148 ] Animal Friends and Helpers 



rabbit, mouse, or other victim which the cat then seizes with 

 its sharp hooked claws and its strong canine teeth to make the kill. 

 If you look into Pussy's mouth you can see the equipment of a 

 real prowler of the jungle. There are two big sharp tushes in 

 each jaw. Its molars are sharp-edged wedges, perfectly adapted 

 for cutting up meat. Its tongue is so rough it can rasp juices from 

 meat. 



Under the conditions of modern civilization cats are often 

 expected to be split personalities: alert hunters ready to pounce 

 on any rodent that shows itself, and at the same time restrained 

 and even friendly neighbors to all birds, tame or wild. Actually 

 cats are intelligent enough to refrain from molesting birds if 

 they are properly trained toward that end while still young. The 

 most successful training method seems to be that of association- 

 creating situations where the cat can observe its mistress or master 

 being friendly with birds and expecting the cat to help in pro- 

 tecting them. Punishment as a means of curing bird-hunting cats 

 is usually quite unsuccessful. 



CATS ARE MODEL MOTHERS 



It is a rare cat mother that shirks her responsibility to 

 her kittens. As a rule, even before they are born she shows her 

 solicitude by looking for a dark secluded spot for their entrance 

 into the world just as in the primitive state a cat sought a dark 

 cave for the event. Though kittens are active almost immediately 

 after birth, they do not start to open their eyes until after five 

 days or so. Within ten days the eyes are fully open. 



Meanwhile the mother nurses the kittens and industriously 

 washes them from nose-tip to tail with her rough tongue. She 

 allows them to romp and play boisterously even to the extent of 

 frolicking over and around her; but if they go too far she will 

 box their ears soundly. 



When they are older she gives them lessons in hunting, if 

 circumstances permit, showing all the tricks at her command for 

 catching mice and other prey. She will even instruct them in the 

 fine art of backing down a tree trunk an important accomplish- 

 ment for a cat. Instinct prompts cats to climb, but many a cat that 



