Monthly Archives: August 2023

Walk Through The Web Wednesday – 8/30

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Hi There Furiends and a happy Wednesday to you all!
We sure have been seeing a lot of you meowing about your human kids going back to school. We felines are glad we don’t have to go to school but we were wondering what it might be like if we did. We had The Human use her new app Clip2Comic to create some cartoons of the three of us on our first day of school. We hope you enjoy.

That’s our cartoon version about what it would be like if The Tribe had a first day of school. What about you, any of my feline furiends interested in getting an education? And how are you surviving with some of your human family leaving you to go back to school?

16 Colleges That Allow Cats: Where to Study With Your Feline Friend

In celebration of our “back to school” edition of WTTWW we are excited to share this article. Did you know there are 16 colleges that understand that the stress of college can be mitigated by the love of a feline and thankfully, may colleges are allowing pets on campus. If you want to know where you and your cat can get a higher education, check out these colleges. And please note, there’s a forward thinking college in our state at the University of Idaho!!

Here’s the list.

1.Eckerd College- St. Petersburg, Florida-Private, four-year

Eckerd College is generally considered the most pet-friendly college in the country. They were one of the first to allow pets on campus, starting in 1973. According to Eckerd rules, cats are considered “large pets” and are permitted in designated dorms. Students must register their cats with campus staff and pay a fee. Only cats older than 6 months that have lived with the student for at least three months are permitted. Students may not adopt or buy new cats while living on campus. Eckerd holds a “pet graduation” along with human graduation each year.

2.Stephens College-LoColumbia, Missouri-Private, four-year, women’s college

Stephens College has allowed pets on campus for 10 years. Spayed and neutered cats older than 6 months are allowed in designated dorms. Students are allowed one pet only and must register them and pay an annual pet fee. In addition, students must keep their cats up-to-date on shots and free of fleas and ticks. The college also requires students to get maintain a current pet license from the city of Columbia. Overall, Stephens is very welcoming to pets and even has a foster partnership with a local animal rescue group.

3.Johnson and Wales University – Povidence, Rhode Island- Private, four-year

Johnson and Wales first began welcoming pets to campus in 2013. Cats over a year old are allowed in designated residential areas on campus, and one pet per person per room is permitted. Students must register their cats each year and pay an annual fee. Cats must be spayed or neutered and current on their shots. The university provides a helpful guide to all incoming pet owners, outlining all rules and responsibilities. It also includes contact information for local veterinarians and pet supply stores.

4.Lyon College-Batesville, Arkansas-Private, four-year

Lyon College opened its first pet-friendly residence hall in 2018. Cats at least 6 months old are allowed, one per room. Students are not allowed to acquire new pets while living on campus, and cats must be registered before arriving on campus. Students can only move their cats in during a two-week window at the beginning of each semester. The university strongly encourages students to purchase pet insurance and provides a list of local veterinarians who offer student discounts.

5.State University of New York at Potsdam-Potsdam, New York-Public, four-year

This college maintains pet-friendly floors scattered across various residence halls. Students can bring one cat to campus with prior approval and registration. They must sign an agreement that states, among other things, that they will scoop the litter box daily and change out the litter completely once a week. Room checks may happen at any time to ensure students follow the rules. The college also maintains strict policies to ensure that cats are being well-cared for, including penalties for not promptly taking a sick animal to the vet.

6.Stetson University -Deland, Florida – Private, four-year

Stetson University allows cats in designated locations on campus. Students may bring cats at least a year old that they’ve owned for at least a year. The university requires purchase, adoption, or vet records to confirm how long the cat has lived with the student as well. Only one pet per room is allowed, so negotiations are necessary if both roommates want to bring a cat. Animal-friendly housing on campus is limited and extremely popular, and students must get their applications in as early as possible.

7.University of Illinois – Champaign, Illinois – Public, four-year

The University of Illinois allows cats in one of their on-campus apartment buildings. Up to two pets or one per roommate are permitted in the apartments. Students must get permission to keep a cat with them before bringing the animal to campus. The university charges a monthly pet fee in addition to the monthly cost of the apartments. Students must provide yearly copies of vaccination records and keep their cat and apartment free of fleas and other parasites.

8.University of North Carolina-Charlotte – Charlotte, North Carolina – Public, four-year

UNC-C allows cats in one residence hall and various Greek Village houses. Spaces in these pet-friendly areas are given out on a first-come, first-served basis and fill up quickly each year. Cats must be at least a year old, spayed or neutered, and current on their shots. Students must pre-register their pets and pay an annual fee. Students have to take their cats with them during breaks and can’t leave them alone for more than 12 hours at a time.

9.University of Northern Colorado – Greeley, Colorado – Public, four-year

This college allows cats older than 6 months in two residential communities on campus. Students must submit all paperwork before being considered on a first-come, first-served basis. One pet per room is allowed, with a maximum of two within a four-room suite. Starting with the 2022-2023 school year, an entire residence hall on campus will have pet-friendly single rooms, making this college one of the best for taking your cat and getting some privacy too.

10.Washington and Jefferson College – Washington, Pennsylvania – Private, four-year

Washington and Jefferson designated its first pet-friendly dorm in 2006. They now offer three locations on campus where cat-loving students can room with their pets. One pet per room is allowed, and recent renovations to the pet halls on campus have brought improved comfort and larger living spaces to students and their cats. Some students are even training service dogs on campus, showing that this is a college that welcomes pets and recognizes their value.

11.Wilson College – Chambersburg, Pennsylvania – Private, four-year

Wilson College allows cats in residence halls. Only one cat per student is allowed, and the animal must be at least 6 months old. Students must register their cats before arriving with information such as a photo and physical description, proof of vaccination, and proof of flea prevention. They must also pay a registration fee for each academic year. Students can pet sit for other residents but must have prior approval and registration.

12.Lees-Mcrae College – Banner Elk, North Carolina – Private, four-year

Lees-Mcrae allows cats in several designated residence halls and on-campus apartments and houses. No aggressive cats are allowed; they must be older than 6 months and have lived with the student for at least 3 months before coming to campus. Only cats used to living indoors are allowed. If students get a new cat over the winter holiday break, they won’t be allowed to bring them to campus until the following academic year.

13.University of Idaho – Moscow, Idaho – Public, four-year

The University of Idaho allows spayed and neutered cats in on-campus apartments. Two pets per apartment are permitted, and they must be pre-registered and approved. The university does not allow aggressive or nervous animals. Cats must be up-to-date on shots and licensed according to city or state laws. Students must pay a pet deposit and agree to keep their cats confined anytime maintenance is required in their apartment. If pets are left alone for more than 24 hours, the university can remove them.

14.PennWest Clarion University – Clarion, Pennsylvania – Public, four-year

PennWest Clarion allows cats in designated residence halls. Cats must be at least 6 months old and owned by the student for at least 2 months. No new cats can be acquired during the school year, and students must register their cats and pay a yearly fee. PennWest also allows cats in summer housing for an additional fee. The university suggests that students take out liability insurance on pets living with them. If a cat becomes sick for an extended time, the university may ask that they be removed to avoid infecting other pets or disrupting residents.

15.Pfeiffer University – Misenheimer, North Carolina – Private, four-year

Pfeiffer opened a pet-friendly dorm in 2017. Space is limited, and students wishing to take advantage must act quickly once accepted. As part of the registration process, students must pick an alternate caregiver for their pet to help ensure their cat is taken care of no matter what. Students have to periodically check in with their resident advisor regarding their pet’s health, well-being, and daily care.

16.State University of New York College of Technology at Alfred – Alfred, New York – Public, four-year

SUNY College of Technology recently began allowing cats in specific residence halls. Cats must be at least a year old and belong to the student for at least 10 months before moving to campus. This is the only college on our list with cat breed restrictions: Bengal cats are prohibited. Cats must be registered ahead of time, with proof of vaccination, spaying or neutering, and flea prevention provided. The university may request ongoing proof of flea treatment as well. Students should make a plan for their pets in the event of fire drills or campus evacuation, so they aren’t left behind.

The Human read many of the HABRI (Human Animal Bond Research Institute) studies when she was working for her diploma in cat behavior and anxiety. If you’d like to learn more about this subject, check out this article from the Purdue University journal on The Role of Pets in the Lives of College Students: Implications for College Counselors.

Cats and humans combine costumes at Massachusetts competition

And speaking of the human/animal bond, what could bond a cat and it’s human more than wearing costumes together? While this feline is scratching his head (I hate costumes) I’ll leave it for you to decide if this is a bonding experience or not.

Cat travels ‘over 500 miles’ trapped in Welsh taxi’s grille for days

Oh my whiskers, here’s another kitty who took an unexpected trip and, thank goodness made it safely home. A taxi driver named Tom Hutchings, , from Tonyrefail, Rhondda Cynon Taf in Wales, told Sky News he “jumped a mile” when he discovered the cat in the grille of his taxi. He said, “The next 10 minutes was me trying to figure out how to get the cat out, “I still to this day can’t understand how he got in there.”

Mr Hutchings believes the cat travelled over 500 miles – and that’s only on the morning it was discovered.

The cat was “quite stressed out” during the attempt to rescue her from inside the grille and “she was clawing away at [Mr Hutchings’] hand”.

Gizmo the cat was “quite happy” when she was finally freed.

“She climbed onto my shoulder when I got her out,” Mr Hutchings said.

Gizmo was from Miskin, around 10 miles from Tonyrefail in South Wales.

“I hadn’t been to Miskin in weeks so it’s not like I’d gone there and she jumped in,” Mr Hutchings said.

After Gizmo was taken to have her microchip scanned, her human family was found and they were happy and thankful to have her back, safe and sound.  Ah, this feline loves happy endings!

Turning felines into farm hands: Sister Kitten’s organic solution to pest control also saves lives

Cats with jobs, not that makes me happy.  When I read this news item at first the “rattlesnake” thing had me worried so I had our Purrsonal Assistant do some research on this and she found a very informative article. After I calmed down I read the rest of the article.

Carolyn Shepard was looking for a natural way to control rattlesnakes, which had become a recurring problem at her western North Carolina home and barn. “I wanted to look for organic and natural ways to manage natural and organic problems, if that makes sense, so I just started looking into the best way to manage the rattlesnake problem,” Shephard said, “figuring out that they were coming here for the rodents, the field mice, and, you know, whatever else is creeping around.”

Then, she heard about Sister Kitten Animal Rescue’s Working Cat Program.

Eric Phelps, the founder of Sister Kitten, explained the intent and benefit behind the program.

“What the working cat program at Sister Kitten seeks to do is to pull feral or semi-feral cats from municipal shelters where they would otherwise be euthanized,” he said. “All cats that are chosen for the program are brought up-to-date on vaccines and are also spayed or neutered to ensure they are more likely to stay close to the property.”

Through the program, the cats’ lives are saved while humans benefit from their natural hunting instincts that translate to natural pest control.

Phelps explained that working cats prefer to do just that — work. They were born in the wild and therefore prefer to live outdoors, enjoying their predatorial work, rather than living indoors as house cats. Phelps said oftentimes, people try to trap these cats and bring them to shelters in the hopes of seeing them adopted, but in reality, these feral and semi-feral felines are happiest and most content mostly being away from people and going about their business.

“These are animals that are living in neighborhoods; they’re living around businesses or other places. People will trap them, thinking that they’re doing the right thing by taking them to a municipal shelter, that they’re going to be okay, they’re going to be able to adopt them out,” Phelps said. “The problem is that these are not animals that are socialized with people. These are animals that are terrified of people.

“The point is to try and get them out, put them in a property that wants these cats to help try to, in a sort of an organic way, control their rat and mouse populations or snake populations or whatever.”

Through the Working Cat Program, these cats can be taken care of by getting the veterinary care they need — vaccines, spay or neuter surgery — and then being fed and cared for by their owners while maintaining their preferred distance to humans.

“Any cats that are placed at a new location will be crated for 30 days to give them time to acclimate to the new property,” Phelps said. “They have to get used to the new people that they’re going to see and they’re going be feeding them every day. They have to get used to do whatever dogs might be on the property other cats and they also have to be able to acclimate in a safe space so that they know what predators might be there so they can avoid them. “

Usually, the cats live outside, in some sort of covered area like a barn or a wood shed, maintaining their feral lifestyle, but they have been known to become friendlier as they adjust to the humans with whom they interact on a daily basis.

Carolyn Shepard tells News 13 that working cats have not only controlled her rattlesnake problem, but they’ve brought a few pleasant surprises with them as well.

“They kind of take care of the bugs and spiders. It’s really fantastic,” Shepard said. “These are things I wasn’t really expecting.”

Okay, this feline now feels better and as long as folks are caring for their working cats I would say it’s a “win-win” for everyone.

Watch the touching moment this couple’s cat returns home after going missing for 7 days

After a dream Emily Alba says she had about her missing pet, Chloe, returning home, the cat appeared seven days later. Be sure and watch the video, it will make your heart smile!

Lahaina woman’s home didn’t survive but her cats did

Susie Richter travels every morning to the burnt-out shell of her house in Lahaina, Hawaii, to feed her three cats, who survived the blaze that devastated Maui earlier this month. When we can report on something positive and happy from the Maui fires it lifts our spirits. I hope this story lifts yours.

Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day – 8/28

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This is the day we remember all the furry family members who have crossed the Rainbow Bridge. This year we are honoring a new Rainbow Bridge resident, our furry nephew Link. He left us all to soon 8/13/2023. He was our human nephew’s best buddy and travel companion. We miss him and all our feline family members who have crossed the Rainbow Bridge.

If you are mourning the loss of a feline furiend, you might find comfort in this book that we wrote (with the help of our Purrsonal Assistant who is a pet bereavement counselor) called Are There Head Bonks in Heaven? We wrote this when our Angel Tucker and Angel Jasmine crossed the Bridge four months apart and we were all grieving their loss. And for all of you who are missing a special feline (or other fur kid) in your life we send you love and purrayers.

Stop the Presses! – Feline Opines Announcement

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We are pleased to announce that our lackey…..err …Purrsonal Assistant has worked with us to catch up on responses to all the comments on this blog. We do apologize for the lapse in these responses and have informed the PR of our concerns regarding her work product.

Thank you all for your patience and we are hopeful this type of slacking will not be repeated.
Purrs & Head Bonks,
The Executive Board at Feline Opines

Walk Through The Web Wednesday – 8/23

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Hello Furiends,
I hope you’re having a great Wednesday. We are so happy in our neck of the woods as we had rain yesterday. As you will see from the photo below (the arrow is pointing to a blue dot which is our neck of the woods) we are surrounded by fires and the unseasonable heat and wind has made things worse. We are thankful for the firefighters and that we are having a smoke free day. So many people have lost everything due to fire and we purray for all of them.

We are the blue dot. This doesn’t show all the fires just to the north west of us in Canada.

I made mention of the “Battle for the Bathroom” with The Human in a previous post. The battle continues and frankly, I am nonplussed by The Human’s lack of courtesy. Noted below is a little vignette of how our daily “discussion” goes.

“Human, why do you insist on leaving your stuff all over and disrupting my morning routine?”
“Seriously, what do I have to do to get you to honor my need for space?!”
“Ah, finally some space to purrform my morning rituals.”

And there you have it, the disrespect for my morning needs continues but, I will continue to be the peacekeeping feline I have always been.

On another note, Oliver aced his check-up last week and he seems to be out of the woods. He is returning to his regular activities. Here’s a little snapshot of his week.

Oliver’s vet check up from last Friday.
Oliver heard a bird hit the window and he’s waiting for the bird to reappear.
And Oliver is back to one of his favorite pastimes, deep, uninterrupted sleep.

Lily has finally figured out the daily routine needed to train The Human as she works in the office at home. There are the three to four reminders that it’s snack time (Oliver and I benefit from her persistence.)

“Hey Human, get up from that chair, it’s snack time!”

And she’s trained The Human to accommodate her desire to “work” next to The Human’s desk. This requires pulling a chair from the table and next to The Humans chair at the desk.

That’s it for our week, I hope yours went well. Now, time for the news.

Kids learn best practices for interacting with cats during etiquette workshop

We are fans of etiquette

Well it’s about time that human kids are taught some etiquette regarding cats. As a matter of fact, The Tribe wrote an entire book about this called Felines Opine on Etiquette: What Humans Need to Know About Guests, Cat Sitting and Furniture so if you know any little humans who require some feline etiquette training we highly recommend our book.  But, back to the news item.

Several families learned how to treat their feline friends well on Sunday, Aug. 20, at the Kiddie Cat Etiquette Workshop.

The Kiddie Cat Etiquette Workshop. Is held weekly at the House of Black Cat Magic on Haywood Road in Asheville, NC. It’s goal is to help children learn how to respectfully handle cats.

The workshop’s teacher, Shifra Nerenberg, says children are often not allowed to visit cat cafes because many don’t know how to play well with them so the lounge is seeking to fix this problem with education.

“It’s about boundaries,”Nerenberg says. “Cats are amazing with boundaries, because as soon as they’re done with whatever you’re doing with them or to them, they just walk away.”

All of the cats at the house are available for adoption.

The Marvels’ Cat Trainer Spills the Beans on Goose’s On-Set Shenanigans

The Marvels, is the sequel in the Marvel movies is bringing more than just superheroes to the big screen, it’s bringing feline superheroes.  The real stars are Nema and Tango, two felines who will wow the audience. The cats are sharing the role of Goose, an orange tabby alien that fans first fell in love with in Captain Marvel.

These aren’t the same cats from the original movie and they bring new talent to the film Nema is the stunt star, while Tango’s irresistible looks make him perfect for those mesmerizing close-ups.

As you can imagine, filming with felines, like the time, their trainer shared, when while on one of the sets where the ground was quite gravelly. Everyone was ready to film but the cat decided he was in a  giant cat litter box, rolling around and enjoy the biggest litter box he’d every experienced while the crew waited to film..

There were other issues as well such as the cat allergy suffered by actress Brie Larson. The solution was that on days when Nema and Tango were on set, Larson was replaced by either an extra or a stunt double

The cats trainer noted that they went through a three month training period and the cats go on set knowing exactly what they’re supposed to do.

This feline predicts that Nema and Tango will be the REAL stars of this movie.

Seattle shelters are taking in cats from Maui. Here’s how you can help

We have a policy at #WalkThroughTheWebWednesday to bring you feline news that will brighten your day, provide interesting information or even make you laugh. We try to avoid the bad news because you humans are adept at sharing that. Still, there are bad things happening in the world but there are good folks working to mitigate those things.  Seattle shelters are stepping up and working to rehome many of the Maui kitties displaced by the fires.

Thirty-five cats hitched rides out of Hawaii with Aloha Air Cargo in coordination with the Good Cat Network; Seattle Humane received 17 cats and kittens on Thursday, and the others went to The NOAH Center on Wednesday.

Seattle Humane spokesperson Brandon Macz said that as soon as the cats were in the shelter, there were people inquiring about adoption.

Darlene Rayhill is co-founder and executive director of the Good Cat Network, a nonprofit that works with Seattle shelters to reduce the number of community cats on the islands and find them homes in Washington state.

She said the group is preparing for two more flights to Seattle in the coming days. Seven kittens are going to PAWS in Washington on Sunday, and 26 more cats will take off for Virginia next week.
https://www.paws.org/

“We are not flying out anyone’s owned animal,” she said. “These are all cats that have been in foster for several weeks, just waiting for their homes.”

The Network further clarified online: “All of our cats are from colonies or the streets, scanned for microchip information to ensure he or she is not an owned pet, assessed, and brought into foster before being considered for local adoption or flown through our transfer program, Operation Aloha Cat.”

Adopters specifically looking for a Maui cat or kitten from Seattle Humane should look for special “Maui Lifesaver Rescue” stickers on their online profiles. In-person shelter visitors can also ask to be directed to the Maui cats’ room.

Brandon Macz advocated for the newcomers, noting Hawaii cats tend to be very friendly.

“The thing about Hawaii cats is a lot of them come from outdoors, these community cats, these kind of colonies of cats, so they’ve had a lot of socialization,” he said.

And while he didn’t want to play favorites, Macz is particularly fond of 3-year-old Chester.

“Hawaiian cats tend to be a little long and lanky, which is pretty cute for me,” Macz said, “and he’s one of the longest and lankiest cats I’ve ever met.”

Rayhill noted a special cat in the bunch, too: 10-month-old Malie (pronounced mal-E-ay, which means calm and mellow).

Her foster family was evacuated from the Kula fire on Maui, leaving Malie in need of a new home. Good Cat Network volunteers stepped in.

“I only knew her for a week,” Rayhill said. “But my personal experience with this little kitty, she was just so sweet.”

The foster family didn’t get a chance to say goodbye, but Malie arrived safe in Seattle on Thursday.

And the best news is that Chester and Malie were adopted as of Monday morning, according Seattle Humane’s blog, which features a list of adopted animals.

According to the Good Cat Network’s website, the group typically sends just about 30 cats a month from Maui to their continental partners. In a blog post on July 25, before the wildfires, the Good Cat Network celebrated the more than 500 cats it had sent to Seattle thus far. Because of the fires, though, those efforts have ramped up, in part to make room for an influx of cats that have been displaced. Similarly, Rayhill said, the Maui Humane Society is flying out animals, too.

“We’re all focused on trying to get as many adoptable animals off island,” Rayhill said. “So, as these rescue efforts continue, we will all be available to take in [more animals]. There are animals that are injured. There are displaced animals. We’re all just trying to work on creating that space.”

The Good Cat Network is accepting donations for additional cat-carrying flights.

Donors can also give to the Maui Humane Society to help treat injured pets and reunite them with their families; an estimated 3,000 pets are lost or missing in the wake of the wildfires.

Paws up for these wonderful folks and all the folks helping pets in fire devastated areas.

First cat cafe opens in Gaza Strip to give residents a break

The first cat cafe, Meow Cafe has opened in the Gaza Strip on Thursday; this is the first of its kind in the Gaza Strip after the trend went global.

The café was swamped cafe on Thursday as people came to spend some calming time with the felines there.  The cafe’s founder Naema Mabed, 52, told the Associated Press that she envisioned the spot as a unique escape from the pressures of life in Gaza. 

The Gaza Strip has few recreational options and a youth unemployment rate for graduates of 73.9% according to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics. Mabed offers a drink service and encourages the guests to head straight to the cat corner to play with cats.

Visitors must cover their shoes with plastic and wash their hands before cuddling the cats.

The global anto-depressant

“I have spent my life raising cats, and they’re a source of joy and quiet, a release of pressures,” Mabed told AP.

She described cats as a “global anti-depressant”.

There are 10 resident cats at the cafe with some named Tom, Dot, Simba, and Phoenix.

The cats are not up for adoption as Mabed has formed a strong bond with her feline friends.

“The feeling, honestly, is that you just come to feel the psychological comfort of the cats,” said 23-year-old Eman Omar.

The entrance fee is a low 5 Israeli shekels for half an hour of time with the cats.

 “Any place that provides humans a kind of interaction with animals has a positive psychological impact,” Psychologist Bahzad al-Akhras said.

Unique dispensary is the cat’s meow in Midland, Texas

A unique dispensary in Midland, Ontario, Canada opened last fall and has become quite popular. “A lot of customers can’t believe this is real,” said Catnip Dispensary owner Mikey White.

While approximately 250 strains of catnip exist, White has delved into experimenting with just over 30 and has nine currently available to customers and their feline friends that have undergone testing.

“I have an army of tester cats out there that help me determine what type of strain is which because this has never been done before. If a cat needs to go on a long car ride, vet visits, or just needs to chill out after surgery, there are more mellow strains that help out with that,” he explained. (Note, this feline wants to know where to send my resume to be a tester!)

Recent expansion efforts led White to rent land while cultivating new catnip strains. Through the process, he said he gained valuable insights.

“I learned that curing is one of the best ways by far,” White elaborated. “I hang dry it for at least a month and a half, and then cure them in glass jars for another month and a half so that it preserves it, and it keeps all of the essential oils intact. It makes it more potent, more fresh,” he said.

Given the discerning nature of cats, the dispensary offers an array of creatively named strains, such as ‘Pawnapple Express’ and ‘Purrmafrost.’

White said curious customers could even bring their feline companions into the store for a sniff around to determine their preference. Be sure and watch the video about this innovative business.

Meowza, I think The Human needs to take us on a trip to Canada!!

Walk Through The Web Wednesday – 8/16

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Hello Furiends!

It’s been a hot one in our neck of the woods and since we don’t have air conditioning (there are usually maximum two weeks of real heat here) we spent our time positioning ourselves in close proximity to the fans. We each have our own “cooling off” style as we work hard every day in the office.

I like to start my days early in the morning with a little head dunk under the bathroom faucet. I have no idea why The Human gets so annoyed that it takes her twice as long to get to her make up and get ready in the morning. I guess humans just aren’t blessed with natural beauty like we felines are.

Once I’m in the office, I like to hang out in my catnip paper bag.

Oliver, on the other hand, has some strange habits when it comes to working on a hot day.

Oliver is positioned in a sun spot, near the office litter box. Weird!
the sun puddle I can understand but inside the fluffy bed on the cat condo??

Oliver and I have voted Lily “most valuable worker” as she lets The Human know at 1:00pm and 4:30pm every day that it’s snack time. Look at that face. Would you be able to tell her “no”?

I hope you enjoyed a glimpse of our workday in the heat. And we all want to thank you for your kind words and well wishes for Oliver and his battle with idiopathic cystitis. He seems to be on the mend and we are all very grateful!

Cat stuns TikTok with stylish fashion for day at the beach

The old adage that cat’s hate clothes has been disproven again. A Maine coon named Rocco has taken TikTok by storm thanks to his stylish teal hat and coordinating life jacket as he relaxes at the beach with his owner.

In one clip, Rocco is seen sitting with his paws in the water as he strutted on the other beachgoers in his impressive summer gear. Now granted, I don’t wear any gear when I hang out in The Human’s bathroom sink but I too like to play in the water.

Set to the tune of I Can See You by Taylor Swift, the chic kitty’s video has been viewed over five million times and liked by more than 700,000 users since it was posted on Thursday.

Rocco also donned a pair of dark round sunglasses and strolled through the water to a Taylor Swift song. And it’s not just beach wear that Rocco models, he also wears a tiny navy baseball cap with holes for his prominent ears.

Looking At Cute Cats Triggers Changes in the Brain That Lower Stress, Say Scientists

Awwww, isn’t Oliver cute?

Humans, I don’t know how many times I have to tell you that living with felines is healthy for you so here goes again.

Our cuteness actually triggers responses in the humam brain that has a positive impact on an instinctive, psychological level.  

There are scientific reasons why you find us cats adorable.  A study published in Frontiers in Psychology found that faces of cats have a similar emotional effect on us as the faces of babies, which triggers the brain to produce more oxytocin, also known as the “love hormone.”

Released into the brain under the right circumstances, oxytocin has the power to regulate human emotional responses in a way that makes you humans happier, more trusting and more open to others. Thanks to oxytocin, we give you a toasty, tranquil feeling that displaces anxiety and worry.

What exactly about cat’s faces triggers the body to release oxytocin? Our infant-like features say scientists. Known as “social releasers,” childlike features — which include a big head with a round face, a large forehead, large eyes and a small nose and mouth — engage our lovey-dovey, protective instincts. It gives a whole new meaning to the phrase “fur baby.”

These head butts we give you have special meaning. As Nilson explains, “Cats have scent glands all over their bodies, including the forehead, chin and cheeks, and when they butt heads with you, it’s a way of claiming you as their own and marking you with their scent. It’s a sign of affection, trust and bonding.” Humans also subconsciously pick up on this affectionate gesture and feel a stronger bond with their cat.

Other cute cat behaviors act as reminders of kittenhood. Says Nilson, “Adult cats often knead with their paws, as if they are kneading dough, when they’re feeling happy and content. It’s a throwback behavior to when they were kittens and would knead on their mother’s stomach to stimulate milk flow and feel good while they were feeding.” This behavior, adds Nilson, also sparks our instinctive protective and nurturing instincts.

We felines are simultaneously cute and smart. Any cat parent will tell you that their kitty is a pro at getting whatever we want, whenever we want it. “Cats rarely communicate with each other by meowing, yet they use meowing as one of their primary ways to communicate with humans,” says Nilson. Now that The Human is working at home, Lily will come over to her twice a day to politely remind her that it’s treat time. Lily has The Human trained well!

Ever had a bad day and felt your mood instantly lift as soon as you pet your cat? That’s just one more of their cuteness superpowers! Wendy Diamond, Chief Pet Officer of Animal Fair Media and author of How to Understand Women Through Their Cats explains, “Interacting with cute cats is a delightful symphony for our well-being — petting a cat can release the feel-good hormones serotonin and dopamine, which helps ease stress and boost joy.” There have even been studies showing that petting cats may lower blood pressure and reduce stress hormone levels.

Even more fascinating is that the sound of a cat’s purr is not only calming, and it may also have restorative properties. That’s right — the meditative vibe you get from hearing our little motor run can help heal you. Research has shown that purrs fall within a frequency associated with tissue regeneration.

So, if you ever had any doubt that sharing your home with felines makes you healthier, this article should dispel that doubt!

Can Cats Predict The Weather?

Over the years, there have been many sayings to indicate that cat’s predict weather. For instance, In Britain, especially Wales, it was believed that rain was likely if a cat busily washed its ears. In Holland, it was said that cats could predict the wind by clawing at carpets and curtains. (Note if this was true, we would have constant hurricane conditions at our house as Oliver loves to dig his claws into the area rugs).

In the good old US of A many years ago, if a cat sat with its back to the fire, it was foretelling a cold snap and if it slept with all four paws tucked under, bad weather was coming. (Again, if sitting in “loaf position” as a harbinger of bad weather, very few places would have good weather!)

Sailors were particularly superstitious or maybe just so bored that they spent a lot of time watching the ship’s cat. Here are some of the wacky ideas they had. They thought that if a cat licked its fur against the grain, it meant a hailstorm was coming; if it sneezed, rain was on the way; and if it was frisky, the wind would soon blow. Some had even more bizarre ideas and thought that cats could start storms through magic, so they always made sure cats were content. (Not a bad thing for the sea-faring felines!)

This video from the weather channel address some of these beliefs and they conclude it’s probably not the best idea to just look to your cats as to whether to take an umbrella with you when you leave the house.

Alley Public art project celebrates late John Snook’s love for cats

Honoring the late John McClure Snook, founder of Gulf Telephone and owner of Hotel Magnolia, a 28-foot-long and 8-foot-tall mural has been unveiled at 106 N. Alston St., paying tribute to McClure’s love for cats.

There were multiple cat doors at his hotels for the city cats to come and go. (What a great guy!)  McClure also extended his love for felines by opening a house downtown specifically for homeless cats.

Coming up with a name for a walkway that was in remembrance of McClure was easy for those involved. This walkway, between West Laurel Avenue and Jessamine Street, would be named Cat Alley.

Out of 12 submissions, local artist Hannah Legg, a graduate of Fairhope High School, was chosen to create the mural. When she found out this mural was going to include cats, she was all in.

“My grandfather was an artist, so I was very fortunate to grow up around art at an early age. All the happiness in the world was a pencil and a piece of paper,” the artist said.

She added that cats were the first subjects she began drawing early in her art career.

Legg was not the only one to use brush strokes on the seven panels in Cat Alley. Three groups from Foley High School, Foley Middle School and Foley home schoolers added color and life to this Cat Alley art.

Foley Alabama City Council approved $48,600 in January to use for enhancements to the alley to create murals and park areas. Doors will also be painted as part of the display, and the artist Arcy this spring created a mural, painting it live on site in April for the public to watch.

Cat’s Attempt To Climb Wall Has Internet Laughing: ‘No One Will Judge You’

You humans never seem to get tired of laughing at felines we are less than our graceful selves.. A video of a feline has surfaced online which has taken social media users on a laughter fest. It shows a cat’s genuine efforts to climb up a wall but repeatedly fails the task.

The now-viral video shared on Twitter by Buitengebieden on August 9 has swept the internet.  The footage shows vehicles parked in a parking area. Soon, a cat emerges from the narrow spaces left between the cars. The th cat jumps onto the car’s hood, and then the car’s roof.  But that’s when things got interesting for us but unlucky for the animal.

Hoping to jump deftly from the cars to the top of the wall, the feline literally fell short.  Determined to scale the wall, the cat made a second attempt with the same results. He then high tailed it away from the parking lot, presumably to find a different way to achieve his goal. The video has sparked numerous reactions from Twitterati who couldn’t stop laughing at the incident while also feeling sorry for the cat.  The comments are hilarious. “He gets a 10 for effort lol,” noted one user. As if making the cat not feel embarrassed for its defeat another quipped, “You are allowed to give up. No one will judge you for it.” “No matter how many times I see this, I stop to watch it ten more,” came a third remark. So far, the video has garnered over 4.2 million views on Twitter. Be sure and check out the video and comments so you can have your daily dose of humor.   

Walk Through The Web Wednesday – 8/9

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Happy Wednesday Furiends!
I hope you’ve had a good week. The week in our neck of the woods has been a bit dicey. Oliver took a sharp decline last Thursday night when Oliver began running back and forth to the litter box again and began bleeding profusely. The Human was scared and, as we have no emergency vet clinics in our neck of the woods, packed Oliver up and made the hour drive to the emergency clinic in a town nearby. Long story short, Oliver received excellent care there and at our regular stabby place the next day. He has been diagnosed with idiopathic cystitis. Oliver is getting better and he wants to tell you all his story in a different blog post to help your humans understand what this is and what worked (and didn’t work). But, in the meantime, he wants to say hello.

Hi Furiends, I’m not 100% but am getting better. I’ll give you details about my health journey soon. Oliver

This week most of the focus was on getting Oliver healthy but, The Human did do a little experimentation with AI that was added to one of the photo editing programs she has. Let us know what you think.

This is me looking fierce. I love it but The Human thinks I look a bit scary.

The Human loves this one of Oliver. I have to admit, he looks pretty cute.

This is Lily. The Human (and the rest of us) aren’t too sure about this one. The Human said she did like the fact that the picture makes it look like we live in a castle. I’ve included the photo we used to make this AI version below. Quite a difference!

Original photo

That’s it from our neck of the woods this week. I hope you enjoy our news items.

International Cat Day

Although we missed this important celebration by one day, we’re dedicating our news items this week to this important holiday.

Top Cats 2023. The 10 most popular breeds on Instagram this year

Have you wondered what the most Instagrammable cat breeds are this year? Using new research commissioned by Mr Gamble, a Kiwi online comparison site, here are the results. They analyzed different varieties of hashtags for each breed, then researchers added them all up to produce the ultimate list of the most Instagrammable cat breeds. Did any of my feline furiends make the list?

7 Fascinating Wild Felines That Just Might Make You a Cat Person

Cheetah
Rusty Spotted Cat
Sand Cat

Cheetah: The Speed Demon

Holding the records for the world’s fastest cat and fastest land animal, cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) can reach speeds of over 60 miles per hour.

Every part of this fast feline is built for speed. Their non-retractable claws act like cleats, providing traction during high-speed chases. Their tails, measuring roughly 2.5 feet, serve as rudders, allowing them to turn on a dime. Even their breathing is adapted for speed; thanks to their relatively small teeth, cheetahs have room for larger nasal passages that allow for quick air intake.

Cheetahs’ endangered status has made them the focus of captive breeding programs at zoos. Occasionally, these captive cheetahs are paired with canine companions to reduce their shyness and make them more willing to mate.

Rusty Spotted Cat: the Diminutive Hunter

A master of hide-and-seek, the rusty-spotted cat is found in the forests of India, Sri Lanka and, as of its 2016 discovery, Nepal. Using their agility and tree climbing prowess, rusty-spotted cats hunt small animals including rodents, birds, lizards, frogs and insects.

Though these petite predators could potentially adapt to living alongside human populations, threats from domestic dogs and vehicles remain a constant danger to their survival.

Sand Cat: The Dexterous Desert Dweller

The sand cat (Felis margarita), native to the Sahara Desert, Arabian Peninsula and parts of central Asia, is equipped to endure extreme conditions.

These desert dwellers boast thick fur and heavily padded paws, insulating them against temperatures that can fluctuate from a scorching 120 degrees to below freezing. During the blistering daytime, these cats take refuge in burrows, only emerging to hunt under the cover of night.

Adding to their list of desert adaptations is their ability to go weeks without drinking water. Instead, sand cats get all the hydration they need from their food. These bold predators are skilled enough to hunt venomous snakes, alongside easier prey like rodents, lizards and insects.

Be sure and check out the article to learn about the rest of our amazing wild family members.

CATCON THE COMIC CON FOR CAT PEOPLE

Oh my whiskers, if I didn’t hate travel so much I’d have The Human pack us up and take us to Los Angeles. More than 10,000 cat lovers are expected to descend on Pasadena this weekend for the annual CatCon.

Founded in 2015, Cat Con is the brainchild of entertainment writer-turned-Team Cat advocate Susan Michals.

“Everybody thought that cat people were all old cat lady hoarder and spinster types,” Michals said, adding that Eleanor Abernathy from The Simpsons is a prime example. “What I found is that there was a much younger demo that was not being served.”

That ephipany came to Michals in 2014, when she curated a cat art show in L.A. More than 4,000 people showed up to see it, according to Michals.

The inaugural CatCon took place in Downtown L.A. and relocated to roomier digs at the Convention Center in Pasadena in 2017. The event has grown alongside an explosion in pet spending in the country, from $60.28 billion to $136.8 billion between 2015 and 2022, according to the trade group American Pet Products Association.

Cat ownership, according to the same group, now clocks at 46.5 million households.

Cat Con has gone from it’s initial 63 exhibitors in 2015 to 200 this year. It’s a BIG deal!

Here are some highlights from this year’s convention.

Karma Is A Cat

This is an art show, which is an homage to Taylor Swift as a cat icon and cat owner,” said Michals.

The artworks are for sale, and a portion of the proceeds will go to charities.

Internet Famous Cats

Some of the Internet’s most famous cat-fluencers are at CatCon, including Merlin The Mad Ragdoll, Sponge Cake, and Scottish Fold.

The Products

Last year, Americans spent nearly $40 billion on vet care and products. There are plenty of those at this year’s CatCon.

“We have tech companies [offering] the latest in cat tech — trackers or litter boxes that can track if your cat is sick,” Michals said.

“One of the things that’s a growing industry is cat probiotics and cat holistic products. The Two Crazy Cat Ladies are going to be talking about how you can improve your cat health. Imagine sort of Eastern medicine meets probiotics, but for the four-legged set,” Michals said.

If any of my southern California furiends go to CatCon, meow at us and let us know how you liked it.

‘Trickster’ Cat At Shelter Caught On Video Opening Door Himself And ‘Strutting His Stuff’

A cat in a Nebraska animal shelter has made headlines for his skill with a door handle, but he’s still waiting for an adopter to open their door to him.

“Staff started to go crazy knowing they shut certain doors when they left at night but those same doors would be open in the morning……then today we discovered this,” the Capital Humane Society in Lincoln wrote July 27 on Facebook.

The post included a video of a black cat named Grimsen leaping up and grabbing a door’s lever handle with his paws, managing to pull it down to let himself out.

“Grimsen is the ultimate trickster,” the shelter wrote.

The cat’s adoption listing also cites his ingenuity, calling Grimsen a “VERY smart guy” who “has managed to teach himself how to open lever style doorknobs and walk freely amongst the other shelter cats strutting his stuff.”

Early in the morning on the day of the Facebook post, the shelter staff noticed that three different doors were open and Grimsen was strolling the hallway. He was returned to the room he shares with two other cats, but around noon, “Grimsen was spotted walking down the hallway again,” veterinary and behavior assistant Hillary Brandt told HuffPost in a Facebook message.

Not long after, Grimsen was once again returned to his room. This time, he was caught red-pawed opening the door.

Unfortunately for a freedom-loving feline like Grimsen, it’s important that doors remain closed, especially after business hours.

“Doors stay closed at night so we know all cats are behaving properly and not throwing parties after hours, making messes and possibly fighting with others who don’t play well with feline friends,” said Sierra Kurth, the shelter’s fundraising and grants coordinator.

Grimsen had to spend a night in a cat condo inside a locked office before the shelter was able to add a hook apparatus to the doorknob of his regular room to prevent him from getting out ― though he still made an attempt.

The feline’s chaos-causing ways were mostly met with approval by those who commented on the shelter’s video.

“I’m Grimsen’s lawyer,” read a top comment from one justice-minded Facebook user. “My client is innocent.”

His story made multiple local news headlines, with KLKN-TV declaring him the cat who “can’t be contained.”

But despite his number of fans, Grimsen, who came to the shelter as a stray in mid-June, was still looking for someone to adopt him as of Friday. Preferably someone with a good sense of humor.

“He is a very active and comical boy,” Brandt said.

And despite his exceptional intelligence, Grimsen is no snob. His adoption listing notes that he “loves all the pets that you can give him, even when he has escaped and his presence surprises you.”

Someone PLEASE adopt Grimson!!

There Is Now a Newspaper of Record for Felines: SE Taylor Street Cat News

Anybody who says newspapers are dying hasn’t looked closely at the telephone poles in the Buckman neighborhood. That’s where devoted readers find new, laminated editions of the SE Taylor Street Cat News, the monthly newspaper of record for the feline activities from Southeast 14th Avenue to César E. Chávez Boulevard. The Cat News, one page and cartoon-illustrated, chronicles such hyperlocal issues as “Squirrels—Are They Stupid?” and the arrival of Freddy, an orange tom who is seeking summer romance.

It is on its fourth edition, edited by a neighborhood resident who goes by the nom de plume Swamp Cat.

“A lot of the stories I gather from cats throughout the neighborhood,” says Swamp Cat, who is 28 in human years. “I do all the translations myself.”

Swamp Cat lives in a three-cat household herself; her most reliable sources are Tilda, the Baboo, and Big Fat Ted. (All get bylines.) Since its April debut, the Cat News has developed a loyal readership, online and on-pole. Like all media, it has seen the most success with its coverage of violent street conditions.

“Residents on 28th have recently reported multiple incidents between the Buckman Big Boyz and the Sunnyside Skullz,” a June cover story begins. “Tensions between the two cat gangs escalate annually with the arrival of summer and the search for perfect Sit Spots.”

Two paws up for the enterprising “Swamp Cat” and we think there should be more of these local feline news publications.

Walk Through The Web Wednesday – 8/2

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Happy Wednesday Furiends!

It’s been hot in our neck of the woods. We felines would rather cozy up to the fireplace on a chilly day than have to find comfort from the heat in front of a fan. Poor Oliver ended up at the stabby place again today. He was doing the litter box two-step (using every litter box in the house and feeling quite uncomfortable in the process). The Human swooped him up and he his urine sample is being sent to another stabby place to see if the humans in the white coats can figure out what’s wrong. In the meantime he has another round of amoxicillin and gabapentin. He’s a little loopy from the gabapentin right now so The Human will be lowering the dose for tonight.

Are those dragons in the living room?

This week we decided to feature ourselves on the cover of a magazine. We each had a specific idea of what the cover should look like. What do you think?

Lily picked this cover because she says she’s a classy cat.
Oliver fancies himself as a British titled gentleman.
I wanted to show my wild side, “Rocker Al”

That’s it for us this week, I hope you enjoy my findings on the interweb.

Feeling lonely, she got a kitten. He became U.K. Cat of the Year.

Genevieve Moss has profound hearing loss, and she was feeling lonely and isolated as she flipped through the local newspaper at her home in Chesterfield, England.

“Being in a silent world and living alone without any human support caused a lot of distress and anxiety,” Moss said in an email interview with The Washington Post.

Then something stopped her as she read the paper that day in April 2021, deep in the pandemic.

“I saw a photo of a tiny black and white ball of fluff, and I fell in love with him then and there,” said Moss, 66.

A family had placed an ad, hoping to find a home for the last kitten in their cat’s litter, Moss responded and Zebby had a home.

“He jumped from their arms straight into mine, and I knew that he had chosen me,” said Moss, who decided to call him Zebby because his colors resembled those of a zebra.

Moss had heard of studies showing that pets help to alleviate loneliness as noted in this article.

And this is what Zebby did, and more in addition to being named Britain’s National Cat of the Year by Cats Protection, the country’s largest feline welfare charity. This was no small feat as Zebby beat out about 3,000 nominees to win the title.

Zebby’s incredible ability to understand, and help Moss when she takes her hearing aids out of her ears. Zebby taught himself how to help her during those times and acts as her ears.

From their first night together, Zebby slept next to her, and if he heard noises in the dark, he would jump up and become agitated. After several weeks, Moss noticed that whenever her phone rang or somebody knocked on the door, Zebby would tap her with his paw or pace in front of her to alert her. Even when the security lights came on outside, the cat would scratch at the glass and run around the room until she woke up. “He became my security guard and night watch cat,” she said. “Sometimes, he would even nibble my toes to wake me.”

It wasn’t long before Zebby took on another task: picking up Moss’s mail.

“He heard the rattle of the letterbox being opened, and he stretched up on his back legs and pulled the letter from the flap as a hand posted it through,” she said. “I thought at first it was a ‘one off’ game, but he continued to do it every time the post arrived.”

Zebby now carries the mail in his mouth and drops it at her feet, Moss said. He also fetches her slippers if she’s not wearing them.

Zebby is one of a kind and does so much more for Moss than keep her loneliness at bay. Con-Catulations Zebby, you’ve done your human proud!

Cat Meets her boyfriend on daily walks

This cat meets her new boyfriend on her walk every day — and eventually invites him inside her house 😍 Keep up with Jamey and Leo on TikTok: https://thedo.do/jehrosela_.

Meet Onion: The one-eyed kitten breaking hearts (for a good cause) at Hawaii Cat Cafe

Onion the orange tabby may only have one eye, but she’s the star of The Hawaii Cat Cafe, located in Kapahulu. The cafe was founded five years ago and has helped nearly 3,000 cats find homes since it first opened. And Onion is looking for a forever home too.

Founder Cindy Washburn said the number of people who have rescued cats from Hawaii Cat Cafe is more than any other cat cafe in the U.S.

At the cat cafe, patrons are able to enjoy handcrafted beverages and pastries in the company of rescue cats, which Washburn says helps people get to know “the cats’ personalities in a fun environment.”


Onion had to have one of her eyes surgically removed due to an infection when she was younger and was placed in a foster home for recovery. That hasn’t slowed her down or changed her sweet personality and she’s  a very outgoing kitten and gets along well with dogs, cats as well as rabbits.

In addition to adoptions, Washburn and her staff also believe the cat cafe serves as a way to educate the public about responsible pet ownership.

“When people come in here, they tend to walk out knowing more about how to be a better pet owner and kind of the animal-related issues going on around the island,” said Washburn.

Those interested in adopting a cat will have the chance to speak with staff about their previous experience with animals while also learning about various pet care resources.

“We want each person and their newly adopted cat to have the best chance of success, to have a long, happy life,” said Washburn.

Due to Hawaii’s warm climate, the island is in kitten season year round. Therefore, rescue organizations are often in need of volunteers and overflowing with cats who need homes.

Adopting cats from the cafe will help to get more cats off the streets and shelters, find them forever homes as well as reduce euthanasia rates across the island.

To meet the cats at Hawaii Cat Cafe, Washburn suggests scheduling either a half hour or one hour appointment in advance. Walk-ins are allowed, but are not guaranteed.

We sure hope Onion has a forever home soon and we give the good folks at Hawaii Cat Café two paws up!

Artist Rory Hawkins, aka Catlanta, scatters paintings of lovable cats all over the city

If you are a cat lover and enjoy public art, you’ll like Rory Hawkins feline imagery. Rory’s feline work has been dubbed Catlanta.  You can find more information about Catlanta, AKA Rory Hawkins’ work, here.

Cats in Marvel Comics

The Marvel Universe contains a wide range of characters from the animal kingdom. Dogs, birds, and even more exotic critters like sharks, land sharks, dragons, and dinosaurs! But today, the spotlight is on a particular four-legged phenom: cats!

With the return of Infinity Comics series MARVEL MEOW (2022) on the Marvel Unlimited app, there are a clowder of cool cats.  If you want more fierce felines? Read MARVEL MEOW by Nao Fuji today! Here are a couple we liked but there are many more in the article.

ALPINE

A white cat, Alpine was adopted by Bucky Barnes, the Winter Soldier. She acts as a calming presence to Bucky, as his life is the exact opposite. In MARVEL MEOW, Alpine enjoys play dates with Chewie and Liho and stopping Black Cat’s naughty cats from stealing!

LUPIN, RAFFLES, AND SIMON

  • First appearance: BLACK CAT (2019) #1
  • Likes: Stealing expensive goods, mischief
  • Dislikes: Dogs

This trio of rascals make up cat burglar Black Cat’s “Purrfect Purrloiners.” Don’t let their big eyes and gooey cuteness fool you—these felonious felines won’t just steal your heart but your valuables as well!