io8 



THE BOOK OF THE CAT. 



out or strange cats getting in a very important 

 matter at all times, but especially so at certain 

 periods, if breeds are to be kept pure and pussy 

 not allowed to make her own arrangements. 



"If I were 

 asked for the 

 very best design 

 for building, fit- 

 ting up, and fur- 

 nishing a small 

 cattery, I fear 

 I could only 

 answer that re- 

 quirements dif- 

 fer so in indi- 

 vidual cases 

 that it is im- 

 possible to draw 

 a hard-and-fast 

 line that will 

 meet all circum- 



THE HON. MRS. MCLAREN stances. Here 



MORRISON. is a photo of my 



(.Photo .- Esmi Callings, Hove.) OWn(p.I07). It 



is the outcome 



of my personal experience, and answers my re- 

 quirements fairly well. It is a lean-to structure, 

 about 7 yards long by 2 yards wide. The back 

 and one end is formed by the north and west 

 boundary walls, while the east end joins the 

 dwelling-house, thus giving it a south aspect 

 and complete shelter from north and east 

 winds. It is divided into two unequal por- 

 tions, the smaller (east) portion, 6 feet by 6 

 feet, forming the cat-house proper ; the longer 

 portion is the covered run. The front of the 

 house is built of i-inch wood, with a lining of 

 wood leaving an air space of about 3 inches 

 between the outer and inner surface of the 

 front and dividing partition. The roof is of 

 corrugated iron, with a ceiling of wood about 

 4 inches below. This arrangement of double 

 walls and roof secures reasonable warmth in the 

 winter, but not quite sufficient coolness for 

 mothers and kittens during the height of the 

 summer. So the roof is then covered with a 

 large white sheet hooked to the wall about 12 

 inches above the roof and carried over a rail 



in front about the same height, and there 

 securely fastened. This arrangement insures 

 not only a reasonable temperature, but also a 

 never-ending source of exercise and amuse- 

 ment for both cats and kittens, some gambol- 

 ling above, while others hide beneath the sheet. 

 An ordinary sun blind along the front com- 

 pletes the summer arrangements. The front 

 of the covered run is closed in with inch mesh 

 wire netting from ground to roof, fitted on the 

 inside with removable shutters, 18 inches high, 

 and, above these, removable window-sashes, 

 closing in as desired. These are held in place 

 with turn-buttons, so they are easily removed 

 or replaced in a couple of minutes, a great con- 

 venience in wet or changeable weather, and 

 proving very cosy in the winter. The run is 

 fitted with shelves for the cats to lie upon, a 

 table, sleeping boxes, earth pans, two chairs, 

 and an artificial tree covered with cork, which 

 is a source of great pleasure when the cats 

 are confined by bad weather to the run. The 

 open run consists, as before mentioned, of a 

 space about 18 feet by 12 feet ; this is covered 

 with gravel (which in such limited space should 

 be renewed at least once a year), with the 

 exception of a strip some 18 inches wide 

 by 6 feet long on the west side, and two small 

 corners on the east side, reserved for grass. 

 This grass reserve, which is most important 

 for the keeping of Persian cats in good health, 

 is renovated every spring with fresh lawn seed, 

 and should either of the patches suffer unduly 

 from special attentions from the pets, it is 

 wired in so as to protect it until it recovers. 

 By this plan my cats secure a supply of grass 

 all the year round. In the centre of the gravel 

 space I have another artificial tree (see photo), 

 about 8 feet high ; it is as great a favourite 

 as the one in the run, and as it is hung with a 

 loose cord, a few ping-pong balls, etc., it is a 

 never-ending source of fun and frolic. To 

 supplement the ground space, I place ladders 

 leading to the tops of the roofs of the out- 

 buildings and cattery, which afford extra 

 space for exercise and a charming, interesting, 

 and envious outlook for the cats into my 

 neighbour's garden. It is surprising how soon 



