MEWSLETTER 22  March 1, 2004

by Pauline Dewberry

Hello everyone, and a very special warm welcome to all the new subscribers this past month.

As I shared with you in the last MEWSLETTER, I was going to a Pet Behaviour Seminar down in the Wiltshire countryside on Sunday, 7th February. Not being a driver, I had to get up at the crack of dawn in order to catch an early train from my local station, up to Waterloo East (which is almost in London), and then I had to walk over to Waterloo Station where I caught another train that took me down to Salisbury.

There was a thin pinky red sliver in the otherwise early grey sky as the sun peered out from its slumber and, putting out a tentative toe, deliberated on whether to have another 5 minutes before rising.

Shaking off its night attire it had a good stretch, casting ribbons of dusky pink across the sky. By the time I had reached my local railway station, some twenty minutes later, it was dressed in its best golden finery ready for business and the red gold orb smiled on a winter's Sunday.

It was a very pleasant journey, and once past London and the Outer London suburbs, the countryside was beautiful. Green rolling fields under a pale blue sky with tree lined horizon and occasional farmhouses and villages.

The Pet Behaviour Seminar was held in the 13th Century Medieval Hall in Salisbury, Wiltshire that is very near to Salisbury Cathedral itself. It has a very high ceiling full of criss-crossing wooden beams and the floor is made of stone that made it very cold, despite electric fires hanging from the rafters.

It never did warm up and I don't think any of us took our coats off the whole day! I wished I'd had enough time to really look around both the Cathedral and the Hall because I love architecture and history and Salisbury is full of wonderful buildings, some of which date back to the 9th and 10th centuries.

I searched on google to try and find a site that would give you a reasonable idea of what the building looked like and this was the best one. To see it click here:
http://www.salisburycathedral.org.uk/cathedral.php?medhall
Out into the cold wintery sunshine for a brisk walk across to the Cathedral Refectory for lunch, which was provided in a modern glass conservatory. There was a good selection of hot and cold meals and most of us chose hot meals as the Hall was very cold and most of us
were freezing!

On to MewsMatters now, I received a request about a poem from John in California that my friend Padraig helped me by providing the answer. Padraig has a fantastic cat website which you can see here: www.moggies.com  'If you want someone who will do anything to please you, get a dog. On the other hand …… '
http://www.thedailymews.com/amewsments/whoneedsaman.htm

QUIZ
Here is another little poser for you: What is the condition called when a cat has more toes than it's supposed to have on each paw? The first three correct answers will be given a mention in the next MEWSLETTER and a link to your websites – so don't forget to include that information with your reply. Write to me at the address on the website.

I'm really proud to publish another brilliant essay by Jim Willis and you can read it here:
http://www.thedailymews.com/articles/freekittuns.htm
Many of you will know of Jim's tragic news – please keep him in your thoughts and prayers, and if you're able to help him in any way, please give to the address on the HOME PAGE under the NEWSFLASH item.

Check out the foot of the HOME PAGE – resources at animal rescue centres are running low and the kittens have to help out!!! Thanks to Hart Dowd for this great picture!!!

As with anyone who lives with cats and loves to write about them, Dan Weiss has written forests' worth of stories about his beautiful ladies, Frankie and Johnnie. Two more vignettes have been published in the CAT CHAT section, the first:
http://www.thedailymews.com/articles/truestoryaboutloving.htm
and the second:
http://www.thedailymews.com/articles/frankiesagenda.htm

We also have the third chapter from FRANKIE WEISS AND HER MAGIC by Dan on site; check it out here:
http://www.thedailymews.com/articles/frankieweissmagic3.htm

And Myla Smith from Indiana has written a beautiful account of a little stray cat she called Vincent – read it here:
http://www.thedailymews.com/catchat/vincent.htm

We all know how curious cats are, investigating bags and their contents far more than is good for them. Well, read what happened to BlackJack. Some time ago, Denise Bisaillon in Connecticut sent me the article on BlackJack, and I know I posted it. I don't know what
happened to it because when I was checking links it wasn't there! Some gremlins must have got into my system but anyway, here it is for you to enjoy http://www.thedailymews.com/catchat/blackjack.htm

We have two new sections: KITTYBITS, which will have little snippets of information that doesn't seem to fit anywhere else. To start us off I thought a history lesson was in order. Bet you didn't know the cat flap was invented by Sir Isaac Newton (1642 – 1727). If you want to read about this fascinating titbit, please go here: http://www.thedailymews.com/articles/originofcatflap.htm

The second new section is: BREED PROFILES and the first breed to be profiled here is the Turkish Van cat. If you are interested in this cute little cat, click here:
http://www.thedailymews.com/articles/turkishvancat.htm

We have some more funnies sent in by Amiee Amaral and you can find them in the A'MEWS'MENT ARCADE. 'Naughty Cat' gives you signs to look out for if your cat is behaving in a rebellious manner http://www.thedailymews.com/articles/naughtycat.htm and how to tell
if your cat has been watching too much of Martha Stewart on tv http://www.thedailymews.com/articles/top10waysmarthabeenaroundcat.htm
Here's a ruse you might try if you've got a lot of kittens to rehome:
http://www.thedailymews.com/articles/catforsale.htm

Dr Gerald Schiffhorst has written a book called `WRITING WITH CATS' which is available on www.amazon.com and says his website, www.writingcats.com, gives an overview of the book, which uses humour to motivate creative people who are blocked to find inspiration in cats. He refers to the cat as "the muse that mews." Dr Schiffhorst is kindly sending me a copy of his book which I'll review and let you know more about in a future MEWSLETTER. In the mean time, I suggest you check out his website for more information – and get writing!!!

I received an email with a link to a website advertising a white deaf cat, called George who is in need of a new home. He is going to need special attention and understanding because of his deafness and his present owners feel that he would need to be the only cat, as he doesn't get on with their other cat. If you live in the UK, more specifically, in the South London area, and feel that you could give this beautiful cat a good loving home, here is his website where you
can find out more information: www.georgewantsahome.co.uk

Ollie has been busy again this month and has much to tell you and you can read about his exploits here:
http://www.thedailymews.com/articles/kittendiaries13.htm

There is nothing worse than the pain of losing your pet. I met a lady this month who has subsequently become a good friend but our friendship came about because she was looking for her missing cat. Sadly, he was found a few days later, the victim of a road traffic accident, but fortunately, because he was micro chipped, the vet contacted her and she was reunited with him and can now grieve knowing he is at peace.

The cat of another dear friend of mine, in America this time, has also gone missing but despite exhaustive searches and leaflet dropping, still hasn't been found. My friend is beside herself,
as the family will soon be moving from their present home to another one some distance away and she is hoping that Roxie, her cat, will return home before they move.

I read in my cat magazine of a cat who turned up on his owner's doorstep having been missing for 10 years. One wonders where he'd been in that time, travelling round the world, making his fortune, writing his memoirs maybe. But the owners were astonished – as they had long given up hope of ever seeing him again. As in the manner of most cats, he just breezed in, and demanded some dinner!

The point is that cats are absolutely amazing creatures and can survive in almost non-survivable (is that a word?) conditions. Never give up hope. So I ask all of you to remember these two lovely people – and their families – in your prayers and let's pray that Roxie will turn up none the worse for her ordeal. And anyone else who is grieving for the loss of their pet, you are not alone and if you would like to talk about how you feel, please contact me via the 'contact us' link on the website.

I hope you enjoy this edition of the MEWSLETTER. I do welcome your articles, and contributions, and your FEEDBACK. Don't forget those of you with AOL will have to copy and paste the links into their browser in order to be able to follow the links through.

Until next time, have a purrfect month!

Your friend

Pauline – and all the Daily Mewsers.

Garfield, Billy, Timmy, Sam, Ricky and Ollie

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