A CAT IN LOVE.
ITO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR.")
Srn,—Your interesting article on Cats in last week's issue prompts me to send you the following entertaining instance of affection between a " domestic Sphinx " and its natural enemy, the dog. The cat in question, which hails from the Isle of Man, is apparently to all intents and purposes in love with a fox-terrier inhabiting the same house, and the " spooning" that goes on between them is comic in the extreme. On one occasion, in my presence, the dog (who was seated on a lady's lap) feeling dis- satisfied or aggrieved at something or other that was taking place, vented his feelings in a long, low whine or howl. The cat, who was on the hearth-rag, turned her head, and gazed with a wistful, sympathetic expression at her suffering friend for some seconds ; at last, unable to listen to his weeping any longer, she sprang upon the lady's knees, put her paws round the dog's neck, and kissed his cheek with her lips. This occurred twice, the second time the dog responding to her caresses by licking her back, in the tenderest manner conceivable.
I am not aware whether the exhibition of emotion or of reason is the less compatible with the automatic theory of animals ; in either case, however, I think the fact I have described is not wholly unworthy the attention of those who have, before now, defended that doctrine in your correspondence columns.—I am, Sir, &c.,
FREDERIC H. BALFOUR.
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