SIAMESE 'CATS. 



205 



required, even in the depth of winter. We 

 like our grown-up cats loose about the house, 

 but it is impossible to allow kittens their full 

 liberty when there are many of them, as they 

 are bound to get into mischief and do much 

 damage to the furniture, climbing up curtains 

 and breaking ornaments on mantelpieces and 

 scratching leather, etc. Of course, they are 

 allowed downstairs a portion of every day 

 when their mistress is able to look after them. 

 They are most fascinating, frolicsome little 

 creatures. The outdoor catteries for use in 

 summer consist of a house and greenhouse, 

 with covered runs leading from them, and so 

 arranged that any or every cat can be isolated 

 at will. These arrangements have taken a 

 great deal of anxiety off our shoulders. 



" This breed is certainly the noisiest, least 

 dignified, most intelligent, and most active of 

 all the cats. They are dog-like in their 

 nature, and can be easily taught to turn back 

 somersaults, and to retrieve, and in the country 

 take long walks like a terrier. 



" If they think it is meal-time and they 

 fancy themselves neglected, they cry like 

 children. The points of the perfect royal 

 Siamese lie in the eyes, which should be a most 

 perfect blue, and the contrast between the 



MRS. ROBINSON'S " AH CHOO. 



BKKD BY MRS. VVVVAN. 

 'Photo: E. Landor, Baling.) 



MRS. ROBINSON S " CHAMPION WANKEE. 



(Photo : E. Landor, Ealing. 



seal-brown of the paws, mask, and tail and 

 the white or cream of the rest of the body, 

 which should not be disfigured by bars or 

 blotches. Age should be taken into considera- 

 tion in judging this contrast. There are many 

 beautiful kittens shown that we never hear of 

 again after they have grown up, age having 

 blurred their coats, thereby making the con- 

 trast less defined. 



" For travelling short distances there are 

 few better travelling cases than a Canadian 

 cheese box, with holes bored in the side. They 

 are cheap (say 4d.), light, and damp and 

 draught proof, and can be burnt after once 

 using." 



It will be gathered from the accounts given 

 by Siamese fanciers that these cats, though 



delicate, with the exercise of care may be 



reared like ordinary ones of other breeds. 



Miss Cochran is very emphatic on this 



point. She says : 



" If Siamese are treated like common 



English cats, given plenty of fresh air and 



proper food, they are hardy and healthy ; 



and by proper food I mean a meat diet 



raw shin of beef, and as often as possible 



