Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-01-11
MALTESE AND ANGORA.
About Pets Which Many Ladies' Prefer to
Small Dogs.
New York SUM-

Small Dogs
New York SUM-
"Is it posible," asked a reporter, that
Maltese and .,ther fancy cats are taking the
place Of dogs as ladies' petsl 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 Surgeon b. q. Doyey, as
be sat in his office, in front Of a door marked
Private" where both dogs and eats were
for sale and under medical and surgi-
cal treatment; but there is no doubt
that the Maltese and Angora cats have be-
come great favorites. Still, there is no
greater deruand for the former than there
was three years ago. The Angora cat has
probably increased in popular favor, and
now on any fine day one may see ladies driv-
ing in Central park with the beautiful crea-
lures in their laps. The Maltese are often
taken for drive. and both they and tn,
Anguras 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 there are no fences
to climb. and dogs may be encountered, but
the lazy luxury Of carriage seem to suit
them. The Maltese and Angora cats are
very docile and affectionats The Maltese,
probably, can be more easily and thoroughly
domssticated than any other of the feline
tribe. They are less expensive than the
peerless Angora, but still they come pretty
high. ssll a full-grown male for about Sl2
and male kittens for from IS to SO each.
The females are cheaper, being worth about
81 each. A well-grown Maltese cat should
weigh about twenty pounds They are long
lived, and, If properly treated, should attain
a score Of years. A perfect Maltese cat
should be altogether slate-colored, without a
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 America, or even New
York state, produces more Maltese cats than
Malta does
"The Maltese cats, as a rule, are hardy.
but they are usually kept so closely confined
to the house, and often fed 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 am called upon to
attend a cat afflicted with what the owner
frequently proves to be a cancer. Nothing
then can help them except an operation, but
il the disease has not made very great pro-
gress l can generally operate successfully.
With dogs cancer is much more common,
and often have to remove it Sometimes |
use ether, sometimes not, as the circum-
stances require; but l can save life far more
frequently than surgeons who treat human
patients.
"A litter Of Maltese kittens numbers from
three to seven. They grow quickly, and
are very playful and interesting. The An
CORA cat is as different as possible 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 q 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 mottled-but all
are alike beautiful Their hair is very
abundant, long, fine, and soft as silk. TheiI
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 kit.
tens $40, and for full-grown males $l25; for
female kittens SIS, and for full-grown fe-
males 800. The Angora ca: is, think, the
handsomest small animal that lives"