Category Archives: trivia

21

Angel Katt: Tortie Extraordinaire

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Hello everyone. It’s me, Angel. You might remember me from my political reporting. We’ll be having the final debate and voting in a couple of weeks. In the meantime, I wanted to let you know a little bit more about me.

As you can see from my pictures, I am a dilute tortoiseshell. I actually look a lot like my sister Gypsy, except she has some white thrown in. It’s interesting that the two of us ended up together. Cat used to get us confused before we moved in.

I think I got kind of a bad reputation after we moved in. Gypsy and I were in the same room for the first few months. Gypsy got really skinny, and everyone said it was because I was eating her food. I did eat more than her, but she was really neurotic and would get too stressed out to eat. No one believed me until it happened again when they opened up the whole house to us cats.

And Sgt Stripes has telling everyone that Snoops and I are mean to him, hissing all the time. We do hiss at him, but sometimes he deserves it. He’s younger than the rest of us and a lot more energetic.The other day, he started chasing me, so Snoops chased him. I don’t think he understands that we think he’s attacking.

Anyway, enough about me. I thought that you might be interested in learning more about us torties. First thing is that regular tortoiseshell cats are black and orange. When the color gene mutates, it turns the orange more yellowish and the black more bluish. The humans here say that I am grey and tan. Whatever. I’m beautiful.

Dilute tortoiseshell cats are almost always female. The color is carried on the X (female) chromosome. To get the two colors, the cat needs to have the tortie color combination on both chromosomes. And a cat with XX chromosomes is a female. A male tortie has the two X chromosomes in addition to a Y chromosome. A male tortie is unable to reproduce and may have other health issues.

Being a tortie means having a certain coat coloration. It is not related to the breed of cat or coat length. Some of the most common breeds which can have dilute tortoiseshell coloring are the American Shorthair, Cornish Rex, and Maine Coon. On hairless cats like the Sphynx, the coloration is on the skin.

Dilute torties can demonstrate the same fortitude as their full-color relatives. Some humans think that torties have a bad attitude. Since torties are mainly female, it may be due to female hormones. Sometimes we’re even called aggressive. Personally, I think it’s just because humans need to accept our obvious superiority and it’s annoying when they don’t.

Tortoiseshell cats are not calico cats. I would think this one is obvious. Calicos have three colors, and we have two colors. Not really sure why the humans are confused about this. We are all gorgeous.

We have a reputation for being lucky. In Ireland and Scotland, it is good luck to have a male tortoiseshell cat enter your house. In Japan, it is believed that we can ward off storms, shipwrecks, and ghosts. (What do you think we’re doing when we stare intently at nothing?)  Some people call us “money cats” because we bring good luck and wealth. If you dream about us, you will be lucky in love.

I hope you have enjoyed reading about tortoiseshell cats. I will be back shortly with the election news.

34

Happy New Year!

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Greetings fellow felines. We hope you are all well. Our humans are ALL sick (some kind of really nasty virus). We had to beg to get any kind of post out today. Mom is our typist, so she made us pick an easy topic. We wanted to talk about our plans for the new year, but she said we couldn’t do anything with the little humans who have moved in.

When Mom was little, she would spend New Year’s Eve with her grandma from Scotland. Grandma had some strongly held opinions about what needed to be done to bring luck in the new year. There was a lot of cleaning and candle-burning to get rid of the bad luck from the previous year. We decided to see if we could find any countries that linked luck to kitties. Here’s what we found:

England

If a black cat crosses your path from left to right, it’s good luck. If a black cat crosses your path from right to left (or walks away from you), it’s bad luck. If a woman receives a black cat on her wedding day, the marriage will be prosperous. Newlyweds with a black cat will have a loving, happy marriage. However, if an unmarried woman steps on a cat’s tail, she will not get married that year.

Why is My Cat Constantly Sneezing? | Heart + Paw

France

In the south of France feeding black cats and treating them well will bring good luck. The rest of the country considers them unlucky. If you cross a stream with a cat in your arms, it is an omen of death for a loved one. If a cat sneezes near a bride on her wedding day, it will be a loving and prosperous marriage.

15 Grey Cat Breeds - Most Popular Gray Cats

India

In the ancient Hindu religion, cats were the symbol of childbirth and fertility. Grey cats are believed to be especially lucky. Black cats are lucky, and you should welcome them into your home. If a cat meows as a person leaves the house, it is an omen of danger for that person. If a cat washes its ear three times, an unexpected guest is coming. If you are setting out on an adventure and see a cat on your left side, you will have good luck. If a cat follows you out of your house, you can expect financial gain in the near future.

Why Do Cats Hate Water? 5 Reasons & Tips for Bath Time

Indonesia

If you pour water over a cat, it will rain.

Premium AI Image | Black cat walking on the street at night

Ireland

There is a belief that kittens born in May are particularly troublesome; they may even bring snakes into the house. Killing a cat can bring you 17 years of bad luck. If you see a black cat cross your path in the moonlight, it is a omen of an epidemic-related death.

How to Incorporate Your Cat in Your Wedding – CatGenie

Italy

If you hear an Italian cat sneeze, it’s good luck. But if it sneezes three times, you’ll get a cold.  If a bride hears a cat sneeze on her wedding day, she will have a good marriage. However, black cats are considered bad luck in parts of Italy.

cat washing face | kuro | Flickr

Japan

In Japan, cats are considered lucky. In particular, black cats are lucky. Owning a black cat increases your chances of romantic success. Black cats also guard homes against evil. An additional belief is that if a cat grooms its face, you will have unexpected visitors. (No word on whether that’s lucky or not.)

Speaking "Cat" - Morris Animal Inn

Netherlands

The Dutch believe that cats are gossips. If you have a private conversation with a cat in the room, they will tell all of your secrets. There is no record of how far they will spread the news.

Fun Facts About Russian Blue Cats | ASPCA® Pet Health Insurance

Russia. 

Russians consider Russian Blue cats to be particularly lucky. When you enter a new home, you should let the cat go in first. If the cat doesn’t want to enter, it’s a sign of bad luck. Black cats are considered bad luck. If a black cat crosses your path, move to the other side of the street or spit over your shoulder three times to ward off evil spirits.

Black Cat With Fangs Looks Just Like Dracula - ABC News

Southern Europe

If a cat jumps across a person’s grave, they will live again as a vampire.

Fluffy white cat, large, blue eyes, walking down road towards camera

United States

If a cat sits on someone’s grave, their soul is possessed by the Devil. However, if two cats are fighting over a grave, an angel and demon are fighting over the soul. If you see a white cat on the road during the day, or dream of one, it’s good luck. But seeing a white cat at night is unlucky. If you see a one-eyed cat, spit on your thumb and palm it in your hand. If you make a wish, it will come true. If a Pennsylvania Dutch woman wants to get married, she should feed a cat from her shoe.

We wish you nothing but good luck in the coming year!

Happy New Year Cat Images - Free Download on Freepik

Pictures courtesy of Google Images.

24

Kommando Kitty: Proud to be Piebald

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Greetings. Kommando Kitty here. It seems like Sgt Stripes has been running the blog lately. First he took over the upstairs, now he’s getting pushy on here. Mom said I could have a week to talk about whatever I wanted to. At first, I thought about just running a bunch of pictures to show everyone how cute I am. But you guys already know that. Then I was going to talk about how stressed out I am with our new living arrangements. But you guys already know that too.

I’ve decided that I will talk a little bit about my most obvious trait: my gorgeous white-and-grey coat. Mom once said that I was colored like a type of cow, a Holstein-Friesian. I was really offended; she really hurt my feelings. Then I discovered that other people call us cow cats too. Or Moo Cats, which is even worse. (Some people think cows are cute; humans are weird.) Apparently, I am officially a piebald. Piebalds are white cats that have spots of any other color, even tabby. Or, technically, cats of other colors with white spots. Tuxedo cats are officially piebalds. Everyone thinks they’re elegant, so I guess that’s better than being a cow cat.

There’s an actual science associated with bicolor cats. It happens when a cat inherits a piece of a “white spotting gene.” The actual piece of the gene with the coding is called an allele. Alleles can be either dominate or recessive on the gene. If a kitty has two dominant white spotting alleles, they will be more than half white. If a kitty receives one dominant and one recessive white spotting alleles, they will have a more even mix of white and some darker color.

The coat patterns are divided into a scale:

  • Less than 40% white – low-grade
  • 40-60% white – medium-grade
  • More than 60% white – high-grade

That means that I’m a high-grade kitty. (But I already knew that.) The Cat Fanciers have a bicolor rating system: 1 has no white and 10 is all white. White spotting generally starts on the chest or belly, then moves to the front paws, sides, and finally to the legs and face.

There are several common patterns of piebald cats

Tuxedo – predominantly black with white tummy, chest, pay, and sometimes chin and/or nose

Cow – predominantly white with black spots on the torso

Van – predominantly white with black on the head and tail only

Mask-and-Mantle – black back, shoulders, and head; white underside

Cap-and Saddle –  predominantly white; black on the top of the head and on the lower back, near the tail

Locket – black with a small white patch on the chest or tummy

A few other random facts:

  • Cats that look like me are also called harlequins or magpies.
  • More of us are short-haired than long-haired for some reason.
  • Our coloring helps us hunt in areas that have patches of light and shadows
  • Because there are so many kitties with these types of markings, some humans think we’re “common” and want a more unusual-looking pet when they go to shelters.
  • We are generally mixed breeds which means that we will usually enjoy a long, healthy life

I couldn’t find any famous cats that are piebald who aren’t tuxedo cats, which was a little disappointing. But I still feel better knowing I have so many piebald buddies out there.

27

Fall Back and Get Ready for Nap Time

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Greetings fellow felines! This week is the end of Daylight Savings time here in the US. It’s the final sign that fall has fallen. If you’re like us, winter is the time for snuggling on electric blankets and hanging out on the humans. We thought we’d share some interesting stuff we found out about cats and sleep.

Cats sleep for about 2/3 of our lives – Young cats sleep about 16 hours each day, and older cats sleep up to 20 hours per day. Our main activity as wild cats was hunting which takes a LOT of energy. So we adapted to spend a lot of time storing up energy for the hunt and recovering from it.

Cats can snore – One of the previous cats here snored so loud, the humans could hear her across the room. Some breeds are more likely to snore (e.g., Persians, Himalayans), but a lot of times it just depends on the position we choose to sleep in. If our airway becomes partially blocked by our soft palate, we will snore. Generally, if we are snoring, we are really relaxed.

Cat experience REM sleep similarly to humans – REM stands for rapid eye movement, and it’s named that because of the way our eyes move behind our eyelids. It happens when we are in deep sleep. And it is a sign that we are dreaming. A lot of times our eyes and ears will twitch when we are in REM sleep. Studies have shown that we dream about 30-40% of the time we are asleep.

The weather can affect how much we sleep – Cats generally sleep more on wet, dreary days. Of course, there’s not much else to do when the weather is yucky.

Cats can go partially to sleep – We are far enough asleep to get rested, but alert enough to notice smells or sounds. When we’re in this state, we can wake up almost instantly to get away from danger. And of course, we are able to fall asleep easily in almost any circumstance. We can even sleep with our eyes open! (Or partially open.)

We sleep in a variety of positions:

The crescent – This is the most common position for kitties. You curl up on one side with your head bent towards your feet and your tail tucked in. It protects your tummy and keeps you warm. Because you feel safe, you can enjoy a nice, deep sleep. If we get too hot, we may relax a little and just sleep on our sides with our paws more relaxed.

Sheltered – Every cat loves a good box. Or drawer. Or nest of blankets or sweaters. We like sleeping in sheltered spaces because it keeps us safe from predators. Or toddlers.

Tummy Up – A cat who sleeps tummy up is a happy cat. You’re exposing your most vulnerable spots, so you trust your surroundings and are fully relaxed. Cats are more likely to sleep this way in the summer because it is a good way to cool down.

Loaf-Shape – We’ve all turned ourselves into a loaf at times. You’re upright with your paws and tail tucked it. It’s an excellent way to conserve heat in cold weather. It’s also good for protecting your vulnerable spots and being able to spring into action at a moment’s notice if there’s a threat.

Pretzel-Like – You know the position. You’re kinda  twisty with your paws going different ways. Cats do it when we’re relaxed. Your tummy is usually exposed and it’s hard to move quickly out of it. Humans think we’re super cute because they can’t bend that way.

Hiding our Face with Our Paws – We sleep like this to protect our eyes and nose. It also keeps out noise and light. It’s really comfortable. And we look really cute sleeping this way.

Sitting Up/Laying Flat – Yep. We can sleep in a sitting position. And laying flat on our stomachs. And pretty much any position in between. And we’re comfortable. Humans are very jealous of this trait.

Cuddle Puddle – A lot of like to sleep with fur siblings or humans. If we’re willing to sleep with someone, it’s a sign of deep trust and affection. Of course, sometimes, we sleep with others to stay warm.

Having said all of this, we are off to find a good spot to relax.

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.

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.

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.

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.

15

Cat Forum: The Eyes Have It

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Greetings fellow cats and human companions. As you are aware, cats come in a wide variety of sizes, shapes, and patterns. But one thing that we all have in common is our beautiful eyes. While our ability to see in the dark has been exaggerated, our eyes are pretty amazing.

Cat Eye Watering & Squinting | Cordova Vet

To start with, we have a third eyelid. It sits at the inside corner of the eye. It contains part of the tear gland and produces a lot of tear “film.” The third eyelid assists with keeping your eyes lubricated and healthy. For example, if you get a little dirt in your eye, the tear film helps tears move across the eye to get rid of the irritation. The third eyelid also helps protects your eyes when you’re moving through grass or hunting prey.

Ever Wonder Why Your Cat's Eyes Glow In Pictures?

We also have something called a “tapetum lucidum.” That’s a special reflective structure at the back of our eyes. It’s a little like having a mirror reflect light back onto the retina. If you’ve ever noticed that your eyes glow in certain light, that’s thanks to the tapetum lucidum. It also lets us see better in dim light than the humans can. However, even cats can’t see in total darkness.

Why Cats Have Vertical Pupils | Live Science

Our pupils contract into slits, rather than staying round like the humans. We have a greater variation in pupil size which allows us to see better in the dark. They probably give us better depth perception too.

Cat's eyes matter... - Imgflip

The humans say that we see fewer colors than they do. We have some sensors (cones) in our retinas that process color. But we don’t have as many or the same variety as the humans. We can’t tell red from green. But we can differentiate blues and yellows. Guess that’s why we do so much by smell.

Grey cat with blue eyes by Top Wallpapers

Cats have a variety of eye colors. The DNA we get from our moms and dads determines what color we end up with. The more melanin you get from your parents, the darker your fur will be. It doesn’t really affect eye color. That is determined by pigmentation and blue refraction which are both determined by genetics. Typically, purebred cats have the purest colors. (But not necessarily the prettiest eyes.)

The Cutest Cats With Heterochromia — And Why They Have It

There are a wide variety of color options (the breeds shown are examples, not an exhaustive list):

  • Yellow/Amber/Brown –  Usually found in Bengals, American Shorthairs, Manx, British Shorthairs, LaPerm, Bombay, Sphinx, and Norwegian Forest Cats. Brown eyes may contain a tinge of green, orange, or yellow or be flecked with color.
  • Hazel (green/golden yellow) – Found in wild cats in temperate climates, especially lynx and bobcats. They are also found in Abyssinian, Bengal, Singapura, Cornish Rex, and Scottish Fold cats.
  • Green – Found in the Egyptian Mau and Russian Blue. Some cats with green eyes have gold or yellow specks in them.
  • Aqua/Blue – A pure white cat will almost certainly have blue eyes. The dominant white gene (the epistatic gene) overrules all other color codes. These cats do not have melanin in their irises; the blue eyes are the result of light reflecting off the edge of the iris. Blue eyes are also found in a variety of other cats.
  • Orange/Copper – Found in Japanese Bobtail, Maine Coon, Persian, Cornish Rex, and Chartreux cats. The color seems to have been bred into existence by cat fanciers. Copper is the darkest color seen in cat eyes.
  • Blue/Pink/Lilac – These colors are seen in albino cats
  • Heterochromia – Eyes of two different colors. (Our human brother has this.) One eye is usually blue, while the other is green, hazel, yellow, or orange.
  • Dichromatic – One iris contains two colors. It’s because cats have varying amounts of melanin in various spots of the iris.

We talk with our eyes. Here are some ways that we communicate with our eyes:

  • “Smiling” Eyes – When we’re happy, sometimes we close our eyes half-way and relax.
  • Slow Blink – We think everyone knows that the slow blink is our way of saying “I love you.” Humans even try to initiate it with their cats. Hint: close your eyes slowly, then open them while looking at your human.
  • Staring – A long, steady stare without blinking is a power move. It is a way of establishing dominance.
  • Alert Eyes – When our eyes are wide with dilated pupils, we are ready to go. We’re either excited about something or have some extra energy to get rid of.
  • Wide Eyes – If our eyes are wide and our bodies are tense, something is wrong. We’re either startled or getting ready for a confrontation. Other signs are a fluffed tail and laid-back ears. If you’re petting us, we’re probably overstimulated and it’s time to stop.
  • Narrow Eyes – When our eyes narrow, we are not happy. And it’s almost time to fight.

Beautiful Eyes – Viral Cats Blog

The most important thing your human can do for your eyes is to stay alert. Pay attention to any changes in your eyes (e.g., squinting, consistent protrusion of the third eyelid, discharge, swelling), and take you to the vet if they notice anything. Otherwise, our eyes are pretty low-maintenance.

Pictures courtesy of Google Images.
12

Happy Take Your Tiger to Lunch Day!

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International Tiger Day: All The Tiger Subspecies—Extinct Or Endangered

Just kidding. But it is International Tiger Day. It was first celebrated in 2010 when the humans realized that there were only about 3,000 of these magnificent creatures still living in the wild. International Tiger Day was created to make more humans aware of this dire state of affairs and try to stop the potential extinction. The humans in charge are also trying to protect and expand tiger habitats around the world.

Tiger Fact Sheet | Blog | Nature | PBS

Here are some interesting facts about tigers:

Tigers are the largest wild cats in world. Males weigh up to 680 pounds and females can grow to 370 pounds. They are generally six to ten feet long. That is a lot of kitty!

Tigers are carnivores. They only eat meat. Favorites are wild boar and deer. They also eat monkeys, buffalo, sloth bears, and leopards. They have been known to consume crocodiles, cattle, and goats. Our guess is that they can eat whatever they want.

Can jaguars swim better than tigers? - Quora

Tigers hunt alone. They often hunt at night, quietly stalking their prey until they get close enough to pounce. They generally bite the neck or back of the head.

Tigers like water. They are good swimmers, and often cool off in pools or streams. They also will follow prey into the water. They are capable of crossing small lakes and rivers.

Tiger Roar Wallpapers - Top Free Tiger Roar Backgrounds - WallpaperAccess

Tigers can be loud. They growl, roar, chuff, and moan. (But they can’t purr.) They generally growl as a warning to other tigers, and use chuffs and moans to communicate with each other. Roaring is used as a battle cry or long-range communication. They have been heard almost two miles away!

Tigers are fast. Tigers can run up to 40 miles per hour (65 km/h). The only faster cats are the cheetahs.

Tiger stripes – unique and beautiful - Mixreading

Tigers have been around for a long time. They have found fossilized remains of tigers in China believed to be 2 million years old.

Every tiger looks unique. Tiger stripes are like human fingerprints; each tiger has a unique set. Most tigers have over 100 stripes. They act as camouflage in nature, looking like moving shadows in the grass and trees.

Turns Out, Tigers Have Spots That Look Like Eyes On Their Ears To Confuse Prey | Bored Panda

Tigers have fake eyes. They have a white patch of fur on the back of each ear so it looks like they can see behind them, even when they’re sleeping. Makes them even scarier!

There are five subspecies of tiger. They are Bengal, South China, Indochinese, Sumatran, and Amur (Siberian) tigers. The Amur tigers are the largest, growing up to 680 pounds and 10 feet long. The Sumatran tigers are the smallest, topping out at 310 pounds and 8 feet. The Caspian, Bali, and Javan subspecies have become extinct.

Stalking Tiger in Grass | A young Siberian tiger stalks his … | Flickr

Tigers are generally loners. They usually only interact for mating and occasionally to share a kill. Once in a while, they will join together to hunt a large animal.

Male tigers take up more space than females. An adult male’s territory will usually overlap several females’ territories. The strongest male gets his choice of territory.

My daughter's eyelashes, the tiger's tongue, and other grooming devices -Dr. David Hu, Georgia Institute of Technology – Biomimicry Alberta

Grooming is important to tigers. Tigers have rough tongues and use them to remove loose hairs and dirt from their fur. They also use their tongues to spread oils from their glands across their furs. Which is why their fur looks so glossy.

Tigers can be good neighbors. They peacefully coexist with leopards, Asiatic wild dogs, brown bears, and wolves throughout most of their range. They usually avoid the other animals because they are mostly nocturnal while the others are active during the day.

Big cat safety law ends 'Tiger King'-style attractions - E&E News by POLITICO

Sabre-toothed tigers weren’t tigers. Those big teeth were pretty scary, but they’re from a different family of cat.

Tigers are closed related to house cats. We share about 95% of the same DNA. For example, we are all obligate carnivores. Tigers love to play just like us (but with bigger toys). We all learn to hunt early in life. Finally, we all sleep up to 18 hours a day. Take pride in your royal heritage!

Cute Tiger Wallpaper (56+ pictures)

So raise a glass to your royal relatives!

Global Tiger Day, also known as International Tiger Day, is an annual event celebrated on July 29 to promote awareness for tiger conservation. : r/Tenere