Tag Archives: Alberto

Walk Through The Web Wednesday – 11/29

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Hello Furiends!
We hope you and your humans had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. It was nice that The Human had a little bit of extra time to spend with us and we loved it.

Now that the weather is getting wintery The Human has rolled out one of our favorite heating devices. It doesn’t get too hot so it’s a nice spot to sit and enjoy the warmth it provides. The problem is that there really is only room for one cat and this sometimes causes discord as you can see below.

Ah, my favorite spot. I am king of the heat.
Excuse me Alberto. I too like to sit on the heater.
File that under “F” for “fat chance.”
Alberto, we need to have a discussion.

Needless to say, Oliver and I worked out a heater seating deal.

Now it’s time to see what news we found on the interwebs this week. I hope you enjoy the stories.

There are heroes and then there are HEROES

Photo credit: Asheville Tree-Top Cat Rescue

Our human family has connections with the military and we always apurreciate the service of our soldiers. This Air Force veteran is continuing his public service by helping Asheville, NC communities and surrounding areas catch cats that got a little too curious.

Retired Air Force colonel Spencer Cocanour offers free help through Asheville Tree-Top Cat Rescue, rescuing cats from trees. His career went from working special operations and personal recovery with planes and pilots to personal recovery of cats.

His service to local felines started with a conversation with his wife when she noticed his climbing kit in the garage. When she asked what it was, he responded that he might have to rescue a cat some day and that was the start of it all.

As of the time of his interview with NBC24 he had rescued 140-150 cats.

Cat rescuing is almost as dangerous as his military duties, especially when he has to climb a dead tree. He tries to avoid them and says he’ll try to climb a live tree next to it and either swing over to the dead tree or tie off on another so he doesn’t end tumbling down.

Cocanour says most cats will come down on their own by day two but that’s not always the case.“Dehydration is my biggest concern when it comes to a cat in a tree,” he said. “So if you go more than four days, they start having a lot of kidney issues.”

Colonel Cocanour, we felines salute you and thank you for your service to treed kitties. If you’re a brave soul that would like to help Cocanour on his mission or you just need your cat rescued, you can contact him through Facebook on the Asheville Tree-Top Cat Rescue page.

“As long as I’m still able to climb the trees, I’m still doing it,” he said. “Keeps me entertained.”

Not all scents make sense for cats

Human, what is that smell!

The holidays are especially scenty and we felines don’t always like them all. Some of the smells you humans like are not apurreciated by felines.

Our sense of smell is strong. What you humans can smell from 10 feet away, we cats can smell 140 feet away — that’s half the length of a football field.  

Smells that we do not like are some spices, strong seasonings, citrus and even some fruits. We also object to the smell of overripe bananas and essential oils, like tea tree, peppermint, cinnamon, pine and wintergreen. Please keep these smells away from our litter boxes.

Also some essential oils in diffusers are toxic to cats and cause terrible health issues. So please, think of your feline and try to keep our home a little less scenty.

A $70,000 backyard amenity – for your feline

Well, Christmas is coming and what feline wouldn’t a mansion-like catio?

According to Business Insider there are only about 50 builders in the world who specialize in indoor-outdoor enclosures. Alan Breslauer, owner of Southern California-based Custom Catios, is one of them.

Breslauer started in the business when his two bickering kittens couldn’t share space in his Los Angeles high-rise apartment. He found an article about catios, installed one in his home, brought peace to his feline household and launched a business.

Breslauer lives with three cats, Santos Six Toes, Herbie the Love Bug, and Trey  and is now the go-to guy on the West Coast for custom cat enclosures. His business is booming and you can see his work at @CatioGuy on Instagram, where he has 158,000 followers. Since launching in 2017, Breslauer’s company has built about 400 enclosures, with most clients paying between $5,000 and $15,000, but some doling out as much as $70,000 or more, he said.

And if any of you humans think this is a pricey gift for your felines, Breslauer says, “It’s like keeping a sports car in the garage. Cats have all this amazing equipment, and we don’t let them use it.”

What kind of things can a feline expect from a $15,000.00 plus catio from Breslauer? He says, “When we put everything in there, like climbing poles, hiding boxes, cat ladders, cat steps, spiral staircases, floating steps, loft ladders, we call that ‘Cat Disneyland.  We’re custom and we really do anything that’s different or unique — we jump at that opportunity. We want to do fun things.”

Some clients try to push the envelope as much as they can. A Las Vegas client asked Breslauer to build a catio from their house down a 120-foot run in the backyard, with an enclosed walkway behind the pool and against the grotto so the owners could enjoy their cat’s company while in the hot tub.

Breslauer doesn’t often work with homebuilders to add catios directly into the blueprints, but he said there’s value in them once your home hits the markets.

So my furiends, looks like we should all be campaigning for the ultimate Christmas gift!

Town to expand program that ‘deputizes’ feral cats to control rat population

Deputy Oliver at your service!

I love working cat stories and the creative ways humans figure out how to get felines “hired”. Police in Niles, Illinois – a suburb of Chicago – began a pilot program in August to “deputize” five feral cats to control the rat population,  and it’s worked so well that the department says it is looking to extend the program.

The “deputies” have been working for about three years under the care of a local resident.

Niles Police Sergeant Dan Borkowski told Pioneer Press through email that the department reviewed complaint data from the Development Department and resident feedback, and decided to continue and expand the feral cat program. Borkowski said the department had yet to determine where the cats will be placed because it’s contingent on cat availability and host families to take care of the cats.

Borkowski also said they would keep the cats in a more defined territory. The village’s animal control officer gave Sarwat Hakim, the resident who has been watching over the feral cats, three makeshift, tarped shelters for the felines.

A Pioneer Press analysis of rat complaints revealed that, two months before the pilot programme began, there were only two rat complaints within 1,500ft (0.45km) of the cats’ homes. After the pilot programme began, there were no more complaints within the area.

Hakim said the cats usually stay in the neighborhood or head off into the forest preserves, where they hunt for rats.

Hakim said before the cats were in the area, she used to see a lot of rats and rat traps. She hasn’t seen a rat trap in the neighborhood for about a year.

Two paws up for the Police in Niles and for the good people that look after the “deputies”.

Vancouver Island family  reunited with cat nearly 7 months after he went missing

And here we have another one of my favorite stories and a message of hope from a family just north of our neck of the woods.

Mucky the cat went missing on May 1st. Christi Wright with Finding Felines said that the owner suspected Mucky was in the back of his dad’s truck, possibly snoozing, and jumped out when the vehicle stopped. .

Mucky managed to toughed it out and survived on his own for six months before he began searching for food and shelter in warmer places as the weather turned chilly.

He would return over and over again to one woman’s house. He availed himself of the use of her and the food she left out for her own cats. He could come and go at his pleasure. Mucky also visited another woman a few roads over and both women began to worry if the cat might be lost.

On November 15th, both women messaged Finding Felines to express their concern.

Shortly after on November 18th, one of the women was able to capture him inside her house after he used the cat door and she took him into Finding Felines to be scanned for a microchip.

They found him to be a friendly, intact male with no ID. Everyone at Finding Felines could tell that he had been loved, so Wright offered to take him home to keep him confined and safe while they attempted to find his owner. 

Wright contacted Foster Kritters Feral Cat Rescue Society, and a lady working there offered to help by having Mucky neutered right away. 

The next morning, Mucky’s owner contacted Finding Felines after seeing a post about him on their Facebook page!

She came in to see if it was indeed Mucky, and to everyone’s excitement, it was! She immediately recognized Mucky’s belly markings and thin tail—there was no mistaking her boy!

Wright explained the arrangement Foster Kritters had made for Mucky to be neutered, and his owner agreed it was best and had been her intention before he went missing. 

She happily offered to cover all the costs associated with the appointment, so on November 21st, Mucky was neutered, and Wright was able to finally bring him home to his family for good. 

According to Wright and Mucky’s family, he’s settling back in at home well and enjoying all the extra love and cuddles!

“It was such a wonderful story, and I’m glad it’s being shared to give others who are still missing their beloved pets hope,” Wright said.

Remember what we always say at Feline Opines, “Think lost not stray!”

Thanksgiving wishes from the Feline Opines gang – 11/22

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Hello Furiends,
I’m guessing that all my U.S. feline furiends are smelling some tasty turkey about now. The Human is hurrying to have things ready to take to her family for a big feast. We will be back next week with our regular Walk Through The Web Wednesday feature but for today, we wanted to tell you all how grateful we are for you and to wish everyone lots of leftovers, purrs and naps.

We have each prepared a little Thanksgiving message for you. Until next week!
Purrs & Head Bonks,
Alberto, Oliver, Lily and The Human

Walk Through the Web Wednesday – 11/15

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Hello Furiends,
Since you humans decided to take away an hour of daylight from us, we felines have had a bit of trouble adjusting. It’s dark by 4:30 in our neck of the woods and we’re bit confused. I normally sit on the hallway cabinet and scream when I can’t figure out why The Human isn’t in bed to cuddle. Needless to day, this does not go over well with The Human. So, when all else fails, we nap.

Me attempting to adjust to daylight savings time
Oliver attempting to adjust to daylight savings time.
Lily attempting to adjust to daylight savings time.

Still, there was a bit of drama when Oliver’s girlfriend showed up one afternoon.

Hello, is Oliver there?
Oh good grief, she won’t leave me alone!
Why are you interrupting my late morning nap time?
I already told you, I’m not a one feline type of guy!
Oh for heaven’s sake, I’m going back to my nap. Human, you deal with her.

Since the little tiff, Oliver’s girlfriend has not visited. I hope she found a boyfriend who treats her nicer!

Community comes together to build cat haven

Two paws up for the people in this community who created this project in Newberry to keep the local cats safe, dry and warm.

Of felines and funding

Excuse me sir, would you be interested in investing in my new cat product?

This article was of interest to The Human as she is an entrepreneur. Did you know that feline-focused startups receive far less funding than those targeting the canine crowd?  Using Crunchbase data, a list was created of 11 companies funded in roughly the past couple years with a full or major focus on felines.

Altogether, they’ve pulled in nearly $140 million for offerings ranging from human-grade cat food to microbiome-based supplements to an AI-enabled movement-tracking collar.

The article lists a number of feline product providers who have received funding. Still, this feline wonders why there aren’t more when U.S. households alone are estimated to house more than 58 million cats. Globally, the population is in the hundreds of millions. Add to that the fact that spending on pets surged during the pandemic, as did venture funding for pet-focused startups. Data indicates cat owners aren’t scaling back, either.

The percentage of American households with cats has actually kept increasing, even after pandemic restrictions waned. Perhaps it helps that even if we’re at home less, cats are pretty content to be on their own.

So all you feline focused entrepreneurs get those products out there!

Man’s Best Friend Can’t Compare to These 9 Adventure Cats

My regular readers know how I love stories about adventure cats and this article from Outsider Magazine features 9 very cool adventure kitties.

The two featured in the photo here are the team of Pinecone and Mushroom. Their outdoor skillset is hiking and kayaking. Their human, Becca Terry loves to hike and kayak. After the shut down, she got Pinecone and she was excited to take the feline out to see and enjoy the things she had missed.

Pinecone became the perfect hiking partner. A year later, Mushroom joined the family, and picked up the adventure spirit quickly, despite visual challenges from only having one eye. Because cats are inquisitive and want to inspect everything, they hike at a generally slower pace than people, which can help their human companions slow down and “smell the roses”.

“When we go somewhere with Mushroom, usually I make sure I have a decent amount of time to be out on the trail,” Terry says. “Or sometimes I’ll pick a spot that’s shorter, like instant gratification—like a drive up to a mountaintop—but I let her move how she wants to move.”

Also, Mushroom is here to defy whatever stereotypes you have about cats being afraid of water. She’s not only a brave hiker but a regular kayaker. “I have her in my lap, and we don’t go on anything that’s got a lot of rapids,” Terry says. “So she usually falls asleep like she does in the car.”

Be sure and read about the other adventure cats in this article.

How the Feline Star of The Marvels Prepared to Play Goose the Cat

 

The Marvel Cinematic Universe’s favorite feline is back. Goose the cat returnsto the big screen in The Marvels.

While the character of Goose is returning for The Marvels, the feline actor who portrayed the animal companion in Captain Marvel did not reprise their role. The Marvels filmed in the U.K., not the U.S., like Captain Marvel, and recruited local animal talent for the movie.

Jo Vaughan, an animal trainer for the film and TV industry, was the lucky individual tapped to help select the cat for the Goose’s part and train the feline for the movie.

The trainer found a selection of cats that looked like the feline who played Goose in Captain Marvel, and two of those animals got the part.

“They picked Tango as the lead cat, and then we utilized Nemo as a backup cat,” Vaughn tells PEOPLE of the pets selected for the role.

Meowza, did those cats have to learn a lot as they were both new to acting. Vaughn “started from scratch,” training the cats for the movie over three months. First, she tackled environmental training, making the felines comfortable with a live film set’s active, loud, and often chaotic environment.

“The environment is a big factor because cats are generally quite nervous creatures, so they have to be comfortable around all those people and sounds,” the trainer says.

Most cats’ initial timidness to new environments is one of the most noticeable differences between training cats and dogs for Vaughn.

“Everybody takes their dog for a walk. Most people take their dogs in the car. Unless you’re taking your cat to the vet, nobody takes their cats anywhere. Usually, if your cat goes outside your house, it’s a bad experience. So you have to teach cats all these new things are positive,” she adds.

After mastering environmental training, Tango and Nemo focused on learning specific behaviors needed for The Marvels. Before filming started, Vaughn trained both cats to hit all their marks based on what appeared in the script.

“The biggest thing to us trainers is that the cat is comfortable knowing what we’re asking of them,” Vaughn says.

Because the cats are trained to perform certain behaviors on cue, even when surrounding circumstances change, they rarely get starstruck.

“If they have to sit on somebody’s shoulder, we teach them long before they ever come to set how to jump and ride on someone’s shoulder. So to them, it doesn’t make much difference who that person is,” Vaughn says.

For those who want to bring a little movie magic into their home by training their cats, Vaughn, who has six dogs, three cats, and a bearded dragon, suggests stocking up on treats.

“They don’t work for nothing. So you have to find something that they want in return for asking them to do something,” the trainer says, adding that, for cats, “it’s usually treats.”

“Animals are a lot easier to train at home, and it’s quite rewarding,” Vaughn says. “It definitely builds more of a bond than you would have just living alongside a pet.”

So now you know what it takes to be a feline movie star.

Walk Through The Web Wednesday – 10/4

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Hello There Furiends!
Alberto here. I hope you are enjoying fall as much as we are. Fall is our (and The Human’s) favorite season. We’ve been all been hard at work, purrticularly Lily who never is late reminding The Human of our various treat times during the work day. She gets an A+ as our food coordinator.

“Pardon me Human, sorry to interrupt but it’s early afternoon treat time.”

I am was busy putting together a tutorial for felines on how to thoroughly enjoy a sun puddle (especially important during these cooler days).

  • “You must position purrfectly in the sun puddle.”

I also have to schedule an “Al hug” in my busy work schedule.

“Phase one, jump on The Human’s lap and instruct her to prepare for her Al hug.”
Step two is hard to capture on camera but this is one perspective of the completion of the Al hug.”

Oliver is spending his work time searching for the best bed on the cat tree. Unfortunately, today he commandeered my bed!

“So Al, gotta’ problem with this?”

That’s the past work week in our neck of the woods. How are things in your neck of the woods?

Cat’s hide-a-bed mishap named most unusual pet claim of the year

I have reported about this reward in the past and this year’s winner’s story bears  v covering in my newsfeed. Nationwide is presenting its 15th annual Hambone Award to New York City’s Giles the Cat, who was injured in a sleeper sofa incident.

According to Giles humans, Reid and Kaitlyn, the debacle started with a visit from Reid’s parents and a night spent on a hide-a-bed.

Reid noted that it was a regular practice to make sure Giles wasn’t under the couch when the sofa was open as he would always race under it. “

In an early morning rush to the airport, the family neglected to check for Giles before folding up the bed, according to Reid, who added: “When they put the couch away, they didn’t realize that he was under there and … the mechanism or whatever bopped him in the face pretty good.”

After rescuing Giles from his sofa prison, they rushed to the vet. Giles ended up with some stitches and hopefully, an aversion to hide-a-beds.  

The Hambone Award is given to bring awareness to the unique situations pets can cause and how pet insurance can help their owners manage the costs when an animal companion has a mishap, according to Nationwide. In addition to this award, Giles’ owners received a gift card and a donation made in the cat’s name to a pet charity of the family’s choice.

“Giles’ predicament shows just how easily an ordinary situation can become precarious for a pet,” Dr. Jules Benson, vice president of pet health and chief veterinary officer for Nationwide, said in a release. “We’re so glad that the quick actions of Giles’ family and their veterinary care team set him up for a speedy recovery.”

Nationwide reported that all of the nominated pets made full recoveries and their owners were reimbursed for the veterinary expenses covered by the company’s pet policies.

Austin man reunited with cat after Lyft driver drove off with animal still inside

A Northwest Austin man has been reunited with his cat after he the Lyft driver drove off with the cat still inside. The man had taken Lyft to take his cat to the vet. When they arrived at their destination, the man got out of the car to come to the other side of the vehicle and get his cat who was in her carrier on the floor. Before he reached the door, the Lyft driver took off and the poor man ran after him. He notified everyone he could , contacted Lyft, put up posters and everything he could think of to do to get his beloved cat, Tux back. After about 36 hours Tux was found without her carrier, hiding under some stairs.
Dear Lyft driver….I hiss in your general direction!

Philippine security guards adopt stray cats

A street cat named Conan found a new home and a job as a security guard. He now not only does his own job but motivates his human co-workers to do their job as well. Two paws up for working cats!!

Sailing family has a couple of rescue cats as ‘first mates’

I’ve reported on sailing felines before and am always fascinated when I come upon a new story. These two cats ended up traveling from Boston to the Bahamas on a 48-foot aluminum sailboat. Meowza!  In September 2021, the Weiss family made this trip with their two “boat” cats. The family was living on the sailboat when they decided to sail to the Bahamas. Alex and Joy set sail with their daughter Kinsley and their two rescue cats. Peter is a 13-year-old black domestic short-hair and Pumpkin is a 3-year-old orange Maine Coon.  

During the voyage, Peter and Pumpkin would often curl up beside or on a family member below deck. But they also enjoyed spending time on deck. “They slept in the sun and watched the sea birds.  But it wasn’t always smooth sailing for these felines like the time  Pumpkin insisted on being on deck even during rough weather. 

 The family arrived in the Bahamas in January 2022, and spent four months on the island. When they docked, the cats were a big hit. “They kind of served as ambassadors as we went everywhere. People would stop and start a conversation.’” Joy said.

The family spent four months in the Bahamas and described their trip with cats as a success. They now live in an East Boothbay home, but they do not expect to take any long sailing trips with their cats. “They both did really well sailing. They get along, but Peter is a little older and stiff, so he’s not as adept for long travels. So, I don’t think we will be taking another long trip with him,” Joy said.

Don’t be shocked if your cat glows in the dark — it’s normal: study says

Okay, this non-sciency cat has some reservations about this but then again, who am I to argue with human scientists? Evidently veterinary researchers have discovered that cats “glow” in the dark, according to a new study published in the journal Royal Society Open Science.

Evidently, we felines shine bright under UV light.

Scientists in Australia analyzed a museum’s collection of mammals to see how many glow in the dark with a UV light turned on. They also tested the glow to see if it was actually fluorescence and not a different phenomenon.

Lead author Kenny Travouillon, a paleontologist and acting curator of ornithology at Western Australian Museum, tested frozen and preserved mammal specimens. The findings were then sent to Curtin University in Perth for analysis under a range of UV lights.

They found that 125 species had the fluorescent properties that allow them to glow in the dark under a UV light, including the domestic species of cat (Felis catus).

“We report fluorescence for 125 mammal species, from half of all mammalian families and representing almost all clades in the mammalian phylogeny,” the scientists wrote.

Other mammals that were found to illuminate under UV lights include bats, platypus, koalas, polar bears, zebras, dolphins and humans.

While there are various forms of fluorescence, all include the absorption of light and a low-level emission, which often results in a glow.

 “Fluorescence was most common and most intense among nocturnal species and those with terrestrial, arboreal and fossorial habits, with more of their body being more fluorescent,” the authors wrote.

Photographs showed that 125 species — 54 nocturnal and 71 diurnal — glowed under some sort of UV light, and the most fluorescent animals were typically white or pale yellow in color.

“While the amount and location of fluorescence varied between species, all exhibited some form of apparent fluorescence. Areas of fluorescence included white and light fur, quills, whiskers, claws, teeth and some naked skin,” the scientists said.

 “It remains unclear if fluorescence has any specific biological role for mammals. It appears to be a ubiquitous property of unpigmented fur and skin but may function to make these areas appear brighter therefore enhance visual signaling, especially for nocturnal species,” study authors said.

And of course, The Human is now bent on purchasing a UV light to test this theory herself. We will publish her un-scientific results in an upcoming blog post.

Walk Through The Web Wednesday – 9/27

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Happy Fall My Furiends,
The colors are changing, the rain is raining and the weather is cozy in our neck of the woods (and we hope in your neck of the woods too). We’ve been fairly boring this past week but have been enjoying the fire and snuggling with The Human. The Human did buy us some new catnip paper bags and we quite enjoy them. Lily likes them too but every time The Human tries to get a picture of her in the bag, she scampers away.

Ah, the beloved catnip bag!

Lily, likes to visit the pantry area at 12:30, 4:30 and 8:00pm looking for treats. Oliver and I like to hang around her because she is the “treat master”.

Human, please check your watch as it’s treat time.
Fine, ignore me. I will be back later!

And then there’s the strange arrival of a four-legged family member at The Human’s brother’s house. We have no idea what this creature is nor do any of us have the desire to meet her!

Why would anyone get an animal like this when they could have a cat??!!

Oh meowza, I hope The Human is not planning on bringing one of these four legged creatures to our house!

Let’s get on with this week’s news.

How this US-based veterinarian returned to Greece to help her ‘stray cat friends

Anna Katogirtis grew on the remote island of Karpathos, Greece. She struggled to make friends and found that she found friendship and comfort from the thousands of stray cats that roamed the island.  She says that the  of Karpathos showed her “a kinder version of our world,” despite the unkindness that she often experienced at school, and helped to make her childhood special.

“At the time, taking care of stray cats was the one thing that was giving me hope and just a better view of the world,” Katogiritis tells CNN Travel. “Receiving kindness from anything other than people I guess.”

She received a degree in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology at the University of Crete, and was then offered a place at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine and moved to Virginia, where she met her now husband.

Despite all the places her position took her, she never forgot the stray cats of Karpathos.

Despite the fact that island has acquired at least two vets since she left, and a local animal welfare group was established in 2000, the stray problem continues.  

In 2018, Katogiritis started working on plans for her non-profit animal rescue and education organization Animal Welfare Karpathos, founded in August 2020, bringing on board members and volunteers from the local group.

After experiencing some setbacks with funding, Katogiritis opted to fund the pilot program herself, purchasing the medical equipment and medications, as well as covering some of the expenses of the three volunteer veterinary students who agreed to fly from the US to Greece with her.

Katogiritis began the program in 2021. During the first year, Katogiritis and a team of volunteers went from village to village with their supplies and equipment, setting up mobile clinics and spaying or neutering stray cats. She estimates that they treated around 300 to 320 cats during a three-week period.

“We could have done a lot more,” Katogiritis says. “But what we focused on the most was reaching out to the community and inspiring them to take care of strays.

She spent much of her time educating the people about caring for strays and her efforts began to be successful.

Some of the tourists who visit the island have gone on to donate to the program, while a number of local hotels have offered up free rooms to the volunteers.

In 2022, Katogiritis, who was five months pregnant at the time, went back to the island, which has a population of just over 6,000, to repeat the program, and she returned once again last year.

She holds programs for the children of the island, hoping to teach the next generation about how to care for strays.

Katogiritis has been documenting her progress on her Instagram account. Aside from the spay and neutering program, Animal Welfare Karpathos has also been helping to find families for strays, with members and volunteers fostering some of the cats that are desperately in need of medical attention.

The organization also facilitates animal adoptions. In order to adopt one of the strays, those interested must undergo an application process that includes an interview and the signing of a formal agreement.

Katogiritis explains that while there are no adoption fees, applicants are required to cover the travel costs of the animals, as well as the crate used to transport the animal.

“The community of adopters is connected through our Facebook group (Animal Welfare Karpathos) where they will often share photos and videos of our beloved rescues,” she says, adding that Animal Welfare Karpathos has found homes for over 300 pets in the past three years.

“It is truly wonderful to be able to see cats and dogs who were often near death, enjoying life and receiving so much love.”

Over 700 animals have been spayed or neutered through the Animal Welfare Karpathos programs and plans are being made repeat the program again in April 2024.

Although she knows that there’s still a long way to go, Katogiritis is hopeful for the future.

At present, her aim is to be able to control the stray cat populations on the island through multiple programs, as well as convince the younger generation that “they need to care, they need to step up and take some positive action for the animals.”

Katogiritis, who founded non-profit organization Veterinary Global Aid last year with the aim of providing free care to animals in need around the globe, says her long-term goal “is to not be needed anymore.”

Family brings home the wrong dog from daycare until their cats saved the day

The Human has friends who have golden retrievers and this feline says they all pretty much look alike.

This is why we weren’t surprised when one family dropped off their golden pooch at daycare and to be groomed, and they returned with the wrong dog.

When the swapped dog arrived home, nothing seemed odd to the owners. But the family felines, well that was a different story.  

The humans noticed that their cats started behaving strangely towards their canine sibling. The cats started attacking the dog, perhaps wanting an answer from the interloper as to what they had done with their canine sister. Cat slaps and a house full of strange people didn’t dampen the imposter’s spirit though, in fact, that’s what helped reveal the switcharoo.

This dog kept handing out face kisses and had no interest in seeing her favorite neighbor. This was not the behavior of the dog in residence so the owners decided to hightail it to the vet’s office to scan the dog’s microchip. And they realized they had the wrong dog.

“We just never even thought that that would happen, and of course we thought we would know right? Like we’re her parents, we would know something was wrong, we would know right off the bat that it wasn’t Emmy,”

Thank heavens the felines were in charge, as usual and alerted these clueless humans to the mistake!

The cat is out of the bag: Walking isn’t just for dogs!

As you can tell from my “Walk Through The Web” logo, I am a feline who enjoys the occasional stroll around the garden or the neighborhood on a leash.  The cat in this story, Mason, cries by the back door until his human takes him for a walk.

His human said, “I live in a very small house, and (walking) gives him a way to get his energy out,” Cat walking might seem unorthodox. But it’s not uncommon, and owners do it as a way to bond with their cats, said Cat Clinic veterinarian Mary Carter.

Taking a feline friend out in the world on a leash or inside a backpack allows them to experience the world in a safe way, Carter said.

“Some cats really want to roam,” Carter said. “Sometimes you can have that bonding with them – kind of like the same thing as bonding with a dog.” 

Coynor, Mason’s human started walking him to let him explore, as he seemed unhappy with a life stuck inside.

“He suffers from pretty bad cabin fever,” Coyner said. “He would just be miserable, and I tried (walking) to give him another outlet. And he loved it.”

For some cats, putting on the harness and walking is thrilling. But for others, it’s a scary event. 

Columbia resident and cat owner Grace Elliott said she once attempted to walk her two cats, Ollie and Doofus. 

“Doofus was terrified,” Elliott said. “He would get on the ground and crawl and wouldn’t stand up all the way.” 

Ollie did the same thing.  Clearly, walking is not for every feline.

Carter said the most important task when starting to walk a cat is making sure they are familiar and comfortable with the harness. Start with a collar they’re OK with, Carter said. Then, put treats around an open harness on the ground.

“Then, kind of work your way up to just putting it on their legs, and then (work) your way up to clipping” the harness on, she said.

Careful exposure to all the factors your cat will experience on a walk, such as the sound of passing cars, is key to making your cat safe and happy on their stroll. 

Carter said owners who want to walk their cat should be sure all vaccinations are up to date, the same as you would for a dog.

Feather and laser toys don’t compare to the experience some cats get on a walk.

Mason gets to see the world now through more than just a window on his walks.

“He just wants to run and sniff and see and do things he can’t do inside,” Coynor said. “Don’t knock it ’til you try it!”

Far North animal rescue charity launches new cat companion program pairing adult cats with elderly

A new ‘Companion Cats’ program in the Far North is teaming up older unwanted cats with elderly residents who can’t afford them.

Coast to Coast Cat Rescue, a charity dedicated to rescuing and rehoming felines, is about to launch the program, offering cats on a long-term foster basis to senior residents in the wider Bay of Islands area.

Volunteer Barbara Nicholas, who has been fostering cats for seven years, said having an animal around “gives you something to look after and love”.

“Everyone wants kittens, so there’s a lot of adult cats in the rescue.

 “There are older people out there who would love a pet, but they can’t afford to feed it or pay the vet bills, or even [buy] kitty litter.

“The rescue is trying to get the adult cats and people together. It’s a win-win situation.  The cats get a home for a while, and the people get companionship for as long as they need it.”

Through local business sponsorship, the charity covers all costs associated with the companion cat so seniors don’t have any financial worries.

Food, kitty litter, flea and worm treatments and medical care are provided, and the cat can be returned at any time.

Nicholas currently has seven cats at her home in Kerikeri, including four that she’s fostering.

She’s now helping out with the program and is a volunteer liaison between the elderly and the charity helping to get food, kitty litter and whatever else they need.

Coast to Coast Cat Rescue trust chairwoman Sam Stewart said adult cats were usually slower to be adopted than kittens and the charity had about 60 in its care at any one time.

“We talk to many seniors while carrying out our work, and a common theme we’ve heard is that they would love a cat as a companion, but are on a limited income or they are worried about what would happen to their cat when they pass away.

“Many adult cats are ideally suited as companions for senior adults, as they often just want a lap to sit on and affection.”

Stewart said animals positively contribute to the mental and physical health of older adults.

Owning a cat gives people a sense of purpose, helps them socialize and is a source of unconditional love.

Looking after a cat can also reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety, Stewart said.

“Scientific evidence has shown that a cat’s purr can calm your nervous system and lower your blood pressure.

“Physically, there have been improvements in blood pressure and heart rate from having a companion animal.”

For Nicholas, they are also great to talk to.

“They’re non-judgemental; you can be as silly as you like and they don’t judge you for it.

“I’m 76 and I’m still buzzing around and doing lots, so there must be something in it.”

Contact 022 613 2317 or info@coasttocoastcatrescue.org.nz if you’d like an adult cat to care for, or if you’re a local business or individual who can help with sponsorship.

Two paws up for this fantastic program that benefits humans and felines!

Tampa Bay’s trust fund cats captured hearts. How are they doing now?

A few months ago I reported on the feline family of seven Persian cats in Tampa Bay whose human stipulated in her will that they were supposed to live in her house until they died. This was financed by a trust fund. And the cats did live in the house from November of 84 when she died until May.

Then a probate judge decided that was not in the best interest of the animals, the cats were put up for adoption in June. The Humane Society of Tampa Bay was overwhelmed with emails and calls when media from around the world followed the reporting of the Tampa Bay Times that each cat came with an inheritance. The cats former home is about to be sold but the felines have adjusted to new homes and the Humane Society receives regular updates on the trust fund kitties. They are living their best lives, one on a farm and one an Instagram star.

Wanting to ensure her cats — Cleopatra, Goldfinger, Leo, Midnight, Napoleon, Snowball and Squeaky — stayed together after she died, Sauer set up a trust fund with an undisclosed amount of money to pay for the house bills, food, grooming, veterinarian expenses and a caretaker. The house was not to go on sale until all the cats died.

But a Hillsborough County probate judge decided that, while the Persians could keep the inheritance, it was best if they found new homes with the help of the Humane Society.

Plenty of people are angry that Sauer’s final wish was not granted and that the Persians were not adopted as a group, Silk said.

But the facts support the decision, she said. The cats were not roaming the 4,000-square-foot mansion and living in luxury. “We were in the house the first week of May,” Silk said. “We were told by the caretakers that they had been in the crates for at least six or seven months prior to that. One of her veterinarians informed us that the cats did not like each other and often fought and presented with scabs and wounds from fighting.”

She believes the fighting is why the cats were in crates but does not know for certain. Once taken to the Humane Society, where they lived together in a room, they largely kept to themselves.

“They had little interaction,” said Humane Society volunteer Pam Bremmer, who adopted Napoleon. “They were very independent of each other … like they were never close.”

When the story of the wealthy cats went international, Silk said people didn’t understand the situation. “Some misread how it worked. They thought that they would get an inheritance if they adopted the cats.”

The money is for the cats only and accepted expenses are for food, grooming, toys and veterinary bills. The Humane Society oversees the funds and their new owners submit receipts and are reimbursed within 30 days. “Copies of these transactions are sent to the judge quarterly … to make sure that everyone is being reimbursed,” Silk said. “There is a lot of oversight.”

More than 150 people initially reached out for information on adopting the cats. “I had a lady from Spain who emailed me for over a week,” Silk said. “She offered to send a plane to pick them all up.”

About half that many filled out applications after Silk explained how the trust fund worked. “A lot of people just wanted money,” Silk said. “We weeded them out.”

Silk preferred applicants who previously owned Persians or other long-haired cats because that meant they had grooming experience. And they favored those who owned a house. “An apartment means they might be moving from place to place at a later time,” Silk said. “I wanted stability.”

Applications were cut down to around 25, and Silk then called each as part of a vetting process that included a veterinarian reference.

“They were thorough,” said Nicholas Shokes, who adopted Cleopatra. “It was like a job interview.”

And even though the cats are not living together, they are all living around Tampa Bay.

Walk Through The Web Wednesday – 9/20

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Hello There Folks!
How are things in your neck of the woods? It’s finally fall here and it’s getting chilly in our neck of the woods and we love the cooler temps!

One of the side effects of cooler weather is that snuggling increases at our house. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m pro snuggling but sometimes my brother Oliver chooses the wrong venue, like when I’m in a cat bed that is clearly made for one CHONKY feline (you know, sometimes you just want to be alone) but Oliver has no respect for purrsonal space.

“Hey Al, let me just slide in here.”
“Human, please help me and remove this intruder!”
“Come on Al, just slide over a little.”
“Come on Human, what am I doing wrong? I love my brother”.

And just to prove that Oliver’s disrespect of my purrsonal space is an ongoing issue, note the photos below.

“Oliver, this is a one cat bed. Would you please avail yourself of one of the many others here in the office?!
“OLIVER!” You’re squishing me!!!”

Despite my please Oliver refuses to find his own bed. Please note below, there is a cat tower with not one, not two, not three, not four but FIVE areas for a feline to find rest. Sigh. I believe I’m fighting a losing battle. Lily seems to have the right idea, she finds a soft blanket and burrows in it. Neither Oliver nor I would dream of disturbing her because we would be recipients of the whacky paw!

Well, that’s it for our update. I hope you’re having a great week and that you’ll enjoy my news items this week.

Anonymous Donor Pays Adoption Fees for Black Cats at Arizona Humane Society

Our Angel Buster. A wonderful, sweet and funny guy.

Black cats, are often overlooked by potential adopters in shelters. That’s why an anonymous donor is sponsoring adoption fees for black cats and dogs ages 1 year and up at the Arizona Humane Society.

According to AZ Central, the anonymous donor is a cat lover. They adopted their own feline friend, Jean Valjean, from the humane society. They hope to honor their own fur baby by sponsoring other people’s intentions to adopt.

 “Spoiler alert,” the post read. “They’re not spooky at all! In fact, in many cultures (Japan and Scotland to name a few), black cats are actually considered good luck.”

Black cats are common targets for folklore and superstition. There’s the belief that crossing a black cat’s path means bad luck. Some associate the pets with the devil or witchcraft. Many connect these felines to Halloween.

Some shelters actually put the adoption of black cats on hold until after Oct. 31 due to fear that the cat will be abused in Halloween rituals. They do not allow black cat adoptions at our shelter during Halloween time.  While it’s important to note that not all black cats face potential risks during this holiday, some shelters opted for a cautious approach. But I’m here to tell you that black cats are wonderful! I wish I would have known our Angel Buster but The Human has told me many wonderful stories about him (and he was a CHONKY boy like me!)

International Black Cat Month is also being celebrated during the month of October.  Special adoption drives, events, and social media campaigns are organized to showcase the elegance and affectionate nature of these ebony-colored feline friends.

If you’ve never had a black cat in your life, get yourself down to the shelter and give one a furever home!

Shelter Shares Comforting Response to Owner Who Left Cats at Rescue with Note Asking for Help

Oh meowza, this broke my heart when I read it!

A North Carolina shelter found a pair of cats outside Brother Wolf Animal Rescue in Asheville, along with a note written on one of the felines’ carriers.

“My name is baby, my mom can’t take care of me anymore. Please find me and my sister our next home. Thank you,” the note read.

The shelter posted a message to the cats’ owner on Facebook , wanting to reassure them that their beloved animals will be well cared for by its staff.

“Such a heartbreaking message, written on a cat carrier and left in the shade of our play yard,” Brother Wolf wrote, alongside photos of the two cats and the owner’s note.

“To the person who left them… They are safe with us, and thank you for trusting us with your cats you so clearly loved; we understand you didn’t have another choice, and we hope you are ok.”

The cats, named Junebug and Magpie, according to NBC affiliate WHNS, were listed for adoption. Both felines have unspecified special needs, the outlet reported. If you know anyone in that neck of the woods, please let them know there are two wonderful felines waiting for a furever home.

This story touched a nerve with The Human. She has seen the effects of women, fleeing abusive relationships that have brought their cats and dogs to the shelter so that they would be safe. This breaks our hearts as no one should have to be separated from the one creature that loves you unconditionally and comforts you in your hardest times. This is why The Human was so excited to read about the new initiative Purina has launched. The article is below.

Purina Purple Leash Project

Nearly a decade ago, a Purina associate read about the difficult decision many abuse survivors with pets are forced to make: stay with an abuser or leave a beloved pet behind. It seemed unfair that pets, who may be the only source of unconditional love and support for a survivor, weren’t considered. So, Purina decided to help.

Since then, Purina helped one of the largest domestic violence shelters in the U.S. to become a leading voice and shining example of pet-friendly sheltering. We also helped create the PAWS Act Coalition in support of the Pets and Women Safety (PAWS) Act, which helps domestic abuse survivors and their pets by advocating for federal resources.

Today, our goal is to help ensure at least 25 percent of U.S. domestic violence shelters offer pet-friendly services by the end of 2025. We’ve already provided grants to 39 shelters across the country, and every state now has at least one pet-friendly shelter, but our long-term goal is to fundamentally change the landscape of domestic violence services for survivors with pets, so no survivor has to choose between their own safety and the safety of their pet.

Two paws up for Purina! Please check out this amazing project and if possible, support them in any way that you can.

Where Can You Find the Oldest Cat Door on Earth?

Guess what, cat doors are not a thing of modern days, they have a long history.

The origin of the cat door or cat flap, which allows us felines to come and go without endless scratching on doors, isn’t clear. So how do we know where the oldest cat door is?

One contender is the Exeter Cathedral in Devon County, England, a church built over the course of several hundred years starting in the 12th century. Cathedral historian Diane Walker tells Hyperallergic’s Rhea Nayyar that a cat door there dates back to 1598. Records from the Exeter Cathedral that year show a bishop named William Cotton paying carpenters to carve a cat hole in the door to a large astronomical clock. We like that Bishop!

According to Walker, the reason was because the clock’s gears would have been lubricated with animal fat, which attracted mice, and the cathedral’s cat served as pest control. Hah, so cats have had jobs for centuries!

This particular clock has special cultural significance in England, as some have suggested it to be the inspiration behind the nursery rhyme “Hickory Dickory Dock.” The cats that came through the flap in its door actually got paid for their work, according to bookkeeping records by the cathedral. The cats, or more likely their owners, received a food stipend for keeping rodent numbers down.

It’s possible, however, that another English building has the cathedral beat.

BBC’s History Revealed magazine reported in 2014 that Chetham’s Library in Manchester boasts a centuries-old cat door; the library itself posted about the door on X, formerly known as Twitter, in 2013, calling it “medieval.” Chetham’s Library was first established in 1653 and eventually hosted Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels during the time they spent in England. It’s the oldest public library in the country, and has operated continually since it was established.

The building that the library inhabits, however, dates back even further—to 1421, according to the library’s website. It housed a college of priests and is one of the most complete medieval buidings still standing in northwest England. 

If the cat door was constructed back in the early years of the building, in the true “medieval” period which historians often say ended with the fall of Constantinople in 1453, then it might take the crown from Exeter Cathedral. 

Cat doors would continue to pop up throughout history. A long-held rumor alleges that Sir Isaac Newton created doors for a cat and kitten in his rooms at the University of Cambridge, where he attended school and later worked. The story is told by mathematician John M. F. Wright in his 1827 memoir about his time at Cambridge, a century after the death of Newton. The myth has persisted, though even Wright admits that its accuracy is questionable. 

There’s also the Madonna della Gattaiola, or the Virgin of the Cat Flap, at the Church of San Giorgio in Tuscany, Italy. This painting of the Virgin Mary from the 15th century, which was painted on either an organ door or an ornate table, depending on which version of the story you hear, was repurposed as a barn door by a parish priest who carved a hole for cats.

So there you have it, cats have been appreciated and thought about for centuries and we’ve also been getting our way for that long as well.

How My Cats Provide Me Relief from Rheumatoid Arthritis

I’ve covered reports of the health benefits of cat ownership in many of my Wednesday segments but this story isn’t a scientific conclusion, it’s the heart warming story of a young woman who receives real help for her rheumatoid arthritis. I’m going to give you the article3 written in her own words.

Living with rheumatoid arthritis can often be challenging, painful, and lonely. However, for me, finding solace and relief in the form of my cats has been a game-changer. So much so that my house currently has five cats living in it. These furry companions have not only brought immense joy and love into my life, but they have also played a significant role in managing my RA symptoms. Some people prefer dogs, that’s fine, I love dogs, but kitties hold my heart.

All my cats have different personalities. Big Man is a large ginger who’s a big softy, Abigail is a Russian Blue who is timid, Logan is a tabby with a wild streak, Penelope is tiny and sassy, and Pliskin, a one-eyed Maine Coon, is shy but sweet. I have a particular fondness for Big Man, but I treasure all my kitties.

Their mere presence soothes me. When I’m feeling overwhelmed or in pain, just being with my cats helps calm my mind. Their purrs and gentle nature create an environment that reduces the stress of RA.

Living with a chronic condition can sometimes make me feel isolated, but my cats always provide comfort. They seem to sense when I need a cuddle or even just a comforting meow, making the challenges of RA more bearable.

I’ve observed that my cats can often detect when I’m in discomfort. When my joints act up or when I’m feeling particularly stressed, they come close, offering warmth and a calming vibe. It feels like they understand when I need their support.

Beyond just emotional comfort, they also encourage me to stay active, which is essential for managing RA. Their playful antics, whether chasing a toy or just being their cute selves, spur me to move. Sometimes, I even dance around the house with them. Of course, any cat owner knows this is on their terms.

Their needs have also brought routine to my day, essential for RA management. Their feeding times, grooming, and play sessions are not just about them but remind me to prioritize my self-care.

Having cats while living with RA presents challenges. The litter box can be cumbersome, they occasionally wake me up, and yes, sometimes they’re a little too playful. But the benefits? They far surpass any drawbacks.

My cats are more than just pets; they’re my lifeline, especially during RA flare-ups at home. Their calming presence, steadfast companionship, intuitive pain-sensing, encouragement to stay active, and instilled routines have enhanced my quality of life despite RA’s challenges. If you’re grappling with RA or another condition, a furry friend might offer unexpected comfort and support. Proudly, I’m a “crazy cat lady,” and I wear that title with pride. 

I hope all my feline furiends are helping their humans to feel better!

Walk Through The Web Wednesday – 8/30

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Hi There Furiends and a happy Wednesday to you all!
We sure have been seeing a lot of you meowing about your human kids going back to school. We felines are glad we don’t have to go to school but we were wondering what it might be like if we did. We had The Human use her new app Clip2Comic to create some cartoons of the three of us on our first day of school. We hope you enjoy.

That’s our cartoon version about what it would be like if The Tribe had a first day of school. What about you, any of my feline furiends interested in getting an education? And how are you surviving with some of your human family leaving you to go back to school?

16 Colleges That Allow Cats: Where to Study With Your Feline Friend

In celebration of our “back to school” edition of WTTWW we are excited to share this article. Did you know there are 16 colleges that understand that the stress of college can be mitigated by the love of a feline and thankfully, may colleges are allowing pets on campus. If you want to know where you and your cat can get a higher education, check out these colleges. And please note, there’s a forward thinking college in our state at the University of Idaho!!

Here’s the list.

1.Eckerd College- St. Petersburg, Florida-Private, four-year

Eckerd College is generally considered the most pet-friendly college in the country. They were one of the first to allow pets on campus, starting in 1973. According to Eckerd rules, cats are considered “large pets” and are permitted in designated dorms. Students must register their cats with campus staff and pay a fee. Only cats older than 6 months that have lived with the student for at least three months are permitted. Students may not adopt or buy new cats while living on campus. Eckerd holds a “pet graduation” along with human graduation each year.

2.Stephens College-LoColumbia, Missouri-Private, four-year, women’s college

Stephens College has allowed pets on campus for 10 years. Spayed and neutered cats older than 6 months are allowed in designated dorms. Students are allowed one pet only and must register them and pay an annual pet fee. In addition, students must keep their cats up-to-date on shots and free of fleas and ticks. The college also requires students to get maintain a current pet license from the city of Columbia. Overall, Stephens is very welcoming to pets and even has a foster partnership with a local animal rescue group.

3.Johnson and Wales University – Povidence, Rhode Island- Private, four-year

Johnson and Wales first began welcoming pets to campus in 2013. Cats over a year old are allowed in designated residential areas on campus, and one pet per person per room is permitted. Students must register their cats each year and pay an annual fee. Cats must be spayed or neutered and current on their shots. The university provides a helpful guide to all incoming pet owners, outlining all rules and responsibilities. It also includes contact information for local veterinarians and pet supply stores.

4.Lyon College-Batesville, Arkansas-Private, four-year

Lyon College opened its first pet-friendly residence hall in 2018. Cats at least 6 months old are allowed, one per room. Students are not allowed to acquire new pets while living on campus, and cats must be registered before arriving on campus. Students can only move their cats in during a two-week window at the beginning of each semester. The university strongly encourages students to purchase pet insurance and provides a list of local veterinarians who offer student discounts.

5.State University of New York at Potsdam-Potsdam, New York-Public, four-year

This college maintains pet-friendly floors scattered across various residence halls. Students can bring one cat to campus with prior approval and registration. They must sign an agreement that states, among other things, that they will scoop the litter box daily and change out the litter completely once a week. Room checks may happen at any time to ensure students follow the rules. The college also maintains strict policies to ensure that cats are being well-cared for, including penalties for not promptly taking a sick animal to the vet.

6.Stetson University -Deland, Florida – Private, four-year

Stetson University allows cats in designated locations on campus. Students may bring cats at least a year old that they’ve owned for at least a year. The university requires purchase, adoption, or vet records to confirm how long the cat has lived with the student as well. Only one pet per room is allowed, so negotiations are necessary if both roommates want to bring a cat. Animal-friendly housing on campus is limited and extremely popular, and students must get their applications in as early as possible.

7.University of Illinois – Champaign, Illinois – Public, four-year

The University of Illinois allows cats in one of their on-campus apartment buildings. Up to two pets or one per roommate are permitted in the apartments. Students must get permission to keep a cat with them before bringing the animal to campus. The university charges a monthly pet fee in addition to the monthly cost of the apartments. Students must provide yearly copies of vaccination records and keep their cat and apartment free of fleas and other parasites.

8.University of North Carolina-Charlotte – Charlotte, North Carolina – Public, four-year

UNC-C allows cats in one residence hall and various Greek Village houses. Spaces in these pet-friendly areas are given out on a first-come, first-served basis and fill up quickly each year. Cats must be at least a year old, spayed or neutered, and current on their shots. Students must pre-register their pets and pay an annual fee. Students have to take their cats with them during breaks and can’t leave them alone for more than 12 hours at a time.

9.University of Northern Colorado – Greeley, Colorado – Public, four-year

This college allows cats older than 6 months in two residential communities on campus. Students must submit all paperwork before being considered on a first-come, first-served basis. One pet per room is allowed, with a maximum of two within a four-room suite. Starting with the 2022-2023 school year, an entire residence hall on campus will have pet-friendly single rooms, making this college one of the best for taking your cat and getting some privacy too.

10.Washington and Jefferson College – Washington, Pennsylvania – Private, four-year

Washington and Jefferson designated its first pet-friendly dorm in 2006. They now offer three locations on campus where cat-loving students can room with their pets. One pet per room is allowed, and recent renovations to the pet halls on campus have brought improved comfort and larger living spaces to students and their cats. Some students are even training service dogs on campus, showing that this is a college that welcomes pets and recognizes their value.

11.Wilson College – Chambersburg, Pennsylvania – Private, four-year

Wilson College allows cats in residence halls. Only one cat per student is allowed, and the animal must be at least 6 months old. Students must register their cats before arriving with information such as a photo and physical description, proof of vaccination, and proof of flea prevention. They must also pay a registration fee for each academic year. Students can pet sit for other residents but must have prior approval and registration.

12.Lees-Mcrae College – Banner Elk, North Carolina – Private, four-year

Lees-Mcrae allows cats in several designated residence halls and on-campus apartments and houses. No aggressive cats are allowed; they must be older than 6 months and have lived with the student for at least 3 months before coming to campus. Only cats used to living indoors are allowed. If students get a new cat over the winter holiday break, they won’t be allowed to bring them to campus until the following academic year.

13.University of Idaho – Moscow, Idaho – Public, four-year

The University of Idaho allows spayed and neutered cats in on-campus apartments. Two pets per apartment are permitted, and they must be pre-registered and approved. The university does not allow aggressive or nervous animals. Cats must be up-to-date on shots and licensed according to city or state laws. Students must pay a pet deposit and agree to keep their cats confined anytime maintenance is required in their apartment. If pets are left alone for more than 24 hours, the university can remove them.

14.PennWest Clarion University – Clarion, Pennsylvania – Public, four-year

PennWest Clarion allows cats in designated residence halls. Cats must be at least 6 months old and owned by the student for at least 2 months. No new cats can be acquired during the school year, and students must register their cats and pay a yearly fee. PennWest also allows cats in summer housing for an additional fee. The university suggests that students take out liability insurance on pets living with them. If a cat becomes sick for an extended time, the university may ask that they be removed to avoid infecting other pets or disrupting residents.

15.Pfeiffer University – Misenheimer, North Carolina – Private, four-year

Pfeiffer opened a pet-friendly dorm in 2017. Space is limited, and students wishing to take advantage must act quickly once accepted. As part of the registration process, students must pick an alternate caregiver for their pet to help ensure their cat is taken care of no matter what. Students have to periodically check in with their resident advisor regarding their pet’s health, well-being, and daily care.

16.State University of New York College of Technology at Alfred – Alfred, New York – Public, four-year

SUNY College of Technology recently began allowing cats in specific residence halls. Cats must be at least a year old and belong to the student for at least 10 months before moving to campus. This is the only college on our list with cat breed restrictions: Bengal cats are prohibited. Cats must be registered ahead of time, with proof of vaccination, spaying or neutering, and flea prevention provided. The university may request ongoing proof of flea treatment as well. Students should make a plan for their pets in the event of fire drills or campus evacuation, so they aren’t left behind.

The Human read many of the HABRI (Human Animal Bond Research Institute) studies when she was working for her diploma in cat behavior and anxiety. If you’d like to learn more about this subject, check out this article from the Purdue University journal on The Role of Pets in the Lives of College Students: Implications for College Counselors.

Cats and humans combine costumes at Massachusetts competition

And speaking of the human/animal bond, what could bond a cat and it’s human more than wearing costumes together? While this feline is scratching his head (I hate costumes) I’ll leave it for you to decide if this is a bonding experience or not.

Cat travels ‘over 500 miles’ trapped in Welsh taxi’s grille for days

Oh my whiskers, here’s another kitty who took an unexpected trip and, thank goodness made it safely home. A taxi driver named Tom Hutchings, , from Tonyrefail, Rhondda Cynon Taf in Wales, told Sky News he “jumped a mile” when he discovered the cat in the grille of his taxi. He said, “The next 10 minutes was me trying to figure out how to get the cat out, “I still to this day can’t understand how he got in there.”

Mr Hutchings believes the cat travelled over 500 miles – and that’s only on the morning it was discovered.

The cat was “quite stressed out” during the attempt to rescue her from inside the grille and “she was clawing away at [Mr Hutchings’] hand”.

Gizmo the cat was “quite happy” when she was finally freed.

“She climbed onto my shoulder when I got her out,” Mr Hutchings said.

Gizmo was from Miskin, around 10 miles from Tonyrefail in South Wales.

“I hadn’t been to Miskin in weeks so it’s not like I’d gone there and she jumped in,” Mr Hutchings said.

After Gizmo was taken to have her microchip scanned, her human family was found and they were happy and thankful to have her back, safe and sound.  Ah, this feline loves happy endings!

Turning felines into farm hands: Sister Kitten’s organic solution to pest control also saves lives

Cats with jobs, not that makes me happy.  When I read this news item at first the “rattlesnake” thing had me worried so I had our Purrsonal Assistant do some research on this and she found a very informative article. After I calmed down I read the rest of the article.

Carolyn Shepard was looking for a natural way to control rattlesnakes, which had become a recurring problem at her western North Carolina home and barn. “I wanted to look for organic and natural ways to manage natural and organic problems, if that makes sense, so I just started looking into the best way to manage the rattlesnake problem,” Shephard said, “figuring out that they were coming here for the rodents, the field mice, and, you know, whatever else is creeping around.”

Then, she heard about Sister Kitten Animal Rescue’s Working Cat Program.

Eric Phelps, the founder of Sister Kitten, explained the intent and benefit behind the program.

“What the working cat program at Sister Kitten seeks to do is to pull feral or semi-feral cats from municipal shelters where they would otherwise be euthanized,” he said. “All cats that are chosen for the program are brought up-to-date on vaccines and are also spayed or neutered to ensure they are more likely to stay close to the property.”

Through the program, the cats’ lives are saved while humans benefit from their natural hunting instincts that translate to natural pest control.

Phelps explained that working cats prefer to do just that — work. They were born in the wild and therefore prefer to live outdoors, enjoying their predatorial work, rather than living indoors as house cats. Phelps said oftentimes, people try to trap these cats and bring them to shelters in the hopes of seeing them adopted, but in reality, these feral and semi-feral felines are happiest and most content mostly being away from people and going about their business.

“These are animals that are living in neighborhoods; they’re living around businesses or other places. People will trap them, thinking that they’re doing the right thing by taking them to a municipal shelter, that they’re going to be okay, they’re going to be able to adopt them out,” Phelps said. “The problem is that these are not animals that are socialized with people. These are animals that are terrified of people.

“The point is to try and get them out, put them in a property that wants these cats to help try to, in a sort of an organic way, control their rat and mouse populations or snake populations or whatever.”

Through the Working Cat Program, these cats can be taken care of by getting the veterinary care they need — vaccines, spay or neuter surgery — and then being fed and cared for by their owners while maintaining their preferred distance to humans.

“Any cats that are placed at a new location will be crated for 30 days to give them time to acclimate to the new property,” Phelps said. “They have to get used to the new people that they’re going to see and they’re going be feeding them every day. They have to get used to do whatever dogs might be on the property other cats and they also have to be able to acclimate in a safe space so that they know what predators might be there so they can avoid them. “

Usually, the cats live outside, in some sort of covered area like a barn or a wood shed, maintaining their feral lifestyle, but they have been known to become friendlier as they adjust to the humans with whom they interact on a daily basis.

Carolyn Shepard tells News 13 that working cats have not only controlled her rattlesnake problem, but they’ve brought a few pleasant surprises with them as well.

“They kind of take care of the bugs and spiders. It’s really fantastic,” Shepard said. “These are things I wasn’t really expecting.”

Okay, this feline now feels better and as long as folks are caring for their working cats I would say it’s a “win-win” for everyone.

Watch the touching moment this couple’s cat returns home after going missing for 7 days

After a dream Emily Alba says she had about her missing pet, Chloe, returning home, the cat appeared seven days later. Be sure and watch the video, it will make your heart smile!

Lahaina woman’s home didn’t survive but her cats did

Susie Richter travels every morning to the burnt-out shell of her house in Lahaina, Hawaii, to feed her three cats, who survived the blaze that devastated Maui earlier this month. When we can report on something positive and happy from the Maui fires it lifts our spirits. I hope this story lifts yours.

Stop the Presses! – Feline Opines Announcement

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We are pleased to announce that our lackey…..err …Purrsonal Assistant has worked with us to catch up on responses to all the comments on this blog. We do apologize for the lapse in these responses and have informed the PR of our concerns regarding her work product.

Thank you all for your patience and we are hopeful this type of slacking will not be repeated.
Purrs & Head Bonks,
The Executive Board at Feline Opines

Walk Through The Web Wednesday – 8/9

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Happy Wednesday Furiends!
I hope you’ve had a good week. The week in our neck of the woods has been a bit dicey. Oliver took a sharp decline last Thursday night when Oliver began running back and forth to the litter box again and began bleeding profusely. The Human was scared and, as we have no emergency vet clinics in our neck of the woods, packed Oliver up and made the hour drive to the emergency clinic in a town nearby. Long story short, Oliver received excellent care there and at our regular stabby place the next day. He has been diagnosed with idiopathic cystitis. Oliver is getting better and he wants to tell you all his story in a different blog post to help your humans understand what this is and what worked (and didn’t work). But, in the meantime, he wants to say hello.

Hi Furiends, I’m not 100% but am getting better. I’ll give you details about my health journey soon. Oliver

This week most of the focus was on getting Oliver healthy but, The Human did do a little experimentation with AI that was added to one of the photo editing programs she has. Let us know what you think.

This is me looking fierce. I love it but The Human thinks I look a bit scary.

The Human loves this one of Oliver. I have to admit, he looks pretty cute.

This is Lily. The Human (and the rest of us) aren’t too sure about this one. The Human said she did like the fact that the picture makes it look like we live in a castle. I’ve included the photo we used to make this AI version below. Quite a difference!

Original photo

That’s it from our neck of the woods this week. I hope you enjoy our news items.

International Cat Day

Although we missed this important celebration by one day, we’re dedicating our news items this week to this important holiday.

Top Cats 2023. The 10 most popular breeds on Instagram this year

Have you wondered what the most Instagrammable cat breeds are this year? Using new research commissioned by Mr Gamble, a Kiwi online comparison site, here are the results. They analyzed different varieties of hashtags for each breed, then researchers added them all up to produce the ultimate list of the most Instagrammable cat breeds. Did any of my feline furiends make the list?

7 Fascinating Wild Felines That Just Might Make You a Cat Person

Cheetah
Rusty Spotted Cat
Sand Cat

Cheetah: The Speed Demon

Holding the records for the world’s fastest cat and fastest land animal, cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) can reach speeds of over 60 miles per hour.

Every part of this fast feline is built for speed. Their non-retractable claws act like cleats, providing traction during high-speed chases. Their tails, measuring roughly 2.5 feet, serve as rudders, allowing them to turn on a dime. Even their breathing is adapted for speed; thanks to their relatively small teeth, cheetahs have room for larger nasal passages that allow for quick air intake.

Cheetahs’ endangered status has made them the focus of captive breeding programs at zoos. Occasionally, these captive cheetahs are paired with canine companions to reduce their shyness and make them more willing to mate.

Rusty Spotted Cat: the Diminutive Hunter

A master of hide-and-seek, the rusty-spotted cat is found in the forests of India, Sri Lanka and, as of its 2016 discovery, Nepal. Using their agility and tree climbing prowess, rusty-spotted cats hunt small animals including rodents, birds, lizards, frogs and insects.

Though these petite predators could potentially adapt to living alongside human populations, threats from domestic dogs and vehicles remain a constant danger to their survival.

Sand Cat: The Dexterous Desert Dweller

The sand cat (Felis margarita), native to the Sahara Desert, Arabian Peninsula and parts of central Asia, is equipped to endure extreme conditions.

These desert dwellers boast thick fur and heavily padded paws, insulating them against temperatures that can fluctuate from a scorching 120 degrees to below freezing. During the blistering daytime, these cats take refuge in burrows, only emerging to hunt under the cover of night.

Adding to their list of desert adaptations is their ability to go weeks without drinking water. Instead, sand cats get all the hydration they need from their food. These bold predators are skilled enough to hunt venomous snakes, alongside easier prey like rodents, lizards and insects.

Be sure and check out the article to learn about the rest of our amazing wild family members.

CATCON THE COMIC CON FOR CAT PEOPLE

Oh my whiskers, if I didn’t hate travel so much I’d have The Human pack us up and take us to Los Angeles. More than 10,000 cat lovers are expected to descend on Pasadena this weekend for the annual CatCon.

Founded in 2015, Cat Con is the brainchild of entertainment writer-turned-Team Cat advocate Susan Michals.

“Everybody thought that cat people were all old cat lady hoarder and spinster types,” Michals said, adding that Eleanor Abernathy from The Simpsons is a prime example. “What I found is that there was a much younger demo that was not being served.”

That ephipany came to Michals in 2014, when she curated a cat art show in L.A. More than 4,000 people showed up to see it, according to Michals.

The inaugural CatCon took place in Downtown L.A. and relocated to roomier digs at the Convention Center in Pasadena in 2017. The event has grown alongside an explosion in pet spending in the country, from $60.28 billion to $136.8 billion between 2015 and 2022, according to the trade group American Pet Products Association.

Cat ownership, according to the same group, now clocks at 46.5 million households.

Cat Con has gone from it’s initial 63 exhibitors in 2015 to 200 this year. It’s a BIG deal!

Here are some highlights from this year’s convention.

Karma Is A Cat

This is an art show, which is an homage to Taylor Swift as a cat icon and cat owner,” said Michals.

The artworks are for sale, and a portion of the proceeds will go to charities.

Internet Famous Cats

Some of the Internet’s most famous cat-fluencers are at CatCon, including Merlin The Mad Ragdoll, Sponge Cake, and Scottish Fold.

The Products

Last year, Americans spent nearly $40 billion on vet care and products. There are plenty of those at this year’s CatCon.

“We have tech companies [offering] the latest in cat tech — trackers or litter boxes that can track if your cat is sick,” Michals said.

“One of the things that’s a growing industry is cat probiotics and cat holistic products. The Two Crazy Cat Ladies are going to be talking about how you can improve your cat health. Imagine sort of Eastern medicine meets probiotics, but for the four-legged set,” Michals said.

If any of my southern California furiends go to CatCon, meow at us and let us know how you liked it.

‘Trickster’ Cat At Shelter Caught On Video Opening Door Himself And ‘Strutting His Stuff’

A cat in a Nebraska animal shelter has made headlines for his skill with a door handle, but he’s still waiting for an adopter to open their door to him.

“Staff started to go crazy knowing they shut certain doors when they left at night but those same doors would be open in the morning……then today we discovered this,” the Capital Humane Society in Lincoln wrote July 27 on Facebook.

The post included a video of a black cat named Grimsen leaping up and grabbing a door’s lever handle with his paws, managing to pull it down to let himself out.

“Grimsen is the ultimate trickster,” the shelter wrote.

The cat’s adoption listing also cites his ingenuity, calling Grimsen a “VERY smart guy” who “has managed to teach himself how to open lever style doorknobs and walk freely amongst the other shelter cats strutting his stuff.”

Early in the morning on the day of the Facebook post, the shelter staff noticed that three different doors were open and Grimsen was strolling the hallway. He was returned to the room he shares with two other cats, but around noon, “Grimsen was spotted walking down the hallway again,” veterinary and behavior assistant Hillary Brandt told HuffPost in a Facebook message.

Not long after, Grimsen was once again returned to his room. This time, he was caught red-pawed opening the door.

Unfortunately for a freedom-loving feline like Grimsen, it’s important that doors remain closed, especially after business hours.

“Doors stay closed at night so we know all cats are behaving properly and not throwing parties after hours, making messes and possibly fighting with others who don’t play well with feline friends,” said Sierra Kurth, the shelter’s fundraising and grants coordinator.

Grimsen had to spend a night in a cat condo inside a locked office before the shelter was able to add a hook apparatus to the doorknob of his regular room to prevent him from getting out ― though he still made an attempt.

The feline’s chaos-causing ways were mostly met with approval by those who commented on the shelter’s video.

“I’m Grimsen’s lawyer,” read a top comment from one justice-minded Facebook user. “My client is innocent.”

His story made multiple local news headlines, with KLKN-TV declaring him the cat who “can’t be contained.”

But despite his number of fans, Grimsen, who came to the shelter as a stray in mid-June, was still looking for someone to adopt him as of Friday. Preferably someone with a good sense of humor.

“He is a very active and comical boy,” Brandt said.

And despite his exceptional intelligence, Grimsen is no snob. His adoption listing notes that he “loves all the pets that you can give him, even when he has escaped and his presence surprises you.”

Someone PLEASE adopt Grimson!!

There Is Now a Newspaper of Record for Felines: SE Taylor Street Cat News

Anybody who says newspapers are dying hasn’t looked closely at the telephone poles in the Buckman neighborhood. That’s where devoted readers find new, laminated editions of the SE Taylor Street Cat News, the monthly newspaper of record for the feline activities from Southeast 14th Avenue to César E. Chávez Boulevard. The Cat News, one page and cartoon-illustrated, chronicles such hyperlocal issues as “Squirrels—Are They Stupid?” and the arrival of Freddy, an orange tom who is seeking summer romance.

It is on its fourth edition, edited by a neighborhood resident who goes by the nom de plume Swamp Cat.

“A lot of the stories I gather from cats throughout the neighborhood,” says Swamp Cat, who is 28 in human years. “I do all the translations myself.”

Swamp Cat lives in a three-cat household herself; her most reliable sources are Tilda, the Baboo, and Big Fat Ted. (All get bylines.) Since its April debut, the Cat News has developed a loyal readership, online and on-pole. Like all media, it has seen the most success with its coverage of violent street conditions.

“Residents on 28th have recently reported multiple incidents between the Buckman Big Boyz and the Sunnyside Skullz,” a June cover story begins. “Tensions between the two cat gangs escalate annually with the arrival of summer and the search for perfect Sit Spots.”

Two paws up for the enterprising “Swamp Cat” and we think there should be more of these local feline news publications.

Walk Through the Web Wednesday – 7/26

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Happy Wednesday Furiends!

We had a bit of a scare in our neck of the woods and, since said scare involved my brother Oliver, I’m going to let him tell you what happened.

Hi, it’s me Oliver. It’s been a hard week for this feline. If you follow us on Instagram or Facebook you already know a bit about the debacle but I will be filling you in on more details.

Two days after The Human ended her travel she noticed that I was running back and forth into all four litter boxes and regular intervals. I seemed a bit agitated and, when I went in the litter box I strained and strained but there was very little happening. Fortunately The Human knows about a lot of cat stuff and she immediately figured out that I had either crystals or a blockage. It was night by that time and the only emergency vet in our neck of the woods is over an hour away so she called the stabby place we normally go to, left a message and asked for an early morning emergency visit.

Seriously, you woke me up for this?!

Sure enough, the good folks at Pend Oreille Veterinary service called her at the crack of dawn and she hustled me out of the house. (We’ve reported about our stabby place before and it’s actually a great place as far as stabby places go). The Human unceremoniously rousted me from my sleep and had me dressed in my harness and leash in a quick minute. She carried me out to the car, settled me in the passenger seat, secured my leash and then shut the door. When she grabbed the stroller (it’s easier to roll this 21 1/2 pound feline than schlep me in a carrier) when one wheel fell off. She didn’t have time to fix it so off we went.

Our usual vet trip takes 7-10 minutes but this morning we had to deal with construction and a detour that turned the trip into 30 minutes. Needless to say The Human was frazzled (and completely coated in white hair) by the time we got there.

How do I get out of here??
No escape route over here either.
Oh no you don’t that thermometer isn’t getting anywhere near me!

To make a long story not quite so long, Dr. Vogel gave me a good exam, prescribed an antibiotic and some pain meds and we were ready to head home. The Human picked me up, wrapped the leash around her hand and out the door we went, only to be met by another human who was right at the door with her big German Shepherd. This feline has never had such a close encounter with a barkie and it was making me nervous. As the woman didn’t seem inclined to move for us and, as I began to think I would be meeting my maker right here at the door of the stabby place I decided to let the human know that I had been thoroughly unblocked and let loose, drenching her. It was a smelly ride home let me tell you but after The Human showered and cleaned the car, things were back to normal. And, you know we love happy endings at Feline Opines and this story has a double happy ending. Not only am I feeling like my old self again but I lost ONE POUND when they weighed me in at the stabby place, so all’s well that ends well. I will finish my harrowing tale by providing you with a link from PetMD about this problem, how to know if we have it and why it’s important to get to the stabby place as soon as possible if you suspect it.

I bid you all a happy and healthy adieu until next week.

The Black Cat Café – Dining with a Purrpose

I’ve reported on many pawsome people doing great things for cats but this is in the “above and beyond” category. The Black Cat Café in Devon, PA is run by an excellent chef and volunteers who serve first class handcrafted food in a cozy, delightful atmosphere and who donate ALL proceeds to cat rescue. You heard me, 100% of proceeds go directly to funding the needs of homeless, abandoned, injured and sick cats and kittens. And even though they raise funds for cats, the food they offer is quality and homemade prepared by a certified staff. The Black Cat Cafe is owned and operated by PALS (www.palspets.org), a 501c3 pet rescue.

Love Island producers flying stray cats home – including one named after famous host

The Human is a bit of a reality TV junkie (she always says truth is stranger (and funnier) than fiction. One reality show she’s watched one or two episodes of (not really her cup of tea) had received her kudos because the love that blossomed at the Love Island villa wasn’t just between humans.,

Producers of the show fell in love with a family of stray cats who moved into the Majorca site, and they are flying a mother and kitten back to the UK when filming ends.

One has been named Meowa Jama after host Maya Jama, whose filming was interrupted by the playful kittens.

Another has been named Prem, after the show’s editing system – and Prem and her kitten will be flown back to Britain to live with a member of the show’s production team.

A source said: “The cats have been an integral part of this series behind the scenes. They occasionally venture into the villa and have even disrupted filming. Scenes had to be reshot but everyone loved them so much they didn’t mind.

“The cats have appeared on Love Island’s Unseen Bits, as producers wanted to let viewers see their new pals. “The crew even has pictures of them on a wall covered in photos of the pets they are missing from back home.

So there you go, cat rescue happens in some of the strangest of places.

Türkiye’s Cat Town, sanctuary for stray cats

Cat Town, a sanctuary for stray cats in central Türkiye (Turkey), provides a comfortable home for homeless cats.  Turkey is known for caring for it’s many stray felines that appear almost everywhere in the streets of towns and there are many cat lovers who care for these homeless cats.

I’ve reported on the colorfully painted cat shelters that can be found on the streets of Turkish cities, all maintained and food provided by kind citizens.  

The Kocasinan Municipality in the central province of Kayseri has taken this care one step further and built a  600-square-meter Cat Town to provide a sanctuary for homeless kitties.

The felines have all they need in the sanctuary: playgrounds, bungalow huts, bridges, tunnels, climbing tracks, and scratching trees.

Stray cats that are brought to the facility are neutered and placed in a separate place to adapt before joining the other inhabitants of the facility.

Mehmet Cingil, a veterinarian who cares for the cats in residence noted that the sanctuary provides a place for cat lovers who are unable to keep pets at home and also exposes people to the wonderful creatures that cats are. School children also visit the sanctuary frequently.

“We want to instill in the youngsters the love for animals, how to show empathy, and how to care for them,” said Mehmet Dogan, a municipal official.”We try to explain to the youngsters that stray or not, cats and animals, in general, are not a nuisance,” added Dogan.

Now wouldn’t it be wonderful if all humans wanted to teach children how to love and care for animals?

Florida Couple Creates Cat Retirement Home

The Human always says that there’s a special place in heaven for the kind people who adopt senior cats. This couple takes that kindness to a new level. My feline furiends, imagine a place where you and your friends could socialize, nap, eat dinner together and explore in your golden years.

Sounds pawsome doesn’t it? Well, Terry and Bruce Jenkins have created this community in their backyard—but not for people. Their Lutz, Florida, sanctuary is retirement living for older cats, who get to stay forever.

“Most of them have come from hardship situations, and we don’t adopt out. The cats live with us for the duration of their lives,” says Terry, 77. “Our mission is to rescue senior cats that need a home.”

The effort started in part because the pair were looking to adopt a kitten and Terry visited their veterinarian asking about a young cat. Someone there overheard her request and asked her to consider adopting an older cat there to be euthanized. “Of course, I took the cat,” Terry says.

“I found a real purpose in caring for these animals who, in many ways, were a reflection of where I was in life, too,” Terry says.  

The backyard is a haven for the cats or a cat “Disneyland,” as Bruce, 77, calls it. The couple repurposed a “Frontierland” play area they had constructed for their children — complete with a hotel, a general store, a saloon and a sheriff’s office. They adapted it for the cats, and now it also includes feline play areas, napping spots, scratching posts and more.

“We had a vision where they could be free the way I think cats would like to be free outside, but protected,” Terry says.

“They feel secure here. The fact that they can go and sleep up on a bridge over a lake — I mean, how good is that?” Bruce says.

Cats come to Cats Cradle through veterinarians’ offices and private homes, particularly where someone might be ill and unable to take care of their pet. The couple have rescued more than 350 cats over the years and plan to continue their efforts.

“We discovered the special quality of older cats. They had qualities in their older years that young cats don’t have,” Terry says. “Maybe that’s true of people as well. You just have to discover it.” The Tribe and The Human says “God bless these folks for their compassion and important work!” If you want to meet some of the Cat’s Cradle felines, check out the video feed on their website.

This therapy cat is raising spirits at a Dallas pediatric hospital

Every few weeks, Sarah Dutton arrives with a clear, hard shell backpack with mesh sides and several air vents at Scottish Rite for Children in Dallas. Once inside, the precious cargo is removed, leashed, and together, Dutton and Harry begin delivery of a dose of medicine that doctor’s can’t prescribe.  Harry is her cat. She says, “You can do anything with Harry.  You can touch his ears, you can touch his tail, you can touch his paws, even his whiskers.”

She and Harry met when Dutton and her husband found the feline in the middle of a road and had been run over. After they nursed him back to health and gave him a forever home, Harry began his journey as a therapy cat.

During his twice monthly visits, Harry might sit in the lap of a child in a wheelchair, or curl up in a bed beside a patient at Scottish Rite. Sometimes nurses or parents hold him.

“He’s the calmest cat I’ve ever seen,” laughed Sam Bryant, a certified pediatric nurse, as she held him.

Scottish Rite is world-renowned for treating complex orthopedic conditions, especially limb differences and that is one reason Harry connects so well with this hospital’s patients.

When Dutton’s husband found Harry, more than one veterinarian clinic said he probably needed to be euthanized. But the couple wasn’t convinced. He ended up losing a leg and shoulder to amputation but he recovered fully. And as he healed, Dutton saw the potential for him to help heal others.

“The fact that he had three legs. I felt like he could touch some people — show that you can get hurt and be disabled and be totally fine and live a normal life,” Dutton said.

She and Harry trained through Pet Partners, completing hours of training online and in person.

Harry might not be the kind of medicine doctors prescribe, but the special connection he makes with patients is its own kind of cure. “I feel like he understands a lot of people’s emotions and what they need,” said Dutton. Paws up to Harry and his human for all the good work they do!