Hi there and a very warm purring and head butting welcome to every one who scaled the steps and made it through the cat flap this month. We have reached the incredible and heady 640th member! Can you believe that! I'm in awe - and total shock - that my 'humble' little website attracts people who actually WANT to receive the Mewsletter each month.  Thank you so much for subscribing and being part of this wonderful 'feline' family which is world-wide.

Now some of you will also be in shock (and probably awe) that I'm actually writing to you this month - especially as the last issue of the Mewsletter was to be my last one for a while and I was handing over the reins to the dynamic Stacy Mantle while I underwent chemotherapy in hospital. I am NOT in hospital (at the moment) - that's why you're receiving this Mewsletter.   

Now, you may be asking yourselves - why isn't she in hospital? Good question. Well, the results of the bone marrow test I had on 11th September showed that the leukaemia hadn't advanced very much, so the professor of haematology said he was happy for me to wait a few more weeks before starting treatment.  As I didn't want to be in hospital over the Christmas period, chemotherapy has been brought forward and will now start on Monday, 13th November - and all being well, I should be out before Christmas. The Hickman line went in on Thursday, 9th November and I was in hospital for two days.

Thanks, therefore, go to all my wonderful prayer warriors - thank YOU all so much. Take a bow and clap yourselves on the back for your devotion - I truly appreciate it and I'm sure my cats do too.  You can just see God's hand in this outcome and decision - proof, it ever it was needed, that God does answer prayers today.

This means that I get to keep my eyebrows a bit longer - which can only be good for eyebrows in general. I think they're forming a Union as we speak about not coming out in principle! Just to show that I'm right behind them, I'm going to allow them a complete free rein - I will be the first woman to have free-ranging eyebrows - they can wander at will.

Thank you also to everyone who has sent me cards; both to the hospital (which have been redirected back to me) and to my home. Thank you for all your kind words, the letters you've written and all the beautiful cards - which are adorning my Welsh Dresser in the dining room at this very moment!!!!

OK - less of the nonsense and more of the feline business. I'm not running the Book Quiz this time but Stacy (when she takes over for me) may well do - it's up to her as she's a very busy woman with zillions of cats, a husband, a dog and all other manner of wildlife living in her home in Arizona. But the intrepid winners to the last quiz were:

Jared Kline in Belgium
Leny in Holland
Barbara in California

Well done to all three who have all received their wonderful book prizes which were donated by Hodder and Stoughton, book publishers. For more about their books, go to their website: www.madaboutbooks.com

The answers to the last book quiz are as follows:

Through Katrina's Eyes: Ed Kostro
Willi Whizkas: Tall Tales and Lost Lives: Paws and Claws 
Happy Cat Day: Stu Hample with Tiger
 

If any one is interested in the items on the Felix website: www.catslikefelix.co.uk/goodies but don't have enough tokens saved up, email me with your address and I'll send you the amount you need.

I recently read a little short news brief about a cat in Oklahoma that survived being closed in a refrigerator for four weeks without food or water. Four year old Tyce Honer said he forgot he had put Louis in a refrigerator to keep him safe. However, four weeks after the cat disappeared, the boy's father decided to clean out the appliance and found the cat weighing only three pounds.

Several things worry me about this article; I'm assuming the refrigerator wasn't in use at the time, and this is where it's so important that items like this should either be placed with their lid or door side down so that small children and curious cats - and children trying to keep their pets safe - can't get trapped, or the item should be disposed of in a sensible manner.

Why wasn't a search for Louis instigated earlier? Is it possible that a 4 year old would really forget that he'd put his cat in the refrigerator? Or was he frightened that he'd be told off for doing that? If you have small children please take note of this article and ensure that your children and pets are not left alone together unsupervised. 

MEWS NEWS

Timmy has found a new project - ME!!! He spends as much time as possible in my company and when I'm working on the computer and getting carried away with what I'm doing, he'll sit on the desk and yap at me, much as he used to do with Garfield when he stopped him from going down the stairs. He yaps and yaps until I finally take note of his nagging and switch the computer off. I look at the time and realise that he's either reminding me that it's about I ate something, or to let me know it's about time I let HIM eat something!  In the evenings when I'm lying on the sofa, watching TV and knitting, he lies alongside me trying to help with the knitting. An amusing story about his knitting expertise can be found here:

http://www.thedailymews.com/articles/ritesofpassage1.htm

Billy has become Mr Cuddle King and several times during the day he'll come up to where I am and will meow at me. I look down at him and ask if he wants a cuddle. Usually I receive an answering meow, so I scoop him up and he curls up tightly - the better to be cuddled so it seems, and his purring gets so loud I'm almost afraid that his purr-motor will explode out of his chest and go clear across the room. He wraps his paw around my finger - much like a baby does, and just purrs for all he's worth. He absolutely enjoys being cuddled like this - and to be honest, it's nice for me too. I think it's wonderful when a cat seeks out your company just to pass the time of day - so enjoy this special time with your feline friend.

I've decided that living with cats is the most 'purrfect' way to live and have decreed that every day should be a 'cuddle' day. So as often as you're able during your day, pick up your cat and spend time having a glorious cuddle - you'll feel a lot less stressed, believe me! 

In your Mewsletter this month:

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A'mews'ment Arcade
Book Review: ongoing - check the site
Cat Chat
Feline Fitness: Easing the Discomfort of Old Age
Kitty Bits: Firework Warnings
Napping on a Sunbeam: Ricky - the little cat with a big heart who could play the piano
Jake's Kitties
Habits: a tribute to Tabitha
Osiris
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
A hilarious and addictive game for you to play!!!!
http://upchucky.com/games/hairball-bowling.html

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This Mewsletter has a bit of a 'feral' theme running through it - although it wasn't by design - just the way it happened. If anyone is interested in feral cat welfare, visit the Alley Cat Allies website: www.alleycat.org and sign up for their regular newsletter.

October 16th was National Feral Cat day and I'm very proud to profile the unceasing work of one individual who lives with and looks after 19 feral cats.  She does it because she loves the cats and because no one else cares about them. She and her husband haven't had a holiday in years and any bit of 'spare' money goes on the cats, not themselves. She doesn't mind going without things for herself, but there are things that she needs for the cats and if there is anyone in the Oregon or neighbouring areas that could help with donations of food, bedding, litter and trays, financial assistance to pay those never-ending veterinary bills then please contact Maryanne on maryanne@thecatsite.com

Maryanne has written a very moving account of what she does and you can read it here:
http://www.thedailymews.com/catchat/managedbylove.htm

Following on from Maryanne's article, I received a postcard from Rita, the lovely lady who founded and runs the Purrever Ranch which was our featured charity last month. The postcard, addressed to 'Aunt Pawline' had this poem on the front of it - and I think it sums up the work that people like Rita, Maryanne, Jim Willis, Ed Kostro, Stacy Mantle, Laura Dumm, Jena, and the countless others who unselfishly give of their time, their money, and their lives to these beautiful, but unwanted creatures. If you do not intend to breed from your cat, then there is no earthly reason why you shouldn't have it spayed or neutered. There are countless millions of unwanted cats in the world. Some of them endure short lives of great hardship before being rounded up and inhumanely euthanised.

THE REASON
To you, from all your rescue cats .
I would've died that day if not for you.
I would've given up on life if not for your kind eyes.
I would've used my claws in fear if not for your gentle hands.
I would have left this life believing that all humans don't care
Believing there is no such thing as fur that isn't matted,
skin that isn't flea bitten, good food and enough of it, beds to sleep on,
someone to love me, to show me I deserve love just because I exist.
Your big heart saved me .
You saved me from the terror of the pound.
Soothing away the memories of my old life.
You have taught me what it means to be loved.
I have seen you do the same for other cats like me.
I have heard you ask yourself in times of despair
Why you do it
When there is no more money, no more room, no more homes
You open your heart a little bigger, stretch the money a little tighter
Make just a little more room . to save one more like me.
I tell you with the gratitude and love that shines in my eyes
In the best way I know how
Reminding you why you go on trying.
I am the reason
The cats before me are the reason
As are the ones who come after.
Our lives would've been wasted, our love never given
We would die if not for you.

Author unknown 

I also received a most beautiful book recently to review called 'Urban Tails' by Sara Neeley and Knox (the photographer). I haven't had time unfortunately to review it but will do for a future issue of the Mewsletter. The photos are stunning - the text is pithy and to the point - and it's certainly a visual delight, but it's also sad. Several of the cats featured in the photos die - but life on the streets is a hard life. It's time to educate everyone to the fact that neutering and spaying SAVES lives; and that cats are not DISPOSABLE - they should not be discarded because they've outgrown their cute little kitten ways; they should not be discarded if they are sick and left to fend for themselves. They should be treated as a MEMBER of the family, loved, fed, and played with and honoured and respected for the joy they bring to your lives! <gets off my soapbox!>

Mike in Canada sent me news of upcoming fundraising events taking place this month at the Exploits Valley SPCA which you can see here http://www.thedailymews.com/articles/evspca.htm  If you're in the area - go along and have fun - it's all for a worthy cause!


A'MEWS'MENT ARCADE

Claire Hegarty in Ireland sent me the following item.
http://www.thedailymews.com/amewsments/40trickstotrainhuman.htm

CAT CHAT

Paul Gifford in California sent me his latest article: A New Member of the Family

http://www.thedailymews.com/catchat/newmemberoffamily.htm

We often keep secrets from our loved ones at some time or another and Roger Dean Kiser has written about such a time:

http://www.thedailymews.com/catchat/asecret.htm

Barbara Florio Graham in Canada has highlighted a serious problem with her local SPCA. Rather than go to the higher profiled Humane Society to adopt a kitten, she went to her local SPCA - and tragedy ensued. Read her account here:

http://www.thedailymews.com/catchat/spcawoes.htm

As a result of the sadness (not to mention frustration) that Barbara felt at losing the little kitten, she wrote a very comprehensive set of guidelines on what to do when adopting kittens or cats from shelters.

http://www.thedailymews.com/catchat/adoptingguidelines.htm

Barbara successfully trained her cat, Simon, and she wrote an excellent article on training your cat like a dog - which you can read here:

http://www.thedailymews.com/catchat/trainingcatlikedog.htm

Jimmy, our regular columnist, has written another thought-provoking piece for us this month and he's tackling the subject of 'Creating our own reality.' You can see what he has to say for himself here:

http://www.thedailymews.com/catchat/creatingreality.htm

Jimmy's Keeper, Jack Stewart, MSc, wrote to let me know that there is an American website now for the Relax with Cats CDs where the Daily Mews is also featured:

www.relaxwithcatsusa.com

FELINE FITNESS

We all need a little help when our bodies age, and this is just as applicable to our companion pets. Have you thought of using Magnetic Therapy or a copper collar? Follow the link to an informative look at both ideas:

http://www.thedailymews.com/articles/easingdiscomfortofoldage.htm

Thanks to Laura Dumm for the brilliant cartoon to illustrate the article.

Unbalanced Oldies by my good veterinary friend, in New Zealand discusses this distressing situation in elder cats:

 http://www.thedailymews.com/articles/unbalancedoldies.htm

KITTY BITS

It's a bit late now as the UK had its firework bonanza officially on 5th November, but country-wide the fireworks begin in September or October and continue until the New Year - much to the distress of cats and dogs. So read this article and remember it for next time, or any other occasion when you may celebrate something with fireworks:

http://www.thedailymews.com/articles/fireworkwarnings.htm

NAPPING ON A SUNBEAM

Garfield continues to receive tributes and here is one, written by Jim Willis, which Sue from the US sent in.

http://www.thedailymews.com/NAPPINGONASUNBEAM/ilovedyoubest.htm

I always think it's wonderful when people write to let me know that their DOG has looked after their cat or kittens at some point and the following story, written by Christine Davies, is a lovely example. Sadly, Jake crossed over Rainbow Bridge in June and our thoughts are with Christine at this sad time as she comes to terms with his absence.

http://www.thedailymews.com/NAPPINGONASUNBEAM/jakeskitties.htm

Another favourite writer and friend, is Steve Dale who wrote a very poignant story of his cat Ricky, who is sadly no longer with us, but who had amazing piano playing abilities. Read his story here:
 
http://www.thedailymews.com/NAPPINGONASUNBEAM/rickypianoplayingpuss.htm

Genine in Canada sent in this lovely tribute to her cat Tabitha:
http://www.thedailymews.com/NAPPINGONASUNBEAM/habits.htm

Barbara, one of our Book Quiz entrants, wrote about her little cat Osiris - a little feral kitten that was given a new start in life - only to succumb to FIP at the age of 7 months. Read about him here:

http://www.thedailymews.com/NAPPINGONASUNBEAM/osiris.htm

Don't forget to send Stacy Mantle your contributions for future inclusion on the website and mention in the Mewsletter. Stacy has very kindly offered to 'stand in the breach' while I'm losing my eyebrows and my dignity over the next few months. Stacy has a wonderful website: www.petsweekly.com which you can nip over to see when you've exhausted all the new links on the Daily Mews!  You can email Stacy at stacymantle@gmail.com

It just remains for me now to say Meow to all of you - with love and best wishes to you all and thank you again for all your prayers, wonderful cards and letters, kind words and thoughts. I will be in contact when I can, but for now, take care and all good wishes.

Your friend

Pauline - Editor
Billy - Cuddle King
Timmy - Caring for the 'Infirm' (Me!)
Sam - Ethnic Minorities Advisor
Ricky - Massage and Yoga Guru
Ollie - Mouse? I didn't see any mouse!

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