CHAPTER II 



CATS 



The position of the domestic cat is curiously anomalous. 

 More universally the companion of man than any other 

 creature, with the possible exception of the dog, it neverthe- 

 less remains consistently aloof and impatient of restraint. 

 Amenable to caresses, even soliciting them, it still retains 

 perfect independence, and tooth and claw are ever ready to 

 resent the slightest infringement. 



The origin of the domestic cat has been the source of 

 much controversy. It seems most probable, however, that 

 it is descended from one, or perhaps both, of two forms, 

 which still exist in the wild state — the Egyptian Wild Cat 

 (Felis ocreata) and the European Wild Cat (F. syhestris). 

 These two creatures are practically indistinguishable from 

 domestic cats. Both are light gray in general, with narrow, 

 vertical bars of a darker shade on the sides of the body, and 

 horizontal bars on the upper parts of the four legs. The 

 tail is banded, and there are markings about the face. There 

 are minor differences in the markings and the European 

 Wild Cat is slightly larger, less distinctly striped and more 

 heavily furred than the southern species, otherwise they are 

 similar. This form of marking is duplicated in the narrow- 

 striped form of the modern tabby and undoubtedly repre- 

 sents the primitive type. 



As is well known, mummified cats are commonly found 

 in the tombs of the ancient Egyptians, and their taming at 

 an early period is undoubted. It seems probable that these 

 cats were introduced into Europe, where they interbred with 

 the native form. The crossing of two species so similar 



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