Friday, October 31, 2014

It Was a Very Good Night!

Happy Halloween, everyone! Enjoy the story.


Tiger was the only cat in the family. There were also two dogs, and they got along with each other very well. Tiger had seen what happened with the dogs around the time of Halloween and he would hide. He didn't want humans putting all kind of costumes on him. Yuck! The dogs looked so silly, but they'd just wag their tails and act like they were all happy about it. That wasn't for Tiger. No, sir, cats didn't do that!

It was time for Halloween again. "Oh, no", thought Tiger. "Time for me to find a place to hide!" However, things were going to be different this year. The children had decided that the pets should go with them to carry their treat buckets. No costumes for the animals this year. Now, this sounded pretty good to Tiger! He liked being outside and decided he wouldn't hide. Being a cat, he was curious about what would happen,.

When it was time to go outside to trick or treat, Tiger was so excited that he could hardly stand it. He bounced from floor to couch, from chair to floor, etc. like he had springs in his feet. The children gathered him up along with the dogs and off they went. It was so much fun! Other children would pet him and love on him until he purring so loud he sounded like a freight train. "Yes!", thought Tiger. "I want to do this every year." He was so tired when they came home that he fell asleep in the chair. It had been a very good night indeed!



Marion Lovato is the author of Sam, the Superkitty.  Her book describes an ordinary cat changing into a superhero to protect his family from things that go bump in the night.  Available on Amazon as a paperback or Kindle edition.  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1604588667



Saturday, October 25, 2014

How Are Cats and Kids Alike?

Cats and kids have more things in common than you might think!  I had been a dog person all of my life until ten years ago when my ex-husband introduced me to two female cats who were sisters.  What an adventure that was!  I am no longer around the females, but have two males of my own that I rescued.  Until I retired, I had been in the teaching profession for almost thirty years.  Watching my two sure reminded me of things I had seen children do.  Let's take a look at some of these similarities.

1.  They both like to play in cardboard boxes.

My two kids could have more fun with a cardboard box making it into whatever their imagination came up with.  My two males would rather have a box to play with than any fun toys I can buy them.  Doesn't matter what the size is.  Might have to squeeze in, but that's okay.





2.  They like to lie in the middle of the hallway when you're walking.

Both of my kids at home and in the classroom would love to be spread out all over the place when working on something.  At home, I'd have to step over kids on the floor with blankets, etc. while watching a movie.  One of my males loves to lie right in the doorway between the kitchen and the living room.  When Mother comes along with her walker, do you think he will move?  Absolutely not!  She has to pick up the walker and try to get around him.




3.  They like climbing on things!

Couches, chairs, beds, etc.  You name it and they'll want to climb it.  The higher, the better.  My youngest son did Motocross Racing when he was younger.  Watching him fly over the hills at 90 mph was more than this mom could take!  My mother was amazed one day when Sammy went from the floor to the top of the refrigerator in one single leap.  (We have since fixed that problem!)




4.  They squeeze into tiny spaces.

Sometimes my boys would use their closets as forts and cram all their "stuff" and themselves into these small spaces.  It was cramped, but they seemed to have fun judging from the talking and laughing going on.  Fortunately, they took a flashlight with them so they could see.  My cats can curl themselves around in the weirdest places and positions to take naps.  If the cardboard box is too small, they can still find a way to make it fit.




5.  They don't like to be "overly dressed".

I have been accused by a friend of mine of having more underwear pictures of my boys than anybody else she knows.  This was when they were young on Christmas morning, taking a nap, etc.  I tried once to put a Christmas collar on Kirby.  That did not go over well.  Could not imagine even trying to get actual clothes on him.








6.  They both like lying down in suitcases.

This is my great-granddaughter, Maycee.  Her mother was trying to get ready to go on a trip to visit family.




And you know what this is!


There are other way that cats and kids are alike, but I think this gives you a general picture.  Hope you enjoyed it.  What things do your cats do that remind you of your children?





Marion Lovato is the author of Sam, the Superkitty.  Her book describes an ordinary cat changing into a superhero to protect his family from things that go bump in the night.  Available on Amazon as a paperback or Kindle edition.  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1604588667


Saturday, October 18, 2014

Flopsy and Mopsy Come Home

It's been a crazy week, folks, so I'm posting another original story that I've written. Enjoy and let me know what you think. Love the positive feedback and suggestions!


Flopsy, a dog,  and Mopsy, a cat, did not have a forever home.  They were born in different places and did know each other at first.  In fact, they didn't even have names to begin with.  Their mamas lived in old buildings that didn't have people living in them.  It was a very scary world to them.  The mamas did the best they could, but life was not easy.

One day, the mamas were hunting in the same alley.  They had their little ones with them, and that's how Flopsy and Mopsy met.  They liked each other right away and wanted to play.  However, they had to wait until the mamas were done hunting.  They all went back to where Flopsy and his family were staying to share the food.  This went on for several days until a human found them and took all of them to a shelter.

Flopsy and Mopsy were not in the same part of the shelter, so they didn't see each other any more.  They thought about each other and really wished they could play again.  A woman walked into the shelter on a bright, sunny morning wanting to adopt a puppy.  She loved animals and was a very kind person.  When the clerk showed her the dogs, she immediately wanted Flopsy.  The clerk told her that Flopsy had come in with a family of cats.  Would she be interested in a kitten?  The animals were so glad to see each other that the woman knew she needed both of them.  Life became very happy and good when Flopsy and Mopsy were in their new home.  They had a favorite story they liked to read:



Marion Lovato is the author of Sam, the Superkitty.  Her book describes an ordinary cat changing into a superhero to protect his family from things that go bump in the night.  Available on Amazon as a paperback or Kindle edition.  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1604588667




Saturday, October 4, 2014

Even Cats Can Sometimes Use Therapy

I used this picture in my blog last week which gave me an idea when I read about cat therapy on the Internet.



Never had thought about that before, but it seems we're hearing more and more stories about cats becoming aggressive and turning on their owners.  In the case of the cat in Portland who turned on his family, it was learned that the baby had pulled its tail and kicked it.  Jackson Galaxy, star of Animal Planet's “My Cat from Hell”, states that cats don't become ferocious felines that turn on their families for no reason.  Having a tail pulled and then being kicked by the seven-month old could be a very good reason!  According to the owner, this cat has a history of violence.  Seems this was the straw that broke the camel's back.  Galaxy has agreed to provide therapy for this cat.

In New York City, three California family members were hospitalized after their unprovoked housecat freaked and began clawing their legs, faces and arms. And an Upper East Side bodega cat named February has been harassing pooches outside of the Running Paws doggie day care on First Ave. since last year.  Enter cat therapist, Carole Wilbourne, who has a range of approaches to make cats less frightened and less agressive.  She is ready to step in when owners are ready to give their sourpuss the heave-ho.

“Cats don’t like being dictated to,” says Wilbourne, “and people don’t know what to do with them.”  Single cats who are left alone all day or for several days at a time are liable to act out by pooping outside the litter box, claw furniture and act aggressively because they’re stressed from being alone.  Finding a companion for them that they can get along with helps with these problems.  If you're living with other people who also have cats, focus on your own cats instead of trying to make the other cat like you.  In her words, “It’s more important that the cats get along with each other than if they get along with you.”   “They feel betrayed because you are paying attention to a new cat,” she says. “It would be like if you were living with a guy, and he brought home another woman.”

Wilbourne’s house calls aren’t cheap — she charges $365 for the first at-home visit, and $175 for followups. Perks include treats like catnip and toys, and a postcard from her a few days later to see how the cat is doing.  In cases of violent cat behavior, she will refer patients to vets for Prozac or Valium.


NYC PAPERS OUT. Social media use restricted to low res file max 184 x 128 pixels and 72 dpi 

Certain people can also bring on aggression in cats.  One lady told of her sister coming to visit and the aggression that her cat showed to her sister.  The sister is now afraid of the cat.  The vet's advice was this:

Some cats develop specific human phobias, which can manifest in fleeing when a particular person enters their environment or going into attack mode.The cat-calming room spray pheromone Feliway, dispersed a couple of days before your sister’s visit and sprayed on her clothes when she enters, might be worth trying.

Alternatively, have your sister visit wearing the same perfume as you. For several days before her visit, be sure that both your cats have some of the perfume rubbed into their coats.

Have you had to deal with an aggressive cat?  If so, what was the situation and the solution?  Please share your thoughts with us on this subject.

Of course, if you have a cat like this, you can talk about that too!!!



Marion Lovato is the author of Sam, the Superkitty.  Her book describes an ordinary cat changing into a superhero to protect his family from things that go bump in the night.  Available on Amazon as a paperback or Kindle edition.  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1604588667