THE CAT 



'^3 



Mischances of 

 color and blood 

 cause many a 

 vexation to the 

 breeder, while 

 climate and the 

 very incomplete 

 knowledge now 

 possessed in 

 regard to the 

 breeding of these 

 animals, based on 

 the principle of 

 race, play him 

 m a n y an evil 

 trick. One curi- 

 ous and remark- 

 able fact is that 

 the best colors 

 are obtained by 

 the mating of cats 



Long-Hairko Cat i\ Folmi Colors — Black, 



White, Brown, and Blue 



This cat is exceptional 



They also exist in Cairo, Constanti- 

 nople, Rome, and Geneva. In Geneva 

 a society is formed to feed the in- 

 numerable \-agrant cats of that city. 



VI. R.xcKs oi'- Cat.s 



It is not more difficult to distin- 

 guish the races of cats than the races 

 of dogs. In each country there is lit- 

 tle difference, but the \'arieties are 

 numerous. It is 

 very difficult to 

 lollow the cross- 

 ings, and there 

 can be no such 

 thing as the true 

 breeding of cats 

 unless the ani- 

 mals are, like 

 dogs in kennels, 

 watched, fed, and 

 kept c onf ined ; 

 otherwise it is not 



of two wholly 

 different colors. 



The cat show does exist in America, though possible to keep the races pure. Yet all persons 

 not on the same scale as in England. The who attempt to raise cats for sale and exhibi- 

 American exhibitions are often well attended tion must be able to distinguish and define 

 and are supported by subscription. In Ger- the breeds accurately. In the case of cats 

 many and Austria almost no interest is taken coming from islands and from certain isolated 

 in the matter ; in Holland and Belgium 

 exhibitions of cats are very rare. Yet in 

 certain cities of every country we find per- 

 sons who push their passion for cats to 

 excess ; generally, it must be said, they 

 are elderly dames, who establish asylums 

 where neglected, lost, or sick cats may- 

 find a refuge. Sometimes these asylums 

 are organized in a practical and sufficient 

 manner, in which case the motive that 

 provided them is laudable ; but often they 

 are mere nests of disease and objects of 

 scandal to the neighborhood. The time 

 and money spent upon them would be far 

 better employed in ameliorating the con- 

 dition of human beings, at least in coun- 

 tries where such succor is sorely needed. Tabihes 



Still, in such large cities as New York, Boston, foreign countries, purit\' of race is not so diffi- 

 Chicago, and Philadelphia, where there are so cult to affirm. Those from the Isle of Man, for 

 many stray cats, such asylums are beneficent, instance, called the Manx cats, are markedly 



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