Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-11-27
THE DAILY RECORD UNION.
THE INTELLECTUAL CAT.

In the course of an animated discussion
in the columns of the Scotsman newspaper
on the subject of animal intelligence, sew
eral good cat stories were related. We
quote one OF two Of them here:
Some twenty-five years ago young lady
residing in the Crown and Anchor Lane,
Carlisle, while alone reading book by the
freside, fell asleep. She was suddenly
awakened by the cat-which had mounted
her back and was violently tearing her
hair-to discover that her clothes had
caught fire to such an extent that she mar
rowly escaped being burned to death.
The story which follows is striking ex-
ample OF affection in one of the lower ami
mails. "Kevin was not 3 years old when
j came to Scotland on the visit which closed
his career. lie had from kittenhood
shown an extraordinary affection for me.
When I went out, Kelvin accompanied me
to the hall.door, and as soon as it was
closed took up his station on the dining
room window sill, to watch me out of
sight. There, toe, | often found him
awaiting my return, and the moment | ap-
peared he would leave his perch and rush
to meet me at the door. Kelvin did not
approve of late morning hours, but gener-
ally came to awake me regularly at
o'clock. OF the other members of the fam
lily he was very fond, and as long as | was
at home was willing to take food or
caresses from any one of them. On my
departure, however, all was changed. No
persuasion could induce him to touch his
bestowed dainties. At first he took a little
milk, but soon refused that as we'll; and
he also gave up all care Of his personal ap-
pearance so that his usually spotless fur
became unkempt and dirty. Every day
Kelvin went to my room, and seating HIM
self on my bed, uttered a succession of
most piteous howls, which wTung the
hearts OF the entire household; but they
were unable to comfort him. This went
on till poor Kelvin was reduced to the skel-
eton Of his former self, and was nearly
dead for want of the food which his grief
would not allow him to take. One day
when his end was evidently near, he came
feebly in from the garden and walked up
to my room, as if with lingering hope
that might have returned. He glanced
round it, uttered despairing howl. and
fed from the house, which he never en-
tered again. This was the last time my
faithful cat was seen in life, and it is sup
posed he had dragged himself away to die
in solitude"
A lady in Norfolk writes as fellows
ave had cat that Away came to family
worship. Sheknew the bell, and would race
from the garden or yard to reach the door
ere it was closed, then take her place de-
murely on the hearthrug, and sit erect with
tail curled gracefully round her paws.
When her kitten was old enough to enjoy
the privilege, the mother made her come
too, and sit by her side in precisely the
same position, gravely reproving any IN
clination to play
We close our selection with the following
extraordinary instance of cat drowning
itself, the facts being vouched for by cor
respondent in Perthshire, who writes as
follows " l have never been able to find
a proper solution for the pithy saying,
Care killed a cat, but recently a circum-
stance occurred which may throw some
light upon the matter, and prove an inter-
esting addition to your anecdotes of ami
mails. Some of us a few days ago were
looking from club window which COM
mandsa fine view of the North Inch of Perth,
and We're struck by the cratic movements
OF large black cat. The creature was
wandering about upon the Inch in list
less and 1t seemed an almless fashion, sit
ting down now and then, and after brief
pause resuming its loiterings. Presently it
moved down the riverside towards the
bridge which spans the Tay, and we lost
sight of the animal and also of our specu-
lations. Next day, as l was crossing the
bridge, an acquaintance laid hold of me,
and told me that ne had something curious
to communicate in the way OF natural his
tory. During his constitutional, his at
tention was arrested by the figure of black
cat sitting upon heap Of stones, and
wearing an aspect Of the most strange de-
lection. Passing on, he turned round after
a little, and perceived the cat following
slowly in his track. Then it came close
up to him, gazed piteously in his face and
gave utterance to low wall of peculiar
anguish. Holding out his hand to the dis
tressed creature, he said, Poor Pussy
what's the matter with you?' It looked
at him steadily for moment, and then
descending to the river in silence, leapt in,
and keeping its whole body resolutely un-
der was drowned in two minutes without
one attempt to escape from its fate"