THE BOOK OF THE CAT. 



In America the fancy has gone ahead in a 

 wonderful way. It was in 1895 that the first 

 cat show of general interest was held at Madison 

 Square Gardens, New York. There had pre- 

 viously been some private attempts to have 

 exhibitions of cats in connection with poultry 

 and pigeon shows. In 1896 an American Cat 

 Club was organised, which did some good work. 

 Then Chicago started a Cat Club in January, 



1899, and this was followed by a most success- 

 ful enterprise on the part of Mrs. Clinton Locke, 

 who founded the Beresford Cat Club, called 

 after Lady Marcus Beresford, 



and now numbering about 

 200 members. In January, 



1900, the club held its first 

 big show. The classification 

 was of a most comprehensive 

 nature, and the list of special 

 prizes a very liberal one. 

 This show is now an annual 

 fixture, and the Cat Club of 

 England sends medals and 

 prizes to be competed for. 

 Many of the best cats ex- 

 hibited at these shows have 

 been exported from Eng- 

 land, and Americans are 

 very keen in trying to pro- 

 cure the very best possible 

 stock high prices in many 



cases being offered to induce English fanciers 

 to part with prize-winning specimens. 



The following is a list of officials of the 



BERESFORD CAT CLUB OF AMERICA. 



Officers. 



Mrs. Clinton Locke, 2825 Indiana Ave., (President); 

 Mrs. Charles H. Lane, 5323 Madison Ave., (First Vice- 

 President} ; Mrs. F. A. Howe, 3041 Grand Boulevard 

 (Second Vice-President) ; Mrs. A. A. Michelson, 220 

 E. 6oth Street (Corresponding Secretary) ; Miss L. C. 

 Johnstone, 5323 Madison Ave. (Recording Secretary) ; 

 Mrs. Elwood H. Tolman, 5403 Madison Ave. (Trea- 

 surer). 



Directors. 



Mrs. J.H.Pratt, 5816 Rosalie Court; Mrs. Lincoln 

 Nicholson, Lee Centre, Illinois ; Miss Louise Fergus, 



"PUCK III. 



THE PROPERTY OF THE PRINCESS VICTORIA OF 

 SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN. 



At the Cat Show held in January, 1902, as 

 many as 75 classes were provided, and it is 

 plain to see from these that Americans have 

 not the same antipathy for broken colours 

 that is, cats with white markings as we have 

 in England, as there are classes specially for 

 orange and white, and black and white cats. 

 In another part of this work I shall refer to 

 varieties and breeds of cats existing in America 

 which differ from those in England. The 

 Beresford Cat Club have an extremely well 

 arranged stud book and register, which is pub- 

 lished annually. I am sure 

 that the Cat Fancy in Ame- 

 rica has a great future before 

 it, and we cannot help being 

 greatly struck with the earn- 

 estness, thoroughness, and 

 enthusiasm with which 

 Americans have taken up 

 this hobby. When we con- 

 sider the great distances in 

 the States and the paucity 

 of good stud cats, and the 

 few opportunities of exhibit- 

 ing at well organised shows, 

 we cannot fail to admire the 

 energy and enterprise dis- 

 played by our American 

 fellow-fanciers. 



Specialist Clubs for Cats 



are of very recent growth. The first was 

 started by an ardent breeder of silver Persians 

 in 1900. It was then called the Silver Society, 

 and it included smokes and silver tabbies. The 

 title of this society has since been changed to 

 the Silver and Smoke Persian Cat Society. In 

 the following year Blue Persian Breeders be- 

 stirred themselves and formed a society for this 

 most popular breed. In the same year the 

 Orange, Cream, and Tortoiseshell Society, the 

 Siamese Club, and the Chinchilla Club were in- 

 augurated, also a Manx Club came into exist- 

 ence, and two clubs for short-haired cats were 

 started. Particulars concerning these special- 

 ist societies and their objects will be found in 



3220 Sheridan Road ; Mrs. Blanch P. Robinson, 



6, Langley Place ; Mrs. Vincent E. Gregg, 736 North future chapters on the various breeds of cats. 



Park Avenue. 



It will be noticed bv the list of clubs given 



