Cat Shop

Protecting Outside Cats in Excessive Heat

by Joi

As I’ve said many times before, I have outside cats that are only “outside” cats because of a certain inside baby (Alexa) who I’m afraid wouldn’t be too welcoming. We don’t call her our little spoiled baby for nothing.

Plus, a few of our outside cats are Ming Li’s kittens – she was a feral cat who it took months of coaxing to even approach. Unfortunately, she’s no longer with us but before she left, I was able to pet her at will – she actually became a pretty big baby, purring constantly.

She left behind several babies and, since they were born to such a wild little momma, I’d never stand a chance of picking them up!

I can pet two out of three of them regularly. They’re very sweet but picking them up would probably completely freak them out at this point.

So bringing them inside is an impossibility. Hannah, of course, can be picked up, hugged, kissed, and held all day… she loves it, the big baby. I’m just very scared of her and Alexa getting into a squabble. Besides, she doesn’t seem to mind living out in the wild.

However, with an excessive heat advisory in effect here in Owensboro, Kentucky today – I’ve been doing all I can to cool off my hot little girls and boys.

I’ve “iced” Hannah down twice – she loves it! Fatima wants no part of it and the boy cats look at me like I’ve lost my mind completely. Earlier, Fatima (the tiniest little cat in the world) looked on the brink of death – seriously. Her mouth was hanging open and her eyes just didn’t look right. I wet a towel down with cool water and laid it on the ground. She wouldn’t let me rub her with it but when I laid it out on the ground, she laid on top of it.

I then took out a big bowl of ice and placed it all around the area she and Hannah were lying in. They both licked the ice and laid down amongst the melting glaciers.

One of the boy cats (Bullet) took off for the barn after a long cold drink and the other (Jelly Bean) enjoyed the glaciers with the girls.

He’s such a little Romeo.

I looked out a few minutes ago (I’ve been checking on them frequently) and they were still chilling nicely. Fatima looks 100 percent better and Hannah seems to be hinting for another ice massage.

Soooo…. I’m off to ice my girl down and HOPE the others will allow me to give them one as well.

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Adorable Cat Toy for Cats Who Just Wanna Have Fun

by Joi

ETHICAL/SPOT SPRING DING CAT TOYS ASSORTED

Presenting your precious cat with a new toy is every bit as fun and rewarding as presenting a child with a new toy. And why not, our pets are our babies after all! Not only are cat toys fun for cats to play with – giving them entertainment and enjoyment, cat toys are also vital to a cat’s health. They provide a little exercise for your cat (or a lot, depending upon your cat’s energy level!).

Cat toys also keep an inside cat, who doesn’t have other cats or dogs to play with, from getting bored. They keep her mind active and provide a level of the unexpected that she craves nearly as much as she craves tuna. Nearly.

I recently bought Alexa a new toy and she has delighted herself with it for hours since.

Her favorite toys are balls and she’s absolutely on top of the kitty world when we’re in the floor playing baseball. I roll it to her and she swats it with her paw back toward me. She can’t be bothered with running the bases, of course, because she’s conserving her energy and has been since she was a day old.

She also doesn’t go for any “loose” balls if I happen to roll it too far to the left or too far to the right. It’s up to me to retrieve all of these, as well as the ones she swats pass me.

I get quite a workout crawling around like a 12 month old.

Alexa has a toy box (actually a basket) that she loves to grab toys from – but, of course (like all kids) she never puts them back. That’s also left to me.

Cats just love toys like the ETHICAL/SPOT SPRING DING CAT TOYS ASSORTED above. Alexa has this adorable cat toy pegged as the next addition to her toy collection.

Since she is one pampered little girl, it’s jut a matter of time. I look forward to chasing this cute little cat toy around… and then putting it back where it goes.

One of us has to.

*** Cat Toy Safety: Be sure to examine your cat’s toys for pieces that have come loose – small parts that could choke your cat. Also, never allow anything near your cat that she could get wrapped around her neck.

Alexa once had, somehow, found a long paper ribbon left over from Christmas. She managed to get part of it down her throat and was as struggling to pull it out. Thanks be to God, I happened to be walking through the room at the time and pulled it out.

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Happy Valentine’s Day from Cat Pause!

by Joi

funny pictures of cats with captions
see more Lolcats and funny pictures

Happy Valentine’s Day to you and your feline valentines!  Don’t you just love the cat picture above?  If you don’t regularly visit I Can Has Cheezburger.com – you totally should.  It’s addictive!

Click the link beneath the great cat picture above and be prepared to laugh!

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Max the German Cat is Reunited With His Family

by Joi

Max the German Cat

Meet Max. This handsome cat is one lucky little guy.

Here’s his story: The 9-year-old cat (who reminds me of our own little Hannah) went missing in Boulder, Colorado in mid-June. A naughty little boy, he snuck out of the hotel that his family, the Deraneys of Niedernhausen, Germany, were staying in. They had spent the summer at the hotel, and were visiting a family member when Max stepped out.

Despite an intense search, Max had not been located before the family had to return to Germany. Can you imagine?!

Max was found October 5th, less than a mile from the hotel. A cat-loving couple saw him roaming the streets and took him to the Humane Society, hoping to adopt him if he didn’t have an owner. A microchip scan showed that Max did have a home … a German home – 5,000 miles away!

Max’s survival for four months could “quite possibly be due to the kindness of people in the community,” said Kim Terlau, animal services supervisor at the Humane Society of Boulder Valley.

“He is an active cat and does show interest in prey behavior, but to be honest, I’m not sure how skilled of a hunter he is,” she said. When he was first brought to the shelter, he was famished, scarfing down his food as soon as it was set in front of him.

Max’s mother came to the states for him and flew him back home to Germany. I’m pretty sure he didn’t even get a stern “talking to.”

How wonderful is it to hear about animal story with a happy ending? Warms the heart.

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Our Handsome Feral Kitten, Jelly Bean

by Joi

One of Ming Li’s kittens, Jelly Bean, has become a member of the family.  Since his mom (Ming Li) and dad (Jet Li) were both feral, he’s very, very cautious of humans – including this cat-obsessed human even.  However, unlike his two siblings (nameless until I determine their sexes), he comes close enough to touch.

He lives in the garage with Hannah and she has sort of assumed a motherly role with him.  Ming Li came through about a week ago and was majorly pregnant.  I haven’t seen her for a few days, but I have a feeling that when she shows up again, she’ll be her slender self again.  Jelly Bean went running up to her, glad to see his cat mommy – but she hissed at him and stopped him in his tracks.  He ran back to Hannah’s side.

Can’t say I blame him!

A few nights ago, I took out a couple of Alexa’s toys to entertain Hannah and Jelly Bean.   Hannah is hilarious when she plays.  She’ll sit really still, acting like she’s only half-interested in the ball, feather cat toy, catnip mouse (whatever).  As I rub her head, she seems only interested in that – nothing else in the world seems to matter.  Then, all of a sudden, she’ll prance on the toy and give it heck.

Then…. back to the head rubs.

The first time Jelly Bean saw a toy ball, he looked so adorable sweet it brought tears to my eyes.  He hunkered down, sort of unsure of what he’d do next, then he threw caution out the window and joyously pounced on the ball.  Then he swatted it in my direction.  When I rolled it back to him, he swatted it back again.

Even wild, feral babies enjoy a good game of pitch and catch.

His siblings – who are both beautiful with dark gray fur and black stripes – always watch the playing but never approach a toy until I’ve gone back inside.   When it comes to cats, patience is my middle name, so I’ll win them over.  Funny thing is, these two are going to be really hard to tell apart.  One was a lot smaller, but it has caught up with the other one.   Jelly Bean is totally and completley black – even the bottoms of his paws are black.  He doesn’t have any white or gray on him whatsoever.

When I lost Bo and Svenn, the outdoors (which I’d always loved with a passion) just seemed sad and empty to me.  I can’t tell you what a blessing it is to have Hannah, Jelly Bean, Ming Li (when she shows), and ???? and ??????.  It’s as though God knew how empty my yard felt to me and filled it with something that means the world to me – precious, beautiful, wonderful cats!

**** I’ll add pictures of the kittens as soon as possible – I also have new pics of Alexa and Hannah to add.

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A Few Thoughts About the Reltionships We Have With Our Cats

by Joi

AlexaIf you’ve ever lost a much, much, much beloved pet (especially one you’d had for so long) you know how hard it can be. I’ve made it to the place where I can talk about Prissy and smile and/or laugh most of the time. For weeks, the of her little face or the mention of her name brought tears streaming down my face.

But now, when I think of my girl, I feel happy. She meant so much to us, for so long (over 20 years!), I feel entirely grateful and blessed to have had her in my life.

I’m also very blessed to have my adorable, mischievous little boy cats Svenn and Bo and my little angel girl, Alexa. They bring me so much happiness and love and, of course, fun. Alexa, as Prissy was, is a house baby. We don’t let her out at all. She is the perfect picture of a fluffy, beautiful, pampered cat and she lights up my world when she walks into a room.

I was reminded of something a few days ago. Alexa had apparently followed my daughter Brittany into the bathroom before she (Britt!) took a shower and began her lengthy process of washing her hair, drying her hair, flat ironing her hair, etc. I got to wondering where Alexa was because, quite frankly, she’s within arms length of me more times than not.

My oldest daughter, Emily, had gone outside earlier and I began to worry that Alexa had, somehow gotten outside. I looked in her regular hangouts – her food dish, a favorite bay window perch, my husband’s computer desk – all were Alexa free.

I didn’t even consider that she’d followed Brittany into the bathroom because she never does that (like all of us, we know that could mean being lost for hours!). Just as worry was really taking over, I heard the bathroom door crack open a little and Alexa came running out. Freedom!

She rushed over to me and I picked her up. We both purred.

It made me think. What if, when we’re gone to the store, out to eat, or out to work in the yard (for those who do that sort of thing!) – our cats wonder where we are?? That would explain why they’re so glad to see us when we come home. Alexa always comes running, meowing, as though to say, “There you are!”

It’s all the more reason to make sure we always pick our babies up and let them know that we’re just as glad to see them as they are to see us!

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Absolutely Adorable Sunflower Cat Tree

by Joi

Sunflower Cat Tree

Awwwwww. How completely adorable is this Sunflower Cat Tree?!

From the Website:

Custom made to order, usually leaves our warehouse in 14 – 21 business days. The Sunflower Cat Tree will bring the beauty of the outdoors into your home. This medium sized Cat Tree is the ideal size to accommodate all your cat’s activities. Whether climbing, jumping, hiding, exploring, or its more common activity, sleeping, this is the perfect unit for your cat. We have built all our special features into this Cat Tree. The top flower is 28″ round with a padded center and a thermal liner to retain your cat’s heat for added comfort. There are four holes each 9″ in diameter that lead to the center of the trunk which is 12″ in diameter.

Four sculptured leaves (2 large and 2 small) surround the trunk providing layers for climbing or space for “snoozing”. The leaves each have a thermal liner for added comfort, and each is hinged to provide “flex” when the cat jumps onto the leaf making it easier on its joints and back. Older cats will get much more use out of a unit with this feature.

The wide round base adds stability and guarantees the Cat Tree will not tip during normal use. This Cat Tree will fit into a corner, taking up less floor space, and not sacrificing stability. This unique piece of furniture will be the focalpoint of activity for your cat, and the center of conversation among your friends. Approximate Height: 52″ (4ft 4in) Approximate Width: 52″ Trunk Diameter: 12″ Weight: 100 lbs.

Green Special Features:
* Our molded leaves are designed to “flex” which cushions the landing and prevents excessive wear and tear on joints, especially of older cats, when they jump onto the Tree.

*Commercial grade carpeting is used throughout the entire Cat Tree, including the lining inside the holes in the trunk.

*All our beds and larger leaves have a “thermal” lining that retains the cat’s body heat providing greater comfort.

*An extra wide base is added to all units providing greater stability and preventing tipping under normal use.

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Beautiful Cat Print With A Very Cat-Like Sentiment

by Joi

Cat Print - Patient
One thing I know for sure – whoever created this art print had at least one cat in their life.

The Cat Print – Patient has an absolutely gorgeous cat, obviously, and includes the mantra of all cats:  I am extraordinarily patient provided I get my own way in the end.

The cat pictured reminds me of a cat I loved from years ago – his name was Buster and he was beyond beautiful.  He had one of the sweetest natures I’ve ever seen in a cat.   He belonged to a neighbor, but he was convinced that he was our baby – he spent a great deal of time on our front porch and in our yard.  When he heard our car coming down the road, he’d zoom to our driveway, no matter where he was.

And for Buster, zooming wasn’t all that easy.  He was a very old and…. well…. chubby cat.  I’ve never seen a fatter face on a cat!  He was a beauty and when I think of lovable, sweet cats – he’s always amongst the first ones I think of.

Naturally, he didn’t have anything on any of my babies, past or present (no one remind me that my little Carly was a she devil, please – I’m living in denial and I’m comfy here).


I’m going to be moving some posts from the old Cat Pause Blog to this one over the next few days – so if you happen to subscribe to the blog through rss or through e-mail, don’t think I’m high on caffeine or anything (okay, well I am – but that’s beside the point).  I want to delete the old blog but I have a great deal of memories and pictures in the posts, so I want to make sure all of my babies are safe and sound!  If you’re new to Cat Pause and never read the first blog, I think you’re going to love meeting Carly, Renee Elise, and Adam.  If you’re a cat lover, you know full well that you never lose the love for a cat – even when you don’t have them in your arms any longer, your heart will hold them forever.

Carly, Renee Elise, Adam, and now Prissy are all in my heart with other pets I’ve loved and lost.  I’m pretty sure all of them were glad to see little Prissy show up.  Finally, a cat that can keep Carly in line!  Oh, just wait till you meet her.

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Lighthouse Cat Tower is Too Gorgeous For Mere Words

by Joi

Deluxe Lighthouse Cat Tower
The Deluxe Lighthouse Cat Tower is so amazing, I can’t even believe it.

One of the things we all love the most about cats is the way they’re certain the world revolves around them. This Lighthouse Tower would be the perfect way to let them know that… yeah, it pretty much does!

Details:
At just over 6′ tall and 4′ wide, this amazing kitty tower has an attached house, which connects to the main tower through a doorway in the house’s interior.  The colonial-style house has four windows and its own kitty doorway.

A wide base prevents the tower from toppling.  (Thank goodness for that!)

Dimensions:

73″H x 50″W x 28″D The image shown of this piece is a prototype model. Your actual piece will be made with beautiful high quality carpeting and carpet inlays. The carpet colors will be as shown in the photo.

These beauties are custom made to order and usually leave the warehouse in 14 – 21 business days.

Order one for your little girl or boy today and enjoy years of entertainment.

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Protect Your Cat From Antifreeze Poisoning

by Joi

Our Baby BoAll cat and dog lovers want to keep their babies safe and healthy, but like with children – there’s only so much we can do.  We try to remove things they might choke on, trip over, knock down, or bring tumbling down upon themselves (Like Alexa and the ironing board – I haven’t left mine set up since then and I never will again.)  Of course, even when we think we’ve covered every possible base, accidents do sometimes still manage to happen.

One area that we have total control over, however, is an accident that can be deadly. We can take action to prevent our cat or dog from ever being poisoned by antifreeze. As Cat Age points out, antifreeze can be lethal to pets and children.

Apparently, antifreeze has a sweet, tempting flavor that’s impossible for a pet to resist. However, even a tiny amount can be deadly, so we need to take every precaution we can to make sure that never happens. Cat Age gives the following great tips.

* Keep kitty inside when flushing your radiator, and never drain it into gutters or onto the ground.
* Fix all radiator leaks, even if no antifreeze is dripping onto the ground. Cats can (and often will) crawl up into car engines to lick drops of antifreeze from leaky radiator caps.
* Store new and used antifreeze in a leakproof container.
* Promptly clean all spills.
* Don’t let your cat freely roam in your garage or outdoors. One stroll through a puddle of antifreeze, followed by paw licking, can result in death.
* Buy antifreeze with the bitter-tasting and less toxic propylene glycol instead of the sweet-tasting ethylene glycol. (All brands of antifreeze should be handled with the same precautions listed above.)
* If you suspect your cat has ingested antifreeze, get to the vet immediately. Irreversible kidney damage can occur within hours of ingestion. Lethargy, depression, and staggering are a few of the symptoms of ingestion, but some cats show no symptoms at all.

Check out Cat Age for a lot more articles and advice for caring for cats.

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