REARING OF KITTENS. 



343 



healthy again, and in spite of all precautions 

 you will very probably carry sickness to your 

 other stock. I would never breed from un- 

 healthy animals, and I would at once destroy 

 a very sick kitten of tender age. 



Lethal boxes rob the act of inhumanity, 

 and you will probably have one little tomb- 

 stone to erect instead of a dozen ! 



One great feature of success is the boarding- 

 out system. Any woman really fond of cats 

 who will take a kitten into the bosom of her 

 family and rear it is a perfect boon. Of course, 

 she must be well paid, but if she is successful 

 you can afford to be liberal. 



In these cases it is better only to put out 

 your choice specimens that you wish to attain 

 some age before sale or to keep for stock. The 

 others should be sold off at about eight to ten 

 weeks old at moderate prices. 



Far more of the trouble with kittens comes 

 from defective digestion than from any other 

 cause, and I suspect we frequently overload 

 their little inte- 

 riors. When 

 nature makes 

 the small cat 

 turn away from 

 its dinner, we 

 fall into a panic 

 and pour~beef 

 essence down 

 its throat. Pro- 

 bably a short fast was all that was required, 

 and it is a mistake to force food until 

 some hours have elapsed. In fact, healthy 

 surroundings and common -sense treatment 

 are the main secrets of successful kitten 

 rearing. 



THE " FOSTER-MOTHER. 

 (Photo : H. Glacier, Longsight.) 



THK " FOSTER-MOTHER IN ACTION. 

 (Photo : H Glacier, Longsight.) 



