I knew a pony--But never mind him; we are talking about my grandmother's cat.
A leaky beer-tap was the cause of her downfall.

A saucer used to be placed underneath it to catch the drippings.

One day the cat, coming in thirsty, and finding nothing else to drink, lapped up a little, liked it, and lapped a little more, went away for half an hour, and came back and finished the saucerful.

Then sat down beside it, and waited for it to fill again.
From that day till the hour she died, I don't believe that cat was ever once quite sober.

Her days she passed in a drunken stupor before the kitchen fire.