Evening star., 1904-02-02
RAISING PERSIAN CATS
WOMEN FIND THE INDUSTRY
PLEASANT.
Many Fine Catteries in England-Per-
slams and Angoras the Two
Valuable Species.
From the New York Evening Post.

From the New York Evening Post
The cult of the cat is a recent thing in
America, but in England fine cats are rails
ed by wealthy amateurs and for sport. and
by many others for profit. For some time
the Maine cat farms have fourished, and of
late the rearing of these animals for sale
has been established on q better and more
professional basis in many parts of the
country. Women owning country and SUI
burban homes find cat raising pleasant and
profita BILE. The business is one that may be
begun on very small scale or a tolerably
large one, as the disposition and purse of
the individual dictates. Until the subject
has been thoroughly studied. and the physi-
cal and mental nature of the cat is well
understood common sense indicates that
the cattery be kept small
There really is a great deal to learn about
cats. The varieties of commercially valua-
bic cats are few but questions of color and
other points must be carefully considered.
On them depend the value of a cat, which,
being purely ornamental, has only these
things to be presented in Its favor. Prac-
tfcally, the long-haired cat, the Persian and
the Angora, are the only two that are raised
for profit. In essentials these cats are one
and the same. the difference being in the
texture of the coats. They come from the
high mountain places of Turkey and the
cold tablelands of Central Asia. In Turkey
the cats are called Angoras; those brought
from Asia are called Persian. Cat fanciers
usually speak of both as Persian, especially
in this country. where 1t is the preoccupa-
ton of breeders to eliminate the Maine
'Angora" strain. The Maine cat is not
pure breed, the original stock brought into
the state by rowing seamen, having become
decidedly mixed until now they form a
species of their own. the name coon cat
seeming to describe them appropriately.
They have long noses and shaggy coats,
as we'll as other Objectionable points be-
longing exclusively to short-haired cats.
Some beautiful cats are bred in Maine but
they are exceptions and are valueless for
breeding purposes.
From Persia.
The Persian cat is an exquisite little ami
nal The commonest color in Persia is
white. and perfect white cats with sap
phire blue eyes are highly przed the world
over Rarer than these are orange silver,
tortofseshell and black. deep blush gray
called chinchilla, another called smoke and
marked brown known as brown tabby are
commercially valuable. Solid colors are
valued above mixed. and the color of the
eyes has much to do with the price of the
cat. An orange cat should have orange
eyes; black cats may have either green or
yellow. while the value of a white cat with
amber eyes Is much less than another with
blue. The coats of wel-bred Persians are
exceedingly heavy and long, the silky fur
forming an immense frill around the neck,
SO voluminous that adoring mistresses often
have to provide feeding bibs for their pets.
The head is short and the jewel-like eyes
wide apart, large and full of intelligence.
The tail is a brush sometimes measuring
more than ten inches across. Persian kit
tens are charming little puff balls, more
lively and playful than ordinary kits, while
the grown eats are far more amiable, in
telligent and companionable than the ple-
beian animal whose home is commonly the
70 II n q
ing as he can, and whose disposition and
manners have become matters of heredity.
Most of the choice cats in America are
from English catterieS, which are recruit
ed from Persia and Turkey. These English
cats are usually perfectly reliable stock,
the sporting instinct of the Briton being
even larger than his commercial sense.
Many of the catteries are owned by women
of wealth. who have no interest in their
pets aside from the desire to win cups and
prizes, and who would not own, much less
SELL inferior specimens
Price of Cats.
1t costs something like $5 to bring cat
across the Atlantic, and there is no duty on
pedigreed animals brought into the country
for breeding purposes. The price of young
cats from the best stock ranges from S. to
$40 in England but exceptional cats often
bring much higher prices. There is no
telling what would be asked for perfect
Diack PERSIAN WltHOul SiuSic WHitc
It is hardly probable that such rare ami
NAL exists out of Persia, If indeed 1t exists
there Prices in this country are in some-
what chaotic state. While there are not
many perfectly reliable catteries in Amer
lea, it is quite possible to buy fine animals
here. The amateur should avoid advertise
ments, but should seek the advice of expert
judges, who will be able to direct her to
the right dealers There are plenty Of cat
clubs in the country, and they are often
valuable sources of information. although
1T must, be owned that expert cat know1-
edge is extremely rare even in the cat clubs