Category Archives: cats

20

Sgt Stripes Makes a Friend

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Hi, everybody! Sgt Stripes here. Guess what! I have two new friends, one human and one feline. I was really lonely last week because my main human went to a place called Italy for 10 days and left me all alone (except for Mom and the new human/cats). I thought I had been deserted

Then one of the new kitties moved upstairs. I guess she was supposed to be locked in one of the bedrooms until the humans had a chance to introduce us, but she escaped. She must be pretty smart. Her name is Onyx. She’s a really pretty black cat. And she smells really good.

She seems kinda shy. We sat together for a little bit one day. The next day, I sniffed her again, and she seemed to get a little offended. She went under the bed. I guess I’m going to have to keep trying to charm her.

I think she might be a little intimidated because I’m a lot bigger than she is. But I’m patient, so I’m sure we’ll be spending more time together soon. She doesn’t hiss at me like Snoops does, so I think she kinda likes me.

I really like her human mom. Snoops says they used to call her Blondie. I don’t really know why. Her hair isn’t blonde. Snoops says it used to be. She’s their human sister, so I guess she’s my human sister now too. Although my main human is her brother. I don’t know. It’s all really confusing to me. For the purposes of identifying her, I guess I’ll call her Blondie too.

She’s the mom to the two small humans. I’m not sure about them. The one seems pretty okay. He comes in once in a while and wants to pet me. He’s pretty gentle. The little one is another story. He is so LOUD and he cries a lot when he’s tired. He scares me. I try not to go near him.

Back to Blondie. She’s working from home now. And she sends the kids away during the day. Snoops says it’s some kind of shelter, and she hopes they stay there one day. I’m not really sure what a shelter is, but Snoops says she used to live in one. Mom says it’s called a daycare, so I’m guessing they’re not allowed to stay there at night. When I told Snoops, she was pretty disappointed.

Anyway, Blondie has been working upstairs since Onyx moved up. And it’s pawsome. She lets me stay in the room with her ALL DAY. And she lets me help her work. She does some kind of medical office job. We talk to patients and work on the computer. The best part is that she does something called Zoom calls. I get to see people on the computer. My brother does those sometimes too. I love Zoom calls.

Yesterday I learned how to schedule patients for some kind of testing. It’s pretty cool. Blondie uses a lot of different computer programs, and I’m learning them all. I already know how to change programs and shut them down. Pretty soon I’ll be really good at this stuff and ready to learn something else. The best part is that when I get cold, she lets me cuddle up with her.

My regular human returned yesterday, so now I have all sorts of options. I can help him with his school work. (He’s in something called grad school. I’m not really sure what that is, but it seems to take up a lot of time.) He spends a lot of time on the computer too. Or I can keep helping Blondie. And of course, I have to spend time with Mom. I don’t want her to feel deserted.

This is so exciting! I don’t even miss the lady cats anymore.

30

Global Cat Day: Some Fun Facts

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Premium AI Image | A group of cats celebrating a special day with party hats surrounded by balloons and confetti

Greetings! Monday, October 16 is Global Cat Day which means that ALL of our readers can celebrate. Don’t confuse it with International Cat Day which was August 8. We’re not sure why there’s two holidays that are basically the same. But we deserve them. We recommend treats, cuddles, and all-around pampering.

Sgt Stripes loves to work with Mr. Google. He has found some trivia to share with your human.

  • Cats are digitigrade. We can walk on our toes.
  • The average weight for a house cat is 6-10 pounds (2.7-4.5 kg). And we average 20-28 inches (50.8-71.1 cm) long. Mancats are generally bigger than the ladies.
  • We can bristle (fluff up) because of tiny erector muscles at the base of our hair follicles. It helps us look bigger when we want to frighten someone. (We have learned that this behavior does not work with human toddlers.)

Moment of Meow

  • We can twist our bodies around because our vertebrae (our backbone) are held together by muscles. Humans have ligaments between theirs which are nowhere near as flexible. That’s why we can stretch and contract our backs. And arch them up to scare off intruders.
  • We don’t have any crushing teeth (like molars in humans). We cut up our food when we eat it, rather than chewing it.
  • Our eyes are extra sensitive to light because of something called guanine. It coats our eyes and lets us see in extremely low light. It’s also what makes our eyes glow.

Why do cats' eyes glow in the dark? | Optimax

  • There are over 100 different cat breeds.
  • We have the largest eyes, in relation to our body size, of any mammal. This lets us see approximately 280 degrees. (A full circle is 360 degrees.) That’s why it’s so hard to sneak up on us. (We also have excellent hearing.)
  • The average lifespan of an indoor cat is 15 years, but only 5 years for an outdoor cat. The oldest cat known lived 36 years.

Why Do Cats Land on Their Feet? | Purina® Canada

  • A cat can jump 5 times as high as its tail.
  • Cats respond more quickly to names that end in the “ee” sound. (We do not know who studied this or really believe it. We do not respond to anything we do not want to respond to.)
  • Cats have over 100 different vocalization sounds while dogs have approximately a dozen. We are obviously more articulate.

  • We purr at the same frequency as an idling diesel engine (approximately 26 cycles per second). We are much quieter.
  • We sleep more than any other mammal – an average of 16 hours per day. (Humans just aren’t that interesting.)
  • A cat’s nose pad is ridged in a unique pattern, like a human fingerprint.

Cats in Japanese Culture and History | KCP International

Cats have been living with humans for thousands of years. There’s some disagreement whether we first joined the hunter-gatherers as companions or waited until humans settled in one place and moved in as pest control. In either case, we are extremely popular these days. These countries have the most cats:

  1. United States – 76.5 million
  2. China – 53 million
  3. Russia – 12.75 million
  4. Brazil – 12.5 million
  5. France – 9.5 million
  6. Italy 9.5 million
  7. United Kingdom – 7.75 million
  8. Germany – 7.75 million (we know it’s a tie with the UK; the computer won’t let us have 2 #7s)
  9. Ukraine – 7.5 million
  10. Japan – 7.25 million

How Cats Tamed Us | The New Yorker

We don’t know who counted the cats. We’ve never taken part in a census. But that’s a lot of cats.

In Istanbul, Cats Are Sacred - Here Are Photos of the City's Cutest Stray Cats

Finally, wanted to give a meow-out to a few places that really love cats:

  • Mykonos Isle, Greece – The island is famous for it’s cats, and every street in the main town of Chora has its own kitty mascot.
  • Rome, Italy – The Torre Argentina Cat Sanctuary has almost 300 cats living among the temple ruins.
  • Istanbul, Turkey – The Stray Cat Hostel is a cat-themed hostel where you can stay free if you add to the artwork. Istanbul is known as a haven for stray cats.
  • Key West, Florida – Ernest Hemingway’s home (now a museum) is home to more than 40 polydactyl cats.
  • Moscow, Russia – home to the Moscow Cat Theater and Cat Temple where you can watch cats perform or visit the 200 cats who live in the temple.

We hope you appreciate all the hard work Sgt Stripes put into his research. And hope you and your human enjoy Global Cat Day!

Pictures courtesy of Google Images.

19

Cat Council: Dealing with Toddler Trauma

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Snoops: I call this meeting of the Cat Council to order. We need to discuss what’s happening in our home.

Kommando: Should we invite the new cats? They’ve been living with the invaders.

Snoops: Nah. They’re still in quarantine. Let’s deal with one problem at a time.

Sgt Stripes: I’m excited. You ladies usually ignore me.

Snoops:  We need all the brain power we can muster. This is huge.

Sgt Stripes: I did some research on the invaders. I love Mr. Google.

Kommando: Did it say anything about why they sound like howler monkeys?

Sgt Stripes: Not that I remember.

Snoops: It’s kinda true. They get started crying and it just gets really loud.

Sgt Stripes: I have noticed that. I can hear them through the floor. And the doors.

Kommando: We can even hear them in the basement.

Snoops: I wonder if they have “off” buttons?

Kommando: We should ask their Mom. Maybe she just needs to find it.

Snoops: Maybe she can find the self-cleaning button too.

Kommando: Yeah. They’re even messier than you when they eat.

Snoops: I’m not messy.

Kommando: You’re the reason we have mats under our bowls.

Snoops: I can’t help it that I have a more delicate face and don’t want it to get full of food.

Kommando: Whatever. At least you don’t leave a trail. I keep crunching crumbs under my paws.

Snoops: They don’t ever leave good stuff either. There’s never any chicken or fish laying around.

Sgt Stripes: They have kinda smelly milk too.

Snoops: I heard it’s called “oat” milk.

Kommando: What kind of cow is an “oat”?

Snoops: I don’t think it’s a cow. It smells weird.

Sgt Stripes: Nothing at all like cat milk.

Kommando: They have stuff in most of our lounging spots too. It’s really hard to get a good spot on the table anymore.

Snoops: Yeah. And there’s stuff on the sofa and chairs too.

Sgt Stripes: Too bad you guys don’t come upstairs. I lost my own bedroom, but they have a couple of beds I use regularly. Besides, when Mom cleaned the spare room, she found a huge comfy cat bed.

Snoops: I think that was mine!

Sgt Stripes: Hmm. Key word is “was”.

Snoops: Don’t give me another reason to dislike you.

Kommando: On the bright side, they’re not as grabby as I thought they might be.

Snoops: That’s true. The bigger one has petted me a couple of times, but that’s it

Sgt Stripes: I try to avoid them. But they don’t chase me, and their Mom pets me. So it’s OK.

Snoops: Yeah. I agree. Not great. But OK.

Kommando: Did Mr. Google tell you anything interesting about them?

Sgt Stripes: I learned a few interesting things:

  • Toddlers don’t really understand that they can hurt us. They don’t know that pulling our tails, or picking us up wrong, or throwing things at us can hurt us.
  • Adult humans shouldn’t leave their toddlers alone with us. They need to teach them the right way to treat us.
  • The big humans should make sure that we don’t get too stressed. If they pay attention, they can remove us before we get into a fight with the toddler.
  • There should always be a safe space for us to go and hide.

Snoops: That stuff all sounds good. Because if someone pulls my tail, I am not going to be a happy cat. and someone is going to know it.

Kommando: I think we should Mom for a new kitty condo to hide in. It seems like the least she could do for us.

Snoops: That’s an excellent idea.

Sgt Stripes: And some shelves to hide on.

Snoops: So we’re all agreed. Mom need to make this up to us.

Agreement all around.

31

October: Black Cat Season

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Hi everyone, it’s Onyx. I haven’t quite settled into my new home completely, so I don’t have any new selfies. But I didn’t want to miss the opportunity to remind everyone that October is Black Cat Awareness Month. They created this month to increase adoption of black cats since we are less likely to be adopted than kitties with other coloring. I’m here to assure you that black cats are not unlucky or evil.

Why Are Black Cats Associated with Halloween? | Litter-Robot

In fact, here are some good reasons to adopt a black cat:

  •  Black fur is less noticeable – generally speaking, it is harder to see black fur on most clothes than lighter colored fur. (Especially from a distance.)
  • You can help keep them safe on Halloween – Halloween is dangerous for black cats. If you adopt one, you are keeping them safe from pranksters.

15 Photos Of Black Cat Magic: Big Voids, Smol Voids, Liquid Voids, And Mystical Voids - I Can Has Cheezburger?

  • Some people consider us good luck – Folks in Japan, Scotland, Ireland, Italy, and Latvia all consider black kitties to be lucky.
  • We look amazing in pictures – Apparently some people think that black cats don’t look good in selfies. They just don’t know how to use their cameras. We are incredibly photogenic and can make you look good too.

Mini panther or pedigree cat? Read all about the Bombay here | Petrebels

I’ve found some pretty interesting facts about black cats:

  • The only all-black cat is the Bombay cat. However, there are 22 recognized breeds that can have solid black coloring. Additionally, some mixed breeds appear black. The Bombay was developed by crossing Sable Burmese with black American Shorthairs in an attempt to create the look of a miniature panther. They even have black noses and paw pads. And copper-colored eyes.
  • Lonely ladies have taken in stray cats through the ages. Black cats can remain hidden in dark places, so people thought they were good companions for witches. As witch hunts became more popular, black cats suffered because of this belief.

When the sun catches her fur she is no longer a black cat. : r/cats

  • Some kitties look all black until they bask in the sun. Then they get faint stripes because they are really tabbies in disguise. The sun breaks down the pigment in their fur. Similarly, black fur can get bleached in the sun, resulting in rusty red tips.
  • A truly onyx-colored cat produces a lot of melanin. Melanin makes their fur black and will often make their eyes a beautiful shade of amber. They are truly stunning.

Boating black cat | Cats, Black cat, Adventure cat

  • The Egyptian goddess Bastet had the head of a black cat. All cats were considered lucky in ancient Egypt.
  • Black cats were popular with sailors, fishermen, and fishwives. They believed that black cats brought the ships luck and would bring the sailors and fishermen home safely. They kept black cats on board and in their homes.

Don't be a scaredy-cat! Celebrate National Black Cat Day! | KHGI

  • Black cats appear to be more resistant to some diseases. They appear to have stronger immune systems than other cats. Research has shown that they are more resistant to diseases like feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV).
  • There was a homeless black cat in Rome who was taken in by Maria Assunta. When she died, she left him 10 million euros. That’s a lucky cat!

Black Cat Breeds: 11 Breeds With Gorgeous Dark Coats

  • Most black cats are male. The gene responsible for coat color is located on the X chromosome. Females need two copies of the gene to get a black coat, while males only need one. As a result, 75% of black cats are male.
  • Humans who live with black cats report that they are more likely to have gentle personalities. They don’t seem to have as many extremely personality traits. They are generally intelligent and laid-back.
  • Japan has an all-black cat cafe in Himeji. Called Cafe Nekobiyaka, it has about a dozen adoptable black cats at any given time. Once one is adopted, another black cat takes its place. They have adopted out over 300 black cats.

40 Wholesome Pics Of Black Cats To Show They Have Nothing To Do With Bad Luck | Bored Panda

So if you’re looking for a new companion, I hope you will consider a black kitty.

11

A Brief Break in the Action: Cat Jokes

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Pin on Eyes Have It***!

As we told you last week, things are a little crazy around here right now. Our human sister has moved back home with her two little humans. A few days later, she came back with her two cats. So we have five new house members! We are not pleased, but we are adapting.
Mom is really tired. So we decided to give her a break this week and find some jokes to post. That way she won’t have to think. (She says her brain is full right now.)
Smart Cat ! - 9GAG
First, some quotations:
  1. Thousands of years ago, cats were worshipped as gods. Cats have never forgotten this. – Anon
  2. There are many intelligent species in the universe. They are all owned by cats. – Anon
  3. Dogs believe they are human. Cats believe they are God. – Anon
  4. I have studied many philosophers and many cats. The wisdom of cats is infinitely superior. – Hippolyte Taine
  5. Dogs come when they’re called; cats take a message and get back to you later. – Mary Bly
  6. Cats are smarter than dogs. You can’t get eight cats to pull a sled through snow. – Jeff Valdez

25 Pictures of Spoiled Cats that Probably Live Better than We Do! Part II - We Love Cats and Kittens

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

Canary? | Cheezburger cat, Funny cats, Funny cat memes

2 cats were looking into a green canary’s cage. The first cat said to the second cat, “That’s not a canary. It’s green!”

The second cat said, “I don’t know, maybe it’s not ripe yet!”

7 Hilarious Cat TikTok Accounts to Make You Laugh | Pawlicy Advisor

What do you get if you cross…

A cat with a canary? – Shredded tweet!
A cat and a gorilla? – An animal that puts you out at night!
A cat with a bottle of vinegar? – A sourpuss!
A cat with a parrot? – A carrot!
A cat with a tree? – A cat-a-log!
A cat with Father Christmas? – Santa Claws!
A cat and a donkey? – A Mewl.

Premium Photo | Singing cats disco of 80s concert of 90s karaoke with kittens abstract generative ai illustration

What is a cat’s…

Favorite song? Three Blind Mice.
Favorite color? Purrrrrrrple!
Favorite subject in school? HISStory.
Favorite magazine? Good Mousekeeping.
Favorite movie? “The Sound of Mewsic.”
Favorite car? The Catillac.
Favorite party game? Mews-ical chairs!
Favorite TV show? The evening mews!

12 Cats Who Are Serious About Reading | Book memes, Book humor, Funny cat memes
Hope you enjoyed what we found! Purrs, Snoops, Kommando Kitty and Sgt Stripes.
Pictures courtesy of Google Images
20

OMC!! Our World is Upside-Down

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Sgt Stripes here. I’m helping Mom type the post, and I am not a happy cat. We’ve been invaded. And apparently it’s of indefinite duration. I’m a very chill dude, and most things don’t bother me. (Although I do wish the lady cats liked me more.) But my furs are totally ruffled.

The blonde woman is here with her two screaming children. And they’re staying in MY room. And they keep bringing more stuff. Pretty soon there won’t be room for me. Of course, I don’t really want to be in there with them anyway. I’m trying to decide whether I should take up residence in Mom’s room (that’s where my cat tree is) or my human brother’s room (it has the best cat TV).

It’s me, Snoops. For once, the man-cat is right. We’ve been overrun. It appears that our human sister is back for a while. And she brought the small humans with her. We were really mad at her when she left, but at least she’s family. The two little ones are just a problem.

They run around the house and make a lot of noise. And they want to TOUCH us. We are very selective about who we let touch us. And the list does not include anyone under four feet tall. And it does not include anyone who screams or cries. (We make an exception when Mom cries – we just don’t let her rub her face in our fur.)

Kommando Kitty here. And they keep trying to eat our kibble. NO ONE is allowed to touch our kibble. Snoops takes care of any mouse who tries. And the big humans yell like it’s going to hurt the kid. We have excellent kibble, and we do not want to share it with a couple of little humans who don’t even understand the proper way to bathe.

Speaking of which – all humans smell weird, but little humans smell extra weird. Apparently they haven’t been litter-trained. So they have that on top of the weird regular human smell. And they eat funny stuff too. Nothing good to share with us cats. I’m really not seeing a lot of positives in the current situation.

Snoops again. And it may get worse. I overheard our human sister saying that she misses “her” kitties. I think she’s referring to the pests who relegated us upstairs a couple of years ago. I certainly hope that she’s not planning on having them visit again.

Sgt Stripes – More lady cats? That would be scary. Although, maybe they would be nicer to me. It would be better than having any more small humans running around.

20

Sgt Stripes: One Year and Going Strong

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Hi, everyone! It’s me, Sgt Stripes. Today’s a big day. It’s my first Gotcha Day. It’s been exactly one year since I traded in my man-parts for a new home. (Technically, it wasn’t a trade. But Mom wouldn’t let me move into the house until I was neutered. Something about not wanting me to mark my territory.) I don’t really understand it. I mean the whole house is mine, right?

Anyway, it’s kinda hard to believe it’s been a whole year. I thought the lady cats would have adapted to me by now. I guess I shouldn’t have chased Kommando so hard that first time. Snoops still hasn’t forgiven me. She hisses whenever she sees me. Sheesh. Talk about holding a grudge. I usually have to take to the high ground to make sure I see her before she sees me.

I miss lying in the sun. But I don’t miss the snow and rain. It is so nice to have dry fur all the time. And I have a couple of really nice window seats. I can say good-bye to Mom when she leaves in the morning. (It’s pretty cool – If I meow when she leaves, she feels badly about leaving me.)

And I live snuggling! The place if full of blankets and quilts and soft spots to nap. It’s pretty much kitty nirvana around here.

I haven’t adapted to wet food. Mom’s tried every flavor she can find. But I really like kibble and treats. (Except fish flavored. I don’t like fish.) I definitely don’t see the appeal of human food. The stuff they’ve given me has been really disgusting. There isn’t much wildlife to catch. I’ve only seen a few mice. No chipmunks or voles. I love my water fountain. It is so much better than drinking out of puddles. And it’s never-ending. Even in the heat.

I have lots of toys too. I have laser pointers and little stuffed mice. But Mom is kind of particular. She has a couple of stuffed hedgehogs that look a LOT like my toys, but she says those are hers. She has a couple of other stuffed animals that are off limits too. It’s really not fair. But she doesn’t really touch my toys, so I guess she thinks it’s fair. Like she never touches my red dot or green dots. And she shares the computer.

I like to jump and climb. There’s an armoire that I can jump on so I’m even taller than my human brother. I use it to survey my domain. And I just discovered the highest place upstairs. There’s a partial wall in the bathroom that goes almost all the way up to the ceiling. (I have to crouch down when I’m up there, it’s so close.) It’s between the bathtub and the human litter box. Some rubber ducks live up there. The other morning, I discovered that I can push the ducks off and they land on Mom while she’s using the human litter box. It was so much fun! She was not amused.

I’m hoping I’m going to get full run of the house soon. I didn’t get to see the Christmas tree last year. I got a little one of my own. Mom wasn’t really excited when I tried to eat it. I can’t wait to see the real thing. I think I’d really like the presents too. And the windows downstairs are bigger too. Hopefully, by next year, I’ll have lots of new adventures to tell you about.   

14

Cats and the Weather

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We’ve been reading all your blogs and noticed that some of you have been having really bad weather this summer. We live in Michigan, and, truthfully, it’s been very pleasant. Cooler than usual and not very humid. Excellent lounging weather. Not quite enough sun for superior sun puddles, but no extreme heat or excessive storms.

Scared Cat Meme - Imgflip

Until a couple of days ago. It got really hot and humid. Then we got a HUGE thunderstorm. It woke everyone up and went on almost all night. The next day was really hot. Then another night-time storm. It was really windy, and we lost power for that night and most of the next day. It was really scary hearing all that wind and thunder. We are please to report that things are pretty much back to normal. (Although the humans did nothing to compensate us for the trauma we went through.)

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

But it did make us wonder. Why don’t humans pay any attention to us cats when it comes to weather? After all, we are much more attuned to nature than they are. If they would just listen…

Why do cats like to carry socks around? - Quora

Of course, humans do have some pretty silly superstitions about cats and the weather:

  • Some people thought that cats carried storm magic in their tails. They had to keep the cats happy so they wouldn’t swish their tails and release a storm.
  • If a cat plays with your sock, a bad storm is coming.
  • If a human is mean to a cat, there will be rain at that person’s funeral.
  • You can end a drought by baptizing a cat in mineral water. (Do NOT try this.)
  • A cat’s tail always points in the direction of the wind.
  • If a cat sneezes, it’s going to rain.

The scent of a feline | Burgess Pet Care

On the other paw, we cats generally do know when bad weather is coming. It appears that we can sense a change in atmospheric pressure right before a storm arrives. We can also use our superior noses to smell rain and feel the humidity change before it rains. There are a couple of things that we routinely do before the weather changes:

Here's Why Cats Groom Themselves

Licking – If we seem to be taking an extra-long bath, rain may be coming. Keeping our fur wet helps cut down on the static electricity it collects due to the change in humidity. We are a lot more comfortable without the extra static. (The humans will be too if they touch us.)

Why Some Cats Like Earwax - Petswelcome.com

Ear Grooming – If we’re being extra careful to clean behind our ears, it may mean a storm is coming. We can feel the change in atmospheric pressure in our ears, and the licking helps counteract the pressure change.

How to Stop the Cat from Yowling or Excessively Meowing. (Blog #93) - NutriSource Pet Foods

Sudden Change in Behavior – Sometimes, we just act a little “different” because we can sense the weather changing:

  • We get a little grumpy for “no” reason
  • We get more vocal (some cats yowl when a storm is getting close)
  • Social cats hide out (they don’t want to be around the noise of the storm)
  • Some indoor kitties try to get out when they sense a storm (looking for a safe place)
  • A calm kitty may suddenly have a burst of “zoomies”

(Of course, sometimes we just act a little “different” because we want to act a little different.)

catloaf - Wiktionary, the free dictionary

Humans have documented all of the following behaviors in their furry friends:

  • Cats becoming agitated and hissing at their human prior to an earthquake or a bad storm
  • Cats becoming very “frisky” before a thunderstorm
  • Cats licking their fur against the grain prior to hail
  • Cats sleeping with all four paws tucked underneath before cold weather
  • Cats sniffing the air obsessively before rain or snow
  • Cats listening obsessively before rain or heavy wind

I think he liked that we put his bed in front of the fireplace : r/WhatsWrongWithYourCat

And finally, people feel pretty strongly that if a cat is sleeping with their back to the fire, expect cold weather, snow or a storm.

Bottom line – We cats know what’s going on. We may just choose to not share it with the humans.

Pictures courtesy of Google Images.

18

Cat Forum: Cats and Stress

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Greetings fellow felines. It’s me, Sgt Stripes. The lady cats say that I am causing them stress. I don’t mean to; I just want to have a happy home. I thought that maybe I would do some research to help them (I love Mr Google). Here’s what I found.

How to Introduce a Puppy to a Cat | Argos Pet Insurance

The Most Common Causes of Stress

  • Living with other cats – Hmm. wasn’t really expecting this to be the number one answer. Apparently we don’t naturally live with other cats. Guess we all like to have our own way.
  • Strange cats coming into your home. That’s what they say I did. But it’s not true – Mom invited me. Besides, I’m not strange.
  • Putting our stuff in the wrong place or not taking care of it. We like our litter boxes clean and our food and beds in quiet areas. That’s just common sense, don’t you think? And most of us prefer not to share that stuff.
  • Changing houses. More common sense. Who wants to adapt to a new space? (Unless the old one was icky, like the shelter.)
  • Renovating or redecorating the house. A bunch of noise and confusion. And kitties really don’t like change.

Petting May Stress Some Cats Out | Live Science

  • New animals in the house. It’s not just other cats that can make us nervous. Dogs can do it too. Especially if it’s an energetic, noisy puppy.
  • Unsuitable handling. Not all of us like to be petted or fussed over. Some of us will paw back or bite a little. Those are the kitties who know how to maintain their boundaries. There are others who suffer in silence and get stressed out about it.
  • A new baby. Not a surprise. They’re loud and smelly. And take away time from us.
  • Guests visiting. Some of us like people, and some of us do not. And some humans are loud and obnoxious. (Just a personal observation.)
  • Fireworks. Is it even necessary to explain this one? They have loud, scary noises and bright lights. They are awful from a feline perspective.

Feeling stressed? - Meme Generator

How should you let your human know if you are stressed? Different cats handle it differently. Sometimes it’s obvious, and sometimes your human needs to pay attention (which they should be doing anyway.)

Useful Guide to Feeding Cats and Kittens - Parkside Vets

Physical Symptoms of Stress

  • Change in eating habits. We kitties love our food, but we are also generally creatures of habit. Any obvious changes should be looked at closely. For example, we shouldn’t be eating non-food items like plastic or wool (it’s called pica). If we started eating a lot more or a lot less, it might be due to stress.

Quotes About Cat Litter. QuotesGram

  • Change in toilet habits. Stress can cause diarrhea and/or vomiting. It can also be responsible for  us not using the little box as often as we once did. Severe stress can even lead to cystitis, an inflammation of the bladder that causes painful, bloody urination.
  • Changes in the way we look. If you notice bald patches or sores due to over-grooming, the cause is likely to be stress. A generally less-spiffy looking coat may be the result of the other signs of stress.
  • Stress-induced “cat flu”. We might get a runny nose and eyes for no apparent reason if we are under stress. Stress can also make it tougher for us to deal with chronic illness or recover from being sick.

Aggression in Cats - Causes and Solutions - Cat Chat

Behavioral Symptoms of Stress

  • If you notice a kitty who is just not acting like themselves, it may be due to stress. Look for changes in litter box use, spraying/defecating outside the litter box, or excessive scratching.
  • Kitties who become aggressive may be stressed out. They might attack their human or other animals in the house. They may also meow excessively. (Not sure how you tell in those kitties who already talk constantly.
  • A change in a kitty’s interaction with their human is also important. Either wanting a lot more attention or avoiding the humans can be a sign of stress.
  • A general lack of interest is a warning sign. Some kitties stop wanting to play, some don’t want to come inside anymore (or go outside).
  • A kitty who paces around meowing is generally a stressed kitty. (Unless it is a kitty who is trying to get their human to FINALLY feed them.)

10 Signs Your Cat Might Be Stressed | PetMD

The Look of a Stressed Cat

An alert human should be able to see the signs of a really stressed cat fairly easily:

  • Crouches and looks tense when not hunting
  • Ears rotate backwards and flatten
  • Wide eyes with dilated pupils
  • Stares at the floor with a fixed expression
  • Rapid, frequent grooming
  • Frequent head shaking
  • Twitching skin on the back
  • Exaggerated swallowing

Therapist Cat | Funny animal memes, Funny animal photos, Funny animal pictures

What Should You Do if You are Really Stressed?

Humans say that the first step is a trip to the vet. That’s particularly important if there are problems with eating or using the litter box. They even have kitty therapists to help with behavioral change. Of course, sometimes the humans have to change things like moving our food station or litter box.

Why Is My Cat Sniffing Everything All Of A Sudden? - Cats.com

I don’t think the ladies downstairs are quite at that level of stress. Mom tried stress-reducing treats. Not really sure how they would have worked. They tasted so nasty none of us would eat them. Now she’s going to try a pheromone diffuser. Guess it’s supposed to make us think of our cat moms and help us relax.

Why Do Cats Like Being Up High? - Catster

Other possibilities for less-severe stress is taking our minds off whatever is causing it. Some humans experts recommend food puzzles to distract us, more vertical space, more scratching posts, and more safe outdoor access. If we’re thinking about something else, we won’t be thinking about being stressed out. It might work: Snoops doesn’t seem stressed out when she’s hunting mice.

Hope the ladies read this and feel better.

Pictures courtesy of Google Images. (Except us.)

14

Forget the Dog Days; It’s Time for the Cat Nights

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It seems like whenever humans talk about the heat this time of year, someone brings up the “Dog Days of Summer.” Some folks thought they were called that because all dogs want to do this time of year is lay around avoiding the heat. The official Dog Days are July 3 – August 11, so they just ended. In the Northern Hemisphere, they generally coincide with the hottest days of the year.

Canis Major | StarDate Online

The Dog Days actually refer to Sirius, the Dog Star. Sirius is part of the constellation Canis Major (the Greater Dog). It is the brightest star visible from any part of Earth. In the summer, it rises and sets with the Sun. On July 23, it actually rises and sets in conjunction with the Sun.

Roman Cats Torre Argentina Cat Santuary the oldest in Rome

Because it is so bright, the ancient Romans believed that it actually gave off heat, adding to the Sun’s warmth. It was their explanation for why that part of the year was so excessively hot. (In reality, it is too far away to provide any warmth.) The Dog Days of Summer refers to the 20 days before and the 20 days after the alignment of Sirius with the sun.

Why Are Black Cats Associated with Halloween? – Furtropolis

But enough about dogs, their days have ended for this year. Let’s move on to something a little more interesting. We are only a few days away from the beginning of Cat Nights. There is an old Irish legend that witches could turn themselves into cats. If they did it eight times, all was well. But a witch tried it a ninth time on August 17 and couldn’t turn back. She was permanently turned into a cat. This legend was the beginning of the belief that cats have nine lives. People also noticed that cats are particularly “yeowly” this time of year. They attributed it to wanting to return to witch form. More likely it has to do with the hot weather.

Why Is My Cat Yowling At Night? Causes & How To Stop Caterwauling

There’s even a poem associated with it:

Cat Nights

By old Irish lore
on the 17th of August
more cats are among us
than ever before.

It is said that witches
can turn into a cat.
But no more than eight switches
as a matter of fact.

On the ninth switch
they cannot regain
their life as a witch.
A cat they must remain.

So if in mid August
you should hear the cats yowl
amongst sounds of the locust
when cats are on the prowl

Then you will know
as lore was told over time
that cats will show
lives as many as nine.

By V. Neumann

15 Orange Cat Breeds You Should Know – PureWow

And let’s not forget that it’s also the time of year for Leo cats. Leo the lion is the zodiac sign that most closely resembles the domestic cat. Leos are born between July 23 and August 22 and are ruled by the sun. Their element is fire, their metal is gold, and their colors are orange and gold. They are born rulers. (Mom says she’s a Leo, but we don’t believe her. There is nothing orange about her.)

Regal Cat Names – [140+ Elegant Ideas!] - Find Cat Names

Leo cats are regal. They are full of confidence, and tend to enter a room with a royal bearing. They are loyal to their subjects and love their humans. As long as they are treated as royalty, all will be well in the kingdom.

Grooming Your Cat | Cat Care | Cats | Guide | Omlet UK

They enjoy the finer things in life and prefer to have things their way. They love their humans, and are usually confident around visitors. They are loving family members. But they have a tendency to not be very patient. They love to be groomed and hate being laughed at. They have an inner jungle cat that needs a lot of play time.

How To Keep Your Cat Warm This Winter | Lily's Luxury Retreat

As a fire sign, Leos like to be warm. Doesn’t matter if it’s a fireplace, sun puddle or warm blanket. They are generally not great at sharing. (After all, they are royalty.) They like to be in charge of whatever is going on.

As you can see, the beginning of summer may have belonged to the dogs, but we are now in cat season.

Pictures courtesy of Google Images.