BREEDING AND EXHIBITING 63 



every day, and it is often the darkest kittens that turn out 

 the palest Silvers. 



The days of pussy's gestation are about sixty-three, but I 

 generally find it is best to calculate for three days extra, this 

 being counted from the last day of mating. It is always 

 safer after the queen has been on a visit to keep her shut 

 up for a few days. 



Do not worry if your queens refuse to feed during the 

 time they are mating. When quieted down puss will make 

 up for lost time. 



If you have a stud cat and receive queens, it is always 

 courteous and kind to write a line to the sender immediately 

 on the arrival of the traveller. Tnus the anxious mind of 

 the owner is set at rest. Then you should give due notice 

 of the time of train by which you are returning the visitor. 

 Avoid despatching a cat on a Saturday. 



I am not much in favour of mating Blues and Silvers 

 together, as this cross frequently results in Silver Smokes, a 

 sort of nondescript cat that finds no abiding class at our 

 shows, and is also rather an unsatisfactory cat from which to 

 breed. 



In selecting a stud cat we should consider the points of 

 our queens. It is not always the greatest prize-winner that 

 is the most desirable mate for a particular female. We 

 must pair them according to the good points in one and the 

 defects in the other, and thus we may gain the happy 

 medium. If your queen is wanting in breadth of skull and 

 shortness of face, try to remedy and counterbalance these 

 defects by finding a stud cat with these points strongly 

 developed. Two prize-winning cats may not produce even 

 average good kittens. 



Of all the breeds of long-haired cats, brown Tabbies may 

 be said to be the strongest. This handsome breed seems 

 coming to the fore. Certainly to a novice in the fancy 

 brown Tabbies are less trouble, by reason of their hardy 



