Animals

Arf

Oscar's Omen - Predicting Death?

A Creature Comfort?

Oscar lives in a nursing home in Rhode Island to help the visitors and patients feel at home. Although he acts like a normal cat…he sits on desks, plays with pencils while the staff is trying to work and walks around all night, he is far from being ordinary. Oscar has a special gift; he seems to sense pending death. In a nursing home of very ill patients, he has, ironically, found a welcoming home.

A few years ago, the nursing home decided an animal would help give it a more domestic and less medical feel for visitors and patients alike. Oscar belonged to a nurse; it must have seemed a good fit. Soon after, the staff noticed the usually aloof feline would occasionally spend time with a patient. That patient would then die with Oscar at his/her side. The staff recorded the events happening over a five-year period and the times Oscar had chosen a dying patient to visit. One time, the staff thought a patient was dying and they brought Oscar into the room so the patient would not be alone. Oscar would not stay and the patient did not die.

Tortitude

Tortitude is a term of endearment used to describe the unique behavior of tortoiseshell cats. It literally means tortie + attitude. So, you can imagine where this is going. The tortoiseshell cat looks much like a calico but with little or no white fur and usually very dark with yellow and russet coloring. It is not an actual breed but more of a mutation. Herein, lays a dilemma. Are these cats a product of nature or of the environment in which they are raised? My tortie story begins like this…

It's a Cat's World

There is wonderful place where cats (or any other animals) are not euthanized for being unadoptable. And, these cats live the good life! It’s called Cat World and it’s located at Best Friends Animal Society in Kanab, Utah. Best Friends is an animal sanctuary located in a place fittingly known as Angel Canyon where animals are rescued from hard lives and misfortune. Best Friends provides veterinary care to the cats that come to the sanctuary from all over the United States and beyond. Often times, they are saved from kill shelters, hoarders, abusers and natural disasters. They may need medical care, socialization and/or rehabilitation in order to be adopted and they can receive it all at Cat World. The sanctuary allows the cats to receive the love and support they need to heal from the physical or emotional traumas and challenges they have faced. In addition, cat lovers and volunteers can visit the sanctuary to help tame, groom, feed and guide the cats to a forever home. Further, if a kitty is deemed unadoptable (and this may be the best part of all), he/she will always have a home at Cat World in the Angel Canyon.

In my experience, cats who have a rough start in life or those with past abuse or neglect are usually the best feline companions. They do not forget humble beginnings or difficult experiences and they truly love their human guardians for providing their basic needs: food, shelter and love. For more information, about Cat World, how you can help, or, if you are looking to adopt, please go to:  http://www.bestfriends.org/atthesanctuary/animals/cats.cfm.

The Scottish Kitty

A cat of Scottish Fold breed is most distinguishable by their flat, folded ears, but there is more to this type of kitty than just this feature.

Most people who pick up a cat don’t really stop to think of what breed it is. Most people know their dog’s breed but when it comes to the question “what kind of cat do you have?” most people answer with their cat’s color or gender. This is probably because many cat breeds and mixes appear indistinguishable to the untrained eye. However, almost everyone will be able to tell a Scottish Fold breed cat just by looking at one. There most distinguishing feature is their ears which begin to fold forward and eventually lie flat forwards when they are about three weeks old. Scottish Fold cats can achieve different levels of “fold”. A single fold features ears just slightly bent forward about midway down the ear while a triple fold lies so flat to the head you can hardly see their ears at all.

The “Scottish” part of the breed’s name comes from the fact the breed was discovered in Scotland in 1961. Scottish Folds are typically 9 to 13 pounds for males and 6 to 9 pounds for females. They appear (and are) very soft and round with thick short hair. They are also known for being very kind, sweet and caring cats who enjoy being around their owners and participate in a medium level of activity provided their owner or a sibling cat or dog start the play. For cat ladies who want a unique cat a Scottish Fold is a wonderful option. They are also often used as show cats.

Tabby Color Schemes

One of the most recognizable cat coat patterns is the tabby. Even so, tabby coats come in a surprising variety of colors and patterns. The rich swirls of color in a tabby cat's coat are what give us the English name for the pattern, which was derived from the French term "tabis." Tabis was a kind of watered silk fabric, which came in vibrant colors marked by swirls and wavy patterns.
The tabby coat is so ubiquitous, even in feral and wild cats, that most experts believe it is one of the original colors of the house cat's direct ancestor.

Plants + House Cats: Choosing Wisely

What is it about cats and house plants? No one really understands why cats want to eat grass, although there are many theories. This urge to eat green leafy grass is certainly part of a cat's attraction to our house plants, but "sheer cussedness" seems to be the major factor. Why else will a cat ignore a particular plant for years, only to one afternoon up and decide to knock the whole thing over, eat half of it, and roll around grinding the soil into your carpet?
Unfortunately, many common house plants are quite toxic. I learned this lesson the hard way years ago when I came home to find my cat Frankie lying flat out on the floor, lethargic and drooling, with an alarming wheeze. A quick glance around the room showed that he had eaten half of the Peace lily (Spathiphyllum) which had been quietly growing on my windowsill unmolested for months.

Bodega Cats

This endearing YouTube video sings the praises of the Bodega Cat, an animal which is practically an institution in New York City. Bodega cats patrol the aisles of bodegas, small independently owned neighborhood grocery stores.
As the video itself points out, bodega owners can get a fine for having a cat in their store, if the health department finds out. But they can also be fined if they get rats or mice in their stores. And a lot more customers are driven away by rats and mice than they are by cats! From the bodega owner's perspective, the cats are a much better deal.

Ask Congress to Protect Cougars and Other Wildlife

Cougars, bobcats, coyotes, and other large American wildlife need your help. Congress is voting on a measure that would cut $11 million from the budget that is dedicated to poisoning, aerial gunning, and trapping these animals—often their own babies in their dens—and we need a “Yes” vote to protect them from this annual assault. Please click here  learn more and to write to Congress today.

3 New Cat Shows on Animal Planet

Animal Planet seems to be FINALLY shifting away from its ultra-lurid phase of shows like "When Animals Attack" and "20 Most Vicious Animal Attacks" and "Parasites That Will Make You Want To Wash Your Hands" and "I Got Bit." (Those last two aren't the shows' real names, but I know you know which ones I mean.)

In particular, Animal Planet has started three new cat-related shows which cat lovers will definitely want to check out!

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