Year: 1874

There are very many anecdotes told OF
horses, dogs and birds, but very few about
cats; and as this is hardly fair to the cat
creation, the following instances at least
deserve mention: There is certain
truckman at present residing on Second
Avenue. near Ffty-eigEth street, who owns
cat with some very uncatable peculiari-
ties. She is Malta, and about three years
old. Her feature of attraction is the man.
ner in which she greets every person that
enters her owners abode. No dog, on
the return of a long absent master, could
appear more joyful or frisk and caper
about with greater agility than this extra
ordinary cat on the appearance of visi-
tor. Ii her dancing and frisking about do
not at once attract their attention, she
gives a succession of calls peculiar to her
kind, that are certain to have the desired
effect. These strange actions and cries
she generally keeps up for ten or fifteen
minutes and then quietly retires to her
place under the stove. Her owners say
that she differs in no other way from the
generality of cats, but that she will leave
her dinner or her kittens on the appear
ance of. a stranger, and never cease until
to her thinking the rather noisy welcome
is complete. And should twelve different
persons call in one day, twelve times
would pussy go through her peculiar
greeting. Among other "queer cats" that
have come under the writer's notice, was
an Isle of Wight or tailless cat. Dick. as
he was called, was not only afflicted with
an extremely sensitive disposition, but
with the faculty of expressing his feelings
in his face. He never had been what is
termed a sociable cat, no one save his
master ever venturing further than to
gently stroke his back, and not even from
him would Dick put up with much.


One morning before breakfast his mas
ter ordered him, rather Grossly, from the
hearth-rug; and his own description of the
look that Dick gave him in return, as he
slowly retired from the room, was that it
haunted him for days after. Some time
after this he again had occasion to scold
the cat, and he disappeared for more
than week and presented most defect
ed and forlorn appearance on his return.
A month later the same gentleman, OH
entering his breakfast-room perceived Dick
with his paws on the table and his whis-
kers in the milk, for which he gave him a
box on the ear. Dick, unlike cats when
caught stealing, slowly walked from the
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his master long, reproachful look, walk
ed out of the house and towards the woods
and was never again seen or heard of.
Another New England cat, known as
Debby, formed lifelong attachment to
canary bird, and at one time actually
fought and chased away another cat that
was meditating the bird for dinner. In
crcdulous persons were allowed to place
the bird-cage on the floor, with no other
company than Debby, and watch the pro-
ceedings from chink in the door. She
would generally sit down by the cage as
if on guard, but never in any way modest
her helpless little companion. Another
cat in the neighborhood used to annoy her
mistress by constantly catching pigeons,
young chickens and birds, and bringing
them directly to her feet. No matter ii
she were receiveing roomful of company
puss, with peculiar purr of satisfaction,
would lay her prey before the lady and
there leave it. Another of the feline tribe
with wonderful persistence, followed be-
meath his owners carriage, after the man.
ner of the Danish carriage-do9. This cat
would never be touched by any one but
his master, and by whom he was taught a
number of little tricks N. Y. Mail.