30 CATS AND ALL ABOUT THEM 



Above all things don't overwork your stud cat, and try to 

 avoid inbreeding. I can highly recommend Boulton & 

 Paul's capital houses for stud cats. I have had one for 

 four years, and it has answered splendidly ; and my cat 

 Persimmon, who inhabits it, has never ailed anything. 

 Mine is a double house, but I had the partition taken down, 

 so that there is quite a fair-sized exercise ground. 



A few words about gelded cats will not be out of place in 

 this chapter, my remarks being applicable to both long and 

 short haired neuters. 



For reasons that are easily understood it is necessary, if 

 you wish to have a house pet of unimpeachable manners, 

 to have your male cat doctored when he arrives at years of 

 discretion, or in this case I might say, indiscretion ! I con- 

 sider between five and six months the best time for a cat to 

 be gelded. These cats grow to an enormous size, and their 

 coats are generally very long and thick. They do not shed 

 their fur to the same extent as ordinary cats. Certainly 

 they should always be judged in a separate class at all 

 shows. The neuter class at good shows is often most attrac- 

 tive and well filled. As a rule these cats are more docile 

 and better-tempered than others, and though they are con- 

 sidered a lazy set, yet rats and mice will be generally kept 

 under by the household pet. When fanciers are over- 

 wrought by disappointing litters, troublesome Toms and 

 prolific females, I have more than once heard them exclaim : 

 " I shall get rid of all my cats, and only keep neuters 1 " 



