Evening star., 1947-08-28
This. and That
By Charles E. Trdce1UeH.

Finding home for kitten isn't all cream.
Take the Muggleys.
They had nice new kitten left over, and
wanted to give it to some one who would take
good care of it.
The Muggleys are that fond of cats.
Some one heard about it, and called up Yes,
the caller sad she had daughter who wanted
a nice pet. Oh, they were the incest people in
the world, she went on. Certainly they would
take the best care of the creature. (she called
It cree-chah.)
Were there any children? Oh, yes, two, but
the dearest children. The mother only re-
Gently was contemplating getting them dog,
but she decided that kitten would be better,
since it could climb tree and get away from
the children
Which naive statement let the cat out Of
the bag-for keeps.
There is. Of course, no good reason why
families with children shouldn't have cats and
kittens and puppy dogs too, but parents In
such cases should take time to supervise the
dogs-and children.
No small child can be supposed to know
enough to take the proper care of a baby dog,
for instance.
A kitten is even more difficult for youngster
to manage properly.
Constant squeezing, to which young children
subject Kittens is one Of the worst things
possible.
Dressing them in doll clothes, as so many
little girls are fond of doing is not so strenuous.
Riding the kitten in the doll carriage Is
enjoyed by many feline resident.
Even lipsticks, applied to the space between
the ears of cats, wears off in time. The same
can be said of nail polish put on the claws Of
terriers.
But what no puppy or kitten can stand is
the incessant wooling and poking and prodding
and handling which too often occurs.
All who take cat or dog for adoption should
realize the sooner the better, that both are
carnivorous animals
Dogs even young ones, should not be brought
up solely on cereals and vegetables any more
than kittens should be reared solely on pabu-
lum and milk
Each will do all right for time, but in the
end, sicken and die on such unrealistic fare.
Fresh raw red meat or fish, in moderation,
and according to breed and age. is necessity,
If the animal Is to live and grow properly.
The war years saw much mismanagement
In this respect. Pups and kittens came into
the world without the essential minerals and
vitamns and were thereafter fed on incom-
plete foods.
However incomplete the diets of human be-
ngs. the proper diets for the animals have been
studied and worked out for years. Any one,
taking on dog or cat can find books in which
complete diet charts are given for all ages
and breeds
The need for proteins is paramount, and
though the abused creature may live long
time when not given meat, he has poor coat.
catches diseases easily, lacking resistance, and
often comes to an untimely end.
Don't above all give dog or kitten bath
and then allow it to play out in the air, espe-
cially on cool days. Nothing could be more
criminal.
Do not permit dogs to whine and bark all day,
or to, do other things disliked by sensitive
people Remember that pet animals must be
liked to be happy. They are that sort OF
creatures.
little care, using the high l. @. of humanity,
will prevent the dog from chasing cars, barking
at inoffensive passersbv and eating out OF
garbage cans.
The small four legged animals have very
low intelligence uuotient; dependent upon man.
they must for their best care, have the support
of the owner in every way, and all the time,
not Just during the first hours Of novelty.