The daily critic., 1890-11-05
SOME Characteristics OF ONE
OF OUR DOMESTIC PETS.
HOW THEYUERE FORMERLY ESTEEMED
Like Many Persons, the Cat is Judged
Too Much by Comparison,
YET IT IS AN GFFECTIOgATE ANIMAL.
It's Kindness to It's Offspring How Il
Procutes It's Prey mot Traclabl8
or Ttachable.


Of q very ferocious character called by
naturalisjs fsiiao, which comprehends
the lion, the tiger, the lynx and various
other creatures of nature apparently
very different from this quiet domestic
animal The title fcllBo is taken from
the Latin name of the cat, folis, and
simply because this Is the most familiar
specimen Of the tribe The tribe Is
possessed of great muscular power
Joined to great lightness and agility,
having strong claws for selling and
sharp teeth for tearing and devouring
such creatures as fall into their clutches
The lion can. without the appearance
of effort, strike down man with one
Of its paws Being designed to ap
proaCh their prey in q stealthy manner
1cliHd have soft pads under their claws
which touch the ground gently; their
eyes are calculated 10 make the utmost
possible use of such light as they may
have, and their whiskers being fixed in
lips full of delicate nerves, inform them
Of everything that Is near them as they
prowl along their dusky paths. The
nature of telipp Is essentially cruel
They Kill far more animals. when uum
bers are In their power, than they have
any use for, and even the tame firesIc
cat takes pleasure in torturing its
victim before devouriuglt.
-.
a we'll known creature called the
wildcat, larger and of duskior color
than the tame one, exists In several
countries, and naturalists generally
represent the latter as descended from
II. The domestic cot. however, Is
probably distinct species, originating
In ancient Egypt, where no wild ones
are found. but where the tame one was
formerly held sacred, like the Ibis, ani
even honored with mummihC itiUn
There are many tradltionary tales aud
ancient laws 10 prove the estimation iu
which cats We're formerly held, at
time, perhaps when they were much
sCarCCr than now. 10 the tenth cen
turv llOel the Good, King of Wales,
fixed the price ~ q blind kitten az /
penny, and when itCluld see, aud when
proof could he given Of its having
caught a mouse, the price was raised tn
pence, hut after Il had established It's
powers Of mousing, It's value was In
creased 70 pence, which was no small
sum IN those days, The domestic cat Is
now abundanily diifused In almost all
civilized countries, and Is everywhere
found useful In keeping down the
breeds of other domestic animals. which
would otherwise be seriously mis-
chievous. II ls also esteemed by many
for IFS quiet, social character.
-.
In treating of the moral qualities Of
the cat. We are aware that We are touch
ing on debatable ground, says the
Philadelphia Leiger. While some
bestow upon poor puss all the epithets
Of iTeachery, cruelty and ingraiitude,
others, finding in its disposition kind
ness, gentleuess and playfulaess, are
warm in eulogies of their favoFlte Ia
fact, the character Of the cat Is judged
Of too much by comparison, and thus,
like many persons In the world, its
stock Of really good qualities Is thrown
into the background. aud all its bad
pIopensities magnihed. That the cat
has not the sagacity, approaching al
most 10 human reason, OF the dog-that
II has not his devoted affection. his
entire self control and patient sub
missiyeness under the rebuke OF his
masteT-is not 10 be denied, nor. from
its natural inherent habits, is Il 10 be
expected that il should have these
qualities 10 the same extent.
Yet puss Is not only the atfectiOnate
sbaTeT Of the clean and quiet hearth OF
the lonely Widog, but II will be found
quietly TepOsing on the silken covered
cushion In the b1Nd0iF Of the more
wealthy; and from the palace 10 the
cottage Il everywhere hnds rs patrons
10 whom its gamhOls aud It's faWuiugs
the beauty and the symmetry Of it
elegant figure aud It's graceful motion
are all circumstances Of recommends
tion In fact, Il Is bad usage alone tia
calls forth the savage prOpensilies
this feline domestic. with gentle aud
kind treatment il can be as gentle and
kind aud insinuating as auy other ami
NAL. II Is true even Ia its most dumes
ne state, Ii exhibits a native propensity
for prey and hence is derived its useful
cess: though fed with the most delicate
dainties, Il will sill prefer as a peculiar
deliCacy mouse caught by its oRa
pToWess and cunning, and It will revel
IN the quiyering flesh of the yet gasp
ing victim,
Sill, nothing can exceed the affection
Of the cat 10 those sho treat Il kindly.
This affection is expressed by rubbing
It's body close on the individual and By
The loud purring noise indicative Of It's
satisfaction II will not however. bear
10 be crossed aud though It returns
kindness by every expression IN It's
power, II is also prompt 20 relaliate on
The slightest opposition. Neither has Il
the perception Of The dog, 10 desisting
from any action when commanded % do
So Il sill persist in claWing food OIL
one plate. and has no hesitation 10
stealing whenever n can. Although the
cat can be made % perform some ael0ns
at DE command Of its master, such Is
leap.ug and other tricks, yet IL does So
always sith reluctance, and has hy no
means the Ieachable and perseyeriug
disposition Ell the dog.
z=
The cat Is fond of heat which seems
favorable b tbe idea Of rs having been
native Of Africa u likes 70 bask on
window sil,s exposed % lhe sun or on
safr hearth rugs before d gloSiug dre
and also % sink amidst the clothes Of q
bad ih which auy one Is sleeping Ca.-
ouIafiuz un tlis peegliarity Cf the AMI
mai iI Is said that The Prince 81 n a.ts
aileEHard George ~, once laid ben
With Dir Charles James Fox. as they
were proceeding home early 90 3 suu
Wer morning that he would meet more
cats ou one Side oI The >lranI ta4a his
friend would encounter au tha other
lie accordingly pramenaded lbl zlgly
-fle md while Nh Eos hardly f44aI