Cat Charity

Cat Breeds

2007-08-10T14:09:00.000-07:00

Longhair and Semi-Longhair
* Asian Semi-longhair (or Tiffanie)
* Balinese
* Birman
* British Longhair
* Chantilly/Tiffany cat
* Himalayan (USA) or Colourpoint (rest of world).
* Javanese
* Maine Coon
* Nebelung
* Norwegian Forest Cat
* Oriental Longhair
* Persian
* Ragdoll (and Ragamuffin)
* Siberian
* Turkish Van
* Turkish Angora

Shorthair
* Abyssinian
* American Shorthair
* Australian Mist
* Bombay
* British Shorthair
* Burmese
* Burmilla
* California Spangled Cat
* Chartreux
* Colorpoint Shorthair
* Egyptian Mau
* European Shorthair
* Exotic
* Havana Brown
* Korat
* Ocicat
* Oriental Shorthair
* Russian Blue
* Russian
* Siamese (and Traditional Siamese or Applehead Siamese)
* Singapura
* Snowshoe
* Sokoke
* Somali
* Tonkinese

Breeds based on mutations
* American Bobtail
* American Curl
* American Wirehair
* Cornish Rex
* Cymric
* Devon Rex
* German Rex
* Japanese Bobtail
* LaPerm
* Manx
* Munchkin
* Ojos Azules
* Peterbald
* Pixie-bob
* Selkirk Rex
* Scottish Fold
* Sphynx

Breeds derived from crosses with wild felids
* Bengal
* Chausie
* Cheetoh
* Savannah
* Serengeti
* Toyger

Big Cats vs. Water Buffalo

2007-08-10T11:45:00.000-07:00

Cat Hoarding

2007-08-10T11:41:00.000-07:00

When you know that you have too many cats. This is unsafe and unsanitary for both the humans and the animals.

Family & Cat Disaster Plan

2007-08-08T09:22:00.000-07:00

There is a free site that helps you create a Family & Cat Disaster Plan.

Here are the first steps in preparing your family pets and cats in the event of a disaster. By planning ahead we can help save lives, property, and reduce the time it takes for our communities to recover, and save your cats

After a disaster, emergency workers may not be able to reach everyone right away. In some cases it may take 3 or more days for help to arrive. Your family and cat disaster plan is the guide that will help to prepare your family to endure these difficult times.

You can create a FREE disaster plan by going to Florida Disaster. Even though you may not live in Florida 98% of what this free disaster preparedness site offers will work for you and your cats by allowing you to creat a customized Family Disaster Plan, including disaster planning for your pets. It will help you prepare for future disasters by providing useful planning tips, suggestions, and checklists.

My Pets - Family & Cat Disaster Plan

All pet owners should make arrangements for their pets if they plan to evacuate. Remember, many disaster shelters cannot accept pets because of health and safety regulations, so be sure to contact your local shelter to find out about their pet policies. Service animals for people with disabilities are an exception. For shelters that allow pets, you must provide proof of updated license and vaccinations. Do not wait to have your pet vaccinated, since many vaccinations can take 3-4 days to take affect and may not be acceptable by disaster shelters if performed at the last minute. All pets must also be in an "airline approved" pet carrier.

If you can't take your pets with you, make arrangements ahead of time with a clinic or kennel to care for your pet. These arrangements should be made well in advance because available spaces can fill up quickly during times of disaster.

Here are important items to have for your pet in the event of a disaster:

Pet Disaster Supply List Check List

* Vaccination papers - Be sure your vet includes vaccinations for Kennel Cough, Parvo, and Distemper
* Leash
* Collar with Pet's Identification Tag
* Pet food and water
* Food and Water Bowl
* Medications
* Name and contact information of you're pet's veterinarian.
* Recent Picture of Pet
* "Airline Approved" Pet Carrier - (Carriers should be large enough for the animal to stand up, sit, and turn around)
* Cat Litter and Pan for your cats

Never leave your pets at your home if you choose to evacuate. Remember, "If it is too dangerous for you, it is too dangerous for your pets."

Meet with your family and discuss your Family Disaster Plan, including your designated Meeting and Check-in locations after a disaster

Create a Disaster Supply Kit with the following:

* Battery-powered radio or television
* Flashlight(s)
* Extra batteries for radio, television, and flashlights
* First Aid Kit and first aid manual (see First Aid section of your plan)
* 3 changes of clothing and sturdy pairs of shoes (one for each person in your plan)
* 3 Pillows and 3 blankets/sleeping bags (one for each person in your plan)
* Feminine supplies
* Fire extinguisher
* Manual can opener
* Disinfectant
* Household bleach
* Credit card and cash
* Personal identification
* An extra set of car keys
* Matches or lighter in a waterproof container
* Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities (household gas and water)
* Whistle or signal flare to signal for help
* Map of your local area

Disaster Preparedness Checklist
* Get Cash (without power, credit cards are unusable. Get small bills - $5,10,20's)
* Locate gas and water shut off valves
* Take pictures or home videos of your home contents for insurance purposes
* Fill up the gas tank in your vehicle
* Make copies of important documents and keep them in a waterproof container:
* Insurance documents (home insurance and health insurance)
* Birth certificates
* Marriage certificates
* Social security cards
* Bank account numbers
* Tax returns for previous 2 years
* Listen to emergency announcements and follow their directions

Checklist for Pets

Contact your local emergency shelter to find out if they accept pets
(If not, make separate arrangements to shelter your pet)

Have pets vaccinated and checked as required by your local shelter

Checklist of Things to Do AFTER a Disaster Event

If you evacuated the area, listen for the local authorities to announce the "ALL CLEAR" letting you know it is safe to return home

Check for damage in your home - Use flashlights-do not light matches, candles, or turn on electrical switches in case of a gas leak

Contact your insurance provider to report any damages

Clean up spilled medicines, bleaches, gasoline and other flammable liquids immediately

Call your Out of Town Contact and other family members to let them know you are OK

Check on your neighbors, especially elderly or disabled persons

Repair or block off access to anything in your home that is damaged and could cause injuries

Stay away from downed power lines

Checklist for Pets

Confine or secure your pets during the clean up period after a disaster - your pet could come into contact with spilled chemicals or dangerous debris which would cause them harm or even death

Walk pets on a leash until they become re-oriented to their home - often familiar scents and land marks may be altered and pets could easily be confused and become lost

If pets cannot be found after a disaster, contact the local animal control office to find out where lost animals can be recovered. Be sure to bring along a picture of your pet if possible.

Pet disaster planning

Cat Ad

2007-08-07T21:44:00.000-07:00

SINGLE BLACK FEMALE seeks male companionship, ethnicity unimportant. I' m a very good girl who LOVES to relax on a sofa almost all day long. I love hunting and fishing trips, and cozy winter nights lying by the fire. Candlelight dinners will have me eating out of your hand. I'll be waiting by the window when you get home from work, wearing only what nature gave me. Call (404) 875-6420 and ask for Daisy, I'll be waiting....

Please scroll down ....

Over 15,000 men found themselves talking to the Atlanta Humane Society...

Halloween Saftey Tips for Cats

2007-07-29T09:41:00.000-07:00

Attention, pet parents! The ASPCA would like to call your attention to some common-sense cautions that’ll keep your pets safe and stress-free this time of year:

- No tricks, no treats: That bowlful of candy is for trick-or-treaters, not for Scruffy and Fluffy. Chocolate in all forms can be very dangerous for dogs and cats, and tin foil and cellophane candy wrappers can be hazardous if swallowed.

- Dress-up can be a big mess-up for some pets. Please don’t put your dog or cat in costume unless you know he or she loves it (yup, some pets are real hams!). For companion animals who prefer wearing their “birthday suits,” however, wearing a costume can cause undue stress.

- Popular Halloween plants such as pumpkins and decorative corn are considered to be relatively nontoxic, yet they can produce gastrointestinal upset should pets ingest them. Intestinal blockage could even occur if large pieces are consumed.

For our complete list of Halloween safety tips, visit ASPCA.org. And please remember, if you suspect that your pet has ingested a potentially dangerous substance—around Halloween or any time of year—please call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.

Full Story at: http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=media_newsalert102706#1

Those Crazy Catz

2007-07-14T15:20:00.000-07:00

Funny cat pics on the internet have taken over the picture entertainment sites by storm. From Monorail Cat to Samurai Cat, these crazy felines are all over. Check it out!

Cat Jokes, Volume II

2007-06-15T16:16:00.000-07:00

Why are cats such good singers? Because they're very mewsical.
What do you call newborn kittens who keep getting passed from owner to owner? Chain litter.
What is the cat's favourite magazine? Good Mousekeeping.
How many cats can you put into an empty box? Only one. After that, the box isn't empty.
Why do you always find the cat in the last place you look? Because you stop looking after you find it.
If a cat can jump five feet high, then why can't it jump through a three foot window? Because the window is closed.
What is a cat's favourite movie? "The Sound of Mewsic."
What does a cat that lives near the beach have in common with Christmas? Sandy Claws.
Where is one place that your cat can sit, but you can't? Your lap.
Why did the cat put oil on the mouse? Because it squeaked.
What side of the cat has the most fur? The OUT-side.
What is a cat's favourite car? The Catillac.
What kind of cat will keep your grass short? A Lawn Meower.
Why did the judge dismiss the entire jury made up of cats? Because each of them was guilty of purrjury.
What do you use to comb a cat? A catacomb.
Why did the cat run from the tree? Because it was afraid of the bark!
Why is it so hard for a leopard to hide? Because he's always spotted.

Cat Jokes, Volume I

2007-06-15T16:14:00.000-07:00

Did you hear about the cat who drank 5 bowls of water? He set a new lap record.
Did you hear about the cat who swallowed a ball of wool? She had mittens.
What is the difference between a cat and a comma? One has the paws before the claws and the other has the clause before the pause.
What do you get when you cross a chick with an alley cat? A peeping tom.
Why don't cats play poker in the jungle? Too many cheetahs.
What is a cat's favourite song? Three Blind Mice.
What did the freshman computer science major say when he was told that the work stations had mice? Don't you have a cat?
What is a cat's way of keeping law & order? Claw Enforcement.
How did a cat take first prize at the bird show? He just jumped up to the cage, reached in, and took it.
Why did a person with an unspayed female cat have to go to court? For kitty littering.
Why did the litter of communist kittens become capitalists? Because they finally opened their eyes.
Why are cats better than babies? Because you only have to change a litter box once a day.
What is the name of the unauthorized autobiography of the cat? Hiss and Tell.
What do you get when you cross an elephant with a cat? A big furry creature that purrs while it sits on your lap and squashes you.
What does a cat do when it gets mad? It has a hissy fit.
What do you call the cat that was caught by the police? The purrpatrator.
What happened when the cat went to the flea circus? He stole the whole show!
What is a cat's favourite colour? Purrrrrrrple!
Where does a cat go when it loses its tail? The retail store.
What does a cat like to eat on a hot day? A mice cream cone.
What do cats use to make coffee? A purrcolator.
What do you call a cat that has swallowed a duck? A duck filled fatty puss.
If lights run on electricity and cars run on gas, what do cats run on? Their paws.
Why is the cat so grouchy? Because he's in a bad mewd.
If there are ten cats on a boat and one jumps off, how many cats are left on the boat? None! They were copy cats.
Is it bad luck if a black cat follows you? That depends on whether you're a man or a mouse.
How does the cat get its own way? With friendly purrsuasion.
What do you call a cat that lives in an igloo? An eskimew.
What has more lives than a cat? A frog because it croaks every night.
What is a cat's favourite subject in school? HISStory.
What do cats like to eat for breakfast? Mice Krispies.
How do cats end a fight? They hiss and make up.
What's happening when you hear "woof... splat... meow... splat?" It's raining cats and dogs.

Cats Can Scare Bears?

2007-06-15T16:06:00.000-07:00

So what happened when the 15 lb. cat chased the 350 lb. bear?

Full Story at: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/06/060613-cat-bear.html

Want a Kitten? Get TWO!

2007-06-11T15:58:00.000-07:00

"If you want a kitten, get two," said Samantha Shelton, founder of Furkids, a no-kill Atlanta area cat shelter. "Kittens really require a lot of interaction, and as much as you think you'll play with it, you're not a kitten and you can't be there all the time." Full story at: http://www.ajc.com/living/content/living/pets/stories/2007/05/30/060348slpetdish.html

June is Adopt-a-Cat Month

2007-06-11T15:56:00.000-07:00

During the month of June the Watauga Humane Society will be celebrating Adopt-A-Cat Month with a variety of special events going on throughout the month.

The first is the Cat and Kitten Adopt-a-thon, to be held at the Humane Society Shelter, located at 200 Casey Lane in the Perkinsville area. The adopt-a-thon will take place on Saturday, June 2, and will feature more than 100 cats and kittens from the Humane Society, Animals Control and Friends For Life...

See the full story at: http://www.mountaintimes.com/mtweekly/2007/0531/adopt_a_cat.php3

Why Cat Charity?

2007-06-02T16:03:00.000-07:00

I've had pets all my life, from Kenzie Mouse and Aaron Mouse to cats and rabbits. (I would learn from my parents that studies have shown that the percentage of corporate leaders who grew up with pets is substantially greater than that of the general population.) By having been entrusted with the responsibility of pets, I was taught accountability at an early age.

I certainly learned that quickly as all the pets had to fed before I could have my breakfast or dinner. Animals come first, eh?

I have 3 rabbits, 8 cats, 1 mouse, and 3 cichlids (fish).

I have been a cat-mom for the local animal shelter, having taken in 4 kittens and learning about having to get up in the night to feed the babies.
It was hard not to get attached, and when it was time to take them back after a month of caring for them...well...I kept one.

Also, there was an experience I had at the shelter. When I brought them back to the shelter, I directed a person looking at cats over to my kittens telling them how wonderful these kittens were. To my surprise, he declined the offer. He then said that he was looking for a mature cat as he knew most people would take a kitten, but not a cat that had been sent to the animal shelter because the owner had to move. He went on to sat that if he didn't take a cat like that, no one would, and the cat would be put down.

I would go to the vet office and see how animal doctors could understand a creature that could not speak.

I discovered that they really can speak, but just not in English. You just had to pay attention to their body movements.

I also learned about the hidden expenses--the costs associated with caring for an animal - so many people have pets and then discover they can't afford them solely from the basic needs of food to the cost of health care.

I want to include on my site a place where people can take their pets if they no longer can care for them.

Furthermore, when I'm older, I plan on adopting old racing greyhounds. Often, when they grow too old to breed or race, they're put down. They need homes.

Later, I was talking with my parents about volunteering and my dad said to me that I could go 4 hours a week after school and after I had volunteered 100 hours, although I had given my time, there was really nothing left of my time, as it had been consumed in the moment.

But, if I took that same 100 hours and created a web site helping pets, my efforts could have a legacy that went far beyond the 100 hours I could spend building the site. There are multiple benefits to building a site:
1) When I am with a pet, typically only one pet benefits at the time. With a website, hundreds of people can be on the site, potentially being motivated to donate their time, or money, for the benefit of animals.
2) The 100 hours I spent will last as long as I keep up the website.

What is hard is having the personal initiative to control my own time and create something from nothing.

Nobody can speak for abandoned or unwanted pets. Somebody has to. I will, because I know that there are people who love pets, and I just want to be able to show them a way that they can help the pets of the world.

So, that is how I came about to wanting to create a cat website.

Cat Kills Tortise

2007-05-19T14:42:00.000-07:00

Cat Facts

2007-05-17T18:52:00.000-07:00

From "The Encyclopedia Britannica". All cats are members of the family Felidea. Interestingly enough, the cat family split from the other mammals at least 40,000,000 years ago, making them one of the oldest mammalian families. All cats share certain characteristics that are unique to the cat family. Cats are pure carnivores. They need a high level of protein in their diets - around 30% - and lack the digestive equipment to do well on a diet of grains, fruits or vegetables. In fact, if you were to design a creature to live from hunting mammals you would have trouble doing better than the design of the cat. If you know cats at all, you know that they have powerful jaws, long, sharp teeth, and claws that draw back into their paws when not in use. Cats hear extremely well. Their eyes are adapted for vision in dim light for hunting just before dawn and just after dusk, the prime hunting periods.

Don't be alarmed when your cats bring you gifts of birds, mice or other wild critters. This is a natural part of their gift ritual, and they do it to please you.

Cats purr to communicate.

Cats have five toes on each front paw, but only four toes on each back paw.

Cats have true fur, in that they have both an undercoat and an outer coat.

Contrary to popular belief, the cat is a social animal. A pet cat will respond and answer to speech, and seems to enjoy human companionship.

If left to her own devices, a female cat may have three to seven kittens every four months. This is why population control using neutering and spaying is so important.

Kittens are born with both eyes and ears closed. When the eyes open, they are always blue at first. They change color over a period of months to the final eye color.

When well treated, a cat can live twenty or more years.

Cats live 14 to 20 years, some 30.

Cats beat dogs for the #1 spot as the most popular pet in the United States.

Dogs and cats are color-blind.

If you sneeze whenever you're around cats, chances are it's not the cat hair that sets you off, but the saliva that remains on their fur.

Aspirin is poisonous to cats.

A smooth, shiny coat is the sign of a healthy cat.

Cat saliva contains a detergent that keeps their fur clean.

Dogs and cats that are not around people before they reach the age of three months seldom turn out to be good pets.

More Cat Proverbs

2007-05-17T18:51:00.000-07:00

Cat mighty dignified till the dog come by.

They agree like cats and dogs.

Don't trust the weak appearance of the wolf or the disappearance of the
cat: they'll both make a come-back.

Kick the cat out; she'll come back sure enough.

A good cat deserves a good rat.

By scratching and biting cat and dog come together.

It is a bold mouse that makes her nest in the cat's ear.

Young cats will mouse, young apes will louse.

Don't buy a cat in a bag.

Care killed the cat.

The cat that catches nomice does not earn his keep.

Curiosity killed the cat.

But, satisfaction brought it back.

A scalded cat dreads even cold water.

Keep no more cats than will catch mice.

At home an elephant, abroad a cat.

When rats infest the Palace a lame cat is better than the swiftest horse.
- Chinese Proverb

He who plays with a cat must bear its scratches.

When the cat and the calf play the fiddle, you are caught in the middle.

Keep an eye on the cat and another on the frying pan.

The cat in gloves catches no mice.

The cat shuts his eyes while he steals the cream.

The eye of the housewife makes the cat fat.

The old cat refuses to admit that the face in the looking-glass is her own.

If you give your milk to the cat you must drink water out of the sink.

What joy fills the mouse when the cat is out of the house.

When a weasel and a cat kiss, the future is not very bright.

If you play with a cat, you must not mind her scratch.

The widow gave orders to her cat and the cat gave them to its tail.

When the cat sleeps the mice play.

The cat loves fish, but she's loth to wet her feet.

Lions are not terrified of cats.

If the cat had wings she'd choke all the birds in the air.

The kind man feeds his beast before sitting down to dinner. Hebrew Proverb

The cat loves fish, but hates wet feet. Medieval Proverb

The cat dreams of garbage. Hindu Proverb

All cats are grey in the dark.

The dog may be wonderful prose, but only the cat is poetry.
- French Proverb

A cat is a lion in a jungle of small bushes.
- Indian Proverb

Those that dislike cats will be carried to the cemetery in the rain.
- Dutch Proverb

Cat Survives 35 Days in China's Ship Cargo

2007-05-13T10:50:00.000-07:00

HENDERSONVILLE, N.C.- After Eric Congdon opened a crate from China and discovered a cat inside, coming up with a name for the furry stowaway was easy.

China the cat had chewed through one of the boxes before it left Shanghai on April 3 and spent at least 35 days on a ship inside the container filled with motorcycle gear.

"I saw something in the container move," Congdon said. "I turned up the headlights on the fork lift to get a better look."

That was when he saw the cat cowering in a corner, weak but still alive. Congdon, owner of Olympia Moto Sports in Hendersonville, said he and a co-worker called the county's animal services when the cat would not let them near.

A co-worker of Congdon's plans to adopt China, as animal service workers are calling her, if she checks out with a veterinarian. North Carolina law says any animal coming into the country must be vaccinated and quarantined for six months.

"We have to take precautions," said animal services manager Brenda Miller.

How could China survive for so long on no food and water?

"Usually we say that animals can only survive a few weeks without food and only a few days without water," said Raleigh veterinarian Michelle Misavage. "The theory is that cats have such good kidneys their bodies adjust to the lack of water and somehow they received small amounts of moisture from condensation."

Cat Proverbs

2007-05-07T18:03:00.001-07:00

"You will always be lucky if you know how to make friends with strange cats." - Colonial proverb

"In a cat's eye, all things belong to cats." - English proverb

"Beware of people who dislike cats." - Irish proverb

"An old cat will not learn how to dance." - Moroccan Proverb

"After dark all cats are leopards." - Native American Proverb

A cat may look at a king. - English Proverb

Happy owner, happy cat. Indifferent owner, reclusive cat. - Chinese Proverb

A cat has nine lives. For three he plays, for three he strays, and for the last three he stays. - English Proverb

"Happy is the home with at least one cat" - Italian Proverb

"The cat was created when the lion sneezed" - Arabian Proverb

"Curiosity killed the cat, Satisfaction brought it back!" - English Proverb

"Books and cats and fair-haired little girls make the best furnishing for a room" - French Proverb

"I gave an order to a cat, and the cat gave it to its tail" - Chinese Proverb

"Cats, flies and women are ever at their toilets" - French Proverb

"The dog for the man, the cat for the woman" - English Proverb

"Thou art the Great Cat, the avenger of the Gods, and the judge of words, and the president of the sovereign chiefs and the governor of the holy Circle; thou art indeed...the Great Cat." - Inscription on the Royal Tombs at Thebes

"The cat who frightens the mice away is as good as the cat who eats them" - German proverb

"A cat bitten once by a snake dreads even rope" - Arab Proverb

"A cat may go to a monastery, but she still remains a cat" - Ethiopian proverb

"Ye shall not possess any beast, my dear sisters, except only a cat." - The Ancren Riewle (Nun's Rule)

"The cat is nature's Beauty." - French Proverb

"When rats infest the Palace a lame cat is better than the swiftest horse." - Chinese Proverb

All cats look gray in the dark.

A cat has nine lives.

When the cat is away the mice will play.

The cat is honest when the meat is out of her reach.

It takes a good many mice to kill a cat.

A cornered cat becomes as fierce as a lion.

If you don't feed the cats you must feed the rats.

Wanton kittens make sober cats.

The cat is a good friend but she scratches.

A cat may look on a king.

There are many ways of skinning a cat.

Cat Myths

2007-05-07T18:00:00.000-07:00

Dreaming of white cat means good luck. - American superstition

To see a white cat on the road is lucky. - American superstition

It is bad luck to see a white cat at night. - American superstition

If a cat washes behind its ears, it will rain. - English superstition

A strange black cat on your porch brings prosperity. - Scottish superstition

A cat sneezing is a good omen for everyone who hears it. - Italian superstition

A cat sleeping with all four paws tucked under means cold weather ahead. - English superstition

When moving to a new home, always put the cat through the window instead of the door, so that it will not leave. - American superstition

When you see a one-eyed cat, spit on your thumb, stamp it in the palm of your hand, and make a wish. The wish will come true. - American superstition

In the Netherlands, cats were not allowed in rooms where private family discussions were going on. The Dutch believed that cats would definitely spread gossips around the town. - Netherlands superstition

To reverse the bad luck curse of a black cat crossing your path, first walk in a circle, then go backward across the spot where it happened and count to 13.

Cat Sayings

2007-05-07T17:58:00.000-07:00

"Honest as the Cat when the meat's out of reach." - Old English saying

"A cat's eyes are windows enabling us to see into another world." - Irish Legend

"Cat's motto: No matter what you've done wrong, always try to make it look like the dog did it." - Unknown

"When the cat's away, the mice will play" - Folk Saying

The cat is mighty dignified until the dog comes by. - Southern Folk Saying

"Whenever the cat of the house is black, the lasses of lovers will have no lack" - Folk Saying

"Who would believe such pleasure from a wee ball o' fur?" - Irish Saying

"A cat is a lion in a jungle of small bushes." - Indian Saying

Touch not a Cat but a glove.

What can you have of a Cat but her skin?

When the Cat's away the mice will play.

Cat and Fiddle.

Cat and Kittens.

Cat and Mouse Act.

To play cat and mouse.

Cat-o'-nine-tails.

Cat-call.

Cat-eyed.

In Ireland, if something is funny we say: "It would make a cat laugh."

Let the Cat out of the Bag

Put (or set) the Cat among the Pigeons (British Informal)

Rain Cats and Dogs

The Cat's Pyjamas (or Whiskers)

Fat Cat

Look what the Cat dragged in

Curiosity killed the Cat

Nervous as a Cat in a room full of rocking chairs

Like a Cat on a hot tin roof

Cat got your tongue

Not enough room to swing a Cat

To grin like a Cheshire Cat

Better one cat tofay than no cats tomorrow.

Vegetarian Kitty?

2007-05-05T22:11:00.000-07:00

Cats benefit from some vegetable matter in their diet. When devouring prey, the intestines, along with anything in them, will also be eaten. Many owners grow some grass for their cats to munch on, both for a healthy diet, and to distract them from other household plants!

In general, seeds that are OK to grow and give to your cats (but do not use treated seeds, identifiable by a dyed red, blue or awful green color):

oats (cheap, easy, big)
wheat (not wheatgrass)
Japanese barnyard millet,
bluegrass
fescue
rye (but beware of ergot, which is a fungal infection and produces LSD-like chemicals),
ryegrass (annual ryegrass is cheap and easy to grow, but small),
alfalfa sprouts or bean sprouts in SMALL amounts (these have anti- protein compounds that reduce the protein value of other things fed to the animal -- or human!)

Seeds that are NOT okay: sorghum or sudangrass, which have cyanogenic glycosides, and can cause cyanide poisoning. These are commonly found in bird seed and look like smallish white, yellow, orangish, or reddish BB's, or the shiny black, yellow or straw colored glumes may be intact.

Feral Cat Coalition

2007-05-03T21:37:00.000-07:00

Taken from: http://www.thebeenews.com/news

"We’ve written about this unique organization in the past. People who feed stray cats voluntarily participate in this trap-neuter-return program.

Following our instructions, we locate the one-day clinic hidden away in an industrial district of Portland, and meet a volunteer coordinator for the program--Carma Crimins, a Woodstock resident.

“The goal of the program,” Crimins begins, “is to reduce suffering for existing feral cats, and prevent births and suffering of future generations.”

She leads us in to where the organization’s 24-foot mobile hospital is parked. We learn it is designed specifically for spaying/neutering feral cats, has three separate rooms: A surgery suite, with room for three veterinarians to operate simultaneously; a prep area, complete with sink and autoclave; and an anesthesia room.

One Sunday a month, the mobile hospital operates in Portland. Other weekends, it travels to other communities that sponsor their program.

“The reason we keep the location secret,” explains Crimins, is that we don’t operate a ‘drop-in’ program. We only want to deal with individuals who demonstrate a commitment to do what we request.”

What they don’t want, Crimins added, is people dropping off cats at the clinic, thinking that, somehow, someone will find the stray cat a good home. “This isn’t an adoption service.”

The program’s services are specifically for feral cats being fed by caregivers. The caregivers trap the cats, bring them to a clinic, and return the cats to where they are being fed with a commitment to keep on feeding the cat permanently.

“Typically, the cats we see here haven’t ever been touched by humans; and they never will be,” clarifies Crimins. “We lend humane ‘live traps’ to the caregiver, and show how to use them. These traps are simple, and don’t harm either the cats or the people.”

On this day, 96 cats will be seen — each of them from Inner Southeast Portland. “In Woodstock, and further east, is an area rich in feral cats,” Crimins tells us. “And, there are a lot of good-hearted people who care for them enough to bring them here — and take them home again.”

“We have about 30 volunteers operating the day-long clinic, in addition to the four vets and four vet technicians. Caregivers bring in the cats inside cages or traps. A blanket is put over the cage to keep the cat warm and reduce anxiety,” we’re told.

Then, one by one, each is taken into a feline version of a Mobile Army Surgical Unit (MASH). The mobile hospital gleams of stainless steel, and smells antiseptic.

After being anesthetized, the cats are checked over, are spayed or neutered, and receive distemper and rabies shots.

As they sleep, get the full feline “day spa treatment”. They’re flea-combed and sprayed, treated for ear mites and other minor medical conditions, and each has his or her right ear tipped for future identification. Cats that appear to be suffering, as determined by a veterinarian, are tested for feline leukemia and feline immunodeficiency virus; all cats testing positive are euthanized.

In the “recovery room”, we see a dozen volunteers: They’re stroking, warming, and watching over the cats as they wake up.

As she caresses a drowsy kitty, Crimins tells us she’s been involved with the coalition for five years. “Over the years, I’ve brought in hundreds of cats. Now, I’ve started help other people get their cats in to the clinic.”

Crimins says she’d like to live in a world in which every cat is wanted. “What we’re doing today will eliminate the suffering of hundreds of kittens this year, and prevent thousands of unwanted and homeless kittens down the road.”

No other programs in Portland provide this service, Crimins tells us. It’s supported by volunteers and donations. “When you donate to the Feral Cat Coalition of Oregon, 92 cents of every dollar goes to fulfilling our mission of spaying/neutering, and community education.”

One way you can support the organization is by attending their annual “Furball”. This year, it’s on May 12th at the World Forestry Center next to the Oregon Zoo. This year’s theme for the party is “Night on the Nile”. To donate to the event, to volunteer, or just to get more information, visit: www.feralcats.com."

Is Fluffy Stressed Out?

2007-04-30T16:29:00.000-07:00

Full Story here.

"TOKYO -- Wondering if your dog or cat is stressed? Just stick a special patch on the bottom of its paw and you'll be able to tell, according to a Japanese company.

The patch, developed by Japanese company Medical Life Care Giken, purports to measure the stress level of dogs and cats by detecting excessive sweat secretion -- believed to be a sign of stress -- the Nikkei Weekly reported Sunday.

The round, pin-sized patch is applied to the center pad of the animal's paw and changes color depending on how sweaty the pet is, the Nikkei said.

The company, which makes a similar patch for humans, says it worked with researchers at Toyama University to study the sweat patterns of dogs and cats, which secrete sweat from their paws, the Nikkei said.

The company expects strong sales amid a pet boom in Japan, the Nikkei said. The patches are expected to go on sale in Japan later this year, with the price still undecided, it said. It did not mention plans for overseas sales.

Doting Japanese pet owners are known to go to great lengths for their pets' well-being, taking cats and dogs to specialist masseurs and even acupuncturists."

Cats Stuck in Cans

2007-04-28T11:57:00.000-07:00

A story from NBC San Diego reveals the dangers of not crushing cans before disposing of them.

"Three cats were recently found with their heads stuck in food cans. One of the feline's heads was stuck in a ravioli can. The two others got stuck in soup cans.

Officials with the Department of Animal Services said the cats were found on different days in different parts of San Diego County. All three of the cats were put under anesthesia to get the cans off.The animals all survived. Officials said they know what happened to the cats."It goes in, and they're trying to get the food at the end of the can, or the soup, and they just can't pull it out," said animal-services director Dawn Danielson.Danielson said that the cats would have died from starvation if they hadn't been rescued. She's urging people to crush their cans before throwing them in the trash."