88 



OUR DOMESTIC ANIMALS 



of obtaining- tiie color and the hair or fur that 

 he wants. In any case, it is essential to mate 

 cats of sound health, and to choose for father 

 or mother some more or less known and admired 



Blue Cat with a \'f.rv Remarkai!Lf, He; 

 Frnin painting !:>>■ I£. Lander 



cat, a prize winner, if possible, if the speedy 

 sale of kittens is an object. 



Innumerable are the surprises in color that 

 occur in spite of all [precautions. The chances 

 for obtaining what is desired 

 are most favorable in black 

 cats and white cats. The 

 head should be broad 

 with small ears and 

 a short nose. Blue 

 eyes are much in re- 

 cjuest. Sometimes, 

 but this is mere 

 chance, in the litters 

 of white cats a kitten 

 will be found of a 

 very clear light blue 

 tint which is really 

 superb, and brings a 

 very high jDrice. In 

 England cats of pure 

 blood often bring as 

 m u c h as t w e n t )' 

 pounds ($ioo). 



Generally cats are 

 not mated until they 

 are over a year old. 

 But all that we have 

 hitherto said con- 

 cerns those persons 



NrKsiNo Mother 



who desire to breed cats on a large scale for 

 sale and exhibitions. The ordinary domestic 

 cat is never caged. It comes and goes, keeps 

 watch on the mice, gets its meals, and dis- 

 appears for hours, sometimes for 

 days, without notifying any one or 

 asking permission. As a result of 

 these escapades pussy now and again 

 has kittens, to the great amusement 

 of the children. 



When the critical day arrives (in 

 about eight weeks) the mother cat 

 iinds for herself a dark and quiet 

 retreat. It is well to give her an 

 open basket with something soft at 

 the bottom. Give her also all the 

 ° milk she wants and a slight purga- 



tive. She produces usually from two 

 to five kittens without any help. Kittens born 

 in the spring are stronger and larger than those 

 born in the autumn. The mother cat takes care 

 of the little ones (which are born blind) herself, 

 washes them, and keeps them 

 and the basket clean for 

 weeks, or until the little 

 things can run about. 

 If she has more than 

 three, it is well to 

 kill all over that 

 number, choosing 

 the weakest. On the 

 tenth day they open 

 their eyes, and then 

 they want to see the 

 world. Curiosity de- 

 velops early in their 

 little minds, and 

 they are soon clam- 

 bering out of their 

 basket with many a 

 fall and funny 

 motion, — grace and 

 clumsiness com- 

 bined. 



The mother, of 

 course, must be well 

 fed during this time, 

 or she will not have 



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