Tag Archives: fur

25

Brrr! It’s Getting Cold in Cheeseland

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Greetings. Sgt Stripes here. You might remember that we live in Michigan. And it’s getting cold here. According to Weather Kitty, it’s supposed to be under 0 degrees Fahrenheit by the end of the weekend. I’m not really sure what that means, but Weather Kitty has an advisory. I remember when I lived outside that this time of year was when I had to find someplace protected to stay.

The other four kitties came from shelters. They spent some time outside too. We are all really happy to be inside where we don’t really have to worry about it. It’s an old farmhouse, so it’s not really airtight. (Thank goodness, or we wouldn’t have mousies and bugs to chase.) Angel has a favorite spot right next to the baseboard heat.

I REALLY like my electric tummy-warmer. (Mom says it’s called a bed-warmer. Whatever. And Onyx has her fuzzy blanket. Angel and Snoops rely on human heat a lot of the time. Gypsy likes to sleep under the plant light where it’s warm. It seems like most of the cats we know don’t really like the cold. I thought I would ask Mr. Google about cats and cold weather.

Mr Google says that cats get cold easily. We started out as desert dwellers and have a high body temperature. (Higher than humans). We usually feel the cold before the humans do. (I don’t know about that. Mom and Blondie get cold a lot.It’s why we have so many blankets laying around the house.

Some cats get cold quicker than other cats. Older cats and kittens get cold faster than adult cats. Skinny cats and cats that come from a warm climate get cold quicker than heftier cats and cats from cold climates. But even with all the variations, all cats get cold eventually.

The first sign of a cat feeling cold is that they will look for the warmest spot available. We will curl up into a tight ball. Some cats cover their noses with their tail. If it keeps getting colder, cats start to shiver. Cats can develop hypothermia where their body temperature begins to drop. This is a very dangerous stage.

It is important to avoid getting hypothermia. Cats need to be inside if possible when the temperatures drop. If you’re feeling cold, tell your human to let you inside immediately. If you can’t go inside, your human can provide thick bedding for you to hunker into. A bowl of warm water is also helpful to a cold cat.

Remind your human that what is okay for them isn’t warm enough for you. (They always forget that with sweaters and jackets and whatever, they don’t really feel the temperature. Here are some guidelines (all temperatures are Fahrenheit):

  • Small cats, older cats, and kittens are uncomfortable below 50 degrees
  • Cats who have lost a lot of weight or have arthritis can be uncomfortable under 60 degrees
  • Cats can get frostbite and hypothermia below 32 degrees
  • All cats should have a sheltered place to stay if the temperature gets below 45 degrees

All of this is not to say that all cats hate the cold. Some love to go outside for a bit and come back in to warm up. A lot of us get thick winter coats that help with the cold. Black cats absorb more heat from the sun. And some breeds come from cold climates. These kitties have developed traits to help them survive in cold weather. Here are 8 cat breeds that originated in cold climates and are able to tolerate cold weather better than most.

Siberian Cats | Pet Spotlight | Appearance, Personality & History

Siberian Cat – These cats have an ultra-plush three-layer winter coat that they shed in the summer. They are friendly and affectionate. As a bonus, they are also hypoallergenic.

Kurilian Bobtail Longhair - TICA - The International Cat Association

Kurilian Bobtail – They have a semi-long coat with a pom-pom tail. They are very loving and gentle as well as independent and intelligent. These cats are superior mousers.

Norwegian Forest Cat: Breed Profile, Characteristics & Care

Norwegian Forest Cat – These cats have a water-resistant, semi-long coat. In the winder they have a thick, fully undercoat to keep our the cold. They are good-sized kitties, weighing up to 20 pounds. They are loving and independent. (Our human grandparents had a Norwegian Forest Cat. She sat in front the of the head registers in the winter and in front of the air conditioning ducts in the summer. We all aspire to her status in the house.)

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

Russian Blue – They have a short, dense double blue coat which is tipped with silver. Russian Blues are independent but gentle and playful. They are considered low-maintenance and adapt easily to changing circumstances.

Top 5 Reasons Maine Coon Cats are Awesome - West Park Animal Hospital

Maine Coon – These cats have heavy, water-resistant coats. Additionally they have large, muscular bodies. The combination makes them well-suited to being outside in the cold weather. They can weigh up to 25 pounds, but are extremely gentle. They are excellent hunters,  highly adaptable and very attentive to their humans.

How to Identify a Turkish Angora Cat: Guide with Infographic - Catster

Turkish Angora/Turkish Van – They have extremely soft fur and solid bodies helping them be comfortable in the cold.  They are active, intelligent, and social. And they love water. (Although probably not outside in the winter.)

Selkirk Rex Cat Breed Information - Vetstreet | Vetstreet

Selkirk Rex – These kitties come in both short-haired and long-haired versions The short-haired version has a dense, plush curled coat. (Some people have compared them to teddy bears.) The long-haired ones look a bit like a wooly sheep. They are fairly large and very muscular. They are easygoing and cuddly.

Breed Spotlight: Scottish Fold | MetLife Pet Insurance

Scottish Fold – Similar to the Selkirk Rex, Scottish Folds can be either long-haired or short-haired. Their fur is extremely plush and dense. They have sturdy bodies with natural padding to keep our the cold. All Scottish Fold kittens are born with straight ears; approximately 50% will fold 18-24 days after birth. It is a natural mutation and has not resulted in increased ear infections.

As we write this, I’m lying on a couple of sweaters,   getting sleepy. I think I’ll just stay here and watch the cold through the window.

Pictures courtesy of Google Images

21

Angel Katt: Tortie Extraordinaire

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

24

Kommando Kitty: Proud to be Piebald

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

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

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

The coat patterns are divided into a scale:

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

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

There are several common patterns of piebald cats

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

Cow – predominantly white with black spots on the torso

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

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

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

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

A few other random facts:

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

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

31

October: Black Cat Season

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Boating black cat | Cats, Black cat, Adventure cat

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

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

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

Black Cat Breeds: 11 Breeds With Gorgeous Dark Coats

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

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

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

12

Happy Take Your Tiger to Lunch Day!

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

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

Tiger Fact Sheet | Blog | Nature | PBS

Here are some interesting facts about tigers:

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

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

Can jaguars swim better than tigers? - Quora

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

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

Tiger Roar Wallpapers - Top Free Tiger Roar Backgrounds - WallpaperAccess

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

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

Tiger stripes – unique and beautiful - Mixreading

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cute Tiger Wallpaper (56+ pictures)

So raise a glass to your royal relatives!

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

23

Charlemagne T Persian, Grill Master

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Dont Show Your Cat on Twitter: "my boy can work a grill https://t.co/KBUtdyLghu" / Twitter

Mama Cat rushed in from work. It had been a long day. She wondered why she didn’t smell dinner.

Mama Cat: Celeste, where’s Daddy? He’s supposed to be making dinner tonight.

Celeste: He’s out back on the patio.

Mama Cat: What’s he doing out there? Isn’t he going to cook?

Celeste: He wants to try out his Father’s Day gift.

Mama Cat: Seriously? Tonight?

Celeste: He’s really excited. Tommy’s out there with him.

Pros and Cons of Outdoor Litter Boxes I Modkat

Mama Cat shook her head. Her husband, Charlemagne (or Charlie), had asked for a grill for Father’s Day. She thought he was crazy, but the kids wanted to get it for him. She had never heard of a cat grilling, but he seemed thrilled when he opened it. She walked out the back door.

Mama Cat: Charlie! You’re not really going to use that thing are you?

Tommy: Hi, Mom! Dad’s almost ready to start. Wanna watch?

Mama Cat watched her large, fluffy husband as he added the last of the charcoal to the grill. He was usually so elegant, but now his paws were covered in soot.

Why Do Cats Lick Their Paws? | Hill's Pet

Charlie: Hi, Maggie! You’re just in time! I’m getting ready to fire it up!

Maggie: I’m not sure that’s a good idea. What if your fur catches fire? I don’t think cats were meant to grill.

Charlie: Didn’t you watch any of the videos I sent you on CatView? It’s the hottest thing with all the hipster cats. I think I’m the first one in our neighborhood. It’s going to be legendary!

Maggie: If you don’t set yourself on fire.

Tommy: He’s not going to set himself on fire, Mom. He’s got one of those long, lighter things to start the fire.

Charlie: OK, everyone. Stand back. Here I go.

cat cooking barbecue | Funny animals, Funny animal pictures, Funny cat pictures

He held the flame to the charcoal. There was a “whoosh” sound, and a large flame.

Maggie: Charlemagne! Was it supposed to do that?

Charlie: Calm down, Maggie! I might have used a little too much starter fluid, but it stayed in the grill. Now we just have to wait for it to burn down to coals so I can cook the fish.

He pointed at a couple of salmon steaks he had prepared in a flat basket.

Charlie: All I have to do is put the basket on the coals and turn it over a couple of times to cook the fish. It’s going to be great!

Maggie wasn’t sure.

5 Vegetables Cats Can Eat (And 5 To Avoid!) - Cats.com

Maggie: All right. What do you have to go with the fish?

Charlie: Go with it? Like what?

Maggie: Maybe some kind of side dish?

Charlie: It’s barbecue. It’s all about the meat.

Tommy: Or fish.

Charlie: Yeah. The fish.

Maggie went back in the house to wait with Celeste. Before long, they were in with the fish.

Is it safe to feed fish to cats? | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Celeste: Daddy, this is yummy!

Tommy: Yeah. It’s great.

Maggie: I admit, it does taste good.

Charlie: See? The grill was a great idea.

Maggie sniffed.

Maggie: What’s that smell?

Charlie: What smell?

Sniffing Kitty - Love Meow

Celeste: It kinda smells like something’s still cooking. It’s smoky.

Charlie: I don’t know. I don’t smell anything.

Maggie: That’s because it’s you. The smoke got in your fur. Your beautiful thick fur is full of smoke.

Charlie: Well, that’s a small price to pay for that great fish. Right, kids?

Celeste and Tommy nodded. They really liked the fish.

Tommy: Can you grill some more tomorrow?

Cat Awake at Night - Reducing Nocturnal Activity ~ Pelaqita

Maggie: I’m not going to sleep next to you if you’re going to smell like smoked fish.

Charlie: Fine. I’ll go sit outside until it blows out of my fur. But I love my new grill, and I’m going to keep using it.

Charlie practiced with his grill for the next few weeks and was getting really good with it. Some of the other cats in the neighborhood started to comment on the wonderful smells coming out of his backyard.

Charlie: Hey, Maggie. I think we should have a party for the neighbors. I want to show off my new skills.

Maggie: I guess we could do that. How many fish do you think we’ll need?

The Name for A Group of Cats Explained

Charlie: I don’t want to do fish. I think I’m ready for something a little bigger.

Maggie: What did you have in mind?

Charlie: I saw a guy grilling a turkey. I want to try that.

Maggie: I don’t think that’s a good idea for a party. You’ve only been doing this a few weeks. You’re really good at fish and burgers. Let’s do that.

Charlie: No. I want a turkey.

Maggie: Charlemagne, that sounds really hard.

Charlie: I have the video. How hard can it be?

Next week: Charlemagne learns that grilling a turkey is different than grilling a fish.

Will Those Holiday Leftovers Poison Your Cat? - CatGazette

Pictures courtesy of Google Images. 

17

All Hail the Tabby Cat

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

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

A Little History

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

(Daxter)

The Name Comes from a Baghdad Silk

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

(Thunder)

Tabby is a Pattern, not a Breed

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

“M” on Our Forehead

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

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

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

We Come in a Variety of Colors

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

And a Variety of Patterns

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

We are Camo Kitties

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

We are Excellent Hunters

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

We are Affectionate and Intelligent 

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

We are Social Creatures

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

We are Very Expressive

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

Summary

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

“Official” Tabbies

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

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

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

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

30

Ahh Spring! Tis the Season for Shedding

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

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

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

Knitting

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

DIY: Needlefelted Cat Toys - collage

Felting

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

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

Toys

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

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

Fishing Flies

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

Create a cat garden that you and your cat will love

Gardening

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

Cat lounging in a birds nest. : r/pics

Share with the Birds/Small Animals

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

Own Cats? Watch Those EVs! - Carolina Tails Magazine

Help Clean Up Oil Spills

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

How To Manage Your Kitten's Shedding | BeChewy

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

Pictures (not of us) courtesy of Google Images

 

22

Cat Forum: Fleas and Indoor Cats

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Snoops: Mom has been feeling like a bad cat mom recently. In all of her years of living with cats (including her first cat who went outside regularly), she had never experienced fleas. So when I started scratching, Mom assumed it was my usual winter dry skin. After a bit, Mom was horrified to discover fleas!

Kommando: Of course, fleas are nasty little things, and by that time, they were all over poor Snoops. She had to get bathed and treated.

Snoops: And combed and combed and combed.

Kommando: I got treated too. It was pretty unfair, all things considered.

Snoops: So we thought that we would share a couple of things about indoor cats and fleas.

Look at Them Suckers! - Lolcats - lol | cat memes | funny cats | funny cat pictures with words on them | funny pictures | lol cat memes | lol cats

Generally speaking, there are four ways indoor cats can get fleas:

  • Neighbors – You know those noisy humans living in the next apartment? Their pets might have fleas. Or maybe the humans do.
  • Fur Siblings – If you live with a dog that goes outside, they might bring in fleas. Or any other critter that comes in from the great outdoors.
  • Used Furniture – That great new chair from the thrift shop might have some unwanted guests. It might even happen if there are fleas in the carpet when your family moves into a new place.
  • Wild Animals – Any warm-blooded animal that is outside is susceptible to fleas. If they have fleas, the fleas will eventually have eggs that may be dropped off somewhere outside the house. When the fleas grow up, they can jump on your humans and get a ride into the house.

Snoops: As near as Mom can tell, I got my fleas from one (or more) of the mice I caught. They come in from outside and set up shop. I get rid of them when I find them, but I guess one got even with me.

Dr. Deb declares, "I'm So Tired of Fleas!" Find out why... | Cat fleas treatment, Cat fleas, Funny animals

The signs of flea infestation:

  • non-stop scratching
  • spots of hair/fur loss
  • skin irritation
  • excessive grooming
  • loss of energy and pale gums from anemia
  • black specks in the fur or bedding

Snoops: The worst part was that I lost a lot of my thick fur around my throat. I could have frozen to death this winter.

Kommando: Yeah. By the time it grew back, you were getting spring fur.

All my fleas are clean - Lolcats - lol | cat memes | funny cats | funny cat pictures with words on them | funny pictures | lol cat memes | lol cats

Once a cat has fleas, both the cat and the house need to be treated. Fleas love to hide and lay their eggs in the carpet or any soft surface. Your vet can tell you which treatment is best for you. Treatments include:

  • flea powders
  • flea sprays
  • flea collars
  • spot flea treatments
  • oral medication
  • injections

Kommando: And lots of grooming with a flea comb. Flea combs get out the fleas, their eggs, their dirt, and the extra dead skin they cause on kitties.

Snoops: All that grooming actually feels pretty good.

Kommando: It took a while, but Snoops is back to looking pretty spiffy.

Snoops: Why, thank you!

Kommando: So remember: If you see any of the signs of fleas, make sure your human helps you groom with a flea comb. Better to be over-cautious than let the little monsters take over.

Snoops: It’s a lot easier to get rid of them before they’ve had a chance to spread.

 

25

Celebrating Black Cats with Onyx

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Greetings from Snoops and Kommando Kitty. Today we’d like to introduce you to our cousin Onyx, our favorite black cat.

Hello everyone, I’m Onyx. I’m usually not in the spotlight because my younger, more assertive, sister Thunder generally hogs the blog. However, in honor of Halloween and Black Cat Appreciation Month, I convinced her to let me write about black cats and how cool we are. Here are some interesting facts and information about black kitties to make your October a little more cat-tastic!

Melanism 

Black cats have a condition known as melanism. This accounts for our black furs, and in many cats, our yellow eyes. Melanism is an overabundance of pigmentation, making it the flip side of albinism. However, even though black cats have extra pigmentation, we are still prone to sunburn and outdoor cats should plan their sunscreen accordingly. 

Black Breeds

Although many breeds can have black coloring in their fur patterns, only 22 breeds of cats can be genetically defined as a “black cat”. The most common breed of black cats is the Bombay (I happen to be a Bombay). Other breeds include the Chantilly-Tiffany, the Cornish Rex, the American Curl, the Japanese Bobtail, the Sphynx, and several Short-haired cats (such as British, Exotic, Oriental and American). 

Genetics 

While black is considered a dominant trait for fur color, to be truly classified as a black cat, both parents need to have the black trait. Fun fact- tabby is the most common pattern of black fur! 

Color Changes 

Certain conditions can change the black coloring of the fur. As black cats age, their furs may fade to grey or white. Additionally, if black cats get enough sun, their fur will highlight to a brown or a red-rust color. However, the rust color will return to black when the exposure to sunlight stops. Once the fur ages to white, the change is permanent. 

Immune Systems 

Black cats are believed to have better immune systems than other cats. Although the reason why is unknown, research has indicated that black cats have a lower chance of developing feline leukemia and feline HIV. 

Pawsome Personalities 

Although all cats have wonderful personalities, some typical personality traits you’ll find in a black cat include playfulness, high intelligence, curiosity, and friendliness. Black cats also tend to be very loyal companions, and adapt easily to changes. We’re also quite aware of our surroundings, and keen to stress and emotions in our humans. Because of this, black cats are often sweet and compassionate- I happen to know when my human is about to have a panic attack, and make sure I cling extra close to her until I can get her calm. Black cats would make great therapy cats! 

Adoption Issues  

Every cat deserves a loving forever home, no matter what color fur they have. Unfortunately, black cats have the lowest adoption rating of any color out there- but we also have the highest surrender rate of any color. 30% of all shelter intakes are black furred creatures. Because of the high give-up rates and low take home rates, black cats are more likely to be euthanized when the shelter runs out of space or if they don’t adopt out quickly enough- how cruel! And while many shelters won’t adopt out black cats during the month of October (especially the later weeks near Halloween), that still leaves 11 months out of the year to consider making your new family member a furry black one- or, at the very least, encouraging your circle to adopt a black cat!

Celebrations 

There are four formal recognitions of black cats nationally in America; three days and a whole month! August 17th is Black Cat Appreciation Day, October 27th is National Black Cat Day, Black Cat Friday in November (typically the closest Friday to November 13th); and the whole month of October is Black Cat Appreciation Month. 

Myths

There are several myths surrounding black cats. The most common one is that black cats are unlucky (this is particularly common in America and Europe), although in Japan a black cat signifies good luck. In Germany, the luck of the black cat depends on which direction it is walking on their encounter with you- left to right indicates good luck is coming, but right to left means bad luck is ahead. The Italians believe if a black cat jumps next to someone while they’re ill, that person will soon pass away.

Some cultures tie myths of wealth into black cats- in Scotland, some believe if a black cat appears on your porch, money will be coming to you soon. On the other hand, in China, black cats are thought to bring poverty with them. An older myth is that black cats are witches, and that witches kept black cats to sneak around and cast spells. It was believed that witches could shape shift into black cats, and even in current culture, black cats are often pictured alongside witches. This may be why black cats are associated with Halloween so frequently. 

Black Cats in Society 

Perhaps the most famous black cat in American society today would be Salem, the companion of Sabrina from “Sabrina the Teenage Witch”. Other televised black cats are Luna from “Sailor Moon”, Felix the Cat (an animated character from when animation was becoming popular) and Snowball II from “The Simpsons”. Black cats have also made companions to famous people, including India, the cat of former American president George W. Bush, and Gladstone, the official cat of the HM Treasury in the UK. There is also Hodge, the kitty of author Samuel Johnson.

There are cats famous from literature, such as Mr. Mistofflees from “Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats” by T.S Elliot (and the musical “Cats); Pluto from “The Black Cat” by Edgar Allen Poe; and Behemoth from “The Master and Margarita” by Mikhail Buglakov. Some other notable black cats are Blackie, the cat who inherited millions of dollars; Homer, the blind wonder cat; Trim, the first kitty to circumnavigate Australia and who saved his human during the journey; and Oscar the bionic cat, a double back leg amputee with prosthetic paws. 

I truly enjoyed writing this post, and I hope you enjoyed reading about the magnificent black cats of the world. Next time you encounter a black cat, please treat them with kindness (and soak in their good looks), and if you need a new furry member in your life, think about bringing one home!

Wishing you all a safe and fun Halloween, with furs and purrs, 

Onyx Katt