Few fanciers imagine that such a thing as rickets exists among kittens, just the same as with growing children, resulting in deformed spines and crooked legs; this is caused by improper feeding on foods which are not bone forming.

The first symptoms are lameness when jumping, and in bad cases the kittens become unable to walk at all, and cry when the spine is touched near the tail.

If steps are not taken immediately to effect a cure, the cat has to be destroyed or the spine becomes shortened and a lump forms near the tail on the back, the legs become bowed and enlarged at the joints. Excessive milk and cereal feeding cause rickets, as the animal becomes too fat and the legs are not strong enough to carry the weight. Very lean meat, quite free from fat and gristle, with no other diet, will also result in rickets, also kittens bred from old cats are very subject to this disease, and need more than an ordinary diet. To effect a speedy cure, give a raw meat diet of finely minced beef, preferably shin, on account of the gristle; add lime-water, one or two teaspoonfuls at each meal. Cod-liver oil can also be given; this is far better if procured in the dry powder form, as it is almost tasteless. It can be obtained from the Risiccol Co., 118 William Street, New York. Use for a dose a good pinch on each meal; the liquid cod-liver oil or Scott's Emulsion may also be used.

A new laid egg, beaten up and divided between several kittens is also beneficial. Keep the kittens where they cannot jump, and give them a box with a nice bed in one corner of the room. When all signs of lameness have disappeared, the lime-water should still be continued until the kitten is full grown. Cod-liver oil should not be used if it gives diarrhoea or sickness.

Under this treatment I have seen kittens which could not stand improve in a week.

I have noticed many beautiful cats ruined in size and shape by rickets when they were kittens, and strange to say the owners have been quite ignorant of the cause, many thinking their cat had been injured when young. Kittens and young cats often appear to have injured themselves by jumping from high shelves or tables; but in most cases this trouble arises from a softening of the bone, which frequently causes lameness after jumping, or even injury to the spine.