Yeah, I could do that.

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…Or I could just suck your breath out next time you fall asleep.

Agility contests for cats? It’s purr for the course - USATODAY.com

They work their way through a daunting course of tunnels, jumping and weaving through poles. All on cue. Sort of.

But whatever they decide to do, it’s more than most normal-thinking people would expect.

For these animal athletes are cats, doing their owners’ bidding — more or less — in competitions patterned after canine agility contests.

The felines are enticed, cajoled and sometimes just released like bullets to maneuver over or through six to 14 obstacles. The best make it in about 10 seconds or so; the less eager take, well, a few minutes.

Article includes a photo gallery.

Jan

25

Newsflash: They don’t really like each other. They just share a grudge against you.

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Wash That Grumpiness Right Out of That Cat - washingtonpost.com

Dear Dr. Fox:You often address the issue of introducing animals to a household. In 25 years, we have had one dog and five cats without any introduction issues.

When my husband and I were married, I brought a new kitten into his condo to live with his 8-year-old grouch of a cat. This cat had issues with animals and people alike.

We bathed both cats simultaneously with the same shampoo. About an hour after the baths, we found our grumpy cat licking the kitten dry. They never had a problem. As we introduced two new kittens over the years, we would bathe all of the cats with the same shampoo, and the new babies were accepted without problems. It has to be done so they all come out wet at the same time, smelling the same.

Three years ago, we brought in a rambunctious Westie pup to live with our 12-year-old and 3-year-old cats. We bathed the cats first and then bathed the puppy. The cats accepted him with no stress, fights or soiling, fast friends from the onset. I hope this helps your readers.

M.

Virginia Beach

Jan

17

So what would you do if five bald mice tried to sneak through the mail slot?

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BCLocalNews.com - Feline fuss stops the mail

When Darlene Carlin learned that Canada Post was suspending mail deliveries because of an incident between her cat and a letter carrier, she couldn’t quite believe her ears.

Oreo’s an indoor cat after all.

But Canada Post wasn’t kidding.

On Jan. 2, while delivering the mail, a postman was inserting the envelopes into the spring-loaded mail slot at the front door to Carlin’s Blundell Road home when a black arm with a white paw came through the mail slot, a Canada Post spokesperson told her.

“I said, ‘You know, I really don’t believe you but this story you’re telling me is so far fetched, I said you couldn’t make it up.’”

The postman, who’s apparently been delivering this same route for some time, peeked inside the mail slot and spotted a “big fat black cat.”

Carlin describes Oreo as a skittish 15-year-old cat, one of two she owns.

The postman suffered a “couple of scratches” but is otherwise fine, Carlin said she was told.

In a letter written to Carlin, Canada Post wrote that if a cat injures one of its employees, a civil action could be commenced against the cat’s owner for recovery of damages.

“In view of the threat posed by your cat, we require a written assurance stating what measures you will be taking to ensure that your cat remains under control during delivery hours…Canada Post Corporation is committed to provide the best possible service to our customers; however employee safety will not be compromised.”

More at link. The photo is of the actual cat, Oreo. This story is apparently unrelated to this one from England.

Jan

15

You can look, but don’t touch, and I’m not crazy about the looking.

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JON CARROLL

I think Bucket is taking a correspondence course in “How to Be a Cat.” Archie more or less took up all the cat room available in the home when he was alive, leaving Bucket to sulk around the edges, very occasionally seeking bonding opportunities, during which she drooled copiously. When we made overtures of friendship, she usually ran away. Very disheartening.But Archie’s been gone for nine months now, and Bucket is assuming the role of Cat in the household. Unfortunately, she has no idea what the job entails, and she’s had to follow her instincts. Her instincts are unreliable.

As an example: Most cats will initiate a rub-and-purr session by jumping up on an available lap or bed. I think Bucket maybe saw Archie do that, and so she’s trying it out, sort of. Sometimes, she stands by my chair and looks up. Sometimes she meows.

“Come on, Bucket,” I say. “Come on up. That’s a girl. Come up. You know you want to. Come on.” And Bucket stands there. She’s racked by internal doubts. Is it safe up there? It’s been safe the previous hundred times, but that does not mean it’s safe now.

“Come on, Bucket. Up you get. Come on. Such a good cat. Come on, Bucket.”

Still she stands. She tilts her head quizzically. Sometimes she walks around in a small circle. She weighs the options. A car door slams far away, and that distracts her. By this time, I am getting tired of trying to persuade a cat to experience bonding pleasure. She doesn’t want to get petted, fine. Go your own damn way, devil cat.

Much more at link. Our local representative of the breed is Little Girl Cat, who is happy to be petted if she has a clear escape route, just in case today is the day you’ve decided to bathe/medicate/murder her. And you must not look at LGC while petting her.

Jan

15

Giving catnaps a bad name

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It’s a dog’s life if you’re a cat | Metro.co.uk

They say all God’s creatures are equal but not, it seems, in the eyes of the law.

Steal a cat in the US and you’ll get away with a slap on the wrists – yet if you make off with a dog you could find yourself jailed for up to ten years.

But that may all change after campaigners called for equality following the tale of Ernie the cat, who was stolen from a rescue centre.