CATS OF TO-DAY. 



that for brown tabby and black and white 

 Persians no societies have as yet been formed, 

 but doubtless ere long these varieties will be 

 gathered into the fold of specialist clubs. 



A good deal of discussion has taken place 

 in"catty circles as to the desirability of having 

 specialist societies, but I am sure a vast and 

 marked improvement has taken place in the 

 different breeds since their formation, and the 

 fact of publishing a standard of points has 

 certainly assisted breeders in coming to a more 

 correct idea of what constitutes a good cat of 

 a particular breed. The 

 number of challenge prizes, 

 medals and specials offered 

 by these societies at various 

 shows act as an incentive to 

 exhibitors, and thus entries 

 increase and competition 

 becomes keener. Specialist 

 cl,ubs are not altogether 

 popular with the parent 

 clubs, who regard them with 

 rather a suspicious and 

 jealous eye. They think 

 that exhibitors may join 

 these less expensive socie- 

 ties and yet continue to 

 show and win prizes with- 

 out subscribing to the club 

 that holds the show. No 

 doubt there is something 

 in this, and specialist clubs 

 should be ready and willing not only to 

 offer prizes for which their members only can 

 compete, but they ought also to guarantee 

 classes, and perhaps give a donation towards 

 the expenses of the show. 



There have been quite a number of catty 

 cases in our courts of late years, and these 

 generally seem to cause considerable amuse- 

 ment to the legal as well as to the public mind. 

 At a recent trial, where a lady was wrongfully 

 accused of starving a Persian cat, the magis- 

 trate, wishing for information, inquired of the 

 witness (who was a veterinary surgeon) how 

 long a cat could live without food. The reply 

 was, " I am sure I could not say, sir, for cats 



MRS. CLINTON LOCKE AND HER SIAMESE 

 AND " BANGKOK." 



KITTENS "CALIF 



are the funniest animals we have to deal with." 

 And it is very true that these creatures, being 

 so complex, require to be specially studied, 

 and our principal veterinaries, who lead busy 

 lives, are just a little superior to the many ail- 

 ments and infirmities of these too often despised 

 animals. It is therefore a subject of satis- 

 faction for cat fanciers that two clever and kind 

 animal-loving men have taken up the doctoring 

 of cats, and_by personal experience are learn- 

 ing " pretty pussy's ways " in sickness and 

 in health. Mr. Ward, of Manchester, and 

 "Salvo," of Hertford Heath, 

 are now two household 

 names in the cat fancier's 

 vocabulary. To the many 

 excellent remedies prepared 

 by these clever specialists I 

 shall refer later on in my 

 work. Suffice it here to say 

 that when in doubt or diffi- 

 culty about your pussy's 

 state of health I would re- 

 commend you to write to 

 either of these common- 

 sense practitioners. 



The cat literature of the 

 present day has been 

 steadily on the increase. 

 The first paper to supply 

 special cat columns was 

 Fur and Feather, which, 

 as its title infers, treats be- 

 sides of birds, rabbits, poultry, cavies, mice. 

 This weekly paper has a large circulation 

 amongst the various fanciers. In 1899 Our 

 Cats was started, and is widely read by the 

 ever-growing circle of cat lovers, and claims the 

 unique distinction of being " The only news j 

 paper in the world solely devoted to cats." In 

 both these papers there are stud advertise- 

 ments of cats and a register of visits of queens 

 and births of kittens. 



In America the chief organs in the cat 

 world are The Cat Journal, The Pet Stock 

 News, and Field and Fancy. 



And now a few words on those most ex- 

 cellent institutions which should appeal to the 



