Rolling in Catnip

An herb in the mint family, catnip influences cats that are genetically predisposed to the effects of its essential oil. Studies indicate that up to one-third of felines are unaffected by catnip. Nepetalactone, the active chemical compound in catnip, creates the familiar "intoxicated" reaction. The flehmen response (when a cat "sneers," or pulls back its upper lip, while sniffing) forces the scent through the vomeronasal, or Jacobson's organ, located within the palate. From there, it travels to the base of the brain. Within the brain, the compound stimulates certain receptors and hormones. Rolling in catnip might demonstrate an instinctual behavior designed to release more of the oil. (Courtesy of Cat Fancy, September 2007)

Hot Food

Many cats enjoy a hot meal on a cold night. But you don't have to slave over the stove to please them--just put wet food on a plate, and place it in the microwave for a few seconds. Or add a little warm water to kibble for gravy, then stir and serve. Test the temperature first by dabbing a little bit on your inner forearm to make sure it isn't too hot. (Courtesy of Cat Fancy, December 2007)

Cat Naps

Gigi has a great life. She gets fed, petted, played with, and naps anytime, anywhere. How indulgent. According to Wiki, cats conserve energy by sleeping more than most animals, especially as they grow older. The daily duration of sleep varies, usually 12–16 hours, with 13–14 being the average. Some cats can sleep as much as 20 hours in a 24-hour period. (whoa!) The term cat nap refers to the cat's ability to fall asleep (lightly) for a brief period and has entered the English lexicon – someone who nods off for a few minutes is said to be "taking a cat nap".

Moving On

So, Thanksgiving has come and gone. We had a house full of company, and Gigi managed to make a pest of herself throughout the commotion. She jumped on the kitchen counter to investigate and she almost jumped on the dining room table before we sat down. She seemed to be constantly underfoot. At one point, I had to 'lock' her in my room to keep her out of trouble. With a 4-year old and a 16-month old running around, Gigi was smart enough to stay out of their way!

Swishing Tails

A cat that swishes its tail violently from side to side certainly is not in the mood for play; however, the same cannot be said for a cat whose tail swishes softly and gently. When your cat's tail makes a swishing motion, it indicates that the cat's interest is piqued. This motion often is seen when kitty is viewing birds at play. (Definitely sounds like Gigi.) The swishing motion also accompanies decision making. If your cat is contemplating climbing a tree, it's sure to swish its tail a bit. (Cat Fancy, Nov. 2007) Happy Thanksgiving! Keep your cat off the kitchen counter away from temptation.

More Tail Tips

You might not pay attention to the tip of your cat's tail, but it's a very expressive part of the feline anatomy. A cat that lowers its tail but keeps the tip curved upward is anything but content. At the moment, it is not only nervous, but unsure and insecure of either its surroundings or an object that has caught its attention. By keeping its tail down, your cat is giving you the scoop on how it's feeling and letting you know that it isn't completely comfortable. "A cat that holds its tail in this position, accompanied by [bristling of the hair], raised hindquarters, a direct stare and curled lips, indicates that it is feeling aggressive," says Jane Bowers, a certified cat behavior consultant and president of Dogs of Distinction Canine Training Inc. in British Columbia, Canada. In this situation, talk to your cat soothingly. If its tail takes on a straight up position, things are good; if it continues holding it as before, give your cat a little space. (Cat Fancy, Nov. 2007)

More Cat Tails

Instead of using an object to feel secure, cats use their tails. If a cat's tail is folded or tucked around its body, the cat is content but wants to keep to itself at the moment, says Jennifer LeBaron Michels, a feline behavior counselor at Cat Behavior of Rochester, in Rochester, NY. "[It's] sort of the opposite of lying on its back with its belly showing," she says. "It's also associated with keeping all four feet protected and warm." (Courtesy of Cat Fancy, Nov. 2007)

Cat Tails

While dogs tend to swing their tails rapidly from side to side when they're happy or want to play, the opposite is true for cats. A tail that violently and quickly swishes from side to side is an indication that kitty is feeling anxious and aggressive and is a warning that it might attack. If you see this action, give your cat some time to relax before you try to interact. (Courtesy Cat Fancy, November 2007)

Whispering Whiskers

Whiskers, or vibrissae (pronounced vahy-bris-uh) are made up of sinus and tylotrich hairs (highly specialized skin appendages), that comprise a highly sophisticated sensory system capable of detecting slight wind variations and sudden movement. Since cats hunt instinctively, whiskers help cats survive. These prominent follicles aid cats to catch prey at close range, much like a pair of reading glasses helps humans capture words on a page. "Cats are farsighted and can't see prey they've caught," says Alice Moon-Fanelli, veterinarian and assistant professor at Tufts University, citing the use of whiskers as a means to get in and out of any given situation. Domestic cats depend on the same senses as wild and big cats. Indoor cats might use whiskers to mock jungle moves or walk through dark rooms, avoiding bulky furniture and other obstacles. A cat's whiskers also indicate mood. "If they are pushed forward, the cat is calm, but if the cat is defensive or stressed out, they're closer to the face," says Moon-Fanelli. (Courtesey of Cat Fancy, November 2007)

Edgar Allan Poe

When Edgar Allan Poe's wife was dying of tuberculosis in 1847, Poe -- penniless and unable to buy fuel to keep her warm -- placed his cat Catarina in bed beside her. Catarina stayed with her throughout her illness, and, inspired by the cat's loyalty, Poe wrote one of his fines tales, 'The Black Cat." (courtesy Cat Fancy, November, 2007)

Leaving Mama

Cat Fancy magazine, August 2007, reports that a cat's personality toward other cats is determined by the size of the litter it grows up in and whether it remains with its mother for longer than 8 weeks, according to Dennis Turner, editor of The Domestic Cat: The Biology of Its Behavior. Kittens that grow up in a litter of four or more and remain with their mothers demonstrate social personalities toward other cats. Kittens that grow up in small litters or that are taken from their mothers early, at 7 or 8 weeks old, are unsocial toward other cats. Also, kittens that are petted between the 2nd and 7th weeks of life will grow up to have more trusting and human-social personalities.

Cats on Veterans Day

According to pawsonline.net, 2,500 years ago the Persians, knowing the Egyptians considered cats to be sacred, took live cats to the front line of battle. The Egyptian soldiers would not attack in case they accidentally killed one of these animals.
During the blitz in England a cat nicknamed "Bomber" could tell the difference between the sounds of RAF and German aircraft at a distance, and thus became a good early warning system for its human companions. There are several instances when cats have saved the lives of whole families. Seeing their cats dashing to shelters, people would follow, getting to safety just before the bombs started to fall.

"Garfield Weighs in . . . on Cloning"

Here's what Garfield has to say about cloning in the August 2007 issue of Cat Fancy magazine.
"[Cloning a cat] is not exactly what people think. The first successful cat clone was named CC (as in Carbon Copy. Get it?) and was born in December 2001. Scientists in Texas transplanted DNA from a calico named Rainbow into an egg with the nucleus removed. Then they implanted the embryo into Alfie, a surrogate mother.
Was CC an exact reproduction of Rainbow? Nope. In face, CC's coat was a different color, even though she was a genetic match with her mother. The differences didn't stop there. Rainow was reserved. CC was curious and playful ...It turns out that there's more to the equation than genetics alone. Environment plays a big part in shaping a cat's personality and temperament. As for appearance, having the same DNA as another calico cat doesn't always produce the same coat pattern. So everyone who expected an exact copy (like I did) would be pretty disappointed. The experts say that cloning doesn't produce a physical duplicate, and it can never reproduce the behavior or personality of a donor cat. Every cat is unique, and thus irreplaceable. You can't use a clone to resurrect little Fluffy once she's gone off to chase that big yarn ball in the sky. . . "

Acupuncture for Cats

In the past, (when I had more spare time) I visited a reiki practioner, acupuncturist, chiropractor, and holistic MD. I believe all the results were beneficial. Now it looks like holistic care is growing in popularity for pets. According to the August 2007 issue of the magazine "Cat Fancy", acupuncture, an ancient Chinese therapy used for centuries on both humans and animals, is gaining popularity as treatment for a variety of feline illnesses. Gary Van Engelburg is a veterinarian and founder of the Iowa Veterinary Acupuncture Clinic in Des Moines. He says, "Acupuncture is a means by which to treat problems, not just provide pain relief." That is, acupuncture seeks to treat the root of the illness, not just the symptoms. A short list of the conditions and illnesses in cats that respond well to acupuncture include kidney failure, liver problems, arthritis, musculoskeletal problems, vomiting, asthma, and a multitude of geriatric problems. Acupuncture is often used in conjunction with traditional Western medicine and gives the veterinarian a more well-rounded approach to treatment.

Kitty Gym

IT'S ELECTION DAY: GO VOTE. Unless you're a Republican, then stay home, it's raining.
This morning I found exactly four pieces of my daughters clothing that have strings on them scattered around the house. Gigi must have been busy during the night dragging them in her mouth down the steps and into my room and the hallway. She had pajama tops, bikini bottoms and other assorted camisoles and things. So, since she is obviously looking for some fun, I looked at a website called catsplay.com, and lo and behold I found this. A Kitty Gym--"Your cat will be the envy of the neighborhood with this beautiful playground with its multi-level climbing layers, several scratching areas, and plenty of resting space. The Cat Tree top is fashioned like a "nest" - it's 24" round and the depth ranges from 3" to 6". The top platform is padded, and like all our units is lined with a thermal layer to retain the cat's body heat for greater comfort. The top gives your cat an area from which he or she can survey their "kingdom", and from where the more important decisions of the day can be made." The kitty gym is 7 feet tall, 53" wide and its trunk is 12" in diameter--not to mention that it weighs 150 lbs. Whoa. Oh yes, it is listed at $899. Do people really buy these?

Fat Cats

Lately, when peoople come for a visit, friends and family are both commenting on how "big" Gigi looks, some people even ask me "has she gained weight?" And the answer is yes! Once upon a time Gigi was a scrawny cat running through the woods in rural upstate New York, wildly climbing tree trunks and scavenging for any scrap of food she could find. She was lean and strong. There are no open stretches of land here for her to sprint, and she hasn't climbed any trees recently. She eats both dry and wet cat food, and plenty of it. No wonder her hips have spread. . .However, according to IAMS website, it’s a troubling trend; just like in humans, the average weight of cats is increasing. Lorraine Jarboe, DVM, of Sandy Spring, Maryland, says cats today are becoming heavier. "Twenty years ago, the average cat weighed 8 pounds," she says. "Now most cats weigh 10 pounds." Extra weight can contribute to or aggravate problems such as: diabetes, arthritis, increased risk of complications in surgery, and grooming difficulties. She recommends playing with your cat at least 20 minutes a day to give them some exercise, and to actually measure the amount of food they get. Personally, I'm not willing to put her on a diet (listening to the meowing), but I will try portion control, and more playtime.

A 9,500 Year-Old Cat

How long has the cat been a favored companion and pet? According to National Geographic News, the carefully interred remains of a human and a cat were found buried with seashells, polished stones, and other decorative artifacts in a 9,500-year-old grave site on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus. This find, from the Neolithic village of Shillourokambos, predates early Egyptian art depicting cats by 4,000 years or more. Jean-Denis Vigne, an archaeologist with the National Museum of Natural History in Paris, and colleagues write that the joint burial indicates a strong association between the human and cat and that the feline is possibly the world's oldest known pet cat.

"The process and timing of cat domestication has been terrifically difficult to document," said Melinder Zeder, a curator of Old World archaeology at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., and president of the International Council for Archaeozoology.

"In the absence of a collar around its neck, the deliberate interment of this animal with a human makes a strong case that cats had a special place in the daily lives, and in the afterlives, of residents of Shillourokambos," Zeder said.