Do you like wine?

Then, check out my new weblog about Wine Country Cats at http://www.winecountrycats.com. You'll find interviews with the people who run Northwest wineries and photos of their cats.

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Furry Grim Reaper?

There's an AP story out of Providence, R.I., about a cat who lives in a nursing home that may be able to predict which of the residents there are about to die. (There's also an NBC News video segment on Oscar and a photo gallery of him at the Boston Globe.) According to Dr. David M. Dosa in a New England Journal of Medicine article, the cat cuddles up to them in their final hours. Although it's rather freaky if true, I hope that I have a feline companion curled up next to me in my final hours. Of course, maybe these residents are just the ones who are deathly allergic to cats!

Prison cats paroled

A women's farm prison in Vermont is giving the cats that hang out there the boot. The superintendent of the prison says that having the cats there interferes with the goals of the prison, one of which is have prisoners "learn to control their tempers." Some of these prisoners have been feeding and even paying for the care of these cats. I have to agree with a Humane Society worker who was quoted in the article, saying that caring for cats "teaches empathy, teaches responsibility, teaches compassion." It seems to me that all of this would be important in meeting their stated goal of the inmates learning to control their tempers. Or is it possible that punishment is the real goal of this prison, not rehabilitation?

Big Cat Love

A couple of big cats made the news this week:

• Goliath (a.k.a. Hercules) is so big that he was caught stealing cat food out of a woman's garage when he got stuck in her cat door! Fortunately, the publicity generated by the story helped reunite him with his owner.
• Jupiter, an abused circus lion, was rescued by a Columbian woman who he adores completely if his hugs and kisses are any indication. My favorite shot of him is on this week's Animal Tracks slideshow on MSNBC.com.

Ethiopian Lion Cubs Saved

The zoo in Ethiopia that's been killing its lion cubs made the news again in this story about two orphaned lion cubs. An Italian aid group in Ethiopia found the half-starved Abyssinian lion cubs and instead of taking them to the infamous zoo, where their future would be in doubt, instead took them to the Italian Embassy. Apparently this embarrassed the Ethiopian president into helping find them a safe, permanent home.

Hopefully Ethiopians will take the advice of the Italian diplomat's wife who's been caring for the cubs and protect their dwindling population of these rare lions, if not for conservation reasons, at least for their marketing potential to promote their country.

Rare lion cubs killed in Ethiopia

This AP story exposes how a zoo in Ethiopia is handling its $1000 a month revenue shortfall: Poisoning its lion cubs and selling their carcases to taxidermists for $170 each. A half dozen of these rare Ethiopian lion cubs have been killed this year alone. Not only is this an extremely sad situation, but it seems financially idiotic as well. The numbers don't add up. This is not the answer to their financial problems.

The article goes on to say that the wildlife UK charity, Born Free Foundation, has called for an end to the cub killings. And as nice as that is, I think it would be a lot more effective if the Born Free folks made it possible for people to donate money through them that would go to the zoo to take care of these cubs and keep them alive. If you go to the Born Free website, it's all about getting donations. Instead of wagging their finger at an impoverished zoo whose officials have run out of options, how about if they help the zoo find a way to solve their financial woes?

Cats Adopting Puppies

I read two stories on MSNBC today about mama cats who adopted puppies:

• A nursing mama cat in Pennsilvania took in the neighbor's pug puppy when the runt was rejected by its own mother. Hopefully, someone will bottle-feed the puppy because it'll get too big to get its nourishment from the mother cat; not to mention put her kittens at risk of not getting enough. But, this is a very heart-warming story of cross-species neighborly love with a cute photo.
• This one's a bit more odd: A woman in Brazil claims that her cat gave birth to both kittens and puppies! They're running tests on the "puppies," but I'm sure they'll turn out to be 100% dog. No doubt, like the first story, they're also neighborhood puppies adopted by this mama cat. To me, it's just interesting that this woman's claim that her cat was impregnated by a dog is not being dismissed out of hand as impossible. UPDATE: Tests prove puppies aren't part cat.

If you are thinking of a new puppy
then consider dog adoption while
you are choosing a dog before
buying from a pet shop.

Cats to compete in parody of reality TV show

I just read a Reuter's story about how the makers of Meow Mix cat food have found a great new way to advertise: Take 10 homeless cats, and put them in a stylish storefront window that doubles as a stage set in New York City for 10 days of being filmed and gawked at by passersby, put the resulting footage together with some catty voiceovers by actors pretending to be the different cats, then have people vote on which cats to vote out of the "house." The kitties voted out are actually being placed in permanent homes, and the last cat napping supposedly gets hired by the company as the Feline VP of R&D, a taste tester of Meow Mix products.

You can watch the three-minute spots on Animal Planet starting June 16th at 9 p.m. or on the Meow Mix House's website which also sports a 24/7 meowcam of the kitties.

(Geez, what's next? Feline Fear Factor where kitties compete to see who takes longest to run under the bed when the vacuum cleaner is turned on?)

CSI: Meowmi

If you’re a CSI fan, you’ll like this Washington Post story about a Virginia woman who used DNA evidence to confirm that a neighborhood dog killed her pet cat. Aside from this sad story of the unfortunate consequences of a pet owner who thinks it’s safe to let their cats outside—she’s since learned her lesson and keeps the rest of her cats inside—is the information about the California lab that processes animal DNA. Animal owners have used the lab in similar cases to finger cat-killing dogs, and others to confirm that Rover is indeed the roadkill they found. Ranchers have used the lab to ID stolen cattle using DNA. (This makes me wonder if ranchers are trading their branding irons for cheek swabbing kits.) And the lab helped find a murderer who had the bad luck to step in dog doo at the crime scene. I don’t know about you, but I think the CSI producers have another show here!

Look into pet health insurance to ensure the future health
of your dog or cat. Learning about pet medical insurance
and the benefits of pet insurance can be a great asset.
You can also get a pet insurance quote to see how
affordable pet insurance is.

Not just a stupid pet trick

Wheelchair-bound Gary Rosheisen of Columbus, Ohio, taught his cat Tommy a neat trick: How to dial 911 using the speed dial button on his telephone. This talented tabby may have come to his owner's rescue last week, when Rosheisen was found by police responding to an odd 911 call -- a call from the house had been made but no one was talking on the other end of the line. When the police got there they found Rosheisen had fallen from his wheelchair and was unable to make it to the phone, but Tommy was sitting right next to it.

What a good kitty!

In case you like me are thinking, "I wonder how I could teach my cat that trick," I think the real trick would seem to be to teach your cat to only push the 911 speed dial button when there was an emergency. Would missing your cat's regular tuna time constitute an emergency do you think? Or would you have to say something special to trigger the response? In our house you'd also have to teach the cat to find the cordless phone first -- this would come in handy even when we just can't find the phone to call for pizza. So as interesting as the AP story is, I still have a lot of lingering questions as to how Mr. Rosheisen managed to train his cat.

Table scraps can be deadly

MSNBC.com has a good article that every cat and dog owner should read. It outlines the different foods that can be poisonous to cats and dogs, and also has some tips about other holiday hazards to pets you should be careful of this time of year. Have a safe and happy holiday season!

Dancing Cat Video and More

OK, here's something just for fun. Google Video is one of Google's beta projects. It'll soon go commercial, but for now you can find all sorts of amateur videos. (Sorry, no racy stuff here, you'll have to find those kind of amateur videos elsewhere.) If you go to their site, http://video.google.com, do a search for cat or kitten and see what you find. There's all sorts of cat antics here, but my favorite find is called the best cat dance ever posted by someone called funny junk. Shakespearean Cat Fight runs a close second just because of the music. See what you find and post your favorites in the comment section!

Kittens aren't stocking stuffers

For those of you looking for last minute Christmas or Hanukkah gifts, take a look at this Reuters story out of the UK. Animal shelters typically see a huge increase in the number of pets dumped after the holidays are over, so unless you're getting a cat or a dog for someone you live with (and are willing to take care of them yourself) please don't. Pets are cute and cuddly, but they are also an enormous responsibility -- think 10-20 years of vet and PetSmart bills, wear and tear to your home, chores to keep them fed, cleaned up after, healthy and happy, kennels or pet sitters when you're gone, etc. We're talking a major commitment of time and money. You may be the best pet owner in the world and take this responsibility in stride as well worth the unconditional love you get in return, but you don't know how someone else will respond to it.

And, if you are looking for a new pet for yourself, why don't you wait until after the holidays and "regift" one of the dumped pets to yourself. Check out Petfinder.com for shelters in your area.

While we're thinking of the commitment it takes to care for pets, read this heartwarming story about two Florida residents and the trouble they go through to take care of a stray cat.

Happy Holidays!

Microchip your cat

After reading the comments on the post about An indoor cat is a safe cat it's obvious that some of us will have to agree to disagree about indoor vs. outdoor cats. However, I think it'd be really great if all the cat owners that let their cats run loose would at the very least "microchip" their cat. Then, when one of us animal lovers finds your pet and isn't sure if they have a home or not, we can track you down. The vet that took care of the adult cat that I mentioned in my earlier post, the one who showed up injured at my doorstep and required $300 in vet services, scanned the cat for a microchip but he didn't have one. If he did, we could have reunited him with his owner instead of finding him a new home. (And it would have saved his life if I had taken him to the pound instead of the vet.)

I've read several stories about owners reunited with their cats because of this new technology. Basically, your contact info is put on a microchip the size of a grain of rice and then injected under the skin of your cat. And unlike a traditional tag you put on a collar, this one won't come off. Just about any vet should be able to do this for you or know where you can get it done. I just watched a video on MSNBC.com about a cat that was reunited with his owner because of a microchip. The cat had somehow gotten 1600 miles away from his home!

A couple of companies with info on microchips for pets: 24PetWatch and Microchip Express.

Cats allergic to us?

I found a Reuters story on MSNBC that may explain why one of my Siamese cats wheezes sometimes even though my vet dismisses it as nothing: Cats may be allergic to humans or at least some of the stuff we expose them to like dust and cigarette smoke. We don't smoke, but maybe she's just allergic to us!

I can see veterinarians scrabbling to expand their industry now: Allergy tests for cats, allergy shots, allergy meds. Then, of course, cats would need special bedding and toys that are hypoallergenic and can be washed with special hypoallergenic soap. And naturally there should be special anti-dandruff shampoo for the humans in their lives and an anti-smoking campaign that asks people to quit smoking to protect the health of their pets. And I wouldn't be surprised if they find that certain cat litters are to blame for the allergies too.

Mmmm...well, for you entereprising souls out there, this may be the start of a whole new niche in the pet care market for products and services to be created. Get busy, make some money and help my Chloe kitty and others breathe easy!

An indoor cat is a safe cat

Looking over the news about cats can be really depressing because a huge percentage of stories are about cats being hurt. There's apparently a certain segment of the population who truly, inexplicably enjoys hurting, torturing and killing cats, including a few sociopathic boys in Liverpool who recently found it so amusing to have their dog tear apart a little girl's cat that they took video of it on a cell phone while laughing. And as upset as I am about this behavior, I'm just as upset by owners who think it's OK to let their cats roam the neighborhood freely knowing that all manner of dangers lurk outside waiting for them. If this cat had been kept indoors it would still be alive. Period. End of story. And, no, I don't want to hear about how unfair you think it is to keep cats locked up inside. If you want to let your cat out, modify the fence in your backyard or build an enclosure so they can hang out there without getting loose or get a leash and take your cat for a walk. They even have cat strollers, for pity's sake! The point is outdoor cats, even if they avoid crazy people, have to avoid cars, dogs, coyotes, cat fights, gopher poison, and the list goes on.

We have rescued two strays from our neighborhood in the last two weeks alone. (The pictures here are of them.) Both of them were obviously indoor cats at some point then put outside. One of them was a neutered declawed adult and lucky to have survived an attack by a dog or coyote. (The vet bill was about $300!) We found him a good home, then turned around and found a lost or abandoned kitten. The bottom line is that indoor cats live about 15 years, while outdoor cats if they are lucky live about 5 years. You do the math, and tell me if your cat's worth keeping around longer. Oh, well, I'm probably preaching to the choir. I'll get off my soap box now.

Post-Traumatic Stress in Pets

Unfortunately, reuniting pets with their owners (or finding new homes for them) is only the first step to getting things back to normal after a disaster like Hurricane Katrina. Like human victims, they'll be going through emotional trauma that requires extra care.

• Kim Campbell Thornton, MSNBC. 2005 SEP 15. Pets vulnerable to post-traumatic stress, too. MSNBC.com.

On a related note, Audubon Nature Institute's website reports that most of their animals survived Hurricane Katrina, but that they need donations to "feed, house and provide veterinary care for New Orleans’ rare and endangered wildlife." The Audubon Center for Research of Endangered Species are the researchers that have been cloning wildcats in order to ensure the survival of the species.

Katrina survivor Miss Kitty reunited with her person

Bill Harris says his cat, Miss Kitty, saved his life during hurricane Katrina. He was then separated from her when rescuers refused to go back into his flooded condo for her. Through the extraordinary efforts of Noah's Wish volunteers and a couple of MSNBC reporters, Miss Kitty was found and reunited with Bill. Read the story as it unfolds on MSNBC's Katrina Blog by Mike Brunker:

• 2005 SEP 05. THE AMAZING STORY OF BILL HARRIS OF SLIDELL, LA.
• 2005 SEP 07. LOOKING FOR MISS KITTY.
  
• 2005 SEP 07. SAVING THE PETS, ONE BY ONE.
• 2005 SEP 07. 'MISS KITTY? ARE YOU THERE?'.
• 2005 SEP 08. A 'MIRACLE,' BUT IS IT TOO LATE?.
• 2005 SEP 09. JOY FOR ONE HURRICANE SURVIVOR.
• 2005 SEP 09. REUNION AND RELIEF.
  
• 2005 SEP 09. HELLO, MISS KITTY!.
  
• 2005 SEP 10. MISS KITTY’S CELEBRITY TOUR.
  
• 2005 SEP 10. FINALLY, MISS KITTY REUNION VIDEO.

Cat's in the pink despite color change

There's a story that has been picked up by several UK media outlets about a once-white cat who came home pink one afternoon. I'm sure the only reason this has become such big news is the cute pictures. He looks a bit like he's been dipped in Easter egg coloring, or more likely, rolled around in a slightly damp red towel on his walk around the neighborhood. (The story's popularity might also have to do with the funny headlines possible. Check out Google's list of pink cat stories to find some I don't think would be used in more conservative US newspapers.) Check out the different stories because they each have different cute photos of him:

• 2005 SEP 05. Cat in the pink over new colour. BBC News, UK.


• Richard Savill. 2005 SEP 05. The cat that turned pink. Telegraph.co.uk, UK.


• Author. 2005 SEP 06. White cat turns pink. Ananova, UK.

Leave a comment: Why do you think Brumas turned pink?

Humane Society and Others Help Pets in Hurricane Aftermath

The Humane Society of the United States is one of the animal welfare organizations that has sent volunteers into the areas hit by Hurricane Katrina in order to rescue pets that had to be abandoned by their owners. They are getting phone calls from frantic pet owners who left their cats and dogs in attics and other locations they thought they'd be safe in for a few days when they were evacuated. Some people, of course, never evacuated because they refused to leave their pets behind. Others have had to make the painful choice whether to euthanize their pets or leave them to starve to death.

Read more about it:

• 2005 SEP 04. HSUS Disaster Teams Reach Stranded Pets in New Orleans by Bernie Unti, HSUS.


• 2005 SEP 03. Rescue Teams Reach Gulfport, Galvanizing HSUS Animal Relief Efforts by Bernie Unti, HSUS.


• Anita Manning, USA Today. 2005 SEP 03. Animal welfare groups rescue abandoned pets. USA Today.


• AP. 2005 SEP 04. Evacuees anguished at leaving pets behind. Yahoo News.


• 
  Contribute to the Humane Society of the United States' (HSUS) Disaster Relief Fund

Lion attacks up 300 percent in 15 years

The lions in Tanzania have an increasingly smaller area to roam freely and fewer and fewer wild animals to prey upon because of the growing human population there. I suppose it should be expected that the result is more people attacked by lions, but I'm afraid this struggle between the two competing species can only end badly.

• AP. 18 AUG 2005. Lion attacks up 300 percent in 15 years. CNN.com.

Cloned wildcats may keep endangered species going

This story is interesting because cloning may end up being the way many endangered species are eventually saved. But, if you check out the location of the people cloning these wildcats, you'll notice they are based in New Orleans. I really hope that the people and animals at the Audubon Nature Institute's Research Center are OK in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Yesterday, when I looked at their website it came up fine. Today I get an error message.

• 2005 Aug 22. In breakthrough, cloned wildcats prove ability to reproduce. AFP.
• Audubon Center for Research of Endangered Species: Cloning Main Page.

Hypoallergenic kittens for sale

Allerca, a California-based biotechnology company, is taking orders for it's genetically engineered kittens. These $3,500 British Shorthair kittens will be modified so they do not produce the protein that causes some people to have allergic reactions.

With 17 percent of the population allergic to cats, I think this is a wonderful scientific breakthrough. However, I know there are many who may be concerned about the safety or ethical issues involved. Speak out! Share your opinion by posting a comment below or voting in the poll on the right.

• 2004 Oct 24. Genetically modified cats for sale. CNN.
• More about the company: Allerca Lifestyle Pets.
• Who's allergic to what: 2005 Aug 17. Most Americans have allergies. Reuters.
  

Project aims to save cheetahs in Iran

Finally! A story out of the Middle East that doesn't have to do with war, weapons of mass destruction, oil, religion or terrorists. How nice! Unfortunately, the four-year project to try to prevent the extinction of the Asiatic cheetah, of which there are only about 50 left in the central plateau of Iran, sounds like it's got its work cut out for it.

• Peter Zahler. 2005 Aug 28. Footprints in the snow. Wildlife Conservation Magazine, NY, USA.
• More news about endangered wild cats: 2005 Aug 28. Tigers hang tough. Wildlife Conservation Magazine, NY, USA.

Helping pets during Hurricane Katrina

When disaster strikes Noah's Wish, an organization based out of Placerville, Calif., helps to mobilize volunteers to help evacuate, transport and provide temporary shelter and medical care for stranded pets. They help animals during life-threatening events like earthquakes, fires, floods, hurricanes, and tornados and coordinate services to try to reunite pets with their owners.

• Find out how you can prepare for disaster or help others at: Noah's Wish website.
• Watch CNN's inteview with Noah's Wish founder, Terri Crisp: 2005 Aug 28. What about the pets?. CNN.

Meals on Wheels spin-off helps pets in need

The Forsyth County (NC) Animal Shelter and Meals on Wheels team up to help the pets of needy owners by creating a AniMeals, an organization to collect and distribute pet food donations.

• Michael Hewlett. 2005 Aug 29. AniMeals helps pets of needy owners. Winston-Salem Journal, NC, USA.
• More info about AniMeals: Forsyth County Animal Shelter website

Cat's treatment may be cure for cancer

Is a cheap, common jet fuel additive, hydrazine sulfate, capable of curing cancer? It seems to have worked for a cat named Elwood who lived eight years longer than expected after being treated with it.

• Hart Seely. 2005 Aug 29. Does cat's drug offer a cure for cancer?. Post-Standard, Syracuse, NY, USA.

Plague in Pet Cats Links

Here are some links to stories and more information about how pet cats get the plague, things you can do to protect your cats and the recent cases of cats with plague:

• PLAGUE IN CATS
  A well-researched article about how cats get the plague, what the signs are, what the treatment for it is and how to avoid the disease in cats.
• State Health Department Issues Warning about Plague in Pet Cats
  California Department of Health's news release about recent cases of plague in cats.
  
• Cat owners warned about plague risk from wild rodents
  An AP story about the recent cases of plague in pet cats in California.

Cat in the Civil War Cannon Legend Debunked?

USS Monitor gun turret being pulled out of the Atlantic Ocean
on Aug. 5, 2002, for the first time in 140 years. (Credit: NOAA)

There's an Associated Press story that has been picked up by several newspapers concerning a Civil War legend involving a sinking ship and a black cat that may or may not have been put into a cannon by a superstitious sailor. You can see it on CNN here:

No sign of legendary cat in Monitor cannon

Scripps Howard News Service has another story about it here:

Research on USS Monitor probably disproves cat story

But the most complete story is from the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration who are the ones claiming to have debunked the myth. Their story is at:

USS MONITOR RESEARCHERS DEBUNK 142-YEAR-OLD LEGEND OF 'CAT IN THE CANNON'

It wasn't until I read the NOAA story's complete quote from the sailor that I realized he wasn't trying to harm the cat but save it, keep it dry, maybe get it to stop yowling. At the time, he thought the ship still had a chance, maybe a better one if he helped them stick to a sailor's superstition against killing cats. (Too bad more people don't believe in that one.)

Personally, I think the legend could still be true even though they didn't find any cat bones in the recovered cannon. Cats aren't crazy about being stuck places. It could have gotten out before the ship sank. (And hopefully it safely cat-paddled to shore and took up with some nice land lubbers.)