Walk Through The Web Wednesday 7/11

siamese cat on a leash walking through a garden

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,
Siamese cat with blue eyes

Salty the Cat Lives on a Boat and Loves His Life – Insider

SaltyTheBoatCat

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

IrishCatContest.PNG

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

MeowMeetUp

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

HoveBus

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

GoogleStreetView

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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Walk Through The Web Wednesday 6/27

siamese cat on a leash walking through a garden

Hello There Furiends,
It’s that time again for me to sniff out some of the less publicized and more interesting feline related postings on the information highway. IO hope you enjoy this week’s finds.
Purrs & Head Bonks,
Siamese cat with blue eyes

Why Cats Make The Best Drinking Buddies, A Treatise – Vinepair
cats make good drinking buddies

Please understand that I am not promoting over imbibing for you humans. I am a cat of moderation and think you humans should be the same. I do have to say this article is clever, even if it does take some digs at us felines. But I say, if you can’t laugh at yourself, you’re going to be pretty miserable. After the author says that “cats are grumpy, they really only care about themselves, and boy, do they judge you. ” He redeems himself with, ” Once they’re on your side, however, they’re loyal. Feline camaraderie feels infinitely more meaningful than its barking equivalent.”

Cats love computers at Lakeland SPCA – Fox 13

CatsComputers

I love stories about the creativity of humans when it comes to shelter kitties. This was a new one and it’s great. The good folks at the SPCA of Florida discovered that a warm laptop and the glow of the screen captivates felines. They decided they’d play kitten friendly videos on laptops and the results were purrfect.

The kittens watch videos like “Barnyard Buffet” where mice run through pieces of cheese, birds flutter by and bugs are all over the screen. The kittens are reacting with the videos and their environment is enriched greatly.  Human experts say that the visual stimulation is good for the cats and that they love the computers because they are a nice place to snuggle and warm up.  When Oliver and I were kittens, we had an iPad mini to play with and we loved the Friskies app Jitterbug Maybe you humans should start donating your old laptops to your local shelter.

Cats on Catnip-The Amazing Photos of Andrew Martilla – Insider

andrew Martilla cats on catnip photos

Photographer Andrew Marttila is a photographer famous for capturing the awesomeness of us felines. His latest project is  “Cats on Catnip,” which allows you humans in to the realm of feline nip addiction. Now I realize I said earlier that I am a feline of moderation but I forgot to mention that does not include catnip! Each member of The Tribe of Five has a different reaction to nip but we all agree, Tucker can be a mean drunk!

Does Having A Cat Reduce Stress? Science Says A Feline Friend Can Definitely Help You Chill – Elite Daily

cats reduce stress in humans

You humans keep on debating this issue and I decided I’d put this issue to rest because science has proved it!  For instance, a 2009 study published in the Journal of Vascular and Interventional Neurology found that having a cat can — get this — reduce your risk of having a stroke or heart attack by a third.  Professor Adnan Qureshi, a researcher from the University of Minnesota who led the study, told The Telegraph that even he and his team were amazed by the numbers in their findings. He also said that he believes that “stroking the pet could cut the level of stress-related hormones in the blood.”
So can we put this ridiculous argument to rest finally? Cats are good for your health humans. My Humans think insurance companies should offer a discount for those who live with felines.

Only a Few More Days to Celebrate June as Adopt A Cat Month

June is adopt a cat month

I’m sharing this ad from our local Panhandle Animal Shelter.  All of The Tribe of Five were adopted and Oliver, Lily and I came from Panhandle Animal shelter. Please consider giving a feline a furever home this month. If you’re in doubt, just ask our Humans. They love their furry family! I’m sharing pics from our feline family album. Now go adopt a cat!

June is adopt a cat month, black and white and siamese kitteen

 

 

 

 

 

 

Walk Through The Web Wednesday 6/20

siamese cat on a leash walking through a garden

Well hello there my furiends! It’s Wednesday again and time for me to bring you the internet gems I’ve discovered.  I hope you enjoy this week’s web wanderings.
Purrs & Head Bonks,
Siamese cat with blue eyes

Feral cats put to work at Newport News Shipbuilding – 13 NewsNow

Newport News shipbuilding helps feral cats

Those of you who follow my Wednesday posts know that I’m a sucker for a working cat story. This is one with a bit of a twist. Instead of a shelter looking to find “jobs” for their felines, a company has taken the feral cat issue into their own paws.

There are hundreds of cats there but all are treated with love and care. This is a win-win situation for humans and felines. The cats are well fed, taken to the vet when needed and the shipyard has no rat problem.

The shipyard has one person who oversees all the cats and they also use the Trap Neuter Release (TNR) method as a human way to control the population. In the event kittens do make an appearance, they have fosters on standby who prepare the kittens for adoption. The shipyard has their own adoption program.

Paws Up award by FelineOpines.net for humans who do amazing things for catsNow if only more businesses would partner with feral cats and take care of them like the good humans in this shipyard it would be a wonderful thing. The Tribe of Five is so impressed with the work these humans we are giving them our “Paws Up” award.

 

 

Cats Owner is Away in Navy-and she has the most heartwarming reaction to his photo – Fox8.com

cat looks at photo of her owner who is away in the navy

So many times when our Humans come home from a trip, the first thing they ask is, “Did you miss us?” Well of course we did but we felines often get a bad wrap regarding our emotional attachment to our humans.

Well our furiend Yuuki has provided video evidence of the human/feline bond. She often meows and stares at the photo of Max, who left seven months ago for the navy.  Yuuki has lived with the family for about a year and is named after Max’s favorite musician.

Yuuki will be one happy cat as Max’s mom has a one day visit with her son and she’s taking Yuuki with her. Humans. never underestimate our love for you.

Russia’s ‘Psychic’ Cat Achilles Correctly Predicts the World Cup 2018 Opening Match Winner – HuffPost
Update

Russian cat Achilles correctly predicts Russia's world cup win

In last week’s Walk Through the Web Wednesday, I reported on the Russian cat Achilles was chosen to predict the winner of the World Cup matches. Well now he’s being called the “Psychic Achilles” because he predicted Russia would win…and they did!

And if you’re thinking this was a lucky one-off for Achilles, this isn’t his first rodeo. He  correctly predicted the outcomes of three out of four Confederations Cup matches played in St. Petersburg last year, including the opening and final matches, according to Tass.

Cat biographies for pet-sitter are truly riveting literature – Mashable

cat bios for pet sitters

Evidently the human who wrote this finds it amusing that her mother leaves a bio for the pet sitter. I was a bit incensed at the frivolity with which this writer approached the issue of cat bios for the cat sitter. IMHO this should be something every human does for their felines. Our Humans have a 7-page booklet for our cat sitter (it’s updated regularly and it includes photos).  I have included the first section of our cat sitter bio. cat sitter bio

 

Used hoods become winter homes for shivering stray cats – DESIGNBOOM

used hoods keep feral cats warm in the winter

This is another “Bravo Humans” report. Stray cats of south Korea have received little attention or support and the number of homeless felines continues to rise to unprecedented proportions. This sad situation prompted a national petshop chain ‘Molly’s Petshop’ to design a collaboration to bring an affordable, eco-friendly solution to cats in need in the winter.

Hood Houses for stray Korean catsLocal Good Will and other thrift stores collected hoods and other padded clothing and these items were then turned into amazing cozy homes complete with roofs, beds, bowls for water and food and finally, a weather proof, tent shaped cover.  Molly Customers received these Hood Homes and they distributed them in their local feral colonies.

Molly’s pet shop/e-mart saw a 1,254% increase in sales for stray cat food  awareness of the plight of strays was raised to over one million people in just two weeks time, and most importantly,  over 2,000 stray cats were provided with a warm shelter, food and water, during the middle of December, in Seoul.

So Humans who’s going to take on this project in your area?  We had to give the good people of Molly’s Pet Shop, their customers and all those who helped collect items and design these warm feline lodgings a Paws Up Award!

Paws Up award by FelineOpines.net for humans who do amazing things for cats

 

 

 

 

Walk Through The Web Wednesday 6/12

siamese cat on a leash walking through a garden

Hello Furiends,
It’s that time again when I purruse the web to find those little gems that I think you’ll like. I hope you enjoy!
Purrs & Head Bonks,
Siamese cat with blue eyes

Sharp to launch smart toilet for cats that can identify health problems – Japan Times

CatToilet

Ok, I have to admit at first I was a bit unsettled by the word “toilet” but I guess it must be a translation thing because this looks like a litter box to me. What is amazing about this litter box is several things. First, it is being sold exclusively in Japan (for the equivalent of $226.00). Why is this kitty potty so expensive you might ask. Well, it tracks the cat’s weight, urine volume, frequency and length of time spent in the litter box and analyzes the data.  And just when I was getting ready to say, “Gee, that’s great if you only have one cat” when I read that there is a sensor that can be added for each cat.

If there are issues. the humans will be alerted via an app on their smart phones.  Now our Humans would love one of these because whenever there is a health issue that includes litter box assessment, it isn’t easy when you have five felines in the house. What would your humans think about this?

New VR Demo Let’s You Explore Cat’s Innards – Futurism

VR explores inside of cats

Did you know that they are using virtual reality to train human doctors? Well, it stands to reason they’d soon try the same thing with cats.  There is also an entertainment feature that allows you to “rebuild” the virtual reality feline. Anyway, if you’re medically inclined, this might be a way to learn more about how your feline’s body operates.

WorldCup

Now I’ll be the first to tell you that I agree we felines are uber perceptive. But predicting the winner of the World Cup? I’m not sure about that.  But that’s just what they’re saying about Achilles, a resident cat of the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg.

His method of picking the winner will consist of his choice between two bowls of food that are decorated with the flag of the competing nation.  Now this isn’t Achilles first rodeo, oh no. Last year, during the FIFA confederations cup, he correctly guessed three out of four major matches.

 

Role of Cats in Ancient Egypt is Focus of Carlos Museum Show – AJC

Divine Felines Cats of Ancient Egypt Michael C. Carlos Museum

We know how the Egyptians revered us felines (smart folks!) and now all you Atlanta felines can tell your human to go to the  “Divine Felines: Cats of Ancient Egypt” at the Michael C. Carlos Museum to educate themselves.  The exhibit says that the Egyptians saw cats as exhibiting godlike traits (again I say, smart humans!)

is a fascinating glimpse at just how crazy Egyptians were for the cats they mummified, commemorated in jewelry and furniture and saw as reflections of the divine on Earth; cats’ endurance, hunting skill and idiosyncratic personalities meant Egyptians saw them as reflecting certain godlike traits. They will see depictions of household felines and felines on a much grander scale. So tell them to get over there and, when they get home., to show you the respect and reverence you deserve!

35 Precious Photos Of Cats And Babies Just Because – HuffPost

photos of babies and cats

Well, it’s about time someone blew the lid off the old wives tale that says cats are dangerous around babies. In fact, it’s really quite the opposite (have you ever seen a baby or a toddler manhandle a cat? it’s not pretty). But these photos are only about love and sweetness and I guarantee you’ll enjoy them.

 

 

Walk Through The Web Wednesday 6/6

siamese cat on a leash walking through a garden

Hello Furiends,
Alberto here with my Wednesday web wanderings. This week  I found lots of things for you humans to spend your money on so get out your credit card and enjoy!
Purrs & Head Bonks,
Siamese cat with blue eyes

11 Expert Tips for Adopting a Cat – Mental Floss

Lily_Kitten

Lily at the shelter the day the female human met her.

The best thing about this article is the word “ADOPT”. The Tribe of Five were all adopted by the Male and Female Human. The second best thing about this article is #5..”consider multiple cats”. Our humans learned that long ago and they adopt in “2s”  now. You humans should try it!

So, There;s a Secret World for Cat Lovers on Amazon – House Beautiful

items for cat lovers on amazon

Well who’d a thunk it? There’s a secret list on Amazon of purrfect items for the human cat lover in  your life. The list is called “The Itty Bitty Kitty Committee” and there’s some great stuff there. And while we’re on the subject of fun merchandise for cat lovers, I need to mention that the Tribe of Five opened a store with FelineOpines merchandise. We’re just getting it going but we’ve got logo t-s and bags and mugs. Visit often to see what new items we add. Here’s a little sample of what we have.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Cat Hats Disney Style – Taxi

Disney hats for cats

If the truth be told, The Female Human has a pink Minnie Mouse ears hat (with her name embroidered on it) sitting on the top of the cabinet in her office. Now, as if it isn’t enough for humans to humiliate themselves, Disney Japan and cat hat maker Necos have collaborated to create these Disney cat hats. You can order a hat from your feline’s favorite Disney character, Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy or Chip & Dale. Just a note to our Male and Female Humans……DON’T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!

This Man Has Been Creating Cat Cartoons for Over 20 Years – Bored Panda

Scott Metzger cat cartoons

If I ever hear The Female Human laughing out loud, there’s a good chance she’s reading a Scott Metzger cartoon. This guy really gets felines! That’s probably because he lives with two rescue cats, Hannah and Max. If you visit Metzger Cartoons, you’ll see that he also does cartoons for barkies too but I believe the feline ones are much more funny!

KittyKorner on Kickstarter Cuts Door Corners for Cats – Reddit

kitty korner cat door

Neither of our humans are very handy and then add to that the Female Human’s obsession with home aesthetics which explains why there aren’t a lot of feline home adjustments built into our house. That’s why we’re giving KittyKorner two paws up because it’s a simple hinge system. So simple our humans could probably handle it.  It’s created for inside doors to allow felines to come and go as we desire while till keeping the kids and the barkies out of the room.

The product has been tested on robust felines so I think it would work okay for Tucker and Oliver. If you humans think this is something you need in your house, head on over to Kickstarter and help the KittyKorner reach it’s financing goals.

 

 

Walk Through The Web Wednesday 5/30

siamese cat on a leash walking through a garden

Hello Furiends,
Alberto here, walkin’ along the Internet highway searching for purrfect feline news items. I hope you enjoy.
Purrs & Head Bonks,
Siamese cat with blue eyes

Instant  Cat  Daddy – Bustle

Paris Zarcilla cat daddy

As if it’s not funny enough for someone to come home and find a cat in their house, this guy went upstairs to get a sweater and found a cat momma and her babies under his bed. So what did he do, you might ask? He tweeted about it and then accepted his new position in life as Cat Daddy. I made our Purrsonal Assistant read me all his tweets and they were pawsome! Do yourself a favor and fly on over to Twitter to congratulate the proud new Poppa!

America’s Got Talent….and Cats! Shortlist

cats on Americas Got Talent

So, this happened. Two humans brought their very talented felines on the show. You must have your human show you the video. The best part is the smug expressions of disbelief on the judges faces…until the fabulous felines start their act. The normal crotchety Simon Cowell said, “You know why that was so impressive? Because dogs want to please. Cats are like, ‘Make me.’ They had sort of like ‘cattitude.’ I think there’s a gap in the market for this. I thought with my dogs sometimes, it’s like I want to take them out and see a show and this is a show I can take them to.”

So if there are any feline furiends out there who are considering a career in show biz, now’s the time!

The Five Best Cities in The World for Cat Lovers to Visit – Matador Network

Siamese cat in St. Petersburg Russia

For all my human furiends who love to get their “cat fix” when they are traveling, these cities are for you. The strays and outdoor cats of Rome are well looked after, some folks even leave plates of pasta for them.

The Turkish people are huge cat lovers and they treat their felines very well. There is an actual cat village in Taiwan (I reported on this on my April 11 Web Walk). It started as a refuge and morphed into a complete remake of the town. And then there’s the cats of the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg Russia and that museum has one of the longest histories of caring for felines, since the 18th century no less.  And finally there’s Tokyo, and we all know how the Japanese folks love us cats! And there are even cat islands outside of the city.

 Cats Can Be Life Changing for People With Mental Illness – Metro UK

therapy cats

We felines are very good for our human’s well being and some of us are even trained to help with our human’s health.  The Tribe of Five has two special furiends named Deszi and Raena, at Deziz World, who are real service cats.
Deziz World
As their human explains on their website, “They have been Individually TRAINED to do work and perform tasks related to my disability. Examples of such work or tasks include alerting before a Syncope episode (passing out), Driving an electric wheelchair, Dialing 911 for emergency assistance, Calming me during a PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) anxiety attack, Massaging to alleviate debillitating migraines and warm muscles do to neuropathy/fibromyalgia among other duties. That being said, I love the girls more than life itself and aside from their duties as service animals I could not go on without their love and affection.”

So, if you don’t think felines can do valuable work….think again!

Britain’s Most Caring Cat? – itv.com

Britain's most caring cat

Those Brits really know how to treat felines. They even have a Britain’s ‘Most Caring Cat’ national charity competition. And if that isn’t enough, they have other categories like hero cat, Furrever Friends., Outstanding Rescue and more.  This guy named Arthur, is on the short list for the honor as he A helped his human live an independent life following a three-and-a-half year stay at a mental health unit. We felines add a lot to the lives of you humans so be sure and thank your cat today!

Walk Through The Web Wednesday 5/23

siamese cat on a leash walking through a garden

Hi There Furiends,
Alberto here. I’m walking again and took my actual first walk of the season with the Female Human. We had a discussion about my need for a slightly larger and comfortale halter, a guy grows in a year! But I digress.

Here are my Wednesday web wanderings, enjoy!
Purrs & Head Bonks,

Siamese cat with blue eyes

5 Destinations For The Obsessive Cat Lover In Your Life- awol.junkee.com

CatTravel

I’ve covered cat cafe’s and cat islands so this may be a bit of a red-do but it is a nice list for travelling feline lovers.  Now I want to find out about that museum for internet cats, how do I and the rest of The Tribe of Five get in there?

5 Tips for Training Your Cat That Actually Work – Bustle

training cats

What’s with the number 5 this week? But I digress. The Female Human has had cat training on the brain lately as she’s writing a mystery that includes a sniffer dog and two felines that help solve a crime. Purrsonally, the entire training thing bores me but I am a smart feline and know that if I learn certain things, I get great rewards so maybe I shouldn’t be too hasty!

The Million Cat Challenge Reaches Goal of Savings Cats One Year Early – USMagazine.com

million cat challenge

Did you humans know there was a million cat challenge? Did you know that more than 1,000 animal shelters in North America purrticipated?  Did you know the campaign began four years ago and as of December 31, 2017 all those shelters saved 1,148,129 cats?

There’s nothing better than saving feline lives and this group has accomplished that big time. Two paws up!

I Photograph Men With Their Cats And The Result Is Cuteness Overload! – Bored Panda

men and their cats

The Female Human always says that, “Real men love cats”. We know this to be true in our house because The Male Human is a cat lover. This photographer immortalizes the love of male humans and their cats and the photos are pawsitively wonderful!

8 Tips For Bonding With Your Cat The First Week You Get One – Bustle

tips for bonding with your new cat

Well, looks like we broke the “5 things” trend. I bet the million folks who adopted those felines from the previous article were wondering how to make their kitty feel at home in their new abode. These tips are very good and work well whether you’re bringing a kitten or an older kitty into your home and heart. We felines adapt well into new surroundings, all we ask is that you have a little patience and a little care as we get used to you and the new place.

 

 

 

 

Walk Through The Web Wednesday 5/16

siamese cat on a leash walking through a garden

Hello Folks,
It’s time for me to share my meanderings on the Internet Superhighway and my favorite feline news stories.

I hope you enjoy,
Siamese cat with blue eyes

Milwaukee’s First Cat Cafe Offers Wine and Felines – Journal Sentinel

Al_Wine

I am not in Milwaukee in this photo but I do enjoy the bouquet of a nice red. But I digress. I liked this new take on cat cafe’s. The owner of the cafe, Katy McHugh, says that she met a wonderful yellow tabby at an Amsterdam cat cafe. She enjoyed a good conversation with her human friend and the purring feline in her lap, so much that she didn’t want to leave.   That’s how  The Sip & Purr was created.

Now before anyone who does not imbibe gets their whiskers in a twist, the Sip & Purr will also serve coffee and snacks, so there’s something for every human. And best of all, the felines at the cafe will all be available for adoption. I hope all my Milwaukee friends will head on over to the Sip & Purr after it opens on June 1st and, if you do, please  opine about your experience in the comment section.

11 Cat Birthday Party Ideas That Will Honestly Beat Any Human Party There Is – Bustle

cat birthday pinatas

The Tribe of Five belongs to a lot of cat groups and every day we see feline birthday notifications, many of them photos of the kitty party.  If you are inclined to throw your cat a birthday bash, these tips are for you. The Female Human couldn’t pick a favorite, she loved the kitty cookies, the mini cat pinata and the crystal cat ears headband. You humans will have to decide for yourselves.

Sad Cat with Permanent Frown Named Luhu Finds Happiness (and Followers) on Instagram-PeoplePets

sad cat

Looks can be deceiving. This kitty named Luhu may look sad but he’s a happy kitty. He lives in Beijing, China with his human, Maggie Liu. He may look like he’s frowning but he’s a happy guy, loves to play and is full of purrs.  Luhu was born with  developmental defects which account for his sad appearance. His original human didn’t have the time to give him the care he needed so Maggie Liu adopted him. Luhu shares his home with two other felines.  His unusual expression has made him an Instagram sensation, so if you want to see more of Luhu, just go to his Instagram account.

Wacky Names for Dogs and Cats – Post Gazette

img_1787

The 2018 pet name winners are an orange and white cat named Pablo Purrcasso and a white pitbull named Isabella Miss Worldwide Boo Boo.  The article got me thinking, you humans come up with some strange name combinations. Take my name for instance, because I’m a lean, mean moving machine and The Male Human is quite the cycling  aficionado , I ended up with the name Alberto Contador. So as you purruse the names on this year’s list like Sir Reginald Fluffybutt or  Princess Consuela Bananahammock,just remember there’s a story behind every feline’s name.

Student’s Cuddle Kittens to Help Reduce Stress From Finals – 9news.com

student cuddling kitten

Sometimes we felines don’t get enough credit for the good things we do and sometimes, doing good things is just letting humans hold us. Case in point, check out the story of the students from Metropolitan State University who had the opportunity to spend some stress-reducing kitten time. The nice humans from The Feline Fix and Metro Denver C.A.T. teamed up to bring seven-week-old kittens to the school’s Biology Department to provide some relief during a notoriously stressful time. And, the kittens will all be eligible for adoption when they’re 12 weeks old. Good thinking humans, two paws up!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Walk Through the Web Wednesday 5/09

WebWednesday

Hello My Furiends,
Alberto here with my weekly web wanderings. I hope you enjoy this week’s stories.
Purrs & Head Bonks,
Siamese cat with blue eyes

 

Vintage Photos of Pampered Cats – National Geographic

Lily_Kitten

If you think cat photos are a new phenomenon, think again. We felines have been admired and photographed for many years. One well known photographer, Willard Culver spent months in the abodes of some of the countries most wealthy folks, staging photos of their fabulous felines. The photos were featured in the November 1938 issue of National Geographic. I must say, we felines haven’t lost our beauty over the years. No wonder you humans are so fascinated with us!

 

Why Do Cats Wag Their Tails? – Gizmodo

CatTailWag

Now, I don’t know if I would describe cats as “wagging their tails”, that’s more of a canine activity. I would prefer if the article would have been titled, “Why Do Cats Swish Their Tails Elegantly?”. But I digress.  I must give a two paws up to Gizmodo who sought out a number of cat specialists to answer this question. The short answer, our tails are our emotional barometers. If you want more specifics you definitely want to read the article.

 

7 Apps All Cat Owners Should Have – Bustle

CatApps

Our Male and Female Humans are real geeks and often that benefits The Tribe of Five. When Oliver and I were kittens we had our own iPad to play kitty games with. But there are more uses for technology than just playing. There are first aid apps for felines, 11Pets that remind humans when they need to give their felines in residence medication and other important cat reminders, a cat clicker training app and of course, fun apps for kitties to play with (if you humans have your faces in your phones, maybe the felines should get a little phone time too!)

Dogs and Cats and Decorating – The NY Times

CatDecorating

The Female Human is all about aesthetics (she even relegated our cat tree to the downstairs TV room) so she was thrilled when I showed her this article. I was less thrilled because of all the good advice and lovely photos there was no photo with a cat in it. So I had my purrsonal assistant do some further research and she found an excellent article from HGTV that was solely dedicated to felines (Purrfect Design Ideas Your Cat Will Love). This is also where the photo came from. So decorate away humans but remember, cat hair is a fashion assessory!

Seven Ways to TurnYour Partner Into A Cat Person – Bustle

getpartnertolikecats

This is a subject that The Female Human knows about! As soon as she and the Male Human got married she made sure he knew how much she wanted a cat. One day he finally looked at her and said, “Okay, we can get a cat but you have to clean the litter box!” She wrote all about this in her story, “All My Children Wear Fur Coats” in Chicken Soup for the Soul, My Very Good, Very Bad Cat.” (I was surprised that you could get this book at Chewy.com!

There are some good tips if you are looking for ways to convince the folks who share your home that a feline is a good idea such as showing them how to interact with felines (maybe take them to a cat cafe), teach them things cats like and do not like (and remember, cats are different. I love water, the other cats in the Tribe, not so much). So start studying and get that feline into your home (and remember, adopt, don’t shop!)

 

 

 

 

Walk Through the Web Wednesday 5/2

siamese cat on a leash walking through a garden

Hello Furiends,
Phew am I tired from that April A-Z blogging challenge. It was great fun though and The Tribe of Five will be purrticipating next year.

The snow around our house is finally gone and evidently mating season is over because so is that pesky woodpecker. The Humans will need to come up with a new solution before woodpecker dating season starts next year!

Here are my web wanderings for the week,
Purrs & Head Bonks
Siamese cat with blue eyes

7 Meyers-Briggs Types That Are Most Likely To Be Cat People-Bustle

MeyersBriggs

Now if you’re scratching your head and asking, “Who are Meyers-Briggs” you probably don’t live with a fiction writer.  The Female Human always runs her characters through these tests when she starts a book. After reading this article I must confess, I might suggest the Female Human find another personality test for her characters because Psychology Today says that the Meyers-Briggs types that are classic cat people tend to be overwhelmingly introverted. Meowza! These folks have never met the Female Human. There is absolutely nothing introverted about her! And I don’t care that Psychology today did two studies to confirm this. I hiss at their study and suggest that the folks who did these studies are not cat people! What do my feline and human friends think about this? Any extrovert, cat loving humans out there?

Now as to the traits that certain Meyers-Briggs like about cats, I have no argument with that. What traits do you like best about your feline friends?

Pizza Cat – Eat Meow – ToledoBlade.com

PizzaCat2

The title of this pizza place definitely got my attention. The Pizza  Cat (and their new establishment, The Pizza Kitten) give a shout out to feline lovers with their name and market branding and to that I say, a job well done. What do cat’s and pizzas have in PizzaCatcommon? Not that much, but the name (and evidently the pies according to the review in this article) attracts attention. Why not use a feline theme for your business? It’s a great idea. Two paws up to Pizza Cat and, if you’re in the Toledo area, stop by, order a pizza and say “meow”.

Troy Police Reveal Name of Station Cat – Detroit Free Press

PoliceCat

Those of you who wander the web with me on Wednesdays know how much I like a good working cat story. Well this story is all that and more.  These pawsome folks in blue vowed to adopt a shelter kitten for Adopt A Shelter Kitten Day.   The department pledged to get a police cat if they could hit 10,000 Twitter followers.  They reached that goal in only eight days!

They then “booked” a kitten for the role of police cat from five felines that the Michigan Humane Society brought in for auditions.  They chose their fellow pawfficer and then ran a Twitter contest to find a name. There were many entries but the winning name was Pawfficer  Badges.  This is the statement that was released; “We love the name. The cat will officially start her duties on May 11. She will be officially appointed to her position by Judge Hartig and Judge McGinnis of 52-4 District Court (our local court). We thank everyone that has supported this initiative, and look forward to getting the cat involved in many community outreach projects in the future.”

Con-catulations to the newest pawfficer with the Troy Police Department and two paws up to the great folks there for promoting feline adoption!

The friend yelled out for the kitty by her Chinese name and within 15 minutes the cat poked her head out and began yowling.  They lured the unhappy feline out with a snack and then duct taped and sealed her carrier so she couldn’t escape again.  Pepper aka Dai Meng, is now safe and happy with her human friend and waiting to be reunited with her owner.

Hugo, the New Zealand Shelter Thrift Shop  Worker – Waikato Times

Hugo

I had to send the Female Human (and purrsonal assistant) to do some research as the actual headline for this story is “Tokoroa op’-shop cat winning hearts.” I had no idea what an op’shop was and where in the world is Tokoroa? Well, “op shops” are thrift shops connected with New Zealand shelters and Tokoroa is  in New Zealand. Now that we’ve got that settled, let’s get on with the story.

This tabby takes his job seriously and loves on all humans, young and old, big and little alike. it just might be because he is so grateful as he was surrendered by his human to a veterinary clinic to be euthanized. The St Vincent de Paul, Vinnies Boutique, op-shop in Tokoroa took him in and it’s a win-win for Hugo and the shop.

Hugo splits his time on the job as a mouse catcher and a therapy cat for customers. The shop manager said they had just been discussing getting a cat when they heard about Hugo. He had a skin condition and when the owner learned about the cost of the steroid injections Hugo needed, they decided to euthanize him. The vet gave Hugo the treatment for free, Hugo was healed and rescue by the shelter boutique.

Hugo works at the shop on site cafe making people feel more at ease. “A lot of the people who come in here to take advantage of it are older people who have gone into rest homes and Hugo sits on their knees and cuddles them,” said the manager.

Everyone is invited to visit Hugo and if you go, don’t forget to drop a coin or two into the donation box to help with the cost of his food.