Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-12
This and That
Nv Charles E. Tracesoel

II has occurred to us that a great
deal Of fun might be secured by hiding
the cats meat an q household where
Tom or Tabby rules the roost.
We have not tried this experiment
on Jack Spratt. bur propose to do 50
at an early date with what results We
shall later detail.
In the meantime - suggest 20 those
having domestic cats hat such a pro-
cedure would banea the family pct,
as we'll as afford the 3nlly much !l1o-
cent amusement
Let us try 70 approach the subject
from the cats standpoint Being
carnivorous nocturnal animal the cat
in nature must hunt fer and bring
down his own food
He lives on mice "9nG such small
deer" as King Lear said, al Ci which
he secures by creeping upon il auG
then Sprlnging. in exactly the same
manner rs does his gigantic cousin. the
tigT of the Jungle
The domestic car is admirably adapt
ed for these tactics His sharp claws
may b. retracted leaving only velvet
pads. He has the ability to decelerats,
as the aut0mobIe manufacturers pGt
II. to a speed Of about one-tanth az a
mile an hour. and his acceieraticn Is
such that he car spring from a stand
still into flash az fur.
The house cats sense Of smell is ey~
ceedtnglv keen while its eyeSizht ID
marvelouslv adapted to night huutt~-
m "h.~h there 5 not an animal the+
grows that eXcslS him.
= =
Yet what does the average house est
encounter ia q good home. when he Is
SD fortunate as To md Sucha
lie soon discovers that the vefrigera-
tor. sort Of box with magic doors. is
illled with good things - aet
lie learns quickly enough r1lar n .ry~-
tam times OF day those doors will be
opened and that from them will issue
Such delicacies as round steak. veal,
ilver. SardlneS milk cream and any
other article of food a cat might desire.
He knows that few hearty meowS.
combined with q neat stand on one'S
hind legs. Will usually open those doors
even at irregular hours
lie comes TO realize that his ancient
duty. privilege and ability OF stalking
game Is somehow In the discard II
Is true the meat is too cold-ig lacks
warm blood So TASTY and glnc-buc
then there is more OF it. ana often {,
y good beef. great toodStutf which
the cat in nature never knows exists
Above all. the cat loses the sauce If
self requirement
When a fellow is ON his own, some
now the catch tastes better
ASK any small boy who roaStS pcya-
toes In the woods
To hunt and find ones game gives
one an appetite which somehow M
refrigerator can work gp no matter
how Well stocked IL may be
10 deprive the domestic ca. through
regularity Of feeding Of its ancient
heritage al seeking and catching lis
own food is To work jt some tujury
Just how much OF an injury We
don't pretend 90 know.
What We do know is that jack Spcagt
sets much more enjoyment out ~ a biz
81 meat he can steal from M The tae,e
than from any amount Of grub W.
carefully place before him
cats love Go be sly and ca got sonlr-
thins that they are not supposed -
nave. We Will never forget the SOCK
u real 10y On Jack Spgatt'S expressive
toangenance when he dragged 4 slab IL
cottage pudding to tine floor and com
sumcd 1t all
II is suggested here that return il
nature might he made ey hi0tus Ehe
evening meal at some point ia the
house and allowing the cat "a ind ii
Az first the meat ought 70 he placed
at point not too remote from the
usual hiding place A. the pet sat onto
Inc game the distance might D. An
creased
We believe that GhiS method af feed
ng would add 1eSt To the meal and het.
er Doth the ANIMALS digesglaa ana dis
position AS a result. hesitieS Offering the
'at~toVlng family ar appoFtunltv for D
n amusing experiment