Concerning Cats 



Watch a kitten's coquettish pretences to maturity 

 and first occasional symptoms of reason. Above all, 

 watch it when it first refuses to obey blindly its 

 mother's orders, and evinces the first show of that 

 determination to " gang his gait " which is the part 

 of a true cat-hood. And note the wiles, the coaxing, 

 the vain assumption of lost authority on the part of 

 the poor mother. Where among the "lower ani- 

 mals " is there a more fascinating study ? 



Kittenhood is the time when cats should be trained 

 to cleanliness and good habits. If tricks are to be 

 taught them, kittens of four or five months will begin 

 to learn : although a cat's brain develops up to the 

 age of two or three years. Do not let little children 

 handle very young kittens, but a grown person, who 

 knows how to do it properly, may teach a kitten to 

 know her hand even before its eyes are opened. 

 There is much difference in kittens even at that 

 age, however; some of the tiny things showing an 

 affectionate, even disposition, and others seeming 

 to be but tiny bundles of nerves, that start and cry 

 when they feel a strange presence near. Even these 

 can be taught in a few weeks, if extreme gentleness 

 is used, and persistent, careful stroking and hand- 

 ling is kept up regularly : so that the most nervous 

 kitten becomes gentle, and affectionate, and trustful, 

 by the time it is two months old. Great care should 

 be taken in this respect, if a nice cat is wanted : 

 because exceedingly nervous kittens, if left to them- 



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