128 THE CAT 



This is very painful, interferes with the ani- 

 mal's eating, and produces an offensive odor. 

 The mouth should be very carefulty examined ; 

 any loosened teeth should be pulled, and the 

 others should be cleaned with a small scraper. 

 The gums should then be well washed with lis- 

 terine. Such a mouth cannot be cured rapidly, 

 but requires attention every week or two for 

 some little time. 



THE CLAWS. 



The claws of the cat are, as we have seen, 

 protected, when not required for use, by being- 

 drawn back into the sockets, which are pecu- 

 liar to this class of animals. This protec- 

 tion keeps the points of the claws perfectly 

 sharp for catching their prey ; for if they pro- 

 truded as they do in the dog, they would be- 

 come worn off and be as dull as those of the 

 latter. The claws sometimes get injured by 

 being broken when seizing rough objects, or 

 from accidents, which renders them excessively 

 sore. If the nail only has been loosened, it 

 should be trimmed off carefully, and a little 



