Welcome to Meowsings of an Opinionated Pussycat!
Has it really been October since the last edition?
A lot has happened around here since then, including my having to nurse Daddy back to health when he was sick with the flu for most of December.
In between naps, and looking out the window, I mostly took a powder where Blogging was concerned as I spent time contemplating where I wanted to take my Blogging in 2009.
One thing I want to do is book reviews!
Yes, like Daddy, I love to read, and not just the newspaper!
I am right now reading the most important Self-Help Guide for Cats in years, The Devious Book for Cats, by the wonderful, bestselling, writing duo of Fluffy and Bonkers!
It is a purrfectly delightful reference work that will teach even the most experienced Kitty a thing or two.
When I eventually finish reading, smelling, tasting, and rubbing the book I will have more to say about it but, for now, if your curiosity is killing you, there is a link in my sidebar to its page on Amazon. ;-D
**** 2/9 -1030AM: We Interrupt This Meowsings For IMPORTANT BREAKING NEWS!!***
Thanks Nikita! - we wrote our book for great cats like you.
We appreciate the kind words and awesome link.
Hope you have the best Monday ever.
With gratitude, Fluffy & Bonkers.
***We now return you to our regularly scheduled Meowsings***
OK, enough with doing my bit to spur on the, down in the dumps, Economy!
On with todays edition of Meowsings!
The biggest news of the year, so far, for Cats, comes from the Westminster Kennel Club, an organization with an event that went to the Dogs decades ago:
The Westminster Kennel Club, last Thursday, introduced the latest breed allowed into competition, the "Chat De Blogosphere", which, despite the Frenchfied name, can be found all over the world.
Here, an award winning representative of the breed poses in its natural environment.
The Chat De Blogosphere is the only newly-recognized breed eligible for competition at Westminster in 2009 and will compete in the Working Group.
Canine Competitors, handlers, breeders, and Dog Lovers all over the world are highly skeptical, and otherwise having a Hissy Fit, over this news (British Canines are especially vocal, growling that this move is "Just NOT Cricket!") , but the inspiration behind this unusual decision seems to be to inspire more Canines to get online, and express themselves in ways that will dispel, once, and for all, the myth of the Dog as a "Dumb Mutt".
Believed to have originated in America around 6 years ago, the Chat De Blogosphere is highly regarded for his opinionated temperament and growing online presence. The Chat de Blogosphere, also known as the Cat Blogger, Blogging Pussy, Felis Catus Blogus, or most commonly among those who attract its disapproval, as the "That Damn Cat!", is a fearlessly, intellectual animal who excels at both blogging and companionship to his family, not to mention a remarkable array of variations on the essential skill known as "Sleeping". With a head that may well be full of itself, in the opinion of its detractors, the Chat De Blogosphere is as varied in its appearance, as it is in its interests .
Size: 3lbs (1.36 kg) to (21.297 kilograms) 46 lb 15.25 oz.
Color and Markings: Varies from animal to animal.
Full story at Westminster Kennel Club: Chat De Blogosphere Eligible For First Time.
Learn more about the Breed at the Cat Blogosphere.
Learn more about Cats at Wikipedia.
In keeping with the theme of the day I went in search of stories where Cats shared equal billing with Dogs in the news. ;-D
So let's get this show on the road!
1. This story may be 7 years old, but it is still relevant, at least in Britain, where the numbers are probably much higher today:
Man's best friend is now his cat, research has suggested - with Britons now owning more cats as pets than dogs.
About 7.5m cats are kept in households throughout the UK, compared with 6.1m dogs, according to the charity Cats Protection League.
This compares with 4.9m feline households in 1979.
In a survey by the charity, nearly 40% of people named cats as their favourite pet - with just 7% preferring dogs.
Read the rest of the story here: BBC News - Britons 'prefer cats to dogs'.
2. Purr for a brave terrier cross named Leo, Cat Rescuer!
A dog was hailed as a hero on Sunday after it risked its life to save a litter of newborn kittens from a house fire.
Read the rest of the story here.
3. Stressed out Japanese forsaking real deal for the fleeting comfort of fakes.
In pursuit of comfort amid the ongoing credit crunch, Japanese residents are increasingly turning to stress-relieving pet robots, which resemble real pet cats and dogs.
Made by Sega Toys Co, the Dream Pet range of robotic domestic animals is especially designed to replicate the appearance and behaviour of pet cats and dogs.
The sales of the toys rose 30 per cent between October and December last year, as compared to the same months the previous year.
Read the rest of the story here.
4. A new study makes a startling discovery...to those doing the studying, anyway.
Cats and Dogs can make nice with each other, suggests a new study -- so long as the cat is in the home first and introductions are made at a young age.
The paper, according to authors Neta-Li Feuerstein and Joseph Terkel, is the first to examine relationships between dogs and cats living in the same house.
One noteworthy finding of the study, which has been accepted for publication in the journal Applied Animal Behavior Science, is that if the animals are introduced to each other while still a puppy and a kitten, the two can actually learn each other's body language.
Whoopty, freakin' Do!
Felines, and Canines have known all this FOR CENTURIES, for cryin' out loud!
They could have saved themselves a lot of time, effort, and money by just asking around among the Cat and Dog Community, but did they think to do this?
Of course not!
And they call themselves scientists, and professors?
Read the rest of the story: In Multi-Pet Homes, Cats Are Top Dogs.
5. Some Cats and Dogs have higher levels of chemicals than humans.
The analysis found levels of brominated flame retardants (used in furniture, fabrics and electronics) in cats 23 times higher than in humans, and mercury levels (likely from fish in pet foods) five times higher. In dogs, levels of perfluorinated chemicals (from stain- and grease-proof coatings) were 2.4 times higher than in people. Overall, 35 chemicals in dogs and 46 in cats were found.
The research used blood and urine samples from 35 dogs and 37 cats collected at Hanover Animal Hospital in Mechanicsville, Va.
Whle the original AOL News stories seem to no longer be available this short report has some of the details.
6. How much Cat and Doggie is in that fur coat in the window?
In 2006 ABC News reported on some disturbing findings by the Humane Society:
Instead of lounging around the family home, some cats and dogs in Europe and Russia have been showing up around jacket collars and in coats, according to a Humane Society investigation.
The group's undercover investigation concluded that the business of killing cats and dogs for fur is thriving in the Czech Republic and other Eastern European countries. This comes as a direct reaction to thriving fur sales and a noted market shift since the U.S. banned the import of domestic pet fur, experts say.
"We have at the doorsteps of the European Union positive proof that this business is not just an Asian issue anymore," said Richard Swain, a Humane Society vice president and investigator.
Swain estimates that more than 2 million dogs and cats are slaughtered every year for their coats, with most pelts coming from Asia. And because they are extremely difficult to identify, most shoppers don't usually know that the fur trim on hats, coats or boots have been made with dog and cat fur.
Only DNA testing can reveal the true identity of a fur, Swain said.
Read the rest of the story:
Is Dog and Cat Fur Being Used in Coats? Humane Society Investigation Finds Dog and Cat Fur Trade Creeping Up in Eastern Europe.
7. As a RepubliCat, a ConservaPussy of deep convictions, it pains me to admit that my fellow Republicans, of the Human Persuasian, can sometimes be seriously misguided.
In this excellent debate one such misguided Conservative is countered by one who has things in their proper perspective. ;-D
RIGHT WING NEWS: Cats or Dogs. Which are the Better Pets?
8. In Saudi Arabia Mice secretly hold the reigns of power. Yes, it's true! Don't believe me?
I have proof! Check out this fascinating story of a culture in confusion, and confict, over its fascination with Cats, and revulsion of Dogs, from 2006!
Cats and Dogs banned by Saudi religious police: Muhammad was a cat person, but some say pets signal Western influence.
9. Are Cats or Dogs better for your health?
Health magazine has some interesting answers in support of both.
10. I'll end this round-up with yet one more debate over who is better, Cats or Dogs.
In this one the Dog defender knew he had no chance, so apparently didn't even try to mount a defense.
THE ONION - Point/Counterpoint: Cats are better than Dogs.
Now let's move on to a round-up of Weekly Carnivals:
1. Carnival of the Cats #256 is up and running over at Pet's Garden Blog, and you can learn all about the Carnival itself, over at The Cat Blogosphere.
2. Bad Kitties Festival of Chaos #81 was also hosted by Pet's Garden Blog. #82, and 83 have not been posted as of yet. You can learn more at Bad Kitty Cats.
3. Weekend CatBlogging #192 is up at The M-Cats Club, and you can learn about Weekend CatBlogging here.
4. The Modulator, as usual, has Friday Ark #229, where all the Animal Kingdom comes together to strut its stuff, and you can find links to Carnivals celebrating creatures of all sorts.
5. The Pet Purrs and Purrayers Blog is for any pet prayer requests, praises or remembrances.
Each Sunday a new list is started. If you need a special request added to the list, please leave it in the comments anytime.
The most recent list is here.
Well, it's Midnite, so I'm off to bed!
Night everyone! ;-D
That cat looks mean.
Posted by: mark | February 10, 2009 at 12:49 PM
As Rush Limkitty would say...
I'm just a harmless little Fuzzball! ;-D
Posted by: Nikita | February 10, 2009 at 03:46 PM