CHAPTER II 



FOODS AND FEEDING 



IT is customary to feed the house-cat in a very 

 irregular manner, and, through negligence, often 

 not at all : hence the reason why one sees so many 

 half-starved cats about. 



The negligence of the average domestic in the 

 matter of feeding house pets is notorious, as these 

 are either fed to excess or overlooked altogether. 



The natural diet of the cat is flesh, and such 

 should constitute at least three-fourths of its food ; 

 milk, bread and fish making up the remaining 

 fourth. Vegetables are wholly unsuitable, and liver 

 is too much of a laxative, but very suitable as an 

 occasional feed, especially during the summer. In 

 London and other cities cooked horseflesh consti- 

 tutes the principal food for cats, being both cheap 

 and wholesome, either cut up or given whole 

 preferably the former. If a cat is fed on this, say, 

 for the midday meal, along with a little milk both 

 morning and evening, it is all that it requires. 



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