THE CARE OF THE CAT 221 



Kittens need food three times a day. They 

 should have meat cut very small, and bones to 

 gnaw, and their milk should be warmed by 

 adding a little hot water. Their principal 

 food should be boiled rice, brown bread or 

 oatmeal with milk, and boiled vegetables, al- 

 ternated from day to day, for animals like va- 

 riety as well as men. Both the cat and the 

 cat's baby are fond of catnip. 



The food of the Siamese cat is, in his native 

 land, fish and rice boiled together, but he has 

 been kept in England without fish. The kit- 

 tens are hard to raise, and all through life this 

 species requires peculiar care. 



It seems hardly necessary to say that the 

 home pet should have plenty of fresh air, and 

 all the sunshine he can get, but it is impera- 

 tive that something should be said about the 

 sleeping-quarters. It is a surprising fact that 

 many persons deliberately and regularly turn 

 the family cat out of doors for the night. The 

 poor beast is thus forced to become a vaga- 

 bond, to make night hideous with his yowls ; 

 to sleep where he finds shelter, and to keep 

 himself from freezing the best way he can. 

 Certainly there are many kind-hearted people 



