88 



OUR DOMESTIC ANIMALS 



of obtaining the color and the hair or fur that who desire to breed cats on a large scale for 

 he wants. In any case, it is essential to mate sale and exhibitions. The ordinary domestic 

 cats of sound health, and to choose for father cat is never caged. It comes and goes, keeps 

 or mother some more or less known and admired watch on the mice, gets its meals, and dis- 

 appears for hours, sometimes for 

 da)s, without notifying any one or 

 asking permission. As a result of 

 these escapades pussy now and again 

 has kittens, to the great amusement 

 of the children. 



When the critical day arrives (in 

 about eight weeks) the mother cat 

 finds for herself a dark and quiet 

 retreat. It is well to give her an 

 i)\->en basket with something soft at 

 the bottom. Give her also all the 

 Blue Cat with a vkrv Kk.makkablk Head ,.,.,111^ gj.|^j wants and a slight purga- 



From painting by E. Landor ^.^,^ ^^^^ produCCS Usually from tWO 



cat, a prize winner, if possible, if the speedy to five kittens without any help. Kittens born 

 sale of kittens is an object. in the spring are stronger and larger than those 



Innumerable are the surprises in color that born in the autumn. The mother cat takes care 

 occur in spite of all precautions. The chances of the little ones (which are born blind) herself, 

 for obtaining what is desired ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ washes them, and keeps them 

 black ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^. and 

 The ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ weeks, 

 head be broad ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^L things can 



and ^^I^^^^^^^H^I^^^^^^^^k ^^ 

 a short Blue ^^|^^^^^P(|^^^^^^^^^^^^B '^'^''^'^' 



eyes are much in re- l^^^ ^^^^^pMfcl^WB^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^B ''^"^ 



Sometimes. PV^j^^^^HJ^ -^^^^^^^^^^| """'''3^^' 

 but mere L^^^^^KQ^P^^^^^^^^^^^^^H the weakest. On the 



the litters ■Hj^^l^K^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^1 ^''"^^ '^^'^ 

 of white cats a kitten ^^^^^^^^Bl*' ^ ^^^^^^^^^| ^heir eyes, and then 



be a ^^^^^^K^^ ^^^^^^^^^1^ ^^^^ ^" 



blue ^^^^^^P V^^^^^^^l ^^°^^'^' '^^ 



really ^^^^^^Mg/2^% v ^^^^^^^^1 ^'^'"^^^ 



and a |^^^^^Hli|k' ^|k ^l^^^^^^H ' ' ^ ^ ^ '^ 



In ^^^^^^^^Hlfli^ JhI^^^^^H ^^'^■^' 



England cats of pure ^^^^^^^^^^^^M^^^^^^^^H '^'^''^"S' 



blood often as ^^^^^^^^^B^HV .^^,^^^1 ^^^^^^^ 



much as twenty ^^^^^^^^^^^^H ,,^S^^H *^'' 



pounds ^^^^^^^^^^^^B Jji^E^^H "''°^^"">~g'^^^^ 



Generally cats are ^^^^^^^^^^^^^ftji^H^^^H clumsiness com- 



not mated until they 



are over a year old. 

 But all that we have 

 hitherto said con- 

 cerns those persons 



XiKsiNo AI(irin:R 



bined. 



The mother, of 

 course, must be well 

 fed during this time, 

 or she will not have 



