Hello Furiends!

It’s been a hot one in our neck of the woods and since we don’t have air conditioning (there are usually maximum two weeks of real heat here) we spent our time positioning ourselves in close proximity to the fans. We each have our own “cooling off” style as we work hard every day in the office.

I like to start my days early in the morning with a little head dunk under the bathroom faucet. I have no idea why The Human gets so annoyed that it takes her twice as long to get to her make up and get ready in the morning. I guess humans just aren’t blessed with natural beauty like we felines are.

Once I’m in the office, I like to hang out in my catnip paper bag.

Oliver, on the other hand, has some strange habits when it comes to working on a hot day.

Oliver and I have voted Lily “most valuable worker” as she lets The Human know at 1:00pm and 4:30pm every day that it’s snack time. Look at that face. Would you be able to tell her “no”?

I hope you enjoyed a glimpse of our workday in the heat. And we all want to thank you for your kind words and well wishes for Oliver and his battle with idiopathic cystitis. He seems to be on the mend and we are all very grateful!

Cat stuns TikTok with stylish fashion for day at the beach

The old adage that cat’s hate clothes has been disproven again. A Maine coon named Rocco has taken TikTok by storm thanks to his stylish teal hat and coordinating life jacket as he relaxes at the beach with his owner.

In one clip, Rocco is seen sitting with his paws in the water as he strutted on the other beachgoers in his impressive summer gear. Now granted, I don’t wear any gear when I hang out in The Human’s bathroom sink but I too like to play in the water.

Set to the tune of I Can See You by Taylor Swift, the chic kitty’s video has been viewed over five million times and liked by more than 700,000 users since it was posted on Thursday.

Rocco also donned a pair of dark round sunglasses and strolled through the water to a Taylor Swift song. And it’s not just beach wear that Rocco models, he also wears a tiny navy baseball cap with holes for his prominent ears.

Looking At Cute Cats Triggers Changes in the Brain That Lower Stress, Say Scientists

Humans, I don’t know how many times I have to tell you that living with felines is healthy for you so here goes again.

Our cuteness actually triggers responses in the humam brain that has a positive impact on an instinctive, psychological level.  

There are scientific reasons why you find us cats adorable.  A study published in Frontiers in Psychology found that faces of cats have a similar emotional effect on us as the faces of babies, which triggers the brain to produce more oxytocin, also known as the “love hormone.”

Released into the brain under the right circumstances, oxytocin has the power to regulate human emotional responses in a way that makes you humans happier, more trusting and more open to others. Thanks to oxytocin, we give you a toasty, tranquil feeling that displaces anxiety and worry.

What exactly about cat’s faces triggers the body to release oxytocin? Our infant-like features say scientists. Known as “social releasers,” childlike features — which include a big head with a round face, a large forehead, large eyes and a small nose and mouth — engage our lovey-dovey, protective instincts. It gives a whole new meaning to the phrase “fur baby.”

These head butts we give you have special meaning. As Nilson explains, “Cats have scent glands all over their bodies, including the forehead, chin and cheeks, and when they butt heads with you, it’s a way of claiming you as their own and marking you with their scent. It’s a sign of affection, trust and bonding.” Humans also subconsciously pick up on this affectionate gesture and feel a stronger bond with their cat.

Other cute cat behaviors act as reminders of kittenhood. Says Nilson, “Adult cats often knead with their paws, as if they are kneading dough, when they’re feeling happy and content. It’s a throwback behavior to when they were kittens and would knead on their mother’s stomach to stimulate milk flow and feel good while they were feeding.” This behavior, adds Nilson, also sparks our instinctive protective and nurturing instincts.

We felines are simultaneously cute and smart. Any cat parent will tell you that their kitty is a pro at getting whatever we want, whenever we want it. “Cats rarely communicate with each other by meowing, yet they use meowing as one of their primary ways to communicate with humans,” says Nilson. Now that The Human is working at home, Lily will come over to her twice a day to politely remind her that it’s treat time. Lily has The Human trained well!

Ever had a bad day and felt your mood instantly lift as soon as you pet your cat? That’s just one more of their cuteness superpowers! Wendy Diamond, Chief Pet Officer of Animal Fair Media and author of How to Understand Women Through Their Cats explains, “Interacting with cute cats is a delightful symphony for our well-being — petting a cat can release the feel-good hormones serotonin and dopamine, which helps ease stress and boost joy.” There have even been studies showing that petting cats may lower blood pressure and reduce stress hormone levels.

Even more fascinating is that the sound of a cat’s purr is not only calming, and it may also have restorative properties. That’s right — the meditative vibe you get from hearing our little motor run can help heal you. Research has shown that purrs fall within a frequency associated with tissue regeneration.

So, if you ever had any doubt that sharing your home with felines makes you healthier, this article should dispel that doubt!

Can Cats Predict The Weather?

Over the years, there have been many sayings to indicate that cat’s predict weather. For instance, In Britain, especially Wales, it was believed that rain was likely if a cat busily washed its ears. In Holland, it was said that cats could predict the wind by clawing at carpets and curtains. (Note if this was true, we would have constant hurricane conditions at our house as Oliver loves to dig his claws into the area rugs).

In the good old US of A many years ago, if a cat sat with its back to the fire, it was foretelling a cold snap and if it slept with all four paws tucked under, bad weather was coming. (Again, if sitting in “loaf position” as a harbinger of bad weather, very few places would have good weather!)

Sailors were particularly superstitious or maybe just so bored that they spent a lot of time watching the ship’s cat. Here are some of the wacky ideas they had. They thought that if a cat licked its fur against the grain, it meant a hailstorm was coming; if it sneezed, rain was on the way; and if it was frisky, the wind would soon blow. Some had even more bizarre ideas and thought that cats could start storms through magic, so they always made sure cats were content. (Not a bad thing for the sea-faring felines!)

This video from the weather channel address some of these beliefs and they conclude it’s probably not the best idea to just look to your cats as to whether to take an umbrella with you when you leave the house.

Alley Public art project celebrates late John Snook’s love for cats

Honoring the late John McClure Snook, founder of Gulf Telephone and owner of Hotel Magnolia, a 28-foot-long and 8-foot-tall mural has been unveiled at 106 N. Alston St., paying tribute to McClure’s love for cats.

There were multiple cat doors at his hotels for the city cats to come and go. (What a great guy!)  McClure also extended his love for felines by opening a house downtown specifically for homeless cats.

Coming up with a name for a walkway that was in remembrance of McClure was easy for those involved. This walkway, between West Laurel Avenue and Jessamine Street, would be named Cat Alley.

Out of 12 submissions, local artist Hannah Legg, a graduate of Fairhope High School, was chosen to create the mural. When she found out this mural was going to include cats, she was all in.

“My grandfather was an artist, so I was very fortunate to grow up around art at an early age. All the happiness in the world was a pencil and a piece of paper,” the artist said.

She added that cats were the first subjects she began drawing early in her art career.

Legg was not the only one to use brush strokes on the seven panels in Cat Alley. Three groups from Foley High School, Foley Middle School and Foley home schoolers added color and life to this Cat Alley art.

Foley Alabama City Council approved $48,600 in January to use for enhancements to the alley to create murals and park areas. Doors will also be painted as part of the display, and the artist Arcy this spring created a mural, painting it live on site in April for the public to watch.

Cat’s Attempt To Climb Wall Has Internet Laughing: ‘No One Will Judge You’

You humans never seem to get tired of laughing at felines we are less than our graceful selves.. A video of a feline has surfaced online which has taken social media users on a laughter fest. It shows a cat’s genuine efforts to climb up a wall but repeatedly fails the task.

The now-viral video shared on Twitter by Buitengebieden on August 9 has swept the internet.  The footage shows vehicles parked in a parking area. Soon, a cat emerges from the narrow spaces left between the cars. The th cat jumps onto the car’s hood, and then the car’s roof.  But that’s when things got interesting for us but unlucky for the animal.

Hoping to jump deftly from the cars to the top of the wall, the feline literally fell short.  Determined to scale the wall, the cat made a second attempt with the same results. He then high tailed it away from the parking lot, presumably to find a different way to achieve his goal. The video has sparked numerous reactions from Twitterati who couldn’t stop laughing at the incident while also feeling sorry for the cat.  The comments are hilarious. “He gets a 10 for effort lol,” noted one user. As if making the cat not feel embarrassed for its defeat another quipped, “You are allowed to give up. No one will judge you for it.” “No matter how many times I see this, I stop to watch it ten more,” came a third remark. So far, the video has garnered over 4.2 million views on Twitter. Be sure and check out the video and comments so you can have your daily dose of humor.