the young cat button provides a lesson in basic nature

From a British book, dated 1818, of practical musings on field sports and just about every animal tangentially related:

* * *

To descend to an inferior Class, no animal exhibits a plainer proof of the existence of innate and peculiar qualities, than the Cat, which is naturally a hunter, and the Mouse and Rat her most distinguished prey. The young Cat, Button, now sitting beside me, arrayed in nature's robe of white and gold, and brown, had the misfortune soon after she had gained her sight, to lose her dam (mother - curator). This Kitten was immediately put to a Harlequin, or party-coloured Bitch, chiefly Terrier, which, as is usual, had some milk at the approach of her heat, and was received with the utmost affection, nursed, and afterwards weaned in the best manner. The milk agreed perfectly with the nurse child, and the good effect ensued of preventing the Bitch's heat. The Kitten being tried, as soon as able to run about, seized a mouse with the same avidity and fierceness shown by those which are bred under the natural mother.

-- John Lawrence, British Field Sports: Embracing Practical Instructions in Shooting, Hunting, Coursing, Racing, Cocking, Fishing, &c.; with Observations on the Breaking and Training of Dogs and Horses; Also the Management of Fowling Pieces, and All Other Sporting Implements (London: Sherwood, Neely, and Jones, 1818), pp.135-6.