Comic Relief

Cats are such great comic relief!

This morning shortly after I climbed out of bed, Carmine chased Milita around, which resulted in a chair being knocked over, Milita springing up to the top of the computer desk where her bed is, sliding into the bed, which caused several pill bottles to rain down into my lap! They were absolutely nuts!

Cats provide the humor we need to de-stress in our hectic, chaotic lives.

Kitty

This is the kitty I had during middle school and high school. Her name is Kitty and she continues to live in Indiana with my sister. I miss her a lot. Isn't she beautiful?

Entertainment

Isn't it funny how our cats can make something ordinary into an object for their entertainment?

Carmine, for instance, goes nuts any time we have a cardboard box in the house. Sometimes he'll chomp on it, like he is doing in this picture. Other times he'll just lounge around in one.

He also loved to "hide" in our meshy laundry hamper.

What does your cat do to entertain himself or herself?

Need a Blogger? Contact me

How to Shave a Cat

Dave wrote this article about How to Shave Your Cat. It's an amusing read! Like he says though, Don't try this at home folks.

Need a Blogger? Contact me

How I Wish I Could Work Like my Cat Contest

I Love Cats magazine is having a "How I Wish I Could Work Like my Cat" contest.

Here are the rules:

"How I’d Like to Work Like a CAT" Photo and Essay Contests Sponsored by Willow Creek Press and Karen Wormald Deadline: April 15, 2007 I Love Cats magazine is pleased to announce that Willow Creek Press andauthor Karen Wormald have agreed to offer copies of her fun andinspirational book, How to Work Like A CAT, as prizes for the first, secondand third place winners in both our essay and photo contests. In addition,the first-place winners will receive $50 cash each from I Love Cats. Entries will be judged on originality and creativity by a panel of judges.The winning essays and photos will be announced and published in theJuly/August 2007 issue of I Love Cats. Essay Contest Tell us how you’d like to work like a cat, rather than a dog, in 300 wordsor less, typed and doubled-spaced. Entries must be received on or beforeApril 15, 2007. Photo Contest Send I Love Cats a photo that shows how your cat has inspired you to "work"like a cat, rather than like a dog. Photos must be postmarked by April 15,2007, and they will not be returned. Photos sent by e-mail must be in 300-DPI JPG format. How to Enter By mail: How to Work Like a Cat Essay Contest or How to Work Like a Cat Photo Contest I Love Cats c/o Lisa Allmendinger, Editor 16 Meadow Hill Lane Armonk, NY 10504 By e-mail: ilovecatseditor@ sbcglobal. net Use the subject line: How To Work Like a Cat Essay Contest or How to Work Like a Cat Photo Contest Please include your name, home address, and phone number with each entry soprizes can be sent to your home. Official Rules We cannot acknowledge receipt of entries, nor will they be returned. Entry into either contest constitutes that it is an original entry and hasnot been previously published. Entry into the contest constitutes permissionto use the work by I Love Cats Publishing or Willow Creek Press and itsaffiliates. These contests are open to all residents of the United States and Canada,except families and employees of I Love Cats Publishing, Inc., Willow CreekPress, its affiliates, and advertising agencies. These contests are void where prohibited by law and are subject to allfederal, state and local laws and regulations. Prizes are non-transferableand no substitution is permitted. Tax liabilities on prizes are the soleresponsibility of the winners. For the names of the winners, send an SASE to: How to Work Like a CATContest Winners, I Love Cats, c/o Lisa Allmendinger, Editor, 16 Meadow HillLane, Armonk, NY 10504, or e-mail your request to ilovecatseditor@ sbcglobalnet.

Health benefits

It has been shown that our pets can reduce stress and provide other health benefits for us.

I ran across this article the other day and I thought I'd share it. The Benefits of Having a Pet.

Enjoy!

Need a Blogger? Contact me

Bugs are tasty snacks?

Does anyone know why cats eat bugs? I found Carmine eating ont today.

Bugs are tasty snacks?

Does anyone know why cats eat bugs? I found Carmine eating ont today.

Some table food is poisonous for cats. You should not feed your cat any of the following foods. By no means is this a complete list.

-Grapes

-Raisins

-Garlic

-Tomatoes

-Any root vegetable, including onions

-Chocolate

-Cantaloupe

-Milk based products like milk, ice cream, yogurt, etc. If you want to give your cat milk, buy CatSip from your local grocery or pet store. Cool Claws is a special ice cream for cats, also available at local grocery and pet stores.

Affection

Milita is a very affectionate cat. She always has been. In her litter, there were five other kittens (her brothers and sisters).

She lived at my father's house for a year before I brought her to Colorado with me. Whenever I came home to my father's house from college, I'd always spend time with this little of kitties.

Milita was the kitty who wanted the most attention. She'd shove her way through her brothers and sisters to get to you so that you could pet her. She'd nuzzle you and purr like crazy.

I love that I have affectionate cats. I think cats make life so much more wonderful!

Lost kitty

Today when I came back from getting the mail, I noticed that I couldn't find Milita. I kept calling for her (she usually comes when called). She didn't come. I shook the bottle of treats. She didn't come. I got down her favorite toy and started shaking it. She didn't come.

Then I remembered that Carmine had been pawing at the front door when I came back inside and I didn't understand why at the time.

So I went out into the larger apartment complex and started calling for her..."Milita! Milita!" and she starts meowing at me: "meeeeewww! meeeeeeeewwww!".

I kept following the sound, but it took me a few minutes to find her hiding behind a door by the stariwell.

I know that I'm not a bad cat mother, but I do feel as if I am tonight. She must have been so quiet sneaking past me when I stepped out!

I have gotten both my cats chipped and they wear their tags ALL THE TIME even though they are inside cats. I'd suggest that every pet owner have their pet microchipped. It doesn't hurt him or her and it helps ensure that your pet will be returned home safely.

Home Again seems to be a good microchip service - just something to think about...

I am SO thankful I found Milita so soon after she disappeared today. She's one of my precious babies!

Need a Blogger? Contact me

Thumb Tacs for Dinner?

This sweet face has been worrying me.

Carmine flicked a thumb tac off the wall last night. We must have looked like quite a pair, Dave and I chasing him around to get the thumb tac out of his mouth before he swallowed it.

This is the second time he's tried to swallow one. When we found out he didn't have it in his mouth, I took all the thumb tacs off the wall. He scared me a lot.

I believe I will be going around, picking up all small, potentially dangerous objects in his reach. I suggest every cat owner do the same, especially if your cat likes to eat everything he can, like Carmine does.

Cat Hoarding

Yesterday I researched and wrote an article about cat hoarding. The stories of cat hoarders and the felines they own are absolutely heartbreaking.

I read one story of a woman and her son who were keeping 150 cats in their home. When the ASPCA was notified of the situation, they also discovered another 250 deceased cats in the pair's freezer.

The very nature of cat hoarders is that they keep a large quantity of cats around, more than they can provide the appropriate water, food, and vet care for. Further, they deny that they cannot take care of all of the cats they own, claiming they do not have a problem.

In the story I was reading yesterday about the mother and son, these two owners provided only one litter box for the 150 cats!

Unfortunately, the ASPCA was only able to save 6 of the cats they found alive.

I cannot fathom how any cat owner could abuse cats this way. Please notify the ASPCA or a local cat shelter if you suspect any situation in which cats may be being abused or mistreated. Cat lovers and owners need to take a stand against the abuse.

Need a Blogger? Contact me

Angels

I'll admit I don't have anything particularly insightful to write tonight, so I'll leave you with two things. First, a promise that tomorrow I will have something more substantial for all of my great readers tomorrow. Second, this quote:

"Cats are angels with fur".

Carmine swallowed a string

Carmine swallowed a string this past week. He enjoys eating anything inedible off the floor. It is sometimes amusing when Carmine drags a plastic store bag around with him, but I am well aware of the dangers involved with Pica.

When cats swallow string, it can get stuck in their intestines, blocking the intestines, which is very dangerous to a cat's health.

I went on-line and found some instructions on how to treat a cat who has swallowed string. They instructed me to look and see if Carmine had any string coming out of his mouth or bottom.

He didn't, so the site instructed me to put 1 tablespoon of Vaseline in Carmine's mouth and some on his paws. The reason to do this is to increase the chances the string won't block the intestines and will come out on its own in the litter box.

I am happy to report it worked. Carmine is doing very well and we didn't have any problems with the string getting stuck.

If your cat swallows string, you might want to try this tip. But CALL YOUR VET FIRST to make sure it won't do more harm than good.

To read more about Pica, please visit my article Pica in Cats: What to do When Your Cat has a Fabric Feast.

Need a Blogger? Contact me

Changes

I've added some resources as well as some other cat blogs to my sidebar on the left. Be sure to check them out! Feel free to let me know what's helpful, not helpful, or if you'd like to see other sites added.

Need a Blogger? Contact me

8 great reasons for playtime!

1. Playing = exercise for your kitty.

2. Exercise reduces the chance your kitty will become or remain obese.

3. Obese cats are more likely to get certain health problems such as respiratory difficulties, diabetes, heart disease, fatty liver disease, etc.

4. You and your cat will bond through play.

5. Your cat loves the stimulation play provides.

6. It's really entertaining for your AND your cat!

7. Playing with your cat will lift your spirits.

8. Play teaches kittens and cats good social behavior.

Need a Blogger? Contact me