Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-11-27
other animals to make a living.

II other animals to make living. /
loticed that the cats the Snowman used
we're the fighting kind-square cats, we
all them In the trade. They have broad
aces, very short noses, and heavy, stocky
houlders, with plenty of muscles in their
lind legs. This was a hint, so l took
ouple Of square kittens which were gen.
rally on the still-hunt for trouble and
wrapped soft rags around their forepaws.
f course not understanding my game,
he rags worried them considerably for
while and they spent their time trying
0 get rid of them, as sensible animals
would. But in a short time they became
sed TO them, and when | held them up
" the scruff of the neck and faced them,
o they would have to knock against each
ther, 1t was no time before they were
triking and punching at each other as
ard as they could. Soon they were will
to go IT alone, and within two months
had as good a pair of boxers as ever
Id a mill.
THE Angora cats are very difficult TO
ain, although they are now In demand
nd bringing excellent prices. The white
ngora is especially stupid, and there Is
OF a brindle running about the back
snces and singing to the moon which
asn't more sense In a minute than 1t
as in a year. But, then, it is beautiful
} look at and makes a fine parlor or
iment, so i suppose IT will always be
,pular with those persons who so in
ore for feline show than they do for
line intellectual gifts.
Now, here is a cat whose character
at present the subject of some scien-
tic dispute, so / understand" says the
roprietor, as he produces peculiar
Oking animal from a topmost cage. 1t
unusually large, with coat of vary
lg light gray and dark gray stripes, has
long black nose, and a thick bushy
Ill, which is marked with alternating
ack and gray rings.
This is the coon-cat," continues the
roprietor land there are very few of
IS kind in New York. In West Virginia
nd some parts OF Pennsylvania there
re plenty of them, and, in fact. any
lace where raccoons and common cats
bound there should be a great many
)on-cats. But several scientific cat-men
ave come out and claimed that the COON
at is not a cross between the raccoon
I'd the car, but is a distinct species in
self Besides this, one fellow has gone
d the State somewhere to start a farm
IT the raising Of coon-cats, which, he
avs, are not coon-cats. The father or
is beauty was n raccOon, and L owned
i'm. His mother was a cat and she
so belonged TO me; so i have the docu-
ents to prove my case.
.Coon-cats are worth from s25 to $50
d account of their rarity. They can BE-
ught many tricks, for there Is nothing
the animal kingdom with more brains
IAN a coon, and the cross between the
on and cat seems to scoop in all the
entail attributes of both progenitors.
Are people willing 10 pay or trained
Tsorfaftalxf MANY WIN
)mes here TO get a medium priced cat
r his home becomes interested in the
otics and tricks of my expert stock
ad goes away with a high-priced puss
his basket. Not only that, many per-
ms have called in to price my monkeys
,hich j keep more because they are
itatiye and unconsciously inspire such
ats in the kittens), but / have become
ore impressed by the cats and have
ought them instead.
some of my Maltese stock i have
aimed as ratters, and they can give
lrds and spades to terrier dogs and
eat them at the game. l sell great
any Of them every month TO big ner-
mite houses which the verm!n have In
ted. Our prices? Anywhere from 81
} SIS for experts. Maltese cats trained
do tricks and parlor things como much
CHER.
Cats are the cleanest animals In the
Grid I can keep 100 OF them In the en-
orium without their becoming public
,uisance, such as one-tenth as many
ogs would be. They are clean about
heir eating, which certainly cannot be
aid of any dog that breathes. and under
a circumstances will permit their coats
! become soiled. Twice a month l wash
~ cats in luke-warm water-that 10. l
ave them washed, for 1t would not do
Or a trainer or handler who wants 70
etain their affections to put such punish
,snf unan them as II vatAr In anv shane