Domestic Encyclopædia (1802)/Cat

CAT, or Felis Catus, L. a genus of animals, comprising twenty-one species, and belonging to the same class as the lion and the tyger. Though originally a variety of the wild cat, one of the most ferocious brutes, this animal is now domesticated, and bred in Britain, as well as in other parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa, of which countries it is a native. The former inhabits hollow trees, especially the oaks of large forests, and in winter retreats to the deserted holes of foxes and badgers. Its skin is an excellent fur, but by no means compensates the damage done by wild cats to game and poultry.

The domestic cat, when suffered to retire to thickets, easily returns to a wild state. Its colour is uncommonly diversified; but the most beautiful varieties are, the reddish Spanish cat, and that of Angora, with long silken hair. A tame cat generally attains the age of about twelve years: the female breeds in the first year; though it grows till eighteen months old; she usually produces from four to six blind kittens, after a gestation of fifty-five days; and carefully conceals them, apprehensive of the unnatural voracity of the male. It is farther remarkable, that the female also has been observed to devour her offspring, when it happened to be deformed, or monstrous.

The flesh of animals, or fish, is the most agreeable food to cats; for they partake of vegetable aliment only from necessity. As they chew with difficulty, frequent drink is indispensably requisite to the preservation of their health. There are, however, some plants ot which they are excessively fond; and when indulged with them, present a variety of whimsical gesticulations: of this nature is the valerian root, and the herb called nep, or cat-mint, the nepeta cataria, L.: on the contrary, they shun other vegetables as their mortal enemies, for instance, the common rue, or ruta graveolens, L. Any substance rubbed with the leaves of this plant, is said to be perfectly secure from their depredations: for the communication of this useful fact, in domestic life, we are indebted to C. P. Funke, a German naturalist.

Cats enjoy a warm temperature, and a soft couch;—moisture and filth, as well as water and cold, are equally repugnant to their nature; hence they are continually cleaning themselves with their paws and tongue. Another peculiarity is, the purring of these animals, when they are cajoled, or flattered, by passing the hand over their backs: this singular noise is performed by means of two elastic membranes in the larynx, or the upper part of the wind-pipe. Their hair is so electric, that the expanded skin of a cat makes an excellent cushion for the glass cylinder, or globe, of an electrifying machine.

The flesh of cats is eaten by several nations, but the substance of the brain is said to be poisonous. From the intestines of these animals are manufactured the celebrated Roman chords, for covering the violin.

With respect to their peculiarities, we shall remark, that cats possess a very acute sense of both smell and sight; by the structure of their eyes, which sparkle in the dark, they are better enabled to discover objects of prey, such as mice and rats, at night, than in the day time: hence they ought not to be luxuriously fed, if kept for the destruction of those vermin. It is, however, to be regretted, that this useful domestic creature is one of the most deceitful companions. Constantly bent on theft and rapine, the cat is a compound of cunning and dissimulation, seizes every opportunity of doing mischief, and flies from punishment, when detected. It is, therefore, not a little surprizing, that many elderly ladies are so partial to these quadrupeds, that they will even suffer them to sleep in the same bed; a practice fraught with considerable danger; as the exhalation of cats is extremely detrimental to the lungs; besides which, they are liable to hydrophobia, as well as the more faithful dog. For these reasons, we would advise parents, not to permit their children to play for hours, with these animals, even though the swallowing of cat's hair should not be attended with such bad effects as many are inclined to believe.

Lastly, Whether the marvellous stories concerning the revengeful disposition of cats, be well founded, or otherwise, it cannot be doubted that many judicious persons have so invincible an antipathy against these creatures, that they have been known to faint in rooms where cats were concealed; and that no arguments were sufficient to efface the impression. We are, therefore, decidedly of opinion, that great precaution ought to be used in the treatment of the purring tribe; and, instead of provoking them to malice and anger, it will be more prudent to keep them at a due distance.