A LITTKR BY TACHINY 



OWNED BY LADY MARCUS BERESEORD. 



(Photo : J. Fall, Baker Street.) 



CHAPTER XXIII. 



SIAMESE CATS. 



I HAVE often remarked at our cat shows 

 that strangers in the fancy will inquire 

 and ask to be directed to the Siamese 

 class, and many and varied are the exclama- 

 tions of surprise and admiration expressed 

 -by them on seeing, perhaps for the first 

 time, a row of Siamese cats seated in their 

 pens. Nor is it always necessary to direct 

 visitors to the Siamese classes, for generally 

 these animals will betray their whereabouts 

 by the unique tone of their voice, which is 

 distinguishable at a great distance. 



There is certainly a great fascination about 

 this peculiar breed of cats, which is yearly 

 becoming more popular and fashionable. But 

 fanciers are also learning a lesson in the school 

 of experience, where frequently the fees are 

 high, that they dare not trust their valuable 

 specimens on the show bench. Siamese cats 

 seem to be more sensitive than even the most 

 delicate of long-haired breeds, and if attacked 

 by any of the ills that catty flesh is heir to 

 they do not appear to have any stamina to 

 bear up against the ravages of the disease. 

 Their recuperative powers are almost nil, and 

 they rarely pull through a severe illness. I 

 have never kept Siamese myself, but I have 



had many opportunities of observing them in 

 sickness and in health. I have seen grown-up 

 specimens go out like the snuffing of a candle 

 with acute pneumonia, almost before one has 

 realised they were even ailing. These creatures 

 are quite human in the way they look at you 

 with those bonnie blue eyes, and when you 

 talk to them they seem to answer in their 

 croaking voice. I can well understand what 

 companionable cats these may become, and tc* 

 fanciers of this unique breed other cats must 

 appear lacking in interest and wanting in 

 intelligence. 



From time to time there have been discus- 

 sions in our cat papers on Siamese cats in 

 general, and on their kinked or kinkless tails 

 in particular. It is certain that those cats 

 known to us as royal Siamese are not the only 

 species in Siam, the common cat of the country 

 being tabby or black. So many of my friends 

 who are fanciers and breeders of Siamese have 

 kindly supplied me with interesting facts con- 

 cerning this variety, that I do not intend to 

 enter into any details, but will state that in 

 1902 a Siamese Cat Club was started by several 

 enthusiastic admirers of this breed, and the 

 members have certainly done much to improve 



