196 IlECOLLECTIONS OF TIIR CAT. 



had formed a burrow quite unobserved, and laid her breast completely bare 

 in lining it with her own fur. She wjis allowed to remain altogether in the 

 garden with seven young ones. In a day or two three of the latter were 

 missed, the following day another, until at last they had all disappeared but 

 one, in spite of much precaution; and to crowa all, the poor mother was at 

 last found dead in the burrow, a victim to the Cat's ferocity. This Cat was 

 a regular pest to all the rabbit fanciers in the neighbourhood, and defied all 

 attempts to take it dead or alive; its former owner had doubtless got tired 

 of it, and as there are precious few people who give themselves much uneasiness 

 about a Cat's feelings, it is very easy to put them into a convenient bag 

 or basket, travel a few miles, and then politely invite them to step out and 

 try their luck in a new quarter. Some are fortunate to meet with protection, 

 others get kicked and knocked about, grow reckless, and turn out regular 

 blackguards, generally ending a career of infamy in some convenient pond. 

 I heard of a Cat "bagged" in this manner, and transported from the purlieus 

 of Holbeck, through the heart of I^eeds, and put down "gratis" at Eoundhay, 

 a distance of some miles. !N"ow this was done by command of a good old 

 soul who did not like the idea of drowning the poor wretch, and she might 

 have been pluming herself on her humanity some days after, when a well- 

 known voice was heard at the street door, and, will it be credited, in bounced 

 the very identical Cat who should have been ruralizing at Roundhay, or Jericho 

 for anything I know. Well, who could have found in their hearts to "bag" 

 him again? certainly not the old woman, therefore puss staid at home without 

 seeing more of the world than his own immediate neighbourhood afforded. 

 To get home the Cat had travelled some six or seven miles, and how, in 

 the name of fortune, it had ever found its way through the intricacies of the 

 town, and unharmed, must for ever remain a mystery. 



When Cats have a good home they can appreciate it, perhaps better than 

 most other animals, for while you find the dog can make itself at home 

 wherever the master goes, the Cat seems actuated by different motives, and 

 is oftener more attached to places than persons, and consequently is made a 

 most unhappy being whenever a "flit" takes place. It will generally be the 

 last piece of furniture left. A family in going to a new house, had of course 

 removed a favourite ^'tabby," yet, notwithstanding all coaxing and cajoling, 

 puss could not make herself at home, but scampered up and down the place 

 like a very devil, uttering most dreadful cries, running up a chimney, and 

 concluding with bolting through a pane of glass, and making her way to old 

 familiar quarters, was there again found sitting most disconsolately within the 

 threshold; food was given her, but nothing could induce a return to the new 

 quarters; at last the old house was again taken, and out of compassion "puss" 

 got reinstated as a permanent lodger, to her heart's content. 



It was only the other day I noticed a poor Cat mewing most piteously at 

 the door of a house which had been empty some weeks; the Cat had 

 been well cared for, but could not be reconciled to the change. We may 



