CATS OF TO-DAY. 



average 275 pounds of meat, and this is sold 

 by pussy's butcher in half pennyworths skew- 

 ered on bits of wood. The magnitude of this 



birthday. His occupation was also given 

 ' mouse-catcher, worker on his own account.' " 



A description of the ordinary domestic cat 



trade can be estimated by the fact that it keeps i s hardly necessary, but before I pass on to 

 constantly employed thirty wholesale sales- mention matters of general interest concern- 

 men. I may here mention that a cats'-meat i ng ca ts of to-day, I will give a quotation from 

 men's supper was organised last year in London a Board School boy's essay, which speaks for 

 by the editor of Our Cats, assisted by Mr. Louis itself : 



"The house-cat is a four-legged quadruped, 

 the legs as_usual being at the corners. It is 



Wain and others ; and a most 

 entertainment was given at the City of New 



York Restaurant. The applications for tickets what is some times called a tame animal, though 



were so numerous that 400 men had to be re- 

 fused ; and when the 250 guests were seated, 

 it was clearly proved that 

 every available inch of 

 accommodation had been 

 utilised. Having been 

 present, I can testify to 

 the excellent supper and 

 entertainment provided 

 for the cats'-meat men 

 of London. 



The most casual ob- 

 server cannot have failed 

 to remark the wonderful 

 development of late years 

 in " Catty " Christmas 

 souvenirs, thus giving 

 proof of the growth of 

 love and admiration for 

 pussy. We have cat al- 

 manacks, cat calendars, and cat annuals, and 

 I can testify to the innumerable Christmas 



CAT CALENDAR. 



{By kind permission of Raphael Tuck d- 3 Co.) 



it feeds on mice and birds of prey. Its colours 

 are striped, it does not bark, but breathes through 

 its nose instead of its mouth: 

 Cats also mow, which you 

 have all heard. Cats have 

 nine liveses, but which is 

 seldom wanted in this 

 country, coz' of Christian- 

 ity. Cats eat meat and 

 most anythink speshuelly 

 where you can't afford; 

 This is all about cats." 



Perhaps my readers 

 may think that after 

 such a lucid description 

 of the subject in hand, 

 further comments are 

 unnecessary ! 



I will proceed, how- 

 ever, to give a glance 



round at the Cat Fancy in general before men- 

 tioning particulars of Clubs and Cats of the 



cards with designs of cats of all sorts and present day. The question has often been 

 conditions which have found their way into asked whether the Cat Fancy will ever be- 

 my hands expressive of good wishes at the come as popular and fashionable as the breed- 

 festive season. ing of dogs, poultry, and birds ? I think this 

 The official mind would probably frown at question may be answered in the affirmative, 

 the suggestion that the census returns should when we consider that during last year a dozen 

 be enlivened with incidental humour. How- and more large cat shows have been held in 

 ever, after the last census, the following state- different parts of England and Scotland, to 



ment appeared in the press : 



" An enumerator in going over a return paper 

 found that the household cat had been included 

 as a member of the family. It was described 

 as ' Jim,' the relationship to the head of the 



say nothing of numerous mixed shows where 

 a section for cats was provided. Every year 

 the number of fanciers increases, and although 

 this particular hobby is almost entirely 

 confined to the gentler sex, yet it is really sur- 



family being ' lodger.' The entry then stated prising to find how many more men are be- 

 that he was of the male sex, single, aged one last ginning to take an interest in the pussies, and 



