My Nine Lives

He can smell freedom from here...

2008-01-25T14:10:00.000-08:00

The Basics of Feline Communication

2008-01-23T10:24:00.000-08:00

We all love our cats. However, sometimes understanding them can be a challenge because they are not as open and willingly communicative as dogs tend to be. Though cats may not be as loud or obvious as dogs, they still communicate their needs and desires. Cats primarily speak to their owners through three (3) primary means: 1) their tail 2) their ears and 3) their "verbal" noises.

In general, the most popular indicator of a cat's communication is through their tail. For example, if your cat's tail is arched, bristled, or "poofy," that usually means they are frightened or surprised. When their tail bristles, it is a defense mechanism that makes them appear larger than they truly are so they can intimidate their enemies. If you see your cat's tail flicking and swaying, this usually means that they have spotted something very intriguing and they are either studying it or preparing to pounce. This can either be a playful motion or an aggressive one, depending on the cat and situation. Either way, if you see your cat acting this way, you may want to make sure you are clear of their line of pouncing...you don't want your kitty clawing your leg or shoe!

A cat's ears are also very telling about their thoughts or intentions. If your cat's ears are pricked way back, flat on their head, this usually means they are stressed in some way or another, or that they are afraid. For example, if you are clipping your cat's claws, their ears will most likely be pulled back to show their extreme dislike of the situation. If their ears are pricked straight upward and twitching, they are alert and listening to something. Though their listening is not as good a dog's, they are still conscious of their surroundings and enjoy listening to new and interesting sounds. Finally, if your cat's ears are pointed slightly forward and upward, this simply means that they are relaxed, happy and content.

Lastly, some cats can be surprisingly "verbal" in their communication. That is, they purr, meow and hiss. When a cat purrs, it either means that they are completely content, happy, and relaxed, or it can also mean that they are stressed and afraid. When your cat purrs, you will be able to gauge whether it is happy purring or not. The longer you have had your cat and the more you talk to your cat, your cat will talk back to you. Cats have a large variety of meows, gurgles, 'eeps' and many other vocalizations. As you get to know you're cat, you will gradually be able to understand when you cats wants food, water, or wants to go outside or be played with.

The more you study and watch you cat, the more you will be able to understand what they are telling you through their body language and vocalizations. Cats are interesting creatures, and they are a joy to get to know. Taking the time to study your cat's particular communication habits is well worth it. Enjoy getting to know your kitty!

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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jen_Fortney

Bright Eyes

2008-01-23T10:17:00.000-08:00

Happy Cat

2008-01-23T10:14:00.000-08:00

For A Dead Kitten

2008-01-21T10:40:00.000-08:00

I know its kind of morbid but I read this poem once as a kid and never forgot it...

For a Dead Kitten

Put the rubber mouse away,
Pick the spools up from the floor,
What was velvet shod, and gay,
Will not want them, any more.

What was warm, is strangely cold.
Whence dissolved the little breath?
How could this small body hold
So immense a thing as Death?

Sara Henderson Hay

2008-01-20T18:33:00.000-08:00

2008-01-20T18:31:00.000-08:00

Zero Gravity Cat-- Very cool Taken from digg.com

2008-01-12T08:11:00.000-08:00

Declawing

2008-01-11T14:06:00.000-08:00

Declaw - More than Just a Manicure
Written by Maryjean Ballner

At the veterinarian's office, the family proudly smiled at their newest addition to the family. But the cat didn't smile back; it was still groggy from the anesthesia. That was just as well; blood was seeping through two of the four bandages covering his little paws.

The children were eager to cuddle him, but the vet patiently explained that the cat needed rest, and soon he'd be good as new. The vet tech who held the cat pondered that. "Good as new? How could that be? He's just been mutilated, for goodness sakes. And once the anesthesia wears off, the secondary trauma - the long-term trauma- begins."

The little boy asked, "When will Tommy-Cat be able to play again? We just bought a new, extra -wide scratching pad for him." The vet looked confused, as he gently explained, "Oh no, little guy, he won't be able to use a scratching pad. Tommy-Cat doesn't have claws anymore." The little boy said, "What do you mean, he has no claws anymore? Where'd they go?" "Well, " the vet said uncomfortably, "we cut them off." The little boy persisted, "but they'll grow back, right?" The vet looked up to the family. Didn't they explain to the little boy what just happened?

The family meant well. They were afraid that the cat would scratch their furniture, maybe ruin a curtain, so they did what they thought was a solution. They declawed.
Like most well-intentioned people, they didn't understand the extent of declawing- it's not just a manicure. The entire claw, tendon, bone and ligament to the first knuckle of each joint is amputated. It is a major trauma, with long-lasting repercussions.
During the procedure, the cat's paw is extended. Large nail clippers, similar to pruning shears, crunch through the joint. Hemostats- clamping scissors- help tear the joint away from the paw. The bloody stump is cleaned, and an adhesive is squeezed into the gaping hole where the cat's toe had been. Pressure is applied to stop the bleeding and the paw is bandaged.
Examine your own hand, palm up. Look for the crease at your first knuckle. That's where the clippers crush down to amputate. Imagine having all ten of your fingertips chopped off. If they were your fingers and toes, there's no one on earth who could possibly tell you that "...soon you'll be good as new."

People who think declawing will solve one problem, are often surprised to learn this: Declawing often starts a chain reaction of medical and psychological disasters. Please don't declaw. The possible benefits rarely outweigh the probable negatives. These include:

Increase in biting- Because their first defenses - claws- are gone, declawed cats often respond to stress, and even play, by biting.

Litter box problems- Cats cover over their deposits. But when they feel pain in their paws, as Annie Bruce, cat behavior consultant and author of "Good Cats Wear Black" reports, declawed cats are far more likely to urinate outside the litter box than cats with claws. Dr. Kimberly Harrison in Colorado, collected data on cats with litter box problems that were not medically related- 90% were declawed cats.

A declawed cat can NEVER safely go outdoors. Because he can't fight, a declawed cat will try to escape, usually by running up a tree, and they need front claws to do that. A declawed cat is an easy target for all kinds of predators.

Scratching is a natural behavior. Declawing does not change the need to scratch.
Personality change- Once subjected to this trauma, many cats have residual, 'phantom pain,' similar to what a human experiences after amputation. They may distrust the person responsible for such pain- you. Or drastic personality changes can occur- after declawing, that gentle tabby becomes a temperamental tiger.

Medical studies have only started to document the long-term problems - debilitating arthritis, and pain in the knee and hip joints, because of structural changes from loss of that first knuckle.
Declawing has absolutely no health benefits to the cat. It's done for human convenience, not feline consideration. Many veterinarians recognize that declawing is inhumane, and won't perform the surgery. In Australia, England, Finland, Norway, Spain, Portugal, New Zealand, and many other countries, where it is considered inhumane, declawing is illegal. Educate-don't mutilate.

2008-01-09T19:24:00.000-08:00

My Baby

2008-01-04T15:30:00.000-08:00

2008-01-02T14:21:00.000-08:00

2008-01-02T14:19:00.000-08:00

"T" and "Bat"

2007-12-27T19:58:00.001-08:00

"T"

2007-12-27T19:51:00.000-08:00

Mama and Miki

2007-12-24T11:08:00.000-08:00

Keeping your cat or Kitten Entertained

2007-12-24T11:01:00.000-08:00

" Cats and kittens love to play. Kittens especially love to play and sharing your life with them is so much more rewarding if you play with your cat. It’s really great fun even if you do pick up the occasional scratch and it’s important for your cat’s fitness and well being too.

How do you keep your cat entertained? After all it’s not the same as a dog; you can’t play catch or fetch with a cat, or can you? To keep your cat enthralled and interested in playing with you, you need to have a challenging and ever changing environment. Now before you go off the deep end, it’s not as bad as you think. All you really need to do is to have a few cat toys out at a time and rotate them to keep your cat interested. It doesn’t have to be expensive toys either. String, paper, balls and boxes are all great cat toys.
Kittens use play as a way of learning. Its fun to watch your kitten carefully stalk a ball, pause, then pounce on it, which causes the ball to quickly scoot off. Your kitten will then chase it all over the house for hours! Even better is having two kittens and watch them play with each other, the toys, and pretty much anything that moves, including your toes!!
As with dogs, you need to take care that the toys you give your cat are safe. Even though a cat is not as destructive, (generally), as a dog, cats can and do pull toys apart. Then they eat the bits :-( . Make sure that the components of the toy are non toxic and have no sharp parts that can cut your cat.
Technology innovation is being applied to cat toys. There are toys are being introduced such as laser pointers and even remote controlled mice. The problem with these is that most cats and kittens dislike the noise of the motor so remote control toys are not a big hit. On the other hand a laser pointer is a huge hit, your cat will chase that elusive red dot all over the house for as long as you can stand it. Beware, this can be frustrating for the cat though, as it can’t get its claws into anything so it can have an affect on your cat’s behavior over time. To relax, what better than to put on a special cat video. Now your cat can sit and watch TV. These videos and DVD’s are supposed to be very effective, but do you really want to turn your cat into a TV addict?
The secret to keeping your cats happy and healthy is to continually challenge them physically and mentally. Don’t forget that cats like to jump and climb too. Some of the best toys are designed to be played with in 3 dimensions and you’ll be amazed by the acrobatics that your cat can perform.
Use your imagination too. Try putting two toys together to make a new toy. Become creative and play with your cat on a regular basis. This helps strengthen the bond between your cat and you, keeps her mentally stimulated, and physically fit. Your Reward will be hours of fun and pleasure and a fit, healthy cat."

About the Author:Steve Dolan is a cat lover and long time cat owner. Find more articles and resources about cat toys and cat play by clicking on Cat Toys and Cat Play, and for cat furniture visit Cat Furniture on the Web.

Mama in the box

2007-12-18T09:54:00.000-08:00

T in a box

2007-12-18T09:52:00.000-08:00

2007-12-08T09:11:00.000-08:00

Stop and Smell the Flowers

2007-12-06T08:44:00.000-08:00

The Sleepy Trio

2007-12-01T10:04:00.000-08:00

Sleepy time

2007-11-26T12:33:00.000-08:00

T and Mickey Napping

2007-11-25T11:54:00.000-08:00

T and Mickey (like father like son)

2007-11-24T13:44:00.001-08:00

T

2007-11-23T12:00:00.000-08:00

"The clan" (all four of them)

2007-11-22T11:35:00.000-08:00

Bat and T

2007-11-21T18:34:00.000-08:00

"Mama" kitty

2007-11-21T18:29:00.000-08:00

Runt at five or six weeks.

2007-11-21T18:27:00.000-08:00

Passed out

2007-11-21T16:22:00.000-08:00

Fatagascar!

2007-11-20T15:17:00.000-08:00