THE INTELLIGENCE OF CATS. 369 



of social habits mingling across the lines of species without much 

 difficulty, and also, perhaps, without much real intimacy. But 

 there are a large class of other animals that are naturally neutral 

 as toward one another, concerning whose mutual attitudes an 

 ample field for inquiry is open. Cats belong to a family of soli 

 taries. In a state of nature they form only passing relations, and 

 have more quarrels than friendships with members of their own 

 species. We should hardly expect them to be particularly soci- 

 able, or even friendly, across the line. Yet they can be made to 

 form companionships when brought into association with other 

 animals under the same roof, and some that seem very strange 

 to the superficial view. The term " cat-and-dog life " is frequently 

 used to describe a condition of discord ; but cats and dogs often 

 dwell very harmoniously together. Lindsay regards the phrase 

 as implying an insult to both animals. Both he and Wood assert 

 that the two can be trained to be very good friends, and that 

 when this occurs " the cat usually behaves in a tyrannous manner 

 toward her canine friend," and treats him most unceremoniously. 

 " She will sit on his back and make him carry her about the 

 room ; she will take liberties with his tail, or bite his ears, and if 

 he resents this treatment she deals him a pat on the nose/' * and 

 raises her back at him or retires till his good humor returns to 

 him. The description will be recognized in thousands of families 

 as acurate. Wood supplements his observation with a story of a 

 cat and dog who had become great friends, when the dog was 

 taken away. He afterward returned, with his mistress, on a visit. 

 " Pussy was in the room when the dog entered, and flew forward 

 to greet him ; she then ran out of the room, and shortly returned, 

 bearing in her mouth her own dinner. This she laid before her 

 old friend, and actually stood beside him while he ate the food 

 with which she so hospitably entertained him." f The natural 

 attitude of the clog and cat may be regarded as one of rivalry for 

 the same food and attention, and therefore of jealousy. The dog, 

 being usually the larger and stronger animal, is likely to look 

 upon the cat as his victim. This excites distrust and hostility in 

 her, and the foundation of a feud is laid, which can be repressed or 

 cultivated. An unnamed cat in Belfast, Maine.J became attached 

 to a pig, and was its constant companion sleeping with it at 

 night and following it about by day. When Piggy was slaugh- 

 tered, Pussy's grief was " pitiful to see. She watched by the life- 

 less body all night, and was found there in the morning; and 

 could never be persuaded to eat a mouthful of its pork." Tabby, 

 of Belfast, who had a kitten, became interested in a pig which 



* Wood. \ This story was told to Mr. Wood by the owner of the cat. 



X The cat stories from Maine are cited from the Belfast Republican Journal. 

 VOL. xxxvin. 26 



