IHB CAI. 



without graaa to eat ! I have long ohserved and been con*, 

 vinoed of this ; and was ridiculed for my opinion when I 

 asserted it, even by soce learned members of the ZoologicaJ 

 Society, who would not believe that grass was necessary to the 

 feline tribe in general, or that they would even eat it, until 

 they witnessed the voracity with which it was devoured after 

 a deprivation of it for a few days. I am perfectly certain it is 

 essential for the maintenance of health and life in that species. 

 In the first place it cools the blood, preventing humours, and 

 contributes to the healthy condition of the skin, rendering the 

 fur fine and glossy. It has also a material effect on the 

 general health. Every one must have observed the constant 

 licking bestowed on the coat, and the rough nature of the 

 tongue. Consequently, the loose hair is conveyed to the 

 stomach and intestines, where it remains in balls or long rolls, 

 causing dulness and loss of appetite, and ending in death. 

 The hair swallowed adheres to the rough grass and is then 

 digested, or if the mass is too large (as is often the case in 

 the moulting season, especially with Angora cats), it will be 

 seen thrown up : long rolls of hair with grass, perfectly 

 ezdosive of any other substance ; and the animal that a few 

 minutes previous was dying, will now be relieved, and take its 

 food as usual." 



In the spring and autumn cats are firequently aflBicted with 

 a disease resembling chicken-pox in the human subject. The 

 head and throat are the parts chiefly attacked, the hair falls 

 off, and the animal's appearance is very miserable. Bub the 

 places with flour of brimstone mixed with hogs' lard. 



When the cat has kittens never be so hard-hearted as to 

 carry off at one sweep the whole of her little family. There is 

 no animal on earth that exhibits more affection for its progeny 

 than the cat. It will go hungry that its young ones may eat, 

 and will face the most terrible dangers in their behalf. If her 

 children are taken fi-om her, she goes for days stalking about, 

 a lean and wretched cat, liUiug the house with her melancholy 

 mewings. Therefore be merciful. If the entire litter m/ust 

 be destroyed take them away one at a time, allowing a day or 

 two between. Motherless kittens moy be reared by hand by 

 sweetening new mHyk with brown sugar and feeding them with 

 the mixture several times a day. The best substitute for the 

 healthful licking afforded by the mother's tongue is a soapy 

 sponge squeezed nearly dry. 



" Cats," writes Lady Oust, " have a very dangerous com- 



