The daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Ind. Ter. [Okla.]) 1898-1902, 1902-01-03
CATS AS NIGHT wATcHMEN.
Toms and Tabbfes Thus Employed by
the Principal Governments
of the World.

~~-~
world acknowledge the business abil-
Sy of cats by placing under their
surveillance the unused mail sacks
and grain bags belonging to the diff
ferent departments.
The maintenance of an army of
"cats who catch the rats that gnaw
the sacks that hold the material that
the governments prize" is duly re-
corded by the United States post Of
fee, the imperial printing Office Of
France, the government Office in Eng
land and the municipality of Vienna.
The last named department is more
mindful of duty toward animals
than the others; for, after years of
active service. the cats are placed on
the retired list" with a comfortable
pension.
However, when litter of fluffy kit
tens duly arrives at Uncle Sans post
office the local postmaster informs
the district superintendent of the
fact, and an increase is allowed in
cat rations.
In France the local staff is fed
twice a day, and man is employed
to look after these business cats, so
that milk and cats meat may be pro-
yided to fill any deficiency that may
arrive when rats and mice fail to fill
the larder.
Many large establishments, like the
Midland Railway company, of Eng
land, dockyards, shipping and storing
houses and public offices employ cats
for similar service. At one time the
Midland company placed between
100000 and 100000 empty corn sacks
under the care of eight cats during
the storage season, and they did
their work successfully; while an ad-
Joining storehouse suffered the en-
tire loss of their corn bags through
the rayages of rats. However, it can
hardly be maintained that all the
business cats are Toms, nor that the
present cat fad originated through
an angle of utility; or that any of
the eastern or western cities have
Incorporated catteries in order to
find employment for the erstwhile
unemployed cat. For such is not the
case; merely the fashionable world
set its seal of approval upon the fe-
line family and now well conduct
ed cattery, wherein are reared idle
tabbies, is n source of considerable
income, with but little outlay or
trouble. Two rows of kennels in a
sunny rear garden, joined overhead I
by wire netting, and thus inclosing
a runway or playground, which may
be furnished with old trunks Of trees,
ladders and boxes, over which the
cats may climb, constitute a conven-
LEM caftcry. The male eats are kent
IN CLOSED confinement for the ~e""c
~ Ine nelgnDornoou, ana are oniy an
lowed TO exchange courtesies with
each other through wire netting,
while the mothers and kittens enjoy
the runway and are only put in their
kennels at night.
Their natural food is raw meat,
but now and then they require
change, such as boiled asparagus
stems, cabbage, lettuce, or some other
either cooked or fresh.
Some cats can be taught TO eat al
most anything, while others, all
their lives will refuse to eat anything
but meat or milk.
Very peculiar prices were paid for
ordinary cats 1000 years ago, as
shown in Berwicb's "Quadrupeds."
The price of a kitten was one penny,
until proof could be had of its hav-
Ing caught a mouse; then two pence;
after that it was rated at four
pence, which was a great sum in
those days. 1t was likewise required
TO have good hearing and seeing, /
have whole claws. and if a female,
be good nurse. If, after being sold,
Il failed in any of these qualities the
seller forfeited one-third of the price. |
II anyone should steal or kin a cat
hat guarded the kings granary
|Hoel the Good, king of Wales,) he
was either to forfeit a milch eve,
ler fleece and lamb, or as much
wheat as when poured on the cat sus-
pended by its feet-its head touch
ng the floor-would form a heap Z
ligh enough to cover the tips of its
eet.
vAGARIES OF FASHION.