Omaha daily bee., 1899-03-05
PROFESSIONAL CAT-wASHER.
Novel and Profitable Business Man.
nRed by u New York Woman.

v h"t ~
aged by II New York Woman.
She is a young girl, not yet 1S, aud gave
the following account of her work:
You won't have any trouble about SPELL
ing my name; it's Smith-Virginia Smith.
l have always been especially fond of cats
and had a lot of 'em as pets since l was a
baby. My mother died ten years ago and
my father died last year. l being the Oldest,
there are two younger than me, and there
being no money to fall back on, l knew
had to earn a irving or starve. l started
out to hunt work in an office. l tramped
for a week without getting so much as a
promise, so you may guess how discouraged
| was when Sunday came. But as there was
nothing else to do l took my two younger
sisters-ore is 10 and the other IL years old
for a walk in the park.
During our walk we saw a cat being
taken for an airing in a doll carriage by a
s~tylishly dressed maid. 1t was a fine An
CORA, but about the dirtiest white cat l ever
saw. 1t hadn't been very we'll it seems and
not being allowed out of doors to roll on the
grass, had no means of keeping Itself clean.
| knew at once what was the matter and |
said to the girl:
why don't you wash that cat? 1t would
get well very much quicker and be a different
looking animal
"She said the cat fought so that no one
dared tub it. Well. l had a little chat with
the girl while / was petting pussy and
learned the name and address of her mis-
tress. The next morning bright and early
| rang that door befl and sent up my card
to the mistress. When she came down l ex-
planned my circumstances and asked per-
mission to wash the cat. She was astonished,
but granted my request and paid me we'll
for it.
That was the beginning; now / have as
many engagements as I can attend to. l
go to the homes of my Clients | call them,
and give them a bath and rubbing down
once every two weeks. That is often enough
for a healthy cat. I know it is generally
believed that cats keep themselves clean,
but 1t is like a great many other things
generally believed, it is a mistake, for
there is the greatest difference in the world
between the fur of a cat allowed to care
for its own coat and one receiving the
proper attention. 1t is longer, finer, more
glossy and ten times more soft.
Il always use three waters, in a vessel
plenty large enough to immerse the cat,
all three baths comfortably warm. In the
first water / put a few drops of ammonia,
then taking the cat in my lap on my rubber
apron thoroughly soap her all over with any
good soap. Then | put her in the water and
give her bath number one. From that l
give her rinsings in two clear baths, the
water of both about the same temperature
as the first. If she is strong | rub her dry,
pet her a little and turn her loose. But il
she is delicate or quite young l not only rub
her dry, but give her a saucer of warm
milk and then put her in her basket and
cover her up for a nap. OF course since
taking this up as a means of earning my
own and my sisters living l have informed
myself thoroughly on the subject; that is,
| have learned all about cats, their habits
and their ailments, so whenever l have a
sick cat or a puny cat they don't have to
go to a doctor.
Perhaps you will be interested to know
that at the recent cat show every New York
cat, with one exception, that received a
prize or honorable mention was a client
of mine."'