Daily Yellowstone journal., 1889-12-20
Friday. December 20, 1889.
ALL ABOUT CATS.
They Have Been the Pets Of Great Men,
but They Lack Appreciation.

They Have Been the Pets Of Great Men,
but They Lack Appreciation.
"A cat may look Mt a kirg"is an
old adage, yet il might have been car
rled much further, for they not only
may look but live with aud are loved
and pettea by many such exalted per-
sonage. Thus we find among the
cats stancheSt friends Louis XIII, Of
France. who at a very tender age in
tercedcd in their behalf on 81. Johns
day. Cardinal Richclieu found spare
time from his great political i~ntrigues
10 amuse himself with his kittens.
Mahomet possessed a cat named Muez.
"a, for which he entertained omuch
love aud solicitude as TO have on one
occasion the sleeve of his gown cut
off, upon which his cat was sleeping.
rather than disturb her.
Chateaubriand was a true lover of
cats. He had many, but most appre-
ciated one, Micetto, Il gift from the
pope. This cat became his constant
companion, and so close was their as.
ISOLATION rs TO cause NJ. de Chateau
BRAND TO lartakeof many qualities pc
cullar 10 his pet, which was To him q
source Cf great satisfaction. Mon
Grief am the poet Baudelaire we're
very great admirers of cats, and
brought upon themselves much ridi-
scule for their weakness.
The French Gen. Houdaille, after
leading his regiment to Metz, fastened
IN person to seek his eats and returned
with them TO his troops. We find in
Lord Chesterfield not only a warm
friend to the cat. but a remarkable
counterpart To- that animal in his
grace, elegance, soft winning WAYS
and %inSiuuating address. lie further
more left "a pension To his cats and
their offspring. Cardinal WOlSey's
cat remained by him even during his
business hours, and purrcd contently
at his feet, while in his judicial capac-
lty the lives and fortunes Of men
trembled in his grasp.
There Is o long. long list of such ex-
amples, extending down in multiplied
numbers TO the present time. Wher-
ever man roams he is followed by this
pet, high ard low. great and magnif-
cent. No home is complete without
one. They are the most Favored Of all
animals, and yet return this affection
the least.
Did you eyer contemplate a cat seri.
ously, turning over IN your mind that
strange combination Of good and bad,
commonplace and queer. that goes TO
make up that extraordinary animal!
For instance, note her independence,
her shallow affections; she loves to he
petted and carcssed, but cases are rare
where She displays any great concern
for the welfare of her master.
With the dog how different! His
Lore is deep rooted; he suffers blows.
but returns no defense. as does the cat
most promptly, he will fight and die
Tor his master. Not so with pussy; ii
could not think Of soiling It's dainty
paws on such vulgar business.
1t is those cunning, charming little
ways peculiar TO pussy which renders
her company 20 interesting. Always
ready for a romp, poking herpinkn nose
here and there, Investigating every
nook and Granny; such inquisitive-
nessl Bring her toa strange house,
she will be everywhere before the day
is done, smiling each crack and hole, |
crawling under furniture, Juggling at
tapestry, investigating closets, cud-
dies, cellar, garnet and every place.
The country cat is Obliged to earn
its livelihood and is made less of a pet
than its city cousin. Ii is nature Tor
the cat to forage ut night aud sleep ,
during the daytime; as Soon as dusk
falls 1t Is abroad. II in search of mice
kitty takes a position mean a mousehole
which her acute sense of smell assures
her is f%requented by her victims. Here
she will remain perfectly motionless
until a mouse pokes out its head. aud
promptly receives a settler from pus.
sy'spaw,
Mice are not the only prey. but all
small animals or birds fail into her
open jaws when convenient. Cats are
very fond of fish, but their dislike Of
water keeps them from fishing more,
though when pressed they are expert
fishers. The mode Of taking fish by
these animals is rather novel. They
slip quietly 10 the edge of a stream or
pool Of water, and ripple the water
gently with their paws, to attract the
attention Of the linny prey, which
comes 10 see what is going Oh and find
out 10 their sorrow.
Some very curious facts have been
discovered relating 20 the miauws, by
men who have patiently studied the
cat. There are TO be counted not less
than slxty.ivc, some Of them very ex-
pressiyc. They certainly have a very
satisfactory II Of conveying
their thoughts, and it seems too bad
that while they are 80 quick 10 under
stand our language we cannot COM
prehend theirs. II is also a~scertained
that the difference between the male
and female voice is very marked, and
that during courtship Tommy does all
the talking, Tom makes n very bad
father, however, and is very liable 10
devour his new born offspring. For
this reason the female hides her kittens
until they are large enough to run
around, when, on presenting them 10
their male parent, he seems quite hap
DIV 10 make their acquaintance st.