Mad Macedonian

Meowsings of an Opinionated Pussycat 20: CatBlogging Goes to the Dogs Edition

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!

This Cat's NOT Plotting Anything! I LOVE My Daddy!

I have no idea what questions this stupid quiz was asking Daddy, but the results are just sooo bogus!

Daddy has assured me that he didn't believe it.

He then proceeded to give me a handful of Feline Greenies.

I LOVE Greenies!

Feed me, Daddy, Feed me!

Okay, now that I've made my Movie Reference of the day, and defended my honor...I have a nap to resume...heh, heh. ;-D

Rest in Peace, India, the First Cat of the United States

 

The White House Pussy passes.

FROM YAHOO NEWS:

"The president, Mrs. Bush, Barbara, and Jenna are deeply saddened by the passing of their cat India ("Willie")," press secretary Sally McDonough said in a statement.

"India was a beloved member of the Bush family for almost two decades. She will be greatly missed," she said.

18 Years! Wow! I hope I live so long!

Daddy and I hope that the new Prez gets a Cat...to keep whatever mangy Mutt he's getting in line during his time in the White House. ;-D

If he can't, due to the health concerns of his daughters, that's OK.

The First Squirrel and the White House Squirrels will still be there to keep an eye on things. ;-D

My Daddy Has the Kindest, Most Caring, Heart This Cat Knows!

 

I am one Pissed Off Pussy!

Last week, after Daddy saw my report on an LA Times story about a very lucky Cat, Daddy found himself in a dust-up over what he thought about the story and, by extension, what he thought of the reactions of some in the Cat Blogging Community.

One follow-up to my post became 3, and the rest is history: Some folks sent e-mails, some left comments, here, but most expressed themselves, on what he wrote, elsewhere.

Some of the comments were constructive, many were, to be charitable, not.

The good thing out of this, in my mind, is that not only did one commentor return with a changed mind, but Daddy is making some new friends among Cat Bloggers.

Daddy is a big boy, and is more than capable of taking care of himself, so I'm not going to comment further on the story, and the controversy (If you want to read the series go to my Archives.).

However, there is one thing I want to make ABUNDANTLY CLEAR to all those Cats, and their Humans, whose fur were ruffled.

When it comes to my Daddy, who he is, what he thinks, and why, what he cares about, and why, and why he Blogs about the things he does...

Anyone who takes the time to get to know him knows this...

My Daddy has a Heart ( Not to mention a PULSE! ), and I can prove it!!

 

Last week Daddy had his annual physical, and something new, this year, was an EKG.

So THERE!

Put THAT in your pipe and smoke it! ;-D

Apologies, Anyone? or Dear Kim: Ignore them, Learn from this, and Move On

On Christmas Day Column One, in The Los Angeles Times, had a very moving story that touched me deeply and, I believed, would touch any Cat Lover who read it in the same way.

One night, Bess disappeared and didn't come back. There are coyotes out there. You search, you hope, eventually you give up. Almost.

When a feline goes missing, the explanations of where she could be are as long as the darkest corridor of the owner's imagination.

High up in a Douglas fir. In the bellies of the coyotes slinking out in the woods. In a ditch, bleeding, after being smacked by a car. Snatched by a bald eagle. (On the island in Puget Sound where I live, wildlife biologists report, a number of cat collars have turned up in eagles' nests.)

Kim Murphy is a respected, award winning Journalist (2005 Pulitzer for Journalism, among many other awards, look it up!) , of 30 years experience, with a passion for Kitties, and she has had them with her on her assignments for years.

She had a heart warming story to share that she thought would touch readers deeply.

She was right...but not in the way she thought...and there-in lies the real tradgedy of this tale.

Good morning, the Mad Macedonian here.

If you are late to the saga then start here, and read the 3 previous entries in their entirety: Think Good Thoughts for Brave Bess.

So, um, where was I?

Oh, yeah! I'M PISSED OFF!

If my last post didn't make that abundantly clear then this one surely will.

Before you even go there, let me make something abundantly clear: While I've been a Blogger for almost 7 years I don't delude myself...I'm no-one of consequence in the Blogosphere. My traffic is miniscule, always has been, and probably won't change anytime soon.

Hell, I'm far better known for my BikeBlog, and that one has averaged only 150-250 visits a day in its 6 years of life.

There are no doubt many writing about Cats, and just about any other subject I cover on this blog, or my BikeBlog,  with far larger an audience than I will ever have.

If I was doing this for fame, and fortune, I would have quit Blogging 5 years ago. ;-D

But enough about me... As I was saying...I'M PISSED!

I want to begin by sharing a correspondence I've been having since Saturday.

It began with a letter sent by my Co-Blogger, and best bud, Nikita:

Dear Bess, my name is Nikita, and I am a CatBlogger.

 

I am a 10 year old indoor Cat, and when I read your story, as told by your human, this morning, it touched me very much.

 

I shared it on my blog, this morning.

 

I hope your human reads this to you, and tells you that I, and any Cat that learns of your tale, are pulling very hard for you in your recovery.

 

You showed such courage, and determination in surviving your difficulty, and we know that you have a reservoir of strength within you, and the love of your human, and her family, to enable you to recover.

 

My thoughts, and the thoughts of my Human, are with you.

 

If you read the 1st post in this series you read the reply from Bess.

 

Nikita responded in this way:

 

Dear Bess,

 

I'm usually of a sweet disposition, but after discovering that I've come late to the Cat Community debate over your story, and reading some of the Hairballs being coughed up, and tossed at your human...well, when Daddy comes home from work tonight, and reads them for himself, I expect we are going to have a discussion about the ruckus, and what we might have to say further.

 

 I've read what your human sent to others in her defense, and I admire her for it.

 

I hope that she has gotten far more responses like mine, than not.

 

It is so easy to express outrage over the situation of others, but we forget that we are not completely without sin ourselves, both cat, and human.

 

I've shared stories about the horror of cultures that dine on our species, and heard nary a peep in shock, or protest, but let a story such as yours, involving a simple domestic situation, become known, and claws are unsheathed in short order.

 

Daddy once had a hard choice to make regarding another Cat in our family.

 

We've told the story twice...to little reaction.

 

I guess our situation was too complex to sort out reactions for some.;-D

 

I think if we told it again we might finally get folks attention. ;-D

 

Hugs to both of U!

 

The next day I wrote Kim under my own name for the 1st time, telling her about my 2nd blog post, and ended this way:

 

I do not know if there is a debate in Times forums on your story, or if you have engaged people there.

 

If there is, and you have, or if a follow-up column ever is planned, feel free to quote my post, and point people to it, as I welcome comments.

 

Don't let all your critics out there get to you.

 

You can't win no matter the explanation, or number of times, and ways, you apologize for your past "mistakes".

 

The important thing is to move on, and learn from this experience.

 

Bess is alive, and on the way to recovery, and you can do your best to make her life a happy, and safe, one.

 

On Monday Kim wrote back:

 

Once again, I very much appreciate your compassion.

 

Though I started this myself by writing about Bess (I have been a writer for 30 years, and writing about something so astounding as her survival seemed natural to me)...

 

I no longer have the heart to participate in the public dissection of my family's personal pain--my children, who are both active users of the Internet, certainly don't need to see any more of this--and so I'm going to try to back out of the ongoing discussions, if I can.

You are so right that we have learned a lot of lessons, not only over the years, but in the past few weeks.

Thanks again for the big dose of humanity in your blog.

 

I wrote back, angry, and very troubled:

 

Dear Kim,

 

I'm writing from work, and have not been around to other blogs since this morning.

 

I'm embarrassed for those few in the CatBlogosphere, and among Cat Lovers in general, who have spent the weekend giving us all a bad name by their behavior.

 

You have seen the comments I've gotten today, and the ones others have made elsewhere.

 

Please don't tell me that you have been getting even more hateful responses in e-mail, or in forums, than these?

 

That would be shameful.

 

When I got home, at Midnight, I spend some 3 hours doing research, and thinking, long and hard about what I wanted to do next, then I wrote Kim before finally going to bed:

 

Dear Kim,

 

I got home from work at midnight, and have been a busy little Bee every since, and not once have I bothered to go see what the CatBlogoshere did to you yesterday.

 

That can wait.

 

What I've been doing is more important at the moment, and when you see it on my blog I hope it will cheer you up.

 

You listen up, my friend.

 

When you said you had 30 years experience as a journalist, I had no idea!

 

"As for my beloved dinosaur, if we cavewomen weren't out there gathering the news-such as it is-in Iran, what would you bedroom-slippered bloggers have to chew the fat about?"

 

For that alone I wanna hug ya...even if you may be a Liberal! ;-D

 

The fact that you have reported from places in the world that few ordinary people would dare to go, says a lot about you.

 

At the Times since '83?

 

( NOTE: I then listed a whole amazing laundry list of awards she has worked hard to earn, and the following praise tossed her way from one -"She tells stories that help her readers care about, and understand, the news." - If you want to know more then YOU do the Googling! )

 

{{{Woman}}} hold your head up high, damn it!

 

You tried to help them understand how a mistake was turned into a blessing, and they don't believe a word you wrote, then or since?

 

Your detractors of the last week, in the CatBlogosphere, and elsewhere, are not fit to worship the ground you walk on.

 

Forget them.

 

As I said the more you try to explain, and apologize, the more they will mistrust, and denounce.

 

I've been a member of the unpaid "New Media", um,  "Journalism", hee, hee, since 2002 (I should have went into Journalism in High School in the 70's but didn't!), and have never had daily traffic of more than 100 to 300 a day for most of that time, but I feel blessed by the writing I've had a chance to do, the people I've met, and corresponded with, including you, and the occasional recognition I've gotten.

 

Don't let the ignorant get you down.

 

Her response, yesterday afternoon, made me smile, and confirmed my belief that she can move on from this:

 

 

Good grief, you are good at resurrecting old, long-forgotten stuff!

 

Hope you have a wonderful new year!

 

Hug Nikita for me.

Kim

 

I take pride in my writing, and pleasure in the unexpected places it continues to take me every day.

 

I take pride in caring enough about a subject that I often take the time to do some research for a post.

 

This was one such time.

 

From the start it was obvious to me that no-one else was going to, or even cared to.

 

That is where I wish to take you, dear reader, next, and the results of that research are why I ask the question in the title of this post.

Hairballs to the Right of Her, Hairballs to the Left, Volley and Thunder!

...Into the Valley of the CatBlogosphere ventured the experienced Journalist, and Cat Lover.

And the outraged, self-rightous, denunciations continued...

Good morning, the Mad Macedonian here.

Since my last post I've not had a chance, until yesterday afternoon, to more than approve comments, handle some correspondence, and do some research.

Most of what I've read in some of the same CatBlogosphere places, and in my comments, was embarrassing to our Community...

As Cheryl, of Meowers from Missouri, wrote me in an e-mail:

You might want to put on your flame-proof undies for a while;-D

Folks are still pretty angry about this!

At Meowers from Missouri:

Cheryl, the Human Co-Blogger of Ed, Nitro and Xing Lu, posted an e-mail I sent her, and a comment she left to my post.

In it she quoted Scripture in her defense, but did not take our Feline Readership into account in doing so...so I will, appologizing for her lack of simple courtesy:

FROM THE LOLCAT BIBLE:

1Cor. 6:2-3, Prov. 3:21, John 7:24, Jer. 22:3

If tossing the Good Book at me makes her feel better about what she, and those who agree with her are doing, then far be it from me to disuade her from it.

Anyway, where was I?

Her commentors:

1. We think that woman should have just kept her story to herself.

2. Can she honestly expect people to believe she didn't hear her?

3. How dare someone show an attitude of levity? Perhaps we should consider that her levity, though inappropriate, may be a defense mechanism. she could be an evil person just desiring justification and validation, but it's her problem if she mistakes kindness for weakness - not ours. (This from someone "working my way to a Masters degree in Mental Health".)

It seems everyone was too tuckered to toss onTuesday, so they didn't.

Same at The Cat's Meow.

That doesn't mean folks were completely quiet...just turning their thoughts in my direction as well as Kim. ;-D

You can read the full commments in my previous post, but here are highlights:

1. When something happens to one of my cats, my first reaction is to cry and feel guilt. NOT write a light hearted article on the tragedies that have befallen animals who trust me to care for them.

2.  No, you would not only raise hackles in the cat Blogging or any animal lover but also in your so Called "journalistic" approach to the story...

You did not even read it did you?

Umm can I just say...DUH?

 I believe when you are on trial these things are brought up, so being that this woman is on trial, by us who respect and love animals, should these things also not be taken into consideration when trying to determine a verdict, or are you just like every other dumb ass story writer...

make this post as controversial as you can, so you can get the ratings?

Or maybe you are one of these do-gooders that think even mass murderers should be treated nicely and have creature comforts?

Yeah it's a big dive from the story, but it gets the point across...

I am ashamed for the world we live in now days...

This person looked for people to justify her sins, hoping that people would be all like you were..."Oh it is ok, we all make mistakes, you are not a bad person"...

Bullshit, do a little research and you will find that the bad people out there live off this.

You see, no person is entirely without conscience and want to justify their "sin" as you call it yourself, they look to other people, cry a sob story about how sorry they are then go on to do the same thing over and over...

Anyway I am done...

The way you have written and not done any research into the story other than our reactions proves to me that you have not one lateral thinking spark in your brain, so know that this is not directed at you but more at the people that might even think your story had some cred.

3. We don't believe the story at all.

It reeks of fictional documentary designed to get a careless insect of a human a few minutes of fame...

Hiss, hiss, hiss.

4. The way she presented the story puts her 'sorries' in a light that doesn't ring true.

When you are dealing with a community of people who adore their cats and are hyper careful when it comes to their care, what do you expect as a response?

'Better luck next time'?

What did I expect? I expected better than I saw.

Oh, and...Research is my middle name (Well, actually, it's my 2nd middle name, George is my 1st!)

I do not know how much of the CatBlogosphere, or the general public, responded to the story of Bess in all the papers it appeared in across the nation, but if the above is any judge Kim's e-mail, and that of the papers, must have been full of some pretty harsh screeds indeed.

There WAS some rational thinking mixed in amongst the Hairballl Tossing, but you will have to look hard to find it at all the places linked, and at least 1 blog I discovered had visited my story, and among folks who e-mailed me.

I want to share some of that correspondence...

CatBloggers Fur Ruffled, Hackles Raised, Cough Up and Toss Hairballs

From the LOLCat Bible:

Matthew 7: 1 = If u juj u wil be jujded. So don't.

John 8: 7 = d00ds, if yur so gud, n haz no invisivle error, u can haz rox for teh throwin.

Good evening, the Mad Macedonian here.

I get home from work at 1am, and find Nikita all in a dither.

Seems he found that story about Lucky Bess, in the LA Times, that I left laying around for him to spot, and blogged about it. ;-D

As he showed me, some of our fellow CatBloggers, feline, and human, were on this story before we were, and the response has been...interesting.

A sad case of a jinxed cat lover, or does a certain human need to learn how to better care for and protect her kitties?

Some of the responses have left this Cat Lover a tad troubled.

Karen Nichols/Skeezy, of The Cat's Meow, wrote:

So, I finished reading this, was feeling all warm and fuzzy and happy that Bess was okay, and then I started thinking that the Animal Welfare Society in London might have been wise not to allow Kim to adopt a cat. Just like humans who love kids but have no parental skills, Kim may be a cat lover, but it sounds like she comes up a little short in the caregiving department when it comes to cats.

Her readers had a field-day speculating on what happened, and why, explaining in hindsight what they would have done in the same situation, deducing what type of person, and pet owner, the writer is based on the story she tells, and how she tells it, and deciding that she doesn't deserve to have a Cat now, never should have had one before, doesn't deserve to care for one in the future, and is a menace not just to Cats, but to children, to boot!

A member of Meowsers from Missouri left a comment with an ending that seemed to sum up the general consensus rather nicely:

We are all in favor of throwing Kim off a balcony (twice) and then locking her in a window seat. permanently. really.

READ: Cat Survives 9 Week Lockup in Windowseat.

Over at the CatBlogosphere, KC's Mommie ML writes:

The guilt over poor Bess would do most of us in. But what about ALL the other kitties this "cat owner" has been involved with — to the detriment of the poor cat?And still she fanagles to get more cats, well-knowing her irresponsibility led to the demise of every cat she owned. Is there not a twinge of remorse anywhere in her being?She seems to treat the whole thing as if it is some humorous joke.

Everyone at  Meowsers From Missouri, Feline, and Human, were so insensed that a letter was fired off to Kim, by their Mommy, Cheryl Pierce, and that's where we head to next on this tour of the judgemental.

You darn well oughta feel ashamed...

It would be a sin if you EVER get another pet...

Pitiful...

The Kitties were a tad surprised that their Mommy got a response, and such a lengthy, frank, and honest one as well.

Her short note essentially tells the same good news that Bess, herself, sent to Nikita last night, and a bit more.

It seems a lot of readers of the Times piece were also upset, but many also saw the story for what it was "a testimonial to the amazing spirit and power of one Small Cat".

The Kitties were not much happier after reading the longer, 2nd, note from Kim, but did seem a bit  kinder in their response to what she wrote.

That can't be said for some of the Kitties, and Humans, in the comments, but 1st I want to share Kims essay in its entirety.

Think Good Thoughts for Brave Bess

 

I love to read the LA Times when Daddy is thru with it...and sometimes when he's not (But, um, hee, hee, that's a story for another time!)

On Christmas Day Column One had a very moving story that touched me deeply, and will touch any Cat who reads it.

One night, Bess disappeared and didn't come back. There are coyotes out there. You search, you hope, eventually you give up. Almost.

When a feline goes missing, the explanations of where she could be are as long as the darkest corridor of the owner's imagination.

High up in a Douglas fir. In the bellies of the coyotes slinking out in the woods. In a ditch, bleeding, after being smacked by a car. Snatched by a bald eagle. (On the island in Puget Sound where I live, wildlife biologists report, a number of cat collars have turned up in eagles' nests.)

Kim Murphy is a Journalist with a passion for Kitties, and she has had them with her on her assignments for years.

In the past those Cats, well, let's just say that they used up their 9 Lives in some interesting ways. ;-D

Her latest disappeared in Sept...

Halloween came, and went, as did Thanksgiving...it was, reluctantly, becoming clear to everyone that Bess was never coming home.

This is a harrowing tale of the fateful choices one Cat made, and the desperate act she finally performed that saved her life.

It is the story of a loving family, and its desperate search for their precious feline companion, where they looked, and didn't think to look.

Are faith, love, and determination, human, and feline, enough to return Bess to near, or full, health?

Will you join me in echoing Kims message to Bess: "You have made it this far, and you ARE going to keep going, you hear?"

Read the full story here.

Brave, brave Bess...please know that many Cats are sending purrs of strength, and courage, in your direction!

You can write to Bess, care of Kim, here: kim.murphy at latimes.com

 

Now, if you will excuse me, I'm gonna spend the afternoon sunbathing! ;-D

***UPDATE 12/28 -11AM***

Overnight I received an E-Mail from Bess!

 

Dear Nikita,

   Wow, my mom just showed me your posting, and it was so SWEET. Are Macedonian cats always so nice?

   You should know that I am almost fully recovered.

I was racing across the kitchen this morning chasing my mouse, and I also spent awhile chasing my favorite feather.

I am pretty much back to being where I belong--Queen of the Murphy house.

A big thank you to all the Cats who have sent so many good wishes my way.

with purrs,

Bess

 

Overnight I also learned that I came late to this story, and that the tale of Bess has stirred up more than a few felines, and their Humans, across the Cat Community...and not all of it so nice toward the Human who told the story.

Daddy, and I are reading all this with interest, and Daddy is gearing up to toss in his 2 cents.

***END UPDATE***

***UPDATE 2 - 12/28 -1020PM***

Daddy has his Dander Up! Daddy has his Dander Up!

It's a long one, so bring the munchies, and plenty of your liquid nourishment of choice, and be prepared to settle in for a while. ;-D

CatBloggers Fur Ruffled, Hackles Raised, Cough Up and Toss Hairballs

***END UPDATE***

 

 

Carnival of the Cats #249: Christmas Edition

Ladies and Gentlecats, and the Humans that love them...

In the spirit of the Holiday Season, it is with great pleasure that I have the very special honor, and responsibility, to bring to you, today...

The Carnival of the Cats #249!!!

Daddy has been sicker than a, um, Snow-addled Dog, for a week, so I've been helping him get some rest.

Before I get started, let me wish everyone Happy Holidays, and ask you...what's Christmas without a Christmas Carol or two? ;-D

If your Humans like to Bicycle, give them a Christmas Present by sharing with them THE JINGLE BICYCLE SONG  that Daddy wrote last week! ;-D

As regular readers know Nikita's Place is not a blog in the traditional sense since it is actually just the name of an Archive Category of Posts where all my contributions can be read at your leisure, and my name is listed as the proud author of each entry. I call it a Blog Within the Blog!

This edition of The Carnival (Check out the Home Site here!) is dedicated to the memory of someone very special, a person who had a love of animals and was dedicated to animal rescue.

Majel Barrett Roddenberry, the widow of "Star Trek" creator Gene Roddenberry and an actress whose longtime association with the "Star Trek" franchise included playing Nurse Christine Chapel in the original series, died early Thursday morning. She was 76.

Known to legions of Trekaholics (Including Daddy!) as Number One, and Nurse/Doctor Christine Chapel, of Classic Trek and the movies, and  the flamboyant Lwaxana Troi on "Star Trek: The Next Generation" and "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine", as well as the voice of the Starship Enterprise Computer (Including in the new movie, next year!), The First Lady of 'Trek'  was, according to Daddy, wonderful in all her various roles.

There is a great article in the LA Times about her, and the fact that anyone interested in doing so can make a donation in her name to CARE (Cat & Canine Assistance, Referral and Education), or  Precious Paws, in place of Flowers.

With her playing a Nurse, and having a love for us Felines,  not to mention playing the Mother of another favorite Trek character, I think that she would be tickled by this cute little story that I found to share in her honor. ;-D

THE CAT by Franemtnurse, at Allnurses.com.

Ok, let's get this show on the road!

1. Nancy, at My Hollywood Pets, shares 10 Ways to Keep Your Pet Safe, Healthy and Happy.

2. Alex, of Home Life Weekly, has a great recipe for the Holidays! You're in, um, for a real treat! ;-D

3. GrrlScientist, of Living the Scientific Life, share a cool photo of a Snow Leopard.

4. Elisson, of Blog d'Elisson, shares a great picture of Hakuna curling up in her very own bed.

5. Jams, of The Poor Mouth, shares a great picture of Mimi indulging in the munchies.

6. Rahel, of Elms in the Yard, share the visual definition of the term Sub Feline.

7. Moi , of Bloggg, says "All Ai Need iz uh Box!"

8. Vera, of the Fine Pet Care site, shares some tips for keeping pets safe during the Holidays.

9. Debra, of MANX MNEWS, shows us a great picture of Mr Jinx Taking A Snooze, and tells us why he such a special Kitty.

10. Leucanthemum B, of Composite Drawlings, shows us adorable proof that "Maus has taken possession of my pillow".

11. James, of Coyote Mercury, shares agreat photo of Simon in a reflective moment.

12. Marilynn, of Momma Grace & Company, shows us Audace's owie!

13. Tristan Tabby Cat Longtail, of Tabbylicious, has the Caterday Round-up, full of lots of cool pictures, and stories, oh, and a question about where the tasty food called Spam comes from.

14. Phoebe, A Siamese Cat, asks the eternal question...Why is it that Siamese Cats look so darn Goofy? ... as she puts her paws up for the weekend. ;-D

15. CatSynth,  celebrates the Homecoming of Luna with an adorable collection of Photos. Those sparkling Green Eyes are just amazing!

16. and 17. Sissy Willis, of Sisu, has 2 entries:

In one post a cute photo graces a discussion of religion, and the impact of the current economic woes on the family this Christmas in a piece called "Rediscovering the warmth, simplicity, amity and solidarity which are the very values of Christmas".

In the other post more cute photos grace the riveting tale of "Katrina without all the water".

18 - 20. Mog brings us 3 entries:

At the Mind of Mog it was just Another Rainy Day so our correspondent just stayed in and curled up into a cute little ball for the duration.

At iInfidel, our hero celebrates having a picture chosen as Featured Kitty!

At iMeowza, our hero, well, um, hee, hee, anything I might have to say about THIS photo would be just sooo totally inadequate to the task...trust me! ;-D

21. Diamond Emerald-Eyes, of Diamond's Lair, wonderfully illustrates T-13: Holly Daze ( Part I ).

22 - 24. Young Phoebe, and Autumn, of the new blog  Autumn, A Senior Moment Cat.

The human in their lives shares with us the story, and images, of how she did a beautiful watercolor painting of Autumn.

The next entrys fall under "Hosts Perogative" as I think the 1st is a great story, and the 2nd is a great companion piece to the one officially submitted to the carnival, and is from Phoebe's own, older, blog:

9/26 - The story of Autumn, by the human that loves her:

I thought that I would post a short history about Autumn, who is a senior cat estimated to be about 18+ years old as of today. When I first met her, she was an adult cat that slightly overstayed her welcome at an animal shelter in northeastern Ohio and is a rescue.

She was a bit ferocious and traumatized, but I took her to my apartment home anyway on August 29, 1992, where she slept for several days on end, hissed, and didn’t eat much........

12/6 - " This kitten picture of Phoebe was taken when she arrived here at her new home 1-1/2 years ago. The lighting on her fur and bed sparked my interest to paint a watercolor portrait of her today."

Well, that's it for this edition!

I need a nap!

Without Daddy this time! ;-D

#250 returns, next week,  to the home of those Kitties behind this ongoing weekly frolic, The Cat Blogosphere.

Carnival of the Cats #246: The AFTER T-Day Edition

Ladies and Gentlecats, and the Humans that love them...

In the spirit of the Holiday Season, just begun, it is with great pleasure that I have the very special honor, and responsibility, to bring to you, today...

Yes, Virginia, some folks, in the rest of the world, consider us a tasty delicacy, fit for a feast, every day, or just on Special Occasions such as Holidays.

While I use a collection of photos, like the above, to poke visual fun at my own expense, the subject IS one of serious concern to our Community, and while I consider my latest edition of Meowsings of an Opinionated Pussycat to be a story worth your time, I only recommend it to those Cats, and their Humans with STRONG CONSTITUTIONS (And maybe even nothing breakable within reach!), as the subject, and some links about it, IS disturbing.

Meowsings of an Opinionated Pussycat 19: Healthy Living Thru Cats Edition

Now let's get down to business!

This edition of the Carnival occurs at a special time of the year, and I am glad to see that many Kitties, and their humans, took time out to submit entries! ;-D

Black Friday, and Cyber Monday, are the 2 huge shopping days after Thanksgiving in which our Humans begin the ritual of Christmas Shopping that will last for almost 2 months.

On Black Friday, and even into the weekend itself, our Humans flock in a frenzy to Petco, Petsmart (In conjunction with Matt and The Pet Haven Blog and Website.), and similar establishments nationwide, looking for bargains on the MUST HAVE items (Hat Tip to Co-Creator, Arik Nordby!) for us, their Best Buds/ Buddettes, and Boon Companions!

They also dash off to other establishments, that just happen to be nearby, to find items for their spouses, children, and other family members, as well.

All this exercise has the added benefit of working off all the pounds gained while stuffing themselves with food on Thanksgiving Day (Thanks to the Turkey Cats, Reggie, Riley, Abby and Batman!)

On Cyber Monday many Humans, having shopped until they dropped, plop themselves down in front of their computers...AND SHOP SOME MORE!!

Meanwhile...we Cats, just sit, and watch the comings and goings, all weekend, with a combination of curiosity, and amusement, or even just studied DIS-INTEREST in some cases, over all the stuff clogging all available space in the house, and garage. ;-D

As regular readers know Nikita's Place is not a blog in the traditional sense since it is actually just the name of an Archive Category of Posts where all my contributions can be read at your leisure, and my name is listed as the proud author of each entry.

I call it a Blog within the Blog ;-D

I have not been blogging much the second half of the year, as I've been busy keeping an eye on Daddy as he deals with life in the struggling economy that our Humans are all dealing with these days, but an exploration of my "Blog" will entertain you, I'm sure, especially with my very busy, and sometimes stressful, Spring, when Daddy went on a lengthy vacation leaving me in charge (Lots of pictures!). ;-D

Most Feline Bloggers either contribute to their Humans blog, or have their own blogs entirely, and the Meowsing of Cats, or the Humans who blog about them, is the reason for the Carnival...so let's get this show on the road, and see what's going on with Cats, and their Humans, this week!

This Edition of the Carnival is dedicated to the memory of 15 year old Casey, who went to Rainbow Bridge, on the morning of Wednesday, Nov. 26th, after a long, hard fought, battle with cancer.

Casey never felt sorry for herself, no matter what challenges the cancer threw at her, and neither should we.

As her Human, Maureen Harmonay, of  the Animal Translations Blog, writes:

This is a tribute I wrote to honor my cat, Casey, who just lost her
battle with cancer, after a 9-month struggle....

Casey and I shared an unconditional love, and a bond that death may bend, but will not break. She had beautiful, intelligent, wide green eyes, but when they lost their lustre, I knew that I could not ask her to linger any longer in her physical body.

There are good links, in A Sad Farewell to a Beloved Feline Friend, to excellent veterinary clinics and a homeopathic veterinarian who specializes in cancer, and a very touching photo of Casey.