40 The Care of Animals 



"The common causes of death among cats are teeth- 

 ing, worms and overfeeding, especiall}^ the last. Cats 

 should be fed only at regular intervals, like individ- 

 uals who wish to keep well; adult cats twice a da}^; 

 kittens not over four times. If there are but few- 

 cats in the house, feed them from the assortment left 

 from the table, including a liberal proportion of vege- 

 tables and cereals. Beef and mutton are good; also 

 white -meated fish cooked and boned, raw cream, fresh 

 or scalded milk. A little lack of appetite should 

 cause no alarm. Remember that more cats die from 

 overeating than from starvation. It is better to err 

 on the side of underfeeding. 



"Soft foods, hke oatmeal, must be thoroughly well 

 cooked. Rolled oat preparations should cook at least 

 six hours. Dry package foods are better. In case of 

 bowel looseness, no solid foods should be given; the 

 animal should be fed for a time on scalded milk, 

 which may be strengthened by adding arrowroot, rice 

 or oatmeal water, or any of the patented bab}' foods. 

 Liver is an intestinal irritant, lacking nutriment; it 

 should be given only cooked, and occasionally as a 

 relish. Most cats are fond of a food made of one 

 part finely chopped beef or mutton, two parts stale 

 whole wheat or graham bread softened with water; 

 add an egg or two, and bake till thoroughly cooked 

 but not crisped. This is a wholesome and an ex- 

 cellent preparation. It is a good food to use in ship- 

 ping. Sprinkle a little pinch of sulfur on the soft- 

 boiled or poached egg that you give them twice a week, 

 or if they are not partial to egg it may be sprinkled 



