Comments for May Kitten of the Month

Zoo Update

Just posted a couple of robin pictures at the Zoo. Nothing noteworthy. See link on sidebar to Firestar's Zoo.

What Does the Cat You Choose Say About Your Personality

Humans love to take silly tests. Real tests seem to fluster them to no end, but give them a silly test and they rush to complete it.

Probably the most silly of all are the so-called "personality" tests. Give me a break. Humans don't have personality. Only cats do. Besides, don't they already know what they're like? Me - ow.

Anyway, Bevie's sister sent him another one and of course there was the big rush to complete it. And of course the results were exactly what Bevie wanted. Isn't that how these things are supposed to work? The humans decide what result they want and then answer accordingly. Anyway, since a lot of humans sneak into this alley I thought I would throw a test at them, just to be nice. Cats know how to do that, you know?

So, without further meows, here is the test. I have adjusted it slightly to better fit this blog. Word of warning to you humans: think carefully before answering. Your answer says a lot about you.

Question: Suppose you went to a shelter for homeless cats intent on helping one of the little darlings out. You see five cats in five kennels. The cats are as follows:

1. Orange Tabby - male


2. Bengal - male


3. Persian (white) - female


4. Norwegian Forest Cat - male


5. Russian Blue - female

Remember, think over your answer and be sure before reading what it says about you.

Here is the personality profile:

1. Orange Tabby - male means you like male Orange Tabby cats


2. Bengal - male - means you like male Bengal cats


3. Persian (white) - female - means you like white female Persian cats


4. Norwegian Forest Cat - male - means you like male Norwegian Forest Cats


5. Russian Blue - female - means you like female Russian Blue cats

I hope you learned something about yourself. [puurrrrrrrrr]
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Kennel Cab

Back in January, when we nearly lost Firestar to a severe illness, we transported him in his Kennel Cab. For some time afterward he associated the Kennel Cab with going to the vet, being poked and prodded, being forced to wear a catheter, and a host of unhappy feelings.

He would run away at the sight of it.

The weather is nice now, and we have been spending a lot of time out in the garage preparing for the sale. Firestar hasn't liked it that we have been outside while he has to stay in, so he has taken to letting us know his feelings with an assortment of vocal messages.

This neighborhood is not especially safe for him, especially since we foolishly had one of his primary defense tools taken from him. Firestar is declawed on his front paws. So we don't let him run free outside. But he wants to be there. So we made up a compromise. Firestar can come outside with us - providing he remains in the Kennel Cab.

The first time we did this he wasn't keen on it (actually, the first time he never made it because he saw the Kennel Cab and ran away) and we brought him back in right off. But it didn't take him long to realize that the Kennel Cab was his ticket to the garage. Now, not only does he not mind being in it, but he will go inside it even when we are all in the house. In fact, it has become his way of telling us he wants to go outside. A very nice arrangement. Very quiet.

Cats are clever things, aren't they?


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Comprehension Without Speaking the Language

Every day I become more and more convinced Firestar has a complete grasp of the English language. Time and again he will sit, or lay, quietly while I talk to him. Then I'll say something he disagrees with and he'll correct my thinking. It happened again yesterday.

Spouse and I were in the garage pricing items for our garage sale. Firestar was whining about being left in the house so we brought him out. Now unlike other cats, Firestar is not allowed to roam free through the neighborhood. The number of dogs around here has increased exponentially, and they all hate cats. And there are no trees to climb, so Firestar would be in a constant state of attack. Therefore, when he goes outside he has to be in his carry case. It's not his first choice, but he likes being out of the house. I think he feels he's closer to the birds.

Actually, I will, on occasion, let him roam free in the yard. Just not for long.

Anyway, Spouse and I were talking, discussing pricing agreements and such. Spouse keeps pricing her items at $5 and mine at $0.25. Son gets a compromise. His stuff is priced at $1. While this 'debate' rages, Firestar goes quiet in his box. Then, Spouse makes this comment.

I guess he's asleep now. I don't hear anything.

Immediately - and I mean immediately - Firestar meows.

Later, he and I were in the house while Spouse was in the garage. He stood by the door demanding to be let out. Finally, I told him he was being annoying. He denied it. I assured him he was. So he comes over to me to rest on my shoulder and purr. He returned to the door and repeated his demand, only softer. I told him it was still annoying and that if he didn't knock it off I was going to put him down in the office. He quit.

He's been by three times already this morning, each time wanting to be on my shoulder. Normally he only does that once. I assured him I don't find him annoying at all.
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It's Just Not Safe to be a Goblin Anymore

Found this at this site.

An irate cat assaulted a defenseless Goblin in an abandoned warehouse in Washington, DC yesterday.

The cat, a Persian kitty with a vicious temper took out it's rage in an unprovoked attack which saw the Goblin being taken away on a magic carpet to hospital where he received 900 stitches.

"The poor thing was in shreds", declared eyewitness Beverly Hoskins, "blood was all over the pavement".

Why the Goblin was in the area of the abandoned warehouse, or indeed why the female eyewitness was in such an area, remains a mystery, but the assailant remains on the loose.

"We're hunting for a female cat-casian, medium build,approximately 4 years old and with excessive hair", said detective Ron Rollins of the Washington PD, "we would warn all citizens to be on high alert and to approach with extreme caution. This thing is an animal".
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Quick Update

Just to let you know I've put up a few pictures in the zoo. Mostly older ones.
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What Do You Think of These Ideas

A couple of new ideas for Cat in the Buff.

First, we've got a Kitten of the Month Archive site. This is a place to view all Kittens of the Month.

Second, and this is the really cool site, we've created Firestar's Virtual Image Zoo. This is a place where we can share photographs of wild (and domestic) animals.

The rules are simple:
1. You must have taken the photograph and not just downloaded it from the internet.
2. Try to keep human elements (and humans in particular) out of the photographs.
3. You must email the photograph to: firestarthecat@gmail.com
4. You must include a caption describing where and how the picture was taken

If anything, maybe it will encourage us to all get out and enjoy nature a bit more.

Hint on pictures: Use a zoom and try to fill the frame with whichever animal you are photographing. Don't be concerned about background and such. We just want the animals.
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Chain Yanker

Firestar has been around three times already this morning. He had been down on the fourth level looking out the walkout door. Rabbits like to graze across our lawn just before dawn. Then, when the sun wakes up, various birds have their walkthrough.

But some mornings he will come quietly up the steps and over to where I sit in front of the computer. I learn he is there when he rubs against my legs. Other times he stands in the dining room, which is about three feet higher than the family room where I am, waiting for me to see him. Once I do he comes down the four steps so I can rub his back, beginning at the ears. I put one finger on either side of his head and slowly scratch backward toward his tail.

When he's feeling especially friendly, like this morning, he will put his front paws up on my hip. This is his signal for me to pick him up. I cuddle him up in my arms and he purrs while I lift him to my head. Then, cat-like, I rub my forehead against him. I try to communicate with him using the same methods he uses with me. Doesn't always work. I'm not that familiar with the language. But he shows little interest in learning mine.

Son has taken to doing some of the things, too. Spouse, on the other hand, does not. Spouse insists Firestar learn and understand our language. So when he gets in one of his aggressive moods, it becomes an endless barrage of, "No! Bad! Stop that! I said no!" It goes on ad nauseum. Spouse tells Firestar to knock it off, and he gives a right cross. Spouse tells Firestar he's bad and it's a left jab. Sometimes he bites.

I don't do that. I hiss. I can make him stop doing something without hardly moving a muscle. He can be on the other side of the house. If I see him doing something he's not supposed to do I just hiss and he stops. Sometimes, if he doesn't think he was violating any rule, he will meow at me. Other times (and this is so cute) he will half run away, meowing as he goes. The effect is a kind of vibrating meow which sounds absoulutely pitiful. This usually happens when he is interfering with a print job. He loves to play with the printer.

Firestar is amazing. He has the power to make me feel so loved and wanted. Then, just a few minutes later, he will show me equally how I am about the most useless piece of sh*t in the place. I couldn't get him to come near me if I opened a can of tuna. (I know. I've tried this.) And there doesn't appear to be much of a rhyme or reason for it. It's whatever his mood is.

He knows he has the power, and sometimes he just likes to use it. He's a chain yanker. That's what he is.
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Something New to Chew On

I thought I would try something new. Well, new to the blog. Not new to me.

This telling is based on something I began thinking of in 2008, or maybe even 2007. I conceived it as a television show. The main characters, Old Cat and Young Mouse, would be played by humans in costume. Old Cat would be a man and Young Mouse would be a woman. The show would begin with the two of them meeting and chatting. Their dialogue would be filled with innuendo and double entendre. Eventually, one or the other would begin to relate a story. Old Cat's stories would be historical, from his past. Young Mouse's stories would be more recent. At the point where the tales begin the show would revert to animation. The voices for the animation may, ormay not, be the same actors. At the story’s conclusion the show would return to a live action epilogue.


The post which follows is the opening for this story.
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T.O.C.A.T.Y.M.

The Old Cat and The Young Mouse
Bevie James

Part 1: THEY MEET

He padded quickly to his place in the sun. It as a small, allowing for only a little sun for a little while, but it meant peace and quiet and comfort. He liked comfort. Always had.

There had been a time when he might have spent this part of the day searching for something to do. Some mischief to get into. Some sport to play. That was a long time ago. And yet, sometimes it seemed like yesterday.

That was the trouble with getting old. Memories. They filled his mind. Some were happy and joyful. Others less so. Even sad. And on certain days, even the happy memories brought only grief over what was no more.

Once he had been young. He had been a lion in his house. He had tossed his energy about like it would last forever. Now he would be glad to have even a portion back. His muscles ached. He felt tired most of the time. And instead of companionship he sought solitude. The others weren’t interested in his memories. They were too busy making their own.

He lay down, wrapping his tail neatly around his bottom and laying his head down on his paws. This wasn’t his sleeping pose. It was his nostalgic one. He would let his thoughts drift now and remember the days when he was young. But what was that noise?

* * *

She scurried quickly down the dark tunnel toward the light. Reaching the opening she paused only long enough to see if she was being pursued. Nothing. No. She could hear them. They were talking about her. They knew she’d gone this way.

Without checking to see if it was safe she burst into the light, intent on putting distance between herself and the opening. If she remembered correctly, there was another opening on the far side of the room. If she could only get there they might leave her alone.

It wasn’t so much that she was afraid of any one of those who chased her. It was that there wasn’t just one chasing her. There were about a dozen. And much as she hated to admit it, even she couldn’t take on a dozen at once. Maybe her father was right; she should just resign herself to being a simple mouse with a simple lifestyle. Find a suitable mate and produce a few litters and watch her offspring grow. But that wasn’t the life she wanted. She wanted to know more. The world was a big place. She wanted to explore.

She made her feet work fast as she hurried across the wooden floor. About halfway across she paused to venture a look back. Sure enough, there was Feedle, stopped at the opening. A nose was trying to poke past him. Most likely Tisser. The two mice looked scared. Then they disappeared.

As she suspected, they were afraid to leave the safety of the wall during daylight. She was safe. Turning slowly to finish her trek across the room she suddenly saw the real reason for Feedle and Tisser’s concern. A cat. A big one.

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A Cat's Pornography

So I've always wondered about Firestar, and now I know. He's a bit of a pervert.

The other day Spouse and Son were playing cards in the living room. They called me to come and see what Firestar was doing. He was at the window, very interested in some mating activity going on with some ducks. Now true, the ducks should have booked a room. There's a hotel just under two miles from here. Very nice. Pool and everything. They were doing a threesome, you know.

I suppose he has to get his jollies somehow. We don't have any x-rated films about the house. Nor do we get the dirty magazines. So this was probably quite the spectacle.

By the time I could get back with the camera the ducks had left and Firestar's intense posture had settled into something more relaxed. All he needed was a cigarette. But we don't have those in the house either.

What? I'm not doing nuthin'.

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Culture Lesson - Class #1014

Once again it is time to expose ourselves to the important things of life: Cat Culture.

The information for this post has been taken from this site.

Colorpoint Shorthair

(picture taken from this site)

Colorpoint Shorthairs cats are the cousins of Siamese cats. They are identified by the sixteen different "point" colors on their body apart from the four Siamese colors- seal, blue, chocolate, and lilac points. Hybrid breed and half cousins to Siamese breeds, the Colorpoint Shorthairs cats are very much similar to their first cousins even in their body structure- small to medium in size with svelte body shape. In USA, these Colorpoint Shorthairs cats are treated as an entirely different while in UK they are treated just as a variety of Siamese breed.

History

The first Colorpoint Shorthairs were developed after breeding Siamese cats with other varieties in 1940. Since then, out-breeding with Siamese cats is common. The earliest breeding were focused on generating cats with red or cream colors at their face, ears, legs, and genital regions. However, later Abyssinian, and the red domestic breed were also used for breeding with the Siamese cats to give rise to more varieties of Colorpoint Shorthairs. The place of origin of these cats is Britain and North America. These crossbreeds' cats were acknowledged as a breed by the Cat Fanciers Association in 1964. The Colorpoint Shorthairs was also later in 1974 accepted for CFA championship. Today, CCA and TCA other than CFA regard the Colorpoint Shorthair as a separate breed than Siamese.

Appearance

Colorpoint Shorthairs cat are very similar to the Siamese cats in appearance except for the similarity in their traditional four. Very much like the Siamese breed, they also have long, tube-shaped bodies, wedge-shaped heads, beautiful vivid blue eyes and big ears. However, other than the traditional seal, blue, chocolate, and lilac color points they are available in red point, cream point, lynx point, and tortie point. Their size varies from small to medium and there coat is formed of very shorthair. The colorpoint shorthairs have a svelte body and angular legs but they are still very strong and muscular. They have a slender neck and long tapered tail. They generally weigh around 7-8 pounds.

Personality

Colorpoint Shorthairs cats are said to be very loving and naughty. They are also very active, outgoing and intelligent. Whenever they are awake, you will find them busy in some work or another. They love jumping around and behave very affectionately if kept in lap and cuddled. You may ever found them curled around your bed when you are in deep sleep. They return 200 percent of the loyalty and love they receive from their master. Colorpoint Shorthairs are also interactive and chatty. They make great companions for people who love funny adventures. Color points is very sensitive towards her owner, she often tries to entertain him/her through her vaudevillian stunts and gymnastic activities.

Loving and naughty? Now this sounds like an interesting cat. Interactive and chatty? Better all the time. Great companions for people who love funny adventures. That's code for: Keep all breakables locked away. This has got to be a cool cat.
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How's About These Colors

Okay. I think I've got the right combination of Blog colors now. Blend the post in with the regular background and set the sidebar to the lighter blue. I like the colors, and I can read the text at the edge again.

Some people like to put clothes on cats. Not sure why they do that, but I am mostly certain that the cats aren't especially keen on it. I have an idea of what would happen should I attempt anything like this with Firestar.

Shut up.

Not exactly keen on playing Santa Claws.

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A New Roost for King Cat

A new try with the colors. Any thoughts?

We're putting out some things in preparation for the big sale in a couple of weeks. Firestar was happy about us clearing off Son's old computer desk. He likes to sit up high.

Okay. Snap your picture. See if I care.

Now are you doing?

I think Firestar's going to be a bit torked when some of our things go away. He's going to have fewer things to jump on. What does he care about the problem of moving things? He doesn't have to do it.
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Favorite Animated Cats

Okay. I changed the blog. Been experimenting with things on this blog and SOF-The People. I'll confess and say I'm not sure I'm entirely satisfied. I can change it back easy enough. I saved the original html. Let me know.

Meanwhile, I thought I would post about two of my favorite things: cats and cartoons.

Here are some of my favorite cat cartoon characters.

Of course I must start with Garfield. To be honest, Garfield is not one of my real favorite cartoon cats. Liked him in the comics, but that cartoon they did of him was horrible. The voice they chose was completely wrong. The one with Bill Murray was all right. I felt Bill Murray captured the true heart of a lazy, self-centered, cat.

The Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland always intrigued me. The Disney version was a bit over the top. There was a movie made not too long ago with a host of stars in it. Whoopie Goldberg played the Cheshire Cat and did an all right job.

I've always liked the pink panther. Right from his first appearance in The Pink Panther movie, which I bought. They did a cartoon series of him in the 70s, I think. It was all right. What made it good was he didn't talk.

Sylvester is a classic. Not as funny as Bugs Bunny, but I love him. I HATE Tweety. Always root for Sylvester, even though I know he's going to lose. I should have included Catnip, from the Herman and Catnip series. But Catnip is a lot like Sylvester.

Now we're getting to my real favorites. Here's Felix the Cat. I like Felix, both the original and the one with the "Magic Bag of Tricks". I've only got one Felix cartoon, and it's an old one. But I like him. He's a cool cat. But then I tend to be partial to black cats.

And here's my favorite: Top Cat. This entire blog is kind of based on the idea of Top Cat and his band of Alley Cats. This was a great cartoon I used to watch in the 60s. I wonder if it's on cable, or dish, or whatever it is people have now. I got regular TV. Wouldn't mind owning the complete set of Top Cat and Felix the Cat.

Let me know about the blog. I can change it back.
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Some Cat Pictures

Spouse was rummaging through something yesterday, looking for what to toss and what to sell and what to keep. Found two old calendars I have been saving. One is from 2004 and one from 2005. Both are cat calendars.

The picture above is from the newer calendar. That's the picture from my birthday month. It's one of the few calendars I've ever got in which my birthday month got a good picture. Normally, I would get a picture of a hairless cat. Not to imply there is anything wrong with a hairless cat. It's just that my favorite cats tend to be long-hairs. Fluffy and soft.

But the truth is, I have learned that no matter what a cat looks like (or dog, or any other living creature), it doesn't take long before one discovers that it is lovable. I suspect that is part of why I originally tried to keep Firestar out of the house. Didn't particularly want an orange cat. I wanted a fluffy bluish grey. Of course, now I can't imagine not having an orange cat. Firestar and I have kind of become buddies. He gets up and stops by me every morning to get his back scratched. And many days he follows me around the house. When I leave a room and don't come back right off, he seeks me out, giving me a look of, "You could have let me know." So now I tell him where I'm going and whether I'm coming right back. I don't get the looks then, which makes me suspect he really does understand every word I'm saying.

Anyway, as much as I like my picture, I think Spouse did slightly better. I almost think of this cat as being elegant. I don't because there is something about the face which tells me this is a warrior cat. Possibly a male, but not necessarily. This cat is cool. I can tell.


Son's picture beats mine, too. On cuteness and comedy. It's tempting to believe this cat was put here by a human, and it may have been. But I wouldn't bet the house on it. Firestar has put himself in some very similar positions. Then he gives the, "What are you looking at", look.


Couldnt' think of anything to post, and I didn't feel like searching the net for something. So I did this.
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Some Basic Rules We're All Aware Of

Good morning, fellow Alley Cats. Have you got a house to run? Well, I found a web site with a few tips. Nothing really new. Just common sense stuff.

If you have to throw up, get into a chair or on the bed quickly. If you cannot manage in time, get on an Oriental rug. If no Oriental rug is available, shag is good. When throwing up on the carpet, make sure you back up so that it is as long as the human's bare foot.

Do not allow closed doors in any room. To get door opened, stand on hind legs and hammer with forepaws. If this does not work, reach under the door pulling it towards you. Should this fail, stand at the door and scream until one of your humans responds. Once the door is opened, it is not necessary to use it.

After you have ordered an outside door open, stand halfway in and out and think about several things. This is particularly important during very cold or very hot weather, rain, snow, and mosquito season. Swinging doors are to be avoided at all costs.

Quickly determine which guest has allergies or hates cats the most. Sit on that lap. If you can arrange to have "fish 'n Glop" on your breath, so much the better. For a guest who claims, "I love kitties," be ready with aloof and disdain.

Always accompany any guest to the bathroom. It is not necessary to do anything ... just sit and stare.......

If one of your humans is engaged in some close activity and the other is idle, stay with the busy one. This is called helping, otherwise known as hampering.

Following are the rules for hampering:

• When supervising cooking, sit just behind the left heel of the cook. You cannot be seen and thereby stand a better chance of being stepped on and then picked up and comforted.


• For book readers, get in close under the chin, between eyes and book, unless you can lie across the book itself.


• For knitting projects or paperwork, lie on the work in the most appropriate manner so as to obscure as much of the work or at least the most important part. Pretend to doze, but every so often reach out and slap the pencil or knitting needles.


• When a human is holding the newspaper in front of him/her, be sure to jump on the back of the paper. They love to jump.

Any small item is a potential toy. If a human tries to confiscate it, this means that it is a Good Toy. Run with it under the bed. Look suitably outraged when the human grabs you and takes it away.

Always watch where it is put so you can steal it later.

As mentioned above, in order to have enough energy for playing, a cat must get plenty of sleep. It is generally not difficult to find a comfortable place to curl up. Any place a human likes to sit is good, especially if it contrasts with your fur color.

There's a lot more. I just took some of the high-lights.

Feel free to offer your own.
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Spring

So Firestar is enjoying the spring. He gets all excited that the windows get opened, and the doors. He's not so keen on the screens.

This year he has been making a greater effort to get outside. He's not supposed to be out, however. Although tough and feisty, he has no front claws with which to defend himself. And there are a variety of dangers in this neighborhood, including several oversized dogs who like to chase things.

Spouse offered him the chance to be outside in his carry case, but he wasn't keen on that. He remembers the last time he was in there (when he nearly died and was forced to endure tubes and things) and no longer likes it. Besides, sitting in a small box is hardly being outside. Right now I wish we still had our octagon screen house. I remember BJ and Baby Boy loved being in there. It was eleven feet across, and with cat furniture, food, and a litter box included it made for a nice place. Sorry, Firestar. The screen house was destroyed in a wind storm.

But there are windows all over this house (except on the west side, where we only have two - which Firestar cannot get to). He will go to one and watch something of interest, and then suddenly bolt and run to another window. We think he's following birds in flight, but we're not sure. Firestar plays a lot of imaginary games, such as war. (I caught him at it.)

I've included a picture of Firestar by the sliding glass door in the dining room. He's sitting atop the chest freezer and giving me that, "Leave me alone so I can play," look.

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You Gotta Love Cats - Or Else

Just some more things I found about cats.

From this site.
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Time spent with cats is never wasted. -- Colette
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There are no ordinary cats. -- Colette
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Although all cat games have their rules and rituals, these vary with the individual player. The cat, of course, never breaks a rule. If it does not follow precedent, that simply means it has created a new rule and it is up to you to learn it quickly if you want the game to continue. -- Sidney Denham
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Charles Dickens What greater gift than the love of a cat?
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Robert Heinlein How we behave toward cats here below determines our status in heaven.
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Cats are rather delicate creatures and they are subject to a good many ailments, but I never heard of one who suffered from insomnia. -- Joseph Wood Krutch
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I've never understood why women love cats. Cats are independent, they don't listen, they don't come in when you call, they like to stay out all night, and when they're home they like to be left alone and sleep. In other words, every quality that women hate in a man, they love in a cat. -- Jay Leno
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Adolf Hitler is known to have despised cats.

I think this last say a lot. I've met few people who truly dislike cats who don't make me uneasy to be around. I've met people who didn't think they liked cats. Then they got one and fell immediately in love with it.

Cats are such powerful creatures. They lure us with gentleness.


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Culture Lesson - Class #1013

Bevie has been having a lot of fun at my expense lately, so I thought it was time we returned to some real culture. But don't worry. I fixed Bevie pretty good. Gave my back three times yesterday.


The information for this post has been taken from this site.


Chartreux


(picture taken from this site)


History
The Chartreux is a natural French breed of great antiquity. Legend has it that they were raised as a companion by the Carthusian monks. However, in all likelihood due to the woolly character of their fur, Chartreux were given the same name as that of the well-known Spanish wool of the early 18th century. Its documented History is as early as 16th century.


Appearance
The Chartreux is characterized by large, sturdy, and muscular physique. It is known for its beautiful grey-blue colour, woolly double coat, quiet voice, and smiling expression. The woolly double coat is very soft and lush. The Chartreux has large eyes that are copper to gold with deep, brilliant orange as the preferred eye colour.


Personality
Chartreux are calm attentive, gentle, and adaptable cats. They enjoy the company of people. They have a mild temperament. Chatreux are highly intelligent and are quick learners. They are extremely agile as per their size and are natural hunters.


Natural hunters, eh? That certainly makes up for their enjoying human company instead of merely tolerating it. (Or taking advantage of it, right Rufus?) Heh, I could be a Chartreux.

Oh, by the way, this picture is of a "British Blue" cat. In honor of our new Kitten of the Month.

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The Month Has Changed - So Has Kitten of the Month

Please congratulate, Caitlin, who lives with BuffySquirrel. Caitlin is our new Kitten of the Month.

Buffy also posts other pictures of Caitlin on her blog, if you're interested.