The cat

Our cats were first tamed in Egypt. There are many kinds of cats today: white cats, black cats, grey cats, red cats, cats with long tails, cats with bushy tails, and cats with no tails at all. You can make great friends with cats, but they are never quite so free and loving as dogs.

Jane: Oh, Dad, look at this pretty cat. See what a nice coat she has.

Dad: Yes, it is very thick and warm. The cat must have a good coat to keep her warm.

Jane: There is something very strange about her feet, Nick. When I first took them in my hand I could feel some sharp points, and now I cannot find them. Where are they?

Dad: That’s her claws. She has pulled them in, so that they will not scratch you. Feel her paws. Aren’t they soft? But there are sharp claws in them.

Jane: What a strange noise the cat is making? Is she singing?

Dad: Yes, she is singing because she is happy, and you are kind to her. She is saying, “Purr, purr!”

Jane: I’m looking into her eyes. They are green and yellow. Why does she keep them almost shut?

Dad: The cat’s eyes can see in the dark and in the light. The light of day is too strong for her eyes, and she often shuts them. But at night, when there is only a little light, she opens her eyes very wide.

Jane: Now I know! When it is dark, mice come out of their holes to look for food, and the cat can see them.

Dad: Yes, and she can run so quickly that she soon catches the mouse and eats it.