THE LADIES' FIELD "CAT GOSSIP" COLUMNS

THE LADIES' FIELD "CAT GOSSIP" COLUMNS - 1904

The Ladies Field, a weekly magazine for well-to-do women, was founded in 1898 and focussed on women's sport, pastimes and fashions. It was published by George Newnes (in 1928, it was absorbed by The Home Magazine). The Cat Gossip column was written by Dick Whittington, the pen-name of Miss Higgins. Rather than divide up the content, I have compiled the columns into a series of chronological files. Readers wondering why prices of cats were given in multiples of £1 1s - this is a guinea; a £5 5s cat costs 5 guineas.

CAT GOSSIP. The Ladies' Field, July 2, 1904, 149.

THE discussion as to the eyes of smoke cats rages fast and furious. So far popular opinion is on the side of the correct orange eye, but many interesting facts in smoke breeding have been brought forward on both sides. With one of Mr. House's statements I am inclined to disagree. He states that Chinchilla cats have been produced by crossing whites, blues, and silver tabbies, and one of his reasons for this statement is that the orange eye of the silver tabby and the blue eye of the white have produced the green eye of the chinchilla. An inspection of reliable pedigrees shows that the chinchilla cat is most frequently produced by mating silver tabbies together until the markings are bred out. If Mr. House's argument was correct we should not have any trouble in breeding green-eyed chinchillas, but all breeders of these cats will agree with me that the green eye is by no means fixed in the breed. The green eye undoubtedly came direct from the silver tabby. Many years before chinchilla cats were evolved silver tabbies had green eyes. Fifteen years ago I myself possessed a number of really good green-eyed silver tabbies and they were by no means the first bred.

THE advisability of a tax being placed upon cats is once more being considered, and a number of cat-lovers are of the opinion that the condition of the animal would thereby be improved. There are, as anyone can see, great difficulties in the way, chiefly caused by the nature of the animal. To seize a stray cat requires more diplomacy and agility than in the case of a dog, and many cats which possess happy and comfortable homes prefer to live a semi-wild life, thereby making the task of identifying their owners an almost impossible one. Another point to be considered is the probable increase in the atrocious habit of "straying" superfluous cats. In the month of January many unfortunate cats would be disowned in order to evade payment of the tax. The one advantage of the tax, and that is a great one, is that undesired kittens would probably be destroyed at once.

Two well-known stud cats have recently changed hands. Lady Rachel Byng has purchased the well-known chinchilla Pattan. This is one of our best chinchilla cats. He is beautifully pale in colour, heavily boned, and well shaped, and carries a magnificent coat. He was for some time the property of Miss Anderson Leake, for whom he won first at Manchester in 1902, and since passing into the hands of Miss White Atkins he has won first and championship Crystal Palace and third at Southampton. I hope he may long continue his successful carcer. Another recent sale is that of Marquis of Dingley, the beautiful silver tabby which Miss Anderson Leake has sold to Mrs. Clarke, formerly of Ashbrittle, but now residing at Batheaston, Bath.

I AM very much interested to hear that Minna, the blue queen which Mr. Witt bought from Mrs. Hunt at a sensational price, is a daughter of Rozelle Thisbe. In this way Minna's orange eyes are easily accounted for, as Miss Hamilton's cats are noted for their eyes. I have never seen eyes to rival those of Rozelle Delight, exhibited at Bath last year, and I believe Miss Hamilton has now some young cats which are equally good in this important point.

MISS WiINIFRED BEAL writes to tell me that she is selling a number of good cream, orange, and blue kittens and some young cats, to make room for expected litters.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.
DICK WHITTINGTON will be pleased to give advice on all matters concerning cats and their ailments, and will be glad to receive for insertion any interesting items of cat news that her readers may send. Queries must be written on one side of a separate sheet of paper, and must be signed with a pseudonym only for publication, but a letter giving full name and address of sender must accompany each query. A postal reply will be sent if the fee of 2s. 6d. is enclosed.. Letters should be addressed, "DICK WHITTINGTON, care of Editor, THE LADIES' FIELD."
JOHN. - For a cream kitten you had better apply to Miss Winifred Beal, Romaldkirk Rectory, Darlington, and for a cheap blue neuter cat to Mrs. Cartwright, Upwood, Handley, Salisbury.
SERAPIS. - For lice in a full-grown cat the best remedy is a thorough washing once a week, until a cure is effected, with Spratt's dog soap. Do not use soaps containing carbolic or spirits of tar, as they may disagree with the cat. Put it in a basket near the fire until absolutely dry. Kittens must not be washed, but you must rub into the skin every other day a little powdered camphor and flowers of sulphur.
LONGHAIR. - I cannot tell you of any lotion which will encourage the growth of hair if your cat has naturally a scanty coat. Regular brushing and good feeding will improve matters, but cannot be expected to produce an unnatural growth of hair.
THIETZ. - Your cat should rear two or three kittens quite easily, and if well fed she might manage four all right. For a foster mother you should apply to Mrs. Greenwood, Woodside Cottage, Chilworth Road, Shirley, Southampton. - DICK WHITTINGTON.

CAT GOSSIP. The Ladies' Field, July 9, 1904, 172.

MRS. HARPUR has had the misfortune to lose her blue stud cat Waterloo, who has just died of dropsy. I do not know if Waterloo was ever exhibited, but he was a most notable stud cat, and had he never sired another kitten his name would have been handed down to fame as the sire of Ayrshire Ronald. Waterloo was at one time, I believe, the property of Miss Cockburn-Dickinson, a lady who gained some notoriety in the cat world. He was bred by Mrs. Marriott from old Ch. Turkish Delight, and I think his mother was Peerless, a daughter of Grand Chartreuse.

MRS. SLINGSBY, who is always enthusiastic in cat affairs, is determined that Harrogate Show shall not fall through, and, rather than let it do so, she proposes to run it herself. She has the able assistance of Mrs. Weston, and these ladies hope that the specialist clubs, as well as private individuals, will help them by guaranteeing classes. The date is fixed for August 3rd.

MRS. SLINGSBY says that her kitten nursery is overflowing, as her queens are, as a rule, too generous, and will present her with litters of six instead of the modest trio which she prefers. She possesses one silver tabby kitten which is so supremely beautiful that she hardly dares to speak of him. Mr. Mason has seen him and considers him perfect and better marked than any short-hair.

MISS WHITE ATKINS has just returned from wintering abroad, and I trust soon to have some news of her cattery to report.

MRS. GREENWOOD has started a cats' home in Southampton, and will, I hope, meet with every success in this work of mercy. Southampton is over-run with miserable stray cats, and a home is certainly urgently required. Mrs. Greenwood is a true cat lover, and I am sure that all her fancier friends will give her every assistance in their power. Injured or diseased cats will be put in the lethal chamber, but all healthy specimens will be sold to good homes.

MRS. GREENWOOD possesses a handsome young pale chinchilla stud cat in Roy's Laddie, a son of the noted Rob Roy of Arrandale and Lincolnshire Musa. Roy's Laddie won as a kitten at Richmond, and has not been shown since.

MISS CLIFTON, who is judging the Skye terriers at Richmond Show, proposes taking a large contingent of Manx and other short-haired cats for exhibition.

ALPHA. - The cat is suffering from eczema, caused by improper feeding. Give 4 oz. raw beef daily, no other food; water only to drink, and every morning a teaspoonful of cod-liver oil. Apply a little boracic ointment to the bare places.
DAFFODIL. - The craze of late has been for unmarked orange cats. As a matter of fact, these are at present non-existent, as all he so called self- coloured cats are striped on face and tail, and they should, therefore, give place to a properly marked tabby which was equally good in other points.
JACK. - I am afraid you will not readily sell short-haired kittens, however well bred. If they were grown up and had taken prizes they would make good prices, but there is no great demand for short-hairs at any time.
POLLY'S MIM - Give the cat alter twenty-four hours' fast eight drops of oil of male fern in a gelatine capsule, followed, after an hour's interval, by a dessertspoonful of warm castor oil. Continue the meat feeding, but do not give milk.
SIAM. - I have heard it asserted that a squint was desirable in a Siamese cat, but this was generally by someone who owned a cat which squinted. Personally, I consider it to be an exceedingly ugly and objectionable fault, and I would neither keep, breed from, or award a prize to a cat which squinted badly. - DICK WHITTINGTON.

CAT GOSSIP. The Ladies' Field, July 16, 1904, 234.

RICHMOND SHOW.
THE entry at Richmond was not particularly good, and no very sensational young cats put in an appearance. Mrs. Slingsby's young blue male, Zeus of Thorpe, a son of Orange Blossom of Ihat ilk, won as best long-hair and as best cat in the show. He is a most promising young cat, but not yet in full coat, rather dark in colour, but grand in head and eye. Lady Decies made a number of entries, and Ch. Zaida, as usual, won first, as, though out of coat, she retains her exquisite colouring; the short-haired white, Fulmer Snowstorm, took first, and that beautiful long-hair, Snowdrop, was placed second, the much-discussed Fulmer Black Bobbie and the red Fulmer Lotto occupying the same positions.

Mrs. Oliver Westlake headed the white male class with her well-known Blue-eyed Darling, looking well. Mrs. Wilson's blue male, Defender of Arrandale, was placed only third in his class, but her chinchilla, Queen Moonshine of Arrandale, and her chinchilla kittens by Ard Patrick of Arrandale won first and third, and were amongst the most attractive exhibits, the smoke male, Goanwyn, from the same cattery, also winning third. First and championship went to Mrs. Little's beautiful kitten, Crissy. Miss Sutcliffe's Little Hoid Hunser headed a good blue female class and H.H. Princess Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein was unlucky in that her beautiful orange-eyed Kilpatric was out of coat. Mrs. De Courcy Alley's 3 blue kitten, Guelpho of the Blues, was pronounced best kitten in the show, and should be heard of again, while his sister, Miss Parker's Princess May of the Blues (both are by Blue San Toy and bred by Miss Parker), took first in the blue female kitten class.

The chinchilla male class contained but two entries, and second went to Mrs. Humphrey's Lord Clive, a pale-coloured cat showing a lot of quality. The Misses Beale made but one entry, their orange male, Red Rover, who took second, and in creams Mrs. Norris's celebrated Kew Ronald stood alone, Mrs. Harpur's Timothy Paul being placed only third by the judge. The Misses Roper were placed first and third with two good tortoiseshell queens by Johnnie Fawe. Miss Hastings Lees easily won the long-haired neuter class with her magnificent and well-known Lingmoor Tom. In the litter class all the prizes went to blues, and Blue San Toy was again to the fore, being the sire of Mrs. Knight's first prize and Miss Langhorne's third prize litter, which were divided by Mrs. Kennaway's family by Goliath II. Miss A. K. Clifton, who was judging Skye terriers, made a successful debut in the cat show world, winning second with a good black Manx male named Weybourne Henry, and reserve with a pretty blue short-haired queen, Weybourne Marvel, who loses only in eyes. Mrs. Knott's Queen Blue was first in this class, and Mrs. Hughes's Sherdley Alexis second. Mrs. Collingwood's silver tabby, Miss Toodles, has grand markings and looks like making a flier - she beat Acton Silver King somewhat easily - and Mrs. Western was successful with her Wynnstay Red Rambler.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.
(For Rules see last week's issue.)
BILLY. - Brush and comb the cat regularly while it is moulting. If you do not attend to this the hair may mat and the cat may make itself ill by swallowing hair when licking itself. J
JAMES. - If your chinchilla kittens have, when born, pale unmarked faces and legs, there is every likelihood that they will eventually be good in colour.
PASHA. - I have found Kepler's extract of malt and cod-liver oil an excellent tonic for cats when run down or suffering from chronic indigestion and diarrhoea. Your queen is feeling the effect of long-continued improper feeding. No cat can thrive well on bread or oatmeal porridge and milk. Ordinary house cats can supplement this diet in various ways, and so get on all right, but the poor cattery cat has no opportunities of foraging for itself.
DULCIE. - I have been told that both snuff and tobacco water are good cures for lice, but I have not tried either, so cannot recommend them. Powdered camphor and flowers of sulphur are safe and reliable remedies. - DICK WHITTINGTON.

CAT GOSSIP. The Ladies' Field, July 23, 1904, 302.

MRS. MAUGIN is delighted by the success of Mr. Maugin's Siamese kitten, Pankee, at Richmond Show. This little lady, though only five months old, won first in the open female class and three or four specials and the championship. Though entered in the kitten class she was unfortunately judged therein.

MRS. SLINGSBY is another lady who is rejoicing over Richmond wins. Her young blue male, Gem of Thorpe, is, she says, but an overgrown baby, and, to make the best of his appearance, he elected, about eight weeks ago, to go ferreting round a half-pulled down old house, and, presumably, put his head down an infected rat-hole, as he developed, soon afterwards, a spot of ringworm. This spot and his whole head and ears were promptly rubbed with some ointment intended for horses, with the result that all the hair came off, and had, of course, not had time to grow again properly before the show, and at the last moment Mrs. Slingsby almost kept him at home. There are at Thorpe four own brothers and sisters of this young celebrity, all very good indeed, and one female particularly so. Mrs. Slingsby finds that a cross of Oran of Thorpe with the Blue Boy II. strain produces wonderful results, but they are not pretty as kittens, for they develop late. Orange Blossom, Dom Pedro, and Gervase are all, at present, clothed in rusty rags, but are thoroughly healthy and happy, and the latter retains his marvellous orange eyes which are peculiar in that they are deeper coloured in the centre than at the outer edge of the iris.

MRS. SLINGSBY and all her supporters are, she says, working "like black slaves" at the preparations for Harrogate Show. All is going well, and N.C.C championships and about a hundred specials have already been promised. The appointed judges are Mrs, Herbert Ransome, Mrs. Collingwood, and Mr. T. B. Mason. I do not think Mrs. Collingwood has judged cats before, but I expect that she will be warmly supported by exhibitors. She will also judge the British short-hairs at the N.C.C.C. Show at Manchester, where Mrs. Paul Hardy will judge the blue long-hairs.

THE Hon. Mrs. McLaren Morrison made some important purchases at Richmond Cat Show, for she purchased from Mrs. de Courcy Alley, Guelpho of the Blues, who was pronounced not only the best blue long-haired kitten but the best kitten in the show, and from Mrs. Western the red short-hair, Wynnstay Red Rambler, who won the Rotherham challenge bowl for the best red short-hair.

LADY RACHEL BYNG is advertising at stud her chinchilla cat, Pathan, and also that successful sire, the blue Brushwood Boy. One great attraction is that one fee only - payable, of course, in advance is charged, and for this fee queens may be sent again and again until kittens result. Lady Rachel has usually a number of kittens of highest pedigree for disposal.

CAT GOSSIP. The Ladies' Field, July 30, 1904, 339.

I AM very sorry indeed to hear that Miss Parr is giving up cat-keeping. This lady has owned some really beautiful smoke queens which have met with considerable success in the show-ring. She has always been a true cat-lover and an exhibitor of the best sort - always pleased when winning, and never discontented when losing.

LADY RACHEL BYNG has been somewhat startled by the conduct of her blue Persian queen, Beauty (granddaughter of Moko and Sen-Sen), who has presented her with eight fine kittens by Goliath II. Fortunately a foster-mother was at hand and has taken charge of half the family. This large "little family" will be shown in the litter class at Manchester if all goes well. Lady Rachel is anxious to know if Beauty will resent the return of her entire family to her care during the show. This entirely depends upon her disposition - some cats would accept all the kittens without hesitation, and others would make themselves very disagreeable. If it were possible for the two halves of the family to meet and play about together during the interval it would simplify matters considerably.

I HAD the pleasure the other day of inspecting Miss Clifton's team of Manx cats, and was surprised to find what a capital lot they were. The two stud cats are the black Weybourne Henry, a big, well-shaped cat, and the well-known red and white Strathcona. Two black queens, Ramsay Empress and Henrietta, would be in the first flight but for a tiny white tuft on their chests; both are excellent in shape and coat, and Henrietta has orange eyes. Both these ladies have promising little black families by Henry. Two older kittens by Henry ex Henrietta are Joseph and Josephine - the latter is one of the most attractive kittens I have ever seen, and has true orange eyes.

THE schedules of Harrogate show have been sent out, and sufficient attractions are offered to draw a large entry. Seventeen classes are offered for long-haired cats and fourteen for long-haired kittens and litters. Short-haired cats have eight classes and kittens three. There are fourteen N.C.C. championships and well over one hundred special prizes.

CAT GOSSIP. The Ladies' Field, August 6, 1904, 356.

THE most important news of the week in the cat world is that Lady Decies is retiring from the cat fancy and all the cats at Birchington, with the exception of Ch. Zaida, are to be disposed of. Lady Decies has not been known for many years in the show world, but has had extraordinary success in exhibiting cats of all colour and has given high prices for several well known cats. Lord Southampton, who was purchased for £60 I believe, broke the English record in the way of cat prices. Lady Decies has for some time been much interested in toy bull-terriers, and has now also gone in for Pekinese spaniels.

A WRITER in a contemporary, commenting upon the danger of giving milk freely to kittens, suggests a substitute which may be found useful in cases of illness where liquid food is indicated: Take the white of an egg and, after well beating, add a cupful of barley water, slightly sweetened. The kittens will drink it readily, but prefer it slightly warm.

MRS. CLARKE, of Bath, has purchased that well-known chinchilla stud cat Cairo Ramadan, by Silver Sultan ex Silver Lily. This is a really good young cat and has won several prizes, and his sire and dam are also well-known winners.

EVERYTHING points to the success of Harrogate Show, and if the Southern Counties Cat Club can be got under way in time it is to be hoped that it may be followed, during the winter months, by a big show at Southampton, Bath, or, best of all, Bournemouth. The last would be a capital fixture, as, if the show was held during the season in a good hall, a capital gate would be assured.

THE dry season has been much in favour of the general health of longhaired kittens, but in the South the flea plague has been raging. Kittens cannot thrive if over-run by fleas, and I have so far failed to find a safe insect powder which kept them in check for more than a tew hours. Daily brushing and combing should be resorted to, and if regularly and properly carried out will do more good than all the lotions and powders ever invented.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.
DICK WHITTINGTON will be pleased to give advice on all matters concerning cats and their ailments, and will be glad to receive for insertion any interesting items of cat news that her readers may send. Queries must be written on one side of a separate sheet of paper, and must be signed with a pseudonym only for publication, but a letter giving full name and address of sender must accompany each query. A postal reply will be sent if the fee of 2s. 6d. is enclosed.. Letters should be addressed, "DICK WHITTINGTON, care of Editor, THE LADIES' FIELD."
E. H. G. - Your question is rather a difficult one to answer, but I can strongly recommend either Abdul Hamet of Dingley, the property of Miss Anderson Leake, Dingley Hill, Bradfield, near Reading, or his son, Don Pedro of Thorpe, the property of Mrs. Slingsby, Thorpe Underwood Hall, Great Ouseburn, Yorks.
CHICOT. - Rub a little powdered camphor and sulphur into the kittens' skins every other day and the lice will soon disappear. They are not necessarily caused by dirt, but frequently appear in delicate kittens.
NOVICE. - I prefer dry garden mould to any other substance for the earth-pans, but granulated peat-moss litter or pine sawdust may be used in wet weather.
SUFFOLK. - Short-haired cats and kittens are almost impossible to sell, unless they are able to win in good company.
GRAY KAT. - You must put the cat on raw beef diet, and give him daily two grains of sulphate of quinine in a pill, and also a teaspoonful of cod-liver oil. Let him have as much fresh air and freedom as possible. If his health does not improve shortly write again telling me how he has been fed and kept and all details of his general health.
M. T. BEAL. - You give one so little information as to how you feed and keep your cat that it is difficult for me to prescribe for him. You say that he is now "much better," so presumably your treatment suits him, and you had better continue it. Until the sneezing stops he had better not go out when it is damp, and the nostrils may be syringed daily with boracic lotion. A raw meat diet is best for all cats, and, possibly, if yours has not been accustom to this, it may enable him to throw off his delicacy. - DICK WHITTINGTON.

CAT GOSSIP. The Ladies' Field, August 13, 1904, 393.

THE blue male, Moko, has changed hands several times, and was one of a team sold at a sensational price by Mr. Witt to Mrs. Barnett, who passed him on, also at a high price, to Mrs. Singleton. Mr. Witt afterwards repurchased the old cat, but, being now well supplied with promising young males, he has once more parted with him to Miss Terrill, who is an enterprising and plucky buyer, though she has not as yet met with the best of luck.

MRS. MIDDLETON, the secretary of the Short-haired Cat Society, is, very wisely, asking members if they will guarantee, or help to guarantee, classes for short-hairs at the forthcoming Crystal Palace Show, instead of giving special prizes. This is an excellent idea, and one which I should like to see generally carried out. Specials are often all heaped upon the same cats, but by this means novices would receive great encouragement, and the judge's duties would be lightened instead of increased, as they are when numbers of specials are given.

ONE word I should like to say in favour of the "one cat, one class " system. It is a very different matter at a dog show, where the owners and ring stewards are responsible for bringing the dogs before the judges; but in a cat show a novice or limit class can rarely be judged without searching the whole show to find the competitors. Many are missed altogether, and it is a difficult task to bring the cats together to judge of their respective merits, so the judge usually tries to "carry in his eye" the points of the various cats, and the results are frequently not entirely satisfactory.

LADY DECIES has, I hear, parted with almost all her cats. At the time of writing only a few blues, the whites, long and short-haired, a short-haired red, and the well-known Fulmer Black Bobbie remain at Birchington. I know of a very decided "nibble" at a pair of short-haired whites, and the figure is a high one for short-haired cats, even of such excellence as these, but as nothing is settled yet I must say no more until next week. I hear that Lord and Lady Decies are going in largely for dogs, and that Lord Decies bid, unsuccessfully, up to £50 for a Pomeranian at the Marquis of Anglesey's sale the other day.

THOSE fanciers who expect to both breed from and exhibit their female cats should ere this have begun "conditioning" them for the autumn shows. It is useless to breed two litters from a queen and then expect her to make a successful appearance in the show-pen before Christmas. One litter born in the spring or early summer should be the rule and, after her family has been reared, the cat should be regularly groomed and well fed in order that her winter coat may make an early start. There is no doubt that brushing encourages the growth of hair and a little alteration in diet will sometimes hasten matters. A teaspoonful of cod-liver oil, a tablespoonful of cream, or a raw egg every morning will make a cat fat and sleek, and fit her for the show-pen. I do not, as a rule, approve of breeding late autumn litters from any cats, and I have noticed that, though many queens will mate after August, the proportion of "misses" after that month is very great.

CAT GOSSIP. The Ladies' Field, August 20, 1904, 433.

THE kitten show of the Northern Counties Cat Club will be held at Manchester, in the Belle Vue Gardens, on September 23rd, and Mr. T. B. Mason has been invited to judge. This fixture has always been an immensely popular one, and is the only one of its kind. The Northern Club has been well rewarded for its enterprise in undertaking such a venture by the success which has always attended the show. We hear and read much of the danger caused to older cats by the exhibition of kittens, which are supposed to spread infection at shows, but it cannot be said that more sickness appears amongst the exhibits after the kitten show than at a show where young kittens are excluded. Moreover the winners at Manchester are constantly met with successfully heading the open classes at later shows.

MRS. COLLINGWOOD made a most successful debut as a cat judge at Harrogate Show, where she undertook all the short-haired classes. A number of well-known winners appeared, and The Crimson Golliwog, who has changed his name and his owner since he did so well at Richmond, won first in the red tabby class for the Hon. Mrs. McLaren Morrison. This lady also took second with a fine shorthaired blue, which only missed first place on account of his green eyes. Mrs. Heslop's well-marked brown tabby, General Bobs, was placed first, and her handsome tortoiseshell, Acton Poppy, was placed second, on account of some tabby markings on her chest, first going to Mrs. Pratt's well-known Rochdale Surprise. Mrs. Bonny's exquisitely marked silver tabby, Dame Fortune, won her class very easily, and in a good Manx class Miss Cochran's Ballochmyle Stump won her third championship.

THE variety class must have been a difficult one to judge, as it contained so many really good cats, and eventually first went to Mr. Maxwell's orange-eyed black, aptly named Orange-eyed Prissy, also special for best short-haired cat in the show; extra first to Lady Decies's blue-eyed white, and second to Mrs. Norris's huge Siamese, Kew King of Siam. Lady Decies also won with her long-haired black, Ch. Black Bobbie, and, of course, with Ch. Zaida.

MRS. SLINGSBY must, indeed, be proud of her young blue male, Zeus of Thorpe, a son of her old favourite Orange Blossom, for he again won the special for best long-haired cat in the show. Mrs. Slingsby has promised me a photograph of this young celebrity (he is not yet a year old) for reproduction as soon as it can be taken. Mrs. Slingsby also took first with her well-known silver tabby queen, Deehna of Thorpe.

OTHER ladies who did well were Mrs. Hartley and Mrs. Moore in the orange classes, and Miss Beal, whose old champion fawn, Romaldkirk Admiral, won over Mrs. Norris's Kew Ronald. Miss Hastings Lee's cream female, Lingmoor Myrtle, and her magnificent neuter cats rendered a good account of themselves; Miss Rosamond Whiting carried off the bulk of the prizes in brown tabbies; and Miss Cope's silver tabby male, Roiall Big-wig, carried off all the prizes for which he competed.

ALTOGETHER the show was a brilliant success, and Mrs. Slingsby and her assistants are to be heartily congratulated upon the results of their efforts.

THE schedule of the N.C.C. show at the Crystal Palace is already being discussed, and the judges who have been invited to officiate up to date are Mrs. Balding, chinchillas; Mrs. Vallance, silver tabbies; Mr. Furze, Manx; and Mrs. Parker Brough, Siamese. Mrs. Herbert Ransome, Miss White Atkins, and Mr. Mason have also been asked to judge.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.
DICK WHITTINGTON will be pleased to give advice on all matters concerning cats and their ailments, and will be glad to receive for insertion any interesting items of cat news that her readers may send. Queries must be written on one side of a separate sheet of paper, and must be signed with a pseudonym only for publication, but a letter giving full name and address of sender must accompany each query. A postal reply will be sent if the fee of 2s. 6d. is enclosed.. Letters should be addressed, "DICK WHITTINGTON, care of Editor, THE LADIES' FIELD."
Mrs. A. H. - Your cat's case, I am sorry to say, seems serious, and it would be necessary to have him under observation for some time to ascertain what causes the trouble. I should strongly advise you to send him to a skilful veterinary surgeon for treatment. I am inclined to think it is the quantities of fur which the cat has swallowed which have caused his illness; and in this case a dessertspoonful of warm castor oil should be given immediately, and he should then be fed twice daily, giving at each meal about 1 and a half oz. raw minced beef over which a pinch of carbonate of bismuth has been sprinkled. Do not give any milk food. It is absolutely essential that the cat should be thoroughly brushed and combed every day while changing his coat, and if this is done the fleas will not trouble him so much. You give me no information as to how the cat has been fed.
MONICA. - The bare places outside the ears are an indication of internal irritation, which has caused the cat to scratch the hair off. Sponge the ears out thoroughly twice a week with equal parts of methylated spirits and water.
JANE. - The kittens may safely be weaned and sent to their new homes when between six and eight weeks of age.
PATRICK. - I do not think lined baskets are to be recommended for strong hardy cats during the summer. Delicate cats may require more care, but my own always travel in unlined baskets, and in the summer the lid, at any rate, should be left unlined, as the cat is more likely to catch cold if it gets over-heated in a stuffy atmosphere than if there is a free circulation of air. - DICK WHITTINGTON.

CAT GOSSIP. The Ladies' Field, August 27, 1904, 473.

RATHER a startling announcement is that all awards at Harrogate Show are suspended, as the catalogue was not drawn up in accordance with the rules of the National Cat Club, and nameless cats and others without the recognised particulars are liable to disqualification. It is to be hoped that the difficulties may be overcome, as it is rather hard on exhibitors to be made to suffer for the errors of the show authorities, and in this case there can be no possible doubt that these errors were unintentional.

MISS CLIFTON has purchased from Lady Decies the short-haired white cats, Ch. Fulmer Snowflake and Forget-me-not. The price paid was a high one, but Miss Clifton is determined to get to the top of the tree, and these cats are really first-class exhibition specimens and too well known to require any description. Snowflake has on several occasions won cups offered for the best cat in the show.

QUITE a number of sales took place at Harrogate Show. Miss Hastings Lees purchased Mrs. Norris's beautiful long-haired black kitten, Mrs. Slingsby bought Bridesmaid, the second prize blue kitten, and the Hon. Mrs. McLaren Morrison bought Mrs. Hislop's brown spotted Manx kitten. Of this kitten Mrs. Slingsby writes: "We had no room for his pen on the long rows, so we put him in one of the big walking pens used for judging the best in show, and when my big blue Zeus was put in next door the tailless kit laid back its ears, humped its back, and set up every bristle on its spine like a herringbone, swearing like a trooper. It was like a sprat growling at a whale." Mrs. Slingsby thinks that the short-haired cats showed the moult more than the long-hairs.

I AM exceedingly sorry to hear of Mrs. Slingsby's bad luck with her kittens. Influenza broke out in the kitten nursery, and, of course, the best blue died; also two younger litters have been swept away, and all but one of an exquisite litter by Orange Blossom ex Meadowsweet. One only, and that the worst, is left of Daphne's litter by Gervase, while five beautiful silver tabbies by Don Pedro have also succumbed. Altogether, it is a sad tale, and accounts for the absence of Mrs. Slingsby's kittens from Harrogate Show, as she would not take one for fear of carrying infection. Would that other exhibitors were as scrupulous!

I AM amused to read in a contemporary that tortoiseshell and white tom cats are "common and not expensive." I wish the writer of this statement would tell me where a few are to be procured. I know of only one at present, and he is the property of Lady Alexander. In a fairly wide experience I have only met with two full grown male cats of this colour, and I should have said that they were more rare than tortoiseshell.

I RECENTLY came across a description of a most strange kitten, longhaired, which is in colour seal-brown, with cream marks round its eyes and cream shadings underneath. Its sire is said to be a Persian and its dam a Siamese. The description sounds most attractive. I should like to know the colour of the sire, and I strongly recommend anyone in search of novelty to try and establish a strain of this colour. If they were bred in sufficient numbers classes would soon be provided for them, and I am sure that they would become very popular.

I UNDERSTAND that litter classes are to be provided at the forthcoming Crystal Palace Show.

A LARGE cat show is to be held at Sheffield on November 17th, under the patronage of the N.C.C. and the N.C.C.C. Championships are offered. The judges are Mrs. Fletcher, Miss Simpson, and Mr. Mason. There are twenty classes for long-haired cats and eight for long-haired kittens, six for short-haired cats and two for short-haired kittens, and a number of local classes. Miss Houblon's kittens, here pictured, are by Blue Coat Boy II. out of Thiselton Mollikins. Their mistress writes that they have never had a day's illness in their lives, and that their eyes are turning a real good yellow.

CAT GOSSIP. The Ladies' Field, September 3, 1904, 514.

A NEW cat club on n independent basis, to be called the Southern Counties Cat Club, has been inaugurated at Southampsom. Mrs. Sinkins is at the head of affairs, Mrs. Millar is to be secretary and the valuable assistance of Mrs. hardy, Mrs. greenwood, Miss Saupter, and others has been tendered, so the club is likely to prove an immense success. A committee of twelve has been appointed, and about thirty members have already been elected. It is suggested that a show should be held in Southampton about the second week in January. The annual subscription to the S.C.C.C. is 5s. only.

MR. FURZE'S tortoiseshell and white Manx queen, Lady Adela, seems to have a predilection for throwing cream kittens. Last year she produced a cream kitten by her well-known cattery companion the black Manx, The Deemster, and she has now one black and two cream kittens by the same sire. I hear of a recent recruit to the Manx cat fancy in the person of Mrs. Burns-Maitland.

THERE is a rumour afloat that the Hon. Mrs. McLaren Morrison is leaving Kepwick Park, and she is therefore greatly reducing her cattery. Another lady who finds that her pets have multiplied too fast is Mrs. Francis Clarke, who has for this reason decided to give up breeding smokes and devote her attention more entirely to her blue long-hairs, of which she has sufficient to occupy the limited space at her command.

IMPORTANT shows of which the dates have already been fixed are the N.C.C. Show at the Crystal Palace, October 27th and 28th - judges, Mrs. Vallance, Mrs. Balding, Mrs. Herbert Ransome, Mrs. Parker Brough, Miss White Atkins, Mr. T. B. Mason, and Mr. Furze; the Midland Counties Cat Club show at Birmingham, November 29th and 30th; and the Northern Counties Cat Club Show at Manchester, January 20th.

OWING to the difficulties encountered in securing a suitable hall, the date of the Manchester Kitten Show has been changed from September 23rd to September 21st. Mrs. Hardy will judge the blue kittens, Mrs. Collingwood the short-hairs and litters, and Mr. T. B. Mason the remaining classes. There are two litter classes, fourteen classes for long-haired kittens, two for British, one for Siamese, and one for Manx.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.
DICK WHITTINGTON will be pleased to give advice on all matters concerning cats and their ailments, and will be glad to receive for insertion any interesting items of cat news that her readers may send. Queries must be written on one side of a separate sheet of paper, and must be signed with a pseudonym only for publication, but a letter giving full name and address of sender must accompany each query. A postal reply will be sent if the fee of 2s. 6d. is enclosed.. Letters should be addressed, "DICK WHITTINGTON, care of Editor, THE LADIES' FIELD."
TOBY. - Will you get your veterinary surgeon to carefully examine a scraping from your cat's skin under a microscope, in order to decide whether he is suffering from mange or eczema? The complaint, whatever it may be, would be greatly aggravated by a fish diet, and the cat should be fed entirely on raw beef, from four to six ounces a day. The sore places must be carefully and thoroughly washed with a solution of carbonate of soda and warm water, and then a small quantity of sulphur and white vaseline ointment must be rubbed thoroughly into and around the affected parts. Repeat this treatment every other day. Do not use any "tarry lotion," it is most dangerous for cats.
ANXIOUS. - When a cat suffering from a cough shows a craving for air, sitting at the back of doors and windows and trying to get out, there is every reason to fear an attack of pneumonia. In this case the patient should be kept in a warm but well-ventilated room and fed on light nourishing food, scraped raw beef, raw eggs, cream, or, indeed, anything it will eat. Do not attempt to poultice, as without experience of nursing you will do more harm than good. The drugs to be administered depend so much upon the individual nature of the case that I should advise you to trust rather to time and care, as you have no knowledge of medicines and cannot get the assistance of a good veterinary surgeon.
CHARLIE. - Green eyes are incorrect in a black cat. The eyes should be a deep dark copper colour. - DICK WHITTINGTON.

CAT GOSSIP. The Ladies' Field, September 10, 1904, 30.

AN excellent and practical article on kitten rearing, signed "Kitticus," appeared recently in a contemporary. The writer gives some excellent advice on feeding kittens. She recommends "Force" and minced beef as articles of diet, and winds up by saying, "I call any illness amongst tiny kittens distemper. It is the safest plan. If they are very tiny I chloroform them when their nose and eyes run, or they have bad diarrhoea that I cannot check. If they are old enough to have some strength of constitution I give ‘Dysto.' I isolate on the first sign of loss of appetite, cold, or, indeed, any symptom that is undesirable." Truly, these are words of wisdom.

THE leading veterinary authorities have of late given us to understand that cows' milk in its natural state does not contain sufficient strength for the rearing of puppies. The suggested remedy is that "Plasmon," which is, I understand, a concentrated form of milk, should be added to cows' milk before giving it to puppies. Presumably, this applies also to kittens. Many breeders have for years given "Plasmon" to their kittens with excellent results, but I would point out that as we give a more concentrated form of nourishment we must decrease the bulk of food proportionately or indigestion and diarrhoea may follow. The chief argument against a milk diet for cats and dogs is that to obtain the requisite amount of nourishment the animal is obliged to overload its stomach. If the remedy for this evil has been discovered one of my chief objections to a milk diet has been overcome.

THE American cat fancy seems to be plunged in warfare even more bitter than what we have experienced in this country. What it is all about is more than I can say, but the American cat papers are certainly candid in their criticisms of certain individuals. The difficulty of understanding the situation is increased by the fact that each combatant appears to patronize only is or her own pet journal, and a letter published in the ‘Cats Times' is replied to through the ‘Feline Daily Mail,' and so without studying every American publication one cannot avoid missing important facts or statements. ‘

MISS HOUBLON'S kittens, whose portraits appeared in our columns a week or two since, did very well at Sandy Show, where Essex Lad took a second prize and a special for the best blue kitten under four months old, and Essex Beauty and Essex Maid were placed second and third in the selling class. Their owner is advertising in our Sale and Exchange page this week.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.
For Rules see last week's issue.
BHILI - If you advertise your kittens in our "Private Sale" column you should have no difficulty in disposing of them at the low prices you mention. I think there is some mistake in your letter, as you say that they are "short haired Persian kittens with heavy coats." There is no such breed as a short-haired Persian, and, of course, a short-haired kitten cannot have a heavy coat. Perhaps you mean that the kittens are half-bred. With regard to the Manchester Show write to Mrs. Herbert Ransome, Sunnybank, Bowdon, Altrincham.
DAFFODlL.~ - Certainly give your kittens raw scraped beef as soon as they begin to eat, but I do not advocate giving meat, or any solid food, to kittens much before they are four weeks old. If the mother cannot rear them they must be hand fed, and, in this case, I have found condensed milk, properly diluted, to be the best food for them until they are old enough to eat meat.
SAMSON. - Eczema is more often caused by under than by over feeding. It is difficult to make a cat too fat, and a very fat cat has usually a healthy skin. Meat does not cause skin disease, but the bread and milk, which is your cat's staple diet, is the cause of the trouble.
TANGERINE. - Your orange Persian cat should be mated with a black if you wish to get dark orange and tortoiseshell kittens. If you mate her with an orange male the kittens will very likely be "washier" in colour than their mother. - DICK WHITTINGTON.

CAT GOSSIP. The Ladies' Field, September 17, 1904, 51.

LADY DECIES'S cattery will soon be a thing of the past. She has sold the blue-eyed White Glacier to Mrs. Grahame Menzies, and the orange-eyed black short-haired queen, Ch. Shamrock, to Miss Clifton, and this lady has purchased a number of good short-haired blacks from the same family as Weybourne Ann, who won at Richmond, and was bought by Mrs. Collingwood, who re-named her Leighton Ann, and did well with her at Sandy. These cats are not bred by fanciers, but come from a cottage known only to Miss Clifton, and are all said to have dark orange eyes.

A SERIOUS loss to the cat fancy generally, and to Mrs. Clark in particular, is that of the beautiful young silver tabby, Marquis of Dingley, bred by Miss Anderson Leake, from whom Mrs. Clark purchased him quite recently. Marquis was one of our best silver tabby males, and he possessed to perfection that rare and important point, marking.

SILVER tabbies seem to be looking up, for at Sandy the other day the special for best long-hair went to Mrs. Slingsby's well-known Don Pedro of Thorpe, and that for the best short-hair to Mrs. Collingwood's silver tabby, Toodles, which was bred by herself from her old favourite, Ch. James II. I understand that Don Pedro is now a full champion, and that his cattery companion, the magnificent young blue, Zeus of Thorpe, has qualified for the same title.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.
DICK WHITTINGTON will be pleased to give advice on all matters concerning cats and their ailments, and will be glad to receive for insertion any interesting items of cat news that her readers may send. Queries must be written on one side of a separate sheet of paper, and must be signed with a pseudonym only for publication, but a letter giving full name and address of sender must accompany each query. A postal reply will be sent if the fee of 2s. 6d. is enclosed.. Letters should be addressed, "DICK WHITTINGTON, care of Editor, THE LADIES' FIELD."
ST. AMANT. - Regular combing is the only certain method of keeping your cat clear of fleas. There are various powders advertised which will drive the fleas away for a time, but they will soon return, unless the powder is left in the coat, and this is not always safe, as non-poisonous powders do not necessarily form a good article of diet for cats, and most cats will lick any powder out of their coats. Daily combing with a fine-tooth comb is the best treatment, and a very little spirits of camphor may be rubbed on the coat, or some powdered camphor and sulphur may be brushed through it occasionally. On no account wash the cat in carbolic acid.
REHOBOAM. - I think it is probable that your cat's teeth are decayed, and that the offensive smell comes from them. Can you not get a skilful veterinary surgeon to examine the teeth and remove them if necessary? If the teeth are all right but the gums are inflamed and spungy, paint the gums with tincture of iodine. Your description of the cat's conduct when drinking seems to indicate that he suffers from toothache, but if you are quite sure that the smell does not come from his mouth his digestion must be at fault. Your feeding is excellent, and I would suggest that you give him one grain of bicarbonate of potash in a little milk twice daily.
JACK. - You are giving the kittens far too much meat. Four ounces daily is sufficient for most full-grown cats if they do not get much exercise, and 2 oz. would be ample for your kittens.
JAP. - I have met with several Japanese cats, but have never seen a genuine Chinese cat, though I have heard of several. – WHITTINGTON.

CAT GOSSIP. The Ladies' Field, September 24, 1904, 90.

I HEAR that Miss Chamberlayne, of chinchilla and smoke Persian fame, is leaving Norwood and intends taking up residence near Southampton, as she has relations in that district. This lady should be a valuable addition to the ranks of the southern fanciers.

MRS. SINKINS is very busy getting the Southern Counties Cat Club into "going order." Meetings have been held, and representatives for the various important districts have been appointed. It is considered advisable to hold the first show, which will take place early in January, 1905, in Southampton. but future shows will be held in Bath, Bournemouth, and other large towns if possible. I think Salisbury would be a good centre for a cat show, as it is comparatively accessible for London fanciers, and those in the south-eastern and south-western counties could also attend it. I remember a very good cat show being held in Salisbury about eleven years ago, when Mr. A. A. Clarke judged.

I HEAR from Miss Samuel that she seriously thinks of giving her well-known Manx cat, King Kangaroo, his liberty, as he is such a very great pet. The only difficulty is that he would have to retire from the show-bench, as he is such a mighter fighter when opportunity serves that he would never be fit to be seen. My advice to Miss Samuel is to wait until Kangaroo has won full championship honours before withdrawing him from the show-bench. At present Ballochmyle Bell Stump is the only champion Manx cat, and as she is not likely to be shown again it is a pity that some younger cat should not follow in her footsteps.

THE great anxiety amongst cat fanciers at present is to know whether their show cats will be in coat in time for the particular autumn show which they wish to patronize. In many breeds, where competition is not very keen, a cat which looks well but has not yet grown its full coat stands a fair chance of winning if it is good in other points, and some of the long-haired tabbies look even better when a little short of coat, as their markings are clearer. On the other hand, in popular breeds, such as blues and chinchillas, the competition is so strong that every point is of importance. In the summer all the cats are equally coatless, but in the autumn some are much in advance of others, and my advice to owners of good blues and chinchillas is to keep them at home until their coats are grown, as nothing is more annoying than to have a really good cat beaten on a point which will rectify itself in a few weeks.

MISS SUTCLIFFE has been marvellously successful in exhibiting her cats. Little Hird Hiniser, who appears in the photograph with her mistress, won firsts at Richmond, Harrogate, and Starbeck this year. She is not yet a year old and has only been exhibited three times. Her coat is intensely blue and sound in colour, and her eyes are deep orange. Olive, the other cat in the photograph, is chiefly remarkable as being the mother of Little Hird Hiniser and also of the beautiful Darius IV, and of Wynnstay Pete. Altogether, Miss Sutcliffc has made a brilliant debut in the cat show world.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.
DICK WHITTINGTON will be pleased to give advice on all matters concerning cats and their ailments, and will be glad to receive for insertion any interesting items of cat news that her readers may send. Queries must be written on one side of a separate sheet of paper, and must be signed with a pseudonym only for publication, but a letter giving full name and address of sender must accompany each query. A postal reply will be sent if the fee of 2s. 6d. is enclosed.. Letters should be addressed, "DICK WHITTINGTON, care of Editor, THE LADIES' FIELD."
BLACKIE. - Sponge the cars out thoroughly every other day with equal parts of methylated spirits and water. Be sure that you get well into every corner, and knead the side of the head to work the liquid well down into the ear. Then dry well with a clean bit of cotton wool and drop in a pinch of boracic acid powder. Fish is not a good article of diet for cats, and I advise substituting scraps of meat.
STANLEY. - I should like to know how your cat has been fed and kept. I do not approve of dosing for worms, as they can be got rid of by careful dieting. Let the cat have nothing but meat to eat - give it no milk or lights. Write to me again and tell me more about the cat's general health and condition, his age, weight, and how he has been fed.
MISS M. M. - I have sent you the addresses you asked for, and hope you have been able to obtain what you want. The price is not very high, but as you only want a handsome pet I think you should be able to obtain one for the figure you name.
NIMROD. - Your cat is suffering from chronic snuffles, and it is very doubtful if a cure can be effected. Continue the quinine and iron tonic, as it seems to suit him; also give a teaspoonful of cod-liver oil daily. The only chance of curing the cat is if you can manage to syringe his nostrils out thoroughly every day with boracic lotion.
MARY. - The safest general remedy for all cases of skin disease is sulphur and white vaseline ointment. - DICK WHITTINGTON.

CAT GOSSIP. The Ladies' Field, October 1, 1904.

MANCHESTER KITTEN SHOW.
THE Manchester Kitten Show has had its usual success. The entry was, according to the statement of Mrs. Ransome, the secretary, who knows more about the matter than anyone else, very similar to last year.

In the self-coloured litter class blues were the only entries, and Mrs. Thomson carried off the palm with a lovely litter by Blue San Toy, closely followed by the Misses Veever's little family by Darius IV., which were just a month younger, while Mrs. Kennaway came third with a very nice lot. The variety kitten class was headed by a magnificent litter of brown tabbies belonging io Mrs. Benton. They were wonderfully rich in colour, and two of them afterwards won first and third in the single kitten class.

Mr. J. H. Watmough's Jill created quite a sensation; she is a beautiful orange-eyed black, and won first in the black or white class, second in the pair class, a special for the best orange-eyed black female, and the club medal for the best self-coloured kitten. In blue pairs Mr. Maxwell, who was so successful last year, won with a pair of his own breeding by Mouflon, Mr. Radcliffe's kittens by the same sire coming second, but in the blue male class Mrs. Slingsby once more held her own with a fine well-grown son of Orange Blossom. Miss Attenborough's Little Billee, by Mouflon, and Mr. Witt's much-talked-of Cicero of Lozells were placed second and third. The blue female class was a particularly fine one, and contained twenty-seven entries. Miss Greatorex won with Patty, by Goliath II., but H.R.H. Princess Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein followed her closely with Lady Mary, by Garboldisham Cygnet ex Kilpatric, a really good kitten and a credit to her breeder; third went to Miss Attenborough's Pansy, sister to Little Billee.

Some really promising chinchilla kittens were shown, and promise well for the entry at the winter shows. Miss Meeson's Prospero and Miranda Duvals are a grand pair, and the judge considered Prospero the best of his colour shown for years. This pair won first in the pair class, and Prospero took first in the single male class, and Miranda second in the female class, the latter being beaten by Miss Chamberlayne's exquisitely pale Jessamy of the Spheres. Miss Chamberlayne's pair were much admired, however, and took third in the pair kitten class, but Jessamy was as far ahead of Ellaline as Prospero was of Miranda, and hence the apparent confusion when they were separately judged. Miss Simon and Mrs. Wilson were other winners in these classes, and Mrs. Wilson's smoke kitten, Storm Cloud of Arrandale, was placed first in his class.

Silver tabbies came out strong, and all the prizes went to Miss Cope, and her Roiall Gorgeous won the club medal for best a.o.c. kitten. Miss Armitage's Siamese kittens were alone in their class. They are nicely marked kittens, and Chaseley Mag, much the better of the two, won first, and Chaseley Tiger third. A capital entry of seven Manx male kittens caused surprise, and Mr. Lowe's Boygym, from Miss Samuel's well-known strain, won well in shape. He only wants depth of eye and density of coat to make a flyer. A very similar kitten from the same litter headed the female class. Mrs. Collingwood's well-marked brown Flash Jack easily won in the British tabby class, and Mr. Maxwell's orange-eyed Prissy II. seems like following in her mother's footsteps.

THE N.C.C. appears to be determined that all its rules, new and old, shall be strictly enforced. This is a most excellent thing, but a good deal of trouble and discontent has been caused because breaches of rules formerly overlooked have during the last few months been punished with the utmost severity. I am strongly of the opinion that any club which has published a book of rules should keep them, but, under the circumstances, I think it would have been wise had the N.C.C. published a notice giving warning of its intention before acting as it has done. It is, of course, absolutely within its rights, but it is a fact that the present laxity of exhibitors is directly due to the laxity of the N.C.C. committee in the past in keeping its own rules, but it is the exhibitors only who now have to suffer for this laxity.

I HAVE read a good deal lately about various cats which have had the honour of beating Ch. Zaida. These have all been male cats. Tintagel, Rob Roy of Arrandale, and Ardpatrick have each been placed before Zaida by different judges, though Ardpatrick's win was afterwards cancelled by the N.C.C. on some technical point about which I am not quite clear. A fact overlooked by most people is that at Holland Park, in June, 1896, Miss Packham's lovely Ting Ting was first, Southampton Duchess second, and Zaida third, and I did not then hear any adverse criticism on the judging.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.
DICK WHITTINGTON will be pleased to give advice on all matters concerning cats and their ailments, and will be glad to receive for insertion any interesting items of cat news that her readers may send. Queries must be written on one side of a separate sheet of paper, and must be signed with a pseudonym only for publication, but a letter giving full name and address of sender must accompany each query. A postal reply will be sent if the fee of 2s. 6d. is enclosed.. Letters should be addressed, "DICK WHITTINGTON, care of Editor, THE LADIES' FIELD."
PERSIAN. - I. The best way to keep the kitten clear of fleas is to comb it thoroughly every morning. 2. The best food for all cats and kittens is fresh, lean, raw beef. About 2 oz. a day is sufficient, but, if the kitten does not seem satisfied with that, you may add an equal bulk of Force or brown bread or biscuit crumbs.
LULU. - I think your cat is indulging in a very thorough moult, and as he is run down from unsuitable feeding his new coat takes longer than usual to appear. You must not give him such quantities of sulphur and you must substitute meat, raw beef for preference, for the fish. I think if you do this he will be all right in a month or two.
CHAFFINCH. - Raw fresh rabbit is an ideal diet for cats. By all means let them eat the fur if they will; it acts as a natural mechanical vermifuge.
NOVICE. - All cats shown at the Crystal Palace must first be registered in the books of the National Cat Club. For particulars write to Dr. Roper, Oatlands, Beckenham, Kent. - DICK WHITTINGTON.

CAT GOSSIP. The Ladies' Field, October 8, 1904, pg 160

MRS. CLARK, of Kyrle, Batheaston, Bath, is a most successful breeder and exhibitor of cats, both long and short-haired. His Majesty of Whitehall was bred by Mrs. Marriott from those two beautiful cats, Silver Tod Sloan and The Seraph. His Majesty is a very pale coloured cat, teeming with quality, and the possessor of beautiful green eyes. He is the winner of a number of prizes. Ashbrittle Fair Lady, another good chinchilla, pale in colour and sweet-faced, is a worthy mate for His Majesty, and Mrs. Clark possesses another really high-class chinchilla stud cat in the well-known emerald-eyed Cairo Ramadan. Blues also find a place in the Kyrle cattery, and Skellingthorpe Patrick is one of our best known and most successful sires, being remarkable for his great size and bone and wonderful purity of colour. Peter the Great is the pick of the short-haired blues, a huge, magnificent cat, faultless but for his eye colouring, and he has been most successful in the show-pen, as has the brown tabby neuter, Pompon, whose role is really that of the house pet.

TINTAGEL LUNA, whose portrait appears on the next page, is now, alas, no more. She was an exquisite little cat, pale in colour, and possessed of a beautiful head, tiny ears, and a coat like a sheep, while her eyes were the duplicates of her sire's, Tintagel. Miss Atkins would not part with Luna nor risk her at shows, as she wished to keep a daughter of Tintagel, but, unfortunately, while she was abroad this, her only, hope, succumbed.

AMERICAN fanciers believe strongly in tar paper as a lining for their cat houses, and claim that it keeps fleas away. I can quite believe this, but it should only be used where it is impossible for kittens to get at it, as if they played with and tore the paper and then swallowed little bits of it, which they would be quite likely to do, sudden death from tar poisoning might result. The fact that tar, in any form, is a virulent poison to cats is not generally known. Preparations containing spirits of tar should never be applied to cats' skins.

ONCE more the suggestion that champion cats should be exhibited only in classes especially provided for champions has been revived. I do not believe that such a rule will ever be brought into force, and I sincerely hope not. An "open" class means a class open to every cat, but if champions are to be debarred there will no longer be any open classes. People who study the good of the breed in which they exhibit do not care to win year after year with the same animal, but endeavour to bring out a new champion occasionally; but it is impossible to make any rules on this point which would work out satisfactorily. Much must be left to individual good taste and good feeling. Our best fanciers do not care to "farm" the classes at every show.

MRS. THRING has had a most unfortunate year with her cats, for from three queens she has obtained only one kitten. The solitary hope is a silver tabby by Lord Clifton and promises well, but can hardly be considered a satisfactory return for all the care and money expended on the entire cattery.

I HEAR that Mrs. Gregory has a very good coloured young son of poor Sussex Tinker coming on, and also a beautiful little tortoiseshell by Torrington Sonnie.

I WONDER if any of my readers know of a breed of long-haired cats to be found in Norway. Some friends of mine told me the other day that they had at one time known a sea captain who regularly brought large heavily coated brown tabby cats from Norway, and said that they were common there. They commented upon this fact as strange, seeing that all other Northern breeds of cats are short-coated, and told me a curious tale of a kitten which they sent to South Africa. It was a common short-haired kitten, and its parents were short-haired and had never had a long-haired kitten, but as soon as this kitten reached its new home it grew a long coat!

I AM very sorry to hear of the death of Mrs. Pettitt's beautiful blue-eyed white stud cat, The King of Pearls. He was a magnificent cat and a great prize-winner, and his kittens had won innumerable prizes. He was apparently in perfect health and condition, and died suddenly in a fit. His age and pedigree were unknown, but us he was shown at the Crystal Palace in 1896 he cannot have been a young cat.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.
DICK WHITTINGTON will be pleased to give advice on all matters concerning cats and their ailments, and will be glad to receive for insertion any interesting items of cat news that her readers may send. Queries must be written on one side of a separate sheet of paper, and must be signed with a pseudonym only for publication, but a letter giving full name and address of sender must accompany each query. A postal reply will be sent if the fee of 2s. 6d. is enclosed.. Letters should be addressed, "DICK WHITTINGTON, care of Editor, THE LADIES' FIELD."
FLO. - The best way to encourage the new coat to come quickly is to brush the cat well every day with a soft, long-bristled hair brush.
JACK. - It is not usual to send kittens on approval, as the risks are too great. A little kitten might get through one journey all right, but the return journey, after a day or two in a strange abode, would very probably upset it. In buying full-grown cats it is quite usual to ask that they should be sent on approval.
NOVICE. - As you are quite a beginner I do not advise you to risk making experiments in inbreeding. It is a subject which requires much study, and more often than not, in cat breeding, results in failure. Mate your queen to a healthy young male which excels in the points she lacks.
FREDA. It is probably nothing more serious than a cold in the head. Keep the cat as much out of draughts as possible, and do not give any medicine beyond a dessertspoonful of castor oil. The diet is perfectly right.
CHINCHILLA. - The stripes on your kitten's lip and face are a very serious fault, but they may grow out with age – DICK WHITTINGTON.

CAT GOSSIP. The Ladies' Field, October 15, 1904, pg 250

SOME years ago there used to be a demand for half-bred Persian kittens as pets. People who wanted a handsome long-haired cat and did not wish to pay much for it went in for half-breeds, and there was an idea that they were stronger than pure-bred cats. Many of these long-haired kittens failed to fulfil their early promise and grew into short-haired cats. The reason for this was that they were not bred on the right system. A long-haired queen mated to a short-haired male may have long-haired kittens, but these kittens may never have long coats as cats; whereas the kittens of a long-haired sire and a short-haired dam will almost invariably have long coats as cats, even if they do not as kittens. A curious instance of this came under my notice many years ago. A longhaired tom cat of my breeding was running about at a farm in Scotland, and many of the cats in the neighbourhood had kittens by him. At a local show a pair of black and a pair of white kittens sired by this cat won, at the age of three months, first and second in a class for short-haired kittens. Two months later all four kittens had long coats! I remember the well-known cat judge, Mr. A. A. Clarke, telling me then that the heaviest coated cats he had ever possessed were half-breeds.

ANOTHER interesting item of information which Mr. Clarke gave me was that he made a habit of clipping his cats' coats in the month of April and then keeping them in a warm cellar, and by the autumn they were in magnificent form. I tried some experiments of the kind on my own cats with indifferent success, but, for the information of anyone who would like to follow my example, I may say that I made the discovery that it is essential to follow out the plan in detail. The cats must be clipped in April, and they must afterwards be kept warm. If the hair of the tail is removed, which I do not think advisable in any circumstances, it should be shaved, as otherwise it is unlikely to regain its full length.

Miss WHITE ATKINS returned to Hedge End on October 8th, and I do not think it will be long before she collects a family of cats once more. At present she has, I believe, only one cat and a Japanese spaniel.

THERE is a great discussion going on at present as to the reason of the small entry in the chinchilla classes at recent shows. My own opinion is that the chinchilla cat is slightly less popular with the general run of cat fanciers than it was. There are two reasons for this, one the much-talked-of farming of prizes, and the other the fact that the chinchilla cat, though beautiful when in coat, is the most disreputable-looking of all cats during the summer. I have always said that the rage for chinchillas would not last long at fever heat, and that blues would eventually resume their place as our most fashionable cats. Our real chinchilla fanciers are not affected by fashion, they will stick to their beautiful silvers through thick and thin, but they know better than to exhibit them in a coatless condition, and it is to the rank and file of "one-season fanciers" that we are accustomed to look to fill up the classes at our summer shows.

STANLEY. - Lights are not good feeding for cats. Will your cat eat raw meat? If so, a raw meat diet will soon put matters to rights. If he will not eat raw meat let him have it slightly cooked. Sound lean beef or mutton is best.
PERSIA. - It is very difficult to say, without knowing more details, what your kittens died of. You should have had a post-mortem examination made of one of the bodies. From what you say I think they may have had consumption of the bowels. Considering the youth of the kittens, it is probable that the mother's health was at fault. If you will tell me how you have fed and kept her I can, perhaps, suggest improvements.
CHESHIRE. - It is foolish to let kittens, however strong, go out in the rain, especially at this time of year. Running over wet grass will do them no harm if they can come in to the kitchen fire when they like, but if they get thoroughly soaked and cannot dry and warm themselves at once there is every likelihood of their catching cold.
BLUETTE. - I advise you not to show your cat until he is in full coat. Competition in the blue classes is so very keen nowadays that you cannot afford to give anything away. - DICK WHITTINGTON.

CAT GOSSIP. The Ladies' Field, October 22, 1904, pg 275

I AM sorry to hear that Mrs. Bennet has not been well and has been obliged to go to the sea, but I hear a rumour that she has purchased from lady Decies the beautiful blue Persian male, Prince of Thanet. This cat, it will be remembered, was one of Miss Patterson's breeding. He is, I fancy, by Blue Noble out of True Blue. He is a very large pale blue cat, with an enormous coat and grand head. He has been very successful in the show-pen, and his beautiful manners have led to his winning n some of the ring classes. Mrs. Bennet's blue queen, which took third at Sandy, has just had four fine kittens.

AN unnecessarily large litter is that just presented to her mistress, Mrs. Cubitt, by the well-known smoke queen, Minouche, who has just had seven kittens by Otto.

FROM Mrs. Kennaway comes a budget of cat news. A little orange kitten, sent to America when only six weeks old, stood the journey well and is thriving. Two others went to Italy, but one has since died. Mrs. Kennaway has innumerable kittens - blues, creams, and tortoiseshells - and all the blues are determinedly following the fashion and going in for deep orange eyes, a most sensible performance. Sheila's three are particularly good, and Tamsen's are not far behind. Mrs. Kennaway thinks that Grey Lady's litter might have been higher at Manchester had they been more of a size, but half of the family were reared by a foster-mother, a great fat, common cat, and until she left them they did not grow properly. Peter of Tovil is flourishing, and wanders about the grounds quite happily. Mrs. Kennaway hopes to show some of his kittens at the Palace.

CAT GOSSIP. The Ladies' Field, October 29, 1904, pg 316
CATS: ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.
DICK WHITTINGTON will be pleased to give advice on all matters concerning cats and their ailments, and will be glad to receive for insertion any interesting items of cat news that her readers may send. Queries must be written on one side of a separate sheet of paper, and must be signed with a pseudonym only for publication, but a letter giving full name and address of sender must accompany each query. A postal reply will be sent if the fee of 2s. 6d. is enclosed.. Letters should be addressed, "DICK WHITTINGTON, care of Editor, THE LADIES' FIELD."
BLUE BOY. - I think your cat must, in licking himself, have swallowed a quantity of hair. Give him a dessertspoonful of warm castor oil, feed him on raw beef, and let him have constant access to a supply of coarse dog-grass.
A. ROGERS. - I well remember your previous letters, and was glad to hear from you again. I do not think you need be under any anxiety about your cat. His conduct might be due to a hundred different causes, but the most probable is that a flea annoyed him. I know it is usual to put such conduct down to irritation caused by worms, but I do not think you need fear this. If there is any constipation give a dose of salad oil. When the cat takes these sleepy fits his liver is out of order, and a Carter's liver pill will set matters right. With regard to the older cat, she will very likely behave in the same manner as her mother; I have noticed that these points are more often hereditary than not.
TABBY. - One of the principal cat shows in connection with the National Cat Club is now taking place at the Crystal Palace, and your best plan would be to go there at once and buy a catalogue, which gives the names and addresses of the leading cat owners. Dr. Roper, the hon. secretary of the Cat Club, would I am sure give you any special information you desired.
DAPHNE. – Your kittens are suffering from simple colds in the head. Feed liberally on raw beef; give one grain quinine daily and a teaspoonful of cod-liver oil. - DICK WHITTINGTON.

CAT GOSSIP. The Ladies' Field, November 5, 1904, pg 352

N.C.C. SHOW AT THE CRYSTAL PALACE.
THE Crystal Palace Show was a success as regards both the number and quality of the exhibits. Most of our well-known fanciers were represented, and prizes, as a rule, went to old exhibitors. Lady Aberdeen was remarkably successful, winning first with her magnificent neuter Haddo Freak, first with a grand blue kitten named Haddo Frolic, and first with a capitally marked silver tabby kitten, Mistress Kirsby. Lady Decies, far from giving up cats, seems to have merely made a clearance and started with renewed energy. Zaida was, of course, first, so was the well-known Black Bobbie. Fulmer Snowdrift took third, Fulmer Snow Queen second in the open classes, while in the kitten classes they took first and second, and a capital pale-coloured chinchilla kitten, Fulmer Lord Southampton II., first. Some of the Fulmer short-hairs also did well.

Mrs. Morris was most successful, as her cream, Ch. Kew Ronald, won well in colour and eyes from Ch. Romaldkirk Admiral, and Ronald's son, Kew Esmond, a grand kitten, came third, while his brother took second to his first in the kitten class. In the tortoiseshell class Miss Roper's well-known Tortie Fawe III. was first, with Kew Gipsy, who is excellent in colour, second. The magnificent orange-eyed black kitten, Kew Black Girl, was placed first in both open and kitten classes. I was pleased to see Mrs. Kirk's White Knight second in his class; his grand head and bone will always bring him to the front, though on this occasion he had to give place to Mr. Shaw's Heath Friar, who beats him in coat and size of eye. The blue male class provided a surprise in the shape of Mrs. Dalziel's Shah III., who romped home ahead of such well-known cats as Ch. Zeus of Thorpe and Neila Billi, last year's winner. In the female class Neidpath Nell, a cat with nice head and eyes, was placed over Miss Irene Sutcliffe's Little Hoid Hunser.

The chinchilla classes brought forth nothing remarkable. Ardpatrick of Arrandale was absent, because his mistress was laid up with influenza and would not risk him alone, but she successfully exhibited a smoke and an orange kitten, both of which carried home first prizes. Mrs. Slingsby's well-known silver tabby brace, Ch. Don Pedro and Queen Dechna of Thorpe, were placed first and second in their respective classes, the latter losing slightly in markings to Mrs. Roberts's Everton Marjorie. One brown tabby male only, Miss Elliott's Brownie, was entered; but Miss Whitney easily won in the female class with her magnificently coloured and coated Brayfort Serafina. In the orange class well-known winners - Romaldkirk Jackal, Holmefield Mandarina, and Torside Chrysantha, all looking their best - were to the fore.

The short-haired classes filled well. The sensational Siamese was Mrs. Fosbery's Khoullonkorn, a grandly marked kitten, which was purchased by Mrs. Collingwood and, unfortunately, sent home by her before she discovered that it was in the running for best kitten in the show. Mrs. Robinson also won first with a capital Siamese male named Widawka. The judging of the Manx cats I could scarcely follow. First in males went to Boscombe Tim, second to Miss Clifton's black Weybourne Henry, and third to the same lady's Strathcona, who beats Henry in every point. In the female class Miss Clifton's Ramsay Empress won - a good cat, but I think lucky to beat Madam Douglas and Mer Mer.

In Abyssinians Lady Alexander's beautifully ticked John Bunyan romped home. Ch. James II. rightly won in the silver tabby class. Dame Fortune, beautifully marked and round faced, was second, but ran her sire close; third was Miss Meilan Wilkinson's Sweet William, beautifully marked and losing to those above him only in head. Mrs. Herring's Sweet Phyllis was very hardly treated in getting only v.h.c.
White males: first, Lady Alexander's Ch. Billie Blue Eyes, magnificent head, eyes, and shape; second, Miss Clifton's Ch. Fulmer Snowflake, losing in head and eyes; third, Miss Derby Hyde's Thames Valley Ben Trovate, a good youngster, but wants depth of eye colour.
White females: first, Lady Decies's Ch. Fulmer Snowstorm, perfect eyes and shape; second, Mrs. Herring's Biddy Blue Eyes, loses in form; third, Mrs. Western's Prickly Pear, good shape, but loses in eye.
Black male or female: first, Mr. Maxwell's well-known, well-nigh perfect, orange-eyed Prissy; second, Lady Alexander's Ch. Ballochmyle Black Bump, very large, grand head and eye; third, Miss Clifton's Weybourne Maria, grand head and shape, hardly so deep in eye as those above her.
Blue males: first, of course, to the incomparable Ch. Ballochmyle Brother Bump; second, Mrs. Hughes's Sherdley Delves, a good cat with nice eyes, but rather rough in coat.
Blue females: first, Lady Decies's Fulmer Blue Princess, a well-shaped cat of good colour, but lucky on this occasion; second, Lady Alexander's Mrs. Tuffet, a big cat with good eves. The best cat in the class was Ballochmyle Sister Bump.
Brown tabbies: first, Mrs. Pratt's Tommy Jack, rich in colour but light on chin, who might have given place to Mrs. Collingwood's Flash Jack.
Red tabby males: first and special for best short-hair, Lady Alexander's old champion Ballochmyle Perfection, now ten years of age. Ballochmyle Mother Pop was first in red tabby females, and in tortoiseshell or tortoiseshell and white males the only entries were Ch. Samson and Solomon, both well-known winners from the Ballochmyle cattery.
Tortoiseshell females: first, Mrs. Heslop's Acton Poppy, last year's winner; second, Miss Derby Hyde's Thames Valley Gipsy II., well-broken in colour.
Lady Alexander's beautifully marked Mother Bump won in the black and white class, and in creams Cream Bump from the same cattery, beautiful in head, eye, coat, and colour.

IT will be a disappointment to many to hear that the Birmingham Show will not be held under N.C.C. rules, and that, consequently, there will be no chance of winning championship honours. To the old and successful exhibitor a championship is really the only prize worth winning, and he hardly cares to risk his cats on the chance of gaining minor honours. I fear the entry at Birmingham may be affected by the lack of championships, but I am glad to know that the committee has acted in no spirit of antagonism to the N.C.C., and I am curious to know what their motive is.

CAT GOSSIP. The Ladies' Field, November 12, 1904, pg 419

MRS. WILSON has asked me to mention that her smoke kitten, Storm Cloud, winner of first at Manchester and the Crystal Palace, is by Ch. Ranji ex Namoushka, and that it was by an error in the catalogue that he appeared with unknown pedigree at the Crystal Palace, as his entry form was properly filled in.

THE silver tabby classes at the Crystal Palace caused quite a sensation, and, according to one of my correspondents, quite made up for the poor entries in the chinchilla classes. The blues were described by the same correspondent as "simply endless," and so they were, and really good cats too. Mrs. Norris's (we regret that her name was wrongly given as Morris last week) orange cats seem to have been very much admired.

WE cannot remain for long, it appears, without club disputes, and the N.C.C., the Midland Counties Cat Club, and the S. and S.P.C.S. seem to have all become involved in party disputes. I hear a rumour, but do not know if it is absolutely correct, that, owing to the decision of the N.C.C.C. not to hold their show under N.C.C. rules, Lady Alexander has refused to judge at Birmingham, and Sir Claud Alexander has withdrawn his challenge cup.

THE S.and S.P.C.S. promised all their cups and specials for competition at the Crystal Palace, and guaranteed three classes on condition that one of their club judges officiated. Dr. Roper accepted the offer, but when the schedule was published Mrs. James, the S. and S.P.C.S. secretary, discovered that the silver tabby judge had been changed and that two out of the three guaranteed classes had been omitted. At a committee meeting held on the second day of the show Mrs. James's action in withholding all the club specials was upheld, for the committee considered it manifestly unfair for the smoke and silver members to have had their specials when the silver tabby members could not; or to win in the breeders' class when the silver tabby members could not compete. The specials will be offered for competition at Birmingham and again at Southampton.

I NOTICED somewhere an enquiry as to whether any of our palest chinchilla cats had thrown kittens similar to themselves in colouring, Zaida was mentioned as an example. I have only seen one of Zaida's kittens. Fulmer Pearl, who was shown at Brighton in 1900. She was quite as pale as her mother, but was a small and rather weedy cat. Mrs. Champion bred a number of kittens equally pale in colour, and Miss White Atkins has had one or two real self silvers. I cannot at this moment recollect any others, though I have seen them from time to time. Mr. Hawkins's Sweet Briar, breeding unknown, was a perfect self silver in body, but striped on face. She was sold to Lady Marcus Beresford, but proved a non-breeder, and I do not know what became of her. It is by no means impossible to breed self silver cats, but unfortunately they are so few as yet that they are usually weak in other points. When we have a larger number of pale-coloured cats to select from we should be able to produce self silvers as good in head, eye, and bone as the shaded silvers.

CAT GOSSIP. The Ladies' Field, November 19, 1904, pg 457

MISS MEESON has for some years been a successful breeder and exhibitor of chinchilla cats, but her efforts in this direction have been crowned by the production of Prospero Duvals, one of the best kittens of his colour ever bred. Prospero created quite a sensation at the Manchester Kitten Show, where he won several prizes, and was pronounced by the judge to be the best chinchilla kitten he had seen for years.

MRS. KIRK was very successful at the recent Leamington Show, and won a number of prizes, and I was very much pleased to see that magnificent cat, The White Knight, heading a strong variety class.

THERE is a reaction going on at present in favour of the shaded silver cat. It is interesting to see that so eminent a judge and authority as Mr. T. B. Mason is anxious to see the shaded silver classes re-established. As the originator of the "shaded silver movement," I feel a special interest in the matter, and I think it quite possible that the classes might now prove a success. When they were first started many cats were wrongly entered, but if for a couple of years judges who understood the matter had officiated all would have been well. Unfortunately, on several occasions the judges appointed made a hopeless display of ignorance, and on one occasion two special prizes offered respectively for the best shaded silver and the best self silver cat were awarded to the same animal.

I AM sorry to hear that Miss Butler is giving up breeding and showing cats, as she experiences great difficulty in getting them properly looked after when she goes from home. Miss Butler is well-known as a successful exhibitor of short-hairs, especially blues, and she has sold her best pair to Mrs. Clark, of Batheaston, who is going in for this variety.

PREPARATIONS for the Southampton Show are now being made. The judges have not yet been appointed, but the names of Miss Ransome, Miss White Atkins, Miss Snell, Miss Simpson, and Mr. Mason have been mentioned in this connection.

SIR CLAUD ALEXANDER claimed the blue short-haired queen with which Lady Decies was so successful at the Crystal Palace Show.

MRS. KENNAWAY tells me that she has kept a sister of Merry Maid, who took third at the Crystal Place and was promptly bought by Mrs. Slingsby, which she thinks will be quite as good, and she has a number of other good kittens. T

HE singular uselessness and not unusual ugliness of silver specials, medals, cups, and so on, has often been remarked upon, and some specialist clubs have tried to break away from these traditional limitations. When it is only a question of a few shillings a medal is all very well, but when the value of a special is, let us say, over five pounds, there are very few exhibitors who would not greatly prefer something else to either this or a cup. Recognising such a feeling, a well-known dog club publishes in its agenda a proposal to substitute free choice up to the amount of £10 from a jeweller for such of its present breeders' cups as shall be finally won, the only stipulation being that the article chosen is to be capable of being engraved with all wins scored on its account. This proviso, unfortunately, puts jewellery out of court to a great extent, but there are plenty of household utilities - salvers, entree dishes, small tureens, and so on to choose from. This example might be copied.

IT is a curious fact that at the Crystal Palace Show the silver tabbies were noticeably more forward in coat and better provided with frills and brushes than the smokes and chinchillas. I wonder whether the explanation of this is that the silver tabby cats are more robust in constitution than the others? It may be so. The reason for the absence of Mrs. Wellbye's Victoria of Ranelagh was that she had sprained her leg and was a little lame.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.
DICK WHITTINGTON will be pleased to give advice on all matters concerning cats and their ailments, and will be glad to receive for insertion any interesting items of cat news that her readers may send. Queries must be written on one side of a separate sheet of paper, and must be signed with a pseudonym only for publication, but a letter giving full name and address of sender must accompany each query. A postal reply will be sent if the fee of 2s. 6d. is enclosed.. Letters should be addressed, "DICK WHITTINGTON, care of Editor, THE LADIES' FIELD."
MOUSE. - The kitten is suffering from ear canker in a mild form. Spong the ears out daily with equal parts of methylated spirits and warm water, dry carefully, and powder with boracic acid.
SUE. - The gathering [boil] has probably broken ere this. If not it should be lanced at once, and in any case the wound must be thoroughly syringed out with warm water containing some good disinfectant twice or three times a day; give the cat two grains of sulphate of quinine daily.
DOLLY. - Your friend is quite right; a full grown tom cat is impossible as a house pet. You should have a neuter.
REYNARD. - Cats will take quite kindly to new homes if they are shut up for a week or two and given their liberty by degrees - half an hour at a time at first. Take care that they are not frightened in any way till they get used to their new abode.
MISS COPE. - I am sorry that my remarks have caused you annoyance, but you appear to have entirely misunderstood or misread them. If you will read them again carefully I think you will find that you have no cause for offence. I am glad to know what you tell me. – DICK WHITTINGTON.

CAT GOSSIP. The Ladies' Field, November 26, 1904, pg 520

MISS COPE assures me that I am quite wrong in supposing that there is an ill-feeling between the N.C.C. and the M.C.C.C. On the contrary, the Midland club has always, by enforcing registration, upheld the N.C.C., and at the forthcoming Birmingham show a silver cup is being offered for competition among N.C.C. members only.

IN mentioning the various cats which have beaten Zaida I find I overlooked Argent Puffy, the property of Mrs. Champion, who won the cup for the best chinchilla or shaded silver female cat at Westminster in 1901, while Silver Starlight took the special for best chinchilla, Zaida being first in the chinchilla female class. It is only fair to say that she was completely out of coat on this occasion.

THE bare announcement that Shah III., winner of first in the blue male class at the Crystal Palace, has been disqualified fills us with interest. Some registration blunder is probably the reason for the disqualification, but meantime it is an ill wind which blows no one ani' good, and Shah's mantle has descended on the shoulders of Ch. Zeus of Thorpe, a magnificent young cat which many people thought might have won in the first instance.

MRS. Norris's Kew Black Girl, the lovely orange-eyed daughter of San Toy, which at the age of seven months won two firsts and championship at the Crystal Palace, has been purchased by Miss Laycock.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.
DICK WHITTINGTON will be pleased to give advice on all matters concerning cats and their ailments, and will be glad to receive for insertion any interesting items of cat news that her readers may send. Queries must be written on one side of a separate sheet of paper, and must be signed with a pseudonym only for publication, but a letter giving full name and address of sender must accompany each query. A postal reply will be sent if the fee of 2s. 6d. is enclosed.. Letters should be addressed, "DICK WHITTINGTON, care of Editor, THE LADIES' FIELD."
LONELY. - 1. I most strongly disapprove of dosing kittens for worms in any case, and as a preventive it is madness, as the worm medicine causes internal irritation, which, invariably, produces worms. Feed the kitten as you are doing, and do not let ignorant people persuade you to poison her. 2. Nine or ten months is the earliest age at which you should send her away. 3. "The Cat Manual," obtainable from this office. 4. The National Cat Club is the leading club. Subscription is, I think, 21s. per annum; secretary, Dr. Roper, Oatlands, Beckenham, Kent.
JAMBOREE. - I really do not think you will find it worth while attempting to rear kittens by hand from birth. They would require to be fed at least every two hours night and day and kept clean and warm; they would most likely die, and if they lived they would probably grow into small weedy cats.
TAFFY. - A Manx cat with a stump tail is of no value.
JACK. - Give the kitten a teaspoonful of warm castor oil at once, and afterwards give the same quantity of salad oil every other day for a fortnight; after that give salad oil when required only. - DICK WHITTINGTON.

CAT GOSSIP. The Ladies' Field, December 3, 1904, pg 527

I HAVE received for review a little book, entitled "Cats by the Way," by Sarah E. Trueblood. The writer is evidently a genuine cat lover, and the cats of which she writes are not show cats but merely pets. The stories are brightly written, but there s little real incident in them; in fact, they are merely sketches of character and are of interest only to the cat lover. The original names by which the cats are known are amusing. Sir Thomas Walcinda was so called because he wallowed in cinders, and Willie Smut-face's name is equally appropriate.

MRS. COLLINGWOOD has purchased from Mr. Nelson the well-known short-haired silver tabby queen, Retaliation.

MR. WITT has purchased from Miss Moore the blue longhaired queen, Magnaha. which won first and eight specials at Birmingham last year. Magnaha is to be shown again, and as she has steadily improved since last year she should render a good account of herself in the show-pen.

MISS CLIFTON'S white short-hairs are doing well, and Forget-me-Not has now a lovely kitten, one month old, by Fulmer Glacier. Miss Clifton tells me that she has a number of other blacks from the same strain as Weybourne Maria, who was so much admired at the Crystal Palace.

THE Southern Counties Cat Club has sent out a circular asking lor assistance from fanciers in the way of guarantee of classes, donations, or specials. A list of the proposed classification is given, including twenty-seven classes for long-hairs, fifteen for short-hairs, and five local classes.

SHEFFIELD SHOW did well with 284 entries, but the prize list was, with few exceptions, an exact repetition of the Crystal Palace. Mrs. Collingwood was delighted that her lovely silver tabby short-hair, Miss Toodles, which she bred herself, won the N.C.C. medal for best cat and a gold medal for best female cat in the show. The best male cat was Mrs. Slingsby's well-known Don Pedro of Thorpe, and her Merry Maid of Thorpe won Mr. Witt's special for the best female kitten owned by a member of the N.C.C. It will be remembered that Mrs. Slingsby purchased Merry Maid at the Crystal Palace Show from her breeder, Mrs. Kennaway. She was placed third, but was very much admired. Mrs. Wilson brought out a beautiful young blue-eyed white cat in George Bremin, who won first novice and second open, only giving place to Ch. Heath Pearl.

GLADYS OF LOZELLS, the notorious kitten which was given as a special last year and afterwards repeatedly changed hands, rightly and appropriately headed the blue female class. Mrs. Sinkins's Teufel must, I think, have won full championship honours, as I believe he required only one more win, and this he carried off at Sheffield.

MRS. NORRIS did well, for besides winning first with Kew King of Siam and Ch. Kew Ronald, her young blue male, Kew San Toy II., headed a strong class. Mrs. Collingwood and Lady Decies were remarkably successful in all the classes in which they exhibited, but all the principal winners have been frequently criticized of late.

CAT GOSSIP. The Ladies' Field, December 10, 1904

BIRMINGHAM CAT SHOW.
THE general opinion appeared to be that the Birmingham Show was a brilliant success. All the arrangements were excellently planned and carried out, and the pens, being placed in the opposite way to last year, gave more room, though a larger number of cats were penned. Great sympathy was felt for Mrs. Gent, whose beautiful cream queen, Primrose of Walton, died immediately after the show opened.

The sensation of the show was the defeat of Ch. Zaida, who went down to third in the chinchilla queen class, being beaten by Miss Foord's Roosalka and Mrs. Wilson's Sceptre of Arrandale, both good cats, pale in colour and having good shapes and faces, and, of course, having youth on their side, for, beautiful though Zaida is, no cat can last for ever. In the blue male class that lovely kitten, Oulton Rajah, which won at Cheltenham, was placed first; Mrs. Wyndham's Neila Billi, good in colour and with capital eyes, second; and Ch. Zeus of Thorpe, rather darker, but a grand big cat with orange eyes and the promise of a glorious coat, third; while Kew Blue San Toy II. was rather unlucky in coming fourth only. He is perfect in shape, face, eyes, and coat, but a trifle pale in colour for some tastes.

Mrs. Kennaway was overjoyed at winning first and Mr. Witt's watch bracelet in the class for blue kittens sired by Moko or Goliath with Garboldisham Hetty and first in the blue neuter class with her well-known Oscar. In the blue female class Miss Simon's Gladys won. She was shown in capital form, and is a lovely shape and has true orange eyes. The Countess of Aberdeen's Jill won reserve only in this class, which was a strong one.

I was delighted to see The White Knight placed first. I have always maintained that this is one of the finest long-haired cats ever bred. Lady Decies's Fulmer Snowdrift and Mrs. Wilson's Y Gwyn Brenin - may possibly beat him in size of eyes and brilliancy of eye colouring, but Knight is a huge cat with a weight of bone and width of skull I have never seen equalled, and yet he is by no means coarse, but shows quality all over, and has a pair of tiny low-set cars. Ch. Fulmer Black Bobbie once more came in ahead of Mitcham Black Girl. The queen is far ahead in eye colouring but she is but a kitten, and the male beats her on size and bone only. Ch. Teufel had to give place to Ch. Backwell Jogram. To those who prefer a dark smoke Jogram's colour is perhaps the more pleasing, but both are fine cats and Teufel has far the better eyes.

In the silver tabby classes it is hardly necessary to mention that Mrs. Slingsby's Ch. Don Pedro of Thorpe and Queen Dechna were the winners, or that Miss Witney's Brayfort Seraphina and Fina had it all their own way among the brown tabby queens. Seraphina is light on lips and chin, but she is a wonderfully rich warm sable in colour and well-marked. Miss Simpson's Persimmon II. is another nice cat.

In orange males Miss Beal won with Romaldkirk Jackal, who is not a large cat but wonderfully rich in colour. Mrs. Vidal's well-known Torrington Sunnysides, who, in spite of his five years, retains his round kittenish face, made a good second, and the well-known Tors Side Chrysantha headed the female class. In cream males Ch. Kew Ronald won easily. He is in grand form and has a beautiful coat and head, dark eyes, and is a big, well-shaped cat. Mrs. Harpur's Timothy Paul, second, is paler in colour but not so free from marking, and Kew Esmond, third, has the making of a grand cat. The Misses Wilson showed and won with a glorious coloured kitten in Orange Lily, Mrs. Kennaway's Garboldisham Junker coming second, and Kew Esmond third.

In the short-haired classes a number of Lady Alexander's unrivalled cats were entered but did not appear, and Mrs. Collingwood's brown and silver tabbies were a show in themselves. Miss Cartwright's Kunkau is a really beautiful and well-marked Siamese with the bluest of blue eyes.

CHELTENHAM SHOW with 308 entries and 220 cats did well considering how closely shows have been following upon each other of late. Show cats must be getting hardier, for once more the Palace and Sheffield winners were to the fore. It becomes monotonous to describe the beauties of Heath Friar, Black Bobbie, Zaida, Brayfort Fina, Torrington Sunnysides, Kew Ronald, etc., because we all know that when present they must win. Mrs. Norris's Blue San Toy II. seems to carry all before him, though he is not yet at his best, and I was pleased to see last year's sensational kittens - Totsie and Queena of Cheltenham - leading the blue queen class.

H.R.H. PRINCESS VICTORIA OF SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN did well to take third in the breeders' class with Lady Mary, an orange-eyed daughter of Garboldisham Criquet and Kilpatric, which will yet hold her own in the open classes.

THE short-haired classes were particularly good, and Lady Decies, Miss Clifton, and Mr. Maxwell showed all their well-known winners. Mrs. Collingwood's Flash Jack and James II., as usual, won in brown tabby and silver tabby male classes, and the beautiful Miss Toodles was once again pronounced the best cat in the show. Miss Clifton was overjoyed at winning the Manx championship with Weybourne Henry, a well-shaped black, and first in the female class with Weybourne Henrietta.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.
For Rules see previous issues.
PAMELA. - You have asked a question which is difficult to answer. Your tom cat must be kept shut up entirely in a house and run as soon as he begins to stray, which will be when about a year old. The queen will probably be quiet for another four or five months, but you must watch her carefully after February. Some cats have to be kept in for months, and others for a few days only. I fear you cannot trust to either cat holding itself aloof from its common cousins. From your description I think your old cat probably died from chronic gastritis. He would have required most careful treatment, and at his age recovery would have been doubtful.
JIM. - I think kittens are best weaned at about six weeks of age. They fret less than at eight or ten weeks, and it is much better for the mother.
MARY. - Boracic lotion is the best and safest for all eye troubles until you can get skilled advice. - DICK WHITTINGTON.

CAT GOSSIP. The Ladies' Field, December 17, 1904, pg 94

FROM Mrs. Sinkins comes excellent news of the Southern Counties Cat Club. There are now about a hundred members, and at Southampton Show there will be fifty-six classes, of which twenty at least are guaranteed. The club possesses two challenge cups, two challenge bowls, and six gold medals, which will be offered for competition, besides the specials and cups belonging to the principal specialist clubs. Mrs. Hastings Lees has kindly given a challenge bowl for the best long-haired kitten bred by a member, and Miss Hastings Lees has joined the club, and has given two beautiful turquoise brooches as specials for the best self-coloured neuter and best A.O.C. neuter cat.

THE appointed judges are Mrs. Ransome, Miss Snell, Miss White Atkins, Miss Simpson, and Mr. Ambrose. The schedules should be out by this time.

MISS CATHCART is much pleased that her red tabby short-hair, Belle [Bell] of Bradford, which she purchased from Mrs. Collingwood, is now a champion, Belle is going to America after Christmas.

I HAVE received a most interesting letter from an expert judge of blues referring to Birmingham Show, and, though it comes a little late in the day, it is of such general interest that I am tempted to quote from it freely. My correspondent says that he considered Ch. Zeus of Thorpe much the best long-haired cat in the show, and far and away the best blue male living, and, good cats as Oulton Rajah and Neila Billi are, he considers them exceedingly lucky in being placed ahead of Zeus.

GLADYS, Totsie, and Queena of Cheltenham are described as the three best queens out just now, and Merry Maid of Thorpe as an exquisite young queen who will make it warm for all and sundry later on, and for whom a grand future is predicted. The show of blue kittens has, I understand, never been equalled, but my informant says he would strike one note of warning to exhibitors anent the unmistakable failing in colour of coat - i.e., depth of colour - which has apparently been brought about by the craze for light kittens, which are all right when the colour is sound, which it was not in the case of some of the winners at Birmingham. It is suggested that this fault of colouring can be remedied by mating poor coloured queens either to a deep coloured blue male or to a good coloured black. Another point this excellent judge and keen critic considers to be somewhat overlooked is size and shape of eye, as however good a blue may be in every point if it lacks a big bold orange eye the charm of its appearance is lost. He winds up by saying, "The Birmingham show of blues will long live in my memory as the finest lot I ever saw together in my life."

I AM extremely sorry to hear of the death of Miss Clifton's prizewinning silver tabby short-hair, Weybourne Jane, which occurred suddenly and unexpectedly while her mistress was at Birmingham Show.

MOST amusing and hard to believe is the fact that Shah III. was disqualified at the Crystal Palace because he was a neuter! So, of course, Ch. Zeus of Thorpe claimed the championship. He is a wonderful cat, and won his fourth championship when only fifteen and a half months old. He weighs just under 13 lb.

CAT GOSSIP. The Ladies' Field, December 24, 1904, pg 138

I HEAR that the prize-winning blue male cat, Oulton Rajah, has been purchased by Mrs. Vincent Roberts. This cat should do well for his new owner, and though many people considered him lucky at Birmingham, and even the judge owned to having made a mistake in putting Ch. Zeus of Thorpe down, there is no doubt that Rajah is one of the best blue males at present in existence.

I HEAR from Mrs. Slingsby that her lovely silver tabby, Ch. Don Pedro of Thorpe, will never again be shown for competition. He retires in the height of bloom and condition, having won five championships and twenty first prizes.

ORANGE BLOSSOM OF THORPE has won the Lozells breeders' cup for the second time, through the winnings of his kittens at Birmingham, where they came out ten points ahead of those sired by any other cat.

THE schedule of the Southern Counties Cat Club Show, to be held on January 4th and 5th, 1905, has reached me. There is a splendid classification, chiefly guaranteed. There are thirty-eight classes for long-haired cats and kittens, sixteen for short-hairs, and four local classes; the latter are to be judged by a combination of judges, as is the ring class. Miss White Atkins judges whites and blacks, long and short haired; Miss Snell takes chinchillas and shaded silvers; Miss Whitney, brown tabby longhairs; Miss Simpson, blue, cream, and tortoiseshell long-hairs; Mrs. Ransome, the variety classes, the Siamese, and the red tabby and blue short-hairs; and Mr. Ambrose the remainder.

CAT GOSSIP. The Ladies' Field, December 31, 1904, pg 178

THE Christmas number of Our Cats is, as usual, capitally illustrated and full of interesting information. All the articles are good, but the best of all, to my mind, is Mrs. Slingsby's advice on the breeding of blue Persian cats, though Mrs. Rock's "Notes for Novices" are full of valuable hints.

I HAD thought and hoped that cat fanciers had, in one small matter at least, learned wisdom by experience, and that when they entered young cats and kittens for shows they realized that they undertook a certain risk, and that if their stock afterwards died of distemper they accepted it as an unfortunate but not unexpected result. It appears that this is not so. Since the recent Birmingham Show a few kittens have died. In some cases these kittens had been to so many shows, one after the other, that it would have been surprising had they lived. On all sides it is acknowledged that the Birmingham Show was the best-managed cat show that has ever been held, and yet the owners of the defunct kittens, instead of admitting that their kittens died of distemper, suggest that tainted food, foul air, or even poisoning was the cause of their demise. The fashionable name for distemper is gastritis, and occasional variations of this are pleurisy or pneumonia. To my mind these are merely variations of distemper. No show committee can be held responsible for deaths caused by distemper. In spite of the greatest precautions infection may be brought in by some casual visitor who has a sick kitten at home. Dog fanciers have long ago realized that puppies are almost certain to develop distemper after their first show. and experienced fanciers make no outcry over the matter, for they know well that the show authorities arc not to blame.

WHEN the L.K.A. first began holding dog shows there was a good deal of fuss and trouble about distemper infection, but this was directly due to the fact that the L.K.A. was the means of introducing an entirely new class of exhibitor. These novices have gained experience and knowledge and no longer tilt at windmills.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. (For Rules see last
GEOFFREY. - The kitten is suffering from lice. Rub well into the skin every other day a powder composed of equal parts of magnesia, camphor, and sulphur, and then brush thoroughly.
BLUE. - I think the results of mating a blue queen with a black sire are likely to be more satisfactory as far as colour is concerned than if a black queen and a blue male were mated.
CHIPPIE. - I am afraid black and white cats have no great value. If perfectly marked they might win when special classes were provided for them, but this is very rarely the case.
JACK. - Cats and kittens are far better without artificial heat if they have comfortable, dry sleeping quarters. I am not sure that damp is injurious to all cats, but it is certainly not to be recommended. - DICK WHITTINGTON.

MESSYBEAST - OLD CAT BOOKS

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