That's Purrfect

Tuesday, 17 March 2020

How To Prevent Cats Killing Birds

Nature is nature, but I’m sure many cat owners feel a little guilty if their pet kills a bird. But cats and birds can live relatively harmoniously in our gardens with a few simple measures, says The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB).

Baby birds in particular are vulnerable from predators like cats, but with some minor interventions, the number of chicks killed can be minimised.

The wildlife charity is keen to tell cat owners what they can do to avoid chicks being caught and is offering the following advice:

Put a bell on the cat's collar. An RSPB study shows this can reduce predation of birds by 41%. The collar should have a quick release buckle and fitted properly.
Make sure cats are well fed and cared for. This may encourage them to stay close to home and be less likely to wander
Keep your cats indoors around sunset and sunrise and after bad weather – birds are most vulnerable at these times as its when they are most likely to come out to feed.
Take your cat indoors if a fledgling is in the garden, until its parents lead it away
Avoid putting food on the ground for a few weeks where cats are known to catch birds. Use a bird table or higher ground where cats cannot reach it
Place spiny plants such as holly or an uncomfortable surface around the base of the feeding station to prevent cats sitting underneath it
Position nest boxes where cats cannot reach them or sit close to them (preventing the parents birds from getting to the box).

An RSPB wildlife adviser, said: “People are often surprised that the RSPB is not against owning cats and firmly believes that cats and garden birds can exist side by side quite comfortably with a bit of sensible pet ownership and taking a few simple measures.

“Baby birds are extremely vulnerable and it is very upsetting if you discover the remains of one that has been eaten by a cat so by fitting a bell, keeping them indoors for the most risky times of day and raising your feeding stations, you could avoid distress for all.”

One RSPB member said: “I have a young cat that is extremely active and I also have two feeders, a water bath and a bird table which is full of all sorts of birds.

“Of course my cat is a hunter and does what comes naturally to him from time to time but if I try and feed him at dawn and dusk, this is inevitably followed by a sleep which is the other thing that comes naturally to him!"

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If you are a cat lover - especially a lover of the grumpier members of the species, this is the book for you. Written by Toffee who, despite her name, is the least sweet cat you can imagine. The world according to Toffee exists to serve her and woe betide anyone who forgets it. Paperback on left, Kindle version on right.

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Friday, 13 March 2020

The Working Cat Program

We ailurophiles often forget that there are many cats who don’t want to live in a house being spoilt with soft cushions, food on demand and endless cuddles!

There is a whole army of feral cats who are so used to living outside that they wouldn’t cope well with a domesticated environment.

Now many animal shelters allow these to be working cats who can thrive outside of a domestic situation. After all, it is in the cat’s nature to control rodents so these cats are adopted by businesses, farms and other properties with a rodent problem.

Working cats are a cleaner alternative to toxic pesticides, they’re less expensive, safer and more effective.

All the cats want in return is safe shelter, regular food, clean water and basic health care — otherwise, they’ll mind their own business and take care of your pest problem in the process. Some of these cats may become a little more social in time if they get used to lots of people around, but mostly they keep to themselves and just show up for dinner.

The cats are usually fixed, microchipped and vaccinated with the adopter sometimes, but not always, paying a basic fee.

It may take a short period of time for the cat to settle in and be effective, but rats are intelligent, and word spreads quickly that your property is no longer a safe place for pests. Before long, the mere presence of your feline employee will be enough to keep most rodents away.

If you are interested in getting a working cat, put Working Cat Program into a Google search to get more information.

* * * * * * *

Toffee has finally done it. She has written a no-holds-barred exposé of her life. Prepare to be AMAZED, prepare to be SHOCKED, prepare to be ENTHRALLED.
(Left is the paperback, right is the Kindle version).

Tuesday, 18 February 2020

Cat Gatecrashes Concert

It could have been a catastrophe when one little cat decided to gatecrash a live orchestral concert. But the little cat was given a welcome by the musicians and the conductor. After greeting a few orchestra members, the musical moggie settled down on the front of the stage to listen to the performance.

He first wandered into the strings section where the cellists and violinists said hello and managed to avoid being shooed from the stage by one musician.

He eventually ended up on the podium with the conductor before deciding to lie down and appreciate the music.

Have a look at the hilarious video below.

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Monday, 3 February 2020

Perdita Finds A Home

Who remembers Perdita, the cat lovingly branded "a jerk" by an animal rescue centre (story here)?

The grumpy cat has found a forever home, the North Carolina rescue centre reports. Perdita is happily (if that's the right word!) settled in Tennessee with a couple identified only as Joe and Betty.

She may have a new name, Noel, but the "challenging" personality that made her a social media star remains.

The rescue centre said: “Joe and Betty adore her and she tolerates them," adding that the stroppy cat refused to pose for the traditional adoption photograph and instead ran from the room growling.

The rescue centre received 175 applications to adopt Perdita since introducing her to the world 10 days ago with descriptions of challenging behaviours including “lurking in dark corners” and “staring into your soul until you feel as if you may never feel cheerful again”.

Her dislikes included Disney movies, kittens and the colour pink and she was described as a master of deception.

“We thought she was sick,” said the centre. “Turns out she’s just a jerk.”

The rescue group hopes to capitalise on the publicity by finding homes for other animals in its care, including Edgar, a rotund orange tabby who shares an affinity for “reaching out and touching someone”.

Perdita’s internet stardom looks set to continue, with an Instagram account set up to chronicle the next chapter in the life of the fractious feline. Here: https://www.instagram.com/perditas_journey/

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

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Friday, 24 January 2020

Cat Who's 'Just A Jerk'

If anyone adopts Perdita the cat from a North Carolina rescue centre, they will know exactly what they're getting.

Believing that honesty is the best policy, the centre describes her as "the world's worst cat". Her adoption ad on Facebook says, “We thought she was sick. Turns out she’s just a jerk.”

The honesty tactic has helped get pets adopted in the past and the centre hopes it will work for Perdita, too.

According to the post, the feisty feline likes “staring into your soul until you feel as if you may never be cheerful again.”

She dislikes “the color pink, kittens (yuk they are so chipper), dogs, children, the Dixie Chicks, Disney movies, Christmas and last but NOT least… HUGS.”

“We thought if we highlighted her personality in a humorous way, the person with a personality to match hers can adopt,” said the centre's Amber Lowery.

It's a tactic that seems to be working. So far the centre has received many requests to adopt Perdita.

Perdita doesn't hate everything. Her likes include: "Jump scares (her specialty), lurking in dark corners, being queen of her domicile' and fooling shelter staff into thinking she's sick."

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

Friday, 13 December 2019

How To Keep The Cat Off The Christmas Tree

Does your cat attack the ornaments on the Christmas tree? If so, here's a clever hack that solved the problem for one woman - and it may work for you too.

Irene Olocco, from Italy, placed a "force field" of tangerines around the tree to stop her cat Jojo Grassojo from clawing it.

She figured that as most cats hate the smell of citrus fruit this would repel the evil intentions of Jojo Grassojo!

'My cat is afraid of tangerines, so I've created a force field' she said.

She posted a picture on Facebook and cat owners were very impressed by her tip. The post, which has since racked up more than 52,000 shares was deemed 'adorable' and 'genius' by Facebook users.

Most cats hate a strong citrus smell and so it is a natural deterrent.

MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU!

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

Wednesday, 23 October 2019

Candy The Stowaway

Going on holiday? Have a cat? Then let this story be a warning to you!

Nick and Voirrey Coole, from the Isle of Man in the UK, were excited about their trip to New York but didn't realise that another member of their family had tagged along for the ride.

They realised something was wrong when airport staff at the Isle of Man airport started giving them some strange looks as a bag passed through the scanner.

It seems that their cat Candy had decided to tag along by hiding in one of their carry-on bags.

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“It must have looked quite unusual on the scanner. At the point at which they scanned it, they were all scratching heads and they were all looking at each other,” said Nick. He said he couldn't quite work out what was going on.

“They were looking at us so bizarrely,” he added.

It turned out that Candy had hitched a ride with her human parents by curling up in one of their bags.

Thankfully, the airport security team eventually found her and helped the couple hand over Candy to some friends and continue on to their destination.

“The second they realized it was a genuine mistake, and we had actually brought our cat through airport security, at that point, they just laughed and they were fantastic,” Nick said.

He later thanked his friends via Facebook for picking up Candy and also the airport security staff for helping get her home so they could catch their flight.

Now they are enjoying their holiday in the Big Apple to celebrate Nick’s 40th birthday.

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

Wednesday, 2 October 2019

Cats Take Over Underground Station

In this consumer age how lovely that a group of cat lovers has raised money to totally redecorate an underground train station with pictures of cats.

Clapham Common Station in London has no commercial advertisements at the moment because a group calling itself The Citizens Advertising Takeover Service (CATS) started a crowdfunding campaign to raise enough money to put up their own pictures.

Instead of adverts for cars, creams and Christmas presents, there are now more than 60 pictures of cute cats and kittens.

The cats featured are from Battersea Dogs and Cats Home or from Cats Protection, the UK’s largest feline welfare charity, and are in need of loving homes.

‘Wouldn’t it be great not to worry about the holiday we can’t afford, the car we don’t need, or the body we don’t have? Imagine a world where public spaces made you feel good,' said organiser James Turner.

‘This isn’t a clever marketing stunt for a pet food brand, or a guerrilla campaign for a new TV series. The people behind it are volunteers who raised the money on Kickstarter. We want to inspire people to think differently about the world and realise they have the power to change it.’

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

Amazon's Best Kept Secret

Monday, 16 September 2019

Woman Loses Money in Cat Scam

Here's a warning for anyone tempted to buy a cat from a breeder online. One woman from Woodside in California lost $2,300 (£1,850) after falling for a scam.

She wanted to buy a Russian Blue cat, like the one in the picture, because they do not shed much and are more tolerated by people with slight cat allergies. The breed is known to be loyal and social.

She searched online and thought she had found a reputable breeder. She exchanged emails and then sent the $2,300. But then she never heard back.

After doing some research she discovered that other people had also fallen for the scam.

Here's some advice from pethappy.com about how to find a reputable breeder:

Visit the breeder at home. You aren’t breaching anyone’s privacy because this is now an “industry standard”. A good cat breeder is fully aware that a future owner MUST see kittens in the environment where they were raised and are happy to comply. He has nothing to hide, and it gives him an opportunity to show the quality of care the kittens receive.
Check the overall health of the kitten. Check the kitten’s head, eyes, ears, nose, coat, and tummy for any abnormalities. Check other kittens in the litter as well. First, this will tell you if your kitten is healthy. Second, even if the litter shows symptoms of treatable illnesses, such as flea or ear mite infestations, these signs can reveal how responsible the breeder is.
Gauge the breeder’s passion. Encourage the breeder to talk about his cats. You’ll learn a lot, both about the breed and the breeder. Trust us: good breeders—those who are in the business for passion—will talk a lot. They love animals, and they know everything about the breed. Of course, there are always shy people who are breeders, which doesn’t disqualify them, but we hope you get the point.
Avoid the breeder if he tries to put too much pressure on you to buy. Good breeders don’t worry whether someone will take their kitten or not. In fact, they hold the upper hand because they’re often in a position to choose their kitten’s future owners. It’s not unusual for a cat breeder to ask a lot of questions about your experiences with pets, home condition, and reasons for getting a kitten. Don’t feel insulted by these questions, and rest assured that you’re getting a kitten raised by caring hands.
Visit several breeders. When your heart wants a kitten, it’s tempting to say yes immediately. Instead, take a deep breath and do your homework. Try visiting three or four breeders in your area to compare litters. You may come to the conclusion that ALL kittens are cute, but when you place two litters side by side, you can easily spot the differences.
If something is suspicious, take a step back. Maybe a breeder is refusing to provide a vaccination record, a contract of purchase, or a pedigree record. Stand firm, especially if he’s giving unreasonable excuses for going back on his promises.

Is your cat cross with you? Find out HERE.

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

Amazon's Best Kept Secret

Monday, 9 September 2019

Bizarre Case of The Woman Who Eats Cat Treats

Cat lovers are usually very particular about what they let their cats eat – and after the meaty and fishy chunks have disappeared they sometimes allow them a pussycat treat.

If your cat gobbles them up, you presume they are tasty. But not many of us have been tempted to try one ourselves.

But one owner from Michigan thought she’d have a nibble one day… and now she’s addicted and downs 900 kitty treats every day.

This bizarre behaviour was revealed on a TV programme, My Strange Addiction, Discovery Real Time.

The woman, Mary, 46 (who doesn’t reveal her surname), began gobbling down the treats after a difficult divorce. She was spending a lot of time at home with her three cats and after idly trying one of their treats one day, was soon hooked.

'They just burst with flavour in your mouth and I love them,' she said during an interview on the programme

'When I start thinking about a certain flavour of cat treat, my mouth will water,' she said.

In the programme, Mary showcases a variety of her favourite flavours from treats with a cheesy centre to beefy flavoured biscuits that she awards '10 out of 10 for crunch factor'.

Speaking on the show, Mary's brother Tommy said: 'It's gross. There are four basic food groups and cat food is not one of them.'

Unemployed Mary spends $200 (£125) on cat food for herself every month, which she admits is more than she spends on human food.

She is sure to always keep a stash of the goodies in her car, purse and by her bedside table for late-night munchies, and she says she will even gorge on cat food at the expense of what she calls 'people food.'

'There have been days when I eat treats all day long and no people food,' she says.

'The cabinet just calls my name: "Mary come eat" and I will go sit on the deck and snack.'

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

Monday, 12 August 2019

Iconic Cat Photographer Walter Chandoha

On a winter's night in 1949 in New York City, young marketing student and budding photographer Walter Chandoha spotted a stray kitten in the snow in a New York alleyway.

He tucked it into his coat and took it home. Just married, with a baby on the way, Chandoha’s plan had been to keep photography as a hobby and make his fortune in advertising. But Loco – so named for its nightly fits of hyperactivity – put paid to that plan. When Chandoha began to sell pictures of his cat to magazines, he realised he could earn a living from photography.

He began photographing cats from the Greenwich Village animal shelter and these images marked the start of an extraordinary career that would span seven decades.

The family eventually moved to a farm in New Jersey, where, amid his six children and sometimes more than 20 cats (one of whom “often had kittens in the drawer”) Chandoha dedicated himself to proving that there’s more than one way to shoot a cat.

By the time he died in January this year, aged 98, he had amassed an archive of some 230,000 photographs, 90,000 of which were of cats and was compiling some of his pictures into a book. The book called Photographs: 1942 to 2018 is out now.

Why cats? “The expressions dogs make are pretty limited,” Chandoha explained. “They don’t get into real exciting postures, as a cat will.”

Available from Amazon. Take a look HERE.

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

Monday, 5 August 2019

Feline Fashionistas

Feline fashionistas were on the catwalk for a very special show. These magnificent mewdel moggies were taking part in the Algonquin Hotel's annual Cat Fashion Show in New York.

The event, which is held to raise funds for the Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals, was called It's A Small World and had a multicultural theme.

The cats were impressive in their custom-made outfits created by professional pet fashion designer Ada Nieves. As befitting their status, they didn't have to walk but were carried down the catwalk by their owners!

Among the gorgeous cats was Sakie, who represented India in a millennial pink turban. More macho was a Lederhosen-wearing Sphynx called Canoli.

Then there was Balboo (pictured at the top), a black and white cat dressed in everything left in the bargain bin after Fourth of July. Wearing an American flag-printed coordinated pyjama set and an Uncle Sam top hat, Balboo side-eyed cameras from behind his blue aviators.

Another American patriot was a cat called Figaro who wore a pearl-embellished flag dress.

Cat influencer Thunder Folds Cat channelled British punk in a ginger mohawk and leather jacket. The Scottish Fold cat was one of the feline celebrities on the night, modelling for its 53.5k followers on Instagram.

Meanwhile Mrs. Parberry posed elegantly in a flamenco dress with a sparkling oversized ruffle collar. The look was accessorised with a floral hat and she posed calmly for adoring scratches.

Designer Nieves’ design process was a complex one, as she revealed to Newsweek that she took each cat breed’s requirements into the creative process.

She explained, “For instance, Siobhan Persian cats need fabrics that will not get tangled on their long coats, while Sphynxes have no hair and need a soft fabric that will not rub against their skin.”

She also explained the casting process, saying that the cats were “selected based on temperament”.
The annual fundraiser is an homage to the Algonquin Hotel’s resident cat Hamlet VIII, who is the hotel’s twelfth Cat in Residence.

The event was held on Hamlet VIII’s birthday. The Algonquin Hotel’s tradition of having a resident cat dates back to the 1920s, with its first feline Billy. After Billy passed away in 1933, the hotel adopted a stray named Rusty who wandered in just a couple of days after Billy’s death. Rusty was promptly re-named Hamlet by actor and Algonquin guest John Barrymore, who played the role onstage.

At the event, guests were also able to adopt cats and kittens from a Mayor’s Alliance van - after suitable vetting, of course - parked outside the hotel.

To learn more about and to donate to the Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals, head to their website here.

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

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