Chapter I: Front Matter

BLACK PERSIAN.

(_Painted specially by Madame Henriette Ronner._)
]

THE BOOK OF THE CAT

BY ...
FRANCES SIMPSON

_WITH 12 COLOURED PLATES, AND NEARLY
350 ILLUSTRATIONS IN THE TEXT FROM
PHOTOGRAPHS AND DRAWINGS_

CASSELL AND COMPANY, LIMITED
LONDON, PARIS, NEW YORK AND
MELBOURNE. MCMIII

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER PAGE
I.— CATS OF THE PAST 1
II.— CATS OF TO-DAY 18
III.— CARE AND MANAGEMENT 37
IV.— HOUSING OF CATS 49
V.— EXHIBITING 61
VI.— THE POINTS OF A CAT 96
VII.— LONG-HAIRED OR PERSIAN CATS 98
VIII.— SOME NOTABLE CATTERIES 101
IX.— BLACK PERSIANS 112
X.— WHITE PERSIANS 118
XI.— BLUE PERSIANS 125
XII.— SILVER OR CHINCHILLA PERSIANS 137
XIII.— SILVER TABBY PERSIANS 165
XIV.— SMOKE PERSIANS 178
XV.— ORANGE PERSIANS 187
XVI.— CREAM OR FAWN PERSIANS 201
XVII.— TORTOISESHELL PERSIANS 208
XVIII.— TORTOISESHELL-AND-WHITE PERSIANS 212
XIX.— BROWN TABBY PERSIANS 215
XX.— “ANY OTHER COLOUR” PERSIANS 231
XXI.— NEUTER CATS 237
XXII.— MANX CATS 244
XXIII.— SIAMESE CATS 254
XXIV.— SHORT-HAIRED CATS 274
XXV.— SHORT-HAIRED CATS (_continued_) 282
XXVI.— SOME FOREIGN CATS 297
XXVII.— CATS IN AMERICA 303
XXVIII.— MAINE CATS 325
XXIX.— CAT PHOTOGRAPHY FOR AMATEURS 332
XXX.— REARING OF KITTENS 337
XXXI.— COLOUR BREEDING 344
XXXII.— THE PLACE OF THE CAT IN NATURE 350
THE DISEASES OF CATS, AND THEIR TREATMENT 358
INDEX 377

LIST OF COLOURED PLATES.

BLACK PERSIAN _Frontispiece_ BLACK-AND-WHITE PERSIAN CATS _To face page_ 116 BLUE AND CREAM PERSIANS 126 BROWN TABBY AND SILVER PERSIANS 160 SMOKE AND ORANGE PERSIANS 186 TORTOISESHELL AND TORTOISESHELL-AND-WHITE PERSIANS 210 SILVER TABBY AND ORANGE-AND-WHITE PERSIANS 234 BROWN TABBY AND ORANGE TABBY SHORT-HAIRED CATS 252 TORTOISESHELL TOM, AND SILVER TABBY SHORT-HAIRED CATS 274 BLUE-AND-WHITE SHORT-HAIRED CATS 288 MANX AND SIAMESE 294 FOREIGN CATS 300

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

PAGE “White to Move” 1 Mummy of a Cat 1 The God Cat 2 An Egyptian Wall-Painting: The Adoration of the Goddess Pasht 2 The Worship of Pasht in the Temple of Bubastes 3 Mummified Kitten 3 A Cat God of Egypt 3 Puss as a Retriever: An Egyptian Wall-Painting 4 An Egyptian Toy Cat 5 A Mineral Lusus 6 Puss in Warfare 7 A Group of Cats in Pottery 9 Tomb of a Cat which belonged to Madame de Lesdiguières 10 The Printer’s Mark of Melchior Sessa of Venice 12 A Cat in Heraldry 12 A Merchant’s Mark 12 Alice and the Cheshire Cat 13 A Study 14 Madame Ronner at Work 15 “Crystal,” the property of Mrs. Finnie Young 16 Lady Alexander’s “Brother Bump” 17 Sleeping Beauties 18 Miss F. Simpson’s “Bonnie Boy” 18 Kitten at Work and Play 19 Kitten belonging to Mrs. Owen 20 The Antiquaries 21 “Kepwick Violet” and “Kepwick Hyacinth” 22 Miss Savery’s Blue Persian Kitten 23 A Pair of Short-haired Brown Tabbies 23 Cat Calendar 24 Cat Calendar 24 Cat Calendar 25 Mr. Harrison Weir 26 Mr. Louis Wain 27 Lady Marcus Beresford 28 Litter of Siamese Kittens 29 “Puck III.” 30 Mrs. Clinton Locke and her Siamese Kittens “Calif” and “Bangkok” 31 The Cat’s Playground 32 Royal London Institution for Lost and Starving Cats 33 The Cart of the R. L. I. 34 The Hon. Philip Wodehouse’s “Silver Saint” 35 A Bevy of Blues belonging to Miss Savery 35 Cats’ Tombstones at the Dogs’ Cemetery, Hyde Park 36 Tabbies up a Tree 37 Blue Persian belonging to Her Majesty the Queen 37 Three Little Maids 39 A Perilous Perch 40 Mrs. Hardy’s Neuter “Pharaoh” 41 “The Raiders” Caught 43 Kittens belonging to Miss Bromley 45 Neuter Pets owned by Mrs. Hastings Lees 46 Carolling 48 In a Playful Sort of Way 49 A Musical Party 50 The Ideal Cattery 53 A Litter Box 55 A Useful Cat House 55 A Portable Hutch 56 Lethal Chamber, R.L.I. 57 Spratt’s Travelling Basket 58 A Useful Cat Basket 58 A Gang of Poachers 59 Waking Beauties 61 Richmond Cat Show: Arrangement of Tents 65 Mrs. Gregory’s “Skellingthorpe Patrick” 67 “Inquiry” 67 Richmond Cat Show: Judges at Work 69 Type of Cage at the Richmond Cat Show 71 Mr. C. A. House 72 Mr. T. B. Mason 72 The Toilet 73 Blue Persian Kittens 74 Kits with a Taste for Flowers 75 Two Kittens bred by Miss Williams 75 Richmond Cat Show: The Ring Class 77 Minding Shop 78 Thieves 79 Mrs. Drury’s Brown Tabby “Periwig” 80 Miss Simpson’s “Cambyses” 80 A Litter of Blues 81 Judging in the Ring at the Crystal Palace 83 Miss Kirkpatrick’s Blue Kittens 84 “Rose of Persia” 85 Mischief 88 Our Play-room 89 Mr. F. W. Western 91 Officials of the N.C.C.C. 92 Sandy Stealing the Milk 94 Silver Cats belonging to Mrs. Clark of Ashbrittle 95 The Points of a Cat 96 Tailpiece 97 Blue Persians belonging to Mrs. Wells 98 “Gentian,” owned by Lady Marcus Beresford 99 Mrs. Herring’s “Champion Jimmy” 100 The Hon. Mrs. McLaren Morrison’s Cattery 101 Scenes at “Bishopsgate” 103 A Sleeping Box at Lady Decies’ Cattery 104 Lady Decies Visiting her Pets 104 Mrs. Mackenzie Stewart’s Cattery 105 The Imitation Tree, Mrs. Clarke’s Cattery 106 Mrs. Clarke’s Cattery 107 The Hon. Mrs. McLaren Morrison 108 Mrs. Collingwood and “James II.” 109 A Morning Meal at Bossington 111 Black Persian “Johnny Fawe” 112 “Champion Menelik III.” 113 Kitten Bred by Miss Kirkpatrick 115 Mrs. Little’s Black Persian “Colleen” 115 The Carol Singers 116 “Jungfrau” 118 Mrs. McLaren’s White Persian “Ladysmith” 119 Mrs. Pettit with her White Persians 121 “Crystal” 122 “White Butterfly” 123 “Musafer” 124 “Jack” and “Jill” 125 The Artist 128 Blue Kittens bred by Miss Kirkpatrick 129 Mrs. Robinson’s Blue Kittens 129 Mrs. Wells’s Cattery 130 “Rokeles Kissi” 131 Scared 132 Cast of the Cat Club Medal 133 Miss G. Jay’s Cattery 134 Rev. P. L. Cosway’s “Imperial Blue” 135 “_Un Saut Périlleux_” 136 “Jack Frost” 137 “Star Duvals” 138 “The Absent-Minded Beggar” 138 “Omar” 139 Three Pretty Silvers 140 “Shah of Persia” 141 “Fulmer Zaida” 142 “Troubadour” 143 A Perfect Chinchilla (two views) 145 Mrs. Balding’s “Silver Lambkin” 146 Mrs. Balding’s “Fluffie Tod” 147 “Sea Foam” 148 Mrs. Wellbye’s “Silver Lotus” 149 Mrs. Wellbye’s “Silver Dossie” 150 Mrs. Wellbye’s Silver “Veronica” 151 Two Views of Woodheys Cattery 153 “Silver Blossom” 154 “Silver Blossom’s” Two Buds 155 “Wild Tom” 156 “Fur and Feather” 158 “The Silver Lambkins” 159 “Jupiter Duvals” 161 “The Elder Miss Blossom” 162 “Dolly Daydream” 163 “I want to go home!” 164 “The Marquis of Dingley” 165 Miss Leake’s Summer Cattery 166 Silver Tabby Kittens owned by Princess Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein 167 “Beautiful Duchess” 168 Winter Quarters at Dingley Hill 169 In the Studio 171 Miss Cope’s “Starlet” 172 A Pair of Silver Tabbies 173 “Thames Valley Silver King” 174 “Roiall Fluffball” 177 Mrs. Stead’s Smoke Litter by “Ranji” 178 “Jo” and “Tiny” 178 Miss Bartlett’s Two Smoke Kittens 179 Mrs. James’s Cat Houses at Backwell 181 Mrs. Stead’s Smoke Persian “Champion Ranji” 182 “Champion Backwell Jogram” 183 Mrs. Sinkins’ Smoke Persian “Teufel” 185 “Lucy Claire” 186 Mrs. Singleton’s “Orange Girl” 187 “Puck” 188 “Swagger” 188 “Benjamin of the Durhams” 189 “Torrington Sunnysides” 190 “Lifeguard” 191 One of Mrs. Neate’s Outdoor Catteries at Wernham 192 “Curiosity” 193 Mrs. Neate’s Cat Houses (two views) 194 “Musing” 197 “Out in the Cold” 199 “Higher Education” 200 Mrs. Clinton Locke’s Cream Kitten 201 A Creamy Smile 201 Mrs. Norris’s Cream Kitten 202 “Kew Ronald” and “Kew Laddie” 203 Miss Beal and her Kittens 204 Mrs. D’Arcy Hildyard’s Cream Kittens 204 “Miriam of the Durhams” 205 “Champion Romaldkirk Admiral” 206 Mrs. F. Western’s “Matthew of the Durhams” 207 “Topsy of Merevale” 208 Miss H. Cochran’s Tortoiseshell “Brunette” 209 Miss Sargent’s “Topsy” 210 Miss Kate Sangster’s “Royal Yum Yum” 211 “Peggy Primrose” 212 Miss Yeoman’s “Mary II.” 213 “At Home” 214 Miss Simpson’s “Persimmon” 215 Miss Mellor’s “Lady Sholto” 216 “Champion Crystal” (American) 217 A Room in Brayfort Cattery 218 Miss Whitney and her Neuter Brown Tabby 219 “Brayfort Princess” and “Brayfort Fina” 220 “Lonsdale Chrysalis” and “Lonsdale Moth” 221 Mrs. D’Arcy Hildyard’s “Sulpherland” 222 “Pioneer Bobs” 223 “Lorna Doone” 225 “Birkdale Ruffie” 226 “Birkdale Ruffie’s” Cattery 227 Brown Tabby “Goozie” 229 A Trio of Tabbies 230 A Picturesque Group 231 A Grotesquely-marked Kitten 232 “Lockhaven Colburn” 233 “The Conquest of the Air” 234 “Grace before Meat” 235 “Marcus Superbus,” a Silver Smoke 235 “Blue Robin” 236 Miss Kirkpatrick’s “Chili” 237 “King Cy” 237 Miss Chamberlayne’s “Belvedere Tiger” 238 “Benoni” 239 Miss Adamson’s Chinchilla Neuter 240 “Nigel the Raven” 241 Madame Portier’s Neuter “Blue Boy” 242 Rascals 243 Type of Manx Kitten 244 “Golfsticks” 245 Specimen of a Manx Tabby 246 Orange Manx 248 Mrs. H. C. Brooke’s Manx “Katzenjammer” 249 “Ballochmyle Bell Spitz” 250 Manx Cat 251 Mr. Ward’s Manx “Silverwing” 253 A Litter by “Tachin” 254 The Garden Cattery at Bishopsgate 255 Mrs. Roberts Locke, with “Calif,” “Siam,” and “Bangkok” 256 “Si” 257 “Tiam-o-Shian” 257 “It” 258 Mr. Ratcliffe’s Siamese 259 Lady Marcus Beresford’s “Ursula” 260 Miss Armitage’s “Cora” 262 Pair of Siamese belonging to Mrs. Armitage 263 Mrs. Robinson’s “Ah Choo” 265 “Champion Wankee” 265 “Mafeking” 266 The late “King Kesho” 267 Lady Marcus Beresford’s “Cambodia” 268 Pugs Paying a Visit to the Siamese, Mrs. Hawkins’ Cattery 269 “Romeo” and “Juliette” 271 A Cosy Corner 273 “Ashbrittle Peter” 274 “Ballochmyle Blue Queen” 275 Mrs. Carew Cox’s Blue male “Bayard” 276 “Sherdley Michael” 277 “Sherdley Alexis” 277 “Sherdley Sacha I.” and “II.” 277 Maria 278 Mrs. Carew Cox’s “Yula” 279 Lady Alexander of Ballochmyle 280 “Champion Ballochmyle Brother Bump” 281 Short-haired Tabby Kittens 282 Another View of Lady Decies’ Cattery 283 Lady Decies’ “Champion Xenophon” 284 An American Begging Cat 285 “Ebony of Wigan” 286 Sleeping and Waking Tabbies 287 A Black-and-White Britisher 288 “Champion Ballochmyle Otter” 289 “Champion Ballochmyle Perfection” 290 Mrs. Barker’s “Tyneside Lily” 291 Two Views of Briarlea Catteries 292 A Corner of the Bossington Catteries 293 Tortoiseshell Male “Samson” 294 Mrs. A. M. Stead’s Brown Tabby 295 Mrs. Collingwood’s “James II.” 295 “Ben My Chree” 296 Burmese Cat 297 Mexican Hairless Cats 299 African Cat 300 Manx and Abyssinian 301 Geoffroy’s Wild Cat 302 “The Storm King” 303 “Rado” 303 The Old Fort Cattery 305 Mrs. Colburn and her White Persian “Paris” 306 Brushwood Cattery 307 Miss Johnston’s “Persimmon Squirrel” 308 A Reception Room in a Chicago Cattery 309 Mrs. E. N. Barker 311 “Silver Hair” and “Tiptoe” 312 Miss Ward’s “Robin” 313 Three Little Grandchildren of “Persimmon” 314 An American Beauty 317 “Champion Miss Detroit” 318 “The Commissioner” 319 “Ajax” 321 Orchard Ridge Cattery 322 Mrs. Charles A. White 323 “The Blessed Damozel” 324 “Tobey,” a Maine Trick Cat 325 “Henessey” 326 “Blue Danube” 327 “Leo,” owned by Mrs. Martin 329 “Yellow H. 14th Beauty” 330 Mrs. Bagster’s “Demidoff” 331 A Snapshot 332 Amateur Photographers 334 Playing at Work 335 In the Studio 336 Tabitha’s Afternoon Tea 337 A Happy Mother 338 Mrs. Bonny’s “Dame Fortune” 339 “Derebie” 339 A Litter of Eight belonging to Miss Savery 341 “Star of the Spheres” and “Son of Roy” 342 The Foster-Mother 343 The Foster-Mother in Action 343 “Arrived Safely” 344 “Patricia” 345 Miss Goddard’s Pair of Kittens 346 “Lollypop” 347 Three Little Americans 348 “Holmlea Thistledown” 349 Brain of Cat 350 Skull of the Great Sabre-toothed Cat 351 Superficial Flexor Tendons of a Cat’s Left Foot 352 Bones and Principal Ligaments of a Cat’s Toe 352 Pads of Cat’s Left Fore-foot 352 Skull of a Cat 353 Skeleton of a Cat 354 Skeleton of a Cat 355 A Cat’s Eye 356 Tongue of a Cat 357 Giving Medicine 358