Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1897-05-21
SOME TRAINED CATS.
Clever Accomplishment of Some Fe-
line Pets


line Pets.
You do not hear of trained cats as
often as you do of trained dogs, says
our Animal Friends, but cats may be-
come very accomplished if the proper
trouble is taken with them. There 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 is inclined to sluggishness, and
prefers sleeping to learning, 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
a rule, they will not follow, but oc-
casionally there is an exception. a
New York lady has cat that trails
so close after her as to be almost
stepped upon. The chief clerk of
state department at Washington has
q cat with the same accomplishment.
He has owned it 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, provided its master selects even
ings for his meanderings. In day
light it prefers not to go on these ram
bles, evidently because it does not
like to come in contact with small
boys and dogs, which are then too
numerous on the streets of Washing
ton. 1t has often been observed that
cats really care nothing for a master
or a mistress, but become attached to
a place, and not to persons. Not so
with this particular cat; for, at one
time, when its owner changed his resi-
dence, he purposely left the cat with
his friends who occupied the house
he had vacated; but the cat was not |
satisfied until it found where the new
house was, and took up its abode there
with evident delight at finding its
old friend and protector.
In the treasury department at
Washington there is one very wonder
full cat. His name is Tom, and when |
addressed he will 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, OF words, in which the syl-
liable Tom is emphasized, and to that
he pays no attention. But let anyone
call: "Tom, it's dinner timep' and
forthwith he walks across the room,
reaches up his paws to the tin pail,
claws it down, and comes bringing it
in his mouth. Tom is passionately
fond of music. At the cry of ''Hand
organP' he climbs to high window
seat, but at the words: "Here's
dogp he sinks under desk.
One of the most accomplished cats
in England belongs to Lady Randolph
Churchill. 1t is a Maltese Angora,
spot, and with a particularly
cunning 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 amuse him. He was
afraid of dogs, taking a sudden ter
ror at sight of them, but Miss Angora
just pleased him. She was sent from
India by an officer in that country
who had taken her parents there
years before. Her mother had been
4 watch cat, able to keep guard over
4 tent, miaouing if strange step
came, and, of course, her children
were very bright. When this Church
j cat was told to go play the piano."
she would Immediately walk back
and forth upon the keys of the baby
grand in the boudoir. "Now, sit for
your picturep meant to assume a
tenure position, with her paws in
line, her tail neatly curled around
hem and her head nicely bent on one
side. as if trying to '"look pleasant" i