101 



THE HON. MRS. MCLAREN MORRISON'S CATTERY AT KEPW1CK. 



CHAPTER VIII. 



SOME NOTABLE CATTERIES. 



BEFORE entering upon a description of 

 the various breeds, it may be interesting 

 to my readers to give a short account, 

 with illustrations (photographs for which have 

 been specially taken for this chapter), of the 

 catteries of some well-known fanciers who 

 have not confined themselves to any special 

 breed or variety. 



Lady Decies' catteries, at her pretty summer 

 residence at Birchington-on-Sea, are indeed 

 most perfect in their arrangements, and every 

 detail for the comfort and well-being of the 

 inmates is considered. The stud cats have 

 separate single houses, with good-sized wired- 

 in runs, and luxurious and cosy sleeping apart- 

 ments in the rear. 



The main cattery is in a sheltered portion 

 7* 



of the grounds, and will accommodate a large 

 number of cats. The runs are arranged with 

 boxes, benches, chairs, and ladders, and the 

 sleeping places, built of brick, are most com- 

 fortably fitted up. By a system of wooden 

 blinds the strong sea breezes and the bright rays 

 of the summer sun can be regulated. There 

 are side blinds and top blinds. The floors of 

 the spacious catteries are wood, covered with 

 cork carpet, and they are raised about a 

 foot from the ground, so that there is a free 

 current of air passing under the boards, thus 

 securing absolute freedom from any damp. 



In the house there are three rooms set apart 

 by Lady Decies for her pussies. In two of 

 these the queen mothers have their families, 

 and the other is used as the cats' kitchen. 



