The times., 1897-04-25
TRAINED CATS.
Washington Pussies in the Treasury
Department and Elsewhere.

anu ff1iSt.W HtTBs
You do not hear of trained cats MS often
as you do of trained dogs, but cats may
become very accomplished If the proper
trouble is taken with tlern-~They are as
easy to teach as dogs, and while they do
not acquire such variety OF tricks, some
of them are exceedingly intelligent and
amusing. The feline nature IL inclined to
sluggishness and prefers sleeping 20 learn
ing, and he who attempts to teach them
requires an unusual amount of patience.
One of the most difficult things to teach
cat is To follow like dog. AS rule,
they Will not follow, but occasionally
there is an exception. A New York lady
has had cat that trails SO closely after
her as to be almost stepped upon. The chief
clerk of the State Department at Washing
ton has a cat with the same accomplish
ment. He has owned { for seven or eight
years. 1t will follow him about the streets
for miles, just like dog, and is excessively
fond of going out for walk, providing
it's master selects evenings for his mean
derings.
In daylight it prefers not to go on those
rambles, evidently because it does not like
to come in contact with small boys and
streets of Washington. 1t has often been
observed that cats really care nothing for
master ora mistress, but becomd attached
TO place and not TO persons. Not so
with this particular cat, for at one time,
when its owner changed his residence, he
purposely left the cat with his friends who
occupied the house be had vacated, huI
the cat was not satisfied until it found
where the new house was, and took up Is
abode there with evident delight at find
ing its old friend and protector.
In the Treasury Department at Wash
ington there is one very wonderful cat
His name is Tom, and when addressed
he VIII quickly respond, even waking
out of a sound sleep to go toward the
speaker Sometimes TO confuse him, the
clerks will sing out some word, or words,
in which the syllable Tom is emphasized,
and to that he pays no attention. But let
anyon e call, tom, it's dinner time!" and
forthwith he walks the roon, reaches vi
mis- paws to a tin pail. claws it down, and
comes bringing it in his mouth. Tom is
passionately fond of music. At the cry
of Hand organ." he climbs to high
window seat, but at the words, Here's
dog!" he sinks un der desk.
One OF the most accomplished cats in
England belongs to Lady Randolph
Churchill 1t is Maltese Angora, with
out spot. and with particularly cum
ming face. The cat was bought for the
late Lord Randolph Churchill during that
Year or two when his strong mind failed
and every effort was made to amtise
him. He was afraid of dogs. taking
sudden terror at sight of them, but Miss
Angora just pleased him. She was sent
him from India by an officer in that
country who had taken her parents three
years before. Her mother had been a
watch cat, able to keep guard over Il
tent, miaouing if strange step came.
and, OF course, her children were very
bright. When this Churchill cat was tola
to ''go play the piano, she would imme-
diately walk back and forth upon tn
keys of the baby grandgin the benduir.
Now, sit for your picture, meant to as
sumo demure position. with her paws in
line, her tail neatly curled around them
and her head nicely bent ou one side, as
If trying to .'look pleasant r0ur Animal
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