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plain and forest, but the tree is plainly its natural refuge of last 

 resort. It is not sufficiently expert in climbing to follow the 

 arboreal mammals with much chance of success, but it can reach 

 their nests as well as those of birds, and being nocturnal it is 

 able to attack many species on their nests at night. 



FOOD. 



The cat, being naturally carnivorous, feeds first of all on flesh, 

 destroying birds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles, fishes, crusta- 

 ceans and insects. Its path is a trail of blood. Nevertheless, it 

 consumes some vegetation. 



Vegetal Food of the Cat. 



Cats naturally do not require much vegetable food, but they 

 eat grass as a means of ridding their stomachs of indigestible 

 portions of their food, such as the chitinous or shelly parts of 

 insects, and bones, fur and feathers. The grass acts as an emetic 

 when taken in small quantities and aids the stomach in regur- 

 gitating or throwing up indigestible materials. Hence the phrase 

 "sick as a cat." Harrison Weir says that grass taken in large 

 quantities acts as a purgative. 



The species in domestication has become accustomed gradu- 

 ally to vegetable food, and a modification of the digestive system 

 has occurred. The large intestine has grown longer and larger 

 than in the wild cat, and thus the creature has become better 

 fitted to digest vegetal aliment. Many domestic cats are fond 

 of certain vegetables. Asparagus is eaten generally. Among 

 the cooked vegetables eaten by individual cats may be named 

 string beans, corn, potatoes, both cooked and raw, squash, pump- 

 kin, beets, spinach and parsnips. Fruits, such as melons and 

 olives, have been eaten in some cases, also chestnuts, cereals, 

 macaroni, etc. Dog bread, white bread or corn bread often are 

 fed to cats, with milk, meat juice or gravy. Some domestic cats 

 will take almost anything that men eat, from peanuts to ice 

 cream and candy, but others will accept little beside animal 

 food. 



Animal Food of the Cat. 



No animals are disdained as food except such creatures as are 

 protected by hard shells, spines or disagreeable scent or taste, 

 and even these are killed whenever possible, even if they are 

 not eaten. The cat, like man, the weasel, the peregrine falcon, 

 and some other excessively rapacious creatures, often kills for 

 pure lust of cruelty and slaughter, or for "sport," leaving its 

 victims to lie where they ' fall. All the native or wild cats of 



