SOME CATS OF FRANCE 181 



give, and no animal expresses its enjoyment with so 

 much grace and courtesy. " The most untamable 

 of the carnivora," says M. Fee, "is the panther; 

 the most destructive is the cougar ; the gentlest is 

 the leopard ; the most intelligent is the cat. This 

 last consents to be our guest. She accepts the 

 shelter we offer, and the food we provide. She 

 even permits us to play with her, and fondle her, 

 when she is in a responsive humour. But she never 

 parts with her liberty. She will be neither our 

 servant nor our friend." 



True lovers of the race have been attracted rather 

 than repelled by this spirit of equality, this attitude 

 of reserve. " I value in the cat," says Chateaubri- 

 and, " the independent and almost ungrateful spirit 

 which prevents her from attaching herself to any 

 one, the indifference with which she passes from 

 the salon to the housetop. When we caress her, 

 she stretches herself, and arches her back respon- 

 sively ; but that is because she feels an agreeable 

 sensation, not because she takes a silly satisfaction, 

 like the dog, in faithfully loving a thankless master. 

 The cat lives alone, has no need of society, obeys 

 only when she pleases, pretends to sleep that she 

 may see the more clearly, and scratches everything 

 on which she can lay her paw." 



This is what Chateaubriand called " labouring- at 

 the rehabilitation " of his favourite animal ; but 



