Paw Path Cats

Things We Miss About Leo Part 2

2008-04-10T20:30:00.000-07:00

His voice. Boy, did he get loud a lot (especially at night) but he was a good talker and we miss his vocalizations...

His snow white and ever fluffy tummy!

The cute spray of white on his back....

Bambi's coping

2008-04-06T20:29:00.000-07:00

It's been rough dealing with Leo's passing, but overall I'm doing ok! The peep's are giving me SO much attention, that part of it is super nice.

Getting a hug...

I've been taking a bunch of naps too, which helps...

And I still do love to sit in boxes. That's always fun!

purrs to the blogosphere,

Bambi

How We Miss Leo Part 1

2008-03-28T20:28:00.000-07:00

As our parting with Leo becomes less teary and more smiley with loving memories, here are some things we really miss about Leo....

His snuggles (this is the last picture taken of him)

We thought every hair on his body was adorable, but here are some features that we really thought were special...

His handsome moustache:

How he wrinkled his nose:

...and we'll list more soon! We love you and miss you, Leo!

Happy Easter!

2008-03-23T12:26:00.000-07:00

Thanks again to the supportive cat blog community - many purrs to you all! We took a break from blogging while we dealt with our grief, but now that spring is here, we are ready to start afresh, and start blogging again and dedicate this blog to the memory of our sweet Leo!

Bambi was really stressed out for about a month, but he's getting back to normal. Thanks again to everyone and Happy Easter!

"Whoa wait a minute...you're gonna do what to me in Photoshop?" - Bambi

glitter-graphics.com

Thank You

2008-02-25T20:47:00.000-08:00

Thanks to everyone who wrote such wonderful comments (on our main blog of which this blog is a duplicate of). We miss Leo a lot but we are doing the best we can. Bambi didn't eat for a few days but he's doing okay now.

We found this lovely image on http://www.petloss.com/rainbowcandle.htm and thought it was appropriate. We know that our Leo is now a cute fluffy angel and we feel him around us. A million thanks to the loving and supporting cat blogosphere community!

Leo Has Passed onto the Rainbow Bridge

2008-02-09T07:52:00.000-08:00

Our beloved Leo has passed onto the Rainbow Bridge today, Saturday, February 9, 2008. He would have turned 19 years old this coming summer. He had a long life filled with love. He passed away peacefully today, surrounded by his family. We miss him so much it hurts, but we are so grateful to have had 18 1/2 wonderful years with him.

Above is a picture of Leo taken in 2006, where he was peacefully grooming himself while having a sunbath.

This is Leo demonstrating his formidable vocal range, saying he wants more hugs.

We found him on the street in Japan while we were living in Tokyo when I was in elementary school (Bambi was adopted soon afterwards). The tiny little kitten had no hair, and an awful skin rash, and was desperately cleaning himself. My mother took a bunch of tissues, scooped him up, and literally ran to the nearest vet. This vet told her that he wouldn't make it so she should just give up. She made a baby sling for Leo, so she could keep him warm with her body temperature, and fed him and gave him water drop by drop since he was too ill to drink. His hair slowly started to grow back, which eventually grew into a beautiful, silky coat which he maintained for the rest of his life, up through today. He had quite the personality and gave us lots and lots of laughs. He loved to be hugged more than anything.

As we were leaving the hospital today, it started to snow, and we knew it was Leo telling us that he is now at peace.

Leo 1989 - 2008

R.I.P.

Bambi's Collage of Fun!

2008-01-29T12:45:00.000-08:00

I got a ball of catnip and check me out having fun!

Funny Kitten Video

2008-01-10T14:04:00.000-08:00

This video is HILARIOUS. Such cute kittens and a really unexpected ending. We don't know these guys but they sure are cuddly :)

Wee Little Poems

2008-01-07T21:32:00.001-08:00

Things we did today....

Bambi napped with his buddy the pink bunny

The window was toasty as it was so sunny

He dreamt of catnip and loads of sushi

And lots of cat toys that were oh so swooshy

When he awoke he had some tuna

I love when they treat me like I'm the big kahuna!

Leo got stinky from a litter box mess

Which caused his humans a bit of distress

You've got to be joking, a bath for real?

He said "No thanks!" and attempted to flee

"Stop!" they said, "It's just baking soda and oatmeal."

And after a nice brushing he's clean and stink free!

Happy New Year!

2008-01-01T12:19:00.001-08:00

Oy, I had too much champagne, I have a wee headache!

Ever wake up in a box and not know how you got there? (Just kidding this is a photo from Christmas morning, but Leo looks so cute we had to stick it in here)

Have a Happy and Healthy New Year everyone! Lots of purrs,

Leo & Bambi

glitter-graphics.com

Merry Christmas!

2007-12-24T19:07:00.001-08:00

Here's Bambi waiting patiently for Santa (whilst sitting on a cookbook)

And Leo swears he's been a good boy...

Merry Christmas, everyone!!

glitter-graphics.compurrs, Bambi & Leo

Leo's Funny Cat Naps

2007-12-20T21:10:00.000-08:00

I've been known to snooze in apparently amusing positions, although they don't normally document it. But here are some of my nap positions, which I guess are funny to you humans?

Position 1: I love putting my head in the girl's hand. It makes me feel safe. And I'm doing the one leg stretch right here.

Position 2: 2 leg stretch. The flash made me open my eyes a bit.

And finally, when I felt like getting off of her lap, I returned to a more normal feline nap position:

Happy Napping, you guys!

-Leo

Happy Thanksgiving!

2007-11-21T19:51:00.000-08:00

glitter-graphics.com

Seems like all we have time to do nowadays, blog-wise, is wishing our readers happy holidays. We've just been so lazy and there has been many cozy places to catnap. And we're not getting any younger, so we have to get more beauty rest! I'm turning 18 in December! (Leo turned 18 this past July.)

So instead of blogging, I've been doing a lot of this:

You like my new bunny friend? I always cuddly with him (along with Pinky, my trusty mouse pal who's under my tail right there). - Bambi

Mmmfpff. Wake me when the turkey's ready. - Leo

Hope everyone has a lot of turkey and takes their turkey naps! Happy Thanksgiving!

Purrs,

Bambi & Leo

Happy Veteran's Day

2007-11-11T20:40:00.001-08:00

Happy Veteran's Day from Leo & Bambi...We honor all of those who served.

Happy Halloween!

2007-10-31T20:40:00.000-07:00

glitter-graphics.com

More of Leo's Before and After

2007-09-23T15:33:00.000-07:00

Here's another baby picture of me from the archives! I was too little to even jump up on a couch.

And here's some recent photos of me making funny faces:

Cat News

2007-09-20T15:21:00.000-07:00

Here's a cute story from New Zealand that caught my eye...

A primary school caretaker, Ken Browning, rescued Misty from a shelter right before she was to be put down. He's been taking her to work with him since she was one, and she is now a fixture at Bucklands Beach Primary School. She runs errands with Ken and shares tea breaks with him. What a clever cat!

A Credit Card That Helps Animals!

2007-09-15T15:21:00.000-07:00

We don't normally post stuff that has to do with banks and finance, but the Humane Society has a pretty great offer...Bank of America will donate $50 to the Humane Society for every new account, PLUS give 25 cents for every $100 spent on the card.

So if you're looking for to open a new credit card account anyway, why not get one that will give a bit of cashback to needy animals?

You can apply for a credit card at Bank of America now or read more about it on the Humane Society Newsletter "Make Your Credit Card Count For Animals."

We are NOT affiliated with The Humane Society or with Bank of America, and we (The Paw Path Litter Mat Store, Paw Path Blog, or Seven Musketeers Corporation) will NOT get any compensation for posting this or referring new accounts, etc. We just saw this offer in an email newsletter from the Humane Society and thought we'd pass it on! Thanks!

Bambi Doesn't Like the Camera

2007-09-14T15:20:00.000-07:00

I say it over and over but the beans never listen. They keep pointing the camera at me anyway.

I go from this face (notice the round, happy eyes):

To this in mere seconds (notice the angry eyes):

The only time I don't mind is when I don't know. Like when I'm taking a nap:

Baby Bambi

2007-09-13T15:19:00.000-07:00

Here's a picture of when I was a baby, using Leo's tummy as a pillow. There's Leo looking ridiculous as usual. That's mom's hand there you see as we are on her lap.

And here I am slightly annoyed by the flash since it woke me up. I'm not a ham like Leo - I hate when they get all paparazzi-esque. But alas, I'm in a similar pose as my baby picture - and my humans do tell me that I'm still as cute as a kitten. (hee hee, I like to hear that and it makes me purr)

Leo As A Kitten!

2007-09-12T15:16:00.000-07:00

We know the cardinal sin of blogging is never, ever to apologize for not blogging, but we haven't blogged for so long that we do feel at least feel the need to make excuses...ok, ok we won't do either. We've mentioned it.

However, the beans were going through some old photos and found some baby pictures of adorable ME! They tell me I had a really bad skin disease which is why the hair hasn't grown back yet on my paws (they look a bit pink) but it was so long ago that I can't remember ever not having my long and luscious coat. Look at how CUTE I was!

And this is me 18 years (that's right, EIGHTEEN) years later in a photo taken this week. I think I look pretty cool, like I could be a model for cat treats.

I am just so photogenic I even surprise myself sometimes - Leo

Thanks to Felinexpress!

2007-08-21T12:35:00.000-07:00

Wow! We were so honored to be the first prize winner of the July Cat Lover's Blogging Contest of the fabulous blog Felinexpress. We got an amazing prize with lots and lots of goodies for hours of fun - including a bed, scratch pad, a HUGE bag of cat nip, and more toys than we can count on our four paws between the two of us!

Look at what a wonderful gift package we got!

Here's a photo documentation of how much we loved it.

The second the bed was taken out of the box, I pounced and claimed the scratch pad and fluffy bed as my own! - Bambi

Even though I was taking a nap at the time, I woke up and jumped all over the nicely arranged gift package before the girl could take a picture.

I gave the Ugly Mutt something to think about by wrestling with him a bit...

And Mr. Goal Bug kept me company while I groomed myself. - Leo

Thanks again, Felinexpress, we just love our toys!!!!

Leo & Bambi

Bambi Does Yoga

2007-08-07T12:36:00.000-07:00

Here I demonstrate a yoga stretch...

It has been said that we cats are as flexible as we are and are masters of relaxation because we have the natural ability to incorporate yoga stretches into our every day routine. (Cats rule!)

Check out the Cat Yoga gallery on Flickr for other cat yoga experts!

Fives Meme

2007-07-16T20:49:00.000-07:00

Catzee tagged us for a meme, so here are our answers!

What were you doing 10 years ago?

We were living in another house, and we were 7 years old! Leo would sometimes escape to chase other cats away from our territory and really freak the humans out. Bambi found a secret opening to the outdoors in the basement, and he'd sneak out every night and come back quietly until his Mommy found out and nearly had a heart attack! Those wild mischievous days are over, but we still don't look a day over 7!

What were you doing 1 year ago?

We were just starting to blog!

Five snacks you enjoy:

Bambi: sushi, olives, cheddar cheese, baked chicken, trout
Leo: baked whiting fish, tuna, wheat grass, milk (formula for cats), sushi

Five songs to which you know the lyrics:

Bambi: I don't know any human songs but I "sing" loudly in a clear, echoey voice when I get excited and run around the house and climb the furniture. I make up my own lyrics!
Leo: I talk all the live long day and night when I want to, I don't have time to be memorizing lyrics to no songs!

Five things you would do if you were a millionaire:

1. Buy each of us a forest with lots of trees and places to hide and things to chase
2. Unlimited sushi buffet
3. Human litter box attendant for each of our litter boxes to clean around the clock and hand out snacks afterwards
4. Build intricate high cat trees around the house I can climb and hide in (Bambi)
5. Hire a nanny to give me hugs 24/7 whenever I want them (Leo)

Five bad habits:

Bambi: When I eat too much, I throw up. I never know my limit! I never remember that, because I always get sad when the humans don't give me all the food I want. Otherwise, I don't have any other bad habits. My humans tell me I'm an angel

Leo: Where to begin?

1. I'm loud
2. I poop outside the litter box
3. I've been known to be mean to Bambi (he's a goody goody)
4. I scratch things I shouldn't scratch
5. The more attention I get I just want MORE MORE MORE!

Five things you like doing:

1. Naps Rule!
2. napping in the sun on the deck
3. eating yummy snacks
4. getting brushed
5. running around and playing imaginary games

Five things you would never wear again:

We don't normally wear things, but here's some things we'd never wear again:

Leo: If those people put those Christmas antlers on me again, I swear they will be sorry

Bambi: When I was a kitten, the humans put some cat socks on me when I used to be able to go outside. I hated them! They only put them on me for a few minutes but I still remember how uncomfortable they were.

Five favourite toys:

1. Peacock feather
2. The girl's arm or long hair
3. paper bags
4. empty cardboard boxes
5. long pieces of string...but we only are interested in them for a few seconds at a time

Five kitties to tag:

Featured Cat Site: Felinexpress.com

2007-07-05T13:29:00.000-07:00

Felinexpress is a website dedicated to the true cat lover and the welfare of cats. It includes cat care tips, a forum, cat pictures, and much more!

This month, July 2007, they are holding a contest for fellow cat bloggers, with three fabulous gift bags of SmartyKat goodies as the prizes. Visit www.felinexpress.com to learn how to enter!

Happy Independence Day!

2007-07-04T13:24:00.001-07:00

DNA reveals Adam & Eve of domestic cat

2007-06-30T13:25:00.000-07:00

Above: The Felis silvestris on the left, and the Felis catus (Bambi trying to look fierce...or bored, not sure which). See a family resemblance? We do!

New research shows that the domestic house cat is descended from the Middle Eastern Wild cat, uncovering proof of how and when cats first came to supervise so many homes for humans.The DNA of 979 cats throughout the world were analyzed and found that all feral and domestic cats today have a common ancestor: the Near Eastern Felis silvestris.

It is conjectured that cats chose to start living with people around 10,000 to 12,000 years ago, when farmers started growing grain, and cats started to prey on rodents amongst the grain, developing a mutually beneficial relationship with humans. Cats were first domesticated in the Fertile Crescent, an area stretching from the eastern Mediterranean to the Persian Gulf, and then cats were transported around the world by humans.

The earliest archaeological evidence for cats and people living together was found in Cyprus, dating to 9,500 years ago.

These new findings will greatly aid in the conservation of today's wildcats.

Firefighters Save Kitten From Storm Drain

2007-06-28T13:26:00.000-07:00

In Parkersberg, West Virginia, a group of firefighters and animal rescuers spent an hour and a half trying to coax a tiny gray tabby out of a storm sewer drain.

After trying everything from luring it with food to making noises on the pipe to make it run out, the firefighters finally flushed the pipe with 250 gallons of water, just enough to wet the kitten's paws, and it rushed out into the arms of the waiting Firefighter Kevin Siers.

Goes to show that most cats and water simply do not mix!

The kitty, who went through quite an ordeal, was reported to become more relaxed soon afterwards, and was adopted a few days later from the Humane Society.

source: cnn.com>>

Peaceful Pictures

2007-06-27T13:33:00.000-07:00

Kitty Fell Asleep In His Bowl!

2007-06-22T13:32:00.000-07:00

This is one of our favorite adorable kitten pictures. This little guy ate so much he fell asleep right in his food bowl! We can't remember where we found it, so if anyone knows who it belongs to, we'll be happy to link and give proper photo credit.

A Day In the Life of Leo

2007-06-20T10:00:00.000-07:00

"Summertime, and the living is easy...fish are jumpin'..." (well, the fish are jumpin' in my tastebuds from my Fancy Feast anyway). Gotta love those Gershwin tunes!

My usual days are spent lounging on the deck, chillin' like Dylan....

"No, it's not too hot, I want to stay out here longer."

(The leash is so that I don't get at the Peonies, Azalea and Roses - the people tell me that the Peonies and Azalea are poisonous but they just look so tasty, even after I've had my fill of cat wheat grass! For a list of plants poisonous to cats, check out a list at the CFA: Plants And Your Cat)Sometimes the humans force me to come inside, where I realize it WAS too hot, and I scarf down lots of food and drink lots of water, and then I cool off in the air conditioned house:

So far my summer hasn't been too shabby! - Leo

Bambi's Former Bedtime Pal

2007-06-19T19:12:00.001-07:00

Mom bought me a buddy, and I liked him at first (we shared a blankie here)...

He was really soft and cuddly, but after I while I got sick of him and got grumpy so Mom took him away. I'm spoiled, but that's the way I like it!

-Bambi

Pet Food Recall Information Resources

2007-06-15T09:00:00.000-07:00

With the Pet Food crisis simmering down, pet food recalls and relevant issues are no longer front page news. So, what's the best way for a concerned pet parent to keep track of what's going on? Even it's no longer a crisis, it's still important to keep a watchful eye.

We unfortunately don't have the time to post up-to-date information, so we compiled links to sites that do have the most recent news.

(Please note all of these links will take you to sites that are not affiliated with pawpathlittermat.com or the Paw Path Cat Blog and are provided here for informational purposes only.)

The Pet Food List - lists foods that are NOT recalled, along with pet foods that are recalled in red. They note that it is most advisable to follow their links directly to each manufacturer's site to get the most up to date information. A great starting off point!

The Pet Connection - considered the first source for pet owners to find information on the Pet Food Recall. Try starting with their page on the overview, health advice, and recall lists.

Itchmo.Com - news, humor and product reviews for cats and dogs. They are also very active in posting up to date information on the pet food recall, and you can subscribe to a pet safety alert and they'll email you whenever there is news about a recall or any other pet safety issues.

Pet Food Tracker - a blog run by a cat owner who lost 5 cats (may they rest in peace!) to pet food related issues which posts lots of relevant recall information.

The ASPCA Pet Food Recall Center

Recalled Cat Foods taken from the ASPCA list as of June 7, 2007:

This list is only for informational purposes and Pawpathlittermat.com and Seven Musketeers Corporation makes no guarantee of its accuracy. Please check with each company to confirm recent updates.

Americas Choice, Preferred Pets Updated: May 2, 2007

Authority Updated: May 2, 2007

Best Choice Updated: May 2, 2007

The Buffalo Blue Company (Spa Select) Updated: April 27, 2007

Cats Choice Updated: May 3, 2007

Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul Added: April 27, 2007

Companion Updated: May 2, 2007

Compliments Updated: May 2, 2007

Co-Op Gold Updated: May 2, 2007

Country Classic Dinners (Doctors Foster and Smith) Added: May 2, 2007

Demoulas Market Basket Updated: May 2, 2007

Despar Updated: May 2, 2007

Diamond Pet Foods Added: April 27, 2006

Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance Updated: April 27, 2007

Drs. Foster & Smith (dry and canned) Updated: May 7, 2007

Eukanuba Updated: April 5, 2007

Evolve Kitten Food Added: May 18, 2007

Fame Updated: May 2, 2007

Feline Classic Updated: May 2, 2007

Feline Cuisine Updated: May 2, 2007

Fine Feline Cat Updated: May 2, 2007

Food Lion Updated: May 2, 2007

Foodtown Updated: May 2, 2007

Giant Companion Updated: May 2, 2007

Giant Eagle Updated: May 2, 2007

Hannaford Updated: May 2, 2007

Harmony Farms (Sierra Pet Products) Added: April 27, 2007

Hill Country Fare Updated: May 2, 2007

Hill's Prescription Diet™ m/d™ Feline Added: March 30, 2007

Hy-Vee Updated: May 2, 2007

Iams Updated: April 5, 2007

J.E. Mondou Updated: May 2, 2007

Kasco (Royal Canin) Added: May 15, 2007

La Griffe Updated: May 2, 2007

Laura Lynn Updated: May 2, 2007

Li'l Red Updated: May 2, 2007

Lick Your Chops Updated: May 18, 2007

Loving Meals Updated: May 2, 2007

Master Choice Updated: May 2, 2007

Medi-Cal Updated: May 2, 2007

Meijer's Main Choice Updated: May 2, 2007

Natural Balance Updated: April 27, 2007

Natural Ultramix Updated: May 2, 2007

Nu Pet Updated: May 2, 2007

Nutriplan Updated: May 2, 2007

Nutro Updated: May 2, 2007

Nutro Max Gourmet Classics Updated: April 10, 2007

Nutro Natural Choice Updated: April 10, 2007

Nutro Products Updated: April 10, 2007

Paws Updated: May 2, 2007

Performatrin Ultra Updated: May 3, 2007

Pet Pride Updated: May 2, 2007

Pounce Meaty Morsels Added: April 6, 2007

Presidents Choice Updated: May 2, 2007

Price Chopper Updated: May 2, 2007

Priority Canada Updated: May 2, 2007

Priority US Updated: May 2, 2007

Publix Updated: May 2, 2007

Roche Brothers Updated: May 2, 2007

Roundy's Updated: May 2, 2007

Royal Canin Added: April 20, 2007

Save-A-Lot Special Blend Updated: May 2, 2007

Schnucks Updated: May 2, 2007

Science Diet Feline Savory Cuts Cans Updated: April 12, 2007

Sierra Pet Products (Harmony Farms) Added: April 27, 2007

Sophistacat Updated: May 2, 2007

Spa Select (The Buffalo Blue Company) Updated: April 27, 2007

Special Kitty Canada Updated: May 2, 2007

Special Kitty US Updated: May 2, 2007

Springfield Prize Updated: May 2, 2007

Sprout Updated: May 2, 2007

Stop & Shop Companion Updated: May 2, 2007

Stuzzy Gold Updated: May 2, 2007

Tops Companion Updated: May 2, 2007

Triumph Updated: May 2, 2007

Wegmans Updated: May 2, 2007

Weis Total Pet Updated: May 2, 2007

Western Family Canada Updated: May 2, 2007

Western Family US Updated: May 2, 2007

White Rose Updated: May 2, 2007

Winn Dixie Updated: May 3, 2007

Your Pet Updated: May 2, 2007

Happy 20th Birthday to our friend Max

2007-06-07T17:39:00.001-07:00

We were very honored to be invited to Max's virtual birthday party in celebration of his 20th birthday!

His mom, writer and editor Leah A. Zeldes, suspects that he may be a furry alien, and wrote a very clever essay about that which appears in Cat Women: Female Writers and Their Female Friends. We posted an excerpt from her essay a while back which you can read here.

We found out that Max has excellent taste in music (The Beatles), what he likes to eat and drink, and that he is learning to count to 20 in Japanese (we're from Japan so give us a yowl if you need any tips!) You can learn more about Max & send him a birthday wish at http://www.zeldes.com/max.html!

Happy Birthday Max!!

Leo, Bambi & their human staff at the Paw Path Cat Blog

Happy Mother's Day!

2007-05-13T10:49:00.001-07:00

(The above photo was found on The Cute Project: Collecting the World's Cuteness)

Happy Mother's Day to all the mommas out there!

Take Action For Pet Food Safety

2007-05-07T19:27:00.000-07:00

The horrifying recent pet food recalls have been taken very seriously by Congress. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) and Sen. Richard J. Durbin (D-Ill.) introduced the Pet and Human Food Safety Act on May 1, 2007 to provide more oversight and regulation of the food industry. In a remarkable demonstration of how important this issue is, the U.S. Senate approved a Durbin amendment on pet and human food safety on May 2 -- just one day after the bill was introduced -- by a resounding vote of 94 to 0!

Here are some details on what the pet food bill will do:

Help regulate the industry by establishing mandatory processing and ingredient standards and requiring more inspections of pet food processing plants.

Create an early warning system to help identify possible contaminants earlier and penalize companies that don't report possible contamination.

Ensure that any future recalls are conducted quickly by giving the Food and Drug Administration the power to order mandatory recalls of tainted food.

Take action here >>

You can help make the food supply safer.

TAKE ACTION IN THREE EASY STEPS!

1. Make a short polite phone call to your U.S. Representative, Maurice Hinchey, at (202) 225-6335. Urge Representative Hinchey to support and quickly enact the DeLauro/Durbin Pet and Human Food Safety Act.

Making a call is easy. A staff member will take your message and pass it to your legislator. When you call, you can say:

"Hello my name is [your name] and I'm calling from [your town and state] to urge Representative Hinchey to support the DeLauro/Durbin Pet and Human Food Safety Act (H.R. 2108/S. 1274). The ongoing pet food recall has revealed that there is very little regulation of the pet food industry. We need to change this to ensure that the food consumers are feeding their pets is wholesome and safe. Thank you."

2. After you make your call, send a follow up email in support of safer pet food.

3. Tell your friends how they can help. The more people who contact Congress, the more support this legislation will receive and the better its chances of being quickly passed into law.

If this act is passed, we'll be on our way to making all pet food safe! - Bambi

Recommended Cat Book

2007-05-07T19:26:00.001-07:00

Cat Women: Female Writers On Their Feline Friends edited by Megan McMorris

There is a great new book out filled with essays by women about cats! Here is a excerpt of one of the essays:

Planet Catnip: My Life With An Alien Cat by Leah A. Zeldes

For years, I've suspected that my cat, Max, is an alien. I don't know what planet he beamed down from, but he's definitely Out There.

For one thing, he likes to follow us around the house, watching intently, as if he's taking mental notes on all our doings to report to someone later. I work at home, so his favorite observation spot during the day is my desk. When he's not staring unnervingly at my computer screen while I type, he's sitting on my papers - he has a sixth sense of just which one I need at any time, and that suddenly becomes his favorite resting spot.

But anyone could argue that those are "normal" cat traits. The biggest hint I have that Max is not from this world is his abnormal reaction to catnip. Most cats, when exposed to this herb, become excited, euphorically sniffing, rolling around, shaking their heads, and rubbing against things. Even lions and tigers have this catnip response. Not Max.

Read the rest of this essay and many more in Cat Women: female writers on their feline friends available on amazon.com >>

Copyright 2007 edited by Megan McMorris from Cat Women: Female Writers on Their Feline Friends. Reprinted by permission of Seal Press, an Imprint of Avalon Publishing Group, Inc., distributed by Publishers Group West. All rights reserved.

Homemade Meals for Cats?

2007-04-04T19:06:00.002-07:00

With all this recall business and new products being added periodically, what should our humans do to protect us from harm coming from commercial foods? It's a fact that it's very difficult for humans to make us any home-cooked meals that can meet our nutritional needs (as yummy as table scraps are). What can we say, we are more complex animals than people!

Read an interesting article about humans who never considered cooking for their pets a possibility now running to get copies of pet cookbooks (one which sold out on Amazon!) on the New York Times: "Home Cooking For Pets Is Suddenly Not So Odd"

A widely recommended website - recommended by the The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and the ASPCA, which we've had trouble loading (probably due to its sudden popularity, is www.petDIETS.com... it's a website with nutritional advice and homemade diets from veterinary nutritionists.

But before you beg your humans to cook meals for you, check out this page on Problems With Homemade Diets. Apparently, even the recipes in the pet cookbooks out there may not have been tested properly by nutritionists, and a survey found that almost 90% of homemade diets prescribed by veterinarians were nutrionally inadequate for adult dogs and cats!

So the bottom line is, Leo & I are sticking with Fancy Feast dry food...since we feel pretty healthy.

"If your pet is healthy and doing well on the pet food it is currently eating, and the food is not on the recalled products list, there is no reason to change their diet," said AVMA President Roger Mahr, DVM. Read the entire press release with his quote in context here.

purrs,

Bambi

We're Back...with an update on Cat Food recalls

2007-04-04T19:06:00.001-07:00

We took a brief respite from blogging, but we are back and will try to be more regular with our posting!

Here's something that we should have posted a while back, but here it is anyway:

Hill’s Prescription Diet m/d dry added to recall list

We were lucky that we only eat Fancy Feast cat food, which is currently not on the recall list. We hope all you cat bloggers out there are safe and sound! For an updated list of the cat foods that have been recalled, go to http://www.menufoods.com/recall/product_cat.html. You can also visit http://www.avma.org/aa/menufoodsrecall/default.asp for update news on the recall.

Here's some more info:

Of the cats that suffered renal damage from eating contaminated foods, the following clinical signs were seen:

Decreased appetite (75% of affected cats)
Excessive thirst and urination (50% of affected cats)
Vomiting (50% of affected cats)
Lethargy (50% of affected cats)

If your cat is known to have eaten one of the foods on the list and is showing any of the signs listed above, we recommend that you schedule an appointment as soon as possible with a veterinarian so that they can evaluate your cat for kidney damage.

If your cat was fed one of the foods, but has no clinical signs of illness, it still might be a good idea to have the cat evaluated and the kidney function assessed.

Hill’s Prescription Diet m/d dry has been voluntarily recalled by the Hill’s Company. Cat owners should stop feeding dry m/d (canned is fine).

Scary business. Hope none of you are sick!

purrs,

Leo & Bambi

Leo's Blankie

2007-03-04T22:03:00.000-08:00

Here I am snuggling under my favorite blankie. I'm usually loud and like to complain a lot, but when the humans put me on or under this blankie, my troubles melt away and I drift away into a pleasant dream land! I don't know what it is, but it must be some kind of magic blankie.

-Leo

Spay Day is February 27!

2007-02-22T22:05:00.000-08:00

Spay Day USA is a national campaign to promote spay/neuter as a simple, humane and effective way to end the tragedy of euthanizing homeless pets, and events will take place across the U.S. on February 27, 2007.

Thousands of kittens and puppies are born every hour in the United States. While these baby animals are adorable, the fate of most of them is tragic. Spaying or neutering our pets and feral cats is the most effective way to reduce the vast numbers of animals who are born only to die prematurely and without a family who loves them.

Go to the Humane Society Spay Day USA Page to learn more, including information about organizing an event, volunteering at an event near you, becoming a sponsor, offering your veterinary skills and more.

To get a banner to put on your blog like you see above, CLICK HERE!

Now I'm going to take a nap and dream of a future where needless euthanizing is a thing of the past! Thanks for reading - Bambi

Happy Valentine's Day!

2007-02-14T00:00:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!

Free Shipping On All Orders!

2007-02-09T13:02:00.000-08:00

Check it out! We are now offering FREE UPS Ground shipping on all Paw Path Litter Mat orders! How cool is that? Want to learn more about our Paw Path? Click HERE>>

I'm so excited I'm going to put my heiny in the air! - Bambi

We love cold weather!

2007-02-06T19:28:00.000-08:00

When it gets chilly out, that means the humans make us a cozy fire and we can sit in front of it for hours. Even Leo keeps his mouth shut as he's so snuggly and content!

We hope all you cats are keeping warm too!

-Leo & Bambi

Cat News Jan 14, 2007

2007-01-14T18:42:00.000-08:00

There's been a lot of interesting stuff going on, cat news-wise, so here are some notable stories...

First, our tubby friend, Hercules, who got himself stuck in a doggy door found his family, hooray! However, it seems that he was diagnosed with Feline Immunodeficiency Virus, so we send him many purrs.

Tiffany Noreuil, an animal care technician at the Oregon Humane Society, holds temporarily-named feline Goliath, Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2007, in Portland, Ore. Goliath, a 20-pound stray whose girth got him stuck in a pet door while trying to plunder some dog food, is back with his owner. His name isn't really Goliath, but it's close. It's Hercules, says owner Geoff Ernest, who was reunited with his tubby tabby Thursday at the society. Gresham, Ore., resident Jadwiga Drozdek found the feline stuck in the dog door of her home a few days ago, helped free him and gave him a plate of food on her patio. (AP Photo/The Oregonian, Benjamin Brink)

Lots of stuff part deux!

2007-01-14T18:40:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone! Kick up your feet with me for another blog posting covering lots of stuff...a smorgasbord of blog postings, if you will. Hmm, I could go for a smorgasbord of treats just about now. - Leo

In introductions: Meet our newest Paw Path customer, Dublin. Isn't he handsome? He's from Wisconsin:

You can meet more of our customers at: http://www.pawpathlittermat.com/Testimonials.html

In helping needy cats:

URGENT! Stop the Mayor of Cleveland, Ohio and save the cats!

The mayor of Cleveland, Ohio is pitching a plan where stray cats would be trapped and taken to the city kennel. If unidentified and unclaimed for three days, they would be killed, just as stray dogs are. In order to carry out this plan, the Cleveland City Council would have to approve expanding the city kennel to make room for about 200 cats - at a cost of more than $1 million.

Go to Alley Cat Allies to learn more and send an urgent message to help the cats in Cleveland! Take Action Now >>

In cat humor:

Cats According to Dave Barry

"Cats are less loyal than dogs, but more independent." (This is code. It means: "Cats are smarter than dogs, but they hate people.") Many people love cats. From time to time, newspapers print stories about some elderly widow who died and left her entire estate, valued at $3,200,000, to her cat, Fluffkins. Cats read these stories, too, and are always plotting to get named as beneficiaries in their owners' wills. Did you ever wonder where your cat goes when it wanders off for several hours? It meets with other cats in estate-planning seminars. I just thought you should know.

Dave Barry, a humor columnist, has been at The Miami Herald since 1983. A Pulitzer Prize winner for commentary, he writes about issues ranging from the international economy to exploding toilets.

More in cat humor: This big kitty is such a sweetheart! Let's just hope that he doesn't give her a love bite. This looks a bit dangerous to us, as we've definitely given small injuries with our love bites to our humans, and this cat has a much bigger kisser than we have!

Ana Julia Torres kisses Jupiter, an African lion she rescued malnourished from a circus six years ago, at her Villa Lorena animal shelter, in Cali, Colombia, Friday, Jan. 5, 2007. Ana Julia Torres is the owner of the 12-year-old shelter that rescues sick and mistreated animals from all over Colombia.(AP Photo/Inaldo Perez)

Lots of stuff: a new blog, cat cartoon book, and cat news!

2007-01-10T18:00:00.000-08:00

Hey guys! That's me, Bambi, taking a rest in the nice sun after doing some work. Here's a longish sort of post with lots of stuff to catch up! We're recommending a new blog, introducing a new cat cartoon book, and going over some cat news headlines!

Many of you have already met them, but Rocky (the CEO aka Cat Executive Officer) and fourteen other formerly feral cats has a great new blog called Artsy Catsy about cats like us who run e-commerce! Good luck with starting the business! Let us know more about how to order portraits, etc, and we can link from our e-commerce site!

If you haven't been to see them yet, check out their blog at http://artsycatsy.blogspot.com/

In other news, there is a very fun new cartoon collection for women who love cats, called "My Cat Loves Me Naked" by Stephanie Piro - check out her website at http://www.stephaniepiro.com/ or buy her book at Barnes & Noble by clicking on the link below!

My Cat Loves Me Naked

If you still need a calendar for 2007, check out our calendar store for lots of calendars with cats!

In cat news from around the world, here's some headlines that caught our attention involving us fabulous felines:

An, ahem, big-boned kitty was caught stuck in a doggie door looking for food! Luckily, the people that lived in the house were very kind, got him out, gave him food, and took him to a shelter.

A cat missing for 7 months comes home! Kimba, an African jungle cat hybrid, had been missing since June. His owner cried herself to sleep and lost 50 pounds walking around the canyons looking for him! Sniff, sniff. We just love stories like this!

On a more serious note, we found an interesting article about antidepressants for cats (& dogs, birds, horses, and other animals). We don't have an official stance on this subject, but it's worth reading about. Check out the LA Times article, "Fido's Little Helper">>

Leo will be back with more tomorrow!

Happy New Year!

2006-12-30T20:15:00.000-08:00

We love the holidays since we get loads of treats...like buffet style lunches...

or breakfasts in bed (I was too lazy to even stand up to eat my sushi here)...

We hope everyone got nice gifts. I got this neat box to take naps in:

Thanks to everyone for their holiday wishes. Happy New Year!

::::wink::::

May 2007 be filled with purrs all around!

Merry Christmas!

2006-12-24T21:25:00.000-08:00

Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house not a creature was stirring, not even Bambi's mouse...

Leo fell asleep waiting for Santa (you can kinda see his hat)...

Merry Christmas to all of our cat blogging friends and visitors!! We hope everyone has a safe and healthy holiday!

Meowy Christmas Ecards!

2006-12-10T21:01:00.002-08:00

Here's an adorable kitty ecard from Sanrio that we found on Yahoo! Kids

http://kids.yahoo.com/ecards/ecard?catid=19&id=182

Here are some more fun kid-themed season's greetings cards for the young and for the young at heart!

http://kids.yahoo.com/ecards/category?catid=19

Cuteness War

2006-12-10T21:01:00.001-08:00

Ha! So Bambi's being really adorable, is he? Well, take this for cuteness! - Leo

Bambi and his new way to be cute

2006-12-10T21:00:00.001-08:00

Bambi has found yet another way to melt our hearts. We were cleaning out our old stuffed animals and found one of my brother's favorites from when we were kids. It's a mama dog with two puppies (named Chocolate & Carrot). Bambi cuddled up to them and it was just so cute that it would be a crime not to share these pictures! I swear, we did NOT pose Bambi!

"These woofies are so snuggly. Oh, great. Here she comes with the flashy thing again and the humans are making all kinds of squealing noises when I'm trying to nap!"

"Are you guys going to go already so I can continue my nap?"

(Sorry, Bambi for disturbing but this was just too cute, don't you agree?!)

The Cat's Meow

2006-12-10T20:57:00.000-08:00

In this post, we explore the origins of the saying "the cat's meow," which appropriately enough, means "something considered to be outstanding" or the "height of excellence."

This lovely saying was coined by American journalist, boxing authority and cartoonist Thomas Aloysius Dorgan (1877-1929) who signed his cartoons with the acronym "TAD." Wikipedia states that he is credited with coining more expressions than anyone else.

He also coined the phrase "the cat's pajamas" which means the same thing.

Here's a "Cat's Meow" sculpture that we thought was really cute, which we found at the Art Institute of Chicago's online museum shop (although it doesn't seem to be available anymore):

Another expression with the same meaning is "the cat's whiskers."

Hey, cat bloggers, you guys are the cat's meow! :)

Paw Path Holiday Special!

2006-11-16T11:16:00.000-08:00

We're having a holiday sale, taking $10 off the Paw Path Litter Mat through December 31, 2006!

Come by the store at www.pawpathlittermat.com, or tell a friend if you know anyone who might be interested! It's quite a deal - our Paw Path is now on sale for $27.98 (regular price $37.98). I'm doing my part to promote it. I'm wearing the antlers, for crying out loud! - Leo

Found Him!

2006-11-11T10:34:00.000-08:00

Got him! The sneaky little bugger.

-Bambi

Hide & Seek

2006-11-08T10:34:00.000-08:00

Has anyone seen Pinky? I think he's hiding from me.

Leo's Complaint

2006-11-06T10:32:00.000-08:00

I have many things to complain about (and believe me I voice them every chance I get!) Here's one: how come my humans don't buy me toys that actually hold my interest for more than, say, ten seconds?

The string on a bendy pole is captivating for a bit (there was a feather on the end that I didn't care for so they took if off....even though I normally love feathers, this one was not fun)...

I sadly looked at the string, and then at my human. This wouldn't do for entertainment at all.

Tut, tut. Do you really expect me to keep playing with this "toy?" I think it's time to buy me something else.

How exasperating. It's so hard to find good help.

Customer Testimonial and Photo Gallery Added!

2006-11-01T21:26:00.000-08:00

We're happy to announce that we've added a Customer Testimonials & Photo Gallery to our Store!

Here is what one customer had to say about our Paw Path™ Litter Mat:

I have received my Paw Path Litter Mat, and I just want to thank you so much for a wonderful gift! It has solved a tremendous problem I have been dealing with in an area where tracked litter was a constant battle. Battle no more, my cats and I can have more play time, and less cleaning time!

Sincerely,

Vicki Kimmey

Happier Cat Owner

Meet Eleanor, one of our happy customers. Isn't she pretty?

Click on this button to see more customer photos >>

If you are a customer and would like to submit a photo or testimonial, we would be absolutely thrilled. You can simply email the photos to Juli at webmaster AT pawpathlittermat DOT com. Thank you!

Happy Halloween!

2006-10-30T17:59:00.000-08:00

Check me out, this is my scary Howl-oween face! Grrrrowl! - Leo

Why do you keep taking pictures of me next to this thing? This had better be the last one. - Bambi

Well, what the heck is this?

Happy Halloween from all of us at the Paw Path Blog & Store!!!

Bambi & Snowball

2006-10-27T17:57:00.000-07:00

My affinity for stuffed animals has been fairly well documented on this blog...here's another one for the collection! This is snowball, a very large stuffed dog. I've never met a real dog in my life, but I really like this one. He's fluffy, big, and quiet! - Bambi

Why Do Cats Have Nine Lives?

2006-10-26T10:17:00.000-07:00

There are very many wonderful (and some not so wonderful) euphemisms, anecdotes and sayings in the English language about cats. Ever wonder why people say cats have nine lives? We did! And here's what we found out:

One reason, which is fairly obvious, is that cats are very resilient and crafty, and can survive falls from great distances with their ability to absorb shock (although many stupid people overestimate this and don't protect cats from falling to their deaths from high windows). Cats, being their tenacious selves, gracefully skirt near-death situations, making them seem like they have multiple lives. But why the number nine?

The number nine was a lucky, mystical, or magic number because it is the Trinity of Trinities (3 x 3). As cats seem able to escape injury time and time again, this lucky number seemed suited to the cat. While in most countries the cat is said to have nine lives, in Arab and Turkish proverbs poor puss has a mere seven lucky lives and in Russia, is said to-survive nine deaths.(source: Paws For Proverbs)

The Egyptian Goddess Bast, or Bastet

Another possible origin is Ancient Egyptian mythology, when cats were worshipped as gods in Ancient Egypt (ahhh, those were the days!). Justine Hankins claims that the number nine is associated with various Egyptian gods and cats, but we haven't been able to fact-check these statements. Any Egyptolo-cats out there who have any insights?

During the Dark Ages, cats were killed as demonic beings (unfathomable!). The most possible origin of the nine lives saying could be Beware the Cat, which is the earliest original piece of long prose literature in English, published in 1533.

Beware the Cat : The First English Novel

The author William Baldwin wrote, "it is permitted for a witch to take her cat's body nine times." (source: Cat Facts) If you want to read about the number nine, check out the Encyclopedia of Astrobiology, Astronomy, and Spaceflight, which also gives Beware the Cat credit for the 9 lives myth.

As a bonus, here's a related term which is a bit more nasty, but hey, it's Halloween time!

Cat O' Nine Tails:

In olden days, people were flogged by a nasty device made up of three separate knottings of three stands attached to the whip's handle. While the strands may have been made from the hide of cats, the multiple of 9 had already been associated with cats; presumably if a person being flogged survived, they were as lucky as a cat with 9 lives. Yeeeeowch! (source: Cat-ch phrases)

Wow, all that research made me want to take a nap with Pinky, and that's exactly what I'm going to do!

- Bambi

Funny Cat Video

2006-10-25T17:48:00.000-07:00

Here's an adorably hilarious video of a silly kitty entertaining himself by flushing the toilet. We've never had any interest in the human toilet, but this cat is sure having some fun! Embedding this video in our blog before messed it up, so we're gonna try it again. Enjoy!

If you can't see the video, try going directly to google video!

Leo's Tummy

2006-10-23T22:27:00.001-07:00

Leoondeckstretching
Originally uploaded by pawpathcats.

Here's my tummy for Tuesday. It's pure white, and fuzzy, and the fuzz gets all over everything.

What About the Cat Population?

2006-10-17T14:44:00.000-07:00

The headline everywhere today is that our country is becoming overpopulated, as the U.S. hit a population of 300 million Tuesday morning, making us the third most populated country in the world next to China and India. Read more on cnn.com >> or see the Population Clock on the U.S. Census homepage.

What about cats? According to the Veterinary Market Statistics in 2001, there were about 70 million cats in households. It is estimated that there are over 60 million feral cats roaming the streets in America, which would make the cat population about 130 million in the U.S.! However, there are no reliable sources for the exact cat population (see wildlife.org), so nobody knows how many cats there really are. The U.S. Census does not collect data on pet ownership.

There are a lot of organizations that are doing excellent jobs on controlling the feral cat population. One of them is the Alley Cat Allies.

We're catching up! Careful, puny humans, we are taking over the world. Mwa HA HA HA HA HA HA! -Leo

Don't be such a bonehead, Leo. Seriously. Cat overpopulation is a serious issue! -Bambi

Bambi's STRETCH!

2006-10-15T21:55:00.001-07:00

Bambi's long STRETCH!
Originally uploaded by pawpathcats.

I had a nice loooooong stretch in the sun on my special sun spot my mom made for me. I think of it as feline yoga, except we don't need to take any classes or buy any DVDs to learn it.

Happy Friday the 13th!

2006-10-12T21:17:00.000-07:00

Don't let paraskavedekatriaphobia (the fear of Friday the 13th) get you down! Friday the 13th's are no more unlucky than are black cats. It's just folklore and silliness! One of the possible origins of why Friday the 13th has been thought of as unlucky is that hundreds of the Knights Templar in France were arrested on October 13, 1307 on a Friday. If you're curious (and we KNOW you are!) go here to read more about origins of the Friday the 13th superstition.

As for why adorable & beautiful black cats get a bad wrap, it's because black cats were somehow always linked to witches and the devil in the Middle Ages. Witches were thought to have powers to transform themselves, hence if a black cat crossed your path, it might have been a witch!

However, anxiety over anticipating that something bad might happen on a Friday might actually prompt an accident, so do be careful!

Purrs!

Cat Championship This Weekend!

2006-10-12T20:45:00.000-07:00

The CFA-Iams Cat Championship will take place this weekend, October 14-15 at Madison Square Garden in New York. The show will place the spotlight on more than 300 pedigreed cats representing 41 recognized breeds registered by the Cat Fanciers’ Association. Also returning to this year’s show is a spectator favorite, the Feline Agility Competition (FAC), a challenge that is sweeping the nation. 500 homeless felines will also gather for the Adopt-A-Cat at the Garden. Visit the official site to learn more, as well as see the winners from last year.

AP Photo/Richard Drew

Here's Tyler, a 12- year old domestic house cat, who is jumping a hurdle in the preview for the CFA-Iams Cat Championship on Wednesday, October 11th, at Madison Square Garden. See more pictures from the preview on Yahoo! News

Big deal, so that big-shot Tyler is jumping through a hurdle. Is there a prize for sitting in inconvenient places for attention? I'd probably win that. Just yesterday, I was sitting right in front of my mom on the forbidden table, on top of her papers doing just that. I made various sounds, from cute little mew's to very masculine, low mmmm's to very loud MMRRROAR's. Mom kept saying it didn't matter what I said, as she was "working" and "paying the bills" and that she'd hug me later...hm! That hardly seems very important compared to playing with me. But I digress. What's the prize for this championship? Hugs? If that's the case, SIGN ME UP, BABY, I'M IN!

-Leo

Amusing Cat Quote

2006-10-12T20:43:00.000-07:00

Here's a rather amusing quote from a novel I just read called Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell

Let me set up the scene...there was an old lady who sat immobile in her room with half a hundred cats, and a group of people were discussing how she got her food. Dr. Greysteel highly disliked cats (whatever!) while Mr. Strange was decidedly more pro-cat (that's a bit more like it!):

------------------------

"...servants put dishes of food for her at the foot of the stairs."

"But as to how the food is conveyed to her," exclaimed Miss Greysteel, "no one knows for certain. Signor Tosetti believes that her cats carry it up to her."

"Such nonsense!" declared Dr. Greysteel. "Whoever heard of cats doing anything useful?"

"Except for staring at one in a supercilious manner," said Strange. "That has a sort of moral usefulness, I suppose, in making one feel uncomfortable and encouraging sober reflection upon one's imperfections"

------------------------

Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, a novel by Susanna Clarke

This novel was very inventive and amusing, and I'd recommend it to any fans of magic, fantasy, 19th century historical fiction, and Jane Austen, but if you're looking for a book with lots of cats in it, this is not the book for you! It hardly had any cats in it at all...just a few sprinklings here and there. If you're looking for feline fiction, check out our cat fiction book page!

I'm the King of My Domain!

2006-10-10T21:12:00.001-07:00

I'm the King of My Domain!
Originally uploaded by pawpathcats.

I can relax in my castle as there has been some good news in the political front for cats and all pets...President Bush has signed the PETS Act, which will leave no pet behind in disaster planning.and evacuation. -Bambi

Read about it here >>

Cat Trivia

2006-10-07T10:06:00.000-07:00

Here's some fun cat trivia, hosted by Bambi!

1. In relation to their body size, cats have the biggest eyes of any mammal.

My big eyes get me treats and kisses!

2. Most cats do not have eyelashes

...but I do!

3. Recent studies have shown that cats can see blue and green. There is disagreement as to whether they can see red.

click to enlarge the photo of Bambi at the MOMCA, aka the famous Museum of Modern Cat Art

Artsy Wednesday

2006-10-04T18:57:00.001-07:00

Bambi black and white
Originally uploaded by pawpathcats.

Just made it in time...here's our artsy fartsy cat photo for Wednesday of Bambi in gorgeous black & white looking even more angelic than usual, with his adorable paws and dreamy eyes.

Go to our main blog for more posts and links!

Rainy Mishap

2006-10-03T15:30:00.001-07:00

Leo under blankie
Originally uploaded by pawpathcats.

I had a quite eventful weekend. I got drenched in a sudden rainstorm! It was awful, and I was shivering, cold, and miserable. But the good part was that I got lots and lots of attention. After I was toweled off, the humans held me to warm me up, and that's me snuggling in an electric blanket. I may have taken advantage, but hey, I was traumatized! The humans brought me my food and beverage, it was awesome! I might not mind getting soaked again.

I'm now back to my noisy, energetic self. - Leo

Cat News September 25th

2006-09-25T19:46:00.000-07:00

Hey, don't I look like Binjai the Tiger in this picture below? I'm tiger-like...Roar! Here are some interesting cat news from around the world this week - enjoy!

- Bambi

Binjai, Melbourne Zoo's four-year-old Sumatran tiger.

Photo: James Boddington

Zoo hopes for big cat litter

Melbourne Zoo observed its fourth International Tiger Day on September 24 in honour of the critically endangered Sumatran tiger. Few more than 400 Sumatran tigers survive in the wild, and a third of all tiger habitats worldwide had been lost.

The zoo is home to two captive-bred Sumatran tigers. The male, Ramalon, was born in Sydney in 1995 and was brought to Melbourne in 1999. The female, Binjai, came to Melbourne in 2004 from Rotterdam Zoo in the Netherlands, where she was born in 2002. The pair have mated, although it's too early to tell whether Binjai is expecting.

Let's keep our fingers crossed!

Read the entire article by Chris Evans on TheAge.Com

Learn more about conserving the Sumatran Tiger

Word Wildlife Fund's page on its Tiger Conservation Efforts

See our wild cats art prints page

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South Richmond Firefighters save cherished cat

Eva Raymond, 56 is blind. Her husband passed away in 2003, and then she lost her sister-in-law and housemate to cancer. Her cat, Blacktop, offered her love and comfort through it all. However, after her sister-in-law's burial, Raymond had guests over at her house, which spooked Blacktop, who somehow got herself stuck between the walls of the house.

Animal Control wasn't able to find Blacktop, and after 2 days, Raymond called the fire department. The firefighters opened holes in the house for 90 minutes, as Blacktop kept running away. Raymond reportedly said that it didn't matter how many walls were knocked down, as long as she got her cat back.

They finally found her behind a closet wall. Although dehydrated, Blacktop was back to her old self within a week.

Read the entire article on the Times Dispatch

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Cat saves owner's life

A cat in Littleton, Colorado, seemingly predicted the onset of a serious illness. Lynda Larsen's cat started to insistently knead her left breast one Sunday morning. Because of her cat's attention to that spot, she found a lump and called her doctor. Within days, she was diagnosed with breast surgery and had undergone surgery in both breasts. The cancerous tumor was found in the exact location her cat focused on.

Read the entire article on YourHub.Com

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An active cat is a happy cat

The pet experts running the Kitty Kindergarten program at Proper Paws University, a pet training business in Wisconsin, urge that training your cat and encouraging it to have a more active indoor lifestyle will promote emotional health for the cat, and improve the cat-owner partnership.The myth that cats should be left to their own devices is harmful, as that may produce a very unhappy and bored cat.

Using positive reinforcement such as food and praise, cats can also be very trainable, and many common problems such as biting, scratching, and refusing the use the litterbox often stem from miscommunication between the cat and owner.

"We don't know how to speak cat and they don't know how to speak human," says Nila McKendra, dean of Proper Paws.

Kitty Kindergarten also trains kittens in shelters to help them stay at their new homes longer, as many times people give up cats due to "behavior problems" that are a result of inadequate attention and training.

Room Service

2006-09-22T11:20:00.001-07:00

Paging Dr. Catnip
Originally uploaded by pawpathcats.

Yes, hello? This is Bambi. I'd like to order some more catnip and some more attention from my humans please. Stat.

Ugh, don't you cats wish it was that easy?

Cutest Cat Nap!

2006-09-19T20:17:00.001-07:00

Click to enlarge

OK, we don't know who these cats are (we wish we did!), but isn't this so adorable?!?! We can't remember where we found this, so if anyone would like to tell us what the proper photo credit is, we'd be happy to put it on. Just look at the kitten's tummy and the blissful expression on the Mama cat's face!

We really love this one, hope you do, too!

purrs!

Yesterday's News...Yesterday's Litter

2006-09-18T13:30:00.000-07:00

We wrote a few days ago ("Trying A New Cat Litter") that we were going to try out Purina's Yesterday's News since we weren't thrilled about Swheat Scoop Natural Cat Litter's odor control. Unfortunately, it didn't work out quite so well. Yesterday's News was great with odor control, and as the advertising promised, it did absorb moisture extremely well. Leo & Bambi didn't have any problems adjusting to it. However, the fact that it didn't clump was a problem. It seems a little unsanitary as it doesn't clump, so our kitties can just paw at it and distribute the soiled pellets everywhere in teh pan. Also, because of the dark color, it's rather difficult to clean. In addition, one ends up having to dispose the entire area of the soiled pellets, resulting in throwing out more pellets (I guess that's good for Purina since that means you have to buy more).

So we're going to switch back to a litter we used way back in the day... Arm & Hammer's Super Scoop.

A Tribute To Steve Irwin: A Friend To All Animals

2006-09-10T11:46:00.000-07:00

Steve Irwin with Sumatran Tiger Cub

We've been mourning the loss of "Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin since we heard about his untimely death on Monday, September 4th. Hundreds of tributes have flown in as his death shocked the world and his millions of fans all over the world grieved his loss, even shutting down some Australian news websites temporarily, and clogging blogs all over the world. We wanted to do a small part and post a tribute of our own, as he meant something to us, too.

Steve Irwin's private funeral was held on Saturday, September 9, with plans to bury his body in the family-owned Australian Zoo. A public memorial service will be held in the near future.

He died doing what he loved, while filming wildlife off the coasts of Australia. While he was snorkeling at Batt Reef, part of the Great Barrier Reef, he was hit by a stringray barb in the chest. It's been extensively reported how unlikely a fatal encounter with the normally placid stingray can be, making Irwin's sudden death all the more excruciating. An 11-year old said to the Australian Associated Press, "Why did it have to be Steve Irwin?" Our sentiments exactly.

He was a man that truly lived his dreams and made a difference in the world, educating millions of people about animals and the importance of conservation. Although silly and over the top at times, we've never heard of anybody that didn't like him. He wasn't regarded as a serious scientist by scholars, but most agree that he was a good environmentalist and naturalist, who positively influenced his viewers. We were delighted & entertained by his quirky documentaries, aimiable personality, and enthusiasm. He was also known as the proudest dad on the planet. Our thoughts are with his wife, Terri, and two children, Bindi, 8, and Bob, 2.

Other Related Articles/Sites:

TIME.com: In Defense of Steve Irwin

Animal Planet Tribute to Steve Irwin on animalplanet.com

Australia Zoo - Steve Irwin's Official Site at http://www.crocodilehunter.com/

Cat Site with a new look: The Cat Channel

2006-09-07T19:46:00.001-07:00

The Cat Channel, the site run by the publisher of Cat Fancy, I Love Cats, and many other animal publications, just launched their new site at http://www.catchannel.com/! (Their new logo has a kitty that reminds us of Leo as a kitten!)

You can enter contests for "Fluffiest Tail," and "Best Smile," and "Best Mustache" (Leo could win that, maybe, see his mustache below:)

A new feature is Club Cat, where you can create a free webpage for your cat and earn points that you can redeem for prizes such as cat books and a 1 yr subscription to Cat Fancy magazine (ok, so far the prizes aren't very exciting, but I'm sure they'll be adding more).

You can enter to win prizes - the last day is September 18th! Our very own Paw Path Litter Mat will be one of the prizes!

They also have sections on kittens, cat nutrition & behavior, articles written by cat experts, a section devoted to cat litter, cat toys, a cat forum, fun things like cat e-cards, and lots of other stuff. We found that the site is a tad hard to navigate, but overall we like the new look. So see it for yourselfs and try your luck with the contests next week. Check it out at www.catchannel.com

Trying a New Cat Litter

2006-09-07T19:46:00.000-07:00

We just switched cat litter from Swheat Scoop Natural Cat Litter to Purina's Yesterday's News.

Here's what we thought of Swheat Scoop: we liked that it was comfortable for the paws and made from naturally processed wheat, clay-free, chemical-free, fragrance-free, and dust-free. However, it made the house smell like a barn (I guess it was the natural wheat smell) and we weren't very happy with the odor control. Also, although it was pretty good with clumping, it stuck to the edge of the litter box a lot and it was a pain to clean, compared to what we used to use (Arm & Hammer litter).

So we're now going to try out Yesterday's News, which seems just as good for the environment, as it's made of recycled newspapers. Here's what we know so far about it: Yesterday's News is advertsed as 300% more absorbant than CLAY litter (not sure how it compares to Swheat Scoop), it's non-toxic, recommended for post-surgical use by veterinarians, 99.7% dust-free, and "tough on odors." The pellets, and are heavier and larger than Swheat Scoop granules, which minimizes tracking. So we'll see how Leo & Bambi like it, and how it performs in comparison to Swheat Scoop. The customer reviews on www.petco.com say 7 out of 11 reviewers liked it. It comes in Original Formula unscented, and Softer Texture unscented and fresh scent. We got the scented kind since it was the only kind available at our supermarket.

So far, Leo & Bambi don't seem to have a problem using it. The barn-like smell is gone, and the fresh scent is pleasant. However, we realized that although Yesterday's News says it's 300% more ABSORBENT than clay litter, it doesn't clump! So we'll see!

Anyone using Yesterday's News? Let us know what you think and we'll let you know how it works out, too.

Silly Humans and Their Cameras

2006-09-07T19:40:00.000-07:00

I was taking a nice nap with Pinky, and then one of my humans squealed when she saw me and got out her camera. I looked over at mom and said, "Mo-om! I don't want my picture taken now." But she was no help:

And so I let it be known that I was extremely peeved by making this face, and finally they put the camera away.

I know I'm cute, but seriously. Enough is enough sometimes! Humans. What can a cat do?

Cat News Week of September 4-8

2006-09-07T19:38:00.000-07:00

Here are some recent cat-related news from around the nation that we thought was fun, with some commentary by our cats below...

A Lucky Cat Named Lucky

A black cat called Lucky, in Liverpool, UK, truly lived up to his name. The crafty feline took a 200 mile holiday to London, where he was found by the RSPCA who scanned his identifying microchip, and were amazed to find that he had come all the way from Merseyside. His owner was delighted to have Lucky back home, but was flabbergasted at how Lucky traveled so far!

Warm Laundry Rules!

2006-09-05T15:20:00.000-07:00

Since it's been so unseasonably cold lately, I've been snuggling in the laundry. I love it when the humans dump it on the bed and it's really nice and warm - how do they do that?

Mom calls me her flower. I know there are flowers on the deck, like below, and I'm not sure what it means exactly, but it still makes me purr when she says that :) - Bambi

New Book: How To Be A Cat Detective

2006-09-01T20:36:00.000-07:00

Peekaboo! Here's some info about a new book coming out soon...

Some feline behavior will never be cracked by humans, but that doesn't mean we'll stop trying! There's a new book coming out on October 5th that sounds interesting (We like the picture on the cover!):

How to Be a Cat Detective: Solving the Mystery of Your Cat's Behavior

How To Be A Cat Detective: Solving the Mysteries of Your Cat's Behavior by Vicky Halls "offers sleuthing techniques for understanding the baffling behaviors of felins. The book uses case studies from Hall's cat behavior counseling to illustrate possible solutions for problems ranging from keeping the peace among multiple cats to inappropriate elimination to aggression.

It's available for pre-order on Barnes & Noble.com for $12.60!

You can also get more information by visiting the publisher at http://www.penguin.com/

Vicky Halls has also written Cat Confidential: The Book Your Cat Would Want You To Read:

Cat Confidential: The Book Your Cat Would Want You to Read

Browse through more books on cat behavior on our main site!

Cat Trivia: Cat Vocalization & more

2006-09-01T20:23:00.000-07:00

We haven't done the cat trivia posts in a while. So here are two, illustrated by Leo & Bambi:

1. Cats are capable of about 100 different vocalizations, compared to about 10 for dogs

I'm making a small sound here, which is not the norm. When this was taken, I think I was being asked to say something for the camera, and I said "Not now."

Here, I'm belting out my full vocal range in all its glory! Here, I was saying, "Moooooommmmmmeeeeee, give me a huuuuuuug!"

2. A cat can also express happiness by slightly closing its eyes or slowly blinking

I'm very content on my perch. Leo can't get to me here and he's just really loud sometimes.

I can't remember if I was really happy here, or just sleepy, or both. Probably both, because I'm not complaining, and I usually have something or other to complain about.

Woes of getting my nails clipped

2006-08-28T15:28:00.000-07:00

When my humans insisted I had to get my nails clipped today, I made this face:

I just hate,hate, hate getting my nails clipped! My paws are fine the way there are, see:

But they said they had to trim them anyway, so I was a good boy and tried my best to sit still while Mom held me, and my sister clipped them (although I wriggled a little bit). But in the end, it wasn't so bad. My paws don't get snagged on stuff anymore and I was happy.

Purrs, Bambi

Come and see our article on How To Trim A Cat's Nails for some useful tips.

Missing Cat

2006-08-27T14:00:00.000-07:00

A cat named Luna in Spain has gone missing on August 24th and still hasn't come home. Please go to her blog and send her family some nice thoughts, your prayers for her safe return and support. Luna, we are all sending out our thoughts so that you can find your way home safe and sound!

Record Store Cats

2006-08-27T13:39:00.000-07:00

If these won't make you laugh, we don't know what will!

House Cat

Stevie Wonder Cat

Metal Cat

Stoner Rock Cat

Techno Cat

Hyper Huggles

Hip Hop Cat

Bag Kitty

DJ Cat

Visit b3ta stuff for more of these hilarious record store cats!

While we're figuring things out....

2006-08-24T18:15:00.000-07:00

Until we figure out how we can integrate our Wordpress blog and this one, we are continuing to post on our main blog over at www.pawpath.net. Come visit us there! Our recent posts include a tribute to a spectacular cat named Buddy who passed on in Long Beach California, cat quotes, and more fun stuff.

We've Been Tagged!

2006-08-12T23:08:00.000-07:00

This is a duplicate post from our main blog at The Paw Path Cat Blog

We've been tagged by Miss China Paws! Here's the game: List 5 weird things about us cats and our humans.

Here are the rules: The player of this game starts with "5 weird things/habits about yourself." In the end you need to choose 5 people to be tagged and list their names. The people who get tagged need to write a blog about their 5 weird things/habits as well as state this rule clearly, then tag 5 more victims. Don't forget to leave your victim a comment that says "you're tagged!" in their comments and tell them to read your blog.

Bambi

1. When I nap on MY king size bed, I sleep on my side using a pillow and with the comforter up to my neck, just like my mom!

2. When I'm happy and excited and dashing around the house, I go out of sight and only then, I sing in a very loud and mysterious voice. Otherwise, I almost never talk except in tiny, small meows.

3. I say "hey" to my mom in a unique way. This is something new. When I'm taking a stroll and she happens to be sitting in my way, I walk by her, and without breaking my pace, give her a light love nip on her arm to let her know how much I love her, and then I just keep going where I was headed.

4. At night, when I let mom sleep on my bed, I like sleeping on the side she faces. If she turns around, I get up, walk over to the side she is facing, and fall back asleep.

5. I've perfected the "dog begging" technique when my family is eating: I make a sad & and irresistably adorable face from a highly visible area near the dinner table (even when they're eating stuff I don't like), and I don't turn off my adorable sad face until they let me sniff (or, when appropriate, sample) whatever it is they are eating.

Leo

1. I have a great gift for vocalization. When I was a kid, we moved, and I cried nonstop in a plane for 13 hours straight. (I had special permission to be in the cabin with my family sharing a carrier with Bambi) I literally did not stop crying except to take short breaths in between yowls the entire flight, and then I lost my voice for a few days. But that didn't stop me from trying to voice my discontent at being at a new house.

2. Whenever my family gets a flower arrangement or any kind of centerpiece, I sit right next to it so I get the attention. Look at me! Look at me!

3. I once escaped from the house to chase a strange cat. I chased him away, but when I looked up, I realized I had no idea where I was. When my mom came looking for me, I was just at the end of our (very small) backyard. I yelled loudly when I saw her and then I ran back to her in a panic, in a straight line, bumping into everything in my path.

4. When I want a hug (which is almost always), I climb up and put my front paws around my human's neck.

5. When I eat too much cat wheat grass, and I feel like it's starting to come back up, I like to yowl really loud to let everyone know that I'm gonna barf. And then I just let go where ever I am (over the side of a table, onto the window shades, etc), whereas Bambi chooses convenient locations when he gets sick - what a goody two shoes!

Humans (collectively - I'll write this in the third person)

1. One is very good at imitating Leo's meows which irritates him but never ceases to amuse her.

2. One uses packing tape to get hair off of 'Bambi's' bed, and Bambi hates the sound

3. One can watch a movie and forget it soon after, so she'll be amused and surprised each time she re-watches it.

4. One has an amazing ability to retain massive loads of information and and he is like a human encyclopedia.

5. They all have numerous nicknames for both Leo and Bambi, so there are many names they've had to learn!

I tag:

Rosie & Cheeto, Prince Muddy Paws, Four Furry Cats, Whippy Curly Tails and...?

I will tag one more...just looking for blogs who haven't been tagged yet...we're pretty new to this community - any suggestions?

New to blogger!

2006-08-11T18:31:00.000-07:00

Hi! We're the Paw Path Cats, Leo & Bambi. We have a blog at www.pawpath.net and we just joined Blogger, and we're trying to figure out how to integrate our blogs.

That's me, Bambi, above, on my favorite perch. I look a tad grumpy because my human sister put the stuffed cat next to me, and I think I'm much cuter.

That's yours truly, Leo, speaking my mind, as usual. I have lots to say!

Come by and meet us at The Paw Path Cat Blog and check back here soon as we'll start to develop this blog too!

Leo & Bambi

Why Cats Don't Paint

2006-06-26T19:36:00.000-07:00

Why Cats Don't Paint

Cats As Artists: An elaborate hoax…or is it?

by Juli Kobayashi

Are cats amazing and intelligent? Without a doubt. But cats as artists? My cat, Leo, has a vast vocal range and perhaps he considers every different utterance a work of art...performance art, if you will. So we shouldn't be cross when he hollers in the dead of night...he's expressing himself! When I got the “Why Cats Paint" calendar a few years ago, I was delighted by the photographs and enthralled by the concept. I didn’t think twice about doubting its validity at the time.

I never did much research about it, until I recently stumbled across the website for the Museum of Non-Primate Art (MONPA). Is it a spoof? Even though animals haven’t built spaceships, painted the Mona Lisa, developed the theory of relativity, or sliced bread, it's a fact that animals are capable of extraordinary things. Could artistic expression also be a talent some animals possess?

I'll take you through what's on the Museum of Non-Primate Art site, examine the corresponding book, and offer you my thoughts on the subject. Read on! There's something in this article for all cat-lovers, people-against-pretentious-art-critics, and anyone with a healthy sense of humor.

this is a condensed version. read the unabridged version of this article >>

The “Museum"

The only source online about feline aesthetic expression:The Museum of Non-Primate Art (MONPA). It has a “wing" dedicated to “Why Cats Paint." There are also sections on “Why Cats Dance" and “Bird Art." The site offers an online cat art gallery, a brief history of cat painting, tips on how you can encourage your cat to paint, methods for determining your cat's creative potential, and 2 video clips of a documentary in production about painting cats, featuring a cat artist at work.

About MONPA:

'Well-known' Art historian and animal philanthropist Dr. Peter Husard founded the Museum of Non- Primate Art in the mid 1970’s in England, and he and a team of experts studied the digging pattern of moles and the flying formations of birds as performance art. Although there are ‘numerous’ branches of the MONPA throughout the world, their facilities are not open to the public.

The Book

To start, there is a book on feline aesthetics, the only one of its kind, still in print in paperback, by Burton Silver and Heather Busch

Above: cover of Why Cats Paint: A Theory of Feline Aesthetics by Heather Busch and Burton Silver, published in the US in 1994 by Ten Speed Press,The book claims the first documentation of feline art was when archaeologists excavated rolled papyrus scrolls with clear paw marks in Egypt. Besides the history of feline art, the book profiles some notable cat artists and critiques their work, illustrated with photographs by Heather Busch.

by Heather Busch and , published in the US in 1994 by The book claims the first documentation of feline art was when archaeologists excavated rolled papyrus scrolls with clear paw marks in Egypt. Besides the history of feline art, the book profiles some notable cat artists and critiques their work, illustrated with photographs by Heather Busch. by Heather Busch and , published in the US in 1994 by The book claims the first documentation of feline art was when archaeologists excavated rolled papyrus scrolls with clear paw marks in Egypt. Besides the history of feline art, the book profiles some notable cat artists and critiques their work, illustrated with photographs by Heather Busch. Above: cover of by Heather Busch and , published in the US in 1994 by The book claims the first documentation of feline art was when archaeologists excavated rolled papyrus scrolls with clear paw marks in Egypt. Besides the history of feline art, the book profiles some notable cat artists and critiques their work, illustrated with photographs by Heather Busch.

They also have a book and a 2006 calendar on Why Paint Cats: using cats as a canvas.

How Can I Tell if My Cat is the Next Jackson Pollock & Just Needs Encouragement?

Monpa.com can help you out! They say that one sign that cats may have creative expression is if they enjoy watching television. Other indications your cat may be artistic can be found in the frequently asked questions section of the MONPA website.

Alternately, you can try and find the out of print Test Your Cat's Creative Intelligence: Eighteen Easy-To-Use Test Cards to Verify Your Cat's Artistic Ability

MONPA.com states that only about 0.001% of cats will actually put paint on their paws and apply it to a surface. That's just not encouraging at all.

Finally, before you leave monpa.com, go ahead and apply for a scholarship or research grant. Those of you who are dying to study "psychomotor disturbances including cerebral dysphoria and cephalagia in immature Spanish cats following flamenco shoulder dancing" can finally get some funding!

Now that you've read all of that it's plain to see that...

It’s All A Hoax!

If what you've just read and the concept itself doesn’t give itself away, here are a few more reasons why one can tell this is a rather elaborate, albeit clever, tongue- in-cheek extravaganza.

First off, there is not much out there online for the feline art enthusiast to digest. If cats, dogs, horses, elephants, etc. are being artistic as much as monpa.com says, I daresay there would be many a gallery popping up online where proud pet owners display their pets’ works.

It is a well known fact that cats were very highly esteemed in Ancient Egypt. However, all the details regarding the history of feline art in Why Cats Paint: A Theory of Feline Aesthetics are bogus.

There was no papyrus scroll ever found with paw prints on them. The book says the papyrus scroll is “on loan" from “Bodhead Library" in Oxford. No such library exits. They say the embalmed cats are in the “Phakat Museum" in Cairo – no such museum! It’s likely to be a clever twist on the feline Egyptian war god “Pakhet."

Tip: For some real background on cats in Ancient Egypt, read this succinct article in the Tour Egypt Monthly Online Magazine, or for more serious reading see The Cat In Ancient Egypt by Jaromir Malek.

Monpa.com doesn’t offer any physical addresses of its ‘numerous’ branches.

The site features two video clips of a cat "painting," but something is definitely off about it. It's still really cute, so check it out.

Just check out their Acknowledgements page. Friends of Spider Art? Jensen Action Fund for Artistically Challenged Canines? Small Rodent Art Achievement Award Foundation? LOL!

Also, see their pages on upcoming exhibitions such as "Termites: Their Art & Architecture"... and sponsored expeditions. such as "Cat Charmers...Biomusicologist, David Parsons will undertake an another seven month expedition to Tibet in order to work with the monastic cat charmers of Chokpuri and Lhasa." You've got to give these guys some credit for originality.

What if...?

I think most of us cat-lovers would find it very whimsical if our cats could draw and paint and sculpt. When the little buggers tear up our designer curtains and shred our brand new leather couches from Bloomingdales, it was actually self-expression. It was mischief in the name of art! Well, who can get angry at that? You could just sell the "art work" to MOMA and use the cash to buy new stuff.

It is clear that cats are incredibly intelligent animals, so maybe it’s not too far-fetched to be led to believe they have creative abilities? So, for the sake of argument, what if this was the real thing? After all…

They're not listed on snopes.com, the leading site uncovering urban myths, nor in the Museum of Hoaxes.

Finger - ahem, paw - paint, and a canvas aren't usual cat supplies that most cats have access to. Who knows what untapped talent there is out there. You could have an undiscovered Purrcasso, Remeowr, or a Catavaggio in your home.

There has been more bizarre things labeled as art. Take a look at some of the performance art today, and what's being exhibited today in modern art. I am a great art lover and do not mean to poke fun at modern art in general. But there are a few pieces that come up which renders analyzing bird poo as art (see the Bird Art Wing on monpa.com) quite normal in comparison.

Yes, I thought the MONPA site was real at first glance. Yes, I can be very gullible! However, my prosaic conclusion is that the Museum of Non-Primate Art is a very funny hoax, along with the books. I’d be delighted to be proven wrong, as that would make cats even more awesome, if that’s possible. For me, cats are funny and engaging enough just being themselves, without making abstract paintings. But I invite you to visit monpa.com and draw your own conclusions and have a few laughs along the way. I do try to keep an open mind. Perhaps cats can paint. They just choose not to, as they have better things to do and despise getting their paws dirty. Cats have their secrets…isn’t there a tiny possibility this is one of them?

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read the unabridged version of this article >>