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 ps
pe ee ae
|ILLUSTRATED 5
\\ ENCYCLOPEDIA
Shia8s
AANAag <8 f

THE COMPREHENSIVE VISUAL DIRECTORY

o) ayAN i a | =O) ee OW 101 ed
INVALUABLE PRACTICAL INFORMATION
ON BREEDING, TRAINING, CARE,
AND SHOWING
 ieee
ILLUSTRATED
ENCYCLOPEDIA

BREEDS
Essential reading for growing numbers of cat-
lovers throughout the world, THE ILLUSTRATED
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF CAT BREEDS provides the most
comprehensive and up-to-date coverage of
felines available. Featuring more than 100
breeds, it ranges from the sleek-bodied Siamese
and the regal Russian Blue to the tail-less Manx
and the hardy Maine Coon Cat.

An introductory section covers the history of

cats, ranging back over the millennia to the
wild cats which roamed the earth with early
humans to the domesticated cats of today.
There follow sections on the anatomy,
physiology, and psychology of the cat, and
specialist terminology is illustrated with
examples taken from the breeds featured in
the Encyclopedia. Photographs, maps, and
drawings show how particular conformations
and characteristics have evolved into groupings
which are recognised today.

Lavishly illustrated, the 256-page directory is

presented according to basic groups: shorthairs,
longhairs, semi-longhairs, orientals, and foreign
breeds — all featuring full-colour identification
photography plus photographs of varieties to
show variations within the breed. Breed stan-
dards arc given as well as care boxes for at-a-
glance tips for each breed.

£14.95
THE ILLUSTRATED
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF
CAT BREEDS

ane ay
LUSTRATED
LOPEDIA OF

Angela Rixon

Eagle a ..
Editions 2 Loge
A QUANTUM BOOK

Published by INTRODUCTION
Eagle Editions Ltd
11 Heathfield
Royston 8
Hertfordshire SG8 5BW
The Cat
bY
Copyright MCMXCV Quarto Inc.
Origins
This edition printed 2007
16
All rights reserved. Body shape
This book is protected by copyright. No part of it may be
reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form
26
or by any means, without the prior permission in writing of the Behaviour
Publisher, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or
cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar 32
condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent Sexual behaviour
publisher.
35
ISBN 978-1-84573-336-0 Maternity
QUMECB 38
Breeding pedigree cats
This book is produced by
Quantum Publishing Ltd. 42
6 Blundell Street Showing
London N7 9BH
46
Typeset in Great Britain by Genesis Typesetters, Rochester Cat care
Manufactured in Singapore by Eray Scan (Pte) Ltd
Printed in Singapore by Star Standard Industries (Pte) Ltd.

Py,Tits,
CONTENTS
SEMI LONGHAIRED BREEDS

88
Birman
90 Solid points
92 Tortoiseshell and tabby points

94
Maine Coon
96 Solid varieties
96 Tortoiseshell and Parti-colour varieties
97 Smoke and shaded varieties
98 Tabby varieties

100
Ragdoll
102 Mitted
103 Bi-colour
104 Colourpoint
LONGHAIRED BREEDS
105
Snowshoe
—58
106
Longhair
Norwegian Forest Cat
60 White
108 Solid varieties
61 Black
109 Tabby varieties
62 Red
110 Parti-colour varieties
63 Cream
111 Smoke and cameo varieties
64 Blue
65 Blue-cream 112
66 Smoke Angora
69 Cameo 114 Angora varieties
70 Bi-colour
116
72 Tabby
Turkish
75 Tortoiseshell
76 Silver and Golden

78
Colourpoint
80 Solid points
82 Tabby points
84 Chocolate and lilac
 FOREIGN
SHORTHAIRED BREEDS

164
Abyssinian
166 Abyssinian varieties

168
Somali 4
170 Somali varieties ;

174 ;
Russian Blue
SHORTHAIRED BREEDS
176
Korat
120 }
British Shorthair 178
a. Havana Brown
122 Solid varieties
125 Bi-colour varieties 180
126 Tortoiseshell varieties Egyptian Mau
128 Tabby varieties 182
132 Other varieties Oceat

Chartreux B
engal
136 186 Bengal varieties
Manx
138 Manx varieties
139 Cymric

140
Scottish Fold
142
European Shorthair
144 European Shorthair varieties

146
American Shorthair
148 American Shorthair varieties
149 Tabby varieties

154
American Wirehair
156
Exotic Shorthair
158 Solid varieties
159 Tabby and Bi-colour varieties
160 Other varieties
 188
Cornish Rex
190 Cornish Rex varieties

192
Devon Rex
194 Devon Rex varieties

196
Sphynx
198
Japanese Bobtail
200
Burmese
202 Solid varieties
ORVEN TAL SB REEDS
205 Tortoiseshell varieties

206
Tiffanie 224
Siamese
207 226 Siamese varieties
Singapura
230
208 Colorpoint Shorthair
Tonkinese 232 Colorpoint varieties
210 Mink varieties
212 New varieties
234
Balinese
214 236 Balinese varieties
Bombay
238
216 Oriental
Burmilla 240 Solid varieties
218 Burmilla varieties 243 Tortoiseshell varieties
221 Asian 244 Tabby varieties
246 Smoked, shaded and tipped varieties

249
Seychellois
250
Javanese

ews
Index
256
Acknowledgements
INTRODUCTION
|

INTRODUCTION
_ The domestic cat enjoys a special niche in human society. There are anthologies of
poems and prose, encyclopedias of breeds, manuals on care, breeding and
showing; cats appear on greetings cards, stationery and fabrics; glass and china
ornaments abound — whether in natural or cartoon form the cat is the most
enduringly popular animal portrayed throughout the world.

_ CATS HAVE BEEN valued and protected and their nature. Theinnate behaviour patterns of the cat’s wild
| history recorded since the days of the Ancient ancestors still\exist, even in a highly-bred pedigree cat
| Egyptians, and although their fortunes have fluctuated whose coat and conformation bear little resemblance
| from time to time, they have managed to remain to them. Even the most pampered of today’s pet cats
_ virtually unchanged in overall size and basic character. reacts to the thrill of hunting, retains all the physical
| Today’s domestic cat tolerates its relationship with skills and abilities of its forebears.
_ humans and takes advantage of the comforts of a good Having a pet cat in the home can be therapeutic, as
home environment while retaining its independent well as rewarding. No other pet is as clean and
fastidious in its habits, or as easy to care for. Every cat
is beautiful in its own way, but the very wide range of
breeds, colours and varieties of pedigree cats existing
today means every cat lover can indulge his or her
particular preference.
The cat is probably the most common domestic
animal in most parts of the world. Wherever there are
concentrated populations of people there are groups of
cats, either living as free-ranging feral animals or kept
as pets to keep down rodents, insects or snakes. Yet
despite its familiarity with humans, the domestic cat
manages to retain its air of mysterious independence.
A paradoxical animal, the cat can be both loving
and bold. It combines caution with courage, and
alternates periods of total relaxation with those of
remarkable agility. It is often easy to imagine, in
watching one’s pet cat, its successful little mammalian
ancestor miacis, which first evolved during the age of
the dinosaurs. Small in build, the cat has always had to
rely on skill and speed to escape from predators and to
catch its own prey. Its specialized dentition and
retractile claws helped to ensure its survival as a

A resting ginger adorns the lid of a small

tin (top left), a nursery rhyme feline
family make a simple jigsaw puzzle (top),
while a trio of stylized nesting cats make
an unusual keepsake (left).

Even the most sophisticated of today’s

pedigree cats, like this Abyssinian (right),
retains all of its natural hunting instincts.
END ROD OS Tre
 LN TROD:
WiC KOEN:

LHE EVOLUTION OF THE CAT SELECTIVE

BREEDING
Over the years cats
have been selectively
bred to conform to
standards of points laid
down by the various
cat associations. Here

Dinictis About 50 million years ago, this we see the extremes in

carnivorous cat-like mammal, ancestor of the cats, type between the
inhabited the earth. svelte, long headed
Oriental (left) and the
heavy, round headed
Persian (below).

SF {(? on : es @
3 oot \
3 j x.
| S
et ail { 4<s Se a\\ X » XQ

Pseudaelurus Until about 25 million years ago,

this relatively long-legged mammal had evolved
with more cat-like features.

carnivore during its evolution, and these qualities

stand the cat in good stead.
Today, the genetic make-up of the domestic cat has
been so manipulated by selective breeding that some
felines bear very little resemblance to those of ancient
Felis lunensis Among several species of wild cat Egypt’s homes and granaries. The noses of Persian cats
that evolved, and lived until about 12 million
have been reduced in size, those of the Orientals have
years ago was Martelli’s wildcat.
been lengthened. Breeders have selected for heavy
bone in some breeds, for light bone in others. Despite
all the efforts to thwart nature, however, the basic
structure of the domestic cat has been undefiled by
human intervention, and the biology of the animal is
the same whether it is a champion Chinchilla or a
stray tabby. The great cat goddess Bast continues to
watch over Felis domesticus ensuring that all cats
remain virtually the same in size and character;
affectionate, fastidious felines who are willing com-
panions, but who will never be subordinate or
subservient to humans.
The aim of this book is to show the diverse and
Felidae Today’s cats, large and small. Highly interesting range of domestic felines throughout the
developed and efficient carnivores, designed for world, exploring conformation, coat types and pat-
hunting and killing. terns. It also examines the breeds’ varying care
requirements, their special characteristics, and acts as
10 an introduction to the world of showing.
 ORIGINS
A weasel-like creature called Miacis lived on Earth in the Eocene period of
50 million years ago. From this fierce, successful creature evolved countless
generations of carnivores. We can recognize in those early creatures the forebears
of our domestic cats, and identify the same survival skills.

ANCIENT EGYPT
The cat was deified in
Ancient Egypt, and
also used for the
protection of the
granaries and for
wildfowling.

As ANY pair of domestic cats, from anywhere in the

world, will readily interbreed, it means that they are of
a single species, descended from a common ancestor.
Domestication of the cat probably first took place in
the Middle East, and the cats encouraged to approach
people were almost certainly Felis lybica, the African
wild cat. This is a lithe animal, very similar to a
BAST, PASHT or
domestic tabby in colour. Many of the skulls from
OUBASTED
Ancient Egyptian cat cemeteries resemble Felis lybica,
The Cat-goddess Bast,
while a small proportion are of cats resembling the
with a sistrum, used as
jungle cat, Felis chaus. It would appear that the
a sacred rattle to
Ancient Egyptians tamed both types, but the African
frighten evil gods, and
wild cat was easily the more popular, and probably
a small, lion-headed
more amenable to domestication.
aegis or shield. Both
Egypt was the greatest corn-growing area of the
objects serve to protect
ancient world, and huge granaries were constructed to
the litter of kittens
store the grain from good harvests for use in leaner
sitting at her feet.
years. As rodent controllers, cats must have been vital
to the economy of those times. The Ancient Egyptians
also appreciated the natural link between the cat and
the lion, and worshipped the goddess Bast, also called
Pasht or Oubasted, who first appeared with the head of
a lion, and later with the head of a cat. Bast was seen
as a goddess of love, and of the moon. The cat was
connected with her as love-goddess because of the
animal’s natural fecundity, and as moon-goddess
because of the varying shape of the pupils of the cat’s
eyes, which were thought to enlarge and contract with 11
PNG ROR
'C tO

DESCENT OF THE MODERN CAT

All cats, including our domestics,

trace their ancestry to the small
weasel-like Miacis of some 40
million years ago. They shared
this common ancestor with other
carnivores, including bears,
civets and dogs.

DOMESTIC CATS F. Catus

AFRICAN GOLDEN CAT F. aurata
ASIATIC GOLDEN CAT F. temmincki
SMALL CATS
Felis
BAY CAT F. badia
BLACK-FOOTED CAT F. negripes
BOBCAT F. rufus
CARACAL F. caracal
CHINESE DESERT CAT F. bieti
CARNIVORES CATS FISHING CAT F. viverrina
Carnivora Felidae FLAT-HEADED CAT F. planiceps
GEOFFROY’S CAT F. geoffroyi
JAGUARUNDI F. yagouaroundi
IRIOMOTE CAT F. iriomotensis

CHEETAH Aciononyx JUNGLE CAT F. chaus

MAMMALS — KODKOD F. guigna
LEOPARD CAT F. bengalensis
LYNX F. lynx (F. pardina)

LION P. leo MARBLED CAT F. marmorata

MARGAY F. wiedi
MOUNTAIN CAT F. jacobita
ey ag TIGER P. tigris
Herbivora OCELOT F. pardalis
PALLAS’S CAT F. manul
LEOPARD P. pardus
ROARING PAMPAS CAT F. colocolo
CATS
Panthera CLOUDED LEOPARD PUMA F. concolor
P. nebulosa* RUSTY-SPOTTED CAT F. rubiginosus
SAND CAT F. margarita
JAGUAR P. onca
SERVAL F. serval
TIGER CAT F. tigrinus
SNOW LEOPARD
WILD CAT F. silvestris
P. uncia

*sometimes classed as a separate genera

 TENT IRON
C AKON

i
A Roman mosaic
found in the ruins of
Pompeii, and dating
from the first century
BC, depicts a bright-
eyed cat pouncing on
its prey.

the waxing and waning of the moon. Egyptian statues were highly valued as pets. Vermin control was
of Bast show her connection with fertility and undertaken by longhaired cats, and cats were traded in
pleasure. In several statues she stands upright, an alert street markets. Pet cats were introduced into Japan
cat’s head surmounting a figure holding a sistrum in from China in the reign of Emperor Ichi-Jo who lived
one hand and a rattle in the other. The rattle from AD 986 to 1011. It is recorded that on the tenth
symbolized both phallus and womb, and the symbolic day of the fifth moon the emperor’s white cat gave
fertility of the goddess was further reinforced by several birth to five white kittens, and a nurse was appointed
kittens, normally five, sitting at her feet. Women. of to see that they were brought up as carefully as royal
the period often wore fertility amulets depicting Bast princes. Many legends and stories of cats survive in
and her feline family. Japanese literature, the most enduring image being
The original Egyptian name of the cat was mau, that of the Maneki-neko, the listening or beckoning
perhaps from its call of “miaow”, which also meant “to cat, which is still to be found in ornaments and
see”. The Egyptians considered the cat’s unblinking amulets today.
gaze gave it powers to seek out truth and to see into
the afterlife. Bast was sometimes called the Lady of
Truth, and was used in mummification ceremonies to
ensure life after death.
Cats played such a complex and important part in
the lives of the Ancient Egyptians that the living
animals were pampered and in some cases worshipped.
After the death of a cat, whole families would go into
mourning, and the cat’s body was embalmed and
placed in a sacred vault. Thousands of mummified cats
have been discovered in Egypt, some so well preserved
that they have added to our store of knowledge of the
earliest domesticated cats.
The custom of keeping cats spread slowly through-
out the Middle Eastern countries. A Sanskrit docu-
ment of 1000 Bc mentions a pet cat, and the Indian
epics Ramayana and Mahabharata, of about 500 Bc,
both contain stories about cats. The Indians at that
time worshipped a feline goddess of maternity called
Sasti, and for decades Hindus were obliged to take
responsibility for feeding at least one cat. Cats reached
China around Ap 400, and in AD 595 an empress was
recorded as having been bewitched by a cat spirit. By
the twelfth century ap rich Chinese families kept The beckoning cat provides an example of the dual role of charms
yellow and white cats known as “lion-cats”, which and amulets to attract good fortune and to ward off evil. LS
 ENGR
OUDNG Car Orn:
peso etastcconaenamnionten vsertiananwan ir suai ta RIN

) Throughout the world, prior to the witch-hunts of

‘ the Middle Ages, cats were treated with affection and
respect. Their greatest attribute was their efficiency in
i controlling vermin.
Gods of one religion may become the demons of its
successor, and in the case of the cat, its nocturnal
habits, independence, sense of self-preservation and
often erotic behaviour accelerated the process during
the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Witch-
; hunting then reached its climax, and cats figured
prominently in most witch trials throughout Europe.
Even as late as the nineteenth century Basque farmers
claimed that witches appeared as black cats and were
greatly feared.
Eventually the cat’s fortunes turned once more.
They became prized possessions, and those with
unusual colours and markings were favoured as pets.
They were carried between the world’s continents as
precious gifts, and gave rise to the many breeds and
varieties that we know today.

The fact that domestic cats have been systematically

bred for only about one hundred years makes it
difficult to ascertain the origins of certain key factors
in their makeup. The stocky body type found in the
Persians and the various Shorthairs points to the
possible influence of the European wild cat in their
ancestry, whereas the lightboned and slender
“foreign” cats, such as the Abyssinian, have bodies
similar to that exhibited by the African wild cat. In
In the middle-ages, the Asia, lightboned cats have been known for centuries
art of witchcraft was and isolated gene pools aided the standardization of
rife. A witch would specific colours and coat patterns. Very few
often have as her mutations affecting the original wild type
“familiar” a black cat. conformation, coat length, colour and pattern have
The witch was said to been necessary to provide the ingredients from
be able to transform which all of today cats have been bred.
herself into her
familiar’s form.

MAPS REX MANX

The first Cornish Rex, The Isle of Man,
its curled coat caused midway between
The country of origin of
by the action of a England and Ireland,
the cat is given for each
mutant gene, was is generally agreed to
breed. This is shown on
discovered in a litter of be the homeland and
the small map at the top
of the entry in every case. kittens in 1950. birthplace of the Manx.

es
 LNT ROD
GT TOW

“SPREAD OTHE DOMESTIC CAT

a |
RUSSIAN BLUE
Shorthaired blue cats
are said to have been
brought from the port
of Archangel, in
Russia, and were
called Russian Blue.

BIRMAN
At the end of the
Second World War, a
pair of temple cats
were sent to France,
and from these the
breed was established.

CHINCHILLA ABYSSINIAN SIAMESE BURMESE

The Chinchilla was In the 1880s, such First brought to A cat called Wong
man-made by crossing cats were taken from England from Thailand Mau was taken from
cats of various colours Ethiopia by servicemen in the 1880s, the first Burma to the United
with Silver Tabby returning to Britain at Siamese are said to States in 1930, and
Persians in England in \ the end of the have been prized by the was the foundation
thelate 1800s. Abyssinian War. Thai royal family. queen of the breed.
INTRODUCTION

BODY SHAPE
For over a century, cat fanciers have tried, using various techniques, to
manipulate the conformation, coat colours and patterns of their favourite varieties
of the domestic cat. By carefully controlled selective breeding, they have
endeavoured to create new varieties and even entirely new breeds.

IN GENERAL SHAPE and overall size, all breeds of when danger threatens. The cat’s brain is large and
' domestic cats have retained the same basic structure as well developed, enabling it to rapidly assimilate facts
_ their ancestors, unlike dogs, which have been selec- and react quickly. Its adaptable eyes can cope with
| tively bred to produce very wide ranges of shape and extremes of. lighting conditions, allowing perfect
height. Cats are therefore free from many of the vision in both bright sunlight and dim twilight.. The
skeletal abnormalities that can affect dogs. Some mobile ears work to catch the faintest sound, and the
defects are occasionally encountered: these include sensitive nose, allied to the perceptive Jacobson’s
shortened, bent or kinked tails, cleft palates, flattened organ in the mouth, can identify the faintest of scents
chests and polydactylism (extra toes). In the main, imperceptible to humans.
evolution seems to have been particularly kind in Pedigree breeds of domestic cats have been devel-
designing the cat, proceeding along such a well- oped to fit certain standards of conformation, colour
ordered path of natural selection that it remains an and coat pattern. This has been done over many
efficient and perfect carnivore of convenient size, still generations, with dedicated breeders working out
well capable of hunting and killing small animals and exactly what the desired feline end-product would
birds. The cat’s frame permits fluid, co-ordinated and look like, and setting out to achieve it with careful and
graceful movements at all speeds. Its taut-muscled selective breeding. Today there are two main types of
body and legs enable it to make impressive leaps and pedigree cat: those with chunky, heavyweight bodies
bounds. The retractile nature of the sharp claws allows and large round heads, and a lighter, finer type with
fast sprinting over short distances, holding and lighter bone and a longer head.
gripping of prey, and fast climbing of convenient trees Cats of the heavier type come in a wide range of

lumbar vertebrae thoracic vertebrae cervical vertebrae cranium

hyoid
_ sacral vertebrae
scapula

mandible

Sternum

clavicle

<1 ee af : A humerus

\h \ ee
iw \ \
NOR
ulna
XNs\ \
oe > \
%, VES * Oe
carpals
\ Re RES)
metatarsals
a ey phalanges
WE
 INT ROD UC TT ON

THE SELF-RIGHTING REFLEX

=a

|
|
Mos |

The cat is the perfect predator, and built for a combination of |

speed and coordination. Its skeleton consists of a highly evolved
framework of efficient levers, connected by powerful muscles. |
Massive muscles in the hindquarters enable the cat to propel itself
forward in short bursts of speed.
|
colours and coat patterns, and may be longhaired or
shorthaired. The former include Persians and similar |
i
breeds; while the shorthairs cover cats such as the |
British, American, European and Exotic shorthairs.
|
Lightweight cats are more variable in their character-
|
|
istics. The Orientals, including the distinctive Sia-
mese, are at the furthest extreme from the heavier
types, with very fine bone, very long bodies, legs and
tails, long wedge-shaped heads and large ears. Less
extreme are the Foreign Shorthairs and Rex cats, each

|
variety having its own very recognizable features.
Some breeds have arisen from mixtures of heavy and
lightweight types; these have intermediate features.
|
|
|
'
|
|

|
The famous feline attribute of always being able to
land on its feet is not wholly accurate, but a falling |
Cats keep their muscles cat is often able to reposition its body during
in trim at all times. falling to avoid serious injury on landing. A set of
The awakening cat information which reaches the brain from the eyes
yawns and stretches, is combined with impulses from the vestibular
first the spine, tail and apparatus in the ears to transmit an orienting
forelegs, then the hips signal to the animal’s neck muscles. The head is
and the hindlegs. twisted into an upright and horizontal position and
the rest of the body twists and lines itself up
accordingly before landing.

ao
 ENT ROD
Ch OEN
scncnnnenexarareororretcvocere%00e06%e;et0eestcobe.ce
sl aiamsavStesansSen=DOTURRUSECORSSTOASScoSoSEOTSerodsseinhanstn
times fngsara0sCenObasoere:So>SIDEDSPEOeCSSESReSSDSN

A cat’s eyes differ from ours in several ways. They observe

less of the colour spectrum, having fewer cones, but more
rod sensors allowing the perception of more brightness in
lacrimal glands
dim light. The iris of the cat’s eye opens and closes to a
greater extent and the eyeball is more spherical and in
relation to body size very much larger than in the human.
Although it is said that cats can see in the dark, this is eyeball
not true, though the feline pupils are able to expand
eye muscles
widely, giving excellent vision in very dim light
conditions. The pupil is contracted and expanded by an
intricate web of muscles set in a figure-of-eight
configuration in the iris. Within the eye light is reflected
off the tapetum lucidium which has a photomultiplying
effect on the light admitted.

The cat’s eye is set in a bony socket in the skull, cushioned by

pads of fat and connected by muscles, enabling it to move in
VISION
various directions. Lacrimal glands provide tears to wash the eye.

sclera
optic nerve
vitreous humour
comea

iris
pupil
aqueous humour
lens
tapetum lucidum

retina

suspensory ligament

Humans may have better daylight vision than cats,

but as dusk falls the cat scores, for although it The slightly egg-shaped eye is surrounded by the tough schlera,
cannot see in total darkness, its unusual pupils are replaced at the front by the transparent cornea, behind which the
able to expand to give excellent vision in very dim aqueous humour protects the iris and pupil. Jellylike vitreous
conditions. humour fills the cavity behind the lens, and at the back of the eye
is the light sensitive retina, and the reflective tapetum lucidum.
The optic nerve transmits signals from the eye to the brain.

1 Changes in the size and shape of the pupil generally

relate to the amount of light entering the eye. In darkness
the pupil dilates.
2 In natural diffused daylight the pupil is seen a normal
vertical oval shape.
3 In very natural light, when the cat is relaxed, the pupil Both eyes face forward allowing the fields of vision to overlap.
closes down to a narrow slit. This produces stereoscopic sight and enables the hunting cat
accurate assessment of distance and prey location.
18
 TASTE AND SMELL
olfactory lobe
Smell is the most important of its senses to the cat. Smell
is closely linked to taste since the nasal passage opens
into the mouth. As well as assisting its hunting pursuits, olfactory mucosa
smell is an essential part of the cat’s sexual life. The
vomeronasal or Jacobson’s organ in the roof of its mouth
enables the cat to identify minute particles of scent. hypothalmus
nasal passage
Jacobson’s organ

mouth
The cat exhibiting the
flehmen reaction
tongue
stretches its neck,
opens its mouth and
curls back its upper lips
in a snarl. It may be Flehmen Reaction This is exhibited when the cat is
confronted by chemicals in smells, either of sexual origin
so affected by a smell
or from musky odours. Airborne molecules are trapped on
that it also starts
the tongue which is flicked back to press on the opening
salivating. of the Jacobson’s organ. Information is relayed to the
brain’s hypothalamus, which dictates the cat’s response.

HEARING

This sense is highly developed in the cat and registers two

octaves higher than the human ear. The comparatively
large and mobile ears of the ordinary domestic cat enable
it to flex them sideways and backwards in order to
pinpoint the source of very slight sounds — important to a
natural crepuscular predator.

Even when apparently occupied, cats are

alert to sounds around them. ossicles

circular

ANATOMY OF auditory canal

AN EAR
Sound waves are
funnelled down the
ear drum
external auditory canal
to the ear drum. In the
middle ear, weak
vibrations are turned middle ear
into stronger
cochlea
vibrations. Nerve
signals are then sent
along the auditory auditory nerve
nerve to the brain. 19
 CN TRO Di ED TORN,

| CLAWS BODY TYPES

The Longhaired or Persian body type is

The domestic cat large boned and stocky.
has retractile claws
which are normally
sheathed, allowing
i the animal silent
footfalls. When
required for grasping
prey, defensive
i measures or
climbing, the claws
are extended by
muscles tightening
the tendons.

The Shorthair breeds are similar in

structure to Persians.

: terminal bone

i germinal cells

claw tip

i
DECLAWING Onychectomy is an operation
involving the surgical removal of a cat’s claws,
normally performed only on the forepaws. Illegal in
: Britain and not generally advised by the US
| veterinary profession, the declawing process
removes the claw and the germinal cells
responsible for its regrowth as well as all or part of
the terminal bone of the toe. Declawed cats are
deprived of their prime form of defence and
| therefore should never be allowed out of the home. Foreign and Oriental cats are fine-boned
| and dainty.
20 )
 LN TR OD Wie TIO nN,
a
HEADS AND EYES
Most cat breeds with heavy conformation, such as the Cats of light conformation, such as the Oriental and
Persian and the Shorthair, have large round heads, with Foreign Shorthairs, have longer heads of various shapes,
large round eyes set wide apart above a short snub nose and the eye shape varies for each specific breed. Long-
on a broad face. The ears are small but have a wide base, coated cats with light conformation have various head
and are placed far apart on the head, complementing the and eye shapes, according to the standards laid down by
rounded appearance of the skull. their breed associations.

The head of the Longhair or Persian is The head of the Shorthair is similar in Foreign and oriental cats have long narrow
typically round, with round eyes and full shape to that of the Persian when viewed heads and large ears. Head shape varies in
cheeks. The tiny ears set wide apart. from the front only. the individual breeds.

Ss
In profile the Persian’s head is rather flat. The profile of a typical Shorthair breed is Oriental cats have long, almost Roman
The short snub nose shows a definite less flat than that of the Persian with a noses with no “break” at eye level and a
“break” at eye level. short, broad nose. flat forehead.

ROUND OVAL/ALMOND ORIENTAL

Longhaired or Persian cats as well as most Some breed standards call for oval or Siamese and similar related breeds have
of the Shorthairs have large, round, almond-shaped eyes often tilted at the eyes of Oriental shape, set slanting
lustrous eyes. outer edge towards the ears. towards the outer edge of the ear.
Ty)
INTRODUCTION

COAT T WPEs

Pedigree cats have a diverse range.of coat types ranging woolly undercoat and a longer, sleaker top coat. The
| from the full and profuse pelt of the Persian to the very Cornish Rex has a coat devoid of guard hairs, and
fine sleek and close-lying coats of the Siamese and naturally curled awn and down hairs. The Devon Rex has
) Orientals. Between the two extremes are the long, soft modified guard, awn and down hairs which produce a
_ and silky coats of the longhaired foreign breeds and the waxy effect. The Sphynx or Canadian Hairless cat is at
: thick, dense coats of some of the shorthaired varieties. the extreme end of the coat-type range, being merely
| Some breeds should have “double” coats, with a thick covered in some parts with a fine down.

i
PERSIAN MAINE COON SHORTHAIR SPHYNX
| Long, soft coat with profuse Long silky coat, heavier and Shorthair coats are very Apparently hairless, the
) down hairs nearly as long as less uniform than that of the variable, ranging from the Sphynx does have a light
: the guard hairs, producing a Persian due to less uniform British and American breeds to covering of down hairs on
| typically long and full coat. and denser down hairs. the foreigns. some areas of the body.

) CORNISH REX DEVON REX AMERICAN WIREHAIR ORIENTAL

The tightly curled coat of the Genetically modified guard and Quite different to the two rex In the Siamese and Oriental
| Cornish Rex is caused by the awn hairs in this breed closely coats the wirehair has crimped cats, the coat is short, fine and
| absence of guard hairs and resemble down hairs. awn hairs and waved guard close-lying, quite different from
| short awn hairs. hairs. other cats.

TYPES. OF TIPPING

In the unusually coloured tipped, shaded and smoke breeds,

each effect is produced by a proportion of each hair having
a coloured tip while the rest of the hair is of a paler colour.
1 Tipped cats such as the British Tipped or Chinchilla have
tipping at the very ends of the hairs, producing a sparkling effect.
2 Tipping extending further down the hair shaft produces the
more strongly coloured shaded varieties.
3 Variable bands of colour in different areas of the coat give rise
to tabby effects.
4 Tipping extending almost to the white hair roots produces the
smoke coat in many breeds.
5 In golden varieties, the white base coat of the silver varieties is | |
replaced by a tawny yellow colour. i 2 3 4 5
 PENSE RIO Daw eT Orn:
1

COAT COLOURS AND PATTERNS

The natural colour of the domestic cat is tabby, which pigment melanin produces black hairs, and most of the
may be one of four basic patterns. The wild type is ticked self-coloured coats seen in cats are produced by |
tabby or agouti, and the other tabby patterns are mackerel modification of this pigment, or by the way in which it is |
(striped), spotted, and classic (marbled or blotched). The distributed in the individual hair fibres.

Solids
Cats of self- or
solid-coloured |
breeds must be of a |
single, solid colour
throughout with no
pattern, shading, BLACK BLUE CHOCOLATE LILAC
ticking or other
variation in colour.
These are the most
common solid
colours.

RED CREAM CINNAMON WHITE

Tabby Markings
There are four
varieties of tabby
patterns, each of
which can be found
in any of the tabby : \
colours. TICKED MACKEREL SPOTTED CLASSIC

Tabby Colours
Tabbies are found in
a wide range of
colours. Here we
show a selection.

BLUE CHOCOLATE BROWN PATCHED

BLUE PATCHED RED

Ue
 IN TD ROD Ue TOW,

Abyssinian ,

Abyssinian cats
have coats which
are gently shaded, ;

because each hair is

lighter at the root
and darker at the USUAL BLUE SORREL FAWN
tip.

.
Coloured Tips it

Coats of this sort,

with the hairs
darkening in
varying degrees
towards the roots,
are found in a BLACK SMOKE BLUE SMOKE CHOCOLATE LILAC SMOKE
number of colours, SMOKE
|
:
some of which are
i shown here.
i|
i

CHINCHILLA CHINCHILLA BLACK TIPPED > BLUE TIPPED

SILVER GOLDEN SILVER SILVER

Himalayan
Cats with the
Himalayan coat
pattern, such as the
Siamese, have pale
coats with the main
colour restricted to SEAL POINT BLUE POINT RED POINT
the head and
extremeties.

CREAM POINT LILAC POINT.

|
avi

CHOCOLATE SEAL TABBY RED TABBY —

POINT POINT
24
 PNT ROD OIC T 1-OiN

' Tonkinese
Tonkinese cats,
which are light-
phase Burmese cats,
show a modified
“pointed” effect.
The coats are darker BROWN CHOCOLATE

af
than those of cats
with true
Himalayan
colouring, so the
“points” are not so
dramatic.

CREAM

LILAC TORTIE BLUE TORTIE

Multiple Colours
As every cat lover
knows, cats come in
coats of many
colours apart from
those already
described, most of TORTOISESHELL CHOCOLATE
which are TORTOISESHELL
recognized for show
purposes in one
breed or another.
The tortoiseshells
are the most
common, but there
are endless varieties,
including the
unusual Mi-ke LILAC BLUE
pattern. of the TORTOISESHELL TORTOISESHELL
Japanese Bobtail.

rl b.
TORTOISESHELL BLUE
AND WHITE TORTOISESHELL
AND WHITE
 LN DRO DIU'S TTON

BEHAVIOUR
An insight into feline behaviour can enhance the cat owner’s enjoyment of the pet
cat, and a basic understanding of the animal’s complex psychology assists in simple
training and in providing the very best of care. Cats are intuitive and highly
sensitive creatures who respond and react to the sort of treatment
they receive from humans.

CATS ARE OFTEN considered to be less intelligent than

dogs, possibly because they do not respond to training
to sit on command, and will rarely perform tricks. It is
| questionable whether the performance of unnatural
actions necessarily equates with a high intelligence
quotient. It may be that the cat is better equipped to
channel its brain power into different behaviour, such
as survival techniques, and adapting to environmental
change. And perhaps cats could be considered more
intelligent than dogs for questioning the reason
behind performing tricks, or being obedient to
commands?
Young kittens begin to exhibit predatory behaviour
at about six weeks old. In the wild, the mother cat
would bring prey to the kittens. In the domestic
situation, a mother cat brings small pieces of meat to
the maternity box, making a special encouraging
sound to attract her kittens’ attention. Mother cats
often pat the meat, teaching the kittens to pounce

upon it. At this stage of their development, kittens

Though cats and dogs get along well together as family pets, it is
begin to practise hunting movements, crouching
sometimes difficult for them to understand one another's body
down, pouncing and making mock attacks on their
language and play behaviour.
litter-mates.
Adult cats prefer to hunt alone within the confines
of their own established territory. Some cats roam long
distances from home to visit favourite hunting
grounds, and very occasionally, cats from the same
family learn to hunt co-operatively. Acute hearing and
excellent vision in dim light enable cats to become
efficient, silent hunters. A cat often lies in ambush,
waiting with infinite patience for its victim to emerge
from its place of refuge. The cat attacks in a swift
bounding leap, grasping its prey with extended claws
and killing with a lethal bite to the creature’s neck.
Hungry cats dispatch their prey quite quickly, but well-
fed cats, highly stimulated by the excitement of
stalking and capture, often play with the prey for some
time before finally dispatching it. Playing with prey
gives the cats the opportunity to practise their
26 trapping techniques.
 LNT RO DUC LION

TERRITORIAL MARKING

Cats identify their property and places by scent

marking. They employ various glands for this
purpose. Scent glands on the head, called temporal
glands, are situated above the eyes on either side of
the forehead. The perioral glands are along the lips
and both sets of glands are used for marking when
the cat rubs its head against a friend or a chosen
object — behaviour which appears to give the cat
extreme pleasure. Some cats, usually full males,
mark their territory by urine-spraying on various
boundaries (below). Head rubbing (middle) is used
for identifying objects rather than as boundary
marking. Some stropping behaviour is used to
scratch at a cat’s boundary marker after spray
marking (top).

Throughout its lifetime the cat’s behaviour

is governed by the innate patterns
inherited from its wild ancestors. Here we
see a Burmilla hunting (left) a Persian
playing at killing prey, and a pair of
Oriental kittens play-fighting (below).

Despite centuries of domestication, most cats will

hunt, given the chance. If you keep pet cats entirely
indoors you should compensate for their loss of
hunting opportunities by providing lots of toys, and
encouraging them to play chasing, pouncing and
catching games. Such stimulation and exercise keeps
them fit, stops them getting too fat and may help to
ensure their survival if they should ever get lost. Li
 INT ROD UCT 1LON
petwonmnanuccenoncnonsoatccentec/sintronstoAasnannnanaaenionneoo
oototeatSSrSs
ASSSSSAsssCSRNGInISANAtnneehtenenetanth MASIZ REEFAC
BeCICS TREO OOAEEa

Sleeping
Cats have two distinct types of sleep — light sleep and
deep sleep. During light sleep the blood pressure
remains normal, the body temperature drops slightly
and the muscles are mildly tensed. In deep or
paradoxical sleep, the blood pressure falls, the body
temperature rises and the muscles relax completely.
The hearing, however, remains extremely acute and
any sudden sound will wake the cat instantly. Cats
seem able to sleep at any time, in any temperature and
in all manner of seemingly uncomfortable situations.
Newborn kittens spend most of the time in periods of deep sleep,
secure in the nest area chosen by their mother.

Small kittens sleep most of the time, and this is an

important part of their development process. Newborn
kittens spend most of their first week of life in deep
sleep, and during the next three weeks have gradually
increasing periods of wakefulness.
Dreaming takes place during deep sleep, and cats
often twitch their muscles, growl or purr. They may -
make sucking sounds and twitch the tail. It is probably
during dreaming that the cat’s brain sorts and sifts data
for storage in its long-term memory. At least one-third
of the cat’s sleeping time is spent in deep sleep mode,
and this seems to be essential for its well-being.

Cats like to sleep in unusual places, and enjoy curling up in

confined spaces which make them feel protected and secure.

SLEEP PATTERNS

As a cat becomes drowsy and falls into a light sleep it usually curled on its side. Deep sleep is characterised
may remain sitting or lying with its head up but by rapid eye movements, and the cat may also twitch
relaxed, and its paws tucked into its body. It may its whiskers and paws, or quiver the ears, and tail. It
remain in this condition for 10 to 30 minutes and at may even growl or emit little muttering sounds. Deep
this stage it is easy to awaken with any slight noise. sleep normally lasts for about 6 to 10 minutes before
In deep sleep the cat is completely relaxed and the cat resumes a period of light sleep.

28
 INTRODUCTION

WASHING

The cat thoroughly cleans It washes its underside and The paws are licked and any Each forepaw is licked in
each shoulder and flank. inside each hindleg in turn. dirt is bitten from between turn and used to wash the
the paws. corresponding side of the face
and head.

Most cats wash themselves frequently. Family cats the tail from the base to the tip. It teases out tangles
often indulge in mutual washing sessions, and mother and knots with its teeth, and bites out patches of dirt
cats spend a great deal of time washing their young from between its paws.
kittens. Pet cats will often attempt to wash their As well as keeping its coat clean and well groomed,
humans, and many cats wash meticulously after being the cat’s washing technique has another important
touched or stroked by humans, probably in an attempt purpose. The effect of sunlight on the coat produces
to remove an unacceptable scent from their coats. its nutritional requirement of Vitamin D, which it
The cat uses its tongue and paws to groom itself. . transfers from the coat into the body by the licking
The tongue, covered with tiny hooked projections and washing action.
called papillae, acts as both brush and comb. Front
paws are used to clean the places the tongue cannot The cat licks a paw
reach. The cat sits up and licks a paw until it becomes then uses it to wash
damp, then passes the paw over its face, over and into one side of its face.
the ear, across the forehead and eye and down the
cheek to the chin. It repeats the procedure with the
opposite paw to clean the other side of the face. It
licks and grooms each shoulder and foreleg in turn,
then attends to its flanks and underside, the anus,
genital region and hindlegs, and finishes by washing

Friendly cats often

indulge in mutual
grooming of each
other’s fur, which both
seem to enjoy.
29
INT RODS PLOW

Communication FELINE BODY-LANGUAGE

Cats recognize each other initially by smell. Friendly
cats greet one another by touching noses or rubbing
their foreheads together. They may rub their bodies Cats are masters in the art of body-language,
together and sniff at each other’s genital regions. conveying their moods and intentions by a series
The alert cat has a direct gaze and points its ears and of well-defined postures, clearly understood by
humans, as well as fellow felines.
whiskers forwards. If it is also slightly nervous it will
twitch its nostrils, attempting to identify by scent.
When a person has been identified as a friend, the cat’s
expression relaxes, and its tail rises in greeting.
A cat under threat first freezes, staring at the
aggressor with wide eyes. Its tail flicks slowly from side
to side. If further threatened, the cat pulls in its chin,
lays back its ears and gradually runs sideways on to the
enemy. Simultaneously the hairs on the body and tail
begin to erect, presenting the largest possible body
area. The cat draws back its lips to reveal its teeth and
a ee _"
growls an unmistakable warning. Its muscles are poised
for either fight or flight, the weight of the body taken
Cats use a variety of sounds in communicating with
on three legs while the fourth is held ready to strike.
humans. This cat is voicing feelings of nervousness.
An agitated, nervous cat is dangerous to touch, for
it may react as violently as if receiving an electric
shock. Such a cat will be crouched down with tucked-
in chin, wide eyes and ears held sideways. It must be
talked out of this state and calmed down, or left in
peace and quiet to recover its composure.
The mechanism of purring is not fully understood,
but it must be one of the most endearing character-
istics of the domestic cat. Some cats purr softly and
only rarely, but many cats regularly purr with content-

Cats recognize each other basically by smell, and when two

friendly cats meet up they generally touch noses or rub their
foreheads together.

This Blue Smoke Persian is obviously upset and emitting

an extremely loud youl.

\\
An unhappy lilac Burmese squats into a defensive posture
with wide eyes and flattened ears.
 NVR ODO TVOuN

‘ment and to show affection. Even tiny kittens are able

to purr as they nurse, though they will not purr in
response to human handling until about six weeks old.
Cats may purr in response to their owner’s voice or
touch, and some purr when suffering the pains of
labour or terminal illness.
Most cats can make a range of sounds in three basic
categories. The quietest is similar to a human murmur
and includes soft purring. Murmurs are made with the
mouth closed. The middle category of feline sounds
may be thought of as vowel sounds, each being a
variation of the “miaow”, and each being used to
express a different need, such as asking to be let out.
The most interesting range of cat talk is that made
by a mother cat teaching her kittens to eat solid food,
to follow her from the nest, and to behave properly. The typical tail-up greeting of a cat indicating its pleasure and
The kittens themselves are able to purr, spit and growl, soliciting a stroke from its owner.
and also have a loud distress call with which they cry
to their mother when they are lost or frightened.

An American Wirehair
rolls over to solicit
attention.

RACIAL EX PRES SNOINS

a
ES
WE
HPSS
3 Bi dake x
Afi

A contented cat with Nervous or A frightened or very Alert and ready to Relaxed and contented
upright ears and apprehensive, ears start angry cat. Ears flat, pounce on its prey, the while being petted with
relaxed whiskers. to go: back and eyes narrowed and cat assumes an half-closed eyes and
whiskers tense slightly whiskers forward, expression midway relaxed whiskers.
forward. ready for defence or between normality and
attack. fear.
 EN TROD
Urea 1OrN
——

SEXUAL BEHAVIOUR
Both male and female domestic cats reach sexual maturity when very young, little
more than kittens in fact, and will readily reproduce unless confined or neutered.
Females are able to produce two or three litters each year.

FEMALE KITTENS MAY reach sexual maturity as early as rolling and posturing of the female further excites the
five months old, and may then come into season every male, who will mount and mate with her as quickly as
three weeks during the breeding season, even though possible. In a natural environment, several males may
they will not be physically fully grown until they are be attracted to one female and will bicker and fight for
over one year old. Male kittens may reach sexual dominance and the privilege of mating. Sometimes a
maturity from six to eight months old, although in subordinate male will mate with the female while his
some pedigree breeds this may be delayed for as long superiors are engaged in battle. During her oestrus
as eighteen months. Domestic cats destined for life in period, the female cat will mate many times, either
the family home make much better pets when they are with the same male, or with several different males.
de-sexed, which removes their often unsocial sexual Entire male cats which roam freely treat their
behaviour patterns. homes as bases for food and shelter only. They are
totally motivated by their strong sexual drive and
Male spend their days patrolling their territories, marking
A mature male cat is able to mate at any time, though their boundaries with spurts of pungent urine to deter
he will be more sexually active in the spring and interlopers. They constantly search for sexually recep-
summer months. He is initially attracted to the female tive females to fight over and mate with, but often
by the special evocative odour that she emits during need to take time off for rest and recuperation. When
oestrus, and also responds to her inviting cries. The male cats fight, their long, sharp, canine teeth inflict
scent and cry of the female cat in oestrus is said to deep puncture wounds in their opponents, and the
carry over long distances, and any mature male cats in raking of their hooked claws causes deep scratches, all
the vicinity will respond. When the cats meet, the of which take a long time to heal. A cat fight between

SEXUAL DIFFERENCES -

FEMALE ADULT FEMALE KITTEN MALE KITTEN MALE ADULT

The vulva is a vertical slit The vulva is a vertical slit The tiny round opening in The testicles are clearly
about lcm from the almost joined to the which the penis is visible in the male, set
circular anal opening. circular anal opening. concealed is about Icm between two openings at
below the circular anal least 2.5cm apart.
opening, with an
indication of the scrotal
sacs as slightly raised areas.

oy
 LNT RR OrDrOie
1 O IN
SON ERANETTA CH
|
CAT FIGHTS |
5= Sioa
if
4

4
|
—

'
i
t
1 Cats meeting and investigating each other defendant flattens his ears and hisses loudly. |
;i
by smell and observation of body posturing. 6 The aggressive cat finally attacks in earnest
2 One cat may take the initiative and advance and leaps onto the defending cat which turns
to investigate more thoroughly. The less onto its back extending its claws. Both cats are
confident cat cringes in a defensive posture. locked together in a growling mass gripping
3 As the dominant cat advances further, the each other with jaws and forelegs and each
defendant cat backs away, perhaps lifting a paw raking at the other’s body with the claws of the
to fend off a likely attack. powerful hind legs. Eventually the less powerful
4 The defendant decides not to back down, cat breaks away and escapes.
both cats growl and wave their fluffed out tails.
5 The dominant cat presses forward, turning
sideways to present a bigger threat and the

two males is bitter and serious. The cats confront each

other, making huffing sounds, with cheeks puffed out,
sometimes salivating and emitting low, fierce growls.
They hunch up their shoulders and hips to look as
large and powerful as possible. They circle, stiff-legged,
then each cat lunges at the other’s throat, biting hard.
The cats lock together in a rolling ball and rake each
other with the back claws, causing lots of flying fur.
When they break apart, one may run away and receive
a final, deep bite at the root of the tail or the testes.
On subsequent meetings with the vanquished cat, the
dominant male may underline his superiority by biting
the submissive male on the neck and mounting him
briefly, before releasing him and walking away with
stiff legs and tail. A male previously beaten into
submission usually does his best to avoid any such
confrontations, or will crouch down, offering the scruff
of his neck to the dominant cat. Males rarely fight As they approach puberty kittens will often show the first signs of
with females, but females will fight, particularly in sexual gestures in their usual greeting and play behaviour.
defence of their kittens. 5)
 INTRODUCTION
oo scconapennesannaviow enunanat nai sHiearenastonnage UE SON ED ARS DPDPUODENSEBAAN AERO

i
: Female
Oestrus, or breeding condition, in the female cat is
| easy to recognize and consists of four stages. In pro-
oestrus, the reproductive organs undergo changes in
preparation for mating and pregnancy. The cat is extra
affectionate, solicits stroking and restlessly roams
around the house seeking a way out. After five days of
the first stage, true oestrus begins, lasting for about
seven days, during which time the cat will be ready
and willing to mate. When stroked she assumes the
mating position (see page 34). She may become
agitated and roll on the floor as if in pain. Most cats
wail, and in some pedigree breeds, such as the Siamese,
the wailing can be indescribably loud and prolonged. If
mating does not take place, the third stage, meto- When the breeding queen reaches the receptive part of oestrus, she
oestrus, begins and the reproductive system relaxes exhibits the typical mating position known as lordosis.
until the fourth stage of anoestrus is reached. During
anoestrus, the female cat’s behaviour is contented and
calm until the next cycle begins.

MATING

When a female cat is ready to mate, she adopts a thrusts the male achieves penetration and quickly
characteristic hollowed back position, crouching ejaculates. The female immediately pulls forward,
and presenting her hindquarters, with her tail bent growling fiercely, and attempts to turn and attack
to one side. The male approaches her from the side the male, who leaps away to safety. The female
and rear, running forward and grasping her by the rolls, sometimes still growling, then both cats sit
loose skin at the scruff of the neck. He mounts her apart from each other and lick their own genital
by straddling her body with his front legs, then areas clean. After a few minutes, they will probably
arches his back in order to correctly position his mate again.
penis for mating. The female also manoeuvres her Mating can occur up to ten times in an hour, or
pelvis to help penetration. After a few pelvic until the male is exhausted. If there are several
males present, the female will mate with one or
more of them in succession.

1 The male approaches

from the side and rear.
2 He mounts by
straddling the queen’s body
and grasping the loose skin
at her scruff.
3 The queen assists
mating by raising her
pelvis and turning her tail 4 After mating the male
to one side. leaps away and the female
turns, spits and fiercely
growls.
oa,
 EN SE OnsOrn

MATERNITY
The female cat or queen makes a model mother, secreting her litter away from
harm within a nest area. She feeds the kittens at regular intervals, keeps them
spotlessly clean, and curls around them, purring, to rest and sleep. She will
devote herself to their every need for as long as she needs to.

FELINE MOTHERS CARE for their kittens in a completely

dedicated way until the kittens are well able to take
care of their own needs. Male cats are not involved in
the rearing of kittens, though they have been observed
playing with kittens in feral cat colonies.
After mating the fertilized ova become implanted in
the uterine wall of the female cat, and glands secrete
hormones giving rise to certain patterns of behaviour.
The cat becomes even more sensitive to danger, she
grooms herself even more thoroughly than before, and
her appetite gradually increases. If she is a free-
roaming cat she will hunt with more dedication, and
she will also nibble selected grasses and herbage. As
her pregnancy advances the cat chooses secluded
sleeping areas. Her self-grooming sessions increase,
and she pays particular attention to her genital area
and gradually enlarging breasts. As the period of
gestation of about sixty three days reaches its end, the
The mother cat constantly grooms her
cat searches for a suitable site in which to give birth.
kittens, washing them by licking them all
The first stage of labour can extend for many hours.
over with her rough tongue.
The cat is restless and will not eat, though she will
drink from time to time. Eventually, when the second
stronger and more frequent, and prior to the expulsion
stage of labour commences, with typical contractions,
of the first kitten, a sac of fluid may be passed,
the cat will generally go to the place she has chosen to
preparing the passage for the birth.
give birth. The contractions gradually become
Kittens may be born head first or tail first, both
Kittens are born blind and deaf but have a strong sense of smell presentations being equally normal. The head or rump
which enables them to find a nipple, and to start feeding even appears, and the cat licks at the membranes as
before they are perfectly dry. contractions push the tiny kitten out. Sometimes,
particularly with the first born, the kitten seems to be
held back by its shoulders or hips, but it is normally
expelled without human interference as the cat shifts
her position and bears down. She licks away all the
membranes encasing the newly born kitten, and chews
the umbilical cord to within about two centimetres
(half an inch) of the kitten’s body. The stump of cord
dries and drops off, leaving a neat navel within about
a week. The placenta may be passed still attached to
the kitten, or may be expelled later, after the kitten is
clean, dry and nursing. The mother cat will normally
eat the placenta, which is rich in nutrients, and which,
in the wild, would sustain her until she was fit enough
to hunt for food. 35
 INT ROD UC F kOwN
Sense SnAs
tr CO RSA ARE ONSTRATED
REE OER TOTEM PO CEERI AORTCARA LOONIE

and stimulating it to breathe. She also licks vigorously

at the kitten’s anal region, stimulating the tiny animal
to pass the meconium, a dark plug which stops up its
bowel until released.
When the last kitten of the litter has been born, the
mother cat washes her own genital region, legs and
tail. She gathers her kittens together and lying on one
side, encourages them to suckle. She may not leave the
nest for up to twenty-four hours for food and a drink.
Young kittens urinate and defecate only when stimu-
lated to do so by being licked in the genital and anal
regions by the mother cat. She has a set routine for
kitten care. After nursing the kittens, she washes and
grooms them in turn, and swallows all the excreted
A mother cat may decide to move her litter to a new nest and material they produce, to ensure that the nest remains
carries the kittens one at a time, holding them firmly by the scruff clean. This would be a safety factor in the wild,
of the neck. preventing ‘scent leaving clues as to the kittens’
whereabouts and thus attracting predators.
After the birth of the first kitten, the rest of the Even after centuries of domestication, cats’ often
litter follow at regular or irregular intervals, and the revert to the innate behaviour patterns of their wild
mother cat deals with each in the same way. She licks forebears. Three weeks or so after the birth of her
and washes each kitten, clearing the membrane from litter, the cat may suddenly decide to move the kittens
its body, cleaning the mucus from its nose and mouth to another, often quite unsuitable, location. She grasps

DEVELOPMENT OF KITTENS

Kittens are born blind and deaf. They have a strong At two weeks the kittens can scrabble around their
sense of smell however, which enables them to locate nest box and at three weeks start to stand up on their
their mother’s nipples, and a strong sucking reflex legs and pay attention to what is going on around
which ensures that they take in enough milk to satisfy them. Between three and six weeks they make great
their needs. At about one week to ten days after advances, learning to play, to make sounds, and show
birth, the eyes open and the hearing starts to develop, an interest in solid food. From about four weeks they
and until the litter is three weeks of age the queen will use a corner of their box for toilet purposes and
looks after the kittens constantly, feeding and by six weeks can be taught to use a litter tray. Having
grooming them and stimulating them to urinate and learned to eat a variety of foods and to spend less
defecate by licking at their genital regions. The queen time with their mother, most kittens are fully
ingests the kittens’ wastes at this time and spends independant and self- sufficient by about eight to ten
about 70% of her time curled up with, and attending weeks of age.
to, her family.

Newborn

One week Three weeks Six weeks

26
 IN TROD
UC % LON
essai

‘each kitten round the neck, holding in in her jaws, but NEUTERING
not piercing the skin with her teeth, then lifts the
kitten by raising her head and carries it between her
straddled forelegs to its new resting place. The cat will Unless a cat is destined for breeding purposes it
carry each kitten in turn until she is satisfied that the should be neutered in order to make a loving and
carefree pet. Neutered cats may be shown in most
litter is in a new, safe haven. When kittens are grasped
cat associations and are easier to maintain in peak
_ around the neck, their natural response is to assume
show condition than their entire male and female
the foetal position and go completely limp. This
counterparts.
ensures that they are rarely harmed by being carried by
their mother.
accessory glands
Until the kittens are about three weeks old, the
mother cat looks after all their needs. She leaves the testes

litter only for short periods to eat, drink and relieve

herself, and returns as quickly as possible to her babies.
By ten days, the kittens have opened their eyes and scrotal sac
gradually begin to respond to various stimulae. During
their third and fourth weeks, they try to leave the nest
area, and as they become stronger and more mobile,
and gradually accept solid food, the mother spends less
time with them.
During their early weeks of life, their mother
teaches the kittens a great deal about being feline. She
penis vasa deferentia
encourages play behaviour including mock hunting
and killing moves, and she initiates the first stages in
toilet training, calling them to follow her away from Castration Castration or orchidectomy is the removal
the nest when they want to urinate and defecate. By of the male sex organs. Such surgery is best carried
the time the kittens are weaned and ready to go to new out just before the male kitten reaches sexual
homes, their mother will have ensured that each is an maturity, and has formed his masculine character but
independent and self-assured little cat with good feline has not shown signs of being interested in the
manners. Opposite sex.

Once her kittens are fully mobile, the

mother cat encourages them to explore and ovary
to broaden their play and hunting
horn of the uterus
behaviours.
body of the uterus

kidney

Spaying Spaying or ovariohysterectomy involves the

surgical removal of most of the female cat’s sex organs
— the ovaries, fallopian tubes and uterus. Spaying may
be carried out at a very early age in the female cat,
and is better performed before she has her first period
of oestrus, and definitely before she has kittens. |

ay
 ENT ROD Cre DTiOw
———————-—-
)
BREEDING PEDIGREE CATS
Breeding pedigree cats.is a hobby that should not be undertaken lightly. Only cats
of the very best quality and with strong constitutions should be kept for breeding
and they must be expertly and considerately cared for.

ALTHOUGH ORDINARY DOMESTIC cats seem to become start breeding, but this is impractical. Keeping a stud
pregnant and produce kittens without much bother, male is not a job for the novice. He will not be content
often against their owners’ wishes, the production of with a monogamous relationship with one queen, and
pedigree kittens under controlled conditions can prove needs special accommodation of his own so that his
| difficult, and cat breeding should not be undertaken habit of spray-marking his territory with strong-
lightly. Despite its many generations of domestication, smelling urine does not become a serious household
a cat can resent the unnatural restrictions placed upon problem.
her during mating and pregnancy. She may prove
unwilling to mate with the stud cat chosen for her; she Starting out
may have a stressful gestation period or a difficult To start breeding it is best to buy one or two females of
delivery. She could reject her kittens, have little or the breed you have chosen, seeking advice from an
poor quality milk, or be so unsettled as to spend her experienced breeder or show judge, and purchasing the
time anxiously moving the kittens to new nest sites. very best females that you can afford. Two females will
A successful cat breeder will be someone for whom keep each other company, and if they are unrelated
financial gain is not important. Breeding pedigree cats you will have a good foundation to lines of your own
is a hobby full of rewards, but none of these is in future years. A kitten for breeding should be
financial. There is a great sense of pride and achieve- purchased at about three months old. She should be of
ment in planning a special litter, seeing it born and sound conformation, with a good temperament and an
rearing it. A true cat lover will gain a great deal from impeccable pedigree, and should be properly registered
caring for the female cat, known as the brood queen, with an acceptable cat association. She should be well
helping her through the weeks of pregnancy, attending grown for her age and should have received a suitable
the birth, and looking after the needs of the growing course of vaccinations for which you will be provided
family. On the debit side is the problem of parting with with certificates. Until she grows to adulthood, the
the kittens when they are fully independent and ready kitten should lead a normal life, with good food,
to go to new homes at about three months old. correct grooming and lots of play opportunities
It may seem logical to buy a pair of cats in order to combined with tender loving care. Kittens vary as to

Oriental cats such as

the Siamese often have
more than the average
number of kittens in a
litter and need extra
care in order to rear
them successfully. This
superb seal point has
eight strong and
38 healthy youngsters.
 LENT OND Chalk KORN

GESTATION CHART

The average gestation period of the domestic cat is To check the expected date of birth, refer to the
65 days so if the precise date of mating is known, date of mating in the green column. The birth
the chart shows on which date the kittens are date may be read from the yellow column. For
expected to be born. A variation of up to four days example, a cat mated on 1 May will be due to
either way is not unusual, and it is important to have her kittens on 5 July.
check the pregnant cat at regular intervals in the
week leading up to the expected birth.

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i when they have their first season or period of oestrus, Matings must be strictly controlled, witnessed and
so she must be carefully observed and not allowed to recorded by the stud’s owner, who will issue a breeding
roam free. Whe her first season occurs, she should be certificate to the queen’s owner, who pays an agreed
) carefully watched. At the next period of oestrus, if she stud fee. The two cats are given some hours to become
is at least ten months of age, it is feasible for her to be accustomed to one another, and once the stud’s owner
mated if your veterinary surgeon agrees that she is is assured that the cats are relating and not aggressive,
sufficiently well and physically fit. and that the queen is really ready, she is released from
Pedigree male cats kept for breeding are called stud the pen and the cats are allowed to mate. This
cats. They have usually proved their superior qualities procedure is repeated to ensure that a completely
in the show ring, attaining high show status because successful mating has taken place, usually over two or
they conform so closely to the standard of points for three days, then the queen is returned to her owner.
their respective breeds. Because a working stud male
will habitually spray his habitat with spurts of pungent
urine as territorial marking behaviour he has to be
confined in his own living quarters.

SELECTIVE BREEDING

From time to time anomalies occur in litters of make-up of a new feline feature, and then to set
kittens, in both pedigrees and domestics, and quite out a formal and constructive breeding programme
often, breeders fascinated by all things new or to develop a new breed. Some features which are
unusual may decide to try to perpetuate the clearly detrimental to a cat’s well-being would be
unusual features and perhaps produce a new breed. frowned upon by true cat lovers, and would thus
It is possible, after selectively breeding one or prove unacceptable to most associations for
several generations, to determine the genetic registration and breeding purposes.

AMERICAN CURL
The curled ears of this
breed do not appear to
present any problems,
and the breed is
accepted by some
associations in the
United States of
America.

SPHYNX
Those who love the SCOTTISH FOLD
apparently hairless Refused recognition by
Sphynx work. tirelessly some associations on
for its recognition for the premise that the
show and registration. tightly folded ears are
Others consider that a impossible to keep
breed which may not clean and healthy, and
be viable in the wild because some skeletal
state should not be anomalies were
encouraged. apparent in some early
Fold kittens.
40
 INTRODUCTION

SYMBOLIZING GENES

As in the human, genes in the

domestic cat exist in pairs — one
received from each parent — for
each feature. The genes for each
feature are either dominant or
recessive to its opposite feature.
For example the normal
“wild-type” coat of the Felis catus
is shorthaired, and is symbolized,
for convenience sake, as L. The
opposing genetic feature to
short-hair (L) is long-hair, which
is recessive to short-hair and is
symbolized I. Dominant genes are
symbolized with an upper case
letter, and their corresponding
recessive gene with the lower case
version of the same letter.
Sperm and ova contain one of
each pair of the parents’ genes, so
it may be seen that some features
are passed on in a fairly random
fashion. Once the dominance or
recessivity of the genes is
understood, however, it is fairly
simple to deduce methods of
manipulating the genes by careful
selection of breeding partners in
order to produce offspring with
the desired traits.
A simple example is the
production of long-hair in cats, as
is demonstrated in these charts.

1 A homozygous shorthaired female is

mated to a homozygous longhaired
anata (GIL SS UD.
2 A heterozygous shorthaired female is
mated to a heterozygous shorthaired
male (LI X Ll).
3 A heterozygous shorthaired female is
mated to a homozyous longhaired male
(EUS (Nd).

KBY

o} gene from male

© gene from female

L - short-hair
! — long-hair
Aa
 INE ROD UE T MORN:

SHOWING
Throughout the world, various cat bodies and associations organise shows and
exhibitions. At these functions, like-minded people are able to meet, to enter their
prized pets and to compete for awards and championships.

| A PERSON WHO breeds or shows cats is called a cat appear to enjoy being pampered and admired by judges
| fancier, and usually takes up the hobby through an all- and the receptive audience of the show hall.
| consuming love of all things feline. Cat fanciers share The first cat show ever recorded was held in 1598 at
| a common bond and interest in wanting to breed or St Giles Fair, Winchester, England, but the~first
| own the perfect cat. Most cats show complete properly benched show, with cats being placed in
| indifference to being put on public display, but owners individual cages, took place at London’s Crystal Palace
| derive great personal satisfaction in gaining top awards in 1871. The first benched American cat show was
| with their pets. There is little financial reward for the held in Madison Square Garden, New York, in 1895.
| successful exhibitor as entry fees are high and prize The vogue for exhibiting cats and competing for prizes
| money is often non-existent. Rosettes, ribbons and spread slowly round the world, and nowadays hundreds
| trophies are eagerly sought after, and proudly displayed
| at home. Exhibitors enjoy cat shows as regular social Though there is no monetary gain in showing cats, the winning of
| functions. All members of the family are able to attend first place awards is the aim of most exhibitors. Here a lovely
! and enjoy the proceedings, and some cats actually Chinchilla neuter and a kitten pose with their awards.

A
 IN ROLLS TeliOwN,
noone ener EEN NCPC RE ENED EES ASN i

HOw 10 USE THIS BOOK

All cat associations judge The Penalties box lists

The Introduction gives the features for which
each individual cat breed
the background to the a cat will be penalized
using a system of points.
breed and how it or disqualified in the
The total is always one developed show ring
hundred, but the
breakdown of points
allocated to particular
features varies from breed
to breed, and from
association to association.
In the Breed Directory on The Key Characteristics
pages 56 to 251 you will box gives specific
descriptions
find the standards broken
down and annotated for
each breed. Alternative
standards set by other
associations are listed
separately.

The annotated points

The listed points are are those set in Britain,
those set by associations or set by the most
in other countries relevant association for
certain breeds

a
of shows take place in many different countries. Each
country with an active band of cat fanciers has one or
more governing bodies which accept cats for registra-
tion and promote the running of licensed cat shows.
Each registering body has its own rules and
guidelines for breeding, registration and showing cats,
and often publishes information on all aspects of cat
care, breeding and exhibiting. In North America, cat
lovers have a wide choice of cat organizations from
which to choose.
The best way to enter the world of showing is to
start by reading one of the specialist cat magazines
available from large newsagents. Shows are listed, and
a day or two watching the proceedings can be
invaluable. Most exhibitors are more than delighted to
talk about their cats, and about show procedures. All At GCCFE shows, cats are individually
shows have information desks with helpful assistants, judged at their show pens after the
and once you become a member of an association you exhibitors have been asked to vacate the
have access to a vast wealth of data. Each association main body of the show hall.
has its own rules and methods of show organization,
but in one aspect they are all identical — the cat’s nomenclature for top award-winning cats — Cham-
welfare is the first priority at all times. pion, Supreme Champion, and so on. Even non-
Show procedures vary, but the end result is the pedigree domestic cats may be shown, and have a
same. Cats are assessed by qualified judges who relate special section at most shows. As they cannot be
each cat’s qualities to an official standard of points for assessed against any breed standard, they are judged on
its breed or variety, and then rank each cat in a class temperament, condition, and _ overall* aesthetic
in order of merit. Various bodies have their own appeal. 413
 aa
INT ROD Gre ThLOw

FELINE ASSOCIATIONS AND GOVERNING BODIES

Countries where pedigree cats are bred and exhibited

have one or more associations or governing bodies which
keep a register of cats and their lineage, and set down
rules and regulations for cat shows. Britain has the
Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF) and The
Cat Association of Britain, which is the British member CANADA Sa
of FlFe. American cat fanciers have nine associations, the
e CCA The Canadian Cat Association is
largest being the Cat Fancier’s Association (CFA) which the only all-Canadian registry, with
also has affiliated clubs in Canada and Japan. activities centred mainly in eastern
In Europe, Australasia and South Africa, there are Canada. It publishes a bi-lingual, quarterly
national bodies, and other associations, and generally, one newsletter in French and English.
in each country is a member of the Federation
Internationale Feline (Fife) which is the largest and most
powerful of the feliné associations in the world. Fife has
thousands of members, covering the entire world of cats
and trains and licenses judges of high calibre throughout
the world.

UNITED STATES

e@ ACA America’s oldest cat registry, having

been active since 1899, the American Cat
Association is a fairly small association
which holds shows in the south-east and Kf
south-west of the United States.

@ ACC Based in the south-west, the

American Cat Council is a small
association which has modified
“English-style” shows in which exhibitors
must vacate the show hall during judging.

e CCFF Although it is one of the smaller

associations in the United States, the
Crown Cat Fanciers’ Federation has many
shows each year in the north-east and
south-eastern regions, and also in western
Canada.

e CFA The Cat Fanciers’ Association is |

America’s largest association, incorporated
and run by a board of directors. It produces
an impressive annual yearbook full of
articles, breeders’ advertisements and
beautiful colour photographs. There is a
CFA show somewhere in the United States
almost every weekend of the year.

e CFF With activities centred in the

north-east region of the United States, the
Cat Fanciers’ Federation is a registering
body of medium size.

e@ UCE A medium-sized association, the

United Cat Federation is centred in the
south-west of the United States.
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 LENE RIOD OG LIcOW,

UNITED KINGDOM WORLDWIDE

CA Formed on 20 February 1983 as an e ACFA An international association and

alternative body to the GCCE, the Cat run very democratically, the American Cat
Association of Britain keeps a register of Fanciers’ Association has affiliated clubs in
all pedigree, half-pedigree and non-pedigree the United States, Canada and Japan, and
cats belonging to its members, and holds produces a monthly news bulletin for
cat shows all over Britain. Formerly run as members.
an independent association, CA became a
member of FIFe (below) in 1991. FIFe Most European countries have at least
two bodies for the registration of cats, and
| © GCCF Formed on 8 March 1910, the licensing of shows. One body is almost
Governing Council of the Cat Fancy is certain to be affiliated to the Federation
run by an executive committee, and its Internationale Feline, an enormous and
sixty or so affiliated clubs send delegates to well-organized incorporated and chartered
represent their members at council society which also has affiliates in countries
meetings. Until 1983, GCCF was the sole beyond Europe. Fully established in 1949,
body responsible for the registration of cats FIFe is today the largest cat body in the
and licensing of cat shows in Britain. world uniting more than 150,000 breeders
and exhibitors united in the love of the
world of show cats.

TICA The International Cat Association

produces a bi-monthly newsletter and a
yearbook. It has a modern approach to
showing and has shows throughout the
United States and affiliates in Canada and

45
 UN TRO DEG, PCORN;
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y
3

CAT CARE
| The domestic cat is quite easy to care for within the confines of the home. It must
be provided with some basic equipment, such as feeding and drinking bowls, a
comfortable bed, a litter tray and scratching post.

KEEPING YOUR CAT healthy is mainly a matter of :

4
commonsense and proper husbandry. In the first place,
i
the cat needs to have been properly reared as a kitten, q
and should be regularly vaccinated against the most disposable cardboard 4
carrier ;
dangerous feline diseases such as panleukopaenia, or
infectious enteritis, rhinotracheitis and calicivirus,
;
often called cat ’flu, and feline leukaemia virus. All 4
cats should be fed a well-balanced diet, and receive
regular courses of anthelmintics to ensure that they are
free from internal parasites. External parasites such as
fleas should be controlled by the application of pest
powder or sprays when necessary, or by dosing with a
product designed to curtail the fleas’ breeding cycle.
The cat’s toilet tray must be maintained in spotless
condition at all times as must its food and water bowls.
Given such care, and lots of love and attention,
the cat should always remain in
good health.

soft and padded sleep

igloo

WHAT YOUR CAT NEEDS

A vast range of equipment is
available for the comfort of
the pet cat, and in a broad elasticated safety collar hygienic ceramic
46 price band. and identity tag water bowl
 INTRODUCTION

LIFESPAN 120
OF A CAT i
The length of a cat's ee
life varies enormously. 100
Those living wild as 2 oe
_ strays may only a
survive for two years z, 80
or so, while a cherished = 70 )
pet may live well into $a
its teens, an old age iz |
pensioner in human < 50 |
terms. O 40 |
ZD 30
= 20 = a

a0
1 2 3 4 5 10 15 20 25 30

LIFESPAN OF A CAT (IN YEARS)

rope covered scratching

post easy cleaned plastic litter tray and hooded litter tray
coated wire carrier

AY
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ALY

et
ie
ma
\
\

non-toxic, pure bristle

unbreakable toys grooming brush ati
 TEN TRO DOS TON:

GROOMING

Most cats benefit from grooming and longhaired

breeds such as the Persian must be groomed daily
to keep the full coat in good condition and to
prevent the soft undercoat from matting. Start
grooming routines when the cat is very young.
Weaning kittens should be gently brushed and
handled all over so that they never resent being
groomed in later life. It is essential to make the
grooming routine a pleasant one, ensuring that the
cat never becomes resentful, particularly when its
tender parts, such as the inside of the thighs, are
being combed through. Different coat types need
different grooming tools, and these should be
reserved for the cat’s own use. A wide variety of
equipment is available, and items of better quality
are less likely to damage the cat’s coat or skin.

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GROOMING A LONGHAIRED CAT 4 Use a wide-toothed comb from tail to head to ensure
1 Apply grooming powder to the coat. there are no tangles; pay particular attention to the
2 Rub powder into the coat starting from the tail and underparts.
working towards the head. 5 Clean the eyes, nostrils and inside the ear flaps with a
3 Brush the coat thoroughly, removing the powder and series of moist swabs or small brush.
lifting the coat away from the skin.

GROOMING A SHORTHAIRED CAT 3 A soft bristle brush is best for cats with very fine short
1 Remove dust, loose hairs and any debris or parasites, coats.
using a metal fine-toothed comb from head to tail. 4 Buff the coat with a special grooming mitt, a piece of
2 A rubber brush may be used for cats with thick short silk or velvet, or a chamois leather.
coats.

wire and bristle brush wide- and fine-toothed

comb

slicker brush toothbrush

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Exploring the Variety of Random
Documents with Different Content
the whereabouts of the runaways, and he chuckled now at his own
cleverness in making the discovery.
“Not so fast, mademoiselle; I mean no harm. I am sorry for you and
would help you. On my honour, I meant no insult,” he said, following
her.
She stopped, but with an air of reluctance.
“Yet you did taunt me,” and she gave him a reproachful glance, with
just enough suggestion of tenderness in it to make him
uncomfortable. But with a sudden change her eye flashed and she
cried contemptuously—
“You help me! Why you are too great a coward! I thought once——”
and she stopped.
“I am no coward,” he answered, with none too easy a laugh.
“I would have sworn that once,” her tone was now regret with the
suspicion of a sigh, “but you let even Denys beat you.” It was a
daring reference, but she felt very sure of her power with him.
“You lured me then,” he declared, with an angry flush. This was her
cue.
“Master Dauban! How can you!” and she fixed her large dark eyes
upon him with a look of pained reproach, changing gradually to
indignation as she added, with mounting vehemence, “Did I not say
you were a coward? To blame a poor girl for what was none of her
fault, and never to have spoken a word to her since. Oh!” and she
stamped her foot now almost viciously, “were I not a girl you should
pay for the cruel slander and—aye, and all your neglect.” Then as if
the thought of his neglect wounded her, her anger passed and she
sighed in sore distress.
He was visibly disquieted, and in an indecisive, self-exculpating
manner he asked—
“But you did lure me, knowing he was there, didn’t you?”
“Oh, Master Dauban, how can you say such cruel things! I would
have thought the words would burn your lips. Do you think I would
have had you maltreated; you?” and again with excellent
inconsequence she took fire again, using her eyes all the while with
deadly effect. “But I am glad now. Yes, I am glad, glad, glad; do you
understand? You are one of those men who think they can play with
a girl as they will; and you shall pay for it. Aye, you shall, if I have to
go on my knees to beg some one to do me justice. You shall fool me
no more.”
He was thoroughly perplexed, as well he might be, indeed.
“I don’t understand you. You are going to marry Denys.”
She laughed recklessly, almost wildly, stamped her foot at him again,
and flashed glances of anger at him.
“Marry Denys! Yes, I will marry any man now; any man who will
avenge me with you. Look to yourself, I warn you. Oh, my God!” and
as if in passion she hid her face in her hands and turned away.
“Lucette, Lucette,” he said, laying a hand on her shoulder. She shook
it off angrily and started from him. Other feelings were roused in
him now than greed and cunning, and he found them very flattering
to his vanity and very delightful. “Don’t do this, Lucette. I had no
idea, on my soul, I hadn’t,” he said.
The words appeared to add fuel to her anger, and uncovering her
face she turned upon him, the traces of tears in her eyes.
“What a coward’s speech; oh, what a coward’s speech!” she cried
vehemently. “Who but a coward would make such a plea! But I
ought to have known you better—aye, as I know you now. You
spoke me gently, gave me soft speeches, led me to think I know not
what, you won my—but I will not lower myself to say more; and
then like a coward and all unlike the man I deemed you, you fawn
on me with your ‘I had no idea.’ Shame on you, shame on you. I
could hate you for such words.”
“Could hate me, Lucette; but you do not?” It was plain, indeed, from
both her words and agitation.
“If I do not,” and she held him with an intent look for a pause until
she appeared to master her emotion, and said quietly, “I have
forgotten my resolve. I meant not to speak to you again, Master
Dauban. It will be better so; and in time I may forgive and—forget,”
the last word died away in a sigh which went straight to his heart.
“As God is my judge, Lucette, I had no thought of this. I wronged
you. I believed you did but play with me and took me that evening
to the pine-walk that Denys St. Jean should see us. Why, I love the
very ground you tread on.”
“No, no, I won’t hear it. I won’t believe it; I cannot.”
“It’s true, it’s true, I swear it is.”
Again she looked at him long and searchingly until the lustre of her
eyes seemed to daze him.
“And condemned me without a word,” she said, with a sigh of
exquisitely tender reproach. “Is that how a man trusts the girl he
loves? Nay, Jacques, you may think you love me, but you would
have come to me in candour and trust, not have flung an angry
taunt at me.”
“Did I not trust you? Did I not warn you against this Gerard de
Cobalt? Was I not ready to betray even my master for your sake?
Was I not telling you everything that evening?”
She continued to hold him with the magnetism of her look, and
when he stopped she answered slowly and deliberately—
“I shall marry Antoine de Cavannes. He loves me, I know, and is as
true as steel in his love. He guards me here and will see I come to
no harm.”
He moved uneasily under her glance, and then looking about him
lowered his voice.
“He is not true to you, Lucette. He is going to betray you.”
“Jacques, Jacques, how dare you! Would you slander him, too? Have
a care lest I tell him.”
“Listen to me; what I say is the truth. He thinks you know where
Mademoiselle de Malincourt can be found and the prisoners; there is
a price of a thousand crowns on their heads, and he means to use
you to find them and win the money.”
“Holy Virgin! now am I a miserable and desolate girl,” cried Lucette
in a fresh paroxysm of distress. “Oh, it cannot be true, it cannot!”
“It is true, I swear it,” he replied very earnestly, and gave her a
garbled account of what had passed between himself and Antoine.
As she listened her agitation mounted, and when he finished she
exclaimed, as if unstrung in her emotion—
“I will never tell him, I will never tell him.” Then as if realizing she
had betrayed herself, she stared at him in distress and alarm, and
protested with excited, voluble earnestness: “I did not mean that,
Jacques; I did not mean that. Do not misunderstand me. I meant
nothing,” and she clung to his arm with piteous entreating glances.
“What I meant was I know nothing. You understand that, don’t you,
don’t you? Oh, thank Heaven, you warned me. Jacques, dear
Jacques, I thank you from my soul, I thank you. Oh, what might I
not have done in my blindness!”
So she did know after all, thought Dauban; and his selfish love being
satisfied by what she had done and said, his greed began to grow
stronger again.
Her sharp wits read him like an open book, and with a dexterous
change of tone and manner she said as if speaking her thoughts
aloud—
“A thousand crowns! And for a scoundrel like this Gerard de Cobalt!”
“Miladi is infatuated with him and should be saved from him,” said
Dauban, with a cunning glance. “Else she may be ruined.”
“No, no, Jacques; don’t tempt me with such thoughts. Yet, how true,
how shrewdly true! No, no, it would be vile baseness.”
“You would save her from a villain,” he urged.
“And for my reward she would never look at me again. Oh, Gabrielle,
Gabrielle!”
“Our reward would be a thousand crowns, Lucette. A thousand
crowns would be a fortune for us.”
“A million crowns would not tempt me to such treachery. How dare
you, Jacques! I am not thinking of money, but of Gabrielle. Oh, if
she is now in his power!”
“The money is on his head, not hers,” he said. “If he were taken,
miladi could be left free—and she would be saved from him. You
know where she is?” He put the question very gently.
“Yes, no; oh, I am longing to go to her. I don’t know what I am
saying, or whom I can trust. Oh, Jacques, if I could but trust you!”
and she clung to him again in her distress and looked wistfully into
his face.
“I swear on my life I am true to you, Lucette. Let us go to her. She is
in the city?” he asked, pushing his point a little further.
“When I think what she must be suffering I am mad. If I could but
get to her with what she needs from Malincourt, I might save her
yet. I could take her some disguise and fly with her. But I am a
prisoner. A prisoner, my God, a prisoner at such a time!” Her agony
at the thought was perfectly acted.
“I could go to Malincourt,” he suggested.
“But there is Antoine; and even were I free from the Castle and got
what I need from Malincourt, I could not pass the city gates. Oh,
what can I do! What can I do!”
“I have a permit to leave the city when I will, and could take you.
See,” he answered in the same sleek, smooth voice, as he took it out
and showed it to her. “Then she is not in the city?” he added, when
Lucette seemed to hesitate. “They say that all have been seen at
Crevasse.”
“But they will not be found, save by those who know where to look.
If I could make sure that only he would be taken, I should not mind
then. And there is the money, Jacques. Oh, was ever a poor girl so
troubled!”
“I could manage it, Lucette, and manage Antoine, too. Listen. Go to
him and pretend that you need certain things for yourself from
Malincourt; say nothing of miladi, and we will all go together. If both
Antoine and I are with you, no questions will be asked as to where
you go. You can then get the disguise and whatever else you need
for miladi, and I’ll find a pretext to get rid of Antoine, and you and I
alone will go to miladi.”
“How cunningly you plan, Jacques; how shrewd! You make it seem
so simple,” and Lucette thanked him with a radiant smile. Her face
clouded again instantly, however, as she added, “But Antoine is a
dangerous man, Jacques.”
“I will manage that. At need, I will have him recalled from
Malincourt, or we will return to the Castle and then I will get him
away. But mind, not a syllable about miladi.”
“You give me courage, Jacques. Let us go to him. He keeps his ward
of me in the courtyard, that I may not pass. You speak of Malincourt
to him. You can hide your thoughts; and he would read mine.”
They went then together and found Antoine lounging in the
courtyard chatting with a group of soldiers. He left them at once and
crossed to Lucette, looking displeased that Dauban was with her.
“You have kept me waiting,” he said.
“And is that a crime, M. Gaoler?” she answered mockingly, with a
toss of the head. “Maybe I was in better company,” and she glanced
at Dauban, who smiled self-complacently. “Perhaps you would like
me to be gyved to you by the wrist.”
“Nearer the finger-tips than the wrist would suit me better, Lucette,”
he laughed.
“Well, a gaoler should be a judge of fetters, but I wear none.”
“Not fetters, Lucette; a ring for the left hand,” he answered, looking
at her with a bold admiration that was little to Dauban’s taste.
“We have come to ask you a question, Antoine,” he said.
“We?” echoed Antoine, with a sharp glance at Lucette.
“I said ‘we.’ Lucette has need of certain things from Malincourt and
would fain go there in quest of them. I told her there would be no
difficulty were you and I to escort her there and back.”
“It was very thoughtful of you—but she is my prisoner.”
“She will be nobody’s prisoner the moment the fugitives are brought
in from Crevasse.”
“Then she will need no things from Malincourt,” returned Antoine
sharply, with a knowing smile. But Lucette struck in at once briskly—
“Do you mean I cannot go? Say so openly, if you do, and I shall
know what to think. It is when a poor girl is at such a pass as I am
that she can judge her friends. Master Dauban, who knows more of
these things in one tiny corner of his brain than you do in your
whole body, said there would be no difficulty.”
“Dauban hasn’t been put in charge of you and isn’t responsible to
the Governor. I am,” said Antoine sulkily.
“Master Dauban would take some risk to give a poor girl some
pleasure, wouldn’t you, Jacques?” Antoine winced at the name thus
glibly spoken.
“There is no risk; but if there were I’d run it, readily enough.”
“I know you would, Jacques. I know a friend when I see one. I don’t
want to go now, monsieur,” she said to Antoine angrily. “If I know
my friends, I also know my enemies. You are my gaoler, very well;
you are afraid to do a little thing like this, very well. You make big
promises and refuse this, again very well. Perhaps my gaoler has
some orders to give?” and she looked at him with angry defiant
eyes.
“Lucette, I——”
“No thank you. I don’t want to hear you. I won’t hear a word you
say,” she cried, with a stamp of the foot. She could put a deal of
meaning into that stamp of the foot. “I suppose a prisoner can go
back into the Castle. Come, Jacques,” and she made as if to turn
away.
“I didn’t say you couldn’t go, Lucette. You’ve such a fiery temper,”
said Antoine, all unwilling that she should leave like this.
“Then you must find it very disagreeable to be with me,” she rapped
back. “Come, Jacques,” and laid a hand on Dauban’s arm.
But Dauban was now less set upon love-making than seeking to gain
the thousand crowns, and he would not go.
“Antoine did not say you should not go, Lucette; he only said there
was more risk for him than for me. And that’s true.”
“But I don’t wish to go now. I know now who is not my friend; and
that knowledge is cheaply gained by the lack of just a few things I
wished. It does not matter to him what happens to me: he has his
duty to think of and his master, the Governor. Like Tiger, like whelp.
He would like to see me stretched on the rack.”
“Lucette, don’t say that, don’t,” cried Antoine.
“You could listen to my groans as my joints were stretched, and
chuckle to think how well you had done your duty. I know you now.”
“For God’s sake don’t talk at random in that way,” he protested. “If it
comes to that I’d be the first to help you to escape. I would, on my
honour.”
“Hear him, hear him,” exclaimed Lucette disdainfully. “The man
would not let me fetch a few tie ribbons from Malincourt, and yet
would risk his life!” Her contempt was splendid.
“I’ll go with you to Malincourt; aye, and get you out of the city,
Lucette, if you but bid me.”
“You hear, Lucette, he will take you,” said Dauban, stopping the
angry tirade which was hovering on her lips.
She paused a moment, and then with a smile and a curl of the lip,
said—
“No, monsieur, you had better not. I am a girl and you two are only
strong men and armed, and you might be hurt. I might kill you both
with my empty hands, and then escape. Pray be cautious.”
Antoine laughed and shrugged his shoulders.
“What a little devil you are, Lucette. May I be hanged if I know
whether you want to go or not. But if you do, you can.”
“Let us go,” said Dauban practically.
“Are you sure you both feel safe?” asked Lucette with mock
sweetness, and then glanced at Antoine with a smile which
completed his conquest.
“Come,” he answered; “you always get your way.”
They crossed the courtyard at a leisurely pace and passed slowly
through the gate, the two men exchanging words with the guards,
and then turned in the direction of Malincourt.
“If the Governor asks for me while we’re away, there’ll be trouble for
me,” said Antoine somewhat ruefully.
“If he asked for me and I wasn’t away, there would be greater
trouble for me,” she retorted. “But if you repent, we’ll go back.”
“Don’t spit such fire at me, Lucette; I meant nothing.”
“We’d better hasten, I think,” said Dauban, and they quickened their
steps to a rapid pace. Lucette played the one man against the other
with great adroitness until they were near Malincourt and the cedar
gate was in sight, when she began to set them by the ears.
“Jacques tells me there is a price of a thousand crowns on Gerard de
Cobalt’s head. Is that so, Antoine?”
“Yes. It was announced in the Castle and has been proclaimed in the
city.”
“Is it true you have a mind to earn it?”
“A thousand crowns is a thousand crowns.”
“And blood money is blood money, too. Is it not so, Jacques?”
“If it has to be earned by somebody, why not one as well as
another?”
“I see no flaw in that reasoning either,” and Antoine laughed.
“Is that why you told Jacques you could use me to earn it?” asked
Lucette, looking at him fixedly.
“Did he say that?” asked Antoine, glancing angrily at Dauban. He
bore him no good will for having forced himself into this walk, nor
for the angry words Lucette had spoken to him, and her looks.
“Indeed, he did. Didn’t you, Jacques?” and her sharp eyes were on
him now much to his uneasiness.
“I didn’t say that exactly,” he replied.
“Jacques!” cried Lucette in an indignant tone.
“You mistook me.”
“Well, what did you say then?”
“Aye, Master Dauban, let’s have that. Let’s hear what you did say,”
and Antoine frowned darkly.
“I don’t remember exactly what I said. And it doesn’t matter.”
“By your leave, but it does matter.” Antoine was growing more angry.
“Now, don’t begin to quarrel,” exclaimed Lucette, pouring oil on to
the flames with a dexterous hand. “Master Dauban only said that
you meant to use me as a decoy to find mademoiselle, and then I
agreed to help him to get the money for himself if he promised to
save mademoiselle and only capture this de Cobalt.”
“A thousand devils! Is that true, Master Dauban?” cried Antoine in a
voice of rage at this proof of treachery.
“Oh, what have I said!” exclaimed Lucette in distress. “Oh, Antoine,
don’t look at him like that. You frighten me. You must not harm
him.”
“Why are you so zealous for him? Do you care? By Heaven! look to
yourself there, you Dauban,” and out flashed his sword.
“Oh, Antoine, Antoine, dear Antoine, you must not, you must not,”
she cried, clinging to his sword-arm. But he shook her off and turned
upon Dauban, who was deadly white.
They stood now just within the gate of Malincourt.
“Come, Master Dauban, if you’ve anything to say, say it,” said
Antoine in a very threatening tone.
“I—I can explain all this,” answered Dauban anxiously. “There has
been a mistake. Let me speak alone with you.”
“None of your lies for me, thank you. Speak out now,” and Antoine
made a step toward him and raised his weapon.
As the sword flashed in the sunlight, Lucette shrank back as if terror-
stricken and gave a loud scream. At the sound some half-dozen
soldiers came running up from among the trees.
“Ah, messieurs, messieurs, help, help! Stop them, or there will be
bloodshed,” cried Lucette.
“What does this mean?” asked one of the soldiers.
“Who are you?” said Antoine, looking at them in surprise.
“We’re guarding the place for the Governor,” was the reply. “What’s
the trouble?”
“Nothing that concerns you. Go your way,” he answered angrily.
“Not so fast, my dunghill cock. Put up that weapon and come to the
house. And you, too, mistress, if you please.”
“Don’t you dare to interfere with me,” protested Antoine.
“Yes, we’d better go to the house,” said Dauban, secretly rejoicing at
the interruption.
“Go you on with mademoiselle, then,” said the soldier, “and do you
come with me, monsieur,” and at a sign from him three of the men
closed round Antoine, and made it perfectly clear that they meant to
use force if necessary.
At that moment Lucette turned and smiled.
“You would have used me as a decoy, monsieur? Come then to the
house and we will see how it can be best done.”
With a great oath in his mortification and bewilderment, he sheathed
his sword and seeing resistance was useless, marched on between
the soldiers.
 CHAPTER XXIV
SUSPENSE

JACQUES DAUBAN, in his pleasure at escaping from Antoine’s very

angry threats, hurried forward to the house with Lucette,
unsuspiciously, and said little beyond a word or two of rebuke for her
disclosure of their mutual plan.
“You should not have said anything. It may increase the difficulty of
getting rid of him.”
“But I would not have him think he could use me as a decoy.”
“It would have been safer to have told him afterwards.”
“Safer? You do not mean you are afraid of him, Jacques,” and look
and tone and gesture were alike eloquent of indignant repudiation of
the thought.
“Afraid of him? Indeed, no,” he replied stoutly, but with a timorous
glance over his shoulder.
“If you were a coward, oh——” and her disgust was intense.
“I am no coward, but prudence is always valuable,” and in this way
she plagued him till they reached the house, and as they entered the
door they were met by Pascal.
Lucette gave a little cry of pretended alarm, and Dauban changed
colour in alarm that was very far from pretence.
“Ah, you recognize me, I see,” said Pascal, with an ominous smile.
Dauban gazed at him a moment and then at Lucette, and in that
moment the truth dawned upon him. He saw how he had been
fooled, and with a cry of rage and despair, he raised his arm and
rushed at Lucette to strike her. But Pascal caught his hand and
thrust it back.
“Stay, little spy, stay. If you’ve a fancy for striking some one, strike
me, not a girl.”
“So you are not a coward. Is this the proof?” asked Lucette. “Master
Dauban has brought me to Malincourt, monsieur, in order that I may
get a disguise for Mademoiselle de Malincourt, and then go with him
to Crevasse to find the fugitives there and hand over M. Gerard and
the monk to the soldiery after enabling miladi to escape. He will be
able to get me out of the city with a permit which he has
thoughtfully brought with him.”
Pascal laughed.
“You she-devil!” cried Dauban, white and trembling with his passion.
“Both you and Antoine had a frenzy to use me as a decoy; well, you
have had your way—and a lesson,” and with a laugh she went away.
“You seem to have made a mess of things, spy,” said Pascal. “Give
me the permit she spoke of.”
“She lied, as she has lied all through. I have no such thing.”
“Come, no nonsense,” said Pascal sternly. “Hand it over. I am in
good humour as yet, and may not hurt even you. But don’t put me
in a bad one.”
“What does this mean?” asked Dauban.
“That you have come back to Malincourt. Will you give me that
paper or shall I have it taken from you? I think you know whether I
am safe to trifle to with,” and he held out his hand.
With trembling fingers Dauban drew it from his pocket and handed it
over; and Pascal called up a couple of men and gave him into their
charge. Antoine he did not even trouble to see, but gave orders that
he should be kept in safe custody, and then carried the permit to
Gerard to consult with him as to making use of it.
Lucette first hurried to Denys, whom she found sufficiently recovered
to have been able to leave his bed, and having told him all that had
occurred at the Castle she went to Gabrielle.
“How calm and strong you are, Gabrielle,” she said, when the first
greetings had been exchanged. “And I am in a perfect fever of
restlessness.”
“We can do nothing yet but wait, Lucette.”
“But what will happen? Can’t we do something? Tell me everything
that has happened. I am dying to know everything—everything.”
Gabrielle told her as shortly as she could what had occurred in the
cell and afterwards in the futile attempt to escape from the city, and
then the return to Malincourt.
“They think you are all at Crevasse.”
“So M. Pascal brought us word when he told us to expect you. I am
so glad you have escaped, and to have you with me again. Now tell
me how you managed it.”
Lucette made her recital very brief indeed, saying little or nothing of
the means she had employed to cozen the two men.
“They must have been mad indeed to think you would betray me,”
said Gabrielle.
“They were thinking most of the thousand crowns, and when a
man’s head is set money-wards, he is most easily blinded to other
things.”
“What a philosopher you are, Lucette—about men.”
“And so M. Gerard is M. Gerard still, Gabrielle, but not de Cobalt,”
said Lucette, changing the subject. “How glad and proud you must
feel.”
“If only this danger were over; but the suspense is racking,” replied
Gabrielle, with a sigh. “Any hour, any minute may bring the Governor
to Malincourt with a strong force.”
“But are we not also strong?”
“In numbers, perhaps, strong enough; but our men are virtually
without arms.”
“If he comes you can hold out as long as possible and then fly.”
“Do you think he would leave us a way out?”
“What do you mean, Gabrielle?”
“Why, that Malincourt would be surrounded, of course, and every
chance of escape stopped. We have indeed been considering within
the last hour, whether it wouldn’t be best to risk a flight and seek
concealment in the city while there is yet time.”
“Of a truth, it is well I came back,” exclaimed Lucette excitedly,
jumping up. “Where are your wits, Gabrielle? They say love sharpens
them in a woman and blunts them in a man; but this does not look
like it.”
“Lucette!” cried Gabrielle, flushing partly in confusion at the words
and partly with the gathered infection of Lucette’s excitement.
“Yes, you ought to blush for your forgetfulness when the man you
love is at such a dangerous pass.”
“What do you mean?” cried Gabrielle, searching her memory vainly
for some clue. “What have I forgotten?”
“Why, the passage that leads from the chapel crypt to the old burial
ground and out to the woods beyond. Were the Duke’s soldiers
swarming in thousands round the house, that way would still be
clear for every man and woman inside to pass out in safety.”
“My wits must have been dull indeed not to think of it,” cried
Gabrielle, as excited now as Lucette. “You have saved us all, Lucette.
We must tell them at once. That it should have been left for you to
remind me of it!”
“I have been in it: you have only heard of it; and it’s easy to
remember what one’s actually seen. I’ll go for them,” and she was
hurrying out when Gerard and Pascal came.
Gerard held the permit taken from Dauban, and greeted Lucette with
a smile and many thanks for what she had done.
“This will clear the way for us, Gabrielle,” he said then. “We can get
out of the city, and I have decided to go at once if you are willing to
run the risk.”
“Ah, but Lucette has done more than bring that, Gerard. She has
reminded me of what, to my shame, I had forgotten,” and she told
him of the underground passage. “We can wait now in confidence
for the coming of the Duke and use that permit in the last resort.”
“We are never to be out of your debt, it seems, Lucette,” said
Gerard.
“Shall I go and see that the way is clear?” asked Pascal. “Perhaps
Mademoiselle Lucette will show me?”
“How quick and ready-witted she is,” said Gerard, when the two had
left.
“And how dull I am not to have thought of it,” replied Gabrielle. “I
feel almost humiliated. Lucette hit me harder than she deemed with
her words.”
“She has a sharp tongue. What said she?”
Gabrielle’s colour heightened and she smiled.
“That with you in such peril my wits should have been specially
sharp; yet that very peril dulled them.”
“There is no such peril. I have no doubt as to the end. See, we have
first the chance that the Governor may not discover our presence
here until it is too late for him to force us to yield before my cousin
gets up from Cambrai. Next, we have means of resistance for some
hour or two at worst. Then we have the means to get from
Malincourt should he drive us out. Then again, we have this permit
to pass the city gates. And besides, we have yet to see that he will
dare to resist me when he knows that I am here in Bourbon’s name.
I have no fears of the issue; my distress is that you have had to
endure so much.”
“But don’t you know we women like such trials, Gerard, even if our
hearts are not so stout to face them as yours? It is for you I fear—
yet not fear; I have too much confidence in you. Besides, there is
always a last resource.”
“We are very far from any last resource,” he answered cheerily. “But
what is the one you have in mind?”
“It is I who am the cause of all, Gerard; and in the last extreme I
could avert all ill even from you.”
“We would die here in Malincourt one by one before that sacrifice
could even be thought of, Gabrielle,” he answered earnestly. “Do you
think there is a man of us Bourbons who would purchase his life at
such a price?”
“I would let no harm come to you,” she answered, her tone as
resolute as his.
“How you must love me,” he whispered tenderly, taking her in his
arms and kissing her. “You would suffer worse than death for me;
but you shall do better than that, dearest, you shall live for me.”
“Pray God it may be so; but this Governor is a hard enemy.”
“And we Bourbons are no easy ones. But how sweet to me this
thought of your infinite love.” She smiled up to him and whispered
with rueful self-reproach—
“Yet it could not spur my wits to remember what Lucette thought of
on the instant.”
“Lucette is not as my Gabrielle. Her heart is under the discipline of
her judgment.”
“And mine is all in all to me—all I have to live for; or so it seems
almost. I cannot understand this sweet wild change in me. I am as
one in a dream when I think of you, Gerard; self-centred, absorbed,
self-lost. I had not thought it possible—for me. And yet that great
blank past, when you were not in my life, is but a few hours ago. I
seem to have stepped out of the wilderness with a single stride into
a world all rich and lovely with delight. And it is real.”
“It shall always be real to us, dearest.”
“When these other shadows are past,” she sighed. “But they will
pass I know. If I have my moods of doubt it is only the dread lest
the dream shall be broken and I shall lose you.”
“Nothing shall part us, Gabrielle, not even death,” he declared
earnestly.
“No. Not even death. For if I lost you, I should die. I should wish to
die, indeed. And it is that which fills me with courage and energy to
fight out with fight and conquer.”
“Spoken as I would have my Gabrielle speak and think,” he said.
Some one came then saying that Babillon was asking for Gabrielle,
and he was brought in to them.
“You have some news, Babillon?” asked Gabrielle.
“I have not been idle, miladi. The news of your trouble has roused
the burghers of the city, and at a word from you they will rise in your
defence.”
“Have you said aught that mademoiselle is here?” asked Gerard
quickly.
“No, my lord. The tale has spread from the Castle that you have all
escaped from the city and are hiding in the hills to the north. That
miladi should be thus driven to such extremities to avoid the
persecutions of the Governor has caused the present tumult, and I
am supposed to be able to communicate with her. Miladi has many
adherents even among the troops of the Governor, and from them
has gone abroad the story of her wrongs. The burghers have long
had their bitter grievances and have been arming themselves; and
now this last news is like to act as tinder to dry shavings and kindle
the flame.”
“I would that we had but some of their arms here in Malincourt,”
exclaimed Gerard. “It would save all other anxieties. Could you get
us muskets and powder and ball, Babillon, think you?”
“Alone, I am helpless. A word from miladi would do all; but that
might involve the disclosure of her presence here.”
“It is worth any risk,” said Gerard decisively. “If there is to be
fighting, it can best be done from behind these walls.”
“There must be no rising in the city, Babillon,” said Gabrielle.
“Indignation, on the top of wrongs so long endured, burns very
strong, and is spreading like a forest fire, miladi.”
“It will be useless and worse, far worse than useless. Men untrained
to fighting, lacking in leaders, and ill armed, cannot prevail against
the Duke’s soldiers. The citizens would be massacred and their
houses sacked. It must not be,” she declared.
“It need not be, if Babillon can but get the arms we want to
Malincourt. How soon could you do this?” asked Gerard anxiously.
“We could get all in readiness, and as soon as night falls to give the
cover of darkness they could be brought here.”
“By nightfall,” exclaimed Gerard in a tone of disappointment.
“My lord, it would be hopeless to make such an attempt in daylight
with the city overrun as it is by troops.”
“Stay, let me suggest,” said Gabrielle. “Push on the preparations,
Babillon, to do my lord’s wish, and if aught should occur to spoil the
venture and we should have to abandon Malincourt, have prepared
some place where we can lie hid, safely protected by the men of the
city, until the danger has passed.”
“A shrewd thought,” said Gerard readily. “And now come with me,
and we will perfect the plan for getting the arms. I will speak with
Dubois and Pascal,” he added to Gabrielle, and led Babillon away.
Dubois was found and a long conference followed, to which Pascal,
who had been strenuously engaged in clearing the secret passage,
was presently called.
Both Pascal and Dubois agreed in urging that the citizens should be
encouraged to rise, but Gerard, in deference to the wish Gabrielle
had expressed, would not agree, and the utmost he would yield was
that Dubois should go with Babillon, taking with him written
authority from Gabrielle to consult with the chief burghers on the
whole position, to judge the chances of success, and to offer himself
as a leader of any movement. But he was to sanction no revolt
without first communicating with Gerard; and his chief efforts in the
meantime were to be bent upon getting the arms and ammunition
so sorely needed.
The gruff old soldier protested that it was no more than a one-
handed scheme.
“We cannot fight a man like this Governor with one hand in irons,
and that the sword-hand,” he said. “A rising to-night in the city
would mean everything to us here. There might be bloodshed it is
true; but blood has been shed before and will be shed again in many
a worse cause. Nor could anything really serious happen before
d’Alembert reaches the city.”
“We will fight if we are forced in self-defence, Dubois, but we will
not force the fighting from our side,” was Gerard’s reply. “This is
Mademoiselle de Malincourt’s matter more than ours, and her will
must prevail.”
“It will fail, my lord,” was the answer bluntly spoken.
“Then we’ll try something else that will succeed. I am quite resolved.
Let it be as I say.”
“So much for a woman’s leadership,” growled Dubois to Pascal as he
was starting with Babillon.
“He might take another view if he’d had as much married experience
as you,” laughed Pascal.
“If he lives to marry her,” was the gloomy response. “To think he
should sacrifice a chance like this for the sake of a squeamish girl.”
“Get those arms, man, and we may have yet a tough bout or two
here,” but Dubois shook his head discontentedly. Pascal looked after
him and shrugged his shoulders, as he muttered to himself: “Your
husband never sees the same light in a pair of bright eyes as your
lover. Save me from marrying, say I, Pascal de la Tour.”
A soft laugh broke in on his soliloquy, and he turned to find Lucette
looking at him, her face severely demure but her eyes dancing with
quizzical light.
“Are you then in danger, monsieur?” she asked in a tone of deep
solicitude.
“Any man might well be at such short range as this,” he answered,
meeting her gaze and laughing. “So you heard me?”
“I heard you calling on some one else to save you from some
dreadful fate, and the thought of any one in deep trouble appeals to
me.”
“Danger it might be and yet not deep trouble. I can well imagine
there would be compensations—when I look at you. You’re a born
coquette, I fear, Lucette. I shall have to read you a lecture or two.”
“The experience of professors in any art is always to be welcomed,
monsieur.”
“Do Dauban and de Cavannes agree in that? They’ve had a pretty
fair taste of the experience, at any rate,” he laughed.
“Do you rate yourself on the same footing with them?”
“In your eyes, do you mean?”
“They are canaille, Monsieur Pascal.”
“Some fishermen are so keen at the sport that when they can’t hook
the trout they are glad to take the minnows.”
“And some minnows are so self-ignorant they do not know they are
not salmon,” she retorted, with a flash of the eyes.
“A fair hit, mademoiselle. Shall we cry a truce?”
“I came to ask what has been decided?”
“Babillon has been here”—and he told her what had passed.
“Ah, you soldiers always want to be killing something or somebody,”
she answered. “Gabrielle is right. She is always right. She will be
able to escape to this hiding place at any moment and can lie hid in
safety till the storm passes. Men never think a woman can be right
except when she says ditto to what they may decide.”
“Until I met you I may have held to some such heresy. But did we
not cry a truce? I am waving the white flag of surrender.”
“You are very provoking, Monsieur Pascal.”
“And you are very charming, Mademoiselle Lucette.”
At this moment a soldier came hurrying to them.
“Another messenger has arrived from the Castle, Lieutenant. We
managed to mislead him long enough to get him to deliver his
message. He reports that the hunt for the fugitives at Crevasse has
proved fruitless; the men have returned from there to the Castle
empty-handed and he was despatched at once to ascertain whether
anything had been seen of them here.”
“Well?”
“We were sending him back with a message that all was quiet here
when his suspicions were aroused and we had to detain him like the
rest.”
“Did you question him?” asked Pascal, looking very grave.
“Yes, monsieur. He would say but little; he made a dash to escape
and when we stopped him, declared that there would be plenty of
his comrades here to know why he had not returned.”
“Keep him safe. That is all,” said Pascal; and when the man had
gone he turned to Lucette. “The beginning of the end,
mademoiselle. We shall soon know now which plan is right, the
soldier’s or the woman’s?”
They carried the ominous news to Gerard, who was with Gabrielle.
“It had to come some time,” said Gerard. “Thank God it hasn’t come
earlier. Have all in readiness, Pascal, to close the house the moment
there is any sign of the Duke’s approach.”
And when all had been made ready against a surprise, they waited,
all filled with anxiety for what was to follow.
They had not long to wait. In less than a hour the men on the look-
out reported the approach of a strong party of troops, and Gerard
and Pascal hurried away to decide upon the next step.
 CHAPTER XXV
A RUSE

THERE was unfortunately no reason to doubt the correctness of the

ominous news, and for a moment Gerard looked very grave when he
learnt that the approaching force numbered between fifty and a
hundred troops.
“Are there likely to be any of our own men?” he asked Pascal.
“I fear not. Bassot told me that they were not held of much use in
this search work owing to their ignorance of the place.”
“Yet we might venture it. It would be a stroke. What say you,
Pascal? Shall we let them all enter and risk a struggle to capture
them? We should get some of the arms we want so badly. They are
all carrying muskets.”
“That is more like you, Gerard,” cried Pascal enthusiastically. “A
stroke worth making, indeed, and if well planned easy enough.”
“Quick, then. Here is the plan. Post men to command the great hall;
it is there we may take the main body of them, and dispose the rest
as secretly as you can in the upper floors. Let no one but men of the
household be about when they come to the door. Let them show
fear and surprise, and, delaying as long as they can in safety, admit
at last that we are in the house. The soldiers will not all enter at
once, but if a search has to be made for us, most of them will have
to be brought in for it. Let the search go on, and when the soldiers
are straggled in parties over the house, we can deal with them.
Mademoiselle de Malincourt and Lucette must go to the chapel crypt
to be ready to fly should the plan fail.”
“One suggestion I have,” said Pascal quickly. “The shrewdest tongue
in Malincourt is between Mademoiselle Lucette’s white teeth, and if
she would meet the men on their entry she would be best for the
purpose.”
“I will sound her. Go you and post the men,” and Gerard hurried
back to Gabrielle and Lucette and explained his scheme. Lucette
gladly agreed to play the part asked, and listened carefully as Gerard
gave her all the necessary instructions.
“Delay them all you can,” he said. “Every minute is precious. There
are but some two hours now to dark, and if we can hold the place
through the night the delay may save everything.”
He led Gabrielle to the chapel crypt while Lucette ran down to the
great hall to wait for the coming of the troops. Their own men were
hurrying to their hiding places under the directions of Pascal and the
officers, all laughing gleefully enough at the prospect of the coming
tussle. But the dispositions were made very rapidly, and Lucette had
been alone some minutes before the tramp of the men outside was
heard, followed by a loud summons for admission.
Lucette told one of the servants to open the door, and he was
pushed brusquely to one side as an officer with some dozen men
filed into the house.
Lucette gave a cry of surprise and alarm.
“What is the meaning of this, monsieur?” she asked.
“I am sorry if I disturb you, mademoiselle,” said the officer, saluting
her, “but my orders are imperative.”
“Are you going to shoot us all, monsieur?” He was young and good-
looking she found, as she brought the battery of her eyes into
action, and he answered her smile with another.
“Not quite that, mademoiselle; pray be reassured. But some strange
things have happened——”
“This is surely one of them, monsieur,” she interposed, with a shrug
of her pretty shoulders and a little grimace of dismay.
“You know that we are looking for some prisoners who escaped last
night from the Castle and——”
“Prisoners! And you look for them in Malincourt. Monsieur!”
Admirably assumed indignation it was, and every interruption meant
a gain of time. “Do you think we harbour thieves and malefactors
here?”
“These are no ordinary prisoners, mademoiselle,” he replied with
another smile. He found Lucette’s eyes very pleasing to gaze into.
“And you are no ordinary thief-catcher, monsieur. A gallant captain
like yourself must find such work little to your taste.”
“We have to obey orders, mademoiselle.”
“And frighten poor girls out of their wits, it seems. I thought all
soldiers were as gallant as most of them are handsome,” and she
pointed this with a very telling glance.
“You need be in no fear, mademoiselle, if you will but let us do our
duty.”
“Then you are not going to arrest me?” and she laughed, and added
as she made more havoc with her eyes: “I think I could trust myself
to you, monsieur.”
“Is Mademoiselle de Malincourt here?”
“Mademoiselle de Malincourt!” This in a tone of intense
astonishment. “What will you ask me next? Is she one of your
escaped prisoners?” and Lucette burst into a peal of merry laughter.
“His Excellency the Governor is anxious to see her at the Castle, and
we are to escort her there.”
“You speak in riddles, monsieur. Do you mean that the Duke de
Rochelle invites guests to the Castle with a file of soldiers to see that
they accept the invitation? Surely I am dreaming.”
“One of the prisoners who escaped was a friend of mademoiselle,
and she is asked for at the Castle in regard to the matter.”
“Oh, you mean you would make her a prisoner. Then, if she were
here, I would refuse to tell you.”
“It will be better to answer me directly,” said the officer.
“Did you ever know a woman who could, monsieur?”
“By your leave I must press for a decided reply to my question.”
“And by your leave I deny your right to question me and expect any
reply.”
“As you please, of course,” he answered courteously. “There is
another matter. A guard of men was left here this morning when the
house had been searched——”
“Searched?” broke in Lucette. “Searched? Malincourt searched!
There has been no search of Malincourt while I have been here.
True, I was absent in attendance upon the Duchess de Rochelle this
morning, but Malincourt searched! Surely you are misinformed.”
“It is as I say. The house was searched in the belief that the
prisoners were here, or Mademoiselle de Malincourt herself, and a
guard was left in case they should seek refuge here.”
“Mademoiselle de Malincourt seek refuge in her own house!
Monsieur!”
“I think you must know of this,” he answered smiling.
“I am sure you are too frank to deceive me. I would trust you.”
“You are very good. I do not like this errand, it is true, but I have no
option save to perform it.”
“I can understand that, monsieur,” she said, with a glance that made
him wish any one else had been chosen for the task. “You have too
good a heart to wish to frighten a poor girl like myself, or to
persecute a noble innocent girl like Mademoiselle de Malincourt.”
“Several messengers have been sent here during the day and none
of them have returned. I have come therefore to learn the reason.”
“Certainly, monsieur. It is very strange,” and Lucette looked at him,
almost sympathetically. “What do you wish me to do?”
“I must see the guard for myself, mademoiselle.”
“Certainly, monsieur. Where are they?”
“Pardon me. You are either keeping matters from me—which I
assure you will be useless—or you are strangely ignorant of what
has occurred here.”
“I think it must be both, monsieur, don’t you?” and they laughed
together at the reply.
“I beg you tell me.”
“Oh, am I the guard? Very well. What shall I tell you?”
He made a gesture of impatience.
“Where are the soldiers? My orders are to use all despatch.”
“Oh, then I am not the guard,” she cried with a laugh, and then
seriously: “I give you my word, monsieur, I have been in the house
some hours and have seen neither the guard nor the messengers.”
“Have you seen the prisoners, mademoiselle?”
“Monsieur. That question is almost an insult!”
“I mean no insult to so charming a lady, I assure you; but you leave
me no option save to search the house.”
“What, again?” she cried in a merry bantering tone. “I did not know
the great Duke was organizing a game of hide and go seek. But,
seriously, monsieur, do you think your party is strong enough? We
have a number of very savage old men among the Malincourt
retainers, and some younger girls than I.”
“There will be none prettier, mademoiselle, and none with more
biting tongues. I should wish to do it with the least inconvenience.”
“Then I beg you have in all your men and search all the wings at
once,” said Lucette quickly. “I shall see you again when it is over,” a
true saying with another meaning than the young officer
understood, and she went away, having successfully used up an
invaluable half-hour.
Pascal and Gerard had heard it all from their post above stairs and
were ready with their plans. The officer lost no time now in bringing
in all but a dozen of his party, and he despatched them through the
house with orders to search every room closely from roof to cellars,
thus falling straight into the trap laid for him and them.
He himself remained below by the door until he heard the scuffling
sound of a struggle somewhere on an upper floor. A voice called to
him: “They are here, lieutenant,” and at that he dashed up the
stairs, the rest of his men close at his heels.
It was but a ruse to draw him away, and the moment he had gone,
Gerard sent a man to the door who beckoned excitedly to the troops
outside to enter, and as they dashed in, mistaking the man for one
of their comrades, they were seized, disarmed and hurried away in
custody—the blow being cleverly, quickly, and almost silently struck.
Another false alarm was now raised in a different wing of the house,
and those soldiers who rushed to follow the sound were caught in
the same way. Other false alarms followed in various directions, until
the searchers, utterly bewildered and confused, ran first one way
and then another, only to be caught in the net so warily and cleverly
spread.
At length the young officer with the remainder came down to the
central hall, and with a ringing shout called his men to him. At this
Pascal stepped toward him.
“I am sorry, monsieur, but I have found it necessary to detain your
men for a time.”
At a word from the officer every musket was levelled point blank at
him, but he remained perfectly cool.
“Who are you?” demanded the officer. “But whoever you are, you
are my prisoner, and if you move my men will fire.”