MEWSLETTER 30: September 9, 2004

by Pauline Dewberry

Hi everyone, and a very warm welcome to all the new subscribers. Hope this finds you, your families and your furrlines well and happy! Hope you’ve all had a good summer, and are rested, rejuvenated, and refreshed – ready for the winter months.

August has been a mixed month for weather. Here in the UK, it’s been the wettest month on record and it’s hard to believe that the nights are drawing in now and autumn is upon us. I saw two leaves with their stalks entwined freefalling yesterday and felt sad. Although we’ve enjoyed a fairly hot spell, it wasn’t consistent and I think many of us feel cheated in some way! But then, that’s the weather for you if you live in the UK – I guess we’ve become used to its vagaries.

The MEWSERS enjoyed themselves though and Garfield spent most of every sleeping minute stretched out on my sun lounger, occasionally with Ricky alongside him, two ginger beauties, soaking up the warmth of the sun. Sometimes when I get up I find Timmy curled up asleep in the little cat kennel and wonder if he spent the night ‘camping.’

Well, on to the Mews:

Quiz Results:

For those of you who remember the quiz from a couple of months ago (before the ‘BIG BANG’) here are the results:

1. What is the name of President Bush’s cat? India (Willie)
2. What is autogrooming? A cat grooming itself.
3. What is the gestation period for a cat? 9 weeks
4. What specific amino acid does a cat need to stay alive? Taurine
5. Which rare breed of cat won the Supreme cat show in 2003? Manx

Well done to Trisha Morales and Deb de Denus who were the only two respondents to get all the answers correct.

Now for this month’s quiz:
1. At rest, how many times a minute does a cat’s heart beat?
2. In which book is the Cheshire Cat a character?
3. How old is a kitten when his eyes first open?
4. What is the name of Bob the Builder’s cat?
5. What breed of cat won the Supreme Cat show last year?

Good luck!

I’ve had a busy few weeks and my energy levels are very low at the moment. So this morning I decided to head back to bed for an hour or so once Garfield had had his insulin injection and all the cats had had their breakfasts.

I decided to go into the spare room and snuggled down under a quilt. Before long Garfield meowed his arrival, and he settled down with me, his face on the pillow and a paw across my cheek. Before long he was exfoliating my forehead as if his very life depended upon it, then began on my eyebrows, teasing them into a different direction.

Then Sam came up and joined us, lying at my feet, biting them each time I moved. Then little Ollie came up, and lay down near to Garfield, followed by Billy who lay behind my knees. Finally, Timmy came up and after what seemed ages spent in kneading everything in site he finally settled himself down next to Garfield.

Only Ricky was missing – and he was already out in the garden in the little cat kennel for his morning nap before his elevenses.

Wearily, I closed my eyes and was instantly comforted by 5 lots of purring. I was amazed at the different tones and timbres of each cat’s purr but it was wonderful to have this ‘Purr-Around-Sound’ surrounding me. We all slept for about an hour and suddenly Timmy and Garfield got up together and began to make their way downstairs, followed by Billy. I decided that I really ought to get up so I followed them – to give them second helpings of breakfast and to get my own.

I think purrs should be available on prescription because I’m sure that so many unhappy or unwell people would feel instantly better and absolutely great with a quick ‘symphony of purrs’!

IN THE MEWS
I’m still coming across stories and articles that were lost a couple of months ago when the gremlins struck. Helen Dowd wrote a wonderful story called The Shadow and the Chick, which was originally published in the Cat Chat section that disappeared at the time. For all the new subscribers, and for those of you who didn’t manage to see it before, please click here: http://www.thedailymews.com/catchat/shadowandchick.htm

Laura Dumm has illustrated this story and the illustrations are brilliant. You can check out Laura’s website here: http://www.yessey.com/lauradrumm. Also check out the latest cartoon at Cudell Street Cats here:
http://www.thedailymews.com/articles/cudellstreetlitterbox.htm

Check out the PAWS FOR THOUGHT section – I’ve given it a complete overhaul. If you have a favourite quotation on cats, please send it to me via the contact us link on the home page. To take a peek at the new look PAWS FOR THOUGHT section, please click here: http://www.thedailymews.com/pawsforthought.htm

Jena in Texas sent me this very funny, heartfelt prayer from a little dog, which made me laugh, and I thought that you might like it too. To read it, please click here: http://www.thedailymews.com/amewsments/deargod.htm  and I’m sure most dogs would have these thoughts!

Cats often go missing when there is a family crisis and sometimes they turn up after a few hours, or at most a few days later. So imagine this woman’s surprise when her cat SEAGULL turned up 18 years later!!!!! Read about Seagull’s amazing return here: http://www.thedailymews.com/articles/seagullcatcameback.htm

I don’t know how she does it, but the wonderful webmistress of www.molliesbigheart.com has devoted an entire section in celebration of Garfield’s 18th birthday that was back in March. To see great pics of him wearing THAT birthday hat, and other poses as befitting a great ginger boy, please click here: http://www.molliesbigheart.com/garfield/garfield.html

I’ve had several emails from you bemoaning Ollie’s decision to stop writing his diaries and despite my pleas, he is adamant that he’s not going to write any more. He is thinking about doing something else, so watch this space as they say. However, in the meantime, perhaps you’d like to send me stories about your own kittens. What do they get up to; how do they fit in with other pets in the family household, whether they’re scaredy cats or fearless felines, did you have problems integrating them into the existing feline or canine family, that kind of thing.

The first in our brave kitten stories is by Philip Duckett of Centerburg, Ohio, whose little Kitty saw off a huge monster cat. To read it, please click here: http://www.thedailymews.com/articles/superkitty.htm

I received a PLETHORA of poems this month and the first one is another great poem from Margy Ohring, in Virginia, which can be found here:
http://www.thedailymews.com/poems/odetodivot.htm

Ed Kostro’s cat, Buddy, is the inspiration behind this beautiful poem which you can see here: http://www.thedailymews.com/poems/eyesofwisdom.htm

Jackie S Brooks from North Yorkshire wrote this one about her cat Calli and her friend: http://www.thedailymews.com/poems/callisfriend.htm

Myla sent me the following poem, which gives us food for thought, called Strays in the Garden. You can read it here: http://www.thedailymews.com/poems/straysinthegarden.htm

One often reads about families moving away to another part of the country and their pets making long and arduous journeys back to their old home, causing heartache for their family, but awe when you consider how far the cat has to walk, and the horrendous obstacles it has to overcome.
Ed has also written a wonderful story about Oliver, a little mute cat who found his way back to live with his beloved Grandma Betty. http://www.thedailymews.com/articles/oliversstory.htm

There is another chapter of Frankie Weiss and Her Magic by Dan Weiss, which you can read here: http://www.thedailymews.com/articles/frankieweissmagic8a.htm

I’ve long been a believer that people who are cruel to animals in their youth very often become disturbed and violent teenagers and adults who go on to commit more serious crimes. Ed Kostro gave me a link to an article which highlights an awful case – and the ‘perpetrators’ got off very lightly.
http://www.authorsden.com/externalsite.asp?authorID=14300&destURL=http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2004/08/02/EDGB780BMF1.DTL

Here in the UK it’s not very different. People who are convicted of animal abuse usually are banned from keeping animals for a number of years, but I have no idea if they are policed – in that should they try to get another cat, dog, or horse (or whatever animal they’ve been cruel to) that someone would clamp down and remind them of the terms of their ‘sentence’.

Recently, I was sickened to read in a RSPCA leaflet about a poor little dog who suffered the most appalling brutality at the hands of a couple of men who thought it was funny. I quote from the leaflet – I warn you, it makes for harrowing reading, and I felt physically sick after I’d read it: ‘Two men launched an horrific, hour-long attack on the dog they were asked to look after, skewering the helpless puppy with a garden rake, bludgeoning it with a spade, hacking flesh with an axe and finally killing the animal by forcing a clothes line prop down its throat.’

The two men were convicted of cruelty and given prison sentences and disqualified from keeping animals for 15 years.

We HAVE to stamp out cruelty and abuse of animals. If you see a child treating an animal in a cruel way, go and tell it that it isn’t the right way to treat a pet. If the child continues, tell the parents, and if they don’t care, tell the authorities. If you can, go into schools to teach the children about respecting animals. If they aren’t taught in their homes, then they must learn it at school. Write articles to your local newspapers or local radio stations.

Did you ever wonder what happened to a pet when it goes to a shelter? I’m not sure who sent me this article, but it is very moving and thought provoking. http://www.thedailymews.com/articles/mynameissam.htm

On a much lighter note:

Does your cat ever steal things from neighbouring gardens? I read of a cat who regularly stole things from the washing lines and brought home to his people a supply of socks, underwear (male and female) and bed linen. I was thrilled to receive a story about Mollie and his klepto-kitty ways. Read about him here: http://www.thedailymews.com/articles/molliestoiletbrushcapers.htm

You may remember the wonderful story of Beau Gest detailed in the last MEWSLETTER. Well, Gary LittleBear wrote a follow-up story called ‘Rocket Scientist’ which you can read here: http://www.thedailymews.com/articles/rocketscientist.htm

Garfield received a heartfelt plea from a lovely dog called Bree, who is a three pawed Kelpi, who was stalked by a ferocious ginger cat recently when out for a walk with his mistress. You can read not only the letter, but also Garfield’s response here: http://www.thedailymews.com/articles/deargarfield2.htm

If you have any problems that you’d like Garfield to answer please go to the PUSSY PROBLEM PAGE and click on the link stating which Mewser you’d like to address your problem to.

This month sees another new section: MEWSERS’ MEWSINGS. Mewsers’ Mewsings is an opinion page for cats that want to get something off their chest. If your cat has decided views about the way it perceives it is being treated, the food it is expected to eat, the position of the litter tray, the television programmes it is expected to watch while sitting on your lap, the choice of music that blares out while it is trying to sleep – then this is the place for your cat to air its opinion. Billy and Ollie kick off with their gripes and you can read about Billy’s Bottom Washing Embarrassment here: http://www.thedailymews.com/articles/billysbottomwashingembarrassment.htm

And Ollie’s moans about cat food in Prawns and What????? here: http://www.thedailymews.com/articles/prawnsand%20what.htm

Echoes of Ollie’s distaste for certain food combinations are to be found in Marjorie Dorfman’s witty article about her own 7 cats’ foibles. This article appeared in the Daily Mews a couple of months ago and was mysteriously lost when the Big Bang occurred. Readers and new subscribers can enjoy it again by clicking here: http://www.thedailymews.com/articles/felinefoibles.htm

A surprising number of male cats get urinary problems. Not all of them are serious but some, unfortunately, suffer with Feline Urological Syndrome. For more information, please click here: http://www.thedailymews.com/articles/felineurologicalsyndrome.htm

The thorny issue of sex has been tackled in an article this month on neutering and spaying – to be well informed please click here: http://www.thedailymews.com/articles/neuteringspaying.htm

Finally, if you live in the Vernon area of Canada, then go along to the Iron Dog Triathlon which is being held on Sunday, 19th September. The website www.vernonanimalcare.com is still under construction, but if anyone would like any information contact heather@vernonanimalcare.com or glenn@vernonanimalcare.com.  Opening at 11.00am until 2.00pm there are lots of exciting and varied events for your dog to take part in – a fun day out for all the family.

On the right hand side of the home page you’ll see a picture of Garfield in his bed, shortly after he came home from the hospital in June. His paw is still bandaged from where the drip went in and from where blood was taken. Thankfully the following day, he was up and running around like nothing had happened.

Please continue in prayers for Bridget who is now out of hospital but recovering slowly, and for Hart who is still in hospital. Our prayers are with you and your families.

Well, this is a packed MEWSLETTER with lots of interesting articles and things for you to read. Please let me have your feedback and don’t forget to write about your own cats and their funny little ways.

Until the next issue, take care and have a PURRFECT month!

Pauline - Editor
Garfield - Assistant Editor and Chief Technical Consultant
Billy and Timmy - Home Affairs and Wild Life Advisors
Sam - Ethnic Minority Affairs Advisor
Ricky - Building Bridges Advisor
Ollie - Chief Mischief Maker and General 'Butter-wouldn't-melt-in-his-mouth' Advisor

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