Hello There Furiends, Things have been a bit complicated in our next of the woods this past week. The Female Human is preparing a post to fill you all in. In the meantime, here’s a photo of my brother Oliver feeling reflective and staring out the bedroom window.
“Furiends, don’t forget to hug your kitties today.” Oliver
Three year old cat Richard Parker had a foot injury and this kept him without much to do as he recuperated. It’s a good thing that Richard Parker has creative humans who decided to create a mini art museum for him to alleviate his boredom. The female in the human duo designed 11 paintings for Richard Parkers purrsonal gallery, all art was cat-related and inspired by famous paintings. The art installation was done across from the staircase, six feet from the floor. This project has created quite a sensation on Twitter with many contributing their very own cat art.
For those of our furiends who live in places with seagulls, you know how annoying they can be! We live in the Inland Northwest and have a huge lake and we also have seagulls! The Female Human once had one dive bomb her head and grab what she was eating out of her hand! Well this lockdown stuff must be driving the seagulls crazy because they haven’t had as many humans to annoy so now they’re picking on cats. It’s a good thing there is a window between these felines and those pushy birds!
The Tribe isn’t star struck very often but there are some famous felines we do love. Grumpy Cat was one of those and the loss of this icon was terrible. Imagine our delight when we found out that this feline, Kitzia, has become an Instagram sensation. She is a cat with many facial expressions but her grumpiest ones are our favorites.
The old stereotype of felines being aloof should have been blown up years ago but I guess this information is better late than never. A new study by researchers at Oregon State University’s Human-Animal Interaction Lab, which appears in Current Biology, finally provides scientific proof of how much we love our humans. The conclusion in short says that “cats bond with their caregivers to a similar degree as infants and dogs.”
“Cats that are insecure can be likely to run and hide or seem to act aloof. There’s long been a biased way of thinking that all cats behave this way. But the majority of cats use their owner as a source of security. Your cat is depending on you to feel secure when they are stressed out.” Kristyn Vitale.
If you want to read the “sciency” stuff be sure and go to the article. I think all you humans who know and love cats have known this for a long time and you don’t need science to tell you how much we love our humans.
Humans, stop being so selfish with your 3D printers and creating stuff just for you. There are tons of fantastic cat toys you can print for your feline buddies and even some very cool kitty armor (might be helpful when we’re back outside and dealing with those pesky seagulls).I like the laser robot buy my brother Oliver has his whiskers in a twist about the items designed to help cats not eat so much. Print away humans but don’t forget to print something for your feline.
Happy Wednesday My Furiends, Since The Female Human had an extra day to stay home with us we took full advantage of her presence. Whether she was watching the TV or trying to get a little yoga time in, we made sure to show her lots of love. There is always a bit of a kerfuffle when Oliver and I decide we want lap time at the same time (we are not small felines)
“Al, stop being a lap hog!”
Lily has quite a different technique. She jumps up on the back of the sofa and than places herself strategically half on the sofa back and half on The Female Human’s shoulder.
“Human, please stay still, I am a tiny cat and I can’t imagine that your shoulder would suffer any ill effects from me perching here.”
In an effort to mitigate the leg, back and shoulder pain The Female Human is meowing about (I think she’s a bit of a hypochondriac) she does yoga to help. It’s a good thing she has The Tribe to help her with this endeavor.
“Human, clearly you are doing this wrong. Just watch how the lady on the TV does it. Sheesh, do I have to help you with everything? And by the way, you need a pedicure.”
As you can see, our Human would be in trouble if we weren’t around to take care of her. But, enough about us, it’s time to enjoy this week’s web wanderinbgs.,
Be sure and check out the video of this amazing feline palace.
All right humans, it’s time for you to up your catio game. I know The Female Human needs to pay attention to this as her idea of a catio is a pop-up thingy she puts on the front porch and upstairs deck.
This Cat Daddy in Georgia built what he calls, “Chateau de Chatons” (the kitten’s castle). This is definitely a castle, with a drinking fountain, scratching post, some cat furniture, a hammock and a ramp that connects to a “penthouse perch” that’s built into a tree. Meowza, those felines are living their best lives!
So all you humans take note, The Tribe gives this palatial outdoor kitty playpen the “Paws Up” award!
Now that The Feline Human is a certified cat behaviorist she is always reading stuff about what makes felines tick. This article speaks to the age old question…..”What is it about cats and boxes?”
Dr. Michelle Burch, DVM, a cat expert has some thoughts about this. She says that squares make felines feel secure and safe and that if you draw a square on the floor, your feline will come running. (The Female Human has not tried this yet, if any of your humans have, please meow about it in the comments)
Dr. Claudine Siever, DVM says in order to understand our fascination with squares you have to go back to our kittenhood. Kittens derive a sense of comfort and security from cuddling with their mother and siblings. As adult cats, boxes bring back that feeling of family love. These memories release happy hormone (like endorphin and oxytocin) and these reduce stress.
Squares also make a great hiding place where can pounce out and attack other cats in the house or our humans. It also provides a good place for us to hide when we’re a bit stressed or feeling needy.
Hmm, I wonder if The Tribe should get a great big box for our Human so she can hide in it when she’s stressed.
Now I am a feline not well versed in the world of human music. My tastes lean more toward David Teie’s Music for Cats. As a matter of fact, The Tribe did a review of the first album (with videos) if you want to hear our favorite mewsic.
Still, I have to give this Trey Anastasio two paws up for looking at the quarantine through his cat Joey’s eyes, because, as all my furiends know, seeing life from a feline point of view is the best way! Joey actually shows his purrrspective of his home in the video, a “cat’s eye view “ if you will. There is also a cameo appearance from the other cat in residence who has not been named.
Be sure and watch the video of Leo’s appearance during the morning prayers.
Since you humans have been stuck at home, The Tribe has had “video church” for a while. Now I must say, if The Human’s Pastor had thought to invite a feline, we might have stuck around for the sermon.
Leo, the Canterbury Cathedral cat has made himself famous after brazenly disrupting a recording of morning prayers.
The video of morning prayers captured Leo sauntering into view and then disappearing under the robes of the Dean of Canterbury.
The Revd Dr Robert Willis maintained his composure and continued with his sermon despite Leo’s shenanigans.
This was the press release from the Canterbury Cathedral Spokesperson:
“He has been enjoying making our daily broadcasts since March and, whilst he would be happy to be in every one, we have tried to include the others to prevent them getting jealous.
“With over 20,000 visitors to the Deanery and its gardens each year – and over 1.5 million to the cathedral – he is used to being on show and, having been born in the Deanery and growing up here, he is very used to company and is a very friendly and happy little cat (if not the brightest of the four).
“He loves to socialise with the cathedral’s many pilgrims and visitors and takes his role as ambassador very seriously.
“In calmer times he finds a cosy place in the house or sunny spot in the gardens to sleep.”
“Human, when the feng shui lady said to get us a water fountain, she didn’t mean the sink!?”
Our in-house feline behavior expert had to admit she knows nothing about feng shui and the positive affect it can have on cats but Cynthia Chomos, a feng shui consultant and founder-designer at Seattle’s Catio Spaces understands.
First of all, for the unenlightened, feng shui is the Chinese art of placement, a design system that created harmonious living spaces based on “chi” energy. Cats add positive energy in homes and Chomos believes that acknowledging the feline’s primal preference for the outdoors by providing fresh air and the sights and sounds of the natural makes our quality of life better. The Female Human is all for The Tribe to live our best lives so here are a few tips from the article.
Find a welcoming power spot for your felines (and your humans) outside the direct path entering a room. Cats prefer a wall that provides support from behind and provides a commanding view of their territory. Choose and place cat furniture, high cat trees, low domes, shelters or boxes, along the wall based on your feline’s comfort zone. (Now The Female Human hasn’t figure out where our comfort zone is but she put a great cat tree in her office by the window and we have a pawsome view of the woods below us.
Another recommendation is a catio because they keep us safe. Even though I griped about our pop-up catio, I have to say it’s really nice and we love being outside.
Provide a Zen space to relax. Feng shui practitioners hold that chi energy is both yin (restful) and yang (stimulating). A home needs both for the right balance. Cats need a cozy bed or hammock in a quiet room or Zen space for a catnap away from disturbances such as loud noises, remodeling projects, vacuum cleaners or unfamiliar people.
Stimulate yang energy indoors. Stimulate yang energy for your cat with daily playtime and a shelf near a window that offers the warmth of the sun and birdwatching opportunities. You don’t have to know anything about feng shui to know that playtime with your felines is critical to our health, happiness and our bond with our humans.
Litter box placement is always critical, even if you’re not looking to “feng shui” your home for your feline. Keep the box away from places where doors may be slammed, loud noises happen or anywhere where we can be startled while using the litter box. Remember, if we have a bad experience with our litter box, we may just stop using it.
Finally, feng shui suggests that you consider water fountains in the house. There are many nifty kitty drinking fountains (feng shui says to put the fountain in the north or southeast are of the house away from the food bowl.
In general, if your home is harmonious and attractive to the humans and felines, life will be enhanced for everyone.
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.
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!
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?
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.
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.
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 thansomeone 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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
If you’ve recently moved, extend your search to your old neighborhood.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
Happy Wednesday Furiends, I hope you are all well and looking forward to life becoming more normal again. We would have had an excellent photo for you but The Female Human couldn’t get herself together enough to get the shot so I’m reduced to only sharing the story with you. Still, I think you’ll find our weekly local report very a-moosing.
Last night, The Female Human walked out of our next door neighbor’s house and noticed that the neighbors across the street were on their porch yelling at her and waving their arms. These are fairly new neighbors so she doesn’t know them and didn’t want to appear as if she was judging them so she smiled and continued to stroll down the driveway. The words finally became a bit clearer and she heard “MOOSE! MOOSE! MOOSE!” Thinking that they surely would not be so rude as to be referring to her appearance, she saw them gesturing to her right and turned her head to take a look. There less than the social distancing six feet recommended was a very large young moose, standing next to the cars in the driveway.
The Female Human has lived in Northern Idaho long enough to know that you never mess with a moose. They are extremely large, fairly bad tempered and have no problem charging anything. As she looked at the moose she could tell he was getting annoyed with the neighbors yelling and arm waving. He snorted a few times and, before he could head in her direction she hightailed it over to our house and ran inside. Yes, this would have been a fantastic photo op but she didn’t take the time to get her phone out of her pocket and shoot the picture. Sigh. Due to her failure to capture the moment, I am reduced to using a video and a link to an article in Sandpoint Magazine called, Urban Moose-The Good Life In The City, to show how these beasts have no boundaries and believe they own the forests and the city streets here!
.So now you know why these kitties enjoy sitting in the window and watching our local wildlife walk by!
“Hey Human, the moose is back, get your camera!” – Alberto & Lily
Well that’s enough moose talk, now on to the feline news from around the web.
U.K. Wildlife Park Welcomes Two Tiny Members of the World’s Smallest Cat Breed
I’ve always thought of my wild cousins as great, big fear inducing felines. Imagine my surprise when I heard about these little guys!
These two live in the Porfell Wildlife Park and Sanctuary in Cornwall, England and are Rusty Spotted Cats, the worlds smallest cat breed.
These two tiny felines are rusty-spotted cats, the world’s smallest cat breed. The rusty-spotted cat grows to be just 35 cm (not quite 14 inches)- 48 cm (not quite 19 inches) in length. It is believed that these cats are only 2 of around 40 in captivity in the world.
In the wild, these tiny kitties are found in Asia. You can learn more about our little friends here.
This klepto kitty made the BBC news with his penchant for stealing one purrticular type of item.
His human, Vikki Maddocks reports that to date Elmo has lifted 14 gloves from the neighbors in the past year. Also interesting to note is that he normally brings one glove home and then goes later to retrieve it’s match.
Elmo drops his treasure at Maddock’s feet and meows proudly.
Why gardening gloves? Trudi Atkinson, a cat behaviorist says it’s possible that Elmo’s mother taught him to hunt using replacement items if real prey was not available. If Elmo’s human reinforced this behavior by petting him or reacting in a positive manner to his “gifts” he would be motivated to continue his thievery.
Evidently this gardening glove stealing is a thing in England. Last year a female cat named Bella received media attention for her glove napping.
Who says you need skype, text or phone calls during isolation? Sam Cramer has found a much better way to communicate with her neighbors, Cat Mail.
It all started one day when Cramer’s cat Bella wandered into the house with a new collar. Cramer was confused because Bella had never worn a collar. Her first thought was that this wasn’t Bella but she said, “I check out the cat and, yes, it has the same scraggly ears and, yes, it has a bad attitude so it’s definitely my cat.”
Then she noticed a glass bottle with a cork stopper attached to the collar with a hand written note inside. The note was a message from her next door neighbors telling her that Bella had been visiting them for a few weeks
Cramer wrote a note apologizing for Bella if she’d been cranky and apologized for Bella’s intrusion.
The neighbor’s responding “cat mail” assured her that Bella was “no bother.”
The 15-year old daughter of the neighbor wanted to make sure Bella was not a stray and figured the cat mail might be a good way to find out if she had a home.
“I just thought it would be a good way to know if she had a home and a name and now it’s turned into a daily thing,” she said. “We’re always really excited to see her at the door.”
As the lonely days of the pandemic drag on, all parties cherish the tiny notes Bella brings.
These neighbors have decided that cat mail will continue long after their quarantine is over.
Portland’s ‘Owl Kitty’ has appeared in some of the greatest movies ever made. Her human, Tibo Charroppin says her work has been watched more than 50 million times on her Instagram page. The most amazing thing is that Owl Kitty has accomplished all this without ever leaving Portland.
Owl Kitty is her stage name. Her real name is Lizzy who was adopted from a local shelter. Charroppin said she’s been acting like a diva ever since she was a kitten and she was a natural to become a star. She’s appeared in scenes from many major motion pictures such as Star Wars and The Matrix.
How has this feline diva managed to become a star? Her human is a full time video editor so he has all the skills needed to insert Owl Kitty in the middle of famous scenes. The Human’s partner, Olivia Boone is the social media manager for a major non-profit organization so she had the skills to get Owl Kitty properly launched on the web.
Charroppin also does “behind the scenes” videos to document the process of filming Owl Kitty and those are as popular as the furry diva’s movie shorts. And if you have an aspiring feline actor in your house, Charroppin also offers tutorials to teach you the process.
If you would like to view more of Owl Kitty’s films, visit her Instagram account.
This Thai temple cat’s refusal to be ignored during the five-hour-long New Year’s prayers was a true test of the patience of this monk. The video of this monk gently trying to move the cat away took Thailand by storm and now is reaching around the world.
After he tried numerous times to move the cat off his lap because the cat was kneading his shoulder and blocking his view of his prayer book, the monk finally realized that resistance would be futile and petted the feline.
Thailand has many cats that roam freely around the temples and they are called, you guessed it, temple cats. It is reported that all the temple cats are fat due to the love and good care they receive.
Well hi there furiends, I do apologize for the late post. The Female Human (aka our Purrsonal Assistant and General Lackey) has been in quite a state. In addition to writing blogs and books, she has a thingy she calls a “business”. Well this “business” hasn’t been too busy lately and she has been rather discombobulated. This business thingy will be opening May 1 and now The Human is really in a tiz. All that is to say, she has failed to properly prioritize and my weekly feature is a day late. Sigh. It’s so hard to get good help.
This week’s report about the goings on in our neck of the woods is pretty boring. The Female Human is running around like her hair is on fire. While she’s not getting any of the green stuff for her business, she has been working on two diploma/certificate courses, Feline Behavior & Psychology and Pet Grief Counseling. There has been no lollygagging around the house or working on home projects, she is in full freak out mode.
“Human, take a deep breath, count to three and relax!”-Alberto
In the chaos of our lives, I am happy to report that our county had only four cases of the nasty virus and our family and furiends here are healthy. I pray this is the same for all of you, Still, service at our house has left a bit to be desired but then again, The Female Human is our only staff and we must make sure we don’t cross the line.
‘Thank you human, you may place the wet food bowl down there. And no. I do not want to engage in this new “chase the ball” exercise.- Oliver
All things considered, things are looking up, we are beginning to see some green and warmer temperatures and The Female Human has promised that if she ever sees that check they are supposed to be sending everyone, she will splurge on a cat stroller so we can check out our neighborhood.
“You humans need to be more cat-like. Chill. relax and eat your greens!”-Lily
We know our humans are devastated when their feline friends go missing. This was the case with a man named Russ Small whose beloved lynx point Siamese went missing. Buddy and his human were exactly that, buddies. The feline always wanted to be with Russ, when he was working on cars or in the garage. And while he worked Russ would talk to Buddy and Buddy would talk (or meow) back. And then one day Buddy disappeared and despite all their efforts, they couldn’t find him.
Fast forward almost nine years when Russ’s wife noticed a picture on Fur The Love of Paws Facebook page and was sure it was Buddy, now 16. The couple was sure it was “their” Buddy and cementing this belief were that the “stray” cat the shelter called “Cyrus” had an eye condition that Buddy had and had the exact same markings.
Russ and Kim went to check out the cat and Buddy ran to them almost immediately. Now Buddy spends his days back in the garage with Russ and they have returned to their special brand of feline/human conversation.
The feline/human bond is a real thing (another subject our Human is studying) and quite remarkable. In a 2019 study Kristyn Vitale, researcher at Oregon State University’s Human-Animal Interaction Lab said “Like dogs, cats display social flexibility in regard to their attachments with humans,”” The majority of cats are securely attached to their owner and use them as a source of security in a novel environment.”
What does a major travel company do when they can’t book humans on travel? They feature photos of the cutest kittens from all around the world. This photo is the Andean Mountain Cat (photo courtesy of Lupo/Wikimediacommons). This cute little feline is very rare and can be found in Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina. There have only been 10 sightings of this shy cat in 25 years! Be sure and “travel” with Fodor’s Travel to see the rest of the rare felines.
Lanai is the only Hawaiian island that is COVID-19 free
Crazy things happen in these crazy days. The Lanai Cat Sanctuary (I’ve reported on this place in a previous Web Wednesday segment) relies on about 15,000 visitors a year to fund its programs but currently they have no visitors. These creative folks held a live streamed Yoga with Cats event. The sanctuary teamed with Anne Van Valkenburg, the wellness manager of the uber-exclusive Sensei Lanai, A Four Seasons Resort.
“This is a time where we are all keeping our distance and trying to find ways to keep close,” says Sanctuary Executive Director Keoni Vaughn. “We are really isolated in such a remote location and the sanctuary is completely off the grid with no electricity or Internet. So this is one way to bring everyone close and hopefully, ease some of the stress that everyone is experiencing.”
The Lanai Cat Sanctuary located in their current location in 2009. Since then, more than 2,000 cats have been sterilized, preventing the birth of thousands of kittens. They’ve found homes for more than 400 cats through it’s adoption program. The sanctuary now houses nearly 650 sterilized cats.
We’ve been seeing many felines showing up at show tapings, business meetings and streaming events while humans are staying at home. While most felines are cute and add a bit of whimsy to these videos, these two cats were clearly squaring off for a bit of a tiff while the meteorologist, blissfully unaware of the drama behind him, soldiered on with his report.
Viewers of the forecast were left in the dark as to which cat won the altercation although there has been much speculation. JoJo Girard from MIX.95.7 noted. “As far as I can determine, the fatter, white cat had offended the black and orange cat (probably ate all his food) and the black and orange cat was having none of it, and thus went on the attack.”
Viewers have been clamoring for the fight outcome, sending comments like, “Can we get an insider piece on whatever drama is happening in the back?”
I have to say that as a feline in the public eye, I am shocked and dismayed at the behavior of these two. Please my fellow high profile felines, if you are going to be making more public appearances, for heaven’s sake,try to have a bit of decorum.
Since you humans have turned into bona fide couch potatoes and are now occupying the sofa that is designated for feline use only during the day, it’s time to rethink your feline’s comfort.
Someone has unearthed a 1998 pamphlet called “Crochet Kitty Couches” by Candy Clayton. If you don’t have this gem, you can get patterns from the book online at Annie’s Craft Store available as a print to order for $8.99 or a digital download for $5.99
The patterns offer a blue couch, a green sofa and a pink chair and the details are amazing. All instructions you need as to how to fill the furniture with foam are included.
People are publishing photos of their kitty couch creations on Annie’s Craft Store Facebook page and, there is a Reddit sub-thread about crocheting that displays some as well. The moral is, if you humans are going to plant yourself on our sofa space, then we need our own sofas!
Hello Furiends, I hope this finds you all healthy and still holding on to your sanity. The Tribe is trying to keep pawsitive and since the snow is finally melting, there is more to see outside. The neighborhood moose has been making his rounds and as soon as the spring bulbs come up, the deer will be showing up in the front garden to chomp on them (this makesThe Female Human very cranky!)
Now that the snow is finally melting and the sunshine is making an occasional appearance, The Tribe is taking advantage of every sun puddle we can find.
And speaking of Oliver, he’s really getting cranky about the Sunday morning wake up call for this “church” thing. In the good old days, The Female Human quietly slipped out of the house to go to this “church” place leaving us to snooze in as late as we wanted.
“Human, these early morning Sunday wake up calls are starting to get on my nerves. Have you noticed that my expression isn’t any happier this Sunday than it was last Sunday?” -Oliver
We’er getting so bored we decided to help The Female Human when she brings out that pink, comfy mat that she claims she does “exercises” on while watching a lady on the TV. I think she should just leave the thing out in the living room and let Oliver and I have fun with it.
But enough about the Tribe. Let’s talk about the interesting feline stuff we found on the wen this week.
There are a lot of campus kitties and I hope they are all being looked after as well as this UC Santa Barbara cat named Big Boy. Despite the fact that most employees are working at home now, Big Boy was offered a luxurious stay at the home of his “person of record”.
His daily schedule consists of feedings, occasional nizzles with the resident canine and a lot of naps. He’s enjoying the domestic life so much the human is considering offering him retirement from being the community cat so he can continue the cushy life he is enjoying now. Right now his other human caretakers are considering his future when everyone returns to school. Maybe semi-retirement will work but, whatever it is, we know Big Boy has good care! You can see more photos of Big Boy enjoying his new life here.
Do you know that we felines can be easily stressed? There are many reasons for this but one of the big ones is changing our routine. Cat’s like predictability and routine and when shelter cats are cut off from the world and don’t have access to their shelter workers and the public they are stressed.
This wonderful human,Senior cat care assistant Jane Francis realized that even though the workers were taking care of cats in her shelter, things were really quiet so she decided that, “… stimulating as many senses and natural behaviours as possible, without overloading them, could only be beneficial for the cats, especially the more sociable ones and kittens who are still learning about the world around them.”
She noticed that the cats and especially the kittens seemed to flourish and become more confident after they introduced the sounds into the shelter. You can watch a short video of Charlie the cat’s response to the soothing music.
MP3 players were set up in the cats’ pens for them to enjoy a variety of sounds like rainfall and bird songs, general garden sounds and other sounds of natue and the cats are responding positively! Way to go Mitcham Homing Centre in Surrey, run by Cats Protection!.
Suki makes a purrfect virtual tour guide. She has traveled the world with her humans Martina Gutfreund and Kenny Hildebrandt and now her humans have compiled her travels in a new book, Travels of Suki the Adventure Cat, which will be available in May from Andrews McMeel Publishing.
Suki came to live with her humans three years ago and they knew they wanted Suki to travel everywhere they went…and she did. Suki has taken to the wandering life like a duck to water. Her humans call her “extremely curious, energetic and bold”, traits that make her the purrfect adventure cat.
Regardless of where they go, Suki is content on their trips as long as she gets to visit nature — she adores “hiking, canoeing, or just lounging in the woods” — and even earns her keep with modeling sessions.
And speaking of virtual travel, a famous Cat Café in St. Petersburg Russia has launched an online video service where cat lovers can watch the felines.
The café has published CV’s for all the felines as they all are available for adoption. The Café states that, “All our cats have a veterinary passport and a “dowry.” Now I’ve never heard of a cat with a dowry but purrhaps this description is due to the difficulty of translating from Russian to English.
“Human, when are you leaving the house and going back to work???” Alberto
Andrew Stych and his wife, Sheila, are experiencing the phenomenon of working at home with four felines. One of the feline coworkers, Penelope, has proven to be a bit of a problem, so much so that Andrew had to file a complaint with HR.
“Penelope, this letter serves to formally document your failure to comply with household regulations, and your lack of adherence to workspace polices,” says the hilarious letter. “You have been a great contributor to workplace morale and have been meeting your quota with regards to cuteness and chasing hair ties. However, your continual insistence on attempting to (or succeeding in) shutting off the power strip and computer in the middle of work hours, insistence on stepping on the keyboard during critical company events, and general mayhem has resulted in significant loss of productivity. We value your contribution to the household, but you must demonstrate an immediate and permanent alteration to your workplace habits or you may face more severe repercussions up to and and including withholding treats.”
Evidently, the whole human/feline coworking thing may not be as successful as some of you humans think.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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!
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!
Hello Furiends, Well, it’s been quite a week here in Northern Idaho! Sick kitties, torrential rain, sunshine, snow and then yesterday we felt the rock and roll of a 6.5 earthquake that happened a little over 400 miles from us. I learned that I do NOT like earthquakes and I’m still a bit freaked out. And then there’s this COVID-19 thingy. To say you humans are on edge would be the understatement of the century! And what’s with the hoarding??!! Sheesh you humans should be more like us felines, eat only what you need, share your toys, get enough rest, find a sun puddle when you can and just relax!
Well enough about us, let’s check in on the latest feline news on the internet.
Sometimes the old fashioned methods of communication are the best. A lady in
A woman in England had admired her neighbor’s black and white cat for a while but she had never met or spoken to the cat’s humans. As she has been home much more she saw the cat in the window more often as well. It’s amazing what you humans will think up when you are forced to be creative. The lady [put a note in her window asking his name.
Much to her delight, the neighbor responded with a sign that said he was called Walter.
And then a “paper in the window” conversation ensued. The woman posted pictures about the cat and poster in the window conversation and then had to put a note in her window for Walter’s humans saying, “Walter is now Twitter famous… sorry.” Little did she know that Walter already had an Instagram account which his humans noted in their return window message.
“Human, if you’re going to be home this much, you need to come up with some fun ideas for The Tribe.” -Oliver
With so much time on your hands and considering the fact that you humans have been invading our space too much lately, it’s time for you to get creative and do some things to enrich our environment.
There are some great ideas in this article. One of the most obvious ways to keep us entertained is to get some good catnip and let us have at it. The Tribe loves it best when The Female Human puts down some newspaper and sprinkles some local grown catnip on it. We roll around, nibble at the catnip and have a great time. This is also an entertaining thing for you humans to watch too.
Sound motivates us and something as simple as a paper bag can bring us hours of enjoyment (well, if not hours, as long as it takes us to demolish the bag).
We love to watch stuff and, if you don’t have a nice view of the woods and wildlife like we do, there are a number of cat-focused videos you can stream on your TV.
There are other great ideas in this article, so check them out, You can keep your cat in residence from becoming cranky with too much time on his paws and too many humans in the house for too many hours!
Mr. Sherman, an American tabby often called the feline “mayor” of Little Tokyo, spends his day guarding his owner’s boutique. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)
Liz Ito, a Los Angeles artist, met this Tabby when she was 11 years old and, as an adult she still sees him regularly. Mr Sherman (the cat) was adopted by Kiyoko Kimball, owner of Ashiya, a women’s boutique and he spends his days greeting customers.
At his advanced age, Sherman suffers from hyperthyroidism and kidney disease but he is well taken care of. He rises early, takes medication for his condition, which makes him more active around 11:30 a.m., and naps after lunch. He lets it be known that he does not care for leftovers.
“Everything has to be fresh,” says Kiyoko Kimball, the caregiver who adopted him more than 16 years ago and spends $1,000 monthly on his food, prescriptions and fluid therapy. “He’s retired. I give him Social Security money. And you know, he thinks he’s a person. We communicate every day.”
This falls under the heading, “what happens when humans have too much time on their hands? The creator of the Koty Vezde (Cats are Everywhere) Instagram page sees cats, well, everywhere. 29-year-old Galina Bugaevskaya from Moscow photoshops cat faces on various animals and since we all need a little entertainment, I recommend you visit this account and enjoy theses photos. .
I’ve often wondered why you humans call our cat scratcher thingys “trees” when they look nothing like a tree…until now. Shelley and Joe DelRocco create custom cat tree houses handcrafted from real trees and embellished with silk leaves. These trees are purrfect for felines who feel the call of the wild. Make sure your humans check out these cool PetTreeHouses on Etsy
Hello There Furiends, Things have been pretty crazy in our neck of the woods and I’m sure your lives are a bit topsy turvy too. This virus thingy is a nightmare but fortunately, we’ve had our Purrsonal Assistant searching the web and I am happy to tell you that dogs and cats are not in danger of getting this nasty virus, but some of our humans are so take good care of them!
In addition to the virus panic we had quite a weekend. Toward the end of the week we had high wind warnings and snow warnings. Between the high winds and the blowing snow we felt like we lived in the frozen tundra.
This photo was taken after the wind storm, and what a storm it was! Trees blown over all around the county (many smashed into houses) and some smashed into other things like the pick up truck of our human aunt and uncle.
This gives new meaning to “firewood delivery”. Meowza!
And then there is the virus panic thingy. Humans are raiding the shelves of our grocery stores but thank goodness The Female Human sent in a big order to Chewy! Heaven forbid the treat supply runs low!
I did notice some reckless behavior by our woodland neighbors. As the self-proclaimed neighborhood snoopervisor I have been keeping track of the goings on. Imagine my dismay when I saw these neighbors gathering in a large group!
Clearly the neighbors are not following virus protocol! I made sure I had video proof in case I need to file a formal complaint!
Thank goodness I take my job seriously because there are some in the Tribe who are shirking their responsibility!
Hey Al, wake me up when this virus thingy panic is over, or when we’re running low on kibble! Oliver
I hope all my furiends are safe and healthy! Panic less, laugh more and for heaven’s sake use your felines as the purry little stress reducers we are!
And now, my weekly wanderings with the latest feline news!
How could you call any cat café naughty when they’ve adopted out 298 cats in 266 days of business?? The St. Elmo’s Naughty Cat Café in Chattanooga,TN is celebrating it’s first year of business. How do they have such success at getting the felines there adopted? The owner, Whitney Sickels says it’s the generosity and support of the community.
Not everyone who comes to the café adopts a cat but just come to enjoy some feline time. The café owner says that seeing cats in more of a home-like environment makes it easier for people to imagine the cats in their own homes.
Adoption fees are $50.00, all cats have been tested for FeLV/FIV, are spayed or neutered, current on all vaccinations including rabies, microchipped, current on flea/tick prevention and have been dewormed. 100% of the adoption fee goes back to the shelter where the cat is from. Now that’s a great deal!
Paws up for this great business who is doing such a great job of helping felines find their furever homes.
I’m always thrilled to see animal shelters and feline rescue organizations doing creative things and this is really creative. The humans do macramé and the felines benefit because the humans come home with a fantastic bed for us! All the humans had to do was bring an 18” square pillow and the other materials were included in the price. The cost was $60.00 to take the bed home and $45.00 for those who donate the bed to the shelter. Great work Chesapeake Feline Association!
For all my fashionista feline friends it’s time to rejoice because Mochi Couture creates couture for felines only. No longer are you forced to shop in the doggie department, you can find an ensemble purrfectly suited for the feline physique.
Those of you who know me know how I feel about dressing up but I do have some very glamour puss friends who not only enjoy dressing up but they know how to rock fashion. And sometimes, putting clothes on us felines is good for us if we have skin issues, have had recent surgery or don’t have enough fur to keep ourselves warm. And since these items are designed to fit the feline body they are comfortable too. I have to say, after purrusing their clothing line I just might be purrsuaded to try a new look. The leather jacket and shades are pretty cool!
I’m all for anything that helps lost kitties get home. Too many people see a cat and they think “stray” rather than “lost”. We are great proponents of microchipping and this sounds like an excellent new tool to help cats get home. Researchers in South Korea have now developed a technology that uses genetic markers to find lost felines.
The Rural Development Administration (RDA) recently announced that these markers can distinguish cat species and verify familial relations through a process of scanning that is not invasive for the cat. Now a lot of this stuff is a bit to sciency for this feline but I’m a fan of anything that can help get kitties back home.
Being a Snoopervisor is a tough job but someone has to do it. Alberto
I refuse to give in to or contribute to hysteria about the nasty virus thingy. I do acknowledge however that many of you humans are stuck in your homes for a while. Not only is this a new experience for you and your felines, many of you are learning some very interesting things about working from home with cats. I hope you enjoy this article and that you all stay healthy and that we will be done with this stuff soon!
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