Cat Views

My friend has a big white cat with big feet (6 toes). These big feet give her problems and she sometimes finds herself in difficult and entertaining situations. People comment about her very large cat feet and become fascinated when they find out she has 6 toes. Charmayne will stick her paw into something she finds interesting and almost always needs help to get her paw out. Over time she has mastered most of these situations but there is one that still baffles her. Her favorite thing to do is get up and walk across the top of the large plasma TV. She balances well, and once she gets across she has not figured out how to turn around to get back. Naturally, she always ends up falling off and running to hide in her Great Escape Cat Condo to cover her embarrassment.

There once was a kitty named Miss Grace
She was a cat of very discerning taste
Her friend Frankie was a playful pal
He’ really chase after this little gal
Into her lovely cat condo she’d go
A peaceful place to lay low
She’d watch as Frankie passed her by
Peering out of the doorway with one eye
Frankie would give up the hunt
And go off to create another stunt

My friend, Ryan, has a huge tabby cat named Austin. This cat was adopted when he was still a very small kitten. Ryan was delighted with his playful nature and cute antics.

One day, he noticed a problem with his TV set. After a thorough inspection, he found that the wires had been chewed. Uh-oh he thought, I have a mouse and the cat didn’t catch it. He proceeded to set a trap for the mouse. No mouse, but he did find that the wires for his stereo had also been chewed as well as some of the wires to various appliances. What was happening?

One evening he had taken off his I-Pod and set on the table and walked away. Hearing a noise he then turned around and there was his cat attacking the I-Pod and chewing the wires to his headset.

The mystery was solved! Now, his wires are encased in PVC pipe and he has purchased a cat gym in the hope that his cat will no longer indulge in the dangerous hobby of wire chewing!

Isn’t it fun to watch your cat stalk prey? I love the way they creep up, hunch down, wiggle and “chatter” while they wait and watch. They wait patiently until just the right moment to pounce! One day, a hummingbird was hovering just outside our open glass door. Our cat spotted it and proceeded to get herself into the pouncing position. Just as she sprung to get the bird, I slid the glass door shut. She jumped into the door, and was so surprised! Shaking her head, she just couldn’t believe it. The little hummingbird flew off and she became furious with me for foiling her attempt to catch her prey. She flew into her condo to sulk after spitting and growling at me. I had one unhappy cat!

With the Holiday Season upon us, we need to be more vigilant where our precious pets are concerned. Dogs and cats love presents! They will get under the tree and open them when they can or work in tandem to do so. Our dog will pull them out for the cat to rip open. That’s teamwork for you! However, cats will play in the tree and bat ornaments around. The broken bulbs can prove to be a hazard, along with tinsel (which some cats love to eat). Ribbons, ties, greenery, berries, are other items which may entice them to nibble. Then there is the delicious aroma of roasting turkey! Cats will hang around the kitchen, and being very mobile can jump on the countertop to access the stove and possibly getting burned. When you open the refrigerator door pay attention as a curious cat may climb in unnoticed. There is a wonderful array of perches, condos, scratchers, and play areas you can provide for your cat in a safe area away from the tree and the kitchen.

I’m so attached to my cat Lucille that I even promised her I would never get another feline as long as she was around. As it turns out, that was a bold-faced lie. I didn’t intend for it to happen, but a friend who works at the humane society described an orphaned kitten and I just had to have a look. Needless to say, Lucille had a cuddly new roommate within the week.

The introduction went better than expected; I learned that the older cat isn’t all that territorial. In fact, the cats have already started to clean each other and play just as though they were siblings. I found a creative cat playground online to help them bond even further. Shockingly, they were happy to share the climbing apparatus equally. My friends were surprised to find how well adjusted my cats had become in just a month’s time.

Some cats are very athletic and love to show off their ability. It is amazing how supple they are and what they are capable of! Our small kitten decided he was a “high flyer” at the age of 3 months. We lived in a second story apartment with casement type windows (they crank outward to open). Accidently we left one of the windows a little more ajar than usual. Our kitten was always in the window wanting to go out. Well, he seized the opportunity to squeeze out the small opening with as much force as he could muster and shot out of the window and dropped to the ground. In a panic we rushed down the stairs and out the door expecting to find our precious little kitten severely injured. To the contrary, our kitten was full of energy and delighted with himself for finding such a quick way to get outside. We watched our windows very carefully after that! As he grew older, he loved to jump and practiced jumping from the top of his cat tree while in the house. In the evenings when the boys were out tossing the football around he would jump up trying to catch it. His trip out of the window must have spurred him on to become a high jump athlete.

The Chartreux cats were named for the Carthusian Monks of France. According to legend, these cats lived with the monks. Their woolly textured fur is reminiscent of well known Spanish wool of the Eighteenth Century and also contributed to the naming of these cats. Chartreux cats have a robust body, broad shoulders, deep chest and medium short finely boned legs. Their blue fur is medium length and “woolly” with a very dense undercoat. Round heads and round eyes are other characteristics but their distinguishing feature is their “smile”. These cats become very attached to their human family and will develop a dog-like behavior. They will follow like a dog, and even fetch a ball. Being a quiet breed, they will chirp rather than meow. These are very intelligent cats and find television fascinating. As kittens, they are very precocious but may not physically mature for 3 years. Playing in their Triple Level Cat Tree keeps them entertained for long periods of time

Cats are amazing creatures and awesome to watch! Their lithe movements and supine positions are reminiscent of a well-oiled precision machine. Innate hunting skills allow them to survive even in the strangest situations. Independent and quirky personalities of cats are the delight of many pet owners. Several well used sayings about cats come to mind while watching our pets. “She walks on silent cat feet”, and “Dogs have masters, but cats have staff”. It is always surprising when a cat suddenly appears as if from nowhere. It can cause you to wonder!
Most cats love their toys and have playful natures. It is interesting to see what they find to play with that can keep them busy for some time. As much as they love their toys, they love a warm place to snuggle and snooze. Heated cat beds and cat condos are an ideal place for them to nap. They also like cat trees for exercise (especially indoor cats), and are great fun to watch while playing in one. Yes, we pamper our pets, and why not? They are a wonderful source of comfort and companionship. Watching their antics can amuse us for hours.