Category Archives: Walk Through the Web Wednesdays

Walk Through The Web Wednesday 2/27

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siamese cat on a leash walking through a garden

Hello Furiends,
final-1It’s Wednesday again. It’s still cold here and the wind is blowing like crazy. The squirrels are almost getting blown off the feeder when they try to eat. I guess this guy thinks hanging upside down and hanging on for dear life is the best way to mooch his free meal. The Tribe is ready for some warmer weather. If you have any you could send us it would be greatly apurriciated!

I hope you enjoy this week’s wanderings.
Purrs & Head Bonks,

Siamese cat with blue eyes

Do Copy Cats Really Exist? 

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“Human, I am not anything like you!” – Oliver

There are some Humans from the University of Lincoln and Nottingham Trent University who think cat owner’s purrsonalities are influencing the behavior of us felines. They investigated the relationship between the different purrsonalities between humans and their cats.

Their findings said you humans can affect us felines like parents personalities can affect their children (but we ARE your children, furry children). They studied more than 3,000 predominately UK based humans with cats and had them fill out a questionnaire about their purrsonalities and the purrsonalitis of their felines.

They found out that the more nervous and stressed out you humans are, the more neurotic your felines in residence are. You nervous humans are causing us to be in poorer physical health, gain too much weight, have behavioral problems and more, according to the study.

But it’s not all bad news. If you humans are happy and conscientious, we felines will be less anxious, less aggressive and will be much better behaved-and happy.

The researchers said in conclusion, “The majority of owners want to provide the best care for their cats, and these results highlight how influential our own personality can be on the well being of our pets.”

The moral of this story is, you humans should be less nervous, less stressed and consider how your issues affect us felines.  For you studious humans who want to know more, you can read the study titled, “Owner personality and the wellbeing of their cats share parallels with the parent-child relationship,” in the scientific journal PLOS ONE

Man Honors His Cat In An Unusual Way

siamese cat in spacesuit

“Cats in space? Who knew?” -Alberto

I don’t usually like to report on any feline news that’s sad but this a nice story of how a human shows his love for his cat who crossed the Rainbow Bridge.

Pikachu,a  7-year-old orange tabby died last month after a battle with diabetes and pancreatitis. He was a bit of a Twitter star and his human, Steve Munt, created a Twitter account for his family of seven cats a few years ago, and it just hit 12,000 followers. (Hmm, our Human needs to step up her game!)

Munt is a big fan of science. His home had been owned by a nuclear physicist prior, and Munt gives his cats a scientific narrative in his thousands of Twitter posts on their account called @GrowingUpZee, named after you guessed it, one of his cats.

When Pikachu died, Munt knew he needed to do something very special to remember his sweet, loving nature , so he paid $5,000.00 and secured a spot on this year’s memorial cremation rocket by a company called Celestis.  Now, Munt and Pikachu’s followers can track Pikachu in space on the Celestis website.

Meowza, I would say this guy loved his feline. What do you think about Pikachu in space?

Urban Outfitters Is Selling Caps For Your Cat And It’s Cuteness Overload

orange tabby in urban outfitters cat hat

I am no fan of dressing up cats but this story did intrigue me. Now, the human company, Urban Outfiters, is selling cat hats for the felines of their human customers..

The hats come in three different designs, and are priced at £10 each. However, get to choose the style of cap they will send you either the yellow duck, white bear or brown bear.

The hats are adjustable so if your feline will sit still long enough, you can get a good fit,

The product only has one review so far,  “I bought this hat for my two cats and even though they find it slightly uncomfortable they look so cute in it!” The human reviewer gave it five stars. I wonder how many stars that human’s felines would give the hats.

If you are cavalier about the dignity of your felines, then go ahead, order one of these cat chapeaus. As for me and The Tribe of Five, we’ve already put The Female Human on notice, no cat hats in this house!

Maybe a Leapord Can’t Change It’s Spots But This Cat Can Change Her Color

Elli as a kitten

A lady in Germany found two kittens, Elli and her feline sister Rosie at a farm. Poor Ellie was not well and riddled with mites and infections.

Nicole nursed the little Tuxedo cat back to health and one day noticed a small, white spot on Eli’s black back.

Over the next few months, Eli became more and more speckled. Nicole took Eli to the vet and discovered that the feline had vitiligo, a rare condition that causes fur and skin to gradually lose their pigment.

Elli is a ‘very playful, cute, interested and lovely’ cat and very faithful to her human. Now, two years after the first vet visit, Elli is hardly recognizable. Most of her coat is white with beautiful black stripes and splotches.

Elli is also clearly very faithful to her savior Nicole, only ever leaving her side to sunbathe on the sofa.

Two years on from that trip to the vet and Elli is hardly recognizable. Her coat is now mainly white, with the remnant black fur forming striking stripes and splodges on her beautifully mottled coat. The condition does not threaten Elli’s health but it sure makes her an interesting feline!

Karl Lagerfeld’s cat, Choupette Is An Heiress

Choupette

The German fashion icon, Karl Lagerfeld died last week and now, his beloved feline Choupette stands to inherit a portion of his $300 million dollar fourtune.

Choupette, whose name is French for “sweetheart,” has historically lived a lavish lifestyle, with the fashion designer hiring maids to ensure her comfort. The inheritance will ensure the silky Burmese cat continues living her best life, which means daily meals of caviar and chicken pâté and travel on private jets.

She is a celebrity in her own right, amassing  over 260,000 followers on Instagram and has earned a healthy $3 million through sponsorships and ad appearances. She has previously served as an ambassador to German automobile manufacturer Opel, launched her own lines with brands like makeup company Shu Uemura and luxury cat-product producer Cheshire & Wain, and been the subject of two books. Lagerfeld addressed his cat’s fortune — both cat-made and bequeathed — in the past, noting, “She has her own little fortune, she is an heiress. If something happens to me, the person who will take care of it will not be in misery… She’s a rich girl!”

Now this handsome blue-eyed feline only has one question….Choupette, are you dating? Call me!

Walk Through The Web Wednesday 2/13

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siamese cat on a leash walking through a garden

Hello Furiends,
It’s been snowing, and snowing and snowing at our house. The Tribe and I are spending quality time in front of the fireplace this week. The only place this feline is walkin’ is through the web!

I hope wherever you are, you are warm and cozy.
Purrs & Head Bonks,

Siamese cat with blue eyes

Koala and Cat Are Unlikely Furiends

Now I have been known to make friends with the woodland creatures around our house so this news piece wasn’t shocking to me. But we live in the good old US of A and there are none of these “koalas” around.

Evidently this Australian feline named Richo had his own woodland visitor. The cat’s human heard a “tap,tap” on the window and saw the two looking at each other. The koala kept going away and then coming back for another look. I bet he was thinking, “What sort of koala is this?!”

Cornwall’s Five Star Hotel for Cats has Room Service and A Chauffeur

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, our furiends across the pond sure know how to treat felines! This family owned hotel in England has 18 rooms which include double rooms (for two cats) and family rooms (for up to fourcats-I guess one of the Tribe would have to stay alone if we were in Cornwall). Felines in Cornwall have it made!

A New Twist on the term “Cat Fight”

This story falls under the category “humans behaving badly”. Evidently two brothers from Lincoln, Nebraska got into a fight about cat ownership that ended up in second-degree assault and resisting arrest for one brother. When the fight deteriorated into destruction of items in the apartment, the police were called. Now really humans, we felines apurreciate your love and devotion to us but please, don’t harm anyone or get yourself arrested to prove it!

Working Cat in Baltimore Mistaken For Stray & Taken

Willow from the Monument City Brewing Company in Baltimore

You know how I love stories about working cats and this one is a doozy. Evidently Willow (Will to his furiends) who works at Monument City Brewing Company in Baltimore was cat-napped by three misguided do-gooders.

Brewery staffers took to social media immediately after realizing that their feline employee was missing. They were nice about it, posting on Facebook, “We’re sure this was done with the best intentions, however, we’re pretty attached to Will and hope that you bring him back to his home.”  The post was shared more than 3,200 times on Facebook. And lo and behold, Will was returned and the staffers posted, “Will is excited to get back to work.”

The Brewery is taking Will post-haste to the Baltimore Animal Rescue & Care Shelter to be microchipped. and threw a party to celebrate Will’s homecoming.

People, when it comes to felines think LOST not STRAY!

Rosie the Riveting Library Cat

And here’s another heart-warming working cat story. A stray kitten named Rosie is now working at the Gutekunst Public Library. She appeared on the library doorstep in December and the Library Director says, “We didn’t find her. I think she found us,” The librarian says she went to lunch and they didn’t have a cat and when she returned from lunch, they did.  The librarian did the right thing, searching for the kitten’s humans, making phone calls and posting on social media but no one responded.

When library guests began to ask if the kitten could stay at the library the question was posed to the Board of Directors who agreed to give Rosie’s employment a try. A contest was held to find a name for the kitten and Rosie was chosen (her full name is Rosie Agatha Christie Finch).

Today Rosie can be found darting from one room to another or in a window sill enjoying sunshine. She is loved by all the librarians and library patrons and she loves to greet everyone when they arrive.  I think every library should have it’s own feline!

Walk Through the Web Wednesday-on Thursday! 2/7

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siamese cat on a leash walking through a garden

Hello There Furiends,
Well, we’ve had some staff issues again and my regular Wednesday column is appearing on Thursday this week! I would insist that there be some repercussions regardly this slacker behavior but I am not an unreasonable feline and therefore will let this little “faux-paws” slide, this one time!
I hope you enjoy my web wanderings for this week.
Purrs & Head Bonks,

Siamese cat with blue eyes

Frozen and Unresponsive Cat Makes Miraculous Recovery

Fluffy, the cat was found buried under a mountain of snow on Thursday, Jan. 31. She was found by her humans in a snowbank in Kalispell, Montana where she lives. The day she was found the area experienced temperatures of 8F and below zero temperatures the day before.

When Fluffy was found she was rushed to the Animal Clinic of Kalispell. Her temperature was so low that it didn’t even register on a thermometer!

They used warm water and blankets to bring her temperature up but after two hours her temperature was still too low. She was transferred to the emergency room and after a few more hours she finally began to show signs of recovery.

Fluffy is now fully recovered and at home with her humans…safely indoors!
Two paws up for this amazing success story and furiends, if you live in colder climes, STAY INSIDE!!

Cat Keeps Things Moving at Train Station

A furry feline is keeping a watchful eye on passengers as they go through the gates of a train station in Israel.

The cat sits on top of the ticket-reading machine, observing the back and forth of humans through the gates.  

Some folks stop and give the kitty a head scratch. Others ignore him.  

The popularity of the subway cat reached the government offices of Petah-Tikva. The mayor, Rami Greenberg, visited the famous feline, thanking him for bringing more attention to Petah-Tikva and offering the cat treats.  

I love stories about working cats and this feline seems to have a very interesting job! There are videos on the site that capture him during his daily work schedule.

Cat Interrupts Premier League Soccer Game, Dominates Field for Close to 4 Minutes

A black cat showed up on the field at Goodison Park stadium in Liverpool, England, during a Premier League match between Everton F.C. and Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.

The feline spent close to four minutes giving the players a tutorial by weaving showing them how it’s done by weaving through obstacles, making it from one end of the pitch to the other end with no interruption..

The game commentator took full advantage of the feline’s time on the field and gave play-by-play commentary , “It looks like a fully grown … cat. He drops a shoulder, jinks one way, goes another.”

The crowd cheered the agile feline as he evaded security and the players who tried to catch him. He was finally escorted off the field.

This Cat’s a Ham and it’s Made Him Famous

Eddie Kergan is a model citizen and ambassador for Wasaga Beach, Ontario. He’s an honorary scout, a promoter of local businesses, a voice for a local charity campaign, a supporter of Wasaga’s events, featured on the cover of a charity calendar, and he ran for mayor in the last election.

Wasaga Beach is famous around the world because of the work the well-dressed Eddie Kergan is doing with daily posts on different aspects of the community. So what if his grammar and spelling aren’t purrfect? I mean what can you expect,  Eddie Kergan is, a 20-pound Tabby with 250 bow ties and fans across the world that call themselves “Eddiots”.

Eddie came to live with his humans from the local shelter and has bonded most closely with Dave, a wood carver who sufferes from PTSD after a horrible accident.  Dave says, “He’s been a real lifesaver,” It’s almost like he looks beyond it. He stays right beside me the minute anxiety or depression hits.”.

Two paws up for Eddie for making his town famous, being an internet sensation and, most importantly, being a helpful best buddy to his human Dave.

New York Fashion Week Isn’t Just for Human Models

Pet models from across the country will be strutting their stuff at New York Fashion Week’s Pet Fashion show and other animal centered fashion events.  Some of these felines have wardrobes that would make a human model jealous! Sadly, being a pet model doesn’t pay all the bills, the top models earn about $200.00 to $500.00 per day of modeling.

Mrs. Parberry, a 10-year old feline from the Upper West Side is a rescue who is now the  “spokespurrrson” for New York City’s Animal Care Centers. She owns more than 100 specially created costumes by artists who work on shows for Broadway and the Metropolitan Opera, as well as by pet designers like Ada Nieves, who made the feline a flapper frock for last year’s Cat Fashion Show at the Algonquin Hotel.

Parberry’s human, Valerie Volinski, said the couture kitty has up to three fittings per outfit, and even has a custom-made mannequin head form for her hats. And, She is also on a diet after  gaining a pound.  A model must keep her girlish figure!

Walk Through The Web Wednesday 1/30

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siamese cat on a leash walking through a garden

Happy Wednesday My Furiends!

I hope you are staying warm and safe wherever you are. All the cats and kittens in the mid east US are freezing their whiskers off today! Oliver and I keep ourselves warm and cozy on snowy days by chatting by the fire

Siamese cat and black and white cat in front of the fire
“Hey Oliver, will you meow at The Female Human and ask her to bring us a snack?”

Purrs & Head Bonks,
Alberto

New Table Designed to be a Coworking Space for Humans & Felines

The Female Human is always meowing about how I get in the way or prance across her computer keyboard when she’s working. Well, all working humans now have a reason to rejoice. Meet the CATable where humans and felines can work in purrfect harmony. The table, carved from one piece of wood, is entirely flat on top aside from one cat-sized hole that leads to small network of tunnels, hideouts and caves carved into the side of the table. With these additions you and your feline can work together.

The creative folks at LYCS recently created a 2.0 version of the CATable, as well. This version consists of stackable blocks which can be built up to be aesthetically pleasing shelving for you, and an “ant farm” of sorts for your cat.

Find out about these feline/human work tables at the  LYCS’ website.

Woman figures out the perfect way to ask for the name of a cat in another building

Where there’s will, there’s a way. This woman saw a very handsome feline across the street from her workplace every day. And how do you communicate with a feline across the street from you? Good old fashioned pen and paper of course. She posted a sign in her window asking for the cat’s name and six weeks later the cat’s human posted a sign with the cat’s name..Marshall. The woman tweeted about this and Marshall and his story went viral. This is a delightful story and shows the resourcefulness and determination of those who love cats. Be sure to read the tweets and find out how other cats and their humans got in on the story.

Minor league baseball team using jersey promo to find homes for cats

Oh I do love creative adoption ideas and this one is a doozy. The Richmond Flying Squirrels, the Double-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants, are taking advantage of America’s love affair with cats.

The Squirrels announced on Monday that they will plaster the face of a local shelter cat on their jerseys for a game this spring and are asking people to vote on their favorite feline candidate. The idea is that the program will promote the adoption of cats in need of a home.

There are three candidates Dove, Duke Silver and Big Guy, all from the Richmond SPCA. And the program is working…Dove was adopted before the end of the contest! And the humans who adopt the three cats will also be eligible to throw out a first pitch for the Squirrels. The team’s jerseys will be auctioned off after the game with all proceeds going to the Richmond SPCA, so humans…..PLAY BALL!

World’s first AI-powered stray cat shelter

Wan Xi, a computer engineer based in Beijing, created the most  innovative feral cat shelter I’ve ever heard of.  

The refuge provides felines with food and water, plus a temperature-controlled environment which keeps the mercury at 27°C. It’s  also able to identify 174 types of cat while flagging-up possible diseases via the use of a smart camera.

Mr Xi just wanted to provide a warm place for feral cats but then his vision got bigger after he worked with a team of animal welfare experts.

They provided him with detailed evidence which showed how many of China’s 40,000 strays die within two years because the felines don’t get medical attention during the early stages of illnesses. This amazing shelter is self-powered and manned by volunteers who are alerted to any concerns by regular updated data sent to their office.

Two paws up Mr. Xi, now let’s get cracking and get these out to every city in the world!

A Cats vs. Dogs Version of Monopoly Is Coming to Help Pet Lovers Finally Settle the Classic Rivalry

You humans have been arguing about which species is better, cats or dogs, for years. We felines never argue about this as we know we are superior. For you humans still arguing this issue, I suggest the new monopoly game that can settle the argument. The game is played in teams so you’ll have a “Team Dog” and a “Team Cat”. Instead of buying properties, teams travel the Monopoly board and pick up funny titles and traits — like Trick Master and Best Pout. The team with the most titles at the end of the game takes home the win for their species of choice.

Walk Through The Web Wednesday 1/23

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siamese cat on a leash walking through a garden

Hello There Furiends,


It’s a beautiful day in my neighborhood. We had quite a bit of snow last night and this morning and The Tribe and I are enjoying the beautiful view from the bedroom (and watching all the furry and feathered freeloaders coming to the upstairs deck). Wherever you are my furiends, stay warm and safe and enjoy the day.
Purrs & Head Bonks,

Siamese cat with blue eyes

Jerusalem Mayor Provides Annual Budget For Cat Food

I’m not a fan of controversial purrlitical news items (unless it’s my brother running for Purresident) but sometimes I have to raise a paw in acknowledgment of those in purrlitical office who take the time and energy to look after felines. Moshe Lion, the mayor of Jerusalem, has approved 100 thousand nis per year to build feeding stations for Jerusalem’s street cats. Now that’s about $ 27,222.00 dollars in in the good ole’ US of A. It came about because the city changed its garbage disposal system to containers that are underground. This worried the good folks of Jerusalem because they were afraid the city’s stray cats, not being able to forage in the garbage, might starve. So this fine purrlitician is having feeding stations built where the new earth-buried garbage cans are located. City hall estimates that they will use about 210 food bags per month and 2500 bags per year.  Mr. Mayor, the Tribe of Five sends you a hearty mazel tov!

British couple celebrate cat’s return after rescuing imposter by mistake

Oh my whiskers, my column is late today because I couldn’t stop laughing. But this is a serious tale as well.

Teddy, a Russian blue, failed to come home in early January, so his humans reported him missing to Animal Search UK, an online database for lost pets.

They were soon contacted by a couple 11 milesway who said they’d taken in a Russina blue with the same markings. Teddy’s humans went to retrieve him and all was right with the word. Sort of that is,because a few days later the humans discovered they had two identical Russian Blues in their house!

There was no Russian Blue in the Animal Search data base so these resourceful humans took feline #2 to the vet to be scanned for a microchip and lo and behold, they found an address and the cat’s name,Nigel. Nigel’s family had recently moved to the area and Nigel escaped his new abode and went exploring.

The moral to this story is this, make sure your felines have identification, even house cats. The Tribe of Five is in the process of writing an article about an amazing company that has, what we believe, is an innovative solution to help humans reunite with their felines. Stay safe my furiends, and make sure you have a way to get back to your humans if you get lost!

If You Think Cats Are “Aloof” & “Antisocial” It Isn’t The Cat..It’s You!


Alberto –
“This is me being very social with my Female Human.”

How do I love this headline…let me count the ways! We felines get a bad rap about our purrsonalities and our inability to commit or show love.

Researchers from Oregon State University conducted tests with 23 shelter cats and 23 pet cats. They put the felines in rooms with some humans who completely ignored them and others who talked to them and petted them. Even though the humans were strangers, the cats spent much more time with the humans who paid them attention.  The researchers found that when you call us felines by our names, we pay more attention. (Duh, they needed science to figure this out?!) And, for all you nay saying folks who call us unloving, the study showed that cats will choose interaction with humans over food and toys. So there you go, another urban legend debunked. You can read about the study in Science Alert.

The Cat With Nine Lives…Or Two At Least

Sidney and one of his humans

The Female Human and her sister run a local Lost pet group and their favorite saying to humans looking for their lost pets is, “Never give up!” This story is a purrfect illustration of that. A feline made a what seemed to be a return from the dead when he appeared three years after his owners were told he had been run over and killed.

The human and her daughter were devastated when they were told their beloved Sidney had been run over and taken to the landfillby local workers. . When they received a call almost three years later from a woman who said she’d found Sidney they were incredulous.

The lady insisted it was Sidney (now six) who was alive and well and living 12 miles from them. The family had mourned Sidney and finally had dealt with the loss of their beloved feline. They didn’t believe it could be true that Sidney was alive but still they couldn’t ignore the call and went to visit the woman who said she had Sidney. She insisted it wasn’t some sort of a sick joke and that she’d had Sidney scanned and his microchip provided his name and address. The lady said Sidney had been living rough and was a little wild….until he saw his humans. He rolled over on his back and started meowing for a belly rub. Now that’s what I call a happy ending!

We Pay Homage to Walter Chandoha, Cat Photographer


Mr. Chandoha with his son Enrico and a subject in his home studio in 1961. CreditWalter Chandoha Archive

If there ever was a king of cat photography, it was Walter Chandoha. It all started one winter evening evening in 1949, Walter Chandoha was walking to his three-room apartment in Astoria, Queens, when he spotted an abandoned gray kitten shivering in the snow. He put the kitten in a pocket of his Army coat and brought it home to his wife, Maria.

The kittens antics were frenzied and the couple to named him Loco. Locos frenzied moves inspired. Mr. Chandoha (pronounced shan-DOE-uh) to photograph him.  Loco’s photos quickly sold to newspapers and magazines around the world and a career was born.

Taking pictures of cats soon began to look like a more fulfilling career path than the one in advertising that Mr. Chandoha had planned while attending New York University, after serving in World War II. So, after graduating, he turned to freelance photography for a living — and, by the mid-1950s, he was the dominant commercial cat photographer of his era.

By the time of his death on January 11th of this year, Mr. Chandoha had taken about 90,000 cat photos.  I think this man must have been greeted by so many felines who crossed the Rainbow Bridge ahead of him and I bet our Miss P. and Buster said hello too (and those two are very photogenic.) I wonder if they take pictures in heaven?

Walk Through The Web Wednesday 1/16

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siamese cat on a leash walking through a garden

Happy Wednesday Furiends,
It’s time for me to share my web wanderings with you. I hope you enjoy this week’s finds!
Purrs & Head Bonks,

Siamese cat with blue eyes

What Is Your Cat Type?

The Tribe received an email from a very nice human named Franz Ombler from the University of Otago, New Zealand. Now this isn’t about the New Zealand police cat (I may have to report on him later) but it’s about the good folks at the university who need to gather some data and test some technology. If you have a moment head on over to the survey and see what kinds of felines suit you best.

Two Cats, an Apartment and Apple TV

So what do you do when the felines and canines can’t get along? You ent the felines an apartment, that’s what you do! A human dad in Silicone Valley, in an attempt to keep the peace between his daughter’s cats and his fiancees dog opted for an innovative solution. He rented the cats a $1500.00 a month studio apartment for the felines, complete with Apple TV. The solution is only temporary until his daughter finishes school and gets her own place. I wonder if they asked the cats if they preferred Roku or Apple TV.

Japanese Kotatsu with Oranges-for Felines

Okay, I admit I had to have The Female Human read this to me three times before I understood what this is all about.  Evidently, in Japan, there’s a floor heater called a “kotatsu”. One gentleman (a local poultry dealer…I know, I didn’t get the chicken connection either) devised a new take on this heater just for cats. He offers a large box of the very popular mikan oranges with his cat sized kotatsu.  And evidently this new product is a huge hit. The product debuted in December and over 1,000 sets have been sold.   This just goes to show that if you combine the right marketing plan (a love of felines, delicious oranges and heat) you have a winner.  The cardboard kotatsu kit and 5 kilograms of the mandarin oranges costs 3,922 yen ($36.31) (tax is extra). One important point, this cardboard kitty kotatsu does not have a heater but a warm quilt over it will keep your felines cozy. I had the staff purruse Amazon.com and they did find a kotatsu for cats, but not one with oranges. Oh well, I suppose you could always send your staff to the store for the oranges.

Bohemian Catsody

Cats make everything better! This “Bohemian Catsody” is also fitting because if you know anything about Freddie Mercury, you know he was a feline aficionado . At one time he was living with 10 cats in his mansion so we know Freddie would approve!

Stray cats of Turkey’s Bursa live under one welcoming roof

I did a feature a while back about the wonderful care the strays of Istanbul receive. The town of Bursa is just as cat loving as Istanbul. In the winter they live in villas that are reserved just for them. The municipality built the “Cat Villas” that house about 200 stray felines. In the winter they have warmth and plenty of space to roam. There is also a Stray Animal Natural Life and Treatment Center there that hosts injured and sick cats. When the weather is nice, the cats can stroll in the villa gardens. Once the cats are rehabilitated and ready, they are adopted out to furever homes. I think The Tribe needs to talk to The Female Human about our own “cat villa”.

Walk Through The Web Wednesday….on Friday??

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siamese cat on a leash walking through a garden

Hello Furiends,
I have my whiskers in a twist today. Staff has been slacking off this week. The Purrsonal Assistant says it’s because she’s been busy entering our blog, some photos, etc. in the #CWA (Cat Writer’s Association) contest. IMHO she had plenty of time to do that, get our social media done, feed us, clean our litter boxes, freshen our cat grass, go to the place she calls work……hmm, okay, maybe I’d better lighten up on The Purrsonal Assistant.

While I go give The Female Human (Purrsonal Assistant aka staff) an apologetic head bonk, I hope you will purruse these new listings and enjoy them.
Purrs & Head Bonks,

Siamese cat with blue eyes

Meet Hamlet VIII, The Newest Algonquin Hotel Cat

I don’t know what to be excited about more….the information about the new Algonquin Hotel cat or the fact that I discovered a website called Hotels With Cats! The website is travel information for cat lovers, meowza, I love discovering new things.

But back to Hamlet. I’ve reported in the past about a previous Algonquin feline and I must say, that is one of the cushiest feline jobs ever. The Algonquin Cat custom has a long tradition. It is New York’s oldest working hotel and has had a feline mascot since a stray cat wandered in during the 1920’s. The name “Hamlet” was suggested by the actor John Barrymore and this is the name all the male cats have had. Female cats are called Matilda. The hotel has an executive assistant who also serves as Chief Cat Officer (a bit like our Female Human who also serves as our Purrsonal Assistant).  Hamlet VIII has his own business card and also receives fan mail and presents from around the world is one lucky former feral rescue!

Basepaws-the 23andMe for Felines

“So Oliver, what do you think Basepaws would say about our heritage and history…could two brothers ever look (or act) less alike?”

This feline DNA thing is pretty cool. You humans can find out about our ancestral roots, get a health report and see if our genetics influence our risk for certain health issues or if we’re carrying a genetic disorder (like Oliver who seems to be carrying the “fat” gene).   And if that information isn’t fantastic enough you humans can also find out neat things about us like predictions about our purrsonality, whether we might be likely to form a catnip addiction and other fun facts. This Basepaws stuff is the cat’s meow!

$1800.00 Feline Treadmill for Your Fat Cat

A feline treadmill for $1800.00? I’m not so sure. We opined about snoopervising The Female Human when she set up her treadmill and our positions in the mat and machine pretty much say it all. This is as much effort as we care to exert (come to think of it, The Female Human hasn’t exerted much effort on that machine lately either).

Still, when I look at my roly poly brother I have to admit that the idea of some exercise for the little fellow might be a good idea. Meet The Little Cat, an exercise machine from South Korea’s Pet Ding. Now if you felines can get over the fact that this thing looks like a hamster wheel, it has some cool features.  It’s pricey because it has all kinds of goodies like LED lights inside the wheel designed to attract the feline to the wheel and to keep the feline interested while he’s moving on it. And of course, there’s an app that goes with it as well. Humans get a live feed of the kitty work outs and they can also record their voice to encourage their kitty to move faster. The Little Cat is expected to be available for purchase in March. I think for now, I’ll just chase Oliver up and down the stairs for his daily exercise.

https://youtu.be/3US_jzrvSxY

Meows for Military Program a Success in Tucson

 Oh how I love shelters that come up with innovative programs that help felines and humans too. Hermitage No-Kill Cat Shelter and Sanctuary in Tucson teamed up with the Southern Arizona Veterans Administration Health Care System (SAVAHCS) for the ‘Meows for Military’ program which is in its third year.

The Meows for Military program provides weekly cat visits to SAVAHCS. The felines are all chosen for this purrrticular mission of being Feline Ambassadors. The veterans and humans receive love and some of the felines even receive a furever home through the program. Animal assisted therapy is proven to be a success and helps humans lower blood pressure, decrease rates of depression and anxiety and promote healing. Meowza, I love this idea.

Crazy Places Cat’s Hide At The Vets

“I am NOT hiding in this photo because The Female Human takes us to a cat friendly practice where we have no fear and no need to hide.” – Alberto, FelineOpines.net

There are some funny photos here showing how many of my feline furiends attempt to keep away from the vet but I have to say, going to the place of white coats with the stabby people can be nerve wracking. The Tribe of Five used to hide until the people with the white coats where we go built a brand new, fearless practice. Oliver and I opined about this place and it is amazing. I would suggest that all my feline furiends talk to your humans and have them find a cat friendly place with white coats too.

Walk Through The Web Wednesday 1/2/19

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siamese cat on a leash walking through a garden

Hello Furiends,
I hope you’re walkin’ into good things this year. The Female Human has been dealing with a bunch of stuff she calls “stress”. When I told her I didn’t understand what this “stress” is she explained that it’s a bit like when someone rings our doorbell..over and over. Meowza! That stress stuff is nasty!

I’m glad that she’s feeling up to her Purrsonal Assistant duties again and I hope you enjoy these first 2019 web wanderings.
Purrs & Head Bonks,

Siamese cat with blue eyes

A Hero Who Gets Cats Out of Tricky Tree Situations

Normer Adams retired from his career as a social worker and now works as a treed-cat rescuer.  In less than 2 years since he began his cat saving crusade he’s rescued 91 felines (an average of one a week).

Now you humans know we cats are great at climbing trees but we’re not so great at getting down the tree. Mostly we try to back down but Adams has seen cats trying to head down face first and when we do that we drop like a rock.

I saw two paws up to this man who understands felines and who is willing to help extricate us from our mistakes!

Ontario SPCA is Hiring Cats!

You folks know how much I love stories about cats with jobs. We felines like to make a contribution to society and if it gets us a home in the bargain, all the better. This is another wonderful working cat program. I just love it when humans think outside the box (although we felines prefer to think inside the box!)

Cat Beats Owners Score on Fruit Ninja

I realize many of you humans are big fans of online games but don’t leave your feline out of the fun. The cat in this video is called Mao Mao and she took over the game when her human set the tablet down.  I might remind you all that our Female Human gave us a little iPad to play with when we were kittens. I got bored with the fish game but now I’m thinking I should check out some of the other games. Play on my feline furiends! And check out Mao Mao’s moves on the video.
http://digg.com/video/cat-plays-tablet?jwsource=cl

Vancouver Cat Cafe Runs Out of Cats Now Has Bunnies

What’s better than a cat café? How about a cat café that runs out of cats and has partnered with a rabbit rescue to find furever homes for bunnies. Talk about a win-win situation! Vancouver’s very popular Catfe has been such a success that they ran out of felines in December.  So what did these enterprising humans do? They partnered with Rabbitats Rescue society in an event that’s so popular it’s been extended to the end of the months.  And the coolness factor for this cat café is pretty big…it was actually visited by Adele! Check out the video!

Kitty lovers become builders to provide Omaha’s feral cat population shelter for the winter

We love it when humans come together to do good things for felines and these 65 people did a great thing for feral cats in Omaha by building them shelters. These “crafty humans” built out of 20-gallon plastic storage bins. Each volunteer provided at least one bin that was filled with Styrofoam and filled with straw. I think my feline furiends should get your humans involved in something like this, especially if you live in a cold place like we do!

Walk Through The Web Wednesday 12/12

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siamese cat on a leash walking through a garden

Hello Furiends,
I don’t know what it looks like at your house but it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas around here. None of The Tribe of Five want to get out on the upstairs deck when The Female Human goes out to fill the bird feeder…brrr it’s cold out there. We’re staying warm and cozy by the fireplace until it warms up.

I hope you enjoy this week’s web wanderings.
Purrs & Head Bonks,
.

Siamese cat with blue eyes

Gift Guide for Cats and Cat Lovers – Tuft + Paw (and a Giveaway!)

The Tribe of Five gets to see and often try some fabulous stuff and it takes quite a bit for us to be blown away. When we saw the great gifts from Tuft + Paw (for felines and the humans who love them) we said, “Meowza!” We think you’ll enjoy purrusing their online catalog.

And guess what? The good folks at Tuft + Paw are giving away two “fish” cat toys to some lucky winner. To enter, just send an email to FelineOpines@gmail.com and type “I want my cat toy” in the subject. Two winners will be drawn at random at the end of the month and we’ll notify the winners and get their address information. 


This Mischievous Cat Got Himself Trapped In A Car Engine But Now He’s Like Yeah, Whatever

Dominic Pimenta, a doctor who lives in London, drove his wife to her night shift — about half an hour from their home — and on his way back, he stopped in at the supermarket for milk. When he got out of the car he heard meowing. He checked around everywhere and couldn’t find the source but still he kept hearing the meowing.  Then he realized it was coming from his car. After enlisting the help of a passerby who was a nurse, they discovered Max inside the car engine.  The fire brigade was called and after a complicated extrication Max was freed. And today he’s prancing around like nothing ever happened.  Good grief my furiends, stay away from human’s cars!

It’s Not Too Late To Get Your Vote in For Coolest Cat

Head on Over to The Cool Cat Gallery   and cast your vote for the coolest cat in Livingston Parrish. I’m rather fond of Flapjack. 

Seven Ways to Tell If Your Cat is Mad at You.

First, allow me to say that some cats just look like they are angry. Take our Alpha Tucker for instance. He is a sweet guy but sometimes he does look a bit grumpy. Having said that,it does happen that we felines get miffed about things. I would suggest if you have a feline in residence that you read this article in order that you are able to take care of the expected apology post-haste. 

It’s Best To Talk To Your Cats

Might I suggest that you take a break from all the great cat photos and videos online and take some time to have a conversation with your felines? We know our names and we often respond to you when you talk to us.  Jasmine addresses this issue in our new book Felines Opine on Etiquette (What Humans Need to Know About Guests, Cat Sitters and Furniture) and says that her Siamese heritage accounts for her being a very “yakky” feline. And she also says that she appreciates it when humans engage her in conversation and she never judges any human on their cat language skills. We felines just appreciate the effort humans make when they talk to us. 

Walk Through The Web Wednesday 11/28

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siamese cat on a leash walking through a garden

Hello My Furiends,
I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving with your humans and other furry and feathered friends. Our Humans went away for a few days but we were very well cared for by our cat sitter, Cathy. I was a bit miffed however when The Male and Female Human came home smelling of puppy! It took me a few days to get over this betrayal but all is forgiven now and the provision of extra petting and treats helped.
Purrs & Head Bonks,

Cat’s in Literature? It’s a Long Tail


“Mrs. Tabitha’s Cats Academy” (London, Ernest Nister, 1892 (c) The British Library Board)

The fact that cats are associated with litter-ary tomes is no news to this feline.A new exhibition at the British Library explores the rich literary history of us wonderful felines through a purr-fect display of books, manuscripts and artwork. The exhibition is titled, Cats on the Page,and features exhibits from the 16th century to the modern era. Much of the exhibition is from children’s literature like  Cat in the Hat, Mog (the feline hero of a series by Judith Kerr) and a pictureof Beatrix Potter’s Kitty-in-Boots by Quentin Blake.  Leave it to our feline loving friends across the pond to honor cats with an exhibition at the British Library. Our American museums need to step it up!

Argos Selling “Parasol” Christmas Trees for Cat Owners

Two paws up forthese enterprising British humans! The company says that it will “keep yourcat’s claws far away from low-hanging baubles and also offerloads of extra room for presents and/or activities.” 

This tree sells for £33.33(about $42.77 US). Now some of you humans may be meowing that this is rather pricey but I ask you, isn’t your cat’s happiness worth it? How many more year swill you deprive your felines from a festive Christmas fir?  And if you are feeling fancy you cam pay a little more for a sow covered effect. Felines unite! Insist that your humans provide you with a Christmas tree this year. And by the way, these tree makers have evidently not encountered a feline like myself who is a master of climbing up things and knocking down things. If you have a feline in residence like me, you may want to put that tree in cement. Oh, and unless your a lucky moggie across the pond, your  humans will not be able to purchase this tree as Argos does not do international delivery (hiss).

Christmas Cat Cost Causes Controversy 

Now far be it from me to meow about the cost of anything feline related but methinks purrhaps the City of Reykjavík went a bit over the top here. The city council spent a total of 4.4 million ISK on a large LED Christmas Cat on Lækjartorg Square.   (I had our Purrsonal Assistant find out how much this is in USD and it’s about $35 million). When I asked why they would have a huge cat statue at Christmas, I was expecting a warm and fuzzy story. What I got was the legend of the Yule Cat which is pretty horrifying, The legend says this is a huge and vicious cat said to lurk about the snowy countryside during Christmas time and eat people who have not received any new clothes to wear before Christmas Eve. Seriously???? A people eating cat?? I say, “Get your money back Reykjavík and stop perpetrating this horrible fable! Hiss.

High Speed Video of Cat Tongues Reveal Another Reason Whey They’re Superior

Okay, you humans have been meowing about the raspy tongues of your felines for years. Well this should put all that kvetching to rest once and for all. First and foremost,stop giving us baths because scientists have proved that we felines are way better at cleaning ourselves than you are. Your assistance is superfluous.

A very smart scientistnamed David Hu used videos taken with high speed cameras to study the feline’sgrooming techniques. He learned that we felines have a four-phase grooming regime that is aided by tiny spikes on our tongues (so far this is not new information to me or my humans who have often suffered the “kiss” across the face from a raspy tongue). Evidently what is new information is the specifics of the construction of these little spikes and that they fill up with saliva.

The four-step process we cats use to groom ourselves the little spikes is quite efficient. The tongue first extends outwards from the mouth, then the little spikey thingies stiffen and finally, when we complete the sweeping lick across our luxurious fur, it deposits water that’s stored in the hollow cavities in the spikey thingies.  One final note, the tongues of our barkie furiends is flat and cannot transport water. Score another one for the felines!


Cats drinking from taps are the best new entertainment online

It is a fact that we felines own the internet and there’s always something new to enjoy about us. The latest phenomenon is cats drinking from faucets. Now frankly, I find this fascination puzzling. All of The Tribe of Five have been or are faucet drinkers. Felines poised over faucets are nothing new.  Still, Dusty, an Alaskan feline more adept at lapping at air than drinking water, has had over 38,000 people talking about his antics on social media. As a result, many folks are posting other feline’s water drinking attempts. At the risk of sounding bitter I cannot help but get my whiskers in a bit of a twist. I am a feline who opines on his own blog, who has (IMHO) some rather pithy comments in my blog and who has yet to get over 38,000 folks starting conversations about me. Seriously, what does a cat have to do?