Certain Cat Characteristics 



tion of that screen door is a deliberate and decidedly 

 complex action. 



There are well-authenticated cases of cats jumping 

 upon the bell-wire and thus ringing the bell when 

 they wanted to get out, evidently reasoning that some 

 one would open the door in response to the ring, 

 and that they could get out. Archbishop Whately 

 is authority for one of these tales : — 



" This cat lived many years in my mother's family, 

 and its feats of sagacity were witnessed by her, my 

 sisters, and myself. It was known, not merely once 

 or twice, but habitually, to ring the parlor bell when- 

 ever it wished the door opened. Some alarm was 

 excited on the first occasion that it turned bell- 

 ringer. The family had retired to rest, and in the 

 middle of the night the parlor bell was rung vio- 

 lently ; the sleepers were startled from their repose, 

 and proceeded downstairs with poker and tongs, to 

 intercept, as they thought, the predatory movements 

 of some burglar ; but they were equally surprised to 

 find that the bell was rung by Pussy, who frequently 

 repeated the act whenever she wished to get out of 

 the parlor." 



Perhaps the most remarkable instance of this kind 

 is the one credited to Every Other Saturday : — 



" A cat in a monastery knew that there was never 

 dinner to be had until the bell had been twice rung. 

 She always answered the bell promptly, but one day 

 when, at noon, the welcome chime was heard, she 



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