CAT 



1220 



CAT 



Domestic 

 Cor 



50ME OF THE CATS 



CAT, the purring, fireside member of the 

 cat family, which includes, also, the wildcat, 

 cheeta, lynx, tiger, lion, etc. The domestic cat 

 is about twelve to sixteen inches long, rather 

 large and broad of head, slender-bodied, with 

 short, powerful jaw, sharp teeth and claws and 

 strong muscles. It be- 

 longs to a family of ani- 

 mals that is better armed 

 than any other for the 

 destruction of animal life. 

 As a destroyer of mice and 

 rats the cat is unexcelled, 

 and although a bird enemy, 

 too, its real use to man- 

 kind is often under-esti- 

 mated. With eye-sight 

 adapted to darkness; and 

 with patience and cun- 

 ning, the cat watches for 

 prey which is a pest to 

 man. One of the first 

 things a settler in a new 

 country needs is a cat. 



Mice are usually so numerous there that with- 

 out this little nightwatchman it would be diffi- 

 cult to keep necessary stores of food. In many 

 cities the worth of cats is officially recognized; 

 a definite sum is furnished yearly for the main- 

 tenance of cats in many post offices and public 

 buildings, to keep away the 

 ever-destructive mice. The 

 cat becomes more strongly 

 attached to places than to 

 people, and will often de- 

 sert families who have 

 moved, to go back to the 

 old home. Cats enjoy pet- 

 ting, and show jealousy if 

 neglected for other pets. 



It is believed that the 

 cat was originally tamed 

 from the wild state and 

 domesticated in Egypt. In 

 that original "granary of 

 the world," the cat was 

 loved and honored. From 

 the Egyptian cat-headed 



