THE CAT AND ITS DISEASES, 353 
the nervous system, and is thus exposed to the most exquisite pain and dis- 
tressing shocks. But in spite of this, if she has been properly treated be- 
fore, it takes but slight assurances that no harm was intended to call forth 
fully as much kindness as the dog will show. This difference is noticeable: 
the dog will take pains to cultivate friendship with those who are indiffer- 
ent or unkind, while the cat will cultivate it only where it is evidently 
mutual. 
If those who harbor such a prejudice will exercise a disposition to learn 
the facts, they will probably corroborate the view of one keen observer 
who has said that he had “never known a cat to cement a friendship with 
any one without such friendship lasting till death.’ Dr. Stables has given 
a large number of instances in which she has staid by the sick-bed of her 
master Gr mistress, almost to the point of starvation; has evinced unques- 
tioncd loneliness in the absence of that one in the family who has shown 
her special kindness; has lain by the cradle of the babe and kept off other 
cats, and even dogs; and has been trained to such a point as to sport with 
and protect pet birds, when she would immediately devour any of 
their kind that she might find in their natural freedom. The testimony of 
that writer is fully sustained by any one who has been observant of the cat 
when it is kindly treated and trained. One frequently-cited evidence of 
her innate kindness is her nursing of puppies, rabbits, rats, and other ani- 
mals. It is readily seen that, in addition to her proverbial attachment to- 
places, which leads her to seek her home when taken away a long distance 
in the closest confinement, she is disposed to be as closely attached to per- 
sons and dumb creatures. Not only may she be educated to become the 
protector of animals which she is naturally prompted to destroy, thus dis- 
proving the existence of an alleged “ineradicable treachery,” but her 
marked propensity to steal may be so completely overcome by training 
that her choicest food will be untouched in the larder to which she has ac- 
cess. Indeed, as we might infer from her delicate organism and high type 
of cunning, she has a docility which has a parallel in few animals, and it 
but requires pains to develop it. It may be safely said that those which 
display the disagreeable traits of petulance, theft and treachery are starved, 
ill-treated, spoiled, or at least much neglected. The strict cleanliness of 
body which they maintain, the noiseless and graceful demeanor, and the 
notable absence of a disposition to do willful injury to furniture and adorn- 
ments, make cats peculiarly fit for drawing-room pets. 
The prejudice of to-day is almost wholly due to a disregard of two 
points, namely, the selection of a proper subject, and the requisite care and 
training. One will necessarily form a low estimate of the animal if he 
bases his conclusions upon the stray representatives in whose veins runs 
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