Catscapades

Cats have been used in advertising for years. I have a large poster with pix of adorable cats promoting a variety of products—cat food and litter, of course, but also matches, sewing thread, department stores, hats, mortgage companies, biscuits, milk, and so much more.

Celebrities are often photographed with their cats—giving the actor, model, or politician a softer, caring side. I think we’ve even seen cats advertising motorcycles and cars.

One of the most lovely jobs for cats is as a therapist—a therapy cat. Cats are natural calming agents for those who live with them, but some cats are chill enough to live in a library or a bookstore, nursery, and so forth to delight and entertain shoppers and visitors. Cats are also taken into assisted living homes and hospitals as therapy cats. The Denver and the San Francisco airports are a few who offer therapy cats for tense travelers.

Well, here’s a first for me—a library in Massachusetts is waiving library late fees and costs for lost books if the patron brings in a picture of a cat.

What are some of the most creative and unusual ways you’ve seen a cat or cats used to promote and help?

This is a question I ask nearly every day. Why? As you know, Olivia is a calico and she has her moods. She can be energetic, playful, wildly athletic, and eager for an audience that cheers her on. She can also be…gosh I dislike using the term aloof.  But I’m afraid it describes Olivia at times. Yes, she can be a bit of a snob—you know, snooty and distant. She wants to hide even from us. She seems distant. I can approach her and give her snuggles and tiny kisses, but she doesn’t always respond by rolling over and showing her fluffy tummy and purring.

Her veterinarian has labeled her a Chimera because she has the markings of a Chimera—half of her face is black and half partly orange—with a definite line down the middle. She has a line down the middle of her back, too—half orange, half black.

The thoughts about a Chimera cat is that she was actually two kittens, but melded into one while in the womb. Could this be why Olivia has two such distinct personalities? She can be an over-the-top lovebug/snugglebug with a big purr. But there are days when we rarely see her. She opts to hang out in a closet or under the bed. She might come out in the evening, but stares at us from across the room, not wanting to engage.

She is a puzzle—keeps us guessing and I always wonder, which Olivia to expect when I wake up in the morning.

Most of us adore cats—all cats, any cat no matter their background. I don’t know about you, but I love meeting up with new cats and seeing cat antics on the Internet. Cats are all catlike, yet they come in so many different shapes, colors, styles, and personalities. While I don’t buy cats from breeders, I’m always curious about new and unique breeds of cat. I imagine you are, too. So here’s a rundown on some I discovered (or revisited) this week. You can see 15 of them displayed at this site. https://www.catster.com/breeds/newest-cat-breeds

Here are a few that grabbed my attention: The Highlander is an experimental breed—a cross between a Desert Lynx and a Jungle Curl. These cats have a wild look about them with curled ears and a bob tail and wild markings in a variety of shades and coat patterns.

The Aphrodite or Cyprus is an interesting breed, occurring naturally and can be traced back to over 10,000 years. So these cats have come from a feral population of cats. I found it interesting that their coloring and markings vary

Some of these cats are considered Aphrodite Giants and they can reach weights of 11 to 18 pounds for females and as much as 24 pounds for males.

If you enjoy knowing about some of the most rare and unique cats around, do as I did and initiate a search to learn more.

Tomorrow is International Cat Rescue Day. If you’ve been thinking about adding to your feline family, this is a good day to do it. I’m still working to save the little orange tabby that’s roaming free in my neighborhood. That would be an important rescue. If each of us focused on just one abandoned or free-roaming or shelter cat today, just imagine how much of a difference we could make for cats.

Rescue, adopt, and spoil that cat like crazy.

I’m interested in some of the judge shows on TV—well, an author needs a break from writing and the curiosities that come up in some of the cases keep the brain active. Sometimes you see cases to determine custody of dogs and even cats. A typical cat case is when someone leaves their cat(s) with a roommate or a friend for a couple of weeks and they don’t return to get them until many months later. Who should be given custody of the cats—the person who owned them, but abandoned them or the person who cared for them and has become attached to them?

In most cases the one who is now in custody of the cats gets to keep them. In a recent case, however, one judge (of three) ruled that the original owner should get his cats back—since, by law, cats are considered property and the cats are his property.

The other two judges on this panel, however, thought it would be best for the cats to stay where they are—a stable home where the cats have been for many months. Do you agree or disagree? By the way, both litigants in this case were men and both quite emotional about these cats.

I’ve seen cases where the original owner seems to do everything she can to visit the cats, take food to them, and so forth, but the temporary custodian of the cat(s) won’t let her on their property. In some situations the fact that the original owner has been recorded displaying disruptive behavior and acting rather crazy outside the custodian’s home causes her to lose her cat(s).

It’s a good thing to have a backup person to care for your cat(s) should you become ill or you must go out of state to care for an ill relative or something. But if you want your cats back, you really need to create evidence that you truly deserve to have them. You know how easy it is to become attached to one or more sweet cats. The caregivers just might want to keep them and they’ll start gathering evidence against you.

In one cat case I watched, the person who had agreed to care for the cat for a period of a few weeks or a month or so, ended up giving the cat away after having it for several months. The owner sued for monetary damages. The judge ruled against the owner because he believed that he had abandoned the cat.

While we’re on the topic, be sure to choose a willing and capable guardian for your cat should you become unable to care for it and put it in writing—in your will for example.

It used to be that the cat’s nature, when compared to that of a dog, was described as aloof (distant, detached, unfriendly, remote, unapproachable, snooty). Does this describe your cat(s)? I didn’t think so. There’s new evidence and beliefs about cats that discount this premise. I don’t know about you, but I’m awfully glad to see this. Sure, we’ve all known cats that seem more discerning than others. They’ll take their time to make friends and maybe they won’t greet you each time you come home from work or play. But what about those many times your cat curls up next to you or in your lap and gives you that look that says, “I love you more than catnip—you are my everything?”

What about when your cat follows you everywhere you go—into the kitchen, to your office, even the bathroom? That’s not being aloof. Does she sleep on your bed next to you, need to be close—even touching you when you’re relaxing, stare into your eyes and give you that endearing slow blink? Does she bring you her toys, fall over in front of you as you walk across a room and roll over showing her tummy? Does she head-butt you, lick you, give you whisker-face kisses, invite a belly-rub? Yeah, that’s not aloofness.

Olivia even dances around our feet when we retrieve her catnip or when we’re fixing her supper. I swear she becomes puppy-like at times.

Here’s an interesting and validating article about the myth that cats are aloof. Enjoy:

https://catbehaviorassociates.com/cat-myth-cats-are-aloof-and-independent