Evening star., 1948-05-24
This and That
BIZ Charles Z. Trace1DeH

Animals manage to hold that young look"
much longer than humans.
Out at the Zoo are creatures 10 years old
and more that cannot be told from specimens
2 years old.
Penny, the house cat, is more than 10. and
yet when photographs recently were taken of
this animal and four of her companions, rang
ing from to 4 years, which one took the
best picture?
You've guessed it-Penny, of course.
+** **
She is an odd cat
Owned as kitten by diplomat, who did
not wish to take her to Europe, she fell into
good hands.
AS far as known, she had never been out
doors until she was years old.
She would come to the screen door or perch
in the window, but never got the idea that
she could go farther.
She could see, with her large green eyes,
others of her kind on the porch, but that she
could join them never crossed her mind.
When the day came that Penny was at last
let out for turn in the yard how would she
act?
Very crazily, as might be expected.
1t is impossible for human to grasp such
a situation.
The odd grass beneath ones padded feet,
the waving shrubbery, the sudden and mighty
light, the strange sounds and above all the
peculiar smells.
Scores perhaps hundreds of odors, impinging
on the wrinkling cat nose for the very first
time.
1t was all very confusing, and Penny ran
like mad first one way, then another and re-
fused to be caught.
At last tired out, she came in The question
then was, should she be permitted out again?
Probably she would calm down, and act
better, the next time That was the decision
acted on.
1t worked out that way.
Instead of running wild through many
yards, she came to confine herself more to her
own, but never once paid any attention what
ever to birds or squirrels, or even a wild
rabbit.
These things did not exist for her.
In time, Penny began to show distaste for
going out, except for very brief periods.
Probably a dog had frightened her.
She came more and more to remain In the
limits of her own yard.
The attraction was a certain spot where
a very coarse grass grew.
AL cats need grass but not the ordinary
lawn grass. The intestinal medicine they
crave is one of the common coarser grasses
Cats confined to houses and stores should
have such grass brought in for them at least
twice week.
Penny likes her outdoor temperature at
least 10 degrees and commonly refuses to
leave the house in anything less.
Wind causes her to plaster her ears to her
head.
She still refuses to see birds, but recently
had her first experience with squirrel.
Evidently that bright sunny day she was
feeling more kittensome than usual. for when
she saw the squirrel at the bird feeding sta
ton, she stopped still in her tracks, eyes
On the rodent.
Would she chase it?
Penny settled that one by advancing de-
liberately, not creeping, but walking slowly
and steadily toward the squirrel
The bushy tailed one stood his ground He
was too busy eating sundower seed to give
way for an old cat.
Penny walked to within a foot of the
squirrel, and then stood there looking at him.
Her attitude was simply one of great interest
Her facial expression was Of wonder.
At this point, the squirrel decided that
discretion was better than valor. He leaped
for q nearby maele. leaving Penny to retire
at will. which she shortly did. Squirrels
bored her. She probably never viii look at
one again.