The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-02-28

ARE CAT SHOWS BARBAROUSy
We have received the following sugges-
tive communication:
To ruE EDITOR OF The NEWS:
siR-it seems high time that tho barbarity
OF a cat show should be Understood and APP
preciated. and We very sorry to SEQ one
advertised % he held in this city.
Those who know the nature OF cats realize
that they are especially sensitiveiy organized,
and suffer more than most animals when
taken 10 n strenge place away from their
homes and from the people TO whom they
accustomed.
They not only suffer greatly from fright
but from tho confinement necessary TO such
an exhibition. We hope that those who have
pet cats will consider this view OF the matter
and that efforts to discourage such exhibi.
tions VIII be made by all who appreciate these
gentle and beautiful FEATURES. X.
February q. 1890.
of course known TO us and to many peo-
pie in the community, and that 1t is not
signed to the note should not be taken to
mean that the writer has any fear of be-
coming personally identified with
crusade in behalf Of the cats. Courage
and liberality in good works are indeed
distinguishing characteristics OF our cor
respondent.
The "First Aunual Cat Show" is an
nounced to be held in Y. NJ. e. A. Ha I,
beginning next Wednesday. The manage
ment invites entries fro m everybody in
town who has a cat that may be thought
to be worth exhibiting. An entry fee is
charged, season tickets are furnished ex-
hibitors, and the management promises to
take good care of the animals contided to
it's charge. We have no reason to believe
that the best OF care OF the cats will not
be taken by the managers OF the show,
but the point raised by our correspondent
is not less worthy OF consideration by
humane persons. .
We are not ourselves so familiar with
the nature of cats as TO be able TO ex-
press an opinion in the matter that could
happen TO know, however, that our hu-
name correspondent is an authority on
whatever affects the interests of our do
nestle animals, cats included. For our
selves, w should accept whatever opin-
ion our correspondent might hold i'm
such matters just as we would accept the
view OF a competent attorney on point
of law or of an eminent physician in a mat
ter of our health. We have no doubt that
a great many cats are owned by persons
who, while they may give them large
place in their affections, do not really
know how to treat them or to care for
their interests. Cats suffer in this re-
spect just as do horses and dogs pun
children and grown up folks who may
have over them ignorant or regardless
master or mistress. We suppose it is
generally accepted truth that none of our
domestic animals is more dependent for
it's peace and happiness on the influence
and surroundings OF what 1t considers it's
home than is the cat. Aud our CORE
spoDdent is OF the opinion that whatever
the environment, end however conscien-
tious the care exercised for its comfort,
cat show can never be pleasant for the
cat.
We take it that no person who cares
anything for the animal that he or she
may possess would knowingly infict
cruelty upon it. Indeed we csnno
Imagine how anybody could willingly
cause pain to any living animal wheth it
possesses any place in the affections or not.
We never remember to have seen, hut one
cat show in this town ana as we recall
that exhibit, the rats displayed were
wha, may be termed professionals. They
had been trained for public display and
prize competition, and their lives were
probably largely passed in the exhibition
hall. 1t is not unlikely that they may
have become used To appearing In cages
tefore ths public, just as eels arc popu-
larly believed 10 grow accustomed to
skiDning
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