Sandy Shick, age 12 of Williamsport, Penna., for the question:

Does a cat really have nine lives?

Judging from Andy’s mail many of his thoughtful young friends are bothered by this old saying. Young people have those sayings from grownups and grownups are often hard to understand. Are they kidding or are they serious? The saying about Miss Puss and her nine lives is certainly not serious. For, like you and me and all of God’s creatures, the furry little pet has only one life and every sensible person knows this.

Suppose a young fellow believed that his darling kitty had nine lives. He might drop her in a river, feeling quite sure she would come back to him even if no one saved her life. Two later, so lets not hand on this cruel old saying. When we hear it lefts make sure that everyone concerned knows that a cat has but one life ‑ dust like everybody else.