For the Love of Cats

New Site Address

2008-03-05T21:25:00.003+00:00

All new posts can be found here :)

Site Under Construction!

2008-03-03T11:52:00.003+00:00

I'm currently in the process of trying to transfer the blog over to word press and I'm also going to change the domain name to http://fortheloveofcats.wordpress.com/ , so there might be some interruptions on the site from time to time while I sort this out! Apologise :) Hopefully it will mean that the site will look better if it works out.

The domain is set up but not everything is transferred etc, check it out and see what you think. I'm trying out different headers and stuff. Advise from experienced bloggers would be welcome :D!

Happy Mother's Day!

2008-03-02T17:36:00.001+00:00

Happy Mother's Day to all you pet parents out there! I found this very cute image at a site called www.actioncat.com . It's a lovely site with some really nice little images to suit all occasions.

However this idyllic image above is not how I was woken up this morning! No. As I mentioned in yesterday's post I have the flu. This morning as I woke up I had difficulty breathing. Different thoughts flashed through my mind, had I developed a bad chest infection, did I now have pneumonia? Actually it was simpler than that, Poppy was asleep on my chest! It's amazing how much weight there is in her little body! So no flowers, no breakfast in bed, just near suffocation is all I get for Mother's Day :) hehehe

I must say though as well as having very nice e-card type thingy's, the actioncat site also had a lovely little piece about Mother's Day, if you are an animal lover I recommend you checking it out here :

http://www.actioncat.com/mothersday.html

That Darn Cat!!

2008-03-01T19:34:00.001+00:00

Poppy seems to be going through some sort of destructive phase! (I pause as I type to try and stop her knocking over a lamp!)

Her war on inanimate household objects has a high casualty list, so far we've lost:

1 Bottle of Olive Oil - tipped off kitchen work top

2 Wine glasses - 1 knocked from kitchen shelf, 1 from wine cabinet

1 Ornament - Arm can be glued back on

1 Tall Tumbler Glass - Kitchen counter (again)!

The glass in our favourite picture frame - pushed off the top of the telly.

The cordless phone met a watery death too when it was tipped by the Popster into the toilet!

Now, I've look this up on the Internet. Apparently it is not unusual cat behaviour, which is comforting. I'm glad to know I'm not the only half crazed cat lover out there frantically gluing bits of things back together!

I've read it's the cats way of acting out their natural instinct to hunt. I've also read some cats do it because they enjoy the entertainment value it gives them, ie seeing me scramble to catch something before it hits the floor or the wonderful crashing noise glass makes when it hits a tiles!! Either way it can be a sign of boredom, this coupled with the fact that I worry she will hurt herself or Oliver is worrying.

I'm trying some new tactics at the moment. First of all I've removed most of the tempting breakable from shelf edges, TV tops, window sills etc. I'm also really trying to make extra playtime with her to try and tire her out and keep her active. If anyone out there has any helpful suggestions or advice, please share it!

If all else fails I could just glue everything down!

Oh and I've got the flu :(

Two Wise Heads....!

2008-02-29T22:28:00.001+00:00

"When you notice a cat in profound meditation,
The reason I tell you is always the same:
His mind is engaged in a rapt contemplation
Of the thought, of the thought, of the thought of his name..."

From Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T.S. Eliot

Cutesy Cat Pics

2008-01-31T20:33:00.001+00:00

Anyone the knows cats. knows they love to sleep! not only that but they often seem to find the most unusual spots and positions to sleep in :)

Poppy takes great pleasure in sleeping on top of the clothes horse, Oliver, likes to sleep on the draining board when the dishwasher is on because of the heat :)

A friend sent me an email with these pics today of some other cute kitties catnapping :)

Happy New Year! Ok I know it's a little bit late....

2008-01-27T14:45:00.001+00:00

The Dynamic Duo

At last, I have finally gotten myself organised enough to sit down and update this page! Things have been going non stop since the end of November. Here's a quick summary..

Once the suitcase came out, we started getting the evil eye!!

First of all we headed off to Krakow on the 29th of Nov until the Dec 6th, which was great. The extra few days made a massive difference, really got a chance to explore many more of the nooks and crannies of what truly is a gorgeous city. When we arrived home it was to some awful weather, wind and rain and more rain! I was only off the plane a couple of hours when I headed off to collect the fur babies from the cattery. Oliver apparently had made two bids for freedom while he was there. He had managed to pull back part of a partition high up on the wall and get into the pen next door! I was really surprised, usually he can hardly muster enough energy to move from his chair to a more comfy spot on the couch, and here he was recreating the great escape! I think Poppy probably drove him to it! Anyway they were delighted when they arrived home, they ran around checked everything was as they left it and settled right back in :)

Krakow - Main Square

Spotted this little kitty in the Old Jewish Quarter

Wawel Castle, Krakow

Now THAT'S a Christmas tree! (Main Square Krakow)

Oskar Schindler Factory

Krakow

We were just back two days when we got a visit from our American friend John, (Oliver's original rescuer & his honorary Godfather, hehehe). It was great to see John again and even though Oliver was just a kitten the last time they met, I'm sure Ollie recognised him!

Poppy by Candlelight at Christmas

After that the mayhem of Christmas took over our lives! My hopes that Poppy would totally ignore the Christmas tree now that she was a year older and, ahem, wiser were totally WRONG!! If anything she was worse. And this year we had to buy a new tree (yes we use artificial :P) as last year she totally destroyed our old one, so naturally I wanted to keep her from swinging from the branches like some kind of cat-monkey hybrid! The best I could do in the end was leave the electric pump from our old air bed plugged in under the tree and every time she attempted to eat/climb/destroy the tree, I turned it on. Both Poppy and Oliver dislike the hoover and this sounded similar, so it kept her away. Unfortunately She was wise enough to realise the pump did not have a life of it's own and needed me to produce the awful racket, so if she was allowed in the room on her own she would do a much damage a possible! Solution to this, she was locked out of the room when we were not in it! Overall it wasn't as stressful as it sounds, the tree did survive the festive season and it will be making a comeback appearance next year :)

We also had family visiting over the Christmas and New Year period, so it's really only now that I'm getting back in to anything that resembles a proper routine. I'm also trying to improve my knowledge of photoshop (couple of my attempts below). And my one and only new Years Resolution? To update my blog regularly :)

Still alive!

2007-11-20T10:09:00.000+00:00

No, the cats have not eaten me! I am still alive :) Been busy preparing for the upcoming trip to Krakow and work. Things should be back to sorta normal soon :D

Halloween Pics!

2007-11-03T23:34:00.000+00:00

Evil Eyed Oliver!

Poppy by candlelight

Well I hope a fun and safe Halloween was had by all. We had a nice quite evening, tucked up by candle light eating too many sweets and watching some classic Horror flicks!

We also celebrated Poppy's 1st birthday :) As she was found as a tiny stray kitten, her exact date of birth is unknown, the fact that she is a real little demon, I think Halloween is an appropriate date for her to celebrate her birthday on, hehehe! So our baby is growing up *blinks away a tear*!!

Here are some pics I took of the two beauties on Halloween.

Scary Cat!

Halloween

2007-10-28T12:08:00.000+00:00

It's getting to that time of year again, the clocks have gone back, there's no escaping Winter now and in a couple of days it will be Halloween, or Oíche Shamhna as it is in Irish. Halloweens roots stretch back long and far in Irish culture, Samhain (which is where Oíche Shamhna comes from) was a festival celebrated by the Celts before the Christianity took hold. It was a festival to mark the end of Summer, the saving of the harvest. It was believed to be a time also when the dead revisited the world of the living and large bonfires were lit to ward off evil spirits.

It is still a very big celebration here today, as it is in many places around the world. Children dressing up and going out trick-or-treating, bonfires and fireworks have all become common place (if not always legal!).

It has also become a time to worry about our pets, especially cats and dogs. Every year I hear horrific stories about cats that have been thrown in to bonfires, dogs with fireworks tied to their tails and other things too horrible to even imagine. I remember seeing an Irish animal rescue programme on TV early this year, where rescue workers were called out to deal with a little terrier who had chased after a firework and grabbed it in his mouth to bring it back. When the firework went off it totally destroyed the poor dogs lower jaw. All that could be done was put the suffering creature to sleep for good.

Stories like these distress me no end, but I think it is very important that pet owners be aware of how cruel and horrible things can happen, especially at this time of year. I think it is advisable to keep animals in around Halloween, particularly on the night itself. For more safety tips check out this site http://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/article.cfm?&acatid=207&aid=1152.

An other thing to take in to consideration is the loud noise from bangers and fireworks, fortunately I live in an area where not many fireworks etc are set off and if they are it's at a distance so Oliver and Poppy are not that put out by them! As they are indoor cats anyway they are safe.

Of course Halloween is a time to have fun too and I'm sure poppy will have lots of fun tearing down any decorations I put up! Neither of my two are that receptive to wearing any type of costumes, plus I don't think I could put them through the indignation even if they were! If anyone would like to share pics of their cats in costume, please feel free though :)

Hope you all have a Happy (and safe) Halloween!

Cattery...check!

2007-10-26T11:55:00.000+01:00

Oliver & Poppy are very excited! There hotel is booked for their hols :)!! Well it's a cat hotel, OK it's a cattery but it looks really, really nice :) Hope the place I've booked for ourselves is as comfy! I went with Abbeyfeale Boarding Kennels & Cattery http://www.abbeyfealeboardingkennels.com/, it looks perfect and I've been in touch with the people who run it and they seem perfectly lovely. I feel so much better about leaving them (especially Poppy) knowing they will be well taken care of.

Carole, the lovely lady I have been emailing at the cattery, sent me this pic of some kittens they had earlier this year, which have now been re homed.

Could they be any cuter?! I have to admit if I saw them I would find it very hard not to want one, I'm such a softy when it comes to little tabby's :) These three are BSH Silver Spotted Tabby's.

Well that's it, holiday countdown has officially begun, yippeee!!

Pretty Posers

2007-10-19T11:45:00.000+01:00

Oliver snoozing!
Sleepyhead!
Poppy in one of her favourite places..a paper bag :)
Cat in a bag !

Limerick Animal Welfare Blog

2007-10-14T20:08:00.001+01:00

Limerick Animal welfare have started a blog page. It's a lovely way to keep up with the on going work of these wonderful people. Check it out here http://www.limerickanimalwelfare.blogspot.com/

If you are looking to re home an animal, want to give a donation or provide foster care head to their website which is listed on this page.

Remember that cute little ginger kitten in my last post came from Limerick Animal Welfare (he's such a cutie!), so support them in any way you can :)

Ginger Kitty...He's soooo cute!

2007-10-13T02:23:00.000+01:00

A friend of ours recently re homed a little ginger kitten from Limerick Animal Welfare. On their way back from picking him up they stopped off at our place to introduce the little fellow. He is so cute! Made me broody, seeing his tiny little pink paws, hearing his cute baby kitten meow, and he was SO SMALL! But this family has a two cat max for now. Some day when we own our huge mansion with the jungle like (but very secure & safe) back garden, then maybe more fur babies may arrive! For now I'll have to content myself with the pics I took of the little guy :)

2007-10-12T18:37:00.001+01:00

'It's All Fun & Games Until Someone Loses an Eye!'

2007-10-10T23:47:00.000+01:00

I haven't been on much lately for a couple of reasons. One in particular being a rather sore eye!! All thanks to Oliver!

Well it was actually mostly my own fault. Oliver was batting my hair with his paw (this is where a sensible adult should have stopped things!) when some of it fell in front of my eye and in his enthusiasm to grab it, he stuck his claw in my eyeball! Ouch ;p

It was only a little scratch really and he missed my pupil by loads, so no real harm was done, except it stung like crazy and I had to go to the doctor for a tetanus shot :( The jab and the €50 bill hurt more than Oliver's claw in my eye!

It's fine now though. I've never really understood that saying 'It's all fun and games until someone loses an eye!' until now, hehehehehe!

Flights? Check! Accommodation? Check! Cattery? Umm...

2007-09-29T23:31:00.000+01:00

Oliver & Poppy will be heading off on their holidays too!

Last December myself and my hubby and a few more headed off to Krakow, Poland for three days. It was beautiful, we all had a great time and had some powerful experiences including a very moving visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camps. It was agreed by all that more time would be needed to give this lovely city and country the attention it deserves, that we would return and soon. Today I booked our flights and accommodation! We're heading off the end of November, this time for a week and I can't wait.

We didn't get that chance to go anywhere this summer (if that's what you'd call it!), so I'm looking forward to the break big time. The only worry is that this time as we're going for the week, I'll have to put the two babies in the cattery. Oliver as I mentioned in the past, has been to a cattery before, but it will be Poppy's first holiday away from home! She's a real Mammy's girl and I hope she'll be OK. I'm going to look around online for a place that I'm really happy with and hope to get it booked sometime next week.

I'm taking solace in the fact that at least they will be together and hopefully they'll keep each other company :D

UPDATE:
Came across this site http://www.abbeyfealeboardingkennels.com/ . Looks nice, cosy. I'm going to send them and email and find out some more.

2007-09-23T11:35:00.001+01:00

Oliver taking some quiet time away from 'talker' Poppy!

What makes some cats more vocal than others? Our eldest Oliver, has never been a big talker, he has always been the strong silent type. Except for the little chirrup in the morning to say hello, or gentle meow when he wants my husband to rub his head.

Ever since Poppy was a tiny kitten she had the lungs of an opera singer! If she was locked out of a room, she would Meow, Meow, Meow! If she was chasing something or saw something she wanted but couldn't get at, she would do this little bark type noise, that always made me laugh!

She'll be a year next month and she hasn't changed. Instead she has developed quite a selection of noises, all for different occasions! When I come home from being out, they both run over to say 'hi' Oliver will usually stay quiet, giving me leg rubs and head bumps, Poppy gives her high short meow and tries to stick to my leg so that it's hard to walk in without tripping over!!

They have equally different styles to get attention if they happen to be locked out of the bedroom. Oliver stands on his hind legs and jingles the keys that are in the door until it wakes me and I let him in. Poppy has a more direct approach! She simply sits outside and Meow's at the top of her lungs, getting increasingly more impatient sounding until I open the door! I have on occasion ignored this in an attempt to break the habit, and she will stop eventually, the purchase of a set of ear plugs has helped greatly!

Mostly I like that she is a talker though, and I love the little noises Oliver makes when he does have something to say. He would probably say more but Poppy makes it hard to get a word in edge ways! You know us females, we do like to talk, hehehehe!!

Sandpaper Kisses

2007-09-16T11:01:00.000+01:00

I had to work away from home for the past few days and I have to say it gets tougher and tougher to leave my two babies (and husband, of course!). I'm sure I looked every inch a lunatic sitting out in the Cork countryside talking on my mobile to Poppy, listening to her purr her replies!! Oliver isn't much of a talker on the phone, typical male really!

When I returned home last night, the welcome I got made it worthwhile. They looked so happy to see me, I was rushed at the door as I came in, there was a lot of meowing and purring and tangling up of legs and cats! Almost caused me an injury in their delight to have me home. I'm sure some of that delight was due to the fact that they do not receive the same level of attention and spoiling from my hubby as they do from me :) If I could speak cat, their meows were probably saying 'Yay! Mammy's back! Treats, Cat milk, No more dry food!!'

They made sure I wasn't going anywhere without them knowing about it for the rest of the night, I felt as if I had two bodyguards glued to my legs, following me everywhere (including the loo!). Both of them joined me as I relaxed in a bubble bath, Poppy perched on the side of the bath near my head and Oliver keeping watch from the bathroom windowsill.

I don't think there are many things as pleasant as a welcome home from animals who love you, especially cats. Hearing them purr, getting licks from their grainy tongues (sandpaper kisses!) and having them curl up with you as you enjoy being home. I came across this poem and I think it describes this side of living with a cat beautifully :)

Cats are Wonderful Friends
Gentle eyes that see so much,paws that have the quiet touch

Purrs to signal "all is well"and show more love than words could tell

Graceful movements touched with pride,a calming presence by our side

A friendship that takes time to grow

Small wonder why we love them so.

Author Unknown

Poppy & Oliver enjoying the Sun!

2007-09-08T23:38:00.000+01:00

Our two babies sitting pretty :)

Fron Shredding to Scratching!

2007-09-07T19:17:00.000+01:00

Our cats have always been extremely well behaved when it comes to scratching furniture. They have always preferred to sharpen their claws on their scratching post, rather than on the legs of our chairs!

However lately, Poppy has taken to dragging herself along the bottom of our leather sofa. She reminds me of something out of Misson Impossible, half under the sofa using her front paws to drag herself along!! The poor old couch is looking a bit worse for wear as a result. It's funny because it's not as if she is sharpening her claws or marking her territory, it's just that she seems to think it's great fun!

There's a bit of a demon in that cat I think, she has such a mischievous nature, hehehe. Poor Oliver, he is so reserved in comparison. He often sits on the armchair opposite the sofa calmly watching her as she does this. I'd say he thinks she's a bit daft sometimes, 'as mad as a bag of cats' as they say!

I've considered trying something to deter her from this, but at the end of the day, it's not that expensive a sofa, so I don't really mind. Maybe she'll grow out of it, if not we'll just add it to her list of eccrentric behaviour!

If you have a scratch happy kitty these are some suggestions I've come across to improve the situation :) But bear in mind Mark Twain's advice, which applies universally: Never try to teach a pig to sing; it frustrates you and annoys the pig. Translate this bit of wisdom to your dealings with cats and you'll avoid a good deal of futility and frustration.

Introduction
Cats scratch to mark their territory, sharpen their claws and stretch their muscles. Here's how to help your cat curb the urge (or at least redirect it away from the sofa).

Instructions

Steps
1
Step One
Provide scratching posts and place them in locations where your cat likes to linger - by a sunny window, for instance.
2
Step Two
Experiment with different types of posts to find the best ones for your cat.
3
Step Three
Keep in mind that different cats like different surface textures (cardboard, wood or rugs) and post orientations (horizontal or vertical).
4
Step Four
Encourage kittens to use posts, and reward them with food and praise.
5
Step Five
Consider giving your cat extra attention when he stirs from a nap, and then placing him near the scratching post, since many cats scratch when waking up.
6
Step Six
Avoid punishing your cat if she scratches an inappropriate area - punishment teaches the cat to not scratch in your presence, but it won't deter a cat from scratching when you're not around.
7
Step Seven
Avoid letting your cat scratch an old couch, even if you plan to get rid of it soon - this will only encourage your cat to scratch the new couch.
8
Step Eight
Consult your veterinarian about alternative treatment options before you give up. Destructive behavior is a leading reason why people surrender their cats to animal shelters.
Tips & Warnings
Aversive-tasting substances will not help, since scratching does not involve the taste buds.
Yelling and loud noises may cause anxiety and encourage destructive behavior.
Scratching is a natural behavior, so blocking the cat's access to one area will simply encourage him to scratch elsewhere.

Tami~shredding machine

2007-08-29T00:33:00.001+01:00

Paper Shredder Poppy!

2007-08-28T23:38:00.000+01:00

I did a little shopping today, nothing too exciting, new track bottoms for the gym and so on, and when I got home I went through the same routine as usual with Poppy! As soon as I enter the door and she hears the rustle of a paper bag she's all over it like a rash!! She can't wait to jump on it. And not just to hide in it like a normal cat, no she has to shred the bag to pieces! Which means every time I bring a paper bag home I have to wrestle it away from here before she's done too much damage and try and get it in the bin without her noticing!

Paper bags are her favourite, but she's not that fussy, she'll shred receipts, paperwork, bills, you name it she's tried it :D I've got so many notes for work that have little cat teeth puncture marks in them, it's mad! I'm always worried she'll find something to shred/chew/bite when I'm not there and ingest some of it, I don't want her to get ill. I'm only waiting for the day she eats a €50 note and then I'll be ill..hehehe! Not that i have €50 notes left scattered around willynilly ;p

Yesterday I heard someone talking about their cat making bits of the toilet roll! So at least I know Poppy's not the only mental moggy around! I've been researching this paper obsession a bit on the net and came across this reply to a question from someone whose cat was a paper shredder like Poppy..

Many times cats like the noise of the paper--they will play with it when it is crumbled and when batting it around, bite it. When my cats were kittens they loved to eat toilet paper and to this day, they will chew on tissue paper if it is laying around or the newspaper when I am trying to read it. My one cat also has a tendency to lick plastic...I chalk it up to a bit of obsessive compulsive disorder. Your cat may be bored and if has the need to nosh, you could try planting some cat grass. You can also try spraying bitter apple on the paper and boxes to discourage her. Also try getting her some cloth sacks of catnip to play and chew on and actively play with her for at least 15 minutes a day using pole toys or a laser pointer. But if it is only paper, I would not worry. If she takes a liking to ribbon, string, twist-ties or rubber bands, these things can cause intestinal blockages if ingested.

So I guess it's just a case of making sure she doesn't develop a taste for anything more exotic like elastic bands and keeping all the cash in the Piggy Bank..hehehe I found a video of another paper eating cat on You Tube. Very similar technique to Poppy, but not as enthusiastic, the rate she rips the paper to bits she could get a job working for a confetti making company ;p!!

Cats in Art

2007-08-26T10:50:00.000+01:00

First of all my apologise for not posting all week. I've been very busy at work and just didn't get the time :( But I'm back now and rearing to go :)

A good friend of mine gave me a really lovely book recently. It's called 'Cat...Wild cats and Pampered Pets' by Andrew Edney. It was a perfect gift as it combines two of my great loves, cats and art. The book contains beautiful images of cats represented in art works down through the ages, mixed with quotes from literature.

I thought it would be nice to include excerpts from the book from time to time. A sort of 'Cats in Arts' section! The funny thing is, despite the fact I am a painter I have never painted our two lovelies! I've painted cats but never ours, something I plan to remedy soon. When I do I'll post the finished product here :)

Anyway, the first painting I've selected from the book is 'The New Arrival' by Horatio Henry Couldery

The New Arrival

I like this painting because it shows the little ginger kitten bristling and facing off against the much larger tabby. It reminds me of Poppy when she gets a fright from Oliver, puffed up to twice her size and hopping along sideways!! Always makes me laugh.

Couldrey was one of the best known Victorian painters of animals and especially for his very detailed paintings of cats. You can check out more about the artist here http://www.burlington.co.uk/picture/cm/content/1516.

This is another painting by Couldrey, not in the book, but it's so sweet I had to include it.

The Unexpected Guest

Photographing Cats

2007-08-20T15:04:00.000+01:00

'I'm ready for my close-up'!

I love taking photos of our two cats. They have to be two of the most photographed felines in existence! I always have the digital camera handy and ready to go in case a photo opportunity presents itself :)

I'm not showing favouritism here, but Poppy happens to be particularly photogenic! She loves the camera and it loves her!! She enjoys posing I think. Oliver on the other hand, has been there done that and has the t-shirt with his photo printed on it!! So he is not as enthusiastic a model. More often than not he tends to glare at me when I try to photograph him.

I recently bought a new digital camera with loads of nice little settings to play with so I've been having fun with that. The two photos in my previous post were taken with the new camera.
I am sure every other cat owner out there also loves to take kitty pics, so I've compiled a list of tips and tricks to capture the purrfect pose!

*When taking a photo of your cat, always do so in good light. Try and avoid using a flash if possible. If you have to use a flash take the photo from a slight angle, to avoid the flash going off directly in the cats eye.
Also taking photos in bright light means the cats irises will contract and you will capture more of the cats eye colour.

*Take the photo while holding the camera at the cats eye level, being careful not to cut off ears, legs or tail.

*Having some kind of back drop makes the photo look more professional. Throwing a piece of coloured fabric over the sofa works well, pick a colour that contrasts with your cats colouring.

*Clear clutter out of shot. If indoors, a nice photo could be spoiled by the sight of mugs and plates on the dinner table in the background! Same goes for photos taken outside. Try and take from an angle that does not include anything too distracting.

*Use something like a toy to get the cats attention. I usually dangle one of their toy mice neat the camera to make them look my way. Taking photos of the cat looking away is nice too.

*Get in close and fill as much of the frame as you can with the cat. This can make for great photos.

*Take lots and lots of photographs! Professional photographers often take a hundred shots to get one great photo.

*Always have the camera nearby. It's often when you are not planning to photograph your cat that they pose best! Be ready to capture the moment!

Here are some lovely photos I found online to inspire you :)