14

Cat Forum: Cats and Sunscreen

Kommando Kitty here, You may not know this, but May 27th is National Sunscreen Day in the US. Why should you care about this human celebration? (I guess it’s a celebration. They gave it a day. But I haven’t seen any ads for it on Amazon, so I don’t think it’s a real holiday.) Believe it or not, even with our fur coats, we can get sunburned. (So can doggos, for those of you with multi-species households.)

As your human probably knows, one of the real dangers from too much sun is skin cancer. And cats are susceptible to something called Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC). It’s a skin cancer caused by sunlight damage. Human scientists have determined that white cats (like me) are 13 times more likely to develop SCC than darker-colored cats (like Snoops). Ginger cats are pretty susceptible too. Our skin is lighter colored than other cats. And the older we get, the more at risk we are because it develops slowly (over a period of months or years.)

My humans got that 'going to the vet' look again ! - Lolcats - lol | cat  memes | funny cats | funny cat pictures with words on them | funny pictures  | lol cat memes | lol cats

The most common spots to get SCC are the ear tips, nose, and eyelids. (We can get frostbite those places too.) If you spend a lot of time in the sun, make sure your human keeps an eye out for crusty patches that look like a wound or scratch, but doesn’t heal quickly. An affected kitty can get it in more than one of those places, but it usually doesn’t spread to the rest of the body.

How to Handle Your Cat's Separation Anxiety · The Wildest

It’s a lot better to prevent SCC than to cure it. It has to be removed surgically by cutting or using radiotherapy. As an indoor cat, I’m not at much risk. But we’re going to talk about what you outdoor kitties can do to lessen your risk.

How to Keep your Cat Cool in Summer & Hot Weather | Medivet

The first thing is pretty obvious. If possible, don’t spend a lot of time in the sun during the hottest parts of the day. Find a sheltered, shady spot to hang out. (Most of you are smart enough to do that anyway.) You may want to stay in the house for the middle of the day.

I Can Has Cheezburger? - sunscreen - Funny Animals Online - Cheezburger

If you need to be out in the sunlight, you need to have your human buy you some sunscreen. They need to buy pet-safe sunscreen, not that glop they use that smells like coconuts. Even the stuff that’s good for human babies shouldn’t be used on kitties. We’re delicate. The thing about sunscreen is that it’s supposed to go on you, not in you. It’s important to let it dry and not lick it off while it’s still wet. (Don’t lick it off your human either; you will get sick. Think vomiting and diarrhea.)

Why Do Cats Move Their Ears Around? - Catster

Sunscreen SHOULD NOT be used on the eyelids or nose. It SHOULD be used on the ears and above the nose. Have your human apply a thin layer of sunscreen to both sides (inside and outside) of your ears and above you nose. Smart humans will try to distract you afterwards with play or treats while the sunscreen is drying. Smart humans will also be very gentle while applying sunscreen. As I said, we’re delicate. It will get easier for all involved after the first couple of times.

Kitty Clues: 8 Signs That Your Cat Might be Sick - Cat Healthy

If you think you or a loved one may have skin cancer, here is what to look for:

  • Scabs
  • Small, black, crusty patches of skin
  • Weepy, raw looking skin
  • Red, raised areas of skin
  • Non-healing wounds or ulcerated areas
  • Unusual-looking patches of skin that look worse in the summer and improve somewhat in the winter

Remember: Cats with skin cancer, more often than not, have more than one patch of it.

10 Tips for productive medical appointments | Doctor cat, Cats, Funny  friday memes

Enjoy a happy, healthy summer!
Pictures courtesy of Google Images.
11

The Cats’ Mother’s Day Dilemma

Snoops here. We decided we should invite the new guy into our planning for Mother’s Day. It may not have been my best idea.

Snoops: Sgt Stripes, you wanna get in on our gift for Mom on Sunday?

Sgt Stripes: What’s on Sunday?

Snoops: The humans celebrate something called Mother’s Day.

Sgt Stripes: She’s not my mother.

Snoops: Yes, she is. She adopted you.

Sgt Stripes: What does that mean?

Snoops: She brought you in and let you stay here. She made you a member of the family.

Sgt Stripes: She’s not my mother. I am a cat. My mother was a cat.

Kommando: We know that. That’s why she’s your adopted Mom. She takes care of you now.

Sgt Stripes: I thought you said it was Mother’s Day.

Cute Photos of Cats and Kittens | POPSUGAR Pets

Snoops: It is. Once she adopted you, she’s your Mom.

Sgt Stripes: Oh. Is that why I had to get her a Christmas present?

Kommando: You don’t HAVE to do it. Don’t you want to do something nice for her?

Sgt Stripes: I guess so. The kibble is really good here. And I didn’t have to go out in the snow this year. That’s probably worth something. What are you getting her?

Snoops: We haven’t decided yet.

Cat and mouse - 9GAG

Sgt Stripes: We should get her something good. How about a mouse?

Snoops: I tried that before. She doesn’t really like them.

Sgt Stripes: But they’re yummy. And fun to play with.

Snoops: She said thank you, then threw it away.

Sgt Stripes: How rude.

Snoops: I thought so. Now I give them to our human brother. He seems a little more appreciative.

Lolcats - mothers day - LOL at Funny Cat Memes - Funny cat pictures with words on them - lol | cat memes | funny cats | funny cat pictures with words

Kommando: How about a bouquet of fish?

Snoops: There’s no such thing.

Kommando: Are you sure?

Snoops: Pretty sure. I think they only put flowers in bouquets.

Kommando: What a waste. It would be delicious. Flowers really don’t taste very good.

Snoops: I think the humans only look at them. They don’t eat them.

Sgt Stripes: We should get her something she likes. What does she like to do?

Kommando: She likes to sleep.

Sgt Stripes: We could get her a blanket. I really like the blanket she gave me.

Snoops: She already has some of those. We need something unique.

Kommando: She likes to work in the yard.

Sgt Stripes: Let’s get her a mole. It could dig holes for her garden.

Kommando: Where do we get one of those?

Sgt Stripes: I’m pretty sure there are some in the back yard. At least  there were last summer.

Snoops: I guess that’s a possibility. But I think if she wanted one of those, she would have brought it inside instead of you.

Sgt Stripes: Oh. I hadn’t thought about that. Maybe you’re right.

Kommando: Maybe we could get her some yarn. Then she could make us a blanket.

Sgt Stripes: I like that idea! And yarn is fun to play with too.

Snoops: It’s supposed to be for her, remember? She’s seemed kinda stressed out lately. Maybe she needs something to help her relax.

Kommando: I thought cats were naturally relaxing.

Sgt Stripes: Yeah. What’s more relaxing than a purring kitty?

Snoops: Excellent point.

Kommando: So it’s settled. Our gift to Mom is going to be to let her spend time with us.

Sgt Stripes: Glad we got that settled.

 

Pictures (not of us) courtesy of Google Images

16

Kitty Yelp: What the Cats are Really Thinking

We thought we’d take a quick trip around Kitty Yelp to see what’s going on. All ratings are based on a best of five.

Joe’s Bistro

Have been here several times (it’s close to home). The service is pretty good, but the food is very uneven. We’ve had excellent salmon and tuna. But the chef uses a LOT of beans. What cat likes beans? And the chicken always seems to be in sauce. We’re not huge fans of tomato sauce. Definitely call ahead to find out what the daily special is going to be.

😺😺😺

Battery-Powered Fish Toy For Cats | Apartment Therapy

Flopping Fish Toy

Have to admit I was excited when I unwrapped this fish. It was huge. I thought it was for cuddling, or maybe a kick toy. Then the humans plugged it in, and it started to flop around. It was so scary! I thought it was going to whack me in the face. Definitely not for small or timid kitties.

😺

Cat Woman 🙏 🇺🇦 🇬🇧 on Twitter: "Nah! Too energetic for this time in the morning ♥️🌈 #cats #CatsofTwittter#CatsLover #CatsOnTwitter https://t.co/XZuvco9VE9" / Twitter

Dr D’s Catnip Zoomers

The name says it all. These treats are pawsome!!! Eat a couple and you’ll be racing around the house, getting into everything. They’re a little pricey, but definitely worth the money (especially if it belongs to your human). Highly recommend.

😺😺😺😺😺+++++++++

CuddleSoft Electric Bed Warmer

It is definitely soft and fuzzy. But the buttons on the control are hard to push if you’re a kitty. And if the human turns it on at night, it doesn’t stay on all day while they’re gone. I would recommend not moving off of it once you get it warmed up.

😺😺😺

Toasty Soft Throw

It’s really furry. Very comfortable. Not big enough to share with a human, so make sure they have one of their own. Biggest plus is that you can step on the corner and turn it on. The longer you press, the warmer it gets. It is so snuggly!! You probably want one in every room in the house.

😺😺😺😺😺

Pet Camp | Overnight Cat Boarding San Francisco | Affordable Kitty Care

Happy Cat Boarding Palace

It ain’t a palace, and it ain’t full of happy cats. I was stuck there for a week. The humans were okay, I guess. But the name is a lie. They let DOGS stay there too. And dogs are noisy and smell weird. I tried to escape, but they lock EVERYTHING up. I made sure my humans knew what a mistake it was. I am NEVER going back there.

😺- because Kitty Yelp doesn’t allow zero happy cats

Pin by Voodoo Doll Creates on Cat memes I've made | Cat memes, Cats, Cat treats

Simon’s Mega Bucket O’Treats

It is a big bucket of treats, and pretty cheap. Some of them are pretty good, like the salmon and chicken. But some of the flavors are pretty weird. Not sure what “Field Prey” was supposed to taste like, don’t think it was supposed to be grass. There were also some yellow ones. I think they were supposed to be banana. I don’t know any cats who like bananas. I will probably stick with name-brand treats in the future.

😺😺

Now that's a cat buffet, that's how it's done : r/cats

Albert’s Buffet

We are NEVER going back there. They were so rude. We waited in line for a half an hour before we got to the buffet line. Then they told us that we had to use plates. What cat can carry a plate? So they made plates for us, and made us sit in a corner. Away from everything. And they gave us stuff that no cat in its right mind would ever eat. Like green beans and mashed potatoes. When we went back for more fish, they THREW us on the floor. We jumped back up, but then they made us leave. Seriously, why do they let cats in?

😺

Ma Maison

Inside living quarters. Comes with 3 beds, 2 humans, and a bed warmer. Warm and dry. Ample kibble and bits. Sometimes the food smells fishy. Minus points for making me lose my man parts and no wild game. On balance, would highly recommend.

😺😺😺😺

Pictures courtesy of Google Images (except us)

17

All Hail the Tabby Cat

Sgt Stripes here. Did you know that April 30 is National Tabby Day in the US? Isn’t that pawsome? A whole day to celebrate me and my tabbies buddies. I’m trying to get Mom to buy me a pet vole or gerbil for my special day, but she doesn’t think that’s a good idea. Hopefully, I’ll at least get a lot of treats.

I’ve learned some fun facts about tabbies, and I want to share them with you.

A Little History

The humans think that we tabbies originated with an ancient Egyptian breed called a Mau, which was developed by domesticating the African wildcat. The modern descendant is the Egyptian Mau, which has a tabby pattern.

(Daxter)

The Name Comes from a Baghdad Silk

In the 14th century, we were compared to silk from the “attabiy” district in Baghdad. The Middle French word for it was “atabis”, which people shortened to “tabis”. That eventually became the English word tabby. So people have been admiring us for hundreds of years.

(Thunder)

Tabby is a Pattern, not a Breed

Humans are referring to our beautiful coats when they call us tabbies. We come from many breeds and can be pure-bred or a mixture.

“M” on Our Forehead

We have an “M” on our foreheads because of our genetics. It’s a part of every tabby’s coat pattern.

Some people think the “M” came from Mary, the mother of Jesus. When Mary gave birth to Jesus in the stable, a tabby cat laid next to the baby, keeping him warm and soothing him with purrs. Mary was so grateful that she gave the cat her initial.

Other people believe that the “M” was given by the prophet Mohammed who loved cats. He once cut off the sleeve of a garment so he would not disturb his cat Muezza when he went to prayer.

We Come in a Variety of Colors

A lot of tabbies are basic black with the stripes, but we also come in brown, orange, and gray. The majority (75-80%) of orange tabbies are male. We are all beautiful.

And a Variety of Patterns

There are four main types of tabby: classic tabbies with bold, swirling patterns, mackerel tabbies with narrow stripes, spotted tabbies with large or small spots, and ticked tabbies with tabby markings on the face and agouti hairs (hairs with more than one color) on the body. There are also patched tabbies with tabby pattern on the legs and head. Finally, there are calibies and torbies: calicos and tortoisehells with patches of tabby markings. I like to think of myself as a tuxedo tabby since I have my beautiful white tummy.

We are Camo Kitties

Our patterns assist in camouflage when we are outside hunting. Particularly if we’re hiding in tall grass. Tigers and leopards are both tabby-patterned.

We are Excellent Hunters

We love the thrill of chasing down prey. We are adventurous and love to stalk.

We are Affectionate and Intelligent 

We love cuddles and attention. We also know how to get what we want because we’re so smart.

We are Social Creatures

We are friendly sorts and usually get along well with children. Generally speaking, we love people and like to be part of the family.

We are Very Expressive

Tabby cats are good at expressing our emotions. Our humans know when we are happy or sad. Generally speaking, we are friendly, affectionate, and playful. We are also known to be independent, outgoing, and adventurous.

Summary

Affection Level High
Friendliness High
Kid-Friendly High
Pet-Friendly High
Exercise Needs Medium
Playfulness Medium
Energy Level Medium
Intelligence Medium
Tendency to Vocalize Medium
Amount of Shedding Medium

“Official” Tabbies

Finally, if you’re human is looking for a show cat, the Cat Fanciers’ Association says the following breeds are “allowed” the tabby pattern:

  • Abyssinian (ticked)
  • American bobtail
  • American curl
  • American shorthair (the classic pattern)
  • American wirehair
  • Birman (tabby points)
  • Colorpoint shorthair (tabby points called “lynx points”)
  • Egyptian Mau (the original spotted tabby)
  • Exotic (shorthaired Persians)
  • Javanese (lynx points)
  • LaPerm (has its roots in a “barn cat”)
  • Maine coon (probably the most popular pedigreed tabby cat)
  • Manx
  • Norwegian forest cat
  • Ocicat
  • Oriental (with 112 tabby combinations)
  • Persian
  • Ragdoll (lynx points)
  • Rex (Devon, Selkirk, and Cornish)
  • Scottish fold
  • Siberian (another “natural” breed of tabby cats)
  • Singapura (ticked)
  • Somali (longhair ticked)
  • Turkish Angora (14 allowable tabby patterns/colors)
  • Turkish van (six tabby patterns/colors)

I don’t really know anything about show cats; I wandered up onto the porch and got adopted.

Hope you enjoyed learning about the wonderful world of tabbies. And the pictures of me, my cousin Thunder, and my new friend Daxter.

13

Cat Forum: Allergies in Cats

UPDATE and Happy Spring to everyone! | Friends of Felines Rescue Center

Greetings. Snoops and Kommmando here. (And Sgt Stripes) Mom has been feeling pretty miserable lately because of her allergies. It happens every year when the pollen comes back after winter. She gets kinda grumpy and talks funny until she gets it under control. It made us wonder about the kinds of things that cats might be allergic to. We were surprised at how many things can cause a reaction in cats.

Why Is My Cat Sneezing? Does It Have A Cold? | Your Vet Online

Turns out that allergies are one of the most common medical conditions cats have. Allergies are the result of our immune system overreacting to some outside substance. They’re called allergens, and they’re foreign proteins that our bodies try to protect us from by removing them.

The ways that we get rid of allergens are by scratching; coughing, sneezing or wheezing; and vomiting, passing gas, and having diarrhea. They type of allergen determines which reaction an allergic cat has. Cats have four common types of allergies: insects (mainly fleas), foods, atopic dermatitis (dust, pollen, and molds), and contact allergies.

research cat - Imgflip

Flea Allergies

Watch out for:

  • Scratching around the head and ears
  • Chewing and biting yourself
  • Excessive licking on the legs
  • Red, irritated skin
  • Patches of fur loss

The most common type of allergy in cats is a reaction to fleas. When a flea bites a cat, they inject a small amount of saliva into the skin. Most cats will get some minor irritation. The allergic cat will have a severe reaction to a single bite. They will get intense itching that will result in the cat roughly biting and scratching the skin to get relief. The intense scratching will result in open sores and scabs, which may become infected. The areas most commonly affected are the base of the tail and the head/neck area.

I Would Rather Keep My Dignity - Lolcats - lol | cat memes | funny cats | funny cat pictures with words on them | funny pictures | lol cat memes | lol cats

If you or a loved one is allergic, the most important treatment is to prevent fleabites. You can talk to your vet or use an over-the-counter preventative. If an allergic cat gets bitten, a trip to the vet may be necessary for corticosteroids or antibiotics. It can take two to four weeks to get rid of an infection that is the result of scratching a fleabite.

Once everything is back in balance, you should regain your beautiful fur coat.

Meme Generator on Twitter: "The expression on the cat's face says it all... #Diet #Dieting https://t.co/qnHk5tvhgA" / Twitter

Food Allergies

Watch out for:

  • Red, itchy skin
  • Flaky or greasy skin
  • Dull fur
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Gas
  • Weight loss
  • Conjunctivitis (pink eye)
  • Difficulty breathing

A food allergy is triggered by an immune reaction to either a food or a food additive. It is generally the protein (either plant or vegetable) causing the reaction. A food allergy can trigger any type of reaction: itching, breathing issues, or digestive problems.

he's just holding it | Cats | Know Your Meme

The only way to determine whether there is a food allergy is to use either a hypoallergenic diet or by eliminating proteins from the diet one at a time. Because it takes at least 8 weeks for a protein to be completely eliminated from a cat’s system, the trial-and-error method can be time-consuming and frustrating. You must avoid all foods containing the protein, treats, people food, and flavored medications while doing the testing.

If you feel better after eliminating a certain protein, the humans will assume you have a food allergy. You will probably need to stay on a hypoallergenic diet for life. But that’s better than barfing after every meal.

What's Cat Grass? 4 Possible Reasons Your Finicky Feline Eats Greens - Munchiecat

Atopic Dermatitis (Atopy)

Watch out for:

  • Red, watery eyes
  • Itchy eyes
  • Nasal discharge
  • Coughing, sneezing, wheezing
  • Rash
  • Itchy skin

Atopy is an allergic reaction to environmental allergens. These allergens include pollen, grasses, molds, mildew, and dust mites. Some are seasonal, some are year-round. Allergic humans respond to these allergens with sneezing and other breathing problems. Allergic cats usually respond with itching, sometimes severe itching.

Itchy Cats: Causes and Treatment | PetMD

Unfortunately, kitties with atopic dermatitis will probably require regular visits to the vet for life. There are a variety of drugs that will help: steroids, antihistamines, essential fatty acids, and immunosuppressives have all helped some cats. Some kitties have had luck with allergy shots. Cats with atopy should also try a hypoallergenic diet because the two types of allergies are often related.

Can I Give My Cat a Bath? | Anicira

Contact Allergies

Watch out for:

  • Itchy skin
  • Red skin
  • Irritated skin
  • Rash

Contact allergies are exactly what they sound like: you are allergic to something you come in contact with. It might be your bedding, some type of material such as wool, a flea collar, or that nasty shampoo your human tried to use on you. Contact allergies result in skin irritation and itching. Obviously, if you are allergic to something, don’t get near it anymore. The trick is identifying which substance is causing the itching. Ask your human for help.

One Simple Way to Help Cats This Week - Learn from a Distance - MRFRS | The Merrimack River Feline Rescue Society

Wow. We learned a lot. First, we think that Snoops may have a flea allergy. Second, we’re glad that Mom has the environmental allergies, not us.

Signs & Symptoms Of Allergies In Cats | Dutch

Pictures courtesy of Google Images.

23

We’ve Been Invaded Again!

     

Sgt Stripes here. My sisters and I are not happy cats. The two small humans are visiting, and we are not impressed.

Kommando: They arrived Thursday. And they have got so much stuff. It’s everywhere.

Snoops: Yeah. And there isn’t anything good this time. Apparently they’re too big for carriers and special chairs.

Kommando: But they are really loud.

Snoops: They smell kinda weird. And the stuff they drink smells kinda weird too.

Sgt Stripes: They sleep upstairs with me. It takes a long time for them to go to sleep. And they make a LOT of noise.

Kommando: They tried to eat our food. Mom forgot to take our kibble off the floor, and they ate it when she wasn’t looking.

Sgt Stripes: At least you got food. Mom was so tired last night that she forgot to feed me. It was horrible.

Snoops: You should have told her.

Sgt Stripes: I tried. I couldn’t get her or my human brother to wake up. I even tried nibbling on her arm. I thought I was going to starve.

Kommando: Did she finally remember?

Sgt Stripes: Not really. After she fed you guys Friday morning and came back upstairs, I cried and led her to my room. She finally got the message. I think it’s my worst night since I’ve been here.

Snoops: That is awful. She came down early to feed us so the little humans couldn’t get into our food.

Sgt Stripes: It’s a good thing she did. By the time she got back upstairs, the little one was crying. She put him on her bed. In my place!!

Snoops: You lost your spot?

Sgt Stripes: I jumped up on the bed after I ate like I always do when Mom’s home, and he was there! I had to get back down. I think he wanted to touch me.

Kommando: Yep. That’s exactly the same thing that happened to me later. I went to jump up in Mom’s lap, and the other one was there. It’s terrible!

Snoops: They have cats at their house, so they think they can touch us. We need to stay out of the way. No sticky fingers in my beautiful fur.

Kommando: I hope they’re not moving in.

Sgt Stripes: I heard Mom say it’s for three nights.

Kommando: Hmm. Nobody asked us.

Snoops: We better be getting lots of treats at the end of this.

30

Ahh Spring! Tis the Season for Shedding

Greetings. Snoops and Kommando (and Sgt Stripes) here. Monday is the spring equinox which means it’s the first day of spring. And spring means more sunlight here in Michigan. And more sunlight means more shedding. None of us are extremely fluffalicious, but Mom swears she could build a new cat out of the excess fur this time of year.

The last thing we need is another cat, so we decided to research productive ways to use it. It’s so beautiful on us, it seems like such a waste to just throw it away. Here are some of the best ideas we came across.

Cute Cat Wearing A Scarf Will Make The Post-Christmas Slump More Bearable |  HuffPost UK Life

Knitting

If your human is willing to wear a sheep, why shouldn’t they wear a cat? The first step is to spin it, then card it, then knit it. Our fur can be turned into mittens, scarves, or even sweaters. It can be a fully do-it-yourself project with instructions from a book or video, or your human can send your fur out and have it sent back as either yarn or a completed project. Imagine being able to sleep on a blanket of your own fur!

DIY: Needlefelted Cat Toys - collage

Felting

If your human isn’t quite ready for all that knitting, maybe they can make your fur into a felt project. They just need to be able to clean your fur then roll it into a ball. They stick the ball with a need a bunch of times to get the fur to knot itself together, then they shape into whatever they want. There are books and videos with instructions. They can make felted toys, ornaments or jewelry. Your human can also find folks online who create felted jewelry from cat fur. Imagine how attractive your human would be wearing beads of your fur!

Felted Feline Fun Cat Toys infused with Catnip - Bear Creek Felting

Toys

If your human isn’t crafty enough for felting, maybe they’d still like to use your fur to make you some toys. All they have to do is roll a bunch of your fur into a tight ball or rod. Then they can throw it for you. But be careful you don’t swallow the toy. (We’re not too sure about this idea. It kind of reminds of us of hairballs.)

Is there fish in your pet's food? Chances are it's contaminated with crap |  Poisoned Pets | Pet Food Safety News

Fishing Flies

If your human likes to fly fish (that is fishing for fish with flies not fishing for actual flies), your fur can help! They can use your fur for part of the fly. Tips can be found online. Make sure they share the fish with you. It’s only fair since it’s your fur attracting the fish.

Create a cat garden that you and your cat will love

Gardening

Who knew? Our fur is excellent for plants. Fur helps retain soil moisture and keep roots hydrated which helps regulate the temperature. As the hair disintegrates, it will release nitrogen which is good for plants. It is like an organic fertilizer. Hair takes a while to disintegrate, so it’s probably best considered a long-term fertilizer. In fact, it may be a season or two before they see the results. Fur is completely compostable, so your human can add it to the compost pile too and fertilize the whole garden or lawn.

Cat lounging in a birds nest. : r/pics

Share with the Birds/Small Animals

Most birds and animals that build nests love having a little fur to soften things up a bit. Your human will need to leave a bunch of it in the branches or thickets outside for the critters to gather. Or they can mix it with a bit of suet. (Bonus: They can put the bowl where you can watch the critters gather the fur.) Needless to say, you will not be able to help with this project. (Apparently birds have a pretty poor sense of smell and don’t realize where the fur comes from.)

Own Cats? Watch Those EVs! - Carolina Tails Magazine

Help Clean Up Oil Spills

Matter of Trust, a San Franciso-based non-profit, collects clean pet fur donations to create oil-absorbing hairmats and hair-stuffed containment booms (made from pantyhose). They are not always collecting, but they continue to use the mats and booms. Your human could make their own mat for use with small spills around the house or garage.

How To Manage Your Kitten's Shedding | BeChewy

Mom says that she isn’t sure she really wants any more cat hair around the house in any form, but maybe your humans will be more receptive.

Pictures (not of us) courtesy of Google Images

 

30

We Do Not Like Ice

Greetings from Snoops and Kommando Kitty (and Sgt Stripes). It has come to our attention that even in our nice, cozy home, winter can wreak havoc. As you might have noticed, there was a major storm earlier this week. Mom said that we were really lucky, because where we live we didn’t get a lot of snow. (Some humans got two feet!) And we didn’t lose our power.

We got ice. For the second time in eight days. Mom got sent home from work early on Wednesday, which was nice. We got to help her with her job that afternoon. But then we lost our Internet service. No computers and no TV. We didn’t think we were going to be able to blog because it was out for two days. It finally came back a couple of hours ago, but it was too late for her to come up with a good post. Something about being really tired. She’s still sick with her stupid virus too. Nothing major, but she doesn’t have any energy.

Anyway. The humans have been grumpy about no Internet. Now we’re grumpy about no Internet. We couldn’t visit anyone for days. Sgt Stripes didn’t get to talk to Mr. Google. We didn’t even get extra cuddles. Stupid ice.

Our cousins were not happy either. They lost power. And when they got their power back, they lost their heat. They almost froze to death before it was restored.

Mom says we shouldn’t exaggerate. They were only cold for a few hours, nothing dangerous. But they were really unhappy. Now they have their heat back and are sitting on the ducts and snuggling in the blankets to make up for the cold.

Anyway, we didn’t want you to think we’d forgotten about you. We’ll be back next week with a real post. Think warm thoughts.

Funny Cat Memes and Pictures About Cat Behavior - TurboFuture

17

Tyrone Tabby and the Valentine’s Day Dance – Part 2

two cats one love : r/cats

Where we are: Tyrone tried to impress the new girl Erin with his pouncing skills in the lunchroom. He had missed the mark, but she had left him a message to meet her in the gym before class. Tyrone wanted to take Erin to the Valentine’s Day dance. He was eagerly waiting for her. You can read Part 1 here.

Tyrone was trying not to act nervous. He was sitting on one of the bleachers, looking around. No sign of Erin. He looked at his phone. Maybe she had changed her mind. He was looking down when he heard someone come in. A female voice said his name, and his heart stopped.

Girl: Hello, Tyrone.

Tyrone looked up. Then his heart sank. It wasn’t Erin. It was Ivy, one of the girls he had known since he was a kitten.

HD wallpaper: two kittens playing with each other, cat, love, cats, domestic Cat | Wallpaper Flare

Tyrone: Hello, Ivy.

Ivy: Hi. How are you?

Tyrone: I am well. And yourself?

Ivy: I’m good. I haven’t seen much of you lately. Until yesterday in the lunchroom. That was a really good jump.

Tyrone (embarrassed): Thanks, Ivy. I kind of missed my mark. I wanted to land on the other table.

Ivy: I was really impressed. Whenever I try to make that kind of jump, I end up on the floor.

Tyrone: I wasn’t supposed to slide.

Ivy: At least you stayed on the table. I thought it was really good.

Some Facts About Cats Talking To Each Other | Pets Nurturing

Tyrone couldn’t figure out how to end the conversation. He didn’t want Erin to come in and see him talking to another girl. But Ivy was being really nice, and he didn’t want to hurt her feelings.

Ivy: What have you been up to? I used to see you all the time. Now it’s hardly ever.

Tyrone: I guess I’ve been spending a lot of time with Donny and Clyde. Not as much time outside.

Ivy: That sounds like fun. How are classes going? I’m taking a lot of classes to get ready for college. They’re really keeping me busy.

Tyrone: School is good. The guys are talking about starting an extermination business after we graduate, but I think I want to go to college too.

Ivy: You definitely should. You’re much too smart to spend your life chasing mice. What do you want to study?

Tyrone was having a good time talking to Ivy, but he really wanted to wait for Erin. Finally, he blurted out.

Tyrone: I’m kinda waiting for someone this morning, Ivy.

Ivy: Erin, right?

Tyrone (blushing): Yeah. How did you know?

Ivy: That’s why I’m here too.

Tyrone: What do you mean?

Ivy: She’s not coming.

Tyrone: Did she send you?

Now Ivy was embarrassed. Tyrone started to get uncomfortable. He could tell that Ivy was trying to hide something.

Tyrone: It’s OK. You can tell me.

Ivy: I’m sorry, Tyrone. I don’t really know how to say this.

Tyrone: Just say it.

Ivy: Erin didn’t send that message. Jessie did.

Jessie was another girl in their class. Tyrone talked to her once in a while, but they weren’t friends.

Can a dog or cat get jealous? | Yarrah

Tyrone (disappointed): Why would Jessie do that?

Ivy: She saw that you were interested in Erin. She’s jealous.

Tyrone: Of what?

Ivy: Of Erin. Erin attracts a lot of boys. She wanted to show you that it’s stupid to like a girl just because she’s pretty.

Tyrone: That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard. But why are you here?

Laughing kitty! | Funny animals, Cats, Smiling animals

Ivy: Jessie wanted you to be sitting here alone so she could come and make fun of you. But I know you. You’re a really decent guy. You would have treated Erin well. You don’t deserve to have Jessie laughing at you.

Tyrone: Erin is really pretty. But I bet she’s not as nice as you are.

Ivy (blushing): Thank you, Tyrone. That’s a very sweet thing to say.

Tyrone: It’s true. I was really enjoying talking to you.

Ivy: I like talking to you too.

Tyrone: Maybe Jessie’s right. I am dumb. I should’ve been talking to you.

Just a cat hugging another cat in her sleep #hugging #naptime #cats #cathugs | Cute cats, Cat hug, Cute animals

Ivy: We’ve known each other a long time. You just don’t think of me the same way.

Tyrone: But maybe I should.

Ivy looked at Tyrone and smiled. He hadn’t realized that she was actually a very attractive cat.

Tyrone: Would you like to go out for a bowl of cream after school?

Ivy: That would be fun. We can talk about college.

Tyrone: I would like that.

Happy Valentine's Day Cat Pictures, Photos, and Images for Facebook, Tumblr, Pinterest, and Twitter

Pictures courtesy of Google Images. (Sgt Stripes guest-starring as Tyrone,)

23

Tyrone Tabby and the Valentine’s Day Dance

Valentine's Day Gifts for Cats - The Catington Post

Tyrone stared at Erin across the lunchroom. He thought that she was the prettiest kitty he had ever seen. She had recently moved into the neighborhood and had started school a couple of weeks ago. She was in his Feline History class, but he hadn’t gotten up the nerve to talk to her.

He was eating with his friends Clyde and Donny. They were talking about the movie they had watched last night, “SpaceCat Rex: Defender of the Galaxy.”

Can Cats See TV? │ Hill's Pet

Clyde: That movie was lame. Those lasers never would have worked like that.

Donny: I agree. The trajectory was all wrong. But the story was excellent.

Clyde: The first SpaceCat Rex movie was the best. What is this, the third? Or the fourth?

Donny: It depends on whether you count that one with the lynx.

Clyde: You can’t count that one. It was outside the canon.

Donny: What do you think, Tyrone?

  Why Do Cats Stare? - Catster

But Tyrone wasn’t paying any attention. He was too busy watching Erin. She was so graceful.

Donny: Tyrone! Are you paying any attention?

Tyrone: Isn’t she pretty? I think I want to ask her to the Valentine’s dance.

Clyde: Who?

Donny: He’s all goofy over that new girl, Erin. She doesn’t even know he’s alive.

Clyde: Forget her. Girls like that don’t go out with cats like us.

Tyrone: What do you mean?

Top 10 Most Beautiful Cat Breeds in the World (with Pictures)

Clyde: Girls like the smooth-talking Toms, not us.

Tyrone: I can be smooth-talking.

Donny: Tyrone, she’ll break your heart. Leave her alone.

Tyrone: It won’t hurt to say hi. I’m going to go talk to her.

Donny: You’ve never talked to a girl cat before. Maybe you should practice first.

Tyrone: How hard can it be?

Pin on animals

Tyrone watched Erin for a few minutes while he was gathering his nerve. He was a very shy cat and didn’t have any idea what he was going to say. Finally, he decided that he would pounce on her table and try to act sophisticated. He would impress her with his grace.

He walked to the other side of the room and waited for his opportunity. She was talking to a couple of other girls. Finally, the other girls left, and he saw his chance. He measured the distance in his head. Then he stretched and leapt.

Right over her table to the table behind her. He landed on a piece of paper and slid down the table. Just before he got to the end of the table, the paper stopped moving. Erin and a few other cats were watching him, confused.

Is your cat laughing at you? | BBC Earth

Tyrone jumped down and ran back to his friends. He tried to look nonchalant. They were trying not to laugh.

Clyde: Dude, what was that?

Donny: I think you got her attention.

Tyrone: Shut up. I want to disappear.

He looked around. No one was paying any attention to him. Erin was talking to some different cats. Then the bell rang, and they had to go back to class. He didn’t see Erin for the rest of the day.

After school, he was walking home with his friends. They were still laughing about his jump.

Why do cats sleep so much? What's normal and not | PetsRadar

Donny: That was amazing! I’m sure she was was impressed.

Clyde: At least you didn’t land on her. That would have been terrible.

Tyrone: Maybe she didn’t know it was me. Maybe I can still act cool around her tomorrow.

Donny: I think everyone knew it was you. Maybe you can move to Siberia.

Tyrone: This is awful. Now she’ll never talk to me. How far away is Siberia?

Clyde: It was a joke. No one will remember in a few days.

Tyrone: I will. This is horrible.

Tyrone went to his room when he got home. His phone buzzed.

Phone: Hi Tyrone, it’s Erin from school. Pawsome jump today at lunch! Meet me in the gym before school tomorrow. We can talk.

Tyrone stared at his phone. He couldn’t believe his eyes. He shut the phone down and turned it back on. The message was still there. It was still there in the morning.

He took extra time grooming in the morning, making sure every fur was in place. He told the guys he was going in early to get some extra time in the lab. He stood in the corner of the gym, waiting patiently.

Next week: Is Erin the girl of Tyrone’s dreams?

Pictures courtesy of Google Images