Tag Archives: food

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.   

13

A Gator’s Guide to Hurricane Season

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Featured Animals - American Alligator - CMZoo

The school year had just begun, and Suzy and Justine were going through their backpacks retrieving all the paperwork.

Justine: They need you to fill out the emergency contact forms, Mom.

Adele: What happened to last year’s forms?

Suzy: They expired.

Adele: I’ve given them the same information every year since you girls started school. Why can’t they just use that?

Suzy: Guess they want to make sure you and Dad haven’t killed each other over the summer.

Adele: What else?

Brave the Adventure at Gatorland: A Thrilling Experience in Florida - Truck That Beach

Suzy: They’re looking for parent volunteers for the lunch room

Adele: No chance.

Stan: Do they feed me?

Justine: You can chaperone the fall social.

Adele: Nope.

Justine: Want to bake cupcakes?

Adele: Next paper.

Cheeky alligator crashes students' picnic lunch - and then helps himself to sandwich - Mirror Online

Justine: Are we signing up for school lunches?

Adele: I wish. You girls hate the school lunches.

Suzy: It’s not our fault they serve so much mystery protein. They act like alligators will eat anything.

Stan: Uh. Actually, we’re kinda known for that.

Justine: It’s disgusting, Daddy. My body is a temple, and I want to take care of it.

Suzy: Yeah. If I’m going to eat snake, I want to know I’m eating snake. I don’t want it ground up looking like hamburger.

Adele: You two are princesses. No school lunches. What else?

Firefighter Fights To Keep Pizza, Cookie Loving Pet Gator He's Had For 50 Years - YouTube

Suzy: Our first fund-raiser is selling pizzas.

Adele: That doesn’t sound too bad. What are you raising money for?

Suzy: We need new mats in the gym. Apparently someone ate the old ones.

Justine: Eww. Probably had too many school lunches.

Suzy: Here’s the last thing.

American Alligator | Stone Zoo

Adele: A Gator’s Guide to Hurricanes? What’s that?

Justine: It’s part of the new school safety project.

Adele: It says that alligators can sense when a storm is approaching. When the barometric pressure drops, we can feel it in our skin.

Stan: That’s true. Granny always knows when a storm is coming.

Adele: Your mother swears it’s going to be a hurricane every time she gets an ache in one of her joints. Most of the time, it’s just a thunderstorm.

Stan: Those sensors probably don’t work as well inside.

Suzy: I think we should just watch the Weather Channel like everyone else.

Justine: Or the Weather Gator app.

Alligator crawls out of Mobile storm drain

Adele: It says that when we “sense” a bad storm coming, we should seek shelter someplace we can get into and out of easily. They recommend a storm drain.

Justine: It also recommends heading for the water since we can stay under it for a long time.

Suzy: I cannot stay under water. I’d drown.

Justine: You’re supposed to come up once in a while to breathe. Don’t be a doofus.

Adele: They also say the swamp is a good place to hide. We can submerge there.

Suzy: This all sounds really uncivilized. Why can’t we just head inland?

The Alligator in the Backyard: 5 Things to Include in Your Home Quote - Alliance Insurance

Adele: The brochure says that hurricane season is an excellent time to go house-hunting. Particularly if you live in a neighborhood near humans.

Justine: That’s probably true. Most of them leave.

Stan: I think they’d want their houses back after the storm.

Justine: Yeah. They do usually come back. I wonder why they think we would steal someone’s house.

Stan: Or their belongings.

Can Alligators Climb Trees? - Wildlife Informer

Suzy: I think that brochure is crazy. It also says that we can wait out the storm in the hole of a tree or a cave. It makes us sound like barbarians.

Adele: It does seem a little primitive. Where did you say it came from Justine?

Justine: Let me see what it says.

She flipped the brochure over and looked at the back.

Justine: I found the problem. It was written by a human “for the benefit of my reptilian companions.”

Suzy: I knew it! We alligators are much more civilized.

Nice' alligator dons tux, serves as ring bearer in central Pa. wedding - pennlive.com

We wish all our readers in hurricane territory the best during the storm season.

(Pictures courtesy of Google Images. )

14

Thunder Katt Presents: The Treacherous Thunder Tails

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Greetings friends and your non furry servants! It’s Thunder here. Michigan has been awful to live in lately. It’s had lots and lots of loud sky booms- between the fireworks and the storms, my sisters and I have been quivering messes! (Despite my name, I detest thunderstorms. My name comes from my strong verbal skills). I’ve written a piece based on a combination of “The Three Little Pigs” and “Goldilocks”. Please enjoy! 

The sky was blue and the sun was shining. It was a purrfect day to go out and play. Roco, Carrie and Lloyd were taking advantage of the abundance of sunspots and the warm breeze to chase mousies, pounce on rustling leaves, and lounge for naps. Things were going great, when all of the sudden…

Roco: “Do you hear that? What’s that low rumbling in the distance”? 

Carrie: “I don’t know, but our sun is going away, too”. 

Lloyd: “This stinks. I really wanted my fur to get orange highlights. Being brown all the time is so boring”. 

Carrie: “Well, let’s wait and see. Maybe it’s just a blip in the weather”. 

As soon as Carrie said that, rain began to fall. 

Roco: “Ugh! I’m getting wet! Now my tail is going to be all fluffy and my humans are going to make stupid comments”. 

Lloyd: “I see some places that look like decent shelter up ahead. Let’s see if we can find a suitable place to hide out for this travesty”. 

Carrie: “Sounds good. Hopefully they have food. I’m starving. I haven’t eaten in 45 minutes”. 

Roco: “I wouldn’t mind some food. And a nice soft spot to curl up for a nap. I’m overdue by at least 10 minutes”. 

Carrie: “Okay, so a good nap spot and food. Lloyd, do you have any requests”?

Lloyd: “No, I just don’t want to get drenched. Let’s go!” 

The three cats skittered off towards the sheltered area. When they got there, they discovered some sort of campground with tents. They were very excited. Just as they got to the campground a loud clap of thunder came. All three jumped in terror.

Carrie saw a large blue tent. She could smell fish coming from the tent. 

Carrie: “Let’s go in here! It smells delicious. And this loud sky is going to attack us, I just know it is!”

Roco: “I don’t know, Carrie, what about that small brown tent a few feet over? It looks cozy. I bet there are great nap spots there. And yours smells weird. Like fish but mixed with that stuff humans use to smell better, deodorant I think it’s called? What if the humans in there are mean and get mad at you?”

Carrie: “Don’t be ridiculous, Roco. Yours looks tiny. I don’t need you crowding in and twitching your fluffy tail in my face”. 

Lloyd: “Both of those seem like bad options. What about that tent off in the distance? It seems large enough for all of us, and I smell something delicious- catnip, maybe- coming from there. So we’ll get cat friendly people, ample napping spots, food, and shelter. It’s a win-win.” 

Carrie: “NO! That’s too far to walk. We’re going with my choice, and that’s final!”

Lloyd: “Carrie, despite your- ambitious- shall we say, personality, you don’t get to always be in charge. I have an idea. Instead of standing here and arguing, all while getting rained on, why don’t we each go to our selected spot? If one doesn’t work out, we can join the others. But I’m not getting wet, and I’m sick of fighting! 

Roco: “Sounds good to me. Just know, I’m not going to be moving once I get my prime napping spot.” 

Carrie: “Harrumph. Fine. But when you come slinking back to me, remember that I am not sharing any of my food with you!” 

Lloyd: “That’s fine. Let’s split”. 

Carrie, Roco, and Lloyd split up. Carrie starts to try to paw her way into her selected tent when another thunderclap happens. She jumps and hisses. 

Carrie: “Come on, tent! Unzip so I can get in!” Just then, the tent unzipped. Looking back at her was a very unhappy looking human. 

Mean Human: “What do you want, cat? Shoo, go away. We don’t need mangy strays with us”. 

With that, the human closed the tent. Carrie hung her head and walked away sadly. 

Carrie: “Grumpy old man. I hope his fish tastes like water and not actual fish”. 

Carrie meets up with Roco at his tent. 

Roco: “Well, look at what the cat dragged in. What happened, no fish?” 

Carrie: “Stop talking and let me in. I don’t want to talk about it. 

Roco: “Well, here is no good, either. The humans let me in, but they’d had their blankets out for a picnic, and they got soaked. I may as well have tried to nap in a mud puddle.” 

Carrie: “Oh, that’s awful! Well, let’s go find Lloyd. I doubt he’s had better luck. But we can all be miserable together”. 

Just then, more thunder sounded. Carrie and Roco fluffed their tails and ran. 

Carrie: “Ugh, this thunder is going to make my furs turn gray! I hope it’s almost done!”

Roco: “Me, too. Oh look, there’s Lloyd’s tent. But I don’t see Lloyd. I hope he’s okay.”

Roco and Carrie run up to the tent and start meowing desperately. Pretty quickly, a kind looking woman opens the tent.

Nice Human: “Oh, hello there kitties! You guys look soaked- and you must be terrified . I think I have one of your buddies; why don’t you come in and wait out this storm?”

Grateful, Carrie and Roco run inside. They spot Lloyd in the corner, curled up and licking his lips. 

Lloyd: “Hey guys! What happened to your tents?”

Carrie: “It was awful! The human was mean, and wouldn’t share his fish!”

Roco: “Mine was soaked inside and out. It was unpleasant, at best”. 

Lloyd: “Oh no, that stinks. Well, we lucked out here. This person loves cats! She shared her chicken with me, and said I can stay as long as I would like. And look, she’s bringing you some food, too”. 

Carrie perked up. “Oooh, food! I’m definitely staying!”

Roco: “And I can get my nap! This place is pawsome!”

Lloyd: “I am glad you think so. Not to brag, but… I told you so!”

Carrie, Roco, and Lloyd hang out for the next few hours while the thunder and rain pass. On their way back to their humans… 

Carrie: “Well, today was… Interesting. Let’s not repeat”. 

Roco: “Yeah, I just got my tail fluff down.”

Lloyd: “Maybe next time, we should just run home and be protected by our humans from the storm. But for now, I’m going to go home and play with my favorite Mousie toy. See you later!”

17

Mark and Shane Go to Bear Camp – Part 3

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Trump Team: Letting Hunters Kill Bear Cubs Is Top Priority

Where we are: Twin cubs Mark and Shane have been sent to Bear Camp by their exhausted mother. Shane is pretty shy but has been “adopted” by Broz, a seasoned camper. You can read Part 1 here and Part 2 here.

They have been at camp for two weeks. It’s time for Parents Day before they head home. Mark sees Mama and Papa Bear and runs over to them. He gives them a big hug.

Bear hugs Photograph by Ruth Jolly - Fine Art America

Mark: Hi Mama! Hi Papa! I missed you guys.

Mama Bear: Did you have a good time?

Mark: It was great! We swam and fished. And we learned how to use a raft. And we hiked and learned tracking tips. I had a amazing time! Wanna see the paw print I made you?

Mama Bear: In a minute, honey. Where’s Shane? I thought you two would be together.

Mark: No. They made us split up. Shane has a new friend; I’ve only see him at meals and campfires. I made a bunch of new friends too.

Adorable bears caught playing peekaboo, stealing kisses

Papa Bear: It sounds like you boys learned a lot.

Mark: We did Papa. And we’re gonna do a skit in the program after lunch.

Papa Bear: Is Shane in your skit?

Mark: No. He’s doing something else. It’s something top-secret.

Shane came running up.

Shane: Mama! Papa! I missed you so much. But I really like camp. I made a new friend. Wanna meet him?

Mama Bear: Of course, sweetie. Where is he?

Running bear cubs wallpaper - Animal wallpapers - #26121

Shane waved to Broz, who came running over.

Shane: Broz, this is my mom and dad. Mama, Papa, this is my friend Broz Bear.

Mama Bear: It’s very nice to meet you. I’m glad Shane made a friend here. We were a little concerned that he might not like camp.

Broz: He’s a great camper. And just wait until you see how talented he is. You’re really going to enjoy our part of the show.

Mama Bear: What are you going to do? Is it another skit?

Shane: It’s top secret, Mama. We’ve been practicing every night.

Mama Bear looked at Mark.

Mark: Don’t look at me. I have no idea what they’re doing. They wouldn’t tell anybody.

Brown Bear Standing Tall. | Brown bear, Bear, Kodiak bear

Counselor Dave banged a loud gong.

Counselor Dave: Welcome parents! We’re glad to see you all. It’s been an exciting two weeks, and the campers can’t wait to show you the entertainment they put together for you. First, let’s eat. Everybody head over to the Mess Hall.

Papa Bear: Thank goodness! I’m starving.

Mama Bear: What are we having?

Papa Bear: Smells like fish.

Mark: You’re right. And lots of berries. We picked them fresh this morning.

Shane: There’s some honey too.

Papa Bear: Yummy!

Do Bears Really Love Honey? | Mental Floss

The bears all settled in and were quickly fed. After everyone was finished eating, the campers left to get ready for the show.

Counselor Dave: Once again, welcome parents. The campers have a short presentation for you. After that, we will be giving out a couple of awards before you head for home. First up are the Bearly There Players performing their original skit titled, “Oh No! It’s a Bear!”

Two of the older campers pretended to be human parents on a picnic with their children. They made a great fuss of telling their children how dangerous bears are, and how they needed to beware of the bears while they were in the woods. The joke behind the skit was that they had set up their picnic in a bear’s home and terrified the poor bear when it woke up from a nap and found a group of humans in it’s front room

The audience roared with laughter at the little bears pretending to be humans and cheered the skit.

Funny bear cub sits on the ground in the forest. summer. finland. photo – Mammal Image on Unsplash

Counselor Dave: You guys did a great job! Very realistic portrayal of the humans. Normally, we would have two skits at the end of camp. But our other group wanted to do something a little different. So I present to you the Bongo Bears!

Shane, Broz and the rest of their group came on the stage carrying small drums. They sat on the ground and performed a short beat. They then broke into a fairly complicated cadence, picking up speed as they went along. Shane was totally absorbed. When they finished, he broke into a huge grin. The audience loved it.

Counselor Dave: Nice work, campers! I think we may make drumming a regular part of camp. Maybe we could even start a camp band.

Mama Bear: I’m really proud of you, Shane. You weren’t shy up there at all.

Shane: I owe it to Broz. He introduced me to the rest of the guys. He knows all the campers. Everyone was really nice.

Bear cubs pictured in Alaska playing in long grass before hugging | Daily Mail Online

Counselor Dave: We just wanted to hand out a couple of awards before we finish up. We want to recognize the bear who best exemplifies the spirit of Bear Camp. The camper who excels at teamwork and camaraderie. Then we want to recognize the bear who has made the most progress in developing their skills while they were here. I think everyone knows who the winners are.

Broz looked at Shane and started grinning.

Broz: It’s us, Dude!

Shane: Nah. I never win anything.

Counselor Dave: He’s right, Shane. Broz has been the heart of the camp this year. And you definitely are the most improved. You didn’t even want to come to lunch the first day. Remember?

Shane blushed under his fur.

Three adorable bear cubs give their mum a hug while feeding | The US Sun

Counselor Dave: We have little awards for you. But we also want you to take your drums. You can practice all year for when you come back.

Shane and Broz were thrilled.

Shane: Broz, we can get together and practice. It’ll be great!

Mark: I can learn too.

Broz: That’s an excellent idea!

Mama Bear groaned.

Sleepy bear | Taken at the San Antonio Zoo More details on m… | Flickr

Pictures courtesy of Google Images.

16

Kitty Yelp: What the Cats are Really Thinking

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

Joe’s Bistro

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

😺😺😺

Battery-Powered Fish Toy For Cats | Apartment Therapy

Flopping Fish Toy

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

😺

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

Dr D’s Catnip Zoomers

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

😺😺😺😺😺+++++++++

CuddleSoft Electric Bed Warmer

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

😺😺😺

Toasty Soft Throw

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

😺😺😺😺😺

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

Happy Cat Boarding Palace

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

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

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

Simon’s Mega Bucket O’Treats

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

😺😺

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

Albert’s Buffet

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

😺

Ma Maison

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

😺😺😺😺

Pictures courtesy of Google Images (except us)

13

Cat Forum: Allergies in Cats

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

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

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

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

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

research cat - Imgflip

Flea Allergies

Watch out for:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Food Allergies

Watch out for:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Atopic Dermatitis (Atopy)

Watch out for:

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

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

Itchy Cats: Causes and Treatment | PetMD

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

Can I Give My Cat a Bath? | Anicira

Contact Allergies

Watch out for:

  • Itchy skin
  • Red skin
  • Irritated skin
  • Rash

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

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

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

Signs & Symptoms Of Allergies In Cats | Dutch

Pictures courtesy of Google Images.

23

We’ve Been Invaded Again!

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

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

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

Kommando: But they are really loud.

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

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

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

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

Snoops: You should have told her.

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

Kommando: Did she finally remember?

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

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

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

Snoops: You lost your spot?

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

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

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

Kommando: I hope they’re not moving in.

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

Kommando: Hmm. Nobody asked us.

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

28

Sgt Stripes’ First Christmas

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Hello everyone! Sgt Stripes here. I’m still living upstairs, but it’s come to my attention that something major is going on. They brought up a little green tree and put it on my dresser. It doesn’t taste very good. Mom says it’s my Christmas tree.

I asked Mr. Google about Christmas trees. He says humans decorate them for the holiday. Mom didn’t decorate mine. She said she was afraid I was going to try to eat the decorations. I wouldn’t have eaten them unless they tasted better than the tree.

This is my first year inside. I don’t really know what Christmas is all about. There’s a much bigger tree downstairs but I can’t go down there. The lady cats are still kind of afraid of me. Mom and my human brother are trying to work that out. I’m sorry I’m going to miss the big tree. It would probably be fun to climb. And all kinds of sparkly things to play with. It’s wasted on the other cats.

I have a stocking. It’s kind of weird. It’s way too big for my paws. There’s nothing in it. Mom says that Santa Paws is going to put presents in it. I’m pretty excited. I’ve never had presents before. Mom helped me pick out presents for my new human brother and sister. This is going to be so much fun!

There’s a lot of wrapping paper and ribbons and bags and stuff laying around too. So much stuff to play with! Holidays are the best!

Mom says the little humans are going to be spending the night on Christmas Eve. Their parents are going to be sharing my room. I’m not really sure I like that. The little ones scared me the last time they were here. I think I might hide out in Mom’s room until they go.

We’re supposed to be getting special food. Yummy! The humans are having a goose. I hope I get some of that. Apparently, they aren’t serving any of my favorites from outside. But their stuff should be good too.

I hope all of you have a wonderful Christmas. (Or at least a very nice weekend if you don’t celebrate Christmas.)

19

Chloe Cat’s Christmas Guest – Part 2

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Where we are: Chloe is home from college on Christmas break. She has brought her friend Sasha with her. Her family knew Sasha was coming, but Chloe had neglected to tell them that he was a large dog. Christmas Eve dinner has become rather tense. You can read Part 1 here.

Mama Cat has brought Grandma some cream to help her get over her fainting spell. Grandma seems rather confused.

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Grandma: I must be going crazy. I thought I saw a huge dog in your living room.

Mama: No, you’re not crazy. Chloe brought home a dog.

Grandma: Why would she do that? We’re cats. Some of us are afraid of dogs.

Gretchen: Especially some of us smaller kitties. He might eat us.

Mama: I’m sure Chloe’s friend won’t eat us. Although I really wish she had mentioned it before he showed up at the door.

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They heard a loud voice in the front room.

Uncle Charley: See here, dog. You can’t come in here and scare the living daylights out of decent cats.

Raphael: Don’t get too excited Uncle Charley, you don’t want to have a heart attack or something.

Uncle Charley: I’m not going to have a heart attack. I just want this dog to know that I’ve been around, and I can take care of myself. He needs to behave himself.

Sasha: I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare anyone.

Chloe: Why is everyone so excited? Sasha’s a dog. So what? We’re all civilized cats.

Regina: Maybe it’s because you said you were bringing home a boy. We all expected a handsome mancat. Instead you bring home a huge doggo. Extremely disappointing.

Sophie: We thought you finally had a social life.

Chloe: I do have a social life. Sasha is my friend. I asked if I could bring home a friend for Christmas.

Gretchen: You’re not actually dating a dog are you?

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Chloe: What if I am?

Aunt Mildred: Dear, I know you’re not the most attractive kitty in the bunch, but even so…

Mama: Mildred! Sasha is our guest. And who Chloe dates really isn’t any of your business.

Papa Cat’s nose had been twitching. 

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Papa: Sasha! I couldn’t help noticing. Did you bring something to add to the Christmas feast?

Sasha: Indeed I did. I asked Chloe what cats ate for Christmas. She said that you were having chicken, but that fish is always welcome. So I went to the market and got a bunch of smoked mackerel. I hope you will accept it with my appreciation for being welcomed.

Papa: Well, I’m not sure that you’re feeling very welcome, but your fish smells delicious.

Sasha: I didn’t realize I would be so much larger than everyone else. It never crossed my mind that I could be scary. I’m just a big goofball in my own family.

Papa: A lot of these cats have never met a dog up close before. I think they were mainly surprised.

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Sasha looked around and saw that the cats were watching him. They weren’t looking as startled as they had been which he took as a good sign. Grandma and Uncle Charley were talking in the corner. Finally, Grandma came over.

Grandma: Hello, Sasha.

Sasha: Hello, ma’am. I’m very sorry I frightened you. I hope you are feeling better.

Grandma: I am, thank you. So you’re a friend of Chloe’s?

Sasha: Yes, I am. She’s a very sweet girl.

Grandma: You’re right. Are you her boyfriend?

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Sasha (embarrassed): No, ma’am, we’re regular friends.

Grandma: Do you want to be her boyfriend?

Chloe: Grandma! You’re embarrassing me! Sasha is a friend from school.

Grandma: I just want to make sure he’s not going to break your heart. You really can’t trust anyone who’s not a cat. And you can’t trust all cats.

Sasha: Don’t worry. I’m not going to hurt Chloe. I like her too much for that.

Chloe rubbed up against him and purred.

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Grandma: I don’t know. That looks like more than friends.

Chloe: Don’t worry, Grandma. I’ll be fine.

Mama Cat had been putting the finishing touches on dinner. She added Sasha’s fish to her own food. It all smelled delicious.

Mama: Everyone, it’s time to eat.

They sat down and began to eat. Uncle Charley kept drinking the catnip punch, and became more and more vocal. He was looking directly at Sasha while he was telling a story about fighting another cat for one of the many loves of his life. 

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Uncle Charley: Sasha, have you ever fought for love?

Sasha: Can’t say that I have.

Uncle Charley: Would you be willing to fight for Chloe?

Sasha: I think that Chloe can defend herself. Cats are excellent fighters.

Uncle Charley: I meant fight for her love.

Chloe: Uncle Charley, we’re not in love.

Uncle Charley: Then why is he here?

Chloe and Sasha looked at each other. Finally, he nodded.

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Chloe: Sasha is a friend of mine from Chemistry. He told me about a class he’s taking in Cat Psychology. He said that he was having trouble understanding how cats think. I asked him if he wanted to spend some time with my family and see how we get along.

Sasha: I thought it was a great idea, but that it would only work if you didn’t know I was doing research. That way you would all behave normally. So we decided that I would just come as her friend.

Chloe: I didn’t realize that everyone would think I was bringing home a boyfriend.

Sasha: I’m sorry I upset everyone. I’ll leave after dinner.

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The cats looked at each other. There were a few minutes of silence.

Mama: That makes a lot more sense than any other explanation. I don’t know if you will get the information you need, but you are welcome to stay.

Papa: Absolutely! I can teach you how cats hunt.

Uncle Charley: And I’ll teach you how we fight.

And that is how a very large dog got the best grade in his Cat Psychology class.

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Pictures courtesy of Google Images

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.

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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.

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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.)

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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.)

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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.

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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..

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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APPLES

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

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BEER, WINE, and COCKTAILS

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.