512 On the Domestic Education oj Cats. 



buried them (according to Herodotus) with much pomp. In 

 China, this animal is indulged with a bed of down and silk, 

 where it remains in a state of indolence, or lies at the feet of 

 its mistress on a sofa, covered over like a child, decorated 

 with a silver collar on its throat, and its ears adorned with 

 earrings of jasper or sapphire. The Turks have places made 

 or rented for them, that they may be fed and attended to by 

 servants engaged for the purpose. They enjoy a still happier 

 life in France : as faithful companions to their mistresses, they 

 not only amuse them, but, by their gentleness and playful 

 tricks, dispel ennui. They seldom look you in the face, but 

 obliquely. 



I have remarked that naturalists have not spoken much 

 in favour of this animal, particularly BufFon, who says " that 

 the cat may be considered as a faithless friend, brought 

 under human protection to oppose a still more insidious 

 enemy. It is, in fact, the only animal of this tribe whose 

 service can more than recompense the trouble of education, 

 and whose strength is not sufficient to make its anger for- 

 midable. Of all animals, when young, there is none more 

 prettily playful than the kitten ; but it appears to change this 

 disposition as it grows old, and the innate treachery of its 

 kind begins to show itself. From being naturally ravenous, 

 education teaches it to disguise its appetite, and to seize the 

 favourable moment for plunder. Supple, insinuating, and 

 artful, it has learned the art of concealing its intentions till It 

 can put them in force : whenever the opportunity occurs, it 

 directly seizes upon whatever it finds, flies off with it, and 

 remains at a distance till it thinks its offence is forgotten." 



The aversion cats have to any thing like slavery or impri- 

 sonment is so great, that by means of it they may be forced to 

 prompt obedience : but, under restraint, they are very different ; 

 though surrounded by food, when deprived of liberty, they 

 abandon the desire of theft or prey, and literally die of lan- 

 guor and hunger. Lemery, after having put a cat into a cage, 

 suffered two or three mice to run through it. Puss, instead 

 of destroying them, only looked at them with apparent indif- 

 ference. The mice became more bold, and even attempted to 

 provoke her ; however, it had no effect, as she still remained 

 quiet. Liberty being given her, her strength and voracity 

 returned ; so that, had the cage been open, the mice would 

 have soon become her prey. They also fear severe chastise- 

 ment, and therefore this may be considered the best means 

 of enforcing obedience. It is related that the monks of the 

 Isle of Cyprus instructed cats to drive away serpents which 

 infested the island ; and they succeeded so well, that in a short 

 time they were relieved of the venomous reptiles. 



