Cats

Mittens has gone to the Rainbow Bridge after a valiant battle with cancer.  We are sending purrs and prayers to Mom Toni and her family at The Big Piney Woods tonight, and hope you can stop by their blog to leave condolences for them.

Eric's Day was originally a Tummy Tuesday and comes from March 2011.We have had nearly a week of sunny weather so I like to lie on the shelf of our outdoor run and catch the rays. The run is only used for holidays but is left on the lawn the rest of the time so we can sunbathe on the shelf if we want to. It's a good place to show off my tummy.Dad came over and rubbed his head against me. I think he is trying to make me smell like him.Now I will have to have a bath and get my smell right.Quick wash of the legs and that should do it.Finished! Don't do that again dad, it's me who is supposed to put my smell on you, not the other way round.

Jo-Jo, a tiny feral kitten, was saved from a hole at a construction site after being stuck in there for several days.Officers from Spartanburg Animal Services spent more than an hour to save the little feral kitten. She is in good hands now.Jo-Jo, little feral kitten cuddling with her rescuer, Jessica of Spartanburg Animal ServicesThey found Jo-Jo trapped in a holeSafe now!Jo-Jo – Life is good now.Photos by Spartanburg Animal Services. Tiny Feral Kitten Saved From Hole At Construction Site, originally appeard on LoveMeow.com

Special Notice...our daily posts are below.Raz is entered in Petfinder's Funniest Cat Contest. If he wins, he gets a Petco gift card and the shelter he came from gets $4,500!! Please vote for him HERE. You can vote every day! Thanks!!!

Frank and Beans, two tiny kittens, were found behind dumpsters by an airport ground service worker.Reddit user Johnny was throwing out trash when he heard kitty cries near the dumpsters. He spotted the kittens and knew right away he had to do something to help the little ones. Hoping to find the cat mother, “I waited 6 hours from when I first heard them crying,” he said. With no mother cat in sight, he decided to take the kittens with him.In the next week or so, he kept an eye out for the cat mother, but no cat came for the babies. In the meantime, he had started bottle feeding the little babies around the clock.When asked if he was keeping the kittens, he said “Yes, I am attached.”When Frank and Beans were rescued near the dumpsters by the person who adopted themFrank and Beans at 5 weeks todayPhotos via reddit. Baby Kittens Rescued Behind Dumpsters By Man Who Adopts Them: Then & Now, originally appeard on LoveMeow.com

Where to begin? Daddy Kiril, here, Feline News Network roving correspondent, with the first report from my trip to the Blog Paws  Conference. Don't worry, Nikita and Elvira Mistress of Felinity will have plenty to share, themselves, as the story of my trip unfolds. From the moment I entered the lobby of the Sheraton Premiere, on Thursday morning, to the time I finally left to catch my flight home on Sunday afternoon, I had one of the best times of my life. More than 500 bloggers attended the event, including 8 tables worth of newbies for the newbie breakfast on Friday. As a newbie to Blog Paws conferences I admit to being a little nervous but, standing there in the lobby my nervousness soon disappeared as I heard my name called, turned around, & saw Caren Gittleman (Cat Chat); arms open wide, a smile on her face, charging forward to embrace me in a welcoming hug. Soon I was walking the halls, attending my first speakersession in the afternoon, and the welcome speech and get together in the evening, like I’d been coming to the conference since forever. The people who attended this conference are bloggers, freelancers, published authors, writers all! They are rescue volunteers, shelter workers, veterinarians, blog readers, major names in our niche of social media, pet related retailers and food manufacturers, and more. They are male and female, representing all age groups, social/economic status, races and many nations. Unlike a comic book, or Star Trek convention people were notthe only ones playing dress up; from cats and kittens, chicks, dogs andferrets, to cute, but humongous wabbits, many animals were strutting theirstuff, dressed up and not. I got to meet a pair of simply adorable 2-legged Kitties, as you can see: Christine Michaels, of Pawsitively Humane, in the pink. Author Deborah Barnes, of Zee and Zoey, in her famous leopard outfit. During the day I would wear either my shirt with Nikita and Elvira on the front, or the one with the blog header design, as a way to make it easy for people to find me and learn about the Opinionated Pussycat. For anyone who writes online as a pet blogger this event is the best hands-on introduction to how social media involvement is important. You will get an ego boost in the most amusing way; imagine a 53-year-old, balding, dude finding himself being approached by a pair of women old enough to be his mother, all smiles as they breathlessly tell him they are big fans of his blog! You will get an education on many subjects, at as many as 9 presentations that will help you be better at what you do.   You will make new friends, meet old ones only known via online interaction (Terry Frum, of Brian's Home! ), and connect with various industry types in many ways. Inspiration to be the best will come from attending the awards dinner recognizing some of the best in the world of pet blogging. You will take a ton of photos (That's  Kevin Hattori, of Animal Shelter Volunteer Life!)and pass out 100 of your blog cards, collecting just as many from others; buy a few things, including books you will get autographed, and maybe get pep talks about your writing efforts from the most unexpected people. You will gain 3 lbs. eating fabulous free breakfasts, lunches and dinners, and leave your room key in your room at least twice….but, um, let’s not get too much into all of that, hee, hee! The Blogs of Kiril Kundurazieff: 1. Mad Macedonian 2. The Opinionated Pussycat 3. SMFCB: A 365 Day Project

We’ve got amazing technology that helps us understand what a cat’s daily life is like. Whether it’s webcams to watch cute kittens or collar cams on roaming kitties, we can easily learn about all aspects of our feline friends’ lives. But cats don’t have the same ability to do research into their humans’ lives, so they just have to use their imagination. Here’s my cats’ recounting of an average day in my life. 1. Getting out of bed Share this image function changeWidth(obj) { if(parseInt($(obj).parent().width()) > parseInt($(obj).width())) { $(obj).parent().css({'width':$(obj).width()}); } if(parseInt($(obj).width()) They have to help me with this, of course, because they want me awake before the alarm goes off and hurts their ears. 2. Cruelly depriving them of a timely breakfast Share this image function changeWidth(obj) { if(parseInt($(obj).parent().width()) > parseInt($(obj).width())) { $(obj).parent().css({'width':$(obj).width()}); } if(parseInt($(obj).width()) Why do I insist on using soap and water and a sponge when their tongues are perfectly sufficient for cleaning their dishes? 3. Ignoring them and staring at the computer screen Share this image function changeWidth(obj) { if(parseInt($(obj).parent().width()) > parseInt($(obj).width())) { $(obj).parent().css({'width':$(obj).width()}); } if(parseInt($(obj).width()) This must be stopped! And the only way to end my obsession with Facebook and email is to walk in circles around my monitor. 4. The rainbox Share this image function changeWidth(obj) { if(parseInt($(obj).parent().width()) > parseInt($(obj).width())) { $(obj).parent().css({'width':$(obj).width()}); } if(parseInt($(obj).width()) WTF?!? Who would want to deliberately get wet? Humans are crazy. 5. Hunting green papers Share this image function changeWidth(obj) { if(parseInt($(obj).parent().width()) > parseInt($(obj).width())) { $(obj).parent().css({'width':$(obj).width()}); } if(parseInt($(obj).width()) I call it going to work; the cats call it a waste of perfectly good nap time. 6. Cruelly teasing them while preparing their supper Share this image function changeWidth(obj) { if(parseInt($(obj).parent().width()) > parseInt($(obj).width())) { $(obj).parent().css({'width':$(obj).width()}); } if(parseInt($(obj).width()) How dare I carry empty bowls? They should magically be full the minute I touch them. 7. Cruelly eating my supper without their company Share this image function changeWidth(obj) { if(parseInt($(obj).parent().width()) > parseInt($(obj).width())) { $(obj).parent().css({'width':$(obj).width()}); } if(parseInt($(obj).width()) I'm so mean! I take my meals in my office, where I can close the door and eat in peace. Of course, I totally eat just like they do. 8. Cheating on them Share this image Cheating at BlogPaws! Photo by

I've always believed that dogs would eat anything and everything, and that cats were finicky eaters. As my time with cats has grown, I've learned that some cats have some very unusual food preferences. My black cat, Rama, is one of these cats -- he goes completely crazy for lettuce. I understand that lots (maybe all) cats crave greens. But Rama takes it a step further, as you'll see! Share this image Cat looks at force meat on the kitchen desk by Shutterstock.com"> Cat looks at force meat on the kitchen desk by Shutterstock.com"> Cat looks at force meat on the kitchen desk by Shutterstock.com function changeWidth(obj) { if(parseInt($(obj).parent().width()) > parseInt($(obj).width())) { $(obj).parent().css({'width':$(obj).width()}); } if(parseInt($(obj).width()) Not just any lettuce -- the greener, the better Rama has inherited my lettuce snobbishness. We rarely have iceberg in the house (I hate it and I don't grow it), but if we show it to him, he's not the least bit interested. However, show him a bit of kale, dark green lettuce, or mustard greens, and he goes nuts! If I'm not careful, he'll eat the salad right out of my salad bowl. Like Mama, like Rama -- organic is best The health food store is 37 miles away from home here. We have a short growing season as well. If I can't grow organic and I can't get to the health food store, sometimes I am forced to buy regular lettuce at the nearest store. But Rama never seems to be crazy about the ordinary lettuce, even if it's a dark (non-iceberg) variety. Organic it must be! Share this image Although you can barely discern his face, here's Rama ripping in to some organic romaine lettuce - hand-fed, of course. function changeWidth(obj) { if(parseInt($(obj).parent().width()) > parseInt($(obj).width())) { $(obj).parent().css({'width':$(obj).width()}); } if(parseInt($(obj).width()) The produce bag is the clue Our health food store has biodegradable produce bags, which make a nice crinkling noise when opened or filled. Somehow, Rama knows the unique sound of this type of bag. All I have to do is handle the bag, and he is there, next to me, wanting lettuce. Somehow he's learned that the special crinkling bag usually means lettuce. It puts me in mind of Pavlov's dogs, or cats. Don't load the grocery bags with the lettuce on top! I've made this mistake before. If I come home with grocery bags and the lettuce is on top, I can't let the bag out of my sight. Rama will dig right in and start grabbing luscious dark lettuce leaves with his mouth. Perhaps he was a rabbit in a former life. You would think he was starving, but nothing is further from the truth. Rama is a big, well-fed boy. Maybe more lettuce for this guy would be a good thing! Share this image "Organic parsley is the best -- Thanks, Mama!" function changeWidth(obj) { if(parseInt($(obj).parent().width()) > parseInt($(obj).width())) { $(obj).parent().css({'width':$(obj).width()}); } if(parseInt($(obj).width()) Share this image Never one to give up, Rama digs deeper into the grocery bag, hoping to hit pay dirt. function changeWidth(obj) { if(parseInt($(obj).parent().width()) > parseInt($(obj).width())) { $(obj).parent().css({'width':$(obj).width()}); } if(parseInt($(obj).width()) Hand-fed is best! However, nothing matches Rama's joy when he gets to eat good lettuce straight from my

The death of a pet is a heartbreaking event for the whole family. Sometimes the pet's passing is a child's first experience with losing a loved one. It's important that we help our children process their feelings as they find their way through this traumatic emotional experience. Share this image Here I am with our first "baby," Dobie. function changeWidth(obj) { if(parseInt($(obj).parent().width()) > parseInt($(obj).width())) { $(obj).parent().css({'width':$(obj).width()}); } if(parseInt($(obj).width()) I remember feeling devastated when my childhood cats made their way to the Rainbow Bridge. Even though my mother was compassionate and attentive to my feelings, my healing was a process. No matter what our age, it's impossible to expect a speedy recovery when we lose a family member or friend with whom we've developed a strong bond. And most people I know consider their pets family members. Here are five ways to help your child cope with the death of a family pet. 1. Be honest Whether a pet is going to be euthanized or dies suddenly, it's critical we demonstrate age-appropriate honesty with our children. Telling them the pet will be "put to sleep" with no further explanation can be confusing for small children. Instead, tell the child that the pet will no longer be in pain or suffering with an illness. Express that the decision was really hard for you to make, but that it's the most humane choice. Share this image My daughter Katie was close to her grandparents' cat, Kato. It was hard for her to visit them without the kitty snuggles. function changeWidth(obj) { if(parseInt($(obj).parent().width()) > parseInt($(obj).width())) { $(obj).parent().css({'width':$(obj).width()}); } if(parseInt($(obj).width()) The child may become angry about the choice, and that's a completely normal response. That's why it's especially important to be honest with your own feelings. Staying strong for the child's sake isn't real, and the child will likely be confused as to why you're not upset about losing the dear pet. Sadness, anger, emptiness, and guilt are all valid emotions, and it's important to express them and allow your child to express them as well. 2. Be present After the death of a beloved family pet, some children have many questions, and some fall silent and internalize their feelings. It's necessary to be present with them in both of those instances. Make sure your children know that, even if they don't feel like talking now, you are available when they are ready. My daughter has always been a talker and my son tends to clam up when it comes to talking about emotions. I always find the best time to talk to my kids about sensitive subjects is in their room right before bedtime. It's usually quiet, there's some privacy, and they feel comfortable in their own space. Share this image We made sure to honor sweet Fritz's short life. function changeWidth(obj) { if(parseInt($(obj).parent().width()) > parseInt($(obj).width())) { $(obj).parent().css({'width':$(obj).width()}); } if(parseInt($(obj).width()) 3. Have closure I don't remember burying deceased pets when I was a kid, but I think some sort of closure is healing and honors the life of the animal. Since we've moved into our current house, we've lost one cat. His name was Fritz, and he lived on this earth a few short years. His kidneys failed and his condition was too far along when we finally received a diagnosis. My kids were four and six when he died, so it was the first time they could really

Can you feel it? Can you smell it? Can you SEE it?It's almost here...Finally Friday!!!