Comical Cat Stories

Cats are strange creatures and it is often a complete mystery what goes on in their minds. They can be incredibly wilful and they also seem to enjoy set routines which must be stuck to or they can become quite upset. Occasionally you see stories about odd cat behaviour in the news and in this article I thought I’d share a few of my favourites with you. Sgt Podge We’ll kick off with the story of Sgt Podge, a 12 year old Norwegian Forest Cat who hit the headlines back in November of 2007. Sgt Podge developed a strange routine whereby he would disappear every night for an undisclosed location and then turn up in the morning in exactly the same spot about 1.5 miles from his home. The first time he disappeared his frantic owner, Liz, called round her neighbours and even phoned the RSPCA looking for him. She eventually got a call from an elderly woman who reported a cat matching Sgt Podge’s description was sitting on the pavement outside her house. Liz drove round and picked him up but he soon disappeared again. Liz got another phone call from the elderly woman reporting that Sgt Podge was back outside her home. She says it has now become a routine, so each morning after dropping her kids at school she stops by the appointed spot and opens the passenger door to allow Sgt Podge to jump in for the ride home. Apparently he turns up there every morning between 8 and 8.15 am and so even at weekends Liz has to drive round and pick him up. She reports on getting home that Sgt Podge has a nice breakfast before sleeping by the radiator. Oscar Oscar is another cat who appeared in the news back in July 2007. He lives in a nursing home in Providence, Rhode Island and according to the staff there he has developed the ability to predict when a resident will die. Oscar is a two year old cat they adopted and staff report that he frequently makes rounds of the nursing home but is not generally friendly. However when someone is about to die he insists on sitting with them and will complain if he is removed from the room, meowing and pacing the corridor outside. A professor at Brown University researched Oscar and found he correctly predicted the deaths of 25 residents. No one knows how Oscar is able to tell but experts believe he can sense chemical changes in ill people and reject the idea that he might be a cat psychic. Lupin As all cat owners will know our furry friends enjoy a bit of attention but few as are determined as our next cat, Lupin. As Germany’s television weatherman, Joerg Kachelmann began to give his report on live television Lupin wandered into the studio and rubbed against his leg. Kachelmann knew the cat needed attention so he picked Lupin up and continued the report. Lupin nibbled at his beard and seemed to enjoy his brief stint in the limelight. You can check out his appearance at YouTube.

Life with a Cat

I grew up with cats, and like them. But it's been a while since I lived with one, and I'd forgotten some of the delicate nuances of life with a cat. You know, the special rituals, the feline social graces, if you will, of being owned by a cat.

Now, mind, I do love the cat in question, but there are times . . . Why is it that whenever I want to write, the cat decides that, really, the keyboard, or the notebook, is her place of choice? And no matter what I might prefer, she really needs to be there? Also, how does she know, when I'm reading a book, which page I'm currently reading? And why is it that she likes to put her paw right on that page—more often than not, right on the exact paragraph? Another question: why does every pen I possess end up in her collection of toys?

At least I don't have this guy's problem. In the video above, British author Roger N. Morris, author of crime fiction like the recent A Vengeful Longing, and urban fiction as Roger Morris, attempts to get on with the current novel, with the help of his cat, Molly. This is the fourth in a series of five films Morris has made about life as a writer; they're all charming. Molly the cat was merely a bit player in the first one (which features the coffee pot), makes a token appearance in the second, but is the star of this one.

How A Cat Would Spend a Lottery Win

Suppose your cat won the lottery. What do you think your cat would spend all that money on?  We have a few guesses. . . Vacation Forget swimming pools and sandy beaches.  A cat wants comfort and luxury!  Soft beds, plenty of toys, pampering, gourmet food and opulent surroundings to relax and play.  Perhaps they would take a trip out West to the California Cat Center, where water fountains clean the air, caged finches provide music and entertainment (but not snacks) and their world famous catwalk in the Grand Salon is an ideal place for an after dinner stroll.  Like all high class hotels, the California Cat Center even has it's own boutique, so some retail therapy is available too. For something a little more exotic, a cat has to look no further than The Best Little Cat House, offering specialist rooms inspired by Tahiti, England, India, France, Africa and Italy.  All the benefits of world travel without the hassle of a passport and a long plane trip.  Each room has it's own kitty webcam, letting your cat make you thoroughly jealous as you watch him relax in his sumptuous apartment. Shopping Speaking of retail therapy, with all that dough on a cat's hip, where would they go to spend it?  The Sophisticated Cat website has plenty of clothes and accessories to keep a feline looking glamorous.  Cats can also get a bit of bling, with a personalized collar featuring their name spelled out in sparkling crystals. There is more glitz and glamor to be had at Animal Stars, with jewelled ID tags, featuring Swarovski Crystals.  For cats that like to make an entrance,  they also have a beautiful range of handcrafted sterling silver bejewelled bells. The Gilded Paw offers an even more exclusive range of cat accessories, including this fun glove for human servants to wear and provide entertainment whenever a cat demands.  They even have a selection of cat lingerie for the extra frisky feline! Kitty Food Above all else, your cat will want the best for his meals so he will choose foods that have the best nutritional value. No boring, dry cat food for this monied moggy!  Bring on the gourmet creations by the world's top pet chefs at Pet Cuisine who offer all natural cat food by subscriptions, so that your cat can have his food delivered right to his door.  How about a Steamed Tuna and Sole?  Or perhaps New England Crab Cakes? Only the best for this rich kitty. Their next stop may well be Bon A-Paw Tete, for the ultimate in luxury cat food.  Whether your cat's tastes are up market and may appreciate a Salmon Souffle,  or a bit more down to earth and would like nothing better to snack on a Pizza Pie,  they can find their favorite feast here.  They can even wash it all down with an Apple Peanut Butter Smoothie. After all of that vacationing, shopping and eating we are sure that you cat will want nothing more than to curl up in his favorite owner's lap and purr contentedly.  Maybe if you are lucky he will even spend some of his winnings on you!

Take the Dread out of the Dreaded Cat Bath

Other than the very rare exception, cats hate water, and as every cat owner will tell you trying to get a cat to do something they don't want to is not only practically impossible but quite often a painful experience.  I only have to try to lift my cat into the bathroom for him to suddenly extend razor sharp claws and start using them with Ninja-like efficiency.

Unfortunately, a cat bath can sometimes be a necessary evil, so how can you give your feisty feline a bath without getting the scars?  The main priority is to take steps to ensure that your cat’s bathing experience is calm one that won't leave a bad impression.

Seven Simple Steps To a Successful Cat Bathing

  1. For starters, choose a safe place where you will bathe him or her. Be sure you choose a room that has a door to it. That way they won’t be able to run and hide while they are wet.
  2. Be sure you have all your bathing supplies close at hand, so there is no need to run back and forth.  Be sure you have shampoo, conditioner, several towels, washcloths and a large jug or pitcher for water to rinse off your cat.
  3. Get your cat’s fur completely wet before applying the shampoo. Use lukewarm water and start around your cat's neck, then slowly and gently wetting the rest of the body, legs and tails. Apply the shampoo and rub down it into the fur.
  4. Avoid getting shampoo directly on the cat's face. Instead, use the washcloth to wash their face with just water. Always be careful around their eyes, and rinse the washcloth repeatedly.
  5. Rinse the cat’s fur completely. Any shampoo residue left behind can irritate their skin, defeating the purpose of the bath. Repeat the rinsing until you no longer see shampoo bubbles on the cat.
  6. Use one towel to soak up most of the water from your cat's fur. Use the other towels to dry them off as much as possible. Making sure they are completely dry may be more than bath time patience allows,  but try to absorb as much water as possible.
  7. Comb out your cat’s hair- especially if your feline is long-haired.  This will remove any loose hair that your cat could ingest when he grooms himself.

A word of caution: Cats are skittish about running water so be sure you stop running your faucet as you clean/bathe them. Be prepared for them to jump when you do turn on the faucet.

The Necessity Behind Baths and Shampoos

Why is it important that a cat get a bath every now and then? As well as removing dirt and old hair, baths can actually help cats with their grooming. A good cat shampoo can cut down on the amount of itching your cat may be doing due to irritation as well as reducing the number of hairballs caused by excessive grooming. Cat conditioners help to keep their hair manageable and prevent matting. If you want to keep your cat’s coat healthy, be sure to shampoo and condition their hair every six weeks or so.

Cat Cookies

I do a lot of cooking and baking, and recently found this great site with hundreds of animal cookie cutters, including several in the shape of cats, including this adorable design to the left.  I thought that since I was treating myself to a batch of cookies that I should whip up some treats for my cat, Jack, too. Most of the cat shaped cookie cutters will make cookies that are too big, so I found a teensy fish shaped one at Copper Gifts (they also have an oh-so-cute mini cat one too). 'GoldFish' Crackers for Your Cat
  • 6 ounce can of sardines, drained
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 2 egg whites, cooked and chopped into small pieces
  • 1/4 a cup of cornmeal
  • 1/2 a cup of whole wheat flour. (Refined, white flour is just as bad for cats as it is for humans, if not worse, so don't substitute it.)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, mix together the tuna, egg white and water. Add the cornmeal and flour and mix thoroughly until it becomes a dough. Knead the dough well before rolling out to about 1/4 inch thick. Cut as many cookies as you can with the mini cutter, or just slice into small pieces (about 1 inch or less). Bake at 350 degrees in a preheated over for 20 minutes. Depending on the size of your cookie cutter, this can make a batch of up to 3 dozen cat cookies.  Store them in an airtight container, or a zip lock back to keep them fresh. Be sure never to leave these crackers where a curious and greedy cat will find them.  Jack can open a pizza box with one paw, so a zip lock bag poses no security problems what so ever.

Obesity In Cats Is a Serious Problem

Did you know that obesity in cats is the number one health problem in most countries where cats are kept as pets? It is estimated that 40 percent of American cats are obese. The most common cause of feline obesity is overfeeding. "Cats tend to be grazers," said Kurt Iverson, external relations for the Iams Co. "By tightly controlling the daily feeding to the recommended guidelines...most problems can be avoided." Contrary to what you may think, feeding your cat every time he or she begs is not a loving thing to do. "Three pounds on a cat is like 40 pounds on an average human," said Iverson. Dry cat food is another cause of feline obesity. The problem is that cats need high protein diets and most dry foods have high carbohydrates content. Obesity leads to serious health problems Feline obesity leads to health problems, including diabetes, kidney and liver disease, heart problems, arthritis, and non-allergic skin conditions. Obese cats are also five times more likely to become lame because the excess weight puts “stress on joints, muscles and ligaments.” In 1989, a study was conducted which surveyed 2,000 cats at 31 veterinary clinics in the Northeast. The study found that 25 percent of the cats surveyed were overweight, 20 percent were “heavy,” and five percent were considered obese. “Too much extra weight is not healthy for the cat,” said Janet Scarlett, D.V.M., associate professor of epidemiology in Cornell's College of Veterinary Medicine, and one of the researchers in the study. A follow up study of the same cats four years later revealed that obese cats are:
  1. Four-and-a-half times more likely to develop diabetes
  2. Seven times more likely to require treatment for lameness
  3. Three times more likely to develop non-allergic skin conditions, probably because obese cats can’t reach every part of the body when grooming themselves
  4. Twice as likely to die in middle age (six to twelve years old)
How to tell if your cat is obese Are you wondering if your cat is obese? Here’s how you can tell: Feel the side of your cat. If you are able to feel the ribs, your cat is not obese. You can also stand over your cat and look at his or her waist. There should not be a bulge in your cat’s waist. A feline weight-loss program The first step in developing a weight-loss program for your cat, is to make an appointment with your veterinarian. During your cat’s examination, ask the veterinarian how much you should feed your cat. Then plan time to spend with your cat helping him or her to play. Veterinarian James R. Richards, director of the Feline Health Center at Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, says, “Exercise is the most effective thing we can do for overweight animals.” He suggests finding a toy you can both play with, “something that dangles on the end of a line, for example -- and get that cat off the couch a couple times a day.”

Thirsty Cats

As a cat owner I have noticed over the years that cats frequently try to steal my water any time I leave a fresh glass unattended and yet they ignore the water placed out for them in a drinking bowl. Different cats have different techniques for water theft, but there seem to be two main approaches, either they stick their entire head into the glass and lap away or worse they stick a paw in and just pull the glass over spilling the contents all over the place. The reason for this is fairly obvious, just like us; they prefer fresh water to water that has been lying around for any length of time. If your cat eats wet food then they will be getting a fair amount of moisture from that but they still need a source of fresh drinking water. If your cat is on a dry cat food diet then fresh water is absolutely essential. Other factors such as the heat and amount of exercise they get will also have an impact on how much water they need. A lack of water can lead to health problems for your pet so this is something you need to provide. Dehydration is bad for any animal and cats can develop bladder infections and kidney problems if they aren’t getting enough to drink. Water bowls frequently get dirty and can become a breeding ground for bacteria. Since they sit next to the food bowls if your cat is a messy eater they will also often end up with bits of food and stray hairs floating in them. You need to change the water as frequently as possible and ensure that you disinfect the bowl regularly. You may notice that cats will often try to drink from the tap when it is running. They seem to have a preference for running water however you can’t really leave your taps running all day long. One solution is to invest in a cat fountain. There are various different types available on the market, some are stand alone products which just hold water and others have separate compartments for their food as well. They have a motor inside which re-circulates the water ensuring it is oxygenated and filtered. With cat fountains your pet can drink fresh and cool water with ease. There are various designs but many spread the water over a surface as it runs out to make drinking it easier and your cat can choose to drink from the running surface or the pool at the bottom. The fountains can be filled with tap water and any debris or impurities are filtered out as the motor runs. You will have to leave the fountain plugged in all day but the majority of them are quiet and they don’t use a great deal of electricity. So if you are fed up with your cat muscling in to drink from the tap or sticking their head into your glass of water this could be the right solution. You may also find that you are surprised how much water your cat drinks once they have access to a fresh supply.

CatCam Shows Where Kitty Goes

Ever wished you could see all your cat’s secret haunts and activities while he’s out roaming the neighborhood? Well, now you can. Thanks to a cool German site called “Mr. Lee – Projects for Cats and Pets,” you can find out where all your cat goes and where he likes to hang out, and you can even have him shoot digital pix of all his feline pals, girl/boyfriends, enemies, frenemies, and even his prey. You might not want to see that last one, especially when it comes to snakes, mice, rats, spiders, and so on, but hey… that’s part of an outdoor cat’s life. The photos have a very interesting perspective, with most taken at about six inches above the ground. The site features a wealth of pictures taken by Mr. Lee himself, as well as other cats. Some of the images are quite artistic – who knew cats were so talented! Of course as we all know cats also spend a great deal of time napping. During these times all the pictures he takes will be black and boring. The solution? Hit delete. The Mr. Lee site sells CatCams, CatTracks, and (coming soon) even a wireless Live CatCam that feeds a live signal to your TV or computer via broadband. Mr. Lee himself is of course the star of the site. This gray-striped and white tomcat was born in South Carolina, but somehow ended up in Germany. He has even been given a trophy for taking the “World’s Biggest Small Photo.” He likes to eat shrimp cocktails out of it. The Mr. Lee CatCam is a small 2.5-ounce noiseless digital camera that goes on your cat’s collar or harness. It’s enclosed in a plastic outer case that protects the camera from shock as well as dust, dirt, and water - because you never know what your cat’s going to get into next. Drinking water from the toilet or puddles? No problem. Playing in the litterbox or getting into fights? Yeah. You get the idea. The CatCam, which uses one AAA battery (rechargeable battery recommended), takes a picture automatically at selected intervals. The factory preset is every 10 seconds, but you can change it to take photos however often you like. The CatCam will also take short video images as well. As of this writing, the CatCam sells for $58 US plus shipping. The price will vary, however, due to currency fluctuations. If you want to know where your cat is at any given time, or to find out how far he roams, you might want to consider the Mr. Lee CatTrack. This satellite-based GPS tracking device lets you know just where Fluffy is at any given time. Those who prefer the live wireless video streaming model will have to wait a little longer, as it is in development now, according to the Mr. Lee site. However, the site shows how the live cam will work and provides other information about it. You can also sign up to be notified when it becomes available. There’s also a 2009 CatCam calendar called “Views Beyond the Cat Flap!” that features pictures taken by cats wearing Mr. Lee CatCams. The sales for the CatCam calendars go to a British charity called Pets as Therapy. This worthy cause provides gentle, trained cats and dogs to hospices, nursing homes, etc., to provide love and comfort to the patients.

Pet Food Recall - Salmonella Poisoning

Mars Petcare has announced a recall of several lines of its pet food, including Special Kitty cat food and Ol' Roy dog food. The recall affects all pet food produced at one of its plants, which had become tainted with salmonella. Although there are no reports of pets getting sick, there have been several cases of people getting sick after handling the pet food - particularly toddlers, who presumably played with the food and/or ate some of it out of the bowl. Is it just me, or was 2008 a bad year for pet food? The melamine disaster affected hundreds of trusted pet food brands. Although in this case, I'm not sure if Ol' Roy can be referred to as a "trusted" pet food brand. Honestly, if you're feeding your pet Ol' Roy or Special Kitty, you have bigger things to worry about. These low-quality foods are the pet equivalent of a diet of Twinkies. Even Purina One or Pedigree will be a better choice for your pet. Ideally you would want to feed a high-quality food like Natural Balance (my personal choice), Wysong, or Canidae/Felidae. But hey, those foods get pricey, and we're all trying to economize. With all the bad news regarding pet food, it is no surprise that many people have started cooking for their pets. Many online resources exist for pet food cooking and suggestions - including valuable nutrients which you will need to feed as a supplement. For example, cats need taurine, which is only available in cat food and in feline nutritional supplements . You can't cook up a big batch of taurine for your cats, and it's a critical nutrient. I have been cooking for my cats, as a replacement for the canned food portion of their diet. I steam a frozen chicken thigh for about an hour (until it gets seriously mushy), then crack in a few eggs, and add a splash of fish sauce. I freeze half of the results and save them for later. The other half keeps for up to a week in the fridge. Healthy, nutritious, and super easy!

Does Your Cat Go on Walks With You?

I have written a few entries in the past few weeks regarding my odd and auspicious, yet oh so cute and lovable kitten named Migs. We found our cat outside of our home one night, roughly a year ago, he was homeless and hungry, and very thin. The neighborhood kids next door had named him Migs because he would streak across the front yards at lightning speed, like a Russian Mig fighter jet, and the name just sort of stuck. Migs has been the most interesting animal that I have ever had the pleasure of keeping company with. He has the most unique personality that I have ever seen in a cat, and I am just thankful that he found our front door that night and that we opened it and welcomed him into our life. And here is yet another interested tale of our experiences with our lovable and boisterous kitten named Migs. It Took us a While to Realize he Was Following Us We have two large dogs, a wolf hybrid named Wolfgang Amadeus (after Mozart of course) and a Lab/Rotty mix, named Sampson. We take the boys on a few mile walk every evening before they get their dinner; wet food and a treat. And yes, my dogs are spoiled rotten, but what is the point of having dogs if you don’t give them the world right? Our newer house in Chandler, AZ, has a kitty door for our cat; he was always an outside cat, so we wanted him to have options when we moved. But we didn’t think that he would start following us on walks. But naturally, Migs wanted to feel like an active member of our pride, and before we knew it he began following us on our evening walks with our dogs. Now our Cat Walks with us Regularly First it started with us noticing him streaking by and hiding under cars, or in bushes. Then our dogs began to whine and look for him. Finally, we caught him following us on several occasions, always staying in the shadows and ducking out of sight, like a little kitten spy. Then it would become routine. Every time that we took the boys on their walk, the shadow of Migs and the jingle of his collar and name tag could be heard in the distance. It was not long before he was accompanying us on each and every walk—feeling like a true member of the family. It has Become a Game of Sorts It has become a game for him now. He hides and ducks and darts. And then he tries to make it home before we do. He creeps in through his door and then waits by the front door with questioning eyes that scream: “I was here the whole time, nice to see you again mom and dad!” What Outlandish Things Does your Cat Do? I am curious to learn what weird things that your cat may do? I have never heard of kittens following people on walks. Please comment back with your weird cat stories, I am anxious to read them all, and to learn more about your experiences.

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