Walk Through the Web Wednesday 5/09

WebWednesday

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

 

Vintage Photos of Pampered Cats – National Geographic

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

 

Why Do Cats Wag Their Tails? – Gizmodo

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

 

7 Apps All Cat Owners Should Have – Bustle

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

Dogs and Cats and Decorating – The NY Times

CatDecorating

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

Seven Ways to TurnYour Partner Into A Cat Person – Bustle

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

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

 

 

 

 

The Female Human Opines

Hi There Folks.,
Alberto here. As you know, the name of this blog is “FELINE Opines” but once in a while we allow the Human to opine on something we think is important. This post she did for KatzenWorld is a very important subject and highlights a new program called Home to Home  (created and implemented in our own local shelter, (Panhandle Animal Shelter) where Oliver and I and Lily came from.

We think this is an important message and we hope you do too.
Purrs & Head Bonks,
Siamese cat with blue eyes

WhenForeverIsntForevber

Click here for the story

 

 

And Now For Something Different

Hi Folks,
Our friends at 15andmeowing and McGuffy’s Reader are taking a “paws” from fill-ins this week so we’re joining Feline Friday hosted by Comedy Plus, Create With Joy’s Friendship Friday and XMAS Dolly’s Show Off Tuesday. The Female Human and I had a little play time yesterday.
Purrs & Head Bonks,

black and white cat Oliver

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Okay Human, I will play with you

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Are you going to swing that toy or are you just going to sit there?

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I am fierce, I am a beast, beware of my moves!

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Fear the claws Human, fear the claws. 

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Okay, I am done. You may leave now.

 

Walk Through the Web Wednesday 5/2

siamese cat on a leash walking through a garden

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

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

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

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

MeyersBriggs

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

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

Pizza Cat – Eat Meow – ToledoBlade.com

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

Troy Police Reveal Name of Station Cat – Detroit Free Press

PoliceCat

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

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

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

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

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

Hugo

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

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

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

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

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

 

 

#AtoZChallenge Z

Hello,
img_1429-1Oliver here. I’m wrapping up our April A-Z blogging challenge with the last letter which is “Z” and that stands for “ZAFTIG”. Our Female Human was born in Germany and she speaks German so this word is one she is fond of. I kinda’ like it too because rather than calling me fat, rotund, chubby, etc. I think zaftig gives me a more dignified air.

On behalf of the Tribe of Five, I thank you all for reading our challenge blog posts and, if you have a blog, we encourage you to join next year.
Purrs & Head Bonks from your zaftig friend.

#AtoZChallenge Y

Hi there folks,
img_3344Alberto here. Today’s letter is “Y” and that stands for “Yowl”. Please pull up a seat and allow me to explain this word from a feline point of view. As all of the Tribe has some Siamese in us, we do have a tendency to talk but we object to the word yowl.

Yowl means “a loud wailing cry, especially one of pain or distress.” When you humans use this word to describe every sound we make we are offended. Sometimes (usually in the wee hours of the morning) we like to stand outside your bedroom door and sing the song of our people. This is singing not yowling.

Sometimes we just want to get your attention or have a short little chat, this is talking, not yowling.

Felines yowl when they are in dire circumstances. If your felines are communicating with you vocally, please use the proper adjective and do not state that we are yowling.

This public service announcement has been brought to you by The Tribe of Five on behalf of the felines of the world.

Friendly Fill Ins #103

Hi Friends,
Oliver here. Oh my whiskers! Our purrsonal assistant was busy doing other things (non of which are as important as our blog) and did not get the Friendly Fill ins posted yesterday,. Meowza it’s hard to find good help!

As I say, better late than never so here they are. The blog hop is sponsored and created by our furiends at 15andmeowing and McGuffy’s Reader. Head on over and enter the “hop” at McGuffy’s reader or you can post your fill ins in our comments (we love to hear you opine!)

Purrs & Head Bonks,

black and white cat Oliver

 

Here are the fill in questions:

1. I could really use ____________________.

2. ________________________ is a charity that I like to support.

3. One time, I broke                           , and                          .

4. I wish that I had                    , when I was young(er).

Here are my answers:

 

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The struggle is real

1.I could really use another Dharma Dog Karma Cat bed. The female human won a beautiful bed for us and Alberto seems to have claimed it as his own. I quite like it too. Come to think of it though, if the Humans get another bed, I’d prefer something a bit wider as getting into this one is a tight squeeze.

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2.The Panhandle Animal Shelter is a charity I like to support. Well, actually we send the female human out to do a table at the annual fund raiser and to share some of our pawsome swag with the shelter cats there. But I am a big supporter as this is where my brother Alberto and I came from as well as Lily,
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Check out his tail, wasn’t much left to glue. MOL

3. One time I broke one of The Female Human’s favorite pottery birds and The Male Human hid it so I wouldn’t get in trouble. She found it eventually and attempted to glue the tail back on but it’s never been the same.
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4. I wish that I had  known what a great cuddle buddy Tucker is when I was younger.

#AtoZChallenge X

Hi There,
Tucker here. Today’s letter is “X” and that stands for “X-RAY” , as in X-ray eyes. Any of you humans who live with felines are furmaliar with that x-ray, mind controlling stare we employ to get you to do our bidding. Every feline needs to master the art of the stare as this is the first step in training your Humans.

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Tucker: this is my x-ray stare technique, looking cute and maximizing my crossed blue eyes to their best advantage. How could you refuse anything this sweet face asks??

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Lily: I use my unusual round eyes for my x-ray stare technique to capture The Human’s attention and then I just stare and stare. Pretty soon they cave to my will.  I am silently saying, “Oh please, give me just one treat.”

 

 

 

 

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Jasmine: My x-ray eyes technique, I will stare at The Humans with my baby blues until they do the right thing (and the right thing is whatever I want them to do.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Oliver: I use the “You’ve got to be kidding me!” x-ray eye technique. After a while, the Humans will realize they are being judged and found lacking and they will cave.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Alberto:
My x-ray eye technique is a bit on the snarky side. I have this certain look that I will maintain. Soon enough the Humans begin to feel they have done something I find egregious and then they will begin to attempt to find out what it is that I need.