The Cat Mammals 
her children. She seemed to comprehend that I, 
although larger than she, was an infant. She tried 
to give me milk from her own breasts, and later 
brought me half-killed mice and placed them entic- 
ingly near my hands in my cradle when I was put to 
sleep on the piazza. Whenever I cried she came to 
me and tried to comfort me, during the first nine 
years of my life, which was as long as she lived. 
Even now I can remember how great a comfort she 
was to me when naughtiness was the cause of my 
weeping, and when therefore I felt that the whole 
world except Jenny was against me. Jenny opened 
all of the doors in the old farm house from the thumb- 
piece side. She leaped up and thrust one front leg 
through the handle, thus supporting her weight while 
she pressed down on the thumb-piece with the other 
front foot. I remember our guests were greatly 
astonished at seeing her come thus swinging into the 
room on the door. Jenny was very polite, and 
always thanked us with a mew when we opened the 
door to let her in or out. 
HOME 
The cat is very sensitive to treatment, and 
responds to good care; if we wish a cat as areal pet 
we must provide it the comforts of a home. A 
special sleeping place should be given; this may con- 
sist of a box or a basket, in which should be placed a 
bed of soft straw or hay, with disinfected sawdust 
sprinkled on the bottom of the box; this bed should 
be changed as often as is needed. A bit of carpet ora 
cushion may be used for bedding, but this needs to be 
frequently cleaned, or it may become infested with 
fleas. The bed should be placed in a warm and pro- 
tected situation; cats should not be put out of doors 
25 
