Tag Archives: pets

Walk Through The Web Wednesday – 7/11

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Hello there furiends!
We realize we are publishing this on Thursday and not Wednesday. I could tell you why this happened but better that I just continue on with the post.

We live in a place that isn’t known for it’s heat but we do have a week or two in the summer when it’s in the high 90s or low 100s. This was the week. Meowza was it hot! but we muddled through and managed to have a good week anyway. I know many of my furiends are experiencing heat so remind your humans to keep your water bowls filled and for heaven sake, find a cool spot in front of a fan or an air conditioning vent (we don’t have air conditioning in our neck of the woods) and keep a low profile until it gets cooler!

Here’s a glimpse of our week.

When it’s 96 degrees and The Human sets up the evaporative air cooler and the fun to hit you purrfectly in your favorite napping spot.
Human, please stop working and do something about this heat!
I am the back yard snoopervisor although I have no idea why any critters would want to come out in this heat!
Look at me making the local paper…I’m a super star!
So The Human can’t be bothered to cook in this heat so she makes this pesto stuff in the blender. Yuck!

WOMAN RESCUES NEIGHBOR’S ESCAPED CAT BY USING HER OWN KITTY AS A LURE!

@sayhitomylittlefriends

Not all heroes wear capes. Sometimes they have a stepladder and a Jerry 🐈‍⬛ 🪜#catrescue #saveacat #kitten #kittensoftiktok #catsoftiktok

♬ Monkeyshine-JP – Lt FitzGibbons Men

I know many of you humans know the sheer panic felt when one of your feline friends escapes from the house. This story posted by tag24 documents which came from TIkTok user @sayhitomylittlefriends documents the feline “rescue” event.

The video shows two cats, one that is outside and another at an open window who seems to be getting ready to escape too. The TikTok user approaches the first cat, attempting to get it back inside it’s house, saying, “Oh my God, get inside. Get in your house.”

While neither of the cats pay attention to the distraught woman, a third cat appears on the scene, and the chaos seems to escalate but then disaster is avoided. This cat is the woman’s feline named  Jerry.

Jerry’s timely intervention proves to be what was needed as he helps to lure the curious escapee back to safety.

Scientists pinpoint strategies that could stop cats from scratching your furniture

If your humans are meowing about you scratching their furniture, you may want to tell them to read this article I found in Eurekalert.org. This international team of reseachers studied what the factors are that cause us to use your furniture as scratching posts and pubished those findings in Frontiers in Veterinary Science.

The researchers asked more than 1,200 cat owners in France about the daily lives and characteristics of their felines and any undesired scratching behaviors. The study’s funder, Ceva Santé Animale, helped with collecting this data.

The researchers’ results indicated that there are several factors that influence cats’ scratching behavior. “We see a clear link between certain environmental and behavioral factors and increased scratching behavior in cats,” Salgirli Demirbas explained. “Specifically, the presence of children in the home as well as high levels of play and nocturnal activity significantly contribute to increased scratching. Cats described as aggressive or disruptive also exhibited higher levels of scratching.”

While some factors that favor scratching – such as the cat’s personality or the presence of children – cannot be changed, there are ways to stop or mitigate the scratching. Placing scratching posts in areas the cat frequently passes or near to their preferred resting spot helps as does the use of pheromones. The Human uses Feliway for multicat homes to keep us calm.  

“Providing safe hiding places, elevated observation spots, and ample play opportunities can also help alleviate stress and engage the cat in more constructive activities,” Salgirli Demirbas pointed out. The key is to establish multiple short play sessions that mimic successful hunting scenarios. These play sessions are more likely to sustain cats’ interest and reduce stress, which ultimately can reduce excessive scratching on furniture. They can also foster the bond between cats and their caretakers, the researchers said.

“Understanding the underlying emotional motivations of scratching behavior, such as frustration, which seem to be linked to personality traits and environmental factors, allows caregivers to address these issues directly,” said Salgirli Demirbas. There will be future research on this issue with the goal  to develop more effective strategies to manage this behavior, ultimately enhancing the bond and harmony between cats and their caregivers.

Cat-themed Telegram game teams up with millions of community players to rescue stray cats

GameFi, the combination of gaming and decentralized finance, has soared in popularity, particularly for its play-to-earn (P2E) model, which enables players to gain real-world value. Now mind you, this feline has absolutely no knowledge about this, nor does The Human.

What we did find interesting is a gaming bot called Catizen. It’s on the cloud-based messaging app Telegram (we do know what that is), According to the company, “Catizen provides players with a virtual environment where they can experience relaxation and comfort away from the fast-paced and stressful crypto and gaming world. While players have a pleasant time with the easy-to-play and quickly-learned game structure, they also benefit from P2E game dynamics.” (And I only understood about half of that)

Within the whimsical Meowverse, players start with a digital cat, which not only serves as their companion but also unlocks further game features and opportunities for rewards. Users can merge and enhance their cats, climb the leaderboards, and reap greater benefits as they progress.

The platform also hosts a cute artificial intelligence game called Al Kitty. Users can feed kitties, take care of them, raise kittens and help cats make friends. Younger players can especially accompany the cats’ growth and learn from them.

Catizen, generates revenue through in-game purchases. What we found interesting is that Catizen has community-driven initiatives that appear to be making a tangible difference in the non-profit sphere. With over 1.7 million players, nearly 1.25 million onchain users and over $10 million in-game purchase revenue generated in ten weeks, Catizen pledges 1% of in-game purchase revenue to nonprofits, letting the community vote on the beneficiaries. Catizen plans to continue this journey with its community by launching charity campaigns.

Catizen also encourages users to share stories of saving stray cats which creates a sense of unity and purpose. Participants can post images, videos or text on Twitter or Telegram using their Catizen UID. Community members shared over 10,000 posts about their stories and past experiences with stray cats in just one week, highlighting their active participation. Catizen plans to launch voting for nonprofit institutions, where the community will choose which organizations to support.

I think this is a great idea. If you’re going to play a game that offers in-app purchases why not one that donates money to save cats?

How a cat named Bootsy turned a street of strangers into a community

This story, written by Mike Hohnen for the Guardian, who is the human who lives with Bootsy the cat is heartwarming. The author says that Bootsy had a problem with minding other people’s boundaries, sometimes helping himself to whatever was on the table in someone else’s  house for instance. This is why he assumed the worst when he received a call from someone who phoned him about Bootsy.

This was no complaint though. The caller wanted to let Mike know Bootsy was sleeping on a chair in her back yard and just wanted him to know where the feline was.  He went to meet the neighbor and there began a friendship that transformed a neighborhood in Sydney, Australia.

This story in it’s entirety is a delightful read and today, four years after that phone call,  Bootsy wanders off to the 87 year old neighbor Enid’s house when Mike goes to work, returning to his home in the afternoon.  Bootsy’s visits have become an important part of Enid’s daily routine.

And Enid isn’t the only human who knows and loves Bootsy. Bootsy can be seen accompanying Enid down the neighborhood streets neighbors stop to greet them both. And through Bootsy’s friendship with Enid, friendships grew between humans in the neighborhood as well.

This is a happy tale of how one feline brought an entire neighborhood together. His human says that Bootsy has shown them the way towards community – and there’s no going back for any of them. Be sure and click on the link and read the whole heart-warming story.

This week’s video “pick of the litter”

This cat HATES optical illusions.

Walk Through The Web Wednesday – 6/19

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Hello Furiends,
It looks like it might be summer here, finally. I know some of you are suffering from the heat already and I hope your humans have air conditioning, fans or other cooling means available to you.

Did you know this is one of the best months of the year for kitties? June is National Adopt a Cat Month! Needless to say, the three shelter kitties in this home are thankful that The Human adopted us from our local shelter.

Oliver and I were foster “failures” and The Human says it’s a failure she’s thankful for. She was at an event at the shelter when one of the shelter board members introduced her to Lily and it was love at first sight. There are so many kitties waiting in shelters around the world for forever homes. Please consider bringing one home to your house!

Cat refuses to let human leave

@4h4f1

like i have to go lmfaoo #catsoftiktok #fypp #cats

♬ original sound – libra

I think all my feline furiends will agree that it’s nicer when our humans stay home with us. This kitty, caught in a TikTok video, foils his human’s attempt to leave the house in a hilarious way.

I would note that this is an orange cat (I recently shared an article about orange cats and how energetic they are).  The cat takes possession of the human’s keys and hisses whenever she tries to take them off the table.

For all of you who don’t believe we felines are smart, BondVet recently declared that we have brains that allow us to problem solve, remember things in the past.

The humorous scene highlights cats’ intelligence and the attachment they can have toward their owners. According to BondVet, we felines have brains that allow us to solve problems, remember past events, and understand our human’s emotions. It’s said we have the intelligence of a human two year old.

In other words, this kitty who is guarding the keys knows exactly what he’s doing!

Cats May Be The Only Mammals Who Can’t Taste This 1 Flavor

So you’re telling me that even if you gave me a bit of that muffin, I wouldn’t be able to taste it?

Amy Glover at the Huff Post UK filed this interesting report about cats and our ability to taste sweet things. Have you ever wondered why your cat tries to steal a bite of your pizza but refuses to eat the expensive canned food you just bought him? What flavors motivate us? Well the Scientific American says that we felines are missing a vital protein that is necessary to taste sweets. The article says that the sweet receptor consists of two coupled proteins generated by two separate genes: known as Tas1r2 and Tas1r3,” We felines “lack 247 base pairs of the amino acids that make up the DNA of the Tas1r2 gene.”

What does that mean? We probably taste something when we eat sweets but we don’t taste what you humans do.  

PetMD writes that cats are “seemingly alone among the mammal groups” with this evolutionary quirk regarding tasting sweets.  

Despite this physical reality some of my feline friends seem to love sweets but experts say it’s probably the fat in the sweets, not the sugar that attracts them.

What tastes do we like? The article says we “also have interest in anything with animal protein in it (such as milk, cream, or ice cream), foods with strong smells, or warm food (the temperature of freshly killed prey),” they add ― and anything with a new mouth feel is likely to pique their curiosity.

And if you’re feeling bad that we can’t taste sweets, we do taste some flavors that you humans have, like adenosine triphosphate (ATP), a compound that provides energy for living cells.  

Cat kidney transplants: For some, the pricey procedure is well worth it

Our beloved Angel Jasmine.

We lost our dear Jasmine due to complications from kidney disease. The human gave her subQ fluids every other day, fed her special food and supplements but the disease took her away from us. For years kidney disease has just been a fact of life for older kitties but things are changing. This article by Marlene Cimons from The Washington Post brings news about kidney transplants for cats.

When the feline “Despy” suddenly developed a congenital form of advanced kidney disease at age 2 the veterinarian gave him only months to live. His human vowed to do whatever he could to save the cat. “He took care of me when I was sick,” says Segal, a software developer who lives in San Jose. “It was my turn to take care of him. It’s that’s simple.”

Segal, then living in the Boston area, drove his cat to the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine in Philadelphia where Despy underwent a kidney transplant in 2018. Today, Despy is thriving. So is Stevie, the kidney donor cat from a local shelter that Segal agreed to adopt as part of the renal transplant. He adores them both. “They play together, they groom each other, they roughhouse,” Segal says. “We’ve become a comfortable, loving family.”

Chronic kidney disease is one of the most common conditions in aging cats and a leading cause of death. It can also be inherited, which is what happened in Despy’s case, and can result from toxin exposure, such as eating lilies. (A cat who eats even a small amount from any part of a lily plant can suffer fatal kidney failure within days.)

Kidney transplants in cats began more than 25 years ago, although they still are rare, and only three facilities perform them: Penn Vet, the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine and the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine.

Penn Vet has performed 185 transplants since 1998, the Georgia school more than 40 since 2009, and Wisconsin 87 since 1996.

Not all cats are candidates for the procedure, and for those who are, it can be expensive, up to $25,000 for the surgeries to retrieve the donor kidney and transplant it into the recipient cat. Yet the surgeons who do them say they find it personally gratifying to give people more time with their cherished companions. Also, they add, the surgeries and long-term follow-up in cats can provide knowledge that potentially can benefit human health.

Most cats gain an average of two to three years, although there are exceptions. Despy, for example, is six years post-transplant. “Our longest survivor was nearly 13 years,” says Chad Schmiedt, the Alison Bradbury chair in feline health at the Georgia veterinary school. “Shilo was 3 when we did the transplant in June 2009 and lived until April 2022.”

About 40 percent “go out three years post-transplant,” says Robert J. Hardie, clinical professor of small-animal soft-tissue surgery at the Wisconsin veterinary school, adding that survival often depends on whether postsurgical complications occur. “Some live longer. We’ve had some out 10 years.” At Penn Vet, up to 70 percent are alive and doing well one year after transplant, and two recipients lived 13 years after the surgery.

“It is a life-expanding procedure with the possibility of relatively good outcomes — sometimes dramatic outcomes — in terms of longevity that is of great value to many pet parents,” Hardie says. Moreover, scientists could learn more about immunosuppression in cats that could be applicable to humans, he says.

The cats getting new kidneys typically are between the ages of 8 and 12, although younger cats without other potentially serious medical conditions often do better and live longer, experts say. Schmiedt usually won’t perform a transplant on a cat older than 16. Hardie says the oldest cat transplanted at Wisconsin was 18. Aronson once did one on a nearly 18-year-old who had no other health problems and was youthful in behavior and who lived for another two years with the new kidney.

Cats with moderate kidney disease are better candidates than those with mild or advanced disease, because of the balance between surgery risks and benefits, although age provides an advantage for young cats who may have advanced kidney disease. The cats also can’t have chronic infections or cancer because they must take the immunosuppressive drug cyclosporine for life, which can worsen both conditions. Severe heart disease also rules them out. “You want a recipient who has the best chance of making it” through surgery and beyond, Schmiedt says.

Matching is easier for cats than it is for humans needing a transplant because there are only two blood types among all cats.

Although this transplant is expensive it is still good news for kitties like Despy. His human says he’s full of energy and living his best life.

Kidney transplants for dogs is more challenging as dogs often suffer problems with immunosuppression.

Woman wakes up with four cats in bed with her. She only has three cats.

Anne-Sophie Mielke and Steffi Feldman from TAG24 provided this amusing story.

A Reddit user (username u/trixy_treat), shared a picture on the platform that has Reddit users talking. The lady who lives in Britain found herself snuggling in bed one morning with four cute felines who were nestled into her blankets and pillows. This woman sleeps with her cats so the sight was not unusual as she lives with three cats named, Pancake, the Tortie; Oreo, and Quinn.  The fourth cat was not a member of her household but a visiting neighbor feline.

The visitor named Bluey, lives next door and is a buddy of her cat Quinn. The woman supposes that Bluely enjoys sleeping at her house because  he lives with a large dog and a toddler.

If Bluey doesn’t sleep over he will appear at her window and meow loudly for her cats to come and play. Now it seems he’s graduated from morning play time to sleep overs.

House of Black Cat Magic celebrates 1 year of business, helping home 150 black cats

The House of Black Cat Magic in Asheville, N.C. hosts parties, community events and more in its Black Cat Lounge, giving people a chance to meet a variety of cats that are up for adoptions.

Joel SeymourSun from ABC13 News reported about their anniversary celebration, their first anniversary “purrty, “magical market” and a silent auction and cat food drive to benefit Binx’s Home for Black Cats food pantry.

Sterling “TrapKing” Davis, who runs TNR Humane Cat Solutions, was there to offer informative sessions about the importance of TNR programs — Trap, Neuter, Return — which help stabilize feral or community cat colonies by trapping them, then spaying or neutering them, and finally, returning the cats back to their community so they can live out their days without continuing to reproduce. We love Sterling, he is a rock star among his feline fans.

Sterling said about TNR, “”A lot of areas, they get a lot of cats so they overpopulate, they start fighting over resources, they end up getting sick, injured, harmful to one another,” Davis said. “So, it’s good to control the population in a good way… that’s what TNR is — you’ve got to spay and neuter your pets!”

I love humans who go above and beyond to help ferals and work to find forever homes for cats.

The Catio Guy

The Human does not support allowing us to go outside as there are all kinds of predators in our neck of the woods but she does provide the opportunity for us to sit on the upstairs patio in our own pop-up catio. 

This guy custom builds cations and they are amazing. We definitely think this is a home renovation The Human should consider.

This week’s video “pick of the litter”

How many of my feline furiends out there can rock a skateboard like this guy?

Walk Through The Web Wednesday – 6/5

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Happy Wednesday Furiends!
How are things in your neck of the woods? We’re hanging in there, our weather however, can’t decide if it’s late winter or spring. Still, since we’re indoor felines, the weather has little effect on us. Things are getting greener and The Human is opening the windows more so that’s good.

Oliver and I do a lot of play fighting and my whiskers are the constant casualty. Now, although it’s not unusual for felines to scuffle and for whiskers to be lost. Our whiskers help us navigate through our environment and are our most important sensory organs. As long as the follicles aren’t damaged, my whiskers do grow back but it takes time. Do any of my furiends out there have a feline sibling that shortens your whiskers?

Look at my pitiful whiskers.

Oliver likes to celebrate holidays and his visual contribution this week is his celebration of Hot Air Balloon Day (which is today)

Happy Hot Air Balloon Day, June 5

And finally, Miss Lily loved the story of cats in mining towns so much she asked our Purrsonal Assistant to make an image placing her in the past in the days of the cats in mines.

Those mining town felines were fantastic!

Here are this week’s stories and our video of the week, we hope you enjoy!

      New ‘Salty Licorice’ Cat Coat Pattern Linked to Genetic Mutation, Study Finds

A group of scientists at the University of Helsinki in Finland discovered a genetic mutation that creates the recently discovered “salty licorice” coloring found in some cats.  

According to the scientists’ study of these felines, published in the Journal of Animal Genetics in May. This coat pattern is similar to tuxedo coats, but the “salty licorice” felines differ with dark markings on their faces and dots and an increasing amount of white towards the back portion of the body. Their tails tend to be primarily white. The pattern was first observed among the Finnish domestic cat population in 2007.

The researchers found that the pattern is linked to a variant of the KIT proto-oncogene (KIT) gene, which is “associated with an absence of melanocytes in the skin and hair follicles” and commonly causes the white coat appearance in various domestic animal species.  

If any of my furiends are from Finland, I’d love to know if you’ve met one of these unusual felines.

Cats in mining camps

Placerville today

Well of course this article caught my eye as we are Idaho felines. In this article from the Idaho Press on Rick Just’s History Corner, I learned that in the 1860s, in Placerville and other mining camps in Idaho, cats were prized for their ability to keep rodents at bay. The article’s author found a 1934 edition of the Idaho that talked about miners’ cabins being often overrun with field mice and chipmunks.

An entrepreneurial fellow from Oregon named Mooney sold pest control cats in the mining camps. Most of them were gray tabbies with no claim fancy pedigree, yet despite that fact, each sold for $10 which would be more than $300 today.

Mr. Mooney stayed overnight with the Moores of Placerville and gave a pair of kittens to their daughter Lizzie. In later years, Lizzie (then Mrs. Sisk) told of litter after litter of kittens that came along, fetching $2.50 for each tiny cat. For many years after, Placerville was known as the home of large gray cats who kept themselves healthy and large due to an endless supply of mice.

Houtong Cat Village: Taiwan’s Cat-Themed Coal Mining Village

I was so intrigued by the mining kitties story, I sent our Purrsonal Assistant off to find out more about cats in mining villages. She came across an article by Nick Kembel on a website called “Taiwan Obsessed” about his visit to Houtong Cat Village. The photos her are all Nick’s.

Houtong was once a thriving coal mining town and today is home to hundreds of cats. The history of the mining in Houtong is preserved in a park.  It’s interesting that the word “Houtong” means monkey as there used to be a cave with monkeys nearby. At its peak, the town had more than 6,000 residents. After the coal mining industry declined in the 1990s most left, and only a few hundred people still live there today.

Your first introduction to the town will probably when you walk through the Cat Bridge.  It was built in 2012 and its design pays homage to the old mining tunnels. Since the bridge is covered, it offers shelter to the local felines and you will probably encounter felines napping there.

Several hours in town can be spent checking out the ruins of the coal plant, browse the souvenir shops, drink a cat foam latte and meet a bunch of new feline furiends.

The cat connection began in 2008 when a local resident and cat lover started encouraging locals to take in stray cats. The idea really took off, putting Houtong back on the map as Taiwan’s premier cat village.

The 200+ cats that live in Houtong today are mostly strays that have been sterilized and those cats are identified with the standard TNR procedure of a clipped ear.  The cats mostly seem to co-exist, with each claiming its own territory and snoozing spots within the three-lane village built on a hill looking over the train station.

You can’t make your way through the village without stopping to pet the cats sleeping and relaxing along the way.

The local shops offer a plethora of cat themed souvenirs and food items.

The ‘Feline States of America’: How Cats Helped Shape the US

Kiddo the lucky cat

And the search for cats in history continued and our Purrsonal assistant found this article by Joy Powers of NPR in Milwaukee.  It doesn’t deal with cats in mining towns but it is about the history of cats in the U.S. She interviewed cat historian Paul Koudounaris (who knew there were cat historians?) who said (about cats), “They were domesticated, they were raised to the highest of the highs and they were plunged down to the lowest of the lows and then very, very slowly by the end of the 19th century, they finally built themselves up to be companions again,”

Koudounaris said that many cats came to the Americas by ship with early colonists. They were known as ship cats, they were used to get rid of rodents and protect the boat’s food supply. These cats were one-way passengers and got off the boats at the same time the humans did.

Although cats continued to face persecution in Europe at the time, some early colonists recognized the benefit of the feline’s hunting skills to handle pest controls. In fact, cats were some of the first animals employed by the U.S. Army.

“The United States Army had hired cats long before they had hired dogs,” he explains. “The United States Army had hired cats in the 19th century, again, to protect the commissaries.”

Even though cats played an important role in early U.S. history, it took a few centuries for them to be considered companion animals instead of working animals. Koudounaris says the transition happened slowly, spurred by their popularity in the West (particularly among cowboys who would use cats to watch their rations). Creative folks, like Mark Twain, started bringing cats indoors and their popularity as house pets grew.

Koudounaris is currently writing a book profiling some of America’s most famous cats, including some of the more well-known ship cats like Kiddo, a cat onboard the airship America, the first dirigible aircraft that tried to cross the Atlantic. Unfortunately the dirigible crashed but thankfully Kiddo survived and he went on a national tour in 1911, making $2,000 a week.  Our Human wants to know what we could do to make $2,000.00 a week!

This week’s video “pick of the litter”

This one will make you say “Awwwwwww”

Walk Through The Web Wednesday – 5/15

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Happy Wednesday Furiends!
We’re humming along here in our neck of the woods. The Human is working on editing her first book in her cozy series and Ollie and I are looking forward to her getting that book out so we can be famous. I am looking forward to signing pawtographs.

We have a nice litter box at Feline Opines International Headquarters and Oliver decided he’d like to do a “jungly” photo shoot. He wants to know what you think.

Beware the jungle cat!
The wild cat sniffs the air searching for prey.
I’m watching you Human!

Neither Lily nor I had the desire to pose for any pictures this week so I’ll move on along to this week’s feline internet news.

Would you trust a robot to look after your cat?    

Sanjana Gajbhive from Earth.com wrote an article about robots as cat sitters. Noted was a recent research project called Cat Royale which talked about building trust between cats and robots. Now this feline is no fan of machine, I mean the vacuum monster alone is enough to give a feline a nervous breakdown!

Cat Royale, an award-winning research project, resulted from collaboration between University of Nottingham scientists and Blast Theory artists. This project crafted a “multispecies world.” In it, three cats lived with a robotic arm. They coexisted for six hours each day across twelve days. Good grief humans, coexistence is not what we cat’s want, we need pets, headbutts and skritches.

The researchers of this project wanted to find out what influenced feline-robot trust.

Some findings have been that the environment and the role of the humans in that environment were all factors in the cat’s trust of the robot. Well DUH!

 “At first glance, the project is about designing a robot to enrich the lives of a family of cats by playing with them,” said Professor Steve Benford, who led the research. “Under the surface, however, it explores the question of what it takes to trust a robot to look after our loved ones and potentially ourselves.”

The robotic arm at the heart of Cat Royale engaged the feline participants through a variety of playful interactions, including dragging a toy mouse, dangling a feather “bird,” and dispensing treats. An integrated AI system observed the cats’ reactions, learning their preferences and tailoring play sessions accordingly. They designed an environment that was pleasing to the cats.

The researcher’s goal is to create a multi’species system but this cat would ask, what about the human/animal bond? Our Human spent quite a bit of time studying this and she too is a bit skeptical about this.  

At least the researcher’s did acknowledge the importance of human involvement in areas like breakdown recovery, animal welfare, and audience engagement. In other words, even in a world of advanced robots, the human touch remains essential. Well, there you go!

Their conclusion is that if you humans want robots to take care of your felines, you’d have to give your home a robot friendly makeover and that you humans have to understand that even the most advanced robot can’t replace the warmth and understanding of a human caregiver. I have three words for all the humans out there-HUMAN-CAT-SITTER.

In Germany, cats remain the most popular pet

Deutsche Katzen sind die besten!

A recent report from a German pet trade and industry association, revealed that Germans love their pets. Well, our Human is German and she can attest to that! In 2023, 34.3 million dogs, cats, small animals and pet birds lived in German households. There were also numerous animals in terrariums and ornamental fish in aquariums and garden ponds.

According to a market research survey from Skopos done for the  Pet Supplies Industry Association 45% of German households have pets.

Felines are still Germany’s number one pet: a total of 15.7 million of them lived in 25% of German households in 2023. In 42% of all cat-owning households there were two or more cats at home.

The head of the market research team said,” We are all the more pleased that the total number of pets kept in households in Germany has remained stable at a high level over the past few years.” I would say they should be pleased that the vast majority of German households are cat lovers!

Cat’s nonchalant reaction to Northern Lights leaves everyone laughing

Sophie Roberts, Lifestyle and Travel Editor for Mirror UK reported on the lack of enthusiasm one cat had regarding the Northern Lights as one man’s cat was photographed with the colorful sky as a background and looking completely unimpressed.

I don’t know what the sky was like in your neck of the woods but it was pretty amazing here. Still, not amazing enough for the Tribe to remove ourselves from the bed and do any sky gazing.

This is how one guy described his cat’s reaction on X: “My cat just experienced the aurora borealis – one of the world’s most radiant natural phenomena – and she doesn’t care.”

His post went viral getting got more than 1.7 million views.

Cat Owners Thought Their Roomba Was Broken, Until They Discovered the Truth

In a Newsweek article this week, a couple who thought they had a broken Roomba discovered their cats were the culprits.

Their cat Winnie became a media star when her human shared a video of her on TikTok.  The video shows clearly that the Roomba wasn’t broken, only “detained” by Winnie’s actions.

Some people think Winnie was playing with the Roomba. This feline believes that Winnie was protecting the other cats in the household by keeping the dreaded vacuum monster away from them. Go Winnie!

Homeowner Sends Neighbor a Note — and Asks Them to Not Let Cats Look Out the Window

“Hey neighbors, it’s me, Oliver, in the window. Tell your dog to shut up!”

Reddit users have weighed in on the letter, which asks the homeowner to “please keep your cats out of the window”. Oh my whiskers, the hubris!

A Reddit user shared a letter sent by a neighbor requesting the poster keep their cats “out of the window,” as the cats are causing the neighbor’s dog to bark.Seriously??!!

In a post shared to Reddit, the cat owner wrote, “I own my own home, and I have three cats (plus two new babies I found outside). Two of them love to sit in the window when it’s nice out. They do nothing but sleep. We keep the windows open as we don’t have AC yet.”

But evidently the cats’ habit of sunning in the window inflamed the neighbor who sent a letter reading: “Hey neighbor! Can you please keep your cats out of the window? They are causing my dog to sit in the window and bark all day long. I work from home, so this is very difficult. Thanks.”

What would say to a neighbor who asked your human to keep you out of the window?

This week’s video “pick of the litter”

There are so many human social media influencers. This feline influencer, Uno the Orange cat, is teaching cats how to live the Vida Loca. It should be a must watch for every feline.

Walk Through The Web Wednesday – 5/8

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Hello Furiends!
Spring is here in our neck of the woods and we’re very happy about that. In our r staff meeting this week I was reminded by Lily and Oliver that we have been negligent in celebrating some of the unusual and wonderful holidays that many observe. We decided we’d share a few of them with you this week.

National Train Day is celebrated on May 11 of this year. If you are a train aficionado learn more by clicking here.

Lily (and the hamster) were a bit confused by National Hamster Day, which began in 2012, by hamster loving folks who wanted to give these pint sized pets their own day.

Better sleep month is one of Oliver’s favorite holidays (next to Eat What You Want Day). Yes, it is a holiday and there’s a Better Sleep Council that can provide information about how you and your humans can get more Z’s. Oliver and Alberto each have their own take on this holiday.

We’ve got lots more interesting and unusual holidays to share with you in the future. In the meantime we invite you to enjoy this week’s feline related news items.

The Truth About Ginger Tom Cats

The Human says she’s never lived with a ginger cat and thought I should feature this article by BBC news since she sees lots of ginger cat memes across her social media feed. After she assured me that this was not a set up for bringing another cat into the house, I agreed to include this article.

Roger Tabor, an English biologist and cat behavior expert says “”archetypal ‘big old ginger tom’ is the classic cat next door” and their behaviour could be down to the Vikings.”

He said that “the scientific consensus has been there are some breed temperament differences, such as lively Burmese or placid Persians, but not differences on colour,” he said.

“However, studies of owners’ perceptions tell a different story, with calico and grey cats being ‘aloof’ and the ginger cat being seen as ‘friendlier and more affectionate’.”

“Measurements have also shown that generally male ginger toms are heavier than most cats of other colours.”

The article then featured some ginger cats to give the reader some insight into their purrsonalities.

Henry the hospital worker

Ginger tom Henry works with staff and patients at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge.

Although he has a home near the hospital, he likes to wander the corridors and food hall, receiving pets and attention . His presence is credited with calming staff and patients and he has won the acceptance of the hospital staff over the years.

Nala the stationmaster

Nala likes the business of the  Stevenage railway station in Hertfordshire where he greets commuters. Like Henry, Nala seems more than happy spending his days with the public, perched on top of ticket machines.

Ernie the artful burglar

Sydney Reid, owner of ginger Ernie, in Cambridgeshire, England describes Ernie this way, “Ernie is a total menace, we’ve had a pure white, a pure black, a tabby, a tuxedo – and Ernie – and he’s the only one to cause such problems within the neighborhood – what is it about ginger cats?” she said. Ernie has put on quite a bit of weight due to his “breaking and entering” of neighbor’s homes to steal food.   Ernie’s human said,  “We once had a neighbor knock on our door to let us know he’d taken an entire resting roast chicken off her kitchen side and out her kitchen window.”

The trolley tomcats

Gingers seem to be adept at finding places where they can find food and company. These                   gingers like to hang out at supermarkets. Pumpkin ignored staff who tried to “ban” him from his local Tesco branch near Norwich. In Ely, Cambridgeshire, Garfield became so popular with Sainsbury’s shoppers that after his death a eulogy was held at the city’s cathedral and a brass monument erected in his memory.

The busy bookworms

Three-legged ginger tom Jasper rose to fame in 2017 after his owner started taking him to work at the University of Cambridge’s Marshall Library of Economics.

“Tea with Jasper” events were popular with students who credited meeting the cat as helping reduce exam stress. They are still holding “Meet Jaspar” events.

The the University of East Anglia in Norwich has its own ginger bookworm, Sylvester.

Sylvester tours the campus grounds and buildings and attends lectures or takes a nap on the library information desk. He has his own Facebook group where students and staff proudly post photographs of their encounters with him.

‘A Viking disposition’

We realize Oliver isn’t a ginger but he insisted we use this photo from a previous blog post.

Cat expert Mr. Tabor says that the friendliness and confidence of gingers could be one of the reasons cats were so popular with the Vikings.

Neil B Todd mapped the presence of the feline ginger gene in places where Viking settlements were located in the Scientific American almost 50 years ago.  His belief was that the Vikings carried ginger cats from Turkey and around the Black Sea to Scandanavia and Britain. He found that the city of York, once a Viking community, still has a higher population of gingers than London. He thought it might have been the cat’s distinctive fur or the friendly, less fearful demeanor of the ginger that attracted them. “Ginger cats themselves could be said to have a Viking disposition, friendly to people they get on with, but fierce with opponent tom cats.”

3 Science-Backed Ways To Tell If Your Cat Actually Likes You

Oliver gives The Human a slow blink

Although I feel we felines get a bad rap as regards our affection for our humans, I decided to include this article by Scott Travers so you more insecure humans could have some reassurance that we do love you. Here are some ways we show you our love.

1. We ‘Slow Blink’ At You

Some people call this the cat kiss. Slow blinks begin with some half blinks and then usually followed with more4 prolonged blinks or even closing of the eyes. Scientific research has shown that these are not random blinks, but are an intentional way we felines communicate. When we slow blink we are showing contentment and comfort. Research has also shown the cats will often slow blink in response to a slow blink from their humans and they will also be more likely to approach someone who slow blinks at them. Try this out. Sit with your feline and tell them what a good cat they are, slow blink a little and see how your feline responds.

2. Their Tail Is Up Around You

Cats use many forms of body language to communicate with each other. The tail up display is a signal of friendliness when cats are interacting with each other. Kittens will often raise their tails when greeting their mother.

There is a hierarchy in tail-up communication; lower-ranking cats are more likely to use this posture, while high-ranking individuals receive it more frequently. This insinuates that the tail-up display can be a sign of acknowledging the higher social status of the other cat.

When the tail up behavior is used with humans it indicates they feel the human is important and may indicate that they see the human as a parent or friend.  It means the cat is comfortable around you and trusts you.

3. They ‘Talk’ To You

Research has suggested that meowing is a more neutral or negative communication.  Cats are believed to have the most extensive vocal repertoires of all carnivores. Outside of meowing, the researchers found other forms of feline vocalization to be more strongly indicative of affection or happiness such as trilling which sounds like a meow and purr combined. Cats will trill to greet or to get attention. They will often trill see a human they are bonded with or when they are excited (like when the human opens the pantry and reaches for the treats)

Chatter is another feline verbalization. It’s created by rapid movements of the jaw and a series of quick staccato sounds. Cats chatter when they watch birds or other prey animals through a window or screen. Chatter indicates the cat is highly engaged and excited to interact with you or something in their environment.

Then there is the purr which is probably the most recognized sign of a happy feline. And although it is recognized as a sign that the cat feeling comfort, safety and happiness. It can also be a sign that cats are nervous (I have been known to purr at the vet’s office).  But when we felines purr around you, we are saying, “I love you human.”  

Discover Your Cat’s Personality by Reading Their Palms

I am not a feline that believes in star charts, tarot cards or other mystical things but I did find this article by Angela Vuckovic about cat paw reading interesting.

She writes that this paw reading phenomenon had it’s origin in Japan and as my regular readers know, I have featured many cat focused articles from the feline-loving folks in Japan.  And the newest feline frenzy in Japan is paw reading.

It’s called “Nekteso”, which essentially means the art of reading cat paws. It began with a cat loving fortune teller named Mr. Akatsuki, presented his observations about the link between paw shapes and personalities in cats. Nothing in the article said this was reliable but it’s an interesting concept. Mr. Akatsuki is so enthused about his paw reading work that he wrote a book with paw reading instructions. He says there are five main types of cat personalities, with 13 sub-types, all determined by the slight differences in their toe beans.

Type A Cat (Heart-shaped middle toe bean)

These are the cuddlebugs of the feline world. They are friendly and love to snuggle with their humans or other animal friends. They are also believers that food is love.

Type B Cat (Rounded middle toe bean)

Theses felines are adventurous and social and function well in a multi-cat household.  

Type C Cat (Flat-topped middle toe bean with two side bulges)

Type C cats are quiet and solitary. Their preference is to be the only pet in the household. They are wary of strangers but are calm and dignified which makes them great meowdels for your social media posts.

Type D Cat (Similar to C type, but less pronounced)

These cats are not known for their big personalities and are more aloof. They don’t show interest in many things and will only tolerate the humans they have deemed worthy of their presence.

Type E Cat (Toe beans form a triangle)

According to Mr. Akatsuki, these cats are crazy and you’ll be lucky if you get a chance to take a close look at their toe beans (hmm, sounds like our very own “Princess Stabby Toes” Lily).

The Human is determined to get a close look at our toe beans and I’ll report her findings in a future column.

This week’s video “pick of the litter”

Walk Through The Web Wednesday – 5/1/2024

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Happy Wednesday Furiends,

Now before you start meowing at me, yes, I know we skipped last Wednesday. Things in our neck of the woods were a bit harried but I am happy to report we are back on track.

And speaking of our neck of the woods, I do believe spring is really here…finally! Now before you get too excited, spring around here takes it’s time and at the moment this is the state of our weather.

Courtesy of Weather Kitty App

Still, we do enjoy the random bout of sunshine and when it happens, we take full advantage of it as you will see in this collection of photographs I have titled, “Sun Puddles”.

Lily purrfers to enjoy sun puddles on the comfort of the furniture.
Sometimes you get to enjoy sun puddles in solitude…
…sometimes another feline interrupts your solitude…
…Okay, maybe sunshine shared is okay.

We hope you’re enjoy the sun puddles in your neck of the woods.

Stowaway cat accidentally mailed to California in returned package

Although I normally stay away from news stories that are all over the internet, I just had to report on this one. First, let me remind you of two things, cats love boxes and cats will climb inside said boxes at every opportunity. Humans, for heaven’s sake, don’t tape up a box before you do a feline inspectikon!!!!

This is the sad tail of a feline who was mailed hundreds of miles in a box that had items being returned. Galena, the Utah feline had disappeared from her Utah home and her humans launched a widespread neighborhood search.  But Galena wasn’t in the neighborhood, she was in an Amazon facility in California!

Thankfully she was rescued by a worker there, in good health despite the fact that it had been days since she’d had food and water. This heroic Amazon worker also took her to the vet to see if she had a microchip and that’s how her family was found.

Needless to say, her humans were over the moon to hear she was found and quite befuddled when they heard where she was. The humans flew more than 1,000 miles to California to bring Galena home.

Poor Galena, who had been frightend during her stay in California, stopped shaking as soon as she was in her human’s arms.

Galena’s human encourages everyone to microchip their cats and to “triple check” their Amazon boxes.

A Day in the Life of the World’s Most Pampered Hotel Cat

I don’t usually feature travel articles but I made an exception for this article by James Wong at Fodor’s Travel and that’s because he wrote about Europe’s prestigious Oetker hotels, a chain that provide an elegant welcome with hotel felines.

Their Le Bristol in Paris has Socrate and Brenners Park in Baden-Baden has Kléopatre. The Lanesborough in London is home to Lilibet, a Siberian Forest cat named after the late Queen Elizabeth II.

Lilibet arrived in 2019 as a kitten and is now the hotel’s most spoiled and loved inhabitant. She has a hotel cat committee to see to her every need and quite an online following.  The hotel’s social media engagement skyrockets whenever she makes an appearance.

James Wong decided to check into the hotel and experience the presence of Lilibet close up and purrsonal. Here is his report.

“I walked through Hyde Park for my first meeting with a cat, more nervous than the time I tried to get in the same elevator as Anna Wintour. Like Madame W., cats are famously aloof creatures, yet adored the world over. Lilibet has strutted her stuff on BBC News, been photographed for high-end editorials, and is consistently captured by fans on countless social media reels.

I was greeted by handsomely-dressed doormen at the grand entrance, and took a seat at check-in. No sign of Lilibet yet. The suspense! The cat committee was deciding on festivities for her fifth birthday. “Last year she enjoyed a photoshoot with a beautiful cake,” I was told. Lilibet’s an Aries like Mariah Carey, Elton John, and Posh Spice: Darling divas partial to a splash of opulence. I was led through an intricate marble hallway within the former 18th-century home of Viscount Lanesborough, today akin to the V&A museum. A passage flowing with ornamental plasterwork, gold leaf accents, and trompe l’oeil. It’s a catwalk like no other.

It goes without saying my room was equally a showstopper. Each of the hotel’s 93 boudoirs is uniquely furnished with regal interiors and cleverly placed technology. TVs are concealed behind classical oil paintings. My personal butler demonstrated how to operate it. Lili and I would be watching a movie of her choice tonight. “Would you like us to prepare the film on this television, or the other one?” I looked around. Which painting was it in? At the flip of a switch, another screen lifted out of what I initially thought was a bookshelf at the foot of the bed. There’s my answer. “We’ll have popcorn ready for you, and some Dreamies for Lili. They’re her favorite treat,” the butler added.

I noticed a cake decorated with pink paws on the table and a card beside it. The inside read, “Welcome to my humble abode. I can’t wait to spend some quality time with you. Love, Lilibet.”

With a couple of hours before dinner, I ventured down to The Lanesborough Club & Spa, an underground cavern of serenity for R&R. No sign of Lili en route. The concierge offered clues. “She often sits on the balcony overlooking the Basia Hamilton portrait of Queen Elizabeth II and sometimes she helps Victor greet guests at the door.” So I quizzed Victor the doorman. He talked about her kitten days, and how he’s one of the few humans she’s never clawed.

“Lilibet loves being pet by guests, but not for too long, she’ll let you know when she’s done,” he laughed. “Visitors can’t get enough of her, regardless, and gifts are delivered all the time.” Gifts, you say? “Yes, everything, but especially treats. She gets lots of fancy chicken soup.”

Further investigation led me to discover that Lili was once gifted an actual gold necklace by designers Ralph & Russo. The hand-crafted collar features the hotel’s crown sigil with her name and number. Lilibet sports it on special occasions.

Post-nap, I visited The Library Bar, adjacent to Lili’s evening hangout, The Withdrawing Room. It’s here that we finally (finally!) met. She was people-watching as the sunset illuminated the corner of Wellington Arch across the street, unflinching as I reached over and touched her unbelievably soft fur.

Siberian Forest cat fur is hypoallergenic, FYI, so no hiss-terics necessary. While I was tempted to pick Her Majesty up, I remembered my chat with Victor and gave her space. At the bar, I ordered the Lilibet Cocktail, made with Earl Grey-infused gin and frothing with English Chardonnay wine flavored with chocolate. It certainly gave me the pre-dinner meows.

I suggested we dine at Gordon Ramsey’s Lucky Cat in nearby Mayfair. “Lilibet will adore the sashimi,” I said. “It’s always amazing.” Alas, I learned domestic cats aren’t able to eat raw sushi, and even if they were, Lili’s not keen on leaving the premises for supper.

Mary in guest relations clarifies, “She runs right back in when she’s taken outside, but doesn’t mind venturing out for grooming.” No sashimi party for us then; unless it’s for the cat spa, this feline’s staying put. “She’s tried caviar though,” admitted Mary.

Instead we stayed in and did dinner in the hotel–separately (Lili needs space, remember). I tucked into a perfectly burnished Beef Wellington at The Lanesborough Grill under a crystal chandelier, no less, while Lili, somewhere in the building, enjoyed Purina Gourmet slow-cooked beef. Curious, I googled the brand. The website states it, “appeals to cats with a taste for the finer things.”

Lili was waiting for me in the room by the time I’d finished my Carrot and Walnut cake, running around excitedly. Clearly, distance made her kitty heart grow fonder. Our butler had laid out a magnificent spread of treats, including Lili’s snacks, special cat milk, and assorted toy mice. I slipped into a robe and hit play on the Puss in Boots sequel, as Lili dashed behind the floral curtains. After enticing her with a trail of treats, I was able to seat her on my lap for 102 minutes of animated adventure. She purred, fixated on the screen, and stayed with me for exactly four minutes before scurrying behind a sofa. Surely she wouldn’t want to miss Kitty Softpaw’s grand entrance? I thought and I went to pick her up. Out came claws. Lili made it very clear she was not interested in Salma Hayek. Perhaps we should have gone with Halle Berry in Catwoman? My feline friend avoided the TV until her 10 p.m. pick-up, and I was given a plush version of Lilibet for company until her return the next morning.

At 9 a.m., Lili was back and ever so thrilled to see me. She’d thankfully forgotten I’d subjected her to Salma Hayek last night. The butler wheeled in our farewell breakfast: avocado toast with poached eggs for me, and a tuna mousse for Lili. Ravished, she jumped on the opposite chair. I took a mouthful as she stared on, as if to say ”come over, feed me!” And so I obliged. She licked a scoop of tuna mousse on my fingertip and I returned to my chair, hoping that acted as permission for her to dig in, but to no avail. I put down my fork, and well, Lili insisted I hand-feed the whole breakfast to her. Ah, this must be what it’s like to live in a luxury hotel, I figured. Butlers on call, fine dining, and oodles of pampering–life here’s not far from life at neighboring Buckingham Palace. The Lanesborough is where anyone who steps inside gets the royal treatment, even if (and in Lili’s case, especially when) they’re a pet cat.”  

Meowza, where does a feline sign up for a job with this hotel chain?             

Cats Cameos in Music videos

Dedicated to all you hardworking blogging cats out there….it’s a hard job but some feline has to do it!

Believe it or not, felines have been making appearances in music videos (or making our own music videos). We have obviously conquered Hollywood and now our charisma and ability to capture an audience has moved us into the music field.  

Purrhaps one of the most iconic feline musical appearances is in the music video for “The Love Cats” by The Cure. The band doesn’t just refer to felines, they also feature cats on film.

Janet Jackson was one of the early feline adapters is Janet Jackson who featured a cat cameo in her1986 music video “When I Think of You.” A feline wanders through the street dancers.  

Ed Sheeran’s “Drunk” presents the story of friendship between him a cat and highlights the bond the human and feline have. Paula Abdul’s “Opposites Attract,” had a cartoon cat named MC Skat Kat who performs a duet with Abdul.

Some people wonder why artists use cats in their music videos and my response is that we are photogenic, charming and we are capable of showing a wide range of emotion. I mean, all you have to do is purruse the internet…we own it!

So my furiends, if you can’t get a job at a luxury hotel, maybe you want to try the music video biz.

The Cat Distribution System at Work

A young boy went to his local animal shelter to adopt a kitten. As soon as he stepped into the cat section one feline made a beeline to him, wrapped his paws around him in a hug. This my furiends, is a purrfect example of how the Cat Distribution System works, The cat picks you.

And that’s what happened. Although the boy went to the shelter to find a kitten, this cat chose him as his forever human

The smile on the boy’s face says it all. He now has a cat!

This week’s video “pick of the litter”

I’m starting a new feature on Wednesdays. The Human and I watch so many cat videos on social media and there is always one or two that we feel are outstanding. This is this week’s top cat video. I hope you enjoy it as much as we did.     

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Walk Through The Web Wednesday – 4/17

Happy Wednesday my furiends,
This week we’ve been having some fun with cat groups. As you might guess, The Human is a member of multiple cat groups on the web and we have our own Facebook page as well. One of the groups we subscribe to is “This Cat is GROMPY”. The Human was messing around with different features on her camera and submitted this photo to the group This Cat is GROMPY. So far I’ve received almost 500 reactions and comments. Some folks asked for a full cat photo so they could see what I really looked like. I don’t know, do I look that GROMPY?

My GROMPY photo
The photo to show I’m really a nice kitty

We also belong to the group, “This Cat is CHONKY”. Someone put out a requests for photos of CHONKS when they were babies. Here is Oliver’s

Lily, not a GROMP or CHONK had The Human do a few glamour shots .

And finally, here is our photo celebrating National Pet Day on our Facebook page.

Well, that’s a glimpse of our week. I hope your week was purrfect!

Cat looks fur-ious after being chiseled out of wall

This story reminds me of that saying I’ve heard you humans use, “no good deed goes unpunished”. This feline got himself in a pickle and found himself  between two walls and the object of a rescue by firefighters. The Fire Captain said crews, “carefully chiseled” out the hapless feline and that it is now safe and sound.

Despite being rescued from death’s clutches, this cat does not look grateful at all!

Cats Are Finally Having a Big Hollywood Meow-Ment

After reading this article I’m thinking about having The Human find me an agent! Cats are showing up in all kinds of films these days. In Steven Zaillian’s Netflix series Ripley, a Maine Coon with the screen name Lucio, plays a main character role.  

Then there’s  Paramount’s upcoming A Quiet Place: Day One, about a woman struggling to escape an alien invasion with her tuxedo cat, Frodo. Last fall, Disney’s The Marvels co-starred a deadly super-powered ginger cat, Goose. In Matthew Vaughn’s spy comedy Argylle, which has just started streaming on Apple TV+, Bryce Dallas Howard is on the run from assassins with her Scottish Fold, Alfie.

As you can see my feline furiends, there are more and more lead roles for felines who can act. We felines have gotten leading roles in animated movies but live action film parts have been few and far between for us.

There would be the rare cat part such as Disney’s 1965 film That Darn Cat and the Coen brothers’ 2013 dramedy Inside Llewyn Davis and that’s just about it.  The reason for this is stated that cats have long had a reputation for messing up scenes and testing even the most patient of filmmakers.  This has caused us to be treated more like a movie prop than a true actor.

In an early draft of Argylle, Vaughn says his novelist Elly (Howard) likewise left her cat at home before embarking on an adventure with superspy Aidan (Sam Rockwell). “Then I saw a Taylor Swift documentary where she has her cat in a cat-pack and I remember thinking it was a crazy image,” Vaughn recalls when speaking to The Hollywood Reporter. “I thought having the three of them going on an adventure together would be fantastic. I was nervous about it being a cat, because cats aren’t exactly the most trainable animal.” Yet by the time the movie was released, Aflie was front and center in the marketing campaign.

Zaillian was also wary of giving a cat such an important role in his adaptation of The Talented Mr. Ripley. “I had written the cat into the scripts, and I did it with some trepidation,” says the Oscar winner, who recast the role Lucio twice before finding the majestic and judge-y looking King. “I had this idea that the only witnesses to Tom’s crimes would be animals that couldn’t testify and people who might be uncomfortable testifying. The cat, of course, was the tricky one. [During casting,] owners would bring cats into the office and think you would want them to do tricks. But what we wanted was a cat that could just be really chill, and comfortable with people and cameras.”

And in the upcoming Quiet Place prequel, writer-director Michael Sarnoski (who previously made the Nicolas Cage animal-centric film Pig) likewise gave a cat a hefty role. The movie’s cat wrangler, Jo Vaughan (who also worked on The Marvels), says Day One might be the finest cat performance she’s ever seen in film due to Frodo’s relationship with the story’s human characters, combined with some thrilling action sequences.

Why are cats bring written in as major characters in films? First, cats are a hot item right now and let’s face it, we own the internet.  There are so many cat videos showing off our many talents and these would have to have captured the attention of Hollywood decision makers.  And decision makers like Argylle are realizing how emotive we felines are. Add to this the advancement of CG animation technology and Hollywood is becoming more and more open to hiring felines.

Finally, there are more humans who now know how to teach us to do stuff so acting cats have a much better repertoire.

So my furiends, brush up that resume and film an audition and prepare yourself for stardom!

The cat distribution system worked its magic once again when a kitten followed a man into his home

The Human has been hearing the phrase “kitten (or cat) distribution system a lot lately. Here is a wonderful story that explains what it means.

Redditor r/BurtMaclin23 had never owned a cat although he’s lived lived just about every pet you can imagine like dogs, ducks, chickens, and pigs, reptiles and parrots.

He shared a story of how a kitten walked into his life on a recent post shared to the subreddit r/cats. He was outside one morning when a kitten saw him and followed him back inside. He had seen the kitten previously, but when trying to call her over, she ran away from him and into the woods.

This day, she walked inside with him without hesitation, “trying to infiltrate” his home, he wrote. His dog of 15 years had died two months prior to the kitten’s arrival so he figured the timing was right and let the tiny kitten stay. He turned to Reddit asking users for advice and tips to make her comfortable.

After no one responded to his queries to see if the kitten had a home he took her to the vet and checked if she was chipped. Now he’[s happy that no one claimed her because he’s enjoying her. He said, “We are doing great! She is a handful and very opinionated but extremely affectionate,” r/BurtMaclin23, who asked for his real name not to be used, told Newsweek via Reddit messaging. “I still miss my dog but I think this kitten found me right when I needed her.”

So that is how the cat/kitten distribution system works. Someone needs a cat (even if they don’t know it) and a cat shows up and finds themselves a forever home!

The Human has been hearing the phrase “kitten (or cat) distribution system a lot lately. Here is a wonderful story that explains what it means.

Redditor r/BurtMaclin23 had never owned a cat although he’s lived lived just about every pet you can imagine like dogs, ducks, chickens, and pigs, reptiles and parrots.

He shared a story of how a kitten walked into his life on a recent post shared to the subreddit r/cats. He was outside one morning when a kitten saw him and followed him back inside. He had seen the kitten previously, but when trying to call her over, she ran away from him and into the woods.

This day, she walked inside with him without hesitation, “trying to infiltrate” his home, he wrote. His dog of 15 years had died two months prior to the kitten’s arrival so he figured the timing was right and let the tiny kitten stay. He turned to Reddit asking users for advice and tips to make her comfortable.

After no one responded to his queries to see if the kitten had a home he took her to the vet and checked if she was chipped. Now he’[s happy that no one claimed her because he’s enjoying her. He said, “We are doing great! She is a handful and very opinionated but extremely affectionate,” r/BurtMaclin23, who asked for his real name not to be used, told Newsweek via Reddit messaging. “I still miss my dog but I think this kitten found me right when I needed her.”

So that is how the cat/kitten distribution system works. Someone needs a cat (even if they don’t know it) and a cat shows up and finds themselves a forever home!

The Human has been hearing the phrase “kitten (or cat) distribution system a lot lately. Here is a wonderful story that explains what it means.

Redditor r/BurtMaclin23 had never owned a cat although he’s lived lived just about every pet you can imagine like dogs, ducks, chickens, and pigs, reptiles and parrots.

He shared a story of how a kitten walked into his life on a recent post shared to the subreddit r/cats. He was outside one morning when a kitten saw him and followed him back inside. He had seen the kitten previously, but when trying to call her over, she ran away from him and into the woods.

This day, she walked inside with him without hesitation, “trying to infiltrate” his home, he wrote. His dog of 15 years had died two months prior to the kitten’s arrival so he figured the timing was right and let the tiny kitten stay. He turned to Reddit asking users for advice and tips to make her comfortable.

After no one responded to his queries to see if the kitten had a home he took her to the vet and checked if she was chipped. Now he’[s happy that no one claimed her because he’s enjoying her. He said, “We are doing great! She is a handful and very opinionated but extremely affectionate,” r/BurtMaclin23, who asked for his real name not to be used, told Newsweek via Reddit messaging. “I still miss my dog but I think this kitten found me right when I needed her.”

So that is how the cat/kitten distribution system works. Someone needs a cat (even if they don’t know it) and a cat shows up and finds themselves a forever home!

The artist Gustav Klimt was a Cat Daddy

Famous Austrian artist Gustav Klimt loved cats so much that he let them take over his studio and his heart.  When art critic Arthur Roessler visited the painter’s studio, he was reportedly shocked by the conditions he met.

“As I sat with Klimt and rummaged around in a heap of papers, surrounded by eight or 10 meowing, purring cats, play fighting with each other, so much so that the rustling study sheets just went flying, I asked him, puzzled, why he tolerated such antics spoiling hundreds of the most beautiful drawings,” Roessler wrote.

Klimt was pointedly unbothered by the chaos around him. “No, my friend, even if they crumple and tear one or the other pieces of paper,” he told the critic. “It doesn’t matter; they only pee on the others, and, you know, it makes the best fixing agent.”

It hasn’t been determined if Klimt used cat pee as a fixative on his work. Probably Klimt was tired about being questioned about the cats in his studio and made the claim as a joke.  

Klimt was quite a recluse and lifted himself out of poverty with his art. He moved from his country life to live in the elegant city of Vienna.  Although the elite of Vienna purchased his art, they shunned him in society due to his country dialect and manners which were not fit to move in their society.  

No wonder he turned to his furry friends for company. An iconic photo, shot by photographer Moriz Naehr, depicted him standing outside his studio, wearing one of the floor-length caftans he painted in, cradling his beloved cat Katze.

It’s interesting that despite his deep affection for cats he never painted them. Last year, however, the Vienna Tourist Board mashed up the internet’s love of cats with Klimt’s and launched their campaign titled UnArtificial Art. They used A.I. to reimagine Klimt’s iconic artwork, The Kiss, replacing the lovers in the painting with sorrowful felines in a tender embrace.

Image above: Gustav Klimt, The Kiss (1907–1908). Collection of the Belvedere, Vienna. Right: A.I. picture generated on Midjourney by Vienna Tourist Board. Photos: © Belvedere Museum and Vienna Tourist Board.

Walk Through The Web Wednesday – 4/10

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Hello Furiends,

We are finally back in touch with the world – translation, our internet is working again. Meowza that was not fun!

While we were out of touch with the world we were spending time in staff meetings and drawing up some plans for our blog that we think you will like. There will be more about this next week. Oliver, Lily and I are exhausted from trying to keep our Purrsonal Assistant focused. Sigh, it’s a hard job but someone’s gotta’ do it. Here are some snapshots of our week.

I am exhausted from trying to keep our Purrsonal Assistant focused. – Oliver

I was forced, during a work break to find some toys that would amuse the feline staff.-Alberto
I think they’re all idiots. – Lily

A new declaration in Mexico gives 19 cats roaming the presidential palace food and care fur-ever

Paws up; to the humans at Mexido’s National Palace. There has been a colony of feral cats living on the premesis,and the government has made it clear they are welcome to live there. They will greet visitors and roam the grounds and gardens.

 “They have access to every part of the palace, so they walk in on meetings, interviews and wander onto camera,” said Jesús Arias, the palace veterinarian, as a handful of feline friends brush against his ankles.

Now the place of the cats is official after the government of Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador declared them to be “living fixed assets,” the first animals in Mexico to receive the title. By declaring the felines as  “fixed assets” López Obrador’s government has obligated the country’s Treasury to give them food and care for them for the rest of their lives, even after the leader leaves office in October. The cats all have names and are loved by palace staff and tourists.

Staff say they remember the feral cats living among the cacti and dense brush of the gardens as far back as 50 years ago. This feline is happy to see this 50 year tradition continued!

‘They thought I was crazy’: Okanagan’s first cat cafe thriving after nearly one year

Here at Feline Opines, we love to feature cat cafes. The Human, who has been an entrepreneur all her life, also loves to hear success stories about these café’s.  Ashley Karnes, owner of the Catelowna Cat Café in Kelowna, Okanagen, Canada, says that despite some naysayers, the Okanagan’s B.C. first cat cafe is thriving nearly one year after opening.

Many people told her she was crazy when she opened the café. Karnes partnered adoption agencies and rescues from B.C. and Saskatchewan and since she opened in June 2023, the cafe has seen 156 adoptions! At this time Catelowna has 30 cats ready to find their furever homes.  

One of Catelowna’s regular visitors said. “I do like coming here. It’s fun to cuddle the kitties because I have dogs at home. I can’t have cats, so this is where I get my cat fix,” Reservations at the cafe. But this café and o9ther cat cafes do much more than give humans an experience, they also offer socialization for the kittens and cats which makes them much more adoptable.

Do you have a cat café near you? If you do, I encourage you to visit them.

Pet food company to pay a cat lover $10K to cuddle with kittens, raise support for adoption shelters 

When I read this I demanded that The Human submit an application immediately. Can you imagine how many cat toys, treats and a fancy new cat tower $10K could buy? Yes, it’s true, ACANA pet foods is going to pay $10,000 to one lucky cat lover for cuddling with kittens. All you humans have to do is reply to a questionnaire.

In addition to the $10K prize, ACANA cat food will arrange for the winner to spend four hours cuddling with cats at Best Friends Animal Society this June. (Best Friends is one of the BEST places and is one of the leading national animal welfare organizations dedicated to ending the killing of cats and dogs in animal shelters). All this is to bring attention to “kitten season” that happens in May through November every year. Kitten season results in an influx of kittens in shelters, often overwhelming the shelter resources.

ACANA wants to educate the public about the kitten problem and to promote adoption. As many of you know Oliver, Lily and I were adopted from our local shelter. ACANA also wants to encourage people to help out at their local shelters.

Let’s spread the word about kitten season and let’s work to empty the shelters so that every cat in our communities has a forever home!

‘Walking my cat on a lead changed my life’ 

black and white cat takes a walk in the garden with a harness and leash

Cats on leashes is becoming a phenomenon and their photos and stories are filling up the web. BBC spoke to three owners of “adventure cats”, who have roamed the British countryside with their feline companions and to discover why they take their felines on outdoor adventures.

“He’s fearless, nothing fazes him” said Jade de Monyé. She adventures with Figaro, a Maine Coon cross Ragdoll.  She was Inspired by world-travelling adventure cat Suki, Ms de Monyé, decided to harness train Figaro when he was a kitten.. Figaro took to the harness immediately. “I’ve never seen a cat that’s so happy to just be out – he’s always got the little happy high tail, his eyes are never big and scary,” she said. “I’ll open the car door with his lead on and it’s up to him if he wants to get out. I never push him into anything.” She also phones public venues ahead to check whether she can bring Figaro and avoids places with dogs off leash.

Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2019, Ms de Monyé said taking Figaro on walks had “changed her life”. “On my days off I’d just shut myself away and feel sorry for myself,” she said. “He almost forces me to get out of the house.”  “It’s not like walking a dog,” she said. “It’s going where the cat wants to go. He does like to sit a lot at the water’s edge and just watch all the birds. “You can 100% train a cat, it’s just a lot harder,” she added.

Anna Dukes Sydney and her cat Roland travel around town in a stroller nicknamed the “meow-cedes Benz” She takes her Sphynx and Blue Point Siamese, Roland and Sydney on trips in her camper van. The cats have explored campsites and beaches across the UK, although they prefer to avoid seawater. “There are signs saying no dogs on the beach, but it doesn’t say anything about cats,” Ms Dukes said. “I’m always mindful if they’re on the lead as I’ve been told, no matter what, cats can escape if they want to.” Cautious about dogs and people with allergies, Ms Dukes stays outside pubs and cafes, with the cats in their “meow-cedes Benz” stroller.

Jordan Gregory, and Jess Young,  consulted a vet before taking British Shorthair, Moss, out on a leash. “We didn’t want her to just stay indoors all the time,” Gregory near Chingford in a house with a garden, but they still take the “chilled out” feline out in a specialist backpack. “We don’t have a car and travel everywhere by train,” Mr Gregory said. “She’ll go to Waterloo in the bag. On the train we’ll take her out… and she’ll just sit on our laps.” Moss is always kept on a leash during her train travel. She has climbed a mountain in the Lake District and, although she “prefers not to be rained on”, also “loves being in a tent,” Mr Gregory said. “There are some people who don’t really get it or somehow take offence,” he added. “[But] I don’t think I’m subjecting her to some kind of cruelty.”

Walk Through The Web Wednesday – 3/20

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Happy Wednesday Furiends!

The weather in our neck of the woods is teasing us, snow is melting and sun is out and now The Human tells us that the weather people (whoever they are) are saying we’re going to get more snow. Meowza, is it spring or not??? The Tribe has decided to take each day as it comes and are enjoying ourselves despite the unpredictable weather (good thing we’re house cats!)

Rain, snow, I don’t care as long as the fireplace is working.
This is where I stand after my nap (in sight of The Human’s office chair) to beg for treats.
I’m stationed in my favorite bed on the cat tree in the office, snoopervising the neighborhood.
Spring, summer, winter or fall, I don’t care as long as I have my comfy office bed.

We hope that the weather in your neck of the woods isn’t so crazy.

Cat rescued from Minnesota rest stop nearly 2 years ago now a model for Target

The story of Hercules the cat began in June 2022 when bystanders called for help after spotting a car jammed with cats at a county rest stop. The sheriff’s department and Animal Humane Society took 47 cats to vets and shelters from the car on that 94 degree day.

One of those cats (now named Hercules) escaped. Volunteers from Tuff Start Rescue found him a month later, lying motionless, near death, his fur drenched in urine. He had a severe jaw fracture and a maggot infestation that was so bad that it had eroded through his cheek tissue.

Dr. Nicole Perreault at St Francis Vet Clinic in Isanti helped put Hercules back together again. He had multiple surgeries, including several on his jaw, which at one point was held together with surgical thread and blue buttons.

“With his referral care and everything, we are probably $12,000 in on him,” Perreault said. “We basically say they are worth every penny.”

Perreault approached her friend Jill LeBrun, a registered nurse, to foster Hercules and LeBrun said, “It was love at first sight.{“

As a result of his jaw fracture, Hercules’ tongue hangs out a lot. And then, one day his human heard that an animal talent agency was looking for cats with unusual faces. Hercules got the job and did so well, the agency wants him back for more work.

And how much did Hercules earn for his first meowdeling gig? A nice $100.00.  Now The Human is calling us slackers since we’ve never earned any income. How rude!

Owner Pays $350 for Vets To Check Growling Cat—Unprepared for Diagnosis

Brandy Mink of southern Illinois told Newsweek that she decided to bring her cat Remi to the vet for a general exam since her cat was also experiencing some skin problems and also growled and swatted every time Mink picked her up. Mink worried that her cat was in pain

After a $350 trip to the veterinarian, Mink’s TikTok video posted to the account @_toe..beans_ in October revealed that her cat was diagnosed with “tortitude.”

If you humans don’t know about “tortitude” you should learn. All you need to do is watch Remi’s TikTok video for a class on “tortitude”.

Remi is Mink’s second cat. The first cat in the home is a sweet tempered Tabby. Now the house has one sweet cat and one sweet and spicy cat (Remi).

Remi’s TikTok clip has reached over 2.2 million views, 223,300 likes, and 633 comments as of Saturday afternoon.

Now that Mink knows about “tortitude” she better understands Remi. She said about Remi,  “She is loving, playful, and will probably forever have a small side of sass we call ‘tortitude,’ but I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

What do all my Tortie furiends think? Is “tortitude” a real thing or is this just another way for people to malign cats?

Which animals make the best friends for your cat?

I love the idea of felines getting along with roommates of another species. This article is helpful if your humans want to bring another animal into your household.

“A cat’s affinity with other animals, whether they’re of the same species or not, will depend a lot on how it has been socialized with its mother and littermates, as well as its character,” says Celia Alesanco, a feline ethologist at Sanicat, a company that manufactures kitty litter. In general, cats tend to get along best with other members of their species and with dogs.

The socialization period for house cats lasts until they are around 16 weeks old, and is key to its later interactions with people and other animals. “If an early introduction is made correctly, it will be much easier for the cat to share its home with other animals down the line. But if it’s done badly, that can generate fear and aversion towards new companions,” Alesanco says.

In general, young animals are more flexible when it comes to adapting to different situations. “For example, if they are born surrounded by sheep, chickens and horses, it will seem totally natural for cats to spend time around those species,” explains Helena-Bat, a psychologist who specializes in ethology and animal wellness. Still, older cats can also live happily with other animal companions. “Despite the fact that cats are more receptive to socializing when they are kittens, that doesn’t mean that an older feline can’t get used to the presence of other animals — just that the process will be a bit more complex,” says the ethologist. Helena-Bat says that middle-aged adult cats exhibit a range of behaviors: “Each one has its own personality and response to interacting with other living beings.”

A cat’s character also influences its way of relating to other animals. “Some establish unexpected ties, while others simply coexist alongside other animals in the home. Links can be formed with dogs, but also rabbits, guinea pigs and hamsters. With smaller rodents and birds, it’s important to supervise interactions, because the cat’s hunter’s instinct can take over,” says Alesanco.

Each cat is different, so it’s impossible to generalize when it comes to what kind of attitude they will have towards living with other animals. “In some situations, a cat who is already living in a home will perfectly integrate with new companions, while in other cases, adopting a well-socialized cat can result in a harmonious coexistence with the rest of the members of the family,” says Alesanco. But she warns that other cases can be quite different: “Even if you’ve evaluated the cat’s temperament and properly socialized them with other species, it could be that they don’t adapt to another animal and that they are unable to successfully live together.”

The most difficult time for a cat in terms of easily connecting with other companions is when they are more than 10 years old or when they are ill.  “An older cat, especially if they are female or have an illness, will find changes more difficult and more stressful. In these cases, it’s advisable to focus on the needs of the animal so it can be as comfortable as possible,” says Helena-Bat.

When your animal family is due to grow and already involves a feline member, it’s good to keep in mind the following tips towards achieving pet harmony. Ethologist Celia Alesanco recommends the following:

  • Look for an animal with a compatible personality. For example, if your current cat is very mellow, avoid bringing them home a hyperactive companion.
  • Bring a sense of calmness and patience to the animals’ first interactions to avoid generating conflict. In some situations, coexistence will happen easily and quickly, and in others, it will be a longer process. Either way, it’s best to keep the animals separated initially if you’re not there to supervise, especially if there are small rodents or birds involved, because their lives could be at risk if the cat decides to hunt them.
  • Monitor the environment in which the animals spend time together, including details like keeping their rest and feeding areas separate from one another. During their first interactions, you can opt to install a gate that allows them to smell and see each other, but precludes any possibility of physical conflict. Once they make it through this separation period, it is still advisable to continue monitoring their interactions at all times, especially when one of the animals is smaller.

My kitty’s a contender for the world’s biggest CAT – he was the smallest in the litter but now he’s as big as a cheetah

Six-year-old Xartrux, from Brazil, measures 4.2ft in length and weighs just over 10kg (22 lbs) – making him as big as a cheetah.

Now wait a minute. Both Oliver and I are 21 ½ pounds! Does this mean that we’re almost as big as a cheetah? The Human needs to start showing us some respect!

While an average cheetah is much heavier than Xartrux, they are between 3ft 7in and 4ft 11in long – a bracket Xartrux comfortably falls into.

A breed of Maine Coon, Xartrux is expected to be naturally big, due to the breed”s title as one of the largest in the world.

But he has grown to such a monumental size that owners Marcia Oliveira and Jean Martins, from Jau, in Sao Paulo , claim their pet is longer and heavier than the biggest domestic cat currently alive.

They reportedly filed their case with Guinness World Records in January, with footage showing a grumpy-looking Xartrux participating in the Rio Cat Club Exhibition in March 2023.

The breed is one of the largest in the world and was previously considered the biggest until the introduction of the Savannah cat in the mid-1980s.

Cartoon Cats: Fun Facts About Our Favorite Animated Felines

Our very own Felix the Cat
Felix the Cat

Felix the Cat is over 100 years old, but he remains forever young. First introduced in 1919, during the silent film era, Felix was one of the very first cartoon characters to become famous. The grinning, googly-eyed little tuxedo cat is instantly recognizable, and his antics have delighted many generations of fans.

Surprisingly, there’s been much debate over who actually created Felix. While producer Pat Sullivan‘s name is on all the cartoons, Otto Messmer was the artist who animated him, and today most people say Messmer is the true father of Felix. One thing that hasn’t been questioned? Felix is an icon, and the standard against which all cartoon cats since have been judged.

The most hapless cartoon cat: Tom

The first of many legendary cartoon series created by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera (who would go on to create The Flintstones, The Jetsons and many more popular shows once they formed their own animation studio, Hanna-Barbera, in 1957), Tom and Jerry debuted in 1940 as a series of MGM short films, and has remained exemplary of the age-old game of cat-and-mouse ever since.

The typical Tom and Jerry cartoon centers on Tom, a gray tuxedo cat, as he attempts to catch Jerry the mouse. While Tom may be quick on his paws, Jerry’s wit is even quicker, and he always manages to escape. Tom and Jerry is known for its goofy violence, and inspired the even more over-the-top show-within-a-show Itchy & Scratchy in The Simpsons.

The silliest cartoon cat: Sylvester

“I tawt I taw a puddy tat!” Sylvester, the red-nosed tuxedo cat, and Tweety, the little yellow bird he antagonizes, are one of the best-loved Looney Tunes duos. Created by cartoonist Friz Freleng, Sylvester made his debut in 1945, and has been a legend ever since.

Sylvester, whose full name is the very regal Sylvester James Pussycat, Sr., holds the distinction of having the most Academy Awards of any Looney Tunes character. That’s right: In the ’40s and ’50s, three shorts starring the funny feline won Oscars!

The most fed up cartoon cat: Mr. Jinks

Pixie and Dixie and Mr. Jinks was another Hanna-Barbera cat-and-mouse creation. From 1958 to 1961, the slapstick cartoons were part of The Huckleberry Hound Show, and they followed a formula similar to Tom and Jerry (if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, right?). Unlike the earlier cartoon cat, Mr. Jinks had not one but two mouse adversaries, Pixie and Dixie.

Mr. Jinks, an orange cat with a blue bowtie, became known for his grammatically incorrect catchphrase, “I hate you meeces to pieces!” While he may not be as well-known as some of the other Hanna-Barbera cartoon cats, Mr. Jinks remains an amusing example of the constantly foiled feline.

The most street smart cartoon cat: Top Cat

Top Cat was created by Hanna-Barbera in 1961. While his show only ran one season, he remains a beloved cartoon kitty thanks to his street smart persona and creative array of get-rich-quick schemes.

Top Cat is the leader of a gang of New York alley cats, and he cuts an unforgettable figure with his yellow fur and snazzy purple vest and fedora. While Top Cat was popular with kids, the series aired during prime time, and the wisecracking, constantly scheming feline was heavily inspired by comedian Phil Silvers‘ Sergeant Bilko character, which gave him a broad appeal to midcentury viewers of all ages.

The most elegant cartoon cat: Marie

The 1970 Disney movie The Aristocats brought an adorable array of cartoon cats into the spotlight, but Marie is the character who stole most viewers’ hearts. Unlike the other cats on this list, Marie is a lady — and she won’t let you forget it!

Marie is a charming little gray-and-white ball of fluff from a posh Parisian family. When she winds up among the alley cats, she’s quick to differentiate herself as the fanciest cat of all, and she wears pink bows on her neck and head that complement her little pink nose and ears. She even has long eyelashes and purplish eyelids (hey, wait a minute — is this cat wearing makeup?). No wonder she was named after Marie Antoinette!

The laziest cartoon cat: Garfield

Garfield debuted as a newspaper comic strip in 1978, and quickly rose to the cartoon cat pantheon. Created by cartoonist Jim Davis, who grew up with cats and noticed a distinct lack of felines in the funny pages, Garfield became a household name in the ’80s as he got his own cartoon TV show and started appearing on all kinds of merchandise.

Garfield is a fat, lazy orange cat who hates Mondays and loves eating lasagna and annoying his owner. Garfield’s sarcasm makes him one of the most relatable cartoon cats, and as his creator described it, “Basically, Garfield is a human in a cat suit.”

The most swashbuckling cartoon cat: Puss in Boots

Puss in Boots was introduced in the 2004 animated film Shrek 2, and became a fan favorite who got his own spinoff movies. While Puss in Boots is computer-animated, and not hand-drawn like the other cartoon cats on our list, he secured his place thanks to his suave, swashbuckling persona.

Voiced by the eternally charming Spanish actor Antonio Banderas and loosely based on the classic fairytale of the same name, Puss in Boots is adventurous and confident. He knows his way around a sword fight and looks quite dashing with his hat, cape and boots, but like many cats, he’s also not afraid to widen his eyes and lay on the cuteness to get what he wants.

Walk Through The Web Wednesday – 3 /13

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Happy Wednesday Furiends,
We are a bit tired of the weather here in our neck of the woods. One day it rains, one day it’s 45 degrees and then the next morning it snows. Oliver, Lily and I have just about had enough of this! During one of his frequent work naps, Oliver dreamed of what it might be like if we each escaped to a climate that was more enjoyable.

I’m dreaming of beaches, jungles and bakeries.
I would like to spend some time in the warmth of the jungle visiting my wild cousins.

It’s a warm beach and a catnip cocktail for this fancy feline!

Ce chat préfère un croissant savoureux! (This cat purrfers a tasty croissant)

We decided to dedicate this week’s information on places that you and your humans might want to consider if the weather in your neck of the woods is getting on your nerves. So, how is the weather in your neck of the woods? Where would you purrfer to be?

32 top US cities to have a cat

“We’re outta’ here!”

This feline would argue that any city or town is a good place to have a cat but if your humans are considering a move, please have them read this before they make any decisions.

These cities rank highly when it comes to quality vet care and the number of rental properties that will be all too happy to let you and your kitty set up home.

Is your city feline furiendly?

1. Orlando, Florida

Orlando frequently tops the list for being the best US city to live in if you have a cat. The reason Orlando ranks so highly is because of the number of cat sitters and boarding options it has, making it a great location if you’re looking for a trustworthy human to look after your fur friend when you’re away.

2. Alexandria, Virginia

Known for its brick sidewalks and 18th and 19th-century buildings, Alexandria is popular with cat lovers and has a reputation for being incredibly pet-friendly. Named a Better City for Pets in 2022, the city has ample cat-friendly housing, good vet clinics, and an excellent animal shelter. And if your cat needs a break from their busy lifestyle, they also recently opened the Happy Cat Hotel and Spa with luxury hotel rooms for your feline friend, as well as enrichment activities throughout the day using a range of fun cat toys, and even room service!

3. Knoxville, Tennessee

With 15 cat-friendly vets and a whopping 70 feline-loving boarding facilities, Knoxville takes their love of cats very, very seriously indeed. They also have a range of rescue centers that deal specifically with cats, and they even have not one but five cat cafes-meowza! 

4. Tucson, Arizona

According to research carried out by Forbes, Tucson is definitely a place you want to consider living if you have a cat. They have the third highest concentration of vet offices in the country, plus cat owners in Tucson pay the 10th lowest amount for cat and kitten vaccinations, spay and neuter surgeries, vet check-ups, and dental cleaning. The city is also home to the 16th largest concentration of pet stores, so there are plenty of options when it’s time for your humans to shop for you.

5. Las Vegas, Nevada

Las Vegas ranks high on the list, largely due to the more than 260 boarding options it offers, not to mention the 550+ registered professionals who will be only too happy to step up and catsit when your humans go out of town. It also has five cat cafes.

6. Tallahassee, Florida

The city is home to the famous Fat Cat Cafe (not all the cats there are CHONKY, there are cats of all shapes and sizes to choose from!) and have so far managed to find more than 1,300 felines their new forever home. Plus, they also run a cat bookstore and the best bit? They take cats to the homes of senior citizens who can’t make it to the cafe for a cudde.

7. St Louis, Missouri

When it comes to the best US cities to have a cat, St Louis frequently ranks in the top 10. It has an abundance of affordable cat-friendly rentals to choose from, a high number of animal shelters and vet clinics, several cat cafes and plenty of cat sitters who are ready to drop in and take care of youj whenever your humans are out of town.

8. Santa Rosa, California

If living amongst the vineyards appeals to you, and your humans are wine lovers, Santa Rosa is one of the best places to head.  They have one of the most successful feline adoption programs in the country and a ton of boarding options, plus they score highly when it comes to cat sitters too.

9. Richmond, Virginia

Access to animal shelters, the number of vet clinics and cat sitters, and the amount of cat-friendly, affordable housing are just some of the factors that make this feline-loving city so appealing.

10. Salem, Massachusetts

Many of Salem’s hotels and inns will be all too happy to accommodate you and your human which makes it a great to visit if you’re not going to move there. You can even join your humans on a walking tour if you are a leash strolling feline. There are also some stunning cat friendly green spaces too.  There are plenty of cat-friendly long-term rentals on offer and lots of vet clinics in the area.

11. Escondido, California

Settled in a long valley in the coastal mountains of Southern California, Escondido is a brilliant place to live if you’re a cat. On top of all that sunshine, the city ranks highly across the board for everything from the number of vet clinics and cat rescue centers to pet-friendly housing and cat cafes.

12. Kansas City, Missouri

As well as being home to two cat-friendly hotels, Kansas City has the eighth-highest percentage of cat-friendly apartments in the country. The city also has several attractions that will allow cats on at least part of the premises.

The Nelson Atkins Art Museum is more than happy for locals to walk their adventurous felines on their and the 75-acre Loose Park is another great spot for feline exercising. Plus, Kansas City also ranks third in the country for cat veterinary costs with lower fees on checkups, vaccinations, and dental cleaning.

13. Scottsdale, Arizona

If you fancy the desert and lots of sun (and we felines love sun puddles) Scottsdale really is the cat’s meow. When it comes to cat supply stores, vet clinics, animal shelters, and all-round feline-friendliness amongst the residents, Scottsdale consistently ranks amongst the best cities in the US to have a cat.

14. Atlanta, Georgia

The fact that some call it  Catlanta should give you an idea that this city is feline furiendly. With the highest number of cat-friendly rental properties in the country, Atlanta is incredibly fond of felines, and that’s not the only thing it has going for it. It’s also home to the Cotton States Cat Club, which puts on an annual show, and the adorable Furkids Rescue Shelter and Sanctuary, where children can visit and read to any one of their many feline residents.

15. Fort Collins, Colorado

Just a short distance north of Denver is the historic city of Fort Collins. It’s also home to Wagz Pet Market & Grooming, a shop filled to the brim with the best dry cat food, treats, toys, and accessories, plus, they offer a full-service grooming salon where you can be bathed and brushed, have your nails clipped and even yo0ur ears cleaned! And if you’re an adventure cat and like to hike with your human, there’s no better place to hit the trails than this delightful mountain city.

16. Tampa, Florida

Home to the popular Cats & Caffeine Cafe, where your human can enjoy a hot cup of coffee and a cuddle with a rescue kitty at the same time (if they’re not getting enough love at home, Tampa is well known for being super feline-friendly. In fact, so much so, that the St. Clement’s Episcopal Church even offers cat-friendly Sundays on the third Sunday of every month where you can attend with your humans. All cats receive treats and a blessing!

17. Dayton, Ohio

Dayton is a cat loving place. Gem City Kitties is a nonprofit organization that works alongside the Gem City Cat cafe and together the two connect adoptable rescue cats with forever families as well as running classes and workshops to educate the community.

In 2021, they also opened Gem City Vets, a low-cost clinic for low-income families which helps to ensure that everyone can own a happy and healthy cat no matter their financial status.

18. Savannah, Georgia

A coastal Georgia city known for its manicured lawns, antebellum architecture, and cobblestone squares, Savannah is bursting at the seams with breathtaking beauty. It has plenty of cat-friendly rental accommodations, and is home to the Skidaway Island Skate Park where adventurous felines have been known to trot happily alongside their humans on the various trails.

Plus, if you’ve just moved to the city (or fancy getting reacquainted with it), Old Savannah Tours will let you coke along with your human on their trolley tour, and Adventure Tours in Motion will attach a basket to the front of your e-bike so your can ride along with with your human and tour the city.

19. Tacoma, Washington

The famous Mount Rainier looms over Tacoma, WA at sunset

A beautiful city that sits on the banks of Puget Sound just south of Seattle, Tacoma is a fantastic place to live with a cat — especially if you and your feline friend are both the active, outdoorsy types. There are a ton of stunning hiking trails on the outskirts of the city, and Tacoma itself is home to Grit City Kitty, a fantastic cat boarding and cat sitting service that allows you to breathe easy knowing that someone can be there for your pet when you can’t be.

20. Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Florida as a state ranks amongst the best for those with cats, so it’s no surprise that Fort Lauderdale is often cited as being a great city for cat lovers. They have the fifth highest concentrations of cat sitters in the country and are second when it comes to boarding options making it a brilliant place for your human to base themself if they often travel for work.

There are also plenty of parks and beaches in the area that will quite happily accept feline visitors as long as they’re kept on a leash.

21. Birmingham, Alabama

A study conducted in 2021 by PetListed had Birmingham placed in the number one spot in the country for the best US city to own a cat. While a few years may have passed since then, they continue to rank extremely high across every important category, including the amount of cat-friendly housing available (81% of properties in the city will accept cats), the number of AAFP-certified cat veterinary practices, the abundance of local animal shelters and welfare groups, and the number of pet stores selling cat products.

22. Austin, Texas

The Lone Star state got a very special award in 2023 when leading real estate marketplace company, Zillow, named Austin as the most pet-friendly city in the country for renters.

A very cool 80% of properties in the city will allow you and your human to move in. And that’s not all Austin has going for it, it’s also home to an impressive six cat cafes and 247 veterinary service locations, so you’re guaranteed that you and your health and well-being will be a top priority.

23. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

There is no shortage of rental properties that will accept you and your human, plus you’ll find a wide selection of cat cafes that will let your human get coffee and a kitty fix if you’re not spending enough time with them. Maybe they’ll even find you a furry roommate.

The Cattfeinated Cafe is well worth a visit — not only are there plenty of adorable adoptable cats to pet, but they also have a cat boutique where your human can purchase merchandise for you and a thrift shop with profits benefiting the local animal rescue.

24. Miami, Florida

Based on Lily’s dream of the purrfect place Miami would suit her fine, The Human not so much because she prefers mountains to beaches.  But if your human likes the beach then this city is great, ranking highly across every category including cat-friendly properties, number of cat adoptions, number of pet stores that stock cat products, number of vets, and number of cat cafes. Plus there’s an abundance of professional pet sitters and boarding options.

25. Minneapolis, Minnesota

A vibrant and cat-friendly city known for its parks and lakes, Minneapolis offers plenty of opportunities for you and your human to get out and about together and explore. Get caffeinated at The Cafe Meow, or why not visit one of the many cat gear and grooming stores in the city center? Plus, there are some great cat trainers and behaviorists who’ll be more than happy to help with any cat behavior problems (not that you have any, mind you, but just in case). And there are lots of lovely green spaces for you and your human to relax in when the weather is good.

26. Denver, Colorado

Denver is on track to become one of the most cat-loving cities in the country, with 2020 seeing them take the title for the highest number of cat adoptions of any US city. The Denver Cat Company is well worth a visit — not only do they serve great coffee and facilitate finding rescue cats new homes, they also offer some super fun activities, like a tarot card reading given by a cat and art and craft classes where all the feline residents join in. There are plenty of great hikes in the area too, plus lots of other options for outdoor activities, so if you’re an adventure cat, you’ll love calling Denver home.

27. Salt Lake City, Utah

If your human likes scenic mountain views and a vibrant local culture with people who are incredibly pet-friendly, then Salt Lake City is a great place to put down roots. It consistently appears in the top 10 best US cities to have a cat across a range of different surveys with plenty of cat-friendly accommodation, community cat rescue and adoption programs, quality vet care and some gorgeous hiking trails for those days when you and your human just want to get away from it all.

28. Dallas, Texas

Apart from having the perfect climate for window perching, Dallas is one of the first cities in the country to receive the BETTER CITY FOR PETS™ certification, as part of the Mars Petcare BETTER CITIES FOR PETS™ program — a certification that honors the city’s ongoing commitment to creating a pet-friendly community. No surprise then that Dallas currently ranks second in the country for cat-friendly rental accommodation and they’ve also just opened the very adorably named Whiskers and Soda cat cafe.

29. Cincinnati, Ohio

Not only is Cincinnati kind on your wallet (they have some of the lowest vet costs, pet-care provider costs, and pet insurance premiums in the country) but there are also 39 cat-friendly assisted living facilities in the area for seniors who are looking for more daily support but who don’t want to have to say goodbye to their beloved fur friend.

30. Riverside, California

A popular area to put down roots for families and young professionals, Riverside is a cat-friendly city known for its abundance of cafes and parks. They rank highly for their animal shelters and welfare groups and have plenty of rental options that will happily accept you and your human. The vet care in the area is also good and you’ll find plenty of hiking options on your doorstep if you and your human fancy a day out on the trails.

31. Portland, Oregon

Pet-friendly Portland has a plethora of parks and natural spaces that will happily welcome you (if you don’t mind being on a leash) and your human. Many of the city’s beloved breweries will also let you hang out with your human on the patio, and there’s no problem finding quality rental options that will accept your feline renters.

There are also close to 300 different vet clinics to choose from and with more than 60% of residents owning a pet of some kind, you’ll find the locals to be incredibly animal-friendly.

32. Greensboro, North Carolina

Greensboro is one of the best cities in the US to have a cat when it comes to feline-friendly rentals, with more than 85% of the accommodation options in the city welcoming cats. The Crooked Tail Cat Cafe was also the first of its kind to open in North Carolina and the city ranks well for quality vet care.