Cats in Wigs

Go to this site to see amazing photos of cats in wigs: KittyWigs.com

edited 1-9-2010: Video of Cats in Wigs




MySmartyCat  - Test your cat's intelligence!

Reasons To Adopt A Black Cat

I saw this list on a cat forum and thought it was good. I had to type it while Simon, my black cat, was on my lap. He is a big guy so he was draped over my left arm, making typing difficult.



10. You will save money on their Halloween Costume.
9. A lint brush is not needed for a black tie affair.
8. Black cats are like onyx, a beautiful gem.
7. Black cats will match any decor.
6. You can always find them in the snow.
5. Luck is on your side when you love a black cat.
4. Holding a black cat is very slimming.
3. Love knows no color.
2. They don't care what color you are.
1. They are the least likely to be adopted.


MySmartyCat  - Test your cat's intelligence!

Cats and Water Faucets

I saw this video on a cat forum and it made me laugh. I have never seen a cat do this - ever.



This gave me an idea to add my own video to CatRamble. I have never uploaded a video to YouTube. This is my first time, so please be gentle. Sorry about the quality; I took this on my cell phone. Next time I will use a much better camera.

This is Simon sitting in the sink, taking a drink from the faucet. Enjoy.




MySmartyCat  - Test your cat's intelligence!

Can My Cat Get Swine Flu

You would think the title would have the answer: My cat is not a pig! But as a human, I could get swine flu, so it got me thinking.....

Could my cats get swine flu? I did a little research on the internet and found a press release at ASPCA.org. As of April, only humans had been affected by the H1N1 virus. "At this time there is no data demonstrating any risk of dogs and cats contracting this strain of the virus," said Dr. Louise Murray, the Director of Medicine at the ASPCA's Bergh Memorial Hospital in New York City. Most of the information I found referenced this article.

Near the bottom of the press release, there was a link to the American Veterinary Medical Association. I followed the link to see if they had more recent information. As of today, there is still no evidence that pets are susceptible to the H1N1 virus.

UPDATE: November 4, 2009. The American Veterinary Medical Association posted that the Iowa State Veterinarian and the Iowa Department of Public Health announced that a cat has tested positive for the H1N1 virus. It is believed to be the first confirmed case of swine flu in a feline. Two humans in the cat's house had flu-like symptoms before the cat became ill. The cat recovered.


MySmartyCat  - Test your cat's intelligence!

Are We All Crazy Cat Ladies?

Having a cat is like eating potato chips - you can't stop at just one. 71% of US domestic cats live in a multi-cat household. But there are a lot of misperceptions about cat owners. A Tidy Cats survey found that non-cat people don't think very highly of us. According to the survey, a majority of non-cat people believe that multiple cat owners are lonely, antisocial, crazy cat ladies that live in dirty, cluttered, smelly houses.

I'm sure I don't fit that stereotype. I think I am fairly well adjusted and my house is clean. I know I have provided my crew with a good life and they have brought me and my family joy and laughter everyday.

Tidy Cat started a "Campaign to End Cattiness", to debunk the misperceptions, and tell the world how living with multiple cats makes life better. Owners can submit their photo and story at www.tidycats.com. As I looked through the gallery, I noticed that most of the owners were woman, but very few of them looked like "crazy cat ladies" and many of them had nice stories to tell.

Read more about the survey at www.prnewswire.com/mnr/tidycats/39134/. Scroll down to find the Related Documents section to find the Tidy Cats Survey Fact Sheet. It opens to a Word Document.


MySmartyCat  - Test your cat's intelligence!

Cats And Vertical Territory

I think cats are social creatures. Mine hang around with me even though there is plenty of space in the house for each of them to be alone. They generally get along, except for the occasional smack on the head or warning hiss. What I think helps is that, although there is plenty of horizontal space, we have provided some vertical surfaces for the cats.

My cats seem comfortable in their own vertical space. Cats naturally want to move to the highest spot, so they can clearly view their territory. This allows the cats to feel safe and secure, and so reduces anxiety. Cats can jump five times their height and have incredible balance. Don't they always want to be on the counters?

Here are some of my kitties in my office:



Daisy also likes to go high in the kitchen. Jack does this too, but I don't have a picture of him up there yet. You can see Jack in the bottom left corner of the photo on the table.





It is not that difficult to create vertical space. The most obvious idea would be to get a cat tree. I have seen some inexpensive storage cabinets converted to kitty condos by cutting out large holes in the side, one for each shelf. I'll try to remember to get a picture of this next time I go to the shelter. Some people have used IKEA wall shelves and covered them with carpet to keep the cats from slipping.

MySmartyCat  - Test your cat's intelligence!

Obese, Overweight and Fat Cats

A nation-wide study done by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, has determined that 57% of cats are estimated to be overweight, and almost 18% are considered obese.

"Pet obesity continues to emerge as a leading cause of preventable disease and death in dogs and cats. Our pets are in real danger of not living as long as previous generations and developing serious and costly diseases such as diabetes, arthritis, and other largely avoidable conditions,” states lead researcher Dr. Ernie Ward.

Compare your cat with these pictures to determine if your cat is one of the 51 million cats that are overweight or obese:


       

If your cats resemble these it is time to put them on a diet (No "light" food! Canned please.) Give them more exercise.

PetObesityPrevention.com is a good site to find information about cat and dog obesity, ideal weights, caloric needs, and calories of many foods.
Of course, you could peruse Cat Ramble to find much of this information.

MySmartyCat  - Test your cat's intelligence!