Oliver Celebrates Shark Awareness Day
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Category Archives: cats
Alberto Opines on the Tour de France
Hello Furiends,
Alberto here. I am feeling the need to opine about this thing you humans call the “Tour de France” because it’s kind of a big deal around our house, especially with the Male Human. He gets up , feeds the Tribe and manages to get to the place he calls “work” to watch the Tour by 5:00am. Now this early schedule is of no consequence to me as I’ve had my breakfast and morning head scratch and I know there will be more petting after my early morning nap when the Female Human finally appears from the bedroom.
You may be asking, “Why is the Male Human so crazy about this ‘Tour de France’ thingy”? I think it’s because he likes to hop on his metal machine with the two skinny wheels and torture himself frequently, like those Tour humans. I find this kind of exertion baffling and so does the Female Human. She has her own metal machine with not so skinny wheels and a basket in the front. She has floated the idea of putting one of us in the basket but her lack of coordination and tepid attitude toward her own machine has me less than enthusiastic about the prospect, especially since she has been known to run into parked cars and mailboxes.
My Connection
But I digress. I have some interest in the Tour de France because I am named after a famous Tour de France rider (now retired) named Alberto Contador. I am sure you can see the resemblance., he’s a lean mean biking machine and I am a lean, mean feline machine! I must say however, I am a bit dismayed by my namesake’s comment upon his retirement, he said, “I’ll gain weight and you’ll make jokes about it.” I want to say “Alberto, don’t let yourself go! Have you seen my brother Oliver?! ” I’m happy to report he’s kept his lean physique so far. If you want to learn more about Alberto (the human) you can watch this video on Youtube, The Best of Alberto Contador. If you want to know more about Alberto, the feline, just subscribe to our blog.
Alberto’s Fun Facts About The Tour
- Those pedaling humans use a lot of water, more than 42,000 water bottles will be used this year.(I wonder what size litter box they need for so much water drinking)
- The average cyclist will burn around 4,000-5,000 calories during each stage of the Tour (about 123,900 for the race). That translates into eating 252 McDonald’s double cheeseburgers. (Note to the Female Human, you may want to consider a little more peddling on your metal machine!)
- There are 3.5 million watching the Tour de France on television around the world. (I’ve watched a little of it on our big black box, it’s definitely not as fun as watching birds and squirrels on the upstairs balcony).
- The first winner of the Tour de France was Maurice Garin. He won in 1904 but was later disqualified for cheating after he was caught taking a train in the Alps. (This feline says “kudos” to him for his ingenuity!)
Still Not Sure…
Although I will respect the Male Human’s obsession with this Tour de France thingy I still don’t get it. From this feline’s point of view it’s far too much work for too little reward. I will say though that it’s pretty cool being named after a famous cyclist and much better than being named after say, the soccer player “Fat Ronaldo”!
Oliver Opines on Friendly Fill Ins # 113
Hello Folks,
Oliver here. I’m doing the fill ins this week, I hope you enjoy them! You can join the blog hop by visiting our friends 15 And Meowing or Four-Legged Furballs. If you just want to opine on our blog, you can always leave your fill ins in the comments of this post.
Purrs & Head Bonks,
This Week’s Fill Ins:
1. As a child, I feared ______________.
2. Friday the 13th _____________________.
3. I think _________ is my best quality.
4. You can’t go wrong with _________.
My Answers:
1. As a child, I feared starvation. I was the runt of the litter and felt like I never got enough to eat. (I realize that you’d never guess that to look at me now!)
Me as a kitten
Me today
2. Friday the 13th is a day to celebrate the beauty of black cats. This is Buster. He crossed the Rainbow Bridge before Alberto and I came to live with the Humans but I hear he was wonderful.
3. I think my luxurious fur coat and the heart over my eye are my best quality.
4. You can’t go wrong with a great profile shot in your portfolio.
Walk Through The Web Wednesday 7/11
Hi Furiends,
I’b back from my brief hiatus from Independence Day and cracking the whip over my purrsonal assistant. I hope you enjoy this week’s offerings from the world-wide web.
Purrs & Head Bonks,
Salty the Cat Lives on a Boat and Loves His Life – Insider
You all know how much I love stories about adventure cats (I aspire to be one myself) and I loved this story. Salty, a Turkish Van cat lives with his humans and a Springer Spaniel on their boat. He’s been living there since he was a kitten ever since his humans sold their home and purchased a 43-foot, twin masted yacht.
Since he was a kitten, Salty has lived aboard a boat with his owners, Bernadette and Andy. Originally from Devon, United Kingdom, the two sold their house in 2011 and purchased a 43-foot, twin-masted yacht. At the moment they are based in Scotland’s Western Isles but have moved along the UK when the wind and their desire takes them. You can follow Salty’s adventures on Instagram and on his blog.
Mackle Petfoods Searching for a Feline Star – Checkout
Now before you get excited, this is a star search for my furry friends across the Pond in Ireland. But if you’re an Irish moggie you’ve got a chance to be the King or Queen of cats and the face of Mackle’s Cat Club Brand.
The lucky feline will have their photo on thousands of popular brand packs and cans which will be sold in Ireland in 2019. A company spokespurrson said, ““In total, Ireland has more than 830,000 pet cats lounging about in homes so we are on a quest to find the cat that will be the face of the Cat Club brand in 2019.” We are confident that across Ireland there are so many people who own cats that could be the face of the brand, so this competition is, we hope, going to help us find the ‘purrfect’ one!”
Just click on the link in the heading of this article and you can find out how to enter.
The Amazing Meow Meet Up In Chicago – Cison PR Newswire
All I can say is Chicago humans know how to have a feline celebration! If you’re in the area make sure your humans attend. This is a 2-day celebration on July 21 & 22. There will be lots of feline loving humans, educational and fun activities. Steve Dale from Steve Dale’s Pet World will give the Saturday keynote titled “How Cats are the Rodney Dangerfield of Pets.” On Sunday, Becky Robinson, President and Founder of Alley Cat Allies, will present “How to #LoveCatsMore.” In addition, renowned veterinarians will be speaking on topics of interest to all cat owners, such as: the growing problem of cat obesity, how to deal with the loss of a pet, and debunking “kitty revenge” behavior.
Meow MeetUp also has fun activities and events to keep everyone entertained. Here are just a few:
- The Cat Adoption Lounge, sponsored by PetComfort by WeatherTech. Scores of cats from Almost Home Foundation will be showcased and available for adoption to a loving, forever home.
- The Kitty Yoga Studio, sponsored by Royal Canin, offers attendees the opportunity to relax and stretch with adoptable cats in a zen-like atmosphere.
- The Cat Café, presented by Nulo Pet Food, features a jungle-themed cat café where participants will unwind with a “catpuccino,” enjoy other cat-themed refreshments, and play with or just observe some of the adoptable cats that will be present.
- Lil BUB, (@iamlilbub), one of the Internet’s most popular cats with over 7 million followers will be available for Meet & Greets with 100% of the proceeds benefitting less fortunate pets. Also on hand for Meet & Greets will be local Instagram cat celebrities: Chuck the Duck, Eddie Meownster and Sinbad the Survivor.
- A Feline Film Festival, Pampurr Pawlor Beauty Bar, Meow Mixer After Party, Breakfast & Kitty Bingo, Clicker Training, an Exhibit Hall and so much more…
Calling all Chicago Cats, get your humans off the couch and to the Meow Meet Up!
Get Your Cat on the Hove Bus – Brighton & Hove News
Once again, our furiends across the Pond are honoring felines. The Brighton cat-bus has two spaces for just the right moggie photo. The cat-bus was designed to celebrate the life of the beloved and famous feline, Fiveways Wilf.
Sadly, fiveways Wilf crossed the Rainbow Bridge last October but his legend lives on with the cat-bus. So Brighton moggies. get your humans to get the camera out and make you famous.
Google Street View captures very confused cat hanging out in Rome – Mashable
You may have heard stories about all the wild and wacky things Google Street View captures but this is the best. Street View captured several felines in Rome. The site captured is a cat sanctuary at the Largo di Torre Argentina in Rome, so it’s no surprise that there would be cats there. However, the photo, which was taken by Roundel Arts Photography in April of 2017, is an up-close shot inside the sanctuary. And it’s clearly not what you’d typically expect from Google Maps. Sadly, the photo has already been updated to ta less entertaining, cat-less view.
Now I wonder if Google Street View could help folks who have lost their kitties. My Female Human and her sister operate a social media site that helps locate and get the world out about lost pets in our area. Wouldn’t it be pawsome if Google Street View could help locate lost pets? Google, I hop[e you’re listening!
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Feline Friday
This neighborhood watch thing isn’t easy!
Purrs & Head Bonks,
Tucker Opines on the Art of the Nap in Friday Fill Ins 112
Hello Furiends,
Tucker here. It’s Friday and you know what that means…. Friendly Fill-Ins. If you want to join in, please leave your link at the host’s sites, 15andmeowing or Four-Legged Furballs. If you prefer to opine in our comment section, we’d love to read them. You may detect a theme in this weeks answers.
Purrs & Head Bonks,
This Week’s Fill Ins
1. When it is hot, I _____________________.
2. I am looking forward to _______________________ this month.
3. The theme song of my life would be _________.
4. There is no such thing as _________.
My Answers:
1. When it is hot, I high tail it to the guest bedroom and place myself directly under the ceiling fan. (Lily often joins me there).
2. I am looking forward to hanging out on the front porch with the Female Human this month.
3. The theme song of my life would be “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” by the Tokens
4. There is no such thing as too many naps!
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Not Walkin’
Hello there furiends.
I’m taking this Wednesday off since it’s the Fourth of July and The Tribe of Five always enjoy an extra day with the Humans (and some serious cat napping).
Enjoy your day and stay safe!
Purrs & Head Bonks,
Alberto
Happy Independence Day!
In honor of Independence Day the Tribe decided to share a list of the 10 most independent cat breeds. Want to know why they are considered the most independent breeds? Read the article.
• British Shorthair.
• Ragdoll
• Persian.
• American Wirehair.
• Siamese.
• Manx.
• Norwegian Forest Cat.
• Somali
- Scottish Fold
- Russian Blue
Oliver Opines on Friendly Fill Ins Week 111
Hello Furiends,
Oliver here. I’m doing the fill ins this week and I hope you like my answers. You can join this blog hop by going to visit one of the hosts, our furiends 15andmeowing or the good folks at our-Legged Furballs. You’re always welcome to opine about your answers in the “opining” section (comments) of this blog post.
Have a wonderful Independence Day!
Purrs & Head Bonks,
The Fill In Questions:
1. Fireworks ______________________.
2. My favorite 4th of July picnic food is _____________________.
3. I begin every day with _________.
4. _________ is the best thing since sliced bread.
My Answers:
1. Fireworks are a tool of the devil. Neither I nor any of the Tribe of Five like them. I run and hide when I hear them.
2. My favorite 4th of July picnic food is anything with beef in it; hamburger, hot dogs, you name it, I love beef and I rarely get any people food but it doesn’t stop me from hanging around when the Male Human is cooking meat on the upstairs grill. Note that I am presenting my cutest begging pose while keeping a close eye on the Male Human while he cooks.
3. I begin every day with a little bonding time with the Humans. They always say good morning, feed us our soft food breakfast and give us attention before they leave for that place they call “work”. I have no idea what that place is and we felines do not have the word “work” in our vocabulary.
4. Celebrating our country’s birthday is the best thing since sliced bread.
I am quite a purratriotic feline and even ran for Purresident! You can read about it on our website. Will I run again in 2020? Only time will tell.
I am quite a purratriotic feline and even ran for Purresident! You can read about it on our website. Will I run again in 2020? Only time will tell.
Alberto Has His Whiskers in A Twist
Hello Furiends,
A few weeks ago The Female Human went to the Cat Writer’s Association conference and we graciously allowed the Male Human to accompany her. The deal was, they would bring home our prize if we won and she’d learn how to be a better assistant to the Tribe. Imagine my dismay when I found out that the trip wasn’t always work. I am beside myself. Tell me what you think about this betrayal.
Purrs & Head Bonks,
Alberto
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