Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-24
This and That

Recent reports show the large NUM-
Der Of pet dogs and cats deserted
in Washington during the Summse
by indifferent owners who go %
their annual vacations.
Even those who take their pets
with them are faced by quite a prob
lem. We have heard Of two cases
this Summer, one Of cat that es-
capped from its owners car. and Of
another that had to be turned loose
in the woods, owing to the intense
fright of the animal.
The cat, particularly, it seems to
us, is in bad case that Is left behind
by family that really never cared
for it.
If it is picked up by a friend cf
cats, it is good radiance Of a bad
family, Of course. Those who treat
animals cruelty never think Of the
matter from that standpoint.
Yet many a good cat might look
after the departing family. as 1t
laughingly rides away to leave the
pet to starve, and say in his best
cat tones:
"Good.by! I'm glad I see the last
Of you! You allow your brat to curl
my whiskers and pull my tail. You
gave me only the worst sort Of skim
milk to eat, and precious little OF
that. Now, as soon as / get rid Of
my fieas, too. I'll be all right"
The cat that comes wandering to
your door in the evening or early
in the morning may be one Of these
homeless fellows, turned out to shift
for himself, after he had been fooled
into believing that some one would
take care of him.
Keep a pan Of water on your back
porch, so that these wanderers Of
the alleys may have something to
drink during hot weather.
Set out a saucer OF milk each eve.
ming. The chances are 10 to 1 that
some perfectly well fed house pet
may drink it, but you have fulfilled
your duty to the homeless.
The question of water is a large
one for dogs, cats and birds in Sum-
mer. Sometimes. during one Of the
heated spells, water is as hard for
an animal to find as a free ticket to
the big fight was for human being.
A pan of water on the back steps
or in nook Of the garden, will be
welcomed by the four-footed providers.
who will return thanks In a few
assorted purrs.
If the householder has any left
over meat, he need not put 1t into
the garbage can, but merely place
1t. before he goes to bed, on the
back walk.
The chances are that within half
an hour 1t will be gone. The scent
thing. as is this faculty among all
animals. 1t is the popular belief
that the cat finds its way home by
its sense Of smell. Others advocate
some sort Of radio ability on the part
OF these animals.
Our belief is that the cat Is com.
pletely lost IL 1t gets too far away
from home, varying with the ind:
Wdual animal, Of course, but that II
It happens to get within what might
be termed its radius, 1t readily
smells" its way home from thar
point. This would account for the
cats that do not get back, as we'll
as for those who do. ..,
A* y +
A bit of catnip. sprinkled at the
alley gate, will not be wasted, either.
We tried this experiment the other
evening, Jack Spratt having turned
up his white nose at our Offering.
It was not five minutes before q
large white.and.yellow cat had dis
covered the herb. There was only
a very small amount Of 1t, not more
than two teaspoonfuls, but the big
fellow smelled it, all right.
Too, he put up a standard cat
rolling over and over.
and in other ways manifesting his
with the gift Of the alley.
We. as the little tin god Of this
performance, got our share Of salts
faction. too.