So 



THE BOOK OF THE CAT. 



employ four or six stewards to collect 

 the judges' slips as they complete each 

 class, and take them to those in the 

 office appointed to write out the tickets. 

 These same stewards should also un- 

 dertake to place them on the pens. 

 And here let me say how much better 

 it would be if some arrangement 

 could be made for the prize tickets to 

 be fixed in a rack at the top of the pen, 

 instead of being thrust between the 

 wires, where a large number almost 

 hide the cat, and frequently they are 

 torn down by the inmates of the pen. 



A good manager will have all in order well 

 before the hour when the cats are received, 

 and if the veterinary engaged is in attendance 

 the cats can be examined and, when passed, 

 placed at once in their proper pens. It is very 

 important to entrust the work of penning to 

 those who are used to handling cats, and no 

 better men can be found than those employed 

 by Messrs. Spratt, who, as everyone knows, 

 are the universal providers at cat shows, as 

 at every other live-stock exhibition. It is a 

 question whether hay or straw is best for 

 bedding. I incline towards the latter if it 

 is the fine wheaten straw, as hay, if it becomes 



MISS SIMPSON'S " CAMBYSES." 



(Photo : Gunn & Stewart, Richmond.) 



. p| 



MRS. DRURY'S BROWX TABBY, " PERIWIG." 



(Photo : Kerby & Son, Ipswich.) 



at all damp, will stick to the long-coated cats. 

 I also prefer dry earth at the back of the pens 

 to sawdust, for the same reason. I trust we 

 may ere long be able to provide something 

 better in the way of a cat pen than those at 

 present in use. The doors should open the 

 full height of the cage and two-thirds of the 

 width, so that the cat can be more easily taken 

 out. 



There is no doubt that, considering the 

 peculiar nature of cats, some more adequate 

 arrangement should be made in the sanitary 

 accommodation. The earth scattered at the 

 back of the pen amongst the bedding is not 

 all that could be desired. What we want is a 

 false bottom, and an earth pan or tray sunk 

 in it about two inches deep, on the plan of the 

 bird cage, so that it can be drawn out and 

 fresh earth supplied, and replaced. Greater 

 care should be paid as regards the security 

 of the fastenings of the pens, and the wires of 

 some of them are too wide apart, so that young 

 kittens can easily make an exit. It is well 

 known that cats have extraordinary powers of 

 escaping whenever and wherever escape is 

 possible. 



I disapprove as strongly as do the cats 

 of any disinfectant being sprinkled or placed 

 inside the pens. Each pen must, of course, 

 bear a number ; but instead of the different 

 classes being numbered, it is much better to 

 have them named, and the large placards fixed 

 high about the pens by means of split sticks 

 of Japanese bamboo. Thus anyone seeking 



