PERSIAN CATS. 29 



exist. These cats attach themselves to places more than 

 persons, and are indifferent to those who feed and have the 

 care of them. They are beautiful and useful objects about 

 the house, and generally very pleasant companions, and when 

 kept with the short-haired varieties form an exceedingly 

 pretty and interesting contrast ; but, as I have stated, they 

 certainly require more attention to their training, and more 

 caution in their handling, than the latter. I may here 

 remark, that during the time I have acted as judge at cat 

 shows, which is now over eighteen years, it has been 

 seldom there has been any display of temper in the short- 

 haired breeds in comparison with the long ; though some 

 of the former, in some instances, have not comported them- 

 selves with that sweetness and amiability of disposition 

 that is their usual characteristic. My attendant has been 

 frequently wounded in our endeavour to examine the fur, 

 dentition, etc., of the Angora, Persian, or Russian ; and 

 once severely by a " short-hair." Hitherto I have been so 

 fortunate as to escape all injury, but this I attribute to my 

 close observation of the countenance and expression of the 

 cat about to be handled, so as to be perfectly on my guard, 

 and to the knowledge of how to put my hands out of 

 harm's way. If a vicious cat is to be taken from one pen 

 to another, it must be carried by the loose skin at the back 

 of the neck and that of the back with both hands, and held 

 well away from the person who is carrying it. 



