Talk:Maltese cat
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[edit] Moving "historical" entry to Talk:
The following material, contributed by 63:23:33:171 was interesting but unencyclopedic. If 63:23:33:171 (do you think you might identify yourself a bit better?) can supply some source references for the material, it may be appropriate for inclusion. I've already copy-edited it into something a bit more encyclopedic. But how do we know the stated material is true? Where did the information come from? The cat deserves a longer article. Thank you, 63:23:33:171, for your effort. Together we should be able to improve the article. Snezzy 03:15, 30 October 2007 (UTC)
[edit] Historical material from 63:23:33:171
During the Black Plague in Britain the Maltese cat literally saved Europe from extinction. Regardless, this breed rarely appears on the charts that hang in veterinarians' offices.
When the Plague first broke out, its cause was unknown; it was eventually determined to be carried by fleas. Fleas, and presumably the disease, had been around for a long time, so why should there suddenly be an epidemic? The cause was the cats--not what the cats did, but rather what they did not do. Over time, England had bred their cats to magnificent sizes. Beautiful for show, they had become useless at catching, killing and eating vermin.
The British feline was no longer able to get into the small spaces where rats and mice hid. The rats proliferated, and their fleas brought the Plague.
The small Maltese Cat has tiny ears, tiny paws, a short tail, short legs, short fur, and the solid color and appearance of a gray rat. It has a somewhat flat face with round, green eyes, and a loving expression. In (an unknown year--what was it, please?) the English imported large numbers of these Maltese cats. They were not recognized as a special breed, and for centuries remained just the Maltese cat. In recent history (years???) the Maltese breed has been recognized in America, but currently seems to have been forgotten and for most purposes is extinct.
(End) Snezzy 03:15, 30 October 2007 (UTC)
