Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-16
CATS IN PACE OF CATTLE

cat farm! This will certainly strike
most people as Govel industry.
Few, probably, are aware that such an
establishment is in successful operation in
one of the suburbs of Boston, and Is paying
large dividends to those interested in the
venture. 1t bears the euphonious title of
Walnut Ridge Farm.
The cat fad is rapidly spreading in this
country. In France it is the basis of a
very profitable industry, having been car
ried on for two or three centuries; indeed,
the French have long supplied the markets
OF the world with the tiniest specimens of
cats Of the lons-haired variety, although
England Is more famous as a general mar
ket. Numerous exhibitions have been held
In Crystal Palace, London, in which roy
atty, as well as the workir classes. have
shown these beautiful pets. The fever has
now reached our own shores, and the pub
lie have been treated to several cat shows.
Profitable Cat Farm.
owing to the growing demand, the Wal
nut Ridge establishment has its hands full
In supplying the orders which pour in
every day, and the breeding of the animal
promises to become general. Exactly 1,150
cats OF various ages were shipped from
lOo month, or more than three day.
The amount received for the consignments
rooted nearly $2O,OUo and this year the
business is expected to increase at least
" per cent. Just as in other fads, fashions
cnanse In regard to the breed of cats, and
Ansoras are now the rage. This variety,
being comparatively rare has attained a
correspondingly high position in the es-
TEEN OF those able to afford such luxuries;
society demands thoroughbred animals
L ais country has been a little backward in
introducing the Angora, and until recently
they have not been within the reach of the
pubic Not only was the cost Of importing
them very considerable, but the risk in
Cured in bringing the animal to this eli
mate was great. But now they have be-
come very hardy here. 1t IS said that their
ana that In every way the American An
CORA Is a superlative animal.
The Angora.
The Angora cat as it's name indicates
comes from Angora. in western Asa-a
province which Is also celebrated for its
lonS-haired goat. This breed is in high ia
vor with the Turks and Armenians, the
best commanding great price. The prime
points OF excellence are a small head, with
nose not too long; large, full eyes of a
color In harmony with that of its fur; ears
rather large and pointed, with tuft of
halr at the apex-the size not showing, as
they are deeply set in the long hair on the
forehead; very full flowing name about
the head and neck. This latter should not
be short: neither should the body, which
should be graceful and elegant and COW
cred with silky hair with slight mix ture
Of woollness In this it differs from the
Persian cat In texture the hair should be
as fine as possible and not so woolIy as
that OF the Russian cat; the legs of mod
crate length; the tail long, curving upward
slightly toward the end, the hair very
long at the base and less toward the
tip. The colors OF these cats are quite
varied. pure white. with blue eyes, being
regarded as perfection.
Angora cats are very playful and make
delightful pets, as they are very intell-
gent. There Is something surprisingly
aristocratic and imposing in their appear
| ance. In feeding the kittens particular at
| tention must be given to have the food
clean and wholesome; warm milk and oat-
| meal Is what should be given principally,
though cats can be fed on NEST anything
that is good.
OF the Angora cat there are more than
eight varieties: solid black, solid yellow,
solid gray. solid white. black and white.
yellow and white. maltese, tortoise-shell,
and various mixed colors-indeed. prettily
marked mixed ones seem to be in the great
est deman1. The prices vary, ranging as
follows: The best full grown. male or fe-
male. $40 to $25: second, $ to $40: kittens,
to $40 each, either sex. The solid colors
are much more expensive than the mixed,
YET many prefer the latter.
Hall or the AngoraS raised now are not
strictly thoroughbreds; there are scarcely
twenty breeders in this country who have
the fine imported stock 10 raise kittens
from.
Other FavOrite Breeds.
However, 1t must not be supposed that
Angoras alone have the call on public ia
vor. The Persian cat is also very popular
1t differs from the Angora chiefly in that
its tail is larger. and the hair fuller and
coarser at the end. The eyes should be
large. full and round, with a soft express
sion. The Persian is longer in body than
the Ansora, and apparently more strongly
made; yet slender and elegant, and exceed
iEgly graceful in all it's movements The
colors comprise almost every tint obtain
able in cats.
Another popular variety is the Russian
The principal charac teristics are the I'M
usually large body and relatively short
all like the common short-legged cat. The
Tabby cat is chiefly remarkable on ac-
count of the variety of colors in its coat
The name "tabby' has reference to its pc
culiar markings, being derived from a
word meaning ribbed silk. The Abyssin-
ian cat is included in the tabby variety
1t is believed that this breed is identical
with the Egyptian cat, which was wor-
SHIPPED so many centuries ago. and the
mummieS of which are so numerous
The Manx cat is a curious creature. 1t
lacks that appendage which enables its
brothers TO alight upon tl.eir feet no mat
ter from what distance they may be
dropped. In other words, it has no tail
the best breeds none at all, and even the
less aristocratic not enough to measure
OF an inch on the tape line. The creature
l r11