Why Do Some Dog Lovers Insist on Being Cat Haters?

Last night, my husband and I were watching this video of Mark Hamill on YouTube:

click this:
Mark Hamill talks about his disappointment

Now, generally I think Mark Hamill is a really good guy and super-funny (we saw him in person once giving a talk and he was immensely entertaining), but toward the beginning of the video he tells a "joke" and afterwards says that one reason he told it is that, "It's funny, because it's about cats dying."  Sorry, but to me that is never funny.

I have a good sense of humor.  I can crack up at LaaLaa on Teletubbies, at the penis humor in Spaceballs, the funny parts of Star Trek 4, and a whole lot more, but to me dead cats just aren't a funny thing.

I don't hate dogs or dog owners.  I had a dog named Samantha (for the character on Bewitched) when I was little and loved her a lot (she's under the couch in the photo above).  We loved our former neighbors and their sweet, sweet dogs (at least one of whom was rescued from a very bad situation and now has it so, so good).  We pay to leave our bright outside patio light on all night to help out the upstairs neighbors at our new place (their own light, near their door, is too dim), so they can feel safe when walking their little dog in the middle of the night, even though they wake me up sometimes when doing it, and even though we've never met them.

I'm not trying to offend anyone.  I just don't understand why SOME (not all) dog lovers think they have to be cat haters.  I've never even understood what they even have against cats anyway.  For instance, my sister and brother-in-law insist on "joking" and saying mean things about cats, usually in a room where at least four other family members are total cat lovers.  In the past, they've even said some really vicious or horrific things related to cats.  I just don't get it.  I've never heard any cat lover speak that way about dogs.  Not in my whole life.

Cats are usually pretty good judges of people, too.  The cat I had when I met my husband loved him instantly (as did I), and he's an amazing and wonderful man, so she really was a good judge of his character.  Cats are just so incredible if you give them the love and attention that they deserve.  They are truly one of God's greatest gifts, in my opinion.

If you love cats, like we do, or know someone who does, you might want to get yourself (or them) this book that we just did:

click here:

Live in the Meow

 

Cats Aren't as Aloof as People Think, Part Two

 

 

This is Zorro, sleeping under his Scottie dog blankie.  I always cover him with it, because he isn't the kind of cat who seems to know how to burrow under blankets.

 

Like I said in my previous post, cats are misunderstood.  Well, at least by people who've never had any or loved any.  They are amazing furry little people who will give back as much love and affection as you give them.  They will greet you at the door, snuggle and listen and look you in the eyes, hug you back (some of them), and be really wonderful companions.

 

Take, for instance, a cat we had named Baby.  He would snuggle up in my husband's arms every night when my husband was going to sleep.  He was a little angel. 

 

Then there was Lola.  She had issues, probably from being abused in a previous household, we think.  She took some time to adjust to all of the love she got here (and stop being afraid and scratching me), but even from the start she was with me all the time.  She didn't usually snuggle up with my husband, Dean, even though he's a great guy (as Baby knew), but Lola showed actual gratitude after Dean put together a kitty condo for her one night.  You know, one of those tall carpeted things with scratching posts on them.  My husband said that was the only time Lola actually came and sat on him.  She was smart enough to know that he had spent all that time putting that kitty condo together and she was so thankful that he did it.  I jokingly said to Dean, "Where's her gratitude for me?  I was the one who made you buy that thing!"  Of course, Lola didn't know that part.

 

Dino, our best cat baby ever (we will miss them all forever, but Dino so, so much) was just the most amazing cat we've ever seen.  You can see him with me in the header at the top of this blog.  As with most of the cats we've had, he was with me day and night, but he would do things that no other cat would do.  He was tiny and so, so sweet and would love to be held like a baby that you are burping, over my shoulder, when I was on the computer (typing with just one hand because I had to hold the "baby"), and would also love to dance with me in that same position.  He particularly loved Johnny Mathis and slower music like that, and would be somewhat horrified when I'd put on loud rock or pop music to exercise to.

 

Dino would sit on my chest and put his arms around my neck, hugging me, and often if I'd be trying to put him down so I could get up and go do something, he would reach further around my neck as if to say, "No, don't put me down yet."  So, I wouldn't put him down until I really had to.

 

Dino slept between my legs or on my side sometimes, even during some weeks or months when my interstitial cystitis was at its worst and was causing me to get up to go to the bathroom many, many times a night.  He just kept coming back by me, over and over. 

 

Dino loved constant and never-ending affection.  He would tilt his head down for me to kiss the top of it, and he loved it as much as I did.  He had the best scent to him, and I would fill my lungs with it (from his head or his tummy), despite my slight allergy to cats (which lessened over time because I forced it to).  Okay, I'd still get a bit red and itchy on my face, but who cares with love like that?

 

Dino also took his insulin injections like a little trooper for years.  No complaints, no squirming, nothing.  Just sweetly sitting while my husband gave the shot twice a day.  I wish those shots were magical shots that would've kept him alive for our lifetimes.

 

There are more cats to mention, but this post is getting too long already. 

 

Now back to Zorro, our current cat.  Also super-sweet.  As I said in my previous post, Zorro doesn't like it when we go out.  On Sunday we were out for 3 hours, and he wasn't happy about that.  Then on Monday, he was like this:

 

 

He just didn't want to let me go.  I kept trying to get up, but he kept pulling my arm towards him.  See what I mean?  Aloof my ass.  Please pardon my language.

 

Zorro has bad dreams once in a while, and he wakes up meowing.  I just talk sweetly to him and tell him that "it's okay, Mommy's here" over and over, then he puts his head back down on my ankle or knee and goes back into his peaceful sleep.  I don't know what his nightmares are about, but I'm glad that I can calm him when he has them.

 

So what I am saying is that cats generally are just amazing, they have the capacity for great affection in them, and we are grateful for each and every one of them that we've had.  Cats are wonderful!

 

 



Cats Aren't as Aloof as People Think

 

People often say that cats are aloof, independent, and not at all affectionate, but they don't know any of the cats that we've had through the years.  Every single one of them has turned into a loving, sweet cat who just wanted to be near us almost constantly.

 

Part of the reason is that I'm home a lot, so every cat has been used to constant attention, and they've loved it, too.  They want to be on me or near me almost all the time, day and night, when I'm sleeping or awake.  They even sit on the floor near me just to watch me wash dishes sometimes, just to be near their momma.

 

Some people think that cats don't even care if you are around or not, but none of our cats has ever liked it when we go out.  Our current cat, Zorro, gets really freaked out by it.  Yesterday he could tell when we were getting ready to go out, so he started meowing a lot.  We were only out for about 3 hours, but when we came home, he just yelled and yelled at us, even after being fed.  He can't help it, he just gets upset.

 

Actually, our cat Chrissy would barely come near us for several days after we came back from our honeymoon, which was only 5 days.  She wasn't alone while we were gone either.  She was at my  mother's house, where she had lived with me for years.  She was just upset because we hadn't been there (since she already loved my husband so much before we got married).  Of course, you can't explain to a cat that you'll be gone for just a few days.  They don't understand English (unless you say words they recognize, like "tuna" or "treat").

 

 

I love this photo, because it looks like Zorro is standing up, but he's lying down.

 

Anyway, the point is, people who don't love cats really just have no idea how great they can be.  They are constant bundles of love and snuggling, someone to talk to when you are up and can't sleep, someone to be near you when you are on the computer (warming your low back), someone to sit by your side while you draw or paint, someone to help you sleep (despite what sleep experts say). 

 

Cats are great.  That's all I can say.  Now kittens, on the other hand, they are just bananas.  I could tell you about those crazy days, but that's a story for another time. 

 

 

 

Our Cat Took Selfies For National Selfie Day

I was going through the photos on my phone when I noticed that our cat Zorro had taken some selfies on National Selfie Day, which was June 21st.  I didn't know that he even knew how to do that.  Well, his first one was a bit blurry...

 

 

...and in the next one he missed part of his face...

 

 

...and this one was a bit too dark...

 

 

 

...but then this one was pretty darn cute.

 

 

 

Then he got silly and did his best impersonation of Bowser from the Super Mario Brothers games:

 

 

 

 

See the resemblance?

 

Then Zorro took what is probably his favorite photo of all, because it showcases his gorgeous whiskers:

 

 

All in all, a good selfie day for Zorro.

 

 

Cozy Kitty House That is so Easy to Make

I know that cats like to be warm, but I get overheated easily (all year round), so have to keep the house cool, especially when I'm sleeping.

When I am sleeping with our kitty Zorro, I always cover him with his own blankie, and if he moves, I wake up and re-cover him most of the time.  We turn the heat up (or A/C down) when we leave, but when we are home Zorro is usually on me keeping himself warm.

You know, though, sometimes cats just want to be off by themselves, to get that deep, restorative sleep.  His room always seemed too cold, especially in winter.  My husband sealed up the window (leaving a big viewing hole for Zorro), but it was still chilly.

Then I saw in a magazine how you could make a cozy kitty house out of a box and an old T-shirt.  You just pull the T-shirt over the box and the neck hole of the T-shirt is where the cat goes in and out.  I actually used a mock turtleneck that was our late aunt's.  It wasn't good enough to donate to a thrift store charity because it had stains on it, so it was good to be able to use it for this and not just have to throw it away:

 

I just wrapped the bottom of the turtleneck and the sleeves underneath and taped it, stuck a nice seat cushion inside and it was ready for Zorro to use.  He loved it right away.  The instructions in the magazine didn't say this, but it is sort of too light and can easily tip over when the cat is going in or out.  So, what I did was tape a heavy book to the top of the kitty house.  It looks crummier now, but it's more stable.  What would be even better would be to put a heavy old book under the cushion or use something else that is flat and heavy underneath.

 

Zorro really loves his cozy kitty house.  He still likes being near me (even prefers me to the morning sun in his room, most of the time), but sometimes he just really loves to get away, rest, be away from the talking and other noise.  I think it gets really warm and toasty in there from his body heat and he likes it a lot.  It's super-easy to make and doesn't cost anything, so it's worth trying!  I hope you and your cat like it as much as we do if you try it!

Cat Massager Brush that is so Excellent

 

If you have cats, you might want to try this massaging cat brush.  We've had one like this for years, and most of the cats have loved it.  Only one cat didn't like it, but she had issues with even being petted at first, so I really should've tried it again on her a couple of years later, but I didn't think of it.

 

The reason I'm blogging about it now is that I just tried this yesterday on an older cat we have, and he LOVED it!  I'm sorry now that I didn't try it sooner.  I thought he was too old, achy, arthritic, and bony and it wouldn't be comfortable for him, but I thought of trying it on him yesterday and he went bananas for it.

 

We got our massager brush years ago at our local Humane Society, so you might find it there or at a pet store, or you can get it here on Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/Kong-Cat-Zoom-Groom-AllCoats/dp/B00009ZJ0Q

 

The one we have doesn't say "zoom groom" on it, but it does have the brand name Kong on it, so the one on Amazon is probably similar to the one we have.  Ours does have that cat shape to it, too, and those rubbery bristles.

 

The cool thing about the brush is that it feels so good to the cat, but also it really grabs a lot of the hair and you can very easily pull it out of the brush and toss it away.  Let me say, though, that not all the cat hair stays in the brush, so like with any brushing, you don't want to do it on your best furniture, and you will probably need to use a lint roller or something to pick up the stray hairs.  More hairs fly around from this brush than from just regular petting, is what I'm saying.

 

If you have cat allergies like I do, using this brush might make you feel more congested in the chest, but I've never cared about my cat allergies, and they have lessened through the years (with no medications), just from exposure to cats (like burying my face in the fur on their tummies).  Anyway, it's so worth it to get all of this loose hair out and reduce the hairballs they have to deal with.  Plus, it's like a little kitty spa day for them.  They seem to be so ecstatic when they are brushed with this brush.

 

Disclaimer - I am in no way affiliated with this company or any other pet product company.  I just wanted to let everyone know about this great product that is currently making one pretty old cat very, very happy.

The Story of Lucky the Cat

 

Okay, so I'm not sure if I'm getting the story right, but my husband hasn't had time to write it, so I'm just going to write what I think he told me. 

When he went to get our new cats about 2 1/2 weeks ago, they told him the story of Lucky (shown above, now named Pikachu).  The shelter named him Lucky because of his story.

Two people were in the inner city here and had just been mugged.  Then they saw a cat being thrown out a door and down some stairs.  They were going to take it to Animal Control, but knew that would mean the end for him.  Maybe Lucky had sprayed in the house (since he wasn't yet neutered) or committed some other unforgiveable (to the people in the house) crime, but he did deserve to live.

One of the people knew of this cat shelter near where we live, so they drove all the way over and brought him here.  He already had part of his ear missing, probably from a street fight or something.

Anyway, he really is Lucky, because he's in a really good and loving home now.  I'm so grateful to the shelter who cared for him and to the living guardian angels who brought him to the shelter so that he would be there when we went to find new cats.  I wish we could give them a big pile of money (if we had it).  All we can do is wish good things for them and hope they are blessed in return for what they did for Lucky and for us.

Pikachu (Lucky) is a sweet and wonderful little boy, and he loves his big brother Yoshi.  We didn't want to keep the name Lucky, because we didn't want to be thinking on a daily basis of his tough beginnings.  We just want to shower him with love.  He is our little sweetie-pie.  We are the ones who are lucky, to have him.