CATLINES Blog

cats and Thanksgiving

Keep Thanksgiving Safe for Kitty Posted Sun, Nov 11, 2007, 10:01 pm PST For many of us, Thanksgiving is the holiday where we enjoy the company of our family, and also an abundance of rich food. But with all that hectic activity, it can be easy to overlook potential dangers to your cat. Here are some tips on what to do about ... The arrival of company. If your cat isn't used to many people in her home, the arrival of extended family can be unsettling. So keep your cat's temperament in mind. If she isn't comfortable around visitors, don't force her to socialize. If she isn't used to being around children, it's crucial to make sure both the cat and kids stay safe. Let kitty sit the holiday out in a quiet room. Overnight guests. Make sure everyone knows the rules regarding whether kitty is allowed outdoors or not. If your guests aren't used to being around cats, they may not be aware of the risk of leaving the front door open. All that food. Many foods meant for people aren't safe for cats. So don't feed her anything other than her normal food. She doesn't need to munch on a turkey leg. And don't sneak her any dessert either -- chocolate in particular can be fatal to cats. Make sure all guests know not to offer table scraps either. Use caution during the clean-up as well, and be especially careful with turkey bones. Dispose of the turkey carcass to make sure it's completely out of reach. You don't want to spend Thanksgiving at the pet emergency clinic with your kitty. Signs of stress. Monitor your cat during the holiday. Make sure she's handling the increased stress, and make adjustments as needed. Be watchful to make sure her food and litter box habits are normal.  Hope this all helps! Here's wishing you and your cats a safe and happy Thanksgiving! Talk to you later,  Donna  

cat poem

To Love Again Oh what unhappy twist of fate Has brought you homeless to my gate, The gate where once another stood To beg for shelter warmth and food? For from that day I ceased to be The master of my destiny, While she, with purr and velvet paw Became within my house the law. She scratched the furniture and shed And claimed the middle of my bed, She ruled in arrogance and pride And broke my heart the day she died. So if you really think, oh cat I'd willingly relive all that, Because you come forlorn and thin Well don't just stand there - come on in! Author unknown   

cat humor/cat dictionary

                 A Cat's Dictionary   Aquarium: interactive television for cats.   Cataclysm: any great upheaval in a cat's life.   Catatonic: a feline medicinal drink.   Caterpillar: a soft scratching post for a cat.   Cat Scan: to look for a new cat.   Dog: a cat's device for running practice.   Im-purr-sonate: to act like the cat.   Purr-ade: an organized march of cats.   Purr-adise: the garden of Cats.   Purr-amour: a cat lover.   Purr-anoia: the fear that your cat is up to something.   Purr-aphernalia: a cat's personal belongings.   Purr-ch: any favored feline napping spot.   Purr-chase: anything bought for a cat.   Purr-fume: the scent of an open can of tuna.   Purr-gatory: a houseful of kittens.   Purr-mission: a feline hunting expedition.   Purr-petual: everlasting feline love.   Purr-plex: a house with two or more cats.   Purr-son: a male kitten.   Purr-suit: the garment your shedding cat rubs against   just as you are leaving home to go to an important   meeting.   Purr-verse: a poem about a wicked kitty.   Tuner: sonar-like device in cat food that causes cats   to appear.   Yawn: a cat's honest opinion openly expressed     

cat humor

                    The Creation Myth   On the first day of creation, God created the cat.   On the second day, God created man to serve the cat.      On the third day, God created all the animals of the   earth to serve as potential food for the cat.   On the fourth day, God created honest toil so that man   could labor for the good of the cat.   On the fifth day, God created the sparkle ball so that   the cat might or might not play with it.   On the sixth day, God created veterinary science to keep   the cat healthy and the man broke.   On the seventh day, God tried to rest, but he had to scoop   the litter box.     

cat prayer

Cat Prayer -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray this cushy life to keep. I pray for toys that look like mice, And sofa cushions, soft and nice. I pray for gourmet kitty snacks, And someone nice to scratch my back, For windowsills all warm and bright, For shadows to explore at night. I pray I'll always stay real cool And keep the secret feline rule To NEVER tell a human that The world is really ruled by CATS! ~ Author Unknown

cat superstitions

                     Cat Superstitions   Dreaming of white cat means good luck.   - American superstition   To see a white cat on the road is lucky.   - American superstition   It is bad luck to see a white cat at night.   - American superstition   If a cat washes behind its ears, it will rain.   - English superstition   A strange black cat on your porch brings prosperity.   - Scottish superstition   A cat sneezing is a good omen for everyone who   hears it. - Italian superstition   A cat sleeping with all four paws tucked under means   cold weather ahead. - English superstition   When you see a one-eyed cat, spit on your thumb, stamp   it in the palm of your hand, and make a wish. The wish   will come true. - American superstition   In the Netherlands, cats were not allowed in rooms   where private family discussions were going on. The   Dutch believed that cats would definitely spread   gossips around the town. - Netherlands superstition      To reverse the bad luck curse of a black cat crossing   your path, first walk in a circle, then go backward   across the spot where it happened and count to 13.  

cats and time change

Setting Kitty's Clock for Daylight Savings Posted Tue, Oct 30, 2007, 4:09 pm PDT When we turn back our clocks, we enjoy that extra hour we gain. Our cats, however, don't understand why we're suddenly not adhering to an agreed-upon schedule. The major frustration centers around meal time. If you feed your cat on a schedule, then daylight savings means kitty has to wait a whole extra hour for her meal. But since we humans have the advantage of knowing when it's coming, there are things we can do to help a cat adjust. Here's the key: do a gradual transition, so daylight savings sneaks into your cat's schedule rather than comes all at once. Start early. Feed your cat 15 minutes later than usual. The next day, feed him 15 minutes later than that. Continue this in 15-minute increments, so that the transition takes four days.  Morning can be especially rough during daylight savings time, since kitty expects you to rise and shine according to the schedule he's used to. So prepare the night before by doing an interactive play session right before bed, then offering him a little late-night treat or snack.     Another way to ease your kitty through the transition is to set out puzzle feeders before your cat's dinner. The Play-n-Treat balls are great. You fill the ball halfway with food, then as the cat rolls it around, kibble randomly drops out of the hole. This can help keep your cat satisfied as he waits for dinner. If kitty still seems impatient during the transition, distract him with a little interactive play session.

cat poem

Eulogy for Nobody’s Cat By Debra J. White  She meowed so I could hear her Sitting in a litter box In a cold, dank cage Asking why am I here?  She meowed so I could see That her coat was matted Covered in dirt, Not fitting for a regal cat like her  She meowed so I could feel The loneliness of the shelter The emptiness in her heart Days wondering if someone wants her  She meowed so I wouldn’t forget That she was special That she had a home once, That she even had a name.  She meowed to me so I’d say goodbye When her time was up In a shelter, the end could be soon Today, tomorrow, or the day after  She meowed to me so I’d touch her And let her know that she was loved That she meant something And she wouldn’t die alone  I meowed to them on my way out You may be nobody’s cats But you’re all in my heart, my soul A part of me, today, tomorrow, and always  Debra J. White

microchipping cats

frame end Cat's Microchip Leads to Family Reunion Another Pahrump cat returns home because of her microchip. Troy Snow, courtesy of Best Friends Animal Society Mama the cat's microchip helped reunite her with her owners. Mama the tortoiseshell cat went home with her family this week, thanks to the microchip identification Doug and Joanne Locke of Las Vegas had implanted in the cat’s neck. Mama is one of the more than 700 cats that suffered from neglect at the F.L.O.C.K. facility in Pahrump, Nev. Best Friends Animal Society came to Pahrump in July to provide care and help to find homes for the cats. One of the first tasks was to scan the cats for microchip identification, and several cats were reunited with their owners. Mama was wary of humans and hid from volunteers and staff for several months. Best Friends persisted, however, and Mama was moved into the “Shy Cat Social Club,” where volunteers gently convinced the cats that humans can be nice. Mama was scanned for microchip ID, and the Lockes’ information came up. “We are so relieved that she is safe and survived,” the couple said. The Lockes visited Pahrump shortly after Best Friends arrived in July, searching for Mama, but she was cleverly hiding. Now that Mama is home with the Lockes, the couple is steadily winning back the cat’s trust. “She still hisses a little bit, but not too bad,” Joanne Locke said. “And when we blink to her, she blinks back.” For more information about Best Friends’ efforts in Pahrump, visit the Best Friends Animal Society website. Posted: November 3 2007 2 a.m. EDT Cat's Microchip Leads to Family Reunion http://www.catchannel.com/News/cats-microchip-leads-to-family-reunion.aspx

kitty litter cake--cat humor

Kitty Litter Cake" * ~ This is *no joke* -- This is for all you cooks out there looking for something a little different.......... sorry I can't attach the photo .... WANT TO HAVE FUN AT A PARTY? PREPARE THIS RECIPE! COMPLETELY EDIBLE, BUT YOUR FRIENDS MAY NOT THINK SO! CAKE INGREDIENTS: 1 box spice or German chocolate cake mix 1 box of white cake mix 1 package white sandwich cookies 1 large package vanilla instant pudding mix A few drops green food coloring 12 small Tootsie Rolls or equivalent SERVING "DISHES AND UTENSILS" 1 NEW cat-litter box 1 NEW cat-litter box liner 1 NEW pooper scooper 1) Prepare and bake cake mixes, according to directions, in any size pan. Prepare pudding and chill. Crumble cookies in small batches in blender or food processor. Add a few drops of green food coloring to 1 cup of cookie crumbs. Mix with a fork or shake in a jar. Set aside. 2) When cakes are at room temperature, crumble them into a large bowl. Toss with half of the remaining cookie crumbs and enough pudding to make the mixture moist but not soggy. Place liner in litter box and pour in mixture. 3) Unwrap 3 Tootsie Rolls and heat in a microwave until soft and pliable. Shape the blunt ends into slightly curved points. Repeat with three more rolls. Bury the rolls decoratively in the cake mixture. Sprinkle remaining white cookie crumbs over the mixture, then scatter green crumbs lightly over top. 4) Heat 5 more Tootsie Rolls until almost melted. Scrape them on top of the cake and sprinkle with crumbs from the litter box. Heat the remaining Tootsie Roll until pliable and hang it over the edge of the box. Place box on a sheet of newspaper and serve with scooper. Enjoy! "Kitty Litter Cake"