THE DOMESTIC CAT. 



In the old, old writings of the sacred 

 Sanskrit language, that ancient language 

 of the Hindoos, nearly two thousand 

 years ago reference was made to the Do- 

 mestic Cat. And so we know that Cats 

 existed long ago and are a very ancient 

 animal. But by means of pictures we 

 are able trace their origin to still earlier 

 times, for the Egyptian monuments 

 abound in pictured Cats, and, stranger 

 yet, in Egypt are found mummies of both 

 the domestic and common jungle Cat. 

 How very important it must have been 

 considered ! Think of burying the body 

 of every forlorn, luckless Cat, and then 

 realize the pains taken, not only to give 

 it a burial, but to preserve it for ages to 

 come ; and this the Egyptians did, for 

 doubtless it was to them the most sacred 

 of all sacred animals. 



Herodotus says that when one of their 

 houses was on fire they first thought of 

 saving the Cat, and afterward considered 

 the matter of putting out the fire ; also 

 when a Cat died they cut off their own 

 hair as a sign of mourning. When a per- 

 son unintentionally caused the death of 

 one of these animals he forfeited his life. 

 We can readily imagine that small boys 

 did not find amusement in chasing and 

 plaguing stray Cats at that period of the 

 of the world's existence. 



While we really do not absolutely 

 know where the ancestors of our modern 

 Cat were found, it is the general opinion 

 that the Egyptian Cat was the first to be 

 domesticated and that it gradually spread 

 northward and eastward and westward, 

 although the spotted Cats of India may 

 have had a different origin. 



In the tenth century the Cat had 

 reached Wales, as laws were recorded 

 fixing the price of Domestic Cats, and 

 also penalties were fixed for their ill 

 treatment and killing. After a kitten 

 caught itft first mouse its value was 

 doubled, and a mother Cat was expected 

 to have perfect eyes, ears and claws, to 

 know how to catch mice and how to 

 bring up her kittens properly. 



The Domestic Cat is so common an 

 animal that we do not realize how very 



interesting the study of it may become. 

 First of all, we must remember that our 

 pet kittens belong to that imporant divis- 

 ion of animals known as "The Cat 

 Tribe," and which includes such fero- 

 cious and feared beasts as the lion, the 

 tiger, the wildcat, the leopard, the pan- 

 ther and many others less common and 

 less generally known. 



All of these animals are most symmet- 

 rical and graceful ; all have the round 

 head set on a stout neck, the limbs of 

 moderate length, the long tail and the 

 soft fur which correspond in general 

 color to its native surroundings. Be- 

 cause they are beasts of prey the teeth 

 are adapted to life-destroying action; the 

 tongue is thick and muscular, with fine, 

 horny thorns which point toward the 

 throat. With these the animal can most 

 beautifully smooth and dress its hair, as 

 well as strip the meat from off the bone 

 when making a meal. The claws, ordi- 

 narily drawn up and out of sight, make 

 an effective weapon when the angry ani- 

 mal stretches its paws. On account of 

 its cushioned feet its step is silent and 

 stealthy. All Cats can jump many times 

 their own length, and most species are 

 great climbers. The sense of hearing is 

 most acute, and they see well at short 

 range. The sense of touch is extremely 

 well developed, and the most sensitive 

 organ is the whiskers. A Cat w^ith the 

 whiskers cut off is indeed in a most un- 

 comfortable position ; it is at a loss to 

 know what to do. The sense of smell is 

 not very acute. 



Our Domestic Cat shares all thdse 

 qualities with the other members of the 

 Cat tribe, but it has many valuable qual- 

 ities of its own. 



It is much more intelligent than people 

 are willing to concede. It is often com- 

 pared with the dog, but they are so 

 entirely different that it is an unfair com- 

 parison. The dog becomes very depend- 

 ent upon man, while the Cat has kept a 

 certain amount of individuality and in- 

 dependence through all its generations of 

 domestic life. When a Cat is very much 

 petted it develops an affection for its 



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