Note: This is one in a continuing series of “Cat Guy” profiles. Is there a Cat Guy in your life you’d like to tell me about? Send me your story!
Catster Mom Louise sent me this story about her Cat Guy partner, Graham:
My partner, Graham, is a cat guy. When we met (17 years ago, gulp!), he had fairly recently split up with his girlfriend, and was living alone in his house with two cats.
I had always loved cats so made a real fuss of his babies, Sybil and Beardsley, but Graham played down the cat lover thing, saying “oh yes, she left these cats behind and I’m stuck with them but it’s not fair to them to rehome them etc”. So I felt it was left to me to make a fuss of them.
Until I moved in….I caught him one morning feeding them saying “come on Sybil, duck and heart flavour. Your favourite” Busted! In fact he cared so much about Sybil and Bea that once when Sybil was at the vets being investigated with a mystery ailment, he got stopped for speeding on his way to pick her up, he was able to tell the policeman that his little girl was poorly and got let off! Because he meant it I think!
Both Sybil and Bea lived to good ages (19 and 21) and after they both passed away in the space of three months apart, he was devastated and wouldn’t consider getting another. Until I suckered him into visiting this poor little deaf cat (Bruce) who needed a good indoor home, and his friend (Titch). Of course he was smitten! They came home with us and we are so glad Graham fell soft!
Bruce is a complete Daddy’s boy and barely tolerates me if Graham’s there, where as Titch is my Momma’s boy and my shadow.
WARNING: The following content describes the horrific treatment of cats, and is not for the squeamish.
There has been a recent increase in media reports and public outrage at the horrific cat meat trade in China. If you think it doesn’t get any worse than killing cats for meat, it does… the practice involves unspeakable cruelty and abuse, both in the handling of the cats prior to butchering and the manner in which they are killed. The following is from the Animals Asia website:
The struggle to end dog and cat eating in China, and the horrific cruelty associated with the trade, was a major reason for the formation of Animals Asia 10 years ago. Through our Friends….or Food? campaign, this issue remains very much at the core of our work.
Recent reports in the Chinese media have once again focused attention on this barbaric practice. The Southern Metropolis Daily newspaper, based in the southern city of Guangzhou in Guangdong province (the centre of dog and cat eating in China), reported on 17 December that a group of traffickers had shipped around 1,500 live cats from Jiangsu province into Guangdong, for sale to restaurants in cities there, and that thousands more were being transported every day.
Chengdu Business Daily newspaper reported that around 10,000 cats were eaten in Guangdong province every day, many of which may have been cared for by local residents, and may even have been family pets. These poor creatures suffer a horrific fate. After being trapped and transported for hours crushed together in tiny bamboo or wire crates with no food or water, many are skinned alive and thrown into boiling water, before being served to restaurant goers.
Meat from cats can apparently fetch around 36 yuan (just over US$5) per kg in restaurants in Dongguan, Guangdong. Live cats caught for the trade in other provinces fetch just 3 or 4 yuan (US$0.5) per kg. Wholesalers, traffickers and restaurant owners all take their cut along the way.
There are rays of hope in China. The Southern Metropolis Daily newspaper recently conducted an online survey of readers in Guangdong, with 75% of respondents considering the eating of cats to be “ruthless”. Chinese animal welfare groups, some of which get financial support from Animals Asia, have organised protests in cities like Beijing and Guangzhou this month; indeed our very own China Relations director, Christie Yang, accompanied the Guangzhou group “Xixi Cat” to the train station to check for cats arriving from Hubei province, and gave interviews to the local press. The issue is generating far more media coverage within China than ever before.
The problem is that there is currently no law in China under which the perpetrators of these activities can be prosecuted. What’s more, there is no public health inspection of these animals, so people eating cat meat may well be putting their own health at risk.
Animals Asia is writing to the Guangdong and Guangzhou government authorities to highlight the national and international concern surrounding this activity, and the need for animal welfare legislation in order to bring it to an end. In addition, we are writing letters to the Chinese embassies in countries where we work, in order to increase international awareness. If you want to help, write a polite letter to your local Chinese embassy (www.travelchinaguide.com/embassy/) explaining your concerns , and the urgent need for legislation to protect dogs, cats and other animals from this kind of horrific treatment. The Chinese authorities must be made to realise that these kinds of practices reflect badly on China and her people on the international stage. Also, please consider helping by donating to Animals Asia’s Friends….or Food? campaign.
Amazingly, in doing research on organizations that are taking action to stop this sickening abuse of cats, Animals Asia was the only org I could find (if you know of others, please let me know). Even PETA is not yet involved, other than issuing a statement decrying the cat meat trade in China.
The following video was sent in to The Cat’s Meow with the following note of explanation:
This is a colony of ferral cats living in a miniatures theme park who are thriving despite opposition (Italian society is very polarized about cats, and park workers complain about them) thanks to a passionate owner of the park. A calendar published for the last two years and now this video have turned difficult situation into an asset.
So grab a double espresso and some biscotti, and enjoy!
President Bush’s family cat, India, has died at the age of 18 at the White House.
Press secretary Sally McDonough said in a statement, “The president, Mrs. Bush, Barbara, and Jenna are deeply saddened by the passing of their cat India (”Willie”). India was a beloved member of the Bush family for almost two decades. She will be greatly missed.”
The black American shorthair was named after Texas Rangers player Ruben Sierra (whose nickname was “El Indio”) by Bush twin Barbara, when she was 9 years old. The family’s nickname for India was “Kitty,” although she also answered to “Willie.”
India’s favorite food was tuna-flavored kitty treats, and her favorite nap spot was under the bed.
The following recently appeared on Dogster’s For the Love of Dog Blog, and since it applies to cats as well, I’m reposting here. Although this was a warning specific to Wheaton, IL, coyotes everywhere are a threat to housecats, even in urban areas (there are coyotes in San Francisco).
Janice just barked this important information to me for Dogster readers in the Wheaton, Illinois area.
WHEATON, Ill. - The highly adaptable coyote continues to flourish in the western suburbs within populated areas, mostly because of the interesting menu available in the form of dog and cat food, or easy-to-open garbage cans.
Coyotes can survive on whatever food is available, from rodents to rubbish, from insects to fruit to carrion. They can be a threat to family pets. Although no attacks have been reported within the City of Wheaton, in isolated but tragic cases elsewhere, coyotes have attacked small children.
Essentially unimpeded by control measures, abundant food has encouraged coyotes to become accustomed to the sight and sounds of humans. Consequently, coyote populations and range have expanded in recent years in the western suburbs.
While coyotes are valuable in decreasing the rodent population, their presence in populated areas can be minimized.
DO feed pets indoors or promptly remove dishes when pets complete their meal outside. Store bags of pet food indoors.
DO clear brush and dense weeds from around property. This deprives rodents of shelter and reduces protective cover for coyotes.
DON’T leave domestic pet food outside. Wildlife will soon depend upon it.
DO use trash barrels equipped with tight clamping devices on the lids, which will prevent spills should they be tipped over by large animals.
DO try to educate your friends and neighbors about the problems associated with feeding coyotes. If you belong to a homeowner’s association or neighborhood watch, bring up the subject during one of the meetings.
DON’T feed or provide water for coyotes or other wildlife. This practice abnormally attracts coyotes and promotes increased numbers of rodents, birds, snakes, and other creatures that can provide major portions of the coyote’s natural diet.
TO PROTECT PETS
Keep small pets (cats, rabbits, small dogs) indoors. Don’t allow them to run free at any time. They are easy, favored prey. Some coyotes hunt cats in residential areas.
Large dogs should be brought inside after dark and never allowed to run loose.
DON’T leave domestic pet food outside. Wildlife will soon depend upon it.
Definitely some great advice for those that live in the area. Please be sure to pass this important information on to your friends and neighbors so they can keep their pets safe too.
* The beauty above, Yoat, actually lives on the property of a Dogster member.
Calling all cats! If one of your New Year’s Resolutions was to start earning some money to support your nip habit, it might be worthwhile to explore a rewarding career as a masseuse!
I was lucky enough to get a preview copy of “In the Womb: Cats,” which will be broadcast on the National Geographic Channel tonight (Sunday, Jan 4th) at 9PM ET/PT.
The opening sucks you in with a description of the painful reality of feline mating. For the females, the pain is excruciating. You see, the male’s sex organ is barbed with more than 100 hooks made of the same fibrous protein of which nails and claws are made. Ouch! Upon exiting the female, these barbs scrape the inside of the female, not unlike someone keying a car. It triggers ovulation by releasing a hormone. Despite the discomfort, lionesses will mate up to 100 TIMES A DAY, and both partners can end up bloodied. Fascinating stuff once you stop shuddering at the site of the barbed male member.
The technology used to produce this show is extraordinary. They combine state-of-the-art visual effects and real-time 4-D ultrasound imagery to vividly trace the journey of a feline fetus in the womb. Showing both a house cat fetus and a lion fetus, they exploit the similarities as well as differences between the two. (If you’re a Tribe of Tiger fan, this show is for you!)
The 4-D ultrasound technology shows the fetuses at Day 38 appearing to run and chase imaginary prey — for the first time ever on television. The lion fetus is shown swinging in a hammock-like structure in utero — scientists speculate that this acts as a shock absorber for the fetus while the mother hunts actively throughout her pregnancy. You’ll observe the birth of cat behaviors we know well: grooming, stretching, scratching. (I even think I observed the cat fetus’ paws moving as if typing a little pre-birth blog.)
I give In the Womb: Cats a five-star must-see recommendation (9PM Sunday Jan 4th on the National Geographic Channel). And if you’re a dog lover, tune in an hour earlier for In the Womb: Dogs, in which the development of embryonic dogs and wolves is followed.
I am thrilled to report that Dewey the Library Cat has a successor: an orange and white tabby stray found by the side of a snow-covered road by Sue Seltzer, who works in Spencer, Iowa (the small town made famous by Dewey). Myron said she “fell in love instantly.”
“I was out and about and met a truck that swerved in the road,” Selzer says. “I saw something and thought it was some garbage or something but when I got close I saw it was a kitten.”
Selzer pulled into a parking lot, then walked into the street to pick up the cat.
“It was snowing quite heavily and she was covered in snow. She had ice chunks hanging from her. She had twigs and leaves tangled in her fur,” Selzer says. “I took her back to my office and dried her off, put some warm water on her and cleaned her up.”
Two days later, she took the cat to the Spencer Public Library, where Myron was meeting with a Japanese television crew working on a show about Myron and Dewey.
The new kitten’s name is Page, suggested by a fan who said it was because she was turning over a new page in her life.
Myron’s house — not the library — will be Page’s new home. The library has decided against adopting Page as a new boarder. (ARE THEY INSANE??? DIDN’T THEY READ THE BOOK??) The library board will discuss adopting a new cat at its Jan 8th meeting.
The kitten has thrived under Myron’s care:
“She’s a sweet, loving cat, very affectionate, very easy going,” she says. “She’s definitely a girl but eats like a pig, probably because she was a street cat that probably had to fend for herself.”
Although her book, which reached No. 1 on The New York Times list of nonfiction best sellers earlier this year and remains at No. 2, has kept Myron on the road promoting her work, she didn’t hesitate taking the kitten.
“I knew if the right one came along at the right time I’d get one, but I was hoping it would be a couple of years down the road because I’m not around much,” she says. “But here she is. We kind of found each other.”
AP reports how the Lied Animal Shelter in Las Vegas is noticing an increased frequency of enraged reactions at the shelter, with verbal asssaults occurring every day. They now call Metro Police or city marshals for help about three times each month for the most serious incidents.
At the heart of the issue is the shelter’s policy which dictates that all animals — no matter how adoptable — be euthanized 72 hours after they arrive. It makes me sick, but it’s an issue of resources, and here’s the math: in 2008, the shelter took in 50,103 animals, and adopted out only 10,320 animals.
Consequently, a LOT of pet owners get told that, yes, their dear pet was at the shelter, but was euthanized before they arrived to claim it. And that’s when people climb over the counters to attack the shelter personnel.
But then there are stories like that of Barbara Marques (in the photo below). Better grab a tissue before you continue reading…
About 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Marques and her husband drove from their North Las Vegas home to the shelter to look for their cat, Puddles, her indoor-outdoor cat that had been missing for a few days. When Puddles saw Marques at the shelter, “he came to the front of the cage like, ‘Oh, she’s here to get me,’?” she said.
Told she needed proof of ownership to get her cat, Marques went home and returned to the shelter at 3:40 p.m. with pictures and receipts from a veterinarian.
Too late, she was told. Puddles’ 72 hours were up at 3:17 p.m. He was put down at 3:35 p.m.
Marques can barely tell the story, dissolving several times into sobs about the black-and-white feline she had for five years.
“I had told the man, ‘Would you please put a statement on the cage not to euthanize? I’m coming back. Don’t do anything to him.’ He said, ‘I’ll do that, but he’s not up for review until tomorrow anyhow, so there’s nothing to worry about. But I’ll put a note on the cage.’?”
When she returned to find Puddles was dead, the man told her he forgot to post the note, she said.
Seitz said the shelter is investigating the incident, which he called rare since 2007, when Lied instituted new procedures. That includes scanning animals for identifying microchips twice, once upon intake and once just before euthanization, just to be sure.
“But if we have one of those (accidents) a year, it’s too many,” Seitz said.
North Las Vegas has an ordinance that does not allow pet owners to let their animals, even cats, to roam, Seitz pointed out. Puddles was trapped by someone who called animal control.
Please consider adding microchipping to your list of New Year’s Resolutions.
[PHOTO CREDIT: Tiffany Brown, LasVegasSun.com]
See related Cat's Meow entries:
Most cats aren’t wild about the toy-sucker-upper machines — aka vacuum cleaners — but here’s a chance to get your cat’s (or dog’s) face on some packaging AND get a monster $10,000 donation to your favorite pet cause.
Bissell’s annual Most-Valuable-Pet contest has just opened for entries. You can upload a pet photo once a week through the duration of the contest (and vote once weekly, too). Since last year’s winner was a dog, I’m hoping this year will be the Year of the Cat!
Until I moved in….I caught him one morning feeding them saying “come on Sybil, duck and heart flavour. Your favourite” Busted! In fact he cared so much about Sybil and Bea that once when Sybil was at the vets being investigated with a mystery ailment, he got stopped for speeding on his way to pick her up, he was able to tell the policeman that his little girl was poorly and got let off! Because he meant it I think!
Chengdu Business Daily newspaper reported that around 10,000 cats were eaten in Guangdong province every day, many of which may have been cared for by local residents, and may even have been family pets. These poor creatures suffer a horrific fate. After being trapped and transported for hours crushed together in tiny bamboo or wire crates with no food or water, many are skinned alive and thrown into boiling water, before being served to restaurant goers.
The problem is that there is currently no law in China under which the perpetrators of these activities can be prosecuted. What’s more, there is no public health inspection of these animals, so people eating cat meat may well be putting their own health at risk.
Press secretary Sally McDonough said in a statement, “The president, Mrs. Bush, Barbara, and Jenna are deeply saddened by the passing of their cat India (”Willie”). India was a beloved member of the Bush family for almost two decades. She will be greatly missed.” 
