Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-02-17
MALTESE AND ANGORA.
Something About Sort of Pets that Many
Ladies' Prefer to Small Dogs.

SIS it possible" asked a reporter,
taking the place of dogs as ladies' pets?
1t is said that in Washington ladies go
out shopping taking with them Maltese
cats fastened with gilt chains to their
girdles.'
..Well, don't know whether cats
will ever supplant dogs in the affections
of the ladies'" laughingly replied Sur
geon B. G. Dovey. as he sat in his Of
flee at No. 26 West Fourth street, in
front of a door marked Private, :"
where both dogs and cats were for sale
and under medical and surgical treat
ment; ''but there is no doubt that the
Maltese and Angora cats have become
great favorites. Still, there is no great
er demand for the former than there
was three years ago. The Angora cat
has probably increased in popular fa-
vor, and now, on any fine day one may
see ladies driving in Central park with
the beautiful creatures in their laps.
The Maltese, too, are often taken for q
drive, and both they and the Angoras
seem to enjoy the fresh air fully as
much as their mistresses do. No, cats
are not often taken out walking A
cat is not fond of long walks where
trere are no fences to climb, and dogs
may be encountered. but the lazy lux
ury of a carriage seems to suit them.
The Maltese and Angora cats are very
docile and affettionate. The Maltese,
probably, can be more easily and thor
oughly domesticated than any other of
the feline tribe. They are less expen-
sive than the peerless Angora, but still
they come pretty high. l can sell a
full-grown male for about S12, and
male kittens for from SS to SO each.
The females are cheaper, being worth
about 81 each. A we'll grown Maltese
cat should weigh about twelve pounds.
They are long-lived, and, if properly
treated, should attain score of years.
A perfect Maltese cat should be alto
gether slate-colored. without particle
of white. Most of them have six toes
and very large feet, but they may be
pure-bred and have small feet and only
five toes. They came originally from
the island of Malta, but to-day Amer
lea, or even New York state, produces
more Maltese cats than Malta does.
The Maltese cats, as rule, are
hardy, but they are usually kept SO
closely confined to the house, and often
feed so injudiciously, that they are
liable to get Indigestion, torpid liver,
and fits. When the fits appear death
is likely to be close behind. They are
brought to me often when there is no
time to treat them. Sometimes l am
called upon to attend a cat afflicted
with what the owner thinks is an abb
cess, or tumor, but which frequently
proves to be cancer. Nothing then
can help them except an operation, but
if the disease has not made very great
progress can generally operate sue
cessfully. With dogs cancer is much
more common, and often have to re-
move it. Sometimes use ether, some
times not, as the circumstances require;
but can save life far more frequently
than surgeons who treat human pa
tients.
"a litter of Maltese kittens numbers
from three to seven. They grow quick
ly. and are very playful and interesting.
The Angora cat is as different as possi-
BILE from the Maltese. My wife takes
exclusive charge of our stock. and is as
devoted to them as though they were
children. The Angora came, and
comes yet, from Persia, but we raise a
good many in this country. They are
of various colors-pure white, black,
white and black, yellow and white,
gray and white, steel and white, and
all are alike beautiful.
Their hair is very abundant, long, fine,
and soft as silk. Their tails are as
bushy as those of foxes. Their ears
are small and far apart, and their eyes
are large, sagacious, and of a light |
olive color. They live from twenty-five
to thirty years. In price they average,
for male kittens $40, and for full-grown
males 1925; for female kittens S25, and |
for ful-grown females $50. The An
CORA cat is, think, the handsomest
small animal that lives. IN Y. Sun.