ANIMAL COMPANIONS 



In this work it is imperative to have the animals themselves in the 

 schoolroom for observation. The cat and dog may be brought daily by 

 some pupil. The squirrel and rabbit may be kept in the schoolroom for 

 a few weeks during observation. A cage may be improvised from a large 

 box and some inch-mesh galvanized wire netting. Do not use the wire 

 mosquito bar for cages. Animals will gnaw off the paint with which it is 

 coated, with disastrous results. Sawdust or dry earth spread on the bottom 

 of the cage will add to the animal's comfort. A pan of drinking water 

 should be provided. Feed rabbits and squirrels on dry foods corn, oats, 

 bread crusts, nuts for the squirrel, and an occasional bit of lettuce or grass 

 or other green stuff. This avoids offensive odors. Keep the cage clean. 



The cat and dog. 



Feeding. It i well to have more than one cat to observe, as puss is 

 likely to be more or less stagestruck and refuse to eat in the presence of so 

 many spectators. Have ready for this lesson two or three bones with a 

 little meat upon them, as pork or mutton chops. Now give the cat a 

 bone and gather about quietly to watch her eat. While she is cleaning the 

 bone answer the following questions to bring out significant points: Does 

 she eat at once or does she sniff at the food and take a little time to inspect 

 it before she begins to eat ? Does she try to run off with the food ? If so, 

 where does she go to eat it ? How does she hold the bone while she eats ? 

 Does she use her claws to hold it ? Does she stand up or lie down while 

 eating ? Does she eat hurriedly or slowly ? Does it disturb her to have 

 you move around while she eats ? Does she bite off the meat as you would 

 bite it off a bone or as you would bite corn off a cob ? What teeth does 

 she use ? Could you use the same teeth to bite with ? Does a cat chew 

 her food well ? Why does she lick the bone ? When she licks your hand 

 does her tongue feel soft and smooth, like your own? Give a cat a few 

 loose bits of meat or scraps of other food. Does she seize them quickly 

 or deliberately ? Does she stop to chew them well ? Bring in a second cat 

 while the first one is feeding. Watch their behavior. Give the second cat 

 some scraps to eat near where the first one is feeding. What follows ? 



Provide a bone and some scraps of food. Have someone bring a dog 

 to school. Be sure that it is hungry, then feed it while it is being watched. 

 The same series of questions used for the cat may form the outline for the 



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