Category Archives: adopting kittens

Walk Through The Web Wednesday 7/14

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siamese cat on a leash walking through a garden

Happy Wednesday Furiends,
We are still suffering from the heat in our neck of the woods. The Human is getting a bit cranky and muttering under her breath, “I moved to this area to be away from the heat!”. While we sympathize, her issues are of no consequence to us as long as meals and snacks are on time and those cooling machine thingies are in full operation.

Now don’t get me wrong, we here at The Tribe would purrfur cooler weather ourselves and I, for one, will be very happy when it’s time to snuggle up next to the fire again.

Lily is no big fan of the heat either.

“I’m not coming out of this box until fallo!”

Oliver has chosen to beat the heat by celebrating Shark Awareness Day today.

As always, The Tribe is wishing you all a cool, comfortable week filled with tuna and catnip..

Feline employee of the Year honored with a new beer release at Marker 48 Brewery

Released on Caturday , the Tangerine Wheat Ale brewed honors Marker 48’s favorite brewery cat Willy (Willie).

Oh my whiskers, this is my kind of story. My readers know how I like to report about working cats but this news item takes the professional feline story to a whole new level. The owners of this brewery are extremely enlightened, much more so than brewery in our neck of the woods called Laughing Dog. They host things called “Yappy Hour” . Yappy Hour, can you believe it? Makes me want to hiss every time they advertise another canine centered event!

But I digress and say thank goodness kitties are finally getting their due recognition in the brewing world by Marker 48 Brewery . Not only did these wonderful humans brew a beer to honor a deserving feline employee, they commissioned some limited edition merch as well. We sent our Purrsonal Assistant to the brewery’s site with credit card in hand to order some of the beer and maybe some merch to see if she could order merch but it looks like you have to live in or near Brooksville, Florida to do that.. If any of my furiends live near this fantastic feline loving place, please visit Willy Nelson, taste some of his beer and meow about it on our blog.

Feline Fine: Cat Enjoys Private Transatlantic Boeing 767 Flight

We felines deserve only the best and this feline is getting the best of everything, even a personal charter flight on SkyLady of Comlux. There are no tacky carriers, small cat beds or quarantine time for this feline. The Transatlantic crossing VIP kitty guest and his/her human wanted to remain anonymous so we don’t know the cat’s destination but the airline posted a nice video on Twitter to show how the cat is living the Vida Loca. Meowza, how nice would it be to have the run of a luxury plane that can seat 55 people? I wonder how many cats that translates to.

Many cats are living their best lives but this cat has taken that concept to an entirely new level. Methinks it’s time for The Human to step up her game.

A giant 3D cat has taken over one of Tokyo’s biggest billboards

And now that there are cats who have  beers brewed in their honor and who travel by private chartered et, a gigantic 3D cat has on a billboard in Tokyo shouldn’t surprise anyone.

The cat appears between advertisements and is amazingly realistic. And it doesn’t just move, it meows too! If you’re in Tokyo, you can see the cat between 7 a.m. and 1 a.m.. The video changes throughout the day. The calico cat is first startled awake in the morning, and by the afternoon it can be seen standing up and meowing at passersby. In the evening, it lies down and falls asleep with its head rested on its paws. The billboard is located over the east exit of Shinjuku train station, an area known as a busy shopping and business center. According to a website launched for the display, which is known as Cross Shinjuku Vision, 190,000 people pass the screen every weekday.

Hmm, maybe the time is getting closer when cats will rule the world (at least virtually).

Orlando Cat Café Will Donate Pet Oxygen Masks To Lake County Fire Rescue For Use In Saving Cats, Dogs After Fires

Oxygen masks save kitties lives. Does your fire department have them?

I’ve reported on many cat cafes and am a fan but have never heard of any that raised money for kitty oxygen masks. This is exactly what Orlando Cat Café did when they donated two pet oxygen masks to the Lake Country Fire Rescue. These masks revive cats and dogs who suffer from smoke inhalation after a fire.

We were intrigued with the issue of pet oxygen masks and thought that every fire department should have some so we sent our Purrsonal Assistant out on the web to learn more. To our delight, we found Project Breathe, a pet oxygen mask donation program from the good folks at Invisible Fence. Does your fire department have these life-saving masks? Why not meow at them and find out? And paws up to Invisible Fence for caring for animals!

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FELINE FINE!: Rescue cat climbs New Hampshire’s 48 tallest mountains in nine months

Not every feline thinks that travel in a private jet or having a beer named after you is living their best life. There are some cats like Floki who live lives of adventure . Floki and her hiking companion,, Mel Elam have summited every mountain in New Hampshire over 4,000 feet!

Elam had a chocolate lab hiking companion for years who had passed away. She went to the shelter to find a new buddy to take a look at a litter of kittens she’d seen there. Her plans changed when Floki reached out her paw as Elam walked by, insisting that she be picked as the new companion. When Floki was 4 months old, she had a harness and a leash and the duo headed out for their first hiking adventure.

Floki took to the adventure life and the two are looking forward to many more adventures to come. Even though this feline is a bit on the lazy side and my brother Oliver prefers to take his outside adventures in the cat stroller, we think adventure cats are cool cats!

Walk Through The Web Wednesday 1/20

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siamese cat on a leash walking through a garden

Hello There Furiends,
I hope you have been enjoying yourself this week. This week, Lily and I made some progress in our relationship. Oliver and I are trying not to chase her off the bed and all around the house. While Lily and were waiting for breakfast to be served, we discussed the state of our relationship.

So Lily, what do you think we try to be better furiends? I know you miss your cuddle buddy Tucker.
So Al, were you serious about that furiendship thing or are you going to chase me off the bed?
Wow, who would have believed it, a cuddle!!

The Human hasn’t caught us in another cuddle but she’s hopeful. Lily and Oliver are still mulling the situation over.

Well, that cuddle was nice. Maybe it will happen again.
I’m not ready to make any promises. Lily and Alberto can sing kumbaya all they want.

Well, here’s hoping Oliver will get on board the furiendship train. And here are our feline news items for the week.

Gee, I wonder if I’m an outgoing Oliver

What kind of personality does your cat have?

Professor Peter Neville has worked alongside specialists at eco-cat litter company Natusan to identify five unique personality types that can help cat caretakers tailor their approach to their pet.

Working with date from 3,700 cat parents, experts have found five common personalities in cats and labeled them Nervous Nala, Outgoing Oliver, Bossy Bella, Spontaneous Simba and Agreeable Alfie.  

They found that even in the same household, and from the same litter, we felines can be very different in our behaviors and preferences.

The professor says that, “Like humans, the more we appreciate what makes them tick, the more we can fine tune our interactions, and create environments that encourage them to thrive by accommodating their social and emotional needs.

Outgoing Olivers are usually more vocal and extroverted

Nervous Nalas have delicate dispositions and are often more highly strung than other cats. They can be shy around other cats.

Bossy Bellas are very assertive and often the top cats in multi cat households.

Spontaneous Simbas are the most impulsive and have a lot of energy (the kind of felines that love midnight zoomies).

Agreeable Alfies are the epitome of a cool cat. They are calm and sociable often as a result of proper socialization as kittens.

I don’t know what you think about all this my furiends. As for me, I’m not so sure all felines fit into one category.

Cats can drift too!

Our Human has relatives who like different forms of car racing and introduced her into the car sport of “drifting” which is a driving technique where the driver intentionally oversteers, loses traction but still maintains control of the vehicle. Imagine my surprise when I found out that cats can drift too.

Gee, I wonder, am I considered a second class citizen?

Are felines sometimes treated as second class? Some cat owners say yes

Pet Product News recently noted that dog owners do seem to get all the attention, especially when it comes to marketing and production for pet food, pet products and pet services according to a new survey.

In Packaged Facts’ Survey of Pet Owners, cat owners were asked whether they perceive that cats are “sometimes treated as second class” compared to dogs by various types of players in the pet industry. Across the board to varying degrees, the answer was “yes,” including for general merchandise stores that sell pet products (with 51 percent of cat owners agreeing strongly or somewhat that cats sometimes get second-class treatment), companies that make pet food/treats (45 percent), companies that make non-food products (45 percent), pet specialty stores (44 percent) and veterinarians (41 percent).

The good news my feline furiends, is that this does seem to be changing.  Last year, many of the new products introduced at Global Pet Expo 2020 were cat-focused, including New Product Showcase winners Moody Pet’s Fling-Ama-String and Four Paws’ Kitty Kat Circus, and during 2020 Petco unleashed a slew of promotional emails with feline-focused headlines including ‘You had me at Meow,’ ‘Kitty 101’ and ‘Kitty’s first shopping list .

These marketing folks are finally getting the idea that cats rock and cat parents like to lavish us with all sorts of goodies.

8 Hypoallergenic Cats for People with Allergies


This feline was dismayed to learn that more people are allergic to cats than any other animal. About one in five people in the world have allergy symptons such as sneezing, itchy eyes, coughing, wheezing and even the hives if exposed to cats. What a bummer!

But don’t lose hope my allergic feline loving furiends! Studies have found that it is’t t he amount of fur a cat has and that some of the most “hypoallergenic “ cats have very full, long coats.

Allergic reactions to felines come from reactions to a protein called Fel d 1, which is a protein that is present in our skin, saliva, and urine. When we lick our fur, this Fel d 1 dries into tiny particles that are carried through the air and then land on the hair, clothing, furniture and other stuff belonging to humans. These particles can hang around for months!  

So, the bad news is that there are no felines that are 100% hypoallergenic but some of us produce much less of Fel d 1.

Scientists say that normally,  female cats produce less of the protein than male cats, and neutered males produce less than those who haven’t been fixed. And now, you don’t have to adopt a hairless cat to stay away from allergens (although there is nothing wrong with my hairless feline furiends). You can also look into the breeds shown below. I would love to see everyone who hasn’t given a cat a furever home because of allergies be able to be a kitty parent!


Moscow’s renegade cat activists bending the law to save felines from the frozen winter

A Russian man named Ramil is a volunteer who works to help free cats trapped in basements of Soviet-era buildings, places that are often the only shelter stray cats can find. He is the hero of many Russians and of felines as well!

Russians are cat lovers, a 2016 poll indicated that 57% of Russian households had at least one cat.

The stray cat problem is only recently being addressed in Russia. Those poor kitties need shelter badly as temperatures normally stay below zero most of the winter. Boy am I glad I’m a pampered indoor kitty!

Moscow’s parliament passed a decree this fall that all apartment buildings provide access to basement vents for “small pets”.  Ramil and his cat loving furiends are expanding their cat saving work to the suburbs (areas which are not under the same decree).

The Russians don’t take to animal cruelty. One political hopeful was photographed allegedly kicking a cat and his political career ended immediately. Businesses in Russia catering to cats and their humans are thriving, even cat cafes.

We say two paws up for the cat loving Russians who are working to help the street kitties of Moscow and other areas.

Walk Through The Web Wednesday 10/7

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siamese cat on a leash walking through a garden

Hello Furiends,
I hope you are having as beautiful a fall season as we are in our neck of the woods. The sun is lovely and The Tribe is enjoying finding all our favorite sunning spots. My favorite is in the bed next to The Human’s desk but often Oliver decides he wants to horn in on my space. Noted below is his sneaky way of stealing my sunny spot. He squeezes in next to me and then begins a campaign of licking me until I get so annoyed I give him the bed. He’s really annoying.

Lily, on the other hand purrfers to find a sunny spot by herself.

The other bit of news is that Oliver is considering changing his look (he’s decided that just being a black and white feline is boring). He presents his new “looks” for your consideration. What do you think?

Enough about Oliver’s identity crisis, it’s time to check out this week’s feline headlines.

Pawprint of Britain shows where most cat lovers live

We know our furiends across the pond love us moggies. And now, whether you live in the UK and want to locate to a cat friendly community or you want to visit in a cat friendly area there is now a cat friendly map of Britain.

The historic naval city of Plymouth beat the seaside town of Brighton to win the title of ‘cat capital’ of Britain. Research discovered that two thirds (66.1 per cent) of people who live in Plymouth are feline aficionados.  Plymouth shares top spot with the cities of Brighton (a close second), Nottingham (third)  and Sheffield (fourth). Southampton, also a seaport was number five.

The list of top 15 UK cities where felines rule is, : 1. Plymouth – 66.1 per cent; 2. Brighton – 66 per cent; 3. Nottingham – 63 per cent; 4. Sheffield – 61 per cent; 5. Southampton – 59 per cent; 6. London – 58 per cent; 7. Norwich – 58 per cent; 8. Manchester – 57 per cent; 9. Bristol – 55 per cent; 10. Birmingham – 55 per cent; 11. Liverpool – 53 per cent; 12. Edinburgh – 53 per cent; 13. Glasgow – 51 per cent; 14. Leeds – 49 per cent; 15. Newcastle – 49 per cent.

Why Do So Many Heavy Metal Fans Love Cats? ROB HALFORD Weighs In

I’d be a lyin’ feline if I said this question hasn’t occurred to me.  There is a whole Pinterest page devoted to heavy metal musicians and their felines.

Judas Priest singer, Rob Halford explained why he likes to blow up social media with pictures of him attired in cat themed t-shirts.  He said, “I think I have about a hundred cat t-shirts now. I used to have a beautiful kitty cat called Ben, who lived a long life.”

Asked his opinion as to why so many heavy metal guys love felines he said,  “They’re beautiful creatures. I think the reason why we like ’em in our metal community is because they’re fiercely independent. You think you know your cat, [but] the cat knows you better than you do. And they’re so full of character and knocking things off the shelf and looking at you as if to say, ‘Look what I can do.’ But I love ’em for that. They’re beautiful creatures,”.

This feline likes the idea of heavy metal cats and says, rock on!   

Purrfect Delivery

If you think your mail carrier has an attitude then you need to meet Eric and Ollie who are deliverers with catitude!

Like the Instagram stars they are, these two Persians wear their uniforms with pride. We asked our Human how she would feel about a feline delivery purrson and she said she thought that would be cool but she’s not so sure she’d feel comfortable that our Chewy order would make it to our house intact.

What do felines and Tesla have in common?

Kettleman City Supercharger is a popular charging spot for Tesla owners … and cats. Fox26 has reported that there are around 60 kitties that live at the Supercharger

Now folks are looking to raise money ($3600.00) to care for these cats and they’re doing it through GoFundMe so the King County Animal Service can for the kittens.  This money will provide care and help prepare the kittens for adoption (.

FURNITURE MEETS CAT LOVERS FOR MODERN DESIGNS THAT HELP YOU PERFECT YOUR WORK-PET BALANCE!

I’ve featured some great human/cat furniture but this desk is my all-time fave! The designer of this desk says that a home should be designed for all it’s inhabitants.  I know our Human would love a desk like this and we bet she’d get her work done much faster!

There’s a lot of pawsome furniture for cats and their humans to share and for cats to use exclusively in this article (some I’ve reported on before).

Walk Through The Web Wednesday 9/16

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siamese cat on a leash walking through a garden

Hello there furiends,

I hope you are doing well. Because of the fires and the terrible smoke, walks in the cat stroller have been momentarily stopped and the windows in our house remain firmly closed. We had a nasty wind storm last week and then some fires in our neck of the woods. Many of our furiends were evacuated but we are happy to say, they have all returned to their homes now. This is a photo of one f the fires near us.

We are also having horrible air quality because of the fires in all the surrounding states. This photo might give you an idea of what it looks like – same view a few days apart.

Still, we are in much better shape than many of our Northwest and coastal furiends and we are purraying that you all remain safe. Since we can’t sit on the upstairs deck or take a stroller ride, we aren’t doing much of anything. I’m hanging out by the shower and demanding to be let in and Oliver is practicing relaxing, I think he’s got it down well, what do you think?

Stay safe dear furiends and I hope you enjoy this week’s feline news.

Secrets of famous felines revealed
Japan’s famous chill cat, Shironeko

Did you know that Grumpy Cat’s name was Tardar Sauce and that this little undersized kitten with abnormal features became an international sensation when her human began  posting pictures of her on social media? That little feline became so famous that her human was able to quit her waitressing job when the cat began raking in millions from modeling and purrsonal appearances. Sadly, Grumpy Cat crossed the Rainbow Bridge last year at the age of seven..

Lil Bub had an extreme form of feline dwarfism, that left her limbs and jaw much smaller than the rest of her body and this created that cute “tongue out of the mouth” look she was famous for. Her human, after finding that she would suffer from osteoporosis, began working with scientists to sequence her genome and help other kitties with the same condition.  Lil Bub did much to help other feilknes and was mourned when she crossed the Rainbow Bridge last year after suffering a severe bone infection.  

Ollie’s purrsonal favorite feline celebrity is Shironeko, one of the most mellow cats in the world. Shironeko has been delighting fans on social media since 2006 by balancing flowers, fruits, frogs, and other items on his head. Shironeko crossed the Rainbow Bridge this year at the age of seventeen and it is our Oliver’s goal to become just as famous for being lazy….errr…chill and relaxed.

Be sure and check out the article to learn about other famous felines such as Spartacus the Serval, Sir Stuffington and Smudge the Cat.

And Speaking of Spartacus the Serval……

Spartacus, the 18 kilogram (over 39 ½ pounds) African serval managed to escape from his house and spent a number of days in the wilds of New Hampshire.

He was “trapped” near his home and returned to his family in good health. Evidently the family dog spooked Spartacus and he did a runner.

Spartacus was adopted from a zoo four years ago, has all his papers in order and lives in the lap of luxury as an indoor kitty. We are very happy Spartacus is home!

Metro Vancouver moth outbreak ‘great fun’ for indoor cats
Watch the video on Twitter.

Canadian cats in Vancouver rejoice. The moth outbreak happening there is a boon for felines. Chasing these winged insects is bringing Canadian kitties all kinds of exercise and fun. So while our furiends up north are housebound due to the smokey conditions, a few good moth chases a day will chase away the blues and boredom as well. A note, veterinarians said that the moths the cats are chasing are not toxic or poisonous but the powder the moths carry on their wings may irritate their eyes or mouths.

Cat tires of waiting for the humans to make it to the finish line and finishes the race in the front

Turkey’s capital city Istanbul is known for its massive population of cats. These felines are so involved in the human activities that they can even make a surprise appearance at athletic events.

A recent video shared by the Turkish Athletics Federation shows a cat darting across the finish line at the Balkan U20 Men’s Athletics Championship on September 13. The athletes dodged the ferocious feline near the finish line. There was a winner of the race but it wasn’t the cat!

Adorable Japanese Cat Thinks She’s a Dog Just Like Her Shiba Inu Siblings

Kiki, the adorable American Shorthair cat lives peacefully with her three Shiba Inu siblings; Saki, Ibuki, and Hazuki.Kiki acts like she’s one of the canine gang and the photos of these furry family members are taking Instagram by storm,. Check out the photos for yourself and you’ll see what a great team Kiki is with the Shiba Inus in her family.

Walk Through The Web Wednesday 5/20

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siamese cat on a leash walking through a garden

Happy Wednesday Furiends!
FINALLY the weather is warming up and the garden is starting to green up. The Female Human decided that Oliver, Lily and I should be able to take a stroll in the garden and that’s what happened. All three of us got to take a stroll. But it didn’t quite end the way The Female Human (or we) expected,

“Human, when will all the flowers be out?”

This was me before a very loud metal machine came by our yard and completely freaked me out. I tried to get out of the halter, twisted myself into a furry version of a pretzel and hissed and spit. The Female Human swooped me up (to the detriment of the skin on her arms) and got me inside.

“Human, I do NOT wish to walk in the garden and I demand you open the door right meow!”

As Oliver is the most mellow one in the Tribe, The Female Human figured that she could take him outside without any drama. As you may have observed by the facial expression, placement of the ears and his insistence on staying by the door, this outside experience was not welcome. I had already gone back inside and told him of the terrors that awaited him so he was having none of it.

“Human, I’d have a much better time if you took this lumberjack straight jacket off me.”

Lily was next. As she had darted out the door twice during the “cats in the garden” exercise, The Female Human knew she was ready for an outdoor adventure. All was fine for a few minutes until Lily tried to do a Harry Houdini escape from the halter. Oliver and I watched the Kabuki theater from the window. The Human grabbed and grasped at Lily so she wouldn’t get away once she’d freed herself from the restrictions of the halter. Lily (also known as Princess Stabby Toes”) left her mark all over the Human’s arms. Lily was safely returned into the house. This also explains the lack of feline photos actually IN the garden MOL!

The Female human poured herself a glass of wine and went out to enjoy the tranquility of the front porch sans felines.

Enough about us, let’s get to this Wednesday’s web wonders.

Why the pet industry hopes Americans will start treating their cats more like dogs

Well evidently barkies have been getting the lion’s share of pet stores and manufactures attention because cat owners are cheap. Last year spending per dog was $1381.00 per pet and per cat was $908.00. Fortunately, the retail world is hoping to get cat owners to spend more money on us fabulous felines and there is some good news on the horizon.

:An AlixPartners analysis of APPA’s data found that expenditures on vitamins, treats, toys, and grooming aids are all seeing significant growth among cat owners. But you human cat folks have to open your wallets a little wider. At the moment feline expenditures account for only about 7% of the $7 billion spent annually on pet treats. Cat treat makers are looking to make that percentage rise.

Now, because The Female Human was too cheap to buy a subscription to Forbes, I didn’t get to finish reading this one but I did have her find some more information on the pet industry for those of you who are interested.

I can tell you that The Tribe is tired of The Female Human buying our halters and life jackets and such in the dog section. It’s time for manufacturers to step up and for our humans to starty spending!

A New York start-up that offers online vet visits for dogs and cats is suddenly thriving in the coronavirus lockdown


Bond Vet opened its first veterinary care facility in Brooklyn less than a year ago. Someday, it planned to ramp up a remote health offering to save pet owners time and money.

That schedule changed dramatically in March, after New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the state’s stay-at-home order in response to the rapidly spreading coronavirus. Bond Vet quickly set up a system using Google’s video technology to book 20-minute video consultations for $50, limiting clinic visits to emergencies and urgent care.

Bond vet says these video consultations are now increasing over 200% a month and that about half are resolved with the prescription of food or medicine.

Shane Kelly is the CEO of Destination Pet, a nationwide network of pet care services and he has a different take on video visits. He compares veterinarians to pediatricians, who rely heavily on in-person consultations.

“The patient can’t communicate, can’t speak, which puts certain limitations on primary care with telehealth,” said Kelly. Still, he says that the current pandemic is highlighting the importance of remote health and that “telehealth is definitely a growing part of the business all the way around.”

The Female Human says that if a video vet visit would be reasonable enough that more people would call the vet that would be a good thing. She also believes though, that having the vet be able to touch and observe us first-hand is the best health check-up and many times, the issues we’ve had have been diagnosed through blood work and scans. What do you all think about this?

Findlay Toyota offers ‘Certified Pre-Owned Cat Adoptions’ in partnership with SPCA

The Nevada shelter is not the first to use t ihs adoption idea. Several years a go a shelter in Canada used the same theme in t his hilarious video.

Ah, I love it when you humans get creative about finding felines forever homes.  The Nevada SPCA is hosting a virtual fee-waived cat adoption promotion beginning Monday, May 18 through Memorial Day, Monday, May 25. Community sponsor Findlay Toyota will be covering the adoption fees on all “certified pre-owned cats” adult cats aged 6 months and older, so that they may find loving new homes.

Potential adopters can visit the website at nevadaspca.org to view available cats. An email can be sent to info@nevadaspca.org with the name of the cat along with contact information.

All adult “certified pre-owned, fuel-efficient” cats 6 months and older will have their adoption fees waived during this time. All cats will come spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and microchipped. Once an adoption is finalized and a pick-up time appointment is scheduled, new adopters can come and pick up their new pet curbside.

This idea is working during the lockdown so maybe our local shelter wants to give it a try.

CHarmony cat dating program to help homeless felines

And here’s yet another clever idea to get kitties adopted during the lockdown. Carol’s Ferals, in Grand Rapid Michigan are using a dating model for their felines needing a home. Each cat has a purrsonality profile on “CHarmony” designed to bring cats together with a human that is their best match.

Since the humans can’t visit the cats yet they will “meet” them during a virtual adoption counseling session.

Bravo humans and keep up the creative work to help homeless kitties.

Traits All Cat Lovers Have In Common That Are Helping Us Through Isolation

Look at my brother Oliver and I, how could you not love having felines for company??

During these days when many of you humans are stuck in your homes you may feel lonely and what better companion to have with you but a cat? Still, I get it, you might be missing other humans as well so, until you can, once again, hang out with your human furiends take solace in the fact that there are many cat lovers out there who share much in common with you. Shona Hendley, who wrote about these 8 traits hits the nail on the head. I took her categories and “felined” them up with my own comments.

1. You love cats more than people : Of course you do,  cats are far more loyal, loving, wise, entertaining, respectful and caring than humans.

2. You’re attracted to other cat lovers: Our Female Human would love to spend time with a cat lover much more than someone who is indifferent to felines or who, (gasp) dislikes cats.

3. You’re obsessed with social media cats and cat videos: Well DUH, you’re reading a blog written by a cat aren’t you?

4. Your cat is not your pet. Your cat is your furry child: Of course we are. A true cal lover never allows the words, “It’s just a cat” to pass their lips!

5. You talk about your cat a lot: That depends on our definition of “a lot”.

6. You include your cat in most social media posts: Who wouldn’t want to feature their delightful, adorable feline companions in most (if not all) of their social media posts?

7. You love all things “cat”: If you ever meet The Female Human in purrson, you would know this is true, cat sweaters, purses, scarves, coffee mugs and the list goes on. Come to think of it, it’s time for a bit of a clean out at home.

8. You are smart! Of course you are, you love the superior species!

Walk Through The Web Wednesday 5/13

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siamese cat on a leash walking through a garden

Happy Wednesday Furiends,
Just when we were doing the happy dance and getting ready for The Female Human to get the catio out, our beautiful weather took a turn and now we’re back in the 40 degree area. Sigh. We did manage to get a shot of the view downstairs from the living room window when the sun was out. We’re keeping our paws crossed that catio weather and sun puddles will make their appeaance soon!

Our view from the back of the living room sofa. We love watching the robins taking a bath in our little waterfall.

In other breaking news, The Female Human actually caught Oliver and Lily snuggling! Mind you this only happened once but it sure made her happy. Lily misses her buddy Tucker so we’re hoping this wasn’t just a fluke.

Lily stealthily made her way over to Oliver when he was sleeping and a surreptitious snuggle was accomplished.

This stay at home thingy has definitely affected my waistline. The Female Human is working at that place she calls her “business” and therefore failing in her duty to mind my kibble consumption during the day (not to mention my plastic chewing). Sigh, I hope my life jacket still fits this summer!

Jasmine has this nice cat tree in her space, it’s clearly not made large enough for robust felines like myself.

Finally, we must take a moment to commend The Female Human. She is finally accomplishing something she’s wanted to do for years and just received her diploma (with “Distinction” she insisted I note) for her Feline Behavior and Psychology course. She’s always been a bit of a “know it all” when it comes to cats and now she’s really full of it…..cat behavior and psychology knowledge that is. She is now working on a course to become a Pet Bereavement Counselor.

Okay, enough about us, let’s take a look at what I found on my web wanderings.

How To Find A Cat in 10 (easy-ish) Steps

As I’ve noted before, The Female Human and her sister founded and operate a lost pet group in our community. She’s always meowing about the fact that people immediately think “stray” and not lost when they encounter an unfamiliar feline. This makes it hard for the folks who are desperate to find their lost feline. This article from Jack Hagerman from the Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA has some great tips to help you find your missing feline.

  1. Not all missing cats are lost or want to be found. Cats are notorious for hiding in impossible places. Before you assume kitty is missing, make a thorough search indoors, around the porch, garage and yards armed with a flashlight and the tastiest, smelliest treats.
  2. Don’t waste time. If you know your cat is missing, immediately post photos and a description of your cat, including the neighborhood you live in on NextDoor, Facebook and any other social media platform you use. The more neighbors and friends who are aware, the more eyes you’ll have looking out for your kitty.
  3. Think like your cat. If you were a cat, where would you go? Begin around your house and spread out to the immediate neighbors on all sides. Where does your cat normally head? What is the most likely escape route? What are her favorite bushes or hiding spots? Crouch low under porches, scan high on roof lines and tree branches. Could something have recently happened to spook them? Construction or a new neighbor’s cat or dog?
  4. While you’re searching, ask pedestrians, knock on neighbor’s doors and show a photo. Ask if you can check their garage, sheds, under the porch. This is no time to be shy.
  5. Leave a missing cat report with your vet, all the other local vets, shelters and rescue groups. If you live in one of our animal control service cities*, make sure to check out “lost and found” section of your shelter’s website regularly.
  6. When you return home, leave food and water outside your door. Fearful cats will often slink out after dark. Leaving a baby monitor near the food may detect faint meows. Also consider searching late at night when the rest of the world is asleep.
  7. Enlist family and friends to help post flyers and spread the word. Have push pins, tape and a staple gun, depending on the surface. The best posting spots include street intersection poles, local bulletin boards at grocery stores, library, laundromat and community center.
  8. If you’ve recently moved, extend your search to your old neighborhood.
  9. Persevere! Cats have returned weeks and months later. Keep networking, and asking neighbors if they’ve noticed anything. Keep your fliers or posters fresh with a “Still Missing” header.
  10. Remember, you seriously improve your chances of finding your lost cat if your cat is microchipped and is wearing identification on a collar around their neck.

Quarantine Cat Film Festival

Oliver’s film has been entered in the video competition

In order to help  movie theaters that have been shut down an independent  movie theater owner came up with a brilliant plan and created the Quarantine Cat Film Festival. This cat video festival will be live streamed on Friday, June 29, 2020. A portion of the monies raised from ticket sales will go to benefit local independent movie theaters. It’s expected that over 100 movie theaters will be involved.

We say “Paws Up” to Brian Mendelssohn, founder of Row House Cinema and his wife (who made the brilliant suggestion to have a cat film festival).

The Female Human sent in our very own film “Bring Me My Catpuccino” starring Oliver!

Cat Insists on Having A Conversation With a Non-Cat Person

The Feline Human has been heard to say often that “If there is a room full of cat lovers and one non-cat person in the group, the cat will make a beeline for the non-cat person.”  She’s got it right and this cat decides he wants to get up close and personal with this lady who is clearly not a cat fan.

Tiktok user John Gonzalez captured this momentous  moment on video.
The Tribe is a bit put off by the lady’s expression of horror.

Pizzeria Owner Gets 25 Dog and Cats Adopted

You know how much I love it when people come up with creative ideas to help animals find a furever home and this lady’s idea is pawsome!  Mary Alloy, owner of Just Pizza & Wing Co. in Amherst,NY came up with a purrfect way to help her local shelter, Niagara County SPCA.   

Since February she’s put over 5,000 flyers with adoptable pets on her pizza boxes and so far over 25 dogs and cats have been adopted. She also rewards the clients who adopt with a $50.00 gift certificate for her pizzeria.

A Cat’s Eye View of The Australian Outback

Kartika is not a regular cat. The four year old Bengal has quite a taste for adventure and satisfies it as she travels the outback with her human, Lou Meyers. Kartika has spent most of her life traveling across Australia. When she was a kitten she learned quickly that when the leash and harness came out, fun times were ahead.

Despite the fact that Bengals are known for having an affinity for water Kartika is no water lover which could be because there is little of it in the outback.

A Bengal cat is perfect for the adventure life because Bengals are very active, have strong personalities and like to explore (get into things). Bengals require lots of care and exercise.

Walk Through The Web Wednesday 4/8

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siamese cat on a leash walking through a garden

Hello My Furiends,
How is the forced incarceration with your humans going? We find it a bit weird and sometimes stressful. The Female Human often wants to sit in our designated spots on our furniture and, we can’t figure out why our treat times have not been increased now that she has a little more time at home. There are some new things on the itinerary too. Now, instead of going to this place called “church” our Sunday naps are interrupted for this “church” thing.

“I have no idea why The Human interrupted my Sunday nap to force me to watch this thing called “church” and to top it off, there were NO snacks involved.” – Oliver

In the spirit of lending a helping paw, Oliver has appointed himself the “Director of the Door” and ensures that there are no unauthorized comings or goings.

No one gets by Deputy Oliver.

Lily is taking things in stride. As long as she can nibble on her grass and snoopervise the neighborhood from the kitchen window, she is quite content.

“All you humans need to chill!” – Lily

The best advice we can give to all our furiends is make sure you spend time with those you love and let them know you love them.

Before I bring you this week’s feline focused news I wanted to say that I always seek to provide upbeat and pawsitive news items in this weekly feature. If I could have included only articles that had nothing to do with COVID-19, self-distancing, isolation or quarantine I would have but sadly, these are the topics everywhere in our world. But rest assured, this feline looked long and hard for positive, funny and/or uplifting articles. I hope you enjoy them.

Inter-Species Happiness Means Having a Cat Ramp

There are many reasons to have your csabinet maker install a kitty ramp in your house. It allows the felines to bypass the kitchen, allows the cats a place to hang out when non-feline loving guests are in the house.  And most important of all, when the house barkie is a little too rambunctious, the cats who live here can easily escape.

The ramp is constructed of 1 X 6 inch wood beans with side rails.  We think every kitty should have a ramp in their house!

These Pokeman Loving Cats Will Make Your Day

Clearly you humans have waaaaay too much time on your hands but, if you spend your time coming up with stuff like this to delight feline lovers around the world, then we’re okay with it.

There is a new place to while away some time called kitties dressed up as Pokemon to make us smile.

You will see how fans of Pokeman have dressed up their cats as their favorite pocket monsters.

Two Companies Join Forces to Design Mix and Match Furniture for Cats

Benjamin Hubert‘s design agency Layer has collaborated with American startup Cat Person on a collection of modular furniture for cats that can change as the animal grows. The line includes a modular feeding station called the Mesa Bowl and an adaptable 3-in-1 canopy bed.

Those of you humans who are a bit OCD about décor (our Female  Human is) will apurreciate the fabric and color options.  The folks behind these products said, “The collection is based on extensive research into cat and cat owner behaviours to find new insights that have driven innovative features,”

The Mesa Bowl is a modular feeding station with a round bowl made from durable non-BPA plastic and a sculptural stand, which sit on a semi-rigid plastic placemat to make the area easy to clean. This bowl is designed to avoid whisker fatigue which is what happens when cat’s whiskers continually brush up against the sides of their food or drink bowls. Kittens can use the bowl directly on the mat and then, when they grow up the bowl can be placed on the stand .

The Canopy Bed has three different configurations to fit a feline’s changing moods.  If kitty is feeling more reclusive, the cone-shaped fabric can be added or folded down to half it’s height to remove the over the head cover. It can also be taken off completely if kitty is feeling sociable. And get this, the bed is made from memory foam! Now that’s living.

Humans Are Creating Games And Sports To Play With Their Cats During Lockdown

A cat and his human play air hockey.

Continuing with the themer, “You humans have waaay to much time on your hands” I bring you some of the creative sport and game ideas people are playing with their felines. Our friends of the British purrsuasion are playing cat cricket with their moggies. You can also find directions for playing cat air hockey, cat dominoes and my favorite, cat bowling.  Bravo humans!

Cats Protection Educates Future Feline Parents During Lockdown

Paws up for the education experts at Cats Protection, the U.K.’s largest feline charity. They’ve come to the rescue of lockdown families with feline-themed resource packs including quizzes, worksheets, creative writing exercises and recipes.

The learning tools in the Moggy Modules cover the five welfare needs we felines have: a place to live, behaviour, the right diet, good healthcare and space. They are designed to educate and entertain the cat owners of the future.

And when the little humans have completed the courses, they can download and print a color certificate of completion. Meowza, I love this idea!

We’re So Excited!

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Yes, this is me, being excited. What’s your point?!
-Oliver

Hello Furiends,

Our Purrsonal Assistant received an email message from WildernessCat letting us know that they had featured us in their post, “The 33 Best Cat Blogs You Need To Check Out in 2020”. We were thrilled and wanted to purruse this blog that honored us. Meowza they are fantastic!

There are so many great articles about felines and feline care. Some of our favorites were the article on dealing with your cat’s anxiety (we’re dealing with Lily’s anxiety after the loss of Tucker), Boarding a Diabetic Cat (none of the Tribe is diabetic but with Jasmine’s health issues boarding or getting a pet-sitter is quite a conundrum), and their very informative article about CBD and cats.

Head on over to WildernessCat and check out their great cat articles.

Walk Through The Web Wednesday 2/19

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siamese cat on a leash walking through a garden

Hello Furiends,
We’re getting used to the “new normal” at our house since Angel Tucker crossed the Rainbow Bridge. As my brother Oliver and I are still young-ish felines we are easily bored and always looking for a bit of fun. Lately, our “fun” has consisted of chasing Lily down the stairs and then not letting her come pack up the stairs. The Human keeps telling us to stop being “hooligans” (whatever that means, I’m sure it’s complimentary because we are such good kitties). Lily has taken to sitting on the ledge by the stairs and watching our every move. The Human is spraying pheromone stuff all over the house but so far, it has not had the desired effects.

“Human, would you PLEASE tell Al and Ollie to stop bullying me?
“Frankly, I think Lily is being a bit over dramatic.” – Oliver
“Okay, I admit I have a twinge of guilt for ganging up on Lily.” – Alberto
” I could care less what you two knuckleheads get up to. I have my own domain in the back of the house, safe from hooligans!” – Jasmine

If any of our furiends have advice for The Human as to how to keep us from treating Lily like prey, she’d sure like to hear it!

Okay, enough about us, let’s get on the the feline gems I found this week.

Game-changing feline diet promises relief for people allergic to cats

Purina Pro Plan LiveClear will be sold in veterinary clinics, online and in pet specialty retail outlets in three formulas—Adult Chicken & Rice, Adult Salmon & Rice, and Adult Sensitive Skin & Stomach Turkey & Oat Meal.

I’ve reported on many methods attempting to stop or mitigate the cat allergies that many humans suffer from and now there is a product coming to market in April that purports to do this. Purina  Pro Pan LiveClear is formulated with a protein sourced from eggs that contain an anti Fel d1 antibody. Humans react to the protein Fel d1, produced by cats in their salivary glands. The protein is transferred to he cat’s hair and skin during grooming and it is eventually shed into the environment. It took more than ten years of research but the Purina Institute says this cat food, the first and only cat food capable of reducing the allergens in cat hair and dander is ready for the market.

Statistics show that about 20% of adult humans in the world are allergic to cats (meowza, that’s a lot!) but a study that was published last year in Immunity, Inflammation found that 47% fewer allergens were found in the hair and dander of cats eating Pro Plan LIveClear. These results manifested in the third week of feeding the cats the new product on a daily basis. The same study also found that active Fel d 1 production decreased in 97% of cats (with individual variability).

How does it work? As the cat eats the kibble coated with the special egg powder it neutralizes the Fel d 1.

Now our Human is very picky about what she feeds us and her first question was, “Is it safe for the cats?” Purina’s Director of veterinary technical communication, Jason Gagne said that the safety of the feline consumers was a key consideration. The goal was to neutralize the protein without impacting the physiology of the felines. The egg coating is perfectly healthy for cats to eat.

If you want to read more about the “sciency” details, be sure and read the article. We’re keeping our paws crossed that this will work and that more kitties will find furever homes because their humans no longer have to worry about sneezing, itching and other allergic reactions.

A Vietnam vet and a support cat formed an ‘amazing’ friendship

“We just hit it off, and we’ve been together ever since,” – Gary and Rascal

Our Human knows many people who take their felines to places to share them with others. Lots of folks at the Green Acres retirement home look forward to the bi-monthly visits from the non-profit organization, Country Cat Lady. As a rule there are about 12 residents ready to meet the dozen cats who come to visit.  The organization has been in existence a little less than two years after the founder realized what a help her cats were with her special needs son.

The Country Cat Lady’s cats are trained to be support animals through exposure to people. After they graduate from their training, they are adopted out as support animals. Even if some of the cats don’t make the cut, they are adopted out to loving, furever homes.

The top tier cats live with the Country Cat Lady and they are the ones who travel to places like Green Acres.  This is how Gary DeLude met a black cat named Trailblazer (although Gary refers to him as Rascal).DeLude says he can walk into the room, depressed about something and sitting down with Rascal makes him “feel better all over”. The Country Cat Lady has promised Gary that his buddy Rascal will stay with her so he can continue to come and visit.

The Country Cat Lady is now seeking partnerships, donations and support so she can continue and even expand her work.

What a pawsome job the Country Cat Lady has and she is helping so many people.. I hope you have something like this in your community and, if you don’t, find a human to start one!

Naughty cat disrupts live orchestra concert and steals the show

Oh my whiskers, this is hilarious. We’ve seen cats racing across sports fields, hanging out in stores and other places but this has to be my favorite “cat bomb”. The feline loving musicians try to welcome the music loving kitty but clearly this cat is having none of it. He was there for the music and not to make new friends!

Cats in Japan can now get digital resident cards in Kanagawa Prefecture

At first I had my whiskers in a twist and was quite outraged that a government would require felines to register. Then I read the article and realized this is an optional thing and might even help the humans of felines in the area.

Kanagawa Prefecture, Tokyo’s neighbor to the south, is home to 9.2 million people, just about all of whom have a form of ID. It may be a driver’s license, a student ID, or a resident card, but there’s some sort of document that says “This is who I am.” Now the felines who decide to have an ID can have one too through a partnership between the Kanagawa Prefectural government and pet-related media company PECO.

You can have the basic information on your card as well as your birth date, name of your human family members, special tricks or abilities you want the world to know about and even your motto. (Mine would be “I’m always feline fine”).

There are cards for doggos too but since this is a cat only blog I don’t feel the need to expound any further.  Oh, and the cards are free!

Osaka cat lovers warm their feet, hearts at footbath featuring feline friends

Visitors enjoy a footbath while playing with cats at the Neko Yokujo cat bath house in Osaka’s Chuo Ward. (Mainichi/Ryoichi Mochizuki)

My last feature also comes from Japan. We’ve seen cat cafes, cat hostels, condos designed for cats ad their humans, cat ID cards and other fantastic feline stuff and this is yet another creative way the folks in Osaka are finding a new way to hang out with cats.

Neko Yokujo, “cat bath house” in Japanese, is operated by Gifu-based firm Neco Republic, which manages cat cafes across the country. The 15 felines at Neko Yokujo are rescues and all are available for adoption.  And there is a hostel where guests can stay with cats, Neko Yokujo attached to the cat bath house. Meowza, I say it’s time for the good old US of A to catch up with all the fantastic feline venues in Japan!

Walk Through The Web Wednesday 2/12

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siamese cat on a leash walking through a garden

Hello Furiends,
I didn’t want to miss my regular Wednesday feature although things have been a bit sad at our house because of the loss of Tucker. The Female Human still gets leaky eyes when people talk about him but she is getting better and she’s thankful for all the kind words you furiends have been sending her. She is in the process of responding now.

The Female Human is spending extra time with us and giving us love. LIly is the one that misses Tucker the most as he was her cuddle buddy (and Oliver and I would never mess with her when the big guy was with her). They had a great bond and Lily is very sad now. This is the way you would always see them together.

Cuddle Buddies


It’s time to get to the feline news for this week. Stay safe and healthy my furiends and always make time to cuddle.

A True British Mystery – Where are the Black Cats Coming From?

A Kent Online office has been targeted by a mysterious artist who has been placing cat stickers across the county. The new tag appeared on a door of the Kentish Express in Ashford – just hours after an article was published about the feline phenomenon.

Black cats have popped up across the county, often on entrance signs to villages and towns – including Sittingbourne and Fordwich. They are also used to mark hospitals like the Kent and Canterbury and businesses such as Ramsgate’s Royal Victoria Pavilion Wetherspoons.

The miniature moggies have been spotted as far away as Rye and Bexley.

Ashford and its surrounding areas are becoming a hotbed for the unknown artist’s activity, with one at the William Harvey Hospital, one near Wye and another on the Orbital Park industrial estate.

Many believe this is the work of Whitstable street artist Catman, but he has denied any involvement.

Meow to the mystery artist!

Cross Eyed Cat Earns Money For Charity

Belarus has chronically crossed eyes as the result of a condition called strabismus, which causes his eyers to point in different directions.

Belarus might look confused, but it’s only his eye condition. He has been hard at work earning thousands of dollars for other rescue cats just like him. Those eyes were the main reason his human, Rachel Krallk, fell in love with him the first time she saw him on her local shelter’s Facebook page. She went to the shelter that day and adopted him.

Krakk began selling shirts and hoodies featuring Belarus’ unique face. She donates 100% of the proceeds to animal rescues and has donated to date, several thousand dollars.  Be sure and visit Belarus’ online Bonfire store if you want to support shelters. Our Female Human thinks that we should be doing  the same thing with the items in our store.

If you want to purchase some Belarus merchandise of your own, be sure and visit his online Bonfire store.

American Cat Owners Devote 20 Hours Per Week to be With Their Beloved Felines.

As yu can tyell by Oliver’s face, cuddle time is greatly appurreciated at our house.

A  survey of 1,000 cat owners  conducted by Fresh Step Litter found that cat owners take seven photos of their feline daily. And 41% of cat owners have a framed photo of their feline. As to treating your cat as part of the family, 84% said, “You betcha’!” Some of you humans won’t buy a toy for your 2-legged kids without purchasing something for your four-legged kids. The study found that cat owners are not just partial to their own cats, they love everyone else’s felines too.

Most of those surveyed brought their feline home through adoption.-22% adopted from a county or state shelter, 16% adopted from a friend or relative and 13% adopted from a at specific rescue.

A whopping 60 % of respondents said their cats were loyal and 53% said they were well-behaved. Nearly half of the respondents said their cat often cuddles with them.  In addition to cuddling, over three quarters of owners talk to their cats and they said it was like therapy. Their cats helped them through difficult times and 66% said they would rather snuggle with their felines rather than spending time with friends. My question to you humans is this, have you spent your 20 hours with y9ur feline(s) this week?

Miss Rigby, the Seafaring Feline

Four-year old Miss Rigby has spent almost her whole life surrounded by water.

Five years ago husband and wife Shane and Maryvonne both in their 50s decided to leave their fast passed careers to sail around the world. After the humans were at sea for about a year, they met their furry shipmate. Mis Rigby (or Rigs) was given to them by a Connecticut breeder. Before they took of for foreign ports they trained Rigs and she now lives on and loves the 50 foot boat. She’s a natural sailor. The Burmese breed is very loving and loyal and trainable and Rigg’s sailing skills prove this. Her humans cannot imagine sailing anywhere without her. If you want to follow Rig’s ocean adventures, you can follow her on Instagram.

The Cat Flat Gives Cats a Home with 10 Things to Make Them Happy

A Swedish self-storage company has launched the Cat Flat, a cat  house with space for your cat to play, sleep and feel at home-all inside a very attractive cabinet that won’t ruin your décor. The company describes the Cat Flat as “The world’s first non-ugly cat furniture” . The Cat Flat was designed in response to the rise of small space living in Sweden. According to cat psychologist Susanne Hellman Holmstrom, author of the book, :” The Cat Could Decide” when cat’s can’t fulfill all of their needs it will result in a change in their behavior.  Cats need the opportunity to spy, hunt and have a place where they can hide.

Designed by Eleonor Moschevitz and built by Stockholms Möbelverkstad, the Cat Flat enables kitties to feel safe and secure inside their own enclosed environment and come and go as they please.

Cats can move freely throughout the three-level cabinet, which is made out of walnut veneer. The slats covering the doors of the cabinet function as an abstract interpretation of nature, while inside the cabinet is decorated with sisal mats and leather. The brushes are made of FSC-certified beech wood with boar bristles and the scrubs consist of ecological coconut.

The product will launch during Stockholm design week. The famous feline duo of Prime and Raven (who have 141k Instagram followers) were the first product testers.  The product is being presented at Stockholm Design week this week. At the time of this report, no price could be found for the Cat Flat.