The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1892-01-13
WOMEN AND CATS.
Why Most Women Are Fond of Feline
Pets.

Women, young and old, yes from their
babyhood up. love eats, and when they
disclaim the soft impeachment, it arises
from an ingram superstition connect
ing the love of cats with old-maidism.
which last condition even the strong
minded of her sex would rather eschew.
But leaving that superstition out OF the
question, set down as fact that wom-
en- love cats, unless they have the acct
dental misfortune to have been born
with an aversion for the same, just as
they may have been born with cherry
on the nose or a patch of hair on the
check Cats have many traits in COM
mon with women, and are not to the
discredit of either the cat or the wom-
an. They are invariably loving moth
ers-more loving than dog mothers.
They are emphatically the friendly
companions of little children, who,
on their part, notice cat sooner than
any other animal. The cat, even
kitten, will bear even very rough treat
ment from children with invaria-
BILE patience, always seeming to under
stand that her little human playmate,
no matter how harsh it's treatment,
does not mean to hurt her. Cats have
a great deal Of curiosity-we are talk
ing of their traits in common with
woman-and especially does this feml-
nine trait lead them to notice and ex-
anime everything new about the house,
to poke their noses and their paws
into every closet and cuddy-yes, and
wardrobe and bureau drawer when OPP
portunity occurs, and they will watch
and wait for the opportunity. 1t is
purely curiosity and not slyness, which
prompts this close inspection, for cats
are not sly, nor are they thieves unless
driven by hunger to theft. Everybody
knows how cats love a warm corner
and quiet place, and being strongly
methodical they like to appropriate the
desirable place as their own. The cat
will search for such all over the house,
and if one is provided her and she is al
lowed to make it her own she is per-
fectly content, and shows her apprecia-
ton of civil rights by claiming it.
Cats show not only cleanliness but
vanity, and enjoy making their toilets
quite as much as do their mistresses.
They known when they are good look
Ing, and when once they have seen
their reflection in mirror will return
again and again to wash their faces,
lick their coats, turn their tails with
slow motion and otherwise pose before
the glass. Cats are not difficult to
train, indeed it is easy to teach them
habits of cleanliness by careful atten-
ton when they are young, and without
severity or scolding, which they great
| ly dislike. Like most domestic ami.
mails, they will do more from love than
from sense of fear. One single other
trait in common with women is very
observable in the pet cat; she is always
little jealous of the favor of those she
loves, though often she is imbued, too
with that pride which makes her seek
to conceal her jealousy. They have
also a timidity and shyness which is al
endearing trait whether in cats OF
women. Don't be afraid then, girls, t.
make pets of cats, for they will reward
you with love and please that sense o
aesthetic beauty which is most complete
when it has no useful or duty side t.
present. Louis Republic.