220 OUR HOME PETS 



to his owner, must see that he has good food 

 and care, and that he is made contented and 

 happy. He can exist without these condi- 

 tions, but he will be a different beast. An 

 eminent naturalist, and a lover of the cat, says 

 that " one who owns a cat should treat it as if 

 it were his child, be thoughtful of its wants, 

 encourage its affections, be kind but firm in 

 his prohibitions, and watchful for its peculiar 

 traits of character." 



In regard to diet. A cat should have sweet 

 milk to drink, and water, always fresh and 

 clean, where he can get it if he desires. He 

 needs meat once a day, and it should be 

 mixed with some vegetable, such as asparagus, 

 of which he is very fond, cabbage, or some 

 other that he likes. Fish is not indispensable 

 in pussy's menu. He likes it, to be sure, but 

 not so much more than meat as he is popularly 

 supposed to do. Raw meat is good for him, 

 but it must always be accompanied by vege- 

 tables. One meal a day is said to be enough 

 where there is a chance for successful mous- 

 ing, but a family pet who sees his human 

 friends eating three times, is apt to consider 

 himself entitled to the same number of meals. 



