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MEWSLETTER 79 OCTOBER 2010
Hi there and a very warm welcome to all the hundreds of new subscribers that thundered through the cat flap since the last Mewsletter went out. You are all very welcome and I hope you enjoy the items in this Mewsletter plus the new articles on the website.
Here in the UK – I don’t know if it’s the same elsewhere in the world – shops are already dressed for Christmas. Hardly have I put my bikini away and binned the sun tan lotion than I am assaulted with tinsel, cards, and the fripperies that go towards Christmas. It seems to begin earlier and earlier each year but the real, true meaning of Christmas is lost on this generation of instant gratification, must-have gadgets and disposable lifestyles. Cats, fortunately, are creatures of constancy. Yes, I admit you’ll get a cat who decides to upsticks and move in with a neighbour (as Sam did with me 12 years ago) but most of the time, they are creatures of habit. My three boys, Billy, Sam and Ollie, have spent a glorious summer, sprawled in the garden on the deck, or under various shrubs for their cool shade, only coming in now and then to check up on what I’m doing (and to see if they’re missing anything) or to grab a quick bite to eat before going back out in the garden to take the ‘rays’. At this time of year, the temperature can dip quite dramatically and early morning and late afternoon/early evening can be quite chilly – so I’ve had to resort to putting the central heating on occasionally just to take the edge off the air for them (note: not for ME – but for THEM!!!). Just as in the spring before the sun reaches its full potential, I’ll come across the cats lying nose to tail in a shaft of sunlight; this happens in the autumn/winter months too when a stray sunbeam will cast its ray across the floor and the cats rush to take advantage of the feeble heat. In early September, as part of my HUMONGOUS birthday treat, Lawrence and I went to Stratford upon Avon. Most of you know that I’m writing a book about my journey of living with leukaemia and, struggling with a couple of chapters which I’m finding difficult to write, I hoped that I might find my ‘mews’ in William Shakespeare’s house. Just touching the walls of the cottage, and taking in the atmosphere, trying to imagine him as a young boy growing up in quite a privileged home – it was pure magic for me and I came back ablaze with ideas of how to tackle my ‘sprouts’ chapters (so called because you tend to leave Brussels Sprouts till last on your plate!) Sam has been a poorly pussy cat just recently and had to have blood tests. He hasn’t wanted to eat anything despite me trying him with other brands (more expensive of course) to tempt him. The new flavours were at first welcomed (as I feared they might) but he quickly lost interest in them as well. Despite extensive tests at the vets nothing conclusive was found so I’m keeping a vigilant eye on him. Cats do go off their food every now and then and it’s quite ok to let them ‘fast’ for a day. This allows their digestive system to sort itself out. If you think of a cat in the wild, it will eat when it wants to and may go several days without eating anything if it can’t catch something. But if a cat refuses to eat for more than a couple of days, it’s always advisable to take him to the vets for a check up as there may be something more serious going on. Or it could be a build up of plaque on their teeth which hurts when they’re trying to eat. I was also a poorly person at the beginning of the month just as I was about to start writing an article for the website and updating it. I got tonsillitis – goodness knows where I picked that up from – but I was laid pretty low with very strong antibiotics that knocked me out more or less for a couple of weeks. So I do apologise profusely for the tardy arrival of your Mewsletter. The article will have to wait until another time because I want to link it in with a book review and I haven’t had the time to read the book yet. Linda Gavitt, who has written two stories this time for the Cat Chat section, has written one about a cat called Seamus who has been helping her through tough times. I know all my cats have taken care of me at various times and more recently with the leukaemia stuff going on, they seem to take it in turns to look after me if I’m resting on the sofa. Has a cat helped you through a specific time of illness, bereavement, relationship problems, a break up, etc or even alerted you to intruders, a fire or floods? Please write to me at the usual address: p.dewberry@ntlworld.com and let me know. Now I have three posers for the Amazingly Wonderful Daily Mews Subscribers that I’d like your help with, please. First off, Ann wrote to tell me that her cat, Salem, chews through television wires, cable box cards and computer equipment. She’s tried bitter apple, vinegar and hot sauce but none of these have worked. Salem likes the taste! I suggested that Ann covers the wires with aluminium foil because cats don’t like the feel of this under their paws. I don’t know if it has been successful but has any one experienced this and if so, what would you recommend? Secondly, Joyce wrote to tell me that her cat Millie has Feline Herpes. Have any you had experience of this condition? If so, can you write and let me know how you managed the symptoms and what the prognosis is? Thank you. And finally, Debbie wrote about her deaf cat that has a sudden interest when Debbie is using her cell phone. Prior to Debbie getting broadband, the cat wasn’t interested when Debbie was on her computer, but now the cat shows a great deal of interest. It’s almost as if she can feel vibrations from the connections. Has anyone experience of living with deaf cats and how do you manage to communicate with them? Have you noticed any unusual behaviour around cell phones or computers if you’re on broadband? But I do trust you’ll enjoy the treats in store for you this time. GOOD PURRY LINKS: SURPRISED KITTY I think I’ve put this You Tube video link in a previous Mewsletter but it was sent to me again and as I still love it, I thought I’d put it in again; it can’t hurt to see it again as it still makes me laugh and I know it will you as well. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Bmhjf0rKe8 And Simon’s Cat had me in hysterics: http://www.funnieststuff.net/viewmovie.php?ad_key=MYQFWBUSMQKD&tracking_id=890373&id=614 Simon’s Cat also has a hilarious calendar out for the New Year – see if you can get hold of a copy. Check out this link on Amazon: Clara sent me this link which is just adorable: http://www.my-tgif.com:80/loveis.htm Finally, Jerry sent me this great link of the Duet for Two Cats by Rossini: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DinASQRRFA (this one is an animated one of two cats actually ‘singing’) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjtVDG0drG0&feature=related (this one is two very clever choir boys meowing – it’s brilliant!) BOOK QUIZ: Who wrote the following? Cold Noses at the Pearly Gates White Chin 101 Reasons Why a Cat is Better than a Man Please send your answers to p.dewberry@ntlworld.com by 21st November. The winner will receive a small prize. CAPTION COMPETITION: The last caption competition only yielded two entrants, which is a huge shame as the photo of the kitten in the empty Whiskas box was adorable, but you can see all their entries and the winning caption on this link: http://www.thedailymews.com/KittyBits/caption_competition_14.htm Congratulations to Rob Falconer for his winning entry; a small, very modest prize is on its way to you. Carol Turner sent a fantastic picture of her cat Dumpty and a blackbird for this month’s caption competition. Come on – surely you can come up with something witty and pithy. As always, winners receive a prize. http://www.thedailymews.com/KittyBits/caption_competition_15.htm BOOK REVIEWS: 101 Reasons why a Cat is Better than a Man is not a new book but you can still buy it (even used) from Amazon and it would make a good stocking filler as a Christmas gift for a woman who lives with millions of cats! http://www.thedailymews.com/bookproductreviews/101_reasons.htm CAT CHAT Lee Robie who wrote about Sekhmet some while back has written again, this time about his then girlfriend’s cat named Chelsea. Lee has a lovely style of writing and I know you’ll enjoy his story. http://www.thedailymews.com/catchat/Chelsea_lioness_of_the_suburban_jungle.htm I think any of us will understand Linda Gavitt’s plight with the next story. Any of us who’ve tried to get a cat into a carrier, that is. Read it and empathise! http://www.thedailymews.com/catchat/Chloe's_great_escape.htm Linda also wrote this next story about a lovely little ginger cat who, after some time, decided to move in with her and her existing kitties. He was there when she needed a special someone. http://www.thedailymews.com/catchat/Seamus_moves_in.htm Clara wrote this next piece about a little mischievous kitten she named Jake with her tongue firmly in her cheek. How could anyone fail to love such an imp! http://www.thedailymews.com/catchat/want_a_kitty.htm FELINE FITNESS Diana Sichta who is our Pet First Aid Purrson (geddit!) has written a timely piece on being prepared in times of disaster. In view of the harrowing stories of people having to leave their pets behind when Hurricane Katrina struck, I think everyone ought to be better prepared now. You can read Diana’s piece here: http://www.thedailymews.com/articles/disaster_preparedness_for_pets.htm KITTY BITS: Here in the UK fireworks are going off nightly in the build up to 5th November – which is Guy Fawkes Night. I found a couple of leaflets in the vet’s surgery when I took Sam up recently and was granted permission to write them up into an article. http://www.thedailymews.com/KittyBits/firework_fear.htm MEWSERS’ MEWSINGS: Jimmy, our outspoken feline roving reporter, talks about aliens in this month’s Mewsings. Read what he has to say here: http://www.thedailymews.com/mewsersmewsings/A_Feline_Alien.htm Jimmy also appears on You Tube discussing his views on Iraq. It’s very cleverly done by His Person. Click on this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhHcjsGKLZU And at the end of the video, there is a plug for the Daily Mews – thank you Jimmy! Last time, Ham wrote how he rescued Stormy from the storm drain and she decided to write an account of her new life. Click on the link to read her second diary entry – she’s a feisty little madam – but so cute. http://www.thedailymews.com/mewsersmewsings/September_how_time_flies.htm The Felines of Fallon House have been writing their stories over the past few months and now it’s the turn of Tymmy. http://www.thedailymews.com/mewsersmewsings/Tymmy.htm Little Dumpty Roo who was the Purina Pin-Up Puss for July has written the second part of her diaries also. Read what she has to say here: http://www.thedailymews.com/mewsersmewsings/dumpty's_diaries_part_2.htm NAPPING ON A SUNBEAM Sue Fallon, whose lovely cats feature in the Mewsers’ Mewsings section of the website under the heading: The Felines of Fallon House, wrote a month ago to tell me that tragically she lost TWO cats within a few weeks of each other. Both Muffin and Dympy have written their stories in The Felines of Fallon House but sadly, Sue has written tributes to them here: http://www.thedailymews.com/NAPPINGONASUNBEAM/Muffin.htm http://www.thedailymews.com/NAPPINGONASUNBEAM/Dympy.htm Losing a beloved pet is devastating, but Sue has since lost a THIRD cat since I put Muffin and Dympy’s tributes in the NAPPING ON A SUNBEAM section. If you would like to write to Sue to offer your condolences and moral support, please send your emails to me and I will forward them to her. THE ‘MEWS’ TEAM: Have you ever wondered what the ‘Mews’ Team actually looks like? Well, wonder no more because if you click on the link below, you’ll see for yourselves – the cats you’ve seen before but I’ve rummaged to find a ‘reasonable’ picture of me – taken on my humongous birthday in August in this wonderful Jacobean Barn restaurant that we go to for ‘our’ special occasions. http://www.thedailymews.com/mewsteam.htm Before I go, I just want to remind folk in the UK that with Bonfire Night just a few days away, please, please, please keep a watchful eye on your pets and keep them safe. To my American Friends I wish you all a very happy Thanksgiving Day – and a belated one to all my Canadian Friends who celebrated Thanksgiving earlier. Take care, and all good wishes – keep warm, keep well and be safe. Your friends, Pauline, Billy, Sam and Ollie
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