Here's a tutorial for humans. However, we think that amateur efforts are generally very well-received. Don't you agree?
Hello from Winnie
2 days ago
11/29/2008
Cat Massage
Here's a tutorial for humans. However, we think that amateur efforts are generally very well-received. Don't you agree?
11/28/2008
An Engineer's Guide to Cats
We love geeks!
This is hilarious! "She makes clever use of the earth's gravitational field to keep herself firmly attached to the floor of my living room." What are your favorite parts?
11/26/2008
What Breed of Cat are You?
You Are a Ragdoll Cat |
 You are extremely cute and cuddly. You are downright adorable. Your personality matches your exterior. You are very laid back and sweet. You don't really like the outdoors. You prefer to stay inside where it's cozy. Luckily, you are the perfect houseguest. You are polite and obedient. |
How'd ya score?
The Devious Book for Cats
Wrriten mostly by staffers of the Onion, this parody of The Dangerous Book for Boys, et. al. is packed full of cat quirks that will set cat owners rolling with laughter.
buy here
This frisky volume contains a field guide to cardboard boxes, profiles of famous felines, a brief history of the Felinism movement, grooming and staring how-to's, and more. A fun read for all!
buy here
This frisky volume contains a field guide to cardboard boxes, profiles of famous felines, a brief history of the Felinism movement, grooming and staring how-to's, and more. A fun read for all!
11/25/2008
Gifts for Cat-Lovers to Give to Their Neighbors
Meet the Scarecrow. Wait, shouldn't that be the Scarecat?
This motion-sensing sprinkler will scare the neighborhood cats (and other wildlife) out of the garden. Great gift for gardeners (or non-gardening grumps) living near a feral cat colony or an indoor/outdoor cat (or three).
buy here
While it startles the cats, it's effective, humane, and good for the earth. Not too shabby. (And it never hurts for a cat person to suck up to their neighbors a little bit.)
And now, a cheesy Scarecrow commercial found on Youtube.
This motion-sensing sprinkler will scare the neighborhood cats (and other wildlife) out of the garden. Great gift for gardeners (or non-gardening grumps) living near a feral cat colony or an indoor/outdoor cat (or three).
buy here
While it startles the cats, it's effective, humane, and good for the earth. Not too shabby. (And it never hurts for a cat person to suck up to their neighbors a little bit.)
And now, a cheesy Scarecrow commercial found on Youtube.
Lucas, the Highly Unphotogenic Darling
These pictures do not begin to do him justice, but you should have seen the outtakes. In 3D, he's a combination of striking markings and adorable fluff. He charms everyone who walks in the door, his purr echoes off the walls, and he finds the smallest human nooks and crannies in which to tuck himself. (Keep your mind out of the gutter, please.)
Snuggling in the arms of a 6-year-old.
Really wanting the camera for himself.
Lucas is available for adoption. Good with cats, dogs, and kids, and would love LOTS of snuggle time. He is extremely attached to humans.
Snuggling in the arms of a 6-year-old.
Really wanting the camera for himself.
Lucas is available for adoption. Good with cats, dogs, and kids, and would love LOTS of snuggle time. He is extremely attached to humans.
11/24/2008
Did you hear?
for sale here
Unnecessary Disclaimer:
Don't try this at home. The above mittens were not actually expelled from a cat.
11/23/2008
11/22/2008
11/21/2008
11/20/2008
Mama Mia
Mama Mia of the Sunday Cats is coming along nicely, remembering her past life as a house cat and shedding her feral layers. Only two of us can touch her and we have to move slowly, but she's taken a liking to the camera and is becoming quite a ham. She loves conversation and wooing and dislikes fast movements in her direction.
So much personality in just a tail.
She may be a bit vain.
Or not.
Her increasing ease in the household has brought her babies out from hiding. They shy away from physical contact, but are regularly out in the open now, following Mama's cue. We'll win them over yet.
And now, to cleanse your visual palate of her last pose, here are a couple more:
So much personality in just a tail.
She may be a bit vain.
Or not.
Her increasing ease in the household has brought her babies out from hiding. They shy away from physical contact, but are regularly out in the open now, following Mama's cue. We'll win them over yet.
And now, to cleanse your visual palate of her last pose, here are a couple more:
The Little Orange Ewok
Feel free to offer name suggestions for this little guy. He just came in today, and is less than pleased about it. He lets out a gravelly squawk from time to time to remind me that his world has been turned upside down. Bathtime should be interesting. He is quite a little character.
See my foot?
Where's my mommy? (Can't you just see it in his eyes?)
He'll be spending his first night with us tonight. Send him some sweet dreams, okay?
And don't forget to offer name suggestions in the comments. :)
See my foot?
Where's my mommy? (Can't you just see it in his eyes?)
He'll be spending his first night with us tonight. Send him some sweet dreams, okay?
And don't forget to offer name suggestions in the comments. :)
11/19/2008
Who Doesn't Know the Cat Butt Hello?
If you get your hands on this before we do, please let us know and we'll share your review. :)
(The HTML beginner with a juvenile sense of humor is dying to make an image map out of that picture. Would that be bad?)
11/18/2008
Fat Black Cat on a Utility Pole
Today two utility crews, a pair of bucket trucks, and plenty of other safety equipment all contributed to the rescue of Kitty, a fat black cat who had been stuck at the top of a pole near near some 26,000 volt power lines. Yikes!
Kitty climbed the pole on Friday night and finally set foot back on solid ground today, 4 days later. Kitty's human, 13-year-old Gabe, said he would sleep with his window open and could hear Kitty crying all night long. Awww! The neighbors could hear him clearly, too, and said he got louder each night.
Gabe and his family tried every city agency, and while all were sympathetic, none offered to help. Even the utility company initially refused, telling the family that Kitty would come down when he was ready, or hungry, or both. Gabe left tuna at the base of the pole every night, called him constantly, and Kitty still remained stranded.
Finally, after the family contacted the media and let them know they had some trained climbers ready to take action, an NBC affiliate in Seattle contacted City Light, who came out to do the job themselves.
Scott Thomsen, spokesman for Seattle City Light, pointed out that the utility company does not routinely rescue cats (no kidding!), but given the nature of his predicament, figured they were best-suited to do the job. They were particularly concerned that a resident (or their friends) might try to rescue him on their own. Heh. "We're pleased that the cat was able to get back to his owner," he said.
They covered the power lines with protective sleeves, poked and pushed kitty into the loop on the end of a catch pole, and lowered him to people on the ground.
Kitty is finally home.
Kitty climbed the pole on Friday night and finally set foot back on solid ground today, 4 days later. Kitty's human, 13-year-old Gabe, said he would sleep with his window open and could hear Kitty crying all night long. Awww! The neighbors could hear him clearly, too, and said he got louder each night.
Gabe and his family tried every city agency, and while all were sympathetic, none offered to help. Even the utility company initially refused, telling the family that Kitty would come down when he was ready, or hungry, or both. Gabe left tuna at the base of the pole every night, called him constantly, and Kitty still remained stranded.
Finally, after the family contacted the media and let them know they had some trained climbers ready to take action, an NBC affiliate in Seattle contacted City Light, who came out to do the job themselves.
Scott Thomsen, spokesman for Seattle City Light, pointed out that the utility company does not routinely rescue cats (no kidding!), but given the nature of his predicament, figured they were best-suited to do the job. They were particularly concerned that a resident (or their friends) might try to rescue him on their own. Heh. "We're pleased that the cat was able to get back to his owner," he said.
They covered the power lines with protective sleeves, poked and pushed kitty into the loop on the end of a catch pole, and lowered him to people on the ground.
Kitty is finally home.
11/17/2008
The Sunday Cats
This cat family was dumped at a nearby resident's house, who then showed up with them on our doorstep. They are a little wild and scared, but have lots of potential. They would be great house cats for a patient human who wants to experience the unique bond that grows between tamer and tamed. If they aren't quickly adopted, we'll post updates as their temperaments change with lots of daily love and socialization.
Mama Mia has clearly been a housecat in her former life. She is adapting well, and is not acting like a 100% unsocialized feral adult.
Her sons, Mog and Mutter. Mog (on the right) is the friendlier of the two, and recently enjoyed a hearty chin rub. Mutter wasn't quite sure what to think of all that.
And sister Maya rounds out the bunch with an extra splash of color. She's the most nervous of the bunch.
The young ones are about 3 months old, and Mama Mia is about a year.
Mama Mia has clearly been a housecat in her former life. She is adapting well, and is not acting like a 100% unsocialized feral adult.
Her sons, Mog and Mutter. Mog (on the right) is the friendlier of the two, and recently enjoyed a hearty chin rub. Mutter wasn't quite sure what to think of all that.
And sister Maya rounds out the bunch with an extra splash of color. She's the most nervous of the bunch.
The young ones are about 3 months old, and Mama Mia is about a year.
Iggy and Ziggy got adopted!
These best of friends will live the rest of their lives together. How cool is it that they didn't get separated?
Much love to you, little boys! Good luck with your neutering tomorrow, and enjoy the rest of your lives. So glad you'll be together!
Lucas
Here's Lucas dreaming of catnip and humans and a forever home. He is so full of personality and spunk, but the camera has never captured his waking image satisfactorily. So here he is snoozing on the couch.
Lucas is a sweet little male, about 7 weeks old, and he is extraordinarily attached to humans. Adult or child, man or woman, interested in holding him or not, he will find his way into your arms and purr continually. He loves playing with toys, snuggling with cats and people, and teasing the dogs. He is healthy and has no behavior problems.
11/16/2008
Chubby-Cheeked Leg-Sprawling Box-Lover
11/15/2008
Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers
No, seriously! Marc Gunn has several creative CDs out that would be perfect for any cat-loving lovers of Irish drinking songs. Or any cat-lovers with a sense of humor, for that mattter.
When Kitty's Eyes are Smiling
Lord of the Pounce
Wild Kitty
When Kitty's Eyes are Smiling
Lord of the Pounce
Wild Kitty
11/14/2008
Botero's Cat
This sizable friendly feline graces the Rambla del Raval in Barcelona, Spain. Thanks, Fernando Botero, for bringing El Gat de Raval into this world.
This video is slow-paced, but gives you a good idea of the proportions (the people are tiny!) and and 0:48 has a great shot of his beaming face.
This video is slow-paced, but gives you a good idea of the proportions (the people are tiny!) and and 0:48 has a great shot of his beaming face.
Edie got adopted!
Edie went to her forever home in Mosca today. She snuggled right into her new human and purred up a storm, and we'll be checking on her progress soon.
Congratulations, Edie! We love you!
Show Fluffy the Money
The Meow Mix "Think Like a Cat" game show airs this Saturday at 7:30pm/8:30pm on the Game Show Network. This 30-minute show will feature eight human-cat teams attempting to claw their way to a million dollars to the accompaniment of Chuck Woolery's fortune-wheeling love-connecting melodious voice. (Ah, American '80s game shows, how we miss thee.) FYI, American Humane Association Certified Animal Safety Representatives attended the auditions (attended by 1200 cat-human teams) and the game show taping, ensuring the safety of the cats.
Humans will compete to answer general feline trivia questions, and cat-human teams will work together in interactive challenges. And the sponsors of the show will giggle with glee at those DVR-commercial-fast-forwarders who won't be able to escape the marketing messages built into the show itself. "GSN is excited about integrating our customers' advertising message and brand attributes into programming," said John Zaccario, GSN Senior Vice President of Advertising Sales.
Heh.
Well, marketing is cool for Meow Mix, but there's something cool for the critter community, too, besides the chance for the cats to strut their stuff. The teams have a chance to compete not only for a million dollars, but also $100,000 for a cat-related charity in their community. Even if nobody wins the big jackpot, the top team will still get $2,500 for their cat charity (and $25,000 for themselves). Second and third place will also get $1500 and $1000 for their charities (respectively) along with their $15,000 and $10,000 personal prizes.
And of course, all finalists will win a year's supply of new Meow Mix(R) Wholesome Goodness(TM) cat food. Mmm mmm good. Wait, that was Campbells. Anyway...
Clever marketing scheme, or lame game show flop? Check back with us for our review after Saturday.
Humans will compete to answer general feline trivia questions, and cat-human teams will work together in interactive challenges. And the sponsors of the show will giggle with glee at those DVR-commercial-fast-forwarders who won't be able to escape the marketing messages built into the show itself. "GSN is excited about integrating our customers' advertising message and brand attributes into programming," said John Zaccario, GSN Senior Vice President of Advertising Sales.
Heh.
Well, marketing is cool for Meow Mix, but there's something cool for the critter community, too, besides the chance for the cats to strut their stuff. The teams have a chance to compete not only for a million dollars, but also $100,000 for a cat-related charity in their community. Even if nobody wins the big jackpot, the top team will still get $2,500 for their cat charity (and $25,000 for themselves). Second and third place will also get $1500 and $1000 for their charities (respectively) along with their $15,000 and $10,000 personal prizes.
And of course, all finalists will win a year's supply of new Meow Mix(R) Wholesome Goodness(TM) cat food. Mmm mmm good. Wait, that was Campbells. Anyway...
Clever marketing scheme, or lame game show flop? Check back with us for our review after Saturday.
11/13/2008
Meryl Streep and Dewey the Cat
Dewey, the Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World chronicles the struggles of Dewey--the kitten abandoned in the library's overnight book drop box one frigid winter, the librarian who found him, and the town that embraced him.
A bestseller already, Dewey, the Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World
by Vicki Myron and Bret Witter, has climbed to the top 10 on The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Publishers Weekly and other lists of best sellers. Now it is also being made into a movie, and rumor has it that Meryl Streep will star as the librarian. Now our only question is--who will play Dewey?
Who gets your vote?
A bestseller already, Dewey, the Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World
by Vicki Myron and Bret Witter, has climbed to the top 10 on The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Publishers Weekly and other lists of best sellers. Now it is also being made into a movie, and rumor has it that Meryl Streep will star as the librarian. Now our only question is--who will play Dewey?
Who gets your vote?
Reactions
Hello C.R.O.W. readers,
We have a new feature on our blog now. Look down below this post and you'll see a place where you can check a box marking your reaction. It's quicker than commenting and will give us some quick feedback on our blog.
Of course, we love comments, too, and would love to hear from more of you. With readers from 5 countries, 37 states, and Washington D.C., surely we have some views to share. Come on out of the woodwork and say hello! We're happy to have you here.
Thank you for reading our blog.
11/12/2008
Missing Cat Returns After 13 Years!
Melinda Merman and Frank Walburg last saw George--their 14-pound yellow-eyed gray cat--in 1995. When he went missing, Melinda searched for him, visitingd animal shelters and writing to veterinarians.
Recently, a mobile home park manager trapped a sickly gray cat and took him to an animal hospital, where he weighted in at only 6 pounds and a microchip scan showed his true identity! They tracked down Melinda and Frank, who are now reunited with their cat after 13 long years. Wow!
image of a microchip on a cat's xray
More articles here
Recently, a mobile home park manager trapped a sickly gray cat and took him to an animal hospital, where he weighted in at only 6 pounds and a microchip scan showed his true identity! They tracked down Melinda and Frank, who are now reunited with their cat after 13 long years. Wow!
image of a microchip on a cat's xray
More articles here
Freddie Mercury's Favorite Cat
Freddie Mercury of Queen wrote this song about his favorite cat, Delilah.
Delilah Delilah
Oh my oh my oh my
you're irresistible
You make me smile when I'm just about to cry
You bring me hope you make me laugh
and I like it
You get away with murder so innocent
But when you throw a moody
you're all claws and you bite
That's all right
Delilah Delilah
Oh my oh my oh my
you're unpredictable
You make me so very happy
When you cuddle up and go to sleep beside me
And then you make me slightly mad
When you pee all over my Chippendale suite
Delilah Delilah
Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh
You take over my house and home
You even try to answer my telephone
Delilah you're the apple of my eye
Meeow meeow meeow
Delilah I love you Delilah
Oh you make me so very happy
You give me kisses and I go out of my mind ooh
Meeow meeow meeow
You're irresistible - I love you Delilah
Delilah I love you
Hah hah
You make me very happy
Oh yeah - I love your kisses
I love your kisses
I love your kisses
I love your kisses
I love your your your kisses
I love your kisses
Delilah Delilah
Oh my oh my oh my
you're irresistible
You make me smile when I'm just about to cry
You bring me hope you make me laugh
and I like it
You get away with murder so innocent
But when you throw a moody
you're all claws and you bite
That's all right
Delilah Delilah
Oh my oh my oh my
you're unpredictable
You make me so very happy
When you cuddle up and go to sleep beside me
And then you make me slightly mad
When you pee all over my Chippendale suite
Delilah Delilah
Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh
You take over my house and home
You even try to answer my telephone
Delilah you're the apple of my eye
Meeow meeow meeow
Delilah I love you Delilah
Oh you make me so very happy
You give me kisses and I go out of my mind ooh
Meeow meeow meeow
You're irresistible - I love you Delilah
Delilah I love you
Hah hah
You make me very happy
Oh yeah - I love your kisses
I love your kisses
I love your kisses
I love your kisses
I love your your your kisses
I love your kisses
11/11/2008
Officially Yours
We are official as a small business (LLC), and we have the funds to apply as a non-profit now.
Thank you!
We have provided food to caregivers of feral cat colonies, we are actively working on our Cat Cave program which provides winterized shelters for outdoor cat colonies, we've rescued many cats and kittens, and we've offered community education about cat welfare. (In addition to this blog, we've sent out press releases that resulted in local papers printing articles about cat safety and feral cat colonies.) We have also made arrangements to start a TNR program this December, and we are working to network with the existing animal welfare agencies in the SLV that are currently unable to work together.
Not bad for less than a month, eh?
Thank you!
We have provided food to caregivers of feral cat colonies, we are actively working on our Cat Cave program which provides winterized shelters for outdoor cat colonies, we've rescued many cats and kittens, and we've offered community education about cat welfare. (In addition to this blog, we've sent out press releases that resulted in local papers printing articles about cat safety and feral cat colonies.) We have also made arrangements to start a TNR program this December, and we are working to network with the existing animal welfare agencies in the SLV that are currently unable to work together.
Not bad for less than a month, eh?
11/10/2008
11/08/2008
Lighten Up
The last few posts have been a bit on the heavy side, so here's something to make you smile:
11/07/2008
Stop the Killing
A quick one-minute video by Alley Cat Allies. Please watch.
In the recent past, towns in our valley have prohibited TNR programs from continuing their humane efforts, instead choosing to trap and kill feral colonies. If you've been following this blog lately, you know this isn't a true solution. Spread the word about TNR and its benefits and support the efforts of programs working to help feral cat populations.
In the recent past, towns in our valley have prohibited TNR programs from continuing their humane efforts, instead choosing to trap and kill feral colonies. If you've been following this blog lately, you know this isn't a true solution. Spread the word about TNR and its benefits and support the efforts of programs working to help feral cat populations.
11/06/2008
Benefits of Feral Cat Colonies
- Feral cats can minimize rodent problems, keeping their populations in check and discouraging new rodents from moving into the area. Worried about the birds? Well, studies have shown that cats prey on rodents, insects, and reptiles far more than birds. Habitat loss and encroachment by humans is the primary threat to bird populations, and raccoons and opossums are the primary predators of nesting birds. Feral cats benefit the ecosystem more than harming it.
- People who help care for feral cat colonies can enjoy the same benefits as having a companion animal, such as extended life expectancy, lower blood pressure, and lower stress levels.
- Feral cat caretakers are often elderly and live alone, a population at risk for depression, loneliness, and isolation. Cats relieve these conditions and often bring a sense of happiness and purpose to people who help them.
- Individuals who cannot commit to the full-time commitment of adopting a companion animal can participate in programs to help feral cats.
- An established, stable, vaccinated, and sterilized colony of feral cats deters other stray and feral cats from moving into the area. This decreases the risk of humans and pets encountering unvaccinated cats, and will virtually eliminate problem behaviors like fighting and spraying.
- Feral cats can improve public health when the supervised colony is vaccinated against rabies. These vaccinated feral cats act as a buffer (safety barrier) between the wildlife who might carry rabies and the domestic neighborhood cats who have the most contact with humans.
Many towns in our valley attempt to remove feral cat colonies by trapping and killing them, but doing this simply reopens the territory to the other cats who will move in to repopulate the area. Simply put, killing feral cats doesn't get rid of the perceived "problem" of feral cats. Instead, it just perpetuates the problem while ending lives and costing more money than humane options!
Trap-neuter-release (TNR) programs--where feral cats are humanely trapped, altered, and released--have been shown to be the most effective method to deal with feral cat colonies. The American Veterinary Medical Association and many other animal welfare organizations support TNR programs over euthanasia because they WORK.
Support TNR programs and save lives!
Shelter Your Feral Cat Colony this Winter
Here in our valley, many feral cats freeze to death each winter, and the cities use this as a justification for their trap-and-kill programs each fall. If we can help shelter our feral colonies, then we can save lives. Simple shelters will keep cats warm and dry, which will prevent them from roaming or freezing to death. dry and warm and will prevent them from roaming. With this provision managed colonies can be very hardy in the wintertime. Here are some tips for building feral cat shelters that will become long-lasting safe havens for our four-legged friends:
- Use a strong box, crate, or doghouse as a shelter.
- Insulate the shelter with thick plastic or insulation scraps to keep out our strong winds and severe cold.
- Blankets and towels retain moisture, so use hay, straw, or synthetic insulating material those those used for camping or saddle covers.
- Leave a small opening just big enough for the cats to enter. Be sure to put the opening on a side of the shelter that's protected from the icy winds.
- Put the shelter on bricks or pallets to get it off the ground. This will keep the shelter warmer and keep it from rotting.
We need foster homes!
Can you provide temporary loving home to some cats or kittens? We provide the food and litter, and you get a say in which cat you foster. If at any time you need to bring our foster back, we'll accept him/her without judgment and thank you for all you have done.
Iggy (adopted!), Edie (adopted!), and Twiggy
Please call 852-CROW or email to apply to become a foster carer for these wonderful felines.
Iggy (adopted!), Edie (adopted!), and Twiggy
Please call 852-CROW or email to apply to become a foster carer for these wonderful felines.
Asymmetrical Edie
When Edie gets drowsy, her eyes get lopsided. It's actually quite charming in real life.
Edie's a snuggler who loves beds, chasing dogs twenty times her size, and chin rubs. She's ready for her home anytime now.
A Growing Iggy
Iggy is growing and happy, but would really love a forever home.
Iggy is going to grow up to be a gorgeous cat. He is very sweet, loves other cats, and has a hearty appetite. He growls when he eats, but is all "bark" and no bite.
Iggy is going to grow up to be a gorgeous cat. He is very sweet, loves other cats, and has a hearty appetite. He growls when he eats, but is all "bark" and no bite.
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