148 THE ART OF TEAINING ANIMALS. 



diminished without any imaginable reason, and notwithstanding 

 the persuasion that the door had certainly been regularly locked. 

 On watching carefully, the cat was seen to seat herself on the 

 table, and by repeated pulling on the side of the bow of the key, 

 it was at last made to turn, when a slight pull of the door caused 

 it to move on its hinges. It had proved a fortunate discovery 

 for puss, for a long time before she was taken in the act." 



Oats may easily be taught to. jump through hoops, climb poles, 

 fetch and carry, and many similar performances, by adopting 

 pretty nearly the same means as for instructing dogs. As cats 

 are passionately fond of fish, this article will be found a valuable 

 incentive to induce them to comply with your wishes. A small 

 morsel should be given as a reward for each instance of obedi- 

 ence, Avhile refractory conduct may be punished by a slight box 

 on the ear. 



Oats may be taught to turn the handles of little organs — 

 either real or mere silent imitations — or music boxes, to turn a 

 little spinnmg wheel, to pull a bell-rope, to fire a pistol and a 

 multitude of similar tricks. These are all, indeed, but modifi- 

 cations of one another. To instruct the cat, it is well to 

 commence by teaching her to give her paw, like a dog. When 

 this is learned, place the paw on the handle of the organ, which 

 may have a loop of tape or ribbon attached to keep the paw in 

 place, and give it a few turns. Let go, but continue the circu- 

 lar movement of your hand near her paw, as an encouragement 

 for her to move her paw in the same manner. Should she not 

 do so after a few moments, take hold of her paw again and re- 

 peat the movement as before. As soon as she turns the handle 

 even in the slightest degree without your holding her paw, re- 

 ward her. It will not be long before she makes a more percep- 

 tible turn, and will be more prompt to do so. Eventually she 

 need only to be shown the organ to understand what is desired 

 of her. 



When she turns the organ satisfactorily other articles may 

 be substituted, such as a miniature model of a spinning-wheel, 

 and a single lesson will be sufficient to show her that her duties 

 are the same as with the organ. 



To ring a bell, a pulling instead of a circular movement is re- 

 quired, but this is easier to teach. A bit of cloth may be 

 attached to the string communicating with the bell, to afford the 

 cat something convenient to seize hold of. It will be easy to 

 induce her to seize it by holding it near her, or by aggravating 

 her a little with it. When she does so, and causes the bell to 

 ring, reward her. She will soon learn that the ringing of the 

 bell is a signal for her to be fed, and that pulling the string 



