THE CAT. 



Be very careful to cleanse the for of tlie animal's face ai^d 

 neck of any physic that may have been smeared thereon. The 

 cat of all things dislikes a dirty coat, and as the nastiness of 

 the medicine wiU prevent her licking herself clean she wiU go 

 about in a miserable condition, and one that wiU probably 

 counteract the good effects of your doctoring. After the dose 

 has been swallowed you may unswathe the patient and turn 

 her into a quiet room, where there is something soft for her to 

 lie on, and a cheerful fire. Do not offer her any food for at 

 least two hours after the administration of the physio. 



Diarrhoea is a very common complaint with cats. It may 

 be known by the animal's becoming thin, by her r.oat being 

 dirty, and by her dull eyes. Unless this be checked, dysentery 

 will set in, and the cat's life be sacrificed. An oance of fresh 

 mutton suet, dissolved in a quarter of a pint of new mUk, wOl, 

 if the malady be taken in hand in its earlier stage, effect a 

 speedy cure. The miHr should only be warm enough to melt 

 the shredded suet ; and if it be too iU to lap, put one or two 

 spoonsfiil into its mouth every two hours. If the scouring do 

 not abate, a spoonful of chalk mixture, with eight drops of 

 tincture of rhubarb, had better be given. 



Cats are sometimes attacked by fits of deUrium. The animal 

 may be discovered with staring eyes and bristling far, rushing 

 here and there in a way most terrible to see. Generally it 

 finishes by plunging into the darkest comer it can find, — into 

 a lumber-room or the coal-oeUar may be, — and will there 

 remain to die unless attended to. There are several remedies 

 for this disorder, but that advised by Lady Oust is certainly 

 the most efficacious. " Take a sharp pair of scissors and slightly 

 sUt one of the ears, but not to disfigure the cat ; it must be in 

 the thin part of the ear. Have ready some warm water, 

 and hold the ear in it, gently rubbing it and encouraging the 

 blood to flow ; a few drops give relief. The most timid lady 

 need not fear to perform this sUght operation, as during the 

 attack the animal does not feel, nor does it resist in any wa}^ ; 

 but I always use thick gloves in handling animals myseF, and 

 I recommend them to others. When the attack is ovei, keep 

 the cat quiet, as you will observe it is very nervous after, and 

 alarmed with the slightest sound ; and let its food be rather 

 less in quantity, and less nutritious in quality, till it is past 

 the time of fits." 



The lady above quoted makes some interesting remarks on 

 the subject of grass eaten by cats. " Cats wfll never prosper 



