CatsRCool

Your Shot of Cuteness for today!

December 24, 2006.

(UNITED STATES)

Wow, I have been under a rock! Did you know Nora the cat played live on the Today Show?!?!?!?!

Nora played live on the Today Show! I wrote about Nora a while back (click here to read about the Feline Mozart!). In an interview with Nora's owners Betsy Alexander and Burnell Yow, we learn that she is "a little bit of a diva" who will only play the piano in her own home.

Via Dlisted

All cats love the Scratch Lounge!! I mean ALL cats! LOL!

Even wild cats love the Scratch Lounge! Check out this YouTube where large cats (Mountain Lions, Bobcats, African Serval) really go to town with the Scratch Lounge!

And check here for more satisfied customers!

How Fat is too fat?

Meet Hercules. He's a 20.2 pound tabby from Oregon that was captured by the Human Society in Oregon when he got caught in a doggy door while trying to sneak into a home to steal food.

The owner of the home was shocked to find him and found it quite funny. She said, "It was hilarious to see this big cat struggling to get in. I helped him out of the door and gave him a plate of food on the patio."

The cat was assumed to be a stray, but he actually belongs to someone. Geoff Ernest saw his cat on TV and immediately called the Humane Society to pick him up.

He is super cute, but unfortunately it seems that he was diagnosed with Feline Immunodeficiency Virus, cats can live a long time with the disease, but should remain indoors so he doesn't spread the disease.

SOURCE: DLISTED

Have you had your veggies today?

If not (even if you have), check out today's Cutie Patootie!!!!

Celebrity Cat Lover: Susan Boyle

Sudan loves her cat Pebbles!

Source: People

Be grateful and happy where you are.

That's not to say that you shouldn't have goals and try to do better and make progress in your life. It just means that you should take time to enjoy your progress, smell the roses and have fun. No matter what you have been through, you are still here so you must not be finished yet!

So this story is a few months old, but I have been in a really crappy mood lately, and today I ran across a story about Midge - a cat that only has one eye. She doesn't let that stop her from having fun and enjoying life though - she keeps her eye (no pun intended) on the prize and runs the race.

Almost every day, Midge's owner Martin Humphreys jogs around his town in England. One morning Midge joined him, Martin noticed that whenever he started to speed up, Midge did too! She wouldn't let him pass and always made sure to beat him. Martin decided it was time to settle this once and for all. He decided they would battle it out in a great race and he made a documentary about it. He turned Midge's story into a short film, wrote a soundtrack and asked a children's choir to sing.

Now, The Great Race was screened at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival.

Midge is an inspiration!!!! She made my day. READ MORE

Super Funny!

Are these people famous? Nope, but they probably will be since this "Family Portrait" is all over the net!

Cat Ladies

Take a look at a movie about real life cat ladies!

From the site:

"A makeshift shrine to a fallen furry companion. Whiskers tucked inside a box. Half of the bed kept warm by fluffy tails and padded paws. One thinks she's gone too far, taken too many in. Another says there's room for more. With humour and sensitivity, this vérité portrait follows the lives of four "cat ladies," taking us beyond the stereotypes to explore the deeply felt emotions of loss and loneliness. While feline beauties inhabit every frame of this quirky yet remarkably human film, the real stories are the lives of the cat ladies themselves, each of whom, in her own way, is struggling to fill a void within her life."

http://www.traileraddict.com/trailer/cat-ladies/trailer

Can a bear and a cat be friends?

I think that cats really get along with ANYONE or ANYTHING. I think that people (and or animals) can make a choice to dislike cats. I also think that some cats' personalities clash with other personalities (which is to be expected). So this story really wasn't surprising to me - BUT IT'S STILL GREAT! Especially because we call AJAX "Little Bear" (We also call him Needle Feet as well). He really reminds us of a bear sometimes.

Muschi the cat and Maeuschen the bear live at the Berlin Zoo. They met 8 years ago and they've been best pals ever since. The friends share everything including an enclosure and food at Berlin Zoo

"The pair were split up last October when the bear was locked in a cage while her living space was enlarged. The distraught cat soon caught the attention of zoo keepers after she remained sitting outside the bear's cage pining for her friend. This week, keepers took the unusual step of allowing the feline into the cage with her shaggy-haired pal. 'They greeted each other and had a cuddle and now they're happy,' said Heiner Kloes, a member of the zoo's management board."

Giving drugs to a pet is like giving drugs to a child.

This story is not new, but still a shocker (in my book). Negligence on display: In Austrailia an eight-month-old Himalayan cat

's owner admitted that the cat licked up a whole plate of cocaine that was served at a dinner party.

They took the poor cat to the vet 2 days later after the cat had trouble walking and was easily startled. Sadly, as there is no legal requirement in Australia for vets to report such cases to the police, he was counselled and allowed to take his party animal home.

This poor cat could hardly calm down long enough to be examined. Read more here: SOURCE

Monkey and Cat Makeout!

Cats are so patient!

Today's Celebrity Cat: Salem Saberhagen

Salem from the show: Sabrina the Teenage Witch

Source:

The return of the crazy cat lady myth!

The picture above really has nothing to do with the myth of the cat lady, however, Jocelyn Wildenstein has come to define the name all on her own. Although she is probably the most famous Cat Lady, I am not sure whether she is a Cat Lover?

But I digress...

A new study done by Tidy Cats shows that most people think that the Cat Lady really exists!

Jill Rosen of Unleashed writes:

The helpful folks behind Tidy Cat did a survey and found that a disturbing amount of America believes in the concept behind "The Crazy Cat Lady." Meaning, if a woman, or even a man, has more than one kitty, something is up there.

The poll found 71 percent of all domestic cats living in the U.S. reside in multiple cat households. So, that would be quite a lot of crazy, no?

Source:

Tidy Cats has kicked off an essay/photo contest that aims to debunk myths about owners of multiple cats.

The Campaign to End Cattiness invites multiple-cat owners to submit stories about their fulfilled lives with their cats. Contest participants have a chance to win several prizes and just might help redefine what it means to be a “cat lady.”

Ugly Bat Boy looks like a little lion.

People think this cat is super ugly. I think he is unique! What do you think?

ANOTHER COMMUTER CAT!!!! Casper the Cat travels by bus too!

Wow!!! I just wrote about an older new story from 2007 regarding MaCavity the Cat, but now there is news of another commuter cat!

In his golden years, 12-year-old Casper has discovered a very efficient way to get around the English city of Plymouth. He leaves his house, trots across the street to the bus stop, waits his turn in line and hops on the city bus! The cat even has a favorite seat — in the middle of the aisle — where he kicks back for a spin around town before hopping off at his destination.

Cats in England know the best way to get where they are going!!!!

The KittyCatCouch!

A couple bought a used couch for $27 and found an awesome surprise! Thang goodness they bought that couch!

Maru is awesome!

Maru the cat has his own

Blog

. This cat is super smart and SUPER FAMOUS!

Hmmmm, maybe potty training a cat is not such a good idea afterall!

Poor Charlie!!!!

Can a cat grow wings? Fact or Fiction?

Granny Feng's tom cat has sprouted two hairy 4ins long wings, reports the Huashang News.

"At first, they were just two bumps, but they started to grow quickly, and after a month there were two wings," she said.

Feng, of Xianyang city, Shaanxi province, says the wings, which contain bones, make her pet look like a 'cat angel'.

Her explanation is that the cat sprouted the wings after being sexually harassed.

"A month ago, many female cats in heat came to harass him, and then the wings started to grow," she said.

However, experts say the phenomenon is more likely down to a gene mutation, and say it shouldn't prevent the cat living a normal life.

Source

According to Wikipedia:

There are more than 138 reported sightings of animals claimed to be winged cats, though some of these are clearly nothing more than individuals with clumps of matted fur. There are over 30 documented cases (with physical evidence) and at least 20 photographs and one video. There is at least one stuffed winged cat, but this may be a nineteenth century fake or "grift".

Today's Celebrity Cat: Macavity the bus traveling wonder cat!

This smart cat loves his fish:

Macavity, who wheres a purple collar, gets onto the busy bus at the same stop most mornings - he then jumps off at the next stop down the road, near a fish shop!

Since January, when the cat first caught the bus he has done it two or three times a wee

Since January, when the cat first caught the bus he has done it two or three times a week and always gets on and off at the same stops.

Passenger, Paul Brennan, 19, who catches the 331 to work, said: "I first noticed the cat a few weeks ago. At first I thought it had been accompanied by its owner but after the first stop it became quite clear he was on his own.

"He sat at the front of the bus, waited patiently for the next stop and then got off. It was was quite strange at first but now it just seems normal. I suppose he is the perfect passenger really - he sits quietly, minds his own business and then gets off."

Cool Cat site of the day! Cat Ladies! catladies.tumblr.com

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this blog! Check out:

catladies.tumblr.com

Celebrity Cat Lover: Kate Beckinsale

Kate has a cat named Clive.

Source

Can you scruff a Mountain Lion?

Today, I had to scruff Ajax because he was acting too tough. I was sitting on a chair that he likes while speaking to my Mother on the phone. He continued to try to box and bite me, so I got really fed up and decided to go back to the ways when he was super little. If you aren't sure what scruffing is, read here:

How to Scruff a Cat - Tool for Discouraging Undesirable Behavior ...

Anyway, so Ajax, (who is close to ten pounds at this point) really didn't appreciate being scruffed, but it worked. I put him in the bedroom to cool off. 10 minutes later he sauntered out and began to 'obviously ignore' me.

If I were to encounter a rabid feral cat I would scruff it. I really think that I would. If you had asked me that 1 year ago, I would have not had the same response, but now that I have experience with Ajax - I think I would have the wherewithal. Ofcourse, I understand that if I got attacked by a feral cat, that I would have serious injuries, but I would still fight to subdue the cat. So I started thinking, can you scruff a Mountain Lion?

It appears so! According to Wilderness Utah:

" When it comes to mountain lion encounters, many fatalities have been averted simply because the victim fought. One story even reports a grandmother pulling a mountain lion off her grandson by the scruff of its neck!"

Kittens Available!!!!!!

Want a kitten?

If you live near Bakersfield, CA and think you'd like to have a sweet beautiful new baby, call Chelley @ 661.823.7649 for more information.

If you'd like to see all of the different kittens available, click here to visit Save Tehachapi’s Orphaned Pets (S.T.O.P.) !

Miami Dade County Beware! Serial Cat Killer on the Loose. :(

Too heartbreaking to even speak of, here are a few of the headlines from the past few days:

3 More Cats Found Dead, Reward Rises.

Serial Killer ups count to 25.

Cat Killer on the loose.

And We're Back!

Can drinking wine hurt a cat?

BY STEVE DALE | Tribune Media Services
February 12, 2009

SOURCE

Q Recently, my cat got into my wine glass while I was away from the table. I caught him red-handed with the red wine. I noticed he enjoyed it. I don't think he got drunk, but he sure did sleep well that night. I know that since he's so small, a few licks could be damaging. I don't think this will happen again, but now I'm curious. Is alcohol any more dangerous for pets than for people?

A Dr. Steve Hansen, a veterinary toxicologist and director of the ASPCA Animal Poison Center, Urbana, Ill., says: "The primary reasons we don't want pets drinking alcohol is that their bodies aren't adjusted to it. And if they overindulge, they may lose balance and fall from a counter or down stairs."

Also, it's true - just a few sips for a cat or small dog may be equivalent to a single glass of wine for a person. There are no known studies on long-term use of alcohol by dogs or cats. However, Hansen suggests pets - cats in particular - may be even more susceptible than people to renal and especially liver issues as a result of too much of a good thing.

Advertising on Cats? Is this going too far?

Talk about exploitation:

Warner Bros has revealed that it plans to advertise its forthcoming shooter, F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin, via a clowder of black cats roaming the streets of London on the game's launch day on Friday 13th. Branded a 'cat-vertising campaign', the scheme will see the specially trained black moggies sporting F.E.A.R. 2 cat clothing. The idea, according to Warner Bros, is that the creepy kitties will 'capture the attention of superstitious passers-by,' as Friday 13th is famous for its supposed bad luck and a black cat crossing your path was listed at number 5 in a recent survey of Britain's superstitions and signs of bad luck."

This is going down on this Friday the 13th! I think that this further perpetuates the myth of the black cat!!! :( Does this help or hurt cats in society?

"Shamelessly branded a ‘cat-vertising campaign’, the scheme will see the specially trained black moggies sporting F.E.A.R. 2 cat clothing, and then roaming the streets of London. The idea, according to Warner Bros, is that the creepy kitties will ‘capture the attention of superstitious passers-by,’ as Friday 13 is famous for its supposed bad luck and a black cat crossing your path was listed at number 5 in a recent survey of Britain’s superstitions and signs of bad luck. Friday 13 was listed at number 3, while breaking a mirror was listed as the number 1."

Today's Celebrity Cat: Cooper The Cat... & Artist!!!!!

The owner's of Cross Films had a cool idea to outfit their family cat with a small light weight camera for one day a week in 2008. The result was thousands of cool pics!!! Check Cooper The Cat's artwork in the Sample's above.

"This is art without pretense to it," said Michael Cross. "This is an art form that's not intimidating."

"It really is a different view. I think of our neighborhood as very urban but through his eyes, it's green, lush, going through backyards and shortcuts," Deirdre Cross said. "I feel like I have a different relationship with it through his perspective."

Source: SeattlePI

Anime Kitty!!!!

Celebirty Cat Lovers: Angela Martin (Fictional "The Office" )

Angela Martin is the head of the accounting department at the fictitious paper distribution company Dunder Mifflin, Scranton Branch. Angela lives with several cats and even speaks cat on a recent episode of The Office!

How many cats are too many cats?

MSNBC is reporting that the Animal Human Society rescued 118 cats from a mobile home!!! It took authorities almost 2 hours to gather up all of the cats and the smell was so foul that they had to call the local fire department to ventillate the home so that they could breath while working! What makes it so insane, is that officials say that they had already had a previous run-in with the mobile home owners in 2002 when they removed 72 cats from their house!!!! All of the cats are in good shape and appear to be healthy and are now up for adoption, although the story reports that the authorities also found hundreds of dolls in their home... some in the freezer (WTF??? - Maybe toys for the cats to chew on? - Still quite gross). So I ask, when is it too many? Should we be limited on the amount of cats that we can own? What do you think? Take the poll below.

I looked it up online... "How Many Cats are Too Many".

MetaFilter asked the same thing, here were some of the replies:

0-2 normal.
3-4 cat lover.
5-6 Excessive. Suspicion that the owner may have abandonment issues :)
7+ Warning bells. Person at risk of a lonely death with only feline companions who have overrun the house, and will feed on the corpse when the catfood runs out. :-)

Note: Kittens do not count towards those totals.

Note: One-year old cats are not kittens. :)

You even have to think to yourself… Is it fair to the cats to overcrowd your house with cats?

Also from MetaFilter:

“Here are some of the determinants:

1. size of apartment
2. how many bathrooms (i.e., how much litterbox space)
3. how many people live there and will care for the cats
4. how much you care about a clean apartment
5. will you have frequent guests, and/or are your friends allergic ”

Tell Me What you think!

Where in the **** have you been?

Hey All, so sorry. I have truly been missing in action since the start of the year... I have no excuse.... But I have news!!!!! Ajax the Cat successfully survived his neutering appointment!!!!!!!!!!!!! We also learned that he is smart enough to recognize the PetSmart exterior, and understands that the vets office is inside. Even when we tried to walk him through the store (which in my opinion is the equivalent of a toy store for pets) he gave us the stink eye of suspicion.

Poor Little Cat

MSNBC had a story about a little boy that shot a poor cat in the head with an arrow:

BOISE -- A 12-year-old Caldwell boy has come forward to claim responsibility for the arrow found lodged in the head of a cat.Prosecutors will decide whether the boy should be charged with animal cruelty.The boy and his father told the Gem County Sheriff's Office he was protecting quail, but the question many are asking tonight is - does intention matter?Gem County officials tell us that it is illegal to shoot at pets with a bow and arrow any time. But some are making the argument that this was a stray cat.Jeff Rosenthal with the Idaho Humane Society says that does not matter."There's a feeling at least that this is something malicious and cruel," said Rosenthal.A nine-month-old cat, now named Valentine, is recovering after a major surgery to remove an arrow from her head.This interview came an hour before Wednesday's surgery."I think the arrow went through the eye and came out the back of the head," said Jeff Brourman who performed the surgery on Valentine.A scan of the cat's head shows the arrow missed the brain by millimeters, but destroyed the left ear and eye.(Related:Sheriff says 12-year-old boy shot cat in head with arrow)"In a case like this we have to be concerned that this is something that is done purposefully," said Brourman.Hours after this story was brought to the public's attention, the Gem County Sheriff's Office said that a 12 year-old neighbor of the person who brought the cat in claimed responsibility.We went to their home Thursday, but they declined to comment.Since Valentine is a stray, the closest thing to an owner would be the person who took the cat to West Vet.That person said they would not press charges on the boy because they believe he is sorry for what he did and that this was an accident.Jeff Rosenthal with the Idaho Humane Society disagrees."I don’t think it was accidental, I think the shot itself where it hit was, that part of it, I'm sure no one was that accurate, but I believe the child was intending to harm the cat sure," said Rosenthal.We spoke with a lieutenant from Gem County Sheriff's Office just moments after he questioned the family and he said he has everything he needs to file his report. He'll turn it over to the prosecutor to decide whether to file charges. That decision likely won't be made until next week."Because it was a child there’s more of a, oh it’s a child out being mischievous, made a mistake. I still think it’s important to make an impact on that child. Make sure we don’t have anything else going on with the child as well," said Rosenthal.Valentine will spend the night recovering from surgery, and then the plan is for Simply Cats, an all cat shelter, to come and pick her up and get her well enough to be adopted.Simply Cats executive director Sheri Schneider tells us that around 75 people have shown interest in adopting the cat when she's ready.Schneider says they will most likely hold a lottery to determine Valentine's new owner.Rosenthal says the Humane Society maintains a toll-free animal cruelty and neglect hotline for people to report cases of animal cruelty, neglect or animal fighting.Anyone with information on these forms of abuse is urged to call 1-866-430-9432.

How old is your kitty?

The cat's age in relation to a human's Cat's age: Human's age:

6 months- 10 years

8 months- 13 years

1 year- 15 years

2 years- 24 years

4 years.- 32 years

6 years- 40 years

8 years- 48 years

10 years- 56 years

12 years- 64 years

14 years- 72 years

16 years- 80 years

18 years- 88 years

20 years- 96 years

21 years- 100 years

Celebrity Cat Lover: Jay Leno!

"I've never understood why women love cats. Cats are independent, they don't listen, they don't come in when you call, they like to stay out all night, and when they're home they like to be left alone and sleep. In other words, every quality that women hate in a man, they love in a cat. "

-Jay Leno

Rest In Peace in peace India the cat.

Very sad news: President, Mrs. Bush, Barbara, and Jenna Deeply Saddened by Passing of Their Cat India ("Willie")

The President, Mrs. Bush, Barbara, and Jenna are deeply saddened by the passing of their cat India ("Willie"). The 18 year-old female black American Shorthair died Sunday, January 4, 2009 at home at the White House.

When Barbara was nine years old, she named India after the former Texas Ranger baseball player, Ruben Sierra, who was called "El Indio." When Barbara and Jenna moved away to college, India, affectionately called "Kitty" by the family, stayed at the White House with the President and Mrs. Bush.

India was a beloved member of the Bush family for almost two decades. She will be greatly missed.

Okay, no more anger! Here is my last pissed off cat entry.

The battle cat, to end all battle cats!!!!! Just when you thought it was safe...

Patches and Smokey... two real life "Battle Cats"! LOL

I read a cute story about two cats, one housecat and one "alley cat", that come together for a Christmas duel!!!!!

Click here to read the story by Brad Hollerbach.

(*side note, I wonder if his last name is pronounced "Holla Back!", if so, what a perfect Blog author name! He can always ask his readers to Holla Back at him! :) )

(**Side note numero deux: that's Holla Back.... not to be confused with Gwen Stafani's girl power term "Holla Back girl"... one is good, one is bad!)

In honor of all "pissed off cats", celeb cat: BATTLE CAT

This cat, is Mr. "Don't Play" himself. Cross him, and he will cross you out!!!!!!

By Day:

Battle Cat is normally known as Cringer, the cowardly, lazy, over-eating feline companion of Prince Adam. He tends to spend most of his time as Cringer sleeping, eating, and avoiding responsibility, as well as hiding at the slightest sign of trouble or danger.

By Night (or in Pissed off mode)

Cringer becomes Battle Cat, he grows to about twice his size, and is outfitted in red armor that covers his head, and back, with a saddle mounted on it for riding. As Battle Cat, he is fearless, and powerful. His voice changes significantly, and he talks with a growl, as opposed to his whimpering voice that is heard when he is Cringer. He largely serves as a steed for He-Man, but he is known for mixing it up with the villains as well.

Don't worry cat lover's, the reporter is okay.... :)

Hooray! The reporter from my last report survived the pissed off reaction... (of course LOL) learn more about the cat and the reporter by viewing the vid.

Two Reporters, taken out, by pissed off cats.

I feel sorry for these folks, they really had no clue that the cats were pissed. (Although, in the clips with the poor lady reporter, the cat was clearly warning her). Maybe these clips will help us all recognize when to leave a cat alone.... :)

How to piss a cat off.. 101.

In case you were wondering, here are two ways to completly piss your cat off. First off, the baby/toddler also seems to be in danger, second, PLEASE GIVE THAT CAT HIS STRING/CRACK back.

Enjoy.

Can you guess the level of pisstivity? Your input needed... is this cat secretly pissed?

Okay so is this cat mad? I mean, I can't tell... the cat seems to be tolerating the situation however, there appear to be tell tale signs....

1.) His/Her ears are pointed backward

2.) His/Her mouth is in an obvious frown

3.) He/She is dressed like a maniac/idiot

What do you think?

Pissed off cats... an explanation....

I have a category called Pissed off Cats, and since I am a cat lover, who hates to see cats get abused, I felt like I should explain the category. "Pissed off" seems like a pretty crude category name... but the reason that I created it, is because the web is filled with videos, stories and pics of pissed off cats ( most notably Hamburger and Fries, a royally pissed off feline). Cat's, while super cute, furry and huggable... are very independent, intelligent beings... cross them, and you will piss them off... they don't try to hide it... Some of the videos and stories of pissed off cat's are funny... some are just plain sad. Either way, I love to see cat's express themselves, it helps me learn more about them.

There are a number of ways to "piss a cat off", obviously abuse of any kind is one way but you can also piss a kitty off just by being an annoying human. Cat's just don't appreciate being treated a a lesser being. It seems like they only want the same respect that you would offer a human that you consider a friend, or that is a family member.

What is really interesting is that as humans, approximately 60% of us tend to think that cats are even cuter when they are mad, the remaining 40% of us feel for the poor cats and feel sorry for them. I am somewhere on the border... cat's are always cute to me... even when they are mad. Of course, I feel their plight, but it's almost like a curse for them.... they are so furry and cute, that it's hard for me to take them seriously, even when they are mad...

Anywhoo, for your veiwing pleasure (or not) check out these videos for more examples of pissed off cats.

Yesterday's Celebrity Cat: Fritz the Cat

Moviestar cat: Fritz the Cat... "glib, smooth and self-assured," a underground comic book character of the 1960's. So why is Fritz our celebrity cat of YESTERday? Because, I had WAY too many homemade white russian's (my favorite newyear drink)... and this entry came too late. Fritz was actually suppposed to be the 1st celebrity of 2009. Anywhoo, check him out on Wikipedia: Source

New Favorite Site!!!!! www.WiiKitty.com!

I love my Wii, and I love my Kitty... So it's only natural that I LOVE www.WiiKitty.com!

Great reading for 2009! All I Need to Know I Learned from My Cat. By Suzy Becker

Reveiew By an Amazon.com Customer

This book was a gift from my Mom and I've read it over and over throughout the years when I need to remind myself not to take life too seriously (Why should I? My cat doesn't!). I'm going to order one for a very dear friend of mine who is also a cat "freak".

This book speaks volumes on how easy life can be if we just take time to "eat the flowers" and relax. Life holds many great and small mysteries that we all need to explore instead of rushing through trying get to what we think is most important (and it usually isn't!).

I highly recommend this book to cat lovers and "others" alike!

Check out this great book at AMAZON!

Happy 2009!!!!

Happy New Year!

In honor of Eartha on Christmas... Santa Baby....

Sadly, the best "Cat woman" that ever lived... (Sorry Halle Berry), passed away today at the age of 81. She will be missed.

Very Sad News... CatWoman, Singer, Dancer, Eartha Kitt dies Christmas Day.

NEW YORK (AP) — Eartha Kitt, a sultry singer, dancer and actress who rose from South Carolina cotton fields to become an international symbol of elegance and sensuality, has died, a family spokesman said. She was 81.

Andrew Freedman said Kitt, who was recently treated at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital, died Thursday in Connecticut of colon cancer.

Kitt, a self-proclaimed "sex kitten" famous for her catlike purr, was one of America's most versatile performers, winning two Emmys and nabbing a third nomination. She also was nominated for several Tonys and two Grammys.

Once dubbed the "most exciting woman in the world" by Orson Welles, she spent much of her life single, though brief romances with the rich and famous peppered her younger years.

Her first album, "RCA Victor Presents Eartha Kitt," came out in 1954, featuring such songs as "I Want to Be Evil," "C'est Si Bon" and the saucy gold digger's theme song "Santa Baby," which is revived on radio each Christmas.

On television, she was the sexy Catwoman on the popular "Batman" series in 1967-68, replacing Julie Newmar who originated the role. A guest appearance on an episode of "I Spy" brought Kitt an Emmy nomination in 1966.

New Favorite Site: FluffyTails.ca! Iris and Fern demonstrate how to decorate a tree!

A site about 7 year old fluffy tailed sisters Iris and Fern. Below are the first 5 steps, check out the site FluffyTails for the rest of the 10 steps to decorate a christmas tree "kitty style" as well as an update on "maintenance" LOL!

STEP 1

A full day of excavating the storage room in search of the various Christmas boxes has definitely created a mess. Finally all have been found. Including a few boxes we didn't even know existed! After a quick sorting thru of the tree box, we are ready to begin the assembly of the artificial tree.

STEP 2

Insert each branch carefully.

STEP 3

Fluff branches out to desired fullness.

STEP 4

Even though this tree is artificial, it should still be sniffed and tasted for freshness. Yep, this one's still good!

STEP 5

After each layer, it is very important to stop and rest. IN the tree of course! This is strenuous work, no need to over exert yourself.

Merry Christmas!!!!

Merry Christmas Cat Lovers!!!!!!!

One shopping day left before Christmas!

Don't forget to gift to your cat! :) This is what I am getting for my little one!

Scratch Pad Rooftop For Bootsie's Bunk Bed & Playhou

Source esmartcat

Famous Cat Lover: Edgar Allen Poe

I wish I could write as mysterious as a cat. -- Edgar Allan Poe

Edgar Allen Poe was devoted to his tortoiseshell cat Catarina. Unable to afford sufficient heat for his dying wife, Poe placed Catarina on the bed to keep her warm. The cat stayed with the sick woman and, inspired by its loyalty, Poe was moved to write one of his best-known tales, "The Black Cat".

Book Review: Chicken and Cat Clean Up by Sara Varon.

Perfect for the young Cat Lover and just in time for the holiday's.

In this volume, a 40-page hardcover for $16.99 aimed at ages 4-8, Chicken runs a housecleaning service in New York City. Cat works with Chicken, but Cat is clumsy and causes accidents, wanting to play instead of work. It’s only when Cat plays to his strengths that he’s recognized for his help. The full-color pages are calm and welcoming in their cool pastels. This new book is a sequel to Chicken and Cat, which came out a couple of years ago from Scholastic.

Book review and image Source

How Old Is Your Cat?

An average life span might be 12 to 14 years. Some cats are reaching 20 or more.

A cat's longevity depends on feeding, genetics, environment, veterinary care and some other factors. It is also important whether or not the cat lives indoors or is allowed outdoors (outdoor cats live an averge of eight years).

The general consensus is that at about age seven the cat can be considered as "middle-aged", and at age 10 and beyond - old.

The cat's age in relation to a human's Cat's age: Human's age:

6 months- 10 years

8 months- 13 years

1 year- 15 years

2 years- 24 years

4 years.- 32 years

6 years- 40 years

8 years- 48 years

10 years- 56 years

12 years- 64 years

14 years- 72 years

16 years- 80 years

18 years- 88 years

20 years- 96 years

21 years- 100 years

Image Source: Ilooshka

Cool Cat Facts...

People who are allergic to cats are actually allergic to cat saliva or to cat dander. If the resident cat is bathed regularly the allergic people tolerate it better. Studies now show that the allergen in cats is related to their scent glands. Cats have scent glands on their faces and at the base of their tails. Entire male cats generate the most scent. If this secretion from the scent glands is the allergen, allergic people should tolerate spayed female cats the best.

Cats are pure carnivores. They need a high level of protein in their diets - and can't digest well a diet of grains, fruits or vegetables. If you were to design a creature to live from hunting mammals you couldn't do better than the design of the cat. Cats have powerful jaws, sharp teeth, and claws that draw back into their paws when not in use. Cats hear extremely well. Their eyes are adapted for vision in dim light for hunting just before dawn and just after dusk, the prime hunting periods.

Of all families of predators the cat family is the one that varies most in size. Biggest of all is the tiger which may weigh several hundred kilos. The smallest of the small cats is the black-footed cat in South Africa which weighs only just over one kilo. There are many similarities between the two multi-specied genera. Both have retractable claws, all are stealth hunters, i.e. they approach their prey stealthily, and all except the cheetah are skilful climbers. All except the lion live alone.

Today's Celeb Cat!!!! MC SCATCAT!

The real superstar of the music video for Paula Abdul's "Opposite's Attract"! MC Skat Kat dances and sang backup! Check out the video!

Here is a better cat genie video....

Actually, after reading more I think this looks/sounds pretty cool....

Is a Cat Genie a good alternative option?

Check out this infomercial on Cat Genie... a special kind of "cat toilet". It looks pretty cool. I am still not very sure how it works and am planning to research costs. They claim that this saves you money in the long run, but there could be significant startup costs...

On second thought.... Do you think this video is gross? Please answer my poll, I need to know how other's feel about this....

I was completely on board with this whole potty training idea and planned to use this video to convince my husband that this was an awesome idea... until the last second of this video. It was pretty funny...but also a little gross when I consider that my cat AJAX, likes to use my pillow as a door mat. What do you think?

Speaking of "cool cat tricks"... Cat's that are trained to use the Human Toilet.

There have been more books and articles about toilet-training your cat than you'd think. In the summer of 1989, when Misha was a small kitten with big ears and enough meow for five cats, I searched out and read a half-dozen of them. And then tried it myself, and discovered there were a couple of things they all failed to mention ...

Some of the advice in those books turned out to be impractical. Some of it was unnecessary. Some of it was quite sensible and worked like a charm. A lot of what works and what doesn't work depends on the individual cat — on her personality and smarts. Here's what worked for me and Misha.

The central idea is that the transition from litter box to toilet be accomplished in a series of stages. You make a small change and then give your cat time to adjust before you make another small change. If at any time Felix gives the whole thing up and pees on the rug instead, you're pushing him too far too fast; back up a stage or two and try again, more slowly.

In the following instructions, I've used the word "rest" to mean: do nothing for a period of between a day and a week, depending on how flappable your cat is. (Misha caught on fast and was completely trained in under two weeks, far in advance of what the books led me to expect.)

Ready? First start by training yourself ...

The very most important thing to remember is: Lid Up, Seat Down. Post a note on the back of the door or the lid of the toilet if you think you (or your housemates or guests) might forget. (Nowadays, if I have a guest who leaves the lid down, Misha will usually come and ask me to fix it, but you can't expect every cat to go to this much trouble. Besides, he's been using the toilet for more than six years now; when the whole idea was new to him he'd just as soon pee in the bathtub instead.) And if you are accustomed to closing the bathroom door when it's empty, you'll have to break that habit too.

Begin by moving the cat's current litter box from wherever it is to one side of the toilet. Make sure he knows where it is and uses it. Rest. Next put something — a stack of newspapers, a phone book, a cardboard box — under the litter box to raise it, say, about an inch. (Magazines are too slick; you don't want the litter box sliding around and making Felix feel insecure. Tape the litter box down if you need to.) Rest. Get another box or phone book and raise it a little higher. Rest. Continue this process until the bottom of the litter box is level with the top of the toilet seat. (For Misha I raised it about two inches per day.)

At the beginning of this process, your cat could just step into the box; later he began jumping up into it, until at some point he probably started jumping up onto the toilet seat first and stepping into the box from there. You've been diligently keeping the lid up and the seat down, of course, so by now your cat is thoroughly familiar with tromping around on the open toilet.

Lift the seat on your toilet and measure the inside diameter of the top of the bowl at its widest point. Venture forth and buy a metal mixing bowl of that diameter. Do not (I discovered this the hard way) substitute a plastic bowl. A plastic bowl will not support the cat's weight and will bend, dropping into the toilet bowl and spilling litter everywhere, not to mention startling hell out of the cat.

Now you move the litter box over so that it's sitting directly over the toilet seat. (If your cat has shown reluctance over previous changes, you might want to split this into two stages, moving it halfway onto the seat and then fully over.) Take away the stack of phone books or whatever. Rest.

Here's the cool part. Take away the litter box entirely. (Ta da!) Nestle the metal mixing bowl inside the toilet bowl and lower the seat. Fill the bowl with about two inches of litter (all of this is much easier if you have the tiny granules of litter that can be scooped out and flushed).

Naturally, any humans using the toilet at this point will want to remove the metal bowl prior to their own use and replace it afterward. The next week or two the whole process is likely to be something of an annoyance; if you begin to think it's not worth it, just remember that you will never have to clean a litter box again.

Watch your cat using the bathroom in the metal bowl. Count the number of feet he gets up on the toilet seat (as opposed to down in the bowl of litter). The higher the number, the luckier you are and the easier your job is going to be ...

...because next you have to teach him proper squatting posture. Catch him beginning to use the toilet as much of the time as possible and show him where his feet are supposed to go. Just lift them right out of the bowl and place them on the seat (front legs in the middle, hind legs on the outside). If he starts out with three or, heaven forbid, all four feet in the bowl, just get the front two feet out first. Praise him all over the place every time he completes the activity in this position.

(Misha is very doglike in that he craves approval and praise. If your cat is indifferent to this sort of thing, you can also reward him with small food treats and wean him from them later when the toilet behavior has 'set.' Just keep the treats as small and infrequent as possible — half a Pounce or similar treat per occasion should be plenty.)

When he is regularly using the toilet with his front feet out (and some cats naturally start from this position), begin lifting a hind foot out and placing it on the seat outside the front paws. Felix will probably find this awkward at first and try to replace the foot in the litter. Be persistent. Move that foot four times in a row if you have to, until it stays there. Praise and/or treat.

Repeat with the other hind foot, until your cat learns to balance in that squat. (There will actually be two different squats, a low one for urine elimination and a high one for bowel movements.) Once he's getting all four feet regularly on the seat, it's all downhill from here.

Which is fortunate, because the last bit is also the most unpleasant. I suggest that you postpone this stage until you have at least a weekend, and preferably several days, when you (or another responsible party) will be at home most of the time. I skipped through this part in about two days; I only hope that your cat allows you to move along that fast.

Begin reducing the litter in the bowl. Go as fast as he'll feel comfortable with, because as the litter decreases, the odor increases. You'll want to be home at this point so that you can praise him and dump out the contents of the bowl immediately after he's finished, to minimize both the smell and the possibility that your cat, in a confused attempt to minimize the smell on his own, tries to cover it up with litter that no longer exists and ends up tracking unpleasantness into the rest of the house.

By the time you're down to a token teaspoonful of litter in the bottom of the bowl, your next-door neighbors will probably be aware of the precise instant your cat has used the toilet. This is as bad as it gets. The next time you rinse out the metal bowl, put a little bit of water in the bottom. Increase the water level each time, just as you decreased the litter level. Remember — if at any point Felix looks nervous enough about the change to give the whole thing up and take his business to the corner behind the door, back up a step or two and try the thing again more slowly.

Once the water in the mixing bowl is a couple of inches deep and your cat is comfortable with the whole thing, you get to perform the last bit of magic. Take the mixing bowl away, leaving the bare toilet. (Lid Up, Seat Down.)

Voila! Your cat is now toilet-trained.

SOURCE

Milk... Milk??? Milk!!!

I don't know this cat's name, but I think he/she is a celebrity for sure.... What am I talking about? Okay, this is ANOTHER really great article about a well trained cat. This article is a few years old, but hey... I love cats and am interested in as much info as possible. Loti writes about teaching a cat to actually SAY MILK!

Teaching Your Cat Tricks
By: Loti
Posted: April 11th, 2004

"I don't believe you. A cat can't talk." My good friend was laughing at me so I invited him over to my house to see for himself.

Well, my cat knows how to say one word, "milk", but he says it plainly and there is no confusion as to what he says or what he wants. My friend was astonished.

But that's not all this cat can do. He can also play dead and roll over on command. These tricks are usually reserved for dogs and most folks will argue that you can't teach a cat tricks. "They are too independent and won't cater to their human owner," they say.

It's true that a cat is independent, but there are times when the cat will cater to their owner to get a choice bit of meat, or when it needs pampering with extensive petting.

Over the last 30 years, I have had the pleasure of owning many different cats. I enjoyed observing them and relating to them in a way that only a cat lover would understand. They all had different personalities, from being aloof and haughty to being shy and timid. But all of them were able to communicate their needs and wants to me in some way. One particular trait they all share is the one of independence mixed with the joy of sharing a purring moment with their human friend.

A cat's disposition and personality is much different from that of a dog, so their training is different also.

First of all, you can't just decide to teach the cat a trick and do it. The cat has to be ready to receive instruction and in the mood to do something to please it's owner.

Secondly, the cat has to already be doing something naturally that you can build your trick on.

One of my cats enjoyed running after a rubber band that I shot into the air. He would pick it up in his teeth and wander about with it. During one of these sessions when he was ready to play with me, I shot the rubber band off into the air and as he carried it about in his mouth, I called him to me with a treat in my hand. Naturally at first, he would drop the band to come get the treat. But I didn't give it to him.

We kept playing with the band until he actually kept the band in his mouth while coming to me for a treat. Then I gave him the treat. It wasn't long before he routinely retrieved the band for me in exchange for a treat. He had finally associated bringing the band to me with the getting of a treat.

Cats are generally smart. They just don't feel the need to fuss over their human owners as dogs do. Sometimes, you just have to have patience and wait until they do something clever and then reward it.

To train my other cat to play dead, I just approached him when he was already laying down. I said, "play dead, Smokey," and since he was already doing that, I gave him a treat. I did this many times until one time I approached him with a treat when he was walking around but interested in the treat.

"Play dead," I said. Then I gently pushed him into a laying position before giving him a treat. Soon he was doing it over and over again to get the treat.

To extend that into rolling over, I got him to play dead and then gently I rolled him over while saying "roll over". He got his treat and he was soon doing this trick also on command.

So how about saying "milk", you ask?

Whenever I would go to my fridge and open the door, my cat would coming running.

"Meow." The cat wanted some milk which I would give him. Then I began to mimic him adding a k to the meow.

"Meowk." I would say repeatedly before giving the cat a drink of milk.

The cat was soon pronouncing 'meowk', adding the k on the end. The next step was to alter meowk to milk. And, sure enough, the cat changed ever so slightly to pronounce the word 'milk'.

So if you want to teach your cat a trick or two, remember these things:
1. Be patient. Make sure the cat is receptive to the teaching you are to give him.
2. Build your trick upon some habit or behavior the cat is already doing.
3. Don't scold your cat for not performing. Only use rewards to establish the new behavior.
4. And remember to consult your vet or pet professional before using any advice when working with your cat.

Important: Please consult your own vet or pet professional before using any advice!

Tricks to teach your kitten!!!!

Want to teach your cat tricks? So do I! Check out this video that I found on YouTube of a cat doing cool tricks that dog's normally do. Also read a great article on training your cat, written by John Casteele.

So you think that you can't train your kitten, huh? Perhaps you've heard somewhere that cats can't be taught tricks because of their independent nature, or maybe you've just never heard of anyone teaching cats to do tricks. Well, most cats can learn various tricks, though a debate sometimes rages as to whether the owners are training the cats, or the cats are training the owners.

As with any animal, it's best to start training cats when they're still kittens; they're more likely to pick up on the training if it occurs before they've grown set in their ways. Below are a few simple tricks that you can attempt to teach your kitten. Be warned, however, that some cats don't take to training well, and it may take considerably longer to teach a cat things that a dog might learn in an afternoon.

Name: Teach your cat to recognize its name by calling out the name at feeding time and whenever you give it a treat. Try to choose a name that's different from anyone in the household to help prevent confusion. In time, the cat will come to you (or at least show interest) whenever it hears the name.

Leash/Collar: Much like a dog, a cat can be trained to use a collar and leash. Put the collar on it for increasingly longer periods, gradually letting it get used to the idea of wearing the collar. Once it's used to the collar, begin the same treatment with the leash, letting the cat get used to the limitations of the leash. You'll soon be able to take the cat out for a walk on the leash (likely to the amusement and amazement of your neighbors).

Sit: Give the "Sit" command at feeding time, moving the cat's food dish over its head. This will often cause the cat to sit down while watching the dish in anticipation of the food (you can also do this with a cat treat.) If the cat doesn't sit, press gently on its rump to push it into the sitting position. In time, the cat will associate the command with eating, and will sit down as it's become used to doing.

Come: Give the "Come" command while offering a treat or favorite toy. When the cat comes to receive the treat, pet it and give the treat. The cat will learn to associate the command with the treat, and will come when you call.

Fetch: A slightly more difficult trick, this plays off of the inclination that most cats have toward chasing objects. Give the command of "Fetch" and throw a ball or toy; the cat will likely chase after it. Once the cat has caught whatever you have thrown, "exchange" item for a treat. Once the cat has gotten used to this exchange, stay a bit farther away from the cat and offer the treat; if the cat drops the item, offer it the item, and then exchange the item for the treat. Eventually, the cat will figure out how the exchange works and that it has to bring you the item to get the treat.

Of course, you'll have to continue to treat the cats for performing any of these tricks periodically. Otherwise, they'll realize that there's no benefit and simply refuse to perform. Should you see a lack of progress, don't get frustrated; cats can be hard to train. Just stick with it.

SOURCE

Famous Cat Lover: Rich Juzwiak

Dad to Winston and Rudy and author of FourFour (one of the best BLOGS around with the most awesome recaps of ANTM!) as well as the dude that keeps it real and asks the best questions when interviewing celebrealities off of my favorite VH1 Shows!

Today's Celebrity Cat: Garfield

I think this may be our most famous celebrity cat yet...

Garfeild, the Cat

Born: June 19, 1978

Garfield was born in the kitchen of an Italian restaurant and subsequently developed a taste for lasagne.

^Dislikes:

exercise (or any form of work),
diets,
Mondays

Sometimes seen as lazy and fat, Garfield is also pessimistic, cynical, sarcastic and sardonic. He enjoys destroying things, mauling the mailman, and tormenting Odie; he also makes snide comments, usually about Jon's (his owner’s) inability to get a date.

THIS IS AN OUTRAGE!!!! CAT'S are $1.32 per pound in Guangdong, China.... :( Cat Lover's in China Protest!

Pet lovers protest cats on the menu in China

By WILLIAM FOREMAN

GUANGZHOU, China (AP) — While animal lovers in Beijing protested the killing of cats for food on Thursday, a butcher in Guangdong province — where felines are the main ingredient in a famous soup — just shrugged her shoulders and wielded her cleaver. "Cats have a strong flavor. Dogs taste much better, but if you really want cat meat, I can have it delivered by tomorrow," said the butcher, who gave only her surname, Huang.

It was just this attitude that outraged about 40 cat lovers who unfurled banners in a tearful protest outside the Guangdong government office in Beijing. Many were retirees who care for stray felines they said were being rounded up by dealers.

"We must make them correct this uncivilized behavior," said Wang Hongyao, who represented the group in submitting a letter urging the provincial government to crack down on traders and restaurants, although they were breaking no laws.

The protest was the latest clash between age-old traditions and the new sensibilities made possible by China's growing affluence. Pet ownership was once rare because the Communist Party condemned it as bourgeois and most people simply couldn't afford a cat or dog.

The protesters' indignation was whipped up by recent reports in Chinese newspapers about the cat meat industry. On Monday, the Southern Metropolis Daily — a Guangdong paper famous for its exposes and aggressive reporting — ran a story that said about 1,000 cats were transported by train to Guangdong each day.

The animals came from Nanjing, a major trading hub for cats, the newspaper said. They were brought to market by dealers on motorcycles, crammed into wooden crates and sent to Guangdong on trains. A photo showed a cat with green eyes peering from a crowded crate.

Some people in Nanjing spend their days "fishing for cats," often stealing pets, the report said.

One cat owner in Guanghzou said people are afraid to let their pets leave the house for fear they will get nabbed.

"It's never been this bad. Who knows, it might be because of the bad economy. I've heard that there are cat-nabbing syndicates from Hunan that are rounding up cats," said the man, who would only give his surname, Lai, because he feared the cat business might be run by gangsters.

Animal protection groups have occasionally ambushed truck convoys loaded with bamboo cages filled with cats bound for Guangdong. In one recent case, hundreds of cats escaped after their cages were opened, though hundreds more remained penned in the vehicle.

Lai Xiaoyu, who was involved in the attempted "rescue," said authorities couldn't stop the cat shipment because the traders said the animals were to be raised as pets.

"The police did what they could, but there's little they can do to stop or punish those traders from shipping live animals," Lai said.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, or PETA, issued a statement Thursday decrying the cruel treatment.

"China has no animal protection laws, and throughout the country scores of cats and dogs are bred or rounded up, crammed onto trucks and driven for days under hellish conditions to animal markets, where they are beaten to death, strangled or boiled alive," said a spokesman for the group, Michael V. McGraw.

Guangdong is home to the Cantonese people, famous for being the most adventurous eaters in China. There's a popular saying: "The Cantonese will eat anything that flies, except airplanes, and anything with legs, except a chair."

Zhu Huilian, a nutrition and food safety professor at Sun Yat-Sen University in Guangdong's capital, Guangzhou, said people usually eat cat in restaurants, not at home.

"There's a famous soup called 'Dragon, Tiger and Phoenix,'" Zhu said. "It involves cooking snake, cat and chicken together. In winter more people eat cats as they believe it's extra nutritious."

The wide-ranging Cantonese culinary tastes are on display daily in Guangzhou, also known as Canton, in the Qing Ping Market. Shopkeepers sit behind cages full of writhing snakes, tubs with turtles and plastic basins with mounds of scorpions crawling over each other.

That's where the butcher, Huang, sells her meat, sliced on a blood-soaked cutting board in a stall filled with cages of chickens and rabbits.

Hanging on a hook from its head — with its snout cut cleanly off — was a skinned dog with a long curly tail, paws with small clumps of fur still on them and black claws. The dog's jaw bone was displayed in a metal tray beneath the carcass.

"The cat meat we sell comes from legitimate sources," said Huang, who gave only her surname because her boss doesn't allow her to speak to reporters. "It's from cat farms. The animals are raised the same way cows are."

She said cat meat sold for about $1.32 a pound, while dog meat was cheaper, at about 95 cents a pound. Chicken was the best buy at 62 cents a pound, while lamb sold for about $1.32.

Huang said customers had to order cat meat a day in advance because it doesn't sell as well as dog.

"Cat tastes a bit like lamb. I don't like it much," she said. "Young cats are tender, but the meat on the older ones is really tough. Usually old people like eating it."

Associated Press writer Gillian Wong in Beijing, researchers Xi Yue in Beijing and Ji Chen in Shanghai, and Carley Petesch in New York contributed to the report

YOU CAN HELP! 12 WAYS OF GIVING: Winter no wonderland for hungry cats!!!

By Jamie Gumbrecht The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

This holiday season, there are many ways to get involved in the community and help others. In this recurring feature, we’ll highlight 12 ways of giving, whether it’s time, gifts, supplies, money or compassion.

What: PAWS Atlanta Can-a-Thon.

Who it helps and how: Young, sick and underweight cat and dogs at PAWS Atlanta, who go through 20 to 35 cans of food per day. The organization hopes to gather at least 600 cans of pet food to start 2009 with a steady supply.

How to get involved: Drop canned cat or dog food, even dinged and dented, anytime through Jan. 3 at PAWS Atlanta adoption events or at the main office at 5287 Covington Highway, Decatur.

Why help: More food means more animals get help. A mild winter will mean more animals are born, but “our resources haven’t been as abundant, which means we can take in fewer animals,” says Trey Burley, PAWS’ development manager.

To learn more: Go online at pawsatlanta.org or call 770-593-1155.

Super sad :(....Did you know? That more people are giving their pets up because of the bad economy?

As economy falters, more people giving up pets

By MARGERY A. GIBBS

A growing number of Americans are giving up their dogs and cats to animal shelters as the emotional bonds between people and pets get tested by economic ones.

From the Malvern, Pa., man who turned his two dogs over in order to help pay for his mother's cancer treatments, to the New York woman who euthanized her cat rather than keeping it alive with expensive medications, rising economic anxieties make it increasingly difficult for some pet owners to justify spending $1,000 a year or more on pet food, veterinary services and other costs.

The population growth at animal shelters in Connecticut, Nebraska, Texas, Utah and other states shows how the weak economy is also shrinking the pool of potential adopters. And it coincides with a drop-off in government funding and charitable donations.

The effect has been cramped quarters for dogs and cats, a faster rate of shelters euthanizing animals and some shelters turning away people looking to surrender pets, according to interviews with several shelters and animal advocates. Of the estimated 6 million to 8 million dogs and cats sent to animal shelters every year, half are euthanized and the rest adopted, according to the Humane Society of the United States.

"It's definitely discouraging for us," said Adam Goldfarb, a Humane Society spokesman. "One of our major goals is to develop and celebrate the bond between people and animals. It's so tragic when families reach a point when they can't afford to care for their pets."

With two children, a husband on disability and a difficult job search of her own, 23-year-old Mel Bail of Worcester, Mass., had begun feeding leftovers from family meals to her three cats — Rory, Ozzy and Mudpie — before recently deciding to give them up.

"When I couldn't pay my gas bill, I knew I had to find another home for the cats," Bail said.

But it wasn't easy to find a shelter that would accept them. "They're completely full," said Bail, who ultimately turned to online classified ads to find homes for Rory, Ozzy and Mudpie.

There is no nationwide data being collected on the reasons dogs and cats are being abandoned by their owners, but shelter managers and advocates for animals say the trend is undeniable — and probably a bigger phenomenon than they are aware of.

"People are embarrassed to admit that's why they're giving up their pets," said Betsy McFarland, the Humane Society's director of communications for companion animals.

An Associated Press-Petside.com poll found that one in seven owners nationwide reported reduced spending on their pets during the past year's recession. Of those cutting back, more than a quarter said they have seriously considered giving up their pet.

The average annual cost of owning a dog is about $1,400, while the average annual cost of a cat is about $1,000, according to a survey conducted by the American Pet Products Association. The survey suggests there are some 231 million pets — excluding fish — in more than 71 million homes in America.

In Omaha, Neb., the Nebraska Humane Society's shelter began tracking for the first time this year those pets given up because of financial constraints. Through mid-November, more than 275 pets were given up because their owners said they couldn't afford to keep them.

Among them are two 9-year-old miniature schnauzers, dropped off anonymously with a note that said their owners could no longer afford to keep them.

Humane Society spokeswoman Pam Wiese said the obedience-trained purebreds came into the shelter up-to-date on vaccinations and dental care and were well-groomed.

"It is really sad, because for these people, it is not an excuse. They are absolutely stuck, and they need to downsize and there is no one to take the pets," she said. "You can tell these have been much-loved pets."

In New York, Erin Farrell-Talbot recently made the decision to euthanize her 15-year-old cat, Buki, when she was told within days of losing her job that he would need thousands of dollars in treatment and medications costing $65 a month to live.

"When it came down to whether I was going to charge food for the month of September or give medicine to my cat, that was a clear decision for me," Farrell-Talbot said. "It was horrible. It killed us."

The Animal Humane Association in Albuquerque, N.M., saw 69 dogs and cats turned over through September because the owners couldn't afford to keep them. That compares with 48 in the same period in 2007 — a 44 percent increase, said executive director Peggy Weigle.

In response, Weigle's shelter began a program to open its emergency pet shelter — normally reserved for battered women needing a place to keep their pets for a while — to those suffering financially. So far this year 45 pets have been taken in through the emergency program, compared with eight the previous year.

The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Virginia Beach, Va., recently began a program called Help Out Pets Everywhere (HOPE) to provide food, medical care and temporary homes for pets belonging to families with financial difficulties. Eighteen applications were received within the first week.

The program received 18 applications within its first week. Some of those people have never experienced hardship until now, and therefore, neither have their pets, McNally said.

"It's been devastating," said Amy McNally, a spokeswoman for the program. "For somebody to say, 'I can't afford to feed my dog' — it's a humbling time."

The Crazy Cat Ladies Society!!!!!

Okay so recently I wrote a story about a really amazing Cat Lady! Sadly, when I googled the term "Cat Lady" the picture above, as well as an image of the Crazy Cat lady from The Simpsons, popped up. Eleanor Abernathy a Simpson's character, better known as the Crazy Cat Lady, is a woman with the appearance and behavior of a stereotypical mentally ill person.

WHAT IS THE DEAL WITH THIS STEREOTYPE?!?!?!?!?!?! While researching the term, I ran across another COOL SITE! The Crazy Cat Ladies Society! From the site: "The purpose of the Crazy Cat Ladies Society & Gentlemen's Auxiliary is to use humor to counter the stereotypes made about people who love cats. By claiming the phrase "crazy cat lady" on our own terms, we take away its power to offend, and have a lot of fun while doing so!" They obviously understand that loving cat's is not a crime! Anyway, I couldn't find any historical information about the origin of the term. However, when I entered the term in Wikipedia, I did get this result:

ANIMAL HOARDING

Animal hoarding involves keeping higher than usual numbers of animals as pets without having the ability to properly house or care for them, while at the same time denying this inability. Compulsive hoarding can be characterized as a symptom of obsessive-compulsive disorder rather than deliberate cruelty towards animals. Hoarders are deeply attached to their pets, and find it extremely difficult to let the pets go. They typically cannot comprehend that they are harming their pets by failing to provide them with proper care. Hoarders tend to believe that they provide the right amount of care for their pets. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals provides a "Hoarding Prevention Team", which works with hoarders to help them attain a manageable and healthy number of pets.

I guess this is where the stereotype started? Animal hoarding is not cool, but I can totally understand wanting more and more cats than ever... they are such cool little companions, and super self suffiencient (compared to other animals). But, cat's need care... and that can be expensive. I am totally against people taking on more pets than they can care for!

Message to new pet owners. If you welcome an animal into your home, that animal is now a member of the family....

Kitten cruelty case continued

By DANIEL TEPFER

BRIDGEPORT -- The court case against a man accused of nearly beating a 4-month-old kitten to death after he caught it licking milk from a cereal bowl was continued Friday so he can hire a lawyer.

Lavaughne Scales, 34, of Garden Drive, is charged with cruelty to animals.

During a hearing before Superior Court Judge Bruce Levin, Scales said he intends to hire his own lawyer for the case.

Assistant State's Attorney Marc Durso told the judge the state's animal control officer is monitoring the case because of its seriousness.

The judge continued the case to Jan. 16. In the meantime, Scales is free on $1,000 bond.

Scales, the father of three children, found the black-and-white kitten, called Kitty J, on the kitchen table drinking from a cereal bowl last October, police said. He kicked the kitten, sending it flying through the air and then grabbed a broom stick and began beating the kitten, police said.

Scales' girlfriend said she saw the kitten shaking and dragging its hind legs, trying to escape. Their daughter picked up the kitten and took it to a local veterinarian, who had the kitten transferred to the Shoreline Veterinary Center in Shelton, police said.

The woman also allegedly told police that her father had always hated the kitten. The kitten was treated at the veterinarian center for a collapsed lung and broken legs, among other injuries. Center employees said it has since been adopted.

SOURCE

Introducing the AMAZING CAT LADY!

Blue Island 'crazy cat lady' gives foster kittens TLC

BY DONNA VICKROY Staff Writer To think, the cat woman's reputation started with a dog. An ornery purebred Scottish terrier, to be exact. Tammy Gray had been volunteering at Peoples Animal Welfare Society in Tinley Park for just a few months when she learned shelter staffers wanted to put an 8-week old dog to sleep because they believed it was too mean to be adopted. "They said he was loco," recalled Gray, a Blue Island resident. "I told them I used to have a Rottweiler so I could probably handle him," she said. Gray, 50, took the dog home and he quickly bonded with her two other dogs. Outside the confines of the shelter, the canine seemed fine. Gray also discovered that the animal had a broken tail. "He'd come from a puppy store and someone probably closed the cage on his tail," she speculated. "That's why he was so mean - he was in pain." Within days, Gray deemed her new pet Oliver a keeper. That was 2 1 / 2 years and 110 cats ago. Since that day in May of 2006, Gray's home has become a veritable way station for injured cats and newborn kittens who need extra love and care until they're capable of being adopted. She averages about 14 kittens at a time, all of them needing round-the-clock attention. The babies need to be bottle- or syringe-fed every few hours. They need to be bathed. And, in some cases, they need to be stimulated to urinate because some don't know how yet, Gray said. "You have to be with them all the time," she said. "I've brought them along to Fourth of July events, birthday parties and funerals." She's known as that crazy cat lady to family and friends, she said. Even feral cats in the neighborhood hang out near Gray's home. She's had five of those neutered so she could allow them access to her porch. "Sometimes people leave cats at my door," she said. One guy dropped off a cat that he'd seen a group of kids kicking around. Another person brought a cat that had been hit by a car. PAWS pays for the foster animals' food. Gray gets logistical help from her husband Bill. And all of the animals receive an extra dose of TLC when Gray's grandchildren come to visit. Gray has kept a log of all the animals she tends to, placing hearts next to the names of the cats who were especially dear to her and a cross beside the four who succumbed to fading kitten syndrome, a mysterious condition that causes kittens to simply stop eating. Gray returns the cats to the shelter when they're ready to be adopted. Some, she realizes, will have a harder time than others in that endeavor. For example, three-legged Violet survived an encounter with a car engine but would likely have a difficult time finding a permanent home. "I ended up adopting her," Gray said. Despite her 24-7 on-call commitment, Gray says the hardest part of fostering animals comes when she has to give them back. "I cry a lot of times because they think I'm their mom and they look at me like, 'Why are putting me in this cage? Why are you leaving me?' " But most of the cats get adopted within days of their return to the shelter. Besides, Gray knows she can't keep all of them. As it is, she already has six permanent cats, three dogs and four parrots - all in addition to the foster felines. Why does she do it? For one, she can. She has training enabling her to administer medical care. More importantly, cats simply hold a special place in her heart. "My mother never let me have a pet when I was a child," she offers. "There's just something about cats - their independence - that I love." Donna Vickroy can be reached at dvickroy@southtownstar.com or (708) 633-5982

Today's Cutie Patootie!!!!

SuperCute Baby Cat!!!!!

Sad... "Gothic" kittens with piercings for sale on eBay!

What in the world would possess someone to try to profit from tormenting small, helpless animals. These poor babies!

by Kristy S-Y, Seattle Parenting Examiner

Pennsylvania homeowner tried to sell "gothic kittens" with ear, tail and neck piercings on eBay. The woman, who had a pet grooming business in the basement of her home, thought it was perfectly okay to pierce the kittens and then sell them!

One of the eBay advertisements described “Snarly Monster” as a “three-month-old, floppy-eared, loveable kitten with a docked tail" She was asking for any offer over $400 per kitten which included the kitty, pierced jewellery and a submission lead (silk) which could be clipped onto the neck ring.

The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was notified by a man who saw the ad on eBay. An investigation was started, and within a week the SPCA was at the owner’s home. They removed the three kittens and a cat from the home but for some reason, left behind the dog, which also had piercings.

Animal protection officer, Carol Morrison is quoted as saying, “This is a first. It's unbelievable anybody would do this to kittens." Local police said that charges were most likely to be made.

I hope they also get that dog out of her custody and someone can help the young child (who was present) understand just how wrong the Mother was in doing this!

Where did the term Cat Burglar come from?

Sorry, I wasn't able to find out... :( If you happen to know, please tell me! I did however, come across a really cool site that has interesting info on cat phrases and slang!.

For Example, here is a little info on the origin of the phrase: The Cat's out of the Bag!

The cat's out of the bag - To pass along a secret.

In medieval England, piglets were sold in the open marketplace. The seller usually kept the pig in a bag, so it would be easier for the buyer to take it home. But shady sellers often tried to trick their buyers by putting a large cat in the bag. If a shrewd shopper looked in the bag - then the cat was literally out of the bag. (By the way, the bag was called a "poke," which is likely where the phrase "a pig in a poke," which nowadays means buying an unknown, came from.)

Source: xmission.com

What is a Cat Burglar?

Though the technical definition is more inclusive, a cat burglar generally refers to a thief who breaks into homes to steal personal property. Cats are stealthy and quiet, approaching prey without causing alarm, pouncing without warning. A cat burglar is a thief who slips in unnoticed, taking what he wants before the victim knows what’s happened. Definition from Wise Geek.

Here is the REAL Cat Burlgar!!!! Frankie the cat has stolen over 35 teddies and soft toys in the last year by sneaking into her neighbours' homes. He doesn't even play with them! He just likes to stash them!!!!

Read the story here: Daily Mail

The bad dancing human girl cat should have learned from this Rockstar!!!!

At about .59 seconds, this fake feline comes into contact with a real cat... the real cat's response is priceless! LMAO... [LMAO = Laughing My A** Off].... Seriously, I am.

This girl thinks that she is a cat....

but do cat's even dance this bad???? NO, I say.

Best of Craig! Note to the dog! Who's in Charge around here? The CAT!

I thought that this was super funny! Check out this ad from The Best of Craig's List.

Note to the dogs

Dear Dogs of Mine,

It seems that lately things have gotten a smidge slack around here. I feel it is time to remind you of the rules that heretofore we have operated under. You are both cute dogs, but your continued cuteness in no way negates our previous agreement. Let me remind you of a few details of this agreement.

1. In exchange for room and board, you are to guard the kingdom. That would be guarding the kingdom from any and all bad guys, robbers, serial killers, etc. Feel free to bark maniacally at any of those that should appear in the yard. Guarding the kingdom does NOT include barking maniacally at bunnies, squirrels, cows, sheep and invisible things that only you can see, especially between the hours of 5am (when I stumble out of bed to let you out) and 8am (when I actually have to be out of bed to get to work).
(And let me take a moment here to remind you that the pizza guy is a potential bad guy. He is not your friend. Just because he comes bearing food does not allow him free and easy access to the kingdom. He is potentially way more dangerous than the bunnies that you threaten to tear limb from limb.)

2. All of the stuff that lives in the toy basket is yours. Everything else is mine. Yours includes squeaky balls, random bones, partially unstuffed stuffed animals and chew ropes. Mine includes any and all shoes on the floor (especially the expensive leather ones), underwear that missed the hamper, bras, socks, dishtowels, the remote, the cell phone, the legs of my grandmother's antique chair and the vacuum. Did I mention shoes? ALL the shoes are mine. They come in pairs, not quads, for a reason.

3. The cat gets to sleep on the bed. You do not. You each weigh 50 pounds. The cat weighs 12. You sleep smack dab in the middle of the bed with all four feet spread out covering approximately 12 square feet apiece. The cat sleeps in a neat little ball covering about 2 square feet. The cat does not bring fleas into the house. You do. You, dogs, will never be allowed to sleep on the bed. Quit sneaking up when you think I'm not looking. Your 50 pounds of dogginess negates your stealth superpowers. I know you are up there!!

4. Speaking of the cat- when he hunkers down into that little mound, lays his ears back, squints his eyes and growls way back in his chest, HE IS NOT A HAPPY KITTY. Leave him alone. He does not want to play with you. What he wants to do is poke your eyes out and shread the skin around your face. He can do that, you know. Five of his 6 ends are really sharp and pointy. He has previously shown very little restraint. Clearly he enjoys smacking you upside the head with a paw full of claws. Do not aggrevate him. When he takes your head off after you have cornered him, I will let him. You have been forewarned.

5. The cat is mean. He will lead you down a path to destruction. He likes to tear around the house winding you up. He does this knowingly and intentionally. When you chase him, I will only yell at you for careening into walls and furniture. He knows this. Quit falling for it.

6. If you find something in the garbage can, assume that I intend for it to be there. Platic tampon shells are not chew toys. Don't eat them.

7. Also not for doggy consumption- anything you find in the litter box. This is why you no longer get to kiss me.

8. You are allowed to sleep on the furniture. You are not allowed to eat the furniture.

9. Yes, I have to leave every day to go to work. No, you cannot go with me. That's why there are two of you, so you can entertain each other. The cat gets to stay in the house. You both have to stay outside while I'm gone. The cat does not chew things up. You do. Quit whining about it. Your porch is air-conditioned. It's just like inside the house minus the sofa. If you'd quit chewing up dog beds, it would be just like inside the house. You have made your own proverbial bed by destroying two very expensive dog cushions.

10. I have opposable thumbs. This is why I get to be in charge. I can open cans, doors, and bags of treats. I am the only one in the house that can operate the hose sprayer. I'm also the only one with a driver's license and a car. I win. Being cute is no match for opposable thumbs.

While I in no way wish to suppress your rightful dogginess, I feel that these very simple guidelines will allow us to continue to co-exist in peaceful harmony. Please know though, that should you choose to continue in willful violation of these rules, I WILL PUT THE CAT IN CHARGE. He has just been itching for a position in management.

Much thanks,
The Human

Image: FunnyPotato

Super sad :( :Clinton's Socks the Cat Near Death

Sadly, President Clinton's sweet litty Kitty "Socks" is not doing very well. Read the story on US News.

Photo Credit: Barbara Kinney/The White House

Been wanting to see me? Here I am! Just kidding... this lady love's cat's... and she ain't playin!!!!!

I think that this might be the funniest thing that I have seen in a while....

Best of Craig: Ferocious Attack Kitten

As we all know, people place the funniest classifieds!!!!. Check out this super funny and super classic ad on Craig's List:

Ferocious Attack Kitten!!!!!!

Ferocious attack kitten is available for adoption to any home willing to accept him.

This destructive kitty has been trained as a proud warrior and will fiercely defend your house, even against you. Well-trained since 10-weeks of age to attack anything in his presence, he will protect your family from evil things, including the following:

* insects

* other trained attack kittens

* babies

* toilet paper

* anything under a blanket

* unwanted house guests
* paper bags

* floor rugs

* Chuck Norris

* Feet.

Great with children (assuming you don’t like the children). Probably best used for professional catfighting. He is housebroken, but only because he wants to be. This attack cat has trained himself to seek out his food anywhere you hide it and rip the bag open to feed himself, great for those who travel extensively. Also trained to drink water out of toilet bowls and dishwater from items in the sink. Knows how to open some doors. He will find you wherever you hide.

Neutered (trust me, you wont want to him to procreate). Has not been declawed, but you'll figure that out really fast.

Understands and responds to a variety of vulgar and profane verbal commands. Has a very soft and furry belly, like a teddy bear - however he will bite your face if you try to touch it.

Willing to accept trades. Potential adopters must have experience with trained attack-kittens... please be prepared to show scars.

For the love of God, someone please take this thing out of my house.

Ajax, is JUST LIKE THIS!!!!!!

Where have I been? Dealing with a crazy cat!!!!! So sorry for being away so long Cat Lovers!!!!!!

Hey you guys, so sorry for being away so long. I have been dealing with Holiday shopping, a crazy workload, and an insane 12 week old kitten... I'm not kidding... AJAX is crazy!!!! He LOOOOVES to bite! The sad thing is that it's my entire fault. I kept playing with him using my hands. I would pretend that my hands were little legs, walking back and forth... enticing AJAX to stalk my hands. Now, I can't even sleep past 4:30AM without having my face slapped and my nose bitten (it's super cute, he licks my nose and then bites the tip....cat kisses!!!! ((can you see why I have a problem?)) ). Anyway, my hands, ankles, nose and legs are all punctured with baby cat teeth, a.k.a mini meat hooks. I just haven't been in the mood to type LOL!

Nevertheless, I seriously love my little kitten, no matter how maniacal he is, so I'm back to Blogging fellow cat lovers!!!!!!

Do you think that Pet liscensing will help with Feral Cat population?

In the city of Le Mars, Iowa the City Council is expected to pass a pet licensing law to go into effect on Jan. 1, 2009

The new ordinance would require that owners of dogs and cats six months of age or older prove their pets are vaccinated for rabies and purchase an annual license. The fee is $6 for spayed or neutered cats and $12 for unaltered animals.

The new ordinance will not require dogs or cats to have a micro-chip or other identification. If an animal is picked up without a license, the owner will be charged a $25 fine, plus boarding expenses to get their pet back. In addition, the owner must license the animal at that time.

The city wants to be able to identify and return lost pets more easily. The licensing fees may also help pay for a part-time animal control officer. Currently, police officers respond to calls about animals running at-large.

Source:SiouxCityJournal

I ALMOST didn't write about this, but I changed my mind because awareness/attention needs to be brought to this issue.

SAY NO TO ANIMAL ABUSE

So yesterday was a pretty bad day in cat news. I found story after story about feline abuse, neglect and murder (literally, if you are not faint of heart, or already depressed, DO NOT CLICK HERE). Even though my goal with this site is to deliver all things CAT (the good, the bad and the ugly), the story of a little 8 week old being intentionally set on fire was almost too much for me to bear (nevermind read!). Luckily a good Samaritan found the two-month-old kitten and immediately rushed him over to the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

The kitten was badly burned on his fur, ears, face and body. His whiskers were singed off, and he had burns on the tip of his tongue. Officials believe the fire was intentionally set and that the kitten was burned shortly before it was found in the road. Its fur still smelled smoky. Originally there was a $500 reward offered to find out who did this, the reward has since grown to $15,000 (courtesy of the MSPCA!!!)

The heroes over at MSCPA named the brown, short-hair tabby Nicholas, after St. Nicholas in the spirit of the season. :)

What made me decide to mention this on CatsRCool is because of a quote that I read in an article by Miranda Grossman;

"Animal cruelty is common and hard for us to accept as caring human beings. But we see it all too often," said Candy Lash of the MSCPA.

It’s important that people become aware of and work to stop this terrible madness.

Click here for the article and video coverage.

Cats love Maui…. Can you blame them?

Sarah Ruppenthal writes a compelling article comparing the resident felines to Bambi.

Did you know:

According to 9th Life Hawai‘i, Maui’s nonprofit, no-kill homeless cat rescue and sanctuary, the number of stray cats has escalated to nearly 500,000.

Just one female cat and her offspring are likely to produce 420,000 cats in seven years. So, do the math—and try to imagine if the same number of dogs (or deer) roamed the streets unsupervised.

Sarah provides information on how the problem can be solved. Read her article on Maui Weekly or see below:

A Purrrfect World Sarah Ruppenthal · Editorial Assistant

Help end Maui’s feline overpopulation problem.

I grew up on a small island just a ferry ride away from Seattle, Wash., where the rocky shorelines were fringed by towering evergreens and the herds of wild deer were as plentiful as the raindrops falling from the Pacific Northwest sky.

It seemed as if the deer would multiply by the hour; and while these graceful, wide-eyed creatures were harmless, their lives often ended as tragically as the infamous scene from Walt Disney’s Bambi. Overpopulated and underfed, hundreds of deer would succumb to disease, starvation, or a fateful encounter with a passing vehicle.

And for many of my neighbors, the deer were regarded as a nuisance, trampling flower beds, ravaging vegetable gardens and leaving their waste on meticulously landscaped front lawns.

Does any of this sound familiar? If so, perhaps you have experienced the startling, late-night chorus of (what seems like) dozens of amorous cats outside of your bedroom window, or spotted the tiny, lifeless form of a kitten alongside the highway.

It’s no secret that Maui has a feline overpopulation. According to 9th Life Hawai‘i, Maui’s nonprofit, no-kill homeless cat rescue and sanctuary, the number of stray cats has escalated to nearly 500,000.

Just one female cat and her offspring are likely to produce 420,000 cats in seven years. So, do the math—and try to imagine if the same number of dogs (or deer) roamed the streets unsupervised.

Okay, so how can we “fix” this problem? According to the Feline Foundation of Maui (www.mauicats.com), “Cat overpopulation will be a problem as long as the animals are reproducing.” So, if you are a pet owner, take a few moments to consider the long-term benefits of surgical sterilization.

In an effort to end the cycle of breeding while steering clear of euthanasia, organizations such as the Feline Foundation of Maui, Maui Humane Society and 9th Life Hawai‘i strongly urge pet owners to act responsibly and compassionately by spaying or neutering their cats (and dogs, too).

The Feline Foundation of Maui uses the TNR (trap, neuter and release) method to humanely stabilize feral populations, while 9th Life Hawai‘i offers pet owners free or very low-cost spay and neuter clinics with participating veterinarians. In addition, 9th Life Hawai‘i also serves as a rescue shelter and adoption agency. Take advantage of these available services, do your part and be responsible—that will give us all something to purr about.

For more information, visit the 9th Life Hawai‘i Website at www.9thLifeHawaii.org or the Maui Humane Society Website at www.mauihumane.org.

Issue of the day: Reduce Fees For Pet Adoptions!!!!!!!!!

A North County Gazette reader blasts adoption clinics for the high fees. The anonymous reader writes:

“If animal shelters and pet adoption clinics such as adoptapet.com, Petfinders and others were really serious about finding dogs and cats new homes, they’d follow the lead of the Palm Springs Animal Shelter in California.

The Palm Springs shelter has waived the adoption fees on all shelter pets through the end of December.”

“Now you almost have to take out a bank loan in order to adopt a pet, have a half dozen references. Filling out the adoption application is worse than applying for a mortgage.

This new business of “pet adoption” has become a lucrative exploitation and makes it almost cost prohibitive for families to adopt a pet, in fact, it’s almost as bad as a puppy mill. And it’s denying puppies and kittens good homes.”

The reader goes on to write much more. Please check here for the entire article: North County Gazette

We rescued AJAX after a friend of a coworker found him wandering around on the hot California pavement, so we didn’t end up having to pay anything, however I don’t think that I would be opposed to paying a fee. I do understand though, that just because someone can’t afford to pay the adoption fees it doesn’t mean that they would not be wonderful and loving adoptive parents.

What do you think of Pet Adoption Fees? Take the poll Above!

What is an Ocelot?

Everyone is celebrating the birth of the Brazilian ocelot kitten (born Oct. 31). He is a cutie patootie for sure! I had never heard of an Ocelot before I read about the kitten. What exactly is an Ocelot?

Twice the size of the average housecat, the ocelot is a sleek animal with a gorgeous dappled coat. These largely nocturnal cats use keen sight and hearing to hunt rabbits, rodents, iguanas, fish, and frogs. They also take to the trees and stalk monkeys or birds. Unlike many cats, they do not avoid water and can swim well.

Like other cats, ocelots are adapted for eating meat. They have pointed fangs used to deliver a killing bite, and sharp back teeth that can tear food like scissors. Ocelots do not have teeth appropriate for chewing, so they tear their food to pieces and swallow it whole. Their raspy tongues can clean a bone of every last tasty morsel.

Source: National Geographic

New Fav BLOG!!!! Band of Cats!!!! :)

I really like this Cat Photo Blog of over 2300 Pictures of Cats! Check out super cute cats Spooky, Dax, Jasmine and Jade and their daily activities.

They have an article that is just in time for the Holidays! 28 Great Christmas Gift ideas for your Cat

Inspiration for the day: 'Hind' Over Matter:Paraplegic Cat Learns to Walk!!!

Another GREAT ZooToo Article!

By Joey Wahler
*Image is not Tashi... visit the link for pics and video!

A medical marvel in more ways than one, Tashi the kitten was born with a congenital spinal chord condition that paralyzed his hind legs. But Tashi, unaware of his handicap, is still making every effort to walk.

Rescued from a feral cat colony in Ohio, nearly 6-month-old Tashi recently arrived at Tabby's Place, a cage-free cat sanctuary in Ringoes.

"Everyone was very excited about Tashi coming," said Tabby's Place founder, Jonathan Rosenberg.

Tabby's Place specializes in finding homes for cats in desperate circumstances. If not placed, cats like Tashi can remain at the New Jersey facility for life.

"Just having these cats here and being able to help them is really why we do this," Rosenberg said.

Teasing Tashi with a long piece of string, senior veterinary technician Denise Jeffries, was enticing him to chase it. Tashi slithered toward the string under the power of his healthy front legs, dragging his hind limbs, before lunging forward with a huge hop, trying to grab the string.

"Whoa!" Jeffries exclaimed, reacting to the brown and white kitten's all-out attempt to move.

"Tashi would've never made it out in the wild, and most shelters would've just put him down," she said.

Eventually, Tashi did indeed reach the dangling string.

"You got your string. Good boy!" cooed Angela Townsend, development director at Tabby's Place.

"I think I speak for all of us here when I say it touches our hearts very deeply that he has so much determination in him," Townsend said. "And that he has such a strong will to live, and strong will to just be a happy little kitten, living a full life."

In a best case scenario, Tashi will learn to use his hind legs to walk with them to some degree. In a worst case, his rear limbs will gain strength, so that they will not drag behind him as he relies on his front legs.

"With doing the walking he will have a little bit more ability to right himself," Jeffries said. "A little more activity and strength in his hind legs, which is what we want him to do."

Tashi was sent to Tabby's Place because they recently cared for another paraplegic cat, named Bagera. His hind legs were paralyzed when he was hit by a car. He now uses a cart to get around.

"His nerves were, they didn't really react much at all," Jeffries said. "He didn't have very many reflexes."

Tashi's prospects are more promising, however, because the nerves in his hind legs remain intact. Tashi's spine is noticeably crooked, which prevents the needed neurological communication from his brain to his hind legs.

Nevertheless, Tashi is being taught to use his hind legs through physical therapy, a relative rarity for cats.

Jeffries wrapped a thin band, similar to a leash, around Tashi's middle, holding each end directly above the kitten. This supported Tashi, enabling him to put weight on his hind legs so they would not collapse underneath him as he maneuvered down a hallway, with Jeffries right beside him.

Although a bit wobbly, Tashi managed to walk several feet at various points before needing a rest.

"It's going to be a challenge," Jeffries said. "But a challenge with great reward though."

One way to prompt Tashi to move his hind legs is by raising his tail. Indeed, during the walking exercise with the band, when Jeffries lifted Tashi's tail, the cat instinctively moved his rear legs in a walking motion.

"Muscle training is going to be a big part of his progress," Jeffries said. "To be able to steer himself in the right direction with the front end, as well as to be able to be able to support himself on the hind end."

At Tabby's Place, the staff says they are hopeful that Tashi will be adopted. Part of that optimism is because Bagera, another paraplegic cat they helped, has found a new home, having been adopted by a veterinarian.

"My faith in humanity has actually gone up as a result of doing this, when I see some of the adoptions that we've had," Rosenberg said. Tabby's Place recently found a home for Bellis, a cat born blind, with just slits for eyes.

After his tiresome physical therapy session, Tashi needed a rest. Even as he lay relaxing, though, his hind legs continued to pump quickly in a walking motion, because his brain cannot tell them to stop.

"Your legs are still going," Jeffries futilely reminded the exhausted kitten.

Despite all the extra work and care that cats like Tashi need, employees at Tabby's Place say it is all worth it, regardless of what the future holds for them.

"Just seeing the quality of life that's there," Jeffries said. "The sparkle in their eyes that's still there."

Prospective owners of Tashi should not shy away
because of his handicap, Townsend said.

"Whatever extra care you may have to give a cat like Tashi is infinitely worth it in terms of the love you get," she said.

VIEW VIDEO HERE: SOURCE

For more information, visit TabbysPlace.org.

Rare ocelot kitten born at the Beardsley Zoo!!

A Brazilian ocelot kitten was born Oct. 31 through artificial insemination at Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo. This is only the third time in history that a Brazilian ocelot, a rare and endangered species, has been born through artificial insemination.

Since the birth, the kitten — a male — and her mother have been in seclusion to allow for bonding. The Beardsley Zoo veterinarian and a few other zoo animal care specialists conducted the first physical examination of the kitten Monday morning, and the media was allowed to observe.

The ocelot kitten and his mother are expected to remain in seclusion for another month. They likely will be introduced to the public sometime in January 2009, if all goes well.

See more photos by visiting the slideshow.

(Ocelot photos by Wayne Ratzenberger)

Source

Today's Celeb Cat: Felix The Cat

Felix the Cat first hit the screen on November 9, 1919, in Feline Follies. The mischievous feline—created by Otto Messmer for the Pat Sullivan studio—rocketed to fame, holding a spot as the world's most popular cartoon character until the advent of Mickey Mouse. The wild, witty cartoons made during this period included such classics as Felix in Hollywood (1923), Felix Switches Witches (1927), and Comicalamities (1928). They were released by Paramount Pictures (1919-21), M. J. Winkler (1922-25), Educational Pictures (1925-28), First National (1928-29), and Copley Pictures (1929-31). When Felix's screen career faded in the 1930s, the cat spent a few decades in a memorable series of comic books and strips. Source

In 1927, Felix the Cat became the first official parade balloon. Macy's filled the rubber animal with helium but didn't have a plan for deflating it when the parade was done, so Felix was just released into the air. Source

Check out Felix’s website. Felix The Cat

AJAX UPDATE! & Do you have pet insurance or a wellness plan?

So earlier AJAX was feeling pretty down (not eating, drinking) - see AJAX had his vaccinations yesterday…. :(, but now he seems to be doing better!!!! It's been about 24 hours since his doctor visit at Banfield and his his fever broke. He is eating (very lightly) in between very quick bursts of play, followed by a bewildered state of confusion ("Why am I so tired/) and then nap. :) He is going to be okay. YAY!

Speaking of Banfield, we opted to get a wellness plan, which is really cool because its sort of like having pet insurance. I didn't really compare any other plans beforehand since I wasn't really aware of them. But here are some of the one's that I just came across.

AJAX had his vaccinations yesterday…. :(

So my little sweetie pie had his first round of vaccinations yesterday. After we got home from the vet he was his usual self; bounds of energy, leaping from the couch to the tables and running all around... but after about an hour he got very quiet and still. He balled up into a round little ball of fur and went to sleep on our bed. I picked him up to transfer him to his bed and to my surprise he squealed with pain. :( The same little "pig cat" that just ate a huge piece of pizza crust (not my idea of a good snack, but he hopped up on the table and grabbed it himself) that very morning wouldn't even look twice at his bowl of Fancy Feast Chicken and Salmon with gravy (his favorite).

He went to sleep while we watched TV and only opened his eyes when we laughed at something. This morning he is feverish and his eyes look glassy. All he wants to do is sleep and I feel SO BAD for him. I worry if he will ever get his happy little spit fire spirit back? :(

I went online to research kitten vaccinations and found out that this is a typical reaction.

Check out the article below:

Allergic Reaction to Vaccines in Cats
By: Dr. Mark Thompson

Immunizations (or vaccines) are intended to stimulate the immune system so as to protect the animal from a specific infectious agent. However, this stimulation may cause some minor symptoms. Your pet may react to immunizations in ways that range from soreness at the site of injection to mild fever to allergic reactions, which can range from mild to severe.

# Mild. Mild reactions include fever, sluggishness and loss of appetite. Mild reactions usually resolve without treatment.

# Moderate. Urticaria is a moderate vascular reaction of the skin marked by hives or wheals and rapid swelling and redness of the lips, around the eyes, and in the neck region. It is usually extremely itchy. Urticaria may progress to anaphylaxis, which is considered life-threatening. Urticaria is the most common reaction in cats.

# Severe. The most severe reaction is anaphylaxis, a sudden, severe allergic response that produces breathing difficulties, collapse and possible death. Symptoms usually include sudden onset of vomiting, diarrhea, staggering, rapid drop in blood pressure, swelling of the larynx leading to airway obstruction (and inability to breathe), seizures and cardiovascular collapse or death. This reaction is life-threatening for your cat.

Both anaphylaxis and urticaria are reactions that are triggered by antibodies that the immune system has made to some portion of the vaccine and usually requires at least one previous exposure to the vaccine. The antibodies cause inflammatory cells like basophils and mast cells to release substances that cause the allergic reaction. The impact on the cat may be life threatening but if treated successfully the prognosis for long-term health is good. Mild reactions usually resolve without treatment.

Treatment
# Anaphylaxis is an extreme emergency. Your veterinarian will begin immediate emergency life support including establishing an open airway, oxygen administration, intravenous fluids to increase blood pressure and drugs such as epinephrine, diphenhydramine and corticosteroids. Cats that survive the first few minutes usually return to normal health. Anaphylaxis usually occurs soon after vaccination, often while the cat is still in the veterinary clinic.

# Urticaria occurs soon after vaccination, often shortly after the animal gets home. Your veterinarian will recommend immediate return to the hospital for treatment. An oral antihistamine such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl®) may be recommended to initiate treatment. Urticaria is usually treated successfully with injectable corticosteroids like dexamethasone or prednisone. Antihistamines do little to help with acute allergic reactions but may be given by injection to help prevent recurrence of symptoms after steroids wear off.

# Mild vaccination reactions usually require no treatment. However, if the symptoms persist for more than 24 hours, call your veterinarian.

Home Care
Be sure to schedule vaccination appointments when you will be available to monitor your cat after the vaccine is administered. Be sure to call your veterinarian with any questions or concerns.

Preventative Care
The good news is that severe vaccination reactions are rare. The risk of anaphylaxis and urticaria are much more rare than the benefit of the vaccine in most cases. You can limit vaccines to those that prevent diseases to which your cat may be exposed. Your veterinarian is the best judge of what vaccines are needed to protect against the diseases in your area.

Your veterinarian will record any adverse reactions to vaccines to help prevent those vaccines from being administered again. It is a good idea to also keep a record yourself. "

SOURCE: PET PLACE

Fifty Cats Fatally Infected in Sacramento Shelter Outbreak

SACRAMENTO, CA - Fifty cats were being euthanized Sunday as personnel worked to contain an outbreak of a deadly and contagious feline virus at the Sacramento city main animal shelter, according to a city spokeswoman.

Workers at the Sacramento City Animal Care Services Center on Front Street were forced to put down 50 cats over the weekend after the animals showed signs of panleukopenia, a viral infection commonly known as feline distemper, Sacramento city spokeswoman Rhea Allen said.

The outbreak began Saturday after workers noticed seven cats at the shelter began showing symptoms of the highly-contagious disease. The virus routinely kills 60 to 90 percent of exposed cats.

Five animals tested positive for the virus Saturday and were euthanized. By Sunday, nearly all of the 50 to 60 cats who shared the infected area were showing signs of the virus and would all be put to sleep, Allen said.

Another nearly 40 cats housed in another part of the shelter were unaffected by the disease.

Investigators were trying to determine how the outbreak started. All cats who pass through the city shelter are vaccinated for panleukopenia, which is commonly spread through bodily fluids, but can be transmitted via common bedding, food dishes or human contact.

Administrative Officer Donna Wicky said her staff was distraught by the outbreak.

"It's heartbreaking to have to look into a cat that's healthy one minute, and then the next, you know is not going to be," Wicky said. "The staff has been devastated."

Dogs and all other animals at the shelter are not affected by the disease.

Allen said the shelter was undergoing a thorough cleaning and disinfecting process Sunday and Monday when the shelter is usually closed. The center was expected to reopen for adoptions on Tuesday.

All cats brought in over the weekend were transfered to the county animal shelter on Bradshaw Road.

News10/KXTV

Celebrity Cat Lover: Josphine Baker

Josephine Baker was the 20th century’s first black superstar, and changed Europe’s perception of black performers. She was a megastar, French Resistance fighter, civil rights activist, and mother to her adopted multi-racial family of 12 children.

Born in America, she worked mostly in Paris, where she was idolised.

Baker epitomised the 1920s. She had wit and chic. She walked down the Champs Elysees accompanied by exotic pets, which included a leopard and a perfumed pig, on golden leads. Women started sunbathing, hoping to achieve a skin like hers. Baker’s severe hairstyle, with the tight kiss-curls, was sleeked so flat that it seemed painted on. On stage she usually wore little more than make up and jewels. Her eyelids twinkled with sequins, her fingers, wrists, throat, and ears sparkled with diamonds. She danced on, surrounded by mirrors, wearing her most famous costume: a garland of bananas. She became the great star of the opulent Folies Bergeres revues and the highest paid entertainer in pre-war Europe.

SOURCE

I LOVE LEOPARDS!!!!!!!!!

Leopards are graceful and powerful big cats closely related to lions, tigers, and jaguars. They live in sub-Saharan Africa, northeast Africa, Central Asia, India, and China. However, many of their populations are endangered, especially outside of Africa.

The leopard is so strong and comfortable in trees that it often hauls its kills into the branches. By dragging the bodies of large animals aloft it hopes to keep them safe from scavengers such as hyenas. Leopards can also hunt from trees, where their spotted coats allow them to blend with the leaves until they spring with a deadly pounce. These nocturnal predators also stalk antelope, deer, and pigs by stealthy movements in the tall grass. When human settlements are present, leopards often attack dogs and, occasionally, people.

Check out National Geographic for more info:

What exactly is a black panther?

A black panther is a black color variant of one of several species of larger cat which are often known by the term panther. "Panther" in North America is most commonly used for the cougar (genus Puma). In Latin America it is most often used to mean a jaguar and elsewhere in the world it usually refers to the leopard.

Check out Black Panther Animal for great info and images.

Famous Cat Lover: Mabel Stark

Mabel Stark, whose real name was Mary Haynie was the world's premier tiger trainer of the 1920s and she was referred to as the world's first woman tiger trainer/tamer.

From her Autobiography "Hold that Tiger":

"For more than twenty-five years, I have been breaking, working, and training tigers," it began. "I have been clawed and slashed and chewed until there is hardly an inch of my body unscarred by tooth or nail. But I love these big cats as a mother loves her children, even when they are the most wayward. They are killers because they know their own strength. They can be subdued by never conquered, except by love. And that is the secret of all successful animal training. I have learned it at the risk of my life. . ."

Cat Gyms! A great solution for cat obesity!

PetsCompany has a great article about kitty gyms:

It’s a well-known fact that pets have to exercise in order to keep healthy and happy. If your busy schedule prevents you from taking them out on regular walks, or if you live in the city where there’s little room for a spirited romp, you can invest in a pet gym.

The demand in the United States for pet gyms has steadily increased over the years, and manufacturers have responded to this by introducing a wide variety of gyms. Some are portable, and can be used at home; others are located at specialty centers which offer yearly membership. To help you decide which of those products are the best for your pet, consider these factors.

Kitty Gyms and Kitty Condos

Cats are active creatures, and without any exercise they will vent their energies on bookshelves, couches, an antique sofa. A kitty gym is an excellent way of giving them something to do while protecting your own property.

Kitty gyms are usually several feet high, and are equipped with sisal cat scratching posts and rope for cats to play with. It also breaks into several levels, allowing them to jump and pounce to their hearts’ content. Some kitty gyms have cat hammocks, others even have kitty condos. Kitty condos, as the name implies, are mini apartments where they can play and do what cats do best—nap.

Kitty condos come in a wide variety of sizes and shapes. Some of them have themed designs: castles, palaces, bistros, and skyscrapers.

Good kitty gyms come at a price, though. They can cost upwards of $100, depending on the retailer.

Images from Cozy Cat Furniture

What is Catnip?

I keep hearing that Catnip is like pot for cats... Is it safe? Is this something that is harmful to cats? My little kitty AJAX is not really old enough for catnip to take effect. So I thought that I would research before exposing him to this phenomenon!

Nepeta is a genus of about 250 species of flowering plants in the family Lamiaceae. The members of this group are known as catnip or catmint because of their famed effect on cats—nepeta pleasantly stimulates cats' pheromonic receptors, typically resulting in the animal temporarily exhibiting behaviors indicative of being in an induced,euphorically giddy sort of state.

Effects on cats:

Catnip and catmints are mainly known for the behavioral effects they have on cats, particularly domestic cats. When cats sense the bruised leaves or stems of catnip, they may roll over it, paw at it, chew it, lick it, leap about and purr, often salivating copiously. Some cats will also growl and meow. This reaction only lasts for about ten minutes before the cat loses interest. It takes up to two hours for the cat to "reset" after which it can come back to the catnip and have the same response as before. Young kittens and older cats are less likely to react to catnip.

Approximately two thirds of cats are susceptible to the behavioral effects of catnip. The phenomenon is hereditary; for example, most cats in Australia are not susceptible to catnip, since Australian cats are drawn from a relatively closed genetic pool. It elicits such a response in only some cats, because a genetic element is involved that is enriched in domesticated breeds. There is some disagreement about the susceptibility of lions and tigers to catnip. Some claim that the way lions and domestic cats react to catnip suggest further evidence of the genetic existence of a susceptibility to catnip outside of domestic felines.

Although no one knows exactly what happens in the cat's brain, it is known that the chemicalnepetalactone in catnip is the thing that triggers the response. Apparently, it somehow kicks off a stereotypical pattern in cats that are sensitive to the chemical. The catnip reaction is inherited, and some cats are totally unaffected by it. Large cats like tigers can be sensitive to it as well.

The reaction to catnip only lasts a few minutes. Then the cat acclimates to it, and it can take an hour or two away from catnip for the cat to "reset." Then, the same reaction can occur again. Very young kittens and older cats seem less likely to have a reaction to catnip.

These links will help you learn more:

Picture of Catnip

What's That Stuff?: Catnip

Nepetalactone Chemistry

The real Garfield!

Obesity in cats is not a laughing matter...

People think that the idea of a "fat cat" is funny, there are even commercials and animated characters about them. Obesity in cats is very common and can predispose the cat to diabetes, Hepatic Lipidosis and arthritis. Overweight and actually obese cats outnumber cats of normal weigh and are being seen more and more commonly by veterinarians for various disorders. Weight loss plans in cats needs to be approached very carefully.

Twenty-Five percent of cats are clinically obese, which is defined as an excess accumulation of body fat. This is important because obesity can reduce your cats life span.

PetEducation.com also lists some of the more common diseases and conditions which can contribute to obesity:

Food type, availability, and palatability: Some cats will only eat what they need and do fine if their food is available free choice (available at all times). Others will eat as much as is available and then look for more. Many cats are finicky and others will eat just about anything. So the amount and type of food that is fed and the eating tendencies of the cat can determine how likely it is a cat will become overweight. The type of food fed has a direct bearing on the tendency of a cat to become overweight. Table scraps, treats, even premium high-energy cat foods can contribute to obesity. A 7-year-old lap cat whose main exercise is walking to and from the food bowl does not need a high-energy cat food, whereas his brother who is a barn cat and lives outside has high energy needs and a more high energy food may be in order (depending upon the number of mice caught!).

Activity level: Activity level plays a major role in determining the caloric needs of a cat and thus his tendency to become overweight. An active cat will use more calories.

Neutering and spaying: Neutering and spaying cats lowers their metabolic rate such that they require fewer calories than intact cats. In addition to changes in metabolism, androgens and estrogens (male and female sex hormones, respectively) stimulate roaming behavior and general physical activity. Estrogen, in addition, has the effect of decreasing appetite. Spayed cats never have the extra energy demands of pregnancy or raising a litter. Neutered and spayed cats require only 75-80% of the food given to intact cats. Since their energy needs are less, if we feed spayed and neutered cats what we would feed intact cats, they will, of course, gain weight. In truth, most neutered and spayed cats are overfed and underexercised and are twice as likely to become obese as intact cats. Neutering and spaying in themselves do not cause obesity, it is how we care for the cats afterwards that predispose them to becoming overweight.

Genetics and breed predispositions: Are some breeds simply more prone to becoming overweight? The answer is not as clear as it is in dogs. We know that some breeds of dogs are predisposed to obesity. In cats, it has been found that mixed breeds may have more of a tendency to become overweight than purebreds such as the Abyssinian. Genetic factors which influence the type and characteristics of fat produced by the body have been shown to contribute to obesity in rats and mice. Such factors may occur in cats.

Age: Cats tend to become overweight when they are between 2 and 12 years of age, especially around the 6 year mark. As cats become 'senior,' the tendency to become overweight decreases. Young cats, too, in general, are less likely to be overweight, since their energy requirements are high since they are growing and are generally more active.

Social environment: Many people will acknowledge they eat more when they are stressed, and often eat less nutritious food. For me, large amounts of chocolate come to mind. Some cats may have similar responses to stress. Cats who live in a multi-cat or even multi-pet households may tend to eat more and/or faster than those in one-cat households. The change in behavior when other animals are present is called 'social facilitation.' The competition for food, whether perceived or actual, makes some cats much more focused on their food and can lead to obesity.

Physical Environment: Maintaining body temperature is an energy-consuming task. When a cat is in an environment with a temperature below freezing, his calorie requirements increase dramatically. Conversely, an inside cat uses relatively few calories to maintain normal body temperature.

Medications: Various medications can influence metabolism and appetite. These include the glucocorticoids such as prednisone and dexamethasone, the barbiturates such as phenobarbital which is used to control epilepsy, and a class of drugs called benzodiazepines which includes valium.

Hypothyroidism: In the disease hypothyroidism, the cat's body produces less thyroid hormone. Thyroid hormone influences metabolic rate. Less thyroid hormone means lower metabolic rate and lower energy needs. A normal cat will become overweight if he develops hypothyroidism and is fed the same amount he was fed when he was healthy. Hypothyroidism is an uncommon condition in cats, but it can occur. It is very difficult to get a hypothyroid cat to lose weight even when fed a weight reduction diet. By treating the hypothyroidism in conjunction with starting a weight control program, chances of success are much higher.

Cushing's disease (hyperadrenocorticism): Cushing's disease is a disease in which the adrenal gland produces too high a level of glucocorticoids. Glucocorticoids can alter metabolism and cause an increase in appetite and an increased deposition of fat. Again, in addition to starting a weight control program, the Cushing's disease must be managed if the cat is to successfully lose weight. Cushing's disease is uncommon in cats, but can occur.

Insulinoma: An insulinoma is a tumor that occurs in the pancreas. It is a tumor consisting of the cells that produce insulin. A cat with an insulinoma produces too much insulin. Insulin tends to increase food intake and promote the generation of tissue, including fat. Insulinomas are rare in cats.

Pituitary gland and brain diseases: The pituitary gland is often called the 'master gland' because it produces hormones itself and regulates the production of hormones from most of the other glands. If the pituitary gland is functioning abnormally, changes in the levels of various hormones can change the cat's metabolism, appetite, and fat deposition. The hypothalamus in the brain regulates appetite. Hypothalamic abnormalities could account for rare instances of increased appetite resulting in obesity.

Read

Fat Cats: Cat Obesity Is Bad For Your Cat's General Health

and

"Obesity in cats" for more info

Kitty said what? I Love this song!!!!

This cat is the real 007.

Is this the meanest cat you have ever seen?

BBCWorldwide

Wow! Nora the cat is the feline Mozart!!!

This is not a trick that was taught to Nora. She began sitting at the piano at about one-year-old. She's four now. She plays only when the mood strikes her, which is usually several time a times a day for short periods.

Funny Commercial: Mewvies!!!!!

Here are a few of the testimonials from the Mewvie site:

"I was really a skeptic that my cat, Jezzie, would watch your DVD since she NEVER paid attention to the television. The minute I put it in and the squirrels came on (she looooves to watch them in the backyard) she instantly started to paw the screen and talk to it!!!! My husband and I were thrilled to see her interact with the film. Too bad it was not a “feel” or “smell” avision, or she would’ve been in kitty heaven! She was not happy when my husband turned it off to watch the Friday Night Flights. She kept looking at the screen as if to say “where did they go?..”. Jezzie will love it especially when winter comes and there are no “critters” to watch out the window. I hope your business thrives and you broaden your collection. I will watch for new “movies” to come out."

Thanks from Jezzie, Charlie & Susan Forhan

"Dear Mewvie creators,

My husband I just bought our cats the Backyard Buffet mewvie this evening at the Tulsa County Fair. Our cats love it. Within the first 2 minutes of it being on all four of our feline family members were up on the bench that we provided for their viewing pleasure. I have attached a picture of the kitties enjoying their first “made for kitties” video. I hope you get a kick out the photo as much as we get a kick out of watching the cats watch TV. "

Sincerely,

Lori Medrano

"Dear Mewvie People,

After trying to convince your employee, Fred, that my cats would never EVER watch TV, I reluctantly gave in and purchased the Mewvie DVD at the Tulsa State Fair. I can not believe it, but they LOVE it! They sit in front of the TV and are fascinated! Mr. Bo and Toby are indoor cats and they really enjoy seeing the birds, mice and other creatures on the Mew vie. Thank you for offering such a creative and fun product that entertains not only our kitties, but us owners too!"

Anna

Today's Celebrity Cat: The Cheshire Cat

From Alice in Wonderland

Build your own enclosure with cool pre made options!

Kittywalk Systems has premade options that you can fit together to build a customized cat run.

Speaking of enclosures... WOW!

Cats of Australia has the most awesome display of cat enclosures.

Enclosures - The great compromise!

A solution to keeping your cat indoors it's entire life is to build an enclosure!

The images above are from the Cats of Australia website. They have a cool story about Ideas on how to build a safe Outdoor Cat Run or Cat Enclosure. Cat Proof Fencing, Cat Enclosures, Cat Runs, Cat Tunnels & more!!!

I also read about 5 lucky cats that live in a beautiful garden. Check out the exerpt from Victorian Flower Garden

Until about five years ago I'd always allowed my cats to roam freely. Then, after I'd lost a cat on the roads and as I became aware of what a nuisance my cats must be roaming about the neighbourhood, I decided to build them a cat run - but not any old cat run - this was to be a cat empire! This coincided with the introduction of strict cat controls by the local council in Bendigo - fate telling me it was a good idea.

I wish I'd done it many years sooner. The cats have never been happier or healthier, and actually prefer the enclosures to the 'outside' (given the choice, the cats will always opt for the cat door into the enclosures rather than the human door into 'freedom'). They feel incredibly safe inside them - something I realised when, the first week they were in the cat run, they happily sat not two metres away from the lawnmower man and his thundering machine when previously they'd always run terrified from him.

Now that I have moved down to Tasmania, the cat empire has expanded to suit Nonsuch's huge garden - the cats have more space than ever. I had several options in building my cat enclosure. I could have cat proofed the fences, but, as with my house in Bendigo, the fences here at Nonsuch are too difficult, and too extensive, to cat proof. I could also have had one huge enclosure, but I've always preferred the system whereby many small enclosures are linked by long walkways - that way the cats can still explore the garden, enjoy many different environments, and have the opportunity for lots of exercise (I have two enclosures sitting on the roof of the car port - a very different view that they love!). Currently the enclosure system at Nonsuch is a full 250 metres all the way about.

Visit a clickable plan of the enclosures.

Is it cruel to keep your cat in-doors it's entire life?

There has always been much debate over whether good cat owners allow their cat's to roam outside freely.

Cats tend to want to expand their roaming territories, the results of those roamings are exposure to dangers such as traffic, roaming packs of dogs, and other predators, including the human kind. Contact with other cats may spread diseases such as FIV or FeLV.

Still, in some opinions it is considered cruel to keep a cat indoors, especially if it is kept alone, without another cat. Indeed, the Cats' Protection League of the UK does not generally rehome to homes without yards/gardens.

The United States Human Society has responses to the most common arguments that people make for allowing a cat to roam outside:

"But I have a six-foot fence."

Unless you have special fencing that's designed to prevent a cat from climbing out, your cat will be able to scale your fence and escape the confines of your yard. If you do have special fencing, make sure that it can keep other cats or animals from getting into your yard to injure your cat. Some companies manufacturer ready-made cat fences and backyard enclosures.

"But my last cat went outdoors and he loved it."

Your cat may enjoy being outdoors, but by allowing him to go outside unsupervised, you're putting him at risk for a shortened life span. The expected life span of an indoor-outdoor cat will depend on several factors, including the type of neighborhood you live in and sheer luck. But, on average, cats who are allowed to roam outdoors often don't live to see age five. Cats who are always kept safely confined can live to be 18 to 20 years old.

"But my cat's litter box smells."

Scoop your cat's litter box on a daily basis. How often you actually replace (change) the litter depends on the number of cats in your home, the number of litter boxes, and the type of litter you use. Twice a week is a general guideline for clay litter, but depending on the circumstances, you may need to change it every other day or once a week. Wash the litter box with soap and water every time you change the litter; the use of strong-smelling chemicals and cleansers may cause your cat to avoid the box.

"But my cat likes to sun herself."

Your cat can safely sun herself indoors by lying near a window. If you're really intent on letting your cat outdoors, put her on a harness and leash and stay with her while she's taking in the rays.

"But I can't keep him in."

Keep your windows closed or install screens. Remember to always keep your doors closed and teach your children the importance of keeping the doors closed, too. It may take a few days or a few weeks, but if there are enough interesting things for your cat to play with indoors, he'll come to enjoy being indoors. Be sure to provide him with a scratching post and safe toys to bat or carry around.

"But we've always let her out."

You can change your cat's behavior. It will take time and patience, but it might save her life. When you implement your "closed door" policy, give her a lot of extra attention and entertainment. At first she may cry, but don't give in—more often than not, she'll soon be happy to stay indoors with you.

"But my cat knows to avoid cars."

Even if this were true, all it would take is another cat, a dog, or a shiny object to lure your cat into the street and into the path of traffic. Also keep in mind that not everyone will swerve to miss a cat in the road.

"But my cat needs exercise and likes to play with other cats."

Stray cats could spread viruses such as feline leukemia and other fatal diseases. If your cat needs a friend, adopt another cat who's healthy and disease-free. Cats kept safely confined do need extra attention and exercise inside, so be sure to play with your cats regularly using a variety of toys and chase games.

"But my cat yowls and acts likes he really needs to go outside."

Your cat may be feeling the physiological need to mate. If this is the case, make sure your cat is spayed or neutered. Sterilized cats don't have the natural need to breed, and therefore, won't be anxious to go out to find a mate. Transforming a cat who is allowed roam freely outside into a safe cat will take time, effort, and patience; some cats will adapt more quickly than others. And many cat owners report that keeping cats inside actually fosters the bond between feline and human. If, despite your best efforts, your cat simply cannot make the transition, then vow to keep your next cat safely confined from the start.

What do you think?

Check out the Babble Ball sounds... what do you think?

I recently reposted a story written by Lady Bee about cool pet gifts. One of the gifts was the Babble Ball by PetQwerks.

Check out the sounds... what do you think?

Today's Celebrity Cat: Sylvester J. Pussycat Sr.

Academy Award winner Sylvester J. Pussycat Senior.

Trademark exclamation: "Sufferin' succotash!"

Sylvester is an adorable tuxedo cat who shows much pride in himself, and never gives up.

Ceiling Cat Paper Craft from Tubby Paws!!!

Print and cut out the pattern and stick it together!!! Click here to visit TubbyPaws for the larger image!

:( Don't throw away your cat like trash!

It takes a special kind of a person to abuse, neglect or - even worse - abandoned and dispose of their family pet for whatever reason. These are domesticated animals that can't survive in the wild. When a pet is forced to fend for itself outdoors, it usually will die from exposure or an accident. Some of these felines that have lived as a family pet for many years are suddenly disposed of and some have even been declawed, so they have no way to defend themselves from other wild animals and end up starving to death.

We never anticipated having to care for and try to find homes for so many of these cats that people have either lost or abandoned.

When "Humphrey" a neutered and declawed male cat was first found along side a country road west of Elgin the first part of September, he was at first thought to be a possible lost cat. He appeared at one time to have been a big cat but was now just skin and bones and near starvation. Upon placing him in caring arms, he struggled to purr as if to thank us for rescuing him. The animal shelters refused to take him. We have reason to believe that this was not a lost cat after all, that someone had just discarded him rather than deal with his medical problems. He acquired his name in honor of one of the vets who provided some of his medical care.

Even though we had spent close to $1,000 to try to save his life, we had no idea how old he was or how long he had even been out there without any food. I'm sorry to have to tell you that on Nov. 8 we had to make the decision to put our little fellow to rest, and he still purred up until the end.

In all my years of rescuing these animals, Humphrey was the most wonderful cat I have ever come across. That made this all the harder to endure, and I just wonder how someone could just dispose of this animal as if they would their garbage.

We are a local nonprofit organization that consists of a small group of people who volunteer our time and money because we believe animals deserve protection against the wrongs of abandonment, starvation, disease and cruelty. This is the tragic reality of life for countless innocent creatures.

Finally, we have received several calls from people in the Fox Valley who tell us they've been told that they are not allowed to feed feral cats. When I called Kane County Animal Control about this I was told that if you feed these cats then they are considered legally yours. Maybe law enforcement should go after the people who trap and kill these animals rather than those who show compassion for them. To support our organization, you can reach us at P.O. Box 595, South Elgin, IL 60177.

Carol J. Schultz

Guardian Angels Feline Rescue

South Elgin

SOURCE

18+ Best Interactive Pet Gifts: Toys For Cats!

Pets are like kids: they love new stuff and they get bored easily. So, in looking for perfect pet gifts this year, I focused on pet toys that have the potential of holding your pet's attention for more than a few minutes on more than one occasion. High on my list are those toys that don't require the owner to participate in the play, which is what I mean by interactive. Cats are the hardest to please, so I'll list my faves in cat toys first:

Interactive Toys For Cats

Pet Toy 1. Fling-ama-String Battery-Operated Toy

This being my cat's favorite toy, I naturally have to share it with you. Because he loves it so much, I reviewed the toy here. See the video in the review; you won't believe how much cats love the Fling-ama-String.

Pet Toy 2. Da Bird

Believe it or not, what with all of the cat-teaser toys on the market, with feathers, boas, ribbons, cords, and whatnots, Da Bird cat teaser is favored by the majority of cats who've rated it. Maybe it's the longer (36") wand, or the sound of the feathers in flight, or the fact that the feathers are real bird feathers... whatever does it, your cat will be addicted. Owners advise against leaving your cat alone with this toy. Sold by Amazon.com for $10.98.

Pet Toy 3. The Cat Spa

Don't you sometimes wish you were a cat? Cats really know how to find all those feel-good spots. And the Hagin Catit Cat Spa knows where they are and how to reach them. After all, there's nothing like a 'feel good' toy for a cat. With the Body Groomer and the Ripple Massager for rubbing the face, head and neck, those especially hard to groom places for a cat, he'll groom himself and stimulate lots of pheromones to calm him. The Accu-Pressure pads provide your cat stepping places she loves to stimulate her paws. And cats love their gums stimulated. I've been massaging my cats' gums with my fingers, but the Cat Spa Gum Stimulator offers cats something to actually gnaw on.. which does not feel good on your fingers. (There's a place for catnip in the gum stimulator, so she'll be more inclined to chew on it.) All of this in one toy will keep your cat busy. Gift available at cat places and Amazon.com ($24.97).

Pet Toy 4. The Kitty Babble Ball

Pet Quirks has some definite winners in their Babble Balls. The Babble Ball for kitties is 2.125" diameter and nice and ridged for some gum stimulation, if desired. The Babble Ball makes cat-appropriate sayings whenever your cat comes near it or so much as breathes near it. Surprise! What was that!? Hear the Babble Ball for Kitties at Pet Quirks. Available for order at Amazon.com for $6.90.

Pet Toy 5. The Tick Tock Teaser

When the pendulum swings on the Tick Tock Teaser, your cat will have two problems to solve: how to stop the pendulum and how to catch the little toy prey inside this wooden box. If she does catch it, and bores of it, as kitties do, you can exchange the inner toy for another, by inserting a new one with Velcro. And it always helps to stuff the toy with fresh catnip. Nice looking, sturdy box that promises lots of fun for da cat. Gift available at Amazon.com for $15.89.

Pet Toy 6. Fat Cat Toys

Fat Cat Inc. makes literally dozens of adorable little critters for cats. You have to see them all to believe what cute little personalities each one has. Yes, they are works of art that your cat can't really appreciate. But what your feline friend will love is the "high octane" catnip and the crinkling or crunchy sounds they make. Available from Fat Cat's Cat-a-logue or from Amazon.com starting at $2.99. This cute You Tube video by "Heidojo" shows cats at play with a Fat Cat toy...

Pet Toy 7. Fat Cat Kitty Hoots Boogie Mat for de Cat Fishes

Ever see your kitty get down and boogie? You will if you get her a boogie mat from Fat Cat! This mat's full of Fat Cat's extra-special blend of cat nip! Re-chargeable when ready! From Amazon.com, $8.49.

Pet Toy 8. Incredibubbles (for dogs and cats!)

What a kick the Pet Qwerks' Incredibubbles are for dogs and cats; heck, they're great for kids! Why? They last longer than your average bubble, hitting the ground in tact so your guys can chase them for awhile. These are non-toxic and peach flavored. You too will have fun with these; you might even get your nose wet! Available at Here's To Healthy Pets for $3.99 and at Amazon.

SOURCE: Lady Bee

729 cats and the people they own

Check out the cats at the cat show! Coverage here

Cat's living the good life! :) The Sophisticated Cat!

Do cats really wear clothing you ask? Yes! Cats can actually be trained to wear clothing, especially when training begins in kittenhood!

From the Sophisticated Cat website:

The Sophisticated Cat is a specialty online boutique created by devoted pet owners. We cater to fashionable felines and their owners! We have the best selection of products for your cat, from fancy collars & carriers, to unique toys & beds, to trendy designer cat clothing. We are committed to providing a wide selection of the latest designs and trendiest essentials for your furry friend. You can find plenty of stylish lines to outfit your fashionable feline. We are committed to providing you with only the best products and great customer service.

Spoil your pet. They deserve it!

Hot Tunes! Meow Mix Medley!

The tune sticks in your head all day! LOL

Celebrity Cat: Morris the cat!

Morris the Cat "the world's most finicky cat", and prefers only 9Lives brand.

Cat Food Taste Test: Fancy Feast vs. Friskies

Which is better?

In a taste test conducted by Joni Lambert, the least expensive brand Friskies won. See here: Video on Cat food taste test. But, which one is healthier?

May cat AJAX, LOVES Fancy Feast (anything with gravy), but he also east Friskies as well.They are both made by Purina. Shockingly, when I researched online the results on Yahoo Answers is that they are both pretty bad:

Both of them are pretty lousy foods.

Look at the labels--
A cat needs a protein content of 11% or higher in canned foods, 35% or higher in dry foods.

The ingredients should list at least two meat sources in the first four ingredients, they should NOT be by-products. And there should be no corn listed in the first 5 ingredients (cats can't digest corn, it's a filler they get no benefit from). The ingredients always list the things with the most volume in the food from largest to smallest, so the first five or six things are very important.

Evo canned is very good, so is Wellness (canned), Chicken Soup for the Cat Lovers Soul (canned), some of the NutroMax, etc. Look at the labels--the protein and the meat sources, and you'll make good choices.

There was also a positive response:

"Actually, it's the same meat and fish by-products. Fancy Feast is more expensive, but it smells and looks better. My cats like both Friskies and Fancy Feast."

But this answer didn't really touch on the health aspect... What do you think?

SOURCE

The Cougar: (Puma concolor)

The cougar (Puma concolor), also puma, mountain lion, or panther, depending on region, is native to the Americas. This large, solitary cat has the greatest range of any wild terrestrial mammal in the Western Hemisphere, extending from Yukon in Canada to the southern Andes of South America. The cougar is found in every major American habitat type. It is the second heaviest cat in the American continents after the jaguar, and the fourth heaviest in the world, along with the leopard.

Book Review: The Cat Bible: Everything Your Cat Expects You to Know

Editorial Review

The only fully comprehensive guide to “all things feline,” from the host of Cat Chat on Martha Stewart Living Radio.

Finally, a definitive book that delivers many unknown facts about every aspect of caring for and sharing your life with a cat, ranging from proper nutrition and strange behavior to medical care and multi-cat households, to grooming and geriatrics. The Cat Bible explains the mysteries of feline behavior to owners who are devoted to their cats without being able to fully understand them. It offers straightforward solutions to the problems that cause people to give up their cats, many of which are preventable, including litter box avoidance, furniture scratching, and physical ailments.

There are more than 90 million American households that count cats as family members, but they are a vastly underserved population, devoted to their kitties, yet bereft of all the public attention, programming, and print devoted to dogs. Now, bestselling author and investigative journalist Tracie Hotchner offers them The Cat Bible, with straightforward, fact-filled solutions to health and behavior problems, based on years of research into the real reasons behind these issues. In the same warm, straightforward style that attracts devoted listeners to her radio shows, Tracie tackles controversial topics such as the truth about commercial dry pet foods and their dangers, bringing readers the latest facts on every topic that affects a feline’s well-being. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

About the Author
Tracie Hotchner is the author of The Dog Bible: Everything Your Dog Wants You to Know (Gotham Books, 2005) and the million-copy bestseller Pregnancy & Childbirth, for which she appeared on national talk shows ranging from Today to Oprah. Tracie’s two areas of pet expertise have made her a national radio personality twice over, and she hosts two live, weekly call-in shows: Cat Chat on Martha Stewart Living Radio and Dog Talk, her own NPR show, produced by WLIU.FM at Southampton College.

Are there too many cats in your house?

Gary Bogue writes to a reader, a feral rescuer who asks for help with his seven cats:

Cats are territorial and when you keep adding new cats to a house, eventually the house reaches its carrying capacity and the cats express their frustration by scent marking or fighting. The feral kittens coming and going doesn't help. Frankly, I'm surprised the spraying didn't start sooner. You must get all of those spots cleaned up because cats automatically spray where they smell urine. Because a cat's sense of smell is 14 times better that yours, I guarantee they'll smell things you can't.

If they keep spraying on a particular article after you've cleaned it (like the couch cover), you may need to replace the article with a new one. Or toss the Nature's Miracle and try something else more effective. (Go to www.google.com; search for "cat urine neutralizer.") How many litter boxes do you have? Ideally, each cat should have its own box, but with seven cats, I know that's impossible. So have as many boxes as possible. And keep them as clean as possible. Some cats are very fussy.

Even when you have plenty of spotless litter boxes, you can still have problems when there are too many cats. Dominant cats will sometimes keep a submissive cat from using the litter box. And you know what that means. You need to experiment. You need to get rid of the urine smells around the house. Try rethinking the numbers and locations of the litter boxes. Observe your cats and try to figure out who's fighting, then try to resolve it. Finally, you need to re-evaluate the number of cats that live with you and figure out what can be done to help them live compatibly. It is in your best interest to do this, but you know that. You can keep adding as many cats as you want. But think carefully about it first, consider what impact each new cat will have on the resident cat and human populations, and then figure out how you want to deal with it.

Don't just toss a new cat into the fray every now and then, and then stand back and wait for something to happen. Because it will.

SOURCE

Check out PetPlace.com's article How Many Cats Are Too Many?

Our Thoughts and Prayers go out to everyone in Mumbai, India. During this time concerned friends and family turn to feline friends for comfort.

We are truely saddned by the horrible news of the horror that has been unfolding in Mumbai India. I came across a story written by a blogger that took comfort from her sensitive feline friend Princess Sita. Read: Princess Sita, kitten, Brings some Smiles in Time of Tragedy

Attention Southern Maryland! Calling all Kitten, Cat Lovers!!!!

This holiday season, give the gift of life to the many kittens and cats of Southern Maryland looking for loving homes. Come out to Pepper's Pantry in Solomons for an adoption event to be held on Saturday, Dec. 6 from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. at 13858 Solomons Island Road.

For more information, call (301) 373-5805. Or visit The Bay Net News.

Sad News! Another Pet Serval killed!

So recently I considered adopting an exotic Serval. I think that they are awesome animals, but after conducting research I ran across several stories of servals being harmed due to escaping or not being cared for properly by owners. Today, I read a story about another serval being killed while hunting chickens in Philadelphia. :(

"The animal was a pet owned by the Gansky family. A woman who answered the phone at the Gansky home and who would not give her name said that Jarrett Gansky, 20, was the pet's owner. She said that one day the cat, which had been declawed, slipped out the door and took off. She said that Jarrett Gansky had no comment."

Speaking of Firemen! Check out Firecat!

Super Cute cat fights fire.... but is this dangerous?

Vancouver crews revive cat after house fire; two others die

Wonder was the lucky cat today. After two other cats died in Vancouver house fires, crews were able to revive him. Firefighters responding about 6:30 p.m in the 2400 block of Southeast 139th Avenue found Wonder in an upstairs bedroom, covered in soot and unconscious.

The Vancouver Fire Department does have special oxygen masks for dogs but used a human mask on Wonder because it fit his face better, Capt. Bill Garlington said. Wonder was one of four cats owned by Kelly Adams. One died in the fire, and two ran away. One of those is still missing. The fire was started by an electrical problem and caused $65,000 in damage, Garlington said.

A house fire about 4:30 p.m. today left another cat dead. And a carport fire about 4:30 a.m. caused $125,000 in damage at another Vancouver home.

by Casey Parks

Live in Yerington, California? Pet Portraits with Santa slated for December 6

The annual Yerington Animal Protection Society (YAPS) 'Pet Portraits with Santa' event will be held next Saturday, December 6, from 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. in the parking lot next to Kritter Kafe on Main Street in Yerington.

SOURCE

New Favorite Blog! Global Cat Newsroom!!!!

Read Rahma's blog! It's on "paws" for now while she finishes her book, but there are several interesting stories!!!!!

Check it out!!!!!

WOW! Lost cat found after 4 years thanks to micro chip!!!!

A Countryside Humane Society agent picked up the large, black cat after it was reported as a stray in Mount Pleasant.

A scan revealed a micro chip that said the cat was named Sebastian and belonged to an Illinois woman.

Countryside rescue coordinator Maggie Senzig says the owner couldn't believe it when the humane society called with the news that her cat had been found. The woman had lost Sebastian when he was a 7-month-old kitten. She picked him up Wednesday afternoon at the shelter.

Source

Sounds like Microchips are really valuable. Check out the Humane Society's list of Common Questions about microchips.

Book Review: Dump Him, Marry the Cat!

Editorial Review:

What can a cat offer a woman that a man cannot? Well, for starters, a kittie comes home when he's called, doesn't steal the blankets, helps clean the dishes and never misses the toilet! These are just the beginnings of why a woman is wise to lose her man and marry the cat instead. This humorous book matches color photos with all the witty wisdom of this very logical way of thinking, including the facts that cats forgive all mistakes, don't pick fights, have lots of hair and don't channel surf. Who needs a man when you can get all this and hugs and kisses on demand?

Source: WillowCreekPress

Like cool cat stuff? Check out Kitty Village! Great gifts for cat lovers...

Kathi Mills runs a really cool shop featuring awesome cat stuff!!!! Check it out!

Did you know? Cat Owners Now Required to Buy Licenses Annually

In Colorado Springs, Colorado come January cat owners will need a license for feline family members. The new ordinance is going to cost $12.00 a year if your cat is spayed or neutered and $25.00 if it is not. Several council members said that since dog owners have had to pay for licenses all these years, it's only right that cat owners should too. Ann Davenport, Director of Community Resources at the Humane Society, says, "I understand that the economy is very severe right now, but if you can't afford a $12.00, you probably can't afford the regular care your pet needs anyway."

The Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region is looking at the new requirements from more than a money angle; they're looking at it as potentially saving thousands of cats. Last year alone, the Humane Society had over 6,000 cats come into the shelter. About only 400 were returned to owners while more than 4,500 had to be euthanized. The Humane Society hopes licensing cats will keep more alive at a relatively small cost.

100-percent of the licensing fees will go towards spaying and neutering feral cats around the area. The changes are set to take effect in January. Contact your veterinarian or the Humane Society about getting those licenses.

The cat licenses are expected to raise about $50,000 annually for the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region.

SOURCE

Image Source: Kitty Village

Celebrity Cat: Cool Cat!!!!!

Cool Cat is a Tiger outfitted in a stylish green beret and scarf, often seen strumming a guitar or travelling cross-country in his dune buggy.

Jerry the cat uses one of his nine lives!

By Bill Kirby:

Jonathan Dennington had kind of given up on ever seeing Jerry, the family cat, again. The orange tomcat, with seven claws, was in the Denningtons’ sport utility vehicle that was involved in a head-on collision five months ago on U.S. 13, near Wade.

Fat cats- is your cat overweight or obese?

Veterinary professionals estimate that greater than 35% of cats in the united states are overweight or obese.

If a cat is greater than 15% over its’ ideal body weight, then the cat is considered overweight. If the cat is greater than 25% over the ideal body weight, then the cat considered obese. As there is no standard size for a cat, nor one ideal body weight, it is difficult to apply this concept to our cats when determining if they are overweight.

SOURCE

Happy Thanksgiving Cat Lovers!

Happy Thanksgiving everybody. I know you can barely move after eating a huge Thanksgiving feast. But a quick question... What did your little kitty eat for Thanksgiving?

What to cook for your cat: Thanksgiving Feast!!!!!

River Front Times writer Aimee Levitt loves her cat Bess and wants her cat to know that Thanksgiving includes her too!

click here for the story!

:( Cat owners found guilty!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Another sad case of terrible neglect:

Springfield, Ohio — A Springfield couple who had more than 70 dead cats in their Beatrice Street home were found guilty of animal cruelty on Monday, Nov. 24.

"This is the first (case) I've been to where the people were actually sleeping with dead carcasses..... It's an experience I will long remember and care never to repeat,"

Case of an undeserved "bad rep"? Are Cat's really loners?

Kim Boatman explores the common misconception that cat's are loners that could care less about being with humans.

“Dogs, humans and almost all the other species we come in contact with are pack species,” says Dr. Tony Buffington, DVM, Ph.D., director of Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine’s Indoor Cat Initiative. “Cats are solitary hunters,” he adds. “A lot of people misinterpret that to mean they are asocial. That’s not really what it means.” Feral cats hunt alone, but they live in colonies, notes Ingrid Johnson, a Marietta, Ga., cat behaviorist. Supporting this more family-oriented view is a 2006 Harris Interactive survey that found that eight out of 10 veterinarians believe feral cats are in fact social by nature.

Signs of Cat Loneliness
Cats can’t pipe up and tell us they need more face-to-whisker time, but there are warning signs. Take note of the following behaviors, which can indicate your pet’s unhappiness:

Excessive grooming
Excessive meowing
Overeating or not eating
Coughing up hairballs because of the over-grooming
A decrease in activity and interaction

Curing Feline Distress
If you detect any of the indicators for loneliness, you can take steps to make sure your cat is not an unhappy feline. Here are some tips:

Visit your veterinarian first Since the symptoms of loneliness can mimic illness, it’s best to have your veterinarian examine your kitty. You’ll want to rule out physical causes, such as thyroid issues, infections or other health problems, which could be causing your cat’s distress.
Think pairs If possible, plan to have a cat “family.”For example, Johnson recommends adopting two cats at a time. “I always, always recommend adopting two cats,” she says. “I do not adopt out single cats unless they were raised as a single cat.” She further advises, “Don’t get one little kitten and make them an only child. I do not adopt out kittens unless they are in pairs.”
Choose companions wisely If you’re attempting to introduce a new kitty to be a companion for your cat, be cautious, say the experts. “If a cat is having problems, getting another cat is like taking a married couple that is having problems and saying, ‘You just need to have children,’” Dr. Buffington says, explaining that such introductions could even backfire, since you’d be adding yet another source of stress to an already maxed-out cat. She also instructs that you consider your cat’s energy level when bringing another cat into your home. As an example, if your kitty is a sedate 10-year-old, a frisky kitten might not make the best companion. “Don’t get a kitten (in this case). Get a pair of kittens so your 10-year-old doesn’t have to wrestle or rough and tumble,” advises Johnson.
Enrich your cat’s environment Your cat is certain to live a safer, healthier life as an indoor cat. But, like zoo animals, indoor cats are cut off from the more dangerous, yet stimulating, outside environment, says Dr. Buffington. “They are always at risk for loneliness in that situation.” It’s up to you to provide a rich, stimulating environment that engages your cat and prevents its loneliness. You’ll want to make sure your cat has places to climb and scratch, as well as toys that provide mental challenges and let your kitty act out its instinct to pursue prey. “People sometimes think cats will create their environment for themselves,” Dr. Buffington says, pointing out that’s false.
Be creative about play Too often, we buy cute cat toys on impulse at the pet store, then toss them in a basket. Instead, rotate toys in circulation so your cat doesn’t get bored. Grab a handful of toy mice, or other small toys, and toss them in a catnip marinade in a plastic bag before turning them over to your cat, says Johnson. Feline foraging toys, such as Play-N-Treat balls and the SlimCat, make your cat work for its dry food, since kitties must roll the balls and bat at the containers to get the pellets to dispense. Johnson feeds her cats dry food solely through such foraging toys. Working for the food is “positive frustration. It’s like a little Mensa toy for cats,” she says.

Always remember that your cat does need your interaction, concludes Johnson. “They have independent features and they don’t have that neediness of a dog, so we tend to forget about them,” she says. “But the idea of the loner cat is just folklore.”

About The Author: Kim Boatman is a journalist based in Northern California whose work has appeared in such publications as The Miami Herald, Detroit Free Press and San Jose Mercury News. She is a lifelong lover of animals and shares her home with three cats.

SOURCE

WTF!!!!??? :( Woman fined over maggot-infested cat in Sydney

A SYDNEY woman has been found guilty of aggravated animal cruelty after an untreated abscess on her cat's tail became heavily infested with maggots.

Read more about this awful story of neglect at the Herald Sun

Mars Petcare US Announces Extension of Voluntary Recall!!!!

FRANKLIN, Tenn., Nov 25, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Today, Mars Petcare US announced an extension of a previously announced voluntary recall of dry cat and dog food products manufactured at its Allentown, Pennsylvania facility with "Best By" dates between August 11, 2009 - October 3, 2009. The pet food is being voluntarily recalled because of potential contamination with Salmonella. This voluntary recall affects product sold at BJ's Wholesale Club, ShopRite Supermarkets, and Wal-Mart locations in Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, Vermont, and West Virginia.

Salmonella can cause serious infections in dogs and cats, and, if there is cross contamination caused by handling of the pet food, in people as well, especially children, the aged, and people with compromised immune systems. Healthy people potentially infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. On rare occasions, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers.

Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Animals can be carriers with no visible symptoms and potentially infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.

This action is an extension of the voluntary recall issued on October 27, 2008 of all sizes of SPECIAL KITTY(R) Gourmet Blend dry cat food produced at the Allentown facility on August 11, 2008. We recently learned that an additional sample of SPECIAL KITTY(R) made on September 25, 2008 at the Allentown facility tested positive for Salmonella. There have been no reported cases of human or pet illness caused by Salmonella associated with products produced at this facility. Mars Petcare US is taking an additional precautionary action to protect pets and their owners by extending the October 27, 2008 voluntary recall to include all dry pet food product produced at the facility with "Best By" dates between August 11, 2009 and October 3, 2009.

Recalled Pet Food

The dry cat and dog food listed below are made at our Allentown facility and sold at BJ's Wholesale Club, ShopRite Supermarkets, and Wal-Mart locations in Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, Vermont, and West Virginia.

All code dates, regardless of brand. Consumers should look for "50" as the first two digits of the second line.

In an effort to prevent the transmission of Salmonella from pets to family members and care givers, the FDA recommends that everyone follow appropriate pet food handling guidelines when feeding their pets. A list of safe pet food handling tips can be found at:www.fda.gov/consumer/updates/petfoodtips080307.html

Pet owners who have questions about the recall should call 1-877-568-4463 or visit www.petcare.mars.com.

SOURCE Mars Petcare US

Catsitters help out when the family's away

Beth N. Gray writes about the town of Glen Lakes , Florida. A "cushy, caring place to live" for cats and cat lovers! 20 members of the Glen Lakes Cat Sitting Club visit each other's homes to care for felines while their owners are away.

"People who have cats want them to remain in their own homes," said club founder Pat Schoppmeyer. "For the most part, they have their own little places in their home."

Officer Crank the Cat!!!!!

Crank the Cat joined the fleet maintenance division as a 5-week-old kitten in April 2000 and has probably saved the county thousands of dollars.

"We used to have a large rodent problem here at Laraway Road," coordinator Teri Riney said. "We're surrounded by fields, and mice were taking over."

Exterminators came out regularly to deal with the pests, but the mice kept coming too.

Crank is being recognized this week in the sheriff's newsletter Off the Record for his continued vigilance on patrol 24-7 without supervision!

SOURCE: HERALDNEWS

IMAGE:WORTH1000.com

SANTOS, King of cats!!!!!! (Best in Show 39 times) WOW

Santos a pedigreed Persian cat from Raleigh, N.C., has received his 39th "Best in Show" title at the 2008 International Cat Show in Atlanta!

39 times!?!?! That's technically the best cat in the world (exlcuding my sweetie AJAX).

Santos was named the top cat from a pool of 730 during the weekend by judges from the Cat Fanciers' Association.

Santos has been named "Best in Show" at 39 of the 40 cat shows he has participated in, including shows in Belgium, Ukraine and the Netherlands.

The owners said Santos lives the celebrity life. He is hand fed Blue Ridge meat designed for cats twice a day and takes his cat naps in his own room with handmade navy-blue silk pillows.

However the pampered pet is not without his vices. "Lord, he loves catnip," said owner.

Leah Friedman @ the Charlotte Observer wrote a cool article on
A day in the life of Santos

5:30 a.m. Santos is awakened by his owners.

He is groomed, and his eyes are cleaned.

Then he is hand-fed a breakfast of raw meat.

Once his owners go to work, he sleeps and plays with his catnip toys.

6 p.m. his owners get home, and he is fed his dinner.

Some days he gets a bath, which takes 30 minutes.

Then his coiffure is blown dry with a blow dryer, which takes an hour.

He gets play time before bed. He loves to have his nose rubbed with anyone's pointer finger, said owner Brandon Moore.

Then he drinks from a water bottle, like a hamster.

10 or 10:30 p.m. Lights out

"His weekdays are pretty boring," Moore said, "because his weekends are exciting."

SOURCE

Here is more coverage on his royal highness:

Raleigh feline tops international cat show WRAL.com
Raleigh cat named best in world News & Observer

IMAGE SOURCE COURTESY BRANDON MOORE

Calling ALL COSTUMED CATS! :) CostumeCats.com

SUPER CUTE COSTUMED CATS. :) Check out images of really cute cats decked out in cool costumes. You can also submit images of your costumed kitties as well!

View Site

HERO CAT! Cat saves owner in fire!!!!!!!!!!

A Florida man says his cat saved his life when his house caught fire early Tuesday morning.

The fire started just after midnight, but the homeowner, John Griffin, got out safely. Griffin said his cat scratched him on the face and woke him up.

Firefighters say some neighbors noticed the flames and called 911, but they couldn't save the home. Some nearby homes also received minor damage.

Detectives believe the fire started in the shed.

SOURCE: Fox13 TAMPABAY

Today's Celebrity Cat: The Cat in The Hat!!!!!

The Cat in the Hat - that tall, anthropomorphic, mischievous cat, wearing a tall, red and white striped hat.

Cats the Same as Dogs? Leash Laws Say Yes!!!!!!

SOURCE - ZOOTOO

November 24, 2008

Three-year-old Tabby is getting ready to go outside, which means she is wearing a harness in Denver, Colo., one of many cities nationwide which have passed feline leash laws. (Pet Pulse Photo by John Parker, Design by Tim Mattson)

FORT COLLINS, Colo. -– An angry resident in Wichita, Kan., wants the city council to adopt a leash law to keep his neighbor's cats out of his yard.

Howard Feiner says he has no issue with cats themselves, but he does object to cleaning up kitty poop.

In Houston, Dallas, New Orleans, La., Green Bay, Wisc., and Henderson, Nev., as well as in dozens of other places, cats that roam the streets free are considered criminals.

These cities have recently enacted a pet restraint law that includes cats, while many other cities are considering similar restrictions. Yet, the question is whether cats can really be regarded like dogs.

In Fort Collins, Colo., 2-year-old Bazi, a domestic short hair cat, is happily rolling around in her backyard's garden. Bazi's owner lets her roam wherever she wants, although she and the three other family cats rarely wander far from home.

Still, even though the cats are within sight of the back door, their actions are illegal. Fort Collins has a restraint law that applies to both dogs and cats. To be outside legally, Bazi and the other cats must be on a leash.

"It seems to me almost cruel to keep an animal inside their whole lives," Bazi's owner said. His identity is being withheld, because he could face a court summons and fines totaling several hundred dollars for breaking the law.

"It's just not natural for cats to remain inside all their lives," he said. "You have to let them outside to do what they do."

The potential result of cats getting outside fuels part of the controversy surrounding the law. Some animal groups, like the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy, believe felines' natural instinct -- to hunt and kill prey -- is responsible for the decline of bird populations and other native wildlife in certain regions.

The Cat Fanciers' Association, on the other hand, believes cats are being unfairly blamed for what humans and habitat destruction are really responsible. However, at least one research study has concluded that a single cat could be responsible for 14 wildlife deaths a year, says the Larimer Humane Society.

"Cats that are at large can have a huge impact on wildlife, especially birds, and baby animals," said Cary Rentola, community outreach manager for the Larimer Humane Society. "And we see the effects of that."

The Larimer Humane Society in Fort Collins annually takes in thousands of cats and kittens, many of which were found running at large. While protecting wildlife was one reason the city passed the restraint law, the other was to protect the cats themselves.

In 2008, Larimer animal control officers responded to over 460 calls of dead animals.

"About 90 percent of the animals that passed away, were hit by cars," Rentola said. "Which means they were at large, running around and were hit by a vehicle."

In a Denver area home, 3-year-old Tabby is getting ready to go outside. She is already outfitted with a harness and her owner, 13-year-old Amanda Jorgensen, is holding a leash.

Tabby was trained by first wearing the harness a few minutes a day inside the house. Then after a couple of weeks, she took her first steps outside.

"She's adapted pretty well," said Amanda's mother, Dr. Rose Jorgensen, a veterinarian. "And Tabby will walk the perimeter of the yard and check things out."

Tabby's outgoing personality made her a prime candidate for training. Most experts say getting cats used to wearing harnesses and walking on leashes when they are young is key.

But, despite the fact there is a restraint law in the county where the Jorgensen's live, spotting other cats in the neighborhood on a leash is a rarity. Not every feline is willing to walk the streets like a dog, and even those that will walk willingly are not predictable in their actions.

"They don't care if they obey you, the way a dog does," Jorgensen said. "So you end up in some ways feeling like the cat is walking you."

And that's just what is happening -- as Amanda takes Tabby around the front yard and tries to get closer to the street, Tabby has other ideas. The cat pulls back, seemingly spooked by the noises coming from the road.

"That's OK, baby," said Amanda as she tries to calm Tabby. "She is my baby, and I like the idea of having the leash on her so I know where she is."

While it restricts the cat's freedom, Tabby's owners believe outfitting her with a leash is the best thing they can do to protect her.

To see more of what the Cat Fanciers' Association has to say on the issue of restraint laws, visit CFAinc.org. For more on the issue from the Loudoun Wildlife Conservatory, visit LoudouWildlife.org.

Tell us what you think about “Cats the Same as Dogs? Leash Laws Say Yes” below. Share your favorite videos by clicking on the ZootooTV tab. Send us your story ideas by e-mailing us at news@zootoo.com or by calling us at 877-777-4204.

FOOTHILL FELINES BENGALS & SAVANNAHS Tell Me Why my cat is acting this way!!!!!

I met one of these little guys recently (Bengal) and was really impressed with how handsome and polite the cat was.

The Bengal is a relatively new hybrid breed of cat developed to have a gentle and friendly temperament, while exhibiting the "wild" markings (such as large spots, rosettes, and a light/white belly). In other words, a Bengal cat has a desirable "wild" appearance with a gentle domestic cat temperament, provided it is separated by at least three generations from the original crossing between a domestic and Asian Leopard Cat.

The name Bengal was derived from the taxonomic name of the Asian Leopard Cat (ALC), as shown above, and not from the more widely known Bengal tiger species, which is unrelated to the Bengal's ancestry.

While searching for more info online about these amazing animals, I came across FOOTHILL FELINES BENGALS & SAVANNAHS, in addition to having several of these wonderful babies for adoption, they also have an interesting article on Cat Behavior. My top three issues are covered in-depth in the article:

1. ) BITING YOUR ANKLES AS YOU WALK BY

This behavior usually signifies a kitten or cat who is bored! Cats need to play and to practice their hunting techniques. An indoor cat (especially an active breed like a Bengal, Ocicat or an Abyssinian), without adequate toys, cat furniture and other objects and situations to stimulate him, may well feel that his only chance to practice these skills is on you. They may start making up elaborate prey games whereby they hide behind furniture or out of your sight, and wait for you to walk down a hall, or in to their "lair" where they can ambush you. It is important for you to realize that your cat is not trying to hurt you, and is probably unaware that he may be hurting you. A cat doing this behavior needs more scratching and climbing toys and furniture around, and also may benefit from stuffed animals to drag around, animal-style cat beds which can give them the illusion of company and the security of "mom" or a sibling. A cat that continues with this behavior may well benefit from having another feline friend, who will be able to wrestle and play with him, and help burn off some of that energy he feels. Most often, the cats who exhibit this behavior are males, and there may be some sexual impulses involved, even if the male is neutered. A possible way to avoid this behavior turning in to a bad habit (and your legs and ankles turning in to a war zone) would be to have one of your cat's favorite rubber balls or mouse toys in your hand, and before reaching the spot where your cat usually ambushes you, try throwing the toy down the hall or in another direction. The idea is to recognize that your cat wants to engage you in a play game ritual, but to make the ritual more fun and safe for you.

2.) BURYING OUTSIDE HIS LITTER BOX

If your cat is scratching around the floor or area around the OUTSIDE of his litter box, especially if this is right after he has used the litter box, he is most likely trying to tell you that something is not right to him about his litter box; either he is displeased with the feel of the litter; the smell of the litter; the type of box; the location of the box; or something to that affect. The only way he can think of to demonstrate this to you is for him to try to "bury" the area outside of his box. If all was well to him with his litter and litter box arrangement, he would jump in to his box, do his business, bury his urine or feces, then jump out and go back to what he was doing.

3.) BITING
Young kittens between the ages of 3 weeks old and 8 months old will be teething off and on, and will have very strong needs to bite. Just like baby children, kittens are born without teeth, start getting their first baby teeth at about 3-4 weeks old, then they will lose their baby teeth and have their adult teeth come in up until the age of about 8 months old. So the trick here is not to keep them from biting; but rather, to provide them appropriate items to bite. We use heavy-duty plastic drinking straws with our kittens (being careful to cut off any bitten ends and discard the entire straw before it becomes dangerous, as with any toy), and train them from the start that toys and straws are purr-rectly fine to bite, but human body parts are off-limits! If a kitten learns this from the start, there is hardly ever an inappropriate biting behavior as an adult. Some cats start biting out of frustration after they have been de-clawed. Some cats start biting out of misplaced aggression, which usually can be countered by providing the cat a feline playmate, and/or providing them more cat toys, cat furniture, and making their environment more stimulating for them. For a cat with a serious biting problem, often the quickest way to teach them not to bite you is to immediately blow on his face, as soon as you realize he is biting or is about to bite you. Saying "NO!" firmly at the same time reinforces this training. At all times, it is critical that you be thinking and acting on the firm belief that "toys and straws are for biting; human hands are for giving and receiving love".

Other topics included are:
•    DUNKING FAVORITE TOYS IN FOOD OR WATER BOWL
•    KNEADING YOU WITH HIS PAWS
•    SUDDEN HISSING WHILE BEING PETTED
•    LICKING OR CHEWING PHOTOGRAPHS/PLASTIC BAGS
•    DECIDING TO PLAY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT
•    SCRATCHING HIS PAWS ON GLASS WINDOWS
•    CHATTERING HIS TEETH AT BIRDS
•    TRYING TO BURY HIS FOOD BOWL
•    PREFERRING WATER FROM A RUNNING FAUCET
•    NURSING ON CLOTHES OR OBJECTS
•    COLLECTING & STORING SMALL ROUND OBJECTS
•    BOLTING OUTSIDE WHEN YOU OPEN THE DOOR
•    CONSTANTLY MAKING NOISE OR MEOWING
•    SLOWLY BLINKING HIS EYES AT YOU

Check out the article for more information!

Scottish wildcats on the verge of extinction because of attraction to feral mates!!!!

The Wildcat, is a small felid native to Europe, the western part of Asia, and Africa. It is a hunter of small mammals, birds, and other creatures of a similar size.

After millions of years of stalking the forests and glens at the very apex of the food chain, remorseless persecution by man brought the wildcat to the edge of extinction. Yet the final, killer blow may be struck by the attractions of its feline cousin.

Interbreeding between wildcats and feral domestic cats has left this elusive creature, the rarest of Britain's indigenous mammals, with a fast diminishing gene pool as hybrids take over.

Next year, with ecologists cautioning that as few as 400 wildcats remain, a project in the Scottish Highland will seek to reverse that decline and reestablish the animal as the symbol of the country's wildest places.

Story by Mike Wade

If you are considering the addition of a friendly feline for your family please consider an orphaned cat.

We recently added a new little fur baby to our family and we love him SO much. He is the inspiration for this BLOG. :) I recently read a story about a fellow feline lover Louise;

Louise has always enjoyed the company of a furry feline in her household and she has raised many cats over the past seven decades, but she wasn’t aware of the countless number homeless cats in need of adoption until her grandchildren decided to search the Internet. Last fall Louise lost her beloved cat, Nikki. And in an effort to cheer up their grandmother, Katherine and Albert began looking on the Internet for a new cat.

They stumbled onto the website of a local animal rescue group and read about the plight of abandoned and homeless pets. They told their grandmother about the problem and insisted she adopt an orphaned cat. It was the first time Louise ever really paid attention to the problem. She told her grandkids she would consider it, but reminded them that she was not ready to adopt another pet.

Katherine and Albert could not let go of the idea of homeless cats sitting alone in cages during the holidays and the day after Thanksgiving they convinced their mother to take them to the rescue shelter. They walked into the big cat room and were pleasantly surprised to see the cats walking around the room, instead of sitting in pens. They studied each cat, until they saw the one they thought would be perfect for Louise.

They called their grandmother and begged her to come see the cat. Louise reluctantly agreed to stop by. When she walked into the cat room her grandchildren instructed her to sit on the floor while they searched for the new cat. Suddenly she heard a hearty meow behind her and felt a firm tap on her shoulder. She turned around and there was Charlie’s charming face staring up at her. He walked around to Louise’s lap and plopped down.

By the time Katherine and Albert came back, the match between Charlie and Louise had been made. She explained to her grandchildren that the cat they selected was very beautiful, but sometimes you have to let the cat decide who he wants to live with and Charlie had chosen Louise to be his new human.

Louise picked him up and the two have been inseparable ever since. Louise calls Charlie her “perfect” cat. She says, “His temperament and manners are impeccable and he is a good companion.” She cannot understand how someone could have given him up. And now that she has seen firsthand the problem of too many homeless cats, Louise is the first to speak up about adopting an orphaned feline.

Thanksgiving is almost here and if you are considering the addition of a friendly feline for your family please think of Charlie’s choice and consider an orphaned cat.

Story by Sharon Seltzer SOURCE

Got a Star on your hands?

Hollywood Paws is an exclusive training facility and the very first of its kind. They provide the average pet owner the opportunity to train and prepare their family pet for work in film, television, commercials and print.

Check Them Out

Family loses a dog, gains a rescued kitten

By SUSAN HATFIELD SOURCE

We had to let our little Westie, Kirby, go to the Rainbow Bridge last week.

He had Cushing’s disease, and we had tried everything to help him get better, from traditional medicines to holistic treatments. He continued to go downhill and was so bloated from the disease that he was becoming increasingly more uncomfortable each day.

I felt so empty after losing him and am just now able to talk about it without tears running down my face. He came into our program about five years ago from a family whose children had taunted and teased him so severely that he was a psychological mess. Then we found out he had been living with a dislocated hip and knee for months.

He had reconstructive hip and knee surgery and was fine, with the exception of a slight limp. The psychological issues took a little longer to reconcile.

He was such a good boy and definitely a Westie - feisty, loyal, bold, loving, tenacious, a protector of his family and a welcomer to all other foster dogs that visited our home. We took him to educational programs, and he became an ambassador for Happy Tails. It’s so hard to lose a beloved pet, and Kirby will live in my memory always.

On a brighter note, John, my husband, and I saved a feral kitten a couple of weeks ago. The mother had climbed through a hole in our backyard fence, and one of her kittens had followed her through.

When we heard the rustling in the bushes, we went to investigate. The mother darted off and jumped over the fence, but the kitten bolted in the opposite direction and ran up on the back porch. After we confined the area where the kitten was hiding, John, with heavy gloves on, proceeded to catch it. Bless its heart; it was terrified and very small - and was hissing and fighting the whole time.

John got a large kennel from the shed, and we put food, water and a litter pan inside. She cried most of the night, but by the next morning, she had used her litter box, eaten her kitten food and was hiding in the back of the kennel.

The following Monday, she had her first vet visit for tests and her kitten shots, and we are thankful to report she is free of disease. What a darling little 7-week-old black-and-white domestic short-haired kitten! She can be held now and loves to cuddle. She will be up for adoption in two weeks and can be viewed on our Web site at www.htsanctuary.com.

We have lots of coyotes out where we live, and most of the feral animals end up dead on the road or eaten by a wild predator. Fortunately, this little kitten will now have a second chance for a wonderful, loving life.

It’s interesting, you know - Kirby going off to the Rainbow Bridge but life re-emerging with this little kitten that would have died without our help. It’s the life-and-death cycle and heart-wrenching at times. Hug your pets and feel blessed that you have them in your life.

Susan Hatfield is the president and co-founder of Happy Tails Animal Sanctuary. She can be reached at (573) 445-1680, or visit the Web site at www.htsanctuary.com.

Happy Tails Animal Sanctuary (HTAS) is a private, non-profit, tax-exempt, no-kill, animal welfare corporation. We are dedicated to rehabilitating, caring for and finding permanent placements for abused, neglected and unwanted animals in danger of being euthanized. We have been helping animals since 1998. Each of you can make a difference in the lives of the animals in our care and your generous financial donations will help us save many more precious animals each year.

Famous Cat Lover: Abe Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln: US President
Abe came to presidential office accompanied by Tabby, a cat belonging to his son. “No matter how much cats fight, there always seems to be plenty of kittens.” Quote by Abraham Lincoln

I LOVE TABBY CATS TOO! Learn more about Tabbies at About.com's TabbyCat Channel

The Liger - Half lion, half tiger.

What a fabulous cat. The liger is a hybrid cross between a male lion, and a female Tiger. A liger resembles a giant lion with diffused stripes. Ligers have a tiger-like striping pattern on a lion-like tawny background. In addition they may inherit rosettes from the lion parent (lion cubs are rosetted and some adults retain faint markings). These markings may be black, dark brown or sandy. The background color may be correspondingly tawny, sandy or golden. In common with tigers, their underparts are pale. The actual pattern and color depends on which subspecies the parents were and on the way in which the genes interact in the offspring.They are the largest cats in the world, although the Siberian Tiger is the largest pure sub-species. Like tigers, but unlike lions, ligers enjoy swimming.

There have been several Liger Ambassadors;

Hercules

Jungle Island in Miami is home to a liger named Hercules, the largest non-obese liger, who is recognized by the Guiness Book of World Records as the largest cat on Earth, weighing in at 900 lbs. Hercules was also featured on the Today Show, Good Morning America, Anderson Cooper 360, Inside Edition and in a Maxim magazinearticle in 2005, when he was only 3 years old and already weighed 900 lbs at the time. Hercules seems completely healthy and is expected to live a long life. The cat's breeding is said to have been a complete accident.

Sinbad

Sinbad, another Liger, was shown on the National Geographic Channel. Sinbad was reported to have the exact weight of Hercules.

Shasta, a ligress (female liger) was born at the Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake City on May 14, 1948 and died in 1972 at age 24. The 1973 Guinness world records reported an 18-year-old, 798-kg (1,756 lb) male liger living at Bloemfontein zoological gardens, South Africa, in 1888. Valley of the Kings animal sanctuary in Wisconsin had a male liger named Nook who weighed around 550 kg (1,210 lb), and passed away in 2007, at 21 years old.

For more info on Ligers, check out http://www.liger.org/

Another recent article on Ligers: Animal sanctuary worker dies after attack by ‘liger’

Peter Getz, 32, had entered the big cat’s enclosure on Wednesday while it was feeding, a violation of standard procedures. The hybrid cat, called a liger, bit Getz on the neck and back before other handlers rescued him and called 911. He was taken to a Tulsa hospital, where he died Thursday night.

Celebrity Cat: Charmmy Kitty and Chococat

Charmmy Kitty

Charmmy Kitty is Hello Kitty's pet cat. She resembles Hello Kitty but has more cat-like features. Her name came from the word "Charm" as she wears the key to Hello Kittys jewelry box around her neck. Papa gave her to Hello Kitty as a gift. She has a younger sister named Honey Cute.

Chococat

According to Sanrio "Although this little boy cat tends to be a little scatterbrained at times, he's always up on the latest news (thanks to his ultra-sensitive 'antenna' whiskers). He gets his name from his chocolate-covered nose. He has fun playing around his house (the 'Choco-choco' house)with his friends Cookie-bau, Nutz, Jellybean, and the Duckies. His birthday is May 10th."

Dedicated rescuer Debi Romano roasts turkey for her colony of feral cats!

BY AMY SACKS, DAILY NEWS WRITER

SOURCE

Debi Romano cannot sit down for Thanksgiving dinner knowing there are hungry animals outside. That's why every year, the Queens Village rescuer has been roasting a 25-pound turkey for the dozens of feral cats she cares for.

"The cats don't know it's anything special, but it helps me sleep better at night," said Romano, 50, president of the Save Kitty Foundation, which rescues feral and adoptable cats.

For the past eight years, Romano has been tirelessly caring for 35 feral cats in seven colonies around Queens.

Every day at 4:30 p.m., Romano hops in her white Ford Crown Victoria and sets off on a two-hour, 30-mile journey.

First, she tends to Kennedy and Jackie O, who were among a group of feral cats recently relocated from JFK Airport.

Her next stop is with black cats Darryl and Darrylina, who are eagerly waiting for her under a parked red car. Romano puts down two clear lids with dry food and leaves two cans of wet food for each cat.

At Key Foods, two Siamese cats wait for her under a loading truck. One lone cat waits under a Dumpster at a laundermat, another in a Jamaica church parking lot.

Romano then heads to a rented garage, where 21 more feral and adoptable cats await dinner.

"My ferals are my life," said Romano, a former hair stylist. Her last vacation was 12 years ago.

Feral cats originate from lost or abandoned cats forced to live outdoors on their own and have become too wild to be adopted into homes.

Managing a colony includes feeding, providing bad-weather shelter, monitoring the cats' health, and performing Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR).

TNR involves humanely trapping a cat, having it spayed or neutered, and then returning it back to its colony.

Each spay/neutered cat is marked with a notch in its left ear and released. The returned cats are then provided with regular food and shelter. Kittens may be socialized and adopted out.

Today, Save Kitty Foundation, which is run by a small group of volunteers, relies strictly on donations, foster homes, and the help of humane organizations.

To donate to the Save Kitty Foundation or for info go to www.savekitty.org.

Couple on mission to help feral cats: One kitten at a time.

BY MARY WICOFF
SOURCE

Cindy and James Schomburg of Williamsport, Ind., are doing their part to put a dent in the cat-overpopulation problem.

They’ve already trapped seven feral cats in their neighborhood and took them to a veterinarian to be spayed or neutered.

“I’m on a mission,” Cindy said. “If everybody would help, we can eventually stop (the over-breeding).”

Sometimes, she feels like it’s an uphill battle. And, she said, “I feel like I’m alone in my plight to save feral cats.”

Feral cats are different from stray cats, who were accustomed to humans at one time. A feral cat, however, is not socialized to humans, and will be euthanized at most shelters.

Feral cats started showing up on their back deck this past summer. Cindy was compelled not just to feed the cats, but to do what she could to help resolve the problem.

Cindy was able to trap two toms — a yellow one and a black one — and took them to a vet to be neutered. She also took in a black kitten who was friendly, and she found a home for him.

She did some research and discovered a Lafayette-based group that promotes trapping, spaying or neutering, and returning the feral cats to their environment. The group works with a vet in western Indiana who offers lost-cost surgeries and free exams for feral cats. The program is for feral cats only —not strays or pets.

The group, called-TriCounty Trap-Neuter-Return, was a big help to Cindy, who wasn’t familiar with feral cats.

The Schomburgs — like other cat lovers — can’t stress enough the importance of spaying and neutering animals, and getting people involved in trap-neuter-return.

There’s no other way to make a dent in the problem.

Cindy also volunteers at a no-kill shelter in Waynetown, Ind., and it breaks her heart to see all the unwanted animals.

She said she’d like to spend all of her time helping animals, but until then, she’ll continue to work in the medical care cost recovery department at the Veterans Affairs Illiana Health Care System. James works at Winco Construction in Lafayette, Ind.

The Schomburgs are an excellent example of what cat lovers can do to help the overpopulation problem. Let’s hope their efforts inspire others.

— The TriCounty Trap-Neuter-Return group, based in West Lafayette, Ind., offers its services to the Williamsport and Attica area. Its Web site is http://www.tricountytnr.org and its number is (765) 491-0930.

It offers spay or neuter for $25 and a free rabies vaccine and exam through a local veterinarian for feral cats only. This is not for stray or house cats.

— IndyFeral, based in Indianapolis, has a Web site at http://www.indyferal.org, which discusses the trap-neuter-return concept in detail.

— Cindy Schomburg may be reached at (765) 762-2863 if you’re interested in adopting a kitten or helping her in any way.

IMAGE SOURCE

Update: Very Sad News :( The Two face kitten dies.

The Perth kitten which made international headlines this week because it was born with two faces, has reportedly died overnight.

The three-day-old male kitten died after asphyxiating on fluid in its lungs.

It was reported the kitten was taken home from the Swan Veterinary Clinic yesterday to be with its mother before it died.

Vets at the Swan Veterinary Clinic in Midvale held grave concerns about the future of a two-faced kitten born on Wednesday.

The head vet nurse at the clinic, who wanted to be known only as Leslie, told Radio 6PR she was surprised he survived the night.

SOURCE

An Engineer's Guide to Cats and Ginger the cat for President!!!!!!

THE BEST CAT VIDEO YOU'LL EVER SEE

Orijen's dry cat food problem appears to be restricted to Australia.

UNEXPLAINED chronic illness and death among Sydney cats has been linked to a gourmet imported pet food withdrawn from stores over the past three weeks.

First symptoms included wobbliness or weakness in the animal's hind legs, which could then progress to the front limbs. The condition did not appear to be infectious, Dr Child said, nor typical of a nutritional deficiency.

"Most worrying is that the cats showed no signs [of illness] while on the food," she said. "It seems to be happening weeks or even months later."

The marketing manager of Champion Petfoods, Peter Muhlenfeld, confirmed yesterday the cat deaths had been traced back to Orijen's dry cat food, and the problem appeared to be restricted to Australia.

He said samples sent back by the Australian distributor had a "strange odour". The company is investigating whether irradiation upon entry into Australia was the source of the contamination.

The Oddy family of Dundas has lost two cats in the past week. "They were the children's pets; it's awful," Sarah Oddy said.

SOURCE

Cool New Site! ICANHASCHEEZBURGER!!!

I Can Has Cheezburger? (ICHC for short) is the name of a blog featuring lolcats and other animals. This site is SUPERFUN!!!! You can use The Cheezburger Factory to submit photos and caption. A lolcat is an image combining a photograph, most frequently of a cat, with a funny caption in (often) broken English—a dialect which is known as "lolspeak". The name "lolcat" is a compound word of the phrase "LOL" and "cat".

You can make cool posters too. The site also has a widget generator!!!!!

The website is one of the most popular lolcat sites on the internet,receiving as many as 1,500,000 hits per day!!!!!

Goodnight Cat Lovers! See you tomorrow :)

A different type of war kitten...

Canadian soldiers can't always count on the civilian population for support in this battle-ravaged province, but local dogs and cats are jumping into Canada's war effort with all four paws. At major military bases and remote combat-zone outposts, animals are helping keep Canadian soldiers healthy, happy - and safe.

In Kandahar City, at the Canadian provincial reconstruction team base, a clan of cats keeps the mouse population down. It's not that the heavily armed troops are afraid of mice. It's what comes with the rodents: vipers.

In recent weeks, two of the venomous snakes have slithered through the fortifications, posing a deadly threat to the soldiers inside. The snake incursion turned the presence of the cats and kittens on the base from an emotional comfort to a true security blanket.

SOURCE

Ernest Hemingway fellow cat lover!!!!!

Ernest Hemingway is one of the most famous cat lovers and his Hemingway Home and Museum estate is filled with them today. About 60 cats roam the estate, about half of those are polydactyl, 6-toed cats. They have famous names like Audry Hepburn, Emily Dickinson, and Charlie Chaplin.

Source

Savannah cats, an alternative to owning a Serval

I decided for the safety of the animal that owning a Serval may not be a good idea (not that I am saying it's wrong to own a serval), I just don't think that I can take care of them in the way that I would need to. So I researched alternatives and found out about the Savannah Cat! The Savannah is a hybrid domestic cat breed. It is a cross between the serval and a domestic cat.

Savannah kittens!!!!!!!!!!!! Too Cute!!!!

Image Source 1

ImageSource 2

Today's Celebrity Cat: Riff Raff and Cleo

Two of the hippest and most famous feral cats!

Image Source

Favorite New Site! Feral Cat News!

Recently I wrote about feral cats and while researching I came across a story about a little 4 week old kitty that was so sweet. Feral Cat news has all of the latest and greatest cat news. Check out Plattsburgh, NY woman with brain injury receives inspiration from her cat

Source Feral Cat News

Servals are Awesome!

One of my favorite's of the "Big Cats" is the African Serval. The Serval is a mid sized (about 40lbs) wild cat. I always thought it would be cool to be able to walk a cat, similar to the way that dog owners walk their dogs. I know that I could always use a cat stroller or leash, but it’s not the same with a smaller house cat.

Servals boast long legs (the longest of all cats, relative to body size) and large ears. The long legs and neck allow the Serval to see over tall grasses, while its ears are used to detect prey, even those burrowing underground. While hunting, the Serval will pause for up to 15 minutes at a time to listen with eyes closed. The Serval's pounce is a distinctive vertical 'hop', which may be an adaptation for catching flushed birds. The Serval is a highly efficient hunter, catching prey on as many as 50% of attempts, compared to around one of ten for most species of cat. The Serval has been known to dig into burrows in search of underground prey. Source and Image Credit Wikipedia

So do servals make good pets? According to Dr. ZooLittle Ranch in Texas:

“We have found that the Servals have been such a joy to raise and care for. The Servals are very responsive to their name. They play fetch and love to interact with gusto. However, they are not like raising a large domestic cats. Servals require special care, supervision, attention, dedication, and a life long commitment. Having one of these cats is serious and must not be purchased on a whim, or because you were caught up in the moment with awe. Servals are incredibly beautiful, graceful, and loving. They require, and deserve special attention to details.”

How Many People Own African Serval Cats In The U.S.?

There are no true stats to this question because in some States it's illegal to own these cats and they can be considered dangerous. Serval cats can be 40 lbs., or more. While they are loving pets to their owners, they are dangerous to children (even if they don't mean too because they are so large and powerful) and do not like domesticated cats. When one leaves their home they must put the cat in a large cage and not leave the cat loose in their home. These cats need meat to eat, and many untrained owners that just like the thought of owning an African Serval Cat find they are troublesome to look after and expensive to feed. There is a problem with Serval Cats roaming free and some owners simply feel if they can't support the habit of feeding their Serval Cat they can simply give it to a zoo. Zoos do not want anymore large cats! The ASPCA (U.S.) or SPCA (in Canada) are tired of seeing African Serval Cats dropped on their doorstep. Owning an African Serval Cat is a big responsibility and one should study the history of these cats before deciding to own one. Source

So is it wrong to own a serval? Many states have rules against owing “wild animals”, the rules typically mention cats, but are not specific to the serval?

Exoticcatz.com says: With regard to statements and bills portraying portraying servals and other small wild felines as unpredictable and dangerous creatures. This is a clear case of "what you don't know you will fear." First of all, I would like to clarify for everyone that we are talking about tame, hand-raised pets bred in the United States. It's not like you take a trip to Africa, rope yourself a serval, and drag it home hissing and spitting!

By saying that tame wild cats are "extremely unpredictable and dangerous creatures," people show their lack of understanding of animal behavior. These statements are wild exaggerations of the reality. Even wild animals in-situ (i.e. roaming untamed in the wilderness) do not behave in a dangerous, unpredictable fashion. Every animal has species-specific behavior patterns. These behaviors can be learned and understood by the owners of such animals in captivity, especially since they are very similar to the behaviors of a domestic cat.

These behaviors are not greatly different from domesticated animals. For example, the pattern of naturally occurring behaviors in wolves and domestic dogs is virtually identical. A poorly socialized domestic dog with a careless or un-informed owner can be far more "dangerous" than a serval or a caracal.

Unfortunately, it seems as though owning a Serval can probably be more dangerous to the cat than it is to the pet owner. Just recently in Kansas Police shot and killed a serval that they believe to have been a pet that somehow got loose. An officer used a patrol rifle to put the animal down. Police said they had to kill the cat for the safety of the neighborhood. Source

What Exactly is a Feral Cat?

Is a stray cat a feral cat? I have heard so much about the problem of feral cats in Australia, but it all seems so silly. What's wrong with a few little cat's running around? What exactly is a feral cat? Has a Feral cat ever killed anyone? Is that even possible?

Information from The Feral Cat Coalition:

Feral cats are the 'wild' offspring of domestic cats and are primarily the result of pet owners' abandonment or neglect to spay and neuter their animals, allowing them to breed uncontrolled.

Feral cats form 'colonies' can that are sometimes found behind shopping areas or businesses, in alleys, parks, abandoned buildings, and rural areas. They are elusive and do not trust humans.

Many people assume their animals will survive when they move away and leave them behind. Contrary to popular belief, domestic animals do not automatically return to their "natural" instincts and cannot fend for themselves! Already, U.S. animal shelters are forced to kill an estimated 15 million homeless cats and dogs annually. The alternative to humane euthanasia for almost every stray is a violent end or slow, painful death. Many "throwaways" die mercilessly outdoors from starvation, disease, abuse --- or as food to a predator.

A pair of breeding cats, which can have two or more litters per year, can exponentially produce 420,000 offspring over a seven-year period, And the overpopulation problem carries a hefty price tag. Statewide, more than $50 million (largely from taxes) is spent by animal control agencies and shelters for cat-related expenses.

So, are they bad? Have they ever hurt anyone? I searched online and excluding rabies attacks, I didn't find any cases, however I did find the following:

Feral Cat Attacks Woman, Golfer At Park:

*A woman ends up getting more than she bargains for when trying to drink from a water fountain in Florida. "She was scratched, clawed and bitten, by a cat, according to police....Most feral cats are real skittish....If you see an animal that is acting strange, call 911"

So can they be tamed? Feral cats with a quiet demeanor have the possibility with patience, but feral kittens between the ages of 6-12 weeks are easier to tame.

According to FeralCat.com:

The steps involved in the taming process are:
1. Containment (I) in a cage or large pet carrier
2. Periodic and brief handling with a protective towel
3. Containment (II) in a small room
4. Exposure to other humans
5. Placement in suitable adoptive homes

To find out how to help assist feral cats in the wild, visit: THE FERAL CAT PROJECT

I Love the Family Felidae!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So people are starting ask me why I only feature housecats when the name of the BLOG is CatsRCool. Shouldn't that mean ALL cats? Of course! I think that Felidae are awesomely beautiful creatures. So with that said, I am going to include more info on all Felines!

Learn how to identify the BIG CATS at www.bigcats.com

IMAGE CREDIT: Daniel Byrd

NEW FAVORITE SITE!!!! KITTEN-PICTURES.com!!!!!!

This site has the best pictures of little cat babies!!!!!

Check out Kitten-Pictures.com!!!!!!!

Miami Firefighters Rescue Kitten from a StormDrain!

Miami Firefighters Rescue Kitten from a StormDrain!

First, firefighters tried to coax the kitten out of the drain using a pole. When that didn't work, they brought in a hose and started spraying water, the one thing that most cats hate.

That did the trick. The kitten was flushed out, a little wet but perfectly OK. The kitten was off to a new, warm home on Thursday. The resident who first heard its cry took the new friend home with him. The kitten's new owner said he would name him Sewer, or Sewey for short.

Story by local10.com

Could your cat be hiding something?

Cats are masters of hiding illness and pain. Kim Boatman writes about key indicators that your cat could be hiding pain.

Increased vocalization
Changes in litter box behavior
Bad breath
Vomiting
Dinnertime pickiness
Changes in grooming
Social interaction

Check out Channel 25's article on How minor cat health issues become major

Meet Coco the polydactyl cat!

Coco, a middle-aged jet black cat, was taken in as a stray by the Stroud Cats Protection shelter in England. Coco is polydactyl - an animal or person with more than the usual number of hand or foot digits. Coco has 26 toes; four normal claws and one dew claw with three claws in the pads on her front feet, and five claws at the back.

SOURCE

GO ROOMBA KITTY!!!!!!!!

Look at him go!

Bored?

Watch this kitty try to stay awake!

Should Cats eat scrambled eggs?

Is it bad to feed this hungry kitten scrambled eggs? At first I thought NO! But then I looked it up online and on Yahoo Answers someone asked the question:

What can cats eat and what can they not eat?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

If you are to continue feeding this cat PLEASE, PLEASE get some cat food. Although the things you have mentioned will not harm the cat any cooked human food is lacking in taurine and that is absolutely essential for the cat. Lack of it can lead to death from heart problems and/or blindness.

Taurine is added to all commercial cat foods because the dangers of this deficiency.... raw chopped up chicken wings, a small amount of raw liver or raw chicken hearts are great if the cat likes them and lightly scrambled or boiled egg can be beneficial too. There again, once you COOK those things the nutritional benefits are lost.

-------

So it's not that great, but I guess it's not as bad as I originally thought.

Someone responded to this video with a super cute video of two little kittens chowing down!

This cat sounds human.... LOL!!!!

This kitty is so mad, yet SO CUTE!!!!

Famous Cat Lovers: Marie Antionette

Legend has it that Marie Antionette had six Angora cats that she really loved and planned to take with her when she escaped to America. The kittys were amongst her packed luggage on board a ship. As we all know, she never made the trip. :( But the ship did sail... so what happened to the cats? Rumor has it that Maine coons are descendants of long haired Persian and angora cats owned by Marie Antoinette.

Meet the real Bat Man! Roger Booth loves his cat.

Roger Booth really loves his cat and will bust your head with a bat if you try to keep them apart!!!!!

Last week Roger went to claim his missing gray and blue short-haired cat at a shelter, where it had been brought by someone who thought it was a stray. He got really, really, REALLY mad when they told him that he had to pay a $132 fee to take his cat (Mr. Gray). (Who can blame him? That's a pretty penny).

Roger wasn't about to let them charge a ransom for his faithful companion. Police say the man returned Monday, loaded Mr. Gray into a carrier without paying the fee, and dared the staff to try him - no one dared. They were thinking of charging him with aggravated robbery and aggravated assault. (He can you be charged with "robbbing" stealing your own cat?)

Fellow cat lovers flooded the phone lines at Dallas Animal Services offering to pay Booth's debt. YAY!

Check out the story here DALLAS NEWS 8

A TWO HEADED CAT!!!!!!

So a two headed kitten was born today in Australia! And guess what he is cute!!!!!!! The newspaper is calling him a freak, because people are afraid of all things different.

Guess what else!? He is not the first. Check out the video.

THE ORIGIN OF THE “BAD CAT” or BLACK CAT.

So this is really my first experience with a cat, because everyone I know if a “dog” person. Cat’s have always been known as “evil”, ”scary”, reincarnated beasts! At least, that’s how they have been regarded by those closest to me until I met my husband who is the ultimate cat lover. I think that he thinks he is part cat! So while doing research on the history of the cat, I came across a cool website with lots of information.

Turns out that this chick named Freya (the same person that gave us Friday – meaning “Freya’s Day”) is responsible for all of the grief! Freya was a Norse goddess of beauty, love, fertility and, on the odd occasion, battle and death - who loved her cats!

“She was married to the god Od, perhaps identical to Odhinn, who mysteriously disappeared. She weeps tears of gold, but the tears which fall into the sea become amber. Her cats, Bygul and Trjegul, pull her chariot. She owns the necklace Brisingamen and keeps half of the slain warriors in her hall. She is the mistress of cats, leader of the Valkyries, a shape-shifter, the Sage or "sayer" who inspires all sacred poetry.”

So what types of cats were these?

Norwegian cat fanciers say that the cats providing the horsepower for Freya's runabout are the mythological antecedents of the Norwegian forest cat. The Norwegian forest cat, Wegie for short, is a naturally occurring breed whose domain comprises the farms and woodland of central Norway.

So this cat, doesn’t look evil in the least... How did they get such a bad rep?

Here’s how:

Cats rapidly spread throughout the cities and villages, becoming an essential part of everyday life. This was to be their downfall.

The tendency of cats to be so useful in eliminating vermin made them desirable to the farmer, the merchant, and the homeowner. The tendency of cats to become cats made them desirable to people in general. The tendency of cats to do their own thing made them mysterious. People being what they are, cats soon became a part of the everyday ritual, then a part of the religious ritual, then the center of various cat cults. Cats were again worshiped, though not to the same degree they had been in Egypt, and certainly not by everybody.

During the early middle ages, the Norse goddess Freya was the closest thing to a cat goddess among the Europeans. She had two huge cats pulling her wain, and was constantly surrounded by cats. She became irrevocably linked with our furry friends, and her worship contained many cat-oriented rituals. Her day of worship was Friday (Friday means Freya's Day): when Christendom barred her worship, Freya became a demon, Friday became the Black Sabbath, and the cat became a manifestation of the devil, hence persona non grata.

Thus began a low point in both human and cat history: the over 1000- year persecution of the cat, sort of a feline inquisition. (If it's any consolation to us cat people, the Church was also sponsoring the Grand Inquisition at the time, and was busy killing people as well as cats.)

During this period, literally hundreds of thousands of cats were tortured, hung, burned at the stake, roasted alive, or killed outright on sight. So great was this persecution that the population of European cats dwindled to less than ten per cent of its pre- inquisitional number, in spite of the cats doing all they could to make more cats (something cats are very good at).

There was a brief respite during the years of the Black Death. With people dying all over, they had neither the time nor the inclination to persecute the cats. The cats responded to this absence of persecution by rapidly multiplying and attacking the plentiful food supply around them: the plague-carrying rats. There is some evidence that the plague ended because of three interlocking factors: so many people died that the fields couldn't be planted; the lack of food in the surrounding countryside drove the rats into the cities (rats are scavengers, like vultures, and are always the last to starve to death); the sudden increase in the number of cats killing rats broke the chain necessary to perpetuate the plague.

Man, of course, promptly rewarded the cat for helping to save mankind by resuming the feline inquisition right where it had left off. This persecution didn't end until well into the twentieth century, when the various Christian churches finally stopped emphasizing witches and their familiars, which were almost always cats.

SOURCE: http://www.geocities.com/heartland/ranch/2626/history.htm

ALL THINGS CAT! CATCHANNEL.COM!

ALL THINGS CAT! CATCHANNEL.COM!

Love all things cat? One of my new favorite sites is CAT CHANNEL . The have so much information on this site! The topics include:

SHOP CAT
CAT BREEDERS
CAT BREEDS
KITTENS
CAT HEALTH
CAT NUTRITION
CAT BEHAVIOR
CAT EXPERTS
CAT VIDEOS
CLUB CAT
CAT COMMUNITY
CAT MAGAZINES
CAT LITTERBOX
CAT TOYS
CAT SHOWS
CAT NEWS

Any and Everything about our furry little friends. Help with controling litterbox odor, cool picture contests, vet recos and national cat adoption info... EVERYTHING. Actually this site is pretty dangerous, there is SO much content that I have already spent hours reviewing everything. This is the place for cat lovers. Very well done!

Cat's Living Good Part deux

I spoke too soon! The Pasadena Cattery is for the down and out cat in need of a nice warm place to stay. I thought that a "communal center" complete with rugs and bookshelves was the life. Apparently, I know nothing about "Aristcats"....

From the site:

Your cats are all cared for in our stress free environment, and they can enjoy the tranquil peaceful gardens, where they are lulled to the sound of our very relaxing Koi and Golden Orfe ponds. Customers now know that to book the rooms with the "sea view" they have to do this early. Our customers also tell us how happy and relaxed their cats are after their holidays here with all their "cat aunties" here at Aristocats.

We now have 42 chalets, with 2 isolation units, and 3 hold over units.

We also have 5 individual cat cottages

The chalet’s are 9’ x 6’ inside, painted white, and fitted with cushion flooring, and under floor heating. We provide Snuggler Igloo beds fitted with sheepskin bedding, although we don't mind if you wish to bring your own. Each of the chalets has scratch posts, with toys to play, litter trays, (which are checked and scooped hourly) and a separate feeding area.

Each chalet has a little outside door, leading to a 6’ x 4’ outside run (protected by a safety passage) where you will find little garden seats, with hanging toys to keep our feline friends amused.

Music is played in the chalets through-out the day, as we try to keep the day to day sounds and routines as home orientated as possible. Thus making happier & contented residents.

At Aristocats we have excellent heated/insulated cabins built to the Feline Advisory Bureau Standards. All have outside runs and are set in lovely landscaped gardens with plenty to interest your cat.

We have security cameras placed at strategic points for your cats protection.

WOW, I would LOVE to be an Aristicat!!!!!!

Cat's Living Good!!!!! :) YAY

So there is a new communal cattery in Pasadena complete with a social center furnished with bookshelves, mirrors and rugs. Nice Digs!!!!!

The cattery also has 42 additional cages, an isolation ward for sick cats and an adoption area.

The original shelter was too small and became overwhelmed with cats - AND even dogs - given up by owners affected by the bad economy. The society received 11 percent more cats and 33 percent more dogs this summer.

As a result, the agency purchased the two trailers for $140,000 and created room to shelter up to 80 felines.

Source: PASADENA NEWS

Kickin it old school

Okay, so now I am officially obsessed. My little cat AJAX has stolen my heart and become chief ambassador of his entire species. I wanted to learn more about cats because I know that they have been pets for a LONG time. I found a pretty interesting site that breaks down the history of our loving companions!

It turns out that most of our lovely little critters are descendants of the African Wildcat (see pics). The funny thing is that this cat is like the most common cat that there is!   My little AJAX obviously has some of those cute little stripes.   Strong genes huh?

HISTORY OF CATS
SOURCE:

Cat’s were domesticated over 5,000 years ago.   This took place in the valley of the Nile, in what is now Sudan but was then Upper Egypt. The actual mechanics of domestication are remarkably simple--in fact, it has recurred many times throughout Africa and southwestern Asia over the millennia.

The people of the area had given up the nomadic lifestyle of their ancestors, learned to till the soil, and settled into agrarian communities. Since these communities depended for their very existence upon their crops, which could only be harvested once or twice a year, a means of storing them between harvests had to be found. Early on, this consisted merely of keeping grain in baskets. This attracted mice, rats, and other vermin, who quickly learned to adapt to man's ways in order to get a free meal. An abundance of vermin attracted the local lesser cat, the African Wildcat, who could also appreciate an easy meal.

It didn't take much observation to see that the vermin ate the grain, which was undesirable, and the cats ate the vermin, which was desirable. People started encouraging the cats to stick around by leaving out the odd fish-head or other scrap, a practice of which the cats were fond. Since they had a ready source of food (mice, rats and fish-heads), no threat from the people (nobody chased or yelled at cat, lest it leave and the vermin increase), and an absence of enemies (various cat-eating creatures stayed away because of the men), the cats moved in on a permanent basis.

Being a naturally calm species, the African Wildcat quickly adapted to people, allowing it to at first be approached, then petted, and eventually to be held. The cat is a passionate animal, and rewarded all that caressing and holding with love and affection in kind.

In addition to demonstrating its love by snuggling and acting endearingly (do not even dogs do so?) a cat purred. Purring is a unique and amazing phenomenon; both in its inception and in the reactions it produces. A farmer could work all day in the fields and come home tired to the bone. The cat would jump onto his lap and proceed to snuggle and purr, which would promptly drive the fatigue out of his soul. We're talking direct massage of the psyche here! Let a cat snuggle and purr before bedtime and you'll sleep twice as deeply.

The cat sleeps in short periods throughout the day, rather than a single long period like people and dogs, and awakens quickly. It is thus ready to do its job around the clock.

It is also especially alert and active at night, when the mice are awake and the dogs are asleep. It often assisted the family dog by alerting it to any strange thing than may go bump in the night. It sees and hears far better than the dog, especially at night, and does get along and co-operate with its canine companion.

Unlike the dog the cat is clean. It buries its wastes outside, away from its den (the people's house), so as not to attract predators or other cats.

All these desirable features and factors have caused the cat to become a permanent member of human society as both a helpmate and companion. The cat is here to stay.

Don't mess with this cat!!!!!

Okay, so this cat is not really ticked off, but he is tough!!!! Check out this little cat take on this big ole dawg!!!!!

Sadness...Ragnarok Cattery and their RAGDOLL Cats and RAGDOLL Kittens are being shut down.

Ragdoll cats are super cute. According to the wiki: The Ragdoll is an American cat breed with a medium-length, silky, rabbit-like coat. It is best known for its docile and placid temperament and affectionate nature.

One of the oldest and most respected cattery's in So Cal is being closed down. :(

From the site:

In mid-May, 2008, I had a phone call from the local licensing agency that mandated a major cattery reduction in the next 30 days, or many Ragdolls will be impounded and probably euthanized. This is due to a zoning change some 20 years ago, and I was never notified. I just received an extension until mid November, 2008, so kittens, adolescents and breeders are STILL AVAILABLE at reduced prices. Please call to see what I have may have at this time. Thank you.

This is so sad because the cattery has been open since 1977. You can tell that they are really into what they do, they have all sorts of cool supplies for cats. They even have cat milkshakes, smoothies and yogurt snacks for cats! That's the life!

Need a source of daily cuteness?

Here you go! My gift to you.... Kittens.Sytes.org

The picture of the momma cat carrying the babycat!!!! Priceless! Supercute overload.... I can't take it!

Morning Cuteness.... NewBorn Kitten.

This is so very cute. I could watch this on loop over and over for hours. It's cheap therapy!!!!

Ugly Kitten? Is there such a thing?

So, I was over at one of my favorite sites... KittenWar.com and they actually list out the losers! WOW. I never even imagined that there was such a thing as an ugly kitten. Guess what... there is! JUST KIDDING. These are the 4 top losers, poor Howard (little Black kitten) was voted #1 and #2 ugliest... Raphael (White Kitten) and the appropriatley named "ScaryCat" (the scary one) came in at a close #3 and #4. With the exception of "ScaryCat" (I mean come on... WTF?!?), the other two are quite exotic and handsome in their own little ways! I bet they will grow up to be very beautiful cats....

Am I losing my mind?

This lamp does not match anything in my house whatsover... well except it matches my little sweetie pie AJAX! I think it's sorta cute in a way. Maybe I could put it in the living room as cute kitschy decor?

Description from LampsPlus site:

"Give your decor a lift with this endearing giclee floor lamp. The shade is printed on high-quality canvas by the same technique used in reproducing museum-quality artwork. The opaque giclee style fabric blocks illumination from coming through the shade, focusing the light throw up and down. This floor lamp has a contemporary base with a cool, brushed steel finish and an on/off pull chain. This shade is custom made-to-order; please allow 7 to 10 days for your shade to be created.

Brushed steel finish.
Custom giclee shade.
Takes one 100 watt bulb (not included).
62" high.
Shade is 13 1/2" wide and 10" high.

They even have a chandelier!!!!!!! Ooooh La La!

Thoughts?

War Kittens!!!!!!

Okay! So one of my favorite commercials is the one where the evil badguys are planning how they will customize their Visa cards. Why? Because the chief bad guy loves kittys! Cute little "Baby Cats". Check out the video below if you haven't seen it.

Anyway, so while researching kittys I came across the absolute best (DA BESSSS!) website to visit when you need a pick me up. Who needs drugs when there's KittenWars?

Kittens should rule the world.

Check out the site here: http://kittenwar.com/

Cat Cribs!!!!!!

So I was checking out one of my favorite blogs: MYCATGOMA, a blog written by Sachie about her cute little himalayan kitty that loves to ride bikes and be cute and stuff. Sachie found one of the coolest cat cribs on the planet!!!! I wonder how many cats live there?

Check out her BLOG for more pics.

Morning Cuteness... Check out this little guy!

Okay, I really, really enjoy watching this! But I wonder if this little guy appreciates the game? My little guy actually loves it when we tease him, so I am not really sure. What do you think?

Orphans saved from being smashed!!!!!

Two of the cutest little UK kittens were on the verge of being smashed by the trash compactor on the US Election day. Luckily employees of the Country Wide stores heard the little cries and saved them. The kitten's have been named Obi and Mac in honor of the two candidates....

YAY! But Obi? That name doesn't sound anything like Obama.... just because it has an "O" doesn't make it a suitable nickname. Although, Obi is a cute name for a cat....

Check out the story here

Thief2

Check out this Racoon maniac theif....

WHEN WILL PEOPLE LEARN!!! Poor economy leads Michigan woman to store cats in storage unit....

This is so NOT RIGHT! Completly wrong

Read here:

LADY DOES A STUPID, STUPID THING! :( :( :(

No one asked this beyotch to become a cat mommy!!!!!!

Theif!!!!!

Racoon vs. Kitty! Shiesty Racoon!!!!!

Nice Kitty!!! He knows his food sucks, but he'll eat it anyway!!!!

Okay, so we know that Sparta is mean, but Persia!!! is super nice!!!! Check him out!

Sparta vs. Sparta

So in this video, Cory shows us Sparta kickin some tail!!!!!!

The Mean Kitty Gets Down! aka Cory is going CRAZY!!!! LOL!

So um... this kitty is just like mine.... Is it just me, or is Corey super obessed with Sparta? It's all good! I am the same way!

Rub a Dub Dub!!!!! Cat in the tub!

I have to say that even though my cat is very used to taking baths since he was hand raised from 3 1/2 weeks... he doesn't react like this AT ALL!!!!

Check out the canine "Michael Phelps"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

On the catwalk baby!!!!!!!

Check out these cats working the runway!!!!!! Talk about "Fierce".

Why do cat's bite sometimes?

So I really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, LOVE MY LITTLE GUY. He is such a sweetie and only 6 weeks old.... BUT HE IS A BITER. He really is, my hand, my legs, my knuckles... even my mouth (although, I must admit that the sweet little kisses from a kitten are the best!!!!!) :)

Why do cats bite?!

Here are some answers:

About Article

CatsPlay.com [Into the minds of cats] Cat Telepathy???

2ndChance

And! Special bonus... This chick attepmpts to teach you how to stop your kitty from biting.

Why?! Why?! Why?! [Mad as Hell]

Please tell me what was done to make this little guy so mad? He sounds like he is in heat, but looks like the devil! This cat has probably been abused really bad. I can't stand when people treat cats badly... it makes no sense. There has never been a cooler, *more advanced animal on earth that the feline!!!!!!!!!!

So anyway.... "Burger and Fries" aka "Let me out of here you a**holes" is very mad.

*I am an animal lover in general, so this is not a slight to dogs, ferrets, pigs (of any kind), hampsters, chinchilla, birds or reptiles. I have always had pets and think that animals are nicer than humans for the most part. I was recently introduced to cats through my husband. It took 23 years before I ever considered adopting a cat as a pet and even then, I did't quite understand the differences between the two (extremly different animals --- dogs vs. cats). Until then, cats had always been mythical, superstitious, villanous animals! It didn't help that my mom was deathly terrifiedd of cats because one of her great aunts had one of her beloved cats stuffed after it died and insisted on moving the monument from room to room so that the cat could be present day and night. My mother's childhood was haunted by creepy dead/unatural looking cats.