THE SERVAL CAT 



though she showed great displeasure when I forcibly 

 took the kitten away, she did not attempt to bite 

 or scratch me. After this the kitten gave us no 

 peace. It simply haunted Foxey's cage, and when 

 any of us made an appearance it clamoured most 

 frantically for admittance. Its desire was invari- 

 ably gratified, for I noticed that the Serval was 

 now always happy and contented. Previously, 

 when alone, she crooned and called almost inces- 

 santly until some of us came to her. So long as I 

 was in sight she was happy and content. I used 

 in my spare time to take a book and an easy-chair 

 and sit against the wire side of her cage, reading. 

 At these times she would always lie contentedly 

 as close to me as she could get, and whenever I 

 took any notice of her she would immediately 

 show her pleasure by purring. 



It has been stated the Serval cannot be fully 

 tamed. This is not so, for Foxey was as tame 

 and docile as any domestic cat. When full-grown 

 she did not lose any of her playfulness, and nothing 

 gave her keener joy than when I romped and played 

 with her. Grabbing me round the leg she would 

 grip tight and pretend to bite, then letting go she 

 would scurry around in circles, awaiting a chance 

 to rush in. 



I used to chain her up at times inside a wire- 

 netting enclosure. The netting was for the purpose 

 of keeping off the fowls. The old rooster knew to 

 an inch the length of Foxey's chain, and poking his 



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