On the Life of a Domestic Cat. 



381 



Her recovery was not expected ; but she did recover, pro- 

 bably in consequence of the kind treatment which she re- 

 ceived, for she was a favourite in the family, up stairs as 

 well as down stairs. About a month after, a pistol bullet 

 came away from her mouth, and this explained (as we 

 thought) the wound which had been inflicted on her. 

 Although she was restored to health, yet the power of swal- 

 lowing was considerably impaired ; bones or other hard sub- 

 stances were apt to stick in her throat, and on several occa- 

 sions needed to be pulled away by forceps ; although she 

 ate as heartily as before, she had frequently fits of a choking 

 cough, which distressed her much. These latterly occurred 

 during sleep, and roused her up : when the fit was over she 

 went to sleep again. 



She gradually became thinner ; and as a proof of impaired 

 health, no longer kept her fur in the beautiful condition of 

 which she had been so careful. As another indication of 

 ill health, she showed a fretfulness very unusual to her 

 formerly, but very much like what is seen in invalids among 

 bipeds. She expressed dislike to her kitten, and on its 

 approach growled out her unmistakeable feelings. Soon 

 after, one or more oval swellings were observed in the 

 abdominal walls. I at first supposed them to be abscesses ; 

 but they gradually increased in size without becoming softer, 

 and it was evident that they were solid tumours. Her 

 breathing became affected, the respirations becoming as 

 frequent as 40 in the minute. This continued during all 

 the latter weeks of her life. She had cough, and the fits of 

 choking were more common. She did not refuse food, but 

 was capricious as to what she took. She came more fre- 

 quently up stairs, not so regularly at meals, but at other 

 times, as from a desire to receive help and sympathy. She lay 

 on a knee or lap, preferring it to a chair or rug. During all 

 this time her purring was constant. This is generally con- 

 sidered to be an expression of quiet enjoyment. It was 

 curious to notice it in this case, along with the hurried 

 breathing. She died .on 11th February 1866, having lived 

 13J years. 



