CATS AND THEIR CARE
VERY little is known of the origin of the domestic cat. As far back as the beginning of human records the cat was the pet of man. The ancient Egyptians worshiped the cat in their temples as an emblem of the sun, and many of the relics unearthed have shown the importance the cat held as a household pet during that era. They have been used by man in the home, on shipboard, and in the granaries as guardians against mice and rats. They are found in all parts of the world, and vary only in minor characteristics.
Cats are commonly divided into two classes, short-haired and long-haired. The short-haired ones differ mostly in their color. The Tabby is brindled, either brown, blue or silver, spotted, or red. The Maltese is bluish. The Tortoise-Shell is black, red, and yellow, and if white is present, it is referred to as Tortoise-Shell and White. Then there are the pure Blacks, Browns, and Whites. Some have blue eyes, and some green, and others yellow. The Manx is peculiar in that it has no tail and the hind legs are longer than the front ones. The Siamese is tawny, with a black head, black tail and feet, and has blue, almond-shaped eyes.
The best known varieties of long-haired cats are the Angora and the Persian. The Angora comes from the Province of Angora in Western Asia, and has a small head with a short, rather angular nose. The ears are large, with tufts of long hair growing from the tips, and the eyes are full and round. The long and graceful body is covered with long, silky hair, which is curly at the base. The legs are short, and the tail long and curved, having long hair at the base and shorter hair at the tip. The colors are black, dark slate, fawn, red, orange, gray, and white. The eyes of the black and slate-colored cats are orange, and those of the white should be blue, but are sometimes pink. Angoras are sometimes bred for mixed colors, the black and orange being the most popu lar.
The Persian has a larger head, less pointed ears, with tufts growing from the tips. The eyes are large and full, the body larger, and the legs broader and stronger than those of the Angora. The tail is of greater length and the growth at the end is longer than that at the base. The colors are white, black, blue, chinchilla, and smoke. The so-called Tortoise-Shell and the Tabby long-haired cats are the result of crossing either the Angora or Persian with the short-haired Tortoise-Shell or Tabby cats, and they are not full-blooded.
Cats are extremely independent, but love to be petted, and respond by purring and rubbing against the one whose affection they desire. They attain their full growth at nine months, and live from twelve to fifteen years.
The period of gestation is from fifty-six to sixty-three days, and during that time the prospective mother should have comfortable living quarters, be well fed, and not annoyed or teased. She should have a box lined with some soft material, in a darkened place, and should be encouraged to retreat there. After the kittens arrive, feed the mother cream, cereals, and raw eggs for two days, after which feed daily a bit of raw beef, and bread softened in her milk.
Kittens are blind and helpless at birth. They should not be handled until they are ready to walk. Leave the mother alone with the kittens, and she will know what to do. Watch* to see that each kitten has its place to feed, or a strong one may crowd out the weak and they will starve. Never destroy the whole litter of kittens, for milk fever may develop in the mother. They may be weaned, at the age of four or five weeks, by putting their noses in a saucer of warm milk. At first, feed six times a day, gradually reducing feedings to three meals a day when they are six months old. A full-grown cat should have two regular meals a day, with the heavier or meat meal in the evening.
Cats need fresh air, grass and other green things as a necessary part of their diet, and should not be confined to the house or the care of them will become more arduous. Cats kept in a city apartment should be fed stale bread, oatmeal, and biscuits, with plenty of fresh milk (sour milk is upsetting), fresh vegetables (especially celery and asparagus), and meat (preferably raw). Occasionally feed the cat boiled liver, and, as a frequent treat, a bit of catnip. Always keep fresh drinking water in a convenient place. Country cats will find much of their food while prowling around, but they should also be fed from the kitchen.
Cats are very clean in their habits and are easily trained to use a paper or a pan of sand.
They usually keep their bodies clean, and it is seldom necessary to bathe them. However, if a cat will not keep itself clean, there are special soaps with which to make a suds and lather. Moisten the coat, and, beginning with the hind quarters, work in the lather. Then rinse the cat with luke-warm water and wrap in a towel and dry before brushing. If the cat has fleas, rub in flea powder and comb with a fine-toothed comb, dropping any fleas into hot water in order to kill them.
If a cat is sick it will seek a dark place in which to hide, and will refuse to eat. Giving a cat medicine is not an easy matter, but after winning its confidence by petting, you can place by means of a small syringe the required amount of medicine in its mouth. A few drops may be given at a time to allow for swallowing. Cats are very sensitive to odors, and reject food that conceals medicine.
From constantly licking their fur they often have their digestive tracts clogged with balls of hair. The symptoms are coughing and choking. A teaspoonful of olive oil, weekly, will form a coating around this hair ball, and the cat will either regurgitate or evacuate it without difficulty.
If a cat refuses to eat during an illness, forcible feeding must be resorted to with care. Cooled malted milk or beef blood extract may be fed with the small syringe.
In the spring, cod liver oil in the daily feeding will improve the general health, and is excellent for the condition of the fur.
If a bone is lodged in a cat's throat, try to remove it with the fingers or with pincers ; otherwise, give olive oil.
If a cat has been poisoned, give an emetic and call in the veterinarian to diagnose the case.
Canker in the ear is indicated by scratching the inside of the ear or rubbing it on the floor. With a bit of absorbent cotton on a match stick, swab out the ear with warm olive oil followed by a rinse of warm boric acid.
Constipation can be benefited and often cured by a teaspoonful of castor oil followed by a soft or liquid diet for a day or two.
Convulsions are usually from constipation. Carefully apply ether or chloroform to the nose and place a hot water bag on the spine.
Distemper is contagious and may develop into pneumonia. Keep the cat warm in a jacket, and wash the nostrils and eyes with boric acid. Feed raw eggs, a little fish, cod liver oil, and malted milk.
Eczema and mange are easily confused; it is best to consult a veterinarian.
YOUR CAT: ITS CARE AND TREATMENT Bary-Saunders, A., Philadelphia, David McKay, N. D.
CATS FOR PLEASURE AND PROFIT Simpson, Frances, London, Pitman, 1924.
CATS: LONG-HAIRED AND SHORT .... Soame, E. B., London, Methuen, 1933.