136 THE CAT 



painless death; but these methods should not 

 be adopted by any one whose experience does 

 not warrant him in doing it properly, com- 

 pletely, and at the first attempt. 



Chloroform in the hands of a novice is per- 

 haps the simplest method, if he use the follow- 

 ing precautions : 



Take a box or large pail with a cover which 

 can be firmly closed use plenty of chloroform 

 (at least two to four ounces) ; place the cat 

 in the receptacle; pour the chloroform on a 

 sponge, and drop it in beside the cat; place 

 the cover on and hold firmly in place for some 

 time. In this way the only annoyance to the 

 cat is probably its first moment of fright, and 

 the single gasp or two which it makes for fresh 

 air before the chloroform has commenced to 

 act. 



