Abstract
LAST week, in connection with a study of Carnivora, I obtained a cat from an acquaintance at a distance, and carefully dissected it in a room above our stable. When I had finished, the cat was, as may be supposed, hardly to be recognised. I cleaned the scalpels, placed them in the case, and took them to the house. No sooner had I put them down than I observed our own cat go and sniff all around the case with a peculiar look of intense wonder. I took the instruments away, and thought no more about it; but a short time after I returned to the remains of the dissected cat in order to prepare the skeleton, when I saw our cat standing at a distance of about a foot from the dissection, and presenting an appearance of most helpless terror. She was trembling from head to foot, and in such a condition of evident horror that my presence had no effect upon her. After some moments she noticed me, and then darted away with a scared look such as I have never before seen. She did not return to the house that day—a thing quite unusual; but on the next day she returned and entered the house with a fearful caution, as though realising the probability that she herself might become a victim to science, and her whole conduct has changed.
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
DUNGATE, E. A Horrified Cat. Nature 33, 487 (1886). https://doi.org/10.1038/033487b0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/033487b0
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.