HOW TO HANDLE YOUR PETS

Evening Star, Issue 23846, 28 March 1941, Page 3

HOW TO HANDLE YOUR PETS

Have you ever seen a cat carrying her kittens ? If so, you will remember that she holds them in her teeth by the loose skin at the back of their necks, and this should teach: you that the best way to carry a kitten is this way'. •When the kitten grows up, however, it is not advisable to adopt this method unless you place your other hand underneath her body to take some of the weight. A puppy can also be carried in this fashion, but don’t try it when he is more than a few months old or he might use his teeth on you ! Another domestic animal which may he carried by grasping the loose skin over the shoulders is the fully-grown rabbit, but here again you should take some of the weight with the other hand. , A baby rabbit, however, may he lifted by the ears without danger of harming it, even if this

does seem to be a cruel way of handling such a delightful bundle of fur. If you want to handle your canary or other cage bird, grasp it firmly but gently round the body so that its wings are, folded closely against its sides. Keep a firm hold even if it struggles a little with fright, and it will soon become still Jn your hand. Do not hold it so .tightly as to break its delicate bones, of course, but only by keeping a fairly firm grip it will be unable to peck at you if it should bo so inclined. BIRD BLANKETS If you have ever seen birds asleep you have probably been struck by their curious position. Instead of lying down as we do, they perch on twigs and branches. Surely they will tumble off, you think, when they clflse their eyes. But they never do. Nature, you see, has provided them with a muscle round their knee joints that pulls their toe muscles tight when they bend their legs. Thus their curved claws clasp the twig like tentacles, and the strongest gale cannot move them.