OBSERVATION OF CATS. 7 



New,'*' in which a cat opened a door by pulling it towards 

 him, when he (om\d pus /wig \t of no avail. The cat is more 

 critical in noticing than the dog. I never knew but one dog 

 that would open a door by moving the fastening without 

 being shown or taught how to do it. Cats that have done 

 so are numberless. I noticed one at the last Crystal Palace 

 Show, a white cat : it looked up, it looked down, then to the 

 right and then a little to the left, paused, seemed lost in 

 thought, when, not seeing any one about, it crept up to the 

 door, and with its paw tried to pull back the bolt or catch. 

 On getting sight of me, it retired to a corner of the cage, 

 shut its eyes, and pretended to sleep. I stood further away, 

 and soon saw the paw coming through the bars again. This 

 cat had noticed how the cage-door was fastened, and so 

 knew how to open it. 



Many cats that are said to be spiteful are made so by 

 ill-treatment, for, as a rule, I have found them to be 

 most affectionate and gentle, and that to the last degree, 

 attaching themselves to individuals, although such is stated 

 not to be the case, yet of this I am certain. Having 

 had several in my house at one time, I found that no 

 two were the " followers " of the same member of my 

 family. But it may be argued, and I think with some de- 

 gree of justice. Why was this ? Was it only that each cat 

 had a separate liking? If so, why? Why should not 

 three or four cats take a liking to the same individual ? But 

 they seldom or never do, and for that matter there seems 

 somewhat the same feeling with dogs. This required some 

 consideration, but that not of long duration. For I am 

 sorry to say I rapidly came to the conclusion that it was 

 jealousy. Yes, jealousy ! There was no doubt of it. Zeno 

 would be very cossetty, loving, lovable, and gentle, but when 

 Lulu came in and was nursed he retired to a corner and 

 seized the first opportunity of vanishing through the door. 

 As soon as Zillah jumped on my knee and put her paws 

 about my neck, Lulu looked at me, then at her, then at me, 

 walked to the fire, sat down, looked round, got up, went to 

 the door, cried to go out, the door was opened,. and she 



