THE DOMESTIC CAT. 153 



twelve years Sonnini, however, had a Cat that 

 lived seventeen years ; and he says, he has been 

 assured by many persons, that they have kept these 

 animals for twenty years and upwards*. 



Cats have much less attachment to persons than 

 houses; and when taken to the distance of half a 

 dozen miles or more, even though they have rivers 

 to cross," they will, of their own accord, frequently 

 return to their former habitation. This is supposed 

 to arise from their being acquainted with all the 

 retreats of the mice, and all the outlets and passages 

 of the place from which they were taken ; and an 

 aversion to commence the ascertaining of those of 

 their new residence. 



There is a considerable difference in opinion 

 respecting the time of gestation of the Cat. Some 

 writers, and among these Linnaeus, fix it at sixty- 

 three days; whilst others say that it does not ex- 

 ceed fifty-five or fifty-six days at most. They pro- 

 duce their offspring three or four times in the year, 

 and generally from four to six young ones at a litter. 



Since the male Cats are apt, if they discover them^ 

 to devour their offspring, the female generally 

 takes care to litter in some place of concealment. 

 Here she suckles her kittens for a few weeks; and 

 when they have strength enough to digest animaj 



* Butfbn par Sonnini, xxiv. p. 14, note. 



food, 



