Happy Wednesday Furiends – we’re back!

The Human made it through the 9 days of moving nightmare. To be honest, the garage is still a bit discombobulated and the home office isn’t quite organized yet but things have progressed so the important work can commence again!

We do enjoy snoopervising while The Human is working as you can see below (Lily was buried under the covers in the bedroom so we couldn’t get a photo of her).

Well, that’s our news for the week. We’re glad we’re back on schedule and hope that you enjoy this week’s news items.

Elderly cats live in retirement village: See their little cottages!

This moggies Retirement Village in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England, is picture purrfect and is a place for  homeless, stray and abandoned cats. The Shropshire Cat Rescue currently houses 17 cats there. Don’t forget to watch the video of this wonderful place.

These Cats Don’t Just Do Their Own Stunts. They Film Them, Too.

I had to report on this story, after all our tag line at FelineOpines.net is “the world from a feline point of view” and these videos give you exactly that. Cats with cameras on their collars give insight into their day to day life.

In one video, the cat  pauses, assesses the height and leaps. He tries to free-climb up the side of a building, before jumping back to the ground. In another, he leaps across a roof, his shadow stretching out long in front of him.

The film and the antics are by  Gonzo of @gonzoisacat. He has more than 607,000 followers on TikTok and 178,000 on Instagram.

Gonzo is the star — and the director — of his own shorts. Rather than his humans filming his stunts, Gonzo films them himself with the help of a tiny camera that attaches to his collar.

Gonzo isn’t the only cat producer. In Norway, a GoPro-wearing cat roams across snowy meadows or climbs on a roof. One in China also recorded under-the-chin videos. Mr. Kitters has 1.5 million followers on TikTok and nearly one million on Instagram, where viewers can watch him meow at a bird or chase a squirrel.Gonzo’s humans,  Derek Boonstra, and  his wife, Maria, live in Los Angeles.

They wondered what Gonzo was doing when no one was watching — and wanted to make sure he was safe when he was exploring outside. After experimenting with a D.I.Y. camera, Mr. Boonstra bought one from the brand Insta360 and this is Gonzo’s filming equipment.

The first day they filmed included about “90 minutes of him sleeping in a bush but then Gonzo ran into some baby opossums. “That was immediately like, this is really fascinating,” Boonstra, a documentary filmaker said.

The rise of wearable camera technology, though more often used by surfers or snowboarders than pets, has led to a niche style of cat content. Like viewers of extreme sports videos, cat video fans regularly note the thrill they feel when their feline stars leap or scamper.

I’m not sure if this feline would like The Human spying on me all day and would purrfur to keep my daily routine a mystery.

Pet cats and dogs may help protect infants from food allergies, study suggests

Now here’s some good news. Children who live with cats or dogs during fetal development and early infancy may be less likely than other kids to develop food allergies, according to a new study.

The study, published in the journal PLOS One, analyzed data from over 65,000 children from Japan. It found that children exposed to cats or indoor dogs had a 13% to 16% lower risk of all food allergies compared with babies in pet-free homes.

“Our findings suggest that exposure to dogs and cats might be beneficial against the development of certain food allergies, thereby alleviating concerns about pet keeping and reducing the burden of food allergies,” the authors wrote.

The study found that children exposed to cats were less likely to develop egg, wheat and soybean allergies, while those exposed to dogs were less likely to have egg, milk and nut allergies.

The exact mechanism remains unclear, but experts say pet exposure may strengthen an infant’s gut microbiome, either directly or indirectly though changes in the parent’s or home microbiome.

“We know from a lot of studies that the microbiome – which are the bacteria that live within us, thousands and millions of them inside everybody’s gut – affect our immune responses and our immune system, particularly whether we develop allergies or not,” said Dr. Amal Assa’ad, director of the Food Allergy Program at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, who was not involved with the new research.

Dr. Jonathan Bernstein, president of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, says dirt and other materials secreted by pets could be a good thing.

“It is critical to have these exposures early on as the immune system is developing, as the gut is developing, because it does seem to be an important route for sensitization,” said Bernstein, who was not involved with the study.

Previous research has had mixed results. Some have linked pet exposure to decreased risk of food allergy, but others have found no association.

“The data is all over the place,” Assa’ad said.

So in other words, after all that research the humans aren’t sure if this is correct. Sigh. You humans complicate everything.

How a one-eyed rescue cat from Idaho became 2023’s Cadbury Bunny

Well of course, as an Idaho cat, I had to include this story although this cat is from Boise which is a 497 mile drive south east of us (we’re in Sandpoint in the Panhandle). Still, Crash the cat is a true Idahoan and his success must be celebrated.

Crash is an 8-year-old, one-eyed feline who was rescued in Boise and has been named 2023’s Cadbury Bunny, just in time for Easter Sunday.

Besides appearing in a Cadbury commercial, Crash will be inducted to the Creme Egg maker’s hall of fame, and will take home $5,000 for himself — and another $5,000 for a charity of his choice.

Crash’s began quite by accident, literally — he was struck by a car where he lost not only his eye but broke one leg and his jaw.

“As he began to heal at a Simply Cats Shelter, his quirky, outgoing personality made everyone quickly fall head over heels for him, leading Crash to become their resident shelter cat,” according to a release from the company. “Crash charms and impresses people as they visit the shelter, performing tricks like high five.”

He was picked out of finalists including Ping the duck; Ande the chinchilla; and a sheep called Timmy. This is the fifth time Cadbury has celebrated the season with its Bunny Tryouts, where any animal can be a contender. This year, the company specifically sought out rescue pets.

Now, Crash’s owner, Maddie Corey is scratching with anticipation for her beloved pet.

“We are jumping with joy to hear Crash is the next Cadbury Bunny but not surprised as he is always the center of attention in any room. He’s been through so much over the past few years and we appreciate the love his friends, family and cat enthusiasts across the country have shown,” she said.

In a way of continuing to support animals, Cadbury has also donated $20,000 to the ASPCA this Spring to continue “raising awareness for pets in need and supporting the ASPCA’s mission of providing effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals.”

And in the brand’s own words, Crash is living proof why such actions are worthwhile.

“He reminds our community that every cat is worth saving.” And to that this feline says AMEN!

National Siamese Cat Day – April 06

Before you think, “Alberto, you’re not a pure Siamese why look at your brofur Oliver!” I would ask you to take a look at my baby blue eyes, my coloring and, if you could hear me you’d know there is Siamese in my family. And it is for this reason that I am celebrating Siamese Cat Day tomorrow. So here’s some info on the wonderful Siamese cat and, if you are purebred Siamese or Siamese combined with something else, I hope you’ll be celebrating too!

The Origin of Siamese Cats

Siamese cats have a long and fascinating history that dates back to ancient Siam, which is now modern-day Thailand. These felines were considered sacred animals and were often kept in temples and palaces by royalty. Siamese cats were even given as gifts to dignitaries and important people as a symbol of honor.

The Unique Characteristics of Siamese Cats

Siamese cats are known for their striking blue eyes, pointed ears, and sleek, muscular bodies. They are also very vocal and affectionate and love to interact with their owners. Siamese cats come in different colors and patterns, including seal point, chocolate point, blue point, and lilac point.

The Personality of Siamese Cats

Siamese cats are intelligent, curious, and playful. (Well that describes me to a “T”). They are also very loyal to their owners and enjoy being the center of attention. Siamese cats are known for their vocalizations, which include meows, chirps, and even yowls. (Oh you should hear me singing the song of my people at midnight).

The Significance of National Siamese Cat Day

National Siamese Cat Day is a day to celebrate and honor the Siamese breed. It is a time to appreciate our unique characteristics and personality of these felines, as well as our contribution to the cat world. This day also provides an opportunity for Siamese cat owners and lovers to come together and share their experiences and love for these beautiful creatures.

One of the best ways to celebrate National Siamese Cat Day is to spend quality time with your furry friend. And don’t forget to give your furry friend to some special treats.

And don’t forget to have your humans take some photos of you and share them on social media and use the hashtag #NationalSiameseCatDay