Concerning Diseases of Cats 



The process of spaying female cats should never be under- 

 taken by any but an experienced veterinary surgeon, and 

 even then there is much risk attending the operation, espe- 

 cially with Angoras and high-bred cats. 



If people would not allow the mother cat to keep so many 

 kittens, the problem of disposing of the extra cats afterward 

 would be much less formidable. It is perfectly easy to dis- 

 pose of new-born kittens. My cats always come to me when 

 they are about to give birth to kittens, and let me know 

 they want a bed prepared. The Pretty Lady, indeed, used 

 to insist on my remaining with her. Doubtless she got into 

 the habit because her first litter or two came while we were 

 boarding, when, rather than have her make any trouble, I 

 kept her in a closet and staid by. I let the mother keep 

 one, and select a male for that purpose. The others I im- 

 mediately do up in a soft old rag, with a piece of brick or 

 stone, and deposit them in a pail of warm (not hot) water. 

 Gentle Lucy Stone told me to warm the water, and thus 

 prevent a shock to the little things. By following this 

 method, and taking them soon after they are ushered into 

 this mortal world, a family of small kittens can be carried 

 into non-existence with no knowledge of the transition on 

 their own part. In this way the over-supply of cats can be 

 kept down, the one remaining kitten is well fed, and the 

 mother does not get dragged down into the distressingly 

 gaunt and dejected state too common to mothers of large 

 families of any kind. The Pretty Lady was always satisfied 

 when, having her second batch of spring or summer kittens, 

 we took them all away and substituted an older one, pro- 

 vided he had not outgrown the natural taste for lacteal 

 food. Once when the old Pomp had grown almost as big 



281 



