While a dog is said to be man’s best friend, there’s nothing said about cats. Man’s relationship with cats has been strange, for they have been loved and hated by him. But one thing is certain-cats have always been considered useful.
In ancient Egypt, cats were kept in the huge granaries of the pharaohs to kill rats and mice. These cats did such a good job, that in time they began to be worshipped as gods and goddesses, and temples were built in their honor. The cat goddess pasht was shown as standing up carrying a basket. On the death of a cat the whole family mourned, often shaving off their eye-brows as a gain of grief.
In England, cats were thought to be evil. They were supposed to the companions of witches, creeping along with them to do mischief. Some people even believed that witches too the form of cats, and sp they clubbed them to death. A black cat crossing one’s path was considered a sign of ill-luck.
Most pet cats are loved fed very well. If you have a pet cat, you must look after it properly. If it has long hair, you must brush it daily to take off the looser hairs. Other wise while licking it self, the cat swallows them. These collect in its stomach to forms fur balls which can make the animal very sick. Even short –haired cats must be kept well groomed.
You must give your cat a lot of affection. You must play with it and cuddle it. But remember never to pull its tail or hug it tightly.
Cats have long whiskers sprouting from above their eyes and each side of the muzzle. They are its feelers and help it to judge spaces.
It is said that cats can see in total darkness, but this is not true. However, cats now see better than us in the dark, for their pupils widen to let in whatever light three is.
A cat’s claws are usually kept safely hidden. But if a cat is frightened, or it has to grip something, out they come! Cats are generally supposed to be intelligent and there are many stories about clever cats. But there’s one about a cat that was not so clever.
One winter’s day and a cat a monkey sat by the fireside. Some peanuts were roasting on the coals. The monkey looked at the can and said, 1If you lift the peanuts out of the fire, I will help you shell them.’ The cat agreed, and one by one he lifted the hot peanuts from the fire. So busy was he, that he did not notice the monkey eat them as fast as he scooped them out. In the end the silly cat got nothing. What was worse, he had burnt his paws!
Alice at the party
Alice pushed her way through the giant flowers. She suddenly saw a Cheshire cat on a tree. The cat told her to go to Mad Hatter and March Hare. She went there and was invented for tea. But she could not talk with them. She felt the party and went into the garden. Alice reached the garden of the queen of hearts. The queen’s attendants were dressed as playing cards. Alice played with them. She played croquet with flamingo for a mallet and playing cards as wicket. The queen with Cheshire cat on her crown was dashing about shouting, `off with her head; off with her head!’
Alice was upset. She wanted to be her size. Thinking hard she took a bite of the cake she had, the one from the Rabbits house. She grew taller. Still the queen cried, `off with her head!’ ` It is a trail, a trail.’ The queen’s attendants jumped at Alice. Soon the attendants were jabbing with their spears. The attendants told her that she was accused of stealing the queen’s tarts. When the trail began Alice did not understand a word. She bit one side of the cake. `Finally’, she thought, `I feel like myself.’ She was just her size now.
Alice left the garden but the queen’s attendants followed her. When the queen frightened her saying again, `off with her head.’ Alice said, `Who cares for you?’ you are only a pack of cards.’ At this the whole pack flew up into the air and came down upon her. She screamed but realized that she was lying with her head on her sister’s lap. `Wake up, Alice, what a long time you have slept.’
`Oh! I have a curious dream,’ Alice said. Then Alice told sister her curious dream.