356 THE VETERINARY DOCTOR. 
sweetened, will make a good breakfast. Fora dinner, the same may be 
given with an allowance of flesh. Horse-meat is much used in Europe, 
and is good, though liver and boiled lights are better. Fish is the favorite 
meat of the cat, and should be at least occasionally provided, particularly 
during sickness. Oysters are also well suited to its wants and are keenly 
relished by some. Raw beef is, of course, to be recommended. An ex- 
cessive amount of flesh, however, tends to produce diarrhea, liver being es- 
pecially conducive to this derangement. Boiled eggs at regular intervals 
are desirable, as are also vegetables of any kind that the animal likes. 
Though the food should be ample for the needs of the cat, over-feed- 
ing is one of the most prolific sources of mischief. Sweet, fresh milk 
should always be given in abundance, and this, with the oatmeal or bread, 
will be quite sufficient in most cases. The mice which the cat will contrive 
to get will generally be an adequate supplement. Delicacies from the table 
are always to be withheld. It may be said in this connection that a cat’s 
disposition is often spoiled by feeding it from the table while the family is 
eating. This should not be allowed, and a little training will induce her 
to patiently await her time, even if she sits by the table during the meal. 
Grass.—A lady writer says: “Cats will never prosper without grass to 
eat. It is, with them, a panacea for nearly all their ills. They eat it to keep 
the stomach in good order. It cools the blood, prevents humors, and aids. 
digestion.” It is supposed that the eating of grass helps the cat to get rid 
of the hair which it swallows in the process of washing. While licking 
itself, the loose hair clings to the tongue and is swallowed. In the stomach 
it tends to form hard balls, which interfere with digestion and act as an 
irritant to the stomach and bowels, causing fever, fits, vomiting and dys- 
entery. The grass acts in such cases as a lubricant, like castor oil, enabling 
these balls to be casily thrown off by the stomach or bowels. Grass can 
be supplied to cats in the winter by laying by a few cuts of sod in the 
cellar, conservatory, or any warm place, being kept watered, and a small 
piece being given atatime. They will eat it greedily, and even swallow 
the roots. Ifit causes them to vomit no harm will be done. Ifa cat ap+ 
pear ill, tries to vomit, or vainly tries to evacuate the bowels, and no grass. 
can be procured, give a teaspoonful of castor oil, sweet oil, or glycerine. 
The readiness with which most of them will feed upon asparagus 
in the garden should induce one to keepa supply in reach when practicable; 
and their natural preference for catnip will suggest a like course, for it is 
well-known that cats take delight in rolling about in catnip, whether dry 
or green. 
Drinkx.—Of milk we have already spoken; but it is a mistake to sup- 
pose that it is always preferred, since water will generally be chosen for 
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