11

The Purr-fect Feline Thanksgiving

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Greetings. Mom looked at the calendar yesterday and realized that it’s only two weeks until Thanksgiving here in the US.  She told our human brother that it’s time to make the shopping list. That got us to thinking about what we needed to make sure was on that list. After all, it is a holiday centered around food. And what kitty doesn’t love a good treat?

It turns out that the newest cat in the house, Sgt Stripes, has a thing for Google and enjoys looking things up. (Mom complains that every time he helps her on the computer, the first thing he does is open up the inquiry screen.) So we put him to work on research. As it turned out, he may be a little too good. We had to sort through a lot of stuff to get to the goodies. But we don’t pay him, so we probably shouldn’t complain.

Will Those Holiday Leftovers Poison Your Cat? - CatGazette

TURKEY

Most of us kitties love turkey. The humans that study these things say we should eat the white meat (less fat) with no skin or seasoning. And NO bones. They can splinter and choke us.

Create meme "Cat (Cat , katamatite., cat thief )" - Pictures - Meme -arsenal.com

HAM/SAUSAGE

Hams and sausages smell really yummy. Unfortunately, we shouldn’t eat them because they are full of salt and fat. (If you love either one, we recommend stealing a piece or two while the humans aren’t watching.)

Thanksgiving Foods That are Toxic To Cats - Cat Hospital of Tucson

STUFFING/DRESSING

We really don’t understand the appeal of this dish. It’s basically bread that pretends to be real food. The bread part isn’t a problem for cats. The problem is the other stuff that makes it look like actual food. A lot of humans use onions and garlic, which are toxic to cats. They also sometimes use sausage, chorizo, oysters, butter, and spices which are bad for kitties. (Kommando loves a good butter taste, but it really isn’t good for her.)

Can Cats Eat Potatoes? How About Sweet Potatoes? - Catster

MASHED POTATOES and GRAVY

We kitties can safely eat potatoes. Unfortunately, humans don’t generally serve plain potatoes at Thanksgiving. At the very least, they mix the potatoes with butter and milk/cream. Butter and cream are both high in fat and cause tummy trouble for a lot of kitties. They also smother their potatoes with turkey gravy. Turkey gravy smells heavenly (like the turkey), but usually has a lot of salt and fat because it’s made with drippings and/or broth.

Tumblr User Explain Why Cats Are Obsessed With Eating Bread | Bored Panda

BREAD/ROLLS

We are allowed to eat plain bread. Nothing containing garlic, onion, raisins, or chocolate. And avoid the butter. And definitely stay away from the dough. The active yeast will make your belly swell up and you’ll get bloated. We don’t see the appeal, but it’s up to you..

Can Cats Eat Cranberries? Is It Good For Cats? (Quick Answer)

CRANBERRY SAUCE

Kitties are allowed to eat cranberries, but the sauce isn’t good for us. It’s full of sugar. (Are you beginning to notice a trend here?) Apparently, some kitties like mashed cranberries. (None of them live in our house.) Some humans recommend mashing a few in with some mashed pumpkin. We recommend knocking them on the floor and batting them around.

Is Pumpkin Good For Cats? – Feline Behavior Solutions - Cat Behavior Consultant

PUMPKIN/SWEET POTATOES

Here we go again. Pumpkins and sweet potatoes are fine. (You want to have your human cook and mash it for you.) Pumpkin/sweet potato pie is bad. Too much sugar. Same thing for those sweet potatoes covered in marshmallows. The little pumpkins are a lot of fun to roll around. Sweet potatoes are lumpy and don’t roll well.

5 Acres & A Dream: Cats & Green Beans

GREEN BEANS

Not sure who we’re talking to here, because green beans are not a delicacy in our book. But if you like them, have at them. They are very nutritious and can be eaten by cats either raw or cooked. As always, no butter, oil, or seasonings. And NO green bean casserole. Most casseroles contain onions and canned/dried soup, two things that are bad for kitty tummies.

25 Super Dope Cat Meme: Caturkey? - Maine Coon Cat

OTHER VEGGIES

Some humans serve a variety of other vegetables for Thanksgiving. Among the most common are carrots, spinach, broccoli, and cabbage. Cats are allowed to eat them; we’re not sure why you’d want to. They are best steamed for kitties, but you can eat raw carrots if you want. And no, you may not have butter with these vegetables either.

Can Cats Eat Apples? 3 Unexpected Ways They Make Cats Sick - NPHQ Veterinarian

APPLES

If you would like a bite of apple, help yourself. Make sure the piece isn’t too big. Otherwise, they are safe.

Create meme "Sffs (Sffs , beer , the cat and the cat )" - Pictures - Meme -arsenal.com

BEER, WINE, and COCKTAILS

No. No. And No. Generally, cats do not like the smell or taste of alcohol.

21-step Guide On How To Cook With Cats | Bored Panda

We have made it to the good part of the post. This is where we provide recipes for your human to make stuff especially for you. (Note that there is dairy in some of the recipes.)

TURKEY TRIANGLES (from Chewy)

  • 1/2 cup ground turkey
  • 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 tablespoon olive oil

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

  1. Mix all the ingredients together. (It may be easiest to do by hand.)
  2. Knead the dough into a ball.
  3. Lightly flour a workspace.
  4. Roll out the dough to 1/4-inch thickness, roughly in the shape of a rectangle.
  5. Place the dough on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
  6. Score 1/2-inch rows into the dough (do not cut all the way through).
  7. Score 1/2-inch diagonal lines across the dough (creating diamonds).
  8. Score 1/2-inch diagonal lines the opposite way across the dough (creating triangles).
  9. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.
  10. Once cool, break into pieces.

Pets and Turkey Photos, Thanksgiving

TURKEY TOTS (from PetSafe)

  • 1 egg
  • 1 pound turkey
  • 1 teaspoon parsley
  • 1/2 cup vegetables
  • 1/2 cup cheese

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

  1. Mix all the ingredients.
  2. Shape into small chunks and spread on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
  3. Bake 10 minutes (until they turn brown).
  4. Allow to cool before serving.

Pumpkin is Both Plenty Tasty and Healthy For Cats, Too | PawTracks

PUMPKIN SMOOTHIES

  • 1 cup plain pumpkin puree
  • 1 cup plain non-fat yogurt

Instructions

  1. Blend ingredients thoroughly.
  2. Pour out.
  3. May also be frozen in an ice cube tray.

Is Pumpkin Good For Cats? - All About Cats

PUMPKIN PIE FOR CATS

  • Flour
  • 1 cup grated carrots
  • 1 cup plain pumpkin puree
  • 2 cups rice flour
  • 1/2 cup plain unsweetened applesauce
  • 1/2 cup oat milk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

  1. Measure flour into a bowl.
  2. Blend applesauce, milk,  carrots, and pumpkin until smooth.
  3. Add mixture to the flour a little at a time until dough forms.
  4. Flour a workspace.
  5. Roll dough to 1/4-inch thickness.
  6. Cut into small pieces.
  7. Place small pieces on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
  8. Bake for 5 minutes on each side.
  9. Let cool before serving.

Hopefully you’ll find something you like here. We’ve given you plenty of time to get it on the shopping list before the big day. Enjoy!

Pictures courtesy of Google Images.

11

Live Big: Celebrate National American Bison Day

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Plains Bison (Bison bison bison) | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Greetings. Exciting news. Today is National American Bison Day! You know, those huge hairy beasts roaming the North American plains. The ones everyone used to call buffaloes. They’re the largest mammal in North America, and they have their own day to celebrate their awesomeness.

Bison Bellows: A New Initiative to Celebrate Bison (U.S. National Park Service)

We’re lucky we still have this beauties with us. Before the European settlers arrived, there were approximately 30-60 million bison roaming around. (We know that’s a wide range, but bison weren’t very good recordkeepers.) Native Americans used bison for food, clothing, shelter, and other things, but the settlers hunted them almost to extinction. (They were also not very good with rifles.) We only have about 10,000 left, living in 17 herds. They live in the western U.S. and Canada.

Bison Interests - Investment Firm, Oil and Gas Investments

Every year since 2012, the US Senate has passed a resolution declaring the first Saturday in November as National Bison Day. (No, we have no idea why they have to do it every year. It doesn’t really seem controversial.) Even better, on May 9, 2012 President Obama made the American Bison the National Mammal of the U.S. with the National Bison Legacy Act.

First baby bison of the year born at Fermilab

Bison Fun Facts

  • They can weigh up to 1,000 pounds (that’s like 100 cats)
  • They originated in Southeast Asia about 2.5-2.6 million years ago. Yellowstone Park is the only place in the U.S. where they have lived continuously since prehistoric times.
  • They are a lot faster than they look. They can run up to 35 miles per hour.
  • They have poor eyesight, but their hearing and sense of smell help compensate.
  • They live up to 20 years.
  • The babies are called red dogs.

9 Laughing Animals | Laughing animals, Baby animals, Cute animals

Bison Riddles

What did the mother say when her son went to college?  Bison.

How can you tell there’s a bison under your sleeping bag? The ceiling of your tent is very close.

How can you tell a bison from a field mouse? Try to pick it up. If you can’t, it’s either a bison or a very large mouse.

What do you get when you cross peanut butter with a bison? Either peanut butter that roams the range or a bison that sticks to the roof of your mouth.

What do you call a bison at the North Pole? Lost.

What kind of car does a bison drive? A Furrari.

What animal is always the designated driver? Water buffalo.

What time is it when a bison sits on your bed? Time to get a new bed.

65 Different Species of Animals Laugh, Says a New Study

Bison Jokes

The devout cowboy lost his favorite Bible while he was mending fences out on the range. Three weeks later, a bison walked up to him carrying the Bible in its mouth. The cowboy couldn’t believe his eyes. He took the precious book out of the bison’s mouth, raised his eyes heavenward and exclaimed, “It’s a miracle!” “Not really,” said the bison. “Your name is written inside the cover.”

A man and his pet bison walk into a bar. It’s about 5 pm, but they settle in for a night of drinking. They spend the night drinking, one drink after another. Finally, it’s last call. The man says, ” One more for me, and one more for my bison.” The bartender sets them up, and they down the drinks. The bison falls over, dead. The mans throws some money on the bar, puts on his coat, and goes to leave. The bartender yells after him, “You can’t leave that lyin’ there.:The man responds, “It’s not a lion; it’s a bison.”

Bovini/Bisonte Americano(Bison Bison): | American bison, Animals, Herding

A bison sits down next to a man in a movie theater. The man asks, “Are you a bison?” “Yes, I am.” The man is surprised. “Why are you at the movies.” The bison replies, “I liked the book.”

A policeman stops a man who has a baby bison in the front seat of his car. “Why do you have a baby bison? You should take him to the zoo.” The man nods and drives off. The next week, the officer sees them again. They are both wearing hats and sunglasses. He pulls the car over. “I thought I told you to take the bison to the zoo.” The man replies, “I did, officer. We had such a good time, we’re going to the beach this week.”

Numbat - ZooBorns

Hope you found this entertaining. In case you’re interested, November 5th is also National Redhead Day, World Tsunami Awareness Day, Chinese Food Takeout Day, and World Numbat Day. Numbats are banded anteaters (also known as walpurti), who live in western Austalia. If you live in the UK, it is primarily known as Guy Fawkes Day/Gunpowder Day/Bonfire night. They are celebrating either an attempt to blow up Parliament or the successful repression of that attempt.

Regardless, we think it’s Bison who rule the day.

National Bison Month - American Humane - American Humane

Pictures courtesy of Google Images

Jokes courtesy of http://www.jokes4us.com/animaljokes/buffalojokes.

14

Legendary Cats: Cats in Myth

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Are black cats really in danger over Halloween?

Greetings. We’ve been trying to think up a good Halloween post. We don’t like costumes. We don’t like candy. And we’re not particularly fond of pumpkin. We don’t like being scared, but we were pleased to find a bunch of cats that have scared humans over the years. We’re pretty sure none of these cats are real, but they sure sound cool.

Bastet - How the Cat Became a Goddess

Bastet – Actually, Bastet isn’t scary at all. She may be the best known of all the mythical cats. Bastet is the ancient Egyption goddess of the home, women, childbirth, fertility, and cats. She protected homes from evil spirits and diseases affecting women and children.

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Mafdet – She is another Egyptian deity. Mafdet was the goddess of judgment, justice, and execution. She was also the protector of Ra, the sun god. She protected against the bites of scorpions and snakes.  We think that all cats have a little Mafdet in us.

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Sekhmet – We had no idea there were so many Egyptian cat goddesses! She was the goddess of war and destruction, born from the fire of the sun god Ra’s eyes. Some people think that she was an alternate form of Bastet, but others thought she was Bastet’s sister.

Animals at the Pittsburgh Zoo | Canadian Lynx Kitten | Small wild cats, Lynx kitten, Cute wild animals

Lyncus – In Greek mythology, Scythian King Lyncus refused to use agriculture and was turned into a lynx by Demeter as punishment. We don’t really understand this story. Why wouldn’t every human want to be a lynx if they could?

14 Gorgeous Black Cat Breeds With Pictures - Excited Cats

Matagot – The legend of the matagot comes from southern France. It is an evil spirit that takes the shape of an animal, usually a black cat. People have also claimed they look like rats, foxes, dogs, and cows. Apparently the trick is to feed your matagot well. Well-fed matagots were known to bring wealth to a household.

Angry cat' amasses huge social media following due to his seemingly permanent grumpy expression | Daily Mail Online

Cath Palug – There are stories about cath palug in both France and Wales. It was supposed to be a huge cat that lived on the Isle of Anglesey. He got along well, eating the people who tried to kill him until King Arthur came along and finished him off. Of course, that’s if you believe in King Arthur.

Meet the "King of Cats" From Celtic Folklore - Catster

Cat-sith – These creatures are the size of medium dogs with black fur adorned with a white spot on their chests. When they are around humans, they walk on four paws and look like big house cats. When there aren’t any humans around, they use two legs. Apparently, some of them even wear clothes in private (which we don’t understand at all.) Usually, they pass for regular cats. Scottish Highlanders believed they could steal a person’s soul.

Hombre - gato | La Loca de los Gatos

Hombre Gato – This creature from South America (mainly Argentina) is also known as Catman. He only comes out at night to attack both humans and animals. It has both feline and human features.

PsBattle: Cat with spiky armor. (X-post /r/cats) : r/photoshopbattles

 Cactus Cat – Cactus Cat lives in the American Southwest, generally in the desert. He is about the size of a bobcat, but with spiky fur, a branched tail, and sharp bones coming out of his front legs. Humans claim to have seen him in California, Nevada, New Mexico, and Colorado.

8 Fascinating Facts About the Sand Cat

Wampus Cat – Wampus Cat has a bit of a dual personality. She comes from Cherokee mythology. The cat is a female human who was cursed for watching a sacred ceremony from under the skin of a wild cat. Apparently women were not supposed to view the ceremony. Once again, we’re not sure why it would be a curse to be turned into a cat. Sometimes people think Wampus Cat is evil and sometimes she is merely mischevious. She was blamed for several livestock killing sprees across the southeast U.S. in the 20th century.

PsBattle: Cat standing on its hind legs while other cats observe : r/photoshopbattles

Bakeneko – Bakeneko is a huge cat in Japanese legend. When cats get old enough, they start developing supernatural powers and transform into yokai (a class of supernatural entities). They start out looking like regular cats, but eventually start walking on their hind legs. They keep growing and gaining more supernatural power. Some of them reach the size of adult humans.

Black Cat Red Eyes by welshdragon on DeviantArt | Cat with blue eyes, Black cat aesthetic, Red cats eye

Cha Kla – Cha Kla is a legendary cat from Thailand. It is completely black with blood-red eyes. It is terrified of humans and only comes out at night. If a human touches it, they will die.

Tigers: possibly the planet's most iconic big cat | WWF

Dawon/Dgon – Dawon is a cat from Hindu mythology. She is a tigress who was given to the goddess Durga for combat. Durga would ride Dawon into battle where Dawon would assist using her teeth and claws.

These guys are from all over the globe. We’re sure there are many more cool cats out there. Do you know of any we missed?

Happy Halloween - Cats & Animals Background Wallpapers on Desktop Nexus (Image 2038535)

Pictures courtesy of Google Images.

21

What’s Worse Than a New Cat in the House?

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Cute Photos of Cats and Babies Sure to Steal Your Heart

Greetings, everyone. We, Snoops and Kommando Kitty, are welcoming our new brother Sgt Stripes to the blog because we are all in a terrible situation this weekend. We have been overrun by two small (13 months and 2 years), loud children. And we are not happy.

Snoops here. They arrived Thursday, and nothing seemed out of place. Our human sister brings them over once in a while. They stick around for a few hours, make a lot of noise, smell weird, and then go home. Then our sister and her husband left, but the rugrats stayed. I was pleasant and didn’t run away, but one of them tried to touch me. I am now watching from a distance.

Sgt Stripes reporting. I had a terrible night. The way it usually works is that I have the run of the upstairs house during the day. Then the humans spend time with me at night before I go to my room and Kommando (and maybe Snoops) sleeps with Mom. Last night, they brought up these two creatures. I’ve never seen anything like them before. I guess they’re miniature humans. But the one tried to CHASE me.

Cats That Think They Are The Masters At Hiding - I Can Has Cheezburger?

I was terrified. I love cuddling with the big humans, and have no problem letting them pick me up. But this creature was trying to grab me! And he was making a lot of noise. I hid under the bed. Later, the bigger one started crying. A lot. There was no way I was coming out. After they were finally asleep, the humans coaxed me out. But I refused to go in my room. That’s where they tried to grab me. At least they slept for a long time. They went back downstairs in the morning. But I think they’ll be back tonight.

Kommando here. Today was even worse than yesterday. Mom had them in the kitchen while she was doing the dishes. The little one unplugged our fountain and dumped the water. Mom didn’t think he could get to the cord. Now we have to drink out of a bowl until they leave. Our kibble and wet food can’t sit on the floor right now either unless we are being fed. One of them tried to eat it. When the little humans visit, their parents usually put a fence in place to keep them out of the kitchen. But the fence keeps me out too. (I’m not really a jumper.)

I tried to get cuddles while Mom was watching TV. But that little human was on the sofa with her. And he PETTED me. It was very traumatic. Now I’m with Snoops watching them from a distance.

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We’re not sure how long they’re staying. Mom says a couple more days. That is a long time. Our eating is messed up. And our bedtime routines are scrambled. Mom says they’re trying to be friendly because they have kitties of their own. We’ve heard stories that our cousins Angel and Thunder even let them touch their tails. Not gonna happen here.

We don’t have much experience with small humans, but they smell even worse than big humans. Maybe because they’re down here on the ground with us. And sometimes they make a lot of noise. Mom tries to keep them quiet and entertained, but sometimes it doesn’t work and they cry. Really loud.

We thought it was tough trying to get used to other cats. This is a whole different animal.

40 Funny Grumpy Cat Memes

Pictures courtesy of Google Images

17

Cat Forum: Are You the Hunter or the Hunted?

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Hi Everyone. It’s Kommando Kitty leading off today. I am not a happy cat. My mom and human brother are calling me a scaredy cat. They keep trying to introduce our new invader brother, and I don’t want to meet him. Snoops pretty much ignores him, but I run when he comes near. Mom says he’s going to think I’m prey. I don’t understand why they can’t just leave him upstairs.

Back when I moved in, things were different. I was a tiny kitten, and Snoops had just been adopted after having kittens. She adopted me, but I made sure that I was in charge. Over the years, she’s gotten more assertive, so we’ve been more-or-less equals for a while. Now there’s a new guy. He doesn’t seem mean or aggressive. Nobody’s even heard him hiss or growl. He has a LOT of energy. And I just want to hang out.

This is Snoops. The humans are taking things slowly here. It should be okay soon. It’s just weird, because Kommando has really mellowed out over the years. She used to be a little bully. Now I have to protect her. It’s like she got a personality transplant.

Enneagram Memes - Funny Images For Enneagram Types 1 - 9

We’ve been looking at the different types of personalities that cats have. It’s pretty interesting. Apparently, someone has been doing a lot of work and identified the five basic personality traits of kitties. They are: skittishness, outgoingness, dominance, impulsiveness, and agreeableness. All of us have some degree of each trait to make up our unique selves.

How Can You Tell If Your Cat is Stressed? - Rehome by Adopt-a-Pet.com

Skittishness (or Neuroticism) – This measures where you fall on the calm to stressed out scale. The more neurotic you are, the more easily you get stressed out. You are more likely to be anxious or depressed. You will run from the unknown or strange things. It’s not a bad thing to be skittish. Just make sure you have a place to hide and feel safe. You may be braver when you are more comfortable with the situation.

Caturday Pootie Diary: I've Seen Enough - Dance Party Time

Outgoingness (or Extroversion) –  Let’s face it. Some cats are party animals and some are not. (We are not, but we think that Sgt Stripes probably is.) This measurement looks at how impulsive you are versus being cautious. We are all curious, but some of us take it to the extreme. Some cats go through life looking for adventures, while others are happy living with set limits. Outgoing cats are sometimes called “nosy.” They are easily bored and need more mental stimulation than their more introverted friends. They may get destructive when they get bored. If you are an extroverted cat, make sure you have plenty of toys. Playing with your human will help you avoid boredom.

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Dominance – Dominant cats are the ones who always want to be first and try to run everything. You know the type. They may try to control everything in the house (food, toys, litter box). Dominant cats sometimes try to dominate the humans as well as other cats. They will chase the others, pick fights, try to make others move, steal food/toys, and generally be obnoxious. At the other end of the scale are the meek cats who are content to be at whatever level they find. One way to deal with a dominant cat is to make sure that there are enough water bowls, food dishes, litter boxes, etc. for everyone. Even the head cat can’t be everywhere at once.

Off Topic - Silly cat - Forum - Path of Exile

Impulsivity – Some cats seem to be unpredictable. One day, they will act one way and the next day completely different. One day they like something, the next day they don’t. These cats are usually high energy and may be a little anxious. Cats may be more impulsive when they are uncertain of their surroundings. Giving this type of cat some structure may help, like set feedings and playtime. Humans need to be extra calm around impulsive kitties to help lower their anxiety levels.

Top 10 Friendliest Cats - AZ Animals

Agreeableness –  This measures where you fall on the Nice to Unfriendly scale. Agreeable cats are nice – they get along with everyone, and are usually happy to give a cheerful hello, rub, or head bonk. Well-socialized, healthy kitties are usually nice kitties. A cat who is disagreeable or aggressive usually has been poorly socialized, poorly treated, or in pain. On the other hand, we all have bad days. (And sometimes humans are just annoying.)

Does Your Cat Still Need an Annual Exam? - Feline Medical Clinic

Obviously, we all have our own personalities. And there’s no such thing as a bad kitty. If you are interested in taking a Cat Personality Test, you can find the one from IDR Labs here.  It’s free and fun.

Pictures courtesy of Google Images

28

Cat Forum: Focus on Safety

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Greetings. Snoops and Kommando Kitty here. Did you know that October is National Animal Safety and Protection Month? Guess humans need to be reminded on a regular basis how important it is that they take care of us. We wanted to take this opportunity to remind you and your humans of some common sense ways to keep us happy and healthy.

How To Prevent A Cat From Chewing Electrical Cords - All About Cats

Electrical Cords are Not Food or Toys

Some cats love playing with yarn. And some cats love playing with anything that looks like yarn, including electrical cords. If you’re not careful, you can get zapped chewing on a cord. Even if that doesn’t happen, it could start a fire and ruin your happy home. If you are one of those kitties who can’t seem to resist cords, we recommend your human coat them in cayenne pepper, hot pepper sauce, or orange/lemon peel. Or possibly bundle them together and put cardboard tubing around them (of course, some of us also love gnawing on a good cardboard tube.)

Create meme "The cat eats Cactus (3 cat, black cat , happy animals)" - Pictures - Meme-arsenal.com

Houseplants Also are Not Food

A lot of plants are not good for kitties. Additionally, some humans get really attached to their houseplants and are upset if you eat them. We have written about the types of plants that are not good for kitties here and here. We recommend hanging plants, although a previous resident cat here managed to devour a huge hanging spider plant in one sitting so that’s no guarantee.

90 Cats 'n Ice Cream... ideas | cats, eating ice cream, cat ice cream

Just Because it’s Good for Humans, Doesn’t Mean it Will Help Cats

Humans put a lot of things in their bodies that are just not good for cats. We have talked about poisonous foods before. In particular, avoid onions and garlic. Some of us love milk, and some of us are lactose-intolerant. Some of us love beef, and some of us have trouble digesting it. Also, do not let your human give you aspirin or Tylenol. They work well for humans, but may be toxic to kitties. Also encourage your human not to throw their trash where you can get into it.

PsBattle: this kitty climbing curtains : r/photoshopbattles

Curtains and Drapes aren’t as Much Fun as They Look Like

Curtains look like a lot of fun to climb. But it’s really easy to get a claw caught. You can pull a muscle trying to get down. And humans are really fussy about having pulls or tears in their curtains. Vertical blinds are the best; there’s nothing to get stuck on. Avoid pull-cords that have loops. You can get your neck caught in it, and that will not end well.

Brown Tabby cat under floor rug HD wallpaper | Wallpaper Flare

Carpets and Rugs are Potential Traps 

You shouldn’t sharpen your claws in the carpet; it really upsets the humans. Besides, you can get caught and hurt yourself trying to get free. Additionally, don’t play beneath rugs (particularly if you’re small or a kitten). The humans might not see you and could step on you. Encourage your humans to get tight weaves if they’re looking for new carpeting.

Why Are Some Cats Obsessed With Plastic Bags?

Plastic Bags and Buckets

It’s fun to play in bags. But if you get caught in a plastic bag, you can’t breathe. Make sure your human doesn’t leave them laying around where temptation may get the best of you. Also, watch out for buckets/trash cans that have lids that can close on you. Being trapped is scary and could end badly.

Why Does My Cat Stink? - Articles - CatScratching.com

Cleaning Products Don’t Just Smell Bad

You know how bad it smells when your human is cleaning the kitchen? Some of those products are really bad for kitties. In particular, stay away from drain cleaners and oven sprays. Make sure your human never uses bleach or industrial-strength cleaners on your litter box. Those cleaners are irritating to a lot of cats; and If there’s still urine in the box, it can create toxic fumes. (And the smell may drive you away from your box.)

He looks so innocent you'd think the vase broke on its own : r/Eyebleach

If You Break It, Run Away

Humans really shouldn’t leave breakable things in a place where we can push them off the counter/shelf, but you know how they are. If you do break something, we recommend you run. First, they’re probably going to be mad. Second, you don’t want to cut yourself on the pieces.

Washer and Dryer Safety - Cats Herd You

Don’t Play in the Machines

The humans have a lot of big toys that we really should stay away from. The washing machines, dryers, ovens, dish washers, and refrigerators all look like fun places to explore and maybe take a nap. Problem is, humans are pretty absent-minded and might turn them on with you inside. That would be extremely unpleasant.

cat safety | Adventures in Cheeseland

Miscellaneous Tips

  • Visit the vet as needed (you know your schedule).
  • Make sure you’re micro-chipped or have a collar with contact information in case you get separated from your human
  • Have your humans draw up a plan in case of emergency (who is responsible for you)
  • Have your human learn basic animal first aid
  • If you’re not feeling well, make sure your human knows it. They know what’s normal for you.

Hopefully, you’ve enjoyed going over this information with your human. If not, we’ll be back next week with something more fun.

Pictures courtesy of Google Images

24

Sgt Stripes Reporting for Duty

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Hello, everyone! My name is Sgt Stripes, and I am the new cat in the house. I moved in three weeks ago after my surgery. They said they had to “fix” me. Pretty insulting if you ask me. I think they actually broke me. The doc said I was going to need a couple of weeks to recuperate fully. I was up and exploring by that night.

I was supposed to be separated from the lady cats (Snoops and Kommando) for two weeks while I healed and then introduced. It didn’t work out that way. I got loose after a couple of days and ran downstairs. I woke up Snoops. She was not pleased. I’ve never seen a cat that fluffy. She sounded really mad too.

Then I got out and met Kommando. I tried to walk up to her, but she ran away from me. She hid under the bed. I didn’t even get a chance to introduce myself. I hope she’s not really afraid of me. I didn’t chase her or anything. And I didn’t make any noise.

So they’ve been letting me stay upstairs during the day and in my room at night. I really like it here. I have my own full-size bed. They have a cat-size bed too, but I’m not sure who’s supposed to be staying in that one. They gave me some kind of blanket that warms up. I really like it since it’s gotten kinda cold. There are all kinds of places to jump on. And lots of windows to look out. But it’s kind of boring all by myself.

I have a big fish that I play with, but my favorite is something that Mom calls a “puffy.” I guess humans put soap in them and use them when they take a bath. It’s the perfect size for me to pull on the edges and use as a kick toy. Humans take weird baths. I thought water was just for drinking. I’ve discovered that I really like toilet paper. It shreds like crazy. It’s the perfect workout for my claws. For some reason, the humans don’t like having it all over the room.

The food is pretty good. I get wet food in the morning, and kibble at night. I haven’t seen any mice or voles on the menu yet. I’m hoping that I’ll get a shot at fresh meat soon. I tried some of my brother’s pasta today. Human food is fun, but some of it doesn’t taste very good.

The humans spend quite a bit of time with me. I like humans. They cuddle and pet me. I had to learn not to try to eat Mom though. She got really fussy when I tried gnawing on her arm. Head bonks seem popular. And humans are nice and warm! I like the computer too. But I haven’t figured out how to catch the animals in there.

I learned how to turn on the ceiling fan. The cord is long and I can pull it from my bed. The only problem is, that makes the room kind of cold. Mom said something about getting a different cord. I haven’t really had a chance to check out all the cool things on the top of the dresser yet.

I tried going downstairs again this evening. Snoops seemed okay with it. Not thrilled, but she stayed normal-size. Mom says tomorrow’s the day for the formal introduction. She’s going to bring in a huge catnip plant to distract the other cats. I’m going to have full run of the house. I can’t wait.

25

A Cat’s Guide to Welcoming Fall

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Greetings fellow felines. Snoops and Kommando here. Whether you realized it or not, fall has fallen. Last Thursday was the autumnal equinox, which means that fall has officially arrived in the northern hemisphere. We like this time of year because the days are getting shorter and that means more time for cuddling. We also get to break out our favorite blankets.

We’ve been looking around the Internet to see what other kitties enjoy doing this time of year, and to be honest, we were a little surprised. It seems that a lot of cats enjoy taking in the sights this time of year. We’ve gathered a few of the most popular ideas.

Can Cats Eat Pumpkin? (+ Pumpkin Cat Food Recipes) - Fluffy Kitty

Visit a Pumpkin Patch

Some patches allow pets, so if you’re the adventurous type, maybe you want to stroll among the pumpkins. They come is all sizes and we’re sure your human could use the help when it comes to picking out the perfect one for your porch. And it will make a great social media post. Just make sure you’re in a stroller or on a harness/leash. You don’t want to be left there.

4 years of kittens on Twitter: "https://t.co/k9j32wIf1o" / Twitter

Play in the Leaves

Once they come down off the trees, leaves are a lot of fun to play in. You can run and jump and hide. Loose leaves blowing in the wind are fun to chase. It’s also a lot of fun to supervise the humans putting them into big piles for us to jump in. If you don’t want to play with them outside, maybe you can talk your human into bringing a few into the house. If they put a couple of small logs in a box with the leaves, you will have a pawsome sensory pit. Your human can also decorate your catio with fall foliage.

Adventure cats: These felines love to surf, swim and hike

Go Hiking

If you like walking outside, now is the perfect time. It’s not too hot to enjoy wandering around. There should be lots of leaves and other stuff on the ground to explore. If you don’t want to walk; try talking your human into carrying you in a backpack. Or a stroller would be cool too. Make sure you don’t snack on anything you can’t identify.

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Go for a Drive

We’re told that some cats love cars. We are not those cats. But if you are, this is a great time to talk your human into a drive around the neighborhood to look at the fall colors and how things are changing. Maybe they’ll even stop at a cat-friendly shop and get you a spiced pumpkin cream drink.

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Make Pumpkin Treats

Many cats love pumpkin puree. It’s full of fiber and is good for our digestive systems. Pumpkin has lots of vitamins A and C, as well as antioxidants. You can either get it canned or out of one of those pumpkins you found at the pumpkin patch. Some kitties like it mixed with a little chicken or tuna. You can even have your human grind up the seeds and mix them in.

Came down stairs and my cat was just chilling, watching tv like this : r/funny

Watch a Scary Movie

It’s perfect weather for curling up under a blanket and watching a movie with your favorite human. The best part is that they won’t move for a couple of hours. Maybe you can talk them into getting you some freeze-dried cat treats as a special movie munchie.

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Visit a Fall Festival

This doesn’t really sound like all that much fun to us, but we’re putting it out there for you ultra social types. There are lots of outdoor festivals in the fall, but they usually come with a lot of people and noise. If your human thinks you might enjoy it, insist on a stroller or backpack. A related idea is Oktoberfest which also has activities in a brewery, some of which are pet-friendly. You can enjoy a snack on the patio.

Can Cats Eat Apples? Are Apples Safe For Cats? - CatTime

Go Apple Picking

Some orchards allow pets on the premises. You might want to join your human when they go to pick apples. We recommend a backpack or stroller – those places are huge! Definitely see if you can score a bite or two of apple while you’re there.

Can Cats Eat Corn? - All About Cats

Tour a Corn Maze

We really don’t understand the appeal of a corn maze. Human wander around down rows of corn plants, trying not to get lost. But it sounds like it would be a fun way to get some fresh air. You definitely want a backpack or stroller. Who knows how long your human might be wandering around.

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Do a Photo Shoot

Does your human need more pictures of beautiful you? This is the perfect opportunity. If you like to dress up, you can do a Halloween shoot. Otherwise, just some pictures among the fall foliage would be beautiful.

These are only a few of the things we found to do this time of year. Of course, you can always follow our lead: fall is the time when we both move back onto Mom’s bed for lots of cool weather snuggling.

Pictures courtesy of Google Images.

22

What to Do When Your Human Gets Sick

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Greetings. Snoops and Kommando here again. Mom’s sick, so we’re back on blog duty, as if being the talent wasn’t enough trouble without needing to keep this whole operation afloat by ourselves. Since this clearly won’t stand, we’re going to nurse her back to health. Mom says we’re not “Get Well” kitties, though. (She keeps talking about some former cat – we hate it when she loses focus on us like that.) So we’re going to us this post to prove her wrong. Here are some common human ailments, and what you can do about them.

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Coughing

Just like us, humans cough sometimes. Unlike us, it’s not because they get hairballs. Since they aren’t actually coughing anything up, the whole thing is a bit of an unsightly waste of time. Sometimes it can help to lay on your human’s chest. However, if they are really seriously coughing, then this isn’t always enough. Not to mention that it can make their chest seriously unstable, what with all the convulsions. In these cases, we advise laying over your human’s mouth and nose, which is almost guaranteed to stop their coughing.

Fever

If you’ve ever thought that your human is even warmer than usual, then they might have had what Mom calls a fever. You’re not dreaming; they actually do get warmer! As an added bonus, they’re even more likely to lay down when it happens, so make sure to take full advantage and get in a nice nap with your human. Ours keeps water on the bedside table when she has a fever, which we think is extra-considerate, since it means we only have to get up if we need to eat or use the litter box. Humans reading this, take note.

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Runny Nose/Stuffy Nose

You’d think a nose as basic as the average human’s would require little to no upkeep, but you’d be wrong. Somehow, it’s one of the most failure-prone parts of many humans, whether it gets clogged or starts to ooze human juice. On the whole, it’s pretty gross, so we recommend that you stay away until your human is healed on their own. It might feel callous, but there’s really nothing you can do. Humans are tougher than they look (thank goodness).

sleepy cat Blank Template - Imgflip

Lethargy/Drowsiness

On a more positive note, your human may become tired and lie down because of their illness. This is what we mentioned when were talking about fevers. As we stated earlier, this is the perfect time to catch up on all those missed nap opportunities from when your human was making lame excuses to leave the house, like “work.” (Your very presence should comfort and reassure your human. If it doesn’t, or if you can’t tell, make sure your human knows you’re there, by batting at their face, jumping on their chest, gently gnawing their toes, or whatever you normally do to get their attention. Your human might be sick, but that’s no excuse for them to be ungrateful.)

Headaches

Occasionally, your human might complain about a sore head. We’ve seen how their brains work, so this isn’t surprising. In general, they’re kind of like fevers, where making sure your human is resting and recovering on their own is the best option. Some headaches are made worse by loud noises, though. If your human winces and holds their head when you hear something noisy, take note. We recommend loudly meowing to cover up the noise aggravating your human’s condition – be sure to drown it out entirely, working in a team if necessary.

Cats Don't Beg For Food Pictures, Photos, and Images for Facebook, Tumblr, Pinterest, and Twitter

Upset Stomach

Some humans have very delicate dispositions. For example, Mom gets queasy when Snoops brings her mousy bits to snack on. Many humans complain of tummy trouble from time to time. Our best advice is to just be proactive and keep an eye on what your human is eating. If there’s anything you don’t recognize, you should at least give it a sniff test, if not a taste test. remember that your human might no know what’s best for them, and don’t be afraid to be persistent if they don’t want to let you see their food. If you’re not careful, Bast knows what they will put in their mouths. Ours keep trying to eat lentils.

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

This list, with the exception of lethargy/drowsiness, is by no means exhaustive, but we hope it provides insight on some of the more common human maladies. Proper care, treatment, and maintenance will have your human performing at peak efficiency – a properly taken care of human takes care of you properly. Also, we had to prove that we’re better get-well kitties than what’s-her-name. With that done, we wish you the best of luck using our tips to keep your own human in tip-top shape!

Purrs & Headbonks,

Snoops and Kommando Kitty

Pictures courtesy of Google Images

24

Sgt Stripes: New Kid (Cat) in Town

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There’s talk on the street it sounds so familiarGreat expectations everybody’s watching youPeople you meet they all seem to know youEven your old friends treat you like you’re something new
Johnny come latelyThe new kid in townEverybody loves youSo don’t let them down.

Greetings. Snoops and Kommando here. It finally happened today, and we are not pleased. That intruder from outside is now inside. We saw them take him away this morning and thought he was gone for good. It was quite the struggle. It looked like he had about eight legs when they were trying to get him into the carrier.

But now he’s back and hanging out in the spare bedroom. The vet says he’s supposed to stay in there 2 weeks. We’ll see how that goes. It was about five minutes before he made his first escape.

Mom says he got “fixed”. We don’t know what that means. He did’t look broken before. And from what we could see, he didn’t look any different when he got back.

He got his cone off in the carrier on the ride home. He’s hanging out under the bed, and they need to wait for him to come out before they can put it back on. We’re thinking it’s not gonna happen.

Mom thought he was going to come home a little groggy, and she’d have time to coordinate things with him. That’s how it always worked with the girl cats. But he came home ready to run, so she’s trying to wait him out. We think it’s kind of a lost cause. Unless he tries something dangerous, he’s gonna do whatever he wants.

We knew this wasn’t a good idea.