CaT~Mews .. err..Cat News..
This page was archived but is now resurrected (Nov 2009). Please give time as this is a growing page.
This page is in fact more than simply about cat news. There are many articles about cats from visitors that are bound to be of interest. For example, which type of cat caretaker are you? I call cat owners “cat caretakers” as you can see as it is more accurate. We don’t and can’t own our cat companion, a family member, anymore than we can own our child.
Or what about divorce? Who gets the cat? Further from home in Iraq during the war, American soldiers benefit from companion animals.
These are just a few examples. Either scroll down and use Ctrl+F search of just look. If you press the Ctrl key and the F key at the same time a box appears on your screen. Type in one word from what you are searching for and go.
Click here to see visitors’ submissions
News
What Other Visitors Have SaidClick below to see contributions from other visitors to this page… A SPECIAL NEEDS CAT HI Everybody, my name is Whitie I’m an eight year old beautiful female feline (check that attached facial picture) with declawed front paws, and no … How Not To Stop A Cat Scratching May 5th 2012: This will make you sick. Note: people are still in the process of investigating this. A woman phoned the police to say that a girl was … Cat Chases Dog Away One day I was sitting on my porch just petting my cat Porkchop. It was like any other day. The first thing that I heard was the barking next door. My neighbor’… Slice of London Street Life We are talking about Great Britain in this article, at last (USA usually features)! This video shows us quite nicely what it is like in London, England…. Animal Rights Success Story The UK newspapers tend to brand people who do not like animal testing as animal rights extremists who attack people in the animal testing business. This … Is Britain ahead of the rest on animal welfare? I think it is but I neither want to promote one country nor be disrespectful of other countries. There are no black and white answers. I am prompted to … Tweeting your way to successful pet management This is about managing and stimulating your cat or dog while you are away. A lot of people have difficulties in managing their cats because they are away … New Cat Breed: The Pawnee The Pawnee is a new cat breed from a family of feral cats in Alturas, CA. They didn’t exist at first but in recent years (they started becoming fairly … Vet anesthetizes cats for a lion cut Anesthetizing a cat is dangerous. The degree of risk depends on a number of facts two of which are the level of the vet’s skill and the amount of relevant … How to Make a Stray Cat Your Friend Here’s some tips on how to make a stray cat your friend. 1. Put out cat food. If you know the stray is a kitten, put out soft food. 2. Put a warm … Cat Bib – good or bad? I have only today heard about the cat bib. It shows you how big the internet is. The “cat bib” is a device that stops the domestic cat catching birds and … Can animal testing ever be justified? 13th September 2011 : I am just reading about the genetic modification of domestic cats in laboratories to help find treatments and vaccines for HIV (Aids)… Trapping Domestic Cats In the United States, can someone who is not officially authorised to trap cats, do it without any consequences? It seems that the answer is, yes, if the … The Rapacious Use of Natural Resources The words of Prince Charles are very relevant to the world of cats; feral, wild and domestic. Prince Charles has taken over as president of the wildlife … A Cat Is Not A Toy I take this title from an article in the Times newspaper that is about dogs, “handbag pups” in fact. These are very small dogs that socialites buy in the … Is it men or women who are making the decisions to declaw cats? Is it men or women who are making the decisions to declaw cats? This conversation is sure to get your juices flowing and the arguments growing! It may … Indian National Cat Club It is time for an Indian National Cat Club. Or the National Cat Club of India. It’s time because there is a well established Indian National Kennel Club … We Must Learn to Respect Animals Our huge pet shop in W.A Perth has been burnt down and robbed. It was disgusting to watch on the news. This happened early this year. My heart pours … Newspapers cite flawed studies about cat predation Newspapers should be more responsible when they cite research studies. We must not automatically trust the work of scientists and PhD students. Some are … Casting for Pet Programme Hello…I have been looking at your website and thought it may be worth getting in touch with you. We are looking for pet owners of cats or dogs to appear … Best Clumping Cat Litter May 2011: In deciding the best clumping cat litter you have to first decide which country your talking about. Once again I’ll tackle the largest cat … STOPCRUSH.ORG We at stopcrush.org want to inform our followers that we now have chapters going global to help other countries ban animal crush videos and we hope to … Our cats check the domestic appliances Over the years our cats have checked every furniture, appliance and other piece of goods that entered our home. Here are their reviews of some of the domestic … Cat Video Seen One Million Times The million views reached 29th January 2011. How do you make a video that will be seen one million times? I should know, I did it with Kathrin Stucki…. J.D. Salinger’s Russian Blue Cats On reading the Times newspaper yesterday, 27th January 2011, I learnt that the famous American author J.D. Salinger kept two Russian Blue cats. What does … Animal Testing in Cosmetics Animal testing in the cosmetics business is banned in the European Union with exceptions – yes, exceptions. It is the current exceptions that I would like … Veganpet, the cruelty-free cat and dog food! Veganpet is a brand of which supplies cat and dog food and shampoo. It is a product which is only for sale online, and can only be purchased within Australia … Cat Registration Cat registration is one of those political and emotional subjects that polarizes opinion. Australia lead the way. They do so because they are probably … The South China Tiger Is Extinct 21st November 2010: This news has been coming for some time. We should not be surprised. The South China Tiger is extinct and that, it seems, means totally … World’s Longest Feline is a Maine Coon Cat The internet newspapers are all awash with news of the “world’s longest cat”. But how accurate and true is this? Jerry Wolfe, the America’s premier LaPerm … Cat Abuse UK Monday August 23rd 2010: This was on TV today about half an hour ago….Things have moved on and the event was in the Times newspaper today 25th August … Do they eat kittens in the Ivory Coast, Africa? This is a delicate question. I don’t believe in political correctness. I do believe in politeness and being as accurate as possible. It is also important … The Three Types of Cat Caretaker Apparently there are three types of cat caretaker, the dominionists, the humanists and the protectionists. So concludes a research study carried out by … Dealing With Aggressive Dogs 22nd August 2010: The Battersea Dogs & Cats Home is dealing with aggressive dogs by killing them. That means that the people who are training aggressive … Our new Cat Enclosure or Catio A few weeks ago we moved from a third floor apartment to a terraced house with a small garden and that gave us the opportunity to offer our two old cats … Stop Inhumane Cat Breeding This ministry was created to put all registered cat breeders worldwide on NOTICE. This site – – was created to be the “VOICE” for … Ohio Is Tired Of Animal Cruelty Good morning everyone. First of all I’d like to tell you the people of Ohio are tired of animal cruelty. They are raging over the low life’s in their state … Bad broadband connection proves beneficial to cats I thought I would improve my broadband connection to a speed that was advertised as “up to 20 Mb”. This is what Virgin Media said…For people who are … Veterinary Hospice Care Good day friends. This is going to be another LONG discussion on a subject that will eventually be faced by most pet owners. So grab a pot of coffee,… Furby’s Second Book Preview I’m in the mood to tease everyone a little tonight. Here’s the first chapter from the next Furby book. Get out a tissue before you read this. This one … Vote for Chilli! Most recently, Whiskas cat food Australia has hosted an online photo competition. People can upload an image of their cat and create a profile, then ask … Furbys Free E-book Hi everybody! It’s Furby. Guess what!? I’m gonna be famous. EVERY cat in the world is going to know who I am and be my friend. Mama has finally finished … Lion Meat Burger Special I have a serious question for all of my readers. Do you meat eaters out there care where the meat you consume comes from? This article concerns those … Catio Cat Enclosures While searching for some uplifting cat news this morning, I happened to come across an email from the Care2 Healthy & Green Newsletter. Within that newsletter … Leashing, Feeding, Killing and Declawing Cats Good morning, readers. If you pour yourself a cup of coffee before settling down with this article, promise me you won’t burn anyone with it. Because … Why Furby Is So Special To Me I realized today I’ve never shared the complete Furby story from the beginning. It began with Archie. I first met Archie in 1973 at a high school football … Two-Faced Kitten I’ve lived for almost 50 years and I’ve just seen the strangest thing in my long life. I have to tell everyone about this because it’s all over the news … Cat and Rat I love it when different species of animal get on really well. And I am talking about species of animal rather than the human animal. It is a glimpse … A Cat Killing Trooper and A Dog Named Susie Please read this TODAY and respond TODAY. Time is running out. Ok, it’s late at night and I’m mad again. Sorry, everyone. I believe after reading this … Washing Machine Cat The picture above is not Kimba the Australian washing machine cat, who has recently been in the news. Instead it shows Ivanhoe checking our own machine … Online Cat Sites, Prejudice and Personal Preference Ok friends, it’s time to grab a cup of coffee and start the day with a smile. I’m happy and my cats are happy. Today I’d like to talk about online cat … This Will Make You Cry This is another recent cat news story. For me, it is both hateful and loving. A hunter appears to have shot a mother bobcat in Alabama, USA. The mother … Disneyland’s Feral Cats From the Riverside Press-Enterprise, May 12, 2010: The following quotes are from my local paper in an article concerning maintenance at Disneyland: “Park … Cat Bites Chunk Out of Woman’s Finger You may have read about this story. I would just like to put in my two pennies worth. The story began normally enough. A woman, Karen Costa, living in … Purina PetCare Rescue Cat Awards 2010 Here we go everyone. After much digging and trolling I have another wonderful story for everyone. This is the COOLEST event I’ve read of since the “Puppy … To Catch A Cat Poisoner 9th May 2010: How to catch a cat poisoner? I would like to try and catch the cat poisoner of Walkley, north Sheffield. You may have heard about it. A nasty … Crush Videos A kitten, secured to the ground, watches and shrieks in pain as a woman thrusts her high-heeled shoe into its body – this is the sort of thing that … Turn of the World – a poetic and heroic journey MAY 3rd 2010: This is an extraordinary story of a Frenchman and a Frenchwoman, Guillaume and Laetitia, and their rescue cat, Kitty. They are 23 an 26 … My Cat Is Left Handed What is Yours? Hi everyone, I always thought that my lady cat was left handed and the experts have just confirmed that most pets are left or right handed. However, female … Pet Psychic and Psychic Pets Settle in friends. This is going to be an interesting article. You’re all going to LOVE this one. Especially when I stop researching and start in with … Cat T Shirts Somehow it seems that I have a number of T shirts with cats pictured on them. One day while waiting for an X ray at a hospital I noticed a woman looking … Fighting For Custody of Pets in a Divorce I used to be a divorce lawyer. I know the kind of arguments that can erupt in divorce. Arguments fueled by emotion, not reason. Divorce should be treated … Abandoned Cats in Dubai News of the pets in Dubai being abandoned was the first newsletter article that caught my attention on my email today. So I decided to educate myself and … Persian Cat Dices With Death Mumbai, India, Monday 26th April 2010… Just today morning at approximately 0615 hrs my house-keeper called me from my computer and pointed at the kitchen … The Articles of Elisa Black The articles of Elisa Black, on this site, are listed below with links to the articles. Elisa has informed me that she wishes to use her full name: Elisa … I saw a wild fox and my domestic cat together Yep, I saw a wild fox and my domestic cat together and it happened yesterday. I don’t know how rare or strange or even dangerous this is but it just happened…. Feeding The Elderly And Their Pets While the rest of the world is falling apart around us, I decided to find more good news for cat lovers! Today I want to talk about a plan being used in … New Jersey Law Would Classify Cats As Venison I’m sorry folks, but it’s more bad news out of me. I don’t like to think of what I write as gloom and doom. I’m more into education and prevention. I like … Find out what your cat says Google has released the Beta-version of ‘Translate for Animals’ – an application for Android phones that recognises and transcribes words and phrases that … Cat Food Is Ant Food 30th March 2010: Cat food is ant food if you are in Australia fighting the plague of cane toads that, incidentally, were introduced to Australia by Australians … Heaven Arrives In Irving, Texas Ok folks, its time to grab a cup of coffee and settle down to some good news for a change. I’ve finally found a topic that we can all feel good about. Lets … Michigan Shelter Animals Sold For Research OK folks, time to get hot over another issue many don’t know about. Today I’m taking on the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Michigan … Kids Killing Cats Grab a cup of coffee folks. This is going to be a long one. If you were infuriated with my story on Massachusetts devocalizing cats then read on. You’… Cat Law Changes in Massachusetts Sometimes I feel I live in the stone age because some of the laws concerning cats are barbaric. Everyone is very familiar with the declawing issue. It’… Dog Saves Cat The following story was featured in Care2.com – what a heartwarming story with great results! See link at base of post. We’re used to the expression “they’… Pest Infested Theatres in London Need Theatre Cats I have just learned that the usually accepting theatre actor in London, UK, has had enough of the infestation of rats, mice and fleas. The situation has … Cruelty to Animals Includes Failure To Act Most people picture cruelty to animals as physically inflicting injury upon an animal. There are several cases each year that create media attention … How to Wash a Cat I have washed my cat once and that was because she fell into a tub of white emulsion paint. At the time I was painting the walls of the bathroom with that … Cat’s Banned From Flying in Cabin There is currently a proposal being made in Canada that would ban small pets such as dogs, cats and rabbits from traveling in the passenger cabin … The Difference Between Dog and Cat Owners Recently I wrote an article on the ownership of cats in the UK. It was about the type of families and people who kept cats and the number of cats in the … How to Cook a Cat 17th February 2010: A top Italian food writer has described how to cook a cat on national Italian television and been sacked for it. Beppe Bigazzi offered … American Soldiers in Iraq Find Comfort in Cats I’ve recently read several articles describing a dogs life on military bases in Iraq. Iraq soldiers and military leaders from different countries have … Celebrities And Their Cats 13th February 2010: This is a short post about celebrities and their cats, in this case prompted by the Amy Winehouse story. She had to give up her 9, or … Susan Boyle Loves Her Cat There had been a lot said about Susan Boyle, most of it is good and some of it has been not so nice if I could say it that way. But I have never heard … Do Cats Love? I’d like to begin this story in an unorthodox manner and tell you about 2 white mice. They were my pets and shared a cage, water bottle and feed tray…. Celebrating Freddie I would like to celebrate the life of Freddie a fine black moggie cat who had some Norwegian Forest Cat in him, I believe. He was the brother of Missie,… City of West Hollywood Bans Pet Store Cats And Dogs I have to trumpet the enlightened approach of the councilors and people of West Hollywood again. In 2003 West Hollywood banned the declawing of cats by … Making Antifreeze Unpalatable To Cats Making antifreeze unpalatable to cats would save many thousands of cat’s lives and prevent hundreds of crimes. News on the subject of cats contain on at … No Laws Against Cat Tail Docking This is an interesting story, very interesting as it seems to show up the messy state of animal protection laws in the United States. It concerns the criminal … Cat Declaw Breaks The Crimimal Law 31-1-10: Yes, cat declaw breaks the criminal law in the USA. Take any state, for example Alabama. I am sure declawing goes on unabated in the south. The … Satanic Cults and Cats SATANIC CULTS AND CATS Satanism (noun): The worship of Satan characterized by a travesty of the Christian rites Do Cats Control Humans? Hi everybody! It’s Furby again! Me and mama are having a major difference of opinion. She told me I’m as stubborn as a teenager. Is that bad? Anyway, I’… Can Cats Predict Disaster, Disease or Death? I’ve always been a cat lover and find myself studying the activities and expressions of my own two cats. What are they thinking? Are they as sneaky as … Big Cat Rescue, Corp. Needs Your Votes!!! From the Care2 Petition site: Your Vote Can Help Big Cats! Voting Ends Midnight Friday. Big Cat Rescue in Tampa – the largest accredited sanctuary … A Therapy Cat Owner Is A Remarkable Individual A therapy cat owner who visits the elderly and terminally ill is a remarkable individual who provides a service not many can emotionally handle. I would … Tattooing Cats It is impossible to tattoo a cat unless the cat is hairless (or shaved) and the Sphynx is one such cat. Actually, it is not completely hairless, there … The Banning of Cats The banning of cats (and dogs) is not unheard of as it happens a lot on an individual level when landlords won’t let tenants, who wish to keep a cat, rent … Top Ten New Year Cat Resolutions A cat cannot make a resolution but if they could ask us to make ten that would improve their lives what would they be? The Archbishop of Canterbury has … Canned Lion Hunting In South Africa 28-12-09: Canned Lion Hunting In South Africa is an abomination to all decent minded people yet it is popular enough and it is accepted by the authorities … The Persecuted Animals in Pakistan The persecuted animals in Pakistan find themselves in a country where animal welfare is an “alien concept” 1 . Where there is a lack of human rights … Crazy Cat Lady You don’t have to be a crazy cat lady to live with more than one cat. And you don’t have to be “crazy, old, lonely or smelly” either! There is a bit … Cat Swallows Christmas Tree Yes, we know that Christmas trees can be a source of irritation for people at Christmas, who keep cats because sometimes cats like to get involved in the … Cat Needs to Be Supervised While Eating There is a cat in the cat news who needs to be supervised while eating. The news story says that “he cannot be left unattended with food”. I have never … Cat Behaviour and Inbreeding My cats “Matahari” and her kitten love sleeping and lazying on the chairs, bed or table for most of the day. Queen cat “Matahari” is now 2 1/2 years old … Cat Window Seat December 2009: A cat window seat is the best present for your cat this Christmas. Why am I so confident? Well, I’m actually not that confident. But … How To Get Rid of Feral Cats A fair percentage of people want to know how to get rid of feral cats. And this is actually a cat news item because in Columbia, USA, a lady who was trapping,… Thiamine Deficiency In Cats A recent news story reminds us of the possibility of thiamine deficiency in cats. Thiamine if vitamin B1 and is also called thiamin. Pet food manufacturer … Deformed Cats 25-11-09: Deformed cats in this post does not refer to some X rated monster in a video that some people like to seek out and gawp at, but to some of … Burbank Anti De-Clawing Ordinance 22-11-09: The meetings for the Burbank Anti De-Clawing Ordinance are in progress and the next one is on 24th Nov. 2009. There is some opposition. It … Taking Tiger Protection Seriously Is India taking tiger protection seriously? I don’t honestly see it judging by the protection afforded the tigers in the Valmiki Tiger Reserve in the … Humans Transmitting Disease to Cats Humans transmitting disease to cats is very rare it seems and it qualifies as cat news. I don’t actually know of any except for the presumed transmission … Caged Cats of America This is about the caged cats of America. It is news to me and news generally (in one indirect way) in that I was prompted to look into it by a story I … Birth of a New Cat Breed The birth of a new cat breed is being acted out on the island where the most ancient evidence of the domestic cat was found – Cyprus. In 2001 a French … Declawing Bans Should Worry American Veterinarians The declawing bans should worry American veterinarians because it could be the thin edge of the wedge that gradually erodes what they would consider to … Usain Bolt versus Cheetah Nov. 2009: Usain Bolt has adopted a baby cheetah. The world’s fastest man has adopted the world’s fastest terrestrial animal. And although Usain is … Los Angeles Ban Cat Declawing 7th November 2009 GMT: “You take the claws out of a cat, you take away the cat”. These are the words of Councilman Bill Rosendahl of the Los Angeles … Concord, USA Making History Again Article 45, a draft cat bylaw, has been introduced to the people of historical Concord for their approval or rejection (27th April 2012). The bylaw seeks … Indochinese tiger and South China tiger may have the same DNA I firmly believe that the indochinese tiger and south chinese tiger might have the same DNA, they might be the same tiger species after all, so therefore … Pet Owners Need to Prepare for “Above Normal” Hurricane Season Keep in Mind Pets’ Emergency Needs HERNDON, Va. (June 9, 2011) –The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicted an “above-normal”… Year of the Cat in Canada, 2011 Year of the Cat, Canadian campaign. 2011 is their first campaign. Year of the Cat Their vision: Increase the value of owned, homeless and feral … Mississippi is Backward on Cat Cruelty This is a fact not an opinion. There are only four states in the USA that do not make acts of cruelty against cats and dogs a felony. For visitors from … A wildcat species can be alive and extinct at the same time The title might sound contradictory but it certainly isn’t. I am prompted to make this short post to remind us of the bizarre fact that a wildcat species … Cat Urinary Problems Clinical Trial Michigan Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine in East Lansing is running a cat urinary problems clinical trial. Urinary conditions in cats are … Domestic Cats and Wild Cats Bump Into Each Other In the USA the domestic cats and wild cats bump into each other because they sometimes share the same trails and habitat areas. Of course I am talking … Free Father’s Day Pet Cards Featuring Furby I’ve got the Free Father’s Day Pet cards online. My chip with all the pictures of Furby mysteriously got lost and I think he made it disappear. So I didn’… Looking for a forever home for Blackie – Melbourne, Australia Have you got room for Blackie? She’s a very caring and gentle 2 1/2 year-old desexed female tuxedo cat that needs a loving home. My brother has had her … Guide Cats For The Blind Guide cats for the blind is not the cat equivalent of guide dogs for the blind. However, when I first saw this phrase I thought that it might just be … Cats In The Guinness World Records Book 2010 I see quite a lot of information on the internet about the biggest, fattest etc.. cat. And I wondered if these are formal records or not. By formal records,… Jambi and Habari Cats The Jambi and Habari cats are two exotic cat breeds that a visitor kindly brought to my attention. They are very rare and little known breeds. By my estimation,… A Cat Making Cat News This is a Maine Coon cat that has been brought to my attention by a colleague, Valley Girl (VG), who lives in Atlanta, USA. Her website is teh kitteh … Malayan Tiger is to Receive Better Protection The Malayan tiger is a new subspecies despite being around for a very long time. The Malaysian government has announced plans to double the tiger population … |
The news below is now history but I have left it in place because history can be interesting.
Cat News – 13th Jan 2008
The Scottish Wildcats are the only surviving native Felids in the UK. One of the major obstacles is ensuring that the wildcats are purebred. The wildcat has mated with the domestic cat resulting in a hybrid that acts and lives like a Scottish Wildcat.
Thankfully the scientists are able to identify a true purebred wildcat through identifying a DNA marker and cross referencing that with coat markings.
There were fears that the Scottish Wildcat would become extinct, hence this programme. I look forward to the day that I can go into the woods and see this lovely wild animal living naturally.
Photo copyright Nick Lawes
Cat News Cat News – 4th December 2007
Update on the building of the Pictures of Cats website. The site has been going for about 5 months. Perhaps a little more. These are the current relevant figures:
- Alexa traffic rank 551,177
- Google PageRank about 2-3
- Money earned through adsense $40
I am pleased with the traffic ranking although this could take a dive at anytime if one of the major search engines dropped a major keyword from their index. The only way forward is to keep building.
As to income it is poor obviously but this is in part due to not optimizing adsense. In fact adsense is only on about 5 pages out of the total of about 140 pages so a lot of work to do there to generate more income.
There are a lot of other areas where I can monetize as well but at the moment I am concentrating on building pages, which is the most important thing by far.
My personal blog is doing quite well being Alexa traffic ranked about 1.4m and improving (at the moment!) It is becoming more than just a weblog as there is an overlap between it and this site.
I will be monetizing the Blog in due course as well.
Cat News cat news- 26th November 2007
There appears to be a very gradual change in attitude towards animals including domestic animals and cats.
The real issue is education. Perhaps the domestic cat is playing a part in educating people about other animals, through her close presence. We are able to learn and love animals through living with domestic cats.
Not so long ago the world as a whole treated wildlife rather poorly, killing animals for sport and food with a disregard for any other factors.
With the increase in pets and encroachment on wild animals’ habitat people are learning more about animals and changing their attitudes. But it is a slow process.
Obviously large areas of the world are populated by people who have (in my view) a very ignorant, arrogant and poor attitude towards other creatures. The cause is essentially lack of education.
Two topics of concern come to mind. The Chinese market where cats and dogs are sold as food (
for bogus medicinal purposes). The animals are beaten near to death before being sold. They say they taste better when they are stressed and near death because of the production of adrenaline – pure horror and total ignorance.
The other horror topic that comes to mind is the eating of bush meat and particularly ape meat. Apes have DNA very close to ours (98% the same), a social structure, are self-conscious (i.e. aware of themselves), live long lives and in many ways are like humans and yet some people kill and eat them. It’s near cannibalism.
We hold the future of wildlife in our hands. We run the world. If there is a problem with pets or wildlife it is ours to deal with as we created the problem. Animals behave reactively and react to our often poor behavior towards them.
Fortunately attitudes are gradually changing through understanding. Perhaps one day, years after I have left this planet, we will live in harmony with other animals and stop treating them so badly.
I recognize though that there are very many fine people who care deeply for animal welfare and they are to be commended and praised for their work and attitudes.
Cat News Cat News- 20th November 2007
The USA State of Iowa has banned hybrid/domestic cat breeds. This includes Savannahs and Bengals for example. This has taken effect as I understand it from 1st July 2007 (this isn’t news then 🙂
“USDA licensed owners and breeders ARE NOT EXEMPT unless they are 501(c)3 non-profit as well, or are a wildlife” rehabilitator.
I would urge all Bengal owners in this state to just check this out.
If you already own a Bengal you can keep the cat provided you comply with a fairly arduous list of requirements and pay a yearly fee.
It looks like the end of the line for these breeds in this state. Is this going to have a knock on effect in the other parts of the country?
Cat News – 20th November 2007
Jean Mill
Jean Mill is retiring from breeding cats. This might not seem like news to some but to the Cat Fancy world it is. This is because she is the founder the Bengal Cat and has done a lot to heighten the profile of the cat world.
I think it is fair to say that the Bengal Cat is a success yet some would argue that you shouldn’t cross breed wild cat to domestic cat. That is why the biggest cat registry (CFA) doesn’t register the Bengal Cat but the second biggest one does (TICA).
Cat News – 18th November 2007
More Razzmatazz please – The GCCF Supreme Cat Show
This is a picture of a British Shorthair in his cage looking like a prince – copyright Michael Broad
I went to the GCCF Supreme Cat Show but I can honestly say that I didn’t see much of a show more like visiting a private club for cat breeders or a market stall.
I was very impressed with the large cages where the gorgeous cats were held until they were taken to the show ring for judging. They are so good there is a prize for the best one.
I would like to have seen more in the way of a show at the judging stage. People watch the judging some of them are not experts or breeders. These people who are the public should be given information about the complex judging process.
Perhaps the judge could have talked through what he/she was doing while he did it. Or perhaps there could have been a score board which was marked up as the judging took place for all to see. This would have created more of a spectacle and got people involved.
Although I admire all the people involved for putting on the show I think it was a little flat. We need more razzmatazz please.
Cat News – 14th November 2007
Recession in USA – Cat Breeding business.
It seems from a UK standpoint that there is a recession in the USA or at least parts of the USA such as Michigan, which is having a severe effect on some people. I wonder what effect this has on the cat breeding business?
As I have mentioned cat breeding is a business but with a lot of considerations not usually encountered in a business. This is due to the fact that a living creature is the “product”.
Can anyone tell me if cat breeding has been hit by the recession? Please go to the forum and Question and Answer page to make a post. Lets see what is happening out there.
Cat News – 14th November 2007
Cat Habits
You may have heard of cats and other animals that have great homing skills. Some cats, too, like to revert to the wild to some extent (of their own free will).
There is a danger that you can train your cat into bad habits. Well, not exactly bad habits, more like creating a rod to beat your own back, when it could be avoided (sometimes).
Take for example the Norwegian Forest cat who goes out every evening at six after a good nosh and then waits to be picked up by the roadside the next morning, about 1.5 miles away. The humans oblige and a nice routine has set in.
I think this cat is going back to a place where he has been before with his previous human carer (the cat is a rescue cat called Podge).
Cats like comfort zones and routines (so do humans) and going back to your “roots” is understandable.
I just wonder if he would have come back of his own accord eventually if left to his own devices.
Nice story though and it demonstrates how cats learn routines particularly routines that are enjoyable and comfortable to the cat.
Cat News – 14th November 2007
Cat Breeding
There is an argument that cat breeding cannot be commercial as there will always be a compromise between making money and the welfare of the cats. This is because it is not possible in my view to make enough money out of breeding cats to allow the breeder to make a decent living and at the same time maintain an excellent level of welfare for the cats in her/his charge.
This may be because the market is too competitive. It may be too competitive because a lot of people see cat breeding as a “nice little earner” while practicing their hobby.
This may have resulted in their being too many breeders. A lot of people disagree with cat breeding. I think there is a place for cat breeders as long as they see the wider picture and prioritize cat welfare.
However there are a number of breeders that think only of quantity (and therefore money and profit) and not of quality. Quality in this context means the welfare of the cat in terms of mental and physical health and the betterment of the breed.
It may be wise to breed one litter at a time to keep things simple and not to rely solely on cat breeding as a source of income. I’d like to hear your views.
{this is a copy of a post on my blog written by me}
Cat News- 14th November 2007
MSN dropped me — When you run your own website you are mainly reliant on the 4 main search engines to bring traffic, Google, Yahoo, MSN and Ask.
I was doing well until MSN dropped all the pages bar a few. No reason as the other pages were doing fine and gradually climbing up the keyword rankings so it can’t be the website.
Fortunately the impact hasn’t been that great thus far as MSN live search is no where near as big as Google and Google and Yahoo provide most of my traffic at the moment.
However, traffic is traffic so I have written to MSN and credit to them they have responded quickly. They seem to agree that there could be a problem their end and are investigating but I hold out little hope of a fix. However in the long run my keywords will be ranked with MSN as they are at the other search engines.
Cat News- 7th November 2007
There are times when for the sake of convenience, expediency and cost, that we consider giving medication to our cat without consulting a vet.
This is really dangerous. Some common and fairly benign medicine for humans such as Tylenol (containing acetaminophen) and aspirin can be toxic to cats at relatively small doses due to added sensitivity.
An overdose of a common drug can be fatal. And an overdose can be caused by giving a small amount of the drug. Beware.
On very rare occasions I have given things such as Rescue Remedy the homeopathic stress reliever as my cat is nervous but that is all.
Cat News- 3rd November 2007
Cat News means either world news or news about this website and its development. If anyone actually reads this and wants to build a website that works then come to this site and make contact with me because I think I know how to build a site that works. And who taught me. Well I am part self taught. But I couldn’t do it without a person called Ken Evoy. Type his name into Google search and you’ll get the first 2 pages of listings about him, I’m sure.
The more you build a website the more you realise that it definitely not a beauty parade (I knew that but it has been re-inforced).
It is about a functioning website that provides information in my case. Keep it simple. make sure it works (some people have old browsers so if it looks great in IE 7 or Firefox it may look horrible in IE 5 for example).
All the work should be on creating good content and making sure that the page is SEOed. But the more you build and the more successful you site becomes, the less important SEO is in my opinion.
And keywords. Heavens, if almost pays sometimes to ignore them. You can follow all the rules and still not get traffic. It is not a science this game.
Got 200 visitors yesterday and 700 page views. Started in June. Not bad. The figures will fall again though. Just got to keep going….
Cat News Cat News – 3rd November 2007
Of Mice and Men and Fleas.
Cat fleas are massively prevalent. They can be a problem to get rid of. There is an recent news story about a flea treatment called Biospot that caused well balanced cats to become aggressive and develop physical ailments such as breathing difficulties and tremors.
Apparently flea medication is one of the most frequent causes of visits to the vet for poisoning.
I have had a bad experience myself with flea treatment (err no not me personally…). Many years ago I used an anti-flea spray on my dear Missie (a Norwegian Forest Cat/Moggie). She licked her fur to get it off. She foamed at the mouth. I can still see this in my mind’s eye. I visited the vet and she got over it (I washed it all off).
I think you can’t beat a good old fashioned flea comb. But it does take a very long time to beat the fleas and clear your cat of them all. It also means taking control of the source of the fleas. They apparently lurk in the carpet and jump on the cat. Frequent carpet vacuuming is essential.
Mu current battle with fleas is due to a stray (Timmy) a young skinny Moggie, black and white, that I have taken it. He brought fleas with him and passed them to my darling girl cat. Having combed her for many weeks I resorted to a flea medication which is dropped on the cat’s skin between the shoulder blades and at the base of the spine. This is very effective but there were two downsides for me and my cat. She ‘zonks’ out (becomes very sleepy for a day or two and this worries me).
I can’t touch her without getting itchy as I am allergic to the medication/chemical that is absorbed into her body and which sits on her fur.
So, there are downsides with chemical treatments. Please check the product before use. Perhaps a Google search would be a good starting point. I can’t help but think that the best way is a comb. This also enhances the loving bond with your cat. She will usually like it. Plus it’s very satisfying to crush those bl**dy fleas once you’ve caught ’em.
Cat News – 1st November 2007
On this website I have described and Helmi Flick has illustrated some exotic cat breeds. I have mentioned the commitment needed by the human carer. Only a fully informed and responsible carer with the financial means and time should take on the obligations. In suppport of that statement you can go to this link (broken Oct 2012) to see what can go wrong.
Cat News- 28th October 2007
This is not strictly news but more blog, but it will be news for some, so it’s here.
Have you seen a cat open her mouth to smell? Maybe not. They do this when they want to really get a good sniff and try and work out what it is they are smelling.
Inside the mouth behind the front teeth is an organ (a small piece of cat anatomy :-)) called the Jacobson’s Organ, which it seems “turns up the volume” on the smell. It is not altogether clear how this works. Smell is carried on particles in the air. When the mouth is opened and air sucked in the air passes into the nose via the Jacobson’s Organ through a passage. The cat can pick up minute amounts of particles that carry odor in this way.
A cat’s sense of smell is far greater than a human’s (14 times greater). Image what that feels like. A cat must be constantly surrounded by odors carrying messages for the cat. Cats decide on whether like their food by its smell. Give her chilled prawns and she doesn’t recognize them (because cold objects release less dor particles than hot objects). Heat up the prawns and bingo she goes bonkers screaming for them.
Sometimes after I have microwaved her frozen prawns I cool them down by blowing on them. When I blow she picks up the particles that are dispersed and screams at me; even though she is a good distance away. The response is instantaneous. For a cat smell is a great aid to survival.
Add that heightened sense of smell other heightened senses such as the signals transmitted through her whiskers, feet pads and hearing and your cat is a little mobile sensing device picking up all kinds of stimuli that pass us by.
It is said that cats can predict impending disasters such as earthquakes and volcanoes. This is probably due to their heightened senses, picking up early signs.
As I have mentioned before, I don’t believe that we should consider cats as lesser creatures. They have skills that we don’t have and vice-versa. We should treat them as our equals. And the same goes for all animals. That attitude would increase the sum of happiness in the world.
I respect and love cats.
Cat News Cat News – 28th October 2007
I have just read an article that says that in some instances implanted microchips cause cancer. The devices that I am talking about are RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) devices used to track pets. I am not sure if these are readily available in the UK. They are clearly quite frequently encountered in the USA however.
In a test on laboratory animals, up to 10% of the animals tested developed a malignant cancer because of the implanted device.
The cause is not the radio transmitter but the presence of an object under the skin. For the cat it is a foreign body (like a wood splinter for example in your hand). The body wants to expel it but can’t. Cells around the object become inflamed and turn malignant.
What to do? Check your cat for signs of a tumor (lumps) in the area of the microchip. If in doubt go to you vet.
Here’s some good links:
Website protesting against microchipping
XXXXXX – link broken
Cat News Cat News – 28th October 2007
There is an almost continual debate about whether a cat should be an indoors cat or not. For example, the Cat Fanciers Association (CFA) say that a Persian Cat (with long hair) should be an indoor cat as it reduces the need to groom the cat etc.
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| Picture courtesy TheCatsden.net |
Then the Bengal cat. An active cat that needs space to move in. They are expensive and prone to being stolen and “escaping”. Some say they should be kept indoors.
The advice usually centers around what is good for the person. The interests of the cat being second in line or occasionally ignored. The concept of declawing is an example of an action that is done for the benefit of humans but against the interests of the cat.
When making a decision whether to let your cat out or keep her in, we should in my opinion ask, “what is best for the cat and can I accommodate that?”
Because the world is a little (sometimes very) hostile to cats a compromise is probably the best answer (if you have the means and space).
Your cat should be allowed to behave as near as possibly naturally. This means going out, smelling the grass, being alert to sounds and movement. All of this can be achieved in a well constructed and large enclosure attached to your home with access both ways.
If you want to go out but not in the enclosure it is not beyond the bounds of possibility to train your cat to accept a collar and lead (Bengals can be trained to accept this for example).
Both require time investment. My cat thankfully deals with the problem herself, without my input. She is shy and nervous (she was a stray). I let her out. She never goes farther than about 20 meters from the door. Most times she asks me to go out with her and I oblige. She follows and when I come in she follows then too.
Cat News Cat News – 26th October 2007
Cat News is happy this morning (GMT) as we have just discovered that the Pope adores cats. He lives with a cat called Chico (although there are restrictions on a pets living in the Vatican apartments apparently).
In fact Chico has written a book about his companion (the Pope).
This is great news as although Italy has enlightened and strict laws in relation to animals and animal cruelty, they are difficult to enforce.
Italy also has a large feral cat problem. We all know about the feral cat colonies of the ruins in Rome. And when I have gone to Italy, on both occasions, I have had meetings with feral cats. Once, on a walking holiday, when there were a large number of feral cats outside the hotel window. Of course I feed them but this is honestly not the complete answer.
Then in Rome while eating at a restaurant, little kittens came up to me. Of course I gave away some of my food. I brought home some Italian fleas from that holiday….!
The Pope is also known as someone who has fed feral cats. He clearly has an affinity with cats. This shows humility and tenderness two essential qualities for a religious leader.
We hope that he will be able to publicize the rights of animals and foster the program of TNR – trap neuter and release for feral cats as this has been found to be the most effective way to help feral cats. We created the problem of feral cats; lets fix it.
When I say “problem” I mean from both the standpoint of the cat and human. A feral cat’s life is harsh and relatively short.
credit: photo by lildude under creative commons – feral cat at the Coliseum ruins in Rome
Cat News/Cat News – 25th October 2007 – Southern California
“I can’t stop thinking about my cats. I live in the Mountains of Southern California. I have 2 Bengal cats. The fires approached my house and I tried; I really tried hard to get both my cats into baskets, but my stud boy refused, he was as scared as hell and kept running off. Just as I was trying again the police came and ordered me to leave my house immediately. The wind had turned and the fires were fast approaching.
I couldn’t leave without my best friend and companion. He was somewhere in the house. The roof was starting to smoke in the heat and the police were getting agitated.
I had no choice I had to go. I’ve left my boy behind and I’m scared, really scared for him. When I turned to look behind as we drove away from my house I could see smoke coming through the front window….I’ve lost my boy cat, I know I have.
The worst thing is thinking about the how frightened he must have been…I can’t sleep for that…. I’ve lost my house but worst of all I’ve lost my boy. It’s like I’ve lost a son…..”
{this is fiction tightly based on a recently received email, so it’s as real as the hard news}
Cat News/Cat News – 24th October 2007
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| Southern California forest fires from an aircraft 24-10-07 |
There are a lot of cat breeders and parents who are affected by the fires in Southern California.
VCA Animal Hospitals Offers Free Boarding for Pets Affected bySouthern California Fires. VCA have a large network of animal hospitals.
VCA Animal Hospitals announced today that local SOUTHERN California VCA facilities are offering free boarding for companion animals whose families have been evacuated or displaced as a result of the current firestorms. Conveniently located VCA animal hospitals will provide a safe environment for pets that have been affected by the fires through November 5, 2007 on a space available basis.
As thousands of families are being evacuated to shelters or facing the loss of their homes, VCA hopes to ease their burden by offering free boarding for pets so they can focus on the critical issues with their families and homes, said Art Antin, Chief Operating Officer of VCA Animal Hospitals.
Boarding assistance for pets is based on space availability atindividual VCA Animal Hospitals throughout Southern California. Pet owners can Call the following VCA facilities that currently have space available:
Alhambra VCA Mission Animal Hospital 626-289-3643
Arroyo Grande VCA South County Animal Hospital 805-489-1361
Bellflower VCA Lakewood Animal Hospital 562-633-8126
Big Bear City VCA Lakeside Animal Hospital 909-866-2021
Burbank VCA Animal Hospital (Burbank) 818-845-7246
Canoga Park VCA Companion Animal Hospital 818-340-1569
Cypress VCA College Park – Ana Brook Animal Hospital 714-827-6861
Encinitas VCA North Coast Animal Hospital 760-632-1072
Glendale VCA Arden Animal Hospital 818-246-2478
Hermosa Beach VCA Coast Animal Hospital 310-372-8881
Hesperia VCA Victor Valley Animal Hospital 760-244-8022
La Mesa VCA Grossmont Animal Hospital 619-697-0082
Laguna Niguel VCA Aliso Viejo Animal Hospital 949-643-0437
Lake Forest VCA Saddleback Animal Hospital 949-586-4250
Lake Forest VCA Arroyo Animal Hospital 949-770-1808
Long Beach VCA Los Altos Animal Hospital 562-421-3749
Los Alamitos VCA Rossmoor-El Dorado Animal Hospital 562-598-8621
Los Angeles VCA Miller-Robertson Animal Hospital 310-657-7050
Los Angeles VCA Petville Animal Hospital 310-313-9118
Mission Viejo VCA Mission Viejo Animal Hospital 949-582-1220
Monrovia VCA Santa Anita Animal Hospital 626-359-3281
Palm Springs VCA Desert Animal Hospital 760-778-9999
Pasadena VCA A Breed Apart Animal Hospital 626-795-4444
Rancho Mirage VCA Rancho Mirage Animal Hospital 760-346-6103
Reseda VCA McClave Animal Hospital 818-881-5102
Ridgecrest VCA Crestwood Animal Hospital 760-446-7616
Rolling Hills Estates VCA Silver Spur Animal Hospital310- 541-3331
San Diego VCA Angel Animal Hospital 619-291-0042
San Diego VCA Hillcrest Animal Hospital 619-299-7387
San Diego VCA Main Street Animal Hospital 619-232-7401
San Diego VCA West Bernardo Animal Hospital 858-485-7570
Santa Fe Springs VCA La Mirada Animal Hospital 562-921-3539
Santa Monica VCA Santa Monica Dog and Cat Hospital 310-453-5459
Santa Monica VCA Wilshire Animal Hospital 310-828-4587
Spring Valley VCA Paradise Valley Animal Hospital 619-475-9770
Temecula VCA El Rancho Animal Hospital 951-296-3898
Torrance VCA Clarmar Animal Hospital 310-371-2474
Torrance VCA Kennel Club Resort & Spa 310-539-2201
Upland VCA Central Animal Hospital 909-981-2855
Venice VCA Marina Animal Hospital 310-306-8707
Victorville VCA Mesa Animal Hospital 760-245-0109
Woodland Hills VCA Parkwood Animal Hospital 818-884-550
Cat News/Cat News – 23rd October 2007
I think that it bears repeating at the risk of overdoing it having read that some cat shelters are finding that, during Halloween, people who adopted a black cat before Halloween bring her/him back after Halloween with the excuse that it didn’t work out. Come on guys. This looks like people treating a cat as a prop to make Halloween more interesting. A cat is an animal as are humans. Let treat them with real respect and protect them during this period.
For example, in the UK fireworks are a nuisance during Halloween (we call it bonfire night). Fireworks go on for many weeks and as I mentioned earlier it sounds like World War III sometimes (to me) so it must sound terrifying to some cats.
Keep cats indoors during this period if you can. Some people still think black cats are associated with evil and this makes them more vulnerable during Halloween.
Lets think of other people and other creatures.
Cat News – 23rd October 2007
Announcement – Win $300 – Pictures of Cats website is running a Halloween Competition. The prize is $300 or equivalent. Easy money. Good prize. Visit the website Forum page and read about it.
Cat News – 22nd October 2007
The Bubonic Plague is alive and well. I had thought that the Bubonic Plague was a disease of the past, associated with the Great Plague Of London in 1655 and called the Black death. It killed many tens of thousands. The Plague fizzled out in the Autumn of 1655 due to the cold weather which killed the fleas on which the disease was carried.
Jumping forward some 300 years Bubonic Plague is still around and cats can get it through the bite of infected fleas or eating infected animals. The incubation for cats is usually 1-2 days.
Obviously cats that like catching and eating animals are more at risk (not all cats like to hunt despite the instinct to do so).
In a recent story from Vancouver, Canada, a cat may have died of the Black Death.
The symptoms are swollen lymph nodes and high fever (41C). The cat (Tango and one year old tabby) didn’t respond to treatment.
Bubonic Plague can be transmitted from cats to humans. So if after tests the cat is found to have this disease the people who were involved need to seek medical attention themselves to make sure they are all clear.
The Bubonic Plague is no necessarily fatal. Cats can recover.
Source: Cat News thanks the CanWest News Service
Cat News – 21st October 2007
We are all saddened by the loss of life and disruption that the Iraq war causes military personnel and their relatives. I think that it is worth briefly mentioning the cat’s role in this conflict.
There are many servicemen who are single and who have pets and cats in particular. What happens to the cat when he goes to war? The cat often goes to a shelter and re-homing (I hope). Remember many shelter cats are euthanized due to lack of space.
So, at best both the cat and human partner suffer the discomfort of separation and at worst the cat loses his/her life. Another casualty of war. This is not to belittle the loss of human life, which is widely acknowledged. It is just that the loss of animals is not acknowledged.
And that’s not factoring in all the domestic animals including of course cats killed in the war itself.
We should give some thought to cats and animals as well; innocent victims.
Cat News thanks SignonSanDiego.com for the thought.
Cat News – 15th Oct 2007
I’ve got a bit of a bone to pick with Craiglist, err correction a fish to fight over…
As you might know Craigslist is a well known and highly successful website based on classified advertisements. The founder is Craig Newark and the CEO is Jim Buckmaster. Both are individuals. They seems to be offering a kind of “alternative way”. A way which serves the people and rejects the status quo. It is slightly anarchic. And for all these reasons I and millions of others like their retro-style basic and functional website with high morals and tough rules.
But I am more concerned right now with their rules about selling cats on their website. I think the bar on selling cats/animals is fundamentally correct as it is intended, I presume, to prevent bad behavior in respect of cats’ which jeopardizes cat’s health and welfare.
However, the vast majority of cat breeders are highly responsible. They carry out all the right steps including spaying/neutering, vaccinations, checking the buyer’s credentials etc. etc. before selling. Yet these people are barred from selling cats on Craigslist.
While some back street charlatan, who gives away cats for free but charges a handling fee (of any amount it seems) is allowed.
You’ll find on this website The Animal Spirit and this one link broken Oct 2012 (a basic text file on the net) amongst others explain why free cats are potentially putting a cat in a very vulnerable and risky position (the exact opposite to that found when dealing with a reputable cat breeder).
Interestingly, what underpins their “prohibited or restricted items” in illegality, yet it is not illegal to breed and sell cats.
The underlying ethos and “modus operandi” of Craigslist is very sound but I think they have this wrong. They would be better banning all sales of animals if they wish to get involved in imposing rules on visitors to their site (which they rightly do) on the matter of animal sales.
If I’ve got this wrong, tell me, please. In the meantime I still think Craigslist is a great website.
Cat News – 11th Oct 2007 For many years due to the inexorable increase in human population, our relationship with wildlife has become ever more strained. Here’s another example, one of many, and which, in my opinion, illustrates a wide ranging lack of insight and education when it comes to wildlife.
A man, his wife a 2 dogs live out of a trailer in Nederland, USA, which is near the Rock Mountain National Park. It is out in the country. It is likely that there will be wild animals around, yet this person chained his 2 dogs outside the trailer at night.
As a result a mountain lion attacked and tried to take the dog and got shot by the person for doing what comes naturally. Who created that situation? Once the situation was created there was little he could do to save the dog. But the situation shouldn’t have been created. There is little pro-active behavior from humans in relation to nature (look at Global warming for example, it’s all reactive and fire-fighting). He says that in Wisconsin, where he comes from “…we take care of things there,”. Big words, cowardly behavior. What he is saying is that if it suites him he will take action outside the law and in this instance in disregarding the rights of fellow creatures.
He jeopardized the lives of his dogs and a beautiful mountain lion through his actions. And one more of God’s beautiful creatures dies for no good reason as a result of man’s lack of insight, arrogance and selfishness.
Cat News thanks this source: Rocky Mountain News. (these are my views only, you may well disagree)
Cat News – 5th Oct 2007 Singer Joey Yung is in the news for the right reasons. She likes cats and at one time 7 lived with her. She is a Hong Kong based singer of some fame.
She added a higher profile to what could by many be considered a fairly mundane news story. A story about a cook working for a catering company in Kowloon, Hong Kong. The cook killed a kitten (who he said had bitten him) by throwing the kitten to the floor 3 times. This makes me wince and feel slightly sick.
He was convicted at a local magistrates court to 21 day prison term and $5,000 HK fine. This represents about 2% of the max punishment! Singer Joey Yung said she can’t understand how people can do this sort of thing. But she accepted that the case would raise awareness of animal cruelty.
It is shocking and there is far more animal cruelty going on than this case suggests. Think for a minute about a market, for example, in China where they sell cats and dogs for food. They think that a freshly or partially killed animal tastes better so one way of killing the cat (or dog) is by someone hitting her/him over the head to near death and the customer takes the cat away to eat. I read that in one instance this form of killing was carried out by a child and this child had nightmares about it. What in heavens name is this parent doing? It makes you want to scream. The ignorance. The reason they eat cat and dog is for some mumbo jumbo health reasons. Chinese medicine and health concepts need to be updated.
Yet we must not fail to see the wider picture. For many humans life is hard and under harsh conditions it is easier for bad behavior to be demonstrated. In the same way that it is easier to be generous when one is rich, it is easier to be better behaved when one is comfortable and not stressed. So, we need to improve the world for ourselves to improve the world for our fellow creatures.
There, is though, never and excuse for cruelty of any kind.
The original story comes from the Standard a Hong Kong newspaper and the article was written by Diana Lee and Nickkita Lau
Cat News – 3rd Oct 2007. A Cat’s behavior is a reflection of our behavior towards her/him. This is very ably explained in a blog I have just read, which is written by a woman called Mandy. She rescues cats. She knew a woman called Mary who was very skilled at turning around cats and dogs who were damaged by poor treatment. Mary herself is also skilled.
She has saved many cats it seems and two are currently in her care. Both were feral kittens. When she rescued them they were obviously difficult to deal with; hissing at everything. I can vouch for this because although I don’t rescue cats; cats rescue themselves by knocking on my door (cats are good survivors and know where the good stuff is) and they hiss at my cat initially.
Cats will of course do this. It’s the same for humans. We go where the good stuff is. Look at immigration world wide. Anyway, in order to rehabilitate the cats she started of by putting them in cages so they wouldn’t run away when she approached (a natural reaction if you have been abused of ill treated in someway by a human).
Over time and through patience, wisdom, communication and tenderness the feral kittens come round. The kittens discover that they can get what they desire, which is protection and companionship from another creature bigger than them that they consider to be a cat. The height difference does interfere with the natural communication a greeting mannerisms of a cat however:-)
There is nothing better than developing a loving relationship between to creatures from such a poor start. It seems though that the carers like Mandy are picking up the pieces of the people who don’t care.
But isn’t this the way it works in many walks of life.
30-9-07 Cat News cat news – This caught my eye. This story comes from thee El Paso Times (09/30/2007). In El Paso there is a shelter for homeless people. Nothing really outstanding about that except to say well done. Only, this one accommodates pets too. Quite a large percentage of homeless people or indeed people that are liable to become homeless have pets as companions.
At the Rescue Mission of El Paso they recognize that some homeless people come to them with pets and cannot be separated from them (of course) so they provide a pen for the pet while the resident looks for work and/or a permanent home.
That is enlightened thinking. Thanks to Juanita Ortega, assistant director of the Rescue Mission of El Paso homeless shelter and his staff.
I don’t know if this kind of shelter exists in Europe. I somehow doubt it. There may be shelters where there are informal arrangements for residents to keep their pets but not a structured arrangement as at El Paso.
People donate pet food to the shelter. That’s teamwork and it shows how much we care about our pets (or at least most of us).
27-9-07 Cat News Cat News – Some technical stuff You know when you see documentaries about big cats and they kill an animal and eat it; the male parents eat first and then the females but the children are last. This apparently is because of raw survival. The males have to maintain physical strength and fitness to protect the females and cubs in the wild.
The dynamics are different for the feral domestic cat. The adults allow the kittens (4-6 months) to eat first. It is probably because although feral cats have to survive (and have consequently substantially shorter lives than non-feral cats) the task of survival is less than for a big cat. It is a balance between the effort or cost to win set against the benefit gained or value in winning, which is naturally developed by the cat over time.
This allows the adult cats to let the kittens eat first, the first duty to protect the offspring. Whereas in the wild, for big cats, the first call in protecting offspring is against attack by other animals so there is greater reward in taking that action. (source: www.sciencedirect.com, but I have added some of my own thoughts)
23-9-07 Cat News Cat News – Do cats have souls? The answer is a profound and commonsense – YES. Why am I so sure? This topic comes out of stories in the US papers about a well known football star, Vick, who was allegedly involved in dog fighting and dog cruelty. It is alleged that he kills dogs that do not perform well enough in a cruel manner.
The source of cruelty to animals must at least in part be that people do not think that animals have “souls” (to use a religious term). Or to put it more simply that the animal doesn’t have feelings. Lets focus on cats. They don’t it seems have self-awareness but there are a gazillion instances of a beautiful and emotional connection between cats and people and cat to cat or cat to other animals. These are meaningful relationships.
It is clear to all reasonably people with some knowledge of the world that cats have souls or “a presence” or thought processes and feelings. That they feel pain and can be happy and sad like humans.
It really all turns on education. The more people know of things the more they respect other animals. We must remember that we are strictly animals too. Sometimes we think we are above all other animals. This is not true.
Cat News – Some more news from China 20-9-07 We all know about the Chinese economy and how it is the powerhouse of world manufacturing. Everybody is getting their products made in China because they are good at it and above all else cheap. But at what cost to the environment in China (and therefore the world) and to our children and pets.
Stories about high heavy metal levels in both childrens’ and pets’ toys Made in China are emerging (the latest is about pets’ toys sold at Walmart in America). This is the price we all pay for jumping in too quick to make a fast buck by using a cheap manufacturer. There is usually a downside. It is strange though that considering all the regulations concerning heavy metal levels in toys it is still possible to buy such toys in the high street.
It’s the same old problem – fast buck syndrome and not looking far enough ahead and long term.
Cat News thanks this source:http://www.consumeraffairs.com
Cat News and more Cat News 19th Sept.2007 This came into a cat breeders Yahoo Groups email 19-9-07 even though it is dated much earlier. It relates to an earlier outbreak of a Calicivirus with a high mortality in a Missouri feline colony in 1998. Make of it what you will
I have more information about this virus, so contact the webmaster at this website for these details:
Sent: Saturday, August 18, 2007 6:10 PM
Subject: Re: cat virus
” We are informing all our feline owners of a new deadly disease in the U.S., that could very likely affect all our cats. ‘ It is a NEW strain of the calicivirus called Virulent Systemic Calicivirus. “It affects all cats, young and old, but is most severe in adult cats. This virus causes respiratory infections, ulcerative facial lesions, swelling of the legs, fever, oral ulcers and ultimately results in DEATH in those cats that become infected! “Unfortunatley there is NO TREATMENT AVAILABLE. It is HIGHLY CONTAGEOUS via direct or fomite transmission, so even INDOOR”CATS ARE AT RISK! “There is a VACCINE AVAILABLE for prevention of this deadly disease. The cost is very economical at $15.00 per vaccine; two vaccinations are needed three to four weeks apart for the initial vaccinations series then an annual immunization thereafter. “We encourage you to contact us as soon as possible to schedule an appointment for immunization of your cat(s) for protection from this NEW deadly disease 222-1515.”
Cat News 16th Sept. 2007 I may be too serious and if I am submit something funky and funny to the forum on this site.
But in the meantime back to the serious stuff. Feral cats. It seems to me that there are too many. The source of feral cats is the failure of people to spay and neuter plus abondonment. So, the problem is human generated (
for those of us who blame the cats..).
It also seems that it is the good, decent, caring and responsible people who are picking up the pieces created by the irresponsible people. I know this has to happen but is it right? What I mean is this; it does nothing to stop irresponsibility. In fact, it could be argued that it enocurages it. The website “signonsandiego.com says that there are an “estimated 250,000 feral cats in San Diego County”. Volunteers sort things out by organising neutering and spaying. But it’s an uphill battle, perhaps a losing battle, without educating the people who are irresponsible.
This website also says that “two cats in seven years can produce 420,000 offspring”. We should keep that sobering statement in mind. Cat News.
Cat News 4th Sept. 2007 We know that the growth on the human population on this planet has an effect on wildlife as we encroach on the habitat of wild animals to build new homes. This is most often discussed in the context of African farmers and game reserves when wild animals spill over into farm land to kill farm animals.
Well it also happens in Medfield, it seems, which is just outside Boston.
The Dover-Sherborn Press states that the Medfield Animal Shelter is receiving many more reports than usual of missing pets. The reason in unclear except for the probability that it is due to land development. The loss of habitat (and therefore food resources) forces the local wildlife to kill pets for food. That’s the theory anyway. The growth of the population of the human race is the single biggest issue that we have to face on this planet.
Cat News Cat News 28th August 2007 Did you think that all rescue cats get re-homed?. If you are like me you didn’t think about it too much and if you did you probably guessed that they did. Afraid not. Many healthy and beautiful cats are put to sleep (heck why not say what it is “killed”) because they are not re-homed. Here’s a good idea from an article written by Linda Calhoon for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona. Try fostering an injured cat/kitten for 2 weeks if you are not sure. That may save a cat’s life and it will certainly help avoid the situation where cats are left behind or abandoned because the “owner” bought a cat on the spur of the moment and really didn’t have it in them to take the responsibility of caring.
Cat News 26th Aug 2007 Stuffing Tigers – When are we (humans) going to start to understand that we don’t “own the world” to do as we please with it. We are not freeholders of the world, we are leaseholders under strict lease conditions. Our erroneous and arrogant presumption that we can do as we please means that, in self-interest, with disregard for our fellow creatures, we kill tigers to near extinction. Then to try and save some for future generations the best we can do is imprison them in zoos. Not content with that we then shoot them in their zoo cages, skin them and stuff them. What are we coming to?
Taxidermist Jean-Pierre Gerard was filmed either shooting or accompanying someone else shooting 2 tigers in a cage. They were shot inexpertly and died slowly. He had previously said he could get animals to stuff at a price. Zoos are in partnership in that they are commercial (of course) and keeping animals which have served their purpose is no longer commercially viable.
It all revolts me, frankly. I feel like stuffing Mr Gerard…see how he likes it.
Cat News Cat News – 24th August 2007
This fire retardant thing is it seems starting to become a scandal as it gradual dawns of people that over the past 35 years or so hyperthyroidism in cats has reached startling proportions. Remember it was unheard of before the 1970s. The It is alleged that this disease is caused by PBDE (a chemical fire retardant in furniture). And it’s not just concerned with California (see story below). It appears to be USA wide. Think of your cat. Check it out and throw it out (the furniture)…..
Cat News Cat News 18th August 2007 – Latest News – YouTube inadvertently allow animal cruelty films on their website
……and a lot of viewers like them.
In one uploaded video some young people threw a kitten from a 5th floor balcony ”
for fun”. Research indicates that people who are cruel to animals are cruel to people as well.
Research in the USA found that criminals imprisoned for violent crimes have confessed to carrying out acts of cruelty against animals. This is obviously gratuitous violence and must be an expression of inner anger and turmoil in the person committing these acts of violence . Sometimes the world is a very mixed up and sad place.
Killer fire retardant chemicals used on furniture manufactured in California (I guess to comply with fire safety regulations) may lead to health problems, particularly for cats. Cats it seems would be more exposed to this chemical as they sleep or rest on sofas etc for long periods plus they are smaller.
The problems apparently stems from the out dated regulations controlling the use of these chemicals. This is a PBDE fire retardant called Tris. It is alleged that it may cause hyperthyroidism in cats.
Cat News says CHECK your furniture for the type of fire retardant and ask questions….source: 16th Aug 2007 Huffington Post Arlene Blum
Cat News – You know some people prefer 4 legs to two. Well, a lot of men prefer a women who prefers two legs to four….maybe its just jealousy.
As recent YouGov poll of 2,353 adults found that a female’s chance of finding love can be reduced by as much as 40% if the women has 2 or more cats. That’s fine she’ll say she prefers the cats anyway. You get a far more rewarding, predictable and stable relationship with a cat, we all know that.
Think about it, this is a very big statistic for us at Cat News, nearly half of the country’s single people could be putting a barrier in the way of starting a successful relationship. And you know how hard it can be to get a relationship going successfully, without having a cat.
The thing is once you live with a cat you know what’s best for you and the cat knows what’s best for him/her. So in the end he (the boyfriend) has just got to fit in.
Sadly, on a more serious note, cat news brings an altogether more horrible story to you. The case of the jealous boyfriend. Joe Petcka, the boyfriend of a Sports Illustrated writer, had a row with this girlfriend. He stormed out. He came back. She wasn’t there. He wanted to take it out on something. He hit the cat and left it with multiple injuries including broken ribs, a broken leg, and multiple cracked teeth. The cat died. It happened on March 27th, 2007.
He was upset that his girlfriend, he thought, preferred her cat to him. Sensible her… I feel for the cat. Another vulnerable innocent creature killed by humankind.
I think I prefer 4 legs to 2…
Sources:
- Times August 16th for YouGov poll story and 18th Aug. story
- Second story by Associated Content, Published Apr 14, 2007
- Photo: StockExpert, stock photo.
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I every time used to study post in news papers but now as
I am a user of internet therefore from now I am using net for articles or
reviews, thanks to web.
Which country do you come from? I’d be interested to know. It is certainly Asia. Is it Thailand?