THE CAT TO-DAY 273 



where another litter of innocents is learning the 

 mystery of the alarm, and watching with fearful joy 

 the mad rush of horses to their goal. 



Household cats have so often given warning of 

 fires that their services in this regard merit both 

 recognition and gratitude. They are restless at 

 night, and easily affrighted. The first puff of 

 smoke, the first crackling of flames sends them 

 mewing to master or mistress for explanation of 

 this phenomenon. I knew a Cornish cat, crippled 

 and singed, whose scars bore honourable witness to 

 his bravery. His owner, the rector of a country 

 parish, was aroused before daybreak by the piteous 

 scratching and crying at his door. When it was 

 opened, there stood poor Pussy, trembling, scorched, 

 but determined, while the halls were black with 

 smoke. This cat never fully recovered from the 

 shock, but remained a nervous invalid all his life, 

 which is too often the case when the fright has 

 been very severe. M. Pierquin de Gembloux re 

 lates several instances in which cats were rendered 

 more or less imbecile by sudden and overmastering 

 terror. One little Angora fell down a well, and was 

 saved from being drowned, only by a jutting stone 

 to which she clung with desperation. After a while 

 her cries attracted attention, and she was rescued ; 

 but the ordeal through which she had passed had 

 so completely unnerved her that the poor thing 



