Cat Facts

MANEKI-NEKO POM POM ART

Caturday Art

The current Olympics in Tokyo inspired today’s art. Japan always makes me think of the maneki-neko (beckoning cat). I have a small collection from Dad Tom’s many trips to Japan, which I shared in a post (The Beckoning Cat Maneki-Neko) in 2013. The photo from that post is the basis for my art.

maneki-neko

I selected the Starry Night effect from Painnt and a frame from Favpng to create this. I like how it looks like a collage made from the fuzzy pom poms used for craft projects.

This is my submission for the Caturday Art blog hop hosted by Athena Cat Goddess Wise Kitty. You can join in the fun by clicking on her badge.

If you do not know the history of the maneki-neko, click on the link in the first paragraph to read my original post.

Sunday Selfies Reminder

Summer is speeding past at breakneck speed. Kids are already going back to school, and a new week begins again tomorrow. That means it’s time again for our Sunday Selfies blog hop. All the Kitties Blue are looking forward to seeing your adorable faces, and I know your other friends are as well. So, please don’t forget to join us. You have through Thursday to hop!

See y’all tomorrow.

22 WAYS CATS MAKE HUMANS HAPPIER & HEALTHIER

Today Kitties Blue have a guest post and infographic from Emily Parker (Catological.com). We thank her for selecting us to share this information with our readers. We think you will find it interesting and informative.

Science-Backed Reasons Why Cats Are Good For Us

As cat lovers know, our kitties do many things to enrich our lives. Cats bring us joy upon entering our homes by providing constant companionship, expressing unconditional love and providing hours of entertainment.

Cat lovers have known for years about the benefits of sharing their lives with cats, but scientists are just discovering the many ways cats benefit humans. Read on to find out more fascinating facts about how science now confirms how good cats are for us.

In today’s world, getting a good night’s sleep can be tough. Scientists have found, however, if you let kitty curl up in your bed, you are twice as likely to feel refreshed and invigorated upon waking.

Having a purring cat near you who loves to be petted will greatly help reduce stress or anxiety. According to researchers, those two things, as well as merely watching your laid-back cat, will help you calm down.

Your kitty also can help alleviate or even eliminate certain medical conditions. In numerous studies, cat owners tend to have lower rates of both high blood pressure and cholesterol. In an even more stunning scientific finding, some individuals, with these conditions, who became cat owners had such drops in blood pressure and cholesterol that their doctors were able to reduce or even totally discontinue medications.

Whether you suffer from stress, high blood pressure or cholesterol or find yourself in a funk, having a cat in your life can change everything for the better.

To learn more about how cats make us significantly happier and healthier, check out the fun infographic below, or see the original article at www.catological.com/22-ways-cats-make-people-happier-healthier/.

TOTAL CAT MOJO REVIEW & GIVEAWAY

Book Review

I am an unabashed fan of Jackson Galaxy, as I am certain most of you know. So when I was asked if I wanted to review his new book, Total Cat Mojo, I immediately said, “Yes, please.”n

If your cat had come with a instruction manual, this book would be it. As the book’s subtitle (The Ultimate Guide to Life with Your Cat) suggests, Total Cat Mojo is a must read reference book for all cat guardians and anyone thinking of adopting for the first time.

Let’s start with defining Cat Mojo. According to Galaxy mojo is: “the confidence that cats exhibit when they are at ease in their environment an in touch with their natural instincts—to hunt, catch, kill, eat, groom, and sleep.”

Galaxy says in the book’s introduction, “My primary occupation through these years actually has not been about solving cat issues but about teaching you how to find, cultivate, and hold onto mojo.”

Galaxy’s packed everything he has learned since his first days working at the Humane Society of Boulder Valley (Colorado) in the early nineties to being the star of the Animal Planet television program, My Cat from Hell, into this 365-page book.

He starts by describing what he calls “The Raw Cat.” The Raw Cat is another cat (little changed from ancient times) living inside your cat. This “ancestral twin” of your cat “sends constant transmissions to your companion about the urgency of securing territory, hunting, killing, eating, and staying ever alert, because just as cats hunt, they are also being hunted.” It is in understanding your cat’s instinctual behaviors that you will be able to eliminate the actions that are keeping your cat from attaining total cat mojo.

Territorial issues, litter box problems, aggression, anxiety, new pet/family member introductions…absolutely any question you might have with regard to these and other issues, are addressed in Total Cat Mojo. If you need help with your cat, you cannot find a better authority than Jackson Galaxy. He gives you all the tools you’ll need to have a happy and confident cat…filled with mojo!

Both an extensive table of contents and index will let you easily find the issues with which you might need help. Regardless, I suggest you read the entire book before putting it on the shelf as your go-to cat reference handbook.

Total Cat Mojo was written with Mikel Delgado, co-owner of Feline Minds, a San Francisco Bay area based cat behavior consulting business. It also is sprinkled throughout with delightful illustrations by Bobby Rock.

Book Tour

In conjunction with tomorrow’s release of Total Cat Mojo, Galaxy will be visiting book stores across America from November 1 through 18. Here’s the schedule:

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – Nov. 1, 2017 • 7:00pm • get tickets
hosted by Rainy Day Books at the Turner Hall Ballroom

ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI – Nov. 2, 2017 • 7:00pm • get tickets
hosted by Left Bank Books at The Ethical Society of St. Louis

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – Nov. 3, 2017 • 7:00pm • get tickets
hosted by Rainy Day Books at Unity Temple on The Plaza Sanctuary

TEMPE, ARIZONA – Nov. 5, 2017 • get tickets
• NEW TIME: 3:30pm
• NEW VENUE: Dobson High School auditorium, hosted by Changing Hands Bookstore

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – Nov. 7, 2017 • 7:00pm • get tickets
hosted by The Strand at The Strand (3rd floor)

HUNTINGTON (LONG ISLAND), NEW YORK – Nov. 8, 2017 • 7:00pm • more info
hosted by Book Revue

WASHINGTON, DC – Nov. 10, 2017 • 7:00pm • get tickets
hosted by Politics and Prose at the Wharf

MARIETTA, GEORGIA – Nov. 12, 2017 • 7:00pm • get tickets
hosted by A Cappella Books of Atlanta at The Mansour Center

AUSTIN, TEXAS – Nov. 15, 2017 • 7:00pm • get tickets
hosted by Book People

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – Nov. 17, 2017 • 7:00pm • get tickets
hosted by University Bookstore at University Temple Methodist

BEAVERTON, OREGON – Nov. 18, 2017 • 2:00pm • more info at powells.com
hosted by Powell’s Cedar Hills Crossing

Please Note: Some of these venues may

require that you purchase a book from the venue to attend the event
not allow previously purchased books, or books purchased elsewhere, at their event
have limited capacity
require tickets
not allow cats or pets in the venue

Giveaway

I have one copy of Total Cat Mojo to give away to a reader. For the opportunity to win, leave a comment here prior to 5 p.m. ET on Saturday, November 4. Random.org will be used to select the winner. We’ll announce the name of that person on next Sunday’s Selfie post. The giveaway is open to all readers worldwide.

Disclaimer: I received from Penguin Random House one uncorrected proof of Total Cat Mojo for the purpose of review and one copy of the published book to give away. This was in exchange for my fair and honest review. I received no additional compensation.

October 30, 2017 by Janet Blue Book Review Cat Facts Giveaway Health 27

TEN MOST COMMON CAT DISEASES

Kitties Blue and I are excited to have a guest post today. It was supposed to appear yesterday, but due to technical issues, I was forced to postpone it.

We think it is one you will find to be informative. It is written by Mary Nielsen from FelineLiving.net. As way of introduction, this is from her web-site:

Greetings, fellow cat lovers and cat parents! Welcome to our furry little corner of the internet! My name is Mary Nielsen. Together with my husband Dave, I run felineliving.net.

An important note: We are not veterinarians, animal behaviorists, nor cat breeders. The advice and tips we give here for raising happy and healthy cats are based purely on our own experience and research. It’s our goal to find the best information we can find on anything feline-related and share it with hardworking pet parents like us.

Common Cat Illnesses: A Guestographic

Our feline family members are usually pretty intelligent, but they aren’t able to tell us, in so many words, when they aren’t feeling well. As healthy as you try to keep your cat, she is vulnerable to contracting one of these several diseases. Most of them can be treated, allowing her to recover and regain her usual energy. Others, unfortunately, aren’t treatable, which means your cat will eventually cross the Rainbow Bridge.

Easily Treated

From upper respiratory infections (colds) to lower urinary tract disease (painful infections of your cat’s urinary tract), then up to feline hyperthyroidism and diabetes, once you notice something is wrong with your cat, you and your vet can decide on the most appropriate treatments. Some of the treatments, such as for upper respiratory treatments and lower urinary tract disease, are short-term, allowing her to get well. Other conditions are chronic, meaning you’ll have to monitor your cat’s condition and give her daily medications. If your cat eats something infested with worms, she’ll be obviously ill. While her symptoms may be scary, they can be treated. This treatment means she’ll receive a medication meant to kill off the worms in her digestive tract.

Treatable Chronic Illnesses

Moving up a level to more serious, but still treatable conditions, chronic kidney disease means you and your vet will need to treat what caused your cat’s illness. This may be an infection or an accidental ingestion of antifreeze. Treatment for this illness may be lifelong. Feline hyperthyroidism also falls into this category. Again, you’ll have to give her regular medications. Specialized foods may help manage her condition; though, surgery may be the only option.

Fatal Illnesses

Illnesses, such as rabies, feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) and feline leukemia virus infection (FeLV) are all diseases that can’t be cured.

FIP can be managed with supportive care that allows your cat to feel more comfortable. On the other hand, rabies will be fatal to your cat. Vaccinations are mandatory all across the U.S.

Between you and your vet, you’ll be able to manage your cat’s health until it’s time to let her go. The time between initial diagnosis of FeLV and FIV and your cat’s death may last for years, allowing you time to enjoy your cat’s company. While vaccines are available for FIV, they aren’t appropriate for every cat. Your vet can advise you about this. The vaccine for FeLV is suitable for all cats.

I must apologize to all of you and Mary for not being able to get a decent rendering of her beautiful and informative infographic here on our blog. You really do want to review it, so I suggest clicking on the link at the top of the page to visit her site.

I am grateful to Mary and FelineLiving.net for creating this post for us.

October 3, 2017 by Janet Blue Cat Facts Health Infographic 14

IS YOUR CAT HAPPY?

Happy Cats

September is #HappyCatMonth. Kitties Blue expect me to keep them in good spirits every day throughout the year. However, the CATalyst Council, a national initiative comprised of animal health and welfare organizations working on behalf of cats, established September as the official month devoted to making our furry friends happy.

The non-profit Catalyst Council was established to help create a better future for our felines. According to the CATalyst Council, There “vision is a cat-caring society which will be achieved through our mission of connecting & collaborating to advance the health, welfare and value of companion cats. This will ensure all cats are cared for and valued as pets.”

As cat parents, caring for our cats and giving them happy, healthy and safe homes is at the top of our list of priorities. Before you set to spoiling your furry anipal, however, make certain your feline is healthy. Even cats living inside 24/7 (which is always the safest for kitty) should have yearly vet visits. If it’s been awhile since your precious puss visited the veterinarian, please make an appointment for a wellness check and preventative care. A healthy cat is a happy cat.

Suggestions to Promote Your Cat’s Physical and Mental Well-Being

Take some time each day to play with your cat. Wand toys provide an excellent way to enjoy a one-on-one play session. Play before bedtime can help a midnight frolicker sleep through the night.
Break out a new toy or one your cat hasn’t played with recently. If your kitty likes catnip, provide a toy infused with nip for hours of fun. (Cat toys do not need to be fancy. The plastic cap from your milk carton, an empty toilet paper roll or a paper bag all make great toys.)
Occasionally spoil your companion with their favorite food or treat. Just go easy and don’t make this a daily practice. Being overweight impedes your feline’s ability to move, run and play and can lead to serious health issues.
Provide mental stimulation for your cat by making certain she can access a window for bird and wildlife spotting. Adding a bird feeder and/or bird bath to your yard will offer your furry friend hours of entertainment and pleasure.
A pot of cat grass is easy to grow indoors for kitty’s munching. Cat grass is a form of fiber. Eating it is instinctual for cats, and it may help your floofy feline throw up those nasty hairballs.
A spa day can bring pleasure to kitty. A good brushing session and massage offers a great opportunity for bonding. And don’t forget that pawticure. Clipping your cat’s claws and providing a sturdy scratching post will save your furniture and your peace of mind.
Provide spots around the house where your cat can feel safe and secure as well as go to relax when she needs some alone time. Any change in routine and your cat is likely to become stressed, which can lead to illness.

I know for Kitties Blue spending time on the catio makes them happy.

We should all strive to keep our cats happy everyday, but take some extra time this month to see what you can do to add to your kitty’s pleasure. I am certain all of you have a variety of other ideas for making and keeping your cat happy. Please share them in the comments section.

A happy cat makes for a happy human!

September 12, 2017 by Janet Blue Cat Facts Happy Cat Month Health 15

PAW ON FIRE!

International Lefthanders Day

Today is International Lefthanders Day, so the petretary had the crazy idea of combining a post about that with our Caturday Art. I must warn you, whenever she tells our dad that she’s been thinking or has an idea, he runs for the hills. They can often be rather cock-eyed.

Since this is a cat blog, she decided to address whether or not we cats favor one paw over the other. The answer is yes but only when we are trying to perform difficult tasks. This is based on tests of 42 domestic cats performed by psychologists, Deborah Wells and Sarah Millsop, from Queen’s University, Belfast, Northern Ireland. They also discovered, that of the cats tested, females generally favored the right paw (20-1) and males the left (20-1) over dozens of trials. You can read all about Wells’ and Millsop’s 2009 research as well as that of others at MessyBeast.com. When you arrive at the site, click on the MessyBeast button and then the Behavior and Training link. You also can find out how to determine which paw your cat favors.

In non-demanding tasks, like toy play, most of the cats tested used both paws equally.

An early test (1991) conducted at by researchers at Turkey’s Ataturk University, showed the majority of domestic cats are right pawed (50 percent), 40 percent favor their left paw and the remaininging 10 percent are ambidextrous. You can read all the particulars about this research here.

Caturday Art

Now to our actual art for this week’s Caturday Art Blog Hop. Behold the petretary’s creation.

Cat Mauricio's paw is virtually set on fire for Caturday Art.

I’m fairly certain you recognize a cat’s paw in the photo. That’s my paw (Mauricio)! But why in the world does it look like it is on fire? That reference is totally obscure, so let me explain. The H-O-T-S have returned to southwest Virginia. With temps in the 90s F and high humidity, our mom usually doesn’t leave the house. Yesterday, however, she had an errand and then Fiona’s vet appointment. She commented that she was so hot she felt like she was going to spontaneously burst into flames! So now you have the reason for her confounded concoction. She wanted this to look as if my paw started this conflagration. You can decide for yourselves if you agree or not. I refuse to weigh-in with my opinion!

The crazy art was created using piZap and then posterized in Picasa. I’m not certain why the “artist” (Mom) is having me tell you this. It is not as if any of you would want to recreate her attempt at art.

This is our submission to Athena Cat Goddess Wise Kitty‘s Caturday Art Blog Hop. To enter some art of your own and/or view the other submissions, click on the link.

We will return tomorrow to begin the third year of our Sunday Selfies Blog Hop. Last week was a great hop to end year two. Our host for tomorrow, Fiona, will tell you all about it. She’ll also fill you in on her appointment with Dr. Neel and her CKD.

Until then…purrs and paw-pats, Mauricio

August 13, 2016 by Janet Blue Cat Facts Caturday Art Blog Hop Kitty Written Blog 21

FEEDING TIME AT THE BLUE ZOO

Feeding Kitties Blue

I previously mentioned our morning and evening feedings of stinky goodness and why it is served in the post, “Angels, Lisbeth and Astrid, Turn One.”

Five cats eating from white bowls: one white, one tuxie, two greys and one ginger tabby.

A typical feeding time scene. Lily Olivia and Misty May were on the countertops on either side of this group.

Morning feeding time normally occurs prior to 8:30 a.m. This morning, however, I didn’t serve the first meal of the day until after 9 a.m. Breakfast being served late usually causes an uproar as well as me being pushed and prodded to get out of bed and to my duties. Not so today. Misty May remained above my head on the pillow. Lily Olivia and Mauricio were curled up on either side of me.

Giulietta and Fiona rarely sleep on the bed but will pester me in the mornings to get up. They were no where in sight. Neither were Astrid or Lisbeth. When I went to bed, the former was asleep in a kitty bed in the sewing room. The latter was on a folding table in the laundry room.

White cat and calico cat eating from white bowls on counter top.

Lily allowed the well-behaved Madison to share her counter space.

Lack of Urgency

When I made it to the kitchen, Lily Olivia took up her place on the counter next to the food bowls. She sat quietly at attention while I dished up her meal. Normally she has her head in the can, and I cannot get her food in a bowl without getting it on her head or the counter. Almost always, Lisbeth jumps up on the counter while Lily is waiting. Lily usually ignores her, as she did this a.m. Her sheer lack of urgency, however, was totally out of character.

Whenever we are away and a PlayTime Pet Sitting caregiver comes to feed, we always get notes about Lily Olivia. She’s the first one to arrive when it is time to eat. Her penchant for “helping out” while food is dished up is noted each day.

Opening any kind of can has always brought the kitties running, even before we began serving stinky goodness. In times past, when we ate tuna from a can instead of a pouch, kitties appeared out of nowhere when they heard the electric can opener. Sometimes they only found soup or veggies at the end of their quest. It was always better, however, to check out what was in the can than to miss out on a meaty treat. With tuna I would drain the water into small bowls for whichever of Kitties Blue showed up.

Can Opener on the Porch

When our first cat, Skooter, was young and would not respond to our pleadings to come into the house, we plugged in the electric can opener on the front porch where we ran it “sans can” to lure him. He would come, but unless we were really fast at grabbing him, he would sprint off again when his nose didn’t detect the aroma of any savory substance.

We still have an electric can opener but rarely find a use for it. Most cans, including cat food, now come with a pull-tab. I doubt that Astrid and Lisbeth have ever heard the can opener. I believe I may have to experiment with them and see if responding to its sound has now become instinctual in kitties.

Catnip Hangover

I suspect the reason for this morning’s scenario was due to hangovers from the catnip ingested last night by all but Misty May (who had already gone to bed). I had to bribe a few of them to come in off the back deck last night so I could go to bed. Bribery has always consisted of Pounce or some other brand of cat treats, but with all the catnip Chris has been bringing the kids, I have been using some when trying to prompt them to do my bidding.

White cat eating from bowl with grey kitten pushing her face into bowl.

Madison, always the gentleman, allowed a baby Giulietta to share his food. Giulietta now gets nosed out of her bowl by either Astrid or Lisbeth.

Lily Olivia returned to her pushy, insinuating self at dinnertime. Order restored at the zoo! And I made everyone stay in the house after they ate; though, I had to listen to Astrid bellyaching and watch her shred another newspaper. So…no treats or catnip for the troops tonight. I expect an early wake-up call tomorrow morning.

September 22, 2012 by Janet Blue Backstory Cat Facts Kitties Blue Nipheads 9

YOU
For Fiona

It seems like only yesterday…
You were just a kitten.
When I saw your pleading look,
I was completely smitten.

Now at only six years old,
You are getting ready to leave,
Soon you will have your wings.
I’ve already started to grieve.

You’ve fought hard for the past year,
And I’m not ready to say good-bye.
I can’t imagine you not in my life
I am so sad…today I had to cry.

I am grateful and blessed
For my six years with you.
You’ll live in my heart forever.
You’re one of the best ever Kitties Blue.

YESTERDAY

Many yesterdays have passed since
You gained your angel wings. Today
Is six months since you left us behind
To remember and mourn. Our hearts
Continue to hurt, and we miss
You as much as the day you left.
Giulietta whined from the catio
Yesterday as I worked in the yard.
I know you put her up to it. That
Was your way of getting me to,
Allow you to join me as I
Gardened. You were there with me
In spirit. With every meow
I thought of you and how much I miss
Your sweet face and disposition.
In these past few months, many friends
Have traveled your same path in your
paw-steps. I am certain you were
Waiting to greet them with purrs and hugs.
I pray you and your friends are laughing,
Frolicking and having fun together.
Picturing that makes me smile, but
Does not lessen my sadness at your
No longer being here to snuggle
And receive our love, care and kisses.
Fiona, please do not ever forget
You are still and always will be loved.

ONE YEAR MISSING YOU

One year has passed since you flew away,
And I still think of you everyday.
I see your sweet face in my mind’s eye
And wish we’d never had to say good-bye.
It’s nice you’ve sent us kitties needing a family,
But my dearest love, we are now at capacity.
You thought it would take more than one cat
To take your place in our habitat.
We love Cooper Murphy and baby Sawyer dearly
But thinking either could replace you makes me teary.
You were one-of-a-kind and will stay in my heart
Until the day I join you and we’re no longer apart.
When once again I can hold you in my arms
And revel in all your love and feline charms.
Together with you and all who have passed.
I will spend eternity contemplating how blessed
I was to share my life with my furry children,
Each and every one of you one-in-a billion.

UNTIL

I miss you each day.
Until we meet in heaven,
The pain will remain.

ONE OF A KIND

I don’t know how to say good-bye.
I thought you were invincible; though,
You used up many of your nine lives.
You ruled us all with an iron paw;
Never took “no” for an answer
And always got your way.
If not, you’d bark to signal your
Displeasure and sometimes raise a paw.
I always joked that you were bi-polar.
When I told people you were a calico
They immediately understood what I meant.
Today was unnaturally quiet in the house.
Can a home seem empty with eight cats?
I will miss waking up at night to find you
Sitting next to me and staring at me.
I will miss you yelling at us as you did
When you wanted breakfast and dinner.
I will miss watching you lounging and snoozing
On the porch settee on a warm afternoon.
But most of all I will miss your kisses!
When kitten Sawyer befriended you,
We suspect you were imparting your
Wisdom and secrets for controlling us.
Time will tell if he was a good listener.
But whatever he may have learned,
Neither Sawyer nor any other cat
Can or will replace you in our hearts.
Lily Olivia, you were one-of-a-kind.