The Cai Mammals 
CARE OF MOTHER AND KITTENS 
When the young are expected the mother should 
have a dark and quiet retreat. She should be 
given an open basket with a soft carpet in the bot- 
tom, and she should be supplied with all the milk 
she can drink. 
There are usually from two to five kittens born 
in a litter. They are blind and helpless at first. 
The mother takes excellent care of her kittens, 
feeding them and washing them, and giving them 
every attention. On the tenth day after birth, the 
kittens open their eyes, and soon clamber out of the 
basket, very happy and playful. They should be 
left with the mother from five to seven weeks, or 
until she tries to wean them. Sad experience awaits 
the kittens at this period when they try to get their 
accustomed dinner. Their mother growls at their 
approach, and cuffs their-ears energetically; so at 
this time we should take the mother away, and teach 
the kittens to lap sugared milk from a saucer. 
A little lime water added to the milk is beneficial. 
Soon we should begin to feed them three or four 
times a day, on bread and milk, porridge, and a little 
finely-minced cooked meat. The food should always 
be lukewarm when given them. A little later, 
boiled rice, brown bread and oatmeal with milk, 
and sometimes boiled vegetables may be given. 
Kittens need a soft bone to gnaw to keep their teeth 
sharp and clean. 
REFERENCES 
AMERICAN ANIMALS, Stone and Cram. 
Our Domestic ANIMALS, C. W. Burkett. 
ConcerRNING Cats, H. M. Winslow. 
“How a Cat Played Robinson Crusoe,” NzIcHBors Une 
Known, C. G. D. Roberts. 
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