From Richard Harte   30 August 1872

Sir,

Crossing a few days ago from Cork to Bristol I noticed a cat on board with enormous paws, and I found that it had six well formed claws on each of the hind feet and five on each of the fore feet   on enquiry the steward informed me that the mother of this cat had an abnormal number of claws (he could not exactly say how many) and that most of her kittens had extra claws, one of them as many as seven on each hind paw. he further told me that he had at home a sister of the cat I saw on board which had six claws on both fore and hind feet and that this cat had some young ones with extra claws one of which I could have.¹

one of these kittens I have brought with me to London a tom cat with six claws on the front paws and five on the hind, and as I find I shall have to leave London for some time it struck me that the case was a sufficiently interesting one, as illustrating the persistance of a variation, to warrant me in writing to offer you my pussy if you will be pleased to accept it.

I should mention that the fore paws of this kitten are a singular travestie of a hand being in this form

If you will kindly let me know whether you care for the kitten, I shall, in case you do, send or leave it at any address you mention

yours obediently | Richard Harte

P.S The stewards name is Curran² (of the ship P. Adler.) | Cork and Bristol | S.S. Company.

30/8/72 | 2 Devonshire Terrace | W. Nottinghill Gate