20 SEPTEMBER 1940, Page 5

Whether you can or can't change human nature is an

old and vexed question. But that you can change feline nature— or at least that Hitler can—I have proved in the past week. A cat that had been independent and stand-offish to the point of offensiveness was through stress of circumstances (and a tendency to wander) left to roam for three days and nights about a well-bombed square. Now it will hardly separate itself from its owners for an hour. jANUS.