Complete Cat Training. If you want, or even need, your cat to behave a little better then you will reference this book time and time again. Read the review here.
A frequently updated report on the happenings in the world of cat art, items about cats as well as general items of interest to cat lovers.
Also included will be snippets of information about this site and the Internet in general, and who knows, perhaps some of my crazy thoughts, rantings and comments about cat art and this big old world.
Remember, this cat art blog is frequently updated - so please keep checking back.
This post is one day late. I'm very sorry about that but it is for a good reason. I had to help a friend celebrate his 60th birthday yesterday and I knew that it would not be possible to make time for an entry to this blog.
So, here I am today and with some very special news . . . the cat-art-blog will now be published in a new form. You will still be updated about new pages and additions to this site plus news about the cat world, a few of my opinions and, of course, news about Mister Robin.
You can get to this new version of this blog by cliciking the What's New? button on the menu bar on the left – or better still, if you are not subscribed to this site's RSS feed why not do so?
The orange button on the top left of every page will get you subscribed so you don't miss a thing. How to subscribe.
I very much hope that you enjoy the new blog.
Sunday 22nd November 2008.
A kitten has the Miami Fire Department to thank for saving one of its nine lives. A local resident called the fire department after hearing the kitten meowing from inside a storm drain, the firefighters tried coaxing the little fellow out of the drain using a pole, that didn't work at all so they brought in a hose. Most cats hate water and so did this kitten, he was soon out of the drain, very wet but alright.
Even soaking wet this little kitten is a cutie, take a look at his ears. The resident who first heard its cry took in the kitten to give him a home. The kitten's new owner said he would name him Sewer, or Sewey for short, I'll bet the kitten will thank him for that. Here's the full story - Firefighters Save Kitten From Drain _______________
I've been reading about Blackberry Cats. Poor old black cats, they got a very undeserved bad press in the Middle Ages and still do to some extent today.
Not only were black cats thought to be bad luck, the familiars of witches and the devil in disguise, if a black cat was born at the end of blackberry season it was considered to be a particularly bad cat. A legend has it that the Satan was thrown out of heaven at the end of blackberry season and landed in a blackberry bush which he defiled with his spit. So 'blackberry cats' are associated with the devil and all his misdeeds. Isn't it strange the things that mankind believes. _______________
You have a cat insistent that she wants in your house and two kids that are insistent that she would make a fine pet, what do you do? - Grumphhh. _______________
Mister Robin has a new toy. It's a ball wrapped with sisal rope, the same way that many scratching posts are. Now, Mister Robin is only a kitten and the ball is really a grown cat's toy, so at first he did not take much interest it it when I rolled it for him. But he has now taken to chasing it, pouncing on it, grasping it with his front claws and pounding the life out of it with his rear paws.
So I thought that I'd get the camera out and post a snap of the killer kitten attacking his prey.
Where is Mister Robin?
The problem was that Mister Robin was much more interested in the camera than the ball. Every time I got a shot set up, the little chap lost interest in the prey and tried to attack me and the camera instead. I did manage to get a snap of the ball before the camera batteries gave out. You will just have to imagine the kitten. :0) _______________
I've been invited to a birthday celebration next Wednesday so the next edition of this blog will appear on Thursday . . . if I have sobered up :0) _______________
Cat figurines are fun to collect and make superb Christmas gifts.
Wednesday 19th November 2008.
A cat was discovered by a railway depot fitter in Carlisle, when he made a routine examination of a freight train which had returned from Billingham. The white and tortoise-shell cat is believed to have hitched herself a ride of almost 100 miles from Teesside to Cumbria underneath the train.
The cat was dirty and shaken up but otherwise unharmed. She was taken to an animal refuge in Carlisle. Now the refuge has the tricky job of reuniting the cat with her humans, anyone missing a cat would not dream the cat had taken a 100 mile rail trip so wouldn't think of ringing up a refuge in Cumbria. You can read the full story here - Cat's 100-mile ride under train _______________
Mister Robin really is a good kitten when he is here all the day by himself, does not seem to get up to much in the way of mischief, but then I suspect that he spends most of his time asleep (on my bed naturally.) The consequence is that he has boat loads of energy for all sorts of mischief when I arrive home.
The first thing that I do is have a petting and playing session with him, then I fix myself something to eat. We then have another short play before I plant myself in front of this computer, and always some energy burning fun before bedtime. But . . . I can't help worrying that it is not enough for him. They say that two kittens are better than one, they can play and learn from each other and are less prone to becoming bored. No, don't start me thinking! _______________
He does that until I can't resist anymore and I have to run over and love him up! - My Little Bear _______________
Sociable and affectionate, but with a strong degree of independence, not particularly lively but playful, Turkish Van cats are often described as being as brave and proud as lions, although some Vans can be quite nervous especially concerning sudden noises.
These cats are climbers and will make use of your furniture to get themselves above eye level. They are are curious and love to investigate everything, using their intelligence to learn how to open cupboard doors! Usually a Van will get on very well with other pets in the household, including dogs, but will certainly want to be the boss! Turkish Van cats thrive in the company of other Turkish vans, and will spend hours enjoying a play together. Turkish Van Cats.
Sunday 16th November 2008.
New Page added to best-cat-art - Gold Cat Jewelry. Go on, spoil yourself :0) _______________
St. Peter's Church in Barnburgh, Yorkshire, England is known locally as the Cat and Man church. The story, part fact and part legend, is that a knight, Sir Percival Cresacre, was returning from a crusade late at night. A wildcat sprang from the trees and mauled the knight's horse. Sir Percival was thrown and attacked by the wildcat ( I guess that he was not wearing his suit of armor, the knight that is.)
The man and cat fought a bloody battle and the wildcat's claws had greatly injured the knight, the pair rolled down a hill and ended up outside St. Peter's Church, the knight made for the church porch, hoping to get inside and slam the door on the cat. However Sir Percival had lost so much blood that he dropped down dead in the porch crushing the wildcat with his feet.
To this day some of the floor stones of the church porch are stained with red. Inside the church is a carved oak effigy of a knight in full armor, believed but not proven to be, Sir Percival Cresacre. At the feet of the figure is carved a cat. _______________
We love our fat cat... she doesn't like clothes... Fat Cat : He does not want to go out there if the weather is the least bit cold, but when the sun is out . . . Our sun loving outdoor cat. _______________
Just read a tip that says the way to tell if the cat litter you are using does not suit your cat is if he or she does not completely cover up the waste. Of course if you cat is failing to use the litter box at all it could be another way of telling you to try another brand. _______________
Yes it is mid November already! And high time to get going with the gift buying for the holiday season. What can be less troublesome than buying online? If you want to give your cat loving friends gifts that will please them all year round then cat calendars fit the bill perfectly. And here is a small something to make your purchases even better, a coupon code for free shipping (use it at the checkout.) Free Shipping on any Purchase (standard US shipping only) Coupon Code EMFS29Expires 12/01/08
When the 17th-century replica tall boat, the Kalmar Nyckel's new crew kitten disappeared in May 2007, the crew of boat searched everywhere for him. It was thought the kitten was on board when the boat set sail, and as soon as it was realized he was missing, a search party was dispatched on the Riverfront to find him. The kittens collar was found but that was all. After three months the search was called off.
But . . . just this week the kitten, now a full grown cat, was found! He had apparently been roaming around downtown for the last seventeen months. Read the full story here - Update, story no longer online. _______________
Just read a tip on one more way try to get your cat to stop chewing your house plants, soak a cotton ball in oil of cloves and bury it just under the surface of the soil. I suppose you could also try citrus or bitter apple, see which works for your cat. _______________
Conjunctivitis is an eye problem that is uncomfortable for cats and will certainly impair their vision. Most instances respond well to treatment, but some instances, if left untreated can actually be life threatening for your cat. . . Cat Eye Health. _______________
Even though he is still a little bitty kitten I can see that Mister Robin is going to be a climber. If there is any possible way that he can climb or leap onto something he will do it. There are a few places that he can't quite make yet, but it will not be at all long before he does. I can see that I'm going to have to get him a Climbing Tree.
As he is going to be an indoor only cat he will not have the opportunity to satisfy his climbing urges on fences and trees and the like.
Sunday 9th November 2008.
New page added to best-cat-art.com. Cats can get acne, yep pimples, spots, blackheads or zits. With mild outbreaks there maybe not much to worry about, it may not look very nice but probably will not bother your cat, you may want to clear it up though. Anything more than a mild case and your veterinarian should be consulted. Find out about the cause and treatment of - Cat Acne. _______________
Here's a tip I read about that may be of use to you if your cat or kitten is an ankle biter. An ankle biter is a cat that likes to attack your ankles as you walk by. They do this to satisfy their hunting instinct, after all there is not much opportunity to stalk and pounce upon real prey in the average home. A cat or kitten sinking their claws into your flesh can be irritating to say the least!
So, the tip is to tie a toy, or a ball to a piece of string and tie the string to your belt to provide a less painful target than your ankle. Would this work? I think that it might in some cases. But although it may divert the focus of your cat's attack from your flesh onto the toy, it would, I think, encourage your cat to attack even more.
I don't think that it would work with Mister Robin, who does not attack my ankles but if he wants a cuddle he will leap at my calf and try to climb up my leg. My own fault entirely, when the little fellow first came here he did this, and I did not stop him, I thought it was cute. I spend my life in jeans so I did not feel his claws through the thick denim, but his claws are a lot sharper now and . . . it hurts :0) I have learned to recognize the signs that he wants picking up, so usually avoid an attack. Another snag with the toy on a string idea is that you may forget that you have it tied to your belt. . . and head off down to the stores. _______________
This is Samson - right after I brought home the new addition to the family . . . You did what? _______________
We all know how cats love to scratch, it is what cats do! Often we will get our cat a scratching post when we start to share our home with a kitten. Snag here is that a scratching post that is suitable for a kitten may not suit your cat when she is full grown. For an adult cat it is best to choose a post of at least 30 inches in height and with a good solid base. Otherwise a more flimsy scratcher may topple over when your big ol' cat attempts to use it, if it does then it is possible that your cat will not go near it again, the result being scratched furniture. _______________
It used to be thought that instances of heartworm in cats was a very rare thing. It is now known that cats can be infested by heartwroms and, although instances are rarer than canine heartworm, when cats become infested it can be devastating. Just a few adult worms can cripple a cat because of their relatively small heart size. Feline Heartworm _______________
"Who hath a better friend than a cat?" - William Hardwin
Wednesday 5th November 2008.
No doubt that you have heard of some very strange names for cats, but possibly “Room 8” is the strangest of all. Room 8 was a cat that became the mascot of Elysian Heights Elementary School, Echo Park, California. He just wandered in through the window of room 8 one day and became a feature of the school for the next sixteen years.
He would spend his time in the school during the school year and then vanish for the summer, reappearing when school started up again.
The press and TV cameras would be at the school at the start of each school year waiting for room 8 to arrive. He became the most famous cat in America, had a TV documentary made about him and was the subject of several magazine articles, and in 1966 a children's book about the cat was published. The cat passed away in 1968 and the students held collections to raise funds for his memorial stone. The teachers read the book about room 8 to each new class. _______________
A couple of weeks later, without warning, we got our first cat . . . Baby the Cat and Pal Sophie the Puppy. : The three of them have provided me and my wife Cathy with laughter, joy and love . . . The 3 P's : I definitely claimed him as soon as I realized what a sweetheart he was. . . Oliver. _______________
It is Firework night (Guy Fawkes night) here in the UK, lots of bangs and flashes. Many pets get quite nervous, I hope they are all inside tonight with someone to comfort them. Mister Robin doesn't seem to mind all the noise. And how is Mister Robin doing? - Mister Robin's Kitten Pic (number two.) _______________
Have you ever browsed through Amazon's bargain books dept.? You can find all kinds of deals there on former bestsellers, novels, non fiction, yes even cat books. Might be worth taking a look to see what you can save. - Amazon's Bargain Books
Sunday 2nd November 2008.
Had a late night yesterday. Made the trip to see my granddaughters, something that I am always very happy to do. It is Becky's birthday on Wednesday (she will be four) and in celebration we went to the local annual firework display. It was a fun night, although the weather was not as kind as it was last year, the girls really enjoyed themselves but little Hayley did not care much for the loud explosions.
The girls were all intrigued to hear about Mister Robin and they all want to come and see him. Unfortunately talk about cats brought back memories of Bonkers, the girls pet cat that was lost to traffic a little time back, but my daughter-in-law managed to change the subject before they got too upset. By the end of the night all three were completely tired out and ready for their beds. How I love those girls. _______________
Talking of Mister Robin. I dug out an old computer mouse with the intent of giving it a new lease of life as a toy for my kitten ( only to be used when I'm with him of course.) After all it is a long lead with a mouse sized lump at the end, just right for dragging around for him to chase.
The results were mixed. Yes it caught his attention all right and I could see his hunting instincts kick in. But I suppose pouncing on a hard lump of plastic is not as satisfying as attacking something softer, like his balls of paper which he loves. No matter it was only intended as a makeshift toy, I've ordered one of theseDa Bird from Amazon and the computer mouse will do until that arrives. _______________
There he was, jumping and playing in his cage like he was the happiest cat in the world! - Rocky : I am not sure what this means in Kitty language, but I get the feeling that he is happy with his choice - My Cat chose me,.......Kinda _______________
Looking at all the stores and shops Christmas (or the holiday season if you want to be P.C.,)has arrived already. That is to be expected, we are all used to seeing Christmas promotions as soon as the summer ends. What shocked me however is that some local councils are already decorating the streets, it is only just November, it is as if they are joining the stores in a conspiracy to get us all to get our seasonal shopping done early.
Will I join in this outrageous conspiracy? Yes I will, I guess I have to, otherwise by the time I start promoting gift buying everyone will be all shopped out :0) Remember, you can't beat shopping online, no crowds, no crush. Cat Gifts.
Wednesday 28th October 2008.
I was quite worried about how Mister Robin would take to being left alone all day while I am at work. So far, so good. I get up a little earlier to make sure that I leave him all that he needs, food, water and a cleaned litter tray. When I arrive home he is curled up asleep in bed, my bed of course, not his. :0)
A couple of big yawns and he is awake, supercharged with energy. We have a play session and a cuddle and then I set him down so I can prepare my dinner, but of course Mister Robin has other ideas. The only way I can get my food fixed is in between throwing balls of paper for him to chase. I eventually get the job done and my food eaten.
Another play time and I have to leave the little fellow to get some work done on this site and that is not easy because I could play with him all night long. Kittens are a joy that's for sure. _______________
People moved and left 4 tiny kittens about 5 weeks old without a mother . . . Our Four Black Cats. : I felt in love with this Norwegian forest cat and now she lives at home with my other cats. . . Love at first sight. : One wasn't enough, so I got one more kitty. Two cute Kitties. _______________
Leo the dog risked his life to save a litter of kittens from flames engulfing a house and was hailed as a hero by an Australian fire brigade.
Leo's owners had escaped from their blazing home in Melbourne, with a second dog. But Leo, a Jack Russell cross, refused to leave the burning building. Believing one person still unaccounted for, firemen entered the house and found Leo standing guard over the kittens despite the thick smoke.
Outside lost consciousness and stopped breathing. He was revived, with rescuers giving him oxygen and a heart massage. The kittens also needed treatment. Read the story and watch the video here - Dog risks life to save kittens. _______________
Enjoy your Halloween but, as always, make sure that your pets are safe. - Cats and Halloween
Sunday 26th October 2008.
In Wednesday's post I said that I may have some special news to report today and that it may be about something starting with a K. It possibly was not too hard to guess what that K stood for, yes it's a kitten :0)
The little fellow is Mister Robin. He is one of Marble's second litter. The other two kittens have been found homes, they are being adopted by two of Suzie's friends, and that left little Robin (as he was called, I added the Mister as it seems to suit him.) I received a phone call from my son Martin telling me what a fine kitten Robin is. “Yes, I'm sure he is I said, “What's this leading to?” Well it's obvious what it was leading to . . . I stuttered, I stalled, I explained that I believe that cats are happier when they can go outside, but that it is too dangerous around here for cats. But of course I accepted.:0)
And so I quickly had to buy a litter tray, some litter, kitten food, and I bought him a bed/carrier, (could have done a lot better buying online, but needed the items double quick.)
Yesterday I took the trip to my son's place, spent some fun time with the family and all the animals, and met Mister Robin. . . and he is a cracker! Martin gave me and Mister Robin a lift back home with the kitten in Suzy's cat carrier, he was a little unsettled in the carrier at first, but it was not long before he was sound asleep.
I could write pages and pages here about my new friend, but I had better not turn this into Mister Robin's blog ;0) Here is the first of his own pages - Mister Robin _______________
Mister Robin is not the only one getting his picture published. How Potter got his name. . . Potter. : Potter the kitten likes to keep in touch . . . Can you hear me now? : And of course, Potter grew up to be a . . . Penguin : Everette, can you try once more to upload your photograph of Mr. Boots thanks. _______________
Skookum Cats. Yes there really is a breed of cat with that name. They are a cross between Munchkin and LaPerm cats, these felines display the curly coat of the LaPerm with the short legs of Munchkins. Another man designed cat breed developed in the 90's. I'm not so sure about creating these breeds. I'm sure the cats themselves, like Munchkins, are lovely, but do we need cats with short legs? _______________
The gift buying season is nearly upon us. Cat calendars are always popular gifts, everyone loves calendars crammed full of cats. Cat Calendars for 2009
Wednesday 22nd October 2008.
It could be that the next time I post to this blog (Sunday,) I will have some rather special news to report. Just in case things don't go to plan I'll say nothing else for now, except that the special news may be about something starting with a K. _______________
I've been reading about Rippling Skin Disorder. Most, if not all, cats act a little crazy sometimes especially when they are young. Mad dashes around the home and even chasing their own tail is quite common behavior. But when this behavior is persistent and excessive and it is accompanied by the skin on the cats lower back rippling, it could be a symptom of Rippling Skin Disorder (Feline Hyperesthesia Syndrome.)
There are a number of other symptoms that could point to this condition, a more common one is the cat self harming, often by biting herself quite viciously. If you suspect that your cat has Rippling Skin Disorder you should get her along to your veterinarian who will be the best one to help. _______________
Had another great photo submitted to the Funny Cat Pictures page. Good photo but it does give me a little concern, so I left a comment there. Was I judgmental? Please take a look and if you have an opinion please leave your comment. One Move and You are Dead. At this time of the year everyone's talking about Halloween, and it seems to be the subject of every other email that drops into your inbox – so I'm not going to mention it, well . . . yes I am, only because SiteSell are again running their Halloween special.
SiteSell are the company behind Site Build It the website software that empowers you to build yourself a successful business in your spare time. With the economic situation being what it is at the present, this may be something you are considering and, if so, the Halloween special may be just right for you.
From now until the midnight witching hour, October 31st, take out a Site Build It subscription and get a second for just $100 more. Why would you want a second subscription? Gift it to a loved one or friend and they can build themselves a successful business too, . . .or keep it for yourself :0) SiteSell Halloween Special - gone at midnight October 31st
Sunday 19th October 2008.
Not one, but two new pages added to this site for your delight. Provide good cat care and your cat will reward you with companionship, affection and love, but that love has to be earned. . . Cat Care. Who wants the odor from the litter tray wafting through their home? Let's be perfectly honest it certainly is not the most pleasant of smells. . . Litter Box Smells. _______________
He's been a great comfort to me and seems to feel when I go through one of my "bad" days. He'll climb on my chest and stroke my face with his paw. - Cat from Heaven? : My husband knew I missed the kitten and promised me whenever circumstances were right we would have a cat. - The Dream Kitten. : In this picture she is about two months old. We knew she would be our baby as soon as she stared at us with her baby blue eyes. Moira at about two months. : And here is our baby girl now,six and a half months old! Moira at six and a half months. : Here is our little Moira with her baby brothers and sisters Brothers and Sisters. _______________
Scarlett, the cat, who in 1996 made headlines around the world after she repeatedly went back in to a raging fire to rescue each of her five kittens has sadly passed on. The heroine calico lost her battle with multiple illnesses after living with her adoptive family in Brooklyn, New York for over 12 years.Scarlett, the World-Famous Brave Mother Cat. _______________
Apparently Freddie Mercury's solo album “Mr Bad Guy” was dedicated to “All cat lovers everywhere.” The Queen front man owned several cats in his life time the most famous was Delilah. _______________
Who has not ever been reprimanded at least once in their life for forgetting to put the toilet seat down? A couple of years back when I was visiting my granddaughters I used the bathroom. Shortly afterwards Samantha, who was four at the time, came out of that place wagging her finger at me and scolded me for 'not putting down the lid of the big potty.'
When we have cats in the house it is particularly important to close the lid of the big potty. Cats can be attracted to the water and fall in, or the lid could come down and trap them. Also toilet cleaners can be extremely harmful for cats. _______________
The Maneki Neko cats that welcome you into stores and restaurants in Japan have their beckoning paw facing outwards. This is because the Japanese beckon by holding up their hand with the palm facing out, and folding the fingers down and then back up. . . Japanese Lucky Cat.
Wednesday 15th October 2008.
The Cheese Heads are a group of four kittens, three males and one female, who are quite probably brothers and sisters. They need a special home where they can receive a lot of care and love. All the kittens have feline leukemia.
They were found in a barn when they were four months old and brought in to Faxon Animal Rescue League. Cats with feline leukemia cannot live along side healthy cats and cannot go outside. The virus can cause cancer, blood disorders and immune deficiency in cats but can't be caught be humans. An anonymous donor has set up a generous fund to help to pay towards the kittens' needs. Read the full story . . . Cheese Heads seek home. _______________
This cat sure seems to know how to relax . . . Relaxed Cat : We knew he was an outdoor cat before we got him. . . The Great Outdoors. : Here is a cat that's not silly - Just The Best. _______________
I had an email from a couple who have come to the decision to have their male cat neutered, that's a good decision to make. Their concern was that their cat is now eight years old and worried about having the procedure done at that age. I assured them that many cats much older than eight are neutered without ill effect. Their vet will probably make tests beforehand anyway just to make sure that it's OK to go ahead. _______________
Back when your cat’s ancestors had to fend for themselves, all the chomping through skin and bone prevented a build up of tartar and plaque on their teeth, which is something that modern cat food, even dry cat food, does not do. So,to make sure that your cat is as free as possible from dental problems needs a little human help, which is where you, and your veterinarian, come in. Cat's Teeth.
Sunday 12th October 2008.
It's a glorious sunny October day here in the UK, we have been enjoying a bit of late sunshine in contrast to the very gloomy economic news, and so as I had not been outside since arriving home from work on Friday, I thought that I would get some much needed exercise and take an early morning walk.
Cats are always more in evidence on a sunny day and so I thought that I'd take count of the cats that I came across as I walked. I saw six in all, four of which were good ol' tabbies, one back one and one black and white one. The cats, of course, were not outside to take any form of exercise, they were catching the rays of the sun, lounging on walls and window ledges. Except for one of the tabbies who was prowling the pavement until he heard my approach. He then engaged me for a moment with a long stare, decided that I was some sort of predator, and darted under a car. _______________
Talking of the late summer sunshine, here is a gorgeous seven month old who suits this weather - Sunny . And here is a very cute little chap at just five days old - Sirius . And see what a handsome fellow he is at four months old - Sirius at four months . Everyone's scared of the boogeyman right? Well here's one boogeyman that will not scare you, he is cute, cute, cute - Boogey _______________
Fred, an orange tabby kitten born on the streets of New York City, was in a sorry state, he was suffering from pneumonia and a collapsed lung. But then he got lucky, he was adopted by assistant district attorney Carol Moran who was able to nurse him back to health.
Perhaps somebody recognized certain qualities in Fred because he was recruited by the Brooklyn D.A.’s office as an undercover agent, to pose as a patient to assist the NYPD arrest a Brooklyn man the policed believed was acting as a vet without any proper training or a license. Fred played his part perfectly and the man was booked on charges of fraud and practicing veterinary medicine without license.
The feline undercover agent was presented with a law enforcement appreciation award and with the Mayor’s Alliance Award, which is granted to remarkable animals. As a result of all this Fred got a lot of publicity and became known as “Fred the Undercover Kitty.”
Fred received several offers from animal talent agencies to have spots in TV commercials, and started training as a “teaching animal” where he would be used in classrooms to help teach kids how to treat and care for animals. Sadly though, before any of this could happen, Fred escaped from his home, perhaps to do some undercover work of his own, and was hit by a car. _______________
Some little while ago I put a form online so that you can share your views on whether you think that cats should be allowed outside or not. Only one response so far. Well, that may be because I have only one link to it, perhaps I should add more, so perhaps folks just don't know it's there.
If you feel that you would like to give your opinion, or let us know the arrangement you have with your cats, please do so. Don't worry about which side of the debate you agree with, there really is no right or wrong viewpoint. If you share your life with a cat do you keep him or her indoors at all times or do you allow your feline to come and go as she or he pleases? Outdoor Cat – or – Indoor Cat? _______________
In 1797 the ship's cat of HMS Reliance gave birth to a litter of kittens. Being born at sea these kittens soon acquired sea legs, but one of them, being particularly adventurous, kept falling overboard. However, all it took was for a member of the crew to throw out a line and the tough kitten would swim for it and climb the line until he was back on board. The kitten became the favorite of the crew and of the captain, Matthew Flinders, who named the adventurous feline, Trim.
Captain Flinders took Trim with him on board HMS Investigator when he made his voyage of circumnavigation around Australia. Trim kept the crew entertained with his antics and established himself as boss of several dogs that were on board the ship.
Unfortunately HMS Investigator struck a coral reef on her return voyage to England and was wrecked. Captain Flinders, Trim and other survivors swan to a coral reef bank where they manage to survive until rescued by a schooner. Unluckily this schooner proved to be leaky so had to sail to the French island of Mauritius. By quirk of fate, and unknown to the crew, England and France were now at war, and the survivors were accused of spying and taken prisoner.
Captain Flinders and Trim shared a cell. The cat soon found a way to leave the cell whenever he wanted and frequently left for night time expeditions. Sadly, Trim failed to return one night and the captain put this down to the cat being captured by hungry slaves.
A bronze statue of Trim the cat by sculptor John Cornwell was placed on a window ledge of the Mitchell Library in Sydney in 1966. The Library's cafe is also named after Trim in his honor. _______________
Pheeeeew! We all know the strong smell of cat urine, it is rather unmistakable. When a cat that normally uses the litterbox starts urinating around the home it can drive you absolutely mad. Cat Urine Problems.
Sunday 5th October 2008.
I was surfing around the web, as you do, when I happened upon a story about a cat that had her tail accidentally slammed in a door. The cat apparently was not in much distress, apart form being understandably indignant about the assault on her appendage, but a few days after the incident the tail dropped off.
It was then that the cat's humans bundled her off to the veterinarian. After examination the vet told the worried humans that their tail shortened feline was perfectly OK, and that sometimes tails do fall off after a break, it was uncommon but not exactly rare.
Intrigued by this information I hit Google and found a few other cases. It seems tails caught in doors, including sliding patio doors, is the most usual way for it to happen. But there was also a story of someones kid brother tying a piece of string around their poor mousers tail, not being able to get the knot undone – so he left it and said nothing. Before long the unfortunate cat was giving a good impression of a Manx. Come to think of it, isn't that pretty much the way that tails are docked? Not a process I approve of.
So, if what I learned is correct, it can happen that a cat's tail can drop off after a break, but by no means does this always happen. If your feline's tail does get broken perhaps it would be a good idea to take her to the vet, especially if there is any broken skin, and of course, if your cat is in pain. _______________
Denise and Darrell Wigdahl had stopped for the night at the Amber Light Inn while on their way home from Southern California. At around 10 p.m. Mrs. Wigdahl went outside to get some ice and heard a faint meowing.The meowing seemed to be coming from the engine compartment of a vehicle parked two stalls down from hers. Denise summoned the help of her husband and he managed to locate and untangle a five to seven week old kitten inside the engine area of the pickup. The little fellow was dirty and greasy but otherwise unhurt. The couple wiped the kitten down with cool cloth and tried to get him to drink some milk. Deciding that the kitten really needed a vet they obtained the number of an emergency vet clinic, but that was miles away in Chico . . . Update June 2009, story no longer online.
It is a quite common occurrence for a cat or kitten to climb into the engine compartment of a stationary vehicle. The cooling engine provides warmth. Some cats do not skedaddle out of there when they hear someone getting in the vehicle or when the engine starts. This has meant many a cat involuntarily traveling great distances, some cats however have met their end in this way. _______________
Your cat's coat can be a good indication of the state of your cat's health. The coat reflects the quality of a cat's diet, the level of excerise and overall condition, it should be free from dandruff and have a gleam to it.A lifeless, dry or course appearance with raised fur is an indication that some cat wellness checks may be in order. The fur of a healthy cat will be smooth and pleasant to the touch, and without any bald or thin patches brought about by scratching. Eczema, fleas, allergies, stress and ringworm are some of the causes of scratching, your vet will give advice and possibly prescribe treatment. _______________
A cat's got her own opinion of human beings. She don't say much, but you can tell enough to make you anxious not to hear the whole of it. Jerome K. Jerome.
Wednesday 1st October 2008.
Charles de Gaulle the WW2 leader of the free French and later President of France, owned a cat called Gris-Gris. A Gris-Gris is apparently a good luck talisman,used in voodoo. And that is, disappointedly all that I have been able to find out about Charles de Gaulle's cat. _______________
Pita enjoys pilates Cat Pilates - So far i have had occurrences with six black cats in the past four weeks. I'm scared. _______________
Quite close to where I live is the south London district of Catford. I never really thought much about the name before, but as it contains the word cat I thought that I'd research it.
The name, it turns out, is Saxon. As you know a ford is a shallow stretch of a river where it is possible to cross, and the location of Catford is where the Ravensbourne river was shallow enough for wildcats to cross. Apparently these cats then raided villages close to London. Now there's a nice snippet of useless information for you. _______________
Dusty, a tabby cat that lived in Bonham Texas is on record as having the highest number of kittens during her lifetime, a staggering 420! Just goes to show what happens when you don't have your cat neutered. _______________
Brand new page – A plain and simple cat collar works just as well as a fancy cat collar, but would it do justice to your cat? After all, isn't your feline friend the cat's whiskers and then some? Adorn your purebred kitty or your mixed breed mouser with a snazzy designer cat collar. Fancy Cat Collars. _______________
Herbie is the cat that will not be photographed. Bring out the camera and the darn cat is off. . . Not a Funny Cat Picture? - In June of this year, my husband and I embarked upon a 1200 mile road trip to Detroit to take possession of these catboys. . .Voce & Brio come home. - He loved people and ran to the door when anyone rang the bell. He was always up to something. . .Tumbling in the jungle now. _______________
The floodwaters were rising and Sandy Ronecker was walking her dog when she heard a strange sound in between the rain drops. The strange sound was meowing coming from a tree whose base was ringed with boards. Through the cracks in the wood, which was nailed into the ground, Sandy saw kittens trapped in a moat around the base of the tree that was beginning to fill up with water.
Sandy, with the aid of another lady, tried to rip out the boards to rescue the kittens, but try as they did, were unable to do so. Instead, they alerted the Fire Department. Four or five firefighters were able to take up the boards revealing four kittens about three weeks old. It is believed that their mother, a feral cat that is familiar in the neighborhood, had gotten her kittens to what she thought was shelter during the rains.
Ever since the kittens have been at Sandy's house and she is looking for suitable homes for them. Could it have been the mother cat that put the kittens in there? I hope it was, but that I mean I hope it wasn't some evil person. Anyway, it's good that Sandy came by and rescued them. Kittens saved during rains _______________
The end of September already. October brings Halloween, all good fun for everyone but not always good fun for cats. . . Cats and Halloween Safety
Wednesday 24th September 2008.
I was having a conversation at work yesterday. Well, it may have started as a conversation but it developed into a heated slanging match. The subject was declawing.
A co-worker was telling me about his neighbor and his neighbor's cat. It seems that this cat is in the habit of scratching walls and furniture (that's not so unusual for a cat,) the neighbor is at the end of his tether apparently and my co-worker informed me that he had suggested declawing! Well, talk about a red rag to a bull, I hit the roof.
Wrong thing to do of course, but I've always had the tendency to flare up when something touches the spot. I should have remained calm and patently explained to him why declawing is a barbaric practice. That way I might just have made him see sense. Actually I'm not completely sure that he did not say that just to wind me up, seeing that he knows my passion for cats. But if he didn't, it amazes me that many people are still unaware of what the declaw procedure really is. Declawing
Now that's what I should have done, I should have pointed him to my web page, or one of a thousand others that probably do a better job of explaining why declawing is cruelty. If I had remained calm I would also have remembered that his neighbor would not find a veterinarian to carry out the procedure in the UK anyway. _______________
Bella is our second black cat, and today another one just came out of no where... The lucky little kitten. _______________
Cat - A pygmy lion who loves mice, hates dogs and patronizes human beings. Oliver Herford _______________
All in all though most users find their self cleaning litter box a boon, for themselves and their cats. Many report that they find that cat waste odor is greatly reduced with the use of these self cleaning trays, and that in itself could make acquiring one worthwhile. . . Self Cleaning Litter Box
Sunday 21st September 2008.
Oh boy did I have a good day yesterday. I went to see . . . yes, you've guessed it, my granddaughters. I hope readers of this blog, which is supposed to be strictly about cats, do not mind my going on about my personal stuff, but I can't help it – my grandchildren are the light of my life :0)
Anyway, my daughter-in-law had to go to work, so my son and I took the girls into town where there was a small, but interesting, exhibit of vintage cars and military vehicles. This included a tank that the kids were allowed to climb inside. Samantha was fascinated with this and promptly disappeared into the tank in amongst about a dozen other kids.
After a while she popped up through the turret at the top of the tank and had herself some fun climbing on the gun and the other stuff. Question, how do you get a six year old down from the top of a tank? When it was time to move on, of course she refused to come down. Those things are high and she could have evaded us for hours if she had wanted to. It took a lot of persuasion particularly the promise of an ice cream. OK, on to cats. _______________
Sufferin' Succotash! Is that a mountain lion? No it's only a bad ol' puddy cat! There are many instances of folks reporting sightings of big cats, pumas, panthers, cougars etc. roaming around localities that they should not be roaming around. These 'sightings' are made all around the world even here in quaint old England.
Usually when the sighting of a big cat is investigated in turns out to have been either a feral cat or a large dog. On the rare occasion the reported big cat is found to actually be a big jungle cat, the animal was probably kept illegally and turned out when it got too much to handle. Here is a 'big cat' story from a paper that has run at least 15 stories on cougar sightings in town in the last five years. Virginia Town Tries to Prove Existence of 'Ghost Cats' (I was alerted to this story by Rex of HorrorStew.com If you love horror movies you will love HorrorStew.) _______________
Birman cats tend to be both curious and unobtrusive, cool but by no means aloof. They have a soft voice, but 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 good with children, and will make an effort to get along with your other pets.The Birman is an intelligent breed and, although a very proficient climber and hunter, adapts extremely well to being kept as an indoor only cat. Birman Cats
Wednesday 17th September 2008.
The cat was feral and skinny. Linda Tiller and Melanie Sanchez wanted to catch the little cat, feed her and try to get her healthy. But what the two ladies did not know was that the cat had kittens.
The cat did not prove easy to catch because she was concerned about her little ones, she had five to take care of. Five is a big number for a little cat to remember, but this mom devised her own special way of keeping count of her kittens. Update, story no longer online. _______________
Queen Victoria (She that was not amused) was known for her love of small dogs, but in the last years of he life she had a pet cat, a black and white Persian named White Heather (The Victorians considered white heather to be lucky.) Naturally Queen Victoria's cat was kept in the lap of luxury, and continued to be pampered after the Queen passed away. Victoria's son, Edward VII took on the cat and looked after her until she passed on. _______________
Hookworms are blood sucking parasites of the small intestine that cats can become infected with in a number of ways. A common cause of infestation in cats is through the eating of contaminated grass or other vegetation, the eating of soil or the drinking of water that is contaminated with the hookworm larvae. Cat Worms
Sunday 14th September 2008.
I was going to my son's today to see my granddaughters, well three of them, Samantha, Becky and Hayley. But a last minute birthday party invitation for Samantha has put paid to that. But not so bad, I get to see them next Saturday instead. I hope that Sam enjoys herself at her friends party, I can just about remember being of an age that all my friends celebrated their birthdays, now all my friends hide theirs :0) _______________
Brand new page added – Cat Ear mites. Ear mites, microscopic bugs, can be very distressing for a cat. An infestation can mean thousands of the mites scrambling around the insides of a cat's ears and that must be irritating in the extreme. How does a cat get infested with ear mites? Is treatment successful? - Cat Ear Mites _______________
Our neighbor tells us how he meows constantly when we have to go away. He gets so overjoyed just hearing our footsteps on the front porch. Optimus Prime, the love of my life _______________
Kittens that stayed with their mom cat, and their litter mates, until they were twelve weeks of age or more, will be more likely to bond with other cats if they are introduced to a multi-cat home. Kittens that are separated from their litter mates early are more apt to be happiest as the single cat in the home. Of course this does not always prove to be the case and there are many other factors that have a bearing on how sociable a cat is. _______________
Hilariously impossible things happened in Tom and Jerry cartoons, hilariously impossible and hilariously funny. The pair would hit each other with anything they could lay their hands on, push each other of off buildings, shoot each other and commit every conceivable act of violence to their opponent. All this without any long term harm. Tom and Jerry.
Wednesday 10th September 2008.
Went for a drink on Monday with a mate of mine who emigrated to Spain about a year ago. He is back over here for his niece's wedding. I admire people like that, they know what they want to do and they do it no mater what the risk, and they are not afraid of facing the unknown. I would not want to emigrate myself, even though the sunny weather would be welcome, because I wouldn't want to be so far from my sons and my grandchildren. But apart from that, I doubt that I'd have the nerve to do it. No cats in this story so I'll not try to work one in ;0) _______________
Good evening, my name is Dracula and I bid you meowwwww! We have all heard of vampire bats of course, but how about vampire cats?
There is an ancient Japanese folk tale that tells of a demon blood sucking cat that kills a young girl by draining her of blood. The cat then hides the body and shape shifts to that of the girl. The girl's betrothed, a prince, does not notice the deception and each night the cat sucks a little blood from his neck.
Through the loss of blood the prince becomes ill and the court is baffled as to why the prince is wasting away. To solve the mystery the prince's aid stands guard over him all night and soon discovers that the price's betrothed is not what she seems. The vampire cat escapes and is hunted all over the land. Eventually the cat is killed and the girl returns to life. Why is your cat licking his lips and looking at you like that? _______________
No doubt that you keep all cleaning products, laundry products and medications safely out of the way of your cat, in a closet or cabinet. But please be aware that some cats do develop the knack of opening up closets, particularly if the closet door is secured by a magnetic latch. You might want to think about fitting child-proof latches. Cats can be quite dexterous with their paws and all cats have that inbuilt curiosity. _______________
A news report is putting forward the view that it may not be cats, feral or otherwise, who are the main culprits in the destruction of birds and other wildlife.
Cats are natural hunters and it is a fact that free roaming cats do take away a percentage of other creatures. But the report says that several studies made in various parts of the world conclude that it is mankind's destruction of habitat, the use of pesticides,ongoing pollution, together with climate change and road kill, which are the major reasons for the decline of bird species and small mammals.
The report points out that many predators that once lived in rural areas are now gone, and feral cats play their part in balancing that out by keeping rodent populations under control. Many species of wildlife attack other species and yet it is very often cats that are the focus of blame for any decreasing numbers. You can read the full story here - Cats : Not the worst culprits in wildlife loss. _______________
Many cat trees have a section wound with sisal rope which makes a great cat scratcher. Many folks renew the rope when it wears thin from all the scratching and why not, that's good common sense money saving. But here is something I have just read. Apparently some brands of sisal rope have a coating of a petroleum based substance which is meant to stop the rope becoming too dry. There is a warning that if this coated rope is used as a scratcher, fumes could be given off that could make your cat sick. _______________
You may have noticed some new buttons way on down at the bottom of most pages of this site. Using these buttons you can share pages of best-cat-art.com on Facebook, MySpace,Yahoo Buzz! Stumbleupon etc. Of course you would only want to share pages that you enjoy but any bookmarking will be greatly appreciated ;0)
I am losing track of how many animals my son and his partner now have at their house :0) _______________
There was no evil in him - he was the opposite; the most loving cat I have ever seen. His name was Marley. _______________
You have organized a dinner party at a swanky hotel, in fact the venue is non other than the majestic Savoy hotel in London. There is only one thing that is causing you concern, you have counted up your guests and the tally comes to, 11, 12,. . . oh my goodness, there will be thirteen of you at the dinner table!
Not that you are superstitious or anything - - but thirteen is plain bad luck. What are you going to do? Fear not, the Savoy will aid you with your dilemma. They will supply you with a fourteenth guest.
This guest is very special, he will not say anything embarrassing and will listen intently to any conversation. Your last minute dinner companion is called Kasper and is in fact a cat! Don't worry, this cat will not try to leap on the table to snaffle the fish dish, nor will he rub himself against the legs of the other guests. This is because Kasper the cat is three foot tall and carved out of wood.
If you think the idea of twelve of your friends and yourself dinning with a wooden cat would be a fun thing to do, I should point out that all this used to take place in the 1930's as far as I can make out, but maybe Kasper is still available for dinner, best to phone to check.
It is said that Winston Churchill used to dine at the Savoy once a week. Winston was a lover of cats, I wonder if the great statesman and Kasper ever enjoyed an after diner cigar together. _______________
Those nice folks at Art.com have a special running. By using a coupon code at the checkout you can save yourself 25%. They have a wide range of cat and kitten art prints and posters, and other topics too, of course!
And the coupon code is . . . USA25 (Some exclusions apply. Offer expires Sept.5th 11.59 p.m. EST) Bag yourself a bargain.
Well what can I say? I have often posted in this blog, and have articles on this site, about the importance of getting your cat fixed. It's not so very long ago that My son's cat, (well his lady friend's cat actually) produced three beautiful kittens (Marble's Kittens)
After that happy event I did have a word with my son about the importance of preventing yet another litter. “Yes dad, you are right” was the response if my old memory is functioning properly. But, wouldn't you just know it, I am now informed that Marble has produced yet another litter! Yes, three more little ones. And to think that I saw Marble last Sunday, if only very briefly, and did not notice that she was pregnant.
Well it's happened now, no good my saying I told you so, all I can do is wish the kittens well, apparently the litter is two girls and one boy, all black and white and gorgeous :0) There will be photos soon. _______________
Because of my total failure to spot that Marble was pregnant I've put up a new page Pregnant Cat Symptoms. Just kidding. By coincidence I had the page half completed when I got the news about the new kittens. If you need to know if your cat is expecting a litter, that page will give you plenty of clues. _______________
Well I said that I might do it and now I've gone and done it! I've added a form to the Outside Cats page so that you can give your opinion on whether cats should be allowed to come and go as they please or should be kept inside.
The world is divided on the issue. Some folks, like myself, feel that cats benefit from the freedom to enjoy the outdoors. Other cat lovers feel that there are too many dangers for cats out in the world, so prefer to keep their cats in safety at home. Who's right, who's wrong? Nobody, there are merits to both sides of the discussion.
What is your view? Is your cat inside or outside? Please share your opinion here - Outdoor Cat – or – Indoor Cat. _______________
There was no hesitation on my part, I picked up this tiny kitten and just knew. Pieface - Naninho loves chasing butterflies and eating tuna - Naninho and he doesn't always look so serious - Naninho. _______________
Some cats drool when happy or when being petted. Usually the drooling is fairly mild and is normal behavior for that particular cat. However if drooling is excessive, or not usual for a cat, then there could be something wrong.
Excessive drooling may be a sign of mouth ulcers, inflamed gums or other dental problems. Other reasons could be exposure to toxins, respiratory disease, stomach problems etc. If your cat drools and you can't discover an explanation for it then it would be best to get your pet to a veterinarian. _______________
Cat urine stinks and stains. It can make you think that your feline friend has suddenly become your feline enemy, that your cat is peeing where she should not simply to give you cat urine problems.
Sunday 24th August 2008.
The sun was out and the sky was blue and all was right in the world for me yesterday because I was feeling the joy of holding Isobel my eight week old granddaughter. It doesn't seem that long since the little darling was born, time just flies away.
Jacob, my grandson, was given a trampoline for his birthday. It's quite a big affair enclosed in a sort of safety net. Of course yours truly was persuaded to have a go. I have learnt something – trampolines and rather overweight grandfathers are not the best combination.
Cats were everywhere :0) Rodger and Guinness were play fighting in the garden when I arrived. They have grown and I don't think they can be described as kittens anymore. They were joined by Badger, the littermate of Rodger and Guinness, who now lives next door and also by the cat from my son's other neighbors and all four felines were entertaining in the extreme with their cute antics.
We were even joined by Bluebell the part Burmese cat. Bluebell is an older lady, very beautiful but not usually very sociable, she normally hides herself away except at mealtimes. So it was quite an honor when she sauntered into the garden. No surprise that she did not join in with the other cats, but did allow me to pet her a bit before she sauntered off again. But where was Marble?
My son and Suzie, his partner, realized that Marble had not been seen since the day before. Not too worrying as it is quite rural where my son lives, lots of places for inquisitive cats to explore in comparative safety. But half an hour before I left Marble returned. So, one granddaughter, one grandson, one dog and six cats, what a glorious day. _______________
If you need to supply your vet with a sample of your cat's urine here is a method of collecting it which apparently works well.
Simply empty a packet of (uncooked)dried lentils, or split peas, into a clean litter box and wait for your cat to use it. Drain off the lentils and hey presto! You have your urine sample. _______________
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Wednesday 20th August 2008.
My thanks go to June who contacted me to say that she had been reading the Cat Body Language page and was surprised to find two ads from Amazon right in the middle of the page covering up the text. Naturally enough June found this rather annoying.
So, I put on my best Sherlock Holmes deerstalker hat and set off to investigate. Everything looked fine, there were two Amazon ads but they were in the left margin just where they should be. Ah but wait a second, I was using the FireFox browser, so I opened up Internet Explorer and looked at the page again. That's where the problem was.
I don't know why, because I'm not much of a technical person, but you can build a page and it looks perfect in FireFox but sometimes does not appear the way it should in Internet Explorer. I think you have to get the coding absolutely spot on for Internet Explorer whereas FireFox is a little more forgiving. Anyway I'm grateful to June for bringing it to my attention and sorry that it spoiled her enjoyment of the page. If you should come across a similar error please do let me know. _______________
I'm happy :0) I'm off to see my grandson and latest granddaughter on Saturday, (this will be only the second time that I've seen baby Isobel.) And while I'm there I'll be able to see their collection of cats and kittens. _______________
Yoda is a cat with something extra, an extra pair of ears. His owners, who picked Yoda out from a litter of kittens being handed around in a bar, say that local vets were mystified when they took him for a check-up. The cat has been micro chipped and is being keep indoors because of fear that his abnormality may cause him to be the target of catnappers. Cat With Four Ears _______________
Way back when I started this site one of the first pages that I created was Outdoor Cats. Back then I was pretty much entrenched in the opinion that cats are better off if allowed outside.
Over time I have read much about the subject and read some pretty convincing arguments for the opposite point of view, that cats should be kept indoors. Several times I have modified the opinions on the page and presented some of the points for keeping your cat inside.
It seems to me that more and more folks are convinced that cats should not be allowed to come and go and are better off confined indoors because of all the dangers outside. These opinions are getting to me, they have almost convinced me that an indoor cat is as well off as a cat that can go out of the home.
I say almost convinced me because I still believe in allowing cats freedom. Quite possibly my feelings about the matter are influenced by the fact that here in the UK most cats are indoor/outdoor. I'm used to seeing cats outside, I enjoy stopping to pet friendly free roaming cats as I walk down the street. Also, I still believe that unless an indoor only cat has other cats for company, or a human around for most of the time who plays and pets the cat, the cat will find being confined indoors stressful.
I have long said that I will not share my home with another cat all the time that I'm living here. Indoor/outdoor cats do not have much of a chance in this busy street, ( The story of Basil my last cat, a victim of traffic. ) My stance has been not to enjoy the company of a cat until I can afford to move to a small house in the the country where a cat can roam without too many dangers. But as time has passed that little house in the country doesn't look any more of a possibility, it feels like a pipe dream, but we must never give up on our dreams!
Is this the reason that my opinion on the indoor/outdoor question is softening? Is it simply because I'm missing the company of a cat and if I wasn't opposed to keeping a cat confined inside . . . I'd have the possibility of sharing life with a cat again? Who knows.
But enough of my ramblings on the subject, what is important are your views. I'm considering adding a form to the Outdoor Cats page so that you can give your opinion, tell others about your reasons for allowing your cat outside or not. Your views should make very interesting reading. _______________
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Wednesday 13th August 2008.
Well, I did not get many responses to my request of last Wednesday (6th August) as to my proposed changes to the cat-art-blog. That's OK, in the end it has to be my decision although visitors views are very important. It's still not too late to let me know what you think if you wish to do so - Contact. _______________
Apparently older cats can suffer from Alzheimer's just like humans can. Studies carried out at the universities of Edinburgh, St Andrews, Bristol and California have identified a key protein which can cause mental deterioration. This newly discovered protein is pivotal to understanding of the process of aging in cats say scientists.
Because cats have a shorter lifespan researchers are quickly able to assess the effects of drugs, diet, and high blood pressure, on the progress of the disease. Alzheimer's is estimated to affect up to 15 million pets in the United State alone.
Of course aging has an affect upon cats, just as with any animal and, maybe especially, with people. But there are some things that cats, of any age, often do that could be mistaken for Alzheimer's, going out, coming back in, and going straight back out again for one. If you do notice any odd behavior in your cat as she gets older, please don't assume that it is down to Alzheimer's, it could be due to a physical problem and your veterinarian may be able to help. _______________
Cats that have been declawed do not have the ability to fight off another cat or dog. Outdoor cats are particularly at risk from injury, or even death, if they do not have their claws to use for for defense. A cat will not make the fight or flight decision based on whether it has had its claws removed or not. If it makes the stand and fight decision a clawless cat will be at a considerable disadvantage. If the cat decides to make a run for it the absence of claws inhibits its ability to climb in order to escape. Is cat declawing ever necessary?
Sunday 10th August 2008.
Michael Edmonds has complex epilepsy and can suffer seizures at any time. But thanks to his black and white cat Tee Cee, he gets a warning of an oncoming fit.
When the cat sits close to Micheal and stares at his face he knows that a seizure is on the way. Tee Cee then runs to Micheal's wife Jean to let her know what is happening. Even when help arrives Tee Cee doesn't leave Mr. Edmonds side until he regains consciousness and the cat's warnings have proved priceless to the family. Tee Cee was granted the Rescue Cat of the Year award of 2006 by the Cats Protection League. _______________
Now I know it sounds all gooey but I am sure that anyone that has a cat they really enjoy would know what I am saying - How I Met Princess : This is Gattino practicing for Halloween - Scaredy Cat : She then said, "Why don't you take him then?" "HECK NO", I said. "I hate cats" - How Cats Changed Me Forever _______________
Wednesday 6th August 2008.
I've been thinking, by which I mean that I've been rattling my two remaining braincells around a bit.
I enjoy writing this blog, it is usually a labor of love. But sometimes I find it a bit difficult to come up with anything useful to say. The last thing that I want to do is bore you. And so . . .
. . . I've come up with a plan that I may put into action, but I haven't come to a firm decision yet. I could publish the cat-art-blog in another format, one that just alerts you whenever a new page is published, or an existing page is updated. And all the news and tidbits about cats and kittens I could publish in a newsletter (or ezine) once a month or once a fortnight, the software that I use (SBI) has the facility to do that but as yet I've never used it.
If I were to do that I could pack each issue with lots more cat related information. As I said, I haven't made my mind up yet, why not help me decide? Please do let me know what you think - your view is the most important, the new blog and ezine will be written for you. Let me know using the contact form here - Contact _______________
“Roy, come and get this goddamn cat!” That sentence is said to be the very first in-flight radio message. The cat in question was “Kiddo” a stowaway on the airship America.
On October 15, 1910 the airship took off from Atlantic City, New Jersey, in an attempt to cross the Atlantic. Hiding in one of the lifeboats, airships had lifeboats apparently, was a little gray tabby cat that belonged to one of the crew members. At first Kiddo did not enjoy the experience and meowed and made a fuss leading to his discovery. The cat kept up his protests for some time, hence the odd radio message.
Eventually though Kiddo settled down and spent some time sitting on the lifeboat enjoying the sun and washing his face. Unfortunately the airship did not quite make her target coming down in the ocean just 475 miles short, the cat and the crew were rescued by a steamboat. However, the airship America had set a new world record for a continuous flight of 71.5 hours. Kiddo must have been forgiven his initial fuss because the navigator later wrote “You must never cross the Atlantic in an airship without a cat.” _______________
New page on this site: Need to buy a gift for someone? If that someone is a cat fanatic then a piece of cat jewelry could be a perfect choice for them. Cat lovers adore cat necklaces, cat earrings, cat brooches - anything that represents their favorite pet. - Cat Jewelry _______________
Back in 1955 a Mrs. Winfred Mansell was working in her garden when Ginny her tabby cat showed up. Noticing that the cat was limping badly Mrs. Mansell examined her left front paw and there she found two pieces of what, at first, appeared to be glass stuck between the pads.
The impediments removed Ginny now seemed to have no trouble walking and went on her way. However, Mrs Mansell thought there was something a little strange about the two pieces of 'glass' so she eventually took them to a jeweler.
It turned out that the impediments the cat had got stuck in her paw were in fact diamonds. The fields around Mrs. Mansell's home in Keston, England, were searched but no secret hoard of gems was uncovered. Those two little diamonds were estimated to be worth around 300 GBP, a tidy sum in 1955 and not too a bad gift from a cat to her human! _______________
I don't know why the heck we didn't get a cat sooner. They're awesome and wonderful companions - Yuri : About two hours later there was an awful yowling and scratching at my kitchen door - I Chose the Beast Cat _______________
Checking out the Funny Kitten Videos page I found that a couple of the videos were no longer online, oops. So I've replaced them with a couple of fresh ones, enjoy. - Funny Kitten videos
Wednesday 30th July 2008.
A rescue shelter in New Jersey is trying to find the owner of one fat cat, actually one huge cat. Some of the rescue workers say the cat, that weighs a massive 44lbs, is built more like a quarterback, and was found outside without a collar.
The Camden County Animal Shelter has named the kitty "Princess Chunk." The kitty's owner has until Saturday to reclaim her. You would notice if a cat of that size was not around. Of course a cat being anything approaching that kind of weight is not healthy. Overweight cats run the risk of many health problems including feline diabetes, breathing difficulties, lower urinary tract disease, arthritis, non-allergic skin conditions, and heart and liver disease. A cat that is fat does not have the feline life expectancy as a cat with the correct body weight. Here is the news story - Fat Feline Found at Roadside. _______________
If your cat is frequently dry coughing as if she is trying to vomit up a hairball, but no hairball is produced, then your cat could have asthma. Other symptoms include rapid or labored breathing, wheezing, lethargy, producing frothy mucus when coughing. If your cat shows any of the symptoms of asthma then your veterinarian should be consulted.
Asthma affects about one in one hundred cats, and about five in one hundred Siamese cats. Feline asthma is not curable but with lifelong treatment many cats with asthma can enjoy a normal life. _______________
What are these graceful and muscular felines? Long, lean and tall with large ears that are towards the top of the head. And how about those magnificent spotted coats, surely these must be some species of wildcat! Savannahs – Exotically Good Looking.
Sunday 27th July 2008.
Quite close to where I live is a large area of land owned by the local authority. It was once used for a semi-industrial purpose but that use ended about thirty years ago and for some time it was left as wasteland. Surprisingly the local authority decided not to sell the land for housing or commercial development – - good for them.
Instead they dedicate the land as a public open space, a rare resource around here. However, they could not afford to, or did not want to, make it into a conventional park, with tended lawns, flower beds that sort of thing. Instead the land was converted into a “country park”, trees were left standing, wild plants, bushes and shrubs were encouraged to grow, all designed to be as natural as possible. The only things they spent money on were digging out a lake and making footpaths through the park.
Has this got anything to do with cats? It might, read on to find out ;0) All in all it has worked very well, there is a good deal of wildlife over there, foxes, rabbits, squirrels, ducks, geese, panthers, grizzly bears, well okay, not the last two ;0) It is possible to stand in the middle of the park and not be aware that you are in London.
Anyway, with one thing and another, I hadn't visited the park for some weeks, months, well perhaps about a year. As it was a warm summers evening I took a walk over there. There was something new, and a little strange.
The mysterious pole.
This seems to have been carved from the broken stump of a tree. Is it some sort of totem pole? Could this have been done by one of the park keepers in their spare time? Someone has taken a lot of trouble over it, there are crude, but artful carvings all the way around of the wildlife you find in the park. Right on top is a bird of prey, a falcon perhaps? There is a fox, a badger (although I've never seen one of those in the park,) a rabbit and so on. And there is this creature . . .
A cat perhaps?
Could this be our friend the cat? Perhaps it might represent feral cats, I've never seen feral cats over there but it is quite possible there are some. There would certainly be enough prey for cats in the park, field mice, voles and such. A mystery pole and a mystery creature, I'll have to see if I can find out more. _______________
I've updated the Kitten Care page, not by much, mainly just tided it up a bit. _______________
Here is a debate that may have the experts set for a cat fight. A news report says that shelter officials and veterinarians have begun to notice that kitten season is beginning earlier and lasting longer. The cause of this, some think, is global warming. Well why not? Global warming has been blamed for many things so why not blame it for the rising number of unwanted cats and kittens in rescue centers and shelters.
Nancy Peterson, feral cat program manager of the Humane Society of the United States says "The brain receives instructions to produce a hormone that basically initiates the heat cycle in a cat." Nancy goes on to say, "and Those instructions are affected by the length of day and usually the rising temperatures of spring."
Sounds a reasonable theory to me, the higher temperatures due to global warming is causing cats heat cycles to extend so they are producing more kittens. Others though have a different view.
Christine Petersen, assistant professor at Iowa State University's College of Veterinary Medicine states, "Temperature's going up a little, but the sexual cycle of the cat isn't based on temperature." The reasoning here is that the heat cycle of cats is based on the length of the day and light exposure, not on the temperature – and the length of the day is not changing even if the temperature is increasing with global warming.
But even those experts who don't blame global warming directly say that increased temperatures could affect kitten populations in other ways. For example, the milder weather increases kitten survival rates and that warming could hasten the onset of puberty in cats, creating a larger pool of fertile cats each breeding season.
Well, what is it that they say about getting two, or more, experts together? Something about them not agreeing on anything. I say that global warming or not, it is heartbreaking that there continues to be so many feral and unwanted cats, spaying and neutering has always been the answer. Here is the full story - Global Warming Could be Causing a Kitten Boom _______________
And talking of expectant cats - If your cat pregnant it will be a good idea to keep her indoors if you can. One reason why is that an expectant feline cannot move as fast as she normally can, and that could be a problem if she has to get herself away from a predator.
Burning the midnight oil I've finished the page on cat eye health. Although they can use their other senses far more efficiently than can humans, eyesight is important to cats. It is a good idea to learn a little about the problems that affect your cats eyes, and what you can do about them. Usually the very best thing to do if your cat has an eye problem is to get him or her to the veterinarian. Cat Eye Health. _______________
Sad news. The baby red panda that was adopted by a cat, see the video posted last Sunday, has died. Staff at the Amsterdam zoo made the discovery on Thursday morning. A post-mortem showed that the little one had choked on too much milk. A sad outcome but a heartwarming attempt by a cat to nurture a 'kitten' of another species. _______________
A cat uses her whiskers to communicate, if the whiskers are pointing forward the cat is conveying friendliness, but if pointing back it's a signal of uncertainty or even hostility.
Cats also use their whiskers when hunting prey. The whiskers are so sensitive that they can pick up air currents from the moving prey and so help the cat to zoom in on the exact location. Also, when the cat has its prey in its mouth the sensitive whiskers let the cat know when the prey is completely lifeless. _______________
Why paint your cat? After all cats are beautiful creatures if you want to appreciate the appearance of a feline, you look at the cat not at a painting . . . How to Paint Your Cat
Wednesday 16th July 2008.
A new page is in the works about cat eye problems. Conjunctivitis is one of the most common problems affecting the health of cats eyes. There are several conditions that can can cause conjunctivitis in cats. Some of these are reasonably easy to treat, other conditions can be a threat to a cats eye health and may be problematic and harder to control. Anyway, there is a lot to research before the page is complete. _______________
Miskena saunters along like a little Southern Belle, but will stalk anything that moves, dogs, cats, people, leaves. _______________
When humane society worker Jakki Smith, a 21-year-old veterinarian technician in training, descended from an old maple tree holding a tiny kitten the crowd below erupted in cheers. Jakki calmly got into a fire truck bucket and rose about 50 feet to rescue the little kitten that had got stuck up a tree in Windsor for three nights and four days. It was her first cat rescue.
Ever since the kitten became stranded neighborhood kids and adults would gather and try to coax him down. When that didn't work, many called the humane society and the fire department. They were informed there was little that be done and the kitten would most likely come down by himself. That didn't happen and the neighbours felt their concerns were being ignored by authorities, so they contacted the media, that did the trick. Here is the news story - Vet tech makes first cat rescue.
What gets me are some of the comments left in response to the story. Yes, it is true that cats will often eventually make it down from the tree if left alone. Cats though, are not designed to climb up as easily as they can climb down. It is also true that the function of the fire service is to fight fires and save human lives. But . . .
. . . why, oh why, do some folks have to be so heartless, or at least like to appear heartless, because they think that tax money is being wasted? In this case the kitten had been up the tree for some time. A waste of tax money? I don't think so. _______________
Your cat point blank refusing to eat what is in her dish could simply be her way of demanding a change, after all cats can become bored with the same food every day. Conversely your cat may refuse to eat if you suddenly switch brands on her, or she may even reject a new flavor. Make any change to your cat's diet 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 . . Discover why it is your cat will not eat.
Do you read cat magazines? You can find a nice selection (and often make a saving) at this page from Amazon.comCat Magazines
Subscribe To Best Cat Art.
from Amazon and the computer mouse will do until that arrives. 
