52 



the same way, as his neighbors have seen cats carrying off his 

 fowls. Some of these were "half-breed" bantams about as large 

 as a Leghorn hen. Previous to this occurrence he chloroformed a 

 cat that took several nearly full-grown Minorcas from the prem- 

 ises of a near neighbor. It is but a step from such work as this 

 to the killing of full-grown fowls of standard breeds. 



Full-sized Fowls. 



The number of reports received regarding the killing of full- 

 grown domestic fowls by cats is surprising, but it is well known 

 that some of the wild species from which our domestic cat prob- 

 ably was derived are destructive to poultry, and some house cats 

 which run wild revert to these original habits. I have not found 

 much evidence in cat literature regarding the destruction of 

 standard sized fowls, but Finn remarks that crossbreeds between 

 long-haired and short-haired cats are likely to become poachers, 

 and will even attack full-grown fowls, which, he says, is a rare 

 fault of ordinary cats, although fowls are an important part 

 of the natural food of wild cats.^ "Forest and Stream" says that 

 in South Africa farmers suffer much from the numerous wild cats, 

 which are very destructive to lambs, kids and fowls. The prog- 

 eny of domestic cats often run wild and are most dreaded as 

 having more than the usual amount of cunning.^ 



Miss Repplier asserts that the cat is described in ancient docu- 

 ments as a hunter of mice and a slayer of hens,' and the evidence 

 submitted below seems conclusive that the latter habit, though 

 uncommon, still persists. 



Having lost fourteen hens by a supposed dog or fox, I had the 

 fowls shut in. About November 1, a fine, white Plymouth Rock 

 pullet, nearly full grown, was found in the henyard partly eaten. 

 It did not seem probable that any dog or fox could get over the 

 high wire fence, and the appearance of the carcass was similar 

 to that of a grouse killed by a cat. It is well known that cats, 

 from the lion and tiger down to the household pet, are almost 

 certain to come back at night to their partly eaten prey, and may 

 be shot or trapped then. Three traps were set, and that night 

 the largest cat in my experience was caught. No more fowls were 

 taken or killed. There is much more circumstantial evidence 

 that points to the cat as a destroyer of grown poultry. Mr. 

 Thomas Aspinwall of Brookline shot several cats that at differ- 

 ent times stalked his father's hens with the apparent intention 



> Finn, Frank: Pets and How to keep Them, 1907, p. 18. 



• Forest and Stream, Nov. 1, 1902, Vol. 59, p. 345. 



* Repplier, Agnea: The Fireside Sphinx, 1901, p. 11. 



