124 



THE BOOK OF THE CAT. 



to be the most difficult to breed and delicate to 

 rear. My opinion is that the delicacy is much 

 more in their coats than their constitutions ; 

 that is, of course, in comparison with other 

 foreign varieties, none of which are as hardy 

 as the British. 



" A few remarks as to the cleansing of 

 white cats may be useful. As a dweller in 

 London, I need scarcely say that unless I 

 occasionally gave personal attention to my 

 pussies they would not always be in the show 



condition that I 

 would desire. 

 Some fanciers 



IMPORTED BLUE-EYED TOM, ' MUSAFER. 

 (Photo: V. R. Clarke, Think.) 



wash their white Persians, but I have 

 come to the conclusion that this treatment 

 tends to coarsen the soft silkiness of the 

 fur ; and therefore, for this reason, and also 

 because there is a risk of cats catching cold, 

 especially in winter, I advocate dry cleaning, 

 and suggest the use of Pears' white precipitated 

 fuller's earth. One plan is to place the cat 

 on a large sheet or towel, mix a little ammonia 

 in warm water, dip your hands in this, and 

 pass them over and over the fur, letting it 

 become thoroughly moistened but not wet. 

 Then well sprinkle the coat with the powder, 

 and by keeping the animal in front of the fire 

 the fur will soon become quite dry. Then rub 



with a soft towel, and finally brush thoroughly 

 with a clean and not too hard brush. Your 

 efforts will be rewarded with success, and 

 though puss may be considerably bored during 

 the process, she will not resent it so much as a 

 tubbing. I find that white females are far 

 more diligent as regards their toilet than the 

 males, who seem always to have more of the 

 Eastern languor and indolence in their nature. 

 I have remarked and no doubt it is more 

 noticeable in the white breed that as soon 

 as young kittens are beyond their mother's 

 control they exhibit a marked antipathy to 

 keeping their coats in anything like decent 

 condition. Sometimes they will 

 make a feeble attempt at washing 

 themselves; but something will 

 excite their attention, and cff they 

 will go, or perhaps in sheer fatigue 

 will fall asleep during the toilet. 

 Thus white kittens will very soon 

 present a most unkempt appear- 

 ance, and the poor mother gazes 

 sadly at them as though the 

 cares of a family were too much 

 for her, and she no longer wishes 

 to own what was once her pride 

 and }oy a spotless litter ! 



It has been stated that white 

 cats are wanting in expression, 

 probably because of the lack of 

 markings to give character to the face ; but 

 breeders of whites will nevertheless agree 

 with me that they have even greater force of 

 expression, not being assisted by any markings. 

 I have found white cats to be most affectionate, 

 and very conservative in their tastes. I have 

 owned some white Persians with light sea- 

 green eyes, and although these are not correct, 

 yet I must say they were strikingly beautiful 

 and very uncommon. I have been offered 

 high prices by Americans and others for my 

 imported white female, but my ' blue-eyed 

 darling ' will, I think, end her days with 

 her devoted mistress in dear, dirty, old 

 London." 



