Our Cats and All About Them / Their Varieties, Habits, and Management; and for Show, the Standard of Excellence and Beauty; Described and Pictured
Iddesleigh, Sevenoaks.
Troilus and Cressida , Act II.
The following notes and illustrations of and respecting the Cat are the outcome of over fifty years' careful, thoughtful, heedful observation, much research, and not unprofitable attention to the facts and fancies of others. From a tiny child to the present, the love of Nature has been my chief delight; animals and birds have not only been objects of study, but of deep and absorbing interest. I have noted their habits, watched their ways, and found lasting pleasure in their companionship. This love of animal life and Nature, with all its moods and phases, has grown with me from childhood to manhood, and is not the least enjoyable part of my old age.
Among animals possibly the most perfect, and certainly the most domestic, is the Cat. I did not think so always, having had a bias against it, and was some time coming to this belief; nevertheless, such is the fact. It is a veritable part of our household, and is both useful, quiet, affectionate, and ornamental. The small or large dog may be regarded and petted, but is generally useless ; the Cat, a pet or not, is of service . Were it not for our Cats, rats and mice would overrun our house, buildings, cultivated and other lands. If there were not millions of Cats, there would be billions of vermin.
Long ages of neglect, ill-treatment, and absolute cruelty, with little or no gentleness, kindness, or training, have made the Cat self-reliant; and from this emanates the marvellous powers of observation, the concentration of which has produced a state analogous to reasoning, not unmixed with timidity, caution, wildness, and a retaliative nature.
But should a new order of things arise, and it is nurtured, petted, cosseted, talked to, noticed, and trained , with mellowed firmness and tender gentleness, then in but a few generations much evil that bygone cruelty has stamped into its often wretched existence will disappear, and it will be more than ever not only a useful, serviceable helpmate, but an object of increasing interest, admiration, and cultured beauty, and, thus being of value, profitable.
Harrison Weir
---
TO MY DEAR WIFE,
PREFACE.
"What is aught, but as 'tis valued?"
PREFACE TO NEW EDITION.
"'Twas pitiful, 'twas wondrous pitiful."
ILLUSTRATIONS.
OUR CATS
AND ALL ABOUT THEM.
INTRODUCTORY.
THE FIRST CAT SHOW.
HABITS.
TRAINED CATS.
LONG-HAIRED CATS.
THE ANGORA.
THE PERSIAN CAT.
THE RUSSIAN LONG-HAIRED CAT.
THE TORTOISESHELL CAT.
THE TORTOISESHELL-AND-WHITE CAT.
THE BROWN TABBY CAT.
SPOTTED TABBY CAT
THE ABYSSINIAN.
THE SHORT-HAIRED WHITE CAT.
THE BLACK CAT.
THE BLUE CAT.
THE BLACK-AND-WHITE CAT.
THE WHITE-AND-BLACK CAT.
SIAMESE CAT.
THE MANX CAT.
VARIOUS COLOURS.
USEFULNESS OF CATS.
GENERAL MANAGEMENT.
FEEDING.
SLEEPING PLACES.
WASHING.
MATING.
TORTOISESHELLS.
TORTOISESHELL-AND-WHITE.
BLACK.
BLUES.
BROWN TABBY.
WHITE.
ABYSSINIAN.
ABYSSINIAN CROSSES.
WHITE AND BLACK.
BLACK AND WHITE.
BLUE TABBY.
SPOTTED TABBY.
FANCY COLOURS.
CAT AND KITTENS.
KITTENS.
OF KITTENS IN GENERAL.
MANAGEMENT OF KITTENS AND CATS.
POINTS BY WHICH CATS ARE JUDGED,
THE TORTOISESHELL.
TORTOISESHELL AND WHITE.
WHITE. SHORT-HAIR.
SELF-COLOUR, BLACK, BLUE, GRAY, OR RED SHORT-HAIR.
BROWN AND ORDINARY TABBY, STRIPED, SHORT-HAIR.
CHOCOLATE, CHESTNUT, RED, OR YELLOW TABBY, STRIPED, SHORT-HAIR.
BLUE, SILVER, LIGHT GRAY, AND WHITE TABBY, STRIPED, SHORT-HAIR.
SHORT-HAIRED, SPOTTED TABBIES OF ANY COLOUR.
BLACK AND WHITE, GRAY-WHITE, RED AND WHITE, AND OTHER COLOURS AND WHITE.
WHITE AND BLACK, WHITE AND GRAY, WHITE AND RED, WHITE AND ANY OTHER COLOUR.
ABYSSINIAN.
ROYAL CAT OF SIAM.
MANX, OR SHORT-TAILED CAT.
WHITE, LONG-HAIRED CAT.
BLACK, BLUE, GRAY, RED, OR ANY SELF COLOUR LONG-HAIRED CATS.
BROWN, BLUE, SILVER, LIGHT GRAY, AND WHITE TABBY LONG-HAIRED CATS.
DISEASES OF CATS.
CATARRHAL FEVERS.
WORMS.
MANGE.
COLDS.
COUGHS.
DISTEMPER.
CANKER OF EAR.
APERIENT.
REMEDIES AND STRENGTHENING MEDICINES.
DISTEMPER.
PURGATIVE.
WORMS.
CATARRH.
FLEAS, AND IRRITATION OF SKIN.
EYE OINTMENT.
FOR MANGE.
POISON.
THE WILD CAT OF BRITAIN.
CONCERNING CATS.
CAT
OF FALSE PERSONS.
OF WITTIE PERSONS.
INCONSTANT PERSONS.
THE CAT OF SHAKESPEARE.
SUPERSTITION AND WITCHCRAFT.
WEATHER NOTIONS.
A CAT-CLOCK.
SIGNS.
THE LAW ON CAT KILLING.
DEAD CATS.
THE CAT AS A TORMENTOR.
HERALDRY, ETC.
PERFORMING CATS.
CAT-RACING IN BELGIUM.
CAT IMAGES.
LOVERS OF CATS.
IMITATED IN ENGLISH.
GAMES.
CAT'S CRADLE OR CATCH CRADLE.
CAT AND MOUSE.
CAT AND MOUSE-HUNTING.
TIP-CAT.
NURSERY RHYMES AND STORIES.
FISHING CATS.
CATS AND HORSES.
"GRAMMER'S CAT AND OURS."
LOST.
FOOTNOTES:
INDEX.
THE END.
Transcriber's Note