Many amateurs take "snap shots," but few obtain really good pictures of their cats, as time exposures are the most satisfactory.

To photograph cats successfully, one requires, as nearly as possible, a home studio. This need not be permanent but may be arranged in the following manner, just before taking the pictures. Select a large, light window; a bay window gives good light. Near the window place a table or whatever you wish your cats or kittens to stand on, using for a background a screen about five feet high; use this screen uncovered if it makes a suitable background, if not throw over it a curtain, or any other drapery which is suitable to the colour of your cat, dark colours, of course, for all light-coloured cats and light or nearly white for darker cats. Avoid using a figured background; remember the plainer the surroundings the more they will show up the "sitters." About six feet from the window hang a large white sheet, as near to the ceiling as possible, allowing it to touch the floor; this should continue right up to the screen and across to the camera, thus forming a little studio, and the white sheet will reflect the light as well as concentrating it. A sheet thrown on the ground will also improve the light, and prevents heavy shadows.

A northern light is always considered best for photog phy. but where there is no top light I have found a southern window answers best: but never allow sun to shine on your subject. Should the rays fall just where you want to place your table, move it further into the room, or pin a piece of white muslin over the window to diffuse the sunlight. The fastest plates of films should always be used for animals. and a noiseless shutter; perhaps the best shutter is the velvet flap worked by a pneumatic ball and long rubber tube. These are imported from France.

It takes two persons to photograph a cat. one to operate the camera and the other to attract the subject. The great art in attracting a cat's attention is not to cause too much excitement. One needs many different devices; often a bunch of long grass tapped on the camera or drawn up and down the sheet at the side will catch pussy's eye; or an imitation fly made out of a piece of black cotton or wool hung on a short stick: then draw the "fly" up and down until the cat becomes quite interested, keeping it quite still just when you want the cat to look. Always keep perfectly quiet when you have once gained the cat's attention; any movement or conversation will make the cat look in the opposite direction just as the plate is being exposed.

Never be afraid of over-exposing an "animal" picture taken in-doors; the great difficulty is to get the cat to sit still long enough to get a time exposure; two or three seconds will not be too long. The person operating the camera should watch the cat and at the first sign of movement, drop the shutter. Often a picture can be intensified which is slightly under-exposed, if there has been no movement.

If you are photographing kittens and they are too playful, you must keep them on the table and let them play until they begin to get sleepy: then wake them up with some of your tractions" and you will probably get a good picture; but unless you have endless patience and expect to be several hours over one or two pictures, do not attempt animal photography.