The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-06-24
NOVEL HOME FOR CATS.
QUEER OCCUPATION OF MRS. BoR-
RIs WHO LIvES NEAR BOSTON.

Boarders-Her Institution is Patron
lied by Eigh-cless People.
From the Chicago MaiI.
In a small, somewhat secluded one-storv
cottage in West Roxbury. a short distance
from the Highland railroad station, there
lives an artist whose wife has gained con-
siderable note as Cat fancier.
Mrs. Boris is a very bright, intelligent
looking little woman, with certain peculiar
/ ;ties which make her very attractive and
interesting. She speaks English fairly
we'll. and claims to be the only one In this
state who makes a speciality of ''cat farm
ing"
Mrs. Boris was born in East Prussia.
about half a century ago. Her husband
achieved great success in Germany as a
| landscape painter. About seven years ago
| Mr.. and Mrs. Boris decided co come to
| america. They first settled in Washington
/ After two years they came to Boston. AS
| the artist could not accustom himself to the
| noise and bastle of the city, small tract of
| land was purchased in West Roxbury, unon
which they built this French
rooted, one--story cottage. It
was planned by Mrs Boris
and contains two studios, one on either side
of the single staircase, which are lighted by
two immense skylights inserted in the roof
In one of these studios the artist spends his
time when not at work in the little garden
attached to the cottage, while his wife is
occupied in feeding and tending her large
family of cats In the evening Mrs. Boris
works in her studio, oftentimes modelling
CLAY and terra Gotta far into the night.
When the writer inquired how she first
conceived the idea Of STARTING such a domi-
| Gle for cats Mrs. Boris explained that from
earliest childhood she was fondly attached
| to all kinds of animals, especially cats, and
on the farm where she was brought I'D WAS
| continually surrounded by them and was
never so happy as when studying their
. habits and peculiarities.
1t was at first a mere fancy. pleasure to
| have them about and to pet them, they
we're so intelligent, affectionate and quiet
| but having received several good offers for
the few she had, and as it often happens
that parties going away for the summer, or
TO Europe, are at a loss to know what to do
with these domestic pets, she conceived the
| idea Of establishing such a place, where
people who wish to have their cats properly
treated and cared for during their absence
can send them.
DO many people send their cats out here
to board?'
Yes, indeed, ;" was the reply; ''some Of
| the richest people In Boston and Brookline.
They come out here in carriages / have
| boarded one here for year Il is 10 years
/ old. The lady who owns it cannot take care
. Of it at present. and, not wishing to part
with it, pays lie 50 month for its board.
During the summer when people go
away to the seashore or mountains and can
not take their pets with them, they send
them out here and l see that they are prop
! erly cared for.
Large rooms are devoted to the exclusive
use of such cats as are placed in my charge.
Each one has its own box, and each one be-
comes after time SO well acquainted with
its own little domicile, as it were. that it
goes naturally to it without intrusion on its
companions"
Under Mrs Boris care the most skittish
cat becomes quite tame in a little while.
Kindness and attention to a dumb ami
NAL produce the best effect, and it is by
this MEANS" said Mrs. Boris, "that get
my pets under full subsection"
When Mrs. Boris arranged her plans she
did so with the intention of having every
conTeniencs for her large family Of cats,
and at some distance from the house there
tract OF Enclosed ground where the cats
and kittens are allowed to play, and which
Mrs Boris calls her "cat yard
Leading to this is peculiar arrangement
IKE large spout, or tunnel, which runs
from one Of the basement rooms to the yard.
pass In and out of the house, staying in the
house or taking an outing in the cat yard, as
they feel inclined. This device, Mrs. Boris
explained, was adopted to prevent any of
her cats, some of which were strange to the
place and boarders, from straying away.
Mrs Boris Is evidently very fond and
proud Of her cats, and takes great delight in
showing her different breeds of Angora,
Persia, coon and Maltese cats, although
at the present time she says they are not
seen TO the best advantage, as they are
shedding their fur for a lighter coat.
In large box, partially filed with hay,
we're seen some Of the tiniest Angora kit
tens, with soft white fur and the bluest
eyes you ever did see. These are valued at
from - to $40 each. But the Angora, she
SAD, are not so rare as the Persian. The
latter are distinguished by their soft, fluffy
fur and and bushy tail, which resembles
somewhat squirrels tail, and often meas
ures hive inches across. These are valued
at from $40 to SIS.
She showed with much pride very hand
some coon" cat, conspicuous by its shaggy
coat OF stuff. wiry hair, which could not be
Dougnt for money. It was purchased in
New York and had most remarkable ped
lgree. The parents Of this cat were valued
at $f00.
Maltese and other more comm On cats were
seen running about. They sell for So aud
50 each.
In speaking of the intelligence which
some cats developed, Mrs. Boris told
tne following story about poor little kit
zen shat she picked up out of the gutter in
germany, and which she called Peter. He
was trained to all sorts of tricks. and seemed
him,
When leaving her home in Germany she
could not leave her little Peter behind, she
I3Ved him SO dearly. She brought him to
"ashington, and for time he was very
SAD and dull, but when their baggage ar
rived Peter seemed to recognize the familiar
pieces of furniture, and when his favorite
rug was unfolded was simply wild with de-
hg9t. How he stroked, and purred and
Ioiieo on It'll 1t was truly touching to
watch him
Mrs, Boris, whose experience with cats
mas certainly been a large one, tells the
writer that they develop as many different
TRAITS and peculiarities as people, but she
uoes not attribute any particular traits to
certain breeds.
lne cat farm appears to be well patron
IIeo. Orders and inquiries concerning cats
are received by Mrs. Boris from Brook
Iyn, New York city, Philadelphia, from
varlous places in Massachusetts, and even
from Maine.
Through her care Mrs. Boris claims to
nav, nave made some very dear friends. She is
Tying to interest people in this mat
vol, and she has hopes some day to establish
nome for stray and homeless cats in con-