New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-04-22
8ELEoTI0Ns FRoM THE MAIL
STORIES ABOUT ANIMALS.
PET CATS AND SOME or THEIR CLEVER Do1NeE
IAN ODD oAsE OF AFFECTION

SAc1tdLc AbOOI Anlhhj<O.
PET CATS AND SOME or THEIR CLEVER Do1Nes
IAN ODD CASE OF AFFECTION.
To the BdUor or rae Trt0WRG
Sir: Having read with great interest the stories
Of animals that have appeared from time to time IN
The Sunday Tribune, have ventured to write out
some OF my own experience with pet cats for your
columns. While / am .furthest from Wishing to de-
tract In the least from the reputation for Intelligence
which the dog has 80 long enjoyed, maintain that
cats arc also capable Of great development II at
hnton Is only paid 10 their training for without
teaching they frequently manifest an intelligence thar
Is we'll nigh human.
Nearly FIVE years ago, tortoise-sheii kitten' sew
eral months old and waif, was befriended by LADY
In this city and cared for until its mistress left town
for the summer. Puss then made hor homo In the
basement with the colored servant In August
went 10 the house to 1--we, but restrained my desire
to pet the cat indoors on account OF my canary.
When Ms. x returned for the winter. o second waif
a lean, communicating kitten made its appearance
and was adopted in the same way by the tender
hearted woman We called the newcomer smutty,'
on account Of an Irregular black spot its 1t
was white with an occasional black mark laid on
without any apparent regard to taste or system
Smutty7 though persstenty long and lean, In spite
Of generous feeding and kindest caro-, soon showed
signs Of native character and intelligence rarely
attributed to her kind, and she speedily won her
in of time presented with several kittens
ono OF which we allowed to I've Whom its pranks
and capers began to amuse U.S. II called scampo'
and It's mother who assumed very dignihed, mater
nal air, was dubbed Ole Mudder" the adjective ex-
pressing endeaymen rather than age as tho recipient
Of the name had lived bus year. little more.
"Smutty," about half that ago, adopted the gray
"scampo7 whom ITS eyes hardly open, and we
used to put the sprawlng little mite on tho floor
nm IN anXiefV 0iStnegg
smutty7 would invariably manifest hearing Its
pitiful cries Tho real mother seemed very willing
10 DO relieved Of the Of her offspring and whom
"Scampo" grew old enough to be independent OF Ole
Mudder" no and "Smutty" were nseparable com
panions and the feline household suffered division
in sympathy and daily sports.
The efforts Of "smutty7 to provide amusement for
her roguish companion furnished US with constant
diversion. Many time have seen her pushing
sticks and twigs into the house playthnBs for
"scampoS and she would often bring long wisps Of
straw from tho basement for the same purpose. II
was funny sight to 500 the end Of stick or straw
slowly pushed through tho crack Of a door Slightly
at the other end. II was her invaT1aoe custom 70
push all such things before her, instead Of taking
Ihcm In the middle by her teeth or dragging hen
aftor her. as would seem most natural. once inside
the room, abe would SIT down q1ietly ana wsch
as no played with her presents until no was urod,
when they would seek favorite refuge fos nap
q curious sight. smuity' had been In the yard for
some time and had Just brought in tiny little mouse.
which, instead Of eating herself she had presented 20
her adopted child for play thng. We watched ne
Kittens antics with the squeskng little victim, until
II CHANGED 10 escape the clutches Of It's torturc when
curfously enough both smuttya and "ole Mudder,'
who had been Interested spectators OF the scene;
Joined in the search for the little runaway, headed
ID OF and drove II back TO It's torInentor. AZ TWO
other times similar morse hunt was observed With
the result. - ,.
In tho carly summer tho two friends were carried
10 Maine by Mr. X. VITO had q little house quilt
expressly for their comfort IN which the long Journey
was safely made. There they romped In DO hehs
MRS KATIE
w..hJ,,tnn n q Aur1 n 1890