95 



Training the Cat not to catch Birds. 



Weir says that cats may be trained to respect the lives of 

 birds and other wild animals.^ De Voogt says that the bird-killing 

 cat may be easily corrected by "taking a bird in the hand and 

 making it peck the cat's nose."^ This might succeed with cage- 

 birds. 



I have never seen a cat that I felt sure would not catch a bird 

 if given a good chance, except one that was blind, but I have 

 been assured by people in whom I have every confidence that 

 they believe that their cats never caught a bird, or that they 

 have been taught not to catch them. Nevertheless, in some cases 

 these good cats have been seen by neighbors in the act of catch- 

 ing birds. 



Mrs. Elizabeth B. Davenport of Brattleboro, Vt., writes that 

 she has taught cats to let birds alone, but that not one person 

 in a hundred would have the patience to do it. The first one so 

 taught was never allowed to keep a bird that he caught, and if 

 he evaded her the hose was used. He was punished lightly if he 

 went near birds, and was kept constantly in view when out of 

 doors. The second season he ceased to watch them. A lady 

 writes that she had a cat which absolutely would not catch birds. 

 The birds seemed to have no fear of this cat, and sparrows 

 dressed their feathers unafraid while it rubbed against the bush 

 just below them. A few others make similar statements about 

 their cats. Mr. C. J. Maynard of Newtonville, an experienced 

 naturalist and a competent observer, says that he has two cats 

 that never kill birds. He taught them as kittens to let birds alone 

 by feeding them well and gradually accustoming them to seeing 

 birds near, beginning with bird skins or mounted birds. This is 

 a method, however, which cannot be practiced by all. 



Correspondents report on this matter as follows: — 



Know of a cat that vrAX not catch birds, 70 



Believe cats cannot be taught not to catch birds, 305 



Believe cats can be taught not to catch birds, 62 



By whipping, 37 



By scolding, 8 



Tj-ing bird to collar or around neck, 9 



Taking bird away from cat, 14 



Drenching cat with water, 1 



Pepper on dead bird, 2 



Pepper and kerosene on dead bird, 1 



1 Weir, Harriflon: Our Cats and All about Them, 1889, p. 12. 



' Burkett, Chas. Wm., editor: Our Domesticated Animals, Translated from the French of Goa. 

 De Voogt. 1907, p. 81. 



