CARE OF THE CAT 83 



be well to extend the confinement to twelve 

 days. The tom-cat who has been selected for 

 her can be placed in the room with her for a 

 period of twenty-four hours, extending from 

 one day over the night until the next day, 

 which is quite as satisfactory as if he remained 

 with her for a longer period. The queen cat 

 usually becomes sterile at about the age of nine 

 years ; but Jennings gives an example where a 

 cat had kittens in her nineteenth year. 



The average life of a cat which has been well 

 taken care of, and has not met with accident, 

 is from twelve to fifteen years. The oldest cat 

 whose age is authentically known is given to 

 be twenty-four years. 



The kittens are born blind and deaf and 

 almost absolutely helpless. At the end of 

 about nine days their eyes begin to open and 

 they are able to use their legs, when they are 

 first seen by the public and fit to be handled. 

 They can be weaned at the end of the third 

 week, but it is preferable to allow them to re- 

 main with the mother for a longer time. If 

 any of the kittens are to be destroyed or re- 

 moved from the mother, the whole litter should 



