2 others1 the long head of the ,eastern variety4 ,i think that difference arises to a great extent according to where these cats originally came from4 ,i have heard the opinions of some who give ,archangel as the port of origin2 others1 ,malta4 ,if the cat originated from ,archangel1 one would naturally expect a long head of ,eastern type4 ,the specimens1 however1 from ,malta have certainly the round head and more of the ,english-bred type4 ,the chief points1 in my opinion1 apart from the shape of head1 is body colour1 shape1 colour of eye1 and closeness of coat4 ,they are no doubt a very handsome breed4 ,in colour they are a light blue1 with a delicate lavender bloom pervading the whole coat4 8,of the many good ones that come to my memory1 #8,moscow' 7,russian-bred71 a big winner1 owned by ,mrs4 ,carew ,cox2 #8,champion ,ballochmyle ,blue ,king1' winner of seven championships and first prizes1 owned by ,lady ,alexander2 #8,champion ,brookside ,iris1' late owner ,mrs4 ,pownall2 #8,blue ,boy1' owned by ,mr4 ,sam ,woodiwiss2 #8,ballochmyle ,brother ,bump' and #8,ballochmyle ,sister ,goose1' the property of ,lady ,alexander--a big winner4 8,white ,english cats appear to have lost less in size than many others1 as two of the largest winners of to-day--viz4 #8,ballochmyle ,snow ,king' and #8,ballochmyle ,billie ,blue ,eyes'--will testify4 ,the white retains the racy1 workmanlike character of the true ,english-bred cat4 ,one fault is very prevalent3 they lean very much towards a broken coat 7a good many of the white cats penned to-day have this failing72 it is1 no doubt1 a very difficult fault to breed out4 ,it is noticeable that the females in this breed are so very small1 and in marked contrast to the toms4 8,the chief points one desires in this breed are closeness of coat1 size1 and a distinct light blue eye 7not washy74 ,among the numerous winners are #8,ballochmyle ,snow ,king1' formerly owned by ,mr4 ,sam ,woodiwiss1 and now the property of ,lady ,alexander2 #8,ballochmyle ,billie ,blue ,eyes' and #8,biddy ,blue ,eyes1' the property of ,mrs4 ,herring4 ,illustration3 8,,champion ,,ballochmyle ,,otter10 ,,tortoiseshell-,,and-,,white4 ,,owned ,,by ,,lady ,,alexander4 8,blacks1 ,i am sorry to say1 are somewhat neglected1 considering how striking they are4 ,the dense black coat1 the contrasting grand amber eye1 should always find a weak spot in the heart of every exhibitor of the short-haired varieties4 ,the points we look for are chiefly closeness of coat1 the black of great density1 pure amber eyes set in a good round head topped with small ears4 ,i can well imagine my readers will say1 #8,a pure amber eye--how is it to be got8 ,it is such a rarity4' ,i know1 however1 that by careful mating it is not only possible1 but most distinctly certain1 as ,mr4 ,r4 ,j4 ,hughes1 the late owner of that lovely female #8,amber ,queen1' one of the best-eyed cats ,i have seen1 can testify4 ,he1 in fact1 has bred many of the best-eyed winners of late years3 #8,amber ,queen1' winner of numerous firsts and championships1 the property of ,miss ,una ,fox2 #8,ballochmyle ,black ,bump1' owned by ,lady ,alexander1 and formerly the property of ,mr4 ,hughes2 #8,sedgemere ,black ,king1' winner of several championships and first prizes1 originally owned by ,mr4 ,sam ,woodiwiss4 8,an explanation may be deemed due to my readers for having included blues amongst the ,english types1 but as the clubs have recognised this breed1 and sanctioned their being catalogued amongst the ,english exhibits1 ,i felt justified in adopting this course2 more particularly as the country of origin still remains a matter of speculation40 ,illustration3 8,,champion ,,ballochmyle ,,perfection40 ,,owned ,,by ,,lady ,,alexander4 ,mr4 ,t4 ,b4 ,mason's name is a household one in the cat fancy1 and this most popular judge has been kind enough to set down some of his many experiences1 and a little of his universal knowledge1 for the benefit of my readers4 8,for more than twenty-five years ,i have taken a very great interest in all our minor pets1 so the breeding and exhibiting of cats has had a large share of my attention4 ,i look at the past1 and compare it with the present1 and ,i am more than satisfied with the progress made and the high-water mark of excellence attained4 ,in the #8eighties1 when that noted ,north ,country breeder the late ,mr4 ,young1 of ,harrogate1 was hard at work laying the foundations of markings and colour in the silver tabby1 orange tabby1 and the tortoiseshells1 which has resulted in making the strains of the ,north ,country short-hairs so far ahead of all others1 he had little or no idea that in so brief a time the cat fancy would develop into such an important one as it is at the present time4 ,in recent years we have seen the ,national ,cat ,club1 the ,cat ,club1 and a great many specialist clubs formed for the special object of breeding cats to perfection in colour and markings4 ,standards have been made and issued by noted breeders1 who have met together and have exchanged ideas1 so that at the present time we have standards that are ideals of perfection4 ,shape1 colour1 markings1 coat1 and colour of eyes for each separate variety are all plainly stated4 ,all this interest1 together with the holding of many big shows in different parts of the kingdom1 have brought into prominence a great host of fanciers1 including many ladies holding high positions in the best class of society4 ,no wonder1 then1 that there should be a call for a standard work dealing with all varieties of cats4 ,in the few remarks ,i have to make on short-haired cats ,i shall take the self colours first4 ,they are1 ,i believe1 our oldest variety2 the black or the white cat is to be found in many a household4 ,in some parts of the ,north when ,i was a boy it was said to be a sign of good luck to have a sound-coloured black cat1 with a coat like a raven's wing1 with not a white hair to be found in it4 ,if you have one like this in your home1 with a good round head1 neat ears1 and rich orange eyes1 let me ask you to take great care of it4 ,if you reside in a district where shows are held--either in connection with the local agricultural society or in the winter time in the town hall in connection with the local fanciers' society--by all means enter it1 and you will find you have an exhibit of real value4 ,we possess grand examples of first-class blacks in ,lady ,alexander's #8,black ,bump1' ,lady ,decies' #8,charcoal' and #8,shamrock1' ,mrs4 ,nott's #8,king of ,blacks1' and many other present-day winners4 ,in self whites ,lady ,alexander's #8,snow ,king1' #8,billie ,blue ,eyes1' and #8,snow ,bump'2 ,mrs4 ,western's #8,prickly ,pearl'2 and the ,hon4 ,a4 ,wodehouse's #8,white ,devil' are about the best living1 and in condition and coat hard to find fault with4 ,the eyes of the self white must be a rich-coloured blue4 ,the shorter and fuller you can get both the self black and the self white the better will be the chances of their winning prizes2 a long1 coarse coat1 big or badly set-on ears1 and long1 thin1 snipy faces are little or no good in the show pen4 ,in your breeding arrangements you do not need at this time of the day to make many experiments4 ,in breeding self whites the great aim is to obtain shape and colour of eyes4 ,so many good sires are to be obtained that if you are deficient in bone1 shape1 or colour of eyes1 you can with careful mating obtain these--in some cases with the first cross4 ,my opinion is that in breeding whites no other colour should be mixed with them4 ,in the breeding of blacks you are altogether on another matter4 ,it is a well-known fact that the cross with the self blue is a most distinct advantage4 ,it not only gives tone and soundness to both the blue and the black1 but it also adds lustre4 8,for a long time we have called the self blues ,russians4 ,no doubt they1 in the first instance1 came from the ,east2 but since they were imported into this country they have been mixed in a great measure with self blacks1 and in some cases with long-haired blues1 to get strong1 short1 round heads1 so that at the present time we have very few pure-bred ,russians in this country4 8,my advice to those who are breeding self blues or self blacks is1 by all means put one cross of blacks in the blues1 especially if the black has orange eyes4 ,it is in eyes that most of our self blues fail4 ,let me1 however1 give here a word of warning4 ,do not mix the colours too often1 or you will get the blues too dark or nearly like black4 ,if you get one cross of the black and blue1 use it as it should be used1 by mixing the offspring well together4 ,i know a great many breeders are not in favour of this in-breeding4 ,this is1 without doubt1 their loss4 ,in all branches in-breeding is the sure road to success4 8,to go outside at every cross1 or too often1 brings with it a lot of trouble and disappointment4 ,to all my advice is1 having got the strains of noted sires in your youngsters1 so mix them that all the good and little of the bad points will come out as the result of your breeding4 ,that you will not get all winners is a sure conclusion1 but my experience is--and it is formed after thirty years' breeding of fancy pet stock--that in this way you are more likely than in any other to breed winners4 ,anyone who has seen ,lady ,alexander's #8,brother ,bump1' ,mrs4 ,hughes' #8,alexis1' ,miss ,butler ,ayton's #8,blue ,bell' and #8,blue ,stockings1' ,mrs4 ,carew ,cox's #8,fashoda1' and ,mrs4 ,dewar's #8,firkens' cannot but fall in love with this colour4 ,all that is needed to make this one of our most popular varieties is uniformity in shape4 ,in my opinion these cats should be judged on the same lines as our self blacks and self whites4 ,illustration3 ,,mrs4 ,,barker',s 8,,tyneside ,,lily40 7,photo3 ,e4 ,c4 ,farmer1 ,bedford47 ,illustration3 ,,miss ,,harper',s ,,cattery1 ,,briarlea1 ,,hayward',s ,,heath4 ,illustration3 ,,another ,,view ,,of ,,briarlea ,,catteries4 7,photo3 ,e4 ,harper47 8,i now come to the tabbies--silver1 orange1 and brown4 ,what a lovely variety they are1 and what a fine picture any of the three colours makes if they are seen in full coat and clear markings6 ,in silvers the old-time champion #8,the ,silver ,king' was without a doubt the foundation of most of our present-day winners4 ,mrs4 ,herring's #8,jimmy1' the noted female #8,shelly1' and a host of others that at the moment ,i cannot remember are worthy of the great deeds of the past4 ,in the present day champions are to be found--,mrs4 ,collingwood's #8,james ,,ii41' ,mrs4 ,herring's #8,sweet ,phyllis1' ,mrs4 ,bonny's #8,heather ,belle' and #8,dame ,fortune1' ,mrs4 ,turner's #8,masterpiece1' ,mrs4 ,western's #8,princess1' and last1 but not least1 ,mr4 ,blackett's noted team1 including #8,silver' and #8,silver ,star4' ,in the orange we have a strong lot1 including ,lady ,alexander's capital team--#8,perfection1' #8,red ,prince1' #8,miss ,perfection1' and #8,mother ,pop'--,mrs4 ,temple's #8,dr4 ,jim1' ,mrs4 ,collingwood's #8,clem' and #8,belle of ,bradford1' ,mr4 ,thompson's #8,red ,rufus1' and ,mr4 ,kuhnel's #8,coronation ,king1' all of them getting close on the standard both in colour and markings4 ,illustration3 ,a ,,corner ,,of ,,the ,,bossington ,,catteries4 7,photo3 ,a4 ,j4 ,anderson ,co41 ,luton47 8,in browns the old champion #8,xenophon' is1 to my mind1 the best tabby of any colour ever seen in the show pen2 his picture is before me as ,i pen these lines4 ,i well remember giving him the first and special for best cat in the show2 since that time how many times he has won the championship ,i cannot say4 ,his loss will be great1 both to the fancy and also to ,lady ,decies4 #8,flying ,fox' 7the property of ,messrs4 ,ainsley and ,graham71 ,mrs4 ,pratt's #8,tommy ,jacks1' and ,mrs4 ,oliver's #8,danefield ,vera' are all good ones2 but in this colour of tabbies the competition is not half so keen as it is in silver and orange4 8,one standard governs all the three colours4 ,the ground or body colour must be pure1 and clear from any other colour4 ,in a great many well-marked ones ,i meet in the show pen the rusty brown tinge on nose1 ears1 and brindled in the body markings puts them out of the prize list4 ,it is a great mistake to cross the silver tabby with the brown tabby or with one that has in its pedigree the brown tabby blood4 ,if the black markings need a darker shade1 my advice is use for once the self black4 ,if you do not get the desired effect the first cross1 the youngsters mated together have been known to breed some really good ones4 ,by all means1 if possible1 get into your silvers green eyes4 ,i am aware that the standard says green or orange eyes2 but in all cases where the competition is very keen the orange eyes are a distinct disadvantage4 ,illustration3 ,,tortoiseshell ,,male 8,,samson40 ,,owned ,,by ,,lady ,,alexander4 7,photo3 ,russell ,sons1 ,crystal ,palace47 8,in the breeding of the orange tabby you need to be very careful4 ,the use of the tortoiseshell has been found to be very advantageous2 in fact1 some of our best orange tabbies have been bred from the tortoiseshells4 ,the mixing of these two varieties1 if done carefully1 will bring success on both sides2 but care should be taken not to bring too much of the tortoiseshell into the orange1 or1 on the other hand1 carry too much orange into the tortoiseshell4 ,the pale yellow eye in an orange is a great point against it winning in the keen competition which we have at the present time4 8,the eyes must be a very rich orange1 to match the body colour1 which should be two or three shades lighter than the markings4 8,in the browns we have two distinct colours--the sable colour and the old brown colour4 ,the old cat that ,i have referred to of ,lady ,decies' was a sable tabby4 ,no doubt this colour is the more taking of the two1 but both are useful1 and the old brown colour must not by any means be overlooked in our liking for the sable colour4 ,in all the colours of tabbies we find that the chief bad points are the white lips in the sables mostly1 the white spots in the chest in our orange1 and the rusty mousy colour in our silvers4 ,the colour of eyes1 too1 in our browns and sables is far from what it ought to be4 ,some eyes are a pale green1 some a pale yellow4 ,all this proves that the breeders at times go too far in the outcrossing1 and bring in with it faults that crop up when those crossings are nearly forgotten4 8,in the breeding of browns nothing more is needed than what we have--namely1 the sable colour ones and the old coloured browns4 ,the blending together of these two colours will put any breeder on the highway to success4 ,i am more than surprised that this variety is not stronger than it is at the present time4 ,i am sure1 of all the race and colours of tabbies they are the easiest to breed1 and yet we find they are the fewest in number at our big shows4 ,in looking for a real good tabby1 do not miss the chest1 feet1 and tail4 ,we have a great lot of good cats if body markings and colour were all that was needed1 but when it comes to the ringed tail1 the rings around the chest1 and the markings right down to the toe ends1 then they #8come a cropper1' as we say in the ,north4 ,illustration3 ,,black ,,manx ,,and ,,royal ,,siamese ,,cats4 7,from a ,painting by ,w4 ,luker1 ,jun47 8,one more important point before ,i finish4 ,what a painful task it is to the judge to find very good all-round exhibits that have plain head markings4 ,the face and cheeks are right in ground colour2 and the pencil markings on the fore-face1 running into the markings behind the ears1 and those on the cheeks are of the faintest colour1 and in many cases broken4 ,such head markings and colour spoil many otherwise really good cats4 ,illustration3 ,,mrs4 ,a4 ,m4 ,,stead',s ,,brown ,,tabby4 7,photo3 ,e4 ,n4 ,collins1 ,south ,norwood47 8,i now come to the tortoiseshells--a mixture of orange and black4 ,i have dealt with mixing of colours in my remarks on the orange tabbies4 ,all ,i need say here is1 mind that in your tortoiseshells you do not get the orange markings4 ,the most successful breeder in the ,north of this variety--the late ,mr4 ,young1 of ,harrogate--made tabby markings in a tortoiseshell a disqualification in the show pen4 ,the presence of any white is also a very great drawback1 and this is often found in small patches on the chest or on the belly4 ,you can have both too light and too much orange colour1 or you can have them too dark or too much black4 ,equal colours and well mixed is about the right thing1 with good orange eyes4 ,at the present time we have ,lady ,alexander's and ,mrs4 ,herring's males--#8,champion ,samson' and #8,champion ,king ,saul4' ,females are very strong1 and well represented in ,mrs4 ,pratt's #8,tib of ,rochdale' and ,messrs4 ,graham and ,ainsley's #8,sunine4' 8,the tortoiseshell-and-white is a most lovely and taking variety1 commonly called the #8chintz-and-white' in our homesteads4 ,very few and far between are good specimens to be found1 and yet in the show pens these tricolour cats have a great advantage over their fellow-felines4 ,lady ,alexander has exhibited some splendid tortoiseshell-and-whites1 #8,ballochmyle ,otter' being one of the best 7see illustration1 page #bhi74 ,a very common drawback in this variety is the mixture of tabby with the orange-and-white1 instead of the patches of black4 ,i feel sure if this variety were only taken up more we should see a remarkable advancement both in markings and in colour4 ,the patches--white1 orange1 and black--in an ideal specimen should be1 if possible1 about equal in number1 and well placed on the body1 head1 and feet2 they look very charming when you see a really good one4 ,i hope a few more fanciers and breeders of short-haired cats will be coming forward1 so that the number exhibited at our shows may steadily increase40 ,illustration3 ,,mrs4 ,,collingwood',s 8,,james ,,ii40 7,photo3 ,russell ,sons1 ,crystal ,palace47 ,in this hope ,i do most heartily join1 for although my name is mostly connected with the long-haired breeds1 ,i am such a lover of all cats that ,i feel as anxious for one variety as another to obtain friends and favour4 ,it is specially in the ,south of ,england that the interest in our short-haired breeds is on the wane1 and it behoves all fanciers to strive to assist in keeping alive the love of the ,british cat in our midst4 ,in #aijb ,sir ,claud and ,lady ,alexander most generously guaranteed the whole of these classes1 and although they themselves made a very numerous entry1 yet there was a deficit to pay of several pounds1 a thing which ought not to be4 ,i find that the ,manx1 ,siamese1 and blues are generally able to take care of themselves at shows1 or they have clubs and secretaries who look after their interests2 but the 8common or garden0 puss needs a kindly hand to assist in drawing him to the front1 for1 as that well-known lover of 8the domestic cat10 ,harrison ,weir1 writes1 8,why should not the cat that sits purring in front of us before the fire be an object of interest1 and be selected for its colour1 markings1 and form80 ,illustration3 8,,ben-,,my-,,chree40 ,,owned ,,by ,,miss ,g4 ,e4 ,,sillar4 7,photo3 ,j4 ,w4 ,thomas1 ,colwyn ,bay47 ,illustration3 ,,burmese ,,cat4 7,photo3 ,e4 ,landor1 ,ealing47 ,,chapter ,,xxvi4 ,,some ,,foreign ,,cats4 ,it is not intended in the following notes to enter into a description of the various beautiful and interesting wild felines1 for although some of these--such as the ,ocelot1 the ,geoffroy's ,cat1 and the ,wild ,cat--are not infrequently seen in the pens at our leading shows1 such matter really comes more within the province of a natural history than of the present work4 ,two varieties alone may justly claim some slight attention here1 these being the ,egyptian cat 7,felis maniculata7 and the ,european wild cat 7,f4 catus74 ,it might reasonably be imagined that our common cat was derived from the last-named1 considering that at one time it was a common animal all over ,england1 as well as on the ,continent4 ,the untamable ferocity of this variety--which is probably the least amenable of all living creatures--has doubtless prevented its ever having been domesticated1 and the high value which1 as we learn from old writings1 was placed upon the domestic puss at a time when the wild cat was a common animal in ,england1 plainly show that ,f4 catus was not the ancestor of ,f4 domestica1 although the two will freely interbreed4 ,many years ago1 for instance1 the old ,spanish wild cat which used to be kept at the ,zoological ,gardens in the so-called aviaries1 now occupied by the civets1 mated with his cage mate--a tortoiseshell-and-white queen--and of these cross-bred kittens both ,sir ,claud ,alexander and the writer of these lines possessed specimens4 ,it is usually assumed that the ,egyptian or ,caffre cat is the progenitor of the majority of the domestic cats4 ,this is the variety which was domesticated1 revered1 and embalmed by the ancient ,egyptians4 ,it is found over the whole of ,africa1 and it is quite easy to understand how1 with its eminently tamable disposition1 it gradually spread over ,europe4 ,our so-called ,abyssinian cats1 to which reference will be made later on1 bear a very striking resemblance to this handsome variety of cat4 ,the domestic cats of other parts of the world1 however1 are undoubtedly derived from the smaller wild cats of the countries in question4 ,thus it is probable that several varieties have a share in the creation of the ,indian domestic cats1 of which ,blyth distinguished two varieties4 ,the fulvous variety he considered to be derived from the ,indian jungle cat 7,f4 chaus71 a fulvous cat which in its high legs1 shorter tail1 and slightly tufted ears--and it is worthy of note that some of the best ,abyssinians have large and slightly tufted ears--marks the approach to the lyncine group4 ,the spotted kinds he traces to the leopard cat1 the desert cat1 and the rusty spotted cat4 ,a most extraordinary variety1 of which next to nothing appears to be known1 is the hairless cat1 and we cannot do better than quote in extenso the description given by the owner of what1 if his surmise should unhappily prove to be correct1 was the last pair of these peculiar animals1 a portrait of which we give4 ,albuquerque1 ,new ,mexico1 ,february #crd1 #aijb4 ,,mr4 ,h4 ,c4 ,,brooke4 ,dear ,sir1--,yours of ,january #bjth is at hand4 ,in answer ,i would say my hairless cats are brother and sister4 ,i got them from the ,indians a few miles from this place4 ,the old ,jesuit ,fathers tell me they are the last of the ,aztec breed known only in ,new ,mexico4 ,i have found them the most intelligent and affectionate family pets ,i have ever met in the cat line2 they are the quickest in action and smartest cats ,i have ever seen4 ,they are fond of a warm bath1 and love to sleep under the clothes at night with our little girl4 ,they seem to understand nearly everything that is said to them2 but ,i have never had time to train them4 ,they are marked exactly alike--with mouse-coloured backs2 with neck1 stomach1 and legs a delicate flesh tint4 ,their bodies are always warm and soft as a child's4 ,they love to be fondled and caressed1 and are very playful2 will run up and down your body and around your waist like a flash4 8,nellie0 weighs about eight pounds1 and 8,dick0 weighed ten pounds2 but ,i am sorry to say we have lost 8,dick40 ,we have never allowed them to go out of the house1 as the dogs would be after them4 ,they were very fond of our water spaniel1 and would sleep with her4 8,dick0 was a sly rascal1 and would steal out4 ,one night last year he stole out1 and the dogs finished him4 ,his loss was very great1 as ,i may never replace him4 ,the ,chicago ,cat ,club valued them at #a1jjj dollars each4 ,they were very anxious for me to come on with them for their cat shows1 but ,i could not go4 ,they were never on exhibition2 as this is a small city1 ,i feared they would be stolen4 ,i have made every endeavour to get another mate for 8,nellie10 but have not been successful4 ,i never allowed them to mate1 as they were brother and sister1 and ,i thought it might alter 8,nellie's0 beautiful form1 which is round and handsome1 with body rather long4 ,in winter they have a light fur on back and ridge of tail1 which falls off in warm weather4 ,they stand the cold weather same as other cats4 ,they are not like the hairless dogs1 whose hide is solid and tough2 they are soft and delicate1 with very loose skin4 8,nellie0 has a very small head1 large amber eyes1 extra long moustache and eyebrows2 her voice now is a good baritone1 when young it sounded exactly like a child's4 ,they have great appetites1 and are quite dainty eaters--fried chicken and good steak is their choice4 ,have never been sick an hour4 ,the enclosed faded picture is the only one ,i have at present2 it is very lifelike1 as it shows the wrinkles in its fine1 soft skin4 8,dick0 was a very powerful cat2 could whip any dog alone2 his courage1 no doubt1 was the cause of his death4 ,he always was the boss over our dogs4 ,i have priced 8,nellie0 at #cjj dollars4 ,she is too valuable a pet for me to keep in a small town4 ,many wealthy ladies would value her at her weight in gold if they knew what a very rare pet she is4 ,i think in your position she would be a very good investment to exhibit at cat shows and other select events1 as she doubtless is the only hairless cat now known4 ,i have written to ,old ,mexico and all over this country without finding another4 ,i would like to have her in some large museum1 where she would interest and be appreciated by thousands of people4--,trusting this will reach you in safety1 ,i am1 very truly yours1 ,f4 ,j4 ,,shinick4 ,we can only add1 whilst deeply regretting that ,mr4 ,shinick did not mate his cats1 the earnest hope that we may hear that he has discovered the existence of other specimens4 ,should it prove that a parcel of street curs are responsible for this curious variety becoming extinct1 even such confirmed dog lovers as ourselves are almost tempted to acquiesce in a universal and everlasting muzzling order6 ,it is to be regretted that no information is given as to whether the dentition of these cats was abnormal and imperfect1 as is the case with the ,mexican hairless dogs4 ,illustration3 ,,mexican ,,hairless ,,cats4 ,very curious and handsome is the ,indian cat 8,indischer ,frst10 exhibited by ,mrs4 ,h4 ,c4 ,brooke4 ,his most striking peculiarities are the length and slenderness of his limbs1 the extreme shortness of his coat1 and his thin and tapering tail1 which reminds the observer of that of a pointer4 ,his ears are small1 but as a kitten they were of enormous size1 and with his long and pointed head gave him a most weird appearance4 ,the voice of this cat is very variable1 and far more resembles the raucous call of the ,siamese than the voice of any ,european cat4 ,this cat has had a very adventurous existence4 ,he1 with his litter sister1 was originally stolen from a hotel in ,bombay by an ,english sailor4 ,on the way home he twice fell overboard1 but1 more fortunate than his companion1 was safely rescued4 ,he also suffered shipwreck in the ,sobraon on ,yung ,yung ,island4 ,on arriving nearer home he disappeared1 and was only after several days' absence discovered in the bowels of the ship1 as black as the coal amongst which he had been sojourning4 ,his last exploit was to fall in the docks1 after which the sailor handed him over to a shoemaker at ,leytonstone1 where he was discovered by his present owner4 ,after he had twice escaped from bondage and astonished the natives of that place by perambulating the housetops1 lamenting in the tones of a lost soul1 his owner arrived at the conclusion that he had no convenience for restraining him1 and at last yielded to persuasion1 and handed him over to his present proprietors for consideration of sundry gold coins of the realm and a kitten with seven toes on each foot4 ,illustration3 ,,african ,,cat4 7,photo3 ,e4 ,landor1 ,ealing47 ,it is a very remarkable thing that the ,asiatic cats are so subject to abnormal formations of the tail4 ,the ,siamese cats1 as is well known1 very frequently possess kinked tails4 ,in ,burma also cats are found--some tailless1 some with crooked or twisted stumps4 ,these cats1 when spotted1 are very striking2 when of an ordinary colour they simply recall an indifferent ,manx4 ,japan also possesses tailless cats2 but those with ordinary caudal appendages also occur1 and are probably the most numerous4 ,there is said to be a variety of ,chinese cat which is remarkable for its pendent ears4 ,we have never been able to ascertain anything definite with regard to this variety4 ,some years back a class was provided for them at a certain ,continental cat show1 and we went across in the hope of seeing and1 if possible1 acquiring some specimens2 but1 alas1 the class was empty6 ,we have seen a stuffed specimen in a ,continental museum1 which was a half-long-haired cat1 the ears being pendent down the sides of the head instead of erect2 but do not attach much value to this4 ,we have seen specimens of a very tiny domestic cat1 full-grown individuals of which weigh only about three pounds4 ,those we saw came from ,south ,america4 ,a cat called the ,mombassa cat1 from the ,east of ,africa1 is said to have a short coat of a wiry texture4 ,there are1 of course1 no cats indigenous to ,australia4 ,an ,american writer gives it as his opinion that a certain strain of ,australian cats is derived from imported ,siamese cats4 ,a specimen we possessed last year1 which was born on a ship during the passage from ,australia1 and which exactly resembled its dam1 certainly had every appearance of being of ,eastern origin4 ,it had the marten-shaped head1 and a triple kink in the tail2 its voice also resembled that of the ,siamese4 ,in colour it was grey1 with darker spots4 ,illustration3 ,,abyssinian ,,and ,,indian ,,cats4 7,from a ,painting by ,w4 ,luker1 ,jun47 ,illustration3 ,,manx ,,and ,,abyssinian 78,,sedgemere ,,peaty0 ,,on ,,the ,,right74 7,photo3 ,a4 ,r4 ,dresser47 ,a very taking variety is the ,abyssinian4 ,a good specimen should very strongly resemble what one might well expect the ,egyptian cat to become after generations of domestication4 ,since the death of 8,sedgemere ,bottle0 and 8,sedgemere ,peaty0 there have been no cats penned of such superlative merit as were these two specimens4 ,the photograph of 8,sedgemere ,peaty0 which we give hardly does justice to the cat4 ,the colour of an ,abyssinian should be a sort of reddish-fawn1 each individual hair being 8ticked0 like that of a wild rabbit--hence the popular name of 8bunny cat40 ,the great difficulty in breeding these cats is their tendency to come too dark and too heavily striped on the limbs2 the face should be rather long1 the tail short and thick1 and the ears large4 ,these points are well shown by 8,little ,bunny ,teedle ,tit10 first in the ,abyssinian class at the #aijb ,crystal ,palace cat show1 though in colour she was not the best penned4 ,the ,abyssinian should not be a large1 coarse cat4 ,a small cat of delicate colouring and with the above-mentioned body properties is by far to be preferred to the large1 coarse1 dark specimens one sees winning under some all-round judges1 merely because of their size4 ,more than any other varieties have the foreign cats suffered from the negligence of show committees and the awful judging of all-round judges1 plus the equally awful reports furnished by all-round reporters6 ,at the best1 knowledge of the different varieties of foreign cats is absolutely in its infancy4 ,it should be the aim of large shows to provide1 whenever possible1 judges for these interesting strangers who do really take some interest in them4 ,i am bound to say that of late years the ,national ,cat ,club has done its best to meet the wishes of owners in this respect1 and with gratifying results1 as witness the good classes at the ,crystal ,palace show1 where there were no fewer than eleven ,abyssinians penned--a record number6 ,the ,cat ,club1 on the other hand1 has persistently neglected them1 having on almost every occasion handed them over to some all-round judge who knows little and cares less about them1 with the natural result that exhibitors are disgusted4 ,take1 for instance1 the last show1 when a very dark1 almost sooty ,abyssinian was placed above a very fair specimen merely because the latter had about a dozen white hairs on its throat6 ,the value of the winner may be gauged from the fact that its owner1 a lady well known in the cat world1 expressed her intention of having him neutered and keeping him merely as a pet4 ,the same judge1 in dividing the prizes amongst the ,manx cats1 appeared to think the colour of the throat of far more importance than the shape of the hind quarters in this section4 ,again1 of what value does the reporter flatter himself his writings can be when we read in a so-called critique of a spotted ,geoffroy's cat and of an ocelot that they are 8pretty tiger-marked specimens08 ,we wonder if the gentleman ever saw a tiger4 ,there is much that is fascinating--much1 nay almost all--to learn1 the most beautiful colours and arrangements of markings to be studied1 by those who will devote their attention to foreign cats4 ,to the search for something new we owe the beautiful ,siamese4 ,will no one pay some attention to the other varieties of the feline tribe from distant lands8 ,they are well worth it1 and the addition of more foreign cats at our shows would be interesting and instructive4 ,h4 ,c4 ,,brooke4 ,illustration3 ,,geoffroy',s ,,wild ,,cat4 7,photo3 ,cassell ,company1 ,limited47 ,illustration3 8,,the ,,storm ,,king40 ,,owned ,,by ,,miss ,c4 ,,wallace4 7,photo3 ,lewis ,studio1 ,east ,brady1 ,pa47 ,,chapter ,,xxvii4 ,,cats ,,in ,,america4 ,illustration3 8,,rado40 ,,blue1 ,,owned ,,by ,,mrs4 ,,kress4 7,photo3 ,branch1 ,minneapolis47 ,a review of the cat fancy in ,america carries us over so vast an expanse of territory1 that it is not easy at one fell swoop really to do it justice4 ,the only way that seems feasible is to take the fancy by districts2 and as the cat fancy--exemplified by shows--may be said to have arisen in the east1 this district should1 ,i think1 have the pride of place1 though it has for a time to give way to the reign of the cat further towards the setting of the sun4 ,on referring to ,mrs4 ,pierce's notes1 it will be seen that ,maine had its cat shows long before we had--some of us--come to ,america4 ,the cat fancy--as it is now--in ,america may have been said to have sprung into a steady existence with the first show held in the ,madison ,square ,garden1 ,new ,york1 on ,may #hth1 #ahie4 ,this show was organised by ,mr4 ,james ,t4 ,hyde1 an ,englishman1 who has been closely identified with the horse shows at the ,garden for many years1 and the idea of holding a cat show came to him suddenly1 from having attended the ,crystal ,palace show4 ,the first cat show in ,new ,york was a great success from the time the doors opened till its close1 though the temperature--which was for part of the time as high as #if degrees--was hard upon the cats1 especially those that had just come from ,england4 ,when we returned home the morning after the show there was a white frost6 ,part of the judging was done--and well done--by the late ,dr4 ,huidekoper1 who had picked up a good deal of his cat lore while a medical student at ,paris and ,edinburgh and in ,london4 ,miss ,hurlburt and ,mr4 ,t4 ,farrer ,rackham were the other judges4 ,in regard to this show--which marks the beginning of the cat fever in ,america1 that spread outside of the ,state of ,maine--,i think ,i ought to point out what was chiefly remarkable1 and the parts of the show that were destined to bear upon the future4 ,in the first place1 the prize for the best cat in the show was won by a brown tabby--a native1 or1 as some people designate them1 ,maine cats4 ,this cat was in every way a good one2 but he was a gelding1 and1 of course1 in ,may1 much ahead of the breeding cats as to plumage2 but1 still1 there was little dissatisfaction at the awards4 ,of ,english cats there were not more than about eight1 and several died soon after2 and of all those shown at this our first show the only ones that have really made any mark or real impression upon the cat fancy in ,america may be mentioned 8,king ,humbert10 8,topaz10 8,minnie10 and 8,the ,banshee40 ,the first named were all brown or grey tabbies1 the last a white4 ,cats bred from these are still winning1 and their descendants keep their names green in the annals of present-day stud books4 ,white cats had always been popular in ,america1 and the first show produced specimens as good as1 or even better than ,i have ever seen in this city2 up to now1 in fact1 we have never had anything to beat 8,ajax10 who made his first and last bow to the public here4 ,no other shows occurred for some time till the autumn1 when an exhibition was held at ,newburgh1 sixty miles up the ,hudson ,river1 to be repeated the next year1 with the ,new ,york show of #ahif in between4 ,at this latter great improvement had been made in colours and varieties2 and1 in fact1 all concerned had made considerable advance in the meantime as to knowledge of different varieties of cats4 ,at the second show in ,new ,york a club was formed1 intended to be the ,national1 but it died1 and affairs were in a comatose condition as regards shows in ,new ,york until the consent of ,mr4 ,crawford1 the manager of the poultry show1 was obtained for the holding of a cat show in ,january1 #aijb1 in the concert hall which opens out of the main hall at ,madison ,square4 ,this show1 though a small one1 was well attended1 and though the entries only numbered about #aaj1 the quality of many of the cats was very much ahead of the five years before1 and the classes of silvers were good enough for any country4 ,the impetus gained by this show and the results obtained were not overestimated by those who promoted the show1 and the bringing together of many staunch breeders who had sprung up in the meantime made it possible to organise the ,atlantic ,cat ,club1 which has gathered such headway in the year of its existence that it is becoming one of the most powerful factors in the ,american cat fancy4 ,the show held at ,madison ,square in #aijc1 with the fine collection of challenge cups and the many other valuable specials1 speaks to the gathering interest and the strength of the fancy in the district1 and the club is being every day still further strengthened2 and1 if the treasury balance is any indication1 the future of the ,atlantic ,cat ,club will be very marked1 especially as many people of wealth and influence are being enrolled upon the books and are becoming most enthusiastic upholders of the cat in ,new ,york4 ,in discussing the eastern affairs1 we must not leave out the ,boston shows1 which have been a steady factor for some years1 and gave opportunities to the more northern cats to meet and compete together4 ,these shows have been kept alive by ,mr4 ,t4 ,farrer ,rackham1 to a great extent1 and from the opening of the cat fancy up to now he has been a steady promoter of the interests of the cat1 and has steadily worked to keep up the interest4 ,in thinking of the breeders of the eastern portion of this continent we have to range over a good deal of territory1 and even the ,state of ,new ,york alone takes us quite out west1 and from ,mrs4 ,conlisk 7who lives at ,gowanda1 and who owns 8,bitterne ,silver ,chieftain0 and a daughter of 8,whychwood10 besides 8,silver ,belle10 who came from ,england lately7 our thoughts drift down to ,pittsburg to ,mrs4 ,l4 ,t4 ,hodges1 who is making a speciality of smokes and silvers1 and has commenced well by winning in kittens at ,cleveland with 8,wahanita10 8,southampton10 and 8,the ,dusky ,pilgrim0--a capital smoke1 since sold for #ej4 ,mrs4 ,mix1 although in ,new ,york ,state1 lives #ahj miles to the westward of ,new ,york ,city2 but1 still1 the effect the cats that she has imported from ,england have had upon the young stock and the future of our cats in certain lines has been very marked4 ,as a sire of good ones no cat has exceeded 8,king of the ,silvers10 and his children have been picked on several occasions for best in show1 and the influence that these may have in the future cannot yet be fully estimated4 ,the winnings of this cattery have been many1 but as the home of good breeding stock and as the practical founder of a strain for the future this cattery is destined to rank very high in our annals4 ,at the ,old ,fort cattery reside 8,king of the ,silvers10 8,jack ,frost10 8,tortie ,diana ,fawe10 8,lady ,lollypop10 and many other good ones1 and from this cattery to many parts of the country have gone cats that for type and quality have not been excelled4 ,not far from here--at ,saratoga--is the summer residence of ,dr4 ,ottolengui's cats1 under the care of ,mrs4 ,hall1 and these at the present time are doing a great deal of winning1 not so much by cats purchased as by home-bred ones4 ,for instance1 ,i may mention 8,lord ,lossie10 who has some of the cream of the ,english blood in his veins2 and lately has come to this cattery 8,sir ,robert10 the black1 a winner at the ,crystal ,palace1 and who repeated his triumphs at other shows here4 8,dollie ,dutton10 a black daughter of 8,persimmon10 is largely aiding this cattery as a mother and a show cat4 ,dr4 ,ottolengui's advent into the fancy in ,january1 #aijb1 as secretary of the ,atlantic ,club gave an impetus to things in general that only future times can show the full effect4 ,the cat fraternity needed an organiser and a worker to bring it together1 and he was found just at the right time4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,old ,,fort ,,cattery4 ,illustration3 ,,mrs4 ,,colburn ,,and ,,her ,,white ,,persian 8,,paris40 7,photo3 ,f4 ,schnabel1 ,chicago47 ,miss ,lincoln1 of ,worcester1 ,massachusetts1 has done quite a little work for the good of the majority2 but has not had the best of luck with her cats so far1 and ,mrs4 ,a4 ,g4 ,brown1 of ,melrose1 ,massachusetts1 is a steady breeder of whites and other colours1 and she has in her cattery 8,his ,majesty10 the white that has won many prizes and is the sire of winners4 ,mrs4 ,neel1 at ,urbana1 ,new ,york1 established a cattery1 and has been a very hard worker in the cause1 doing good from her experience in a medical way1 by writing for the papers1 by upholding the shows--often a good distance from home--and by the general support she has afforded to all who made use of the help she was willing to give4 ,whilst in this direction ,i must not forget ,mr4 ,c4 ,h4 ,jones1 who commenced as a breeder and exhibitor1 though his business kept him away from home a great deal2 yet the fever grew upon him until he started a newspaper called ,the ,cat ,journal1 which1 no doubt1 is one of the principal factors in keeping up the interest in the cat in general4 ,though on account of ,mr4 ,jones's other business engagements it is not possible for him to report shows1 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 present2 so that we may say that1 considering the work of the paper is done after business hours and is largely supported by his own purse1 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 history4 ,mr4 ,jones gave up his exhibition cats1 and yet for sheer love of the race and from motives of pure humanity he still continues to move heaven and earth for their support1 and must always be reckoned one of the foremost exponents of the cat in ,america1 and one of the staunchest friends the cat ever had4 ,among fanciers in the vicinity of ,new ,york must be enumerated ,miss ,a4 ,l4 ,pollard1 who has imported and bred a few good cats1 and has made a name for herself with 8,omar10 by 8,st4 ,anthony40 ,miss ,pollard's place is situated at ,elizabeth1 ,new ,jersey1 about fifteen miles from ,new ,york1 and so is practically in the metropolitan district4 8,purity10 the white which was so successful in ,england1 and the tortoiseshell 8,woodbine10 are factors in this cattery1 which is quite a large one1 and very well-arranged4 ,the crops of kittens have been most successfully reared and distributed1 in fact with more success than many of our fanciers have been able to show4 ,mrs4 ,w4 ,s4 ,hofstra1 the president of the ,atlantic ,cat ,club1 lives on ,long ,island1 the other side of ,new ,york1 and devotes herself to her ,siamese and ,persians1 and has had a very decided influence in the development of the club over which she so ably presides4 ,the ,lindenhurst ,cattery at ,ridgefield1 ,new ,jersey1 is also becoming prominent1 and in ,brooklyn the ,misses ,ward have done very good work and have reared some fine cats and kittens4 ,the keynote of this establishment has been 8,robin10 an orange tabby son of 8,persimmon10 who seems to breed back to his sire1 and begets a good many brown tabbies as well as oranges4 ,we must not leave ,new ,york ,state without remembering ,mrs4 ,f4 ,l4 ,norton1 of ,cazenovia1 who has built one of the most beautiful catteries in ,america1 and has spared no expense or trouble to stock it with good cats2 and here reside 8,sussex ,timkins10 8,sweetheart10 and many others known to fame4 ,mrs4 ,champion1 now settled at ,hart ,park1 ,new ,brighton1 ,staten ,island1 ,new ,york1 with her two daughters1 is doing a great deal for the cats of ,america1 and the two ,misses ,champion will probably have to do for some time a good deal of the judging for us4 ,mrs4 ,champion's cats did well at the first ,new ,york show at which they made their appearance1 and 8,lord ,argent10 8,silver ,flash10 8,argent ,puffy10 8,moonbeam ,,ii410 and 8,lord ,sylvester0 are becoming household words4 8,argent ,moonbeam ,,ii40 was best in the show of ,january1 #aijc4 ,mrs4 ,gotwalts1 of ,pottstown1 ,pennsylvania1 must not be omitted from the eastern contingent1 for she has the nucleus of a good cattery1 and owns a son of 8,blue ,boy ,,ii40 called 8,amesh10 and she has some 8,persimmon0 blood in the cattery1 and also some of the smoke blood of the 8,backwell0 strain obtained from ,mrs4 ,harold ,james4 ,mrs4 ,gotwalts keeps fine cats1 and is very fond of breeding her own1 in which she takes much pride4 ,mrs4 ,brown1 of ,millerton1 ,new ,york1 has bred and kept cats for some time1 but does not favour the shows much4 ,illustration3 ,,brushwood ,,cattery4 7,photo3 ,f4 ,schnabel1 ,chicago47 ,washington has come to the fore of late1 but has not within her borders many regular breeders outside of ,mrs4 ,hazen ,bond1 who exhibited with a good deal of success during the season of #aijaaijb1 and ,miss ,eleanor ,burritt1 who most successfully brought to a termination a good show in ,washington in ,december1 #aijb2 and this will1 no doubt1 be followed by others in years to come4 ,our travels in search of cats do not take us very far south1 for in these regions the fleas alone make the rearing of cats in anything like numbers an impossibility4 ,mrs4 ,b4 ,m4 ,gladding most pluckily tried it at ,memphis1 ,tennessee1 but has been obliged to give it up1 though she was one of our most promising cat lovers4 ,the ,connecticut cats bid fair to be quite a factor in the ,american race for prominence in catty matters1 and within the borders of ,connecticut we have to record a few breeders4 ,in #aijc we have a show at ,stamford1 ,connecticut1 which is an important place1 and where the show now begun might assume quite extensive proportions2 for at ,stamford are many large country houses1 and it is a centre that can well afford to have the best of everything4 ,connecticut has within her borders the possibilities of future greatness1 and is at present emerging from comparative obscurity1 though always having had some good fanciers4 ,miss ,lucy ,nicholls was1 for a time1 perhaps one of the best1 known1 but she died in the spring of #aijb4 ,dr4 ,frank ,abbott is stirring up the fanciers of ,connecticut1 and a little while from now there would probably be a good deal more to say about this region1 which holds such breeders as ,mrs4 ,copperberg1 ,miss ,anna ,marks1 ,mrs4 ,ida ,palmer1 and others4 ,i leave the ,maine and the northern division to ,mrs4 ,pierce1 who was born there1 and has known this region and its history for many years1 and who can cover it so much better4 ,mrs4 ,m4 ,b4 ,thurston was much missed as an exhibitor1 as for a time she was very successful1 but more with cats she bought than with cats she bred4 ,miss ,k4 ,l4 ,gage1 of ,brewster's1 ,new ,york1 is not now so prominent as of yore1 but still for a time was energetic in disseminating good cats1 and was the owner of the silver tabby 8,whychwood10 who bids fair to leave a name behind him4 ,the ,new ,york show of #aijc revealed to us that we are making steady progress in long-haired silvers1 and the probability is that at the present time1 if we could make up a team of four or five of our best and take them to ,england1 we should give a good account of ourselves4 ,at this show the blacks1 thanks to recent importations1 were much better than heretofore2 and ,miss ,hurlburt's 8,eddie ,fawe10 ,dr4 ,ottolengui's 8,sir ,robert0--a previous winner at the ,palace--and ,miss ,lincoln's 8,jack ,fawe0 made a trio that we may be proud of4 ,the blues were a decided improvement on last year1 and so were the whites2 and ,miss ,pollard had 8,purity0 and the blue-eyed 8,fairy0 put down in splendid shape1 and won well4 ,orange cats are always pretty popular in ,america1 and are1 owing to ,miss ,ward and ,mrs4 ,copperberg1 coming well up to the front4 ,illustration3 ,,miss ,l4 ,c4 ,,johnston',s 8,,persimmon ,,squirrel40 7,photo3 ,finley1 ,chicago47 ,in the silvers ,mrs4 ,champion's 8,argent ,moonbeam ,,ii40 carried all before him in males1 and ,mrs4 ,conlisk took first in queens with 8,silver ,belle0--a big one and a good one4 ,the 8,blessed ,damozel0 is perhaps our best queen1 and there is really nothing to beat her in the female division2 but she was not put down for competition1 as her owner does not approve of a four days' show4 ,mrs4 ,mallorie had a big strong silver--8,silver ,glen0--second to 8,argent ,moonbeam ,,ii40 ,the silver tabbies are coming along well1 and so are the smokes1 and one--8,the ,dusky ,pilgrim10 a son of 8,the ,passionate ,pilgrim10 who has been altered--was sold for #ej4 8,the ,passionate ,pilgrim10 a very light and massively built cat1 promises to be a great loss to breeders1 as he is an almost complete out-cross1 but he has left several good kittens4 ,mrs4 ,mix1 who was judging1 brought out some beautiful silvers1 and her home-bred 8,jack ,frost0 was a notable cat4 ,illustration3 ,a ,,reception ,,room ,,in ,a ,,chicago ,,cattery4 7,photo3 ,s4 ,e4 ,wright1 ,chicago47 8,arlington ,hercules10 the brown tabby1 made his first appearance in ,new ,york1 and was very much admired4 ,prices ran high for good cats1 especially smokes and silvers1 as these are new to ,americans4 ,the blue colour they are more familiar with from the long acquaintance with the short-haired blues or ,maltese2 but there is no denying the fact that the blues are always dangerous when it comes to judging for specials1 for in their all-round quality they show the care that has been bestowed upon them in ,england4 ,old 8,tortie ,diana ,fawe0 is still our best tortoiseshell1 without much apparent chance of being deposed4 ,mr4 ,h4 ,t4 ,draper--an old ,londoner1 who has exhibited short-hairs steadily since #ahie--;is still with us1 and taking prizes as before2 he has been a very steady supporter of the short-hairs for years4 ,,district ,,no4 #b4 ,district ,no4 #b1 that we shall consider next1 is the city and region of ,chicago1 which is not placed second as a matter of its importance1 but simply comes in in chronological order4 ,the first show to be held there was three years after the first in ,new ,york1 and was promoted and managed by ,mrs4 ,leland ,norton2 and this show was such a decided success that a club was formed1 called the ,chicago ,cat ,club1 which held together for some years1 but was in the end dwarfed by its rival the ,beresford ,cat ,club4 ,this came into being in #ahii1 and grew to such dimensions that the club soon numbered over #cjj members1 and reached in ,january1 #aijb1 to the highest place by far of any ,american cat club1 having at the show in ,chicago over #bej cats1 which was at least #ajj in excess of any show ever held up to that time in ,america4 ,not the least important work done by this club was the inauguration of a stud book1 which has now three volumes1 and contains a record of nearly all of the cats that have been factors in the development of the fancy in ,america4 ,no doubt a greater part of the success of the ,beresford ,club has been brought about by the energy and management of ,mrs4 ,clinton ,locke1 aided by the corresponding secretary 7,miss ,l4 ,c4 ,johnstone71 and it is impossible to compute the work they have done4 ,the mass of information collected in the stud books will always be the basis for the future1 and on this may be built the stud book in use by the whole of ,america4 ,the vicinity of ,chicago has been the centre of the cat fancy in ,america1 and in this city and its vicinity there have been more steady breeders and more people who have selected1 bred1 and reared the best cats they could obtain1 so that1 of course1 the shows have been the biggest and best ever held in ,america4 ,the one striking feature of the ,chicago shows has always been the white long-haired cats4 ,of late another club has started1 called the ,orange and ,cream ,club1 which may be said to have had ,chicago for its birth-place1 and this club flourishes and prospers4 ,we can best gauge the ,chicago division by looking over the breeders and taking a glance at the shows1 and as ,i was judge there at the show of #aija and also in #aijb ,i have had the opportunity to make acquaintance with many of the owners and many of the cats4 ,if we turn back to the ,beresford ,cat ,club stud book we find among the officers of the year many of our best known breeders1 and ,i commence with ,mrs4 ,clinton ,locke1 the president4 ,it must not be imagined that this was her first attempt at cat breeding1 for she had been a breeder of long-haired cats for years1 and ,i must say ,i had heard of ,mrs4 ,locke many years before ,i ever had the pleasure of meeting her1 and her cats were well known before the advent of cat shows4 ,mrs4 ,locke has made a name with several colours and breeds1 and has imported and bred ,persians1 ,siamese1 ,russians1 etc41 and the last two shows displayed the fact that she held a strong hand in most of these4 8,melrose ,lassie0--a blue sent over in #aijj from ,england by ,miss ,frances ,simpson1 and who developed into a beautiful quality cat with lovely orange eyes--was the best at the ,chicago show in #aija4 ,this cat the next year was not shown for competition1 and the premier honours went to her kennel mate 8,lupin10 and these two when mated together have produced several winners4 8,lupin0 was bred by ,miss ,beal1 and is by 8,romaldkirk ,midshipmite0 ex 8,daisy ,belle10 by 8,romaldkirk ,toga40 8,lupin0 was selected at ,romaldkirk by myself when a promising kitten of six months1 and to say that he fulfilled his promise is sufficient1 for he grew in size and stature1 and retained his beautiful golden eyes4 ,he is now owned by ,mrs4 ,white4 ,the winning kitten of the #aija show was from the two 78,melrose ,lassie0 and 8,lupin071 and ,dr4 ,ottolengui's two winning queens in #aijb--8,lady ,lola0 and 8,isis0--are bred from the same two4 ,it is curious to watch how blood will tell1 for in the winning blue male at ,washington1 ,december1 #aijb1 we had some of the same blood again in 8,lord ,lossie10 by 8,lucullus0 ex 8,dollie ,dutton10 who was by 8,persimmon10 8,lucullus0 being a son of 8,lupin0 ex 8,lucy ,claire0--late the property of ,mrs4 ,falconer ,sinclair1 and known in ,england as 8,baby ,flossie40 ,among other celebrities of ,mrs4 ,locke's cattery were 8,lord ,gwynne0--the white imported from ,england through the kind offices of ,mr4 ,a4 ,a4 ,clarke--and this cat at once made a name for himself as the sire of 8,true ,blue10 8,mars10 8,prosper ,le ,gai10 and many other good cats4 8,st4 ,tudno0 and 8,blackbird0 were two blacks that did well for ,mrs4 ,locke1 and 8,st4 ,tudno0 sired the winning black in #aijb1 who very nearly annexed the prize for best in show4 ,the 8,beadle10 another of ,mrs4 ,locke's blues that must not be forgotten1 was a cat bred by ,mrs4 ,dean1 and he did yeoman service in his time1 and has left many promising young ones4 ,mrs4 ,locke has been the owner of good ,siamese1 and from 8,siam0 and 8,sally ,ward0 she bred 8,calif0 and 8,bangkok10 who carried all before them at the ,chicago show of #aijb1 and were the best pair ,i have seen this side the water1 and would have given a good account of themselves anywhere4 ,mrs4 ,locke's ,russians--8,blue ,royal0 and 8,schuyla0--were respectively obtained from ,mr4 ,towlerton1 of ,wakefield1 and ,mrs4 ,carew ,cox1 and have passed into other hands after winning many prizes4 ,among other ,chicago ladies who have been very prominent in cat breeding for many years we must not forget ,mrs4 ,cratty1 who built up a beautiful strain of whites from a pair she obtained in ,switzerland twelve years ago4 ,mrs4 ,cratty has now given up breeding1 finding the rearing of kittens too great a tax upon her powers2 but as a consistent and steady breeder1 instead of simply a buyer and exhibitor of other people's efforts1 she will be much missed4 ,mrs4 ,w4 ,eames ,colburn has at the present time probably one of the largest and most successful catteries in ,america4 ,in #aija she made a reputation with her cat 8,paris10 which was bred by herself1 and which1 besides winning in the strongest of company1 has been a most successful and prolific sire of white kittens1 a good many of which have taken honours on the bench4 ,mrs4 ,colburn also possesses two very fine blacks--8,blackthorn10 which she imported from ,asia1 and 8,blackberry ,fawe10 sent to her from ,england by ,miss ,frances ,simpson4 ,many people who have visited the cattery of late are heard to speak enthusiastically of the quality of the inmates and of the perfection of the appointments and the way the cattery is fitted up4 ,miss ,l4 ,c4 ,johnstone1 the ever busy secretary of the ,beresford ,club1 has been a prominent exhibitor1 and has taken many honours with 8,blue ,flash10 8,persimmon ,squirrel10 and 8,kew ,laddie40 8,blue ,flash0 grew into a beautiful cat1 taking at the ,chicago show1 #aijb1 the special for best queen in the show4 ,mrs4 ,jerome ,h4 ,pratt has usually been an exhibitor at the ,chicago show4 ,she won her championship with 8,sir ,henry ,irving10 a very richly marked silver tabby by 8,whychwood10 who was by 8,charlbury ,silver ,king40 ,mrs4 ,tolman has always been an energetic officer of the ,beresford ,club1 and is very energetic at the shows1 and in cats her fancy runs to creams1 of which she has brought out several winners4 ,mrs4 ,l4 ,nicholson 7formerly ,mrs4 ,f4 ,fisk ,green7 has been a prominent and good supporter of past ,chicago shows4 ,mrs4 ,f4 ,w4 ,story has been known as a successful breeder of orange cats and some whites1 and in having obtained possession of the fine orange 8,hamish0 will1 no doubt1 find herself in a few years in the position of being a prominent breeder of this colour4 8,bunch10 the former stud cat belonging to this cattery1 did good service in his day1 and is responsible for a few winners2 but the absence of any details in the ,american catalogues of the shows makes it difficult to arrive at a very accurate estimate of all his performances4 ,illustration3 ,,mrs4 ,e4 ,n4 ,,barker4 ,,one ,,of ,,the ,,pioneers ,,of ,,the ,,american ,,cat ,,fancy4 7,photo3 ,j4 ,hbner1 ,rutherford1 ,n4,j47 ,in speaking of ,chicago we shall have to include ,miss ,hazelton1 who has turned out several winners1 all descended from 8,sapphire10 that she bought of ,mrs4 ,barker in #ahif4 ,mrs4 ,fred ,e4 ,smith has been one of the shining lights among the ,chicago breeders1 and has been a consistent winner at ,chicago shows2 she now holds a strong hand in the white division1 and was fortunate enough to pick up on the ,pacific coast a fine male in 8,light of ,asia10 who was imported from ,asia4 8,swampscott10 another good cat1 makes his appearance every year1 and usually finds himself in the prize list1 and he has the most fascinating way of turning up in splendid coat at most of the shows4 ,this cat is a pure ,maine cat1 if we may so call him2 but as an example of vigour and good health1 year after year1 he stands pre-eminent4 ,mrs4 ,smith is now building up a strain of silvers of her own composing1 which may be very valuable to the attenuated strains of the ordinary breeder1 who is only too glad to welcome something that will be an out-cross and will not spoil the silver colour4 ,mrs4 ,c4 ,e4 ,s4 ,blinn is another breeder who is always present at the shows1 and whose cats usually find their way into the prize list4 ,mrs4 ,blinn is a consistent breeder who does not always make herself very prominent1 but she obtains the results on the quiet4 ,mrs4 ,blanche ,robinson has bred several of her own prize-winners1 and her black 8,othello10 of which we spoke previously1 is more than a good one4 ,the name of ,mrs4 ,mc,kenzie will always be associated with 8,prince of ,orange10 whose name will designate his colour1 and this cat is a hard one to beat in any orange class1 for he is very rich and deep in tint4 ,in #aijb there were two shows held in ,chicago by the ,beresford ,cat ,club1 one in ,december1 #aijb1 or just a month earlier than usual1 really representing what would have been1 in the natural course1 the #aijc show4 ,this show did not reveal to us any very great changes2 there are a few new home-bred ones1 but the principal wins in the highest of the specials were made by imported cats4 ,the advent of some nice new whites was welcomed1 as usual1 and 8,toddles0 is an addition to our list of white males1 and is a nice cobby sort1 bred from 8,light of ,asia40 8,little ,miss ,eiger10 one of ,mrs4 ,cratty's breeding and own particular strain1 won in the blue-eyed white queens4 8,lupin0 kept on his winning career1 and took the prize for the best in show once more1 and this1 under judges who had never seen him before1 seems to endorse the estimate made of him heretofore4 8,melrose ,lassie10 shown this year again for competition1 took the first prize in blue queens4 ,blacks1 taking the open and novice together1 came out strongly1 and black seems to be one of our strongest colours4 8,prince of ,orange0 is still invincible at this show in orange males1 and the orange queens are coming along nicely4 ,mrs4 ,sarmiento's 8,john ,bull10 in much better form than last year1 again sweeps the deck in the silver class4 ,the silver tabbies still continue to prosper4 8,arlington ,hercules0 went down1 for the first time1 at this show1 largely on a question of eye colour4 ,illustration3 8,,silver ,,hair0 ,,and 8,,tiptoe40 ,,owned ,,by ,,mrs4 ,,pierce4 7,photo3 ,howland1 ,cincinnati47 ,smokes in the year gone by have not made much advance in the ,west1 and this year the cream females outnumber the males1 and a descendant of 8,kew ,laddie0 takes the eye of the public with colour1 coat1 and points4 ,mrs4 ,c4 ,a4 ,white1 who in the spring bought 8,lupin0 and 8,melrose ,lassie10 was most successful at this show1 and is probably destined to be one of our successful breeders1 and with the co-operation of her husband 7,dr4 ,white71 who is very clever with animals1 the assistance she will receive will very largely help to bring her to the front4 ,mrs4 ,white is the lady who is organising a home for deserted dogs and cats1 with a hospital attached1 and on a scale and with a foresight that is certainly remarkable4 ,considering that ,dr4 ,white is the head of the ,veterinary ,college in ,chicago1 the benefit that may accrue to the dogs and cats in the future from the opportunity of humane study that this will give will be incalculable4 ,this1 when put alongside of the horrible revelations that we are treated to anent vivisection1 may1 ,i hope1 have the effect of swinging the balance the other way1 and help to show the rash experimenters that there are people in this world who recognise the individuality of the animal creation1 and that we who use them for our own ends and have crowded them out of their place in ,nature to a certain extent should at the same time look at the other side of the picture1 and should consider the debt we owe to them during their short lives--that humanity1 practised towards the dumb animals1 is nothing more than their just due4 ,a great many of the same cats won at ,chicago at this last show1 8,lupin0 being again best cat in show1 and among the younger brigade the most remarkable was a lovely cream kitten owned by ,mrs4 ,locke1 which is by 8,kew ,laddie40 8,toodles10 a white son of 8,light of ,asia10 was the best white4 ,,district ,,no4 #c4 ,district ,no4 #c1 which we shall assign to the ,detroit contingent1 is certainly one of our most important4 ,the ,detroit fanciers are situated more in a central position--that is1 as regards getting to several shows a year1 for ,detroit is accessible to ,cleveland1 ,rochester1 ,cincinnati1 and ,chicago1 all of which are good shows2 so this gives the ,detroit fanciers the chance to come out at several shows besides their own in the course of the winter4 ,at ,detroit reside several of our most enterprising and successful breeders and exhibitors2 for the ,detroit fancier is not content simply to stay at home and only take part in the one local show of the year1 but is to be found at a good many1 even so far away as ,new ,york4 ,in the list of these we place ,mrs4 ,f4 ,j4 ,sarmiento and ,mrs4 ,dwight ,cutler1 who own the well-known cats 8,arlington ,hercules10 8,bar ,abdul10 8,marriame10 8,dingley ,belle10 8,champion ,floriana10 8,brownie ,pink10 etc4 ,the history of these and their wins is written on the sands of time and will not be lost for many years1 and they represent the enterprise of buying and importing the best ,english strains and taking care of them4 ,mrs4 ,owen1 at the ,owena ,cattery1 has been an important factor at many shows for the last two years4 ,mrs4 ,w4 ,m4 ,chapman is well known to show-goers1 and has won a good many honours1 and rather in a way not too common here--that is1 by breeding her own cats4 ,this has been done with skill and patience2 for ,mrs4 ,chapman has selected the parents with forethought1 and has not been one of those who has paid large sums for breeding stock4 ,the keynote1 more or less1 of this strain has been a fine brown tabby obtained from ,canada some years ago--viz4 8,prince ,rupert10 who goes back in his pedigree to cats owned by ,mr4 ,a4 ,a4 ,clarke1 and also to some imported by ,mrs4 ,cumberland1 of ,port ,hope1 ,ontario4 ,illustration3 ,,miss ,r4 ,,ward',s 8,,robin40 7,photo3 ,gardner ,co41 ,brooklyn1 ,n4,y47 ,mrs4 ,w4 ,j4 ,stanton deserves mention in the ,detroit list as a breeder of short-haired orange and tortoiseshells1 with and without white1 and ,i must say ,i watch this lady's career with interest1 for she has brought out several winners in her specialities1 and is probably destined to make things interesting in the short-haired division4 ,mrs4 ,n4 ,c4 ,ellis is another of the ,detroit breeders likely to be heard of at show times1 and ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,franklin have both made a name for themselves with cats of their own breeding4 ,we must not forget ,mrs4 ,hemenway1 who was the owner of 8,royal ,bengal10 a fine brown tabby1 and several good orange cats bred by herself4 ,cincinnati is our next point of interest1 though ,i have not had the opportunity of meeting so many of the ,ohio breeders as ,i should like1 but this is destined1 ,i feel sure1 to be one of the prominent fancier sections in the future4 ,in passing through ,ohio we must never forget that ,ohio has the two important shows of ,cleveland and ,cincinnati1 and holds within her gates ,mrs4 ,e4 ,r4 ,pierce1 whose tastes run to orange and creams2 ,mrs4 ,chas4 ,mc,cloud1 of ,marysville1 ,ohio2 and ,mrs4 ,wagner1 of ,sandusky1 who brought a very fine lot of long-haired cats to ,cleveland this year4 ,mrs4 ,wagner is well known1 and has been for some time a breeder of blacks2 her silver tabby 8,queenie0 was the sensation of the ,cleveland show in #aijb1 and is destined to win a great deal more in the future4 ,mrs4 ,ferris has developed a faculty for bringing out good orange and brown tabby cats4 ,mrs4 ,c4 ,f4 ,russell1 ,mount ,pleasant1 ,michigan1 is also well known4 ,mr4 ,g4 ,g4 ,brown1 of ,east ,cleveland1 ,ohio1 deserves more than a passing mention1 for though not a cat breeder1 he has made it his business for two years to organise and carry through two of the best shows in the country at ,cleveland1 which have been of material help to the fancy1 and did a great deal of good4 ,what cats are kept at the ,brown homestead are short-hairs and some nice ,manx1 but in other lines1 such as poultry and dogs1 ,mr4 ,brown is hard to beat4 ,illustration3 ,,three ,,little ,,grandchildren ,,of 8,,persimmon40 ,,owned ,,by ,,mrs4 ,,hofstra4 7,photo3 ,maiceau1 ,new ,york47 ,mrs4 ,d4 ,e4 ,peters1 of ,north ,baltimore1 ,ohio1 has owned quite a few good cats1 including some that came from ,romaldkirk1 but of late she has signified her intention of selling out4 ,indianapolis1 though rather south-westerly1 is more in this division1 and contains a good many cats and some breeders1 though they have not been able up to now to come to shows and meet the more northern and eastern cats4 ,miss ,n4 ,h4 ,wilson1 whose prefix is 8,spokane10 is well known2 and so is the cattery of ,mrs4 ,ida ,m4 ,shirk1 who has carried on the business under the name of the ,linden ,cattery4 ,,district ,,no4 #d4--;,,canadian ,,cats4 ,the two pioneers of the cat in ,canada--i4e4 the two who were most prominent as breeders when ,i went to the first ,canadian shows--were ,mrs4 ,cumberland1 of ,port ,hope1 ,ontario1 whose prefix or affix of 8,demain0 bespeaks her early efforts4 ,even earlier than ,mrs4 ,cumberland1 the cats belonging to ,mr4 ,a4 ,burland1 an ,englishman1 attained prominence1 and the blood that he brought from ,england--mostly from ,mr4 ,a4 ,a4 ,clarke--is now diffused into or among many of our best-known catteries4 ,we had a dim suspicion--in fact1 more than a dim suspicion--that there was tucked away in ,canada more than one good cat2 and so1 being in ,toronto1 we made an exploration1 thanks to the help of ,mrs4 ,ellis and ,mr4 ,boyd4 ,our first visit was to the ,pioneer ,cattery1 where we found the ravages of gastritis had been severely felt only the week before1 and1 of course1 some of the very best1 including some we had portrayed lately1 had succumbed4 ,the most noted inmate was 8,marie10 a cat of good type1 very sound and in good condition1 with capital eyes of a good1 rich orange--she should breed something good2 and--we hope we can say it without offending anyone--this cat1 old as she is1 is the peer of any brown tabby put down in ,america last year1 and we only hope she will live to breed one more good litter1 which should be retained to perpetuate the race4 ,it was only a short walk to ,mrs4 ,mallock's1 who is rejoicing in the possession of a very cute young black male1 capital in style1 with a lovely coat and colour1 named 8,furzo10 bred by ,mr4 ,empey1 of ,montreal4 ,after lunch we drove to see ,miss ,cox1 who has the same nice white male we saw there six years ago1 and he has done yeoman service in the meantime4 8,cadi10 a young brown tabby male1 is a year old1 and a credit to any cattery4 ,miss ,cox is also the possessor of a nice white queen by 8,fluff10 who is responsible for some of the good kittens4 ,we next journeyed to the home of ,mrs4 ,bell1 who has one queen and two very strong kittens4 ,mrs4 ,bell1 however1 intends to strengthen her cattery soon by the acquisition of some good queens4 ,leaving ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,bell1 we journeyed to the ferry and went over to the ,island1 getting a glimpse of the beauties of ,toronto and a fine view of the water front and the suburban attractions4 ,we landed at the house of ,mrs4 ,mc,adley1 and were introduced to the grandest lot of brown tabbies we ever remember to have seen1 outside1 perhaps1 ,mrs4 ,cutler's1 which we should not like to compare1 not having seen them4 ,we may safely say that nothing so good was shown last year as ,mrs4 ,mc,adley's4 ,at the head of the list is 8,prince10 a grand old cat1 imported from ,ireland seven years ago1 and there are few cats extant to-day1 or ever were1 that can take his measure4 ,his head is magnificent1 and he is short on the leg1 has plenty of bone1 grand colour1 no weak colouring around the lips or chin1 and1 what is more1 he sires the right sort4 8,paddy10 his daughter1 is the peer of any brown tabby queen we have seen in the ring for a long time1 and we saw nothing to beat her in ,england two years ago4 ,mrs4 ,ellis has adopted the kittens1 and these will not pass out of ,canada under pretty stiff figures1 and wherever they appear in the show room they will have to be reckoned with by the very best4 ,we got back to our hotel at #aa p4m41 after a most enjoyable day among enthusiastic and painstaking fanciers1 and we had unfortunately to leave out one house for lack of time4 ,another cat enthusiast who has some good ,romaldkirk stock to sell--viz4 ,miss ,cottle--journeyed over from ,kingston on purpose to have a catty talk at the dog show4 ,we feel sure that the ,canadian contingent will have to be reckoned with in the future as breeders1 and in brown tabbies are a hard proposition4 ,as soon as they get hold of some better cats of the other colours they will be up with us1 though we do not see some of the best of the other colours1 notably ,miss ,cottle's and the ,montreal blacks4 ,,district ,,no4 #e4 ,california is a district by itself1 which can never be in active touch with the east1 and the future cat of ,california may probably be the ,siamese1 for the demand for them is growing every day1 and the climate favours them4 ,california is too warm to coat the long-hairs1 and the vermin are too promiscuous in most parts to make the rearing or caring for the long-hairs a pleasant occupation4 ,mrs4 ,c4 ,h4 ,hoag and ,mrs4 ,c4 ,e4 ,martling have been two of the most energetic in promoting the cat as a fancy in ,california1 and several shows have been held1 but at present--in the language of the slang--8there is not much doing10 except in ,siamese2 so that in taking a look over the past from a high point and looking down1 we cannot say that up to now we can point to many families or strains that have yet made their mark in ,america2 that is1 a mark that is very conspicuous1 for there has not been time4 ,but still there are signs of strains that will be matters of history1 and there are families that may be called distinctive1 because the descendants win under different judges with sufficient regularity to make this noticeable4 ,some of these ,i have sketched in my other notes2 but probably the most far-reaching of the families that win in all colours is the 8,humbert0 strain1 which emanates from ,mrs4 ,barker's 8,king ,humbert10 imported in #ahie4 ,not only did this cat sire a lot of winners himself1 but cats with the 8,humbert0 blood to the third and fourth generation1 such as 8,prince of ,orange10 etc41 are still winning all over the country4 ,judging by present appearances1 the 8,king of the ,silvers0 family1 coupled with his sire 8,bitterne ,silver ,chieftain10 is forging to the front1 and is marking out a path of its own as regards winnings in public4 ,one cat--8,the ,blessed ,damozel10 bred by ,mrs4 ,barker in ,england1 and by 8,champion ,lord ,southampton0 ex 8,peggy10 by 8,champion ,silver ,mist10 is making a big reputation through her children1 and the second generation is now beginning to win as did the first4 ,this blood is very successful wherever found1 and this is1 no doubt1 largely owing to the kittens by 8,king of the ,silvers10 though 8,the ,passionate ,pilgrim10 who goes back through his sire to 8,whychwood10 is as good as anything ,mrs4 ,barker has yet produced2 and this is saying a good deal1 for she has bred a great many winners in many colours1 and the effect of cats imported or bred by her is seen at every show we go to1 and the ramifications of blood lines spread over ,america would make a book in itself4 ,the very best cats from ,england will win here every time they are shown in good trim1 and in picking cats for best in show the greater part of the prizes go to ,english cats1 or to cats bred from ,english parents4 ,the crossing of the natives with the ,english is very successful in some cases1 and1 no doubt1 the changes of blood will in the future work to the good of the majority1 for in size1 shape1 and coat many of the ,american cats are very good1 but fail in type and quality4 ,the cat fever in its present form may be said to be so comparatively new as an industry that it has not been easy to give a comprehensive view of the whole4 ,some exhibitors have come up suddenly1 and after seeming to have carried all before them have disappeared as suddenly as they came1 while others have kept on right through1 though these are few by comparison with the great possibilities4 ,we are now passing through the early days of organisation1 and the future is not always too clear2 but1 still1 ,i have tried to give the most prominence to those who have braved the light of day and have supported the shows1 and this1 really1 is the only practical test of where we any of us stand4 ,if ,i were to enumerate all ,i have heard of1 and the many people who are interested in1 the cat in ,america1 there is no doubt but that a good deal more space than ,i have at my command would be used two or three times over2 and such is the size of the country that it is only possible to give a light sketch of the whole2 and ,i do not expect that ,i shall1 or anyone else could1 begin to do justice to1 or could in any way really gauge1 the number of people interested in cats in ,america4 ,in ten years' time ,i expect to see cities that now bring together perhaps #ajj cats1 then having shows containing hundreds2 for in most places1 even where shows have been held1 we have hardly scratched the surface1 and in perhaps only one out of #ajj important and possible towns have we ever had a show4 ,the extent of the possibility of the future can only be slightly grasped by those who have touched the fancy1 but those of us who have worked for many years at it see signs of growth now that may increase the fancy as a snowball will grow--the further you roll it the faster it grows in proportion4 ,we are only just waking4 ,the future alone can say whether we shall succeed2 but we must face the fact that in ,america the cat fancy1 as a whole1 is an impossibility1 and that cats as exhibition cats can only1 as a rule--unless belonging to rich people--meet each other in competition if within reasonable distance of each other4 ,illustration3 ,,an ,,american ,,beauty4 7,photo3 ,a4 ,lloyd1 ,amsterdam1 ,new ,york47 ,,judging ,,in ,,america4 ,in #aijj1 ,i am not afraid to say1 we had not more than two judges capable of judging a small show correctly all the way through4 ,to-day we have a great many breeders who could do very fair work1 and would not make many mistakes if the classes were not too big for them4 ,of course1 the fact must be recognised here1 as elsewhere1 that a judge improves with experience1 and ,i hazard the opinion that the fewer cats he owns the better he may judge1 though ,i personally prefer for my own stock a judge who has at some time bred the variety4 ,i cannot say that ,i have found the judging of cats in ,america a very difficult matter1 up to now1 for classes have been1 as a rule1 small1 and in most cases the winners stood out well2 and though1 no doubt1 there have been differences of opinion upon what ,i have done1 ,i have not had many qualms of conscience over past doings4 ,the weakest spot in the ,american cat shows has been the tendency of owners to over-estimate the value of their cats in many cases1 and the disappointment of defeat comes sometimes severely upon very enthusiastic people2 but there is no hope for a fancier who cannot suffer defeat and come again for some more1 so ,i think we need not waste our tears upon these1 for they were never destined to succeed4 ,want of quality is another weak spot we have to contend with1 and this often comes from the eye not having been trained to the best4 ,size as a factor of beauty is another fetish we have to destroy with a rude hand1 but our people are apt pupils1 and those who stay in the game are very anxious to be on the right track1 though it will take some a few years longer to learn the give and take1 to withdraw gracefully1 and to admit that there may be another side to a question4 ,my own position to-day is that ,i am as much interested in the fancy as ever1 but ,i do not find the necessity for doing the work in so severe a manner now1 for there are so many capable of carrying on what has been done1 and the future is pretty well assured2 so that for the health of the fancy at large it is better that too much should not be monopolised by two or three pairs of hands1 and some of us old-timers who began in #ahic and #ahid1 and before that1 are allowing the younger blood to take its share of the tasks4 ,in judging cats1 as in other stock1 it seems to me that one of the greatest criterions as to the success of our efforts as judges is the success in many cases of cats or kittens bred from those we have put in the front rank4 ,and only time can tell the force of what we have done4 ,if in the future ,i see cats doing as well as they are this season1 bred from those ,i have put in the prize list1 and judged by other judges1 then shall ,i feel repaid for work done in the past1 and not until then can ,i be sure ,i have been right4 ,it would be impossible to go back through the last eight years and their troubles and experiences1 and though in many cases ,i know ,i may have been called a 8beast10 ,i hope posterity will say ,i was a 8just beast40 ,illustration3 8,,champion ,,miss ,,detroit40 ,,owned ,,by ,,mrs4 ,,grose ,,and ,,mrs4 ,,owen4 7,photo3 ,d4 ,d4 ,spellman1 ,detroit47 ,it might be as well to refer to the score card to show where in cases such as we have had to contend with it has done a great deal of good4 ,one hundred points make perfection1 and the question arose in one's mind before using the score card as to whether the budding exhibitor would be for ever crushed by finding that the cherished one came out of the score card ordeal with about #ge points instead of the possible #ajj2 so that when it has been selected by a club for a show ,i have warned the owners of the danger2 but to the everlasting credit of our fanciers ,i may say that ,i have not had to register a kick because of a low score1 and many--even novices--were more than pleased with a score of eighty4 ,if ,i may point out a failing in ,english judging--and we see the same thing here in the dog fancy--the criticism is left to the reporter1 who has not the time or the opportunity for finding the real faults nor the space at command to do justice to the exhibits4 ,the task of explaining to exhibitors why their animals have lost is not an agreeable one2 but in a land like this1 where nearly all have been beginners1 this has been an absolute necessity1 and the dose must be swallowed or no progress is made1 and1 as in the case of the score card1 no doubt the having to give a reason is likely to keep us from giving prizes to one point at the expense of all the rest4 ,two great factors we have had to consider here are type and quality1 the two weakest points in our cats2 and if we had run to extremes in eye colour we should have made no progress in type or perhaps quality4 ,great stress has been laid upon markings in tabby cats1 with very good results1 and we are rapidly accumulating a good lot of tabbies--especially in the ,detroit district1 where tabbies are popular1 which is a thing to be grateful for4 ,we have never thought it well here to discourage the orange tabbies for the sake of unmarked orange1 and we have some very good orange tabbies whose number is on the increase2 and if the plain orange can range up beside the orange tabbies1 all well and good4 ,but ,i shall be an advocate1 if there is a danger of one hurting the other1 of making separate classes1 for we do not want to drive out the good orange tabbies1 which are very popular1 and the average ,american who loves an orange cat at the present moment does not care whether it is marked or unmarked4 ,cats with white hair are much in favour1 as is the case with ,madame ,ronner and the ,continental fanciers2 and1 if so1 there seems to be no reason for discouraging them1 and we may as well first make up our minds to the fact that1 in trying to force ,english ideas down the throats of the people of another country with too violent a hand1 we may do a lasting injury to the fancy at large4 ,illustration3 8,,the ,,commissioner40 7,photo3 ,arthur1 ,detroit47 ,another thing ,i might refer to1 and that is that the average ,american exhibitor does not favour giving prizes to long-haired cats when out of coat1 and the strength of the fancy and its future popularity lies in presenting to the public the cats in their best dress1 and this mostly is the only logical way we can give out the principal prizes and appeal to the good sense of those who come to see them2 for the general public1 when not experts1 can only judge from appearance4 ,the strength in ,england lies in the fanciers themselves1 who have the opportunity of seeing so much more and of learning4 ,our future here lies in being able to gather recruits by presenting the cats to them in as perfect a form as possible1 and therefore we have to depend upon the public4 ,our shows have to be in the winter1 when the cats are in coat1 and the dangers of exposure to the weather are very great1 all of which is a good deal to the disadvantage of the fancier4 ,,maltese ,,cats4 ,a great deal of interest has been taken in ,england in the subject of blue cats in ,america1 which are often called ,maltese1 and really among the rank and file of the public this is the name they go by4 ,so celebrated had some strains become that off-coloured cats bred from these cats are sometimes called ,maltese1 and the idea seemed to have gained considerable ground that this was a separate breed2 but evidence of this fact is very much lacking in most parts1 and in travelling over a good deal of the country and finding them thousands of miles apart1 ,i must confess that ,i have never been able to trace the origin of these cats nor to find out any reason for their numbers4 ,i have been led to think that they are the same1 or were the same1 in the beginning as the blue ,russian or ,archangel cat1 and that they were brought to this country many years ago1 and that the name was given them by sailors or others4 ,the tradition possibly has been handed down in the same way as the name of ,angora has remained fastened to the long-hairs with the average public here1 and will be many more years in dying1 for the band of fanciers who know better is but a drop in the bucket in this great land4 ,no doubt the name of ,maltese moved with the cat to the west as families moved1 for in the case of native-born ,americans the migration west has been often gradual3 thus some moved1 we will say1 as far as ,ohio1 their sons and daughters moved to ,illinois1 and the next generation went still further1 and the much-prized ,maltese cat drifted on with his name4 ,probably a good many of the so-called ,maltese are just blue specimens of the ordinary short-haired cat2 and1 in fact1 there has never been anyone of my acquaintance who had any ideas as to points or type2 but the colour was the feature to be looked at4 ,we find ,maltese cats of the short and cobby type besides the long and more extended species1 but the latter predominate1 and ,i am inclined to agree with some ,english judges that the fairly long cats with a cleaner cut head are the purer type of blue cat4 ,on some1 when judging1 ,i find very good heads with clean-cut features1 round1 well-developed cheeks1 with fairly long bodies1 very even in colour4 ,no doubt the preponderance of blue cats before the advent of the cat shows was largely owing to the selection of blue kittens in the litters1 which left a great many blue sires to roam the streets by night and sire blue kittens4 ,in many cases ,i have found families who had never heard of cat shows that had strains of blue or ,maltese cats1 and took pride in keeping the strain as pure as possible4 ,and one great factor is that the blues have always had the name of being excellent mousers1 and were valued as such4 ,besides this supposed strong point in their composition1 they have always had a reputation for great intelligence and of being good-tempered and reliable about the house with children and young folk4 ,like the ,plymouth ,rock fowl1 the ,maltese cat has been one of the institutions of the ,american continent1 and there seems to be some ground for believing the original tradition connected with the name ,maltese--that the ,maltese cat came from the ,east and was treasured as something out of the common1 and fell among friends4 ,some are light and some are dark1 and some have the white spot on the chest1 but on most there is not much evidence of tabby markings2 neither do you see this in the young kittens in the same way as the ,russians are said to be at an early age4 ,i have seen five and six pure light blue kittens in a litter1 and the father and mother were both of the same colour4 ,in quite out-of-the-way places you will1 upon going to judge the short-hairs1 find some blues1 and often with deep brown eyes2 and if ,i were to make a comparison between the average ,american blue and what ,i saw in ,england as ,russians1 ,i should say the ,american cats are mostly lighter in colour1 and do not have quite so glossy coats4 ,perhaps if taken up and selected for a few generations1 these features would come out more strongly4 ,one of the worst features of the popularity of the ,maltese1 from the point of view of the breeder of long-hairs1 has been that the blue colour has been so common that when the blue ,persian was introduced he was not1 in this country1 considered peculiar4 ,among the ,maine cats1 so-called1 the blue or ,maltese colour was not at all uncommon1 and plenty of this colour are to be found4 ,some people who bred them obtained their stock from ,paris1 and no doubt the ,chartreuse blue of olden times had a good deal to do with many of these4 ,the oldest blue cat ,i ever saw was one reared on a farm2 he had always lived out of doors1 more or less1 and was the farm cat4 ,his age was twenty-four years1 and as he was born at the same time as the oldest son1 who was also twenty-four years old1 the evidence was pretty good that the age was correct4 ,it must not be supposed from this that blue cats are so numerous as to overshadow other colours in ,north ,america1 for we have short-hairs in all the common colours1 and lots of them2 but1 still1 the fact is pretty evident that short-haired blues have been a popular colour for a long time1 and there are so many that everyone1 whether cat fancier or not1 is quite used to the colour4 ,the native-born ,american1 as a rule1 calls this cat the ,maltese1 and the name1 as ,i said before1 will cling for many a day to come4 ,in judging these cats1 ,i must say that the proportion of small or short1 round-headed cats is small1 and that these--in ,america1 at least--are not the most common type of blue cat2 and ,i1 personally1 in judging have usually inclined to the more lengthy cat with longer face and bigger ears1 though ,i think it is possible to find plenty without absolutely mean-looking heads4 ,we do not want a ferret's head on a cat1 for there is a happy medium4 ,illustration3 8,,ajax10 ,,blue-,,eyed ,,white4 ,,owned ,,by ,,mr4 ,w4 ,j4 ,,stevens4 7,photo3 ,coleman1 ,westfield1 ,mass47 ,,wild ,,species4 ,we cannot leave the ,american exhibition cats without saying a word upon the wild species1 some of which find their way into the show rooms on more than one or two occasions4 ,of course1 the cougar or mountain lion--our biggest species--is out of court on account of his size2 but still1 if history is to be believed1 this fine animal was never injurious to man1 and has not been known in recent times to attack man1 though he is fitted by size and strength to do a great deal of damage4 ,the next in order is the lynx1 and though this animal is pictured as very fierce1 there is as much evidence to show1 in other ways1 that if taken young and domesticated1 the lynx is amenable to reason and is very intelligent1 full of humour1 and not afflicted with excessive nervousness4 ,i have seen specimens exhibited1 and one in particular that was the constant playmate of a little child2 and this cat spent four days in a show playing most of the time with all the children that came along1 and was the coolest and most unconcerned cat in the hall4 ,evidently the lynx shares the great brain power of the cat family which those who are well acquainted with cats are willing to concede to them1 added to a calmness of temperament foreign to some of our so-called domesticated breeds that ought to have inherited by now1 perhaps1 more savoir faire under show conditions4 ,when on a ranch in the wilds with a few cats and dogs1 where quarters were limited1 ,i could never see that there was a natural antipathy between cats and dogs1 for the bitches would rear kittens and vice vers1 and the friendship was great between them--so much so that they would play together for hours1 and there was no danger in leaving dogs and cats together1 shut up in the house1 when we were absent4 ,in later times ,i have had twenty cats or more running around with as many dogs1 and never had a cat killed1 and only two or three occasions when any trouble started4 ,the supposed antipathy between cat and dog seems to be an acquired taste in a certain measure1 and personally ,i do not believe in the antipathy being natural or a fact1 for the two will live together in peace if not set upon each other by man4 ,from a few observations ,i believe the lynx is capable of domestication2 of course1 his size precludes his being numerous1 but in this variety there are possibilities as yet not sufficiently tried out4 ,illustration3 ,,mrs4 ,,clarence ,,houck',s ,,cattery1 8,,orchard ,,ridge10 ,,new ,,scotland1 ,n4,y4 ,of other cats1 in contradistinction to this1 we may mention that beautiful cat the ocelot4 ,this cat is fairly plentiful1 and is not very difficult to obtain when young2 and though they are so handsome and can be reared and left to run about the house till a year old1 as they arrive at maturity they become what the ladies call 8impossible40 ,the ocelot with increasing age grows hopelessly savage1 and will kill anything put in his cage that he is capable of handling1 and even to his keeper he is a problem4 ,this evidence is not hearsay1 but is from one who tried for a long time to do something with these beautiful animals4 ,they are1 when in condition1 one of our handsomest specimens of the cat tribe4 ,one of the most fascinating little cats ,i ever judged was a little ,marguay cat from ,brazil1 exhibited by the ,zoological ,society of ,chicago1 and though quite small and delicate-looking1 it seemed perfectly healthy1 and1 as in the case of the lynx1 was as tame and affectionate as possible1 and seemed delighted to be noticed and handled4 ,i cannot help thinking that if obtainable and kept pure this would make one of the most beautiful of exhibition cats4 ,small1 of a reddish-brown colour1 and clearly spotted all over1 with beautifully shaped and small ears1 which are black-and-white1 this cat is gentle1 sweet1 sizeable1 and possible as a pet4 ,i have never seen it excelled by anything among the cat tribe2 and having handled this cat a good many times during the show1 ,i may say it was one of the tamest and best-natured cats ,i ever came across in the show room1 and certainly the most beautiful short-haired cat possible to imagine4 ,on one or two occasions we have had ,australian cats exhibited1 and they were funny little beasts1 sitting up like a squirrel1 and with much the same shape of head4 ,when genuine they are most quaint1 but do not seem to live long here4 ,a very clever fake was carried out with these cats at some of the early shows--or1 rather1 ,i should not say with these cats1 but an imitation of these cats4 ,when the supply became limited1 someone became clever enough to augment the number by shaving the long and ragged native short-hairs1 and so well was it done that they not only won prizes1 but on one occasion one was bought by a judge after winning1 when to his purchaser's disgust a month or two later he turned out to be an ordinary yellow tom with his coat on6 ,the ,australian cat fell into disfavour after a few of these experiences1 and it has not been possible to resuscitate him4 ,we often hear of the ,pampas cat of ,south ,america being in certain catteries1 but so far at the shows none have been produced1 and ,i am inclined to think these also are of the impossible brigade on account of their savage disposition4 ,it is a pity that some enterprising fancier does not try to tame these wild species4 ,illustration3 ,,mrs4 ,,charles ,a4 ,,white4 ,,an ,,american ,,cat ,,fancier4 7,photo3 ,bolls1 ,chicago7 ,,some ,,of ,,the ,,difficulties ,,in ,,america4 ,our ,english readers will1 no doubt1 wonder at a good many things we do in ,america2 but1 never having had the experience of our conditions1 they would not be able to appreciate what it is that keeps the fancy back4 ,in the first place1 on this continent anything except poultry shows and dog shows is an unknown quantity1 and many of those who take up the cat fancy with enthusiasm are perfectly innocent of any show experiences1 and have few to teach them2 so that until a show or two has been held in a certain neighbourhood our affairs are apt to be a little mixed4 ,for instance1 the common idea of a tortoiseshell cat is as often as not a heavily marked tabby of the brown tabby persuasion1 or it may be an orange tabby1 or it may be a mixture of many colours4 ,until a show has been held in a town1 very few of the inhabitants know whether they have good cats or not1 and they are as likely to bring the bad as the good4 ,the idea has prevailed to a large extent that it is very expensive to get up shows1 and so the only opportunity made use of has been when a poultry show is being held and the promoters of this are asked for a little space1 which they may grant1 as the cats are found to be very conducive to a gate2 but the drawback of this arrangement is that in most cases the poultry people want to make as much money as possible1 and so keep the cats penned for four or five days1 which in many cases means death to the cats4 ,the cost of the hall being so great1 and the prize money being consequently kept down to try to balance things1 with the entry fees also put away up1 which1 all added to the travelling long distances and the added expense of hotel bills1 makes the lot of the ,american cat exhibitor not too rosy1 and it is something to wonder at that the fancy has ever developed at all4 ,distance from place to place is another factor1 and when you read in ,england of the ,new ,york and then the ,chicago show the week after1 you hardly realise that they are #a1jjj miles apart1 and that if living in ,new ,york and you want to show in ,chicago it may cost you #bj in travelling expenses alone4 ,another thing show committees have to face is the expense of the judge1 and the difficulty of finding suitable sires within reasonable distance is one of the many drawbacks with which ,american fanciers have to contend4 ,illustration3 8,,the ,,blessed ,,damozel40 ,,owned ,,and ,,bred ,,by ,,mrs4 ,e4 ,n4 ,,barker4 7,photo3 ,jos4 ,hbner1 ,rutherford1 ,n4,j47 ,illustration3 8,,tobey10 ,a ,,maine ,,trick ,,cat4 ,,owned ,,by ,,miss ,,chaple4 ,,chapter ,,xxviii4 ,,maine ,,cats4 ,from my earliest recollection ,i have had from one to several long-haired cats of that variety often called ,maine cats4 ,as to how and when they came1 ,i would say1 like ,topsy1 they just 8growed10 for their advent reaches far back beyond the memory of the oldest inhabitant4 ,our own family circle was never complete without one or more cats--not always long-haired1 but that variety always held the place of honour4 ,as early as #ahfa my younger brother and myself owned jointly a beautiful long-haired black1 pointed with white2 he bore up for several years under the remarkable name of 8,captain ,jenks of the ,horse ,marines40 ,i have no recollection of his earlier history or advent4 ,i fancy1 however1 that these cats came into ,maine much in the same way and about the same time that they did in ,england4 ,the ,maine people having had them so long1 it is difficult to arouse any great enthusiasm about them there4 ,they are much like other people--they go into heroics over things they know less about4 ,not until the craze for long-haired cats struck the ,west did they think much about selling cats2 their very best would be given to their dearest friends4 ,when ,i think of the number of beauties that ,i have had given me on my return visits because ,i would be good to them1 it makes me wish for the good old times when the little dears were beyond price in 8filthy lucre40 ,i think the first really important development of the cat fancy that took deep and lasting root in me occurred in #ahfi1 when ,i saw for the first time a pair of blue-eyed white ,persian kittens that landed1 to say the least1 free of duty1 in a sailmaker's pocket1 from a foreign vessel1 which put into a seaport town for repairs after a severe storm4 ,this ,mr4 ,p----1 being a great lover of cats1 while on board the vessel making repairs1 admired a beautiful white ,persian cat with a family of kittens1 belonging to the cook1 who gave him a pair of them4 ,they grew and were nursed with tenderest care1 the female developing much the better quality in hair2 but females were not highly prized at that time4 ,they were both kept two or three years to get a good male for a gelding4 ,i was told that they destroyed all the female kittens2 but at last they were rewarded1 and then the original pair were sent to a relative in the country4 ,from that time on long-haired blue-eyed white kittens sprang up in most unexpected places4 ,at intervals they have appeared and almost disappeared several times for want of care in breeding1 but with this drawback they will still frequently come forth in the same fine type4 ,i owned a very fine specimen called 8,dot10 who became a noted winner1 and who came from this strain about eleven years after the kittens landed4 ,i think he was quite as good a specimen of ,persian as the one that came from the original kittens4 ,they were both cat show winners at the same time1 although 8,baba0 7or 8,babie07 was in his dotage when 8,dot0 was in his prime4 ,we were not thinking of pedigrees then1 but merely who had the best cat4 8,baba0 at that time belonged to ,mrs4 ,mason 7formerly ,mrs4 ,philbrook71 and won the cup over everything in the ,boston show4 8,dot0 was not at the ,boston show1 but won first in his class at ,bangor1 ,maine1 which was held at about the same time4 8,dot0 was sent to the ,bangor show to please ,mr4 ,robinson1 owner of 8,richelieu10 who had the management of it1 and without the slightest thought of winning4 ,he brought home a gorgeous silver butter-dish1 elaborately inscribed1 which sat about at least ten years before being given to the cook4 ,oh1 that ,i had it now1 that its picture might grace these pages6 ,for intelligence and affection 8,dot0 was by far the superior cat4 ,i have never seen his equal4 ,although deaf1 his other senses were so keen that we hardly realised he did not hear4 ,he would answer to the slightest beckon1 and was always watching for a call4 ,he was quite proud of his beauty1 and never failed at his mistress's receptions to speak to each person present before taking his seat in the window4 ,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 them4 ,each one stroked his head1 said 8,pretty kitty60 and passed on4 ,he then took his morning roll on the lawn1 and was ready for his breakfast4 ,illustration3 8,,hennessy40 ,,owned ,,by ,,mrs4 ,,hall1 ,,belfast1 ,,maine4 ,his benevolence and tender feeling for cats of low degree was displayed by his keeping a cat two winters2 his protg was an example of the sad-eyed forlorn cat 7one sad eye1 the other closed beyond repair72 spirit completely broken by neglect4 ,as soon as the weather became cool1 8,dot0 would usher his sad friend into the kitchen every morning and ask for breakfast for him1 then sit back on the rug the while1 and with utmost satisfaction--expressed in song--watch the tramp cat eat it4 ,where he kept his friend when he was not eating we knew not2 he was invisible4 ,he also excelled as a traveller1 making several short journeys4 ,when with me he scorned a basket1 much preferring to sit on the seat and look out of the window and incidentally entertain the other passengers by his unusual privileges in cat travelling4 ,he developed an unusual taste for moisture1 often sitting on a garden bench through a heavy shower1 while his frolics in a light snowfall were most entertaining4 ,taking him all in all1 ,i have not yet seen a finer pet cat4 ,we sent him to rest in the happy hunting grounds at the age of ten years4 ,i would like to say a few words here in regard to ,american cat shows4 ,we are continually hearing it stated1 or seeing it written by the clubs and those who are new to the fancy1 8,the first cat show ever held in this country10 and so forth1 was1 we will say1 according to their light1 some three years ago4 ,that is true so far as clubs go1 but large cat shows were held spasmodically in all the large and some small eastern cities as far back as the #8seventies4 ,i have a photograph of 8,richelieu10 owned by ,mr4 ,robinson1 of ,bangor1 ,maine1 who had won first in his class at ,boston1 ,new ,york1 and ,philadelphia previous to #ahhd1 when he was shown at ,bangor1 ,maine1 in a limited show of the one hundred best cats4 ,he was a silver or bluish tabby1 very lightly marked2 about seven years old at the time2 weight about twenty pounds2 he was1 as his picture shows1 rather a coarse-grained variety2 a drug store cat4 ,i know nothing of his early history2 but his owner had the cat fad--a well-developed case--and travelled from city to city to show his cat1 much as we are all doing now twenty years later4 ,at that time ,maine1 near the coast1 was rich in fine specimens of the long-haired cats4 ,that was before they began to sell4 ,i have in mind their brown tabbies4 ,we often hear it said by people who know them not that the ,maine cats are unhealthy1 that they have worms2 and ,i have to admit it1 and that they sometimes die like other cats2 but here is one that didn't until he had rounded out his full seventeen years4 ,on page #cbi is a picture of 8,leo10 brown tabby1 born #ahhd1 died #aija2 presented to ,mrs4 ,persis ,bodwell ,martin1 of ,augusta1 ,maine1 by ,mrs4 ,e4 ,r4 ,pierce1 when he was six months old4 ,he lived a life of luxury and ease1 having his meals served by his mistress's own hand in the upper hall1 where he chose to spend his time for the later years of his life4 ,illustration3 8,,blue ,,danube40 ,,bred ,,by ,,mrs4 ,e4 ,r4 ,,pierce4 ,if ,i may be permitted1 ,i would ask comparison between the picture of 8,leo0 and any thoroughbred brown tabby--first1 colour of muzzle1 length of nose1 size and shape of eyes1 breadth of forehead1 size of ears1 length of hair in the ears1 and on the head4 ,in body markings 8,leo0 would fall off1 as his hair was so extremely long that the markings became somewhat confused4 ,they have had some extremely fine brown tabbies in ,maine4 ,in the summer of #aijj ,i bought 8,maxine0 there--the mother of 8,young ,hamlet10 who won over his sire 8,prince ,rupert0 the first year he was shown4 ,she was1 or is1 very much the type of the 8,king ,humbert0 stock1 though she has no pedigree whatever4 ,it is one of ,nature's own secrets how they keep bringing forth--now and then1 not always--these fine types4 ,i have before me a most interesting letter from a ,maine lady1 one of my contemporaries4 ,i will first explain that ,maine at that time was one of the largest ship-building ,states in the ,union1 residents of the seaport towns and cities being often masters of their own floating palaces1 taking their families with them to foreign countries1 and having in many towns quite social sets1 like the army set or official set in other sections4 ,mrs4 ,thomas1 to whose letter ,i refer1 was the daughter of the late ,captain ,stackpole1 who commanded his own ship for many years1 taking his wife and little daughter with him4 ,that was before our ,civil ,war4 ,she says3-- 8,i was always very fond of cats before they had to have a pedigree4 ,in my younger days1 en route for ,california1 we stopped at ,juan ,fernandez1 and ,i got a little wild cat4 8,later on1 when in ,europe1 ,i got a ,manx cat from the ,isle of ,man2 it was a great curiosity1 and not considered very handsome1 with its bob-tail1 and hind legs so much longer than the front ones4 ,it came to an untimely end by running up a flue1 and was smothered to death4 8,the wild cat did not flourish on condensed milk1 and lived but a short time4 ,bad luck has followed me right along1 but ,i keep right on like an old toper1 and don't know enough to stop40 ,in writing of her own cat1 the mother of 8,swampscott10 she says3-- 8,i cannot tell you much about my cat's pedigree--only that her great-grandfather was brought to ,rockport1 ,maine1 from ,france2 he was a blue-eyed white40 ,this line of whites1 while in the same locality1 are quite distinct and unrelated to the first whites mentioned1 of which 8,dot0 was given as a type4 ,but her reference to her early exploits with ,manx cats clears the air as to how these different varieties first got root in ,maine4 ,this instance is only one in many where pets of every variety were bought in foreign ports to amuse the children on shipboard2 otherwise1 as in one case ,i can call to mind1 the children would make pets of the live stock carried to supply the captain's table with fresh meals--chickens1 lambs1 etc4--until it would be impossible to eat the little dears after they were served by the cruel cook4 ,therefore birds of plumage and singers1 cats1 dogs1 and even monkeys1 found their way to nearly all the coast towns--many more in the past than at this time1 when sailing vessels have passed their usefulness as money-making institutions1 and those that do go out are not commanded by their owners2 paid captains1 as a rule1 cannot take their families with them1 and the supply of cats from that source has been cut off for many years1 so those we find there now can safely be called natives4 ,up to this point ,i have been writing of the cats of the long1 long ago1 and perhaps only interesting to myself1 being as full of plain facts as ,gradgrind4 ,before coming down to some of the fine cats of the present day1 ,i will say that ,i am told by an eye-witness that on a little island quite well off the coast which is inhabited by only three families1 and where a few gentlemen have a quiet nook to fish in summer1 they found pure white ,persian cats with the most heavenly-blue eyes4 ,so far as is known1 no other cats are on the island4 ,i had the promise of a pair last year1 but cruel fate had visited them in their sheltered nook1 and the kittens that year died4 ,the promise still holds good1 and ,i do not want to believe it a 8fish story40 ,time alone can finish it4 ,i really know nothing of the cats that are said to be found on the islands2 but no doubt they are much the same as those found all along the ,new ,england coast4 ,for a long time the long-haired cats seemed to be confined mostly to the coast towns and cities2 but the giving their best to 8their sisters and their cousins and their aunts0 have spread them inland1 as well as scattered them over nearly every ,state in the ,union4 ,they thrive as well as any other long-haired cat4 ,no doubt they do still better in ,maine1 but the difference comes from the fact that they have the freedom of living a natural life1 without dopes or over-coddling4 ,their offspring are beautiful1 because they are from their own choosing1 and not from compulsory mating--often distasteful1 no doubt4 ,illustration3 8,,leo40 ,,brown ,,tabby4 ,,owned ,,by ,,mrs4 ,p4 ,,martin4 7,photo3 ,hunton1 ,hallowell47 ,about #ahie or #ahif the cat fad struck the ,middle ,west4 ,the time was ripe for its development4 ,the high1 the low1 the rich1 the poor have all felt its force1 as the real love of animal pets is no respecter of persons1 and this fancy has made the whole world kin4 ,a few people who had never seen a cat show in their native land 8go across10 attend a cat show1 or pick up a cat at a bargain on the streets of ,london2 they 8fetch0 it home1 and1 lo6 their neighbour has seen something very like it while at their summer home on the coast of ,maine4 ,the fad is contagious1 and if they have the fever running very high they send back east to their 8handy-man0 to get them a long-haired cat1 and these cats become popular4 ,clubs are formed to discuss points and exchange knowledge1 shows become a necessity1 large premiums are offered1 numerous valuable specials become a feature1 cats must be found to fit them1 the home market at a low figure is looked over1 many ,attic treasures are brought out1 and have often tipped the scales in favour of the ,yankee cat4 ,we all turn green with envy4 ,before another show we must import a ready-made winner at any cost6 ,in the meantime1 the demand for the home-grown article is increasing1 and prices are getting much inflated1 the dealers in large cities keeping their buyers busy in the ,new ,england field during the fall and winter months4 ,but the stock of kittens has been looked over by the summer residents or visitors2 the real cream disappeared with the first frost to some winter homes in the big cities2 the dealers get what is left at almost any price they please to pay1 many of the specimens being indifferent1 and some1 no doubt1 mongrels4 ,in the last few years ,i have known less of the ,maine cats1 except through the shows and a few that ,i have owned myself1 which have not been shown much or proved remarkable in any way2 but among the gems that have shown out with more or less brilliancy when on the bench we find 8,cosie10 a brown tabby1 taking first and special for best cat in show in ,new ,york1 #ahie4 ,mrs4 ,lambert brings out 8,patrique0 in ,new ,york in #ahif--;blue1 and a nice one4 ,illustration3 8,,yellow ,h4 #ad,,th ,,beauty40 ,,owned ,,by ,,mrs4 ,,staples4 8,king ,max0--first brought out by ,mrs4 ,taylor--won in ,boston first in #ahig-ih-ii1 only to be beaten by his sire 8,donald0 in #aijj4 ,mrs4 ,mix has shown a fine ,persian type from ,maine called the 8,dairy ,maid40 ,i believe she has also 8,imogene10 from the same place--a tortoiseshell4 ,mrs4 ,julius ,copperberg's 8,petronius10 of whom we all expected great things1 was from a line of creams coming well down from a fine cream brought from some ,mediterranean port by one ,captain ,condon about fifteen years ago4 ,i have secured for friends several kittens from his cat's descendants1 which are now somewhat scattered1 but all showing great strength1 form1 bone1 and sinew4 ,mrs4 ,chapman's 8,cusie ,maxine0--a fine type of brown tabby1 dam of 8,young ,hamlet10 who won over his sire 8,prince ,rupert0--was also a ,maine cat4 ,mr4 ,jones1 of ,the ,cat ,journal1 has from time to time had some fine brown tabbies of the ,maine stock1 winners at some of the larger shows4 ,a fair representative of the whites1 who has acquitted himself well at the various shows in competition with large classes1 is 8,swampscott10 owned by ,mrs4 ,f4 ,e4 ,smith1 of ,chicago4 ,he comes from ,mrs4 ,georgia ,thomas's white cats at ,camden1 ,maine1 his maternal great-grandsire coming from ,france4 8,midnight0--a younger black cat1 winning second at ,cincinnati to a cat from ,new ,hampshire in better coat1 and second in ,chicago in #aija in large classes--has since become a gelding and pet of ,mrs4 ,j4 ,j4 ,hooker1 of ,cincinnati4 ,he comes from a line of blacks owned by a retired sea-captain named ,ryan1 who had at one time four generations of black cats4 ,they loved their cats like babies1 and for years looked for people suitable to give their kittens to4 ,i have been the flattered recipient three times in the last dozen years of these beautiful black diamonds4 8,antonio10 a gelding1 now owned by ,mrs4 ,a4 ,b4 ,thrasher1 of ,cincinnati1 ,ohio1 is also a fine representative of this stock4 ,see photograph4 ,in the last few years1 since cats there are at such a premium and old age getting nearer every day1 these good people have hardened their hearts1 and now sell like others to the highest bidder4 ,i can also think of 8,peter the ,great10 a neuter cream and white1 owned by ,mrs4 ,carl ,schmidt1 shown at ,detroit1 ,michigan1 #aija4 ,also 8,black ,patti0--originally owned by ,miss ,ives--and 8,rufus10 both ,maine cats1 now owned in ,detroit1 and winners in some of the ,middle ,west shows2 and many1 many other winners whose place of nativity is a sacred secret with their owners1 which we will not wilfully expose to public gaze until our native cats have been accorded the place that is due to them4 ,i would like to tell you of some of the handsome geldings in ,maine4 ,no cat is too good for a pet with them4 ,they may be seen on nearly every lawn or stoop2 but as that is a little out of the province of this story ,i will only describe one--a beautiful smoke owned by ,dr4 and ,mrs4 ,e4 ,a4 ,wilson at their beautiful home in ,belfast1 ,maine4 ,he is now ten years old2 his mask and feet are black1 or nearly so2 his hair is very dark1 rather brownish at the tip1 but as white as snow at the skin4 ,i have begged them to show him at ,boston or ,new ,york4 ,the answer is always the same3 8,not for any amount of money or prizes4 #8,tags' wouldn't like it2 he would be unhappy4 ,wouldn't you1 #8,tagsie'80 ,the smokes have not been well developed there yet4 ,in a letter lately received in regard to that variety1 ,i am told that one of the regular agents said he found only about one in #bjj4 ,the silvers and chinchillas are not common4 ,the strong colours predominate1 whites1 blacks1 blues1 orange1 and creams1 tabbies also being well divided and distributed along the coast1 and for quite a distance back1 perhaps sixty miles or more2 but ,i have not known of their appearing to any extent in the northern portion of the ,state1 which is less thickly settled4 ,having had this fancy from my infancy and before it became a fashion1 ,i took kindly to all the new developments4 ,i have since had some experience with imported and kennel-bred cats1 and from time to time had opportunities of seeing the best we have in our shows1 and ,i fully believe that cats that have their freedom1 as most of the ,maine cats have for the greater part of their lives1 are healthier than kennel cats can be4 ,the cool climate and long winters1 with clean air full of ozone1 is what is needed to develop their best qualities1 and1 with a few years of careful breeding for types1 they would be able to compete quite successfully in an international cat show4 ,f4 ,r4 ,,pierce4 ,illustration3 ,,mrs4 ,,bagster',s 8,,demidoff40 7,photo3 ,cassell ,company1 ,limited47 ,illustration3 ,a ,,snapshot4 7,photo3 ,e4 ,landor1 ,ealing47 ,,chapter ,,xxix4 ,,cat ,,photography ,,for ,,amateurs4 ,all lovers of the cat who are also amateur photographers must have seen with envious admiration the lovely cat pictures by ,madame ,ronner1 the more racy and amusing sketches by ,louis ,wain1 and the many beautiful photographs which so greatly enhance the instructive and pictorial value of this 8,book of the ,cat40 ,to the amateur wishing to take up this fascinating1 though somewhat difficult1 branch of photographic art1 ,i venture to offer a few suggestions4 ,the subject naturally divides itself into two distinct branches--the commercial and the artistic4 ,by the 8commercial0 ,i mean all photographs taken with the special aim of showing the shape and points of the cat from the fancier's1 owner's1 or purchaser's point of view4 ,in the 8artistic10 ,i include all those pictures where the cat is used as a model only4 ,in either kind of work almost any sort of camera and lens will do1 providing it will yield a fair definition and admit of rapid exposures4 ,if one possesses a portrait lens all the better4 ,at all events use a lens which will give you good definition at a large aperture4 ,a good make of roller-blind shutter is an important accessory1 with a sufficient length of tubing to the pneumatic release to enable one to move about freely while holding the ball and to get close up to the cats while making either time or instantaneous exposures4 ,the camera stand should be very firm and rigid4 ,i like best to work in the open air1 my studio being the small open run of my cattery4 ,if the light is too direct or strong ,i diffuse it by stretching light blue art muslin curtains above the table or stand upon which the cats are arranged4 ,these curtains run with rings upon cords stretched from the boundary walls on each side1 so that they may be moved in any way the lighting may require4 ,for background a dark plush curtain will be found useful4 ,avoid figured backgrounds1 as they detract from the value and crispness of the cats and accessories4 ,an example of what ,i mean will be seen in my picture on page #aeh of the present work1 where the feathers in the hat1 one of the motives of the composition1 are almost lost in the scrolls of the curtain used for background4 ,three things are absolutely necessary to successful photography of cats for either commercial or artistic purposes--time1 patience1 and an unlimited number of good quick plates4 ,of all animals the cat is possibly the most unsatisfactory sitter should we attempt by force to secure the pose we desire4 ,by coaxing we can generally get what we wish4 ,patience is the keynote of success4 ,before commencing1 make up your mind as to what points you wish to show2 then pose your cat gently and wait patiently until the pose becomes easy4 ,she may jump down or take a wrong pose or go to sleep a dozen times or more1 but never mind1 give plenty of time4 ,it is here where patience tells4 ,wait and coax until you see just what you desire1 then release the shutter and make the exposure4 ,at this point never hesitate or think twice--especially with kittens--or the desired pose may be gone1 and will possibly cost you hours of waiting again to secure it4 ,before photographing a cat for its general appearance or for any special points1 it is essential to have it thoroughly groomed and got up as carefully as for show4 ,speaking generally1 the coat of a long-haired cat should never be roughened2 it altogether spoils the shape of the animal1 and does not in any way improve the appearance of length1 quality1 or texture of the coat4 ,in all cats where their markings are one of their chief points--such as tabbies and tortoiseshells1 etc4--this roughening should be specially avoided4 ,there is1 possibly1 one exception to this advice1 and that is in the case of smokes1 where it may be1 and sometimes is1 desirable to turn back a small patch of the fur to show the quality and purity of the silver under-coat4 ,in such cases the turning back must be done only for this purpose1 and in such a natural way as not to interfere with the general flow of the fur or the shape of the cat4 ,in posing a cat1 it is well to remember its faults as well as its good points1 so that the former may be hidden as much as possible and the latter displayed to the best advantage4 ,let us take this somewhat extreme example3 ,a friend has a domestic pet--a so-called ,persian1 but with weasel head1 long back legs and tail1 large ears1 small eyes1 short coat1 but some slight pretence to a frill4 ,what can we do8 ,to take him in profile will result in a very sorry caricature of the noble ,persian2 so we coax pussy to bend her back by sitting on her hind legs1 and so partly hiding them as well as apparently shortening her back1 inducing her also to curl her long and scanty tail round her feet4 ,we brush out the ear tufts1 if she has any1 and press up the fur at the base of the ears1 for this will tend to make them look smaller4 ,having placed the camera well in front of and nearly on a level with the cat1 so as to foreshorten the nose and head1 while showing what frill there is1 a sharp squeaking sound will make pussy open her eyes to their full extent2 we press the ball1 the exposure is made1 and we have secured a fairly presentable photograph of our friend's perchance charming pet1 yet most indifferent ,persian cat4 ,a few good examples of cats taken for the purpose of showing points should prove useful1 especially to the novice1 and many such examples are to be found in this present work on the cat--for instance3 p4 #bi1 8,litter of ,siamese ,kittens02 p4 #ajj1 8,champion ,jimmy02 p4 #ach1 8,star ,duvals02 p4 #aci1 8,omar02 p4 #ade1 8,a ,perfect ,chinchilla02 and p4 #aej1 8,dossie40 ,with these examples and the many others that are to be found scattered through the pages of 8,the ,book of the ,cat10 the would-be photographer of the cat for her show points should have little difficulty in setting up a standard to work to1 and by patience and perseverance succeed in attaining it4 8,turning now to the more artistic side of cat photography1 we find our real difficulties begin1 for in photographing for the showing of points we seldom have to deal with more than one cat at a time4 ,it is when we attempt deliberately to pose two or more cats or kittens1 to carry out a preconceived idea1 that our real troubles begin1 and also that the patient skill of the amateur wins its best reward4 ,looking through the pages of 8,the ,book of the ,cat10 we find many good examples of how the cat should be used in picture making4 ,the reproductions of ,madame ,ronner's charming pictures show how they may be handled with palette and brush2 but1 alas6 here we photographers labour under an immense disadvantage4 ,however artistic our taste1 however good and pretty our intended composition may be1 we cannot1 as the artist with pencils and brushes can1 make individual sketches of pussies in the different positions needed and bring them together in the finished picture4 ,whether we use two or more cats1 they must each be kind enough to take the pose we desire simultaneously2 hence our greater difficulty4 ,however1 the illustrations on pages #a1 #cg1 #di1 #hh1 #abh1 #aii1 and many others indicate the wide field open to the photographer with a little taste and vast patience4 ,in this class of photography it is of no use to go to work in a haphazard fashion1 snapshotting our cats in all kinds of positions1 trusting to mere luck to yield something worth keeping2 then to give a sounding title to it1 and so hope to make a picture4 ,accident does occasionally present us with something worth having1 but far more often it offers us results only fit for the waste-paper basket4 ,illustration3 ,,amateur ,,photographers4 7,photo3 ,mrs4 ,s4 ,f4 ,clarke47 ,before commencing1 be sure you have an idea to work out in your picture1 and of the lines you hope to follow in giving it expression4 ,if possible1 make a rough sketch--no matter how rough--of this idea1 showing the position not only of the cats1 but also of the accessories needed4 ,be careful to keep the composition simple and not to overcrowd it4 ,this sketch will greatly assist you in arranging your picture and posing your cats4 ,before you attempt to pose the cats it is absolutely necessary that all accessories should be fixed so that they cannot be knocked over1 or the cats will get frightened and be useless as sitters for a long time to come4 ,that cats are nervous should never be forgotten1 and any chance of startling them strictly guarded against4 ,when your background1 table1 and accessories are all in their places1 put your camera in position1 arrange the picture on the ground-glass1 and see that you get all well within the size of the plate2 it is safer to have the picture on the ground-glass a little smaller than the plate will allow1 as1 if one tries to get it to its utmost size1 one may find in developing that one of the models has moved back on the table an inch more1 perhaps1 than calculated upon1 and as a result have half a cat on one side instead of a whole one4 ,the background1 however1 should be large enough to fully cover the ground-glass4 ,focus the foreground and nearer accessories1 stop down to ,f4 #h1 set the shutter to about to second 7according to light and nature of subject71 insert the slide containing the rapid plate1 draw the flap under the dark cloth1 and if at all windy tie this last to the camera4 ,now you are ready for the cats and a suitable moment of light4 ,as ,i have already remarked1 ,i do my photographing out of doors4 ,i therefore choose a bright warm day1 when there are plenty of fleecy clouds about2 so that by taking advantage of their position in front of the sun1 and by the help afforded by my muslin curtains1 ,i am able to modify the harsh contrasts incidental to working in broad daylight4 8,the ,artist0 7page #abh7 was1 perhaps1 one of the most difficult subjects ,i have attempted4 ,without apparent life and go such a subject would be worthless4 ,illustration3 ,,playing ,,at ,,work4 7,photo3 ,mrs4 ,s4 ,f4 ,clarke47 ,the rough sketch of the cat in the basket was first prepared1 and the brush attached to it in such a manner that it would move freely up and down for about an inch or so2 then it and the rest of the accessories were firmly arranged upon the table4 ,the cat in the basket was then made to take her place1 but keep in she would not2 as soon as the brush moved to attract the artist paw1 out she would jump2 so for the time she was allowed to run1 until the artist was posed and an endeavour made to infuse life into him by moving the brush4 ,but it was 8no go02 sit down he would1 until the introduction of a feather woke him up4 ,his companion was then slipped into the basket2 but1 alas6 success was not yet4 ,for about two hours we had to begin over and over again1 when at last the pose of both kittens was obtained simultaneously and the picture taken in of a second4 ,such a subject with the kitten tamely sitting at the handle of the brush would not in any way have realised my intention4 ,i must again point out the great convenience1 especially in this class of work1 of the extra length of tubing1 which allows you1 while holding the release in one hand1 to pose your models with the other1 and then expose without the fatal loss of time that would be entailed by having to step back to the camera or by giving the word to an assistant4 ,a subject suggestive of a picture will often turn up when least expected and1 at the time1 impossible to take4 ,i always make a note of these1 and they come as a basis for future use and to be worked out at leisure4 8,thieves0 7page #gi7 was suggested by noting the fondness of two of my kittens for melon1 8,amateur ,photographers0 by a group of kittens playing round some photo frames put out to print1 and 8,mischief0 7page #hh7 by a frolicsome kitten overturning a small bottle of ink and playing with the little black pool4 ,isochromatic plates should be used in all cases where there are mixed colours in the cats' furs1 as in tortoiseshells1 brown tabbies1 etc42 mixtures of red1 black1 and yellow cannot be truly rendered with ordinary plates4 ,the only extra precaution necessary in their use is absolute freedom from actinic light in the dark room4 ,double ruby glass in the window1 or1 if artificial light is used1 an extra thickness of red tissue paper round the developing lamp1 will answer the purpose and make everything safe4 ,with this little extra care1 nice crisp negatives are obtained1 while the relative value of the red1 yellow1 and black seen in our furry friends are well defined in the resulting picture4 ,cats used as models should1 if possible1 be in the pink of condition--the prettier the model the more pleasant the picture4 ,the best time to photograph a cat is about one hour after a light meal4 ,immediately after a meal most cats want to wash and sleep4 ,a hungry cat or kitten makes the worst of sitters2 its thoughts are too much turned towards the inner man4 ,never overtax your cats1 give them plenty of rest during a sitting1 and never lose your temper and attempt by force to secure a pose2 it only frightens the cats1 and can never result in satisfactory work4 ,time and patience should always in the end achieve what you desire4 ,artistic photography having been for some years a pleasant and recreative hobby with me1 ,i can assure my friends who keep cats for pleasure1 and those who find pleasure in the camera1 that by uniting the two hobbies they will discover a field of enjoyment and artistic possibilities which neither pursuit alone can afford4 ,to all such the preceding notes are offered as humble finger-posts1 indicating rather than assuring the road to success4 ,,lucy ,,clarke4 ,illustration3 ,,in ,,the ,,studio4 7,photo3 ,mrs4 ,s4 ,f4 ,clarke47 ,illustration3 ,,tabitha',s ,,afternoon ,,tea4 7,photo3 ,c4 ,reid1 ,wishaw1 ,n4,b47 ,,chapter ,,xxx4 ,,rearing ,,of ,,kittens4 ,it may truly be said that the subject most interesting to cat fanciers is the successful rearing of kittens1 and pages might be written on what to do and what not to do in order to bring up a family of kits in health and strength4 ,experience teaches us many things1 and certainly during the number of years ,i have been breeding ,persian kittens ,i have had ample opportunity of judging what food suited the little mites best1 and which was the surest method of bringing up a wholesome litter of kittens4 ,i am sure that in the olden days there was less delicacy amongst ,persian kittens than at this present time4 ,with the advent of the first family the anxieties of the novice begin4 ,perhaps a goodly sum has been risked in the purchase of a pedigree queen1 or else with much carefulness and taking thought a valuable kitten has been reared to happy matronhood4 ,so far well2 the trouble has been slight1 but the account book shows all on the debit side4 ,now1 as we gaze upon the tiny blind bobbing atoms1 over which the mother croons and purrs with pride1 here is the investment that has to swell our credit column4 ,and ignorance here spells loss4 ,if a large number yearly are successfully raised1 a still larger number sadly 8pass out10 and might claim the baby's plaintive epitaph3 8,since ,i am so quickly done for-- ,i wonder what ,i was begun for60 ,neither does the comfortable law of the 8survival of the fittest0 seem to hold good here4 ,at least1 ,nature and the exhibitor are at variance in their ideas of such1 for always it is our choicest1 our sure and certain champion1 that slips our too eager grasp4 ,here is our experimental nest of champions2 they are but two days old1 and in this early stage of their existence the less they are handled and examined and the mother interfered with1 the better4 ,attend to two things--darkness and fresh air2 and leave them alone till they introduce themselves of their own accord to your notice4 ,shift on to a clean nest the second day after birth4 ,it is safer not to do so before1 as ,i have known a belated kitten arrive twenty-four hours after the rest of the family1 and in the case of an excitable or inexperienced mother she will by then be more composed1 and can be coaxed out to feed while the change of bed is being made4 ,hay1 short and sweet1 is the best bedding--much better than blankets or cushions4 ,many fanciers use boxes turned on their sides and curtained4 ,these1 while giving the necessary darkness1 are not sufficiently ventilated2 the air in them cannot circulate freely1 and becomes stuffy and foul1 vapours ascend1 and the wood becomes unsanitary in a very short time4 ,bad eyes follow as a matter of course1 and the anxious1 worried novice wonders 8how they can possibly have taken cold when they have been so guarded0--from fresh air6--and seals them up still more6 ,if1 therefore1 a box is used1 let there be holes for ventilation1 or arrange for the covering to reach only partly over the top4 ,in an outside cattery or attic or room guard against too much light and any draught1 but let in the outside air by keeping the window open during the day4 ,if winter kittens are to be reared1 heat the room to an average of #ee degrees1 and have the window open1 taking precautions naturally against rain or snow beating in4 ,when the kittens reach the age of three weeks1 they will require some food beyond that provided by the mother1 who1 if nursing a large family1 is perhaps showing signs of wear4 ,it is when the process of weaning begins that trouble generally arises4 ,i am inclined to put down the growing delicacy of ,persian kittens to the injudicious feeding with solids at too early a period of their existence4 ,i never used to allow my kittens meat until they were about four or five months old1 and during the period of weaning from their mothers it is most essential that all food given--such as ,mellin's1 ,ridge's and ,benger's--should be made very thinly at first1 so as not in any way to try the tender digestions of the little creatures4 ,illustration3 ,a ,,happy ,,mother4 ,i believe that most of the ills that kittens' flesh is heir to1 proceed from indigestion4 ,the tendency in fanciers is to overload the stomach of the wee kittens1 forgetting that it is not the amount of food eaten that nourishes the tiny creatures1 but the quantity they are able to digest1 and this must necessarily be small for some weeks after they have learnt to feed themselves4 ,another mistake that is made is giving milk that is too rich4 ,in large towns we generally get our milk watered for us1 but in the country the milk is richer1 and needs mixing with warm water4 ,it is not so important in the country as in ,london and other large towns to have the milk boiled1 but it is at all times and in all places a wise precaution4 ,in preference to risking the town dairy milk1 flavoured with boracic1 and most deadly to the systems of both kittens and babies1 ,i advise a good brand of ,swiss milk--such as ,nestl's--being employed1 or1 better still1 ,plasmon powder1 made to a jelly according to directions on packet1 and one teaspoonful of this jelly thinned out with hot water and sweetened4 ,do not give raw meat till the teeth are fairly through and they can bite sharply2 then give it scraped with a blunt knife1 not cut2 and remember that raw meat is three times as digestible and nourishing as cooked meat--one tiny meal of meat a day1 a teaspoonful per kitten to begin with4 ,do not give them fish while under three months old4 ,rice is a very indigestible food for kittens1 especially cold2 but rice-water1 strained from rice boiled to a pulp and given quite cold1 is useful in checking diarrha4 ,melox is a most useful food for kittens of ten weeks old and upwards1 soaked for an hour or two in a little good gravy1 and given crumbly 7not sloppy71 and a little scraped raw meat mixed with it4 ,for younger ones a tablespoonful of red gravy from a cooked joint1 poured over some breadcrumbs1 proves an appetising meal4 ,small meals at short intervals are infinitely better than heavy meals at long intervals1 and if a young kitten is left for many hours till half famished1 it will in all probability eat too much and suffer in consequence4 ,from four to ten weeks six or seven meals in the twenty-four hours are none too many4 ,i am presuming that till that age they will be with their mother at night1 which will do away with the necessity of providing food between #i p4m4 7when the last meal should be given7 and #h a4m4 ,give always a light and warm meal for the breakfast4 ,after ten weeks lessen to five meals1 after three months four1 and give four till six months old1 when they may be fed as adults1 unless one should be delicate or has been through severe illness4 ,illustration3 ,,mrs4 ,,bonny',s 8,,dame ,,fortune40 7,photo3 ,l4 ,r4 ,stickells1 ,cranbrook47 ,the best test of a properly thriving kitten is its weight1 and #a lb4 for each month of age is a fair average1 occasionally exceeded by very big-boned and robust kittens4 ,for young growing kittens a teaspoonful of lime-water added to a saucer of any liquid is very advisable1 as it strengthens the limbs and forms bone4 ,if a kitten under a month or six weeks old is unfortunate enough to have a severe illness1 whether epidemic or accidental1 my advice is to chloroform it4 ,at so tender an age the constitution rarely recovers from the strain4 ,although this article has no intention of encroaching upon that treating specially of diseases1 our aim and object being to rear such healthy sturdy families of kittens that they shall never have any diseases1 yet1 en passant1 it might not be amiss to remark what a valuable medicine for the first symptoms of distemper is ,pacita1 a herbal medicine that can be obtained in both powder and pill form4 ,the latter is to be preferred1 as1 the smell being very nasty1 kittens rebel against it4 ,half of ,no4 #a size pill is sufficient for a kitten under three months1 to be given fasting in the morning an hour before food for three mornings4 ,it reduces fever and clears the system in a wonderful manner4 ,illustration3 ,,mrs4 ,,bonny',s 8,,derebie40 7,photo3 ,l4 ,r4 ,stickells1 ,cranbrook47 ,the question of outdoor exercise must now be discussed4 ,i speak of summer kittens only4 ,winter kittens--viz4 those born from ,november to ,february--are1 ,i think1 a mistake4 ,out of season1 like forced green peas at ,christmas1 they have not a good start in life2 the damp and darkness of those months is very deterrent upon young life4 ,nature's plan of arranging for the new lives to come chiefly in the spring when days are lengthening and sunshine has power1 is the wisest4 ,they grow with the days1 and have the summer to romp through and grow big and strong before the leaves fall4 ,it is a mistaken policy--that of exposing to risks under the intention of hardening4 ,we must remember that the ,persian cat is an exotic1 and that the present system of breeding for coat and show points does not tend to make the race hardier2 on the contrary1 probably the constitution is more delicate than in its native country1 imported cats invariably boasting a vigour and hardihood that our pedigree specimens sadly lack4 ,it is not cold that injures2 frost and snow can be borne by grown-up ,persians with impunity1 and even enjoyment4 ,it is the damp that kills1 and upon consideration we shall see that this is largely a question of coat4 ,look at your ,english sleekly groomed puss as she comes leaping across some dewy field in the early morning1 pressing through a thick1 wet hedge4 ,she gives herself a shake2 examine her fur3 not a dewdrop has adhered1 hardly are her pads damp4 ,now pick up your ,persian gentleman who has taken a slight hunting stroll through the same ground3 his stomach fur is soaked1 clinging like wet linen to him2 his 8knickerbockers0 are disreputable1 his frill clammy2 and it will take him a good hour to get himself clean and respectable once more4 ,the soft woolly under-coat of the ,persian holds water like a sponge1 where the close short coat of the ,british cat shakes it off as from duck's feathers4 ,this is the true secret of the delicacy of the ,persian4 ,so in rearing kittens1 let your first care be1 avoid damp4 ,a sick kitten generally forgets its manners1 however carefully it has been trained to the use of the dry earth or sawdust box2 it seems to feel too bad to care how it behaves1 so due allowance must be made at the time2 but in health1 cleanly behaviour must be insisted upon from the time they begin to trot about their nursery4 ,begin by placing a very shallow tray of nice dry fine earth in one or two corners that the kittens seem to have a predilection for2 it may even be necessary to put them in all four corners for a little while to convince some obstinate or dullard member of the family4 ,a cat's confidence is harder to win than a dog's1 but once you have gained it the animal will trust you implicitly1 and will bear pain or nasty dosing at your hands without resentment4 ,i think kittens should be handled from early days4 ,i do not advocate a valuable kitten being sent up to a human nursery1 to be hugged flat or carried head downwards by the too-adoring occupants2 but kittens should be thoroughly accustomed to human society and to being picked up1 caressed1 and handled4 ,it will make their subsequent show career far less of a terror1 and greatly augment their chances of success2 and in the case of all male cats1 whether for stud or neuter1 it is very convenient to train them to walk on a lead4 ,begin by using a light ribbon1 and two kittens led together on separate leads will come more willingly than one4 ,the first lessons in walks might terminate at the feeding dish1 so that the kits would quickly associate this new form of exercise with something to eat4 ,it sometimes happens that young kittens are too early bereft of maternal care from some cause or other4 ,mr4 ,a4 ,ward1 of ,manchester1 has invented an artificial foster-mother 7see page #cdc74 ,this consists of a glass vessel covered with flannel1 and having indiarubber teats4 ,this is filled with warm milk and water1 and the kittens help themselves6 ,it is only of comparatively recent date that any serious attention has been given to the successful breeding of ,persian kittens4 ,a demand has arisen for animals that approach perfection1 according to a recognised standard of points1 and it may not be unprofitable to devote a few pages to the consideration of how these can be best obtained4 ,formerly a long-haired cat was not much thought of unless he really deserved his name1 but nowadays coat is rather at a discount on the show bench4 ,points1 points1 points--colour of eyes1 colour of coat1 shape1 expression1 and what not--these are all considered first1 and length and beauty of coat are rather apt to be overlooked4 ,the amateur cat lover should provide himself with a female cat or kitten of fine health and luxuriant coat1 and treat it precisely like any other 8well done by0 domestic pussy4 ,probably by the time she is twelve months old she will have insisted on matrimony4 ,this is worth a little consideration and trouble1 but if the choice lies between a healthy1 hardy long-haired tom at large in your own neighbourhood and a pedigreed prisoner at a distance1 ,i should recommend the local monsieur4 ,illustration3 ,a ,,litter ,,of ,,eight1 ,,belonging ,,to ,,miss ,,savery4 7,photo3 ,h4 ,warschawski1 ,st4 ,leonards-on-,sea47 ,what you want is physique and a fine appearance1 and you are more likely to get them in this way4 ,many owners of ,persians have been quite content to rear saleable kittens of average merit1 and trust for their show reputation to fine animals bought from others4 ,to encourage breeders special prizes are offered at shows to those who win a first prize with a cat whose mother was in the exhibitor's possession at the time of the kitten's birth4 ,they are very handsome trophies1 and have to be won four times before becoming the property of the exhibitor4 ,over against the mistaken motto of 8,haphazard0 we must place the password of 8,selection0 if we would become successful breeders4 ,selection--clever1 thoughtful1 painstaking selection--lies beneath all real success4 ,i am not denying that excellent results are obtained occasionally by accident1 but these happy flukes want following up if any permanent good is to be effected4 ,having a queen of a given colour1 you should1 as a rule1 mate her only with a cat of the same colouring1 and be especially careful not to cross self colours with tabbies4 ,now selection1 as too often understood1 means just this3 ,a male cat makes a great sensation at a show and wins many prizes4 ,he is the right colour1 therefore to him you will send your queen4 ,what can be simpler8 ,why this fuss about the difficulty of breeding8 ,but you are a novice1 and know nothing of the value of the pedigree owned by the winning monsieur4 ,it is not so much he himself as his inherited tendencies you have to consider1 for assuredly they will reappear in his children4 ,an old hand will tell you1 8,yes1 a grand head1 but where he got it from is a miracle1 with such parents02 or1 8,colour8 ,yes1 first-rate1 but he was the only one clear from sandy in the litter40 ,well1 what can a bewildered novice do8 ,remember1 you have to try to cap each of your queen's defects with a corresponding virtue in her mate4 ,if she is snipey in face1 make head a chief point2 if she fails in colour1 lay great stress on colour2 and so on4 ,my advice is1 do not send her to a new star who has but just arisen in the sky of the cat world until you know a little more about your business4 ,mark your catalogue at shows4 ,study the cats and kittens whose points please you and who are filling the prize lists1 and then notice their sire's name4 ,when you find the same name repeated again and again1 and always attached to animals of consistent merit1 you will not do far wrong to choose the owner for your queen's mate4 ,but after having exercised all possible care in the selection of a male cat1 we must not expect the litter of kittens to be perfection4 ,all breeders know that there is1 as a rule1 one kitten in each litter which far surpasses its fellows in beauty4 ,illustration3 8,,star ,,of ,,the ,,spheres0 ,,and 8,,son ,,of ,,roy40 ,,bred ,,by ,,miss ,e4 ,a4 ,,chamberlayne4 7,photo3 ,russell ,sons1 ,baker ,street47 ,perhaps one will possess the type of head you so covet1 but the colour is inferior4 ,another has colour or markings to perfection1 whilst the head is poor4 ,well1 then1 they must be mated with an eye to remedying these defects1 and a near relative possessing these strong points will be likely to prove the most successful cross2 for in-breeding--careful1 cautious1 and judicious--is another secret of the successful breeder4 ,but one word of caution to the novice3 ,never be persuaded to breed from an unhealthy animal1 be his or her points what they may1 and never allow your queens to mate when thoroughly debilitated and out of health2 for this lies at the bottom of the difficulty experienced in carrying out the next point we have to consider--i4e4 the successful rearing of kittens4 ,if cat fanciers could learn this lesson1 we should hear far less of infant mortality4 ,for the ordinary mode of kitten rearing it is essential to have proper outdoor quarters1 and1 if possible1 quarters isolated from each other4 ,there is nothing more suitable than the portable houses so readily obtained2 but these must be on a dry foundation4 ,sunshine1 fresh air1 and wholesome food are the essentials of a kitten nursery4 ,moreover1 there must never be many young things kept together4 ,otherwise1 some unlucky day you will find a sad-faced kitten looking down its nose1 and in two or three days more your whole tribe will be down with distemper and your hopes for the year shattered4 ,i know it sounds brutal1 but ,i cannot refrain from saying that sentiment is the ruin of successful kitten rearing4 ,some tiny morsel develops a skin trouble1 has chronic diarrha1 bad eyes or snuffles1 and we tenderly nurse it for many weary weeks and perhaps save it4 ,a victory8 ,yes1 if the morsel were a gem of great value1 one of the 8surprise babies0 in colour or shape that now and again visit every cattery1 it may have been worth paying the cost4 ,for pay we shall have to1 make no doubt of that4 ,your kitten nursery will never be quite so healthy again1 and in spite of all precautions you will very probably carry sickness to your other stock4 ,i would never breed from unhealthy animals1 and ,i would at once destroy a very sick kitten of tender age4 ,lethal boxes rob the act of inhumanity1 and you will probably have one little tombstone to erect instead of a dozen6 ,one great feature of success is the boarding-out system4 ,any woman really fond of cats who will take a kitten into the bosom of her family and rear it is a perfect boon4 ,of course1 she must be well paid1 but if she is successful you can afford to be liberal4 ,in these cases it is better only to put out your choice specimens that you wish to attain some age before sale or to keep for stock4 ,the others should be sold off at about eight to ten weeks old at moderate prices4 ,illustration3 ,,the 8,,foster-,,mother40 7,photo3 ,h4 ,glacier1 ,longsight47 ,far more of the trouble with kittens comes from defective digestion than from any other cause1 and ,i suspect we frequently overload their little interiors4 ,when nature makes the small cat turn away from its dinner1 we fall into a panic and pour beef essence down its throat4 ,probably a short fast was all that was required1 and it is a mistake to force food until some hours have elapsed4 ,in fact1 healthy surroundings and common-sense treatment are the main secrets of successful kitten rearing4 ,illustration3 ,,the 8,,foster-,,mother0 ,,in ,,action4 7,photo3 ,h4 ,glacier1 ,longsight47 ,illustration3 8,,arrived ,,safely40 7,photo3 ,e4 ,landor1 ,ealing47 ,,chapter ,,xxxi4 ,,colour ,,breeding4 ,colour breeding is a most fascinating pursuit2 but1 unfortunately1 the average cat fancier lacks the patience to follow it out to a satisfactory conclusion4 ,there is no doubt that by judicious cross-breeding new colours could be produced1 and ,i think that they will be produced in time4 ,i have seen a chocolate-brown cat and a yellow cat with black stripes1 and no doubt they will appear again2 also chestnut-brown cats and white cats striped with black may be bred4 ,the point which ,i wish to discuss on this occasion is not so much the experimental cross as the cross which is desirable to improve existing colours4 ,i do not consider that a white cat should be crossed with any other colour4 ,there is no advantage to be gained in this case by crossing1 as we already have white cats good in bone1 substance1 head1 shape1 etc41 and no other colour of cat possesses blue eyes4 ,i do not for a moment suggest that good white cats have not been bred from coloured parents1 but this is unnecessary and undesirable1 because there is a risk of introducing coloured patches and smudges and yellow or green eyes1 and there is no corresponding advantage to be gained4 ,in the same way ,i do not consider that it is a good thing to breed from white cats with yellow or odd eyes4 ,blue-eyed kittens have been bred from two yellow-eyed parents1 and frequently when one parent has yellow or odd eyes the kittens are all blue-eyed1 but this can in no way be depended upon4 ,black cats are a little more difficult to handle than whites1 because a white is necessarily white1 while there is sometimes a diversity of opinion where a black is concerned4 ,the most important point to keep before us in black-breeding is the colour of eyes4 ,whatever we cross with we must be careful that we do not lose the orange eyes1 for they are most elusive1 and we are1 therefore1 somewhat limited in our selection of suitable crosses4 ,a smoky or dirty black is an abomination1 and for this reason ,i consider that from the point of view of the black cat all crosses with blues1 smokes1 or silvers should be avoided2 in any case a good silver would be impossible because of its green eyes4 ,a rusty black is undesirable1 but a rusty kitten usually makes a better-coloured cat than a smoky one1 though there are notable exceptions to this rule4 ,a good orange-eyed tortoiseshell or red tabby1 or an orange1 are all suitable mates for a black4 ,a curious thing ,i have noticed is that the best blacks are bred from bright clear-coloured cats1 and that dull colours1 such as smokes1 blues1 and fawns1 do not1 as a rule1 produce good-coloured kittens4 ,for this reason ,i should prefer blacks bred from an orange-eyed silver tabby to those bred from a dark brown tabby4 ,on the whole1 a brightly coloured tortoiseshell will be found to throw the best blacks4 ,illustration3 8,,patricia10 ,,brown ,,tabby4 ,,bred ,,by ,,miss ,,fanny ,,ellis1 ,,toronto4 ,of the crossing of blues with any other colour ,i do not approve1 because we have many different blue strains1 among which can be found all the different points which are desired4 ,comparisons are odious1 but if ,i refer to the ,bath show of #aijc ,i can explain what ,i mean4 8,skellingthorpe ,patrick0 is a beautiful cat in all points except eyes1 but 8,don ,carlos0 and several other blue males in the class had glorious orange eyes4 ,i have often heard that crossing a blue with a white will produce very pale blue kittens2 ,i have not found this to be so1 and it seems unlikely1 for mate a black cat with a white one as often as you like1 and you may wait a lifetime before they breed a blue kitten2 therefore why should a dark blue and a white produce a pale blue kitten8 ,sometimes crossing with a black is recommended 8to get the orange eyes10 but it must be remarked that the proportion of black cats with good orange eyes is quite as low as that of blues4 ,when this cross is resorted to1 let the black parent be the male1 as otherwise the kittens may very likely all be black4 ,it is the misfortune of the smoke cat that it has been indiscriminately and unintelligently crossed with the black and the silver tabby1 and1 worst of all1 with the blue4 ,strangely enough1 there seems to be some close affinity between the smoke and the silver tabby1 and it should be our object1 as far as possible1 to keep them apart4 ,to this connection is attributable the prevalence of green eyes and leg and face markings among smoke cats4 ,in crossing smokes there are many difficulties to contend with4 ,we must keep the light under-coat1 but avoid markings2 we must have the black face and legs and retain the light frill2 and we must have orange eyes4 ,all crosses with tabby must be avoided1 or we shall never get rid of face pencillings2 but judicious crosses of black1 blue1 or 7best of all7 chinchilla may be of service4 ,a black cross is better than blue because1 though either endangers the under-coat1 it will intensify the black mask and legs4 ,the one advantage of a blue cross is that it will1 sooner than any other1 help to eliminate markings2 but the blue kittens from such a cross must be sternly rejected1 as their colour will never be satisfactory4 ,the chinchilla is the best cross for the smoke so far as colour is concerned1 and an orange-eyed chinchilla should be of service for breeding smokes with light frills and good under-coats4 ,a cross of chinchilla may with advantage follow a black cross4 ,illustration3 ,,miss ,,goddard',s ,,pair ,,of ,,kittens4 7,photo3 ,e4 ,landor1 ,ealing47 ,we now get to the subject of chinchilla breeding2 it is a matter of common knowledge that chinchillas were produced as the result of careful in-breeding1 and1 therefore1 until the breed is more firmly established1 any sudden out-cross is likely to cause a reversion to the barred ancestors4 ,the idea1 then1 is to cross with whatever is least likely to introduce stripes--i4e4 a self-coloured cat1 or preferably a shaded one4 ,of course1 any tinge of red or brown is to be avoided1 and1 therefore1 the only shaded cat left to us is the smoke1 and a green-eyed smoke is certainly the safest cross we can get1 as it is sufficiently akin to the chinchilla to obviate the risk of a violent out-cross4 ,the black is1 ,i think1 the next best cross1 for it is just possible that the colours may not interfere with one another1 and that we shall get pure black and clear silver kittens--of course1 a green-eyed black must be used4 ,third on the list comes the white2 but this cross makes for absence of markings1 and therefore demands great caution1 as thereby the black noses and eyelids which add so much to the charm of a chinchilla may be lost and the result be merely a dingy1 dirty white cat4 ,this animal1 though not particularly attractive in itself1 is1 ,i need hardly say1 invaluable for crossing again either with a clear-coloured chinchilla1 a black1 or even a blue4 ,a blue cross is1 as a rule1 rather objectionable1 because it seems to produce a muddy1 dull colour1 but there is no doubt that it may occasionally be resorted to with success4 ,i should suggest that the blue parent 7a green-eyed one1 of course7 should be the sire1 as when the reverse is the case the kittens are frequently blue tabby4 ,i do not think any colours besides those ,i have mentioned should be crossed with chinchillas1 though ,i must confess that chinchilla kittens occasionally turn up most unexpectedly4 ,i recollect a very pale one appearing in a litter whose sire was a cream of brown tabby and cream parentage1 and whose dam was a pale blue bred from a blue and a blue tabby4 ,there may have been silver tabby blood in the strain1 but certainly no chinchilla4 ,for all this ,i do not recommend a cream or tortoiseshell cross1 as the chances are all against the kittens being any good1 and it is laying up a store of disappointments in the next generation4 ,we have all possessed cats which1 though beautiful in themselves1 never threw a kitten worth keeping4 ,i had a little cat myself bred from two chinchilla parents4 ,the dam was a well-known winner1 and her ancestry was1 ,i knew1 irreproachable1 and the sire's appeared to be equally so1 though ,i was told afterwards that he often sired brown tabby kittens4 ,but my queen 7herself a prize-winner71 no matter how she was mated1 invariably threw brown tabby kittens4 ,we now come to the very fascinating subject of tabbies1 and ,i may as well say at once that any amount of crossing is for the present desirable and even necessary1 but it must be done systematically and under a careful and experienced eye4 ,the novice is likely to fail because he does not understand the essential points of a tabby4 ,let him keep before his mind the fact that if two distinct black stripes run the whole length of the spine and if the chest markings are good there is not likely to be much wrong with his cat's other markings4 ,illustration3 8,,lollypop10 ,,one ,,of ,,lady ,,marcus ,,beresford',s ,,silvers4 7,photo3 ,e4 ,landor1 ,ealing47 ,in the brown tabby1 the markings have become too heavy1 they have run together and spread into a heavy black saddle2 while the ground colour has lost warmth and white chins are prevalent4 ,with the 8sable0 cat1 be it understood1 ,i have no fault to find2 ,i can forgive him even his white chin1 because he is such a magnificent animal2 but he is not a tabby1 and should not be shown as such4 ,in the brown tabby we want dense black markings on a clear golden-brown ground4 ,the black is there right enough1 but it wants 8breaking up40 ,a cross of strongly marked red tabby is the thing2 not a 8self-orange10 mind you--that would only make things worse--but the best-coloured red1 with a dark chin1 that can be found4 ,when the markings want intensifying1 as may be the case after the red cross1 we must mate with a black2 but ,i do not think this will be necessary1 as brown tabbies rarely 8wash out0 as silvers do4 ,it is curious to note that many years ago ,i bred quantities of beautifully marked silver tabbies and brown tabbies from a brown tabby sire and a sandy1 silver tabby dam1 both of unknown pedigree4 ,the silvers were clear and pure in colour1 with capital black markings1 and the browns had good rich colouring4 ,this is a cross ,i should certainly hesitate to recommend1 but there are possibilities concealed therein1 and it is worth an occasional experiment with the sole object of rescuing the degenerate tabby markings4 ,it is a curious fact that while the tabby is supposed to be the common ancestor of all our cats1 the tabby markings should be the most difficult point to retain in the pedigree cat4 ,a brown tabby cat with a good-coloured chin should always be retained to breed from1 even if it fails in some other points4 ,it is1 ,i know1 the general opinion that the craze for chinchillas has ruined the silver tabby1 but ,i do not feel convinced that this is so4 ,i am of the opinion that the constant breeding of silver tabby to silver tabby will eventually result in the production of poorly marked cats4 ,let me give an example3 8,felix ,mottisford0 was a very heavily barred son of 8,champion ,felix10 and 8,patz0 was also heavily barred and bred from silver tabbies4 ,two of their kittens were 8,silver ,midget0 and 8,my ,fairy40 8,midget0 was a prettily marked silver tabby1 but much lighter than her parents1 and showed a strong tendency to throw unmarked kittens4 8,fairy0 was certainly a silver tabby1 but her markings were entirely on the surface1 and as she grew older faded away until she was more shaded than barred4 ,mated with a blue1 she produced four chinchilla kittens2 mated with 8,lord ,southampton10 there were two well-marked silver tabbies and two chinchillas 7this litter included 8,dimity0 and 8,abbess of ,broomholme072 mated with 8,silver ,lambkin10 there was one chinchilla kitten--8,fitz ,eustace0--and the rest were silver tabbies2 by 8,tuan10 a much more marked cat1 the kittens were all chinchillas 78,tuan10 ,i may mention1 was a distant cousin of 8,fairy072 by 8,silver ,lustre0 there were two chinchillas and two silver tabbies4 ,i then parted with her1 and she afterwards had1 by 8,silver ,chieftain10 a litter of silver tabbies and chinchillas1 including 8,silver ,tangle0 and 8,silver ,sprite40 ,after that date ,i have no record of her doings1 but it can be seen that she certainly showed an inclination on her own account towards chinchilla kittens1 and this1 ,i take it1 was the result of the continued mating together of silver tabby cats4 ,i do not consider any other cross than black is admissible in a silver tabby strain1 but the introduction of black blood is necessary from time to time if markings are to be retained4 ,i go so far as to say that a cross of green-eyed black in every third generation would be a wise precaution4 ,illustration3 ,,three ,,little ,,americans4 ,the red tabby1 the orange1 and the tortoiseshell are rather hopelessly mixed up at present4 ,the self-orange 7so-called7 did not exist a few years ago1 but of late a premium has been put on absence of marking1 and a lot of cats with self-coloured or shaded bodies and striped faces appear in the orange classes and win all the prizes4 ,i have no fault to find with the shade of colour of these cats2 they are a beautiful bright clear orange1 but if they are to be self-coloured the face markings must go4 ,crossing with blue gets over this difficulty1 but we immediately lose brightness of colour and get dull yellows and fawns4 ,tortoiseshell is a safe cross1 but the ancestry of the tortoiseshell must be carefully inquired into1 and one bred from black and tortoiseshell is best1 or we can go direct to the black4 ,tabby cats or any of a blue or grey colour should be avoided in this connection4 ,clear1 pale yellow creams may be bred from oranges and tortoiseshells2 but these must not be confounded with the fawn-coloured cats1 often called creams1 which are more common and easy to breed4 ,though creams and fawns occasionally appear in the same litter this is generally the fault of their ancestors1 and can be accounted for if the pedigree is known on both sides4 ,as a matter of fact1 ,i have never seen one of these clear yellow creams which was not descended1 however remotely1 from ,mrs4 ,kinchant's strain4 ,examples of the colour ,i mean are 8,cupid ,bassanio10 8,zoroaster10 8,dairy ,maid10 8,mistletoe10 and a few of their descendants4 ,illustration3 8,,holmlea ,,thistledown40 ,,owned ,,by ,,mrs4 ,,keep1 ,,sydney1 ,,new ,,south ,,wales4 ,to breed fawn creams is1 comparatively1 a simple matter1 as a cross of blue and orange will almost invariably produce some fawn kittens1 especially if the dam is blue4 ,when the dam is orange or tortoiseshell there will often be a number of blue tortoiseshell kittens which are valueless4 ,some people like them to breed fawn creams from1 but ,i have never found them more useful for this purpose than a correctly coloured tortoiseshell4 ,tortoiseshells are entirely neglected by fanciers nowadays1 and are only used as a stepping-stone to more fashionable colours4 ,there is no doubt that a tortoiseshell can be got to breed anything6 ,i knew a queen which bred magnificent blacks1 blues1 creams1 oranges1 fawns1 and smokes1 whether mated to a blue1 a cream1 or a smoke1 and ,i believe she also threw chinchilla kittens to a chinchilla sire4 ,to breed tortoiseshells for the show pen we must not indulge in any haphazard matings4 ,the fault of the tortoiseshells is1 as a rule1 that the red and yellow has run all over the black1 and instead of having a clear patchwork of red1 yellow1 and black1 we have a blur containing a preponderance of yellow4 ,the obvious remedy is our old friend the black4 ,all the best tortoiseshells are bred from blacks1 and a black and a red tabby or orange will generally throw some good tortoiseshells4 ,to produce tortoiseshell-and-whites cross a tortoiseshell with a black-and-white rather than with a white1 but avoid red tabby1 as a tortoiseshell-and-white cat frequently shows tabby markings for this breeding4 ,the red tabby has nearly died out among long-haired cats1 though it flourishes in the short-haired variety1 but by crossing a brown tabby with an orange it might be revived4 ,no doubt there would be a few mismarked kittens in the litter1 but the chances would be in favour of a good red tabby1 and the colour could then be preserved by crossing with black and tortoiseshell only4 ,of course1 it is no use trying experiments in cross-breeding in the hope of obtaining definite results unless we are satisfied as to the pedigree of the cats employed for at least two generations1 or all our calculations may be upset4 ,for example1 when breeding for chinchillas1 if we used a black bred from a brown tabby mother the results would be disastrous4 ,a point to be carefully noted in cross-breeding is to select a cat with eyes of a colour desired in the breed which he is destined to improve1 whether those eyes would be correct in his own family or not4 ,this suggests a use for our rejected green-eyed blues and blacks and our orange-eyed silvers4 ,my notes1 as may be observed1 are on the subject of long-haired cats1 but they will be found equally applicable to short-hairs4 ,,hester ,,cochran4 ,,chapter ,,xxxii4 ,,the ,,cat',s ,,place ,,in ,,nature3 ,,its ,,ancestry1 ,,classification1 ,,structure1 ,,and ,,distribution4 ,at a very remote period in the history of animal life when the struggle for existence was rife1 the carnivorous and predaceous animals 7to which the existing cat belongs7 occupied a position in the scale of creation as important as the one they hold to-day4 ,we find locked up in the rocks of the tertiary and recent pleistocene formations the bones and teeth of these ancient cats along with those of the animals upon which they lived4 ,these ancestors of our cat had a tolerably wide geographical distribution1 and they apparently differed considerably in size1 as do the different members of the existing cat family4 ,the crested cat 7,f4 crestata7 was probably as large as a tiger--more recent remains having a closer affinity to existing cats are found plentifully in caves and in the deeper beds of rivers and lakes almost all over the ,british ,islands4 ,probably the most remarkable of these extinct cat-like creatures is the ,machrodus1 the skulls of which 7,fig4 ,,ii471 with portions of its skeleton1 associated with the bones of other animals1 have been found in the cave deposits in ,brazil1 ,north and ,south ,america1 ,india1 ,persia1 many parts of ,europe1 as well as in the ,british ,islands--viz4 ,kent's ,cavern1 ,creswell bone caves1 and other places4 ,the skull1 which is very typical and cat-like in form1 is remarkable for the extraordinary development of the upper canine teeth1 which in some species exceed seven inches in length4 ,the ,machrodus was about the size of a lion4 ,the ancestors of our cat were certainly more specialised in parts of their organisation4 ,the nearer we approach the recent forms a greater uniformity in structure prevails1 until we get in the existing cat-like group 7,felis7 probably the most consolidated and uniform of all the generic mammalia4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 ,i4--,,brain ,,of ,,cat4 ,a1 ,right hemisphere of cerebrum2 ,b1 ,cerebellum2 ,c1 ,medulla oblongata2 ,d1 ,olfactory bulb 7nerve of smell72 ,e1 ,convolution1 or ,gyrus2 ,f1 ,fissure4 ,,family ,,characteristics4 ,under the generic title of ,felis are included over fifty-one distinct species1 of which the lion1 tiger1 leopard1 puma1 and our common domesticated cat may be taken as representative4 ,they inhabit every region on the earth's surface1 except the extreme northern latitudes1 and vary in size from the tiger and lion to the little red-spotted cat of ,india1 which does not exceed fifteen or sixteen inches in length4 ,but it is1 as already indicated1 very uniform in order as regards structural points4 ,all have well-developed1 retractile claws1 the only exception being the cheetah1 whose claws are only partially retractile2 all have five toes on the fore feet1 and four on the hind feet2 all the teeth are cusped1 or pointed1 and specialised for flesh-eating1 as well as for aggressive purposes4 ,the incisors in front of the upper and lower jaws are small1 the four canines well grown and long1 with a cutting edge on the inner side2 the molars1 or cheek teeth1 have one to five cusps1 points1 or lobes4 ,all the members of the family are digitigrade 7i4e4 use only the extremity of the toes in walking72 the tympanic bulla1 or ear-bone1 is large and prominent2 the general form of the skull is rounded and broad across the orbits1 or eye-sockets 7the latter are1 with two exceptions1 open or incomplete behind72 the clavicle1 or collar-bone1 is reduced to a short1 curved1 splint-like bone2 in many species it is absent4 ,the stomach is always simple1 intestines relatively short1 tongue covered with minute spines4 ,in many species the pupil of the eye contracts in one direction only1 thus giving it a linear and upright form4 ,the majority of the species are nocturnal2 the habits of the genus are very diverse4 ,the lion apparently prefers the drier1 sandy areas covered with short1 scrubby vegetation2 others prefer the dense forests1 and live much in the trees4 ,many species are found at considerable altitudes1 the snow leopard being found at #ah1jjj feet4 ,all the members of the group can swim1 and several species 7i4e4 the fishing cat of ,india and ,southern ,china7 are adepts at catching fish1 but immersion is invariably avoided4 ,the colours of the different members of the genus ,felis vary considerably4 ,it may be a uniform1 tawny1 pale brown1 or a grey--as in the lion1 puma1 eyra4 ,the tiger is striped transversely2 the ocelot has bands or rows of more or less fused spots2 the serval and several other species have solid black spots2 the leopard1 clusters of spots1 forming a kind of star2 the jaguar has the spots arranged in an open ring4 ,in the clouded leopard of ,southern ,india the markings are composed of irregular groups of lines and spots1 merging into the ground colour of the animal's coat4 ,a black variety of the common leopard is occasionally found in a wild state4 ,albinos1 or white forms1 are extremely rare in nature1 though quite common in the domesticated cat4 ,,general ,,structure ,,of ,,the ,,cat4 ,the natural food of all the cat tribe in a state of nature is carnivorous1 and the whole organisation of the group is specialised and adapted for aggressive or1 if need be1 defensive purposes4 ,the body is compressed laterally1 and has a considerable amount of flexibility in it as a whole4 ,the bony framework or skeleton is light1 and1 for the purpose of an elementary description1 is readily divisible into three parts--viz4 7#a7 the skull2 7#b7 the axial skeleton1 comprising the bones of the neck1 thorax1 loins1 and tail2 7#c7 the appendicular skeleton or limbs4 ,the skull is short1 rounded1 and broad across the orbits or eye-sockets1 which are large in proportion to the skull4 ,the posterior rim of the orbit is1 with three exceptions1 out of the fifty-one species--viz4 the fishing cat 7,f4 voverrina71 the rusty spotted cat 7,f4 rubiginosa71 and the flat-headed cat 7,f4 planiceps7--incomplete or open4 ,the teeth of the fully adult cat should be thirty in number--sixteen in the upper jaw and fourteen in the lower4 ,they are divided by the comparative anatomist into three sets or groups--viz4 incisors1 canines1 premolars1 and molars--their number and position being concisely expressed by a dental formula thus3--#a 1 ,c4 1 ,p4,m4 1 ,m4 4 ,the six incisors in the upper and lower jaw are small1 simple-pointed teeth1 with a simple fang or root4 ,then we have a long canine or flesh tooth ,,cc4'1 the most important functional tooth the cat has1 for with it and its fellow the living1 struggling prey is seized1 retained1 and killed4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 ,,ii4--,,skull ,,of ,,the ,,great ,,sabre-,,toothed ,,cat4 ,,from ,,the ,,caves ,,of ,,brazil4 7,machrodus ,neogus47 ,in the upper jaw1 immediately after the canine1 are three premolars ,,pm4 ,these are the second or permanent series1 and succeed the kitten's milk-teeth4 ,the first one is very small1 and has only a single cusp2 the second is larger1 and has two cusps2 the third is the largest1 and is sometimes called the 8sectorial0 tooth4 ,it has three pointed cusps and three fangs1 or roots4 ,immediately behind it1 and placed somewhat transversely1 is the single true molar4 ,it is a small tooth1 of obtuse form1 and indefinitely cusped2 it has no predecessor in the kitten's milk set4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 ,,iii4--,,superficial ,,flexor ,,tendons ,,of ,,the ,,cat',s ,,left ,,fore-,,foot ,a1 ,perforatus1 or flexor sub-digitorum2 ,b1 ,perforans1 or flexor profundus digitorum4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 ,,iv4--,,bones ,,and ,,principal ,,ligaments ,,of ,a ,,cat',s ,,toe1 ,,showing ,,mechanism ,,of ,,retractile ,,claw4 ,a1 ,distal or terminal phalanx2 ,b1 ,middle2 ,c1 ,proximal2 ,d1 ,perforatus tendon2 ,e1 ,perforans tendon2 ,f1 ,elastic ligament4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 ,v4--,,pads ,,of ,,cat',s ,,left ,,fore-,,foot4 ,a1 ,plantar pad2 ,b1 ,digital pad2 ,c1 ,pisiform pad4 ,in the lower jaw1 immediately after the canine tooth1 there are only two premolars 7,,pm4 ,,pm'47 in the permanent set which have predecessors1 the last tooth 7,m47 being the only true molar1 and having no predecessor in the milk set4 ,occasionally1 in the lower jaw there is a small premolar corresponding to the first premolar of the upper jaw4 ,in the kitten from about six or seven weeks to about five months old1 there are only twenty-six teeth1 the number and form being very similar to the adult set4 ,the two permanent molars in the upper and lower jaw are absent4 ,the ,axial ,skeleton 7see p4 #ced7 consists of the bones forming the neck1 thorax1 loins1 and tail4 ,the neck is relatively short1 and consists of seven bones--a number almost constant throughout the animal kingdom1 the giraffe1 the hippopotamus1 and the whale having the same number4 ,succeeding these are the dorsal1 or thoracic1 vertebr 7thirteen in number71 each one supporting two ribs--one on each side4 ,then follow the seven vertebr composing the lumbar region4 ,they are stout1 thick bones1 with long1 transverse processes for the attachment of certain muscles supporting the body cavity1 etc4 ,no ribs are attached to these bones4 ,immediately behind are three smaller bones forming the sacrum1 to which the pelvis1 or hip-bones1 are articulated4 ,the terminal bones of the axial skeleton are the tail1 or caudal1 and vary from nineteen to twenty-one4 ,the ,ribs 7thirteen on each side7 are extremely light1 elastic1 and slender4 ,nine of these on each side join the sternum or breast-bone directly1 and are called true ribs2 the remainder are free1 and terminate in cartilaginous points1 which are adherent to the true rib terminations1 for support4 ,the ,sternum1 or breast-bone1 consists of eight bones1 from each joint of which springs a rib-like costal cartilage1 to which the true ribs are articulated4 ,the cat's collar-bone or clavicle is very short and rudimentary2 it has a slight attachment to the acromion process of the scapula1 the other end terminating in the muscles of the chest4 ,it is often absent4 ,the ,appendicular ,skeleton includes the fore and hind limbs4 ,the fore limb in the cat1 as in the majority of mammals 7see plate1 p4 #cee71 is a subtriangular flat bone1 with a ridge on the outer side for the attachment of certain muscles moving the leg4 ,in a small hollow on the posterior or lower border is articulated the head of the humerus 7#d71 or arm-bone2 its lower or distal end is expanded1 and receives the end of the ulna 7#aj71 which with the radius 7#i7 forms the bones of the forearm4 ,the wrist or carpal bones 7#h7 include seven small bones1 the upper row being attached to the radius1 the lower row to the five phalanges of the toes 7#g72 to these latter are articulated the bones of the digits1 or fingers4 ,the terminal bones of the cat's foot are encased by powerful hooked claws 7,fig4 ,,iii474 ,when at rest1 the claw is brought to the outer side of the middle phalanx by the elastic ligament ,f1 the flexor tendons being relaxed4 ,when the cat is on the point of seizing its prey1 the greater power of the flexor tendons stretches the weaker elastic ligament1 the claw is brought down1 and so a powerful grip is obtained4 ,the under-surface of the cat's fore and hind feet is protected by certain hardened pads of subcutaneous and fibrous tissue--viz4 the plantar pad1 giving chief support to the leg1 and the digital pads protecting the claws1 etc4 ,these pads are1 of course1 of additional use in aiding the cat's noiseless and stealthy progression4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 ,,vi4a4--,,cat',s ,,skull1 ,,view ,,from ,,above4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 ,,vi4b4--,,cat',s ,,skull1 ,,side ,,view1 ,,with ,,lower ,,jaw ,,in ,,place4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 ,,vi4c4--,,cat',s ,,skull ,,from ,,below1 ,,without ,,lower ,,jaw1 ,,showing ,,palatal ,,surface4 ,the cat's hind limb is articulated by a ball and socket joint to the hip-bone or pelvis 7#bj71 which is again firmly united to the three bones forming the sacrum ,d4 ,the thigh-bone or femur 7#ai7 sustains the whole body1 and has many powerful muscles attached to it concerned in the springing movements so characteristic of the animal2 to its lower end is articulated the principal bone of the lower leg1 the tibia 7#ac74 ,at the union of these two bones on the anterior side is the knee-cap1 or patella 7#ab74 ,on the outer aspect of the tibia is a slender bone1 the fibula 7#ah71 its outer end being attached to a prominence on the tibia1 the lower end to one of the large bones 7the astragalus7 which form the tarsus of the foot4 ,the ,tarsal bones 7#ad7 consist of seven bones1 the largest of which is the os calcis 7#ag71 or heel-bone1 to which powerful muscles are attached4 ,succeeding the tarsal bones are the four bones forming the metatarsal bones 7the fifth or inner toe being absent1 though often present in the dog74 ,to these are attached the phalanges of the toes1 with the claws1 etc41 similar to the fore-foot4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 ,,vii4--,,superficial ,,muscles ,,of ,a ,,cat4 #a4-- ,maxillaris4 #b4-- ,caninus1 or ,nasalis4 #c4-- ,orbicularis4 #d4-- ,temporalis4 #e4-- ,mastoideus4 #f4-- ,cephalo-humeral4 #g4-- ,posterior and anterior portions of ,trapezius4 #h4-- ,infraspinatus4 #i4-- ,latissimus dorsi4 #aj4-- ,great ,oblique4 #aa4-- ,prominence of ,hip-bone4 #ab4-- ,gluteus medius4 #ac4-- ,prominence of ,thigh-bone1 or ,femur4 #ad4-- ,gluteus maximus4 #ae4-- ,muscles concerned in the movements of the ,tail4 #af4-- ,fascia lata covering deeper muscles4 #ag4-- ,biceps femoralis4 #ah4-- ,semi-tendinosus4 #ai4-- ,gastrocnemius4 #bj4-- ,external ,saphenous ,vein4 #ba4-- ,point of ,heel1 or ,os ,calcis4 #bb4-- ,plantar or ,flexor ,tendons of ,sole of ,foot4 #bc4-- ,extensor ,tendons of ,toes4 #bd4-- ,internal or ,inner ,saphenous4 #be4-- ,sartorius4 #bf4-- ,rectus abdominis4 #bg4-- ,serratus magnus4 #bh4-- ,pectoralis major4 #bi4-- ,elbow1 or ,olecranon ,process of ,ulna4 #cj4-- ,flexor carpi ulnaris4 #ca4-- ,superficial ,extensors of ,toes4 #cb4-- ,annular or ,wrist ,ligament4 #cc4-- ,extensor communis digitorum4 #cd4-- ,flexor carpi radialis4 #ce4-- ,extensor carpi radialis4 #cf4-- ,triceps4 #cg4-- ,scapular deltoid4 #ch4-- ,acromion deltoid4 #ci4-- ,mastoideus4 #dj4-- ,sterno-hyoid4 #da4-- ,parotid ,gland4 #db4-- ,masseter ,muscle4 #dc4-- ,external ,maxillary ,vein4 #dd4-- ,zigomaticus4 #de4-- ,zigomaticus labialis4 ,a better idea of the superficial muscles of the cat is obtained from an examination of the plate than by any technical description4 ,it will be seen that for its size the cat's muscles are well developed2 its kin1 the lion and tiger1 are known for their prodigious strength in bearing away young oxen1 deer1 antelopes1 etc41 upon which they live1 as well as for their leaping powers and agility and courage4 ,although the cat's muscles are identical with those of its more powerful relatives1 it lives too much in the lap of luxury for them to attain to a proportionate development4 ,a well-known writer has estimated that there are #ejj muscles concerned in the movements of the cat's body4 ,the cavity of the cat's body is separated into two unequal compartments by a muscular partition called the midriff or diaphragm4 ,in the anterior or foremost cavity are the two lungs1 and the heart and its blood-vessels2 in the larger or most posterior compartment is the stomach1 intestines1 liver1 kidneys1 etc4 ,without a considerable number of diagrams it is difficult to convey in a popular manner some peculiarities of these internal organs4 ,the cat's tongue 7,fig4 ,x47 is1 however1 very characteristic of the order1 and is easily observed4 ,it is supplied with the usual glands common to all mammals--viz4 tonsils 7,b71 flattened soft papill 7,c71 four circumvallate papill 7,d71 conical papill 7,e71 and the more minute fungiform papill 7,f74 ,the peculiarity of the cat's tongue is that the conical papill are specialised into horny processes or hooks1 as shown in ,e ,f1 and are of value not only in assisting to clear the flesh from bones1 but are of undoubted use in cleaning the animal's fur4 ,the cat also has the parotid1 sublingual1 and other glands concerned in the preparation of the food for primary digestion4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 ,,viii4--,,skeleton ,,of ,a ,,cat4 ,a4 ,,cervical ,,or ,,neck ,,bones 7#g in number74 ,b4 ,,dorsal ,,or ,,thoracic ,,bones 7#ac in number1 each bearing a rib74 ,c4 ,,lumbar ,,bones 7#g in number74 ,d4 ,,sacral ,,bones 7#c in number74 ,e4 ,,caudal ,,or ,,tail ,,bones 7#ai to #ba in number74 #a4-- ,cranium1 or ,skull4 #b4-- ,scapula1 or ,shoulder-blade4 #c4-- ,clavicle1 or ,collar-bone4 #d4-- ,humerus4 #e4-- ,sternum1 or ,breast-bone4 #f4-- ,phalanges of the ,toes4 #g4-- ,metacarpal ,bones4 #h4-- ,carpal or ,wrist-bones4 #i4-- ,radius4 #aj4-- ,ulna4 #aa4-- ,costal cartilages1 uniting ends of ,ribs to ,sternum4 #ab4-- ,patella1 or ,knee-cap4 #ac4-- ,tibia4 #ad4-- ,tarsal ,bones4 #ae4-- ,metatarsal ,bones4 #af4-- ,phalanges of ,hind ,toes4 #ag4-- ,heel-bone1 or 8,calcis40 #ah4-- ,fibula4 #ai4-- ,femur1 or ,thigh-bone4 #bj4-- ,pelvis1 or ,hip-bone4 ,the cat's liver is mainly on its right side2 it is divided into several lobes1 which give it a complicated appearance as compared with the simpler livers of other animals4 ,the gallbladder is present in the usual position4 ,the cat's heart is somewhat small for the size of the animal1 and is not so pointed at its apex as in other animals2 the veins entering the heart1 and the branching of the arteries leaving it1 are nearly identical with those of closely allied animals4 ,the time required for the complete circulation of the blood throughout the body of the cat is fourteen to sixteen seconds4 ,the pulse1 each beat of which corresponds to one contraction of the left ventricle of the heart1 may easily be felt on the inner side of the fore-paw1 about an inch above the prominence of the radius2 it may also be felt at the same place as the horse's pulse--on the inner side of the lower jaw4 ,there are two other situations on the cat's body where it may be felt1 but to find the exact point requires some intimate anatomical knowledge4 ,the temperature1 or normal heat1 of the body of the cat is #ajj ,f42 it may1 however1 be slightly above or below this4 ,the brain of the cat1 following the general structure of the higher mammals1 is divided into very similar areas or divisions4 ,the larger or more anterior portion is called the cerebrum 7,fig4 ,i41 ,a71 and is divided into right and left hemispheres4 ,its surface is divided into convolutions or gyri 7,e7 by certain shallow fissures1 which have received specific names4 ,very intimately attached to the under-surface of this part of the brain are the olfactory lobes 7,d71 in which are situated certain nerves concerned in the sense of smell4 ,the hinder and smaller part of the brain is called the cerebellum 7,b71 and is much darker in colour than the cerebrum4 ,its surface is made up of numerous small foldings of its substance1 which1 on section1 look like the branches of a small tree2 these branches finally fuse and terminate on the under-side of the base of the brain4 ,intimately associated in a most complex manner with the cerebrum and cerebellum is the medulla oblongata 7,c71 an enlarged part of the spinal cord4 ,the brain of the cat1 it may be remarked1 is not nearly so highly organised as that of the dog4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 best-marked4--,,the ,,cat',s ,,eye4 ,,at ,,day-,,time4 ,,at ,,night-,,time4 ,a4--,contracted linear ,a4--,expanded and nearly pupil4 circular pupil4 ,b4--,iris4 ,b4--,iris4 ,c4--,cat's eye1 showing ,c4--,nictitating membrane,c4--,nictitating the third eyelid or 7,plica semilunaris74 membrane4 nictitating membrane fully extended4 ,d4--,opening of the ,d4--,opening of ,harderian ,harderian ,gland ,duct4 ,duct4 ,in all the higher mammals the eye can accommodate itself to the varying influence of light4 ,this is mainly done by means of the central black part or pupil 7,fig4 ,,ix41 ,a74 ,the pupil is merely a hole in the iris1 or coloured part of the eyeball 7,b71 and it is by its contraction or expansion that the exact amount of light necessary is admitted to act upon the sensitive retina at the back of the eye4 ,the form of the pupil varies considerably in different animals4 ,in the cat's eye during bright sunshine it is reduced to a thin vertical line2 at dusk it expands to a nearly circular form4 ,this vertical reduction is by no means common to the entire cat family4 ,in very many species the pupil retains a rounded form even when contracted to its minimum4 ,on the inner angle of the cat's eye there is a curious semi-transparent fold of skin1 called by naturalists the plica semilunaris1 or nictitating membrane4 ,in reptiles and birds this is a very important factor in the preservation of the eye from external injuries1 and it acts also as a regulator of the admission of light4 ,it is well developed in nocturnal reptiles and birds1 and as the cat's ancestors were doubtless more nocturnal than they are now1 it probably was in active use4 ,it is1 however1 useless now1 the cat having no control over it4 ,it is one of many interesting vestigial structures the cat carries about with it of its former ancestry from a lower-organised animal4 ,,the ,,distribution ,,of ,,the ,,cat ,,family4 ,long-continued and systematic study of the habits of living animals has led to the division of the surface of the world into specific areas1 called ,zoogeographical regions1 of which there are six--viz4 7#a7 ,palarctic region2 7#b7 ,ethiopian or ,african region2 7#c7 ,oriental or ,indian region2 7#d7 ,australian region2 7#e7 ,nearctic or ,north ,american region2 and 7#f7 ,neotropical or ,south ,american region4 ,the cats of the ,old ,world and of the ,new ,world are1 with the exception of the debatable northern lynx1 specifically distinct4 ,no native cats exist in ,australia4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 ,x4--,,surface ,,of ,,the ,,cat',s ,,tongue4 ,a4--,epiglottis or upper cartilage of windpipe4 ,b4--,tonsil4 ,c4--,flattened or soft papill4 ,d4--,circumvallate papill4 ,e4--,horny conical papill4 ,e4 #a4--,the same enlarged4 ,f4--,fungiform papill4 ,the ,palarctic region comprises the whole of ,europe1 part of ,north ,africa1 and extends eastward to ,kamtchatka1 and includes the islands of ,japan4 ,there are about twenty-one known species of the cat family inhabiting this extensive area1 the best-known being the tiger1 which is found in ,mongolia2 the common leopard1 widely distributed in ,southern ,siberia2 the snow leopard1 wild cats1 the lynx1 and many others4 ,the ,ethiopian or ,african region includes the whole of the continent of ,africa up to the tropic of ,cancer1 and the greater part of ,arabia and ,madagascar4 ,about nine species are known to inhabit this region4 ,the best-known are the lion1 leopard1 serval1 ,egyptian cat1 caracal lynx1 and cheetah4 ,the ,oriental or ,indian region includes a strip of southern ,persia1 the whole of ,india1 ,china1 and the ,malay peninsula1 ,borneo1 and other islands of the ,east ,indian ,archipelago4 ,there are about sixteen species inhabiting this region4 ,the best-known examples of the cat family here are the lion 7inhabiting the southern portions of ,persia71 tiger1 leopard1 cheetah1 clouded leopard1 and a great variety of the smaller species4 ,the ,nearctic or ,north ,american region includes ,greenland and the whole of the continent of ,north ,america down to ,mexico ,city and ,vera ,cruz4 ,there are only seven indigenous species of the cat family1 the best-known being the puma1 which also extends into the neotropical region1 the northern and the bay lynx4 ,the ,neotropical or ,south ,american region extends from ,vera ,cruz in ,central ,america1 through the whole of ,south ,america to ,patagonia4 ,about thirteen well-marked species of the cat family inhabit this region4 ,the better-known species are the puma1 jaguar1 ocelot1 margay1 pampas cat1 and the curious eeyra4 ,,robert ,,holding4 ,,the ,,diseases ,,of ,,cats1 ,,and ,,their ,,treatment4 ,by ,,henry ,,gray1 ,m4,r4,c4,v4,s4 ,,administration ,,of ,,medicine4 ,illustration3 ,,giving ,,medicine4 ,in the treatment of the diseases of the cat1 the correct method of administering whatever medicaments are deemed necessary is a most important consideration4 ,to the uninitiated and timid the task is generally a difficult one1 and may1 in some cases1 appear almost impossible2 but with a little practice1 aided by courage and determination1 the difficulties can nearly always be overcome4 ,the administration of medicine1 however1 is seldom so easy in the case of the cat as in that of the dog4 ,some cats are so gentle that the mouth can easily be opened by means of the index finger and thumb of the left hand acting as a wedge between the jaws4 ,the palm of the hand rests on the top of the head1 while the finger and thumb gently but firmly press the cheeks at the angle of the jaws inwards1 until they intervene between the finger and thumb of the operator and the posterior teeth of the patient4 ,the jaws being thus kept open1 and the head at the same time raised1 the right hand of the operator drops the pill or powder at the back of the mouth between the tongue and palate4 ,this having been accomplished1 the right hand is passed under the lower jaw1 so as to keep the head raised until the animal swallows1 while the left hand is withdrawn from its previous position and the jaws allowed to close1 thus facilitating the act of swallowing4 ,for the administration of liquid medicine it is not necessary to open the mouth4 ,the operator grasps the head with his left hand1 and taking the spoon in his right he slowly and carefully drops the liquid between the teeth1 or into the space between the cheek and teeth1 at the angle of the mouth4 ,for the cat1 a coffee-spoon is preferable to a tea-spoon1 and care must be taken that too much is not poured into the mouth at once4 ,the dose should be administered drop by drop1 and time allowed for swallowing4 ,,diseases ,,of ,,the ,,stomach4 ,vomiting1 though a symptom common to many diseases1 may be quite natural in some instances1 such as over feeding or during the weaning period1 when the mother cat eats a lot of animal food and then brings it home and vomits it up for her young kittens to feed upon4 ,the act consists of ejecting the contents of the stomach up through the gullet and then out of the mouth4 ,the causes of vomition are various3 ,worms travelling from the bowel into the stomach1 emetics1 expectorants1 poisons1 foreign bodies 7as hair1 cork1 pins1 etc472 bad or altered food1 blood poisoning1 distemper1 gastritis1 tumours1 tuberculosis1 jaundice1 diseases of the kidneys1 etc41 may produce it4 ,it may also occur from parasites in the ear1 foreign bodies in the mouth1 and as a symptom of brain disease1 such as meningitis4 ,treatment4--,this depends upon the cause1 which should be removed if possible4 ,when due to foreign bodies or altered food1 an emetic 7especially the hypodermic injection of to grain of apomorphine hydrochloride7 would most likely remove the source of trouble4 ,if the foreign body cannot be removed by simple means1 an operation may be deemed necessary4 ,if due to inflammation of the stomach1 bismuth and arated soda-water are of great value4 ,ice and cocaine or chloretone are occasionally useful when these have failed4 ,sometimes it is necessary to wash the stomach out with mild antiseptics4 ,if of nervous origin1 a hypodermic injection of to grain of morphine1 or five-minim doses of tincture of opium or bromide of potassium1 given by the mouth1 may prove successful4 ,when resulting from tumours or tuberculosis1 humanity dictates that the lethal chamber should be called into requisition and the animal put out of its misery4 ,easily assimilable and non-irritating food only should be given for a few days4 ,arated soda-water forms the best drinking fluid4 ,gastritis1 or inflammation of the stomach1 is sometimes called gastric fever1 and when of a mild type1 gastric catarrh4 ,its causes are variable4 ,it may be due to altered or decomposed food1 distemper1 microbes of various kinds1 large doses of emetics or aperients1 mineral poisons1 chills1 absorption of dressing applied to the skin1 or licking the same off4 ,it is also caused by worms1 especially the broad-necked tapeworm 7,tnia crassicollis71 travelling into the stomach and setting up irritation4 ,again1 diseases of the uterus1 liver1 kidneys1 and other organs give rise to gastritis4 ,it frequently rages as an epizotic1 causing considerable mortality in some catteries1 especially after cat shows4 ,symptoms4--,the disease is ushered in by sudden vomiting of the food1 followed by the repeated rejection of ropy mucus1 and then1 if the case is severe1 this is succeeded by a thin1 clear1 greenish-yellow or bloody fluid2 saliva flows from the mouth1 the thirst is great1 especially for cold water1 which is generally expelled almost as soon as taken2 there is a distressed appearance1 restlessness1 or a frequent shifting of the posture4 ,as a rule1 the animal prefers to lie on its belly full length1 with its limbs resting on cold objects4 ,pressure on the region of the stomach causes moaning and sometimes vomiting4 ,after the lapse of some time1 when a fatal termination is advancing1 the eyes appear sunken1 the pupils become dilated1 the expression is sad1 the animal becomes cold and indifferent to his surroundings1 the mouth gives off an offensive odour1 and the coat is dull1 open1 and lustreless4 ,the animal dies either in a comatose state or from sudden failure of the heart during a fit of vomiting4 ,treatment4--,if recognised early1 an emetic is sometimes very useful in cutting short the complaint4 ,no food or ordinary water should be allowed until twenty-four to forty-eight hours have elapsed since the last vomiting2 but a teaspoonful of ,brand's essence of beef jelly and two to four teaspoonfuls of arated water should be given every four hours4 ,bismuth subnitrate or carbonate in five-grain doses may be shaken on the tongue an hour before these two latter are administered4 ,if this means of treatment should prove ineffectual after twenty-four hours1 one may conclude that the disease is of a severe type1 and in this case one to five minims of the liquid extract of opium in a little mucilage1 or chloretone1 to #b grains1 should be given every three hours4 ,feeding by means of rectal suppositories1 or injection of an ounce of milk containing a little common salt1 may be attempted4 ,finally1 if this fail1 washing out the stomach with borax or boracic acid1 or chinosol and warm water1 and a hypodermic injection of bullock's or sheep's serum might be tried4 ,in gastric inflammation due to infection the hypodermic injection of quinine hydrochloride or trichloride of iodine will sometimes answer when everything else has failed4 ,cocaine and orthoform have no advantage over opiates1 especially the denarcotised preparations1 in soothing the stomach4 ,ice in small pieces pushed down the throat sometimes answers in assuaging the thirst when the soda-water does not4 ,in the chronic form1 doses of to grain of calomel or mercury with chalk given with bismuth three times a day are beneficial in many instances4 ,enteritis1 or inflammation of the intestines or bowels1 frequently co-exists with gastritis1 and then the disease takes on the term of gastro-enteritis4 ,the causes1 like those of gastritis1 are various4 ,it may be due to infection1 bad food1 drugs1 foreign bodies1 chills1 distemper1 intussusception or irritating enemas1 etc4 ,there also seems to be a special contagious type of this disease which frequently causes great mortality in catteries1 especially with kittens4 ,generally the small intestine forms the seat of the disease1 which may in rare cases1 however1 extend the whole length of the bowel1 which is sometimes lined with a croupy or diphtheritic membrane4 ,the symptoms are restlessness1 great pain1 frequent crying or moaning1 offensive and profuse and frequent diarrha1 the dejections varying in colour and consistence and frequently containing blood1 and sometimes vomiting1 especially when the stomach is implicated2 thirst is intense1 food is refused1 the animal is cold1 haggard1 and depressed2 its fur is dull1 open1 and lustreless1 and becomes soiled1 giving off an abominable odour4 ,when the abdomen is manipulated1 the animal cries or moans from the pain caused4 ,if the pupils are dilated and the expression has an anxious appearance1 and emaciation is rapid1 a fatal termination may be anticipated4 ,the treatment varies according to the cause4 ,if the case is seen in the early stage a tea- to a dessert-spoonful of castor-oil containing #a to #b minims of liquid extract of opium may be given at once1 to clear out any irritating material from the bowels and also to allay pain and irritation2 or morphine in to grain doses may be injected under the skin every four hours4 ,bismuth salicylate1 in five-grain doses1 should be dropped on the tongue about the same time4 ,starch enemas containing liquid extract of opium may also be administered4 ,boiled milk containing bicarbonate of soda should be given in small and repeated quantities4 ,turpentine stupes frequently applied to the abdomen are recommended1 but1 where this is objected to1 the floor of the abdomen may be painted with tincture of capsicum1 or tincture of iodine1 until soreness is produced1 the hair being first clipped off4 ,in those cases of epizotic nature1 isolation is called for4 ,the food and surroundings should be changed1 and the catteries and utensils thoroughly cleansed and disinfected4 ,in the chronic form a powder composed of bismuth salicylate #b to #e grains1 and -naphthol #a to #b grains1 should be shaken on the tongue three times a day4 ,milk and rice form the best diet4 ,diarrha1 like vomiting1 is not a disease of itself1 but an expression of many different affections4 ,it may be salutary or otherwise4 ,it may be due to aperients1 irritating or indigestible food1 microbes1 diseases of the bowels1 kidneys1 and liver4 ,it frequently results from distemper or gastro-enteritis1 tuberculosis1 intestinal catarrh1 and from licking applications put on the skin in the treatment of skin affections4 ,sour milk1 tainted milk or fish1 and chills will also induce it4 ,in kittens improper food1 especially during hot weather1 is a common cause4 ,the symptoms are a looseness of the dejections from the bowels1 which are passed several times a day4 ,the stools vary in colour according to the food taken by the animal1 or according to the severity of the cause2 they are generally of a very offensive odour1 and may contain blood4 ,treatment4--,if the cause of the diarrha is due to irritating food1 a dose of castor-oil will be beneficial4 ,when due to catarrh of the bowels1 the carbonate1 subnitrate1 or salicylate of bismuth1 in five-grain doses1 two or three times a day1 is the most appropriate treatment4 ,if it is associated with distemper or typhus1 the bismuth salts mentioned above1 or tannablin or tannigen1 in #b- to #e-;grain doses1 are suitable4 ,for chronic diarrha1 #b to #e grains of salicylate of bismuth1 with #a to #e grains of -naphthol1 given three times a day on the food1 is generally followed by recovery4 ,failing this1 a mixture composed of dilute sulphuric acid1 concentrated infusion of cloves1 and concentrated infusion of hmatoxylin should be tried4 ,when the diarrha is due to irritation of the so-called large or posterior bowel1 injections containing starch1 laudanum1 and tannic acid should be used4 ,as long as the diarrha lasts1 no meat or meat infusions should be given1 but milk1 rice-pudding1 bread and milk1 and such-like food are suitable4 ,constipation is an impaction of fces in the hind bowel1 and is generally due to weakness of this portion of gut1 or results from a cleanly animal having no place to evacuate its fces in4 ,sometimes it is due to a ball of fur1 and occasionally foreign bodies1 such as cat's-meat skewers1 being swallowed along with the meat by a greedy animal4 ,when due to paralysis of the bowel1 which is occasionally seen in young cats1 the abdomen becomes distended by the fces in the bowel4 ,it also occurs as a symptom of spinal paralysis4 ,the non-passage of fces seen in cats when not well and not taking solid food must not be confounded with constipation4 ,the symptoms1 as a rule1 are the non-passage of fces for some time1 distension of the abdomen1 and impaction of the bowel with fces which can be felt by manipulating the abdomen4 ,treatment4--,a dose of castor-oil and an enema of soapy water or glycerine will generally put matters right4 ,if these means do not succeed1 massage or kneading of the bowels1 by grasping the abdomen with the hand and alternately compressing and relaxing the grasp1 will assist to stimulate the intestines to force on their contents4 ,of course1 this only applies when impaction is due to soft material and not hard foreign bodies1 which1 in this latter case1 should be removed by the fingers or forceps4 ,if any irritation of the mucous membrane1 evidenced by frequent straining as if to pass fces1 remains after the bowels have been relieved1 an enema of warm salad oil1 containing a few drops of liquid extract of opium1 will allay it1 and prevent straining4 ,in case of the bowel remaining weakened or paralysed so as to bring about a recurrence of the constipation1 pills containing grain of the alcoholic extract of nux vomica should be administered morning1 noon1 and night after food4 ,,worms1 ,,or ,,internal ,,animal ,,parasites4 ,cats1 like all other animals1 are liable to be infested with worms1 which may not cause any disturbance1 unless in great numbers or when another disease is in existence4 ,the ,common ,round-worm is very prevalent in young kittens1 generally when they are living on milk1 upon which these worms thrive4 ,their natural residence in the cat is in the small intestine1 but sometimes they wander from here into the stomach1 and set up vomiting and occasionally convulsions4 ,treatment4--,the worms should be expelled and the animal fed on nutritious and stimulating food1 such as raw fish1 raw meat1 and fresh birds4 ,the milk1 to which is added a pinch of salt1 should be boiled4 ,the best remedy to expel these worms is santonin given along with or followed by an aperient4 ,the following is a convenient formula3-- ,santonin #a grain4 ,calomel ,this powder is to be dropped on the back of the tongue of an adult cat after fasting twelve hours1 every other morning1 until four doses have been given4 ,half this quantity is suitable for a cat three or four months old1 and a quarter for a kitten of a month to six weeks of age4 ,the commonest ,tapeworm of the cat is the ,tnia elliptica vel felis1 with which fifty per cent4 or more are affected4 ,it is caused by fleas1 lice1 and mange-mites which have at some time or another infested the cat4 ,they do not seem to cause much harm1 even when numbering hundreds4 ,in one case that ,i encountered the cat was in the pink of condition1 and yet ,i found #gjj of these worms4 ,it is a delicate tapeworm with joints resembling a cucumber in outline4 ,the ripe joints1 which are often of a reddish tint1 frequently become detached1 and pass with the fces1 on which they are seen4 ,they are generally termed by fanciers maw-worms4 ,treatment4--,the worms should be expelled1 and fleas1 lice1 or mange-mites destroyed1 so as to prevent a recurrence of the trouble4 ,another tapeworm of the cat is the ,tnia crassicollis1 or broad-necked species4 ,it is seen only in cats that kill and eat rats and mice1 in the liver of which the larval form of this parasite resides4 ,it is a big1 coarse tapeworm1 measuring eighteen to thirty inches in length1 and having no well defined neck4 ,treatment4--,for the expulsion of tapeworms there are many remedies1 the best of which are areca nut1 kamala1 oil of male fern1 pomegranate1 and kousso1 but as the dose of these in the crude is generally too bulky for the cat1 it is advisable to give either of them1 with the exception of the male fern1 in their alkaloidal form1 as3-- ,koussein to #b grains4 ,kamalin to #b ,arecoline to grain4 ,pelletierine to ,any one of these may be given either in pill or tabloid form1 or rubbed up with milk sugar1 as a powder on an empty stomach after the animal has fasted at least twelve hours1 and repeated every third or fourth morning4 ,a dose of castor-oil or jalap should be given an hour after4 ,the oil of male fern is best administered in a capsule4 ,powdered pumpkin seed may be sprinkled on the food4 ,,diseases ,,of ,,the ,,kidneys4 ,diseases of the kidneys1 such as degeneration1 fatty degeneration1 parasitic disease1 tuberculosis1 cancer1 acute and chronic ,bright's disease1 and calculi are not rare1 but1 as the space at our command is limited1 we only mention them4 ,incontinence1 or the involuntary passage of urine1 is usually due to weakness of the bladder1 brought about by over-distension4 ,it sometimes results from injury to the spine and calculi4 ,the treatment that is best suited for this is the administration of grain of the alcoholic extract of nux vomica and grain of quinine in a pill three times a day4 ,if there be irritability of the bladder1 soda bicarbonate #b grains and extract of henbane grain in a pill should be given4 ,retention of urine is generally caused by a calculus or chalky material blocking up the urethra or canal leading from the bladder1 and preventing the exit of the fluid4 ,if relief is not given to the bladder--that is1 if the obstruction is not immediately removed--the urine decomposes and then sets up inflammation of the bladder1 and death takes place from urmic poisoning4 ,symptoms4--,the cat seems in pain1 and makes ineffectual attempts to pass its urine2 it strains to no purpose2 it seems restless1 getting up1 lying down1 rolling on its side1 swishing its tail1 looking towards its side1 and crying4 ,after a time the animal becomes drowsy and indifferent4 ,if the abdomen is manipulated1 the bladder will be felt to be distended1 hard1 and painful4 ,treatment4--,the only rational treatment is to remove the obstruction and pass the catheter immediately1 a special silver catheter1 half the size of the smallest human catheter1 being required for this purpose4 ,if the urine is bloody1 it may be necessary to wash out the bladder with a warm solution of boracic acid and alkalis and sedatives1 but no meat or meat extracts should be given4 ,,diseases ,,of ,,air ,,passages ,,and ,,lungs4 ,a ,common ,cold1 or coryza1 or acute nasal catarrh1 or cold in the head1 is caused by exposing the cat to the inclement weather1 or washing it and not thoroughly drying afterwards4 ,it may also be due to the irritating vapours of chloroform or ether used by inhalation to produce ansthesia4 ,letting a cat out in the cold and wet after it has been used to a warm1 dry dwelling sometimes results in a cold4 ,it is not contagious1 but is frequently mistaken for distemper4 ,symptoms4--,there is frequent sneezing1 and sometimes a cough2 a clear watery discharge trickles from the corner of the eyelids and nostrils4 ,after a time this discharge becomes gluey1 thick1 and yellowish or greenish2 the eyelids become partially closed1 and the haw protrudes over the front of the eyeball2 food is refused1 or sparingly eaten2 the fur is dull and open2 warm or dark corners are sought for2 the animal trembles and seems miserable4 ,if the throat is sore1 there is a cough2 the breathing is wheezy1 and a discharge may issue from the angles of the mouth4 ,these symptoms generally pass away in a few days4 ,treatment4--,where many cats are kept1 an animal suffering from 8a cold0 should be isolated from the rest as soon as possible1 as it is difficult to distinguish a simple case of 8catarrh0 from the early stage of a case of distemper4 ,a warm place1 well ventilated1 but free from draughts1 is essential4 ,raw meat1 scraped and given three times a day1 is the best diet4 ,fish1 milk1 bread and milk1 or rice-pudding should be offered4 ,a small pilule of half a grain of quinine sulphate should be dropped at the back of the mouth three times a day4 ,the nostrils and eyelids should be sponged with a warm solution of boric acid1 containing eight grains to the ounce of water1 and afterwards smeared with a little white vaseline three times a day4 ,sanitas or turpentine should be sprinkled on the floor of the room4 ,great relief is often given by inhaling the fumes of eucalyptus oil dropped into a jug of boiling water4 ,chronic ,nasal ,catarrh1 sometimes called 8feline glanders10 differs from the preceding complaint1 inasmuch as it runs a longer and more persistent course2 it may1 however1 follow on simple catarrh which has been neglected4 ,distemper is one of the commonest causes of it1 but it is also seen after diphtheria4 ,it may occur as a symptom of tuberculosis1 foreign bodies in the nasal channels1 malignant growths1 such as sarcoma or cancer attacking the turbinated bones1 diseased bone1 or teeth1 etc4 ,when neglected1 it may last for months or even years1 and is frequently incurable4 ,symptoms4--,there is a persistent gluey1 odourless1 or sometimes ftid discharge either of a gelatinous or yellowish appearance1 with or without streaks of blood from the nostrils1 the outsides of which are sometimes ulcerated4 ,the throat may be swollen2 the appetite and general condition of the animal are often preserved4 ,sometimes there is an abscess in the inner corner of the eye4 ,treatment4--,in those cases that are due to malignant tumours or tuberculosis1 and1 in consequence1 incurable1 merciful destruction of the animal is called for4 ,if due to foreign bodies--as fish-bones1 pieces of grass1 or food1 or to diseased teeth--they should be removed4 ,syringing the nostrils1 so as to wash the diseased lining membrane of the nasal channels1 with some mild antiseptic is the only means to insure success4 ,the mode of procedure is this3 ,a skilled assistant must firmly secure the animal between his hands--that is1 he holds the limbs firmly--then the operator grasps the head with his left hand1 taking care to keep the mouth shut by means of the thumb and index finger1 and steadies it on the table2 and with the right hand he carefully and gently passes the pipe of the syringe up one of the nasal channels and then presses out the fluid4 ,when this is finished1 the other nostril is served the same4 ,the following is a suitable formula for the solution to be injected3-- ,alum #cj grains4 ,boric ,acid #b drachms4 ,liquid ,extract of ,hydrastis #b ,warm ,water pint4 ,this should be used every other day until some benefit is derived from it4 ,if the disease is not amenable after a fortnight's adoption of this treatment1 the following should be substituted3-- ,tincture of ,iodine 7,b4 ,p47 #aj minims4 ,glycerine #f ounces4 ,warm ,water #a ounce4 ,pills of iron1 quinine1 arsenic1 and such-like1 as well as plenty of flesh food along with cod-liver oil1 should be given4 ,fresh air is invigorating1 and a change to the seaside sometimes does miracles4 ,eucalyptus sprinkled about the cat's box is useful1 because it acts not only as an antiseptic1 but as a stimulant to the mucous membrane of the nostrils4 ,bronchitis1 or inflammation of the bronchial or air tubes1 may occur as a sequel to catarrh or during its course1 and may also accompany distemper4 ,it is also due to small worms in the tubes2 washing followed by exposure to draughts2 medicine1 especially light powders1 going down the windpipe1 etc4 ,it is frequently due to tuberculosis4 ,symptoms4--,there is a frequent cough1 the breathing is wheezy1 and sometimes quickened or difficult4 ,the desire for warmth is great2 there is shivering1 and perhaps a discharge from the eyes and nose4 ,on listening to the chest by means of the stethoscope1 wheezing or hissing or bubbling sounds will be heard4 ,treatment4--,the animal should be kept in a constant temperature of #fj ,f41 and have warm milk and beef administered to it4 ,the throat and sides should be rubbed with oil of mustard4 ,inhalations of steam are useful when expectoration seems difficult4 ,kermes mineral 7two grains7 and powdered squill 7one grain7 should be given4 ,pneumonia1 or inflammation of the substance of the lungs1 may be due to various causes1 such as exposure to cold1 chills after washing1 medicines passing down the windpipe1 foreign bodies1 blood-poisoning1 small worms1 and principally distemper or tuberculosis4 ,it may be associated with pleurisy or bronchitis1 and is then termed pleuropneumonia or bronchopneumonia respectively2 and also sometimes with a purulent collection or tuberculosis1 and then it receives the names septic pneumonia or tubercular pneumonia1 or phthisis4 ,symptoms4--,at first there is intense shivering1 a great desire for warmth1 loss of appetite1 dull appearance1 dull cough1 sickness1 difficulty of breathing1 which after some days becomes laboured or panting4 ,on auscultation of the chest the characteristic sounds may be heard4 ,at first fine crepitations1 then a day or two after the tubular or blowing sounds1 and when convalescence sets in the fine crackling or crepitating sounds are heard again4 ,the cough becomes more frequent and the appetite increases4 ,on the other hand1 if there be no improvement1 the coat becomes dull and open1 the eyes sunken1 and the pupils dilated2 the flanks move up and down like a pump-handle1 and the breath becomes ftid2 food is totally refused1 and diarrha sets in1 a fatal termination is to be anticipated4 ,treatment4--,the animal should be kept in a temperature of #fj ,f41 and fresh air1 but no draughts1 allowed4 ,the sides are to be rubbed with oil of mustard1 or painted with tincture of iodine1 or an ointment composed of one part of tartar emetic to eight of lard4 ,quinine sulphate1 grain2 alcoholic extract of nux vomica1 grain2 and extract of digitalis1 grain1 in a pill1 may be administered every four hours1 and nourishing food given4 ,in the case of tubercular pneumonia1 which is generally chronic1 the animal should be destroyed4 ,pleurisy1 or inflammation of the covering of the lungs or internal lining of the chest cavity1 in the cat as well as in the dog1 is chiefly due to tuberculosis4 ,it may1 however1 result from pneumonia1 abscess in the lung1 cancer1 parasites1 injuries1 foreign bodies1 gunshot wounds1 cold1 etc4 ,it is generally accompanied with a dirty sanious1 or clear amber-tinted1 or port-wine-coloured fluid1 sometimes containing yellowish white strings of lymph floating in it in the chest cavity4 ,one or both sides may be affected4 ,it is usually fatal4 ,symptoms4--,the cat has an anxious1 painful facial expression1 and moans1 or rather grunts1 and sometimes attempts to bite when the chest is touched or made to move2 the abdomen is retracted1 and the breathing1 which is short and jerky1 seems to be performed by the flanks4 ,there is a slight or suppressed cough1 but this is often absent4 ,the animal wastes away1 the coat becomes dull and open and lustreless1 and the hairs are easily pulled out4 ,the creature hides under the furniture and refuses its food1 and when a fatal termination is at hand1 the flanks move up and down like a pump-handle1 the breathing becomes difficult and suffocative1 the mouth1 which is offensive1 being opened at every inspiratory and expiratory effort2 the tongue becomes purplish1 the elbows turn out1 the cat assumes a squatting position on all fours1 and a ftid diarrha sets in4 ,treatment4--,although generally fatal1 treatment may be desired to be attempted4 ,the chest should be painted with tincture of iodine or oil of mustard2 if there be much pain1 a hypodermic injection of morphine will prove useful1 and a pill composed of grain powdered digitalis leaves1 grain sulphate of quinine1 and #a grain of iodide of potassium1 administered three times a day4 ,when the breathing becomes difficult in consequence of the accumulation of fluid in the chest cavity1 it may be deemed advisable to draw the fluid off by means of a trocar4 ,nourishing liquid food1 such as milk1 ,mosquera's beef jelly1 or eggs1 should be given1 little and often4 ,,distemper4 ,distemper is a contagious1 inoculable fever1 due to a specific microbe 7the cocco-bacillus1 or pasteurella of ,lignires71 and is similar1 if not identical1 to that causing distemper in the dog4 ,krajewsky1 ,laosson1 ,lignires1 and others have experimentally demonstrated its identity1 but ,i have never observed the cat naturally giving the dog distemper1 nor vice vers1 and ,i believe this is the experience of most veterinary surgeons in this country4 ,the microbe of distemper--which belongs to the same class of micro-organisms1 the pasteurella1 that causes influenza in the horse1 fowl cholera1 swine-fever1 guineapig distemper1 etc4--is generally found in the blood1 which it alters to such a degree as to make so profound an impression on the system as to diminish its natural resistance to the ordinary germs1 which become1 in consequence1 increased in virulence1 and cause the various phenomena by which we know the disease4 ,it is difficult to detect in the body after about a week4 ,the disease varies in severity according to the degree of virulence of the microbe4 ,if this is very virulent1 it causes a very acute or septic disease1 as is observed in the typhus or gastro-enteric outbreak1 which kills off a large number of animals within a few days or even hours4 ,if it is of a milder strength1 we get the subacute form with localisations1 such as we usually see in distemper4 ,there is also a chronic form1 which lasts a long time1 and which tries the patience of the owner as well as the vitality of the sufferer4 ,finally1 a chronic wasting or cachectic form is sometimes observed2 it resembles the 8going light0 in birds and other animals1 and may be mistaken for starvation1 which it simulates very much4 ,the microbe may exist in a healthy cat's body for weeks without causing it any disturbance until1 perhaps1 the animal catches cold1 or is depressed in some other manner4 ,however1 an apparently healthy animal with this microbe in it may be infective for other cats4 ,period of ,incubation4--,this varies according to the degree of virulence of the microbe and the state of the cat's system and the surroundings in which it is kept4 ,a very virulent infection has a much shorter period of incubation than a mild infection4 ,whereas the former may cause distemper in from two to five days1 the latter takes from one to three weeks4 ,it seems doubtful whether the specific microbe causes the symptoms we usually see in distemper1 or if these are due to a secondary infection resulting from the invasion of the normal microbes of the body1 which have become virulent1 and prey upon their hosts4 ,duration of the ,disease4--,this1 like the period of incubation1 varies also according to the degree of virulence of the virus4 ,a very virulent virus kills in a few days or even hours1 or the animal recovers very quickly4 ,it is not so with a virus of a milder degree of virulence1 which may cause symptoms that take from one to five or six weeks to disappear1 if the animal recover4 ,in other cases the disease shows itself in so mild a form that it appears like an ordinary catarrh1 and recovery is established within a few days4 ,in a few instances death takes place suddenly before any premonitory symptoms have had time to develop4 ,the principal sources of propagation of the infection are cat shows1 catteries 7especially those belonging to people who exhibit71 homes for lost and stray cats1 and institutions that take in these animals as boarders4 ,the cat dealer's shop is not free from blame--many newly purchased kittens develop distemper a few days after purchase1 contracted1 no doubt1 at the dealer's4 ,many cases have been traced to the cattery where the female has been sent to stud4 ,hampers1 cages1 and persons coming from infected catteries are so many media of contagion4 ,even if a cat has apparently recovered from the disease1 it may still give off infection and contaminate other cats for a variable but uncertain period4 ,although the disease may be seen at all times of the year1 it is most prevalent during spring and autumn1 especially if the weather is changeable and wet4 ,moisture of the atmosphere favours the increase of distemper4 ,wet1 following very dry weather1 continuous dampness and rain1 all predispose an animal to the disease4 ,where catteries or homes for lost and strays are continuously being washed out and not properly dried1 especially in damp weather1 before the cats are allowed into the rooms1 distemper is very prevalent4 ,where too many cats are crowded into a given space1 especially if the place is badly lighted and not very well ventilated1 this is favourable for the contamination of the inmates4 ,the mortality varies according to the breed of the animal1 its surroundings1 and the degree of virulence of the infection4 ,seasons and periods have also some bearing on it4 ,commonbred cats allowed to roam out in the open at their will are more likely to recover from the disease1 but if confined to cages or in catteries1 or in the house1 the mortality is quite twenty-five per cent4 ,the long-haired cats are less resistant against it1 and as many as fifty percent4 die4 ,in the ,siamese breed of cats1 the fatality is as high as ninety out of every hundred4 ,the younger the animals1 the greater the deathrate2 yet1 on the other hand1 if old animals are very fat or anmic from want of fresh air and exercise1 the mortality is just as high4 ,many cats are resistant at one time against the infection1 others have it in a mild form1 and yet others have it severely2 but this does not always prevent them from having it again at some future period4 ,my experience is that a cat may frequently have a recurrence of distemper at least two or three times1 and then succumb to it4 ,one season it may appear as a contagious catarrh1 another season as an infectious sore throat1 and at other times as a bronchitis or pneumonia1 and1 lastly1 as a contagious gastritis or gastro-enteritis4 ,frequently all these forms may co-exist in a single outbreak1 and often a single animal exhibits the whole of these manifestations4 ,for the convenience of description of the symptoms of this multiform malady we divide it into five principal forms1 as follow3-- #a4 ,the ,catarrhal1 attacking chiefly the eyes and nostrils4 #b4 ,the ,pharyngeal or ,tonsillar1 affecting the region of the throat4 #c4 ,the ,pulmonary or ,chest form4 #d4 ,the ,abdominal or ,gastro-enteric4 #e4 ,the ,cachectic or ,wasting4 ,the ,catarrhal form of distemper is that which is generally seen in the cat1 and is the least fatal of any4 ,the first symptoms noticed are a watery discharge from one and sometimes both eyes1 the lids of which may be partially or completely closed1 so as to hide the front of the eye1 and a frequent licking of the upper lip and nose as if they were parched and burning4 ,after a day or so the inner lining of the eyelids may be very much reddened1 swollen1 and giving rise to a yellow-white or greenish-white thick discharge1 which adheres to the lids and seals them together4 ,there may also be shivering fits1 a dull open coat1 and a great desire for warmth 7this being so intense in some cases that the animal frequently gets under the grate when a fire is in it74 ,there is sneezing1 followed by a snuffling kind of breathing2 the nostrils discharge a thick1 ropy1 whitish or greenish matter1 which clings to their openings1 and very often closes them up4 ,when the pharynx or larynx is the seat of catarrh there are frequent fits of coughing4 ,the appetite is diminished or absent1 but thirst is1 as a rule1 great4 ,there may also be seen at times vomiting1 diarrha1 or constipation4 ,emaciation is gradual and slight1 or rapid and great1 varying according to the severity of the symptoms4 ,the breathing is not much altered in the majority of cases1 but in a few instances it becomes frequent4 ,the temperature rises a few degrees1 but this is variable1 and it is sometimes normal4 ,the body and limbs feel cold to the touch1 and sometimes give off an offensive odour4 ,the tongue1 lips1 hard and soft palates1 and gums 7especially around the teeth7 are occasionally ulcerated4 ,now and again the eyes become the seat of ulceration1 which on rare occasions becomes perforated2 at other times they become affected with a severe inflammation1 which extends to the whole eyeball and destroys this organ4 ,there is at times dulness or drowsiness1 and the animal seeks dark corners or gets under the furniture4 ,many cats from sheer nervousness1 especially in strange places1 avoid the fire and seek obscure or lofty positions4 ,recovery generally takes place within a fortnight or three weeks1 but death may take place within twenty-four to forty-eight hours from the commencement of the attack4 ,the ,pharyngeal1 ,tonsillar1 or ,throat form is the most deadly manifestation of distemper4 ,the first symptom to attract attention is the drivelling of clear1 ropy albuminous saliva from the corners of the mouth4 ,the animal crouches upon all four of its limbs2 there is a frequent gulping movement1 and a sound is emitted from the throat as if there was an attempt to swallow the thick ropy saliva which clings about the mouth and pharynx2 the swallowing seems difficult or impossible2 food is refused1 but thirst is constant1 although the animal seems incapable of swallowing2 there is a great dulness or depression1 and the cat appears indifferent to its surroundings4 ,on examination of the outside of the throat it is found swollen and painful1 the glands are enlarged1 and there appears to be a gurgling noise at each inspiration and expiration4 ,on inspection of the mouth and back of the throat1 the tongue and pharynx are found to be covered with a thick1 ropy1 bubbling saliva1 the mucous membrane is swollen and congested1 and the soft palate is of a pinkish or even dark reddish arborescent appearance1 due to the congested state of the small blood-vessels4 ,sometimes ulcers appear on the hard and soft palates4 ,after a day or so the depression increases1 there is a discharge from the eyes and nostrils1 which appears at first as a clear viscid fluid1 and afterwards becomes yellowish or dirty green in colour1 and1 if the animal lives long enough1 ultimately bloody1 in consequence of it irritating the mucous membranes and surrounding skin of the eyes and nose4 ,there may also be a catarrhal or purulent ftid discharge from one or both ears1 but this is quite exceptional1 and is mostly seen in cases having a fatal termination4 ,if the prostration is very great1 and there is rapid loss of weight and condition1 and the discharge from the mouth1 nostrils1 and eyes becomes ftid1 coupled with total loss of appetite1 and no abatement of the other symptoms1 a fatal termination is to be anticipated4 ,late in the complaint the pharyngeal mucus may become of a dirty colour or sanious2 purple spots appear on the tongue1 gums1 and lips1 and there is a moan or cry emitted at each respiratory effort2 convulsive movements of the muscles of the temples1 shoulders1 and thighs set in1 and death takes place from intoxication4 ,the temperature rises at first1 but when a fatal termination is to be anticipated it falls below the normal4 ,the ,pulmonary or ,chest form1 although not so frequently seen in the cat as in the dog1 may appear from the outset as a distinct localisation1 or follow or intervene during an attack of the other forms as a complication4 ,it may or may not be ushered in by shivering fits2 the coat becomes dull and open1 there is sneezing or coughing1 or both2 tears run from the eyes1 and mucus issues from the nostrils1 and there is a great desire for warmth4 ,the temperature is elevated1 and varies from #ajb4e to #ajf1 but rarely running a typical course4 ,the cough1 when present1 is frequent and rattling or harsh1 and sometimes dull4 ,on listening to the chest wheezing1 rattling1 or blowing1 or rubbing1 or splashing sounds may be heard4 ,emaciation is either gradual or rapid1 thirst is generally great1 but the appetite is diminished or absent4 ,the breathing is either quickened or the inspiratory and expiratory efforts may be prolonged and accompanied or not with a moan or grunt1 which is sometimes associated with fluid in the chest cavity1 which is known by the pumping or lifting action of the flanks1 this effusion in one or both of the pleural sacs being either of a clear greenish or amber-tinted or bloody or dirty yellowish appearance1 and sometimes of a ftid odour4 ,besides pleurisy1 which is only occasionally encountered1 there may be pneumonia1 bronchopneumonia1 or bronchitis1 according to the structure of lung involved in this form of distemper4 7,for a description of these localisations or complications1 see under their respective headings47 ,the lesions of the lungs may be slight1 and yet the symptoms may be severe2 on the contrary1 the lesions may be extensive1 and the resulting symptoms comparatively slight4 ,if the fever remains high1 the appetite abolished1 the pupils dilated1 the breathing plaintive and very rapid1 and prostration great1 death soon takes place from failure of the heart due to intoxication4 ,in many cases1 though1 the fever is not intense1 and yet death supervenes4 ,the ,abdominal1 ,gastric1 or ,gastro-enteric form of distemper is oftener seen than either the pharyngeal or pulmonary form1 and may occur as a very acute and rapidly fatal manifestation1 or as a chronic disease4 ,it frequently accompanies the other forms4 ,in acute cases there is sudden vomiting of food1 quickly followed by a frequently repeated ejection of thick1 slimy1 and frothy mucus1 and ultimately by a thin1 watery1 serous fluid1 which is of an olive-green or yellowish appearance4 ,the thirst is intense1 and no sooner is water sipped than it is expelled4 ,there is frequent diarrha2 the stools at first seem fluid1 then become watery1 sometimes bloody1 and very ftid4 ,the appetite is suppressed1 and the animal becomes cold and indifferent to its surroundings1 the facial expression is pinched1 the eyes are semi-closed2 the coat is dull and open1 and on pressure over the region of the stomach pain is evinced by a moan or cry1 and death usually takes place in a few hours4 ,there is not as a rule any discharge from the eyes and nostrils4 ,in the subacute cases1 beyond a slight catarrhal discharge from the eyes and nostrils1 there may be either vomiting or diarrha--often both--and at other instances vomiting and constipation4 ,when the bowels are the principal seat of the disease1 vomiting is rare1 but diarrha is generally persistent4 ,thirst is great1 and food is refused or taken sparingly4 ,the animal is dull1 cries if moved or if the abdomen is manipulated2 emaciation is rapid1 and the animal dies in a state of exhaustion4 ,in the chronic cases there may or may not be any catarrhal symptoms1 but there is a chronic and persistent diarrha1 and sometimes vomiting4 ,the appetite is capricious or sometimes ravenous1 thirst moderate1 and emaciation gradual1 and liquid fces may be expelled on the least effort1 as by coughing2 the fur or pelage around the tail becomes soiled1 and1 in consequence1 the animal gives off an offensive odour4 ,in some instances the breath becomes ftid2 the teeth1 gums1 tongue1 and lips are covered with a dirty brown or greenish slimy material2 and frequently the gum around the neck of the teeth is spongy1 and bleeds on the slightest touch4 ,occasionally the bone into which the teeth are inserted becomes exposed1 ulcerated1 or necrosed4 ,ulcers are at times seen on the lips and tongue4 ,the ,chronic ,cachectic or ,wasting form is sometimes encountered as a chronic wasting malady1 not showing many symptoms beyond gradual emaciation1 great weakness1 intense thirst1 ravenous or capricious appetite1 and occasionally diarrha4 ,at other times the animal goes off its appetite1 sits about in a mopish manner1 has a staring and dull coat1 the mucous membranes are pallid1 the haw protruding over the front of the inner portion of the eyeballs1 and becomes light in weight4 ,it very occasionally happens in these wasting cases that the skin becomes the seat of parasitic mange1 and1 in consequence1 gives off an offensive mousy or mouldy odour4 ,if treatment is not skilfully and early adopted1 death takes place1 and on post-mortem examination the remains simulate those of an animal having died from starvation4 ,it may follow on the other forms of manifestation4 ,skin eruptions are rarely noticed in distemper of the cat1 but sometimes one sees on kittens a scabby eruption resembling ecthyma1 the discharge of which mats the hairs in these young creatures4 ,female cats1 when pregnant1 frequently abort--in fact1 nearly every cat in this condition in a cattery affected with distemper will miscarry1 making it appear as if it were a special contagious disease4 ,the ears occasionally become the seat of acute catarrh or ulceration1 and give rise to an offensive discharge4 ,this complication is mostly associated with the pharyngeal form4 ,the cornea of the eye is sometimes the seat of ulceration1 which generally disappears as the animal recovers4 ,the whole eyeball occasionally partakes of inflammation1 which destroys it4 ,when the eyes of young kittens become the seat of catarrh1 the eye is generally destroyed1 and consequently the sight is lost4 ,the nervous type1 showing itself as excitement1 convulsions1 chorea1 meningitis1 or paralysis1 although seen1 is somewhat rare in this creature4 ,death may occur either suddenly from convulsions1 or rapidly from intoxication1 or slowly from exhaustion4 ,when due to intoxication1 clonic1 convulsive1 or twitching movements of the muscles of the temples1 shoulders1 and hind limbs precede1 and are even seen shortly after1 death4 ,frequently death takes place without any symptoms of the disease having been noticed4 ,in this case it appears to be due to the rapidity of the formation of the toxin or poison of the microbe1 which causes intense shock to the system4 ,diagnosis4--,in many instances this disease is mistaken for a simple catarrh1 diarrha1 or sore throat--a mistake unfortunate where other cats are concerned4 ,it is true that the first stage of distemper frequently resembles either of these simple complaints1 which are not contagious1 and generally only affect one out of several animals kept together1 and run their course in a few days2 whereas in distemper the disease usually runs a prolonged course1 is very prostrating1 and in many instances fatal1 and1 beyond all1 contagious4 ,on the other hand1 it may resemble diphtheria1 which is contagious1 but has false membranes on the soft palate1 pharynx1 larynx1 and tonsils1 which are absent in distemper4 ,prognosis4--,distemper is a most treacherous disease1 and one of which even an expert cannot foretell the result4 ,many instances occur in which an animal appears to be on the right road towards recovery1 when a relapse suddenly sets in and carries off the poor creature4 ,if the appetite is moderate1 the emaciation not rapid or great1 the diarrha not intense or too frequent1 and no complications set in after the end of the first week1 recovery may be anticipated4 ,on the other hand1 if the weakness be progressive and prolonged1 emaciation rapid and great1 an offensive odour is given off from the body1 eyes sunken in their orbits1 pupils dilated1 and the facial expression is haggard1 death is to be expected4 ,again1 relapses 7which are commonly encountered71 early youth1 obesity1 complications1 the breed of the animal 7such as ,siamese and long-haired varieties1 especially light-coloured animals71 are generally unfavourable towards a certain recovery4 ,chronic nasal catarrh1 chronic pneumonia or phthisis1 and persistent diarrha may also give trouble after the distemper has run its ordinary course1 and will have to be reckoned with4 ,treatment4--,an old maxim is1 8,prevention is better than cure10 and ought to be carried out as far as possible by isolating all those animals that have been in contact with the infection4 ,animals coming from homes for lost and stray cats1 cat shows1 dealers in cats1 should be kept apart from those in the cattery for at least a fortnight1 to see if they develop the complaint4 ,the place of isolation should have no communication with the building or house in which the majority of healthy cats are kept4 ,the baskets1 cages1 clothing1 etc41 should be thoroughly washed and disinfected before they are used again for sound cats4 ,it ought not to be forgotten that persons who have been in contact with sick animals may carry the infection on their hands or clothes4 ,when distemper has declared itself in a cattery and the inmates have recovered1 the place should be thoroughly scrubbed1 disinfected1 and afterwards lime-washed or repainted4 ,boiling water and soda1 used with the aid of a scrubbing-brush1 is much more reliable to remove infection than many of the so-called disinfectants1 which frequently do not destroy the virus1 but often injure the cats4 ,after the habitation has been scrupulously cleansed1 it may be well to disinfect it with chlorinated lime 7#a lb4 to the gallon of cold water71 which should be brushed all over the floor1 walls1 partitions1 etc4 ,baskets1 hampers1 etc41 should be served likewise4 ,metal and earthenware utensils may be boiled in strong soda-water4 ,before any cats are again put into the place1 the doors and windows should be opened for at least a week1 and fresh air and daylight admitted1 as they are the best destructors of micro-organisms4 ,where valuable cats are kept and the risk of distemper is great1 it would be advisable for the owner to have the cats immunised1 or rendered proof against the disease1 by means of the ,pasteurian system of vaccination with the attenuated microbe of distemper1 as introduced into practice by ,professor ,lignires and ,dr4 ,phisalix4 ,several degrees of strength of the vaccine are used4 ,the animal is at first vaccinated or inoculated with a mild degree of virus1 and afterwards with vaccine of gradually increased virulence1 so that the most virulent virus 7which would quickly kill1 or cause the disease in a severe form in an animal not previously inoculated with the milder vaccines7 would not produce any disturbance in the vaccinated creature4 ,medical or ,curative ,treatment4--,the sick animal should be kept in a well-lighted and well ventilated but not draughty room1 which ought to be dry1 and kept at a temperature of about #fj4 ,the floor should be covered with a thick layer of fresh pine sawdust1 heaps of which should be placed in tins1 boxes1 or old coal-scuttles for the convenience of the animals4 ,if the cat is seen in the first stage of the disease1 an emetic of to grain of tartar emetic in a teaspoonful of warm water may be given to clear out the stomach and bronchial tubes4 ,in place of this drug1 to grain of hydrochloride of apomorphine in tabloid form may be injected under the skin4 ,after the emetic has passed off1 easily digested and nourishing food1 such as milk1 should be offered1 and1 if refused1 forced upon the animal4 ,when the appetite is fairly good1 to grain of calomel may be given twice a day1 but must be stopped as soon as it causes vomiting or intense diarrha4 ,when the appetite is bad1 quinine sulphate 7 grain7 given three times a day for a lengthened period may be useful in remedying it4 ,the eyes and nostrils should be bathed three times a day with the following lotion3 ,chinosol #c grains1 ,rose-water #h ounces2 and then smeared with an ointment composed of-- ,boracic ,acid drachm1 ,cold ,cream #d drachms4 ,when the throat is very much inflamed1 it should be painted on the outside1 after all the hair is clipped off from ear to ear1 with tincture of iodine or the therial tincture of capsicum1 three times a day1 until soreness is produced4 ,as it is a difficult job to paint the inside of the cat's throat1 the following powder dropped on the tongue will act in a similar manner3-- ,quinine sulphate grain1 ,borax #b grains4 ,to be given morning1 noon1 and night4 ,if there is either pleurisy or pneumonia1 or both combined1 the hair should be cut off over the ribs1 and the skin painted with a solution of tartar emetic 7composed of #a drachm of the drug to an ounce of spirit71 and then wrapped up with a binder1 under which a layer of cotton-wool is placed4 ,in case there is repeated vomiting1 a powder composed of-- ,bismuth carbonate #e grains1 ,cocaine hydrochloride grain1 should be shaken on the tongue every four hours until twenty-four hours have elapsed since the last vomiting took place4 ,if there should be a persistent and profuse diarrha1 it must be moderated1 but not suppressed1 by means of #b grains of tannigen given morning1 noon1 and night4 ,when there are any convulsions or much pain1 to grain of extract of opium in pill should be administered morning and night4 ,light and easily digested food--such as peptonised milk1 ,mosquera's beef jelly1 ,benger's peptonised food1 etc4--should be given in small and repeated quantities during the earlier or active stages of the disease4 ,later on1 in the convalescent stage1 scraped raw beef1 boiled fish1 rice-pudding1 etc41 may be offered4 ,parrish's chemical food and cod-liver oil1 given by some cat-owners during the acute stage of distemper when there is no appetite1 are harmful and cruel remedies4 ,,diseases ,,of ,,the ,,ear4 ,the external ear in the cat is short1 upright1 triangular1 pointed1 and opens in front4 ,its apex in some cats--especially ,persians--has a tuft of hair growing from the inside4 ,in the outer margin the ear doubles on itself1 forming a pouch1 in which lumps of dirt1 ear-mites1 etc41 frequently accumulate4 ,a ,serous ,cyst1 or abscess1 forms between the skin and cartilage of the inside1 and sometimes also of the outside1 of the ear or ears4 ,the ear is swollen1 feels tense1 has a bluish or reddish tint1 but is not very painful4 ,the contents of this swelling are a thin1 reddish fluid and a blood clot1 which separate the skin from the cartilage and its covering4 ,it is always associated with ear-mites1 and generally results in the ear shrinking and becoming drawn down1 which1 when both ears are affected1 give the animal a peculiar appearance1 resembling some wild variety of the cat tribe that usually carries these organs in a semi-pendulous manner4 ,treatment4--,it can be prevented by keeping the cat's ears clean and free from ear-mites4 ,when it is present1 the cyst should be freely opened 7which can be done painlessly by previously injecting a few drops of a #d per cent4 solution of cocaine71 the blood clot carefully removed1 and the inner surface of the cavity washed out with a #e per cent4 solution of chinosol4 ,the ear must be gently pulled every day to prevent shrinking1 and1 consequently1 deformity4 ,true ,canker is an inflammation of the deeper part of the cavity of the ear1 accompanied with a chronic ftid1 whitish1 cheesy1 or gluey discharge1 and sometimes ulceration1 and1 rarely1 warty-looking growths4 ,it usually runs a long course1 unless skilfully treated1 and is liable to recur4 ,treatment4--,the ear should be carefully washed out with tincture of calendula1 and then well dried with cotton-wool1 and afterwards have finely sifted boracic powder blown down the cavity4 ,this treatment should be carried out at least every other day until recovery takes place4 ,quite #ij per cent4 of long-haired varieties and cross-breeds suffer from ,parasitic ,canker4 ,it is seen in kittens a month old1 as well as in aged cats1 and is conveyable to the dog4 ,the ferret also is liable to it4 ,it is due to the ear-mite called ,symbiotes auricularum1 which was first found in the ear of the dog by ,professor ,hering1 of ,stuttgart1 in #ahcd1 and in the cat by ,huber1 of ,memingen1 in #ahfj4 ,it resembles the mange and cheese mites in general characters1 and is only with difficulty seen with the naked eye4 ,when viewed in strong sunlight1 it appears as a small whitish or cinnamon-coloured woolly speck1 resembling a grain of meal or flour crawling about on the brownish dirt in the ears4 ,these mites nearly always collect together in large colonies4 ,there is frequent scratching of the ears with the hind limb4 ,the cat suddenly stops1 sits down1 inclines its head to one side1 and scratches away as if it gave it great pleasure to do so4 ,in some cases1 however1 it becomes quite frantic1 and swears4 ,frequently there is an abrasion of the skin behind the ears due to this scratching1 and occasionally the flap of the ear becomes the seat of a serous abscess1 which ,i have described4 ,when the mite wanders over the drum of the ear1 especially in warm weather1 some cats are seized with convulsions1 others become delirious1 and many reel about as if intoxicated4 ,treatment4--,the ears should be washed out with warm soap and water1 and then well dried with cotton-wool1 and afterwards have a liniment composed of oil of stavesacre 7#b drachms7 and almond oil 7#f drachms71 mixed together1 and poured in every day until all signs of irritation have passed away1 care being taken to wipe off the superfluous dressing from the ears after each dressing4 ,,diseases ,,of ,,the ,,eye4 ,in certain respects the eye of the cat differs from that of the other domesticated animals4 ,it resembles the eye of the dog in its shape1 which is somewhat rounded and globular4 ,the membrana nictitans1 haw1 or third eyelid1 is not so well developed as in some other animals1 as the cat is able to protect the eye with the paw to a considerable extent4 ,the tapetum lucidum is of a brilliant metallic golden yellow or greenish 7in ,siamese and albino cats pinkish colour71 and is so well developed that it probably enables the animal to see better at night1 by reflecting the rays of light a second time through the retina4 ,it is also the cause of the well-known glare of the cat's eyes in the dark4 ,the iris1 or curtain1 is yellowish-green1 orange1 or golden in most cats2 sometimes it is amber-coloured1 and in other cases golden1 with a tinge of metallic green around the pupillary circumference4 ,some cats1 especially white cats1 have the iris of one of the eyes of a bluish white appearance1 and the other a golden1 amber1 or greenish golden colour4 ,the ,siamese cat and many white cats have pale blue or bluish eyes4 ,the shade of the iris generally varies with the colour of the cat's fur1 and is taken into consideration in the judging of points at shows4 ,the pupil1 or opening in the centre of the iris1 when widely dilated1 is circular in shape1 but when contracted it becomes vertically elliptical1 and may become so narrow as to appear as a mere thin perpendicular slit4 ,the optic disc1 or entrance of the optic nerve before it expands in the cavity of the eyeball to form the retina1 is small1 round1 and cupped1 and of a clear grey colour1 and the veins in it can be distinguished from the arteries which radiate from the optic disc4 ,the choroidal vessels are rarely seen1 but in the ,siamese cat they are seen in the red peripheral zone4 ,kittens1 like puppies1 are1 as a rule1 born with the eyelids closed1 and this condition lasts usually from nine to twelve days1 when the membrane joining the two lids together wastes and finally gives way4 ,sometimes1 however1 the eyelids do not become separated1 or only become so at one part1 so that surgical intervention may be necessary to separate the partially or completely closed lids4 ,i have1 on several occasions1 seen kittens born with their eyes open1 but have not been able to satisfy myself if the condition was due to any prolongation of the period of uterogestation4 ,the eyelids are sometimes the seat of ringworm1 mange1 follicular scabies1 or eczema1 and as these affections are usually present in other parts of the body1 they can easily be diagnosed by means of the naked eye or the microscope4 ,the best remedy for any of these diseases1 when situated on the eyelids1 is3-- ,yellow oxide of mercury #d grains4 ,white vaseline #a ounce4 ,these ingredients are to be well mixed by a competent chemist1 and a small piece1 about the size of a pea1 is to be well rubbed on the affected part or parts every morning4 ,care must be taken that no superfluous ointment is left on the hairs1 as most cats will rub it off with their paws1 which they will immediately lick1 and so may become poisoned4 ,the eyelids occasionally become turned inwards1 so that the hairs covering it rub on the glassy portion of the eyeball1 and frequently set up irritation1 inflammation1 and opacity1 and a copious discharge of tears4 ,this is termed entropium1 and requires an operation4 ,when the eyelid is turned outwards from the eyeball1 the condition takes the name of ectropium1 which rarely calls for any interference1 as it does not injure the animal1 even if it is unsightly4 ,a very rare anomaly of the eyelid in the cat is when the hairs of it take an unusual direction1 and rub on the glassy portion of the eyeball1 and1 like entropium1 set up irritation1 inflammation1 and smokiness of it4 ,this is termed trichiasis1 and requires an operation to remedy it4 ,the eyelids are also subject to wounds1 bruises1 abscesses1 warts1 and ,meibomian cysts1 which do not call for special attention4 ,the third eyelid1 haw1 or membrana nictitans--though1 as before stated1 it is not so well developed in the cat as in some other animals--is liable1 in debilitating diseases1 such as distemper1 anmia1 etc41 to protrude persistently over the inner part of the front of the eyeball4 ,it will1 however1 resume its normal position as the cat regains strength1 and should1 therefore1 on no account be removed4 ,it frequently becomes inflamed during distemper1 catarrh1 or ophthalmia1 or from injuries1 but should not in these cases be removed1 as if it were a foreign body or new growth2 a simple soothing1 antiseptic lotion will put it right as the original disease abates and strength is regained4 ,frequently in the cat1 as in the dog1 just below the inner angle of the eye socket an abscess forms4 ,this is due to pus in the cavity of the jaw bones1 called also the antrum of highmore1 above the teeth1 and is generally caused by some disturbance or disease of the tooth4 ,when the tooth immediately below the abscess is removed1 and the abscess cavity is washed out with some astringent1 recovery usually takes place4 ,it should1 however1 be borne in mind that the teeth below the eye are frequently diseased1 and no abscess is caused by them4 ,a fistula may form immediately below the inner angle of the eyelids4 ,it results from an abscess which opens1 and then heals up1 to break out again4 ,this process goes on until a permanent opening or fistula remains1 from which a discharge of matter issues4 ,this is connected with some disturbance1 or even disease1 of the tooth or teeth immediately below it4 ,when the tooth or teeth are removed1 and the opening occasionally well washed out with some astringent1 it heals up1 and no further trouble is seen4 ,however1 it is sometimes due to tuberculosis1 and the mere removal of teeth does not do away with the fistula4 ,it is mostly mistaken for a lachrymal fistula4 ,sometimes the conjunctiva1 or the pinkish membrane lining the inner surface of the eyelids and the front of the eyeball1 becomes the seat of disease4 ,a non-inflammatory swelling of it is seen1 due to an infiltration of serum4 ,this is called chemosis4 ,it has the appearance of a palish pink swelling all round the eye1 which seems sunken in the orbit but does not seem inflamed or painful4 ,it may quickly disappear on dropping a few minims of a #d per cent4 solution of cocaine hydrochloride into the eye4 ,it is liable to recur at some future time4 ,conjunctivitis1 or inflammation of the membrane covering the inner lining of the eyes and the front of the eyeball1 is also termed external or simple ophthalmia4 ,it is frequently seen in the cat during distemper1 diphtheria1 catarrh1 or from an injury to1 or presence of a foreign body in1 the eye4 ,the animal evidently dreads the light1 as the eyelids are partially closed1 and the haw is drawn a little way over the front of the eyeball4 ,tears run down the face1 and1 if the eyelids are separated1 and the internal lining thus exposed1 it will be found that it is swollen and reddened from the distension of the small blood-vessels4 ,after a day or two1 the discharge alters in character1 and instead of being watery1 as before1 appears as yellowish white thick matter1 flowing from or sticking to the inner corner of the eye4 ,the lining membrane may become so swollen that it laps over the lids1 and the eyeball seems to have sunk into its orbit4 ,sometimes it is associated with the presence on the conjunctiva of small1 round1 pinkish bodies1 the size of a pin's head1 which completely disappear as the affection passes off1 leaving the mucous membrane as they found it4 ,frequently1 there are reddish-yellow granulations or greyish-white1 semi-transparent1 or glistening bodies1 of the size of a rape-seed or less1 scattered over the conjunctival membrane1 or protruding from it4 ,to these two latter varieties of conjunctivitis the terms of follicular and granular are respectively applied4 ,they both seem contagious4 ,treatment4--,if the catarrh of the eyes is due to a foreign body1 it must be removed4 ,the cat should be kept in a dark1 warm place1 free from draughts and away from the fire1 and the eye bathed with a warm lotion composed of the following ingredients3-- ,boracic acid #h grains4 ,cocaine hydrochloride #h ,rose-water #a ounce4 ,if there are any granules on the conjunctiva1 the lining membrane of the lids should be everted1 after the eye has been cocainised1 and painted with a #aj per cent4 solution of nitrate of silver or rubbed with a stick of copper sulphate1 care being taken that the superfluous material is afterwards washed off with warm water4 ,the ,purulent ,ophthalmia of the ,new-born is seen in young kittens as soon as their eyes are opened1 or even before1 and is a very serious complaint1 as it generally attacks the eyeball1 which it destroys1 and consequently the sight is lost4 ,this disease seems contagious4 ,there is a bulging of the eyelids1 which are glued together4 ,when these are separated1 a thick1 yellowish matter flows out1 the eyes are ulcerated and perforated1 the inner surfaces of the eyelids are inflamed1 and soon after the contents of the eye protrude as a fleshy mass4 ,treatment4--,if the eyes are destroyed1 the animal should be put into the lethal chamber at once4 ,on the other hand1 if there is no ulceration of the eyeball1 the eyelids should be separated and the eyes and under-surface of the eyelids constantly irrigated for a quarter of an hour at a time with a warm solution of chinosol4 ,the eyelids must not be allowed to become sealed up1 else matter will collect and press on the delicate eyeballs and destroy them4 ,it may be advisable to paint the inside of the eyelids with a #aj per cent4 solution of nitrate of silver4 ,the cornea1 or clear1 glassy transparent membrane of the front of the eyeball1 is frequently involved in the disease just described1 or it may become inflamed or ulcerated independent of it4 ,inflammation of the cornea1 termed ,corneitis1 keratitis1 or external ophthalmia1 may result from conjunctivitis1 injuries1 distemper1 diphtheria1 or disease of the brain or nerves1 sunstroke1 etc4 ,it is very prevalent during the cold winds of spring1 and in the majority of instances seems to be contagious4 ,it appears in the form of patchy congestion or inflammation1 or at a later stage as ulceration4 ,one or both eyes may be affected4 ,there is a dread of light1 a continual flow of tears1 and frequent winking of the eyelids1 or almost complete closure of them4 ,the cornea1 usually glassy and transparent1 becomes clouded by a smoky or milky white film1 which has a rounded or irregular form4 ,blood-vessels1 which in the normal state are absent1 appear on the cornea1 spreading from a part or all round the circumference towards the centre of the eye4 ,if the inflammation is intense and prolonged1 the eyeball perforated1 and the contents bulge outwards and become rough1 dirty1 and leathery in appearance1 this condition is generally seen either as the result of an injury1 or from improper treatment1 or neglect of a simple affection of the eye4 ,in distemper the inflammation usually expends itself on some particular spot or spots in one or both eyes4 ,these spots may appear as mere milky white patches1 or they may present an appearance which might lead an ordinary observer to the conclusion that a small piece had been dug out of the eye4 ,they may occur either in the centre of the cornea1 or a little above it1 or sometimes a little towards the outer angle of the eye4 ,at the outset the cornea at the particular spot or spots in which the inflammation is localised becomes softened1 then bulges1 and finally gives way1 so that a depression or ulcer is left on the eye4 ,some time after this ulcer becomes filled up with granulations of a dirty red colour1 which afterwards become absorbed1 when the cure is complete4 ,frequently two ulcers appear side by side4 ,sometimes1 when these ulcerations are improperly treated or neglected1 or associated with great debility or anmia1 the white speck remains as a permanent blemish1 or in the more serious cases the ulcer perforates the eye1 and the contents of which bulge and cause what is termed a staphyloma1 from its resemblance to a grape1 or the whole eye may become involved in the inflammation and be totally destroyed4 ,in these cases of the destroyed or 8lost0 eyes1 the whole eyeball has a greenish-white appearance1 and seems to bulge out from the socket in consequence of the general swelling of the organ4 ,it may give way or become ulcerated1 giving rise to a continual discharge1 and if not removed causes great pain and exhaustion4 ,treatment4--,the cat should be kept in the dark1 and soothing antiseptics applied to the eye4 ,the solution recommended for conjunctivitis is also very serviceable here4 ,if the eye affection is due to distemper or any other general disease1 it is1 of course1 necessary to treat this disease1 in addition to the local applications to the eye4 ,when ulceration takes place1 the following drops are recommended3-- ,eserine salicylate grain4 ,distilled water #b drachms4 ,to be instilled between the eyelids1 by means of an eye-dropper1 two or three times a day4 ,if1 however1 there is much vascularity1 the following drops are advisable3-- ,atrophine sulphate grain4 ,cocaine hydrochloride #f grains4 ,distilled water #b drachms4 ,after all the acute symptoms have passed away1 the indolent granulations may require treatment4 ,a suitable application for this purpose is3-- ,chinosol #c grains4 ,rose-water #h ounces4 ,to bathe the eye1 by means of allowing the lotion to drop by squeezing a piece of lint saturated with it between the eyelids several times a day4 ,when the eye is irretrievably lost1 and suppuration commences in the interior of the eye1 it is necessary to remove the whole eyeball4 ,however1 this should not be performed in the case of distemper until after the original disease abates1 else removal of one eye will probably end in destruction of the other4 ,general ,remarks on the ,eye4--,in all affections of the eyes1 a careful examination of them should be made by an experienced qualified veterinary surgeon4 ,as1 however1 in some out-of-the-way places professional aid is difficult1 if not impossible1 to obtain1 a few brief hints as to general treatment should be useful4 ,many amateurs1 in their anxiety to effect a speedy and complete cure1 attempt too much1 use powerful and irritating drugs 7often also in improper proportions71 and frequently1 with the best intentions in the world1 succeed in permanently injuring or even destroying the sight4 ,it is therefore better1 in the absence of professional aid1 and especially in the earlier stages of inflammation of the eyes1 to trust to mild and palliative treatment1 and to 8give nature a chance40 ,in all cases of recent inflammation1 soothing applications should be used1 such as warm infusion of poppy-heads or camomile flowers1 warm milk1 cocaine drops1 etc4 ,if the inflammation is associated with increased tension of the eyeball1 due to an excessive quantity of fluid within it1 or is accompanied by deep ulceration1 the increased tension should be reduced by means of the eserine drops4 ,lotions containing either lead or silver nitrate should not be used in inflammation of the cornea associated with ulceration1 as the former is apt to leave a white spot or patch1 and the latter a brown or blackish stain4 ,last1 but by no means least1 animals affected with disturbance of the eyes should be kept in the dark1 or at any rate away from the fire or from any glaring light1 and should be shielded from draughts4 ,the general health should also be looked to1 and nourishing food given4 ,,diseases ,,of ,,the ,,skin4 ,the cat is very fortunately free from many of the skin complaints that affect the dog4 ,nevertheless1 domestication and improper surroundings--the curses of health--demand a few victims now and again1 and hence the much-maligned cat is not exempt from this bane4 ,the diseases are either contagious and conveyable from one cat to another1 or simple and not spread by contact4 ,the contagious skin diseases are due either to an animal parasite 7as in mange7 or to a vegetable parasite 7as in ringworm74 ,sarcoptic ,mange is a contagious skin disease of the cat due to an animal parasite or mange-mite1 termed ,sarcoptes minor1 var4 cati4 ,it generally attacks ill-fed1 neglected1 and badly housed cats which are allowed to stray1 and is seen chiefly in the autumn4 ,it frequently occurs as an epizotic1 and where no attention is bestowed on the victims it is very fatal4 ,the adult or mature mite has an almost circular body4 ,when viewed under the microscope1 its limbs seem to be under its body4 ,it has eight pairs of legs in the adult and six in the larval stage4 ,in the female the hind legs are provided at the extremities with bristles only2 but in the male the central pair of hind legs are provided with suckers1 although the outer pair have bristles4 ,it does not excavate a subcutaneous gallery1 or burrow1 like the mange-mites of other animals1 but makes a simple nest1 that appears as a minute eminence4 ,the larv1 nymph1 and males wander in the midst of the crusts4 ,it is capable of being transmitted to man1 and to the dog1 rat1 horse1 and ox4 ,whatever part of the body it first touches1 it always goes to the head to do its injurious work4 ,at first small reddish pimples1 no larger than a pin's head or a turnip-seed1 appear2 these exude a yellowish fluid which dries and forms crusts4 ,the animal scratches1 the hair falls off1 numerous other scales appear1 and become thicker and thicker1 until the whole head and ears become encased in a cast of dirty yellowish crusts4 ,the crusts may be absent in young kittens or cats1 but slightly adherent scales are seen instead4 ,after a time the disease spreads to the neck and shoulders1 elbows and thighs1 or even to the whole body4 ,in kittens or young cats the complaint is more likely to spread to various parts of the body1 but in older animals it is generally confined to the head1 or head and neck1 but may1 as in young cats1 spread to the other parts or to the whole body1 the skin of which1 after some time1 becomes wrinkled1 and gives off a musty odour4 ,the nostrils and eyes may be blocked up by the thickened crusts1 so that the animal can see1 or breathe through the nostrils1 only with difficulty4 ,the cat hides or strays away1 it mopes and seems sad2 it becomes emaciated1 and indifferent to its surroundings1 and finally succumbs to exhaustion or some concurrent disease4 ,it may be associated with ringworm or parasitic ear canker2 it is nearly always accompanied by the elliptical tapeworm4 ,it quickly kills within five or six weeks if no treatment or attention is bestowed on the cat1 especially if young2 but where it is partially treated1 it may linger for months1 even years4 ,cold weather retards its progress1 but its energy is renewed in the following spring4 ,it spreads slowly on well-cared-for cats4 ,treatment4--,the mangy cat should be kept isolated from the healthy animals1 and kept away from children4 ,its basket1 bedding1 or cage should be boiled1 burnt1 or thoroughly disinfected4 ,the cat must be carefully dressed with sulphurated lime lotion1 which should be applied by means of a piece of lint every day1 taking care that the animal is kept warm and well fed4 ,follicular ,mange is due to a caterpillar-shaped mite--the ,demodex or ,acarus folliculorum1 var4 cati--which inhabits the sebaceous follicles of the skin4 ,it is sometimes found in the ears1 nose1 and head of the cat1 but rarely causes severe itchiness4 ,it produces pimples and scabs1 which are only of short duration1 and seldom occasions trouble4 ,it is frequently associated with sarcoptic mange4 ,the parasite is a quarter smaller than that of the dog4 ,treatment4--,a lotion composed of sulphurated potash 7#a drachm71 glycerine 7 oz4 to #f parts of rose-water71 applied by means of lint to the affected part once a day1 generally suffices to cause its disappearance4 ,grey ,ringworm1 or ,tinea tonsurans1 is not a common affection of the cat4 ,it is due to a vegetable parasite or mould1 termed the ,trichophyton felineum1 which attacks the hairs1 these becoming much altered and broken1 and their ends split up and frayed like a brush4 ,there will be noticed circular or oval bald patches1 covered with an abundance of scales1 which are of a slaty or greyish appearance1 and vary according to the colour of the animal4 ,these are seen on the head and limbs and round the eyelids and mouth1 but also on other parts of the body4 ,they may run into one another1 and form large patches4 ,there may be itchiness and scratching2 and in this latter case the crusts may be covered with blood and resemble eczema4 ,treatment4--,as this disease is conveyable to other cats1 to the horse1 ox1 dog1 and children1 the affected animal should be isolated and the patches dressed with tincture of perchloride of iron once every third day4 7,whole families1 and even a whole school1 have been known to become affected with ringworm from a cat47 ,yellow ,ringworm1 or ,tinea favosa1 or favus1 also termed 8honeycomb ringworm10 is a commoner disease in the cat than grey ringworm4 ,it is due to a vegetable parasite named ,achorion ,quinckeanum1 which causes at first yellow-coloured crusts that are arranged as cup-shaped masses1 which disturb the hairs so that they are shed4 ,these cup-shaped masses resemble a honeycomb in appearance1 hence its name4 ,the sulphur-yellow colour after a time changes to a dirty yellow or grey4 ,the patches may be circular or zigzag1 and raised above the skin1 but the centre is depressed so as to give them a cup-shaped appearance4 ,they vary in size from a pin's head to a shilling1 or larger4 ,they may run into one another1 so that the circular form is no longer present4 ,the hairs are stiff and lustreless1 and can be easily pulled out4 ,they seem to grow in the centre of the 8cups40 ,after a time the parasite loosens the hair in the follicle1 so that it is shed4 ,it prefers to affect the root of the claws1 or the belly1 sides of the chest1 elbows1 head1 base of ears1 nose1 and then spreads all over the body4 ,when it attacks the head1 it ensheaths the face and scalp as if clay had been moulded to the parts1 so that the eyes become hidden from view4 ,the cat hides itself1 or strays away2 it moans or mews1 crouches on all fours1 and seems utterly miserable4 ,the skin gives off an abominable odour1 which resembles mouldy decaying wood in a damp1 dark building1 or a mousy smell4 ,when the disease is in an advanced stage1 the animal dies from exhaustion or some concurrent disease4 ,it affects old cats as well as young ones1 and it is said they contract it from mice and rats1 which become affected behind the ears4 ,a week or a fortnight elapses before any symptom appears after infection4 ,young animals are easily infected1 but older ones may resist it4 ,it is transmissible to children and adults1 from cat to cat1 from man to cat1 and from rats and mice to man and cat4 ,it may be associated with mange and parasitic ear canker4 ,treatment4--,the cat affected with yellow ringworm should be kept away from children and other cats3 the affected patches may be painted with the following3-- ,salicylic acid #a drachm4 ,ether #b drachms4 ,spirit of wine ounce4 ,glycerine #d drachms4 ,camphor-water to #c ounces4 ,the term ,eczema is given to all those skin eruptions that are characterised by pimples and vesicles followed by scabs and scales1 and accompanied with great itchiness4 ,it is said to be non-contagious1 and as far as the cat is concerned this seems to me to be true4 ,on the other hand1 in the dog some of the varieties of eczema appear to be spread by contact4 ,it very often runs a chronic course1 and frequently recurs4 ,it generally affects the back1 loins1 root of tail1 and back of the thighs1 although any part of the body may be attacked4 ,there is great itchiness1 the animal bites or licks itself1 the skin becomes red1 pimples the size of a head of a millet seed1 or even a small pea1 appear2 these1 after a time1 burst1 and a fluid issues from them and dries1 forming scabs4 ,sometimes the itchiness is so intense as to cause the animal to bite or lick itself until the skin becomes raw and bleeding4 ,in rare instances it produces a kind of mania for licking1 which is followed by epileptiform seizures4 ,the hair falls off1 leaving bare patches1 or it becomes matted together by the gluey discharge and ultimately sheds itself4 ,in suckling cats1 after sudden deprivation of their offspring1 an eczematous eruption may appear on the belly1 back1 and loins1 but it is not1 as a rule1 severe4 ,the she-cat1 especially of the light-coloured variety1 when not allowed to breed1 is often troubled with a scattered vesicular eruption1 which is too difficult to eradicate1 and is very liable to recur4 ,in the castrated male cat it is very common to find a papular and vesicular eruption1 which breaks out every spring and autumn4 ,the causes of eczema in the cat are an unnatural1 sedentary life and an abundance of rich food without any compensatory or sufficient exercise in the fresh air4 ,hot weather1 especially when accompanied by wet1 predisposes to it1 but the affection is seen also in the cold months of the year4 ,treatment4--,the animal suffering from eczema should be allowed as much exercise of its functions in the open air as possible4 ,grass or freshly boiled green vegetables1 or asparagus1 should be put within its reach4 ,raw meat1 uncooked fish with the bones in1 or birds with the feathers on1 or bullock's liver are suitable as ordinary food4 ,rice-pudding1 oatmeal1 and milk should not be given4 ,the treatment of the skin is chiefly local4 ,the itchiness must be allayed4 ,this can be obtained by applying precipitated sulphur 7#b drachms71 zinc oxide 7#b drachms71 mixed in olive oil 7#b ounces7 twice a day to the affected parts4 ,if the eruptions are spread over a wide area1 the hair should be cut off close to the skin before applying the dressing4 ,for internal treatment a powder composed of calomel 7 to grain7 and bicarbonate of sodium 7#b to #e grains7 should be given twice a day4 ,if the disease runs a chronic course1 arsenic bromide or iodide 7 grain in a pilule7 should be given three times a day4 ,,external ,,animal ,,parasites4 ,the ,cat ,flea 7,pulex serraticeps1 var4 cati74--,the cat flea is identical with1 but rather smaller than1 that of the dog4 ,it differs from the flea of mankind 7,pulex irritans7 by having black1 blunt spines1 seven to nine in number1 arranged as the teeth of a comb1 at the posterior border of the prothorax and at the inferior border of the head4 ,it is a troublesome pest by irritating and disturbing rest4 ,it prefers to attack the cat when she is suckling4 ,the flea plays an important part in the evolution of the elliptical tapeworm 7,tma elliptica7 by harbouring the intermediary cysticercus1 the ingestion of which gives rise to the development of this tapeworm in the intestine4 ,treatment4--,the cat should have powdered pyrethrum well rubbed into its skin1 and then combed out1 care to be taken that the combings are burnt4 ,the crevices or corners of the cat's house should be sprinkled with oil of turpentine1 or ,sanitas powder4 ,fortunately for the cat1 it is affected with only one variety of louse1 the ,cat ,louse 7,trichodectes subrostratus71 which differs from the flea in being wingless and not jumping from but only quitting the cat by accident4 ,it has three-articled antenn2 the head has five sides to it2 the body is oval1 and in the female notched behind4 ,its colour is yellowish-brown4 ,it is not a blood-sucker1 but attacks the hair and eats the epidermis1 preferably that of the head1 neck1 back1 and limbs1 where it causes intense itching4 ,it develops rapidly upon poorly fed1 weak1 or debilitated animals4 ,there is1 besides itchiness1 loss of hair1 scurfiness1 and nits 7eggs7 in more or less large numbers1 which by their presence indicate that the skin has not received sufficient attention4 ,the nits1 or eggs1 are attached to the hair4 ,treatment4--,the hair may be sprayed with equal parts of vinegar and concentrated infusion of quassia4 ,moreover1 should the animal lick itself after this dressing is applied1 it will act as a tonic4 ,raw meat1 or fish1 cod-liver oil1 etc41 should be given4 ,,painless ,,destruction ,,of ,,cats4 ,a knowledge of how painlessly to destroy a cat's life is very important to the owner of a cat who is not in reach of a veterinary surgeon--the proper person to undertake this duty under ordinary circumstances4 ,the most humane method is to place the animal in a small air-tight box1 into which has been placed previously two to four drachms of chloroform on a sponge or piece of lint or cotton-wool1 which produces at first ansthesia or painless sleep1 and afterwards death from failure of the respiration and heart4 ,it does not cause a suffocative feeling or sensation like coal gas1 or spasm1 as does prussic acid4 ,care must be taken not to take the cat out of the box too soon1 or else life1 not quite extinct1 may return4 ,,index4 ,a ,abscess of the ,ear1 #cfi2 of the ,eye1 #cga ,abyssinian ,cats1 #big1 #cja ,albinos1 #cea ,alice in ,wonderland1 #ae ,alice through the ,looking-glass1 #ae ,amateur ,cat ,photography1 #ccb ,america3 ,cat ,fancy1 #cj1 #cjc2 8,any ,other ,colour0 ,persians in1 #bce2 ,brown ,tabby ,persians1 #bbg1 #bbi2 ,cats' ,homes in1 #cc2 ,difficulties of ,showing1 #cbd2 ,fanciers1 #cjd2 ,judging1 #cag2 ,literature1 #ca2 ,short-haired ,cats1 #bhf2 ,shows1 #cbg2 ,smoke ,persians1 #ahd2 ,stud ,cats1 #cje2 ,stud ,cats' ,register1 #cji2 ,wild ,cats at ,shows1 #cbb ,american ,cat ,clubs1 #cj ,ansthetics1 #beg ,anatomy of ,cat1 #cea ,ancestry of ,cat1 #cej ,angora ,cats1 #ih ,animal ,worship1 #b 8,any ,other ,colour0 ,persians1 #bcc2 in ,america1 #bce2 ,fanciers1 #bcd2 ,mating1 #bcc ,appendicular ,skeleton of ,cat1 #cec ,archangel ,cats1 #bge1 #bgi ,armitage1 ,miss1 on ,siamese ,cats1 #bfj ,armorial ,bearings and ,cats1 #ac ,arnold1 ,matthew1 #aa ,art1 ,the ,cat in1 #ae ,artificial ,foods for ,kittens1 #cch ,artificial ,foster-mother1 #cdj ,artificial ,heat in ,cattery1 #ed ,asphalt ,floor for ,cattery1 #ea ,assam1 #abb ,atab1 #bae ,atlantic ,cat ,club1 #bg1 #cjd2 ,silver ,tabby ,winners1 #agf ,australia1 ,origin of ,cats in1 #cjj2 ,wild ,cats1 #cbc ,axial ,skeleton of ,cat1 #ceb ,b ,backgrounds in ,cat ,photography1 #ccb ,balding1 ,mrs41 on ,chinchilla ,persians1 #add ,barker1 ,mr4 ,e4 ,m41 on ,brown ,tabby ,persians1 #bbg ,basalt ,cat ,statues1 #e ,battersea ,dogs' ,home1 #ai ,beal1 ,miss1 on ,cream 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,typos fixed2 non-standard spelling and dialect retained4 ,enclosed italics font in underscores4 ,enclosed bold or blackletter font in equals4