Great care should always be taken when sending or taking cats on a journey. Often the very strongest cats catch cold when improperly shipped, even though at other times they run in and out in all weathers, for you must remember, a cat running about just as it pleases, goes into the house or sits in the sun when cold; but, shipped in a badly made box or unlined basket, and then placed for hours on an express van, no matter what the weather, under such conditions the strongest cats will be apt to catch a severe chill, and in many cases death through distemper is the result.

When taken by hand, nothing is more convenient than a basket or hamper, those made especially for live stock being well shaped, strong and durable; but all baskets must be lined except in the very warmest weather.

For winter use, line with outing flannel; but first place thin cardboard or table oilcloth around the sides, to stop the cold winds; sew the lining in with fine string and a packing-needle, leaving a good inch standing above the edge, to prevent any draught between the lid and the body of the basket. If there is a door in front, leave this uncovered, as it causes the cat to be less frightened; but always be careful to carrv the hamper so that the wind does not blow directly into the opening. If the lid is a large one, this should also be lined, or partly so, leaving only a space under the handle for ventilation; the lining should be changed whenever it becomes the least soiled.

There are also leather hand-bags, made for toy dogs, which are very useful, especially on railways and places where cats are not always allowed, for unless the cat should make a noise, no one would suspect there being an animal in a handbag.

Perhaps the shipping box or crate is most used in this country. Some shipping crates are made with a space between every plank. These are very draughty, and should never be used without a warm lining. When cats are being shipped to their new owners, perhaps nothing is so adaptable or so inexpensive as the ordinary thin, light box used for shipping eggs. These will be given to you by your grocer or egg merchant, and by purchasing a little wire mosquito netting and a bundle of laths, a handy man can make an ideal shipping box. These boxes should be strengthened at the top edges with laths, also at the bottom if necessary; then half the top should be boarded across with light wood from another box, and the remaining half should have mosquito net tacked over, and slatted down with three lengths of lath, to prevent the netting from getting torn off or the cat from pushing out.

In very cold weather rather less than half the top should be left for ventilation. The division which is always in these boxes should be removed, with the exception of a piece at the bottom about two inches high, which may be left to strengthen the bottom of the box.

Nail a little tin of water to the box in one corner, and a cardboard box tacked against the end to hold any food which may be put in.

On the bottom of the box place a sheet of thick paper, large enough to turn up all around the edges, then throw a little dry sawdust on this, and a good bed of dry hay, paper shavings or wood wool, enough to cover the floor well.

This will make an ideal travelling box for a very long journey, or will accommodate two ordinary-sized cats on a short journey. Never give sanitary pans when travelling, as these become very foul, and make the air poisonous for the inmate. Nothing is so good as dry sawdust and the sweet smell of a hay bed. Of course, on very long journeys - say for a week or more - large cages must be provided with pans, etc., and these are kept clean on the journey.

For size and lightness these boxes cannot be excelled, and the advantage of their being made of such light, strong wood will be found in the reduction of express charges, perhaps to one-half, and this, with the long distances in this country, is quite an item to the purchaser or owner.

On the sides of the box should be printed in large letters, "Live Stock. Rush!" This can be done with spirit paint or ink and a small brush.

The address should be printed in ink with a small water-colour brush on a piece of white cardboard large enough to cover the closed-in part.

At the top, print "Valuable Live Stock," then the address of the party to whom it is consigned, and by what express; then in red ink underline "Valuable Live Stock," and write "Rush!" across the corner. It is best not to state "Live Cat," as many of the expressmen despise a cat, and then tease it. They are also quite ignorant of the value of a show cat; therefore, as the cat is usually in the dark part of the box, where it cannot be seen, "Valuable Live Stock" produces more respect, thereby insuring more care and attention.

After addressing and nailing down, the box should be corded round with light box-cord, which will provide something to carry and handle the box by easily, thus saving the poor cat many a bang and bump. Cats are very timid travellers, and everything possible should be done to make them comfortable.

It is best to ship at night, even on short journeys, as the cat is then delivered the next morning, thus saving much delay.

Always remember it is far kinder to ship your cats in boxes which are not too large and heavy, as the heavy boxes are thrown about like trunks, and in some cases I have heard of animals being killed in these heavy crates and boxes.