Ah, Sunday, how nice it is to relax. I've nothing to do but get down to a little work on this site. After taking a peep at the About page, I thought it was high time I updated it a little. That page has been online for some time and needed a few cobwebs dusting off :0) One of the things I removed was a very ancient photograph and replaced it with a photo of my lovely new granddaughter. Unfortunately Isobel is being held by some old guy who needs to comb his hair. _______________
Mr. Bingley makes an impression with his expression! _______________
What do you do with two panda cubs that have been rejected by their mother? Well, if you happen to have a cat that has just given birth to a litter she may be willing to be a surrogate mom.
This is exactly what happened at Artis zoo in Amsterdam. The two red panda cubs were in an incubator but the zookeeper's cat had just produced four kittens and allowed the cubs to join the litter. Sadly one of the cubs did not survive, but the other little fellow is doing just fine. Enjoy the video.
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An 800 acre site in East London is being cleared so that it can house the 2012 Olympic stadium, (of course, this being England whether it will be ready on time is a different question.)
A party of charity workers were permitted to remain on the site, even when demolition work started, to rescue all the feral and stray cats. After rescuing 186 cats there remained one elusive feline the rescuers named Blackjack. In May it became too dangerous for them to stay on the demolition site so they had to leave Blackjack to his fate.
But recently a worker alerted the charity to a sighting of large long-haired cat. They knew it was the elusive Blackjack. After a further three weeks of covert surveillance they managed to trap the cat using a plate of chicken as bait. It is hoped that a home will be found for Blackjack when he has calmed down a bit. _______________
Most people collect something. Postcards, recorded music, rare books, keyrings, model trains, autographs. Virtually anything can be collected. Those of us who love cats often have an assortment of cat collectibles.
Wednesday 9th July 2008.
Vivien Leigh the actress who starred as Scarlet O' Hara in “Gone With The Wind” loved cats especially Siamese cats. It is said that when she passed away in 1968 her Siamese, Poo Jones, was her only company. _______________
Cats can look a little mean sometimes and some cats can look very mean indeed. But I'm wondering if some of these cats had a little help from photoshop? Mean Cats _______________
If you are easily upset then please do not read this news report. I think it is disgusting, especially the remark made by the park ranger. The grandmother who turns xxxx into hats. _______________
In a dry spell a cat's fur can pick up quite a bit of static, and this can discharge when you stroke your cat. I've read that this can be prevented by rubbing your cat with one of those impregnated paper sheets that you put in the dryer. It is said that the chemicals do not harm cats - that's what they say - but your cat may object to the scent.
To prevent static electricity when brushing your cat try lightly spraying her fur with water. Of course it is quite likely that your kitty will not like that at all, in which case spray the brush instead. _______________
What happens if your well trained, and usually well behaved, family pet forgets himself, runs into the road, gets hit by a car and loses a leg? Or, your mild mannered cat is involved in a fight with the local bullying Tom and loses an eye? Does this mean that the quality of life for your pet will be so low that euthanasia would be kindness? How do pets with disabilities cope with life?
Sunday 6th July 2008.
I was going to meet my new granddaughter today, but plans were changed and I went yesterday. . . and baby Isobel really is gorgeous! Naturally the little lady spent most of the time sleeping, but proved to be a very content baby when awake, only cried once just to show me that she can.
I don't know what Isobel made of the funny old man that came to see her, I tried to teach her to say “granddad” but perhaps she is a bit young at less than a week old. I really do feel blessed to have five lovely grandchildren. Of the cats, Marble, Badger and Roger were there, Guinness has gone to live next door, and Bluebell was around somewhere but did not show herself. All of the animals, including Princess the dog, have taken to the arrival of the baby with no problems, making for a very happy household. _______________
Do kittens learn how to use the litter box from watching the mom cat or is using a litter box something that comes naturally to kittens?
There seem to be be two schools of thought about this. But anyone who has observed kittens with their mother will have seen them watch,and learn. But what if you have a kitten that does not seem to know what the litter tray is for? It could be that your little kitten was taken to soon from its mother and did not have time to use the tray. Or could it be that the litter tray is too high sided. Small kittens need a shallow tray with sides low enough for them to climb easily over.
Yet again, if you don't know the background of your kitten, the youngster may have been raised outside so couldn't learn about using the tray. No matter what the reason is your kitten is not using the litter box, you can teach him or her. Just place her in the tray, gently take her front paw and scratch in the litter with it, your kitty will soon learn what the litterbox is for. As young kittens sometimes try to eat the litter only use natural litter and not the clumping kind. _______________
Another fine picture of gorgeous cat Callie How Sweet it is _______________
All cats will vocalize to some extent but when does normal meowing become excessive crying or howling? Generally a howling, wailing or crying cat is trying to get your attention. But it may not be seeking 'make a fuss of me' or 'feed me now attention,' your cat's cries could be a signal that all is not well. Crying Cat
Wednesday 2nd July 2008.
The little lady that I had been waiting for arrived 7 O'clock Monday evening. Yes my new granddaughter is here :-) Her name is Isobel Lydia and she weighed 8lbs 11 ozs at birth. I am told that she is beautiful, and I bet that she is. All being well, mum and baby should be out of hospital on Friday and, if so, I'm invited to go and see her on Sunday, and as you might guess, I can't wait for that. _______________
I fell in love with her and knew that she was the one we would be getting and I was right. She's perfect! Cassie. And when you have one perfect cat, you need a Perfect Match. _______________
I can remember sitting and watching “Postman Pat” with my sons when they were young kids. If you don't know “Postman Pat” was a children's TV show about the everyday life of a postman (mailman.) The show also featured Jess, postman Pat's black and white cat.
It seems the cat has become more famous than the man, because although “Postman Pat” is no longer shown, Jess the cat is to get his own series. “Guess with Jess” is aimed at pre-school children and follows the Cat and his friends as they explore the world around them. The show is in the can and was to be aired this year, but apparently has now been rescheduled for Autumn 2009. Looks like I may watch the adventures of Jess the cat with my new granddaughter just like all those years ago I watched the adventures of postman Pat with her dad. _______________
Cat treats can be used to good effect as a reward for your cat when she behaves in the way that you want her to, such as using her litter box allowing you to take her to the vet without too much of a song and a dance about it. But is giving your cat a treat always a good thing? Cat Treats
Sunday 29th June 2008.
I'm sitting here biting my nails. Today is the day that my new granddaughter is due to arrive. Babies don't arrive to schedule of course, but I'm nervously waiting for the phone to ring to give me the joyous news. What must the wait be like for mum and dad. _______________
Drum roll please, the cat adoption page is finished and is now on this site. One of the very good reasons for adopting from a shelter is to save a cat's life. It's sad but it's a fact that each year thousands of perfectly lovable, and loving, cats are humanely killed in shelters because people often think only of getting a kitten. Adopt a Cat. _______________
We were just minding our own business and then we saw this little black cat sitting by the front left wheel of a car staring at us. . . OMG _______________
In researching information for the cat adoption article I came across several references to pets being legally regarded as “property.” This seems to be the case in most of the USA and, I think, the whole of the UK.
As pets are “property” you own your cat, (yes I know that a cat does not consider itself owned!) So that if someone should deprive you of your cat you cannot claim anything more than the “cost” of your cat, you cannot be compensated for loss of companionship for example. This of course does not seem right to me, but, as it is often said, the law is an ass. Also in cases of divorce where a couple have jointly been caring for a pet, that pet can be awarded to one party or the other. But the other party cannot be granted visitation rights to the “property,” just like you could not be granted visitation rights to an item of furniture. Ridiculous. _______________
Calico cats are generally considered to be lucky throughout several different cultures. In Japan, for instance, it was thought that having a calico cat in the house would bring its owners good luck, and having a calico on board ship was considered to protect the sailors from harm. Calico Cats
Wednesday 25th June 2008.
I had a question from a reader asking why her cat gives a 'huff' when it sees a strange cat. I have occasionally heard cats 'huff', I can't say for sure what it means, so I looked for information in books and on the web but I wasn't able to find out much.
Humans also huff and for different reasons. If someone says something to you that you do not like you may give a 'huff' to show your distaste. At another time you may give a huff when you are weary. Maybe it's the same with cats. Maybe when her cat huffs on seeing a strange cat it is showing its distaste, a milder version of the hiss perhaps. _______________
Please never give your cat pain relievers meant for humans, (or any human medications for that matter.) Some human pain medications can prove fatal for cats. _______________
I am working on a new page about adopting cats, by which I mean adopting grown cats from shelters. Although there are always plenty of kittens available you may want to consider the option of adopting a previously loved cat of which there many, many, many just waiting in the hope of a new human. _______________
Cats do sometimes take chances with their nine lives. Perhaps Freddy thought he would mimic birds that can sit on high voltage power cables without harm as they are not connected to earth. More likely he was hunting the birds perched up there, either way Freddy is a lucky cat . . . Close shave for Freddy
Sunday 22nd June 2008.
I've just returned from a walk to the supermarket. I needed to stock up on foodstuff to take to work for the coming week, I need the fuel to do the work :-) Anyway, although today is quite warm and sunny it is also breezy. A cat was stretched out on a window ledge sunning itself, and as I passed admiring the feline, a strong gust of wind caused the cat's fur to ripple. The cat raised it's head up looking indignant and glared at me as if to say “Did you do that?” _______________
A cat’s biological clock programs it to take naps both in the daytime and at night instead of one continuous sleep session. If a cat were to be kept permanently in the dark it would lose the ability to sense time. Dawn and dusk are apparently important for setting a cat's biological clock, and are the times of the day when a cat is most active.
Cats don't normally sleep deeply, but can nap for up to 18 hours a day. In this half sleep they are still very alert, a 'napping' cat can still hear a scurrying mouse for example. Being active during dawn and dusk, and napping both night and day, means that cats are not strictly nocturnal but 'crepuscular.' _______________
It's not often that you see a cat being taken for a walk in the heart of a big city. But if you are in Manhattan you might come across an Abyssinian on a leash. At the End of a Leash _______________
If you share your life with an un-spayed female cat then at some point you are very likely to need to know how to deal with her pregnancy. Yes, your cat can be a strictly indoor only cat and so you believe that you will never have to deal with your cat being a pregnant cat. But it is a fact that cats have a habit of getting out, particularly female cats in heat. A review of the ebook How to Take Care of your Pregnant Cat by Marc de Jong.
Wednesday 18th June 2008.
Have you ever made the mistake of allowing a kitten to play with your hands? I know I have, it is not a sensible thing to do. Kittens learn through playing and a lot of their learning involves their mouths and paws. They bite and claw at your hands, if you let them, because they are learning how to survive in the wild.
“Ah but it is only a little kitten and her bites and scratches are not hurting me.” Do you think that it will always be that way? Kittens grow, and very soon it will start hurting. But too late. A pattern has been established. Little kitty has learned that it is OK to scratch at your hand, how are you now going to break her of the habit?
Yes, kittens need to play, and they will learn to use their teeth and claws, but let them do so on cat toys. . . not on your hands. There will be times when you need to handle your kitten, to inspect her ears, eyes, coat etc. Image how difficult that would be if all your kitten wants to do is bite you. _______________
Constipation in cats is not too uncommon. A cat should not strain at the litter box, if it does it is a sign that something is wrong. Feline constipation could be a symptom of something serious or something simple such as a lack of fiber in your cat's diet. Information about the subject on this page Feline Constipation _______________
Just back from a splendid day spent with my granddaughters. We went on a treasure hunt that was organized by Rebbecca's pre-school group. The hunt involved the kids finding twenty posters each depicting a different animal and marking them off a sheet. They loved it. A heck of a lot of walking but few complaints about that from the girls, they were all very good. We all tucked in to a superb picnic before some fun throwing and catching Frisbees. _______________
I've been wanting a kitten for 2-3 years but before nobody in my family would allow me to get a kitten. The cat I am going to get. _______________
James Dean the 1950's actor, may have been a rebel without a cause, but he was not a rebel without a cat. He was given a Siamese cat by none other than Elizabeth Taylor. He named the cat Marcus, presumably after his uncle who helped raise him after his mother died.
He gave Marcus to a girlfriend, Jeannette Mille, to look after the night before he was killed driving his Porsche Spyder. _______________
Travis, a 4-year-old fluffy feline, was like a family member in the Gough household. He followed Carol Gough around like a shadow. But in April 2007, Travis disappeared while Carol worked in her garden. She patrolled nearby streets for weeks, plastered light poles with flyers and printed advertisements. She didn’t think the cat had much of a chance of survival, as he was born pigeon-toed and couldn’t climb trees. Cat that came back _______________
Rosina Wachtmeister lives in a medieval village just outside Rome where she draws inspiration from the sun, the landscape and of course from her cats. Rosina Wachtmeister Cats.
Wednesday 11th June 2008.
Where do you stand on the debate – which make the better pets, male or female cats? It does seem that some people have strong views on the subject. Some arguing that male cats are more affectionate and make better companions. Others are equally sure that female felines are the pet to have.
But surely, it is the personality of the individual cat that counts, isn't it? From my own experience I've known both male and female cats that have been very affectionate, and those that have been somewhat aloof. But for some folks that aloofness, or independence if you like, may be the very thing that they want from their cat.
Of course, there is the question of neutering. Aside from the vital issue of the overpopulation of cats, having your cat fixed will give you a better pet. And I'm pretty certain that applies to female as well as male cats. A cat that is fixed is not going to spend a good chunk of its time after you know what. And in the case of male cats they will not be wandering far and wide across busy roads. Plus neutering greatly cuts down the chances of spraying. Male of female, its the cat that counts and by far the most cats make exceedingly good pets. :-) _______________
There is often misunderstanding about the after affects of declawing a cat. Cats feel pain and they can be in postoperative pain for a week or longer after declawing. Complications can arise from the procedure including re-growth of the claw, hemorrhaging, infection, abscesses, arthritis and joint stiffness. Stop: Don’t Declaw That Cat! _______________
Rather a short blog posting today. I will try to make a longer post on Sunday. But then again I am going to see my granddaughters on that day to help celebrate two birthdays. Little Hayley will be two and Samantha will be six, my word six already, where have those years gone? I understand that we are going on a picnic, I'm excited.
Sunday 8th June 2008.
Animal control officer Chris Gardner got a call that a kitten was on the Memorial Bridge, Roanoke, Virgina and went to try to rescue it. But as Chris approached, the kitten jumped, a full 80 feet down to the Bisset Park tennis courts below!
Chris took the kitten to West End Animal Clinic where it was found that the kittens only injuries were a scraped paw pad and a punctured lip that may have been pierced by a tooth. (Contrary to popular belief cats do not always land on their feet.) The clinic named the kitten Jumper and took care of him until he could be adopted out.
The clinic received many calls from people who inquired about adopting the kitten after The Roanoke Times ran a story about the incident, but the little fellow was adopted by Becky Hawke, the city's spokeswoman. Becky had long wanted to adopt what she called a "Garfield cat." Why was the kitten on the bridge? Read the full story here - High-flying feline finds a family _______________
I didn't quite know if it was a boy or girl, so I name it Pinkie, because it looked like a girl, today I finally found out that it's . . . Pinkie _______________
How's the weather where you are? It's pretty good here right now, nice and hot. Cats are in the main pretty sensible creatures but sometimes spend longer soaking up the sun than is good for them. It is a good idea to ensure that there is a shady spot that your cat can retreat to when the sun is fiercest. And if your cat won't make use of the shady spot it's best that she is taken inside until the sun cool down in the late afternoon. Always ensure that your cat has access to cool,fresh water. _______________
From the 1950's through the 1970's several breeders in the USA started to cross breed Siamese and Burmese to produce the Tonkinese cats of today. Tonkinese cats are noted for having the points of Siamese cats, but with softer contoured bodies and quieter, calmer, less assertive natures. These cats are the perfect balance the between the length of the Siamese, and the slight inclination to plumpness of the Burmese. Tonkinese Cats - a very lively breed.
Wednesday 4th June 2008.
I have been reading about the Cats of Parliament Hill. There is a colony of stray cats living in the precinct of Parliament Hill, Ottawa, which is where Canada's magnificent Parliament buildings are.
Cats were used for rodent control in the Parliament Building up until 1955 when they were made redundant by the use of chemical pest control. The cats were then fed in various locations around the Parliament buildings until 1970 when the present colony was established and some wooden huts were built to protect the cats. In 1987 the huts were replaced with small constructions that resemble the parliament buildings. The cat's colony is entirely dependent on voluntary contributions and the cats receive free care from the local animal hospital. _______________
The New York Port Authority has decided to end its neutering program for feral cats found at Kennedy Airport. The airport has a large colony of feral cats and say they will now try and adopt the cats out. Animal advocates say the new policy will mean death for many of the cats, they argue that shelters couldn't handle the cats and that they would ultimately be put down. They are saying that a program to trap, neuter and then return the cats to the airport would be more effective. Here is the full story - JFK feral cats will face death. _______________
One of the best things that has ever happened to this family - Shadow _______________
Considering the amount of solid information in the cat care section, and the wonderful photographs throughout the Ultimate Encyclopedia of Cats, this volume should keep any cat lover more than happy.
Sunday 1st June 2008.
For some time now I have been recommending “How to Take Care of Your Pregnant Cat” by Marc de Jong. If you are keeping company with a pregnant feline, or you suspect that your cat may be pregnant, then this book really does tell you all you need to know.
As you know I always preach that cats should be fixed, but for one reason or another, folks don't get their cats spayed or neutered and female felines end up pregnant. So I thought it was time that I wrote a review of Marc's book. After all, if a litter of kittens is on its way it is best to be armed with all the information you need to cope with the event. How to Take Care of Your Pregnant Cat. _______________
And, talking about litters of kittens. . . My son still has not posted some more photos and an update to Marble's Kitten Pics. Every time that I speak to him on the phone I remind him, and he promises to post the new picture of the kittens as soon as he can. But so far . . . nothing. I have to forgive him though, he has more important things on his mind at the moment. What could be more important than kittens?
Well, it is not at all long now before my next grandchild arrives, yipppe! Along with everything else that Martin and Susie have to do to get ready for the birth, they are drastically altering their small house to fit in a nursery. This involves installing stud walls and shifting the plumbing and other stuff. Martin let it slip that Suzie's father is helping him. “How about some help from your old father too” I suggested. His reply was thanks anyway but we would just all get under one another's feet, and besides, I want my house left standing! In other words Martin has no confidence in my DIY abilities :-( Can't say that I blame him, give me a hammer or a screwdriver and anything can happen.
So, I'm not expecting those new kitten pictures anytime soon. (Don't forget to share your kitten photos at Your Kitten Pics. They don't have to be newborn kittens.)
However I have posted a photo of Bluebell. Martin emailed me the photo some time ago but I did not use it at the time as I thought it was too dark. Well I've finally figured out how to lighten it up, so the lovely old cat now has her own page. _______________
Generally cat prints are reproduced using quality inks, on a higher quality, heavier paper than is used for producing posters. Posters are often printed with a slightly glossy finish. If you are a cat lover, then there is nothing like having fine cat and kitten art prints decorating the walls of your home - Cat Prints
Wednesday 28th May 2008.
What was the name of Blofeld's white Persian cat? Apparently it did not have one. It was not named by Ian Flemming in any of the books and not in any of the Bond movies either.
The cat actor used in You Only Live Twice and Diamonds Are Forever was called Solomon. In the scene in You Only Live Twice where the volcano is under attack the poor cat became quite freaked out by the noise of firearms. After the scene was captured on film, Solomon escaped from the arms of Donald Pleasence and was not seen again for two days. He was eventually found hiding inside the huge fake volcano. It is rumored that the cat never worked again and it's owner tried to sue the film production company. _______________
A twelve week old black kitten . . . that gets into trouble - New black kitten. : I happend to catch my cat Callie standing up peeping out the window.. Peeping Tom _______________
Perhaps your cat is an indoor cat and always has been. But you have always known that kitty would love to explore the outside world that she can see from the window. You though, do not want to expose her to all the dangers that could await a cat in the outside world, especially a cat that is not used to going outside. Walking your cat on a leash could provide you with the best of both worlds. Can you walk your cat on a leash?
Sunday 25th May 2008.
Have you ever said to yourself “If only the trains ran on time!” when you were late for work or had somewhere to get to pronto. Well maybe the trains would run to time with a cat in charge!
Tama, a tortoiseshell cat wears a formal uniform cap of Wakayama Electric Railway and calmly watches passing passengers who greet her at Kishi Station on the provincial Kishigawa Line Japan. Why does she wear the railroad cap? She wears it because she is the official stationmaster. Yes, a cat is in charge.
This is very worrying. Tama is the only stationmaster employed by the railroad to reduce personnel costs, the company feeds her in lieu of salary. We all love cats but this means that all our jobs are at risk. It is often said that we don't own our cats but they own us, and now it looks like we will stay at home all day while kitty will be out at the nine to five. Better be nice to your cat or she might not remember to feed you when she gets home. Here's the story - Japanese Railway Cat _______________
This big boy has a personality all his own and he's quite funny. Frisky :Leo is a cat that likes a drink – a really big drink! Drinking out of a tub! : Salem doesn't like to get a hair in his mouth . . . tongue sticking out. _______________
I've brought the Kitten Calendars page up to date and now all the calendars are for 2009, which is still some time off but it's better than having the page full of links to 2008 calendars that are no longer available. There are some mighty cute kittens there.
Wednesday 21st May 2008.
Whilst surfing the 'net I came upon some information that may be useful if your cat should get herself sprayed by a skunk. I can't vouch for it myself as we don't have skunks here in the UK, not the animal variety that is.
Apparently it is tomato juice that does the trick! Yep, that's what they say. The advice is to spread the juice on to your cat's fur and work it well in. After letting it stay for 5 minutes, rinse off thoroughly and then use your cat's normal pet shampoo. Repeat if there is any remaining smell. Some sources say that vinegar works just as well, (I'd not use it anywhere near a cat's eyes!)
I would imagine that tomato juice would work just as well, if it does work, on getting rid of the smell of anything that your cat gets on her coat. Some cats are apt to roll in poo, the same as many dogs do. _______________
Tuesday was Carl Reeves day off, so he and his neighbor, Rich Heyward, decided to spend the day fishing on Caesar Creek Lake. They started early at 7 am., enjoying the sunshine and running the boat along the lake. Later in the afternoon they decided to slow it down a bit, around 1:30 p.m., the lake was silent. As they relaxed, something caught Reeves’ ear.The two men started looking all around, searching the entire boat. “I tapped on the top of my boat, right by my lightwell and I heard this crying,” Carl said. Getting closer to the sound, he decided to open up the access panel, he didn’t expect what stared back at him . . .Whopper of a cat fish story. _______________
The foundation of the Russian Blue breed is uncertain, but it is thought that Russian Blue cats originated on the fringe of the Arctic Circle and traveled westward upon merchant ships sailing from the Northern Russian port of Archangelsk. Because of this these cats were known in late nineteenth century England as the Archangel cat. Regarded as lucky mascots by the merchant sailors, these cats were sometimes exchanged for food or other valuable goods in the English ports.
The Russian blue is not a common breed of cat. It is bred mainly for showing and the numbers are strictly controlled by breeders. Those cats that are released to the public are spayed or neutered or sold subject to a spay or neuter agreement. But if you are lucky enough to obtain one as a pet... Russian Blue Cats.
Sunday 18th May 2008.
Medieval times were pretty rough on cats generally, with cats persecuted by being associated with witchcraft. But the 10th century King Hywel Dda of Wales (Hywel the good) held the cat in high regard because he could see their value as protectors of grain stocks.
King Hywel put several laws into effect for the protection of cats and he stipulated the value of a cat. A cat was worth one penny at birth, twopence when it had opened its eyes and a groat (fourpence) when it had proven itself by catching a mouse. The fine for stealing or causing a cat harm was one ewe and her lamb. The fine for killing a cat was grain enough to cover the cat's tail when the cat was suspended upside down by his tail with his nose touching the ground! So it can be seen that King Hywel did indeed appreciate the worth of a cat. _______________
Here is a cute kitten that is getting into some bad habits. _______________
New Article. There are many reasons why a cat may not eat, some are serious and some not so serious. Cats generally are comfortable with the familiar, including eating the food that they are familiar with.
It is also true that they can become bored with the same old, same old food. Your cat refusing to eat what is in her dish could be simply her way of demanding a change. Conversely your cat may refuse to eat if you switch brands on her, or she may even reject a new flavor. Make any change to your cat's food slowly, try mixing in a little of the new with the familiar, and gradually increase the amount of the new brand. More seriously your cat may not be eating because of a health issue . . . Cat Will Not Eat
Wednesday 14th May 2008.
Our cat used to love Christmas he would sit under the tree and remove the decorations . . . Christmas Cat _______________
New page. Fleas – Uggh, not nice for your cat, not nice for you. Cat Fleas (Ctenocephalides felis) are small, wingless, blood feeding and very widespread. Cat fleas are not selective as to the cats that they infest, even the healthiest, best cared for cats can get fleas. What can you do if you discover that your cat has got an infestation of these parasites? Find out here - Cat Fleas _______________
The German battleship Bismarck was the largest and most powerful warship ever built when she was launched in 1941. It took her only minutes to sink HMS Hood, pride of the Royal Navy. An angered Winston Churchill decided that the Bismarck must be stopped at all cost and gave the order to "Sink the Bismarck"
After relentless pursuit by the Royal Navy the Bismarck was finally sunk. Hours after the battle a cat was found floating on a piece of board by the crew of the royal Navy destroyer HMS Cossack. The cat could only have come from the Bismarck, the crew called their new ship's cat Oscar.
Oscar enjoyed life aboard HMS Cossack for the next few months as it carried out convoy escort duties. However in October the destroyer was severely damaged by a torpedo fired by a U boat and eventually sank. Oscar was among the survivors and earn himself the nickname 'Unsinkable Sam'. The cat was soon transferred to the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal but unfortunately this warship was also torpedoed by a U boat, Oscar was again saved. The Royal Navy was not going to take any more chances, poor old Oscar was confined to dry land for the rest of the war and sent to a seaman's home in Belfast. The cat passed away in 1955 and a portrait of him now hangs in the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich. _______________
Sunday 11th May 2008.
Here is a cry for help. Kerri started feeding, and took in, a stray Manx cat – guess what happened? The cat had kittens, yep that happens doesn't it. Kerri is desperate to find good homes for the little ones, she has tried all her local no-kill shelters but, as is often the case, they are all full.
If you are local to Hammond, 30 miles from New Orleans, LA. And you are in a position to share your home with a cute Manx kitten (I know that you realize that a cat is for life) then Kerri would love to hear from you. It would not be a good idea to publish Kerri's contact details here but if you want to use the contact form on this page I'll pass your contact details on to Kerri. _______________
If Jackson went missing that would leave one heck of a hole. _______________
A family's pet kitten has been swallowed whole by a 2m python right in a their back yard - and the family has the X-ray to prove it. The snake was found with a bulging belly at the home of the McLaren family in Tiwi, Darwin, Australia. Three other kittens from the same litter and five adult cats were looking on.
Ms McLaren said they quickly put their other cats in the house for safety and a snake catcher was called out. He said it was unusual for a python to target a cat, but the kitten did not have a chance against the reptile. Here is the full story Python devours family cat but you may find it a bit grisly. _______________
How did the Persian cat arrive in Europe? It is very probable that Persian cats were brought west with the spice traders caravans. Possibly these longhair cats were traded along with spices and silks, the unusual Persian would have generated much interest and excitement. Another theory is that these long haired cats were brought back home to Europe by returning Crusaders. The truth may be that both views on how the Persian found its way west are correct. Later, around 1840 . . . Persian Cats
Wednesday 7th May 2008.
It is true that the year is rushing by, (as years do when you get to my great old age :-)) But why on earth have I changed the cat calendars page over to 2009 cat calendars? When it is still May of 2008!
No, it's not that I want the year over and done with, after all the bright sunny weather is here – and I want that to last! It is because the 2008 calendars are beginning to run out of stock, and for obvious reasons not many folks want to order calendars half way through the year. So, I thought I may just as well start displaying the 2009 cat calendars. The page is not finished yet, more work to do. _______________
Twilightmoon is so black that she's almost blue and is as quiet as midnight over water. : To herself she is the reason for all things, she is the night, she is the all knowing. She is Bethany. _______________
As I mentioned above it is beautifully sunny in London at the moment, yes it does happen occasionally! I love the summer, can't get enough of it. But, as we all know, too much sun can be unwise, but did you know that too much sun can be a danger for your cats too?
Generally the cat's fur will protect their skin and, as cats do not like to get too hot they will seek out shade. But white cats ears are particularly at risk because the fur around the ears tends to be sparser. This also applies to cats with white faces, Sphinx cats and any cat with thinner fur.
In a worst case scenario sunburn can lead to skin cancer. If you can, limit the amount of time that your cat spends in the sun. The ultraviolet rays of the sun are strongest between 10 and 4. You can use sunblocker on your cat's ears, nose or anywhere the fur is thin. _______________
Cats, especially cats that are confined to being indoors need stimulation, they need something that holds their interest and cat climbing trees can do that in spades.
Sunday 4th May 2008.
Oh it's the merry, merry month of May :-) I'm in a good mood today. Just home from spending a super day with my son and his family – and for the first time I've seen the kittens:-)
And what lovely little chappies they are! They are growing of course but they are still blue eyed kittens and although they are eating some kitten food, they still suckle on their mum. Martin and Suzie have promised Guinness to one of their neighbors but have decided to keep Badger and Rodger. They say that it is going to break their hearts to say goodbye to Guinness and I can understand why. If I had been asked if I wanted one of the kitties I could not have resisted. Martin has promised that some more pics of the kittens will be on this site soon.
Anyway, we all went off to watch “Banger Racing” which, if you don't know, is similar to Stock Car racing. It was the first time for me and I must say that I enjoyed myself. Little Jacob certainly enjoyed it too, giving out a loud cheer every time there was a smash up, which was quite often. Although the sky was mostly cloudy it was very pleasantly warm, all in all a good fun filled day. _______________
Around 5 a.m. one morning Dan Skeens' ten year old cat, Boots, pawed at his face while he was sleeping. Unaware of the fire that was breaking out in his kitchen, Dan pushed Boots away and went back to sleep.
But Boots did not give up and pawed at Dan again. This time he woke up and could smelled the smoke that was filling up his house, the fire alarm hadn't gone off yet. As soon as he saw flames in the kitchen, the fire alarm finally went off.
"Boots was the first thing I grabbed," Dan said. He then rescued his other two cats and dog and some personal belongings before calling the fire department. Read the full story here - Dan owes his life to Boots _______________
Why oh why? I wondered, so then I made a test submission and found that something was wrong. It seems that the software was accepting submissions without an image, or with a very small image but rejecting any submission with a large image. Oh dear. So a quick email to the support desk of the software producers and their techies confirmed that there was a glitch and got to work on it.
So if you have been trying to share your cat story and picture with us and have been unsuccessful, I'm sorry. I'm hoping that by the time you read this the glitch will have been fixed, if not it should be very soon. Actually you should find that you can submit an image if it is no larger than 800x600 pixels. You can resize using your p.c.'s graphics software or a Web-based resizer, such as Google's Picasa. Good luck. _______________
Perhaps the first Hollywood cat movie star was Pepper, a gray tabby. Pepper, sex unknown, featured in dozens of 'one reelers' along with the likes of Charlie Chaplin, Fatty Arbuckle and The Keystone Cops from 1918 to 1928. The cat often starred with a Great Dane called Teddy, when Teddy died the cat simply disappeared. _______________
When we take on the responsibility of a pet, we do realize that the privilege of doing so will include some expense.
We know that we incur the cost of feeding, fortunately cats do not usually cost too much by way of diet. But do we always think through the possibility of veterinary expenses, or the cost of pet health insurance, before we welcome a new pet companion into our home?Is a taking out a pet health insurance policy the best decision for you?
Sunday 27th April 2008.
This is a story that is now a little old, but I hadn't seen it before and think that it's interesting.
Cats often bring live creatures home, mice, birds, voles and sometimes snakes. But, good grief, I'm sure that no cat owner would welcome the surprise that Jelly brought home with her, or the way that she did it. Amazing photograph. Jelly collars a killer. _______________
Does your cat love to have fun? Of course she does. How about her very own fun tunnel where she can dash into, dive and hide, prowl through or race through. This one has a suspended cat toy kitty can bat at and peepholes to peep through. Would any cat love it? Who knows, yours might - Cat Fun Tunnel _______________
We all know that cats mark out their territory by spraying, and no one who shares their home with a cat wants that. But did you know that your cat marks his or her territory in other ways?
Male and female cats stake out their dominion by gently rubbing their heads against furniture and other objects – and against you! Rubbing in this way leaves traces of a scent. This scent is secreted by glands at the back of your cat's head, in her neck and around her ears. This same scent is also released from in between your cat's paw pads, and it is one of the reasons that cats like to scratch.
Spraying and scratching are of course, undesirable traits in the eyes of humans, but to your cat all she is doing is marking out her territory. We humans don't mind the other way of marking. In fact we appreciate it when our cats rub against us, we take it as a sign of affection, and indeed it is, at least it shows that our cats trust us enough to be intimate and that we are worthy of being their territory. Being marked as part of your cat's dominion however, does rather underline the maxim that we don't own them but they own us. :-)
Wednesday 23th April 2008
Callie is a cat with the most beautiful green eyes. _______________
I've not heard of him myself but apparently Petrarch was a medieval Italian poet and apparently one of the best. Although the poet wrote sonnets expressing his love for his wife Laura, it is said that in real life he was far more fond of his cat.
Petrarch spent his last days at a vineyard in the town of Arqua and when he died his beloved cat was put to death, mummified, and displayed in a niche in a wall of the vineyard where it still stands today. I don't know what happened to his wife. _______________
When my sons were anklebiters they loved playing with Lego, those colorful little bricks that pop together, one upon another to build whatever a child imagines. Now my sons were quite inventive but as I remember things those bricks were usually turned into cars and tanks, things of that nature. Over the years it seems that a greater range of Lego bricks has become available, now it is possible to build almost anything. Lego Cat Birdhouse _______________
A change to your cat's diet can be the cause of diarrhea. This holds true even if you change to feeding your cat a better quality food. Make any change to your cat's diet g-r-a-d-u-a-l-l-y; this will lessen the chance of a bout of diarrhea for your cat. Table scraps are not a good idea. Food that is prepared for humans is rarely suitable for felines, cat diarrhea is perhaps one of the least harmful consequences of a cat eating table scraps.
If your cat goes outside it may eat something from a garbage can that upsets its stomach. Also, unknown to you, your well meaning neighbors may feed your cat inappropriate food. Cat Diarrhea and Food.
Sunday 20th April 2008
Yabadabadoooo! A little later today I'm catching the train to visit my granddaughters. Seems like ages since I last saw them but it was only a month or so, I can't wait. _______________
Cinnamon was a very intelligent and extremely affectionate cat. _______________
There is another news story about the growing problem of feral and stray cats. This problem is of course not 'new' the overpopulation of stray and feral cats has been with us for a number of years.
In the news report Linda K. Lord, assistant professor of veterinary preventive medicine at Ohio State University is quoted as saying “I was surprised by how many households were feeding cats," Lord said. "In an ideal world, if you're going to take the responsibility to feed a cat, which is going to make it viable longer, then it would be best to at least try to get the cat altered, so it's not adding to the numbers.”
I think that is certainly a good idea and anyone who feeds a feral or stray cat would not only be public spirited but also have animal welfare at heart. But I'm not too sure that many people would do this, after all it often does cost something to have a cat neutered, to say nothing of the difficulty in getting a feral cat to the veterinarian. And a person that feeds a stray or a feral cat is likely to feed another, they most likely would not be able to pay out for many of those cats to be fixed.
What we can do, of course, is ensure that our own cats are neutered, that way we won't add to the overpopulation problem. We could also, if we want to do more, make a donation to a capture/neuter/release program. Here is the story - America About to Be Overrun by Feral Cats _______________
Automatic cat litter boxes save you the trouble of cleaning out the litter pan each day, and for those of us who despise this chore, self cleaning litter pans are heaven sent.
Wednesday 16th April 2008
Anyone who runs a website is interested in the number of people visiting and why they are visiting. Noticing a flurry of activity on the cat urine problems page I made a check on the phrases that folks used to find that page. I was quite shocked with what I found out!
It seems that a lot of people have been searching with phrases like – and I apologize for the subject matter - “sniffing cat urine” “can you get high sniffing cat urine”. I was baffled as to what was going on here, but I think I have found the answer.
Apparently there was an episode of 'South Park' where one of the characters gets hooked on sniffing, well you know what! And it seems that quite a few kids have taken this seriously, at least I'm assuming that it is kids. Good grief, now of course you can't get high on cat urine, you would likely get sick if you sniffed it long enough I should think. But to think there are those that would sniff it if you could is a worry. No wonder we have problems with glue sniffing kids! _______________
A children's book featuring a ginger cat, and then years later along comes Ginger George. _______________
My son tells me that Marble and her kittens are doing fine. He says that it should not be long before the little ones have their eyes open and all three appear to be hearing. It sounds like all is as it should be and that is great. And it should not be long before I get to see them :-) _______________
It is vitally important that the cat carrier that you select for your cat has adequate ventilation. A cat is likely to become stressed when traveling, even on short trips, and this could mean an increased breathing rate, so vents on at least three sides to enable air to flow through are pretty much essential.
Sunday 13th April 2008
A charming story from Thailand concerns the Korat cat. These cats are of a beautiful blue gray color and were once called Si-Suwat which literally means 'gray cat'. But King Ramu V of Siam (now Thailand) officially named them Korat after the region in which they are found.
Apparently these cats are used in ritual processions meant to bring rain because their coloring is that of rain clouds. One of the cats is carried in the procession of farmers while they chant prayers to the sky gods, at the end of the procession water is sprinkled on the cat to induce rain. _______________
Checking out the links on the Cat Plates page I found that one of the most popular plates was no longer available. The suppliers must have sold out, most plates are produced as a limited run. Sooo I investigated what else is available and found a very nice cat plate collection series, so I've now linked to that, should prove just as popular. _______________
The Kucinta cat is regarded as Singapore's Tourism Board's mascot although in the west this cat is known by a different name. The Kucinta is a very small breed of cat, in fact the Guinness Book of World Records has it as the smallest recognized breed. Kucinta is the local official name for the cat but it was popularly known as the drain cat. When western visitors became interested in the cats and started exporting them and stared developing the breed it was thought sensible to devise a more attractive name. So the term drain cat was dispensed with and the Singapura breed was born. _______________
Making decisions can be a headache because of the many factors to take into consideration. “Shall I do this? Or shall I do that?”What if there was something to help you with your decisions? What if this something was a decision making tool that you could use every time that you have a multiple-choice decision to make? There is such a tool and it is entirely free. . . A Decision Making Tool
Wednesday 9th April 2008
Someone has been dumping kittens by the roadside in Clay NY, in fact over the last year more than 200 kittens, some only a day old with their umbilical cords still attached, have been abandoned along the same road in Lysander, including 37 kittens in the last three weeks.
It is believed that the kittens are coming from one household or person. All of them are similar in appearance, long haired, tabby and all of them are polydactl, they all have extra toes. - More than 200 kittens abandoned at same spot. _______________
Children should not be allowed to play unsupervised with cats until they are old enough, and have enough 'cat experience' to know if the cat wants their attention or not. Cats are usually very good with kids but they are furnished with very sharp claws and teeth and will use them if stressed or teased beyond endurance.
Kids need to know not to disturb a cat when they are eating or sleeping, and to know not to let the cat scratch at or bite hands even in play. Once a cat believes hands are playthings she or he will playfully scratch at them for the rest of its life. Show your kids the correct way to stroke a cat, in the direction the fur grows. And, of course, teach them to be gentle, sometimes children are so enthusiastic they are not so gentle.
A strong bonding can develop between a child and a cat and this can teach the child respect for animals that can stay with her or him into adulthood. _______________
It is little wonder that cute kitten pictures are so well-liked, they make such a pleasing display, adding color and interest to any room in your home. _______________
Birman cats tend to be both curious and unobtrusive, cool but not at all aloof. They have a soft voice, but certainly can make themselves heard if they have a need. Birmans have a playful, faithful and affectionate nature, bond very well with their people, and are generally very good with children, and will make an effort to get along with your other pets. The Birman is an intelligent breed and although they are very proficient climbers and hunters, they adapt extremely well to being indoor only cats - Birman Cats.
Sunday 6th April 2008
They have arrived – the kittens are here! Yes Marble has given birth to her litter and . . . well you can read all about the happy event here - Marble's Kitten Pics. And you can find out what Princess the dog thinks about it here - Roger the Kitten with Princess.
Yes, Martin my son made those posts to tell me and the world about the new kittens. He made the posts from this new page - Share Your Kitten Pics With The World. You too can share about your kitten or kittens. The kitties don't have to be newborn, tell us all about your kitten that is old enough to be a rascal getting into all kinds of mischief. _______________
Fancy a game of cards? You do, well Mimi is the cat that is always keen to play a hand! Beware though, if he loses he's not so keen on paying up :) - Cards anyone? _______________
Persian cats often suffer with blocked tear ducts. The blockage is caused by the flat face and short nose of the breed and there is not too much that can be done about it. Some Persian cat breeders are trying to alleviate the problem by selecting cats with eyes wide apart for breeding, this should result in Persians with less distorted ducts. Many Persians need their eyes gently washed twice a day. _______________
The Endocrine System regulates the hormones that are discharged into the cat's body. Specific hormones are responsible for the growth of hair and when there is a surplus, or a deficiency in these hair growth hormones, cat hair loss can occur. Under normal conditions a cat's hair grows . . . Cat Hair Loss.
Wednesday 2nd April 2008
Do you know of the Cymric breed of cat? Cymric cats have stocky bodies, wide chests, strong bones and round eyes. Their eyes are round, and the ears are broad at the base tapering to a rounded tip.
The Cymric's legs are short and thick, the hind legs being longer than the forelegs. But perhaps the most noticeable feature of the Cymric cat is that many of them do not have a tail. Ah, tailless cats, now you have probably guessed that Cymric cats are in fact Manx cats. Actually Cymric's are the long hair version of the Manx cat. The name Cymric, is the Gaelic word for Wales, so it is rather puzzling that these cats were called that - as they originate from the Isle of Man, as does the Manx. _______________
The Scottish Wildcat is the UK's one and only remaining species of wildcat. Not domestic cats gone feral but genuine wildcats, although they do look very much like domestic tabby cats, these cats are said to be, pound for pound, one of the worlds most ferocious animals.
Sadly the species is in threat of extinction as their number has fallen below 400 and the Scottish Wildcat is now on the World Conservation Union's red list. However, conservationists are hoping that a breakthrough in cloning techniques could protect its future. Cloning would only be used as a last resort. _______________
There are many types of allergies and being allergic to your own pet is actually quite common. What happens if you discover you are susceptible to pet allergies? Does this mean that your faithful cat(or other pet)has to go? Do you really have to say goodbye or is there hope that you can continue to enjoy the company of your companion?
Up to 15% of the population are allergic to domestic animals and approximately one third of those continue to live with their pet. For many the pleasure of owning a pet outweighs the burden and discomfort of pet allergies. . . Pet Allergies.
Sunday March 30th 2008
A Cecil Township police officer received a call about a rabid cat being in the area. The officer later found a cat that, he claimed was not wearing a tag and seemed to be a stray. The police officer thought the cat may have been injured. The cat was Elmo a 10 year old purebred Persian.
The officer took Elmo into a wooded area and shot him. The cat's owner and his son had been searching for Elmo. A neighbor broke the news to him that his cat had been shot.
Seems to me that even if Elmo was suspected of being the rabid cat efforts could have been made to capture him and have him checked by a vet. Here's the story - Family's Cat Shot By Police Officer _______________
Curtis was abandoned in the woods when just a few days old. And now he is . . . King of the House _______________
Just heard an amusing story on the radio. A couple were fitting a cat flap (pet door,) it was the first time that they had fitted one. They removed the door from its hinges and took their time ensuring to do each step just right. Pleased with the result of their efforts they replaced the door and it was only then they discovered they had fitted the cat flap to the top of the door! :-) Just the sort of easy mistake that I would make. _______________
Cats do not see the world in the same way as we humans do, nor do they use the same thought processes as humans. If a cat is shouted at for swinging on your drapes for an example, she will not associate the shouting with swinging on the drapes but will associate the shouting with you. The shout may distract your cat from what she is doing but will not necessarily persuade her not to do it again. A gently but firmly spoken command "stop", or a clap of your hands, may have the same effect.
You may have success with a squirt bottle filled with water. A fine mist sprayed on her coat each time she commits a naughty act may eventually give her unpleasant associations with that act. The psychological trick here is to be sneaky and . . . Cat Psychology and the Feline View. _______________
Wednesday March 26th 2008
Cities are very crowded places. Many city dwellers have no choice but to rent an apartment, if you rent you are usually forbidden to keep pets, including cats.
Tokyo, the world's largest metropolitan area, has the answer. For just 800 yen an hour (about $8), you can get your fix of cat fellowship. Along with your coffee you get to make a fuss of and pet one of the cafe's kitties as if it was your own. _______________
Sammy has a habit of sneaking away under the floorboards to chase all the spiders . . . Sammy _______________
A red tabby named Orangey had a long acting career. He is the only animal 'actor' to win two PATSYs (Picture Animal Top Star of the Year.) His first big picture was Rhubarb made in 1951 in which he played the title role. The film was about a cat that inherited a fortune along with a baseball team.
He later appeared in the Incredible Shrinking Man as the cat that terrified his owner who had shrunk to the size of a mouse. Orangey also appeared in another '50s sci-fi classic This Island Earth, although I can't remember a cat being in that one. In 1961 he starred with Audry Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffanys. _______________
There are differing opinions as to the age of the Norwegian Forest Cat breed. Cats were brought over to Norway from warmer climates and some of these cats went on to live a feral existence in the woodlands and forests, and evolved over time to cope with the rigorous conditions. With the passing of the centuries Norwegian Forest Cats became the working cats of the farmyards. . . Norwegian Forest Cats
Sunday March 23rd 2008
Happy Easter to you. Officially it is Spring, yippee! Sitting here though you would not know that, it has just started snowing outside, the sky is deep gray and it is chilly to say the least. I am so glad that I do not have to venture outdoors today :-)
But spring is the time for new growth and regeneration. If you have been holding off planting the seeds of new growth for you, the growth of your own flowering online business, Site Sell have an incentive for you – take out a subscription to Site Build It! and get a second for only $100 (save it for yourself, or help a friend or family member take root and flower into fortune.)
But to get the special deal you do need to Spring into action, offer ends at the stroke of midnight March 28th - SBI Spring Special _______________
New page on this site. Cat Worms. Not a nice subject but important because any cat can get cat worms including indoor only cats. Some of the worms that can infect a cat are tapeworms, hookworms, lungworms, roundworms and heartworms. Find out more about these infestations . . . Cat Worms _______________
A ginger Tom cat thought that he was loved by his owners, but when they moved home they heartlessly abandoned him . . . Nobby _______________
We are all familiar with the saying “curiosity killed the cat”, meaning that being too inquisitive may get you in hot water. But did you know that the original form of the saying was “care killed the cat”, meaning that worrying to much about something may be detrimental. _______________
Have you ever wanted a unique portrait of your cat? If you would like an oil painting that captures the very essence of your feline friend’s character and is not just a painting of a cat of the same type and coat markings then Peggy Krizak can help you.
Wednesday March 19th 2008
Back at home now and back at the day job, but it is Easter break this weekend so that's not so bad. _______________
A research team studied nearly 4,500 adults and found a relationship between owning a cat and a 40% lower risk of suffering a fatal heart attack.
I have read other reports that suggest having the company of a pet reduces stress and therefore the risk of heart trouble. But this study also suggests that even those who no longer owned a cat benefited from the effects! - Cat Owners and Healthy Hearts _______________
Anyone who has observed a cat sleeping has probably come to the conclusion that they dream. From what I've been reading that conclusion is perfectly correct. Yes, those twitching ears, chattering teeth and thrashing paws do correspond to what they are dreaming, apparently. _______________
What do you say to your kids when they ask for a pet? It is true that growing up with a pet can teach children responsibility and helps to develop their social skills. Also cultivating good feelings towards pets helps children to develop a sense of self esteem and also helps them to establish trusting relationships with other human beings. But before you give in to your kid's demands for a pet there is plenty for you to consider. Best Pets for Kids _______________
Feline aids wrecks a cat's immune system stopping it from fighting off other infections and ailments. Cats with the virus will, over time, give in to a range of secondary afflictions that, in the end, usually prove fatal. There is not a cure for FIV or feline aids, however, with proper care, infected cats can live on for many years, perhaps even with a good quality of life, before passing on. Feline Aids. _______________
You don't feed your cat scraps from the table do you? You do! Well, you really shouldn't do that. Cats are cats and humans are humans. Human food really is not a treat for a cat; in fact some foods that are meant for humans can be very bad for cats. You may think that your cat would not eat anything that would cause her harm, this is not necessarily so. For an example many cats are lactose intolerant but will lap up cow's milk thinking it a tasty treat. But milk will likely cause a lactose intolerant cat stomach problems . . . Cat Treats
Sunday March 16th 2008
I’m still out here in the country looking after my son’s house and his menagerie. Man, does little Marble eat! Well she is feeding for two, four, six . . . ?
It’s great fun taking Princess the dog for a walk. She is very well behaved really but somehow she always ends up giving herself a mud bath, it’s a shampooing for her everyday. The folks will be back sometime on Monday so I had better start washing some dishes and tidying up. _______________
Special was a stray that got abused. ~ Ava and Tanzie were two adorable black kittens. ~ Phoenix is a little over one year old, and adores . . . _______________ Is your cat the original smelly cat? Does Kitty suffer with gas? Do you know when your cat is around without seeing or hearing her? The reason that your feline is flatulent could be her diet. Cats that eat human food are likely to suffer from gas; foods meant for human consumption are not good for cats for lots of reasons. If your cat seduces you into giving her the odd tidbit from your plate this could be the reason for her gas. Cats that bolt down their food sometimes develop gas.
If you have more than one cat and one kitty is wolfing down her food for fear that the others will eat it, try feeding her separately. It might be some time before she realizes that she no longer has to rush her food but it may end her smells.
If you only feed her cat food try switching brands. Do it slowly though, mixing the two and increasing the amount of the new brand until she is completely switched over. Try increasing the amount of exercise that she gets, play with her a little more and she if that helps. If you cat has the runs or is vomiting as well as gas then you best get the vet to check her over. _______________ The City Council in the southwest Iowa town of Randolph wanted to rid its streets of feral cats so it placed a $5 bounty on each one. I'm glad to say the bounty has now been repealed, but the controversy rages on . . .Randolph repeals cat bounty Many thanks to Rex of www.horrorstew.com for alerting me to this story.
Wednesday March 12th 2008
This edition of the best-cat-art blog comes to you from the beautiful English countryside. I’m at my son’s place looking after his two cats and one dog. It’s fun, relaxing and rewarding, sure beats being at work :-)
One of the cats is little Marble. It only seems like yesterday that Suzie, my son’s girlfriend, was given the little kitten. I can clearly remember saying to my son that they will have to get her spayed when she is old enough. I thought the message had got home, I did not labor the point too much because, well –when your ‘kids’ are not kids but adults, you can’t give them a lecture can you? And now . . .
. . . you’re ahead of me, you’ve guessed it, Marble is pregnant.
Something to be happy about? Well even I must admit that it is a joyous thing, can’t help a little smile looking at Marble’s swollen belly. But more unwanted kittens in this world is not a good thing. Yes, my son said the standard thing when he told me about the upcoming birth, “We have plenty of friends who will want one of the kittens.”
Yes, folks always do think they will have no problem in finding good homes for a litter – but proof that it rarely works out that way is the fact that there are so many feral cats around and millions of unwanted kittens are put to sleep, I do wish that my son had read, and took note of, this page - Why you absolutely should get your cat fixed.
But anyway, Marble is still a beautiful kitt. . . ah! Can’t call her a kitten anymore can I :-) And so is Bluebell the other cat. Bluebell has the reputation of being pretty but unfriendly, but since I’ve been here she and I have become great chums. I have no doubt that she, is missing her humans, as are the other animals (and I do too of course.) Every time I sit down there she is on my lap purring like a buzzsaw. It’s good to have a cat to stroke :-)
Well, it’s time to take Princess the dog for a walk, muddy fields here we come!
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Here is a friendly, lovable calico cat that gets in a Pickle ------------------
Short posting today and I’m not even sure that it will post because I’m using my son’s computer, but fingers crossed and hope for the best, here goes . . .
Sunday March 9th 2008
A little later today I'm catching the train to my son's place. I'm staying the week to house sit while my son, his girlfriend and my grandson are on holiday in Spain, lucky them. Lucy me too because I also get to look after their two cats and their dog.
The cats will be no problem of course. I'll have to walk the dog every day to give her some exercise and myself exercise of course. I don't know if I will be able to post to this blog next Wednesday but if I can, I will. _______________
I don't watch television much (I think I've said that before,) but I do watch during my work break. Over the last couple of weeks a fly -on-the-wall type program has been running that follows RSPCA officers as they investigate cases of animal cruelty.
Some of the cases of cruelty are caused by downright sadistic lowlife humans. But most of the cruelty the officers investigate is caused by neglect or ignorance. Yes there has been the compulsive cat hoarders featured, folks with so many kitties that they have not a hope of feeding or taking care of the poor creatures properly.
There are also the folks that don't have much in life, they can barely take care of themselves and their family, but they have a pet. Maybe they got the pet to bring a bit of joy into their life, or their children's lives, but did not realize just how much it costs to properly take care of an animal. A cat gets fed, maybe not with the best of cat food but she eats. Everything is fine until a vet is needed and the money can't be found. The poor cat remains sick, somebody notices (thank goodness) and informs the RSPCA. The officers have a tough job. They cannot ignore cruelty or neglect, but do not want to be too harsh on someone who is not intentionally hurting an animal. They sometimes have to gently persuade someone to give up their pets or somehow get the animal the attention it needs. Not easy.
Everyone needs to think very carefully about the cost of keeping a pet before making a commitment. _______________
Cats need water, they depend on it for their health. Cats that do not drink enough water run the risk of dehydration and urinary tract disease. Cats with kidney problems or urinary tract disease have an even greater need for water to support their kidney function.
Movement breaks the surface tension of water and draws in vital health giving oxygen. This aeration makes water far more attractive to drink for a cat. The attraction of aerated water is why some cats love drinking from a cat water fountain. _______________
Barney the cat loves catnip and is always doing silly things that raises a laugh . . . Barney
Wednesday March 5th 2008
Cats should not be fed dog food, dog food is not the same as cat food. Cats are true carnivores, which means they are designed to mainly eat meat. Dogs on the other hand are omnivores which means they can have a diet of both meat and plant products.
Cats need certain nutrients that are only found in animal products. Taurine, an important amino acid, may be missing from dog food. Taurine is only found in meat and it is essential that cats have it in their diet. Without this amino acid cats can suffer heart and respiratory problems and even blindness.
Cats need Vitamin A, dog food may contain beta-kerotene which is a plant pigment that is converted into Vitamin A by dogs but . . . not by cats. So for the sake of your cats health you should not feed her dog food. _______________
A mixed breed dog is called a mongrel, you knew that. But did you know that this is also the correct name for a non pedigree cat? But hardly anyone uses that name for a cat, we are much more likely to use the term Moggy, at least that's what we call them in the UK and Australia.
The term moggy probably started out as a variation of Maggie, and was used as an affectionate name for a cow, or a term of abuse for a scruffy old woman. Somehow, in the early 20th century the term started to become used for cats of no particular breed. To confuse matters, in parts of Lancashire the word moggy meant mouse and not cat. _______________
Some cats like to chew at things, sometimes the things that they chew can be a danger to them. As far as you can keep electric cord out of the reach of your cat. Probably not possible to make every cord unreachable, but if you try you can deny your cat access to a lot of it. You may find that by moving furniture and appliances around you can keep kitty away from some electric cords, remember though that cats . . . Cat Chewing
Sunday March 2nd 2008
Cobby the three month old kitten went exploring, as kittens are apt to do. He ended up stuck in the cavity wall between his owner's house and the house next door. Cats and kittens do like those cavity walls don't they.
Firefighters used jackhammers and bolt cutters to make a hole in the wall, but after battling for four hours they still had not been able to rescue poor Cobby. Up steps animal rescuer Nigel Williamson who used extra equipment to make a second hole in the wall before calling back the firefighters to cut the 16mm-thick steel rods in the wall, which meant freedom at last for the kitten. - Cobby the Hole in the Wall Kitten _______________
I've had a cry of help from a visitor to this site. Janet is trying to locate a better quality image of a very charming cat picture that she has. It is almost certainly a professional photograph, very much the sort of picture sold as a poster or art print by Allposters.com or Art.com.
Janet sent me a copy to see if I could come up with a answer, unfortunately I've drawn a blank. I'd post the picture here but as it is almost certainly copyrighted I can't do that. The photograph is of a black cat and a white cat photographed from the rear, the two cats tails are intertwined. Hopefully someone can throw some light on where a copy of the picture may be obtained. _______________
Taking care of a cat with diabetes sounds overwhelming and time consuming, but it isn't as difficult as it might seem once the right medication and diet is prescribed and enforced. The owners of diabetic cats can provide their pets treatment that will allow there pets to live a long and healthy life full of love and dedication. Caring for Diabetic Cats
Wednesday February 27th 2008
Big discussion at the bus depot where I do the day job. Do we need a 'works' cat? Bus garages (depots) are not the cleanest places, you would be amazed at the amount of garbage the place accumulates in the course of a day. Consequently there has always been mice and even rats spotted about the place, I've never seen rats myself but often seen mice.
In an effort to save money, or increase profits, management have not been recruiting replacements for those that retire or leave, so those of us left have a bigger work load. Now you can't get a quart out of a pint pot, at least not out of this pint pot! So cleaning is not being done thoroughly, therefor we have an increase in the rodent population.
Naturally the suggestion of getting a cat has been suggested. It would be wonderful to have a cat around, it certainly would brighten up the working day. But I'm not too sure that a bus garage is the best place for a cat.
I knew that some of my colleagues were not exactly cat lovers, but I was quite taken aback at some of the opposition to having a mouser. It seems some folks still think that cats are in league with the devil, and that suffering no end of rodents would be better than having a 'works cat.' _______________
Right now Art.com are giving 25% off all their art if you use this code NEWW25 at the checkout, but only until Feb 29th 2008 PST.Art.com _______________
Smokey sits at the top of the stair way and waits for someone to come up and jumps them. . . Crazy Cat . . . A new entry in the 'your black cat ' section is not about a black cat but about a dream of two black cats. The writer asks if anyone can interpret the dream? Dream of Black Cats _______________
A cat has absolute emotional honesty: human beings, for one reason or another, may hide their feelings, but a cat does not. - Ernest Hemingway.
Sunday February 24th 2008
On Wednesday February 13th I wrote about the importance of a collar and ID tag for your cat. Whilst on the subject I should also have written about the benefit of having your cat micro chipped.
Each chip has its own unique identification number and this is stored in a central database. The microchip is so small that it can be injected, using a hypodermic syringe, just under your cat's skin between the shoulder blades. No anesthetic is required and it only takes about a minute for your vet to chip your cat. If your cat strays and is taken to a rescue center (or vet) and the center has a scanner (most do,) they can instantly check out where your kitty lives.
So if a cat is micro chipped it no longer needs a collar and ID tag? No – it is still a good idea for your cat to have an identification tag even if it is chipped. Your lost cat may be taken to one of the few rescue centers that don't yet have a scanner. And someone finding your lost cat can read the ID and may contact you or even bring your cat straight to you.
Hmmmm, so with that in mind, isn't it better to forget about chipping and just rely on the good old collar and ID tag? A collar can come off, a microchip will be with your cat for the rest of its life. So both is best for giving you the best chance of your wandering kitty being returned to you. _______________
Are you dreaming of having your very own cat as a pet? Well never give up on your dreams Dreamer - Do you have something to say about your cat? _______________
If you share your home with a cat, sooner or later you will encounter feline vomiting. All cats throw up sometimes – Yuk! Usually there will be nothing much wrong with your cat. Perhaps a meal bolted down too quickly, too much eaten (especially too much dry cat food), nervousness, excitement, hairballs, and stress are among the non-serious situations that can induce your cat to vomit. A common cause of a cat throwing up is eating or swallowing something it shouldn't. Cats are pretty fastidious but sometimes do swallow objects, eat food that does not agree with them or even sample poisonous plants. Cat Vomiting
Wednesday February 19th 2008
A three week old kitten was found inside a wall at Miami Airport! The little fellow needed a lot of care and love which he received . . . and now he is a healthy cat with Catatude - Nicodemous is a black cat that would have nothing to do with anyone except Jenni, but he did make friends with a big half Rotwieler, half saint Bernard. My Little Nicky. _______________
Many cats and other pets with disabilities are able to enjoy a happy life if they receive just a little love and care. My cat Basil never let loosing a leg stop him from getting on with, and enjoying his life. Search around the Internet and you will find that this is by no means unusual. Most pets with disabilities can still enjoy a high quality of life. How do pets with disabilities cope with life? _______________
Washing machines and tumble dryers can be very dangerous for cats. Cats love investigating tight spaces and washers and dryers, being warm and dark, can be inviting for them. Please, check the machine before starting, make certain kitty has not hidden inside. It's a good idea to keep washing machine doors closed when not in use.Sunday February 10th 2008
A tiny kitten that was mistaken for a rat grew up to be a magical cat - My Friend Mojo A lovable cat needed to go and live somewhere with a quiet atmosphere, so a replacement was sought Birthday Wish. And the replacement is Little Miss Kitty who loves to be a Kitty Model.
Patches and The Princess were adopted at the same time, well there is no way that you could separate such a beautiful brother and sister, is there. _______________
I'm a little late today posting to this blog. I've just returned home after visiting my granddaughters and I could not have done so on a nicer day. Clear blue sky and mostly nice and warm, you'd never think that it was England in February.
Oh what fun we had, running around like mad things, I wish that I was younger and with more energy, but then you can't be a granddad without getting old, it's the rules. Samantha was stroking her next door neighbor's cat and suddenly remarked “Bonkers is not here granddad.” (Bonkers was their cat that passed away recently,) I was trying to think of something comforting by way of reply, when she said “ But she is happy in heaven”. I would not have thought of a better reply. Little Hayley is now toddling around and you have to keep a sharp eye on her. I don't know how Mummy and Daddy find the energy for the three little darlings I really don't. _______________
A cat started a house fire in which three people had to be rescued. The black and white cat knocked a cushion onto a candle that had been left burning.
Fire station manager Phil Rice said: “It’s believed the residents had left a tealight burning and some hours later, the cat was running around and knocked a cushion on to it.” Not the cat's fault, it is hardly advisable to leave an unattended candle burning especially with a cat around. Here's the story - Firefighters rescue family after cat starts blaze
Wednesday February 6th 2008
By the time they are ten months old cats can no longer be called kittens, because they have completed most of their growing and physical development. By that age cats have settled into a more sedate pace as opposed to the frantic high energy of kittens. They still like to play of course, playing is very important for cats, it helps keep them in shape.
Although, in a sense, our cats do remain kittens because, for one thing, we have them fixed (and that's a good thing to do,) so they are relieved of what otherwise would preoccupy much of their adulthood. _______________
A farmer was just about to mow his field, when something told him to look under the blade, and when he did, he found . . . Lawnmower Kitty
Do you give cats a hug? Why not, they appreciate affection - Cat Hug _______________
Abyssinian cats are strong, element, muscular medium size cats. They are a slender cat with long legs and oval paws. These particular characteristics sometimes make it look as though they are standing on their tiptoes. . . The Elegant and Muscular Abyssinian _______________
Having difficulty choosing a name for your Siamese cat? Here are some suggestions for finding Siamese cat names that are just right. Siamese Cat Names
Sunday February 3rd 2008
Look at a cat picture painted by artist Gale Pitt and you will see many things. The Eiffel Tower appearing in her French Cat painting is not so much of a surprise, nor is a baguette, look closer and you will see French cheeses, fine wine, snails, in fact many of the things that you would associate with France. The same treatment is given to her Australian Cat, a Koala, surfboard, a boomerang and what looks suspiciously like a can of Foster's!
Gale has sold her original paintings and licensed her pictures to companies all over the world. Working as a freelance artist since the seventies she paints many subjects including lots of cats. Her series of 'International Fat Cats' has become well loved, they are whimsical interpretations of felines painted with a touch of humor.
Doe's your cat enjoy a bit of luxury? Meet Tiggy, a cat that likes the better things in life, because she's worth it - Bedtime Satin
Ginger is a cat that is welcome wherever she goes. One look at her photo and you will see why everyone is pleased by a visit from Ginger, a special cat.
There are black cats, and there are white cats and there are black and white cats. Simon is not exactly a black and white cat, in fact he is a handsome chap with a very unusual coat. _______________
Wednesday 30th January 2008
When a truck driver received a call from his family the last thing he expected to hear was that his pregnant dog had just given birth to a kitten! But when he arrived home he claims he found a kitten suckling on his dog who was no longer pregnant.
His dog gave birth to a kitten? Two words spring to mind - Genetically Impossible.
It is not that unusual for a kitten to suckle a bitch, but that kitten somehow sneaked in with the litter of pups, the bitch is not the little fellow's mother.
When Maine Coon cats were first discovered some folks thought they were the product of mating between raccoons and cats, hence the name. Here is the news story - City dog 'gives birth to kitten' _______________
It is well known that the poor old cat was much maligned in medieval times. Although the feline's usefulness in keeping down the rat population was appreciated, folks were not supposed to befriend or make pets of them, anyone who did so was treated with suspicion. This was particularly true of elderly women, being a spinster and keeping a cat was practically proof positive of practicing witchcraft.
It is strange then that the thirteenth century “Rule of Nuns” instructed Nuns not to keep any animal but . . . a cat! _______________
How could anyone be so heartless as to 'dump' a cat? Here is the story of a cat that was left to fend for itself, but found some good people to take care of him - Once Upon a Time There Was a Cat . . . _______________
Black and white tuxedo cats look very formal and distinguished as if all dressed up for a swanky affair.
Sunday 27th January 2008
Sometimes we just have to get away, take a break and enjoy a vacation. The weather at this time of the year may make us think of places where the sun shines and we are tempted to sample it.
But what of the cats that share our lives? Most usually taking our little pets with us is unfortunately not an available option. Now I know that most folks reading this would not dream of leaving their cat alone when heading off for a vacation of a week or more. But what about a break of a few days? Some folks may reason that they have to leave kitty alone all day while they are at work, so maybe there would be no harm if their cat was left for two or three days, if food and water were left out.
It is true that you could leave your cat plenty of dry cat food, enough for two or three days. (Personally I don't recommend feeding a cat exclusively on dry food.) Although you could leave a large bowl, or two bowls of water, it will not stay fresh for long – and cats like their water fresh, it tastes better than stale water. A cat fountain would be a way to overcome the water problem and automatic pet feeders are available too. But . . .
. . .apart from the food and water issue I still say that it is not a good idea to leave your cat alone for even two or three days. Far from their popular image as aloof and independent critters, cats do enjoy human company.
The best thing is to ask a trusted friend or good neighbor to look in on your cats each day, or have your friend stay over and pet sit for you. Apart from ensuring that your cat has the food and water that she/he needs your friend can give your cat a bit of attention.
Sometimes that is not possible, perhaps your trusted friends are also off on a trip or everyone you ask is too busy at that particular time. In that case there are professional pet sitting services available, see if your vet can recommend any, or search online or the yellow pages. You should, for your peace of mind, check out any pet services as far as possible whether recommended or not.
Then again there are boarding catteries, not all cats take kindly to being boarded out but it is better than leaving them alone. Make checks before you book, visit and inspect, ask questions. You will probably need to book well in advance of your trip. If there is the possibility of taking your cat with you these cat travel tips will help. _______________
It seems that I goofed when I called Edward Lear's “The Owl and the Pussycat” a limerick. As my friend Lesley of theworldsbestflowers.com points out, a limerick should have only five lines and Lear uses a lot more than that! _______________
A cat has been born in the Washington area with five legs. Unfortunately she needs surgery to remove two of the legs. The shelter is looking for someone to adopt her, as an ex-owner of a three legged cat I can say that the cat will be every bit as loving as one with four legs. Cat Born With 5 Legs
Wednesday 23rd January 2008
Edward Lear was a 'sickly' child, asthmatic, short sighted and was prone to mild attacks of epilepsy. Perhaps because of his health problems, his mother gave charge of him to his elder sister, after all his mother had twenty one children to look after, they went in for rather large families in those days! But Edward felt that he was rejected and consequently suffered bouts of depression throughout his life.
Because of his ill health Edward Lear did not have much of an education, but he could draw. He loved drawing birds and obtained permission from the Zoological gardens in London to draw their parrots. His drawings were so popular that they not only earned him an income but were also his ticket into influential society. Edward also received much interest in his unusual style of wit and in 1846 Lear he published a collection of limericks with the title 'A Book of Nonsense.'
Perhaps Lear's most famous limerick is The Owl and the Pussycat. Lear in fact had a cat who he thought the world of, perhaps the cat in the limerick was based on his cat, a tabby who was named Foss. Foss was with Edward Lear seventeen years and died only two months before him. The cat had a shortened tail because a foolish servant, believing an old wives tale, cut the end off to stop the cat from straying!
“He has many friends, laymen and clerical, Old Foss is the name of his cat; His body is perfectly spherical, He weareth a runcible hat.” Edward Lear _______________
See what happens when a cat goes wack! - When this cat yawns you will yawn too Yawwwwn Cat - How about these strange black cats with unusual blue eyes! _______________
The Maine Coon breed of cat has several amusing, but unlikely legends about its beginings. One absolutely untrue but amusing myth about the origin of the Maine Coon breed is that they came about through . . . Maine Coon Breed.
Sunday 20th January 2008
There are lots of places online that you can read that Mussolini was a hater of cats. Some time ago I made a post in this blog about the fact that the Italian fascist, along with many other dictators, was not a fan of felines. Well I'm now reading that, in the case of Mussolini, this may not have been so. . . that is according to Romano Mussolini, the dictator's youngest son.
Mussolini the younger writes in his biography of his father, that the dictator was so fond of the family's Persian cat that he often gave up his favorite armchair so that the cat could sit in it. Mussolini junior was, of course, painting a view of his father as a rather more civilized being than the one generally, and quite rightly, held. So was 'Il Duce' a cat lover? Who knows. We cat lovers tend to nurse the view that all humans that like cats must be good. Sadly this is not the case. And it is equally true that not everyone that doesn't like our feline friends must be a bad actor. In fact many folks that show a dislike of cats are, in fact, suffering from a fear of cats. _______________
Help! If Marianne who submitted a photo to 'Your Funny Cat Pictures' under the title of 'Jazz Hands' is reading this I'm sorry but for some reason your photo did not upload. From you description it sounds like it is just the sort of photo that folks would love to see. Would you mind trying again please? _______________
“The clever cat eats cheese and breathes down rat holes with baited breath.” W. C. Fields
“A black cat crossing your path signifies that the animal is going somewhere.” Groucho Marx
“I wish I could write as mysterious as a cat.” Edgar Allan Poe
“Lettin' the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier 'n puttin' it back in.” Will Rogers
Wednesday 16th January 2008
On the 25th of August 1902 King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra paid a surprise visit to the Isle of Man. It was the first time ever that a reigning monarch had ever visited the island, which although a part of the British isles has quite a degree of independence.
The island was not expecting the royal visit so no grand preparation had been made. However the King and Queen were content to be driven around passing through the countryside, towns and villages. When they were going through one of these villages one of the island's famous Manx cats was spotted sitting on a wall. Queen Alexandra had heard about Manx cats and much fuss was made of the tailless feline.
Eager to be courteous and polite, local officials, noting the queen's admiration for the cat breed, made arrangements for four Manx cats to be given to their majestys. Two to be delivered to Balmoral and two more Buckingham Palace. The instructions were given to Messrs Alldritt Bros., and were carried out perfectly. However, it appears that Alldritt Bros were fishmongers, which seem curious people to be delivering cats! _______________
Have you heard about the Scat Mat? I hadn't. It's a touch sensitive training mat that you place on your kitchen counter, sofa, room entrance or any place that you don't want your cat to go. When your cat's paws touch it the Scat Mat gives out small pulses for three seconds and that should keep your pet off the prohibited area.
I should hasten to add that the mat is battery operated (9 volts) and is said to be safe and veterinarian approved. Is this something that you would try? Perhaps folks use them as a last resort in trying to keep their cat off of the counter. Scat Mat
Sunday 13th January 2008
A spanking new article - Cat Chewing A Cat Chewing Can Cause You Problems and be a Danger to Itself. _______________
This cat was lucky! Animal control officials rescued a feral cat that had been seen wandering around for days with its head stuck in a glass jar. Efforts to catch the 8 month old domestic shorthair male were unsuccessful until he was found wedged under a deck.
A vet used cooking oil to remove the container, described as a mason jar, typically used for storing fruit or vegetables, but not cats! Here's the full story -Cat freed from jar _______________
I don't know why but out of the blue I remembered a rather wicked cat from one of the Disney feature length cartoon films of long ago. Not remembering the actual film, but with quite a clear image of the cat in my mind, I thought I would search the 'net. Trouble was for some reason I was convinced the cat was called Gus.
The film was Cinderella, yes of course, how could I forget that. But the cat was not called Gus at all. He was called Lucifer! What a fitting name and one I should have remembered. Gus was a character in the film, he was one of the mice. Lucifer was not part of the original fairy tale but an invention of Disney, and I bet that mischievous cat was responsible for felines having a bad reputation with many who saw that cartoon film all those years ago!
Give your new kitten a name as soon as you can and stick with that name. Kittens soon learn to respond to their name if you use it repeatedly, and when training your cat the first thing should be giving her or him a name.
If you adopt an older cat it is best to keep to the name that it already has, trying to get a cat used to a new name would be very difficult indeed, it would be very confusing for your cat, making training impossible.
If you are considering long names, do bare in mind the short versions. Will you confuse your kitten if you name him William, and alternately call him Bill? In general kittens, and other pets, react to shorter one or two syllable names better than longer names. Kitten Names _______________
Talking of kittens. Most of us can’t resist a helpless kitten. They look so sweet and irresistible and can steal your heart clean away in a very short space of time.Each year, thousands of caring families rescue and adopt orphaned kittens. But, unfortunately an even greater number of these little animals are not so lucky and must fight to merely survive. . . Orphan Kitten Care
When Betsey Westell rescued a cat from an unused pit at the Fall River Incinerator in 2001, she thought that would be the one and only time. But when she heard that familiar mewing sound just days ago, she realized she had another cat to save . . . Rescue effort for kitten caught in pit. _______________
Some kittens develop the compulsive behavior of sucking wool, clothing, carpeting or fabrics. The experts are not certain why some cats and kittens do this although many believe it could be due to early weaning from the mom cat, some believe wool sucking can also be an inherited trait. Yet again stress could be a cause, particularly with older cats. With mild cases there probably is not too much to worry about. The kitten may indeed grow out of the habit. But in other cases the sucking persists and the kitten or cat may go on to chew and swallow the wool. In this case a visit to the vet may be advisable to check your cat over and find an answer. Chewing wool is not only dangerous for your pet but the habit is likely to make a mess of your clothes.Clothing can be kept out of the way of a sucking kitten but carpets are more of a problem. You can try spraying your carpet with a citrus or bitter apple spray but carpets cover a large area and require a lot of spraying. A change of diet to a cat food with increased fiber may do the trick with some cats. _______________ Brrrrrr winter. Chilly days and cold, cold nights - Heated Cat Beds There are two types of cat bed that give off heat. There are those that use a safe power supply (the voltage is low enough to mean there is no danger of shock.) Also there are thermal mats and cushions that reflect the cat’s own body heat back to your pet.
Tuesday 1st January 2008
Wishing you a very happy, healthy and successful 2008.
If you were out celebrating last night I hope that your head is not too cloudy :-) _______________
Some cats, and especially kittens, love to chew at things. Often they chew things which they should not chew like electrical cords!
Your cat could be chewing simply because she is bored in which case providing plenty of cat toys could be the answer. Cats do need to play. It is often their only opportunity for exercise, especially for indoor cats, and it helps keep them in tip top shape. Playing also helps relieve boredom.
A cat chewing an electrical cord could, of course, be disastrous, not only from the danger of shock but also of choking. As far as you can keep all electric cord out of the reach of your cat. There is split tubing that you can cover cords with that your cat should not be able to chew through. You can also try winding double sided sticky tape around the cords or spraying them with a citrus spray.
Kittens often chew when teething, special kitten teething toys are available. _______________
A cat is more intelligent than people believe, and can be taught any crime. Mark Twain
Cats are rather delicate creatures and they are subject to a good many ailments — but I never heard of one that suffered from insomnia. Joseph Wood Krutch
Sunday 30th December 2007
Many tall tales were told by frontiersmen of the old west. One of these tales was of the 'cactus cat.' This cat was described as having a forked tail and thorn like spikes instead of fur. The cat was said to run about shrieking and screaming after getting drunk on fermented cactus sap. How did it get the sap? It had sharp blades of bone on its front legs that it used for slashing open the cacti. Sounds pretty fearsome, I'm glad it only ever existed in the minds of tellers of tall tales. :-) _______________
Sarah tells us about Jack her black cat and includes his photo, what a handsome fellow he is. _______________
Cat on a Cold Tin Roof.
I was in my kitchen making my (healthy) breakfast yesterday when I became aware of a very loud crowing or cawing. At the end of my overgrown jungle of a garden there is a large industrial building with a corrugated tin roof. A tabby cat had got her or himself up on this roof and was accompanied by at least a dozen crows, or were they rooks? Bigger than blackbirds, nowhere as big as ravens, and two magpies (two for joy.) The cat was walking along the roof and the crows and magpies were sort of circling her with more flying in, and many of them making that cawing sound.
I say the cat was walking but it was that nonchalant saunter that cats do so well (“whatever is happening it has nothing to do with me!”) I'm pretty sure that the cat, in view of the number and size of the birds made no attempt at hunting any of them, reasoning that discretion was the better part of valor. I watched the cat until it reached the end of the building that I cannot see from my window. The cawing continued for some little time afterwards. I returned to my breakfast which was just starting to burn. _______________
What happens this time of year? Yes, the New Year sales are everywhere. not to be outdone Allposters.com have a giant clearance sale with hundreds of posters and art prints substantially reduced. You'll have to hunt through for the cats but I'm sure it'll be worth it.Allposters Clearance Sale Gallery
Thursday 27th December 2007
That's Christmas gone. Back at work now wondering what happened to the holiday, but I can't complain, I had a wonderful time, my son and his girlfriend treated me like a king :-) I hope that your Christmas was as full of joy as mine was. _______________
A new page is on this site and it's another chance for you to share with other visitors about your cat. . . if your cat is a silly cat! Is your cat sometimes a daft cat? Does your normally quite sensible cat sometimes do the silliest things? Let us know here - Your Silly Cat _______________
Soon after the Christmas tree went up in Amberleigh Malone's home it came down again. The tree was put back up, and it came down yet again. Nothing wrong with the tree, but there was two cats around. And there was the cat that ate a whole sack full of chocolate put around the tree meant for the children of the family. Chocolate is not good for cats.
You have to keep your eyes on your pets at Christmas. Some pet experts recommend trimming a Christmas tree or placing it in a secure area where it cannot be tipped over. Here is the full story. - Cat-tastrophes: Pets, holidays can be interesting mix. _______________ Many cat owners believe that their good little kitty would not even dream of going hunting. After all, their cat is loved and well fed. Why should their pet bother hunting down birds, mice and other wildlife? If a domestic cat has any access at all to the outside world then it will hunt, no doubt about it, it's all part of being a cat. Here are some of the myths and old wives tales about cats and hunting.
Monday 24th December 2007
Well, Christmas is almost here. Gifts all purchased, wrapped and placed under the tree. Nothing to do now but relax, except for mom that is, mom has to cook that monster Christmas dinner.
Most of us can't help but over indulge the food at Christmas time, food which is often richer than we are accustomed too. Sometimes that over indulgence does not do us any good (but we do it anyway,) but think what that rich human food could do to your pet.
It's hard to resist not giving your cat or dog that table scrap when they are looking at you in that way. And who's to say that you should not give them that little tiny piece? But please, do not feed then a lot, not even when they beg for it. Human food is just not good for pets, they can be harmed by it. _______________ Well that's it. A short and sweet blog today as it is Christmas eve. All that remains for me to do is wish you . . .
A very happy Christmas and a healthy, prosperous and interesting New Year.
Saturday 22nd December 2007
I went to see my grandson last night as I will not see him when I visit my son on Christmas day. Don't kids grow fast, Jacob was still in his school uniform when I arrived and what a smart young man he looked. A jolly good time was had by one and all playing with the game that I gave Jacob for Christmas. Of course granddad was the loser :-)
Jacob may be growing fast, but not so Marble the kitten. She is going to be a very petite cat I think, small but energy packed and unbelievably cute. _______________
I can't find where I read this but apparently 35% of males when asked in a survey if they would date a female with two or more cats said no! (35% may not be correct, but it was a high percentage.) I can't see that, I know some folks just don't like cats but I would have thought owning cats would make a lady more attractive. After all, giving care to a pet shows that she is a caring type and choosing cats as pets shows she is the sensible type :-) _______________
Cass is lucky. Does your cat help you to stop feeling 'low'? Post your comments. _______________
Cat lovers, even if they share their home with several felines, still get endless pleasure from owning cat pictures. Well executed cat art makes terrific conversation pieces and leaves your visitors in no doubt at all that you are an admirer of the domestic cat, the worlds most popular household pet.
Wednesday 19th December 2007
Got your place all decorated for Christmas? Great, but please remember your cat. Holly, mistletoe and ivy are all plantlife that we use to good effect at Christmas time, and very nice it looks too. But if any of these are eaten by a cat they are very likely to make your pet ill, and if eaten in large enough quantities can be very serious indeed.
The Christmas tree is another thing that can present dangers. Tinsel can cause choking or stomach problems and those glass balls can be very tempting for Kittie to bat at, imagine what could happen if one broke.
I'm not suggesting that you don't decorate for the festive season but please don't leave your cat in a decorated room unsupervised, your pet could end up having a miserable Christmas. _______________
You had a cat as a pet when you were a kid and you are now thinking that the addition of a cat into your home would give your children the pleasure of loving and caring for an animal. Most likely you'd be right. But, just because you have all those but pleasant memories of growing up with a much loved feline doesn't mean that things always go faultlessly well. First thing is to make sure that your children would want a cat as a family pet. . . Are cats and children a good mix? _______________ And just because it is Christmas, here are some Christmas cats . . .
Sunday 16th December 2007
I had an amazing time with my granddaughters yesterday. It was a bitterly cold day so we did not venture outside. I was given a demonstration of just how quickly three small children can turn a neat and tidy room upside down :-) They are good girls though and tidied their toys away when told to do so. _______________
Before W.W.2 flying Circuses were very popular. They would fly those old bi-planes performing loop-the-loops and other stunts to entertain the crowds. Often the pilots would fly with a young female assistant strapped standing on the wing or even with the assistant walking across the wing.
Apparently one of these flying circuses used to search the towns that they were appearing in for a stray cat. They would fit this poor kidnapped feline with a miniature parachute, and drop the cat into the watching crowd. The cat was then given as a souvenir to anyone that wanted it. I'm happy to say that there does not seem to be any recorded accidents but sure hope that sort of thing would not be allowed today. _______________
If you're planning on giving that perfect cat related gift but fear that you may have left things a tad late, fear not, there is still time (for most shipping options) at Amazon.com Here is a handy list of the Amazon Holiday Ordering Cut off Dates.
Friday 14th December 2007
Whatever next? Scientists in South Korea say they have bred white Turkish Angora cats to glow red under ultraviolet light. A pair of cats cloned from a mother's altered skin cell are nearly a year old. Researchers say that their work could help with investigating some 250 genetic diseases suffered by both human beings and cats.
That's the usual story isn't it, they say that they are experimenting on animals so as find cures for human ailments. Well I expect that sometimes they actually do find cures by conducting these sort of experiments, but making glowing cats – how is that going to help anyone?
In 2004 California officials banned the sale of Glowfish the world's first glowing pet. Scientists injected jellyfish genes into chickens and pigs to make them glow several years ago. I'm shaking my head in disbelief. Here's the full story - Glow-in-the-dark cats _______________
It's the rush here and rush there time of year. Tonight I'm rushing off to join friends for a pre-Christmas meet up. Tomorrow I'm off to make my Christmas visit to see my granddaughters. I'm looking forward to both those things (especially seeing my beautiful granddaughters :-) ) so I'm not complaining.
But often at Christmas time we have to rush when we are forced to just because it's the time of year. For some people particularly those that work in shops, this time of year is one long rush. And occasionally this means that they are not as polite and pleasant as they should be. The lady that served me yesterday wasn't. But did I shrug it off as just a consequence of the Christmas rush? Shamefully I didn't. I thought “What a nasty, rude old bat.” I should have understood the pressure that she was under and wished her a Happy Christmas. _______________
Be careful of your cat's tail! The ancient Celts believed that if you trod on a cats tail it would change into a serpent and bite you. In southern France there is a superstition that if a young girl treads on the tail of a cat she will have to wait a year before she finds a husband.
A superstition in parts of the United States says that if a girl wants to know if she should marry her suitor, she should pluck three hairs from a cat's tail. She should then wrap them in paper and bury them under her doorstep. In the morning she will find that the hairs have formed into a Y or an N shape, she can then make her decision. _______________
I have now got my review of “All I Needed to Know I Learned From My Cat (And Then Some)” finished. I find it to be an amusing little book, cat lovers should be tickled pink by the wisdom in its pages. You can read the review here - “All I Needed to Know I Learned From My Cat (And Then Some)” _______________
It's getting very close to Christmas (are you excited yet?) I've noticed that some of the posters and art prints at Art.com and Allposters.com have warnings against them that you have only a few days in which to order to guarantee that they will reach you by 24th December AllPosters.com Art.com
Sunday 9th December 2007
I feel honored :-) I've been invited to enjoy Christmas dinner at my son Martin's place. I'll also get to meet Suzie's parents (Suzie is my son's girlfriend and soon to be mother of my fifth grandchild.) The two cats will be there and the nutty dog. Unfortunately Jacob, my grandson, will be at his mother's for Christmas, that's a shame but I will get to see him just before Christmas. _______________
Here's a pre Christmas coupon code for you. Use the code HOLLY25 at the check out and Art.com will give you 25% off anything from their site. Don't hang fire because the code expires December 10th at 11.59 PM – that's tomorrow - Art.com! Find cat posters and art prints at 25% off, but don't forget to use the code HOLLY25 _______________
Marlene Todd thought that she would enjoy a relaxing soak in her hot tub while her husband went hunting. She was fixing a broken jet in her small hot tub when she heard a little rustling sound beside her. Marlene thought perhaps her cat could have got out, she turned around and saw this big, tan, hairy body against the side of the tub. It was absolutely not her cat!
It was a feline however but not any domestic cat. Marlene found herself face to face with . . . a mountain lion! Here's the story - Close Encounter - of the Furry Kind
Friday 7th December 2007
Meet L.C.(Little Cat)the cat that likes to join in dolly tea parties! LC was our wedding present _______________
I've been sent a review copy of a humorous little cat book. It's a brand new edition of All I Need to Know I Learned from My Cat. The updated edition has 48 additional pages, including the Are You a Cat Person? quiz.
The original sold very well with over 2 million copies in print and I'd say that this reissue, now called - All I Need to Know I Learned From My Cat (And Then Some) is likely to prove just as popular. I'll get a review written and on this site as soon as I can. _______________
Tabby cats with their beautiful stripes and swirls, whether you are a fan of 'Classic', 'Mackerel', 'Spotted' or 'Ticked' tabbies you will find posters or art prints of tabby cats to delight you.Pictures of tabby cats.
Tuesday 4th December 2007
A 26 year old cat from Ratlinghope, Shropshire could be one of the oldest cats in the UK. The black cat, who is called Pussywillow lived off animals she caught herself until she was 22 when she was attacked by a fox."Because of her wildness when she came she was pretty much an outdoor cat and had an organic diet and I hardly fed her anything," Ms Brown her owner said. Cat could be record breaker.
26 is a grand old age for a cat, but Pussywillow has a little way to go to beat Spike who passed away in 2001 two months after celebrating his 31st birthday. The cat's longevity earned him a place in the Guinness Book of Records. _______________
I've just been reading that it is estimated that over 10,000 cats have asthma (whether that is the figure worldwide I don't know.) Feline asthma is also known as feline bronchitis. There are many underlying diseases and conditions that can cause the symptoms of bronchitis in cats. Some of the symptoms are coughing, wheezing, sneezing, vomiting and fast and labored breathing. You can read more at this site - Feline Asthma Overview _______________
If you are thinking of buying gifts for your family or friends, then kitten posters or prints could be the perfect choice. If they love kittens (and who doesn't?) then they will love kitten pictures. Cute kitten pictures, cool kitten prints, naughty kitten pictures, pictures of playful kittens, kitten art of all kinds is always warmly welcomed as gifts. Kitten Pictures
Sunday 2nd December 2007
I paid a long overdue visit to see my friends Geoff and Karen yesterday. Since the last time that I saw them Geoff has built some very nice decking in their back garden, naturally he wanted to show it off. Trouble was, yesterday was freezing cold and once we were out on the decking . . . there we stayed, I was shivering!
Wendy, Geoff and Karen's cat, has claimed the decking as her own. She parades up and down the balustrade as if to say “This is my territory, you can't come on here without my permission.” Of course, with her fur coat she was not bothered about the near zero temperature! I, on the other hand, was not sorry when my friends said it was time for them to head into the local shopping center at Croydon to do their Christmas shopping. I declined the offer to go with them, instead I headed home into the warm and did my Christmas shopping online, no crowds, no pushing and shoving :-) I wish I could have taken Wendy with me though, she is a great cat. _______________
Kittens, as well as being cute, are extremely inquisitive. Many substances that we keep around the home are potentially dangerous to kittens. Cleaning products, antifreeze and anything else containing dangerous ingredients should be stored safely away from your kitten, in securely closed containers. Spills should be wiped up immediately.
If you use anything containing chemicals to clean floors, then let the floor dry completely before allowing your kitten to walk on it. Cats and kittens have been known to become ill though licking their paws after walking on newly cleaned floors. Kitten Care. _______________ Calendars full of cats are bound to bring joy. As a treat for yourself, or as the perfect gift for all of your cat loving friends, these magnificent 2008 cat calendars are sure to please.
Friday 30th November 2007
A Lady motorist found an injured kitten by the roadside and knew that she had to get the poor little feline to a vet pronto. So off they went in the Lady's Honda. Trouble was that an eight week old kitten, injured or not, doesn't know to sit still.
The kitten scrambled into the dashboard of the car and so an extra stop was needed before the vets. It took a team of technicians at a local dealership to rescue the wet, cold kitten from inside. All has turned out well for the kitten, who has been named Dasher (what else?) but from now on if he needs to make a car trip he will do so in a carrier :-) Read the full story here - Kitty’s dashing escape _______________ Meet Sandy a beautiful ex-feral cat. _______________
Some folks may think that cat trees are a luxury item for pampered cats but the fact is that these items of cat furniture can be of immense benefit for domestic cats, particularly cats that are indoor only cats.
Cats not only enjoy climbing, they are actually designed to climb. When they were in the wild cats often climbed trees to escape from predators who were unable to clamber after them. On the other hand, climbing up a tree was also useful for pouncing down upon any prey that happened to be passing. Cats need stimulation, they need something that holds their interest and cat climbing trees can give them that interest. Cat Climbing Trees – Good For Cats!
Tuesday 27th November 2007
We've all heard the expression 'Fat Cat' meaning someone who is super rich. Well some cats are themselves Fat Cats.
San Diego owner Dr William Grier left about $4 million to each of his two cats Brownie and Hellcat (what a great name for a cat!) British actress Beryl Reid left £900,000 to her cat Eileen in 1996.And Tinker the cat was left a house in London, England by his owner, valued at £1 million. Mary Burton left £90,000 to her cat stipulating that "Fluffy should have a fresh diet of pilchards, steamed cod, tail ends, best lean roast beef and vegetables." _______________
Cats can acquire many of the same diseases and afflictions as humans, and diabetes is no exception. Cats can become afflicted with diabetes just like people, and feline diabetes can be controlled much in the same manner as diabetes can be controlled in humans.
Feline diabetes symptoms include a rapacious appetite, weight loss, unrestrained thirst, and an increase in urination. Although these symptoms may indicate a more serious illness, they typically point to diabetes. This is good news for those fearing their cat may be suffering from a terminal illness. Diabetic cats can live long and happy lives if their condition is properly treated and controlled. Read more here - Diabetic Cats _______________
A six year old cat fell 21ft from a window and fractured both her back legs. She was taken to the local animal hospital where a metal plate and screws were inserted to fix up her legs. The vets were surprised when an X-ray showed she had two implants in her front legs, inserted after she fell from a similar hight when she was a kitten! Read the full story here - Baby the Bionic cat _______________
It is a very distressing experience for humans to encounter but sometimes mother cats eat their own newborn kittens. Thankfully this bizarre and, what seems to us, cruel behavior is rare but does happen for a few reasons.
Maternal instinct is triggered in female cats by pregnancy and by kittening, but sometimes, perhaps due to hormonal imbalance, this instinct is not fully developed. This is more likely with cats who are very young themselves when they give birth. The young mom cat may not know what is happening and view the kittens as prey. Mom cats can also sometimes eat kittens that are stillborn, malformed or so sick that they are unlikely to survive.
A mom cat may eat her kittens if the nest is disturbed or under threat and for some reason she is unable to move or hide the litter. This is thought to be bizarrely part of a survival instinct, fearing she will not be able to protect her kittens, she eats them in order to increase her own chances of survival. It must be stressed that it is rare for this behavior to occur with a cat that is in a home with all that she needs to give birth. _______________
Animal Den - Animal Lovers Gift Shop What a wonderful range of cat products Animal den has, as you would expect they stock cat tee shirts, cat calendars etc., and not so usual cat items, such as cat clocks, cat wind chimes, coin banks, picture frames, cat jewelry, cookie jars, mugs, mouse pads, floor mats, and even ( you know you want one) cat umbrellas!
Wednesday 21st November 2007
New Page. Does your cat cry, howl or excessively vocalize? All cats will vocalize to some extent but when does normal meowing become excessive crying or howling? Generally a howling, wailing or crying cat is trying to get attention, but what kind of attention does she or he want and how can you stop your cat from crying every time she wants something from you?Your Crying Cat ______________________
Meet an old and beautiful lady, impeccably behaved - My Binnie ______________________
Your cat will not insist that you go out and get her the latest cat toys from the store. There are many simple things around your home that you can easily convert into toys for you and your cat to enjoy together.
You may not save yourself a fortune by making toys for kitty, in fact store bought cat toys are usually quite inexpensive, but it is fun to make something personal for your feline friend that will give both of you many hours of enjoyment.
Yesterday was Black Cat Day in Italy (there is nothing like being a day late with the news (-: ) Black Cat Day was set up by The Italian Association in Defense of Animals and the Environment to encourage owners of black cats to bring their pets to Rome and Milan for outdoor picnics, awards were given to those who have worked to keep black cats safe.
The idea is to end the superstition and change the black cat's image. read the story here - Black cats day in Italian sun
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I see that Art.com are still giving discounts at their site, some days it is 15% off other days 20% off. I'm wondering how long they will continue to offer discounts as Christmas is getting closer. If you are thinking of giving cat art posters or prints as gifts it may pay you to shop now rather than later.
Of course, Art.com stock a fantastic range of prints and poster, not only cats, covering just about any subject you can think of - Art.com! ________________________
Is it true that a cat will always land on its feet? Is a purring cat always a happy cat? Is it true that keeping your cat indoors will prevent her from getting fleas? Is it true that cats like people that don’t like them? Find out the answers here - Cat Myths
Friday 16th November 2007
Better late than never. Well my old computer has finally given up the ghost! I knew it was going to happen, probably sooner rather than later. And that’s the reason that there wasn’t a posting in the Cat Art Blog on Wednesday. Still every cloud has a silver lining and the silver lining is that I now have a brand new all singing, all dancing computer.
It is a fantastic machine with a lot of whistles and bells that I’m sure that I’ll find very useful when I eventually figure them out. It also has Windows Vista installed which I am sure is wonderful but right now I would give an arm and a leg for the Windows 98 that was on my old machine, I’m not a technical wizard and all this new stuff is baffling me, but I will just have to figure it out as I go. Also I have a lot of stuff trapped on my old computer that I hope I can find a way of transferring over, if not ah well that’s life.
So this is really just a short note to explain why there was no posting on Wednesday and I hope to have things up and running for a normal edition on Sunday. _______________________
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