Sammy, being a cat, was naturally very curious.  As a young kitten, he was always touching and smelling things to find out what they were.  Sometimes, this did not make the humans in the household very happy!  His mother tried to teach him what was okay to play with or smell; sometimes he paid attention, but most of the time he didn't.  The humans were getting very frustrated with him and tried using water bottles to spray him when he did something wrong.  He'd just wait until they put the water bottle away and do it again!  His mother was getting angry with him too and would slap him alongside the head with her paw.  Sammy just kept on being Sammy.

Finally, the humans decided to let him go into the yard.  If he played enough outside and explored everything there was to see, maybe he would be tired when he came in and would just sleep.  Sammy was one happy cat!  He practiced his hunting skills with anything that moved, such as leaves, bugs, birds, etc.  Nothing escaped his attention!  He smelled the flowers, the grass, the dirt and decided that this big wide world of a yard was very exciting.  Several months went by and things seemed to settle down in the house.  No more using the spray bottle because Sammy was very content to just sleep and eat.  His mother was very happy she didn't have to bop him alongside the head anymore.

Now the house that Sammy lived in was close to the woods.  And in the woods, there was a pond.  Sammy didn't know this because he was busy just playing the yard and couldn't see over the wood fence.  But, one day, when he made a big leap to try to catch a bird, he landed on top of the fence!  Oh, my!  What is this?  He couldn't believe there was more to explore.  This was a whole new world!  Of course, he couldn't resist the temptation, so he jumped down to see what this was all about.  He was so busy walking, smelling, and listening that he didn't realize how far he was getting away from the house.  Pretty soon he came to the pond.  He was trying to figure out where the bowl was that held this much water.

He heard a strange sound.  There was something that seemed to be floating in the water.  Sammy had never seen a creature like this and had no idea what it was.  It just ignored him and kept floating and making this strange sound.  Pretty soon the creature started to float towards him.  Part of him wanted to run; part of him wanted to find out what this thing was.  So, he sat down and waited.  It came out of the water, and Sammy wanted to laugh.  What a funny looking thing!  It had feathers, big feet, and things that spread out and flapped!  For a few minutes, they just looked at each other.

Finally, Sammy asked the creature what it was.  "I'm a duck", it replied.  "What are you doing here?  Don't you live in the house near the woods?"  Sammy realized that he didn't know where the house was now because he had lost sight of the fence.  "Yes, I do, but I don't know how to get home", said Sammy.  "That's okay", said the duck.  "I'll show you the way."  The duck, did indeed, show him the way home, and they were best friends forever.

As I was struggling to get my coat, my hat, my gloves, etc. on the other day, I looked at Kirby and said to him, "Kirby, you're so lucky that you don't have to struggle with all these clothes!"  (Yes, I talk to my cat as though he is a person because he really thinks he is!)  That brought to mind the Petcentric article I had tweeted the other day.  Spring is just around the corner; however, we still need to protect our pets from the cold.  Just because they have fur or hair doesn't mean they are immune.  Even though my boys are indoor cats, there are basic tips that I need to follow.

 The article suggested putting a warm sweater on your pet.  Lots of luck with mine on that one!!  But, I do have pet beds with blankets and a nice warm lap with a comforter spread across it for them to sleep on at night.  During the day, we keep the shades up on the south side of the house.  My bed is by the south window where they can stretch out on the bed, bask in the sun, and have a wonderful nap.

There are many dangers for pets outside in the winter.  Climbing into places that might be warm, such as a car engine, could prove fatal.  Bang on your car hood if it's kept outside before starting it up.  All of the chemicals used by cities and towns on the roadways are also harmful to your pet.  Wiping their feet with a towel when they come in can keep their feet from getting irritated as well as keeping the chemical from getting into their system when they lick their feet.

For more information on basic winter care tips for your pet, check out the article at http://www.petcentric.com/Knowledge/Articles/Protect-Your-Pet-Against-The-Cold.aspx?articleid=22c4b2fd-e8b4-4ae8-857e-602f66f90f1b

Thought I might try something a little different once in a while and see what you think.  Have a TON of kitty cat pictures, so I thought it would be fun to pick one out and build a story around it.  Used to do this with my second graders to see what kind of endings they could think of for the story I started.  As I said, let me know what you think.

Sandy was a very curious, four-month-old kitten.  She also thought she was very clever!  She had a good mommy who taught her how to clean herself, use the litter box, etc.  Mommy also taught her the tricks that cats use to make the humans do what they want them to do.  She was very confident when she started going out into the backyard with Mommy and felt very safe.  There were so many things to explore!!  Butterflies to watch, bugs to chase, flowers to dig up, and hoses to wrestle with.

One day she decided that she would go out in the yard by herself.  Mommy was asleep, and Sandy didn't want to wake her up.  She went bouncing through the pet door and out into the yard.  She ran, she jumped, she stalked, and she got very tired!  She didn't think she had the energy to get back inside, so she laid down under the shade of a tree to take a quick nap.

She hadn't noticed the squirrel in the tree.  He was busy running along the branches looking for food.  He went a little too far on a branch and a little part of it broke off and landed on Sandy's head!  She jumped up and was inside the house quicker than you can sneeze!  She ran up to Mommy and told her the sky was falling!  Mommy just smiled, calmed Sandy down, and told her that someday she would tell Sandy about squirrels.  "Oh, Mommy!", said Sandy.  "I love you so much.  I'm so glad you're my Mommy!"

Okay, "kids".  Let me know what you think or what you might add to the story.  Stay safe until next time!

It's a fact!  Dogs have masters; cats have servants.  Cats are far more independent and seem very uninterested at times.  However, when you connect with them emotionally, you will find a beautiful, unconditional love.

From the first time that kitty face makes you say "Awwww", that creature has wormed its way into your heart and you are gone.  It's all downhill from there.  But, what an adventure it can be!  Love, trust, companionship, entertainment, puzzlement, understanding.  It's all there.  You never know from one minute to the next what these delightful creatures will come up with.  Sometimes you think you've seen it all.  But, there's always one more surprise in store.  Don't know if it will be good or bad, unfortunately.  Just last night, the older cat, Kirby, found a sack that he could crawl around in at midnight and rip to shreds.  He thought it was great fun!  Me, not so much.  If I only had the energy this one little ball of fur has, I could get a lot done!

But, if I did, I would probably have to crash and burn after a couple of hours myself!  So maybe it's just as well I don't.

Some people spoil their animals terribly!  I guess that's all right in a way because they do become a very important part of your family and wrap themselves around your heart.  I feel pretty confident that I don't do that too much...........What?  Oh, it's you, Kirby!  And what would his Majesty like for dinner tonight?  Sorry, folks, I have to run!

This week we have been talking about cats being used in therapy.  No, you don't lie down on a couch and tell them your life story.  :>)  But, those of you who are animal lovers, particularly cats, know what it's like to be stressed out or down and your cat rubs up against you or snuggles in your lap.  As you run your hands through their fur or listen to them purr, you feel yourself relaxing a little.  They're so warm, so soft, and so loving you unconditionally that you can't help but be comforted.  Normally, dogs have been used as therapy animals, but cats are coming into their own and making their presence more known in this field.  According to studies, the presence of an animal produces positive results in safety, self-esteem and in dealing with loneliness and depression.  This makes a cat the ideal therapy animal for those in nursing homes.  Therapy cats are also valuable when interacting with Alzheimer patients, by stimulating both memory and forgotten emotions.  (They even help this senior with memory and emotions!)

One of my readers shared a website with me.  The webmaster is  Franny Syufy .  She writes: cats seem to have an instinct to be there when we need comfort. Whether we are sick, worried about our work, blue over a broken romance, or mourning the loss of a dear friend or loved one, a cat will inevitably show up to share our angst. Feeling a furry body steal into your lap, then give loving licks on your hand or face, purring all the while, is one of the most comforting feelings imaginable.  She also goes on to tell about how a cat helped a little boy who was autistic.  Thinking that a therapy animal might help the boy come out of his shell, the father took him to an animal shelter one day.  Here's what happened next.

"I walked past the cat room into the dog area. Again, I was disappointed that my son just stared around him at everything else, but not at the dogs. They seemed to hold his attention for a few seconds.
As we were leaving, once again we walked past the cat area doors. I figured, "What the heck? It's worth a try. Though I have no idea what he'll find interesting in there." We walked into the cat area, which was significantly smaller than the dog area. As we walked past the cages, there in a corner was a black and white tuxedo cat. Suddenly my four-year old non-verbal son pointed to the cage and said, "Cat!" That was it. That day we took the cat home. My son could not come up with a name for his new friend. My daughter, who has always been very protective of her younger brother tried to help find a name that he could pronounce. Finally, the name Clover was discovered."

You can read the rest of the story at  http://cats.about.com/od/youandyourcat/a/Therapy-Cats.htm  There are many more links and stories about other therapy cats as well.  Very interesting reading.

I would like to wish all of you the best of this holiday season and pray that your New Year will be peaceful and prosperous!  Our prayers go out to the residents of Newtown, Connecticut.  We share your grief.

The discussion this week on my Social Media posts has been about traveling with your pets, so I thought that I would share some information I found in my insurance magazine.  They brought up many good points to consider.

A growing number of national chains are now priding themselves on their pet-friendliness even going so far as to add special room service menus for cats and "pawdicures" for pampered pooches.  It's wise to call and confirm that the place you want to stay is pro-pet.  You need to know if there is a limit on the number of pets in a room, weight of dogs, not accepting certain breeds, etc.  Websites to search for useful information are:

www.petfriendlytravel.com                                             www.petswelcome.com
www.dogfriendly.com                                                    www.bringfido.com
www.fidofriendly.com

Pet safety should be the main concern in your car.  Use a carrier that will allow your pet to stand up, turn around, and lie down.  Frequent stops to help your pet stretch their legs and go potty are also necessary.  And, of course, NEVER leave your pet unattended.

The Humane Society is not in favor of air travel for pets, only unless absolutely necessary.  Airline restrictions vary, so call early to learn the do's and don'ts.  www.airconsumer.ost.dot.gov/publications/animals.htm  is a link to use for information on this topic.

Camping is a good option for dog lovers because many National Parks will allow a leashed pet on their trails.  Go to nps.gov and search "dogs allowed".

What to bring?
1.  A recent Certificate of Veterinary Inspection showing your pet is healthy and vaccinations are up to date.
2.  Your vet's phone number in case of emergency.
3.  Bottled water, food, bowls, and a leash.
4.  Plastic bags and clean up supplies.
5.  Favorite toys, a blanket or pet bed.
6.  Your pet's collar, ID tags, and a picture in case the pet is lost.
7.  Medications, including those for car sickness.

A happy pet will allow everyone to have a good time!  Happy traveling!

My question this week was: Are you thankful for your cat and why?  Received some neat answers.  One owner replied that the cat's antics brought her joy.  Oh, my goodness, yes!  I certainly would agree with that one.  Sometimes my two are purrfectly content to sleep and eat.  But, there are other days that you'd swear there are 20 cats in here instead of two because they are EVERYWHERE!  I have to caution my mother sometimes to watch out for them if they're on a rampage because she might get run over!  Into this, into that, chase each other, etc.  Their energy is boundless on those days.  Just recently purchased one of those "red dot" laser lights.  I think I get a bigger kick out of it than the cats!  Just watching them with it keeps me entertained.  And then there's empty boxes.  Got a chuckle out of this because it's so true.

Cats can entertain themselves with the box for hours.  Have to laugh at Sammy.  After we recycle, the first thing he does with the box that held paper is tip it over and crawl in.  Guess he has to see if anything changed!

Another owner told me that she loves her six cats because they are her saving grace.  If your world or you are going crazy, there's nothing more calming than to have a cat on your lap purring and looking at you with sleepy eyes.  You can feel yourself chilling out and have such a warm, fuzzy feeling in your heart.  Sammy can be a terror, but when he lays on my lap at night and looks at me with love in his eyes, my heart just melts.  They are such good companions.  They don't ask for much: food, water, love, and a place to go potty, of course.  What a blessing they can be.  According to research, people with pets tend to live longer.  I can understand why.

Would love to hear your reasons for being thankful for your cat.  Please leave a comment and have a great day!