CATLINES Blog

Purr-fect role for Norwich cat

Purr-fect role for Norwich cat

02 July 2005 10:59

Andrew Lloyd Webber famously devoted a whole musical to feline friends but Norwich cat owners are being given their own chance to get their pets on the
stage.

Next week the Theatre Royal will be auditioning cats to star in a play which comes to the Theatre Street venue this month.

The chosen cat will appear alongside TV favourites - Lucy Benjamin from Eastenders, Thomas Craig from Coronation Street, and Vincenzo Pellengrino from Casualty
- in the mystery Framed.

Written by Martin Sterling, of Congham, Norfolk, Framed is a psychological thriller in which a couple's romantic trip to a remote Norfolk cottage leads
to a roller-coaster ride of twists and turns in which no-one can be trusted.

The cat appears 10 minutes into the play when the couple, Judy and Sam, (Lucy Benjamin and Vincenzo Pellengrino), first arrive at the cottage.

Jane Morgan, a spokeswomen for the play, said: “The cat is intrinsic to the plot in that it helps to create an atmosphere of suspense and intrigue and is
the first of many red herrings... or is it?

“The director, Roger Redfarn, wanted to use a real cat because it adds to the whole integrity of the piece.

“Unfortunately since we started the tour in Bromley in May the only cat we have been able to use was Smudge from Milton Keynes.

“We hope the cats in Norwich will be up to the challenge!”

Ms Morgan added that the chosen cat would be carried on stage 10 minutes into the play before exiting a few minutes later.

The ideal cat needs to be passive, not easily scared and be comfortable being held by a stranger.

Theatre Royal staff will be auditioning the wannabe feline thespians on Friday, July 8 at 11.30am at the theatre.

Framed is at the Theatre Royal, on Theatre Street, from Monday, July 18 to Saturday, July 23 at 7.30pm. There are 2.30pm matinees on Wednesday, July 20
and Saturday, July 23. Tickets range from £4 to £16.50. To book call 01603 630000.

Feline fine after clean spin in tub

Feline fine after clean spin in tub

Daz, the eight-week old kitten, had a lucky escape after venturing into a washing machine.

Daz, the eight-week old kitten, had a lucky escape after venturing into a washing machine.

30 June 2005 12:03

A kitten used up one of its nine lives after climbing into a washing machine and spinning through a full cycle along with a Norwich family's laundry.

Daz — as the eight-week-old kitten has been dubbed — spent around 90 minutes inside the machine after 16-year-old Kanina Hulburd put on a load.

It was Kanina's mum Cathy Wallis, 35, who found distressed Daz in amongst the wet laundry at the family home in Donchurch Close, Bowthorpe.

She was about to toss the damp items into the tumble drier when she spotted Daz and screamed with such alarm her boyfriend Glenn Barnes, 33, thought she
had seen a spider.

Mum-of-two Miss Wallis said: "I instantly felt sick when I saw her. I assumed she was dead and thought if she's not now, she's certainly going to be.

"She was absolutely frozen and she couldn't stop shaking and moving her head from side to side. I cuddled her and tried to keep her warm but she almost
clawed me to pieces," added Miss Wallis — who admits she "howled" all the way to the veterinary surgeon.

Daughter Kanina, who has vowed never to do the household wash again, said: "I think it's wonderful she came out of it with no side effects.

"I thought it was my fault and was convinced she would not pull through."

Earlham Sixth Form student Kanina added: "If I do ever do the washing again I will check it five times before I put the cycle on and I just hope everyone
else will do the same now."

She said she did not know if she would keep the name Daz for the miracle kitten — which the family has now decided to keep rather than rehome as they have
with most of mum Slay's litter.

"I think it's a bit cruel to call her that but then it is a sweet name. The washing powder was actually Persil though!"

Vets from the Chapelfields Veterinary Partnership injected Daz with a steroid after finding blood coming from her nose, ears and mouth.

Today, however, they gave Daz the all-clear and a 12-day dose of antibiotics.

Miss Wallis, a cleaner at the UEA, said: "The vets just couldn't believe it. There does not seem to be any permanent damage."

Has your pet had an amazing escape? Call Alasdair McGregor at the Evening News on (01603) 772443 or email [email protected]

Curfew need not mean life indoors: RSPCA

cat aussie news:
http://canberra.yourguide.com.au/detail.asp?class=news&subclass=local&category=general%20news&story_id=405765&y=2005&m=7

Curfew need not mean life indoors: RSPCA
DMcLennan
Saturday, 2 July 2005

Cat lovers planning to move to Gungahlin's new suburbs are being encouraged to provide their pets with enclosed runs instead of locking them indoors.

Cats will not be allowed outdoors in the yet-to-be-developed north-eastern Gungahlin suburbs of Bonner or Forde. The move is designed to protect wildlife
in the nearby Mulligans Flat and Goorooyaroo reserves.

RSPCA ACT chief executive officer Michael Linke said yesterday the law was a good idea, but he encouraged people to consider building a cat run instead
of keeping them inside.

"Cats enjoy plenty of sun, fresh air and mental stimulation as well as an area to scratch, preen and exercise," he said.

Hugh and Patricia Parker, of Duffy, had an extensive cat run installed when they rebuilt their home after the 2003 bushfires to protect their pets - Persian-American
short- haired crosses Fergal and Princess - from the construction traffic.

The Parkers have one of Canberra's more intricate cat runs - mesh tunnels running from a cat door in a bedroom window, down some steps, around the house
and through to towers in the back yard.

Mr Parker said it meant the cats could get sun and fresh air in safety, and it let them come and go as they pleased. It also protected the slowly returning
bird life of Weston Creek from feline predators following their natural instincts.

Cat run installer Jan Kurr said he had fitted about 30 of the runs in the ACT region in the past year for customers looking to house purebreds, protect
their pets from other animals and cars, and protect wildlife from their pets.

The runs varied in price depending on the size, but averaged about $1600, and were individually designed for each house.

Although the cat runs will not need to be approved, they will need to comply with the ACT's animal welfare code of practice.

The code states outdoor enclosures must be at least 0.9m by 1.8m by 1.8m; must have a solid roof and flooring, and walls on the weather side. There must
be shelves to allow jumping, an enclosed sleeping area, openings designed to prevent escape, "an interesting out-look and sight of human activity".

The new laws are an extension of a current regulation, so far unused, that allows the Government to declare a cat curfew for an area. They will be enforced
by Domestic Animal Services, which will respond to public calls and patrol the areas. Seized cats will be taken to the RSPCA, because the ACT does not
have its own cattery, and the system will operate in the same way as for seized dogs. Cats will still not need to be registered, although they will be
required to have a microchip to track ownership of each animal. Owners caught breaking the laws will face fines of up to $1000.

A spokeswoman for Environment Minister Jon Stanhope said there were no plans to introduce the ban to other suburbs. - David McLennan

Keeping cats off the counter (and other forbidden places)

Keeping cats off the counter (and other forbidden places)

miami/archives_title

Posted on Sun, Jun. 19, 2005

FELINE BEHAVIOR
Keeping cats off the counter (and other forbidden places)
Once a cat violates a forbidden area, it will return unless you make this taboo area uncomfortable for them.
BY DR. MARTY BECKER
Knight Ridder News Service

We may have welcomed cats into our hearts and homes en masse, and allowed them to catnap on the couch and bounce on the bed, but many cat owners still have
forbidden zones, like food preparation areas or kitchen table, where kitty isn't welcome.

Dr. Larry Lachman, animal behavior consultant and author of Cats on the Counter, warns of the dangers posed to cats who do jump on the counter, by heated
stove/grill surfaces, boiling liquids, and the ingestion of foods with sharp and potentially dangerous bones.

Veterinary behaviorists remind cat owners to be consistent. Once a cat safely violates a forbidden area, it will return unless you make this taboo area
uncomfortable for them or lure them to an appropriate, safer area that is much more enticing.

There are many things you can try to keep cat off the counter:

• Place a shallow pan of water on the surface; once the cat gets its paws wet a couple of times, it will often abandon the area for good.

• Place double-sided tape on the countertops as cats don't like the sticky feeling on their paws.

• Use a rubber mat with nubby side up or sheets of tin foil

Some people swear by the Scatmat (a plastic mat that gives off a harmless pulse of static electricity if touched). This tingle can keep cats off the counter
and is great because it disciplines your cat when you're not around g (
www.scatmat.com
or 800-767-8658).

Remember the old saying about ``catching more flies with sugar than vinegar?''

Lachman believes that it's equally important to provide cats with redirected high-up places that they can jump or climb up on, through the use of cat trees,
kitty condos, and/or secure perching shelves. Or use a toy or tasty treat to lure them away from the inappropriate area.

Remember, anything a cat does, whether it's spraying urine, scratching the door jam, or jumping up on the kitchen counters, is normal behavior as far as
the cat is concerned. The cat behaves in this way not understanding this will be offensive or damaging to you.

Cats never act out of revenge or spite. It's up to you to find a way for your cats to express and redirect natural instincts in an acceptable manner to
the rest of the family.

© 2005 Herald.com and wire service sources. All Rights Reserved.
http://www.miami.com

Russian male cat lives for 18 years without any females - PRAVDA.Ru

Russian male cat lives for 18 years without any females - PRAVDA.Ru

http://english.pravda.ru/main/18/90/361/15781_cat.html
Russian male cat lives for 18 years without any females

07/09/2005 15:04

Cats usually live for 10 or 14 years maximum in Russia's weather and ecological conditions

"There is no special secret for my cat's longevity. He eats sprats and drinks milk. He has never been out of my apartment. He has never been with a female
cat either. He may probably be living for so long because we have been trying to improve his immune system since his first days of life," the owner of
the long-living cat, Lyudmila Urban said.

The cat became a pet with the family of Lyudmila Urban by accident: the woman's daughter brought the little kitten home from school. The kitten was called
Tosha: it was a tiny fluffy being. The kitten was sick - it could not eat any food. Lyudmila took the kitten to a veterinary hospital, where vets tired
to feed Tosha with milk formula. The whole family were doing their best to save the little kitten from death, and Tosha was lucky to stay alive.

The kitten gradually recovered from his feebleness and grew into a beautiful domestic animal. Tosha is a white-colored, spotted cat with big dark-brown
eyes. When Tosha was three, his owners decided to exhibit him at a local cat show. Specialists of the show told Lyudmila that she was owning not a outbred
street-born cat, but a genuine Siberian feline. Tosha was even awarded a diploma.

"Every winter he grows very thick fur around his neck, which makes him look like a small lion," Lyudmila Urban said. In spite of the fact that Tosha was
growing in the company of caring humans, he never exercised his own cat gratitude in return. He lets the people stroke him only when he is in the mood
for it. In addition, Tosha never purrs. The cat was friends with another family member - terrier Dina. The dog and the cat would spend all of their time
together. When the dog died, Tosha could hardly handle the loss of his animal friend and gave way to depression. After that, the cat had to experience
another serious stress, when the Urbans family had to move into another apartment.

"We thought that he would die. He would always lie down motionless in his box. My husband said that we should put the cat down to save him from tortures,
but I never agreed. Tosha luckily survived the stresses, although one of his eyes stopped showing any reactions to light," Lyudmila Urban said.

The long-living cat is fine now. Tosha became a lot more affectionate to his owners and even learned how to purr.

A veterinary specialist, Olga Enina, said that she was very surprised to know about the 18-year-old cat: "It is simply astonishing! Cats usually live for
10 or 14 years maximum in Russia's weather and ecological conditions. I've heard some stories telling of 20-year-old cats, but I never encountered one
in my practice," the doctor said.

cat games

http://www.xmission.com/~emailbox/games/gamemenu.htm

"Local News - Thrift store finds feline in recliner"

You have been sent the following article from Iva as a courtesy of The Idaho Statesman.

"Local News - Thrift store finds feline in recliner"

To view this article on The Idaho Statesman website, go to:
http://www.idahostatesman.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2005507060320
Local News - Printer Friendly Article - The Idaho Statesman - Always Idaho
Print This Article

Article published Jul 6, 2005

Thrift store finds feline in recliner

The supervisor of a Boise thrift store is looking for the family of a feline hitchhiker.

Employees of Deseret Industries on Fairview Avenue had just taken in a donated recliner June 28 when the chair meowed, store supervisor Dale Blau said.
The startled workers opened the recliner and found a black kitten stowed away. The kitten had no tags, and the person who donated the chair didn't leave
a name.

Blau said he's had a few cats hitch rides on trailers towing furniture — one that came all the way from La Grande, Ore. — but that he can't recall ever
finding a pet inside a piece of furniture.
Blau looked all over the area for a shelter to take in the kitten, dubbed Lizzie (short for La-Z-Girl), but all the shelters were full, so he took her home.

"I've run out of numbers to call," he said.
Blau has several dogs, making his home especially cat-unfriendly, and he is looking for anyone who might be able to act as a foster parent for Lizzie until
her owners are found. Northwest Animal Companions is helping Blau find Lizzie a home.

"It's getting to the point of desperation," Blau said.

Plague, feline - USA : Alert

Plague-Infected Cats Cause Worry in Wyoming
--------------------
A local cat was diagnosed with plague Friday -- the 4th in southern Wyoming
this year -- and public health officials warned that people should take
precautions to protect their pets and themselves.

Gus Lopez, director of the Cheyenne-Laramie County Health Department, said
the latest case occurred west of the city, in the same general area where 2
other cats contracted the disease. A 4th cat, in neighboring Albany County,
also was diagnosed with plague.

"Getting 4 of them in southern Wyoming in a short period of time is
unusual," said Ken Gage of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) in Fort Collins, Colorado. "It's not cause for panic, or anything,
but it is cause for some concern."

In many parts of the West, plague is endemic in the fleas infesting rodent
populations. The disease can jump to other animals, including humans, if
they come into contact with infected fleas. Researchers speculate that the
infected cats probably caught or ate infected rodents.

Human cases remain extremely rare. A southwest Colorado woman who caught
plague from infected fleas is the region's only human case this year.
Wyoming has had just 5 human cases since 1978.

But state health officials also point out that they hadn't recorded any
feline cases in more than 20 years.

"I think this is just going to be the tip of the iceberg," Lopez said. "And
what really concerns me is these cases with cats right now really increase
the risk of human exposure."

That's because handling infected animals is much riskier than simply being
exposed to infected fleas. In the 5 recorded human cases since 1978 in
Wyoming, each had handled an infected animal, Gage said.

An infected cat might bring infected fleas into a home; it might also
infect people by biting, scratching or coughing. "That's very, very
dangerous, because the disease progresses very rapidly in that situation,"
Gage said.

Dr. Tracy Murphy, Wyoming's state epidemiologist, said rodent populations
appeared to be up in Wyoming and much of the West this year, in part
because of increased rain and snow during winter and spring. As rodent
populations increase, so does the chance that rodents will infect each
other, spreading plague.

Health officials are warning people to avoid contact with rodents or with
any sick or dead animals. If such contact is unavoidable, people should
wear gloves and insect repellant. Pets or people showing plague symptoms --
swollen glands, fever, chills, pain and extreme exhaustion -- should get
immediate medical attention.

[Byline: Dan Lewerenz]

--
ProMED-mail
<
[email protected]>

[Plague is caused by _Yersinia pestis_ and transmitted most often by flea
bites.

When sylvatic outbreaks occur in rodent populations, domestic cats can be
infected by fleas on the rodents or by direct contact with infected rodent
tissues -- as they chomp on squirrels or other rodents. The incubation
period in cats may be short, a day or 2, and marked by a fever of up to
41.5 C and lymphadenopathy. Typical buboes often occur in the head and
neck, and can be mistaken for cat fight abscesses. Dogs are considered to
be less susceptible.

Bubonic plague, one form of the disease, is of zoonotic concern, as
individuals may contract disease from either infected fleas or contact with
purulent discharges or blood from the cat. An even greater threat occurs
when the disease in cats progresses to pneumonic plague. This has been
documented in cats, including transmission to veterinarians and owners.
Antibiotic treatment is effective in cats, but the threat of plague is only
one of many reasons that people should keep their pets free of fleas.

There are many good flea control products and methods of eliminating fleas
from the animal as well as the yard.  If an animal owner is having trouble
with fleas, a visit to the veterinarian may be in order. If an animal has a
swelling, extra caution should be taken by the animal owner as well as the
veterinarian. The swellings may rupture and expose the owner and/or the
veterinarian to the plague agent. The disease is treatable with
antibiotics, so a trip to the veterinarian may be in order. - Mod.TG]

[see also:
2004
----
Plague, human, fatal - USA (CO) 20041214.3311
Plague, tularemia, rodents, human - USA (CO) 20041110.3035
Plague, squirrels - USA (CO)(03) 20041022.2863
Plague, squirrels - USA (CO) (02) 20041022.2858
Plague, squirrels - USA (CO) 20041021.2851
Plague, feline - USA (CO) 20040901.2440
Plague, bubonic, human - USA (CO)(02) 20040826.2380
Plague, bubonic, human - USA (CO) 20040825.2370]
...................tg/pg/mpp

*##########################################################*
************************************************************
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are  posted,  but  the  accuracy  and  completeness  of  the
information,   and  of  any  statements  or  opinions  based
thereon, are not guaranteed. The reader assumes all risks in
using information posted or archived by  ProMED-mail.   ISID
and  its  associated  service  providers  shall not be  held
responsible for errors or omissions or  held liable for  any
damages incurred as a result of use or reliance upon  posted
or archived material.
************************************************************

More homes for pets

Editor's note:

When Jim and I visited California a few years ago, thinking we mightmove there, we were horrified to discover that most apartments did not allow cats.  Up here in western Washington, nearly every apartment complex is pet-friendly.  Therefore, I am thrilled with this news.  Hope you will be, too. 

               Rental Homes, Condos, And Pets
How many more millions of dogs and cats would have homes
if more rental properties and Condos allowed them? The
fact is, about half of all renters have pets. Landlords
can have fewer vacancies if they allow furry tenants. To
encourage pet-friendly landlords, the Humane Society of
the United States has launched
www.rentwithpets.org.
Landlords can use the Web site to find sample leases and
pet policies, as well as tips on identifying responsible
pet owners. For pet owners, the Humane Society suggests
developing a "pet resume," complete with references from
a former landlord and your veterinarian.

New

Editor's Note:

This comes at just the right time we're embarking on something new here with this blog.  Hope you find it helpful.  LM

To view this message as a self-running slide show with pictures, click on the link below
http://greatday.com/v.html?1078XEuQQCkm

PLEASE NOTE: See below for a special message regarding the MONTHLY MOTIVATOR

THE DAILY MOTIVATOR
Tuesday, July 5, 2005

Somewhere new
+++++++++++++++++++

No matter how many places you may have been, there is always
somewhere new that you can go. No matter how many ideas you
may have already explored, there is always something new to
consider.

Nothing can energize you in quite the same way as going to a
place where you've never been before. Whether it is visiting
a new physical place, considering a new concept, or making a
new friend, each new experience adds much richness to life.

When you seem to be stuck, and not making any progress, a
change of scenery is one of the best gifts you can give
yourself. Whether it is for fifteen minutes, a weekend, or a
month, going somewhere new and different can get you moving
forward again.

It may seem like a waste of time to stop what you're doing
and switch your attention to something else. Yet often, the
best way to maintain your focus is to give that focus a rest
for a while.

By gaining a new perspective, you can re-connect in a
powerful way with your purpose, your passion, with the
energy that drives your life. By experiencing yourself being
somewhere new, you can learn valuable new things about
yourself and your world.

If would, of course, be foolish to try to run away from your
problems and responsibilities. Yet when you take the time to
get away to somewhere new, you'll gain new insight and
energy for successfully addressing those problems and
fulfilling those responsibilities.

On a regular basis, go somewhere new. And keep fresh,
positive energy flowing into your life.

Ralph Marston

............................................................................
This is the Daily Motivator email edition.
Copyright (C) 2005 Ralph S. Marston, Jr. All rights reserved.
Visit The Daily Motivator web site at
http://greatday.com
for an archive
of more than 2,500 daily messages, inspirational photos and more.