Archive for the ‘Cats’ Category
Living in a Cat’s World
As a human you probably do not think much about your cat’s world, other than to feed it and pet it from time to time. We think about our five senses and how we use them, but have you ever really thought about your cat’s five senses?
A cat has the same five senses that we have, they hear, smell, taste, see, and touch things just as humans do. However, though all five senses are important, touch to a cat is probably the most important.
It uses its sense of touch to “read” its environment. Now, what do I mean by that? There are many cell receptors in a cat’s skin that changes mechanical (moving) stimuli into information that the nervous system uses to help produce a cat’s rapid reaction time to things.
When you see Miss Puss lying down or standing with her four feet planted firmly on the floor looking into space, she is not daydreaming. Miss Puss is picking up information from her surrounding environment. She can determine whether or not to stay where she is, or flee.
Cats not only pick up information by the sense of touch; they can leave information also. When a cat stretches up to claw a tree (or the couch) she is leaving a message that she was there. A calling card in fact for the next cat to smell and “read.”
These receptors not only detect movement or pressure they also detect pain, temperatures and save cats from harm and injury. They attune the cat to its environment, making them aware of what is going on around them, and if it is safe for them to be where they are.
They also possess an extreme understanding of their bodies and of its capabilities. They have what is known as kinetic energy which is energy associated with motion. Cats are very good at being cats.
Cats use their whiskers and paws to hunt with. These are two of the most sensitive areas on a cat; they contain the most number of nerve cells. A cat can use its whiskers, just as a blind person would use a cane. By using its paws and whiskers a cat can determine an object’s size, shape and texture.
There are about a dozen whiskers on each upper lip, along with some small ones on their cheeks, a few on the chin, several above each eye and believe it or not some on the underside of each paw. The whiskers are thicker and stiffer and have been implanted with a special follicle that is sealed within the whisker. Whiskers are connected to a muscle and can be moved back and forth. Never cut a cat’s whiskers.
Cats use their whiskers to get in and out of tight places; they can use them to convey their mood. Forward and fanned out means I am in a good mood, pushed back toward its head means, watch out, I am mad.
The average cat does not see any better at night than most humans, but their whiskers give them an extra edge as they can detect air currents deflected by objects, as the cat walks by.
A cat’s hearing is better then a dog’s, it can hear things moving silently inside of a wall. Did you know that a “whole tone” (like in music) that we can hear, a cat hears it as 10 separate tones. A cat can hear ultrasonic sounds (high pitched) that we cannot even imagine.
Smell is the next important sense in a cat’s life; a blind or deaf cat can lead a fairly normal life as long as its nose is in working order.
From the very moment a kitten is born, smell becomes the most important part of its life. A newborn can find mommy and its favorite nursing nipple just by smelling. A cat has 100 million smelling receptors, while the lowly human has only 20 million. Cats use their sense of smell to “see” their world. A cat generally will not eat unless is can smell its food and decide whether or not it is acceptable to eat. A cat that cannot smell its food will not eat it.
When it comes to taste, cats are carnivores, which means they are meat eaters. Unfortunately cats do not have a sweet tooth; they are about the only mammal that does not have one, as they lack a receptor for sweetness.
One thing that cats do like the most is petting. Cats receive comfort from petting and most cats prefer to be stroked from the head down, following the line of their fur growth. Cats do not like to have their fur stroked backward.
My cat Boots loves to have his face and ears stroked very gently, he will let me do this for a long time. I think, since he is a feral cat, that I remind him of the days when he was with mom. He is also one of the few cats that loves to have his tummy rubbed.
Cats are unique and many have strange behaviors, but no matter what their likes and dislikes are, cats like humans and enjoy human contact.
Living in a cat’s world is much different than living in a dog’s world. Dog’s have masters, cats have staff! Cats were treated as royalty back in the days of the Romans and have never forgotten that. Dogs have been bred through the years to conform to certain standards and behaviors. A cat has always been a cat, no one has been able to breed a cat to chase only yellow yarn balls or to herd mice.
If this article has been of benefit, or you are looking for a new insight into the world of cats and dogs please visit my web site and Sadie Dog’s Blog at http://www.cats-and-dogs-on-the-web.com
Author: Audrey Frederick
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Advice on AdSense
Best Gifts For Cats – What To Get Them
Do you have a gift list that includes a true cat lover? If so, you’re in luck! Buying for a cat lover is more simple than ever, especially with the selection and specialty items available on the web. Before you purchase the first kitty-themed item, pause to consider the following idea. The best gifts for cat fanciers are unique and specific to their cat.
Before you buy a present for the cat lover on your list, consider the following:
What type of cat breed does the prospective recipient most like or own? Many potential offerings to cat lovers are also breed specific. If possible, get a gift that reminds the recipient of their favorite feline.
If you are buying a gift for someone who currently owns a cat, find out the cat’s gender. Many cat-themed gifts are gender-specific, so you will want to know what sex your recipient’s cat is.
Does your recipient like to dress up your cat? If you are getting a gift for a person who likes to dress their cats in sweaters or other types of apparel, your search for an appropriate gift will be much easier. Don’t assume that the recipient dresses their cat, however.
Now that you’ve taken a few moments to think of your recipient’s cat, here are the top 6 gifts that any cat lover would be happy to be given.
1. A cat-themed picture frame. What better way to show your love for your animal than putting the feline’s picture on display? People looking for gifts for them would be pleased to receive a lovely picture frame to show their favorite pet. You may desire to ensure your intended recipient doesn’t already own a stockpile of cat picture frames. This is a popular gift to give and to receive, so it is common for avid cat lovers to own more than one cat picture frame.
2. Feline-themed jewelry. It may be common to run across a lovely cat broach, pin, charm bracelet, necklace, or other piece of jewelry. Nothing could be more personal or intimate than a nice piece of jewelry. If you have a personal acquaintance who you think would relish this type of gift, you will find many online retail websites dedicated to offerings for cat fanciers that carry a wonderful selection of feline-related jewelry. For an even more personal effect, you can often have these type of gifts engraved with a message as well.
3. Cat-related stationary, desk calendar, engagement calendar, diary, or books. Every New Year, hundreds of beautifully-designed calendars are put on the market for purchase. The selection can be incredible with hundreds of breeds and cat themes represented. This is an outstanding choice that any cat lover would enjoy receiving, typically if you can find a calendar that represents the recipient’s favorite breed. If you hope to go beyond the ever-popular cat calendar, you can also purchase lovely cat-related stationary for your recipient. Another superior choice is to get a nice cat-themed diary for your recipient.
Gifts for cat lovers may include a cat calendar, stationary set, or diary that you like. Consider buying the cat lover on your list a beautiful cat-themed coffee table book. Most will delight in feasting on the gorgeous photography and text of a good cat coffee table book.
4. Feline themed clothes and coffee mugs. Cat lovers will enjoy receiving cat-themed T-shirts and sweaters. You can generally find funny cat-themed coffee mugs too.
5. A work of kitty art. They abound nowadays, so it easy to find works of art that is cat related. For the true cat lover, a lovely feline sculpture can be a wonderful and whimsical gift. You can easily find all sorts of cat-related ceramic pieces, wooden sculptures, planter, fountain, or other types of cat art. For the truly dedicated cat lover, you can even commission a local artist to paint a portrait of your friend’s cat!
6. A gift subscription to Cat Fancy magazine! For people looking for gifts for cat lovers, the die-hard cat fanatic will love a subscription to a cat themed magazine. If you can’t get cat-related magazines at your local newsstand, see your local pet supplies store. You’ll find other magazines besides Cat Fancy that your recipient can be happy to be receiving for many issues to come.
For more info, see Best Gifts For Cats and The Best Gifts For Cats. Ron King is a web developer; visit his website Cat Fanciers.
Copyright 2007 Ron King. This article may be reprinted if the resource box is left intact and the links live.
Author: Ron King
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Canada duty
Cat Breeding – The Breeding of Designer Cats and Cats With Genetic Disorders
Banning wild cat/domestic cat hybrids
Recently the USA state of Iowa banned the keeping of Bengal cats. This ban included all cats with a wild ancestry meaning wild cat/domestic cat hybrids. These cats are the Bengal, Chausie, Savannah and Safaris for example. The Cat Fanciers Association (CFA) refuses to register domestic cats with “wild blood” in them. Fourth generation Bengal cats have about 12% Asian Leopard in them. The CFA is the most conservative registry. The International Cat Registry is more adventurous and registers more breeds including the Bengal. There is divided opinion about wild/domestic cat hybrids. The Bengal though is a very popular cat demonstrating the desire of the public to keep wild cat substitutes.
There is a continuing desire by the cat lovers to “own” (I prefer keep or adopt) unusual and valuable “objects” and that includes animals and one of the most popular animals to keep are cats. How do cat breeders keep up with the demand for the exotic and unusual while maintaining a moral code and high standards of animal welfare?
Moral issues/arguments
The moral issue is whether it is good for wildlife to create designer and exotic cat breeds by mating wild and domestic cats. The idea is that in keeping such a hybrid cat the keeper is reminded of the plight of the dwindling number of wild cats in the world.
The counter argument is that this form of breeding damages the wild cat in that the increased interest is fed by the breeding program which encourages malpractice by importers of wild cats into the West and increases the importation of wild cat breeds into Western countries. The biggest market for exotic pets and cats by far is the USA.
Not only are there questions about exotic cats the same moral dilemma exists in relation to the breeding of cats that suffer from genetic defects (mutations). These cats such as dwarf cats, tailless cats and cats with malformed ears are interesting and rare. Once again the unusual catches the eye of the public consumer and cat lover and breeders feel an obligation to create more of these rare cats. But is it right to create more cats that have a major defect/disorder which sometimes (rarely with careful breeding) has fatal consequences and secondary conditions that harm the cat (e.g. flat chest kitten in dwarf cats). You can see links to articles about a number of mutated breeds at the Different Breeds Page of my website. Examples are the Bobtailed cats and the Dwarf cats.
Commercial pressure
There is then commercial pressure to breed more cats and it could be argued cats of the wrong type. The public’s desires are being checked and controlled by the authorities (see the Iowa ban above).
Conclusion
It is not possible to make a cattery highly commercial and prioritize the cats welfare in my opinion. Catteries should be small and one litter should ideally be bred at one time. The exception appears to be the Allerca cat, a wild/domestic hybrid being bred by a company and which sells at high prices (up to $30,000 per cat or so). The company treats these cats as a product. I find this to be an incorrect moral attitude.
As to the exotics and mutated breeds; I can accept the exotic designer breeds provided the breeders observe high standards and can see the wider issues (effect on wildlife). I cannot, however, agree that creating more cats with disorders is acceptable and in that regard I agree with the CFA who don’t register for example Dwarf cats for that reason.
The author is Michael Broad, as retired solicitor and cat lover, who runs his website http://www.pictures-of-cats.org for the charitable purpose of helping cats less fortunate than the majority of those in the Western World. The website is being continually added to and includes well researched facts and photographs by the world renown cat photographer Helmi Flick plus many other fine amateur made photographs from a wide range of legitimate sources.
Author: Michael Broad
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Low-volume PCB maker
Cat Breeding – The Breeding of Designer Cats and Cats With Genetic Disorders
Banning wild cat/domestic cat hybrids
Recently the USA state of Iowa banned the keeping of Bengal cats. This ban included all cats with a wild ancestry meaning wild cat/domestic cat hybrids. These cats are the Bengal, Chausie, Savannah and Safaris for example. The Cat Fanciers Association (CFA) refuses to register domestic cats with “wild blood” in them. Fourth generation Bengal cats have about 12% Asian Leopard in them. The CFA is the most conservative registry. The International Cat Registry is more adventurous and registers more breeds including the Bengal. There is divided opinion about wild/domestic cat hybrids. The Bengal though is a very popular cat demonstrating the desire of the public to keep wild cat substitutes.
There is a continuing desire by the cat lovers to “own” (I prefer keep or adopt) unusual and valuable “objects” and that includes animals and one of the most popular animals to keep are cats. How do cat breeders keep up with the demand for the exotic and unusual while maintaining a moral code and high standards of animal welfare?
Moral issues/arguments
The moral issue is whether it is good for wildlife to create designer and exotic cat breeds by mating wild and domestic cats. The idea is that in keeping such a hybrid cat the keeper is reminded of the plight of the dwindling number of wild cats in the world.
The counter argument is that this form of breeding damages the wild cat in that the increased interest is fed by the breeding program which encourages malpractice by importers of wild cats into the West and increases the importation of wild cat breeds into Western countries. The biggest market for exotic pets and cats by far is the USA.
Not only are there questions about exotic cats the same moral dilemma exists in relation to the breeding of cats that suffer from genetic defects (mutations). These cats such as dwarf cats, tailless cats and cats with malformed ears are interesting and rare. Once again the unusual catches the eye of the public consumer and cat lover and breeders feel an obligation to create more of these rare cats. But is it right to create more cats that have a major defect/disorder which sometimes (rarely with careful breeding) has fatal consequences and secondary conditions that harm the cat (e.g. flat chest kitten in dwarf cats). You can see links to articles about a number of mutated breeds at the Different Breeds Page of my website. Examples are the Bobtailed cats and the Dwarf cats.
Commercial pressure
There is then commercial pressure to breed more cats and it could be argued cats of the wrong type. The public’s desires are being checked and controlled by the authorities (see the Iowa ban above).
Conclusion
It is not possible to make a cattery highly commercial and prioritize the cats welfare in my opinion. Catteries should be small and one litter should ideally be bred at one time. The exception appears to be the Allerca cat, a wild/domestic hybrid being bred by a company and which sells at high prices (up to $30,000 per cat or so). The company treats these cats as a product. I find this to be an incorrect moral attitude.
As to the exotics and mutated breeds; I can accept the exotic designer breeds provided the breeders observe high standards and can see the wider issues (effect on wildlife). I cannot, however, agree that creating more cats with disorders is acceptable and in that regard I agree with the CFA who don’t register for example Dwarf cats for that reason.
The author is Michael Broad, as retired solicitor and cat lover, who runs his website http://www.pictures-of-cats.org for the charitable purpose of helping cats less fortunate than the majority of those in the Western World. The website is being continually added to and includes well researched facts and photographs by the world renown cat photographer Helmi Flick plus many other fine amateur made photographs from a wide range of legitimate sources.
Author: Michael Broad
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Canadian crossborder shopping
Witches Coursing Across a Full Moon on Broomsticks & the Inevitable Black Cat Are Icons of Halloween
Halloween and Cats
When we think of Halloween there are a myriad of images that come to mind. Witches coursing across a full moon on a broomstick; vampires looking for a throaty feast and pumpkins carved with caricatures that either scare or bring a smile to your face. There’re Werewolves, ghouls and goblins that lurk in shadows just beyond the light. All topped off with the ancient practice of dressing in costume and painting our faces. So, how did the aristocratic cat become involved in such pagan ritual? I’m sure if you asked her, she would deny any responsibility for a willing association.
Cats have been associated with myth since they first came in from the cold to live with people around 5000 years ago. The mystery of their exquisite senses, such as their eyes, exceptional hunting instincts, independence and seeming aloofness have all contributed to the various myths that have originated in different cultures throughout history. Early Egyptians regaled then as gods and the Medieval Church burned them alive, believing they were the embodiment of Satan. They were thought of as ‘familiars’ of witches, that is, close companions who looked out and guarded a witch. Both a symbol of good luck and bad, depending which culture you might be visiting, cat behavior evokes the extremes of human nature.
So, is it any wonder that cats, especially black cats, should be an important icon of Halloween?
Halloween is a celebration of born in pagan mythology. It was believed that, the ‘souls of the dead’ would rise from their graves to visit the living during the Celtic festival ‘Samhain’.
Halloween’s ghosts, goblins, cemetery effluvium, witches, black cats, bats, haunted houses, frightful skeletons, devils and scary stories originated from the Samhain festival (pronounced SOW-ehn) meaning “summer’s end”. It was celebrated by the Celtic people from Ireland to make themselves ready for the coming winter. During the festival of Samhain, the ‘souls of the dead’ visited the homes of the Celts and on the Eve of Samhain tricks were played on humans in the vanishing sunlight that forebode winters shorter days. Supposedly, there were ghosts, goblins, black cats and witches flying about because the barriers between the natural and supernatural were broken during Samhain. The dead kept the secrets of the future and people would consult with them, asking for guidance.
The Festival of Samhain influenced the Christian celebration called “All Saint’s Day”, also called “All Hallow’s”. All Hallow’s was celebrated on November 1st and established in 700-800 AD by the Catholic Church. The night before “All Hallow’s” (October 31st) was called “All Hallow’s Eve”. The name was eventually shortened to All Hallow’en and then just Halloween.
Early American settlers from England brought rituals, superstitions and beliefs in ghosts and witches with them to the U.S. In the 1800′s, immigrants from U.K. came to the U.S. and brought their Halloween traditions with them. Germans brought their witchcraft stories and Haitian and Africans brought the voodoo beliefs about black cats, fire and witchcraft. The holiday was gradually made into a non-religious holiday in the U.S. by the late 19th century.
Today Halloween has evolved from the souls of the dead visiting homes to “Trick-or-Treaters” dressing in costumes as ghosts, witches, black cats and demons and pleading for candy… or an evil prank may be played on the non-sharing victim.
Some Black Cat Superstitions:
- Depending where you come from, a black cat crossing your path can mean good luck… or bad luck.
- There is a Medieval belief that black cats are witches in disguise, or witch familiars, creatures that aid in witchcraft.
- Fishermen’s wives would keep black cats to protect their husbands while at sea.
- When a sailor walked on the pier, a cat going ahead of him was good luck. If the cat crossed his path, his luck would be bad.
- Cats were kept on ships for good luck.
- If the ship’s cat approached a sailor, good luck would follow. If the cat approached but then diverted away, bad luck was to fall upon him.
- A cat thrown overboard was an omen for a storm and very bad luck.
- A black cat sneezing near a bride was a precursor for a happy marriage.
- The Druids thought black cats were humans being punished for evil deeds.
- Finally, some believed black cats could fly on broomsticks. Obviously, none of them had seen a witch, yet. The truth is that cats, black or otherwise, are not supernatural and bring no special luck… unless they choose to live with you. Being loving and loyal creatures, her choice would make you very lucky.
October 16th is National Feral Cat Day
Everyone has seen them. In alley ways, at the back of restaurants, often scurrying, low to the ground, at dusk or dawn. In rural areas they may inhabit barns or hedgerows on the edge of a yard. Some 70 million feral cats roam the edge of society in the U.S. alone. Human sensitivities suggest that they live a difficult life buffeted by the forces of nature in a continual and all consuming search for nourishment, safety and shelter. It’s not a life that most people would choose to live. But then, in today’s societies most people have lost the tools to truly survive in the wild without social structures to provide for them. Cats accept their fate without complaint, but, face a complication exasperated by their feral life. Wild cats are cats who are not, and have never been domesticated. They live in environments that exert natural procreation and population controls. These controls don’t exist in feral cat environments. The result is a feral cat population that has literally exploded. This boom in the numbers of feral cats causes problems for both feral cats and people:
- For the cats there are problems surrounding the basic cat instincts of territoriality, hunting habits, their solitary nature, and mating and sexuality urges.
- For people feral cats can have a negative impact on environments in which cats are new members. Reduction in the numbers of rats and other rodents might be welcome, but the impact on birds, squirrels and other welcome creatures that frequent your backyard might not be appreciated.
The feral cat situation is a problem best solved by the intervention of human ingenuity. There are those who advocate a draconian/medieval response by tracking down and killing feral cats. Fortunately, such a solution is not favored by most who have a respect for life in all its forms. What is needed is an approach which anyone can embrace. Trap-Neuter-Release programs are just such an approach. Feral cats are captured, neutered and then released back into the environment they came from. Then voila!! Populations reduce naturally and the mating rituals are eliminated which leaves the cat to live a more stress-free life. What is required for the success of TNR programs is for people to participate. Participation is easy because it doesn’t require a compromise of ethical values. It does take time and effort. But, even the effort can be made easier when implemented by a neighborhood of friends or it could become a classroom project for students.
In celebration of our homeless cat friends National Feral Cat Day has been designated as October 16th. The following is borrowed from Alley Cat Allies, an organization that is dedicated to relieving the problems associated with feral cat populations. A visit to their site is a good start to becoming aware of not only the problems of feral cats, but how each of us can contribute to its solution.
“On October 16th, National Feral Cat Day (NFCD), Alley Cat Allies will launch a campaign to change the policies that kill feral cats and kittens. This year, along with newly developed materials to help you introduce the public to feral cats, we begin shedding light on the archaic and entrenched animal control systems throughout our country-systems that do not protect the lives of stray and feral cats.
Our message is edgier than in the past because the time has come to stir people up, to help public officials discover the facts about cats, and to begin changing animal control policies.
Alley Cat Allies implores you to take action: talk to your public officials, ask questions, engage residents to question animal control policies, and discuss how animal control practices are hurting or helping cats in your area.
Bringing the facts to the public’s attention is our charge for 2007 NFCD.”
Robert J Gallegos, author of http://www.catlover-giftsworld.com a web site dedicated to proper cat care with quality cat lover gifts based on an understanding of cat behavior, instincts and the unique requirements for healthy cats as pets. Cats are the newest of animals to be domesticated and still have one paw in the wild. It’s a major reason why they’re so mysterious and resistant to human expectations.
Robert is a life long lover of cats. He is dedicated to sharing his understanding of the cat experience, reducing the epidimic feral cat situation, and helping cat lovers to provide the best care for their cats.
Author: Robert Gallegos
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Witches Coursing Across a Full Moon on Broomsticks & the Inevitable Black Cat Are Icons of Halloween
Halloween and Cats
When we think of Halloween there are a myriad of images that come to mind. Witches coursing across a full moon on a broomstick; vampires looking for a throaty feast and pumpkins carved with caricatures that either scare or bring a smile to your face. There’re Werewolves, ghouls and goblins that lurk in shadows just beyond the light. All topped off with the ancient practice of dressing in costume and painting our faces. So, how did the aristocratic cat become involved in such pagan ritual? I’m sure if you asked her, she would deny any responsibility for a willing association.
Cats have been associated with myth since they first came in from the cold to live with people around 5000 years ago. The mystery of their exquisite senses, such as their eyes, exceptional hunting instincts, independence and seeming aloofness have all contributed to the various myths that have originated in different cultures throughout history. Early Egyptians regaled then as gods and the Medieval Church burned them alive, believing they were the embodiment of Satan. They were thought of as ‘familiars’ of witches, that is, close companions who looked out and guarded a witch. Both a symbol of good luck and bad, depending which culture you might be visiting, cat behavior evokes the extremes of human nature.
So, is it any wonder that cats, especially black cats, should be an important icon of Halloween?
Halloween is a celebration of born in pagan mythology. It was believed that, the ‘souls of the dead’ would rise from their graves to visit the living during the Celtic festival ‘Samhain’.
Halloween’s ghosts, goblins, cemetery effluvium, witches, black cats, bats, haunted houses, frightful skeletons, devils and scary stories originated from the Samhain festival (pronounced SOW-ehn) meaning “summer’s end”. It was celebrated by the Celtic people from Ireland to make themselves ready for the coming winter. During the festival of Samhain, the ‘souls of the dead’ visited the homes of the Celts and on the Eve of Samhain tricks were played on humans in the vanishing sunlight that forebode winters shorter days. Supposedly, there were ghosts, goblins, black cats and witches flying about because the barriers between the natural and supernatural were broken during Samhain. The dead kept the secrets of the future and people would consult with them, asking for guidance.
The Festival of Samhain influenced the Christian celebration called “All Saint’s Day”, also called “All Hallow’s”. All Hallow’s was celebrated on November 1st and established in 700-800 AD by the Catholic Church. The night before “All Hallow’s” (October 31st) was called “All Hallow’s Eve”. The name was eventually shortened to All Hallow’en and then just Halloween.
Early American settlers from England brought rituals, superstitions and beliefs in ghosts and witches with them to the U.S. In the 1800′s, immigrants from U.K. came to the U.S. and brought their Halloween traditions with them. Germans brought their witchcraft stories and Haitian and Africans brought the voodoo beliefs about black cats, fire and witchcraft. The holiday was gradually made into a non-religious holiday in the U.S. by the late 19th century.
Today Halloween has evolved from the souls of the dead visiting homes to “Trick-or-Treaters” dressing in costumes as ghosts, witches, black cats and demons and pleading for candy… or an evil prank may be played on the non-sharing victim.
Some Black Cat Superstitions:
- Depending where you come from, a black cat crossing your path can mean good luck… or bad luck.
- There is a Medieval belief that black cats are witches in disguise, or witch familiars, creatures that aid in witchcraft.
- Fishermen’s wives would keep black cats to protect their husbands while at sea.
- When a sailor walked on the pier, a cat going ahead of him was good luck. If the cat crossed his path, his luck would be bad.
- Cats were kept on ships for good luck.
- If the ship’s cat approached a sailor, good luck would follow. If the cat approached but then diverted away, bad luck was to fall upon him.
- A cat thrown overboard was an omen for a storm and very bad luck.
- A black cat sneezing near a bride was a precursor for a happy marriage.
- The Druids thought black cats were humans being punished for evil deeds.
- Finally, some believed black cats could fly on broomsticks. Obviously, none of them had seen a witch, yet. The truth is that cats, black or otherwise, are not supernatural and bring no special luck… unless they choose to live with you. Being loving and loyal creatures, her choice would make you very lucky.
October 16th is National Feral Cat Day
Everyone has seen them. In alley ways, at the back of restaurants, often scurrying, low to the ground, at dusk or dawn. In rural areas they may inhabit barns or hedgerows on the edge of a yard. Some 70 million feral cats roam the edge of society in the U.S. alone. Human sensitivities suggest that they live a difficult life buffeted by the forces of nature in a continual and all consuming search for nourishment, safety and shelter. It’s not a life that most people would choose to live. But then, in today’s societies most people have lost the tools to truly survive in the wild without social structures to provide for them. Cats accept their fate without complaint, but, face a complication exasperated by their feral life. Wild cats are cats who are not, and have never been domesticated. They live in environments that exert natural procreation and population controls. These controls don’t exist in feral cat environments. The result is a feral cat population that has literally exploded. This boom in the numbers of feral cats causes problems for both feral cats and people:
- For the cats there are problems surrounding the basic cat instincts of territoriality, hunting habits, their solitary nature, and mating and sexuality urges.
- For people feral cats can have a negative impact on environments in which cats are new members. Reduction in the numbers of rats and other rodents might be welcome, but the impact on birds, squirrels and other welcome creatures that frequent your backyard might not be appreciated.
The feral cat situation is a problem best solved by the intervention of human ingenuity. There are those who advocate a draconian/medieval response by tracking down and killing feral cats. Fortunately, such a solution is not favored by most who have a respect for life in all its forms. What is needed is an approach which anyone can embrace. Trap-Neuter-Release programs are just such an approach. Feral cats are captured, neutered and then released back into the environment they came from. Then voila!! Populations reduce naturally and the mating rituals are eliminated which leaves the cat to live a more stress-free life. What is required for the success of TNR programs is for people to participate. Participation is easy because it doesn’t require a compromise of ethical values. It does take time and effort. But, even the effort can be made easier when implemented by a neighborhood of friends or it could become a classroom project for students.
In celebration of our homeless cat friends National Feral Cat Day has been designated as October 16th. The following is borrowed from Alley Cat Allies, an organization that is dedicated to relieving the problems associated with feral cat populations. A visit to their site is a good start to becoming aware of not only the problems of feral cats, but how each of us can contribute to its solution.
“On October 16th, National Feral Cat Day (NFCD), Alley Cat Allies will launch a campaign to change the policies that kill feral cats and kittens. This year, along with newly developed materials to help you introduce the public to feral cats, we begin shedding light on the archaic and entrenched animal control systems throughout our country-systems that do not protect the lives of stray and feral cats.
Our message is edgier than in the past because the time has come to stir people up, to help public officials discover the facts about cats, and to begin changing animal control policies.
Alley Cat Allies implores you to take action: talk to your public officials, ask questions, engage residents to question animal control policies, and discuss how animal control practices are hurting or helping cats in your area.
Bringing the facts to the public’s attention is our charge for 2007 NFCD.”
Robert J Gallegos, author of http://www.catlover-giftsworld.com a web site dedicated to proper cat care with quality cat lover gifts based on an understanding of cat behavior, instincts and the unique requirements for healthy cats as pets. Cats are the newest of animals to be domesticated and still have one paw in the wild. It’s a major reason why they’re so mysterious and resistant to human expectations.
Robert is a life long lover of cats. He is dedicated to sharing his understanding of the cat experience, reducing the epidimic feral cat situation, and helping cat lovers to provide the best care for their cats.
Author: Robert Gallegos
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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