Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1874-06-24
Chr FREEMAN
For the Freeman.
Cats and Birds.

strov she hawks and cats which prey upon
these birds. The hawks drive the birds
from the forests and mountains into vii
Iaoes and about farm houses, into the claws
and laws of cats, which are kept for no
potent reason, except as pets; unless it be
10 catch few mice when birds are not to
be had.
We are on all sides beset with bugs,
swarms of insects, and whole armies of
worms. which are devouring currants, de-
stroving our cabbages, plumbs, apples, &c,
till the most reckless of us fear that if
something new is not advised or devised,
a famine viii be upon us in earnest.
What do we do to avert this impending
evil? Why we raise more cats every year,
and now " winter twelve cats to one hog,
throughout the state, and keep more cats
than sheep in many towns, and cats are
largely on the increase. In some of the
larger towns in the state, we - winte"
more cats than we do of sheep and hogs
I do not understand the cat raising ma
MIA. unless it is that people wish to show
their fnndness for animals, and take the
worst specimens whereon TO bestow their
flvoritism, Just rs some ladies have been
known to do, when they have bestowed their
choicest favors on the greatest "rakes "
and wretches, out OF Jail.
Keeping pets that are vicious by nature
Is no evidence of amiability of DISPOSE
ton \ man who keeps serpents OF alli-
gators does not claim this; but a man who
keeps a pet bird killing cat, whose nature
and instincts are as vicious as any snake
OF alligator, lays claim to large humanity,
or amiabiltv. 1t is true that . man may
keep an alligator or boa constructor, as a
curiosity, and be genial hearted fellow; ;
but to keep the same because he loves the
reptiles. is as bud rs to keep bird-killing
eat
When it is discovered what kind Of pets
are in the animal creation, kept by an in
dividual, there is no risk in giving or stat
ING The disposition, humanity and charac-
ter of the owner, by his or her pets; and
YOU run no risk \ good person in charge
of savage pet will become hardened and
love the pet, or will become disguised and
leave the pet-sell it or kill it.
\ man who Is cruel and malignent does
not love harmless birds, music and flowers.
He would much rather have a fierce bull
doc. with short tail. and his ears cropped
short and an alligator, bear, and bird
killing cat. These would " chaw up .
something. and suit his nature.
No one, unless he is Il close observer,
can have any definite idea or estimate of
the number of cats now kept in Vermont.
4 careful examination will show that there
is in this state over one-third as many cats
as persons. One then will amount to, say
10000 cats. the cost of keeping each cat,
on low estimate, will amount to three
cents per day. this in year will amount
to S1O.95, amounting for the the whole
number of cats to 81, ,204, 800. This sum
expended in flour at so per barrel, will
buy 12O,450 barrels In this estimate
nothing Is set down for the damage to the
birds. which indirectly is far greater than
the cost of keeping these cats.
Now. admitting that cats should be kept
there should be some legal redress ans
way of preventing cats from going a
large off the premises of the owner, from
the 1st Of May to the lst of November, eacl
wear. under certain fines and penalties
so that he who wishes birds on his prem
i,es NAV not be compelled to witness then
destruction by his neighborS' mischievou:
eats. Certain other animals are restrained
from going ut large, and why not restrain
the most cruel domestic animal we have
Some animals may be kept for use and a!
pets, whose presence is not communicating
but the reverse. For instance, the dog
which is capable of exhibiting gratitude
and Friendships; has Il splepdid memory
will fght for its owner, and fight all enc
mics of man; has courage and will no
desert and run away us Il cat will Mt tn
sight of danger; will love its owner il
life. and in death is often the most, and il
it, master or mistress leaves behind, Will
a eat has no more affection or gratitud
than an alligator, and when the master o
mister dies the most affectionate pussy
in existence will eat the corpse of its bene
ftctor. if left where this feline can get q
it.
| have written the foregoing to call ut
ten.ion to the depreciation of cats upol
birds and start the question Of relic
which all good people will second an
discuss, for birds are almost us defense
less against the cats as our fruit tree
are against the various kinds of cater
pillars which infest and prey upon tn
same, and which our people are too stupit
thoughtless, or shiftless to relieve from
Some legislation is called for in this dc
partment, because a man may destroy a
the worms nest " on his trees, and b
may be overrun by caterpillars from h
lazy hdoent neighbours trees. This trus
ing 10 blind chance, or throwing ourselvt
mioIently upon Providence, will not pre-
tect the birds and kill caterpillars.
\ man who truly loves the good an
beautiful and is willing to protect his d.
Iehseless friends, will not betray the tru
mat his Creator designed he should di
charge PHILo AyIrM.
CastietOn, June Is, 1874.
Mr.. Emerson, like Socrates, prefers