Iuka reporter. (Iuka, Miss.) 1888-1894, 1892-12-22
CONCERNING CATS.
PUSSY'S PLACE AMONG DODfEs
TIC ANIMALS.
Why Cats Are Invalunble-Used as
Ciocks-Attachment For Other
Animals-Cat Shows-Deaf
and Tailless Cats.

i IS probable, says the Washington
SIR, that railways in this country
would find it we'll worth while to
6 keep cats at their principal stations
for the protection of perishable freight
against rats and mice. People who are
given to running down the feline tribe
DO not realize how valuable the pussies
are to mankind. In truth they are in.
dlspensable. Were it not for cats
rodent foes would overrun all houses.
buildings and cultivated land. Tnev
are invaluable to farmers, protecting the
poultry yards and guarding the crops
against vermin, which would otherwise
devour the fresh-sown seed in the fields
and eat the grain before 1t was ripe for
harvest.
The Chinese utilize cats az clocks.
They say that the pupils of their ewes
grow steadily narrower until 10 noon.
when they are like fine hair lines, grad
ually dilating after that hour. When
Chinaman wants to know what time it
IS he picks up a cat and finds out.
There is an old story of surgeon con-
fined for debt in the Fleet prison of
London, who only escaped starvation by
employing skillful tabby to catch mice
for his food. Notwithstanding the ac.
cusation of selhshness brought against
them, cats are very alfectionate animals,
usually attaching themselves to one per-
son in preference to all Others.
Cats often become very much attached
to dogs, horses, and even cows. They
will sometimes rear young rats, rabbits.
squirrels, puppies, hedgehogs and pig.
cons. There is record OF an instance
where two cats were broug hit up by
female dog. A cat has heen known to
make friends with a sitting hen and to
help keep the young chicks warm by
permitting them to creep under her.
The fact has yet to be realized that the
cat shares with the dog one instinct TO
protect its masters property. A cat
properly trained will not touch tame
rabbits, though it kills and brings home
wild ones, and its appetite for birds
pauses at tho domestic chickens and
duckiings, Pussies are used for very
peculiar kind Of sport in Belgium, where
they are tied up in sacks and let loose
simultaneously, the one that gets home
first winning a prize. 1t is recorded
that in one such cat race the prize was
won by blind cat.
The cat shows frequently held in Ear.
land have done much to develop popu.
lar interest in cats. Finely bred ami
mails command at present very high
prices. The various breeds are as we'll
recognized and the points for Judging
them as carefully determined as with
dogs. There is q. standing offer now Of
ZOO guineas for male tortoise shell.
Oddly enough, tortoise shell cats seem
always to be females. At all events only
one male Of that kind has thus far been
known Of in England. 1t should be
borne IN mind tnat this relates to the
sort OF tortoise shell that is black, red
and yellow in patches, with no white.
Within the last few years new breed
Of cats has been imported into Earope.
1t is the royal cat Of Siam. For centurie,
past the only pure stock Of this variety
has been kept confined to the palace Of
the Siamese king and the most Jealous
care has been taken to prevent any
specimens from beng carried away.
Nevertheless q few have been obtained,
though with great difficulty. These
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