CAT. 
32$ 
tlie appearance of attachment ; and it may easjly 
be perceived, by its timid approaches, and side- 
long' looks', that it either dreads its master, or dis- 
trusts his kindness ; different from the dog* whose 
caresses are sincere, the cat is assiduous rather for 
its own pleasure, than to please ; and often gains 
confidence, only to abuse it. The form of its 
body, and its temperament, correspond with its dis- 
position ; active, cleanly, delicate, and voluptu- 
ous, it loves its ease, and seeks the softest cushions 
to lie on. Many of its habits, however, are ra- 
ther the consequences of its formation, than the 
result of any perverseness in its disposition ; it is 
timid and mistrustful, because its body is weak, 
and its skin tender ; a blow hurts it infinitely more 
than it does a dog, whose hide is thick, and body 
muscular ; the long fur in which the cat is clothed, 
entirely diguises its shape, which, if seen naked, 
is long, feeble, and slender ; it is not to be won- 
dered, therefore, that it appears much more fearful 
of chastisement than the dog, and often flies, even 
when no correction is intended. Being also the 
native of the warmer climates, it chooses the softest 
feed to lie on, which is always the warmest. 
“ The cat goes with young fifty-six days, and sel- 
dom brings forth above five or six at a time. The 
female usually hides the place of her retreat from 
the male, who is often found to devour her kittens. 
She feeds them for some weeks with her milk, and 
whatever small animal she can take by surprize, 
ac customing them betimes to rapine. They live 
to about the age of ten years ; and, during that 
period, they are extremely vivacious, suffering to 
be worried a long time before they die. 
The young kittens are very playful and amu- 
sing; hut their sport soon turns into malice, and 
they, from the beginning, show a disposition to 
cruelty ; they often look wistfully towards the 
