Photo Hunt with Albert

 Mancat Al here.  I am the KING of  fluff in this house.  Don't I have long gorgeous furs?  I just don't appreciate Mom sneaking up on me while a nap to take my picture with the flashy thing!

OK. Mom.  One shot of my blue eyes and then it is back to my nap!  Happy Saturday ya'll!

Photo Hunt - Fluffy

Camera Critters

National Squirrel Appreciation Day - Jan. 21

They get into our bird feeders and spill all the seeds.   They dig through our seasonal yard  displays and rearrange everything looking for food.  Squirrels can indeed be pest and many people do not like them but...they provide us with lots of amusement since we are indoor cats.  Especially during this dull time in January when nothing much is going on indoors or out, squirrel TV keeps us entertained. 

Squirrel Appreciation Day began in 2001 with a Christy Hargrove, a wildlife rehabber and affiliate of the WNC Nature Center right here  in Asheville, NC.  Today is a day when we should try to be kind to squirrels - leave out food for them, wish them well and be thankful for their amusing antics during the long cold winters.

Some squirrel trivia -

Gray squirrels come in many colors.  Shades of gray are the most common followed by shades of brown. There are also pure white and pure black squirrels, but both are variations of the gray squirrel.The common Red squirrel can have an all black coat.  While the Kaibab squirrel has a black body with a white tail. Both are found in coniferous forests.

During winter storms, or severe cold, the squirrel may not leave the nest for days. But,the tree squirrel does not hibernate!

Yum..I want to catch that squirrel!

An adult squirrel normally lives alone. But will, in severe cold, share its nest with other squirrels to conserve body heat. Once the temperature rises, the guests will be on their way.

Squirrels chew on tree branches to sharpen and clean their teeth. That's why you may see many small branches on the ground around large trees. They will also chew on power lines for the same reason, this has caused many major power outages throughout the country.

The squirrel's erratic path while crossing a street is an attempt to confuse the oncoming vehicle... thereby causing it to change direction. This is obliviously the squirrels biggest, and often last mistake

Happy Squirrel Appreciation Day!  Do you have a squirrel story you would like to share?

Camera Critters

Merry Christmas Everyone!

It's me Joey showing off all the Christmas cards us cats got this year from our dear blogging friends.  Waaaay more than Mom and Pop got!

Sweetpea checks out the gifts.

 The holiday season is one of many surprises...not just cards but gifts under the tree and some even with our names on them!

Whatcha doin' Mom?

Mom has that flashy box out all the time, surprising us when we least expect it!.  

 Mom please, some privacy!!!!

Every morning we surprise Mom by leaving ornaments on the floor under the tree.  We like to redecorate the tree daily!

Mamacita making sure no one opened her gift yet.

We hope your holiday is filled with lots of wonderful surprises.  Wishing you all a Merry Christmas from our house to yours!  We will be taking a break for a few days.  See ya next week.

Photo Hunt - Surprise

Camera Critters

The Joy of Cats

Sweetpea watching for introoders....

 
With all the sadness on CB this past week or more, it really makes Mom appreciate the time she has with us cats all the more.  We try to keep Mom and Pop amused with our silliness, loved and comforted with our companionship and they in turn take extra special care of each and every one of us.  No effort is too much in our care cuz  Mom tells us we bring joy into her life every single day!

Two Spot being his silly self....

A poem about cats that says it all... The Magician by Arlene Gay Levine

Then my best friend

on all the Earth

sits upon my lap 

not to be comforted

but to soothe.

Wizard of the heart,

my cat,

when the world fails

 or the day weighs,

with a wave of the tail

or soulful glance

makes the Universe

shine once more.

Darby looking cute and oh so cuddly...

Hug your dog or cat today...their time with us is so precious and short. We are joining Camera Critters and Photo Hunt - Joy today!  Do join too. Happy Weekend.

Beautiful Minnie is our Peacekeeper.

Our Ham-Micks!

Mom bought us two Ham-Micks months ago but never even gave them to us!!!! Finally she did this fall and just now is getting around to showing you how much fun there are!

Minnie tries it out while Chica snoopervises.

"This is nice and firm like I like it" says Minnie.

Minnie and Chica were the first to check them out of the inside cats.  This older crowd was more subdued in their first Ham-Mick try-out.

This one is mine - all mine!

Out side with the younger cats it was a whole other story!  Al just hopped on and claimed it as his own.  Poor Two Spot had to just wait his turn!

 I fit just right in it too!

Time for a nap!

Uh oh...here comes Two Spot. I'm not moving!!!

 

"I will snooze right here and wait for my turn" says Two Spot.

We give these Ham-Micks 80 paws up!!! They are sturdy and comfy!  If you would like your own Ham-Mick just go visit Forty Paws blog and order one or two!

Camera Critters

Cousin Itt (Aka Sweetpea)

Ivy checks out Sweetpea's costume!

Mom grew up loving the TV show The Addams' Family so when she found the wig at the thrift shop, Cousin Itt came to mind!  For those not familiar with the show, Cousin Itt is the diminutive, hairy gibberish speaking cousin of Gomez who often comes to visit the Adams family.  Sweetpea was asleep on the chair and Mom dropped the wig and sunglasses on her before she woke up.  This is the usual way to get us to wear any form of costume!  She got a couple of shots in before Sweetpea made her escape!

Sweetpea backing out from under the wig!

The TV show which ran during the 60's for a few short years was very poplar and based on the New Yorker cartoon by Charles Addams.  His work was called many things - bizarre, demonic, humorous and enchanting.  People loved his take on life and death with a very black humor.

New Yorker cartoon by Charles Addams

Addams passed away in 1988 but in a style uniquely his:
Charles Addams died on September 28, 1988 outside his home.  As a lover of cars, Charles went out and sat in his car.  After a long cruise, Charles put his head down on the steering wheel, and passed on to the other side as his heart gave out.  

He wanted to be remembered as a fun loving artist and had requested a party instead of a wake.  At the New York Public Library, a party was thrown complete with a banquet and jazz bands.  In a Boston newspaper, a cartoon was depicted in which the cartoon Addams family looked sadly down at a grave, while Charles crawled out from the other side.

The real Cousin Itt.

Happy Halloween!   We leave you now with a clip from the Addams Family with Cousin Itt.  If you can't see the clip below go here.

Camera Critters

National Grouch Day - Oct 15

Tabitha here with my grouchy face on.  It seems that today Saturday  October 15 is National Grouch Day. A day for the public to celebrate grouchiness and the things that make you grouchy! Here goes -
I don't like...

-having to wait until the older cats get served stinky goodness first - I am the biggest so I should eat first.

-being told to go away when I just want lovin'. A girl has needs.

-Pop sitting in my chair. I should get my chair when I want my chair. Find your own chair Pop!

-Woody sitting next to some other ladycat. He is MINE!

-being told to stop playing in the water bowl. It's fun! I don't care if everything gets wet.

I think I have covered it all. Go ahead be grouchy today. That is what today is for! What gripes have you got?

On a more serious note...Sunday Oct 16 is National Feral Cat Day. We are all rescued ferals at our place and we know how hard life can be. Stop back by tomorrow for our special post. In the meantime, do something kind for the ferals in your community.

Camera Critters

Photo Hunt - Public

Adopt a Less Adoptable Pet Week with Al

 

Al here today to talk about adopting less adoptable pets. I should know something about this cuz I am deaf. Most white blue eyed cats like me are deaf. Or if they have one blue eye and one other color eye - the blue side is deaf. It's a genetic thing. Mom knew that as soon as she set eyes on me, sitting by the road as a tiny kitten. She thinks someone threw me out of a car cuz I was all scratched up and bruised. One look at me and she knew I was deaf.

I am like any other cat but you have to be aware of my special needs. I can't go outdoors - it would be too dangerous since I can't hear cars, dogs and other things that could hurt me. Mom calls me by stomping her foot on the floor - I feel the vibrations. Or she waves to get my attention and tells me to come with hand signals. When I sleep she very gently wakes me up by blowing on my fur. Otherwise I get defensive when I wake up suddenly cuz I can't hear you coming. My Mom is hearing impaired so she understands me.

I do have some problems but they are particular to me. I like to be with my humans but not with other cats. Mom thinks I was taken from my cat mom too soon and never learned how to behave with other cats. I am very smart too and can figure things out easily. When Mom hides treats for me to find, my hearing cat brothers and sisters run all over and don't find them. I sniff the treats out and find them all! More for me I say!

I want to tell you about another less adoptable cat who needs a home or even a foster home. Her name is Cobbie and she is a tiny black and white kitten living at a vet in SC. She has FIV and no one wants her even tho she can live a long healthy life. One of my cat sisters is FIV and is 13 years old - read her story here.

Cobbie must find a place to go soon as the vet can't keep her. He needs room for sick and injured animals and has no place for Cobbie long term. We are trying to save her from being put to sleep so do consider taking her in, helping us find a no-kill shelter or foster home or at least passing the word to others. Isn't she adorable? Leave Mom a comment or email her if you have some ideas!

Cobbie on her bed!

Now it is time for me to get back to my nap! Have a super weekend! And remember - adopt less adoptable pets and you both win!

Camera Critters

Photo Hunt - Wrong

Pink tongues out, pitiful expressions....what is wrong with  Yoko and Joey?  

No food in their snack bowl!!!!!

Photo Hunt

Camera Critters

Mom has lots of new and gently used items for sale on her blog Wildcat Woods Vintage Treasures so do stop by!

Formerly Feral with FIV

Hi ya'll, Ivy here today to talk to you about me and FIV.  I have this and I am healthy at age 13.  I spent most of my life outside as a feral until Mom rescued me and brought me inside six years ago.  People are afraid to adopt FIV cats but they shouldn't be.  I have lived indoors with 9 other cats and no one has gotten sick from me.  Here is the scoop on FIV:

FIV Facts

1. The Feline Immuno-deficiency Virus is a slow virus that affects a cat's immune system over a period of years.

2. FIV is a cat-only disease and cannot be spread to humans or other non-felines.

3. FIV cats most often live long, healthy, and relatively normal lives with no symptoms at all.

4. FIV is not easily passed between cats. It cannot be spread casually - like in litter boxes, water and food bowls, or when snuggling and playing. It is rarely spread from a mother to her kittens.

5. The virus can be spread through blood transfusions, badly infected gums, or serious, penetrating bite wounds. (Bite wounds of this kind are extremely rare, except in free-roaming, unneutered tomcats.)

6. A neutered cat, in a home, is extremely unlikely to infect other cats, if properly introduced.

7. Many vets are not educated about FIV since the virus was only discovered 15 years ago.

8. FIV-positive cats should be kept as healthy as possible. Keep them indoors and free from stress, feed them a high-quality diet, keep and treat any secondary problems as soon as they arise.







Despite what many people think, cats with this condition can live perfectly long, happy, healthy lives.
(From Best Friends Animal Society website)




Now that you have the scoop on FIV, let me give you the scoop on me!  My favorite position to sleep in is with my head hanging off the edge. Strange huh?

 

My left whiskers are all curled like I got them singed in a fire.  Mom does not know how this happened. - it was before she took me in.  I also have a BB pellet embedded in my left paw - again, don't know how that happened.

I love sleeping with Joey - he is my best pal.

My tongue is always out - I don't even notice it.

I love sleeping on the heater in the winter and hang my head off it. Mom worries I will fall off but I don't.

I love to watch TV especially golf which Pop likes.  I watch the little white ball fly through the air!  So cool.

The reason for this post is to explain how FIV cats can live with other cats and not spread the virus. Chrystal has a private shelter with a lovely calico named Daphne who needs a home of her own. Because she is bringing so many new rescued pets into the shelter that are sick, she needs to protect Daphne from getting sick herself with her depressed immune system from FIV. Her  picture is on the sidebar.  Just click it for her story - please help her find a home like I have. I think life is great and I am so glad Mom took me in.

On another note - Chrystal's own cat Little Bit or Bitsy as she was called went to the Bridge last week. To honor her,  Mom posted a memorial for her on Critters.com.  It will be up for 2 weeks and there is a guest book for condolences. Go to the site, click Search, put in Little Bit's name and she is the first Little Bit listed with the date of June 11, 2011.

We joined Camera Critters this weekend - please do stop by for more animal posts.

Meet Thomas on Friend Friday

Wooly posing for Peel at the vet.

This was our post when Blogger went AWOL those two days last week.  It showed up in our drafts this week so we figured we would go ahead and post it.

Thomas (formerly known as Wooly) is the office cat at a vet I lived near and has quite a story to tell.  Sorry the pics are blurry - a friend took them with her cell phone for me.  Let's get to his story.....


It was late winter of 2005 and I kept noticing drops of blood here and there in the snow out near the feral cat shelter.  I was worried one of mine has gotten into fight and needed medical help.  All of mine were accounted for but still the drops of blood kept appearing in the snow. 


Finally I saw the injured cat - a large gray  long haired Main Coon like cat was walking slowly through the yard, dragging his left front paw.  The blood was coming from cuts on the top part of his paw which was now face down and making contact with the ground as he walked.  He couldn't seem to lift it.  I called to him but he stayed his distance.  I put food out and set a humane trap to see if I could entice him in and take him to the vet.  I would find the trap set but no cat inside. He kept coming by for food but because of his paw, he was not able to go in the trap without setting it before he was all the way in.  I didn't see him every day but when I did his paw looked the same.


Seeing him suffering like this was very upsetting..  I contacted the neighbors.  No one knew who he was or where he came from.  I began to call him Wooly because of his massive thick  fur. Another neighbor joined me in trying to capture him but he disappeared before we were able to get him safely to a vet.  We looked for him, left food out but no sign of Wooly.  Peel and I were saddened to think  some wild animal or dog must have gotten him in his weakened condition.

Late winter turned to spring and Peel phoned me,excitedly, to tell me to come with her to the vet who had his office in our neighborhood  one street over. We walked in and who do we see but Wooly, alive and well and with his damaged front leg removed!  It seems that he moved on to another street and someone was able to make friends with him enough to catch him.  Once at the vet, he was examined and tested for the viruses.  His test came back positive for Feline Leukemia. The rescuer told the vet John to put him down, not wanting to take on a sickly cat, I guess.

Wooly chillin' on the floor at the vet with his lion cut!

Of course Dr John couldn't euthanize him. Instead he set Wooly up for surgery and removed the left front leg at the shoulder.  Dr. John explained that the tendons had been severed making the leg useless. Wooly probably got it caught in a wildlife trap since we lived in a heavily wooded area in the mountains.


The office staff renamed him Thomas and decided to keep him as the official greeter. Thomas has been living the good life and serving his post at the vet's now for several years. Thomas also has a buddy to live with - a sweet tabby named Jonah who has Feline Leukemia too. His owner wanted to euthanize him after he tested positive so the vet took him on as another office cat.  They are living the good life now!


If a vet is willing to keep and care for two Feline Leukemia positive cats, it shows that they do have a chance at a good life with proper care.  I know some of you have already taken in FeLV cats and know how special they are.  Think it over seriously before giving up on a cat with FeLV!

UPDATE ON CHICA
Our sweet elderly Chica is doing much better with fluids more often.  She is back to her normal self and will be getting fluids once a week for the time being.  She is eating normally and getting around just fine.  Thank you all for your purrs and prayers for her.  Her official 20th birthday is coming up next month so we will have to have a super celebration for her.

Do stop by for more animal posts at Camera Critters.