The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-09-07
REAR THOROUGHBRED
FELINES
WORTH HUNDRED OF DOLLARS
Tables Whose Value Is Set Down
at From $4,000 to $1,000
Each Are Exhibited at
the Shows.

FRANK Jay Gould has been paying from
5000 to $4,000 each for st. Bernard dogs,
and ]. Pierpont Morgan has been pur-
chasing Scotch colEes to the tune of
some $500 each, to say nothing of Rich
ard Cookers outlay of 5000 for single
homely bulldog, the members of the fair
sex have been inaugurating an era OF
high prices in an animal kingdom where
they are in supreme control. AS might
be expected, says the ST. Louis Globe
Democrat, these feminine enthusiasts
have chosen to pay homage at the court
of feline royalty, and thus we have aris-
tocrat1c Tables for prices mounting up
into hundreds of dollars.
The cats of high degree are divided into
two classes, the Persians and Angoras.
The difference between the two has been
a much-mooted question even among cat
fanciers, but, in reality, no very marked
points of disSimilarity exist. For. exhibit
ton purposes the blooded cats are clas-
sifed in two divisions, the long haired
and the short-haired cats. The latter
are taken to be distinct breeds of the
ordinary house cats, which are descended
from the Kaff1r or Egyptian cats. The
Siamese cats, which are distinct in color
and the texture of their coats, are the
kings of the short-haired tribe, although
they have rivals in the famous Russian
blue cats, also a. short-ha;red variety.
The long-haired cats as a rule repre-
sent a mixture of Angora, Persian Chi
nese and Indian blood, but in America
the name Angora is applied to all thor
oughbred long haired cats indiscrim-
inately, while in Great Braitain these
same cats are characterized as Persians.
Many cats are brought to this country
from India and Cashmere, and some
magnificent white cats with blue eyes
are imported from Thibet. In all these
cats, length and firmness Of fur Is the
chief attribute of beauty, and the one
most sought after by the breeders.
One of the myths of the feline world
is the so-called coon" cat, with thrill
ing tales regarding which small boys are
often RECALLED by their elders. The coon
cats are supposed to be natives of Maine
and to be the descendants of a cross be-
tween raceoon and a common cat, al
though the idea that it Is possible to
cross cat with a coon has been ex-
pioded by the best authorities time and
again STILL the alluring fable continues
to be perpetuaecd by people with a Limit
ed knowledge of cats. These same people
have evolved a fearful and wonderful
story regarding cross between cat and
rabbit having resulted in the evolution
OF the manx cat
The annual cat shows which have been
held of late years In New York city,
Rochester. Chicago and other cities have
done much to popularize princely cats as
pets for ladies in all parts of the country.
indeed, these displays have performed
quite as important missionary work. as
did the horse and chysanthemum shows
IN their palmiest days AT several of
these shows there have been on exhibit on
cats which cost from 81, eco to $1,000 each
The bright particular star of the feline
kingdom on this side of the Atlantic, how
ever, is found in Napoleon the Great
a magnificent cat owned by Mrs Charles
Weed, of Woodhaven, L. l., and valued
at 5000, Napoleon has such tremen-
dously long fur that 1t is necessary 10
Clip 1t frequently in order to prevent the
mass from hiding the cat from view en-
tfrely
One Of the most prominent cat fanciers
IN the country is Mrs. Clinton Locke. of
chicago, the president of the Beresford
Cat club, an organization made up Of
women who possess expensive Tables
Mrs. Locke was one of the first women
in America to import and breed long
haired cats, and now has in her kennels
large number Of noteworthy and VAL
uaole cats. Some idea of the estimate
placed upon the littel kittens which come
from Mrs. Locke's cat village may be i'm
agined from the fact that she recently
sold Royal Apollo a strikingly hand
some white cat, for $135. Ordinarily An
CORA or Persian Kittens If they be of the
Itllne arrstocracy sell for prices ranging
OF dogs, prices seldom attain as nigh an
altitude in this country as in ENGLAND
Where sales Of cats wherein the consider
alton range from several hundred dollars
10 several thousand dollars each are of no
tnfrequent occurrence
The breeding Of thoroughbred cats has
naturally received a tremendous hooro
since the development of the present fad.
just as has the raising of Belgian hsras
ana catterles are springing up in all parts
OF the land. 1t has been proven foo
that the thoroughbred cat can be made
a paying Investments fact which win
not be wondered at in view of the prices
Whlcn 1t has been recfted are being paid
for kittens. To indicate the extent of tha
demand for Persian and Angora pussfas
the fact may be cited that a breeder in
New England last year sold and Skinned
to various parts of the country more
than 5000 thoroughbred cats.
AS rule sales Of blooded cats are not
mace before the animals have attained
the age OF hfteen months, when the
taoby is presumed to have attained ahis
prime. OF course, these princely nets
must be affectionate and gentle. and so
the disposition of each Is trained in
youth as child's might be- Each
olmlnutive pussy also receives the at
tent1on OF an experienced cat doctor
and If 1t is found necessary to give noedi,
a
it known, should the obnoxious dose he
spilled upon the kittens wonderful furry
coat, not only will 1t not lick it off h11t
IN most cases the animal will act11allD
pine and die from the odor.
modern cattery, or cat kennels s,,ch
for instance, as that established at New,
port by Mrs. M. B. Thurston some years
ago, is a veritable revelation to one who
has been inclined to lightly estimate tre
value of the commonest of pets. There
| are cat houses divided into comnart.
ments for the various occupants and
long Enclosures of lawn, with partitions
of wire net where the favored members
of the cat family may exercise to their
hearts content, secure from the annoy.
ing attentions Of teasing dogs Each run
way is so or 60 feet in length. and prob
| ably dozen feet wide.
The Angora and Persian cats suffer 70,
more from heat than from cold. and CON
! sequently many precautions are taken To
| keep them as comfortable as noss;bla
The cat houses are marvels of comnle+e
ness There are shades on the tinv win
| dows, so that the delicate eyes of the
kittens may not be overtaxed and a
gymnasium Is even provided where the
! tiny balls of fur may tumble about and
exercise themselves during the period Of
kittenhood. There are several bath
| tubs for the cats at the big Newnor+
| cattery, and, despite the common i'm
preston that cats dislike water. MANY
of the felines have been taught to % to
! the tubs of their own accord. The cat
houses have piazzas, where the occu-
pants may sun themselves, and a hospital
chamber Is provided, although it is sell
dom needed. so excellent Is the care ex.
erctSed over the animals.
These artStocratic Tables fare well
| too. For breakfast they have minced