A stud cat should be a very perfect animal in most points, or he should not be kept for stud purposes.

Do not breed from undersized cats with bad points; the male cat should be far finer than the ordinary female, for in breeding animals it is considered, as a rule, that the progeny most strongly resembles the sire, if, of course, he is kept in fine condition.

The stud cat should not be allowed his entire freedom, or he will never be in fine form. Have him housed in a roomy cat-house or a part of the cattery with an outdoor run attached.

The house should be about twelve by fourteen feet, or smaller if necessary, provided with comfortable sleeping boxes, shelves, etc. Large windows are essential; two will be found enough, with opposite aspects; the one on the cold side should be fastened up and felted over for the winter, allowing the southern one to provide light and sunshine.

The house should have a division or large cage inside, to place the visiting queen in at first, or whenever necessary, as this prevents a bad-tempered queen from injuring the male cat.

It is a great loss to have a show specimen with a blind eye or slit ear from the result of a first acquaintance with the visiting "lady."

Stud cats must be kept in perfect health and condition, feeding them always on raw meat, and allowing as much as they like to eat. They should also have access to grass or oats, both summer and winter.

In winter, a pot of oats raised in the kitchen or hothouse until they are four or five inches high will be much appreciated. When not provided with this they will readily eat sweet hay, which should be placed in the sleeping boxes at least once a week. The floor of the house should be covered with linoleum (cork carpet) or rubberoid, which is a roofing material, and should be painted with floor paint. Never use oilcloth; it is too cold; the floor covering should be turned up against the wall for about three inches all around. Then take thin oilcloth, about eighteen inches wide, and tack round the wall, allowing it to overlap the floor covering. All shelves should be done in a similar manner. As few stud cats are clean in their houses, they can seldom be kept for any length of time in the house, and if allowed to run in and out at their pleasure, they are of no use for breeding prize stock.

Each male cat must be housed separately, and if a pleasant companion can be found to live always with him, so much the better; but they are high-spirited animals, and usually annoy any cat put to live with them. Never allow two males to live together after the age of ten months. No heat should be provided in winter; if a cat is not strong enough to withstand the cold, it is not fit to breed from.

A covered-over southern runway is nice for the winter months, or one glassed in is better. The ground of the run is better cemented over and slightly sloped to allow the rain to run off and dry quickly; also, it can be washed down better in hot weather.

A sanitary pan should be provided, both in the run and in the house. Fine sawdust is best for filling; these pans should be enamelled baking dishes, about sixteen by twelve inches and three inches deep; they should be changed and washed daily.

If your stud cat cannot be housed in part of a barn or warm building, then the building you have put up for him must be thoroughly draught-proof and well built, to keep out the excessive cold. Double walls, with a four-inch space between, are best, filling up this space with dry sawdust. The outer wall must always be kept water-tight, either being well shingled or felted over, for should the sawdust between the boards become wet, it would prove very unhealthy for the inmates.

All windows should have a wire screen over, to prevent visiting queens jumping up and breaking them; the windows in summer are much better covered over with mosquito netting, which keeps away the flies, etc., which cats often eat, doing themselves much harm. Few flies enter the house through the hole which must be left open for the cat to reach the runway, or where flies are very prevalent a loose piece of cotton netting can be hung over the hole, and the cat will soon learn to push it in and out.

Always have your cat shut up at night, and the doors and windows securely locked. A window may be left open on the very warmest nights, but seldom in spring or autumn, as sudden rainstorms and changes in temperature must be guarded against.

In conclusion, I may add, if you wish to raise strong, healthy kittens, take as few visiting queens as possible; in fact, it is far better to keep your male cat only for your own queens.