84 THE CAT 



not be taken at once, but the young ones should 

 be removed one or two at a time, which leaves 

 the others to gradually diminish the milk-sup- 

 ply of the mother. If the whole litter is re- 

 moved at once the mother is very liable to be 

 affected with milk-fever a severe fever, with 

 local inflammation of the mammary glands, 

 which may destroy them for future use. 



Kittens lose their temporary or milk teeth 

 and acquire their full dentition of permanent 

 teeth at between five and seven months of age ; 

 so that if a kitten has its entire permanent 

 dentition, with the teeth completely out of the 

 gums, it can be assumed to be over six months 

 of age, and is to be regarded as such by the 

 judge at cat shows. 



GELDED CATS. 



The operation of rendering the cat neuter 

 is comparatively common, and has many ad- 

 vantages for some classes of cats; the cats 

 grow larger and lose the strong odors which 

 are sometimes offensive in the tom-cat around 

 an apartment, and the cats become home bodies, 



