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A GOLDEN GUIDE
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GOLDEN NATURE GUIDES BIRDS TREES STARS
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MAMMALS
GAMEBIRDS
WEEDS
SPIDERS
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FLOWERS
SEASHORES
EXOTIC PLANTS
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INSECTS
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REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS
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SEASHELLS OF THE WORLD BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS
CATS
•
•
FISHES •
•
FOSSILS
ZOO ANIMALS
ROCKS AND MINERALS
NON-FLOWERING PLANTS
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INSECT PESTS
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ORCHIDS
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POND LIFE
GOLDEN SCIENCE GUIDES HEART FLYING
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BOTANY
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WEATHER
LANDFORMS
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FAMILIES OF BIRDS ECOLOGY
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INDIAN ARTS
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GEOLOGY
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LIGHT AND COLOR
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ZOOLOGY
OCEANOGRAPHY
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GOLDEN FIELD GUIDES BIRDS OF NORTH AMERICA SEASHELLS OF NORTH AMERICA TREES OF NORTH AMERICA NATIONAL PARKS OF THE WORLD
GOLDEN REGIONAL GUIDE THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS
GOLDEN HANDBOOKS WINES GUNS
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SAILING
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PHOTOGRAPHY
HORSES
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BICYCLING
CAMPING
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SCUBA DIVING
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FISHING
HENRY GASSER'S GUIDE TO PAINTING KITES
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CASINO GAMES
THE SKY OBSERVER'S GUIDE ANTIQUES
Golden, Golden Guide, and Golden Pressll>
are trademarks of Western Publishing Company, Inc.
by GEORGE S. FICHTER Illustrated by ARTHUR B. SINGER Under the general editors h i p of VERA R. WEBSTER
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GOLDEN
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NEW
YORK
Western Pu b l i s h i n g Company, I n c. Racine, Wisco n s i n
FOREWORD An o rd i n a ry g ra y c a t taught m e t o like cats . Unti l then, I had accepted them only as a n i m a l s that other people kept a s pets. For seven years this cat was s i lent. O ften we stud i ed each other intently but without rendering judgment. All the while, the cat mai nta i ned g reat reserve, perhaps sensing that she was i n a household that had bordered being a nti-cat. But with her q u i et grace, she won her way . I found myself becom ing a n a d m irer not o n l y of th i s parti c u l a r cat but a l so of all her kind a s the c l ever, c a l c u l a t i n g creatures that they are. Time softened the g ray c a t, too. Now s h e communi cates with q u iet mews that get her messages to m e . She h a s a n a l yzed m e unti l she knows exactly how to produce the performance that she wants . I respond to her de mands with a l most slavish w i l l ingness. T h i s cat, now part of my l ife for s l ightly over a de cade, observed the writing of this entire book. When I found pad marks on the m a n u script p i l e in the morning, I knew she had gone over the n i g h t ' s work with i n q u i s itive stares and sniffs. I h ave no idea whether she approved , but I do hope you find th i s book mea n i ngful and usefu l . I do regret that the cat did not get to see earlier the su perb i l l u strations by Arth u r S i nger. These s h e will s h a re with you .
G. S. F.
GOLDEN. GOLDEN .GUIDE. GOLDEN PRESS& ond GOLDENCRAFT ore trademarks of Western Publishing Company, Inc. Copyright @ 1973 by Western Publishing Company, Inc. All rights reserved, including rights
of reproduction and use in any form or by any means, including the making of copies by any photo process, or by any electronic or mechanical device, printed or written or oral, or recording for sound or visual reproduction or for use in any knowledge retrieval system or device, unleu permission in writing is obtained from the copyright proprietor. Produced in the U.S.A. Published by Golden Press, New York, N.Y. Library of Congress Catalog Cord Number: 72-92486.
C ON TEN TS THE CAT .....
4
Its personality and traits
THE CAT'S FAMILY . ....
8
Characteristics, evolution, and descriptive album
THE DOMESTIC CAT.
60
Origin and spread of the domestic cat
CATS AND SUPERSTITIONS ........ .
64
Days of witches, magic and superstition
68
CATS IN LITERATURE AND ART Famous paintings and literature featuring the cat
BASIC BREEDS OF CATS ..
75
Short-Haired Cats, Long-Haired Cats
CATS AS PETS .
106
.
Kitten or full-grown, pedigreed or alley; food, living
quarters,
common
training,
ailments;
grooming,
selecting
a
bathing,
veterinar i an;
kittens; shipping, traveling, boarding
CAT CAN'S AND CANNOT'S.
155
MORE INFORMATION
158
INDEX .
159
THE CAT To those who love cats-the a i l u roph i l e s - th e c a t is a p l ayfu l , c l ever, courageou s a n i m a l , soft, gentle, and in te l l igent.
At the opposite extreme, and
with fee l ings
equally i nten se, are those who d i s l i ke the cat a n d who may even suffer from a morbid fea r of the m , a rare and unfortu nate m a lady known as a i l urop hobia. But a nyone who has even read th i s far has a l ready declared h i mself to be a " c a t " person. Al ready he has been caught u p by the eat's q u iet, captivating person a l i ty. Such a creature as " the cat" tru l y does not exi st. Each individ u a l cat h a s a persona l i ty that is q u i te d i stinct from that of any of its breed or, for that matte r, of its l i tter. Persona l i ties of dogs, i n contrast, a re much more u n i form with i n the breed. Over a period of time of l iving with a cat, a m aster learns to know his pet ' s id iosyncra sies. The cat, in turn, learns its m a s ter. But the meeting place m u st a t least be h a l fway-or a l i ttle i n the eat ' s favor. A cat thrives on affection but spends l i ttle of its energy to i n d u l g e its m a ster, w h i l e a dog m akes a specia l effort to please h i s m a s ter. A cat never g ives in tota l l y. It refuses t o be con q uered to the extent of beco ming a d omestic s l a ve. Always it holds a bit of itse lf in reserve. At times a pet cat seems a l most h u m a n in its under sta n d i n g of how to a c h i eve its desires. It e m p loys its in stinc tive mastery of practi c a l psychology to win its way. Ordinarily a cat wi l l go out of its way to keep from ac knowledg ing its dependency on you for its comforts and its we l l -be i n g , but there a re g ra tifying occa sions when its affection spi l l s over and i s expressed with purring and by a n i n s i stence on being close. It i s these times and moods that, fo r many pet owners, are most cherished.
Kittens are soft and cuddly, filled with an inquisitive playfulness and warm affection. Sometimes even an old cat reverts to kitten· ish ways, much to the astonishment and de light of its owner.
A mature cat displays
almost regal dignity. Some become much more indifferent than others. They may be haughty or even a bit snobbish, but one need almost always breaks the barrier: a good meal that is to their liking.
THE PARADOXICAL WORLDS OF THE CAT
show
clearly when you open the door and l et your pet out i n to the n i g ht. eyes
no
It becomes an entirely d i fferent a n i m a l , its longer
soft
and
understand ing
but
i n stead
ablaze with wildness. It trave l s in the world of its w i l d an cestors, i n h a b ited today by its untamed cou s i n s . These i n c l ude the Lion, king of beasts, a nd others less rega l . A s wild a s i t may b e deep i n side, the domestic cat responds to affection . Though eq u i p ped with sharp fangs and
hooked c l aws and with the ab i l ity to
effectively, the domestic
use them
cat en joys kindness and ca
resses. It does not delight i n the kind of roughhouse p l ay that please dogs and seems to be more s e n s i tive to harsh word s . Yet a cat brims with p r i m a l pride a n d can never re l i n q u i s h its sense of ba sic freed o m . Th i s d u a l , paradox ical nature i s w h a t m a k e s a cat so mysterio usly d i fferent from other pets . In the night, the docile house cot becomes a sly, sinewy hunter.
A cot uses its paws like hands to open doors or drawers.
CATS CAN BE CLEVER, though most c o m m o n l y they refuse to do what you a s k them to -at least at the time you ask it. I f you try to teach your cat to open a door, you
may g ive
up
in
despa i r and
c o n c l ude
that the
cat-yours, a t least-has no inte l l igence. But you r cat is probably just being stubborn .
If on its own you r cat
wants to show you that it knows that the knob i s the mechani s m that operates the door, it wi l l demonstrate its understan. d i n g of how it works. Cats reserve the right to use the i r i n te l l igence a s they see fit, which a l most invari ably i s to benefit the mselves. If you derive p leasure o r benefit, t o o , it i s coincidenta l . O n e po i n t i s clear, however: i f once y o u become fas c i n a ted by cats, you have a c q u i red a l ife long occupa tion, fo r study them a s w e l l a s you may, you c a n never part the m ystic shroud that cats keep between them selves and their h u m a n m a sters. Cats c a n be loved, but they can never be tota l l y u nd erstood . 7
THE CAT'S FAMILY From the tabby to the Lion, a l l cats share features that m a ke them members of a distin ctive fa m i ly of m a m m a l s , the
Felidae.
Genera l ly,
cats
are
div ided
i n to
th ree
group s : s ma l l cats, wh ich can purr-a sound prod uced by vibrating the vocal cords; large cats, which can roar but c a n not p u rr; a n d the Cheetah, the least catlike membe r of t h e fa m i ly. Typ i c a l l y , cats have a round, a l most owl i s h head with big eyes that are d i rected forwa rd . Th i s is the face of a n ight h u nter. Most cats do prowl at night, and d u ring the day they n a p . They usua l l y creep up on their p rey and then po unce rather than ru n n i ng to catch it. There are exceptions, of course. The most d ivergent is the Chee ta h , which depends a l most who l ly on its s peed to over take its prey. Cats wa l k on the i r toes , which have th i c k pads that enable them to move q u ietly. They have flve toes on the i r front feet and four on their hind feet. Nearly a l l cats a re good c l i m bers -that i s , they c a n g o u p a tree e a s i l y . Coming down is more d i ffi c u l t fo r them because, u n l ike s q u i rrels, they a re not a b l e to spread the i r hind legs a nd reverse the d i rection of the i r feet so that the i r c l aws c a n be u sed t o hold t h e m i n place. Except for the Bobcat and the Lyn x, the wild cats a l l have rather long ta i l s . Their f u r varies i n length - short i n those that live i n wa rm c l i mates, l o n g i n those that must endure c o l d . The pattern differs even with i n a species. Both the Jaguar and the Leopard , for example, occur in black phases as wel l a s i n spotted form s . The basic pat tern that is most preva lent throughout the fa m i l y is a dark str i p i ng on a l i g h ter bac kg ro u nd , as in the Tiger or i n ta bbies. 8
The face of a master night hunter-large, owlish eyes directed for ward, the cups of the ears turned to pick up the slightest sound.
Cats are genera l l y sol itary a n i m a l s . A few kinds hunt o r trave l in sma l l groups, but they a re not soc i a l a n i m a l s in t h e s e n s e that wolves, hyenas, a n d other mem bers of the dog fa m i ly are.
·
The most d i sti nctive fea tures of the cats a re th e i r eye s , tong ues, teeth , e a r s , c laws, and wh iskers. These are the too l s with which they get the i r food , avoid dan ger, fight their battl es, and keep aware of the world a round them. These spec ial pa rts of their a n a tomy are described i n greater deta i l on the fo l l owing page s . 9
TEETH in cats are not developed for chewing. All cats have 30 teeth- 1 6 i n the upper jaw and 1 4 in the lower. Even the smallest teeth are pointed and are used mainly for seizing O!'d holding prey. I n both the upper and lower jaws, the canine teeth are large and dagger- l ike. The jaws them selves are powerfu l, enabling the cats to hold their prey in an unre lenting grip. Unable to chew, cats swa llow their food in chunks. In compen sation, their digestive juices are very strong so that the large pieces of food ore easily assimi lated . I n nature, cats are a lmost totally m eat eaters .
10
A CAl ' S TONGUE is rough , covered with tiny, hard points. I n t h e large cats, these are stiff enough to tear the flesh and bring blood if the cat licks you . Cats can use this rough tongue to rasp flesh from· the bones of the animals they k i l l . These horny projections are actual ly modified taste buds. A cat uses the projections on its tongue to help keep its coat clean. All cats are fastidious crea tures, spending a good share of their time cleaning and adjusting their fur. The rough tongue serves as a brush or a comb to put the hair back in order when it be comes ruffled .
THE EYES of cots ore the largest of all carnivores. Further, the size of the pupils is adjustable from mere s l its in bright l ight to full orbs at night. At n ight, the cot con let in all the light that is available so that it can see when it i s literally too dark for other animals to see. A special membrane at the back of each eye reflects the light and amplifies it so that even dim light is utilized fully. It i s this lin· ing at the back of the eyes that makes a cot' s eyes glow when a light is shined on them at n ight. I f t h e l i g h t continues t o strike the eyes, the pupils ore closed down and the glow stops.
A CAT ' S EARS ore Iorge, their cuplike bases extending over about half of the head. They serve as funnels to collect even the smallest sounds. I nside the ears are long, stiff hairs that oct as sensors in picking up sounds. Even when a cot has its eyes closed and is apparently sound asleep, its ears may turn and twist continually to pick up and interpret the sounds in its sur· roundings. No one really knows whether the cat can determine precise locations by sound, but it is cer· loin that sounds ore importan t guides t o these n ight h unters i n helping them locate their prey.
1 1
A CAl ' S CLAWS ore valuable tools u sed for climbing and also for protection and for catching prey. I n all except the Cheetah, the claws con be retracted or extended. Small muscles hold them in concealment, but when the cot needs them, they con be let down -sharp and ready for action . A dog ' s claws cannot be retracted. Kittens soon learn to hold in their claws when playing with people, but if a kitten or full grown cot becomes angry, it con un leash ten curved, razor-sharp claws that con send any intruder howling. Cots scratch on ·trees or posts to wear down their claws, which continue to grow. The pro cess is like flling their nails.
are a eat's feelers. They stick out over the cat' s eyes and at the s ides of its face and are highly sensitive to touch . When a cat moves through the darkness, its whiskers serve as the gauges to determine whether a space is Iorge enough for it to pass through. I f the whiskers do not touch, then the cat' s entire body con pass through . Interestingly, cots hove almost no collarbone, and what they hove i s not connected solidly to the breastbone and the shoulder blade a� it is in other animals. This makes the cot narrower and more flexible in the shoulder re gion. I t is a surprisingly short span t! .at must be gauged by the whiskers for a cot's passage. W H ISKERS
Miacids were weasel-like ancestors of modern cats.
FOR ABOUT 35 MILLION YEARS
cats have been d i s
tinctively c a t s . Their d i rect- l i n e a n c estors w e r e m i a c i d s short-legged,
long-bod ied,
wea sel-like,
forest-dwe l l i n g
a n i m a l s t h a t were a l so t h e ancestors of dogs, civets,_
a n d other carnivorous a n i m a l s . Cats a p parently evo lved
a long the same path a s the c ivets, whose most fa m i l i a r present-day member is probably t h e mongoose. Appear ance
of
modern
types
of cats
from
these
civet- l i ke
a nce stors c a m e q u i c k l y, w ith few tra n s iti o n a l types known . W h i l e cats have a fa m i l y beg i n n i ng that proba b l y pre dates the dog fa m i l y by a few m i l lion yea rs, th e i r i n ti m a t e associ ation with m a n c a m e m u c h l a t e r . C a t s have been domesticated for o n l y s l ightly longer than 5,000 yea rs. The dog, i n contrast, has been m a n ' s companion for 5 0,000 years or more. Even when they d i d submit to a ssociation with m a n , cats surrendered l e s s complete l y t h a n d i d dogs. T o this d a y , c a t s have k e p t a strong bridge to the i r wild ways . 13
TWO TRIBES OF CATS
d eveloped in the ea rly h i story
of the fam i ly . The branch that p rospered was composed of cats a l most identi c a l to those l iving today. From the start, they were inte l l igent, agile ki l lers. They were wel l equi pped to assume a leading role i n a world that had become r u l ed by mamma l s . T h e other branch of the fa m i ly w a s a d i vergent g roup of a n i m a l s noted most for the i r extremely large c a n i ne teeth . These were the sabe r-toothed cats, a n d there were a n u mber of species. Probably the most famous of the clan was Smilodon, a l io n - s i zed but more powerfu lly b u i l t cat. Its sharp can ine teeth were a s much a s eight inches lon g . No one knows how these big cats actu a l l y used these oversi zed teeth . Presumably they employed them l i tera l l y as daggers to bring their prey to the ground . It is a l so spec u lated by some authorities that, despite the i r fierce appearance, these
giant
cats
were
much too s low-moving
to
be
matc h e s for the s peedy m a m m a l s that were rapid l y de ve loping d u r i n g thei r day. The great cats co uld overtake the s l ower repti les and possibly some of the l a rge herbi vores, but they could not compete with more agile pred ators that developed i n th i s same period .
It i s s pec
u l a ted by some that these giant cats may have been l a rgely carrion feeders, using the i r g i a nt-si zed teeth to dig the flesh away from the bones of a l ready d ead a n i m a l s . For about a m i l l ion years, however, these big tooth ed cats were very much on the scene, with species found i n both Europe and North America. No one rea l l y knows why, but during the Ice Ages, the big -toothed cats disa ppea red and became part of the geolog i c past. Along with many other a n i m a l s of their day, a l a rge number of Sm ilodon rema i n s were fou n d i n t h e La B r e a T a r Pits i n Cal i forn i a . 14
Wild cats are widely distributed throughout the world, but as shown above, their abundance is greatest in warm reg ion s.
WILD CATS
of 35 spec ies and dozens of races i nhabit
the world ' s land areas. Among the large land masses, on l y Austra l a s i a , Anta rcti ca, and Madagascar lack native species of cats . The domestic cat, of course, has been introd uced to a l l places inhabited by man and h a s be come fera l in many areas, i n c l u d ing Austra l i a and many i s land s .
Pa rticu l a rly on i s l a nd s, fera l
damagi ng,
ann i h i lating
native
b i rd s
cats and
h ave been other
sma l l
a n i m a l s i n finding food for th emselves. Some species of cats l ive i n cold c l i m ates, both at h i g h a l titudes in mo unta ino u s regions and a l so in near a rctic
cond itions
in
the
Northern
Hem i sph ere.
Some
a uthorities say cats evo lved in cool te m p erate reg io n s . Today, however, c a t s are rep resented most abundantly both in n u m bers of species and in ind i v i d u a l s in the warm s u btropics and the tropics. Asia h a s the greatest n u m ber of species (about 20); Europe has the fewest ( 2 ) . Some spec i e s have wide ranges, extending ove r two or more continents; others have very restr icte d ranges. 16
W i l d areas a re rapidly shrin king in size or are d i s a ppea ring complete l y . Many w i l d creatures, a s a re s u l t, are now
end angered .
c a t s f a c e this
p l i g h t.
Over h a l f the
spec i e s of w i l d
M a inly th i s
b e c a u s e of the
is
d i m in i shed living space o r destroyed h a bitats. In some cases, however, the cats have been h unted or trapped into n ea r-obl ivion .
For some species, it i s not known
whether their remain ing pop ulations can res pond even to special p rotective mea s u res that are now being ta ken to pre serve th e m . All but a few of t h e very r a r e spe c i e s of w i l d cats, some
of
which
may
now
be
extinct,
are
described
bri efly on the fol lowing pages . Pumas range from Canada Ia Patagon ia, inhabiting cold and mountainous regions as well as steaming jungles. They hove the widest range of all cats in the
W estern Hemisphere, though confined to wilderness areas. As a contrast, the Black-footed Cat is found only in a restricted desert region of A !rica.
CHEETAHS,
the least catl i ke members of the cat fa m i l y,
live in the savannas of Africa and southern A s i a . Al most greyhound - l i ke i n appearance, a Cheeta h has long, s l i m legs, l a rge, m u s c u l a r haunc hes, a n d a n e a r l y dog l i ke muzzle on its p roportionately sma l l hea d . In motion, the Cheetah revea l s its ma stery of coordination that make it, for short sprints, th e fastest a n i m a l on ea rth . Thoug h a Cheeta h can c l i mb, it rarely does so. Another name for the C heetah is Hunting Leopard . The
Cheetah's red d i sh-yel low coat
is
cove red with
rou nd, intensely black spots. In those that l ive in no rth ern Africa, the spots tend to run together, form i n g a l most Leopard - l i ke stripes. A conspicuous black l i ne ex tends from the corner of the eye to the m o u th on each side. In Africa, the Cheeta h s have a sho rt, m a ne l i ke ruff, lacking in Asiatic a n i m a l s . Most a uthorities be l i eve the Cheetah originated in As i a . Cheeta h s neither roa r n o r pu rr, t h e typical sounds made by cats.
Instead, they make m u s ical,
chortling
noises, al most bird l i ke, or they howl and bark, much l i ke dog s . They cannot retract the i r c laws comp letely into sheath s . A fu l l -grown Cheetah male may be 7 feet long (its ta i l 2- 2V2 feet of the l ength) and we igh 1 20 to 1 4 0 pou n d s . The female is about a third s m a l l e r . T h e Cheetah's need f o r large amou nts of food a n d l iv ing space conflict with man's uses of the land, a n d so th i s cat strugg l es fo r s u rviva l in its last rema i n i n g strong h o l d s . Many have been caught and caged for exhibition ; others h a v e been k i l led f o r t h e i r pelts . I n captivity, a Cheetah becomes q u i te tame, even if caught after it is mature. The longevity record i n zoos i s 1 6 yea rs, but u n fortunate ly, many of the caged animals d i e of enterit i s after a m u c h shorter time i n captivity. The breed ing a n d rea ring of cubs i n captivity is rare. 18
SPEED is essential to the Chee tah i n obtaining its food in the open country where it lives. Typi cally, it feeds on small antelopes, such as the Blackbuck, that ore fleet and have greater endurance in long runs. But they cannot equal the Cheetah's speed for short distances . The Cheetah is reported t o b e a b l e t o exceed 40 m i l e s p e r hour within two seconds of its start and to reach a top speed of more than 70 miles per hour. It can
20
maintain this speed for only a few hundred yards, however, and so its success depends on its being able to get close enough to its prey before making its " kill ing" run. Sometimes it strikes its victim ' s hind l egs, causing it to fall, or depending on how it has approached, it may leap onto the animal's back and grab it around the neck. The Cheetah . usually eats only a portion of the kills and does not return later to finish the carcass.
A' cheetah's charge is aston i s h in g ly swift but for only a short di stance. Because they tame easily and ore such skilled and exciting hun ters, Cheetah s were in years gone by trained by sportsmen of Indio and nearby countries. The hunting procedure was much like that in falconry. Generally mature animals, al ready keen i n the ways of the wild, were captured to be hunt ers. Younger animals become too lazy end were too unfamiliar with hunting to be good sporting ani mals. The trained hunter was
taken into the field with its head under a hood. When quarry was sighted, the hood was li fted and the Cheetah turned loose so that it could make its swift dash to bring down its victim. Cheetahs hunt almost totally by sight and during the day or on bright moonlight n ights. I n the wild, two or three animals may hunt together. Young Cheetahs often climb trees. Mature animals climb only in emergencies, a s w h e n chased by dogs. 21
LIONS
once ranged northward i nto E u rope a s wel l a s
b e i n g abundant ove r most of Africa a n d A s i a . About a dozen distinct races were recog nized . Now the " ki n g of beasts'' · is confined to the savannas of Africa and to In d i a, where a few h undred l ive i n the G i r Forest. A l a rge male mea sures 8 to 9 feet l o ng, stands 3 to 31f2 feet ta l l
at the shoulders, and
pound s .
fema le
The
is
perhaps
a
may weigh 500 th i rd
shorter
and
wei g h s considerably less than the male. Th e m a l e has. a l a rge mane, yel low in some and dark in others. A unique featu re of both sexes is the horny " c l a w " in the tuft of h a i r at the tip of the ta i l . I ts function i s not known. Lions are not ordinarily savage creatures. They do not command
the i r
title
as
" king
of
beasts "
by
force.
Rather, the title comes to them perha ps m a i n l y because of the i r powe rfu l potenti a l and rega l appearance. With22
out q u e stion, the lion is one of the most i m p ressive of a l l a n i m a l s . The m a l e' s roar may be h e a rd l itera l l y for m i le s . I t advertises his domain to othe r m a l e s and i m presses the fem a l e of h i s c h o i c e . Fema les roar, too, b u t n o t as l o u d l y . Lion s h unt s i lently a n d at n ight, often waiting at a waterhole to get their prey-antelope, zebras, and other grazers. During the day, they s leep. Prides
are
the
loosely org a n i zed g ro u p s
of
lions.
T h e s e may consist of only three or fou r a n i m a l s, o r i f t h e hunting i s good, a pride may c o n s i s t of severa l dozen a n i m a l s . O n e male i s boss, tho ugh there may be several younger males as we l l a s a n u m ber of l ionesses i n the pride. There i s a l most no quarreli ng, even over food un less it becomes scarce. Tempers do flare until the a n i m a l s p a i r off at mating t i m e . 23
HUNTING LIONS stalk their prey and then pounce to make the kill. The whole pride general ly enters into the hunt. The male, if he participates, frequently goes upwind of the prey. His scent forces the prey to move off in the opposite direction -to precisely where the lionesses are waiting to make the ki l l. As a rule, it is an older lioness that does the k i l l ing. She has apparently learned from past experience how to move cau tiously and to be patient. The young members of the pride are often too impetuous and make their rushes too soon. Typically the lions creep as close as possible. They do not make runs of more than 50 or 1 00 yards. For these short dis tances, they can attain a speed of about 3 0 miles per hour. Alert antelopes or other grazers may
escape, for they are not pursued far. lions apparently have a poor sense of smell and so do not at tempt to trail their prey far. They are also a bit too lazy to exert themselves unless their hunger is great. They prefer to wait for some other unsuspecting animals to come by. After the kill, a l l the members of the pride move in for a share of the feast. After they are filled, they sleep, but they may come back to the same carcass the next day to eat more-if scavengers have left any. lions will eat a great variety of foods-from the grazers on the savannas to such strange fare a s termites, fish, and even garbage . Now and then an animal discovers that it is easy to kill domestic l ivestock and be comes such a pest thot it must be either trapped and taken to a new territory or is kil led.
SLEE P I N G L I O N S reveal an en tirely different character of the giant beasts. With their stomachs fu l l , the animals stretch out clang the low limbs of trees, their legs dangling. They look as though they would tumble with the slight est stir. On the ground they sometimes sleep on their back, their feet sticking up into the air. They are perfect pictures of dead, stiff animals. The variety of pos i tions assu med by a sleeping Lion defies description and bel i ef, far these huge animals are masters of lazy relaxation. They spend their days resting in the shade. They hunt in the cool of the n ight or sometimes continue in the
early morn ing if they have not been too successful in the dark. In the wild, the Lion probably does not live much longer than five years. O lder, feeble animals become victims themselves of predators or succumb to diseases. I n captivity, however, the Lion has lived as long as 25 years . With age, the animals become more sluggish and sleep even more than usual. An old Lion depends almost totally on h i s younger friends t o m a k e t h e kills and then to al low him to join them in the feast. 25
TIGERS
a re big Asian cats, reaching a length of 8 feet
o r more and weighing a s m u c h as 500 pou n d s . They are found most abundantly in the lowlands of the tropics but range no rthward i n to the mounta i n s of Siberi a . Tigers lack manes, though older a n i m a l s may get a thick, bushy neck ruff. Th e i r basic color i s a tawny yel low, with h eavy brown ish or black stripes that provide perfect concea l ment i n t h e sh adows of t h e forest w h e r e t h e y l ive . An i m a l s t h a t l ive farther north a r e p a l e r and have l i g hter stripes. Both black and a l bino individ u a l s a re recorded, and w h i l e the Tiger typ i c a l l y has ye l l ow�eyes, the a l b i nos have b l u e eyes . Tigers a r e sol itary a n i m a l s . They h u n t m a i n l y at n ight, and w h i l e they prefer deer, cattle, and s i m i l a r la rge p rey, a h u ngry a n i m a l w i l l not turn away from even a m o u s e . They a re excel lent sw i mmers, crossing bays and
l a ke s to get to new h un ting te rritory. Or on hot days, a Tiger may go into the water s i m p l y to get coo l . It does its h unting at night. Hybrids of Tigers and L ion s are known both in the w i ld and in ca ptive an i m a l s, but they a re not common . A "ti gon " or "tiglon " i s a hybrid of a male Tiger and a fe male lion . A " l igon " i s the product of the m ating of a m a l e lion with a fem a l e Tiger. In both hybrids, the strip ing i s evident. and there i s genera l ly a h int of a mane in the m a l e s . H unted f o r t h e i r skins, captured fo r exh i b i ts, a n d a l so k i l led
because of their maraud ing, Tigers a re rapidly
becom ing scarce. In the past two decad es, a popu lation of an esti mated 30,000 has been red uc ed to perhaps fewer than 2,000 an i m a l s . Th i s puts these magn i fic ent beasts on the endangered l i st.
SIBERIAN T I GERS, considered by many to be the most magnificent of all the cats, are the largest and the most heavily furred of the clan. There are re ports of these giants measuring more than 1 2 feet long and weighing as much as 650 pounds, exceeding in size the largest of the Lions. The large
size of the front legs and paws is especially noticeable in Tigers. S iberian Tigers are pale. The background color may be almost cream, and the stripes are not as di stinct as i n other variations of the species. In the Bengal Tiger, the background color is yel lowish orange, and the stripes are a very strong black.
Tigers hove o reputation for occosionolly becoming moneoters. These animals ore the exception, the craving for human flesh apparently coming only after on older an imal has become too slow to catch wild game end has mode the discovery that man is easy prey and also palatable. Such o beast may kill many
people before it i s hunted down. Despite its large size, a Tiger is amazingly agile compared to the Lion. I t is a lso remarkably stealthy, passing through jungle brush with almost no noise. But the Tigers ears pick up the slightest sounds. Tigers hunt mainly by following noises . Vision and sense of smell are not well developed.
JAGUARS
are the l a rg est cats in the Americas, some
individua l s measuring as much as 8 feet l on g ( in c l ud ing the ta i l ) and weigh ing more than 200 poun d s . Most ani m a l s are about a th i rd s m a l l e r . Jaguars are exceeded in size on ly by the lion and the Tiger . Jaguars once ranged as far north as Texas and Ari zona in the United States and were found southward to Pa tagon ia in South America. Individua l an i m a l s sti l l wan der over m any miles of territory, but the stronghold of the Jaguar is now the tropical lowlands of Centra l and South Ameri ca . The i r handsome coats have m ade them pri zed by h unters. Some conservation ists are concerned that the population of these much-hunted animals needs careful watch ing to prevent extinction . Th e most water-l oving of the
big
cats, the Jaguar
h unts a l ong streams and is wi l l ing to tac k l e an a l l igator or to take a flsh. It a l so h unts in the u p lan d s for peccar ies, deer, and other large ani m a l s . E ssenti a l l y, the Ja guar i s nocturn a l, but like other cats, it w i l l h unt in day l i g h t hours i f its stomach has not been fi l l e d . Despite its large size, the Jaguar is an a g i l e c l i mber and w i l l pursue prey into tree s . It will leap from tree to tree to ca pture and ki l l its prey. Though it typically rema ins in the wil derness, the Jaguar shows no g reat fea r of man . For tunately, accoun ts of ani m a l s attacking h umans a re ex tremely rare, again showing a resemblan c e to the Tiger. J a g u a rs occ u r in two color phases. The most common has a yel lowish-brown coat with rosettes of black spots forming a c h a in l i ke pattern . Because of the s pots, an other common name fo r this big cat is Tig e r . A less common form i s black, with the spots showing through on ly faintly. Though th ese big cats are kept successfu l ly in zoos, they g enera l ly remain q uite a l oof and never become rea l l y doc i l e and friendly. 30
LEOPARDS, though s m a l l e r than either the lion or the Tiger, have a reputation for being
much more fierce,
partly beca use they a re more l i the and a th letic in their habits.
The
most
widely
d i stributed
of
the
big
cats-occ u r r i ng throughout Africa except i n the deserts and over a l l of Asia Minor and southern Asia- Leopards su rvive rema rka bly well in part because o f their sec retive habits . By day, they genera l ly keep well hidden in the dense brush, coming out a t n ight to hunt. I f a n ight' s h u n t i s un prod uctive, they w i l l continue t o p r o w l d u ring daylight hours unti l their stomach i s fi l l ed, sometimes roa m i n g over 20 o r 30 m i l es on a s i n g l e h u nting foray . A L eo pa rd ' s fare may be anythi n g from a deer or an a n telope 32
to
a
mouse
or
a
l izard .
There
a re
a l so
gruesome records of ind ivid ua l s that h a ve acq u i red a spec i a l l i king for h u man fl e s h . Leopa rds a re swift runners and a g i l e c l i m bers, often waiting in a tree and then pouncing
on
uns u s pecting
prey
that
passes
beneath .
Portions of a ki l l not eaten are returned to l a ter, the unfin i shed
c a rcass
sometimes
h ung
high
in
a
tree .
Leopards are good swimm ers, h ence strea m s and rivers do not become barriers on the i r treks . A l a rg e m a l e mea sures about 7 feet l ong, a th i rd or more of the l ength con s i sting of the s l i m, g raceful tai l . It weig h s 1 00 to 1 25 poun d s . Rare indivi d u a l s may be 9 feet l ong and weight 200 pound s . The ba s i c color i s yellowish, w i t h numerous b l a c k spots, b u t over t h e wide range of the species, there are m any pattern va riation s . 33
BLACK PAN T H E R S, always with emerald eyes, ore on a ll-block phose of the leopard. A few occur in North Africa, but they ore most abundant i n Southeast Asia and in the East I ndies. On some block individuals, the pattern of spots shows through faintly, os in Jaguars. As a general rule, these ore animals that live in dark, heavi ly
,
;
forested regions . Those that inhabit more open country ore l ighter and spotted, with the very palest coots and a l most obscure spots on animals of the open, rocky, treeless region s . Animals of the open country ore also generally larger than those that l ive in the forests. Si m i larly, the thickness of the coot varies with the habitat of the
/ /
j
/
animal. leopards of the tropics have short fur, like the sleek, glossy fur of the Black Panther. Those that live in cold climates have much Ianger fur. leopards are such stealthy animals that their prey seldom sees them or even suspects their approach . They may wait on the limb of a tree over a well-used trail and then drop onto their
victi m ' s back as it passes below, the eat generally leopards internal organs of the kill f.-st and may drag the remains up into a tree for a later meal . When young, a leopard can be tamed, but it becomes dan gerously discontented, ferocious, and untrustworthy a s it mature s . leopards a r e not seen a mong the performing cats i n shows.
SNOW
LEOPARDS,
about
5
feet
long,
a re
ra re,
handsome cats that l ive h i g h in the H i m a laya Mounta i ns, at a l titudes about 6,000 feet. Their thick coats of soft fur-gray o r ye l l owish and l i bera l ly marked w i th black spots o r rings -keep them warm i n
the
a l p i ne cold .
Beca use of the heavy fur, thei r head appears s ma l l . The h a bits o f the Snow Leopard are not w e l l known . They
feed on
goats, sheep, and s m a l l e r a n i m a l s . A
n u m ber of Snow Leopards have been kept successfully i n captivity and have done we l l there. Another n a m e for them is O unce .
are long-tai led, s h ort- l eg g ed, med i u m - s i zed cats-about 3 feet long and weig h i n g 30
CLOUDED LEOPARDS
to 40 po u n d s . They l ive in the j u ng les of Southeast As i a . T h e C l ouded Leopard ' s genera l l y g r a y coat, soft a n d th ick, i s spotted or striped w ith b l a c k . T h e belly i s white and un ma rked . Clouded
Leopards
have
com parative l y
the
l a rgest
canine teeth of all the l iving cats. Th e i r h a bits are not wel l known, but they a pparently hunt at n i g ht, resting in trees during the day. In captivity, they try to avo i d bright l i g hts . Young cats ta me eas i l y but become untrustworthy when older. 37
PUMAS,
a l so c a l l ed
Couga rs,
Mounta i n
Lions,
and
Panthers, are la rge, tawny b rown or grayish cats that purr
rather
than
roa r .
They
range
from
Ca nada
southward to southern South America but a re fou n d only in
wi lderness
area s .
Pumas
req u i re
large
areas
for
hunting, some cats roa m i n g ove r 1 5 to 20 m i le s i n a n i g h t . They p refer forested regions but may a l so l ive i n mounta i n o u s country-at altitudes of 8 , 0 0 0 to 1 0,000 feet i n the Ande s . Remarkably adapta b l e, they may a l so l ive in steamy tropica l j u n g l e s . The
male Puma
is about a
third
l a rger
than
the
fem a l e, typical of most cats. H e may weigh a s much as 200 pounds and measure 9 feet long, i n c l u d i n g the tai l . Pumas a r e relatively short-legged, a n d i n proportion to the rema i n d e r of the body, the rounded head is rathe r sm a l l . Pumas may a l so vary considerably in size from one reg ion to another. Those l iving i n the tro p i c s tend to be s m a l l e r and lighter i n color than a re those th at inhabit cooler c l i m ates. Though they are agile c l i m bers, Pu m a s genera l ly hunt on the g rou nd, usua l ly at n ight. They prey o n deer or s m a l ler a n i m a l s, i n c l u d i n g even mice. Occasiona l l y they k i l l cattle o r sheep, someti mes slaughtering fa r more than they need . I t i s these few m i screant i ndividua l s that have made these big cats the obj ects of merciless hunts. Norm a l l y, however, they avoid h u man settlements. Despite their large size and their ferocity a s k i l l e rs, Pumas become reasonably docile in captivity . L i ke other ca ts, th ey
have q u i te i ndividual tem perame nts, some
be i n g considerably more approachable than others . They a re most l i kely to become hostile when they get older. Though Pumas are widespread and are m u c h h u nted, surprisingly l i ttle is known about their persona l habits in the w i l d . 38
a re swift African cats, 21f2 to 3 feet long and
SERV ALS
wei g h i ng 30 to 35 pou n d s . The i r coat i s fawn colored, a ttractive l y marked with l a rge black spots, and the ta i l is ringed with black. They have long leg s, a short ta i l, and large ea rs, which g ive them the keen hearing needed for catc h i ng
rodents
and
birds
in
the
grass
and
brush
coun try where they l i ve, south of the Sahara . Se rvais are a b l e to catch birds i n flight by leaping five feet or more off
the
ground.
They
l i ke
to
be
near
water
or
m a r s h l a n d s, and they a re adept a t c l i m bing trees, which they ofte n do i n p u r s u i t of prey. Those l i ving near human sett l em ents l ivestock .
may
make
mea l s
of
po u l try
and
yo ung
CARACALS
l ive in the deserts and g r a s s l ands of North
Africa and western A s i a . S l ightly larger than Servais, wei g h ing as m uch a s 40 pound s, they a re rated a mong the most graceful of a l l an i m a l s . Fast runners and s k i l led h unters, the l ong-legged Caraca l s make their m ea l s of g a z e l l e s, b i rd s, and othe r an i m a l s . l i ke Ch eeta h s, these cats are speedy but tire quickly. In Ind i a, this cat was trained a s a h unting an i m a l, a l so l i ke th e Ch eeta h, for use particu larly
in
h unting
p igeon s .
Carac a l s
have
l a rge
black ears with prom inent tu fts at the tips, s i m i l a r to the Lynx .
Unfortunate ly,
becoming rare.
these
hand some
cats
are
now
a l so c a l l ed Egyptian Cats and Kaffir Cats, occur widely throughout the northern parts
AFRICAN WILDCATS,
of Africa . They are only s l ightly l a rger than the domestic cat,
with
which
they
cross
free ly.
Some
a uthorities
theorize that th is is one of the domestic eat' s d i rect- l i n e a ncestors . A l l of t h e several color va riations of yellow, g ray, or buff have tabby markings. Al so, the African W i l d cat
has
a
pro m i n ent
neck
ruff
which
it
l i fts
i m po s i n g l y to help scare off i ntruders . Typical ly, there a re several rings of black a round the paws and a l so on the l ower po rtions of the leg s . The tip of the ta i l is a l so b l a c k . These cats ordinarily do their hunting at night, spen ding their days s l eeping and resti n g . 42
JUNGLE CATS,
s l ig htly l a rger and long er-legged tha n
the domestic cat, l ive in southea stern Asia, m a i n l y i n I n d i a . A f e w o c c u r i n Egypt and other pa rts of northern Africa. They are grayish streaked with da rker marki ngs, white below and with a black-ringed ta i l . The ears are tufted, a n d there is a c rest of hair a long the back. In habi ts,
the
Jungle
Cat
prefers
to
hunt
in
the
early
morning o r late even i n g rather than at n i g h t, roa m i n g the grasslands and the j u n g l e edges. Often it i s fo und near v i l lages, where it can prey on c h i ckens a s we l l a s other sm a l l a n i m a l s . It ta mes ea s i l y and mates rea d i l y with the domestic cat, of which it may be an a n c estor.
LEOPARD CATS,
to 3112 feet long, l ive in the lowland
j ung les and mountain forests of South east Asia, a few ranging as fa r north a s Siberia. They make th e i r homes in caves or under rock ledges . In China, they are c a l led Money Cats because the black markings on the i r si lvery or golden coats resem b l e Chinese money. They look like Ocelots and, s i m i l a r ly, m a ke good pets, tho ugh they tend to rema in more a loof and prefer not to be handled . Some tota l l y reject be ing captives. Though th e i r n u m bers a re seem ing l y safe now, the inc rea s ing po p u l a r i ty of these hand some ani m a l s for pets portends a fa st-coming time of c r i s i s for the spec i e s . 44
FLAT-HEADED CATS
a re both rare and u n u s ua l . They
a re l i sted a mong the growing n u m ber of an i m a l s that are in danger of extin ction . The general c o l o r of the body coat i s red d i s h, but the tips of the hairs a re w h i te, a s are the teardrop ma rkings a round the eye s . L i ttle i s known about the habits of these s ma l l cats. They seem to prefer hunting a l ong waterwa ys, where they catch m a i n l y fish and frog s . Sti l l more unu sual, they have a fondness for fruits and berries, actua l l y preferring them to rod ents or other a n i m a l food . It is poss i b l e that th i s is one of the i r ways of getting l i q u i d s . T h e F l at-headed Cat i s found on l y i n Borneo a n d nearby reg ion s .
MARBLED CATS
have a reputation for being a mong the
most fierce of a l l cats in attacking their p rey. They l ive i n the j u ng l e s of Southeast Asia . a bout
the
l i fe
hi story
of
L i ttle
these
is
sma l l
rea l l y known cats.
Most
i n d i v i d u a l s look l i ke d i m i nutive C l o uded Leopard s , though there is considerable variation in the i r m a r k i ng s . The ta i l is about 2 feet long, equ a l i n g the tota l len gth o f the head and body. It a pparently serves as a balancer when the cat i s c l i m b i n g .
FISHING CATS
are stoc k i l y b u i l t sma l l cats w i th short,
stout legs and a med i u m-length tai l . They may weigh as m u ch as 25 pound s . Th e brown i sh-gray coat i s covered with b l a c k spots and s trea ks, and the ta i l is ri nged with black. Fish i ng Cats a re not abundant, l iving in the brush and j u n g l e cou ntry of southea stern Asia .
The i r name
comes from the i r reported habit of catc h i n g fish by scoop ing them from the water with thei r paw . They a l so eat shel lfish,
frogs,
and
other
aquatic
or
semiaq uatic
a n i m a l s , and they a re known to atta c k dog s , calves, sheep, and even people, parti c u l a r l y s m a l l ch i l d r e n .
TEMMINCK'S CATS
a re med ium-s ized - 3 t o 31/2 feet
long-and genera l ly have an a l l-yellow or golden coat, tho ugh in some individuals it may be strea ked with dark and i n others may be solid black or gray. These cats occur widely i n Asia, mostly in the southern reg ions. They a re partial to rocky country but a re a pparently m u ch at home i n trees, too . The very s i m i l a r Afri can Golden Cat is a d i fferent species that occurs in both gold and gray color phases tha t commonly occupy the same area . I t is now rare and considered i n danger of extinctio n . Both c ats a re com mon l y kept i n zoos . 46
PALLAS'S CAT
lives in the rocky m o u n ta i n o u s country
of Tibet and Si beri a . S m a l l
(1
to 1 1h feet l o n g ) , it has
si lvery, spotted, th ick fur, fitting it for the cold c l i mate. The ta i l i s tipped with black. Most unusua l , the short ears a re set low on the broad head so that they a re widely separated, and the eyes a re h igh, the head lacking a rounded fo rehead dome. These fa c i a l featu res g i ve the cat a feroc ious appearance and a l s o a i d it in peering over and a ro u n d rocks without expo s i ng l a rge a m o unts of its head
before its
eyes a re in
position
to s pot
potenti a l p rey. l ive i n the d eserts of Asia and northern
SAND CATS
Africa . The i r fawn or yel low i sh-brown coats conceal them i n the genera l l y brow n i sh land scape, and
the coarse
hairs o n the pads o f the i r feet help to give them traction in the loose sand. L i ke many desert predators, they hunt at n ight. They have l a rge ears, depe n d i n g o n sound rather tha n s ight to flnd prey.
EUROPEAN WILD CATS have s u rvived the continent ' s heavy settlement b y retreati ng t o the forests where they exist in surprising n u m bers. Ma rked l i ke the domestic tabby, t h ey are a th i rd larger and have a wider, more whi skery, flattened head, longer and s l i m m e r legs, and a more sturd i l y b u i l t body. The blunt ta i l is ringed and tip ped with b l a c k . Norma l l y active only at n ight, these feroc ious h u n ters have been known to attack fea rlessly both man and his dog s .
D uring
the day, these cats rema in hidden in rocks,
caves, or trees . European Wild Cats are reported to c ross with domestic cats, but there are only a few records of the E u ropean Wi l d Cat having been kept successfu l l y a s a p e t . I n z oo s , they have l ived more than 1 5 years. 48
49
OCELOTS,
someti mes
called
Pai nted
handsome, docile creatures that l ive tropics.
Because they
Leopards,
are
in the American
are ea s i l y caught
and
quickly
tamed , even as adults, many have been captured and sold a s pets. They have a l so been heav i l y hunted, thei r spotted f u r used for decorative col lars, cuffs, a n d capes. Because of th e Ocelot ' s lack of res istance to ca pture and u s e o f l ittle c ra ft in escaping hu nters, its n u m be rs are fast d wi n d l i n g . Reg rettably, a s w i th many of the wild cats , these stri k i n g l y bea utiful a n i m a l s are now on the l i st of enda ngered species. They m ust be protected to preven t the i r exti nction. Whi le Oce lots have been kept as pets over many centu ries, the habits of the a n i m a l s i n the w i l d are not wel l
know n . They hunt a l m ost who l l y a t n i ght. Some
a n i m a l s even avoid being active on bright m oo n l i ght n i ghts . They eat a wide va riety of food s -from a n i m a l s as s m a l l a s l i za rds and rodents t o as large as mon keys and deer. ' T hose that l i ve near h u m a n habita tions occa s i o n a l l y make raids on c h i ckens or s m a l l l ive stock. They a re good swim mers and a re reported to catch a nd eat fi s h . D u r i n g t h e day, Ocelots s l eep o n t h e g round, under rocky overha ngs, i n dense thi ckets, or someti mes tucked safe l y away i n c l u m p s of prickly cacti . They are ag i l e c l i m bers a nd w i l l h u n t or take refuge i n trees. Sometimes they stretch out on b ranches to rest or to s l eep. An Ocel ot's fa ce is strea ked with black, and it has num erous black rings and streaks ove r its body. In some a n i m a l s , the centers of the
black ri n g s a re brown ish .
The basic color of the coat is pea r l y buff, the underparts white. Over their wide range, there are m a ny pattern variation s . An Ocelot measu res a bout 4 feet long, in c l u d i ng its ta i l , and may we igh as much a s 30 pou nds. Females are a fourth s m a l ler th an the m a l e s . 50
resem b l e Ocelots, but most are s m a l ler-no
MARGA YS
l a rger tha n domestic cats-and have a p roportionately longer ta i l . They occur m a i n ly in the tropics of Centra l America
but
southward
range
i nto
no rthward
B razi l .
as
Margays,
far
as
Texas
sometimes
and
cal led
American Tiger Cats, a re easily captured, and i f taken when
young,
they
ta me
quickly
to
become
doc ile,
affectionate pets. As they become old, however, they often lose thei r tem pers and are then dangero u s . l i ke the Ocelot, the Margay is in danger of extinction . It was presumbably never n u merous, and very l i ttle i s known a bout the eat ' s habits i n the w i l d .
have a wide range in the g r a s s l a n d s of South America, parti c u larly i n Argentina and U ruguay. In
PAMPAS CATS
m u ch of th e i r origi n a l territory, they are now exti nct. The dark
redd i sh
streaks
on
the
si lvery
coat
provide
concea l i n g camouflage in the d ry gra s s . The ta i l i s long and gray, and the underparts a re wh ite. One race is s i l very gray with no markings. Pampas Cats a re about the s i ze of the domestic cat. L i ke several other s m a l l cats of South America, l i ttle i s known about the habits of the P a m p a s Cat i n the w i l d . It is be l i eved to be a nocturnal hunter, feeding on bird s and
small
mammals.
Over m uch o f its original
range, the Pampas Cat i s p robably now extin ct, p u shed a s ide by the settl ement of the l a n d . Wh ether i t i s en da ngered as a species i s q uestionable, but pres u m a b l y so . 53
GEOFFROY'S CAT Patagonia
in
ranges from Bo livia southwa rd to
South
America,
i nhabiting
mainly
mounta i nous country and avoiding h u m a n settlements. About 3 feet long, with half the length ta i l , it has a l a rge head and a streaked coat.
BLACK-FOOTED CATS,
not q u i te a s large a s domestic
cats, once ranged widely over southern Afri ca but a re now rare and occ u r on ly in desert reg ions. They are nocturna l , hence not commonly seen . The soles of the feet a re black.
JAGUARUNDIS
have a long, a l most otter-like head .
Sometimes, in fact, they a re cal led Otter Cats, a name they l ive u p to a l so i n the i r habits. U n l ike most cats, Jaguarundis take to the water readi l y . They a re equa l l y at
home
in
brush
and
jungle
c o u n try,
however .
Jaguarundis measure a b o u t 4 feet long, with h a l f the length consi sting of the i r ta i l . The i r legs a re compara tive l y short, adding to the i r otter-l i ke a ppea rance. The ears a re s ma l l . Ranging from southern most Tex a s south ward th rough Central America to Parag uay, J a g u a r u n d i s occur i n t w o d i sti n c t color phases: red d i sh brown and g rayish black.
LYNXES
a re the most widely d i s tributed species of the
cats, i nhabiting evergreen forests of the N o rthern Hemi sphere
a round the wo r l d .
These cats
l i ke
w i l d e rness
areas, which a re d i m i n i shing, and they are a l so h u nted for the i r coa ts. For these rea sons, the i r population must be watched c losely to a s s u re protection, though a t the moment they appear reasonably safe. The S p a n i sh Lynx, a d i s tinct race and sometimes c l a ssified a s a sepa rate spec i e s , i nhab its the mounta i n s of Spa i n and Portug a l . Its pop u l ation there i s now known to be endangered . About 3 feet long a nd weighing 25 or 3 0 po unds, the Lynx has a heavy grayish-brown coat, necessary in the cold c l i mate where the a n,i m a l l ives. Some o f the long hairs i n the coat are white, giving i t a frosty appeara nce . It has a short, black-tipped ta i l , pointed ears with s l i m
tufts at the i r tips, and a th ick, wh i skery ruff of hair a round i ts th roat. The hind legs a re considerably longer tha n the front legs so tha t the body slopes s l ightly from the rear to the front. The feet are very l a rge and a re padded, making it easy for the Lynx to w a l k ove r snow without s i n k i n g i n deeply. In
North
snowshoe
America,
hares.
The
the
Lynx
population
feeds of
primarily
the hares
on
goes
th rough cyc l i c fluctuatio n s . Soon a fter the hares have reached a peak i n n u m bers, the Lynx population a l so atta i n s a high . S i m i larly, the popu l a tion s l u m p s when the ha re population doe s , with a s l ight l a g . 57
BOBCATS,
wh ich go a l so by the names Bay Lynx and
W i l d cat, are only s l ightly s m a l l e r th a n the Lynx. They l ive i n the fo rests and wild cou ntry throughout North America, ranging a s fa r south as Mexico and the tip of Flori d a . S u rprisingly, they may thrive c l o s e to h u m a n habitations, often near large c i ties.
Because of their
secretive, nocturnal h a b i ts, they are seldom seen . Like the Wh iteta i l Deer, these cats have prospered where forests have �een cut and the land opened. The
Bobcat ' s
ba sic
color
is
brow n ,
strea ked
and
spotted with black, but there are a num ber of d i stinct va riations
over the
a n i m a l ' s wide range .
In
a l l , the
underpa rts a re whiti s h . The Bobcat ' s feet a re l a rg e but not nearly as broad a s the Lynx ' s . A Bobcat may s i n k into the snow u p t o its belly where a L y n x pa d s across a s though wea ring s nowshoes. A Bobcat ' s ta i l i s short, o r bobbed, wh ich gave the a n i m a l its name; it i s barred with black a bove and i s wh ite on the underside. The long, po inted ears are white i n s ide the cups a nd l i ned broa d l y with black on the back side. They a re tufted but a re not as " w h i skery " as the Lynx ' s . Fortunately for this cat, its fur i s not con sidered va l u a b l e . Bobcats a re known f o r t h e i r fierceness i n fights a n d w i l l atta c k a n i ma l s tw ice t h e i r o w n size. T h e i r food con si sts primari ly of rabbits and s m a l l rodents, but they will a l so prey on deer, birds, and dome stic l ivestock, l itera l ly making a m ea l of whateve r it appears they m ight overcome. Those living near settlements commonly catch rats and a l so feed on scraps a ro u n d dumps. The d i et i s m u c h more va ried than the Lynx ' s . If ca ptured while young, Bobcats become q u i te ta m e . The i r tem pers a re l i kely to be u n pred ictable w h e n they become older, howeve r. I n zoos, they thrive we l l , where some ind ivid ua l s have l ived for more than 20 yea r s . 58
T H E D O ME S T I C C A T The exact origin o f the domestic cat i s not known, but a confi rmed and conti n u i ng relationship between cats and man became strongly evident a bout 3000 B . C . i n Egypt ' s N i l e V a l l e y . There ca ts apparently first won th e i r w a y to favor because they kil l ed rats and mice tha t p l a g ued the g ra n a ries and a l so hel ped rid the l a nd of other vermin . Even tu a l ly, the Egyptians worshi pped a n d protected the i r cats, treating the m as roya l ty . They depi cted them in art and in ca rvi ngs, and they cel ebrated cat h o l idays. The cats themselves were decorated with j ewel s . P a sht, or Bastet, an Egyptia n godd ess representing fem i n i n ity and maternity, had the head of a cat a nd the body of h u m a n fem a l e . When
the i r
cats
died,
the
Egyptians
mourned
a
as
though a h u m a n member o f the fa m i l y had been lost. They m u m m ified the cats ' bodies-and a l so rats and m i ce, presumably to provide the cats with food in the herea fter. Cats entombed in th i s manner n u m be red in the h u n d red s of thousands. More tha n 300,000 m u m m ified cat bod ies were taken from only one cemetery. A study of the i r bod ies wou ld have hel ped unravel the mysteries of the ea t ' s origi n , but u nfortu nately, they were sh i pped to E n g l a n d where they were au ctioned off by the ton to be u sed for ferti lizer. The o r i g i n of the domestic cat thu s rem a i n s obscure, whi l e its h i story since domestication i s virtu a l l y u n r i va l ed among the a n i m a l s a s sociated with m a n . It is theori zed tha t the d i rect ancestors of the domestic cat were proba bly African Wild Cats, wh i ch to th i s day mate freely , with the domestic cat. Some authorities specu l a te that the Asian J u n g l e Cat a l so fig ured in the domestic eat ' s an cestry, but probably no one will ever know. 60
Egypti ans put cots into their a rt forms, such as the frieze above and the mummy below.
Posht, the cot - headed E gyptian goddess of fem i n i n ity a n d matern ity.
61
SPREAD OF THE DOMESTIC CAT
from North Africa
took i t a round the world with i n a few centuries. The Greeks were the first Eu ropea n s to keep cats. Rats and m i ce i n fested the i r g rana ries, too , and wh en the Egyp tians refused to let any of the i r sacred cats be taken to Greece to combat the rod ents, the Greeks began stea l i n g the m . The Egypti a n s m a d e c a t th ievery a c r i m e pun i s h a b l e by death . The Romans i n the i r conquests i n c l uded cats a mong their spo i l s . They did not revere the cats as the Egyp tians did, however, and a Roman so l d i e r was m u rdered in the streets of Alexa ndria when he accidenta l l y k i l l ed a cat. Th is episode brou ght on a series of repri s a l s that contin ued until
Egypt wa s fina l l y brough t under tota l
Rom a n r u l e . With the fa l l of Egypt, cats s l i pped from s u premacy, no l o nger ranked as deities . Roman legions, meanwh i le, began to adopt the cat as a symbo l . They respected the cra ft and cunning of the supple, green-eyed beasts, and though they fa i l e d to put cats to practi c a l use a s mousers, as had the Egyptia n s and the G reeks, t h e Ro man soldi ers m a n aged t o lose or to le�ve enough behind to give cats a s ubstantial start whe rever the armies went. The prec i s e paths taken by cats a s they populated other pa rts of the world a re mostly spec u l a tive, but a l ong with rats and
mice, they soo n pu rred
in ports
wherever · sh ips dropped anchor. They made the i r way ove r l a nd on foot or by c a rt or wagon u n t i l they were common eve rywhere man l ived . Sometimes they ea rned the i r kee p by getting rid of rodent pests, but as often, the o n l y demand m ade of them was to be the myster i o u s l y bea utiful creatures that they are. I n I n d i a , cats gai ned back some of the i r lost status a s r e l i g i o u s symbo l s . H i nd u s were a l l obl ig ed t o keep a n d 62
The m a i n h a l l af Japan ese cal temp l e, Ga-Ta-Ku-Ji in Tokyo a p pears below. Its facade was cov ered with d r a w i n g s af cats with l i fted paws, a l i to bring goad l u c k . N o w i n Japa n , earthenwa re cats a re made with a l i fted paw to sym bo l i z e their a b i l ity to b r i n g good l u c k (left).
to feed at least one cat, and k i l l i n g a cat was forbidden . In Ch i n a , where cats went by the name of m oo, it was believed tha t time could be to ld by studying a eat ' s g lassy gaze . Cats came on the scene in Japan a l ong with Bud dh i s m . Every temple was protected from rats and mice with th e mi n i m u m o f a d u et of c a ts . Tho s e who h a d no cats d rew pi ctures of them or got cat i m ages made of wood, bronze, or s i m i l a r m ateria l s . These were set where, hopefu l ly, they wou l d frighten the ra iding rodents . The ruse did not work, of course, and odd ly, th i s became the cause of the eat ' s downfa l l .
Japanese
courts lega l ly
banned the u s e l ess cats. B u t hordes of people who had d i scovered that cats are comfortable pets kept them anyhow. 63
C A T S A N D S U P E R S T I TI O N S Cats
fe l l i nto d i s repute in
Europe d u r i n g the Middle
Age s , a n d many of the superstitions involving cats began d u r i ng these troubled times. Freya , a Norse goddess, was depi cted a s riding a chariot drawn by black cats . Chr i stians denounced these pag a n people who made cats a sym b o l i c part o f the i r c u l t . These changes removed the c a t fro m the company of gods and put it i n league with the Devi l . The black cat became the parti c u l a r target of cruelty to cats during the se wrathful years. To th i s day, the black cat suggests evi l and bad l uck. O l d women seemed to take a spec i a l l i king to cats, and it was old wom e n , primarily, who were witches tha t c a s t dreaded spel l s of b l a c k m a g i c over people a n d where they l i ved . The i r c a t s , of course, were a s s u med to be the i r accomplices. An i n c ide nt that gave strength o f ev idence to th is be l i ef occu rred when a woman a c c used o f being a witch 64
was wh i s ked from her pyre by friend s . They performed their rescue behind a screen of smoke and put a cat at the stake i n s u bstitute . Just a s the smoke c l ea red, the scorched, howl ing cat esca ped its bonds. The people were then convinced that the witch had cha nged herself into a cat a n d was free to avenge. I n other i n stances, women thought to be witches were tortu red u n t i l they a d m i tted their evi l con sort with cats. They were l i te ra l l y forced to say that they could turn the mselves i n to cats whenever it was to their advantage . So it became genera l l y beli eved that whereve r there were witches, there were
surely
cats,
or
conversely,
wherever there were cats, there were witc h e s . The two went together, and so they were persec uted together condemned to d i e i n bags tossed i n to rivers or to be burned
to a
crisp
in
i ron cages swung over
roa ring
fires. The defen seless cats suffered most. Thousands and thousands were destroyed . Entire days were devoted to cat k i l l i n g a n d burning, a s Europe s l i d i n to the frighten ing years of the B l a c k Death that took its to l l of m i l l ions of peo p l e . Nearly a fo urth of the conti n e n t ' s population s u c c u m bed a s rats carrying pestilence overrode Europe .
AS SYMBOLS OF GOOD LUCK,
cats were restored to
popularity by the same sort of magic a n d superstition that
had
brought
elements - the
on
cruelty.
These
people who continued
two to
com peting
bel ieve
cats
were evi l spirits vers u s those who beg a n to look u pon them as good omen s - b rought the a n i m a l s both kicks a nd caresses. A black cat crossing a person ' s pa th , for exa mple, was widely believed to be the sign of bad luck. Yet peo ple who kept black cats i n their houses were thought l i kely to be b l essed with good . A vi sit from a strange black cat wa s a bad s i g n . Drawing the ta i l of a b l a c k cat over sore eyes nine times wa s said to c u re the m . Theatri c a l lore read bad luck into the presence of a cat on stage during rehea r sa l s , but if a cat promenaded be fore the a u d i ence on open ing n ight, the play was expected to be successfu l . A black cat crossing your path i s generally considered bad luck.
Black cats, like white heather, are symbols of good luck in England.
It was said that a b u i l d i n g wou ld sta nd only if a l ive cat were sealed i n to its foundation d u r i n g the con struc tion . Cats were a l so buried a l ive i n fields to a s s u re boun tiful c rops, and kitte n s were buried in g a rdens to keep the weeds from taking over. White cats h ave in some bel iefs pl ayed a role oppo site to black cats. Thus a wh ite cat crossing you r path presumably brings good fortu n e . The person who finds the s i n g l e w h i te h a i r that i s somewhere i n the fur of a n otherwise a l l-black cat a n d can remove i t f r o m t h e c a t without b e i n g scratched has i n h i s posses s i o n t h e g reat est of a l l good luck c h a r m s . C a t s , l i ke
� ther
a n i m a l s , have a l so b e e n watched a s
wea ther prophets. When a cat sits with i t s ta i l pointed toward the fi re , a weath er change is on the way . If it washes its fa ce before brea kfast, chances a re more than slight that it will ra i n before s u ndown. 67
In Alice in Wonderland, Alice met the " mad," grmnong Cheshire Cot, which slowly d isappeared except for its grin that remained for a long time after the rest of the cat was gone.
C A T S I N L I TE R A T U R E A N D A R T Leonardo da Vinci declared that ' ' the s m a l l est o f the fe l i n e s is a masterpiece . " True, the i r natural grace coupled with q u i et, unobtru sive ways have made cats the favor ites of countless a rtists, writers, and intellectua l s . A l l s e e m t o agree that the time s p e n t with cats leve l s tan g l ed tho ughts and s i tuations, for cats l ive an asto n i sh ingly a s s u red and even-keeled exi sten c e . Dr.
A l b e r t Schwei tzer,
m ed i c a l
m i s s ionary,
the f a rn e r ph i l osopher a n d
loved cats. Writers b y the score
have found cats to be comforta ble, i n s pirational compan ions wh i l e they work . Ernest Hem ingway had a special fondness for cats and left a legacy of s i x-toed cats at his home i n Key West, Florida . A l i s t of writers who were or a re cat lovers wou l d i n c l u d e such fa m i l i a r names as Edward Lear, Charles D i ckens, Vi ctor H ugo, Sir Wa lter Scott, W i l l iam Dea n Howel l s , Thomas Carlyle, Wi l l iam 68
Wordsworth , Mark Twa i n , Dr. Samuel Joh n s o n , Edga r A l l a n Poe, the B ronte Sisters, H . G. Wel l s, Tru m a n Ca pote, Paul G a l l ico, Ten nessee W i l l i a m s , and countless others. Su ffice it to say, contem p lative people l i ke cats. As a natural res u l t, the cat has found its way i nto the creative outputs of many storyte l lers, from a n c i e n t fa bles with lost a u thorship to modern ta les. They have ranged from the nonsense poetry of Edward Lea r ' s " The Owl and the P u s sy-ca t " to Ed g a r Al l a n Poe ' s ch i l l ing horror ta l e ,
" The Black Cat, " a nd more recently, Tennessee
Wi l l ia m s '
" The Malediction , " a d i sturbing story of a
p sychotic a n d h i s strange relationship with a cat. Ernest Hemingway ranked cots among his favorite compa n ions, with whom to shore both his meals and his innermost thoughts.
Meh itabel clai med her spirit was once incarnated in Cleopatra ' s body.
MEHITABEL,
the creation of Don Marq u i s , i s one of the
best known cats in American l iteratu re. A stray, ta l ka tive, and usua l l y friend ly cat, Mehitabel was the con stant companion of Archy, the cockroach, who wrote his ta les on the a u tho r ' s typew riter, using no capita l letters (with few exception s ) bec a u se he could not m a n i p u late the mach i ne ' s shiftlock key. Countless stories have cast the cat in the ro le of the a rch enemy of rats and m i ce, a most natural characteri zati o n . Rudyard K i p l i n g ' s " The Cat That Wa l ked By It self" te l l s how the cat made a deal with m a n . I n ex cha nge for getting rid of rats and mice and for being gentle w i th ch i ldren, cats were to be a s s u red forever of a warm place to s l eep and of m i l k to d r i n k . Th i s would be the l i m it of the eat ' s associ ation with m a n ; i n a l l other respects, the cat wo u l d reta i n i t s ind ependence. 70
Cat haters have been fewer, fortu nately for the cat. Shakespeare seemed to have a great d i s l ike for cats, for he never had a kind word for them in any of his p l ays and had, to the contrary, much to say against them . Ju lius Caesar was much a fraid of cats. Cats were new a n i m a l s to Rome, and Caesar never lea rned to u n der stand them .
Napoleon, too, could be c o m p l ete l y d i s
a rmed by a eat ' s gaze, wh i l e he a p p a r e n t l y had l i ttle fea r of setting out to conquer the wor l d . M a u r i c e Maeter l i n c k was a writer-natu ra l i st who u sed words of wrath when he wrote about cats. Georges Cu vier and Georges Louis Buffon were French natura l i sts who spoke out bitterly agai nst cats. Others have s i nce joi ned them i n deno u n c i ng cats as ene m i e s of birds. Puss·in·Boots, created b y French author Perrau lt, was a clever cat that served his master by destroy ing an ogre and winning him both a fortune and a princess. Richard Willington, Lord Mayor of London, owed a large measure of his success to h i s pet cat.
To the Egyptia n s , cots were sa cred . The deod were embalmed and buried in elaborate coffins of bronze or gold, like this one.
THE FIRST CATS IN ART
were the Lions depicted i n the
fa m o u s d rawings on the wa l l s of caves in F ra n c e . But the g reatest richness of cat a rt, never since matched, came from Egypt, when the domestic cat soa red to its highest peak i n its association with m a n . The cat appea red then not o n l y in paintings but a l so in countless statu es, carv ings, j ewe l ry, and a variety of other u seful and orna men tal
objects.
The
most
del icate
were
tiny
gold
cat
figurines, many- of th em made a s a m u lets to be worn around the neck or hung on bracelets . Larger ca rvings were commonly of a mother cat with kitte n s . P a i n tings showed Egypti a n s putting their cats to work a s hu nters or as companions of fi shermen i n boats. With the rise of the Roman Empire, the cat a l most d i s appea red from art. Even i n those times, though, the cat was a symbol of the most fa mous of the Roman le g i o n s , and it a ppea rs, too, in a n u m ber of reliefs. The cat had lost its regal position, however, a n d as E u rope was l ater swept into the Dark Ages, the cat fe l l into such d i s repute that it seldom a ppea red in works of art except a s a figure of evi l . Cats came back in the art o f I ta l i an pai nters d u ring the
Renaissance.
Leonardo da Vinci and
p a i n ters added cats to the i r work s . 72
many other
Detail
from
The Hogarth ' s shows a wide
Graham Children
eyed cot eager to get at a bird in a cage.
A Japanese pointing depicts the
uncontrollable curiosity of a cot that has found a spider and must decide next whether to pow at or pounce on the crawling creature.
THE CAY'S PERFECTION OF FORM
has been acknowl
edged by many of the world ' s best artists. Some have a d m i tted tha t its s i n ewy grace somehow ma nages to escape captu re on canva s . Good depictions of the cat by brush are rea l l y few com pared to the charm and moods shown by the cat i n a d i fferent a rt form -the pho togra ph . Of all a n i m a l s , cats have proved themse lves to be s u perb subjects for camera study. 74
THE B A S I C B RE E D S O F CATS Cats beget more cats-and with l ittle d i ffi c u lty. Yet n o two cats a r e identical i n looks or perso n a l i ty, a n d the cha l lenge of those who breed cats is to perpetuate and emph a s i ze those d ifferences that seem desirable. The res u l t has been a wide range of types or breeds of cats . Al l domestic cats, no m atter what the i r a ppea ra nce, be long to the same spec i e s - felis cetus. Everywhere in the world there are spec i a l groups dedi cated
to the breed ing o f cats to prod uce parti c u l a r
typ e s . They have governing rules on wha t consti tutes a breed, and they keep l i neage records going back to the o r i g i n of the breed . To encourage an even greater ka lei doscope of colors and coats, they hold spec i a l shows at wh i ch the cats a re inspected and judged . Cat shows are held in nea r l y every major city, with a n n o u ncem ents i n and coverage by l o c a l papers. Even those who have n o cats t o enter can enjoy a n d l e a r n at t h e s e events. The c l a s s i c Egyptian tabby from wh i ch all of these breeds stem i s believed to have been a short-hai red cat with a red d i sh coa t stri ped with wh ite. Short-h a i red cats a re most common to th is day, and they a l so constitute the b u l k of the so-ca l l ed " a l ley cats" tha t seem to roam streets without owners. The descri ptions of cats on the fol lowing pages fit the rules of no parti c u l a r cat fa nciers assoc i a t i o n , except a s they genera l l y accept the division of b r e e d s i n t o two categories: short-h a i red a n d long-ha ired. No one knows exactly the o r i g i n of the l ong-hai red coat, but cats of th i s type a p p a rently first a p pea red in As i a . The first was produced by short-hai red parents, of course, but the de s i ra b l e long-h a i red feature was then caref u l l y preserved by selective breed i n g . 75
S H O R l.- H A I R E D C A T S Both i n appearance and poise, these s ho rt-hai red d i m i nu tives of thei r l a rge wild cou s i n s of crags a nd j u ng l es are unq uestiona bly cats through and th rough . Though n either a s exoti c nor as aristocratic a s the long-h a i red breeds { p . 94 ) , they are b y f a r t h e most abundant of t h e dom estic cats, accounting for a n estimated 95 percent of a l l the cats kept by m a n . T o q u a l ify f o r shows, a short-hai red cat m u s t have ears set we l l apart and rounded at the tip, a n d without conspicuously cu pped ba ses. The chin should be squa red or perpend i c u l a r with the upper l i p rather th a n s l a nted . The eyes should be rou nded ( S iamese excepted ) a n d set i n a broa d , f u l l -cheeked face. The nose should be broad . A good short-hai red show cat has a broad chest a nd a m u s c u l a r body. I ts ta i l is not d i s proportionately long i n compari son to i t s body, nor a re i t s l e g s long a n d spindly. The feet a re round and not l a rge. The coat is short a nd thick. A short- h a i red cat can have a w i n n i ng personal ity without having perfect show features , of course. Some of the common, non -ped igreed cats a re rea l l y c l a s s i c in form
and
looks;
others
show
their
m i xed
a n cestry .
Short- h a i red cats are genera l ly hardier and req u ire less attention tha n do the long-ha ired breed s . Some o f t h e most common breeds a n d color variations of
short-hai red
cats
a re
descri bed
on
the
fol lowing
pag e s . The l i sting does not cover all of the breed s , and this book treats sepa rate ly the American (or Domestic ) Short- h a i r p r i n c i pa l color va riations ( b l a c k , white, tabbies, and tortoiseshe l l s ) . Cat fa ncier association s d iffer i n their recog n i tion of the different breeds, and new ones are being d eveloped reg u l a r l y . 76
are not prevalent, but th ey m a ke up for it
BLACK CATS
by being conspicuou s . A g reen-eyed black cat h a s u n s u r pas sed mystic maj esty, but for shows, the eyes must be orange. There must be no white hairs a nywh ere in the s l eek, s h i n y coat. Even the nose and the l i p s of the show cat must be black. O rd i n a ry
non-show
black cats
usua lly
sport white
somewhere on the body. Commonly they wear a white loc ket around
the
neck.
Breed ing pure
black
cats
is
d i ffic u l t . Genera l l y they a re not born black but beg i n as darkish kitte n s with ta bby m a rkings ( p . 8 0 ) . The pure black coat does not show unti l the cat m a tures, i n a year to a yea r a n d a half. Because tabby m a r k i n g s are basic, it i s not u n common for two b l a c k parents to produce a l i tter of ta bby kitte n s . On the other h a n d , a b l a c k kitten may appear i n a l i tter produced by ta bby parents. 77
WHITE CATS -
pure white-are even l e s s common than
b l a c k cats . It i s not rare for two white cats to produce no white kittens or for a white kitten to appear in a l i tter with b l a c k parents. Genetic purity is not easy to ach ieve or to preserve i n cats (or any a n i m a l s ) , and i t takes c a re ful breed i ng over a n u m ber of generations to a rrive at a pure breed of white cats . Fo r show purposes, a white cat must not h ave any hair of any other color. I ts nose must be pink and its eyes blue. Deafness often occurs i n these b l ue-eyed cats. It may disappear i f the kitten ' s eyes change color a fter it i s seve ra l months o l d . With careful breed i n g , even th i s deafness can be e l i m i nated eventu a l l y , howeve r. White cats with ye l l ow or green eyes are much more common.
RUSSIAN BLUE CATS
may be slate b l u e or even a l most
a lavender shade. Pure breed s have the same co l o r u n i form l y ove r t h e i r entire b o d y . E v e n the i r l i p s a re b l u i s h . Th e i r eyes are orange. Russian blues developed in the cold reg i o n s of north ern E u rope where the i r thick, soft fu r h e l ped to keep them warm . The outer coat of hair actua l l y sta n d s out from the body rather than being c l ose-p ressed a s i n most short-ha i red breed s . These tri m , gracefu l cats a re noted for the i r m i l d tempers and for the i r wi l l i n g n e s s to be led on a leash. They are good mousers. Russian blues are a d i sti nctive breed that s h o u l d not be m i staken for the common g ray cat that i s known a l s o a s a M a l tese Cat. 79
TABBY
is a name u sed for stri ped cats. The n a m e ap
parently origi nated i n the Atta biah di strict of Baghdad in ancient times. There the Jews made a flne b l a c k s i l k that was s i m i l a r i n marki ngs to the stri ped eat ' s coat. In En gland and other parts of E u rope, the silk was ca l l ed " tab b i , " and so the name was g iven also to the cats that came from the same reg i o n . The Stri ped Tabby, or T i g e r C a t , i s g r a y with b l a c k stripes t h a t a re verti c a l on t h e sides f r o m the shoulder to the base of the ta i l . Another stripe extends horizonta l l y from t h e h e a d t o t h e t i p o f t h e ta i l . T h e stripes tend to break i nto s pots near the ta i l , which is common ly ri nged with b l a c k . Typica l ly there are two stripes o n the cheek, and the black marki ngs form a letter "M" i n the middle o f th e forehea d . The eyes may be either g reen o r hazel . In some cats the stripes a re na rrow; in oth ers, broa d . 80
Red
The Brown Tabby, known a l so as M a r b l ed Tabby and B lotched Tabby, has a basic tan body c o l o r . The strong stri pes a re b l ack,
sometimes broken i n to swi r l ed pat
tern s . The eyes may be g reen, brown, o r an i ntermed i ate yellow or haze l . The nose is redd i s h . Except for the s w i r l s , the markings of the B rown Tabby are m u c h l i ke those of the Striped Tabby. The Red Ta bby h a s orange to coppery eye s . The basic color of the coat i s a rich red d i s h orange, a n d the l i p s a re b r i c k red . Orange Ta bby i s another n a m e some times given th i s va riety . I n S i lver Tabbies, t h e basic color is a s i lvery g r a y , but the
ta bby
m a rkings
are
black.
For
shows,
the eyes
should be b l ue-green, but there i s a strong ten dency for them to be yel lowi s h . As with other ta bbies fo r shows, there should be no white i n the i r coats. 81
TORTOISESHELLS
h ave s o l i d patches of b l a c k , crea m ,
a n d red . Males are rare, a nd those th at do occur may be ster i l e . Show cats must have d i stinctly separated col ors, without any evidence of stripes, rings,
or other
marking s . The colors must not i nterm i n g l e to make the cat brindled. To rtoi s e s he l l s are a ttractive but have not been g iven a s much a ttention by cat breeders as have cats with solid colors. They a re not currently a popu l a r breed . Th e C a l ico Cat, a variation, has the same m a rkings as the o rd i na ry torto i seshel l , but it has wh ite o n its face , legs, and breast. In th is breed, too, the m a l e s are rare. C a l i cos a re much more common, in fact, than are the true Torto i seshe l l s .
KORATS
a re As i a n cats that have become pop u l a r a s
pets o n l y s i nce about 1 95 0 . They a re sti l l n o t common and are expen sive . I n th eir n at ive Th a i l a nd , t h e name m e a n s " si lver . " I t re fe rs t o th e si lvery b l ue color of the i r g l ossy coa t that con s i sts of a very flne, d e n se fur. Korats have much larger tha n a ve rage eyes, wh ich a re ye l lowish with a green cast. O n e of the most disti nctive features of th e breed is the i r a l most hea rt-shaped head . Korats
en joy
human
companionship
m ore th an
do
m a n y other breeds o f c a t s . F o r th i s rea son, they m ake exce l l ent pets . l i ke th e Abyssi nians, the Korats c a n be tra ined and can also master many simple tricks. Because of these d e s i ra b l e tra its, it i s highly p ro ba ble that the Korat will i n c rease i n po pu l a r ity . 83
ABYSSINIANS,
according to most a uthorities, date d i
rectly to Egypti a n t i m e s , and t h e y d o l o o k m u c h l i ke th e sacred c a ts of E gypt depicted in statues, carvings, a n d pa intings. The i r n a m e w a s a pparently derived from th e coincidence that the first taken to E u rope was procured in Abys s i n i a ( Ethiopia ) . T h e s e s l en der, a g i l e c a t s h a v e a g race a n d wildness in th e i r
m a n ne r that sets
domestic ca ts.
They
them a p a rt from
m a ke excel lent a nd
m ost
other
affectionate
pets, though th ey may b e shy a nd wa ry of stra ngers. They general ly learn s l owly but can
nevertheless
be
ta ught tricks a nd can e v e n be tra i n ed to perform w i l l i n g l y before audiences. U n l i ke m a n y breeds, t h e Abys s i n i a n conti n ues to be playful after it i s an a d u lt. A purebred A byssinia n ' s thick, soft coa t i s a brown ish gray, m uch l i ke a rabbit ' s but with the s a m e color per sisting all the way to the roots . Abys have been referred to as B u n n i e s or Ra bbit Cats beca use of th e i r coats, which a re ticked with a da rker color, usua l l y b l a c k , tha t gen era l ly forms a stri pe running from th e neck to the tip of the ta i l . The pads of the feet are black, with the black usua l ly extending u p the backs of the l eg s . The fur on the i n s i d e of the legs i s typ i c a l l y orange. I n show cats, there must be no wh ite i n th e coat. The Abys s i n ian ' s head i s g racef u l l y triang u l a r- c lassic in shape . Th e eyes may be yel low, g reen , or h az e l ; th e nose is brick-red, and the ta i l is long. The fem a l e ' s vo ice i s sometimes refe rred to as a n u ncatlik e cooing, more nea r l y l i ke a d ove.
U n l ike the S i a mese, h owever, the
Aby does not make g reat use of its voic e . A by s s i n i a n s a re n o t ea sy t o breed . They prod uce s m a l l l itters i n wh i c h m a l e s genera l ly domi nate. F o r th i s rea son, the Abyss inian rema ins among the most expensive of the breeds of cats. 84
85
REX CATS,
a l so c a l led Pood le Cats , a re u n l i ke either
the typ i c a l short-hai red o r the long-ha i re d cats . The i r coat i s soft, s i l ky, a n d k i nky. Even th eir wh i s ke rs are c u r l ed .
They
are
l o ng -bod ied,
ag i l e
cats
with
a
high-arche d back. The h ea d is rela tively n a r ro w; the ea rs a re broad a t the ba se and not exceptiona l l y long, the tips a l m os t rounded. Rex Cats a re ra re, hence expen s ive . They a re be com ing m o re po p u l a r , h owever, espe c i a l l y with p eo p l e wh o do not l i ke cats with straight, s h ort ha i r but who a l so d i s l i ke the bother of con sta nt shedding by the long-hairs. For these people, the Rex may be most sati s fy i n g , for it has a coat even shorter than the u s u a l short- h a i red cat. Rexes occur in a l l of the colors and color combina tions of the short-h a i red breed s . They a re inte l l igent and very respons ive to affecti o n .
BURMESE CATS
resem b l e the Siamese ( p . 9 2 ) but are
not as s l i m . Th e s l ee k, fi ne-haired coat i s a rich dark brown, l i g hter on the chest and u nderpa rts . A cham pagne-color Bu rmese occ u rs occasiona l ly i n l i tters and has caught the fa ncy of some breeders. A B u rmese cat has a tria ng u l a r h ead a n d ra th er large, pa i nted ears . The eye s , d i sti nctly a l mond-sha ped, a r e a rich go l d or ye l low . The feet a re s ma l l , a nd the ta i l typ i cal ly h a s a bend near the tip. B urmese cats are less noisy than a re S i a mese, and they do not h a ve as nervou s a temperament. They a re not on ly intel ligent but a l so h ave exceptiona l ly affection ate d i spo s i tions,
wh ich
a ccounts
l a rgely
fo r
the i r
recent
growth i n p o p u l a rity. 87
MANX CATS
have no tai l . In purebreds, there is actu
a l ly a h o l low area where the base of the tail wou l d fit. Manxes that are not pu rebred have a stu m p of a ta i l . Add ing t o this distin ctiveness, these cats have a large, rou nded r u m p - s o pro m i n ent, i n fact, that Rumpy i s one of the names by which they are known. Th e i r h i n d legs are longer tha n the front legs, a nd the cats hop i n a rabbit l i ke manner rather than walking as cats norma l l y do . They c a n a l so j u m p and a re ra pid runners. Because of their powerf u l haunches and stra nge appearance, peop le sometimes claim th at the Manx is a cross between a cat and a rabbit. Manxes h ave an u n u s ua l l y large, ro und head a nd poi n ted ears. Their soft, s i l ky coat can b e any color. The o r i g i n of the Manx Cat is obscure, but it is best known a s a resident of the I s l e of Man. 88
COON CATS
got their n a m e from the str iking s i m i l a r i ty
of the i r colors a n d pa tterns to those of a ra ccoo n . loca l l y , th i s resem b lance h a s l ed to th e b e l i e f th at t h e cat i s a re s u l t of a mating with a raccoon . Th ough th e i r o ri g i n i s
o b scu re, it i s b e l ieved t h a t th ey arrived i n Ma i ne a board an e a r l y tra d i n g or fish ing vesse l , p robably f ro m a Scan d i n av i a n cou ntry . They a re now m ixed w i th native cats. Because of their relatively long ha ir, these cats are som etimes desc r i bed a s l on g-ha irs. The t a i l i s particu l a r l y brush l ike . I n M a i n e, wh ere t h e y are m os t preva le nt, t h e i r longer h a i r a nd furry co l l a r h e l p t o kee p t h e m wa rm . Males com monly wei g h as m uc h as 4 0 pounds, th e fe ma les a bo u t a th i rd less- both m u c h larger tha n most domestic breed s . Coo n Cats are considered to b e exc e l l e n t mousers. 89
HAVANA BROWNS,
despite the i r name, d i d not origi
nate i n Cuba. They were first b red i n England but h ave been recog n i z ed as a breed o n ly s i nce abou t 1 9 6 0 . Th eir
name
a ctu a l ly
refers
to
their
s l e e k,
g lossy,
dark-brown color that i s u n i form over the i r e ntire body. A Hava na B rown ' s eyes are large, ova l , and g reen, preferably dark, a nd the wh iskers are brown, u s u a l l y with a redd i s h or rose tinge . T h e large e a r s are rou nd tipped and not h a i ry . The ta i l is of m ed i u m l ength in proportion to the body. I n temperament, these cats a re quiet and sop h i sti cated .
They may at frrst g l a nce
be
m i s taken for
a
Burmese because both a re brown. B ut the Burm ese is a much darker b rown and a l so has gold eyes rather than g reen as i n th e Havana B rown . 90
HAIRLESS ( SPHINX ) CATS
have such a ppea l i ng person
al ities that the i r u nu sua l looks a re soo n fo rgotte n by th ose who own them. Th e resu lt o f a m u tation, th ey are now being preserved by breeders who are i n tere sted i n novelty variations. These stra nge cats do not beg i n l i fe c o m p l ete l y ba l d . Th e kitte n s a re covered with a l ight coat of ha i r t h a t d i s appears soo n afte r they a re wea ned. It is re placed by a dense coat of short h a i r s that gives th e eat ' s body the . fee l i ng of suede. Th ere are no whi skers . The ta i l i s long and s l i m , a nd the eyes are gol d . Seemingly unawa re th at they a r e d ifferen t, these cats are ve ry soc i a ble . They a re much more trusting, fr iendly, and affection ate than are most breed s . Beca u s e of the i r baldness, these cats a re natura l l y sensitive t o c o l d weather and m u st be kept out of drafts.
SIAMESE CATS
are genera l l y considered to be the a r i s
tocra ts of t h e short-hai red b reed s . O nce th e prize pets of roya l ty and rated a s sacred , they are n ow th e com mon cats in th eir native Tha i land ( former l y S i a m) . A S i amese cat has a d istin ctive vo ice. It u tters m a n y c r i e s th at a re n ot at a l l l ike t h e s o u n d s made by other cats . They u se the i r vo ice in " ta l king " to the i r ma sters . and "a pparently thrive o n being ta l ked to i n retu r n . Sia mese a re among t h e m o s t affectionate cats .
These cats a re s l i m , w i th a rather l o n g a n d d i stinctly ta pered tai l. Th ei r sapph i re eyes a re a l m on d - s ha ped, a n d i n s o m e , d u e t o poor breeding, they are c r o s s e d . The head
is
a l most
wedge-sha ped,
the
ears
l a rg e
and
po inted . The fine, g l o s s y coa t i s l ig ht b rown or fa wn over mo st o f th e body, but on the feet and most o f the l eg s , o n the ta i l , a n d o n m uc h o f the face a n d th e i n s i de o f the e a r s , t h e color i s d a r k b rown t o nea r l y b lack. K itte n s a re n e a r l y white w h e n b o r n . Ba sed on t h e colors or " po i nt s " of the i r dark a r e a s , a number of va riations have been deve loped , ra ng i ng from chocolate b rown to l i la c . The Red Colorpoint S h o rtha i r, grow i ng in popula rity, is port Siamese.
LONG -HAIRED CATS Long-hai red
cats a re
Though
as
not
the el ite o f the domestic cats .
abundant as
the
sho rt-ha i red
breeds,
grea te r a tten tio n i s general ly given th em . O r i g i n a l l y , a l l long-ha i red cats were re fe rred to as Ango ra s .
Then
a
d i stin cti o n
was
made
betwee n
long-ha i red cats ca l l ed Ango ra s and othe rs that were ca l led Pers i a n s . The separation was based m a i n l y on sl igh t d ifferences in coa t tex tu re . Many a u th or i ti e s no longe r recognize this difference, m a k i ng it q u estion able wh ether a d i s tinctive Angora catego ry rea l l y exi sted . Al l are referre d to n ow either as
Pe rs i a n s or s i m pl y as
long-h a i re d cats . T o q u a l i fy in shows, a long-h a i red c a t m u s t have a broad, a l mo s t massive body and relatively short legs. Th e ta i l m ust be sho rt and heav i l y fu rred , or br us h l ike. Th e h ead m ust be ro und and broad, the nose short, and th e c h ee ks fu l l . The ears m ust be small and w i de a p a rt, fu l ly
furred
i n s ide
and
with
no
skin
s howi n g .
Al l
long- h a i red cats have l o n g , s i l ky coa ts and a defin ite ruff of ha i r a round the neck. Long- h a i red cats shed more no ticeably than do the short-h aired breeds. Th eir owne rs genera l l y groom them wel l and often so th at the s h ed ding i s not norm a l l y comp l a i n ed about by the i r proud ma sters . Cats that a re j udged for s o l i d colors m u st show no other color m a rk i ng s . Most o f th e va rious color patterns o f long-ha i red cats have coppery eyes . I n long-h a ired ta bbies, the eyes are g reen . White cats have blue eyes ( l ess commonly, or ange)
and typ ica l l y have either poor hearing
o r are
tota l l y deaf. Most of the short-ha i red breeds of cats have long-ha i red complem ents as descri bed on the fol lowing pages. 94
BLACK PERSIANS,
l i ke the black short-h a i red breed ,
are not common, nor a re they as popu l a r n ow a s they were a few yea rs a go . They have large, rou nd , o ra n g e eyes. K i tte ns o f b l ack cats m a y have a brow n i s h coat with dark roots . By the ti me the kitte ns a re matu re , in a bout a yea r and a half, their coats have become a rich, glossy black-if the breeder was l u cky . Owners who i n te nd t o s h ow th eir b l ack cats d o n o t a l l o w the m i n th e s u n , w h i ch w i l l b u r n the h a i r a nd turn it ye l lowi s h . They groo m the cats reg u l a rl y and go over them w i th a c loth to give the c oa t a sheen . Fo r show p u rposes, there must be no trace o f wh ite i n th e coat. Th i s i s rare. Even when an a l l - bl a c k cat i s obta ined, there i s no a s s uran ce that it wi l l p roduce b l ac k kitte ns. This p ro b l e m h a s made th e breed lose favor with fa nciers. 95
WHITE PERSIANS
are startl i n g l y attractive . Both o ra nge
eyes and b l u e eyes a re accepted for shows. Some are odd-eyed - that is, they have one orange a nd one blue eye. Still others h ave g reen eye s . Wh ite cats, parti c u larly those w ith b l u e eyes, have a tende ncy to be deaf-at least pa rtly. Breeders are trying to overcome th i s problem and some report succe s s . Wh ite Pers i a n s w e r e presumably th e orig i n a l s o f the long- ha i red cats.
like
all
cats,
th ey keep th emselves
clean a n d present a near- i m m ac u l ate appearance even witho ut
i nten sive
g room i n g .
In
c i ti e s ,
ho weve r,
it
is
diffi c u l t for them to keep soot a nd grime fro m thei r white coa ts, and they m ust be bathed to kee p them in shape fo r s h ows . D ry bath s ( p . 1 24 ) can be used to prevent them from getting c o l d s .
BLUE PERSIANS
rate a mong the most p o p u l a r and most
handsome of all the long-hai red cats. Broadfaced, these ha rdy, b ea utifu l cats return you r look w i th a disa rm i ng , a l m ost understa n d i n g expression . Fo r show, as in other breed s , the b l u i s h color must be so l i d , each h a i r u n i formly b l u i s h from its tip to its root . The col l a r m u st not be paler in color nor can there be white s pots on the underside, as may occ u r in older cats . Th e colors ra nge from l i g h t to a deep, a l most l aven d e r bl u e, w i t h p a l e r c o l o r s preferred f o r shows. The eyes must be coppery o range i n show cats . G reen a nd ye l ·
l o w eyes a r e common b u t not accepted . The b l u e col o r is n ot easy to maintain in breedi ng. U n l ess both parents are p u re blues, a l itte r produced by b l u e parents m ay conta i n a l mo s t a n y other col o r, com monly ta bbies. O r a blue may appear i n the l itter of non-bl u e parents . 97
or Si lvers, have almost s i lvery coats ,
CHINCHI LLAS,
each ha i r ti p ped with bla ck. Their nose is red, o u t l ined with b l ack; the eyes a re g reen , with blackish r i m s that match
the
b l ack
pads
on
the i r
feet.
As
in
other
l ight-colored cats, th ere is a tendency for the l o ng coat to be come grea sy a nd turn yel l owi s h , pa rt i c u l a rly a round th e t a i l . P roud own ers brush the i r cats with powd er to absorb the grease. K i tten s , a s i n many other pure-color breed s, a re at fi rst m a rked l i ke ta bbies. Even the legs may be heavily ba rred with black. The stripes d i sappear a s the ki ttens beco m e older-in about two months. In the Shaded Si lver, a var iety, the ticking is d arke r a n d t h e u ndercoa t i s pa l e- but n o t white as in t h e pure C h i nc h i l l a . In Masked S i lvers, both the face and the paws a re blacki s h .
BALINESE CATS
first a ppeared as white m u tants in a
l itter of purebred Siamese about 1 95 5 . In personal ity and body sh ape, they are defi nitely S i am ese, with b l u e eyes and a wedge-shaped h e a d . They differ in having lon g, soft, s i l ky coats. There a re now s e a l points , blue points, and chocolate points.
HIMALAYANS,
also ca l l ed Long-hai red Colorpoints, are
th e re sult o f breeding S i a m ese with long-h a i red cats . Th e eyes a re blue, and the coat co lor is l ike th e Siamese. But the shape of the body is stocky, the head broad, and the eyes rou nd . Lost in th e breed i n g, too , was th e wa i l in g , d e ma nd i ng v o i c e o f t h e Siames e . T h e H i m al a ya n a l so h as
a
warm,
affectionate
personality,
as
do
most
lon g- h a i red cats. Th e name refers to the eat ' s resem b l a n c e to the H i ma l ayan rabbit and h a s noth ing to do with where th e cat originated. 98
SMOKES hig h l y
occur in two color varieti es, but neither i s
popu l a r a mo ng
today ' s c a t breeders.
S m okes
were much m ore common early in the 1 9 0 0 ' s . I n t h e B lack S moke, t h e fa ce a n d the feet a r e b l ack; the sides and the ear tufts a re si lvery. The basic color of th e body is b l ack, but th e roots o f th e h a i r s are s n owy wh ite , giving the a ppearance that the cat actua l ly h a s two c o a t s . T h e
wh i te
shows
through
as the
a ni m a l
move s . Newborn k i tten s a r e a l l black or nearly s o . T h e white bases on the hairs do not appear u nti l the k itten s are th ree or fou r weeks old, a nd the fu l l color may not de velop for five or six month s . T h e B l u e S m oke, a light version, ha s a g ray face and feet, n ot nearly a s str i kin g a s the B l ack Smoke. 1 00
BIRMANS,
the sacred cats of Burma, are extraord inar
i l y bea utifu l , with l ustrous s i l ky coats . They a re a natu ra l breed that o r i g i na ted i n Burma where fo r m a n y centu ries they have inhab ited some of the tem p l e grounds, protected by the priests. This b reed h a s o n l y recently beg u n to be popu lar i n other countri e s . A B i rman ' s eyes, a l most rou nd, are a deep b l u e . Its ears,
nose,
ta i l , a nd
legs are m a h og a n y or b lackish
brown . The i r body i s beige tinged with golden orange. Th e o rig ina l color was seal po i nt, l i ke the S i amese, but bluepoints, chocolate po ints, and other color va riations have been developed by breeders. I n all o f the color vari ations, the paws rem a i n snowy wh ite, as though the cat is wea r i n g g loves. The s h ort, ra ther sto ut legs s u p po rt a lon g, stocky body. 1 01
TORTOISESHELLS
with
long
hair
complement
those
with short hair ( p . 8 2 ) . As i n the short-h aired b reed, ma les a re very ra re and a re commonly steri l e . This has made it d iffi c u l t to m a i ntain the b reed . A tru e Tortoiseshell h a s th ree co lors- b l ack, red, and cream . Prefe ra bly, there is a streak o f r ed down the face.
Th e
color
patches
a re
distinctly
s e pa ra te .
Fo r
shows, there must be no inter m i n g l i n g or brind l ing and no stripes or other ta bby marki n g s . Also, there m ust be n o w h ite h a i rs showi n g anywhere o n th e body. Th e eyes m u s t be o ra nge-ye l l ow or coppe ry . As
in the s h ort-ha i red bre ed , there is
a var i ety i n
w h i c h white patches a re added to the ba s i c colors . These a re considered by many to be the most a ttractive.
CREAMS AND RED SELFS
are breeds in which the col
ors a re q u ite variable. Pure stocks a re rare and a l m ost impos s i b l e to m a i n ta i n . Both we re i n times pa st referred to as Orange. Crea m s a re yel lowi sh-pi nk, and while they are not a s d i ffi c u l t t o a c h i eve as t h e red c o l o r , f e w are b r e d today compared to th e 1 9 20 ' s and 1 9 3 0 ' s when both breeds were m uc h more popu l a r . Th e Cream s h o u l d have or ange o r coppery eye s . I n both th e Cream and the Red Self, the coats m ust b e s i l ky rather than wool ly a n d the colors so l id. A Red S el f ' s coat i s p refera bly a deep red, l i ke an Irish setter ' s . Both the nose and the l i p s are p i n k , and the eyes match the coat. There are many l ig h ter shades.
are the cou nterparts of tab
LONG-HAIRED TABBIES bies
with
short
hair.
Tabby
ma rk ings
are
dom i nant,
hence th e breed i s not a s diffi c u l t to a tta i n as a re som e of the o thers . It is not a mong the most p op u l a r today, howeve r.
Red, S i lver, B l u e,
and Brown a re the most
common base colors . To ach ieve these colors i n show standards may be d i ffi c u l t . For s h ows, t h e y a re b r e d to bring out the r i c h e s t col o r i n th ei r tabby marki n gs-which m u s t s h o w clearly
in
str i pe s , n ot blotches. It i s n o t uncommon fo r these o r fo r any of th e long-hai red 1 04
bre ed s
to
slip
ba ck to the i r
short-haired fea tu res . Th e ears may be come too long, the tai l too s l i m , o r other c h aracteristics show that make th em lose the stocky, compact b u i l d that i s req u i red o f t h e long-haired c a t s fo r s h o w p urposes. Not i n freq u e ntly they wi l l deve lop a white ti p o n th e ta i l o r a wh ite b lotch on the chest or ch i n . These are not accepta b l e featu res in show a n i m a l s . Tabby kitte n s a re typica l ly too h ea vi l y ma rked when first
born ,
but
th ese
markings
genera l l y
lose
the ir
strength a s the kitte n s matu re . Correct body form, which does not cha ng e with age, i s more i mporta nt. 1 05
C A TS A S P E TS People who l i ke cats do not have to be to ld why these an ima l s make such fine compa n i o n s . Th e cats th em selves have a l ready done this s e l l ing job. Cats a re sen sitive and genera l ly undemanding,
requ iring
much
less
p ersonal
atte ntion than d o most k i nds o f p ets . They are not noisy, nor are they destructive. Cats h ave admirable res e rve and independence. They do not serve m asters o ut o f strict o b l i gation o r b l i nd o bedience but wi l l s h a re p l ea s ures . They purr to make requ ests - a n d also in g ra titude. O f all the cats kept a s pets, it i s d o u bt fu l that more than a fraction of a percent were carefu l l y sele cte d . I n most cases, a neighbor o r a friend offered a kitte n, and some m ember of th e fam i ly wa s ta ke n by its way s . Or sometimes a homeless cat l itera l ly adopts a fa m i l y . I t
Cared-for pets give and take ful l mea sures of affection, whether they lack " papers" ( left) or have full proof of aristocracy (above ) .
appear s a t t h e door, and i f g ive n food a n d a p l ace t o s leep, it h a s fo u n d w h a t i t wants - a good home. B ut i f y o u d id h a v e yo ur choice, h o w would y o u go about mak ing a s u itab l e selection? The an swe r i s strictly pe rso na l , of course. If you are selecti n g from a l i tte r of kittens, do not p ic k th e one that looks lonesome and forlorn, needing love and attention . Chances are it avoids th e playf u l m e l ee with others i n th e l itter beca use it lacks vigor, either d u e to i n he ritance o r because it i s i l l . Your choice should be the l ively, i n q u i s itive, s o c i a b l e , bright-eyed kitten. A ki tten can adapt to a new home with ease. Its period of a d j u stment, if a n y is noticea b l e , wi l l be brief. An older cat wi l l m i s s its fa m i l i a r s u rround i n g s and former a s soc iatio n s _ Even if a cat has strayed to yo u r home, i t w i l l ta ke t i m e t o g e t over its c aution . 1 07
S how cots compete with others of their breed for various awards:
A PEDIGREED CAT?
A cat o r ki tten with papers s i g n i
fying t h a t its ancestry is wel l do cum ented and t h a t its breeding is true can be h ad only by payi n g for its past. Some pedigreed cats sel l for th ousands of dollars, but most cost much less. Knowing yo ur eat' s genea l og y wi l l b e fa sci nati n g . You wi l l p roba bly be a ble t o trace it ba ck through more generations than you can your own fa m i l y . I f y o u d o d ec i d e t o g e t a ped igreed c a t , yo u wi l l want to g u a rd its papers a l m ost as much a s you do you r pet. They w i l l be i m portant i f you d ecide to e nter th e cat in show s . O r you may wa nt to make your ped igreed cat a parent. Produ c i ng more cats of its kind could earn back its original price many times over. 1 08
MORE THAN ONE CAT?
Or how a bout a cat a n d a
dog? Do they mix? The a n swers depend partly on the personal ity and age of the a n i ma l s and to some degree on how you handle the s ituation . O l d e r pets genera l l y do not l ike intruders. They have staked
out
their
territory-your
home
and
its
s u rrou n d i n g s -and are ready to d efend it with tooth and n a i l . Do not try to fo rce a friend s h i p . B e ready to sep a rate the animals i f they get into fights. Make certa i n y o u console y o u r o l d fri e n d , w h o i s d i s p laying both loy a l ty and jealousy. Let the a n i m a l s get a c q u a i nted s l owly and i n the i r own way, which may req u i r e days or even weeks . In time they w i l l u s u a l l y learn at least to tol e ra te each other, esta bl i s h i ng their own bou n d s a n d l i m itations o n the relatio n s h i p . Sometimes a dog a n d a cat become fa st friends, but they rema i n b e l l igerent i f a stra nge dog o r cat comes on the p re m i s e s . The most i m portant relation s h i p i s the one between you and your cat. A happy cat w i l l g ive m a n y years of satisfying companion s h i p . Pals and playmates-but respectfu l o f each oth e r ' s rights .
FOOD AND FEEDING
-a ba l anced diet and a reg u l a r
feedi n g sched u l e a re keys t o y o u r pet ' s h a p p i n e s s and h e a l th .
You m u st select the foods.
I f you leave the
choices to you r cat, it may fi l l itse l f with foods that a re most appea l ing to its taste. Despite common bel ief, a cat does not h ave insti nctive wi sdom that te l l s it what foods a re best for it to eat. Cats n eed meat, which is their source of prote i n . I n t h e w i l d , a cat wou l d e a t mice, b i r d s , and o t h e r s m a l l a n i m a l s , and i t wou l d e a t t h e m entirely, obta i n i ng from the i nterna l organs and from the parti a l l y d ige sted food in the a n i ma l ' s stomach the i ron and additional e l e ments that are neces sary for a wel l - rounded d i et. So while meat i s a n es senti a l a nd basic part of the d i et, you must provide the supplementary m i nera l and vitam i n needs with other foo d s . Meats of a l l kinds genera l ly appea l to cats . Most meats can be fed raw, and occasiona l l y it is wise to give the cat some l iver, heart, kidney, or other organ m eats . If you feed your cat horse meat, be sure to add a bit of fat now and then, for horse meat by itself is too lean . On the other hand, you must trim away some of the fat from pork. Cats a l so l ike fi s h , which should a l ways be cooked a nd the bones removed . A mea l of fish s h o u l d be g iven at l east once a week. C h icken and tu rkey are a l so favorites with cats .
Give them only the m ea t . Be sure
you remove the skin, wh ich i s extremely d i ffi c u l t for a cat to d i gest. I f you feed you r cat canned or packaged food s -and the vari ety ava i l a b l e i s l a rge-check the conte nts carefu l l y . Good b r a n d s a r e we l l -proportioned and conta i n a l l o f t h e necessary m i n e r a l s a nd vita m i n s t h a t y o u r cat needs d a i l y . Well -prepa red cat foods make feed ing your cat a m u c h s i m p l e r ta s k than in days gone by. I nferior brands 1 10
are inadeq uate, however, and if your cat depends on these i nferior foods for a steady diet, i t will not have adequate n utrition . M i l k, a traditiona l favorite of cats, s h o u l d be offered a fter the solid food s have been finished . A saucer of m i l k each day contributes to a eat ' s tota l d i etary need s . Some cats d o n o t l i ke m i l k, however, a n d i t m a y make them i l l . Always, a bowl of fresh water s h o u l d be ava i l a b l e . M a n y cats a l s o l i ke a vari ety of vegetables, both cooked and raw. These can be offered a s a part o f the tota l d i et, but fi rst make certa i n that your eat ' s protein n.e eds have been satisfied . 1 1 1
A VARIETY OF FOODS
is i m po rtant in keeping a cat
happy . A cat may eat tuna with g reat enth u s i a s m for meal a fter meal and then suddenly turn away from it, obvio u s l y tired of the same ta ste . Your cat i s not neces s a r i l y being fi n icky. It i s s i m p l y letting you know that it wou l d l i ke a change. Later it may go bac k to the tuna with j u st as m uch delight. G i ve your cat some treats now and th e n . Offer some cooked hamburger or whatever other meat you are hav i n g for your m ea l . Try a p iece of boi l ed potato or some cooked ca rrots, bea n s , or pea s . Some cats a l so l i ke but tered
bread .
They
may
a l so
have
q u i te
unusual
taste s - fo r such th ings a s stuffed o l i v e s , c a k e i c i n g , o r cavi a r . J u s t don ' t beg in catering to expe n s i ve tastes reg ularly.
If the basic
diet i s m a i ntained, no
harm
wi l l
come from i n d u l g i n g the cat i n del icacies now and then .
TWICE-A-DAY FEEDING
( mo rn i ng a nd night) i s gener
a l l y recommended for an adult cat. Once a day i s satis factory for some cats . Cats that are catered to may try to get a t least a snack every hour o r two . Avoid th i s , at l e a s t a s a regular practice. You can let your cat eat its fi l l if you wish. Tota l ly, it will consume six to eight ounces of food per day, but i f y o u l e t y o u r c a t e a t whenever it wishes, it m a y e a t much more-and get fat. Food ( a nd wate r ) should be at room temperature, not cold from the refrigerator. Put the food out at a specific time each day. You r cat will learn its feed ing time and w i l l be ready and wa iting . Its mealtime wi l l be a n event looked forward to with a n appetite. Take uneaten food away when the cat beg i n s to wash its face, a s i g n a l that i t has fi n i shed its mea l . Don ' t let h a l f-fi l led food bowl s sit out to col lect i n sects and to get s po i l e d . 1 12
Give each cot its own dish and take it away when the cot is finished.
Someti m e s a cat w i l l refuse to eat what you offe r . If you are giving good food that makes a w e l l -rounded d i et, i n s i st that it eat or that it gets noth i n g . Skip the mea l , and offe r the food aga in at the next ' feed ing pe riod . Your cat wi l l get h u ng ry enough to get over its stubbo r n n e s s - u n l e s s , of course, it has lost its a ppetite due to an i l l n e s s . You can soon determ ine whether your cat i s sick, and i f it i s rea lly i l l , you s h o u l d consult a veter inarian i m mediately. The best measure of whether you are feed ing your cat properly i s the cat itself. I f it eats we l l , rema i n s active and happy, and has a l u strou s shine to its coat, you are doing a good job of provi d i ng both what the cat wants and what i t needs. Be concerned if yo u r cat becomes l i stless o r m o p i s h . 1 13
LIVING QUARTERS
for your cat n eed not be e l a bo rate .
Cats l i ke to be warm, and they enjoy a soft bed . In fact, if you provide the kind of comfort you wou l d l i ke person a l ly, you w i l l be given yo u r cat exactly what it l i kes . Select a specific place for your cat to sleep. Th is should be a q u iet spot away from the normal traffic in the house. You can make a bed of a box i n which you have put paper covered with a bla nket, or you can buy a spec i a l cat bed. Don ' t be surpri sed if your cat rej ects the bed-at least for the time being . Cats are both i nde pendent and choosy. You r cat may prefer to sleep on a window ledge, on the top of a bookshelf, or in a chair. But cats a l s o l i ke change. They will vary their s l eeping · places from week to week, and eventua l ly, if you do not force the i s s u e , the soft, comfortable bed you have pro vided w i l l probably become the favor ite . Cats appreciate having a warm, camfartable place to sleep.
1 14
In contented rest, a cat folds its fro n t legs u nder its chest, closes its eyes, and naps. It can u n l i m be r from th is position i n a second i f d i stu rbed . Some cats l i ke com p l ete q u iet when they rest; others do not m i nd noise and may enjoy l i ste n i ng to music, even to the extrem e of put ting the i r head against or even i n side a ra d i o or record p l ayer to get the fu l l effect of the sound . A s l eepi ng cat, completely relaxed and secure in its su rrou nd i n g s , may be a l most a s much p l ea s u r e to watch a s when it i s awake . When a s leep, a cat sprawl s . Some times it may ro l l onto its back, or it may l itera l l y hang from a bed o r a chair. I f the l iving qua rters you provide are to yo u r eat ' s l i k i n g , you w i l l have n o doubt about it. Your cat, whether awake or a s l eep, w i l l show you how to enjoy every nook and cranny. 1 15
KEEPING YOUR CAT HAPPY
should provide you with
many hours of pleasure. Most pet cats l ive to a n age of about 1 4 years. Some have been known to l ive for more than 25 yea rs. They never get too old to e n j oy play, tho ugh thei r i n te rest i n ro mping slacken s with age . Play is an i m po rtant exercise and w i l l h e l p keep your cat i n good health . Put a big paper bag o n the floor and let your cat explore i n s i d e . The results a re often q u i te comica l . Or you r cat may get as much p leasure from a wadded-up section of a newspaper that rattles as it i s batted about. I f you want t o j o i n i n the play, tie a string around the center of the paper so that you can pull it th i s way and that. Th i s w i l l keep yo u r ea t ' s i n terest aroused . S l i p your hand u nder a bla nket and move it in front of you r cat-and try to escape the l ightning at tac k s . Tra i l a string across the floor o r hang i t where th e cat can box with it. O r you m ay h ave a cat that l i ke s t o box w i t h you r hand ( j u s t insist th at it k e e p its c l a ws sheathed) . Ru bber ba l ls are a lways fun fo r cats. Be cer ta i n th e bo l l s are l arge e no ug h so that yo ur cat does not swa l low them . Pet shops offer a variety of cat toys, most of them stuffed with catn i p to help make them attractive . These are genera l l y proven play i tems, though the obj ects you find around the house may be just as satisfy i n g . Avo i d pa i n ted obj ects; t h e paint may be po isonou s .
.
O n e of your eat ' s pleasure s wi l l be bring i ng h o m e gi fts f o r y o u occasiona l ly. Most o ften t h e s e w i l l b e th e carcasses of mice or rats; someti mes th ey may sti l l be l iv i n g . I f you r cat can manage, these tre a s u res will be brought i n s ide to be buffeted about i n a spec i a l show for you . Do n ot scold your cat for having put on th i s pe rfor ma nce fo r you. Your cat is proud. It th i n k s i t has p er formed a special favor for you . 1 17
If conditioned eorly, most cats will accept a col lar and leash.
consi sts m a i n l y of tea c h i n g it to behave i n a n accepta b l e manner. It m u s t learn what is
TRAINING YOUR CAT
a l l owab l e and what is not i n your h o u s e . T h i s kind of tra i n i n g should be sta rted when the cat i s young so that its good behavior becomes a habit. An older cat w i l l be more i n s istent on having its way, and you wi l l d i scover that no a n i m a l has more stubborn determi nation than a cat. In a wel l-organi zed household, however, a cat soon adapts to the routi n e and w i l l ex pect you to fo l low th is esta b l i shed pattern without g reat va riation . Nearly a l l cats, i f you start them early, can learn to to l e rate a c o l l a r and even a lea s h . A few of the b reeds seem even to enjoy collars and leashes. A col l a r bearing a tag with yo ur name and address may help i n case your 1 18
cat s trays . But cats do genera l l y object to any sort of restra i nt.
It takes gentle persi stence and patience on
you r part to get them to respond . S i m i l a r l y , most cats ( but not a l l ) can be tra i n ed to come when you ca l l or whistle. In the tra i n i ng period parti cu l a r l y, make certa i n the cat is g i ven a reward of kind word s and a tidbit fo r its proper behavior. Most i mporta n t fo r the house cat is to i l e t tra i n i n g -for using the l i tter box i f you r cat must stay indoors or sig n a l i n g that i t wants to go out i f you l i ve where that i s pos s i b l e . A ki tten that c a n stay with i t s mother long enough wi l l learn from her. Otherwise, you will have to help. When it i s obvious that the kitte n ·is looking for a place to re l i eve itse l f, pick it up a n d set it i n the l i tter box o r put it outs i d e . Pra ise it when it performs i n the proper place. Scold it when it makes a m i stake and then a l so s how i t where i t should h a ve gone. You may have to help the kitten at fl rst i n l e a r n i n g how to dig a hole to cove r its wastes, but the learning rea l l y comes q u i c k l y . Cats becom e q u i te fast i d i o u s about the i r toi l e t habits, and they s o o n give no pro b l e m s . A toi let-trained c a t uses i t s litter box .
MOST CATS CAN DO TRICKS,
if yo u have p l e n ty of
patience and the time to teach the m . Some absol utely refu s e . Remem ber that all cats are considera b l y more i ndependent than dog s . Having to perform is some how below the i r d i g n i ty . But if you persist, you should be successful in getting your cat to do s i m p l e tricks. You have to ad just your tra i n i n g to flt the ti m e when your cat is i n the m ood to be taught, and you m u s t a l so make ce rta i n not to go beyond the l i m its of the eat ' s in terest at the moment. You m u st, i n fact, use a bit of c l ever psychology in the early stages o f the tra i n i n g . Fi rst y o u antici pate w h a t the cat i s about t o do, then command him to do it and g ive a reward fo r the perfor mance. Eventu a l l y your command wi l l bring on the ac tion automatica l ly-a cond i tioned response. l i k e t h e b i g cats in circuses, pet cats c a n do simple tricks.
Big cots ore popular performers in circuses and other animal shows .
K i ttens o n l y four or five months old can be ta ught to shake h a n d s , for exam p l e . Once they have learned such a stunt, they w i l l continue to repeat it throu ghout the i r l i fe i f y o u k e e p t h e m i n practice. A c a t t h a t s h o w s a wi l l ingness t o learn c a n be ta ught t o r o l l ove r, p l a y dead, sit u p - a l l of the simple tricks that a dog can do. Properly ta ught, it w i l l perform on command words, expecting a ta sty tidbit and a few rewa rding words when it has done its stunt. Lions i n c i rcu ses and s i m i lar a n i m a l shows are perhaps the best examples of performing cats . They are rea l l y no sma rter than you r domestic cat, but they are g iven rigor ous tra i n i ng day after day. 1 21
Even after a carefu l groom ing, a cat puts itself in order again.
GROOMING
helps to keep your eat ' s coat s h i n y and
a l ive-l ooking . It stimu l ates the growth of h a i r, while at the same time removing the c l u tter of dea d , loose hairs a n d preventing them from being shed on the floor o r the furniture. Reg u l a r groom i n g i s an essential for m a i nta i n i n g t h e g o o d appearance of long-haired c a t s a n d i s a l so h e l p f u l far the short-ha i red breed s , pa rti c u l a rly at those times of the year when they a re shed d i n g . M o s t c a t s l i ke t o be combed or bru shed . The i r a ppre c i a tive purring g i ves you the g ood fee l i n g that your time h a s been wel l spent. I f you l i k e to exper iment a n d know that you have your e a t' s confidence, you m i g h t a l s o try the va c u u m c l eaner. Some cats enjoy being vacuumed , a n d i t i s s u r e l y the q u i ckest way to get rid o f loose h a i r s . G room i n g s h o u l d b e sta rted w i t h kittens w h e n they a re a bout a month o l d . At least once a day go over the
1 22
kitten ' s coat w i th a c loth , stroking very gently from front to back. Th i s will condition the kitten for the brush or comb to come l a te r . U s e a s t e e l comb f o r long-ha i red cats. A stiff-bristled brush is good for short-ha i red cats. These a re spec i a l l y desig ned a n i m a l c o m b s a n d brushes t h a t you can buy i n a p e t store. A long-ha i red cat s h o u l d be com bed every day i f po s s i b l e . Be sure the coarse-toothed part of the comb goes through smooth l y before you attempt to . run the fi ne-tooth part through the h a i r . I f the h a i r has be come m a tted with oil or with burrs, fi rst try to u n ta n g l e t h e h a i r w i th b r u s h stroking . I f t h i s fa i l s , trim o u t the mats with sci ssors. Hair i s genera l l y first com bed opposite to the d i rection it norm a l l y l i es , and then i t can be worked i n to p lace sm ooth l y . Be espec i a l l y gentle when you are com bi ng or b r u s h i n g the sto m a c h , where t he h a i r i s t h i n nest and the s k i n i s most sens itive. But no matter how carefu l l y y o u d o t h e j o b , expect y o u r c a t t o g o over i t s coat a g a i n w i th its tongue to a d j ust itself. H A I R BALLS a re an accum u la· lion of hair in the cat' s stomach or i ntestine. As the cat grooms itself with its tongue, it will swal· low some of the loose hair, which will be most abundant when the cat i s shedding. Normally the cat regurgitates the hair mass to get rid of it, but sometimes the matted hair, which is ind igestible, passes on into the intestine . There it may cause great discomfort. The cat coughs and vomits without moving the hair bal l , and the obstruction may grow large enough to cause con· stipation . Hair bal l s sometimes
become so large and immovable that they m u st be taken out by surgery. Grooming helps to prevent the formation of hair balls, but once the hair bal l has formed, you must help your cat get relief. A m i l k of magnesia tablet or a tea· spoon of mineral or vegetable oil sometimes helps to lubricate the mass of hair and move it through the digestive tract. Sometimes a bit of white vaseline rubbed on the eat' s nose w i l l do the trick. The cat licks off the vaseline and i n this way gets the l ubricant i nto its digestive tract. 1 23
BAT HE A CAT
on l y if it
is a bsolutely necessa ry-to
get r i d of g rease or s i m i l a r substances. Cats are very suscepti b l e to colds, and so you must guard carefu l l y a g a i nst t h e i r b e i n g w e t and exposed t o d rafts . F o r wash ing, u s e a mild soap (not a detergent) a n d only s l ightly warm wate r . A touch of m i neral oil around the eyes and i n the ears wi l l prevent soapy water from gett i ng i n s i d e . When y o u have fi n i s h ed , rinse out t h e s o a p thorough l y . This may req u i re three o r fou r ri n s i n g s . D r y t h e cat com p l etely, using h eavy towels or even a n electric d ryer i f you r cat w i l l permit i t . Sometimes dry b a t h powders wi l l do th e job best. These can be purcha sed at pet stores, but check with your
veterinarian
to
find
out
which
he
reco m m e n d s .
C o r n m e a l o r c o r n sta rch are als o effective. Work them .in to the coat and then brush them out. M uch of the d i rt w i l l come o u t with the powd e r .
CLIPPING A CAT'S CLAWS
prevents damage t o your
furniture, rugs, b l a n kets, bedspreads, and s i m i l a r i tem s . Claws too l o n g t o fit into t h e i r sheaths are a l s o uncom forta b l e fo r the cat. I f a cat i s a l l owed outside, it wi l l fi n d a tree or a post on which to scratc h , d u l l ing and wea r i n g down its c laws by its own m ethod . I ndoors, some cats can be tra i n ed to use a square of carpet o r a spec i a l scratc h ing post made of carpet, c o rk, or wood . Without its c laws, a cat c annot c l i m b or defend itsel f. O n l y in extreme cases s h o u l d de claw ing be done-and then o n l y after c o n s u l t i n g your veterina ria n . He w i l l probab l y recommend removing only the front claws. Tr i m m i ng
a
eat ' s
claws
req u i res two peo p l e .
One
s h o u l d hold the cat with one arm around the body and the othe r g r i pp i ng the h i nd legs fi r m l y . The other person 1 24
A carpet-covered post makes an excellent scratching post for a cat.
should hold both front legs, tri m m i ng the c l aws o n first one a n d then the other paw. A slight pres s u re on the pad of the foot will cause the eat's c l aws to come out of their sheath s fo r tri m m i n g . Fingern a i l c l i ppers w i l l d o t h e j o b , b u t spec i a l n a i l trimmers are bette r _ G e t t h e c l a w s i n a p o s i t i o n so that you can see through them to m a ke certa i n you do not trim down to the pink, living pa rt i n s i d e . Th i s would be p a i n fu l , cause b l eed i n g , and possibly lead to a n i n fec tio n . After the front claws are trimmed, repeat the proce dure to trim the hind c l a w s . 1 25
KEEPING YOUR CAT HEALTHY
i s norm a l l y not a p rob
l e m . With good food and a warm, d ry place to s leep, your cat w i l l o rd i n a r i l y be happy and healthy. Cats, l i ke peo p l e , do become i l l occasiona l ly, h owever, a n d they a re stoic enough to refra i n from showing s i g n s of sick ness until they need considerable attention . If your cat refuses to eat ( not s i m p l y i nd icating the d e s i re for a change i n d i e t ) , has red d i s h eyes and h a l ito s i s , o r beg i n s cough i n g and vom iting, you can be as su red that your pet i s rea l ly i l l . Home diagnosis of the a i l me n t is not reco m m ended, u n l ess you h ave had much experience, are absolutely confident of the symptoms, and know precisely what to d o . You d o not d a re m a ke a m i stake, for some a i l ments, such as i n fectious enteritis, can be fata l quickly. Neither can you be a bsol utely cer t a i n you rse l f whether your cat has rabies, the fl u , o r sim p l y a hair ba l l . The sym ptom s a re s i m i l a r . letti ng a veterinarian exa m ine y o u r cat i s safer fo r you and a l so for your pet. Certa i n l y it is m u c h more com forti n g . Reg u l a r checkups and a prog ram of i m m u n i zation shots s h o u l d be t h e r u l e , sta rt i ng w h e n a ki tten i s about two months o l d . S i m p l e problems can be attended to, of cou rse, and your vete r i n a r i a n can help you select items for a n emer gency med i c i ne chest. A few of the co m m on need s are l i sted below.
FIRST AI D KIT FOR CATS
1 26
rectal thermometer
bandages
white vaseline
medicine d ropper
flea spray
cotton bal l s
baby aspirin
mineral oil, or milk of magnesia tablets
A VETERINARIAN
should be selected soon a fte r you
get your pet. K i tten s s h o u l d have i m m u n i zation shots for cat feve r ( i n fectious enteriti s ) when they are about two months o l d . Depend i n g on where you l i ve rabies s h ots m i g h t a l so be advi s a b l e . I n emergen c i es, y o u may n eed t h e services of a veteri narian i m m e d i a tely, and i t i s comforting to be able to turn to someone who knows yo ur pet . Select the veteri narian carefu l ly . Ask friends who have cats w h i c h one they have found best. It i s i m portant that he l i ke cats. Some vets m a y be good with other a n i m a l s but not gen tle enough to handle cats. It ma kes no d i fference i f he happens to be gruff with peo p l e . But watch how h e han d l es your cat and how your cat responds to the treat ment. He is your eat ' s doctor, not you r s . 1 27
CATS HAVE ACCIDENTS AND . COMMON AILMENTS j u st as we d o . Some of these have to do with the normal process of aging. Others may occur at any a g e . a re common problems that you can attend to yourself. When you see your cat scratching regularly, chances are it nos an infestation of these sma l l , biting, blood-eaters. Do not use a house hold i nsecticide spray or dust on your cat. These are poisons that the cat will pick up as it grooms itself with its tongue. Use only dusts or sprays made for cats. To be absolutely safe, ask your veterinarian to recommend the one least harmfu l . He may olso suggest adding thiamine (a 8 vita min) to your eat' s food to help to discourage the fleas. Getting rid of the fleas on your eat ' s body is only the beginning F LE A S
of the treatment. Fleas lay eggs in the eat ' s bedding, on furniture, in rugs, and even outdoors in places where the cat sleeps or rolls. Use a vacuum on the rugs ond furniture. Suction all the cracks and crevices where the tiny eggs and larvae might be found. Wash the bedding. Repeat this thorough cleaning every few days to make certain all the life stages as well as the adult fleas have been destroyed . Heavy infestations of fleas will make your cat listless and may also weaken it for infestations of worms and various skin d iseases. Eliminating fleas is more than get ting rid of a discomfort.
Adult Flea ( lifespan : 6 months to 3 years)
Larvae feed on organic debris; transform into pupae in 5 to 7 days
Eggs laid i n bedding, on floor, or on furniture; hatch i n 2 to 1 4 days
of various kinds can infest your cot. The most common are roundworms, tapeworms, ond hookworms . Their symptoms are much the same-a listless atti tude, either a lack of appetite or voraciousness, a dull coat, diar rhea, and vomiting. Worm medicine is sold in pet stores, but be carefu l ! These a re powerful cathartics, and if you get the wrong ane or use it im properly, you may do more harm than good. For safety, it is wisest to have your cat checked by a veterinarian and then to fol low his prescribed advice. Remember, too, that worms are spread when l ife stages are passed in the cat' s feces, which must be destroyed Ia protect other pets and to prevent reinfestation of your patient. Change the bedding daily. WORMS
include ring worm, which is caused by a fun gus. Hair i s lost in circular patches over the cat' s body, and the skin in the bare areas be comes scaly. These spreading, itchy sores are irritating and cause a cat much discomfort. They can also be the entry s i tes for various bacterial infections . T i n y , spider-like m ites m a y also infest cats, some kinds occurring only in the ears and others only on the head or on the body. Cats can also get l ice, or if they are free to roam outdoors they will surely pick u p ticks from time to time. U n less you had experience with these various parasites be fore and are confident that your treatment i s correct, check with your veterinarian at least the first time you treat an infestation . SKIN
Roundworm
PROBLEMS
normal
engorged with blood
INTERNAL DISEASES OF CATS
a re genera l l y serious
and m u st be treated by a veteri naria n . I f your cat does not have its usual vigor, it may be best to get profes s i o n a l advice. I nter n a l di sorders are usua l l y ma n i fested by vom iting, d i a rrhea, or s i m i l a r very obvi o u s symptoms, however. Take your pet ' s i l l n ess as seriously a s you might your own , for when a cat appears to be s i c k , it is probab l y much i n n eed of attention . is not common in cots, but it does occur. There is no cure for rabies after it i s contract ed. Immunization shots are ad vised if the cot will be wondering where it might contact animals that could transmit the di sease _ RABIES
FLU, a common ailment in cats, ha s symptoms much like those of a cold in humans, including a runny nose and sneezing. If your cat appears to have a cold, keep
it i n s ide and away from drafts. I f t h e condition persists o r appears to worsen, see your veterinarian. Do not neglect your cat, believing that its " bad cold " will go away on its own. Your pet may have developed pneumonitis, a deeper infection that requ ires treatment with antibiotics . This h ighly in fectious disease i s transmitted from cat to cat, hence it may be wise to have an annual i m m uni zation shot to prevent recurrence. or feline infectious enteritis, is a n ex tremely dangerous disease, al most always fatal to kittens and also to many older cats . Because the symptoms may be like those for Au, it might be overlooked . Treatment m u st be given as soon as possible to save the cat. This involves a program of antibiotics and blood transfusion s . K itten s should be immunized when they are seven to nine weeks old. This is usually accomplished with two shots, sometimes with one. PAN LEUKOPENIA,
AILMENTS-cystitis, an inflammation of the bladder, and nephritis, an inflammation of the k idney-commonly affect
U R I N ARY
1 30
cats, particularly males. These ailments can usually be detected when the cat has difficu lty rel iev ing itself. I t may be " h u mped ' " as it walks. Because of the danger of u re m ic poisoning, take the patient to a veterinarian im medi ately. I N FECTI O U S ANEMIA is proba bly passed to cats by flea s . I t is caused by a parasite that des troys red blood cells. I n time the diseased cat loses its appe tite, becomes thin and l i stless, and develops a fever. Cats with this di sease generally have some poor and some good days as the infection builds up. For this rea son, the disease has often pro gressed to a serious stage before it is detected . Treatment with an tibiotics and with vitamins is effective in the early stages and to a lesser degree in later stages. Control ling fleas, probably is most important.
is o rather common parasitic disease that appears in cats and other warm-blooded animals. The eggs of the parasites, protected in cysts, are passed out of the body in the feces. Cats are particularly good transmitters of the disease because they ca refu lly bury their feces , giving the eggs the neces sary two or more days for incu bation . The eggs then remain vi able and in an infective stage for a s long a s a year. The egg cysts may also get into a host' s body (cat, human, or other animal) if raw or rare meat is eaten. Pork and mutton tend to TOXOPLASMOSIS
be higher in the number of cysts than beef. I n human beings, the greatest danger is the contraction of the disease by pregnant women, for it may result in birth defects. I n other cases, a n infection gener ally has only m i ld consequences. For protection, a pregnant woman should not accept a new cat in the house, because its previous diet will not be known . If there are cats in the hou sehold already, the pregnant woman should have someone e l se em pty the litter box daily. This will dispose of the feces ( perferably burned) before the eggs a re infective. The cats in the house should not be given raw meat, and the woman should leave all of the garden ing chores to other mem bers of the family until her baby is born . I f she visits another house where there are cats, she should avoid petting them. 131
YOUR QUEEN CAT CAN HAVE KITTENS
soo n afte r
she i s eight months o ld- if you pe rm i t it. Many pet owners prefer to have the i r cat s payed o r neutered a s soon a s i t matures, which
i s d ur i n g th e
fo urth or fifth month for a fem a l e and the eighth month fo r a ma l e. This operation i s s i mp ler for the male than fo r the fema le, but it i s not d i ffi c u l t or da ngerou s fo r either. It is not expen sive. Spec i a l c l i nics for neutering cats have been esta b l i shed i n some m etro po l itan area s . S payed or neutered cats do not roam at night. They do not j o i n the c rowd o n fe nces o r roo fs in h ow l ing, yowl i n g choru ses.
Males d o not get i nto fights that
som et i m e s resu l t i n bad cuts tha t become i n fected, nor are they frustrated by bei n g kept i ndoors where their spray ing may becom e v i rtua l ly intolera bl e . Females a l so s uff e r both menta l a nd phys i c a l difficu lties if th ei r sexual activities are i n h i bited . But when the u rg e i s e l i m i na ted by spaying
or
neuter i n g ,
both
sexes b ecome
doc i l e
s ta y- at-homes- and sometimes g e t fa t if the i r d i ets are not watched ca refu l ly. A l l ow i ng yo ur cat to have kitte n s may be pa rt of your plan, parti c u l a r l y i f she i s p ed i greed. By selecti n g you r eat ' s mate , you can contro l , at least to som e degree, the kind of kittens she
wi l l produce.
Othe rwi s e she wi l l
surely try a n d p ro ba bly fi nd a mate herse l f whe n she i s ready, which i s u s u a l l y about twice a yea r. Her kittens may be surpr i s i ng colors and pa tterns. K itte ns a re born i n about n i n e weeks . Du ring her preg nancy, t h e mother-to-be goes about her n orma l l i fe , b u t s h e tends t o b ecome a b i t m ore cautious a nd m a y s l ee p more d u ri n g th e last days. D u r i ng h er p regnancy, s h e wi l l e a t more food a n d should a l so be g iven ex tra m i l k to h e l p rep lace t h e energy d ra i n a nd c a l c i u m l o s ses from her body. 1 32
A mother cat takes goad care of her k ittens, preferring no help.
About a week before the kitte ns a re to arrive, th e ex pecta nt m other begi n s looking for a p l ace to have th em . You sho u l d help h e r, for i f yo u do not, she may select a c l oset, a shower sta l l, o r even your bed . A l a rg e cardboa rd
box w i l l d o.
It should be
long
enough so that s he can stretch out. You c a n cut a wa y o n e side, b u t leave the edge high enough so that the kit te ns w i l l not be a ble to c ra wl out. It may a l so be best to l ea ve th e top on so tha t the nest is rathe r da rk i n side. You s h o u l d be able to open it e a s i ly to get at the kit te ns,
h ow ever.
Be
s u re
to
put
the
bo x
in
som e
ou t-of-the-way p l ace so that the moth er a n d her kitte n s wi l l
not b e d i stu rbed .
Put several
l a ye rs
of torn or
sh redded p a p e r i n t h e bottom and then let the expecta n t mother scratch a round t o arra nge t h e nest to s u i t h e r . Pu t a blan ket o r cloth over t h e paper a n d a l so a n o l d towel t o be u s e d w h e n t h e kittens a re bo rn . 1 33
This k itten, with its eyes still shut, is only about a day ald.
MOST BIRTHS
go to compl eti o n without d i ffi c u l ty. The
nu mber o f cats born natura l ly are g oo d testi m o n y o f this fact. B ut in this case you h ave a vital i nterest in one par ti c u l ar cat- because she i s y ou r pet. I f she i s pedigreed, yo u m ay a l so have a specia l i nterest i n h er k i tten s . If s h e appears to be h a v i n g tro u b l e (one kitten s h o u l d be born every ha l f h ou r) , you may want to ca l l a veterinarian fo r his advice or h el p . Occasiona l l y th e b i rths are not easy, a n d he c a n give her professional a i d , i n c l u d i ng a Caesar ean i f it i s necessary. your cat will probably want your company. She will need the comfort of reas· suring words, but do not help her unless it is absolutely necessary. The process usually is completed in about two hours, but occasion· ally it will take eight to ten hours. Each kitten emerges head first, sti ll surrounded in a plastic-l ike sac. The mother will instinctively remove this sac. I f she does not, W H I LE G I V I N G B I RT H,
1 34
then you should do so immediate· ly, for the kitten cannot breathe until it i s free of this encasement. Similarly, the mother will probably cut the umbilical cord herself, but if she does not, then you must do it. The cord can be pinched off or, better, trimmed with a pair of scissors ( sterilized ). It should be severed about a n i n c h and a half from t h e kitten ' s body. Squeeze t h e e n d together
for o few minutes so that there is l ittle loss of blood. The mother cat will immedi ately wash each of her newbern kittens. She appears to do this roughly, but she i s instinctively stimulating the kitten ' s breath ing process and is helping to stir the Aow of blood. You must be watchful at this stage, too, for if a kitten shows no sign of begin ning to breathe, you should lift it out and hold it upside down for o few minutes. Mucus that may have collected in its breathing passages will then move out of the way. At the same time, rub the kitten gently but briskly with a towel to start its circulation . Each newborn kitten can be put in a smaller box that you have earlier placed at one end of the nest. The box also contains a hot water bottle with warm ( not hot) water to keep the newborn kit-
tens safe and warm while their mother continues to give birth to others. Four i s a common number in a litter, but there may be as many as eight. Rarely are there more . If a k itten begins to cry, indicating h unger, you may put it Ia one of the mother' s teats from which you earlier trimmed away the hair. The mother cat will eat the placenta, or afterbirth, that comes after each kitten is barn . This is normal and should not alarm you . You should make certain, in fact, that an afterbirth does follow each birth. If it does not, you should draw it out with your finger if possible. It may cause infection if left inside the mother. Keep a bowl of water available for the mother cat. I f the birth process continues over many hours, you may also want to provide her with some milk.
A mother cat meticulously cleans her kitten with her tongue, starting at their bi rth and continuing for many weeks afterward .
KITTEN CARE should be left to the mother cat at fi rst. She can attend to kee ping them we l l fed and wa shed much better tha n yo u can . S he will not b e too p l ea sed , i n fa ct, i f y o u i n te rfere, though a p et that feels secure wi l l b e tolera n t . A l ley cats that give b i rth to kittens o ut doors may m ove th ei r fa m i l y several times to h ide the m away from prying peo p l e . Kitten s are at fi r s t d e a f . With i n a few d a y s , they can hear a nd a l so sme l l and ta ste, bu t th eir eyes remain s h u t fo r a w e e k t o ten days . It is b e s t n ot t o t a k e them fro m th e mother u n t i l they a r e wea ned- at s i x week s t o two month s . By th i s time they w i l l have the ir first set of teeth . of a baby kitten tend to stick together due to normal secretions . This may be especially true with an orphaned k itten who will not have its mother to help keep it clea n . You can wash the eyes with moist balls of cotton or with a soft c loth. Be very gentle. The sticky secretions should be absorbed without rubbing the eyes. If this does not work, ask your veteri narian to prescribe a special solu tion for cleansing the eyes. THE EYELIDS
1 36
TWENTY-SIX
BABY
TEETH
should be in place within approxi mately a month. These remain until the k itten is about six months old, when permanent teeth push them out. At the same time, four additional teeth ap pear. Some kittens get their teeth earlier than six months, some lat er. While teething, the kitten may not eat well and will be easily irritated . Occasionally a veterinarian is needed to help get the baby teeth out of the way.
IF KITTENS ARE ORPHANED,
yo u m u s t ta ke o ve r th e
duties of the mother. At first, they shou l d be fed on l y m i l k . D i l uted cow ' s m i l k i s satisfacto ry, b u t you r veteri nar ian ( select one early who can g ive advice and help with any such p ro b l e m s ) can g i ve the ingred ients and propor tions necessary fo r a fo r m u l a i f you prefer . M i l k can be fed from an eyedropper or from a dol l ' s bott l e, if t h e kitte n wi l l n u rs e . Sometimes you can he l p a kitten get started by l etting it l a p m i l k from a soa ked c loth or fro m your finger. Or yo u can rub some m i l k ove r its l ips to g ive it a starti n g taste . D o n ot force a kitte n to ta ke m i l k too rap idly, and do not a l l o w it to d r i n k too m u c h at one time. Rather, feed it about s i x times a d ay that is, every four hours. A m other cat l i cks her kittens after each m ea l to c lea n them . This gentle massag i ng with her to ngue a l so h e l p s t h e dig estive p rocess and brings a b o u t a n e l i mi n ation. I f th e kitte n h a s n o mother, y o u s h o u l d follow each of i t s mea l s w i th a g e ntle rubdown with a warm , m oist c l o th o r a sponge.
Massage toward th e rea r .
The kitte n wi l l
probably el i m i na te . B e p repa red for th i s event. Do not have the k i tten i n its c lea n bed or on yo ur lap. A baby kitten will drink milk from a dal l " s battle.
Kittens eagerly lop up their shore of milk from a bow l .
AT FOUR TO FIVE WEEKS,
kittens
can take small
amou nts of sol id foo d . B a b y c e re a l , b read soa ked i n m i l k , o r s pe c i a l sta rter k i tten foods th at c a n b e b o u g h t i n p e t stores sho u l d b e u s ed . T h e k i tten s s h o u l d be f e d fou r or five times a day. If they a re sti l l nursing, three meals a day wi l l do. Even when they a re weaned , a t a bout eight weeks, refr a i n from g ivi n g k i ttens many solid food s . They h ave sma l l stomachs but g l u ttonous appeti tes . Very soon yo u wi l l l ea rn th at kitte ns, l i ke a d u l t cats, h ave definite food preferences. M a ke certa i n the i r mea l s are well-balan c ed , however. They wi l l need meat a n d m i l k ( some k i ttens lat er
refuse m i l k ) , and
they
may
l i ke vegeta b l e s .
Most
prepared cat foods contain ba s i c need s . A l ways m ake certa i n that your k i tten s have a bowl of fresh water, which i s changed at least once a day. 1 38
A WARM PLACE TO SLEEP
m u s t be p rovided . I f you r
kittens a re w i th their moth er, th is p ro b l e m is s o l ved a u to mati ca l ly, of cou rse . T h e y can n ot o n l y s n ug g l e c l ose to her warm body but also have snack food w ith in ea sy reac h . But i f th e kittens are orphaned or i f yo u h ave ta ken them from their mother, the ta s k o f making the m comforta b l e becomes you r s . A box o r a b l a n ket with a towel or a p i ece of b l a n ket i ns i d e will do . Cut at least one side l ow enough so tha t th e kitten s have no d iffi culty c l i m b i ng inside. Put th e bed in a p l ace where it wi l l not be i n a draft, l i fting it a few i nches off the floor i f n ec e ssary. F i n a l ly, m a ke certa i n th e kittens l ea rn that this is where they should s l eep. If th e place you have provided is wa rm and if the kitte n s ' stom achs are fu l l , th i s lesson will req u i re no effo rt. With their stomach ful l , kittens snuggle and sleep.
BEGIN TRAINING KITTENS EARLY.
Don ' t
l et them
deve l op bad habits. I f yo ur kitten persi sts i n c l i m b i ng on a ta b l e o r i n sleeping o n the sta i rs where i t c a n b e stepp ed on or poss i b l y trip someone, i n s i s t that it does not do these or other o bjectionable t h i n gs . B e flrm- but do not whip you r kitten . like older cats, a kitte n does not res po nd to h arsh treatment. Say NO loudly. At th e same time make a l o ud noise by swatti n g the sta i rs o r t h e t a b l e with a fo l de d newspaper. A ki tten d o e s n o t l ike loud n o ises a n d wi l l soan l ea rn to avoid what cau ses them to be made. Toilet tra i n i ng should be sta rted as soo n a s th e kitte n is b i g e nough to be a bo ut on its own, u su a l ly w h e n it i s a b o u t a month o l d . I f t h e kitten i s sti l l with i t s mother she wi l l ta ke care o f it unti l then. If the kitte n is orpha ned or i f you took it from its mother ear ly, then you w i l l have had the chore of cleaning the ki tten reg u larly, as the mother wou l d . Use a soft c l oth . When it is sti l l ve ry young, howeve r, a kitten c a n be trai n e d to go outdoors, or if this is n ot poss i b l e, it wi l l l ea rn to u s e a s pec ia I p a n o r box ( p. 1 1 9 ) . Th is rea l ly comes natura l ly for the kitten. Al l you need to do is p ro v i d e t h e p l a c e . M a k e c e rtain tha t y o u u s e a b o x o r a pan that can be c leaned e a s i l y eve ry day. Keep the box in the same p l ace so tha t the kitten knows exactl y where to fl n d it. If the kitte n makes a m i stake , a s i t wi l l a t fl rst, scold it. As you do, s h ow the k itten again th e place you have provide d. A kitten rea l l y learns q u i c kly and w i l l i n g l y . Like an adult cat, it is emba rrassed and obviou sly d i stressed when it does someth i ng th at d i s p leases you . A kitten does not s h ed hair as m u c h as it w i l l when it is fu l l g rown . Neverthe less, start brus h i ng a n d com bing it ea rly in its l i fe so that it beco mes accustomed to the proc e s s . Getting rid of l oose hairs w i l l keep them out of 1 40
your way a n d a l so out of your pet' s sto m a c h where they may col lect a n d form a h a i r ba l l .
A we l l-fed kitte n kept i n c l ea n , comfo rtab l e quarte rs w i l l be bright-eyed a n d healthy-on its way to becom i n g t h e perfect p e t , quiet a n d co nten ted . A cat that was conditioned to gentle brushing as a k itten pu rrs a ppre ciatively during its daily grooming i n loter l ife.
KITTENS ARE PLAYFUL, a part of the i r g rowing-up ed ucation th at, i n th e w i l d , prepa res them fo r g etti ng th ei r
food
and
protecti n g
th em s elves .
The
exercise
strengthens their muscles and a l so gives them s k i l l i n fighting tac t i c s . But kittens m a k e t h e i r edu c at i on fun fo r them selves a n d for anyone who is watch i n g th em . If a kitte n h as brothers a nd si sters or is sti l l w ith i ts moth er, i ts play wi l l be taken care of reg u l arly. You wi l l see even i n a sti l l cottony kitten t h e c ro u c h ed , stea lthy sta l k that i s typ ical of cats. Th i s i s fol l owed by a s w i ft, rushing a tta c k . I f there a re two kitten s, a wrestl ing match ensue s . On i ts back, a kitten m a kes powerfu l digging kicks with its h ind legs . Imag i ne what such kicks wou l d b e l i k e from o n e o f th e big w i l d cats equ i pped with g i a n t- s i zed, h ooked c l a w s ! I f y ou r kitten is a l on e, y o u w i l l h a ve to be its p lay mate from time to ti m e . Children g e nera l l y get as m u c h pleasu re f r o m these sessions a s d o e s t h e k itten . U s u a l l y , i n fa ct, c h i l d re n must b e cautio ned n o t to p lay t o o rou g h and to h o l d down the play period s t o h a l f an hour o r l e s s . These c a n b e repeated severa l times a d a y , thoug h . A k i tten m u st l earn n ot t o p l a y ro ug h , too . At t h e very beg i n ning, a t i ny kitten wi l l unsheath its te n n eedle-sharp c laws a s it plays. If the a ttacks a re being made o n you r hand , the play soon becomes pa infu l .
Scold a kitte n
w h e n i t claws you . It w i l l soon learn to keep i t s c l a w s i n . 1 42
C a ts that l ive in the country or in s u bu rban a re a s ca n go o u td oors da i l y fo r wa lks or to bask in the s u n . Those that l i ve i n apartments may be confined to the b u i l d i n g , and t h e y c a n suffer from t h e l a c k o f exerc i s e .
Da i l y
wa l ks d o h e l p keep a c a t i n good h ea l th . T h i s can b e done o n l y i f th e cat i s wi l l i n g t o wear a c o l l a r a n d wi l l submit t o a l ea s h . I f th is i s the on l y way yo ur cat w i l l b e getti ng exerc ise, y o u can start preparing i t fo r t h e c o l l a r and leash w h i l e it i s a kitte n . Pet stores offer a w i d e va riety of toys t h a t w i l l de l i gh t your kitte n . Many i n c l u de a stuffi ng o f catnip. You c a n find n u m erou s obj ects a r o u n d t h e h o u s e t o p l ease your kitten, too. L i ke o l de r cats, a kitte n wi l l l i ke a cardboard box i n which i t c a n hide, scratc h , and then lounge. Pa pe r sacks,
crumpled
pieces
of
paper
tied
to
s tr i n g s ,
feathers- these w i l l keep a k i tten h appy h o u r after h ou r by itse lf. I f you do n ot g ive yo ur kitten toys, it wi l l find i ts own- and t h i s may be dangero u s . Th e c u r iosity of a n ad ult c a t i s exceeded o n l y b y that o f a k itten . Ma ke cer ta i n it does not chew on a n e l ectrica l cord, a m u se itself by knocki n g items off a vanity, g et its e l f locked i n a cupboard, or get s tepped on as it fo l lows you a ro u n d the house.
Kittens
often
get
i nto
pred icaments
that
de ma nd you r help, but each experience m akes them a bit wiser a bo u t th eir wo rl d . 1 43
K ITTEN TO CAT, A HUNTER.
This is th e natura l se
quence in natu re . I t was as h u n te rs tha t c a ts fi rs t earned the i r keep w i th Egyptian s . The cats not o n l y p ro tecte d the g ra naries from rats and m i ce b u t a l s o d i s cou raged birds f ro m eating fru it. As mousers, cats are sti l l appre c i ated , but their reputation for ki l l i n g birds has put them i n the disfavor of ma ny . Each cat i s d ifferent,
howeve r. Some a re g oo d a t
catch i n g mice a n d rats; o th er s d o n o t wa n t to b e both ered . Some derive g reat p l ea s u re from h u n t i n g birds, wh i l e o thers can sit by a bird feeder and sca rce l y give the birds tha t come th ere a second g l a n c e . S t i l l othe rs wi l l p ra ctice thei r inher ited a rt of h u n t i ng from ti m e to time a nd then lose i n terest, just as some peop l e pu rsu e a pa rticula r h ob by with great enth usiasm for a wh i l e a n d th en s ud de n l y s h i ft t o a no ther. I t i s a m i stake to i n d i c t a l l cats for the m i screant be havior o f a few. When a cat does go hunting, i t com bines its c u n n i n g w i t h th e re ma rkable a n atom ical features t h a t m a k e ca ts maste r h u n te r s . Th es e i n c l ude its keen senses of h ea ri n g and s i gh t, i t s a b i l ity t o move s i lently on we l l-padded feet, and its swi ft, sh ort-di stance run s that enable it to overtake its prey a l most before th ey have had time to muster a sta rtled esca pe . I n hunting, cats a re " loner s . " The i r h u n ti n g methods a re not developed for group work i n packs as dogs often do, th ough some of the wild cats do cooperate i n making their k i l l s .
The
eat' s typ ical
method req u i res grea t pa tience. Dete rm i ned to make its catc h , a cat may sit si lently for a n hour o r even longer, not budg i ng fro m one spat u n ti l a mouse o r a ra t l o ses its
caution
and
comes
within
range
of
the
eat ' s
we l l-measured po unce. A pet cat ra re ly h u n ts to get mea l s . Many are so well fed, i n fact, that they have g reat d iffi c u l ty be ing i n s p i red 1 44
by th e th ought of a h u nt, strictly for s port a n d th e sense of acco m p l ishment. " W i l d " o r fera l domestic cats
h ave
large
been
n u m bers
k i l led in
in
several
states a n d the contents of the i r
sto m a c h s
a n a l yzed .
B i rd s made up a very s m a l l percentage of t h e i r m ea l s . T h i s i s s m a l l consolation to the b i rd in your backyard i f your cat sudden l y gets the
notion
b i rd
its
to
make
quest.
that
Nor
does
i t p l a cate n e i g hbors
who
th i n k yo ur cat is d riving a l l the
b i rd s a way from
th e
a re a . To
take
care
of
such
situations, y o u can get a collar Th i s
w i th wi l l
a
bel l
on
a n nounce
it.
every
move your cat makes, and a fter the cat learns that it can no longer sneak u p on its
prey,
a ttentions
it
turn
its
e l sewhere.
will
It
w i l l proba b ly l earn to use the be l l to a n nounce that i t wants i n o r out of the house. Some cats seem to appreciate
having
signa l i ng device.
th i s
AS A CAT BECOMES OLDER,
it may beg i n to req u i r e
special attention . W h e n i s a cat o l d ? This v a r i e s w i th the individua l . It d epends on the eat ' s hered ity a nd a l so o n the k i n d of l i fe it h a s l e d . At te n years, however, a c a t is becom i ng a senior c i tizen . Most house cats l ive to be twel ve or fourteen years old; some pets l i ve for more tha n twenty yea rs. The symptoms of aging i n cats come on gradua l l y . O lder cats a re n ot a s spry as they o n c e were. I f yo un ger cats a re around them, the spirit of play may return from time to time, but th e older c a t spe n d s i ncreasing amou nts o f time resting a nd s l e ep i n g . Make certa i n tha t you r o l d fr iend has a warm, comforta b l e bed i n wh ich to curl up and d ream of othe r days. If you r pet g ets caught i n the rain, d ry him with a brisk rubbing before he s e ttles down fo r a snooze. If you pe rm it it, cats w i l l eat m ore than they should, and i n o l der, l es s active cats, this can re s u l t i n fatne s s . O be s i ty i s no better fo r cats tha n f o r h u m a n s . Watch your eat' s we i ght. If he b eg i n s a dd i ng ounces and then pounds, reduce the amount o f food he g ets. Keep th e diet wel l rounded, of course, and pay n o atte ntion to the com p l a i n ts that wi l l come first. After a few days, you r cat wi l l adjust to the re striction on food i n ta ke . When you r cat beg ins d rinking more water than u sua l , b e on g ua rd for a kidney a i l m en t. D eg en eration o f th e kid neys is not u nu s u a l i n o l de r cats, and if it occu rs grad ua l ly, it cau ses no g reat d iffi cu lty. But it is wise to have you r veter inarian check your eat ' s condit ion a nd to presc r i be a treatment if it is necessa ry . K i dney d i sea ses can be serious and it is not uncommon for tumors to deve lop i n the kidneys o f o l de r cats. F i n a l ly, j u st as i n humans, loss of teeth and at least pa rt i a l deafness a re l i kely i n o lder cats. You may h ave 1 46
·
to beg i n s e rv ing softe r food s-eve n ki n d s that can b e " gu m m ed " - a nd y o u wi l l probab ly h a v e t o s h o u t louder wh en you call you r friend a t the door. B u t i f you h ave had you r p et so many years that th ese i n firmities h ave set i n , you wi l l not mind these s l ight i n c o nvenien ces to make him happy i n his last days. A grayed , ' ' senior citizen " cat spends many hours sleeping.
SHIPPING A CAT OR A KITTEN
may be necessary .
Th i s w i l l o c c u r if y o u a re n o t ta k i n g the tr i p yo u r s e l f b u t are s e n d i n g th e c a t o r kitte n t o someone. O r y o u m a y also be going on th e tr i p but are n o t permitted t o have an a n i ma l i n the passenger a rea. S h i pp i ng by b u s o r by tra i n i s advisable only fo r short distances. For longer trips, the airplane gives the fastest, smoothest r ide . But i n a l l instances, the re s po n s i b i l i ty o f ma king s u re yo u r c a t or kitten h a s a safe a n d sati sfac . ·to ry trip i s r ea l ly you rs. F i rst of al l , do not make th e sh ipment u nl e s s th e con necti o n i s d i rect. Do n ' t risk havi ng yo ur cat o r kitten spend un neces s a ry h o u rs of waiting i n l ayovers a nd per haps even be m i ssed . M a ke a l l o f the s h i p pi n g a rrange ments seve ra l days
in adva nce so th at the boarding
proce d u re itself i s very b rief. Stay with you r cat o r kitte n a s long a s yo u can to keep i t comforta ble a n d to make certa i n it i s be i ng loaded p roperly. I f yo u can d o so, ma ke th e s h i pment col l e ct. Whe n payment is yet to come, th e hand l ing of the cargo tend s to be swifter and gentler. Al so buy adequate i n s u ra nc e . Th e c o s t i s n o t g reat, a nd it w i l l g i v e y o u m u c h peace o f mind t o know t h a t y ou r cat o r kitten i s be ing g iven ca re fu l h a nd l ing en route. You can e ith er rent or buy a ca rrier. If sh i pp i ng is l ike ly to come u p o ften , it may be be st to purchase a carrier of your own . In th is way, you c a n keep the car rier in good condition and can a l so have time to get it ready for each trip. You can eve n con dition you r passen ger to spen d i n g time i n s ide it so th at the space i s not unfa m i l i a r when it comes time for the actual trip. Before the departure, put some paper on the floor of the conta i n er and perhaps even sh red s o m e of it. T h i s makes a n ea s i l y disposa ble l i tter t h a t you r a n i ma l m ay find u seful 1 48
Special carriers for cats get them safely to their destination .
during
the
trip a nd
is
easy to c l ea n o u t .
Fo r s h ort
tri p s - a nd most of those by a i rplane do not req u i re many hou r s - i t wi l l not be n ecessary to p rovi de foo d . I f you wi s h , you c a n put some dry food i n th e c a rr i e r . Some peop l e l ike to p ut the ra tions i n s ma l l p l a stic bag s that are sta p l ed to the s i de s o f th e carrier. If you r cat o r kit ten becomes rea l ly h u ngry, it will find these packages, and getting inside the ba gs g ives it someth ing to do to occupy its time during the tri p . M o s t i m po rtant, make certa i n that someon e w i l l b e o n h a n d t o m ee t you r cat or k itten wh en i t a rrives at i ts des ti n ation . I f th is c a n n ot b e arra nged, it i s best to wa it and make th e shipment at some other time. A wait at a ter minal can be i n de l i bl y frustrating for a pet. 1 49
Some cats enjoy riding in automobiles on short or long trips.
TRAVELING WITH CATS
is sometimes less expensive
and i s c e rta i n l y m ore comfo rting th an l eavi n g the m with friends o r boa rd ing th em . I f you th ink travel is l ikely in your eat ' s l ife, sta rt the condition ing ear ly, fo r an o lder cat m a y never ad j ust to riding i n a n a utom o b i l e. K i ttens can genera l ly be tra i ned at l east to to l erate automob i l e tri p s . First l et them play in th e car whi l e yo u just s i t th ere. Afte r seve r a l such experiences, sta rt the motor on the next visit to the car. This g ets them accus tomed to th e s o u n d o f the engin e . If a l l goes we l l , beg in ta king
short tri p s- a ro u n d the
b l ock
or
th ro u g h
the
neigh bo rh oo d . Some c a t s l e a r n t o e n j o y ca r trave l ing thoroughly, espec i a l l y i f th ey know that food a nd a l itter box go with them . Pet . sto res can even provide you with a cat ca r seat so that your p et can sit u p high and see o u t th e ' windows j u s t as you do. But remember to keep the win dows c losed fa r enough so th e you r pet can not l ea p out. The u rg e to h ave a look around o utside may come when the car i s moving or when you have stopped fo r a traffi c l ight or a stop sign . 1 50
Some cats n ever become comforta ble in a moving car and will wo rry the drive r and pa ssengers by pac i n g arou nd inside. F o r everyone ' s comfort, the s e pets should be tra nsported i n a cage or ca rrier. I t should b e l a rg e enough s o that the c a t can move around a n d shou l d have screens at t h e t o p a nd s i d es . B ut pre fe ra bly, i t sho u l d n ot be so l a rg e that it cannot be carried b y a handle on top l i ke a suitcase. This wi l l ma ke it easy fo r you to take th e cage from the car to th e m otel room o r wh erever you p u t u p fo r t h e night. Even for cats that do not h ave to be cag ed , a carrier i s still a dvi sable for tra nsporti n g them when you a re out of the car. Collapsible carriers, much l i ke d u ffl e bag s , are co nven i e n t f o r u s e i n th ese circumsta n c e s . I t i s i mpor ta nt to keep your pet confined or on a col l a r and lea sh when you a re i n a stra ng e area . It i s easy for a frig ht ened , bew i l de red a n i m a l to pa nic and run off. You may have d iffi culty getting you r pet to respond to you r calls or may not be a b l e to fi nd it. Use a carrier to keep your pet from getiing lost in a strange place.
BOARDING YOUR CAT
ma y be neces s a ry when yo u
go on trips, particu larly if your cot is a poor t rave ler. I f you d o not p l a n to b e gone long, perhaps you c o n get a fr i e n d to come to your house to core for your pet. It wi l l be happier w i th food , water, a nd a l itte r box a t home . Or maybe a friend wi l l offer to to ke yo ur cot to h i s h o m e d u r i ng yo u r absence. If y o u hove accu stomed y o u r cot t o " visiti n g " n o w and then , th i s may be po ssible, b u t there i s a l so a danger that y o u r p e t w i l l ru n away and go bo c k to h i s home . C a ts a re
not especia l l y good boarders a nd wou l d
much prefer t o s tay i n fa mi l i a r s u rrou n d i ng s . I f your tr i p wi l l be long, h owever, i t is probably best to find boa rd ing fac i l itie s . If y o u do n o t know a good p l ace, c a l l y o u r veterinar ian to get h i s advice. Some veterinarians hove accom modations for i n stances of th is sort, a nd you m ay be able to com bin e yo ur a bsence with a medical checku p fo r you r pet. You might a lso find out where friend s who hove hod the some p roblem have kept their cots . Most important, find a clean place so that you r pet i s sti l l h ea l th y w h e n y o u retu rn . Accept t h e f a c t that y o u r c o t wi l l n o t b e happy u nt i l i t i s h om e a ga i n . 1 52
ABANDONMENT
of cats is cruel and ma l i c io u s - a n d a
m u c h too common occurrence. Cats are extre m e l y sensi tive . They thrive o n kindness and pa mperi n g . Most of those forced to feed for themselves may manage to sur vive, but they are u s u a l ly unhappy, frightened, s k i n ny, often d i seased and neurotic c reature s . Through no fa u l t of th e i r own, these a r e t h e cats that g ive th e i r kind a bad
reputation genera l ly . They beco m e the
shadowy,
s l i n king a n i m a l s seen i n a l l eys and arou n d ga rbage c a n s a nd d u m p s . T h e y h o w l a nd f i g h t , stea l food at ma rket places, k i l l birds i n yard s and parks - l ivi ng up to the soc i a l outcast i mage th rust upon them . Cats are abandoned for a variety of rea sons, none of which are good ones. A cat taken to a summer cottage may be left there because the fa m i l y is s i m ply ti red of the pet. A bag of kittens i s du mped
i n the cou ntry,
perhaps w i th the hope that someone w i l l feel sorry fo r the waifs a n d take them i n . But this rarely h a p p e n s . When a fa m i l y move s , t h e y may h a v e n o place f o r their cat i n the new home . They l eave it beh i n d . Never abandon a c a t o r kitte n s . I f they a r e unwa nted , co ntact an organization that can find a h o m e fo r such a n i m a l s o r that can g ive them h u mane trea tment.
FERAL CATS " w i ld . "
are
domestic. or
house
cats
that
are
U n l ike the recently aba ndoned cat, o r stray,
that i s genera l l y a n x i o u s to find a home a g a i n , a fera l cat is fiercely i ndependent. may steal
It s h u n s people, though i t
its food at the tra sh c a n o r the ga rbage
d u m p . " W i l d " cats of th i s sort are common i n most l a rge cities and i n many rural a reas. Fera l cats get th e i r sta rt when two strays prod uce a l i tter of k i ttens that g row up never associating d i rectly with h u m a n s . These kittens find mates among the i r k i n d ,
1 53
Cats are remarkably capable af taking care of themselves in the wild.
a n d soon several h u m a n contact.
generations
separate the c a ts from
Each a d u l t fem a l e is capa b l e of pro
d u c i n g two or three l itters per yea r . Authorities esti m ate that the tota l number of fera l cats in the world is we l l i n to t h e m i l l io n s . These
" w i l d " c a t s become carriers of d i sease that
can spread to pets . They are a l so the noto r i o u s k i l lers of b i rds a nd small game a n i m a l s as we l l as some p o u l try a nd l ivestock . The i r menace becomes most obvious on i s l a n d s , where b i rd s and other w i l d l i fe may be destroyed . Ground
nesters,
such
as
seabirds,
s u ffer
espec i a l l y .
F e r a l c a t s threaten t o become a plague i n Au stra lasia where n o cats were native.
But whe rever they exi st,
fera l cats a re a res u l t somewhere i n the past of the abandonment of a cat or cats that wo u l d h ave been happier o n the hearth . 1 54
C A T CA N S A N D CA N N OTS Cats move i n such a shroud of mystery, always kee p i ng a psych o l o g i c a l d i sta n c e betwee n themselves and the i r human
companions,
that
many
myths
have
evolved
a rou n d the i r behavior and powers. At the same time, cats a re i n d eed animals endowed with unusual c a pa b i l i t i e s . Sepa rati ng fact from fa l l acy i s therefore o ften not s i m p l e . l i s ted here a re a few of the common bel iefs about cats, some of them true and others fa l s e .
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CATS CAN U S U ALLY LAND ON T H E I R FEET if they happen to fall
from a tree, roof, or other elevation with their bock down . They do not always manage to get turned over in time, but by flipping their toi l and twisting their body, they make on aston ish ingly quick Aip in midair. A cot con be badly h u rt in 0 fal l , noturally, but its tough muscles give it surprising bounce that is a proteclive feature no matter whether the cot lands on its feet or hoppens to miss. But a cot definitely has on uncommon sense of bolonce. If the fall is for enough to give it time to turn, it will almost always land on its feet. Cots do not hove nine lives, a belief that has come about only because cots do manage so often to survive troubles that would kill other animals.
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c::3
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lr . ( ...
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CATS CANNOT SUCK A BABY'S
and kill it. This i s one of the very common bel i efs that is absolutely untrue. Because cats like children and many cats also like to lie close to a human being, it would not be unusual for a cat to lie next to a baby . Between the moving around of the two of them, they might indeed get into a position in which it looks os though the cat is trying to suck the baby ' s breath. Or the cat BREATH
may actua l ly lie on top of the baby so that the baby could cough and cry, alarming a mother. It i s best to keep the cat away from the baby, mainly far sani tary reason s . When the baby becomes a misch ievous ch ild, be equally concerned for the cat' s safety at times. Cats and ch ildren ordinarily become great compan ions, with the cat tak ing much more abuse from the child than it would tolerate from an adult. CATS CANNOT SEE I N THE DARK. No an imal can actual ly
see in total darkness, for seeing requires the existence of at least some light. But a cat can see in extremely dim l ight. I t can open the pupils of its eyes very wide to let in whatever light is available. A special coating, the tapetum lucidum, at the back of the retina reAects thi s minimum of l ight so that it i s fu l ly utilized.
CATS CAN F I N D T H E I R WAY HOME from long distance s .
They h o v e o remarkable, l ittle studied homing instinct that en ables them to travel hundreds of miles through strange territory to return to fam i liar surroundings. This does not mean that when a family moves and tokes their cot with them there i s great dan ger that the cot will run away to go bock to its old home. Despite their seeming indifference, cots do hove great affection for their " family, " and it is rare for a cot to stray intentionally from the people it a s sociates with its home. Contrary to on age-old be lief, cots really like people more than they do places. SHOW GREAT CATS CAN CONCERN for people. There
ore recorded cases where cots hove saved people ' s lives by waking them when a house was on fire or there was a gas leak . They have also alerted them to the presence of scorpion s, poison ous snakes, and other dangerous intruders. Their affection e nd understanding of their own family is demonstrated in many ways. They know the usual voices and
sounds in a house, but if a strange voice joins the conversa tion, the sleepy cot sudden ly becomes wide awoke. A cot does not move at the sound of the family cor in the driveway, but a strange cor puts it on alert immediately. A cot is a lmost always hostile to new pets in the household, but if the pet is a n ob viously accepted addition, the cot learns to tolerate it and may even become friends.
MORE INFORMATION
Ames, Felicia, T h e Cot You Core For, Signet, The New American Li brary, New York, 1 968 Aymcr, Brandt (ed.), The Perso nal ity of t h e Cot, Bonanza Books, New York, 1 95 8 Bryant, Doris, Doris Bryant's N ew Cot Book, l ves Washburn, Inc . , N e w York, 1 96 9 Carr, William H . , T h e Basic B o o k o f t h e Cot, Gramercy Publishing Co. , New York , 1 968 Denis, Armand, C o t s of the World, Houghton Mifflin Co. , Boston,
1 96 4
G ilbert, John , Cots, Cots, Cots, Cots, Paul Hcmlyn, london, 1 96 8 Mellen, I d a M . , A Practical C o t Book, Charles Scri bner' s Sons, New York, 1 950 Mery, Ferncnd, The life, H i sto ry and M a g i c of t h e C a t , G rosset and Dunlop, New York, 1 96 8 Miller, Harry, T h e Common Sense Book o f Kitten a n d C a t C ore, Bantam Books , Inc., New York, 1 966 Montgomery, Joh n , The World of Cots, Paul Homlyn, london, 1 967 Pond, Grace, The Observer' s Boo k of Cots, Frederick Warne end Co. , london, 1 95 9 Smith, Richerd C . , The Complete C a t Book, Walker end Company, New York , 1 96 3 Spies, Joseph R . , T h e Compleat Cot, Prentice-Hell, N ew York, 1 966 Van Vechten, Carl, Tiger i n the H o u se, Alfred A. Knopf, New York,
1 936
Whitney, leon F . , Compl ete Book o f Cat Care, Doubleday, 1 9 5 3
PHOTO C RE D I T S : p . 6 1 , British Museum, bot. I, r ; Metropolitan Museum, top I; p. 6 3 , Oguro Planning Co. - FPG; p. 6 8 , The Granger Collection; p. 69, 74, G eorge leavens; p. 70 , From Archy & M e h i tabel by Don Marquis copyright 1 9 30 by Doubleday & Com pany, Inc. Reprinted by permission of the publ isher; p. 7 l , Keystone Press Agency, I n c . , I; Jean Ribiere, r; p. 72, Metropol itan Museum; p . 73, John Webb, top; Metropolitan Museum, bot.; p . 1 06, 1 09 , Mark Krastof; p. 1 07, 1 0 8, 1 2 7, 1 3 1 , Stanley Gorlitsky; p . 1 34 , 1 3 5 , 1 4 1 , 1 54 , Welter Chcndoha; p . 1 5 8 , Service de Documentation Photographique de Ia Reunion des Musees N ctioncux.
1 58
I N DEX Abandonment, 1 5 3 Abyssionia, 84, 8 5 Accidents, 1 2 8 Acinonyx jubotus, 1 9 African Wild Cat, 4 2 , 60 Aging o f cat, 1 46 Ailments, 1 28 Aleuroph i l e , 4 Aleurophobia, 4 Alexandria, 62 Anemia, infectio u s , 1 3 1 Angora, 94 Archy, 70 Ad, 6 8 , 72 Automobile traveling, 1 50 Balinese, 98 Bastet, 60 Bathing, 1 24 Boy lynx, 5 8 Beliefs, 1 5 3 , 1 5 4 , 1 5 5 Blackbuck, 20 Black Cat, 66, 67, 77 Black Death, 65 Block-footed Cat, 54 Black Persian, 95 Blotched Tabby, 8 1 Blue Persian, 97 . Slue Tabby, 8 1 Boarding, 1 5 2 Bobcat, 8, 5 8 - 59 Breeds., 75- 1 05 Abyssinian, 84 Balinese, 98 Birman, 1 0 1 Black, 77 Block Persian, 95 Blue Persian, 97 Burmese, 87 Chinchilla, 98 Coon, 89 Cream, 1 0 3 Hairless, 9 1 Havana Brown , 9 0 Himalayan, 98 Karat, 83 Manx, 88 Red Self, 1 0 3 Rex, 86 Russian Blue, 79 Siamese, 92 Smoke, 100 Tabby, 80, 104 Tortoise-shell, 82, 102 White, 78 White Pers ian, 96 Bronte sisters, 69 Brown Tabby, 8 1 Brushing, 1 22 Buddhism, 63 Buffon, Georges louis, 7 1
Burman, 1 0 1 Burmese, 8 7 Caesar, J u l i u s , 7 1 Calico Cot, 8 2 Capote, Truman, 69 Caracci, 4 1 Carlyle, Thomas, 69 Carriers, "1 5 1 Cot, domestic (genera l ) acceptance of other pets, 1 09 accidents, 1 28 aging, 1 46 ailments, 128 as pets, 1 06 bathing, 124 boarding, 1 5 2 breeds, 75 - 105 carriers, 1 5 1 claws, 12, 1 24 clevernes s , 7 collars and leashes, 1 1 8 combing, 122 diseases, 129, 130, 1 3 1 ears, 1 1 evolution, 1 3 eyes, 1 1 family features, 8 , 9 feeding, 1 10, 1 1 2 groom ing, 1 22 health, 126 hunters, 1 44 intelligence, 7 kiHens, 1 3 2 living quarters, 1 1 4 luck symbols, 66 origin of, 60 porodoxicol nature of, 6 personalities, 4 play, 1 1 6 photographs, 74 spread of, 6 2 teeth, 1 0 toilet habits, 1 1 9 tongue, 10 toys, 1 16 training, 1 1 8 traveling with, 1 50 tricks, 1 20 whiskers, 12 Cheetah, 8, 1 8 - 2 1 China, 6 3 Chinchilla, 98 Christians, 64 Civet, 1 3 Claws, 1 2 clipping, 124 Clouded leopard, 3 7 Collar, 1 1 8 Combing, 122
Coon Cot, 89 Cougar, 38 Cream, 103 Cuvier, Georges, 7 1 Cystitis , 1 3 \ d o Vinci, leonardo, 6 8 , 72 Dickens, Charles, 69 Diet, 1 10 Diseases, 129, 1 3 0, 1 3 1 D'Y both , 124 Ears, 1 1 Egypt, 3 0 , 72 Egyptia n s , 60, 62 Egyptian cot, 42, 75 EQYPtion tabby, 75 Enteriti s , feline infectious, 1 3 1 Ethiopia, 84 European Wild Cot, 48 Evolution, 1 3 Eyes, 1 1 Feeding schedule, 1 1 2 Felis bengolensis, 44 carocal, 4 1 cetus, 75 chous, 43 colocolo, 5 3 concolor, 39 geolfreyi, 54 libyca, 42 lynx, 56 manu/, 49 margarita, 49 marmorate, 47 nebulosa, 37
n ig ripes , 54 pardalis, 5 0 planiceps, 45 rufa, 58 servo/, 40 silvesfris, 49 femmincki, 47 viverrino, 47 wiedi, 5 2 yogourorundi, 5 5 Feral cots, 1 5 3 First aid kit, 126
Fishing Cot, 46 Flat-headed Cot, 45 Fleas, 128 Flu, 130 Foad, l 1 0 variety, 1 1 2 France, 72 Freya, 64 Gallico, Paul, 69 Geoffroy ' s Cot, 54
Gir Forest, 22 Golden Cot, African, 46 Greeks, 62 Grooming, 122 Hair ball, 123 Hairless Cat, 9 1 Havana Brown, 90 Health, 126 Hemingway, Ernest, 68 H imalayan, 98 Hindu, 63 Howel l s , William Dea Hugo, Victor, 69 India, 6 3 Isle of Man, 8 8 Jaguar, 8 , 3 0- 3 1 Jaguarundi, 5 5 Japan, 6 3 Johnson, Dr. Samuel, 69
Mao, 63 Marbled Cat, 46 Marbled Tabby, 8 1 Morgay, 5 2 Marquis, Don, 7 0 Mehitabel, 70 Miacid, 1 3 Middle Ages, 64 M;lk, 1 1 1 Mites, 129 Money Cat, 44 Mongoose, 1 3 Mountain lion, 3 8 Mummies, 6 0 Napoleon, 7 1 Nephritis Neutering, 132 Ocelot, 50-5 1 Otter Cat, 55 Ounce, 36
Jungle Cat, 4 3 , 60 Koffir Cat, 42 Kipling, Rudyard, 70 Kitten, birth of, 1 3 2 , 1 3 3 , 1 34, 1 3 5 care o f , 1 3 6 diet, 1 3 7, 1 3 8 grooming, 1 4 1 play, 142 training, 140 Karat, 83 lo Breo Tar Pit, 15 lear, Edward, 69 leash, 1 1 8 leopard, 8, 3 2 - 3 5 Clouded, 3 7 Painted, 5 0 Snow, 3 6 leopard Cat, 44 lice, 129 lion, 6, 22-25, 72 literature, 68 litter box, 1 19 living quarters, 1 14 long-haired cots, 94- 1 OS long-haired Colorpoint, 98 Luck symbols, 66, 67 Lynx, 8 , 5 6 - 5 7
Maeterlinck, Maurice, 7 1 Manx , 8 8
1 60
Painted leopard, 50 Pall a s ' s Cat, 48 Pampas Cat, 5 3 Panleukopenia, 1 3 0 Panther, 3 4 , 3 8 Ponthero leo, 2 2 onca, 3 0
pardus, 3 2 tigris, 2 6 uncia, 36 Posht, 60 Pedigree, I 08 Persian, 94 Phoenician, 62 Play, 1 16 Pneumonitis, 1 30 Poe, Edgar Allan, 69 Puma, 3 8 -39 Rabies, 1 3 0 R e d Sell, 1 03 Renaissance, 72 Rex Cot, 86 Ringworm, I 29 Romans, 62, 72 Rumpy, 8 8 Russian Blue, 79 Sober-toothed Cat, 14 Sand Cot, 48 Schweitzer, Dr. Albert, 68 Scott, Sir Walte r , 69
Servol, 40 Shakespeare, 7 1 Shipping, 148 Short haired cots, 75, 76-93 Siamese, 92 S i l ver, 98 Silver Tabby, 8 1 Smilodon, 14 Smoke, 100 Spanish lynx, 56 Spaying, 1 3 2 Sphinx C o t , 9 1 Striped Tabby, 8 0 Superstition, 6 5 "Tabbi ' " silk, 8 0 Tabby, 80 long-haired, 1 04 Teeth, 10 Temminck ' s Cot, 46 Thailand, 8 3 , 92 Tiger, 26-29 Benga l , 28 Siberian, 2 8 Tiger C a t , 8 0 "Tiglon , " 27 "Tigon , " 27 Toilet habits, 1 19 Tongue, 10 Toxoplasmosis, 1 3 1 Toys, 1 16 Training, 1 1 8 Traveling, 1 5 0 Tricks, 1 2 0 Twain, Mark, 69 Uremic poison ing, 1 3 1 Urinary ailmenh, 1 3 1
Veterinarian, 126- 1 3 1, 1 3 4 , 152 Water, 1 1 1 Wells, H . G . , 69 Whiskers, 1 2 White Cat, 67, 78 White Persian, 96 Wild Cot, African, 42, 60 European, 48 species of, 16 Williams, Tennessee, 69 Witches, 64, 65 Wordsworth, William, 69 Worm s, 129
B C D E F
CATS A GOLDEN NATURE G U I D E GEORGE S . FICHTER
h a s served a s a uthor, co-a u t hor, a n d
e d i tor of o n u m ber of Gol d e n G u i des a s we l l a s o t h e r n a t u re o n d s c i e n c e boo k s for G o l d e n Press. He h a s a l so a u t h ored tech n i c a l p a pers a n d n u m ero u s m a g a z i n e a r t i c l e s cove r i n g h i s brood i n terests i n t h e n a t u r a l wor l d . A profes s i o n a l b i ologist, h e ta u g h t zoology and c o n s e rvation at Mia m i U n ivers i ty ( O h io), e d ited a n a t i o n a l s p o rt f i s h i n g m a g a z i n e , a n d s e rved as a n executive o f t h e Sport F i s h i n g I n stitute , Was h i n g t o n , D . C . H e l i kes a l l a n i m a l s , bu t ra n k s cats, both w i l d a n d d o m es t i c , a m on g h i s favorites.
ARTH U R S I NGER,
o n e of Ieday's fore most p a i n ters, i s a g rad
u a te of Cooper U n io n Art S c h oo l a n d t h e f i rst rec i p i e n t of its m e d a l for d i s t i n g u i s h ed work. H e h a s been a rt tea c h er, a rt d i rector, a n d d e s i g n e r . As a you n g m a n , t h e f i rst s u b j ects h e p o i n te d were cats-a n d n o w h e f i n d s h i m s e l f retu r n i n g t o h i s f i rst love. A d e e p i n terest i n n a t u r a l h i story l e d M r . S i n g e r a f i e l d i n E u rope, N o r t h A m e rica, S o u t h A m e ri c a , t h e C a r i b bean , a n d Africa. H i s outsta n d i n g i l l ustrati o n s for B I R D S O F THE WORLD
and
B I R D S O F B R I TA I N A N D
E U R O P E h ove
b ro u g h t h i m worldwide a c cl a i m .
V E R A R. WEBSTER,
m a n a g i n g ed itor o f a l l s c i e n c e p u b l i c a t i o n s
f o r G o l d e n P r e s s , was a s c i e n c e tea c h e r for m a n y y e a r s before a ccept i n g a p o s i t i o n a s head of the s c i e n ce d e p o rt m e n t with a m a j o r p u b l i s h i n g c o m p a n y. For t h e post decode s h e h a s bee n a ctive in t h e preparation of s c i e n c e boo k s for t h e you n g a s w e l l a s f o r a d u lts, i n c l u d i n g t h e p u b l ication of o n e of t h e most widely u s e d textbook series. S h e h a s traveled ex t e n s ively i n t h e U n i t e d Stoles a s a con s u lta n t t o tea c h ers o f s c i e n ce, i s a l i fe m e m be r of t h e Notio n a l Science Tea c h e rs Assoc i a t i o n , a n d is ded icated to t h e g o a l of i n c rea s i n g p u b l i c u n dersta n d i n g of their natural environment.
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