This is my first installment of short stories - A perspective on life from Harvey.
[from a cat's perspective, that is]
Canada is a good place for cats!
If I say it fast enough, it may sound Cat-na-da is a good place for cats!
Did you know that?
A cat named 'Tuxedo Stan' is running for mayor of HalifaxHe's a purr-fect candidate.
Finally, a politician everyone — except dog-lovers, maybe — can support.
Stan's mission is to stand up for the less fortunate.
The party's motto? "A chicken in every pot & a litter box in every house."
Stan's campaign slogan — "Because neglect isn't working" — reflects his key campaign issue:
getting a city-sponsored spay, neuter and cat care program for Halifax.
Tuxedo Stan (Cat) on Pinterest
Ailurophile is the word cat lovers are officially called.
Cat lovers are officially named Ailurophiles.
Ailurophobia is a type of specific phobia: the persistent, irrational fear of cats.
Contrary to popular belief, I don't waste a lot of time sitting in front of closed doors.
I can hear things moving, see the shadows flicker and pass over the crack of the threshold.
I have put my paw under there to try and catch them but they are harder to snag then dust balls.
From an innocent position like this most humans don't even realize I am observing them.
I'm a cat after all, the very image of independence, and the nature of a cat is to go where one pleases. A closed door goes against everything I stand for.
During this time of observation I have discovered that time spent with cats is never wasted.
HUMAN HEALTH benefits section
The upside of having a cat is it gives you physical health and emotional well being.
Did you know that it has been proven that living with a cat is good for your health.
The action of sitting and stroking a cat has been proven to lower blood pressure and decrease stress.
In addition to physical health, the purring of a cat on your lap conveys a strong sense of security and comfort.
A third benefit: The cat catches mice.
An impressive list of health benefits!
> Lower risk of cardiovascular disease
> Reduce risk of heart attack
> Improve your immune function
> Decrease chance of developing allergies
> Help prevent asthma in children
> Reduce blood pressure
> Lower triglycerides
> Lower cholesterol
> Reduced risk of stroke
> Reduce stress
> Reduce anxiety
> Improve your mood
> Help with depression
> Help with autism
> Reduced loneliness
> Fewer health care visits
> Longer life.
Study Shows Cat Owners Less Likely to Die From Heart Attacks
A new study shows that cat owners are 40% less likely to die from a heart attack and 30% less likely to suffer from heart disease than people who have never had a pet cat
You'd be better with a cat rather than owning a dog because researchers found no such link for people who had a pet dog.
You also need to take care of your cat.
Cats need to be healthy, too!
Let your cat go out in the yard, in your garden whenever he feels like it... Cats eat grass to aid their digestion and help them get rid of any fur in their stomachs.
more cat health facts
Foods that should not be given to cats include onions, garlic, green tomatoes, raw potatoes, chocolate, grapes, and raisins. Though milk is not toxic, it can cause an upset stomach and gas. Tylenol and aspirin are extremely toxic to cats, as are many common houseplants. Feeding cats dog food or canned tuna that's for human consumption can cause malnutrition
Foods should be given to cats at room temperature.
A cat’s jaw can’t move sideways, so a cat can’t chew large chunks of food
Fun Cat Facts section
Did you know?
Have you ever walked into a room and realized you can't remember what you were going to do there? Ever put your keys down and instantly forget where you put them? Get distracted in a conversation and forget what your point was? That kind of thing never happens to cats, thanks to an almost supernatural capacity for short-term memory.
In a human being, your short-term memory lasts a brief 30 seconds or so.
In cats, it lasts at least 10 minutes.
We've already forgotten 40% of what happened to us yesterday!
When a cat purrs, it does not always indicate that it is happy.
Cats also purr when they are in distress or in pain, such as during the birth process.
Although it is tempting to state that cats purr because they are happy, it is more plausible that cat purring is a means of communication and a potential source of self-healing.
Why does our cat bring us dead or dying creatures?
There are at least four differing theories on this behavior:
> Your cat is bringing you a present, in appreciation for you feeding it or as a sign of affection.
> Your cat realizes you are a totally incompetent mouser and is trying to educate you.
> The cat is bringing her prey home to where it is safe, where she usually eats.
> The cat is simply trying to make sure you have fresh food.
Why do cats sometimes scratch at windows?
- they are verifying that there is actually a barrier between them and whatever they see outside.
Humans do not understand why I hate being picked up by two human hands and dunked in a sink full of water, but I don't mind going outside when it's raining!
The answer is obvious: being forced to take a bath is not on the cat's "own terms."
Female domestic cats tend to preferentially use their right front paw while male cats more often rely upon their left front paw, according to a new study that suggests the sex of a cat determines how its brain will be wired.
When cats walk, they step first with both left legs and then with both right legs. The only other animals who do this, are the camel and the giraffe.
The world's best mouser
The world's best mouser was tortoiseshell moggy Towser, April 21st, 1963 to 20th March 1987. In her lifetime she caught 28,899 mice, plus numerous other unfortunate creatures such as rats & rabbits. Towser worked for the Glenturret Distillery. A statue has been erected in the distillery grounds to honour Towser.
#6. Meowing to Imitate a Baby Human
#5. Leaving Their Poop Uncovered As An Insult
#4. Rubbing Against You to Declare Ownership
#3. Imitating Snakes to Intimidate You
#2. Obsessively Getting Rid of the Stench of Humans
#1. Bringing Home Dead Animals to Show You Suck at Hunting
Food Fun Fact! : Cats refuse to eat mouse-flavored cat food.
Common problem with cats - Hairballs
> Frequent grooming
> Hairball products: use petroleum-based products
> Hairball remedy treats. You can also give your cat treats that contain mineral oil
> Ask your veterinarian about pet food for cats with recurrent hair or fur ball problems
