The First Thanksgiving

You've all heard the story of the first Thanksgiving when the Pilgrims and Indians sat down together to give thanks for what they had. It's been written about in history books and told many times. However, there is a part of the story that you have never heard. It's my pleasure to tell it to you now.

There were many kind of animals living in this brand new country that the Pilgrims learned to call home. The Indians killed only what they needed to survive so there was always large groups of animals roaming the meadows and forests. Some of these animals, however, were very small and not noticed by the Pilgrims. One such group was a little colony of hamsters. They didn't trust these strangers and stayed as far away from them as they could. The mayor of this colony was Harry Hamster; his wife was called Minnie. Life was good and things were going well.

The first winter that the Pilgrims spent in America was very harsh. Some of them did not make it through  because of the lack of food or being sick. The hamsters watched all of this going on and couldn't help but wonder why these creatures were so silly. After all, the hamsters had plenty of food that they had stored and they knew how to keep themselves warm. They began to feel sorry for these strangers and talked about ways they could help.

Minnie's cousin, Fluffy, had a great idea. Why not leave some nuts for them! Everyone agreed that this would be the thing to do. When piles of nuts started appearing around town, the Pilgrims had no idea where they came from. The nuts kept coming, so the Pilgrims put them to good use by eating them whole or by baking them. Soon, delicious smells were floating around the countryside. The hamsters couldn't resist the smell and found themselves coming closer to town. To their surprise, these strangers were actually very friendly. By the time of the first Thanksgiving feast, the hamsters had many friends among the Pilgrims. So, it was no surprise when the hamsters decided the join the Pilgrims and Indians on this special day. They had only one request.

Talk to Your Cats About Catnip!

Do you remember the commercial with eggs frying in a pan and the announcer is saying, "This is your brain on drugs."? With the use of drugs being so much higher now than when my kids were growing up, every parent is encouraged to have that talk with their kids. In this blog, I'm using that same theme to talk about catnip for cats. Hope you enjoy.

First of all, let's talk about what catnip is. Nepeta cataria, or catnip, is a strong-scented mint that contains a volatile oil that’s easily released into the air. Biting or rolling on the plant crushes the leaves, and releases the oil so Kitty can get a good sniff. It doesn’t take much. Cats can detect catnip oil in the air at a saturation as low as one part per billion. Whoa! That's pretty amazing!

How does catnip affect your cat? Rather than a simple smell, the chemical in catnip resembles sedative components also found in the valerian plant, which may be used in natural therapies to calm pets and people. Catnip also may be similar to one of the substances found in tomcat urine—yucky to you, but a lovely smell to the cat! In fact, this pheromone in urine often triggers the same sort of behavioral reaction in cats as exposure to catnip. 

These types of chemicals, once inhaled, enter the cat's highly specialized scenting organ through the roof of the mouth. The vomeronasal, or Jacobson's organs, sit between the hard palate of the mouth and the septum of the nose, and connect to the mouth via tiny conduits directly behind the cat’s upper incisor teeth. You may see kitty perform an odd facial grimace with lips curled back and mouth open when employing this organ.
The Jacobson’s organs are linked to the hypothalamus, an area of the brain that acts like a switchboard to direct information to higher centers. This part of the brain integrates taste and smell, motivates appetite, and triggers a variety of behaviors.

Catnip in cats affects the same biochemical pathways that are affected by marijuana and LSD in people. In its simplest terms, catnip is a feline hallucinogen.The kitty "high" lasts from five to 15 minutes, and causes a loss of inhibition. While the behaviors may look similar to cats-in-love, catnip is NOT a feline aphrodisiac. It prompts similar behaviors in both neutered and intact cats. Catnip-intoxicated cats act like furry fools who roll and flop about on the floor, drool, and have a wonderful relaxing time.


Cats rarely respond to catnip until they are about six months old, and some cats never do. The trait is an inherited one, with only two out of three domestic cats being affected; male cats seem to respond more strongly than females. The quality of the catnip also influences the response. With my two, Kirby reacts to it, but Sammy doesn't.

So, I'd like to emphasize the point again because if you don't...........

you might have to put up with these things!

Well! That story is for another time. Tell us about your cats and how silly they can get when they are around catnip. Would love to hear your comments.

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

Happy Thanksgiving!

We're starting into that busy time of year again; Thanksgiving, Black Friday, cards, presents, decorations, etc. Today I'd like to share some of the things that I am thankful for. Yes, some of them will be funny. On a serious note, I am grateful that my mother is still with us at the age of 95. My sons and their families are close and doing well. My seventh great-grandchild will be a year old in December. Our health is good, and we look forward to many things. Kirby and Sammy are a blessing and such good companions. Well, most of the time anyway! And last, but NOT least, I am very thankful for all of you who read my blog!

Now, lets go through a Thanksgiving day and see how our pets can help us enjoy it even more. First of all, you need to get up early to start the turkey. If you don't get up early enough, you might find this!

Regardless of what time I get up, I usually have to start my morning out with coffee. Lots of it.

You will be making other things for dinner besides the turkey, but there's one thing every recipe calls for.

Some of you like to "dress up" for the holidays, but I guarantee that your kitty cat will outdo you every time!

Your pets can be a source of entertainment when guests arrive. Not everyone might appreciate it, however.

If you get tired from all the preparation, someone will be there to help you get through it .

You certainly want your pets to mind their manners when there are guests in the house. That's not always easy though!

After all the excitement of the day, you may find that your pets will be ready for a nap wherever they happen to be.

Wishing all of you a very happy Thanksgiving Day with family and friends. Let us know some of your favorite things to do on this special day! Or what your pet does! Some of that can be pretty funny.

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

Sparky, the Shy Little Kitten

Sparky was born one cold, rainy morning along with his four sisters and brothers.  He was very little and stayed close to Momma.  He felt very safe, happy, and warm when he was with her.  He missed her every time she would leave the box to get some food for herself.  She wouldn't be gone long though.  Sparky was always happy to have her come back.

As the other kittens grew older, Sparky saw them going further away from Momma and even trying to climb out of the box!  Not Sparky!!  He didn't want to leave Momma's side.  There were these big things called children that wanted to hold all the kittens and play with them.  They were too scary!  As if that wasn't bad enough, there was also a thing called a dog that would stick its big nose in the box once in a while.  Sparky didn't like the smell of him at all.

The dog decided that teasing Sparky was a lot of fun and started putting his head in the box every time he had a chance.  Sparky was growing bigger and bigger and grew tired of this.  He was also getting big enough to leave Momma and the box to go out exploring on his own.  Momma warned him to leave the dog alone because he might be taken away.  At first, he listened to Momma.  One day he decided that he'd had enough of this dog.  The dog was sleeping on a living room rug and didn't hear him coming.  Sparky crept up very slowly, took aim. and bopped the dog on the nose with his paw!!  The dog's eyes popped open in surprise.  He couldn't believe what Sparky had done.  As Sparky was taken away, he was thinking:

The family did take him back, and the dog never bothered him again!

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

Why Do Cats Rule the Internet?

What is it with cats and the Internet? Dogs and their owners have tried to get the same amount of attention by singing, doing tricks, being dressed in silly costumes, etc. They seem to go out of their way to impress us.  Cats, on the other hand, just have to sit there and look grumpy.

 

Baby animals in both categories possess the same distinction of being cute, cuddly and fluffy.  Puppies even have the benefit over kittens of staying cuter for longer. Then again, this is true of almost all species and still cats retain dominance over the entire animal kingdom online.

Cat owners don't take their pets to the park and talk with other owners like dog people do. On the Internet, cat lovers can share and show off that is not possible in any other way. Some people are of the opinion that  those who sit at computers all day are cat lovers, with no need to walk, bathe or play with their pet and they share a nocturnal lifestyle.  The dog lovers are all outside throwing a ball. I don't agree with this as a cat owner; I play with my boys throughout the day would love to take them for a walk. But, I also don't want them exposed to all the dangers and diseases out there.

Perhaps cats rule the Internet because they resemble babies. What? Stop and think about it. They both have big eyes, small nose, and a dome-shaped head. Maybe this triggers a nurturing instinct in us humans.

Fascination with cats is not a by-product of the Internet, however. Before that, they were worshiped in
ancient Egypt as gods. (They've never forgotten it either!) Cats have been around in storybooks, cartoons,

and movies for many years. Some became very famous like Crookshanks in Harry Potter books and a cat called Cat in the movie Breakfast at Tiffany's. Among other immortalized cats are The Cat in the Hat, Puss in Boots, Tom Kitten, Moppet and Mittens, Scarface Claw, Mehitabel, Mog, Carbonel and the Cheshire Cat.

Cat lovers use the Internet to share and celebrate the laughter that these creatures can generate. Even though cats are hunters, they are also vulnerable. Perhaps this makes us realize how vulnerable we are also.

Whatever the reasons, it's hard to argue with the facts. Cats do rule the Internet. Like the old saying:

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