Wednesday 11 May 2016

Cat Exercise




Here's a video of cats exercising. Made me laugh!

I AM very lucky because I live in a quiet village in a house with a  garden so I have a cat flap for Miss Toffee to come and go as she pleases.  But I know there are many cat owners who keep their pets indoors because it's just not safe for them to go out.

The consequence is that more and more cats are getting overweight. A recent study showed that in the UK, around one in four cats were too heavy. This can create health problems including heart disease and diabetes. But there is a lot owners can do to keep their cats in tip-top condition.

Take time to play with your cat. You can buy cat toys, of course, but you don't have to spend any money if  you don't want to. Toffee can spend ages batting a scrunched up piece of paper around the house.

You can tie objects to string and get your cat to chase them. Warning: make sure you don't leave pieces of string lying about for them to swallow.




They love to climb so put a treat on something high to so that they have to scramble up to get it (only a 'little' treat, otherwise it defeats the object of losing weight!).



Cardboard boxes, balls, stones or marbles in secure containers to make a noise are all ideal for a cat to play with.

There are some ideas here for homemade toys and here is a homemade cat tree.


Take a look at the book below - written by Toffee, the sassiest cat in the world!



Follow That's Purrfect on: Facebook    Twitter    Pinterest    Instagram

*Take a look at The Best Cat Products In The World. You'll love them!

Never miss a funny picture, mad video or hot cat news. Subscribe to That's Purrfect and we'll email you every time the website is updated. All you have to do is pop your email address in the 'subscribe' form in the panel below or right.


Enter your email address:


Delivered by FeedBurner

Bookmark and Share

Shop


Pad over to THE BEST CAT PRODUCTS IN THE WORLD to take a look at all kinds of pawsome things that are just purrfect for cat lovers and their kitties.


Also!


Take a look at the book below - written by Toffee, the sassiest cat in the world!


Tuesday 22 March 2016

Cat Burglar Brigit



OH, Brigit, what have you been up to? The pretty little Siamese cross Burmese moggie has a dark secret - by night she is a cat burglar, roaming around the neighbourhood to steal men's underwear and socks.

In just two months Brigit, aged six, has nicked dozens of boxer briefs and 60 socks. Her owner Sarah Nathan, from Hamilton in New Zealand, found the swag when she was began packing up to move house.


Now Sarah is trying to find the owners of the stolen goods, putting letters through her neighbours' doors asking: "Are you missing underwear?"  She went on to apologise for Brigit's nefarious activities and said she would return all the booty.

The letter finished: "You'll be pleased to know we are moving."








Never miss a funny picture, mad video or hot cat news. Subscribe to That's Purrfect and we'll email you every time the website is updated. All you have to do is pop your email address in the 'subscribe' form in the panel.
Bookmark and Share

Thursday 17 March 2016

Nick And His Ginger Girl



NICK Priest was at the lowest ebb of his life when he took on a poorly kitten.  A former miner who had served with the Royal Corps of Signals, Nick was now out of the Army and was having problems with alcohol.

But the kitten, the runt of  the litter from a cat owned by a friend, was to prove to be his saviour. Caring for the little scrap gave Nick something to do and gave his life meaning.

He said the cat, which he called Fidget, gave him a reason to carry on and he, in turn, nursed the little kitten back to life.

"I rescued her, and she rescued me right back," he said.

At first, she was "really not very well," said Nick, but he cuddled her in his jumper to keep her warm and she began to respond. "That's what made her survive," he said.

Fidget, now two, has grown into a happy, healthy cat and  she is a familiar sight perched on Nick's shoulder in their home town of Penryn in Cornwall, UK.  Fidget is also a bit of biker, joining Nick when he is out on his motorbike. She snuggles into his jacket for short trips or lies in a fur lined tank bag for longer journeys.

A veterinary nurse persuaded Nick to enter Fidget in the Cats Protection charity's National Cat Awards  and he has submitted entries in the Hero Cat and Furr-ever Friends categories. Nick is also making notes on his life with Fidget, in the hope of eventually publishing her story.

He has also been in touch with James Bowen, a former homeless busker whose story of a cat turning his life around became the book A Street Cat Named Bob: And How He Saved My Life. This year the story is being made into a film.

 He said: "I told him 'I don't want to steal your thunder but my cat goes on motorbikes, and she's a ginger girl. We've had some adventures, and she's only two years old."

James emailed him back and said: "You carry on, mate."

Just like Bob gave James a reason to get himself off the streets and to get help for his drug addiction, Fidget gives Nick the impetus to turn his life around.

"I've got someone to be responsible for now," he said.
  • I have again - perhaps foolishly! - taken on the  A to Z Blogging Challenge for the month of April. If you're taking part, let me know - either in a comment or via email - and I'll make sure I visit your blog and leave a comment. 


Never miss a funny picture, mad video or hot cat news. Subscribe to That's Purrfect and we'll email you every time the website is updated. All you have to do is pop your email address in the 'subscribe' form in the panel.



Bookmark and Share

Saturday 12 March 2016

About

That's Purrfect is a site for ailurophiles - an ailurophile, in case you didn't know, is a cat lover. The site brings you the latest news, videos and pictures detailing the lives of our fabulous feline friends.
Contact: thatspurrfect@gmail.com
Follow That's Purrfect on: Facebook    Twitter    Pinterest   Instagram

Thursday 10 March 2016

A Street Cat Named Bob




HERE'S  a movie I'm looking forward to seeing. I've read the book A Street Cat Named Bob: And How He Saved My Life and now it's been made into a film.

For those of you who don't know the story, London street musician James Bowen found an injured, ginger street cat curled up in the hallway of his sheltered accommodation. He had no idea just how much his life was about to change. James was living hand to mouth on the streets of London and the last thing he needed was a pet.

Yet James, a recovering heroin addict, couldn't resist helping the strikingly intelligent tom cat, whom he quickly christened Bob. He slowly nursed Bob back to health and then sent the cat on his way, imagining he would never see him again. But Bob had other ideas.

Soon the two were inseparable and their diverse, comic and occasionally dangerous adventures would transform both their lives, slowly healing the scars of each other's troubled pasts.

A Street Cat Named Bob: And How He Saved My Life is a moving and uplifting story that touched the heart of anyone who read it.



The movie of the book is to  be released later this year. It stars acclaimed British actors Luke Treadaway as James, Ruta Gedmintas as Belle, Joanne Froggatt and Anthony Head (Rupert Giles in Buffy the Vampire Slayer).

Never miss a funny picture, mad video or hot cat news. Subscribe to That's Purrfect and we'll email you every time the website is updated. All you have to do is pop your email address in the 'subscribe' form in the panel.




Friday 26 February 2016

Catvertising

You know me, I'm a sucker for ads featuring cats. The other day I came across a French one I hadn't seen before - thankfully an English version as my language skills are non-existent. I love the fish-vending machine!



Here's a very brief Mercedes Benz ad too.





It features an excerpt from Rossini's Cat Duet. I love this version with Felicity Lott and Ann Murray.





I hope you enjoyed these videos!
 

Never miss a funny picture, mad video or hot cat news. Subscribe to That's Purrfect and we'll email you every time the website is updated. All you have to do is pop your email address in the 'subscribe' form in the panel.
Bookmark and Share

Wednesday 27 January 2016

Cats And Kittens: Adopt, Don't Shop




HERE'S a good message for anyone who wants a cat or kitten - adopt, don't shop. Shelters are full of cats looking for loving homes and, if you are suitable, you could have a little girl or guy like the ones in the video sharing your house soon.









Bookmark and Share

Thursday 7 January 2016

Cat Cafe Closes

Baby, one of the re-homed cats.

IT may seem like bad news that a cat cafe is closing - but in the case of Catfe in Vancouver, Canada, it's very good news!

The Catfe cafe was open for only a month and proved so popular with cat lovers that every kitty it had has been re-homed. The cafe's website posted the notice: "Due to the overwhelming success of adoptions in our first few weeks, we have run out of cats!"

It's opening again soon as a nearby shelter sends the cafe its most sociable kitty cats to interact with cafe visitors.

When it opened the cafe said: “Our aim is to have anywhere between eight and 12 cats at the cafe, which will fluctuate as cats get adopted out and more cats arrive."

All cats are from the BCSPCA (the British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals).

I'm so happy that the cafe's first intake of cats have found purrfect homes.


  • The cafe (when it has cats!) is open daily 11am to 9pm, every day except Thursday.
  • Visit the cafe's website here: http://www.catfe.ca/






Bookmark and Share

Friday 27 November 2015

Cat Pub

Luke Daniels and three of his pub cats.

Cat cafes are springing up all over the world but in the centre of Bristol in England is the world's first (as far as I know) cat PUB!

If you love cats, The Bag O' Nails is the purrfect place to pop in for a quick beer. Landlord Luke Daniels has 15 cats and they have the run of the tavern. He said that he had received a great response to the cat-friendly premises.

All the cats were born in the pub, one mum giving birth in a chips box during a quiz night.

The pop is close to Bristol University and is popular with students who come in to see the cats, no doubt reminding them of pets they have left at home.

The pub is also known for its wide selection of fine beers and many of these are sampled while a cat sits on the customer's lap.


Cheers!



Bookmark and Share

Tuesday 10 November 2015

Dear Kitten - Friskies Ad





Here's another advert that I love - especially the bit about the "monster" Vac-oom!

  • I should say that for none of the adverts I have shared have I been paid or given vouchers/goods. I just love them because they feature cats and are amusing!



Bookmark and Share

Monday 5 October 2015

Business Cat

Just imagine if your cat were a business executive. What would he or she be like? Do you reckon they'd be a good boss or a bad one? Would they have some way-out-there ideas or be conventional? Would they take to the role like a duck to water (or a cat to a cardboard box) or be out of their depth?

Take a look at Business Cat to see how this moggy is coping with life as a high-flying exec. Or not coping, as the case may be!


I think we all recognise that scenario! Or there's this...


Oh yes. Or...


or...


If you want to see more of Business Cat's adventures visit his website at www.businesscat.happyjar.com/






Bookmark and Share

Friday 11 September 2015

My Cat Loves Me


by Pat Keenor

A BRITISH university made a study and declared "cats don't need their owners". This, in turn, spawned a raft of headlines in the media of the "cats don't care about you" variety.
.
Don't care about us? What madness is this!

It's true, of course, that cats are more independent than dogs and might take a little while to warm to you before they feel safe enough to give of their love and affection. But this is just like the difference between introverted and extroverted people. Some are slow-burners who get used to you slowly and then start to open up, while other people are immediately open and friendly with whomever they meet.

I know my cat loves me, for these reasons (I'm sure you have plenty more):

1. She head-butts me for strokes. True, usually when I'm fast asleep in bed so I wake suddenly with my heart thumping - but affection is affection.



2. She licks me - with a tongue that feels like sandpaper, removing the top layer of skin. But who needs to exfoliate in the shower when you have a cat?

3. She curls up on my lap and purrs loud enough to wake the dead.

4. She follows me around the house to see what I'm up to. I sometimes feel like I'm a celebrity with a stalker but she's just interested in what I'm doing. I hope.


5. She sits on my chest and stares into my eyes. It can feel a bit like a sinister staring competition with dire consequences for the one who blinks first. But I am reliably informed that cats only look directly at someone they trust.

6. She does that long, slow blink which in cat world is a kiss. I'm glad she's not a kisser in the human sense. That tuna breath could be a step too far.


7. She talks to me. She miaows. I answer. She miaows back. We talk about everything from world politics to the price of fish.

8. She scratches at closed windows and doors to be with me.... usually at 4am.

How dare you shut me out. Let me in. AT ONCE!
9. She brings me presents. True, I don't particularly want a half-chewed mouse but it's the thought that counts.

10. She not only needs me, she kneads me. Which is a sign of affection. Isn't it? Please tell me it is...




  • The University of Lincoln Animal Behaviour Clinic based its conclusion on something called The Strange Situation Test. This was formulated in the 1970s as a  test to see how attached children were to their caregivers. Basically, they put a cat in an unfamiliar room with its owner and found it didn't look for reassurance from the "care-giver". They also showed that cats do not suffer from separation anxiety if the owner goes away.
In my humble, non-scientific, opinion this seems to prove that cats may not NEED us but that they LOVE us.  They fall back on their own resources and can survive without us - but they choose to stay with us. They don't look on us as the "care-giver" but as an equal.


They may hide away if they are frightened rather than run to us for reassurance. They don't need to depend on us for food - plenty of feral cats survive perfectly well on their own. They stay with us because they want to. Cats won't stick around if they don't like their surroundings. Why should they when they can manage perfectly well on their own?
Cats are not pack animals so they have to be independent. They do not see you as the leader of their pack but as someone they want to live with.

Alice Potter, cat behaviour and well-being expert at animal welfare organisation the RSPCA, said the study could help owners meet the needs of their pets.

"It suggests that if a cat is scared or has been involved in an incident it's not going to want a cuddle, it's going to want to go and hide, so owners need to provide a place for that to happen," she said,

"Likewise an owner shoudn't worry if their cat doesn't want to be comforted. It's just doing what comes naturally."



Bookmark and Share

Thursday 3 September 2015

The Importance of Micro-Chipping

Here's a YouTube video by my friend and former work colleague Nicole, which shows the importance of micro-chipping your cat. Her two cats are gorgeous (and she's a lovely person too!).








Bookmark and Share

Monday 27 July 2015

Catmosphere Cat Cafe



I've just found out about this fun space-themed cat cafe which opened in Sydney, Australia this weekend.

It's called the Catmosphere Cat Cafe and is described as a "global space cat cafe". Its mission: to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no cat has gone before. The cats, I'm told, are "galaxy-roaming catstronauts".

Sounds mad, doesn't it!

The "space" theme is visible in the decor and the names of the castronauts - here you can meet Tabba The Hutt, Mewbacca, Queen Barbarella and The Purrminator, and 11 other purrfect pets with space-themed names. These cats have apparently (and I have no reason to disbelieve it!) dedicated their PAST LIVES to space exploration.



There is a giant, colourful mural painted across one wall in the outside dining area, documenting the cats' varying journeys through the universe.

These interstellar moggies are now "basking in the Earth’s glorious oxygenated biosphere"  where homo sapiens who wish to enjoy their company can visit.

All the cats are rescue cats. Visitors won't be able to adopt them as they are settled at the cafe and they are used to living in large groups.

You can book an hour with the cats but if you are in rush you can go for the cheaper, "warp speed" option of 15 minutes.


If only I didn't live on the other side of the world!




Monday 13 July 2015

Firefighters Rescue Man From Tree


HERE'S a twist to an old tale.

A man from Manchester in the UK had to be rescued from a tree which he climbed to rescue his cat. He scrambled up there OK but then couldn't get down again. He was stuck there as the cat stared at him in disgust.

The fire service was called to rescue the man. The cat, however, refused to budge and later came down of his own accord.



Unfortunately no pictures exist of this escapade but I have found the one above especially for my female readers. Handsome fireman and kittens - what's not to like?








Bookmark and Share

Hair Loss In Cats



Hair Loss In Cats


IF you have always regularly brushed your cat and made sure they have all their inoculations and flea and tick treatments, it can come as a shock to find they are scratching constantly or losing hair in frightening amounts.

When my cat first came to me she suffered from eczema and would scratch herself raw in places. I took her to the vet who said she was extremely allergic to the cat flea. We treated her with Frontline and then treated the house. Her eczema cleared up practically overnight. She was fine for about a year and then it came back. It seems she had become immune to Frontline so we switched to Advantage. That was six years ago and since then, fingers crossed, she has had no trouble at all.

We groom her at least once a week with a fine-toothed flea comb, which she loves, to make sure no little strangers have hopped on board.

Many cats possess flea bite hypersensitivity, where an intense reaction to the saliva of the flea is experienced. Common symptoms include extreme itching, redness, scaling, and hair loss. An infection may also develop as a result of saliva contact with the flea.

But it's not only sensitivity to fleas that can cause a cat to scratch.

Hair Loss In Cats

Allergic and Irritant Contact DermatitisA cat may experience an allergic reaction when they become exposed to a variety of substances and objects that comes in contact with the skin. This may include metals (such as nickel), rubber, wool, plastic, and chemicals (dyes and carpet cleaners). Irritating substances, such as poison ivy, may also cause the inflammation that can lead to hair loss in cats. Additional symptoms include cat skin redness, small bumps and blisters, and itching.

Atopy (allergic inhalant dermatitis)When a cat inhales house dust, pollen, or mould, an allergic reaction may follow. As a result, they may display redness, itchiness, inflammation in the ear, and hair loss. In some cases, an infection develops or a cat experiences hot spots.

MangeIt is a particular mite species that causes the infection that leads to itchiness, scales, and some hair loss in cats when the condition is severe.

Facial Alopecia
It is normal for cats to lose hair located between the eye and ear when suffering this condition. Usually, facial alopecia is seen when cats are between 14 and 20 months old. Shorthaired and dark-haired cats are the most affected.

Over-licking
If an area of the cat's body is painful she may lick the specific area. If it is a disease that causes itchiness the licking will cover a wider area. As cats lick a lot anyway, under these circumstances she will over-lick causing a potential hair loss.Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine refer to cat doing this as "fur mowers". The area(s) licked help in diagnosis. Fleas, for example can infest areas around the neck (where a cat can't lick) and also at the base of the spine before the tail begins. If a cat over-licks there it could be fleas. An allergy to pollen or food may in result in "fur mowing", the back and abdomen for example. Licking is normal but when it results in hair loss it is not and there will be an underlying problem. If you can't identify and cure an obvious problem, then take the cat to the vet.

Stress displacement behavior
Any number of reasons can cause stress in cat, for sure cats like stability and routine. For example it can take many months (perhaps up to a year) to fully settle into a new home. In the meantime she may be stressed. Licking can be a form of displacement behaviour. When we are uncertain and trying to think through a difficult problem we may scratch our heads, bite our nails or fiddle with something! Cats do the same. The classic is to lick their nose (the human equivalent of head scratching). If it goes beyond that it can indicate severe stress and a habit. The root cause must be addressed. It will most likely be something that we have done to break the routine of destabilize the environment. These should be easy to rectify. It might be separation anxiety, for example. A vet will probably prescribe a mild sedative and a change in lifestyle.

Pregnancy and Nursing Hair Loss
When a stressful situation (such as giving birth) takes place, a cat may experience hair loss. Sometimes a loss in hair can surface as a sudden symptom, which can spread across the entire body. When the underlying condition is treated or is no longer a concern, the hair will grow back.

HyperthyroidismHair loss and strands that are easily pulled out are common symptoms of hyperthyroidism, which causes skin lesions in about 1/3 of affected cats.

Psychogenic DermatitisThe constant licking that some cats possess as a habit can lead to hair loss. Some of the possible causes of this condition include stress, boredom, and a reaction to changes in their environment, such as a new member in the household. Symmetrical hair loss is a common symptom.

RingwormSeveral different kinds of fungus can cause the ringworm infection, which creates crusts, scales, and hair loss in cats. Cat ringworm is the same as human ringworm and it is transmittable from a cat to a human (zoonotic). This is a reason why (some say) a cat should not sleep on your bed (I totally ignore this).

Rare or Uncommon Hair Loss Conditions in Cats
Sometimes hair loss in cats is not easily detected or beyond the remit of the average pet owner and it requires the assessment of a veterinarian in order to receive effective and accurate treatment. Below are a few instances that may or may not offer a straightforward remedy:

Apocrine Sweat Gland CystAlthough a rarity in felines, water-filled nodules may appear in the head, neck, and limbs, which can cause hair loss in cats.

Alopecia AreataWith alopecia areata, patches of hair loss in cats are seen about the head, neck, and body. Itching is not a symptom of this condition. Usually, cats are able to recover from this suspected autoimmune disorder without any medical treatment.

Bacterial Infection
Hair loss in cats may take place when they are battling a bacterial infection caused by parasites, allergies, or a condition that affects the hormones.

ChemotherapyWhen a cat undergoes chemotherapy as a treatment for cancer, they lose hair that eventually creates a soft and fuzzy appearance about their coat. Some cats may even lose their whiskers. After chemotherapy treatments are discontinued, the hair will grow back. Interestingly, the new hair may appear a different color or display a dissimilar texture.

Congenital Hypotrichosis
Kittens born with congenital hypotrichosis possess little to no hair. Any signs of hair are lost by the time the kitten reaches the age of four months.

Cushing's Disease
When a cat produces or comes into contact with an increase of corticosteroids, they may experience a thinning of the skin, as well as hair loss.

Drug or Injection Reactions
Hair loss in cats sometimes occurs when they suffer a rare skin reaction to a drug that has been given orally, topically, or when inhaled. This type of reaction is most often seen when a cat comes in contact with penicillins, sulfonamides, and cephalosporins. Symptoms usually occur within two weeks of receiving the drug, which may also include itching, redness, swelling, ulcers, the formation of papules, and wound drainage.

Folliculitis
When an infection has attacked the hair follicles of a cat, pustules develop and open up to create crusts, which may itch and cause hair to fall out. Symptoms of folliculitis often surface on the face, head, and neck.

Solar Dermatosis
Some cats are more susceptible to the sun, where a reaction causes redness, scaling on the nose and ears, crusts, ulcers, and hair loss. This condition is mostly seen in cats with white ears.
Additional considerations that can lead to hair loss in cats include food allergies; feline acquired symmetrical alopecia (the symmetrical loss of hair on the on back of thighs, abdomen, and genital areas); granulomas (solid nodules); hair loss at the site of a vaccination (can last for months); infestation of lice; sebaceous adenitis (the unknown deterioration of the sebaceous glands); and seborrhea, which is inherited or part of a secondary infection.






Friday 10 July 2015

Cat Sassie To The Rescue


Ellen Kay with Sassie.

TEENAGER Nathan Dunsire was busy doing his morning paper round when he spotted a cat in the window on one of his regular streets.

He was surprised because the cat, called Sassie, wasn't behaving at all normally. She was scratching and knocking at the window as if trying to attract his attention.

Worried Nathan, 15, looked through the letterbox and saw Ellen Kay, 71, collapsed on the floor. He immediately called the police.

Ellen had got up in the middle of the night to make herself a hot drink and had fallen. She suffered head and spinal injuries. She had lain on the floor for three hours. Thanks to Nathan's prompt response, she is now recovering at home after spending a week in hospital.

Nathan said: “I was delivering the morning paper and I walked up to the woman’s house.

“I saw the cat looking distressed, it was clawing the window and the blinds were still shut.

“I looked through the letterbox and saw her lying on the floor, I didn’t have my phone on me so I went to speak to her neighbour to see if they had the key.

“They didn’t so I ran home and told my mum, who called the police.”

Mrs Kay, of Kirkcaldy, had banged a broom on the floor in a desperate and unsuccessful bid to get attention.

Ellen and Nathan.

Meeting Nathan for the first time, she said: “I’m so glad to meet you. I’m pleased to bits. I can’t thank you enough. Some might not have bothered.”

Nathan’s father, Brian, said of his son: “I’m very proud of him.


“You see too many stories of kids doing wrong. It’s good we have one of them doing right.”








Bookmark and Share