THE BOOK OF THE CAT-. 



(especially if the kittens are born out-of-doors), 

 for if the labour is easy and quick it is quite 

 impossible for the queen to dry one kitten 

 before the advent of the next, and by the time 

 they are all born they are frequently stone 

 cold, and so wet that the mother gives up 

 the attempt to dry them in despair ; and 

 many kittens, thought to be stillborn, have 

 died in the night in this way. Kittens quite 

 cold and nearly dead have been restored (and 

 have lived to a good old age) by being taken at 

 once to the fire and warmed and dried, and 

 though at first life may appear extinct, time 

 and patience will work wonders. If the kittens 

 are taken away from the mother at birth as 

 described above, it is a good opportunity for 

 destroying any that are not wanted, because 

 of sex or colour. When the litter is given to 

 the mother she should be offered milk again, 

 and should after: that be left alone several 

 hours; but she will most likely welcome a 

 few kind words and loving pats as a reward 

 for- all- she has 'gone through, and will then 

 cuddle down; contentedly with her little ones. 

 ; In giving milk do not take the mother out, or 

 even make he'r get .up to drink it, on the day 

 of her confinement ; ; if' she cannot reach it 

 comfortably, Taise her head and shoulders with 

 one hand; until 'she can reach the saucer held 

 itt the"0trfer~canvenicntly, and do not be in a 

 hurryV'as she knows' well the temperature the 

 milk ought to" be, arid will not take it if too 

 hot or too cold. Milk should be given night 

 and morning, and offered during the day, for 

 some days after the kittens are born. Cats 

 that never like it at other times are thankful 

 for it when nursing ; but, on the other hand, 

 cats that have been fond of milk will turn away 

 from it at" these times. Queens usually come 

 out every few hours for food, and their meat or 

 ordinary meal should be ready for them, as 

 they will want to eat it quickly and return to 

 their little ones. After the second or third day 

 a warm, clean blanket should be substituted 

 for the one on which the kittens were born, and 

 it is well to do this when the mother is present, 

 as some cats resent interference during their 

 absence. 



As soon as the kittens are about a week old, 

 a finger should be passed over their eyes, and 

 if there is a little ridge on the lids, the eye 

 should be moistened with eye-lotion twice 

 daily with a camel-hair brush. If, after ten 

 days, they do not open as is usual, the eyes 

 should be sponged with warm water, as in this 

 case they must have become glued together 

 with mucus, which should be cleared away, 

 and the eye moistened with eye-lotion, taking 

 care a little goes well into the eye. The lid 

 should then be smeared with olive oil to pre- 

 vent adhesion. It is this adhesion of the lids 

 which causes inflammation, and the eyes must 

 be frequently attended to, so that they may 

 be kept open, avoiding any very strong light. 



If the kittens are born indoors in the summer, 

 windows should be kept open during the day, 

 and when the little creatures are about a fort- 

 night old put them out in the sunshine for an 

 hour or so daily. The mother must be as well 

 fed as she was before the kittens were born, but 

 carefully notice if she suffers from diarrhoea, 

 for if this is the case, and change of diet does 

 not cure it, you may be certain that she is 

 nursing too many kittens, and if some of them 

 are not speedily removed you will lose them all. 



If a foster-mother can be procured, by all 

 means have one, accompanied by one of her 

 own kittens if possible. Make a cosy bed 

 for her, warming the blanket, and leave her 

 in it till night, when, if she seems settled down, 

 give her two or more kittens as the case may 

 be, removing her own the following night. 

 Do not attempt to interfere with the kittens 

 while the mother is away, and act very gently, 

 talking to, and stroking her so that she may 

 not resent your interference. If no foster- 

 mother can be procured, Mr. Ward, of Man- 

 chester, has a clever little appliance which he 

 claims can be used instead of a foster-mother. 



Some fanciers may take upon themselves 

 the task of bringing up the kittens by hand, 

 and in that case wrap them up in warm flannel, 

 keeping them by the fire by day, and giving 

 them a hot bottle at night, feeding with 

 weak milk and water about every two hours 

 (this should be about half and half), with a 



