“The Alley Cat” by one Barmwold, 1924. Rather Lovecraftian, at least in the Letters cat-petting sense of the word. By the look of the hasty lines, it’s probably either a journeyman’s practice etching or the quick draft of a more advanced artist. The central European roofline and the black kitten also evokes “The Cats of Ulthar” quite well.

“I am so fond of cats that I can’t help making a great deal of them, and they usually seem to recognise me as a sort of natural friend. I always play with them extensively — usually with a long, slender branch, or a spool or piece of paper on the end of a string. A hassock is a great aid to feline sport — using it as a screen or barrier behind which to draw… slowly and tantalisingly… the spool on which one’s furry playmate’s eyes are interestedly centred. Cats also enjoy tunnels formed of rugs or newspapers. One favourite pastime of theirs is to leap at anything which moves or bulges mysteriously beneath a covering — as a hand creeping under a rug and forming a curious moving mountain. Considerate attention always pleases a cat. I never evict one from a chair, or disturb his slumbers or repose. … Tones of voice are likewise influential. I always talk to cats individually, and in accents of such obvious friendliness that they seem to recognise me as a fraternity-brother. And I always acknowledge gestures of consideration on their part — talking pleasantly, stroking them, or scratching them gently under the chin when they jump in my lap, rub around my ankles, or otherwise express esteem.” — from a letter to Arthur F. Sechrist, 14th February 1937.