The Book of Cats. 75 



such a rarity as we are led to believe. On the con- 

 trary, specimens are frequently offered for sale at 

 the Zoological Gardens. 



It is another great mistake to think that Cats 

 have fleas : the insect infesting a half-grown Cat 

 does not leap like a flea. 



The she Cat goes with young from fifty-five to 

 fifty-eight days, and generally has four or five 

 kittens at a litter. When born, they are blind and 

 deaf, like puppies. They get their sight in about 

 nine days, and are about eighteen months before 

 reaching full growth. 



Those who wish their Cats to catch mice, I should 

 advise not to neglect the Cat's food. A starved 

 Cat makes a very bad mouser ; being too eager and 

 hungry for the work, it tries to pounce upon its 

 prey before the proper time comes. A good mouser 

 does not eat the mouse. I have a black Cat, which 

 is very fat, but a wonderful huntsman, and surpris- 

 ingly nimble at the chase. He is also as proud of 

 his achievements as a human sportsman, and brings 

 me every head of game he catches. Sometimes, 

 if I have been out when he has caught his 

 mouse, he has gone all over the house in search 

 of me, and at last has taken his seat by the fire- 

 side, or out in the garden, and nursed the trophy 

 of his prowess until I returned, mewing piteously if 



