The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-09
EVERY CAT HASITS
PECUL|AR|T|ES
Famous Cat Artist Tells
Some Amusing Stories
MU SICAL FELINES
Insist on Joining in Music-A Cat
Comedian-Siamese Cats Are the
Most Intelligent in the
World, He Says
MUSICAL FELINE S

From Tit Bits.
Yes said Louis Vain, the famous
cat artist, as he stroked fine pet Per-
sian, "one cannot draw and study cats
for 20 years without meeting some quaint
animals. Merry cats, melancholy cats,
mystic cats, felines of all climes, old
maids pets, mousers of rare merit and
others of doubtful courage, cats with con-
certed voices. and others who preferred
meat to music--I have met them all. Every
cat has Its pecuiarities."
And when Mr.. Vain stopped down to
pull the ears of one of his three Japanese
spaniels--hls iilseparable companions. Fol-
lowing my glance, he remarked:
Puss and the Piano
Generally speaking, cats have keen
appreciation of music. and l have come
across several felines who invariably lift
ed up their voices when someone began
to sing or play the plano. One of these
musical cats, belonging to a friend of
mine, proved veritable nuisance for If
turned out OF the room because 1t persist
ed In joining in the music, it would stand
outside the door and continue the chorus.
On the other hand. l once had a cat who.
Immediately it heard music. turned tail
and fed, refusing to return until the music
had finished. Curously enough. this cat
delighted to hear dog bark, and would
invariably accompany the barking with
me-ows of delight.
."One of the funniest cats I ever had
was an ordinary tabby, which stayed with
me about nine years. 1t was a cat of
squares and angles--a cubist cat, in fact,
which seemed to be a perpetual contor-
tionist. 1t would twist it's tail in o knot,
shrug it's shoulders like a Frenchman,
give you the glad eye or giddy wink in no
uncertain manner-indeed every move
ment seemed to be a trick. l used to
watch this animal for hours, and in the
end came to the conclusion that it was
a born comedian. 1t moved in jerks. 1t
would walk a few steps, screw up its
tail, shut one eye, do one or two steps OF
something strongly resembling a cake
walk, and then look at you with a what
do-you-t think of-that kind of air. He was
a gem of feines. and | often wondered,
as he went through this pantomime, which
he did sometimes two or three times
day, what was at the back of his mind.
Tail Signals
Equally amusing were the actions of
tabby l had some years ago, who used to
mako movements with its tail identical to
those of a flag signaller. At first did
not take much notice of its extraordinary
movements, but one day volunteer
friend of mine called and happened to see
the cat wagging its tail in this curious
fashion. %tsf
. Good gracious.' he said. He's signal
ing!' And my friend amused himself for
hours trying TO make Out the messages
which he was convinced were being con-
veyed by the wagging stail,2 sf's3
Commenting on other characteristics of
the cat, Mr.. Vain observed that combi-
nation of humor and artfulness IL often
to be found in one animal. "Stamese
cats" he said, ''are perhaps the most in
tellgent in the world. They do not meow
like other cats, but have a weird 'yowl.
which is very disturbing. l had one of
them which, at certain seaside place,
discovered he could frighten people. When
they heard him they thought he was a
puma or something of the kind. He used
to go to the dining room window occasion
ally and make the most terrifying noises,
and one day alarmed the diners to such
an extent that they cleared out of the
room leaving the Siamese free to get upon
the table and work his wicked will among
the viands.
The Mystery of the Chicken
''Some time ago I had Siamese cat
which was an incorrigible thief. One
day the animal stole a cooked chicken
from the larder, and took it to the top
of tree at the bottom of the garden.
The mystery OF that chicken puzzled us
for several days We could not trace it |
anywhere, and at last suspicion fell upon
my little terrier. for he was discovered |
once or twice munching chicken bones in |
odd corners. We followed him about and |
endeavored to track the chicken, thinking
that he had buried it somewhere in the |
garden. AT last we discovered it through
finding one or two bones at the bottom
OF a bush. The artful Samese had hid |
den the chicken very cunningly between
the branches of the bush; but whether
it dropped the bones with the idea of |
fixing the guilt on his canine friend 1t is
difficult to say. l should not be sur
prised, however, If that was the case
Anyhow, that Siamese was walking about |
for days with the smile that wouldn't
come off on his face, while the terrier
himself exhibited his tongue as though
seeking more chicken bones"
The majority of readers are doubtless
familiar with Mr.. Wain's drawings of
comical cats, and his Annual" which |
las been published every year since 1901, |
always contains rare feast OF feline
funniosities.
MIR. VAIN has frequently been called |
upon to act as judge at cat shows, and |
he tells story of how one year a !
canary and cat show were held stimuli |
-taneously at the Crystal Palace. One of |
the Gates got loose and went into the !
canary show; but he did not stay there |
long, for the noise made by the canaries.
particularly the tufted Belgians, SO terri
fled him that he bolted. One canary at
time was enough for him.
Mr., Vain also mentioned the curious
fact that when, twenty years ago. the
first cat show was held at the Crystal
Palace, it was found on the opening day
that they were very short of entries. AS
a matter of fact, there were only about
80 entries altogether and the organizers
were at their wits end to know what to
do in order to make a good show. Sud-
denly a bright idea struck the manager.
and he got a number of his assistants
10 hunt up all the cats from the cellars
and underground passages of the Palace.
By this means he managed to increase
The number to about $50; and this little
inc,6enf was really the origin Of the work.
mems classes which are feature Of cat
SHOWS today.