A kitty named PeeWee McGee

by tom herzberg
(saginaw, mi)

You may Address me as Your Royal Highness

by Phyllis Jean Green
(Chapel Hill, NC, USA)

Point me to the sign-up sheet for being reincarnated to a cat
Smug, sleek, satin-soft, and unflappable as a dime-novel gumshoe.
I crave whiskers dripping cream, and eyes able to fix on a gnat.
I want humans to laugh so hard, they forget they were ever blue.

In Japan, we cats are known as tigers that eat from the hand.
These reptilian, dark-piercing eyes can stare down a guard hound.
Funny? Can you spell circus? Clowns are in far less demand.
Slight-of-paw artists: blink, poof! Blink, back without a sound!

Sphinxes hail back to feline gods clawed and spat old Egypt-style.
Cat mummies got catnip, toast tips, and cream of mouse bisque.
Kill a cat, pfffft! Injure one, wind up in some dank prison?s file.
Still rule, of course. Move in, own. Might allow a tousle or kiss.

Note: the cat that follows my demise will require breakfast at eight.
She?ll have a lot of bird-watching to do, so do not be late.
--Capice?

My little tiger

by Annie
(Angaston, S.A, Australia)

The moon light shone dimmly through the small arch that was the barn window. A sliver of silver flashed before her eyes, but only for a second.

"Your mine now!" the small, stripped cat announced proudly, however, not loud enough for the mouse to hear.

The waiting was the hardest part, but Tammy had all the time in the world and the patience of a pure killer. Her fur lightly brushing the thick cardboard box as she poised to pounce. Now there was no escape for the small, pesky creature that was her prey.

As the mouse scurried along the wall only centimeters from it's infinite doom she struck! Her razor like claws gripped the mouse in an inescapable hold that ended the tiny creature quickly.

Tammy could feel the warm blood pooling in her mouth, salty and rich (a familiar taste indeed), but the mouse quickly lost it's flavour and so the proud hunter lost interest. The kill was dropped to the ground without another word.

Although Tammy no longer wanted the mouse she still had her reputation to uphold so when other cats began to show an interest she would roar with such ferocity that none dared to challenger her for the tiny rodent. But, there was one cat that she would gladly share with and sure enough she was soon joined by her sister Tilly.

It wasn't long before the two sisters were asleep beside the dog as always, and nestled between them was Tammy's new prize. All night she held that mouse and come morning it had lost it's importance, so it was of to the hunting ground once again!

grief for me and my cat

by david
(london)

Me and my cat are both in pain my wife died a year and a half ago i still hurts more than i could ever explain and i know my cat is suffering to . she just wonders around the house for hours looking everywhere i'm sure she is looking for my wife . she is very old and she seems to get ill then shes better again .

At night time we just sit staring at the telly not really watching . since shes been gone i do things because i have to and not because i want to anymore . i know my cat feels the same . thank you .

Comment from Kate
Hi David
Your story really did touch me. I can feel your pain in your words.

yes cats do grieve too and also your cat is also sensing your pain and loss too and reacting to that as well.

At the very least you have each other at this terrible time. I hope that together you can both learn to be happy again.

Bambi Our Cat and ForEver Friend

by Helen Madden
(Belfast Northren Ireland)

Bambi you came to us in February 2008, your big beautiful yellow eyes jumped from the page on which you where looking for a new owner to take you home.
we Contacted seventh heaven Rescue centre where you were being cared for.
When we saw you we new you were meant for us.

You sat on our laps and purred loudly your good friends that were looking after you got the papers for us to sign and then you where coming home to be with us and Lucky.
Lucky was the reason we got you because her mother Treacle died from Cancer in January that year. You did not take to kindly to wee Lucky for the first 6 months and stayed up in my Bedroom, then you got brave enough to be with Lucky, "yes it is true you spat and hissed at Lucky however slowly and surely you began to trust Lucky and a friendship of sorts was struck up.


Your an indoor cat because you hated loud noise as you were rescued from a quarry. Every time somone knocked on the door you would run and hide under my bed untill the person making the noise moved away.

You were happy in our house were you would chase Lucky you always played a game of hide and seek with her, jumping on her when she came down stairs.
Your favourite toy is a bouncy ball which you chase around the living room floor as it is not level your wee face is a picture when the ball returns to you.

Bambi the Day that we thought we would never come,happened on the 7th of March this year, you decided to go outside and I searched high and low for you but no sign. And as I write this you have now been gone 2 weeks I just hope and pray you are safe and somone will see the posters and bring you home to us.
Take care my friend we all love and miss you very much.
I am going to write a poem about you also however at the minute it is just to hard for me.

Comment from KAte
Helen, don't give up hope, keep looking and calling Banbi, leave something ouside which smells of her a favourite blanket etc. keep chekcing with neighbours and keep contacting your local vets and animal shelters.

Sometimes cats will go on a long walkabout when they are first let out. Also try to find out where she origianlly came from and go look there too.

I will keep my fingers crossed that you find her soon. Don't forget cats are great survivors.

Providing for cats

I have looked on line for advice about how to provide a cat toilet in a large community garden. There are many lovely cats in the neighbourhood, and I adore it when they come and 'garden' with me. One pounced on me the other day and gave me a fright but it was all in good fun...

Cats are great friends in the garden. Yet, there are so many sites on the internet that bemoan their tendency to poo in inappropriate places, specially freshly turned soil.

I would like to understand better cat behaviour so that rather than trying to exclude them from the garden, as so many people appear to think is the answer, and find instead the best way to encourage them to use a cat garden toilet.

But what should this look like? Should it be one spot or a few? Should I use sand? Will cats use the same toilet or do I need many? If I plant cat nip nearby will that discourage them from using the toilet? What conditions do they like best - sheltered, covered, in a back corner, under a tree?

I know this isn't quite a story, but if I could find a way to solve this riddle I'd be so happy.

Caelin - Kitten Rescued From A Fire

by Mimi Hamilton
(Carnoet, Brittany France)

Caelin was rescued from a house fire in which her mom died saving her by laying on her. I used to feed Tania (her mom) during her pregnancies which were many; her owners did not feed her sufficiently.

Caelin was given to us two days after the fire, she was a 3 months old kitten, smelled of smoke, her fur was grey, she had a little burn on her right ear, her right eye was infected and she had a bad cough from smoke inhalation. She was very small for her age.

As my husband held her in one hand he fell in love with her, though he didn't want another cat (we already had two cats)!

Comment from Kate
What a wonderful story.

My Guardian Angel - A Cat Story

by Elizabeth

My cat Blue, has never been a very affectionate cat to my dismay. But he very pleasantly surprised me after I got home after having heart by-pass surgery.

He stayed right against me while lying down and always beside me when I got up. I was lying on the couch sleeping one night(for some reason I did NOT want to sleep in the bed)when I awoke and there was just light enough for me to see him sitting on the arm of the chair very still just watching me.

It touched my heart that obviously he did love me and was for a time anyway, my guardian angel! I wonder if other people have had similar experiences?

forever my little angel

by Ellis & Linda
(Kent, Washington USA)

Angel will be our little Angel forever and ever and we will always love her. She brought joy to our lives in her short life.

We always called her our little Angel because she was so sweet and loving.

We will miss you and will keep you forever in our hearts. No one can ever replace you.

Rest in peace Little One..... Ellis & Linda

Left Alone Led By Destiny

by John Michael Ledesma
(Philippines, Iloilo City)

My name is mickey i was the owner of a kitten named nubnub who actually got lost or i just don't what happen. Weewee and nubnub actually are like identical twins so far the difference is in their facial structure and eyes and nubnub's got a white line behind his back. Since nubnub has not returned at home. my other cat named WeeWee actually got sad until then. Maybe she just cant accept that her brother is no longer here by her side. i completely understand what she is going through right now. so i just need to wait until she actually gets recover from what she is feeling right now.

It makes me feel better to write this story as it also helps me recover this tragic event. But the loss of one kitten not be the end for me. as for me, this is the part that i really need to improve so that i can really take care of my cats well.

Comment from Kate

Hi
I am so sorry for your loss and it can be even worse when you don’t know what really happened to your kitten. However you are right in your thinking, you have to now focus on the kitten you still have.

Owning a cat has many responsibilities such as feeding them the correct food and providing health care when they need it, this includes neutering and vaccinations and a monthly flea treatment. This can be costly but will benefit both you and your cat in the long run.

Read through my site about how to look after kittens, what food is best for them etc this is the best way to care for your cat.

Whatever happened to your other kitten you could do nothing about, it was not your fault and so you must not dwell on the loss but as i say focus your attention on the future and your other kitten.

Prince of Persian Cats visit my home

by valene lagunzad
(Philippines)

It was just after Christmas morning when I saw a dirty white fluffy tail by my window, a long smelly one I can tell. Right after staring at this creature, I shouted to my brother that there was a huge cat on our garage, and it was no ordinary feline found in the streets of Manila- in fact it was humongous compared to the other cats that I have seen. Running down the stairs, I grabbed some food to try to catch the wondrous animal that was a mess, a fabulous mess with dreads and greyish streaks. My brother caught him and I took care of him for five days. I was no expert on cat grooming, nor cat feeding. I was definitely not a professional at cleaning cat litter, and when I got some poop on my face while cleaning him, I thought this was the end of my persian- cat- "owner" life. But, it did not end there. I did not know what to do most of the time but I was certain I loved that cat. I called him Snowball, named after the pet in Stuart Little. One afternoon while trying to brush his fur, I got bitten on my arm and I panicked a little. I knew that he was just expressing his appreciation because their kind was lovable and playful, to the point of biting out of love. My parents wanted to kill him, make him into cat meat or something. Give him away! They said. I fought for my smelly Snowball and just went to the hospital instead to get my rabies shots, just in case I needed it. While having my shots, my conscience hit me. Snowball's' owner might be looking for him, crying while searching for his beloved pet. I had to do the right thing, even if I already withstood and overcame the challenges and responsibilities of having a persian cat in the house. Come New Year's eve and Snowball was already found by his owner. I was hesitant at first because I had to be a bit investigative. I did not want Snowball to be taken by someone who had bad intentions. And I found out that the pauper-looking Persian turned out to be more than just a dirty stray Persian cat in the streets.
I couldnt believe my eyes when I saw his birth certificate. He was the cat of the amabassador of Kuwait! He's like a prince dressed up as a poor cat who ran away from home. His name was not Snowball, but Augustus! Augustus the Great from Kuwait! Two years of age and has a wife waiting for him at home.
And so I gave him back again...after everything that has happened, from kitty litter trouble, to very expensive anti rabies shots and now to give him away just like that. I had to admit. I cried a little. I was even supposed to spend money to groom him and have him checked at the vet just so he would be safe. But, I had to give him back.
I know that he is in his home now, just a few blocks away from mine but I still miss him.
The End

HOW CHESTER GOT ADOPTED

by Virginia C
(Santa Rosa, CA)

THIS IS HOW CHESTER GOT ADOPTED IN GILROY, FALL 2008

The cat is not allowed in the house...
Okay, the cat is allowed in the house,
but only in certain rooms...
Fine, the cat is allowed in all rooms,
but has to stay off the furniture...
Okay, the cat can get on the old furniture only...
Fine, the cat is allowed on all the furniture,
but is not allowed to sleep with the humans in bed...
Okay, the cat is allowed on the bed,
but only by invitation...
Fine, the cat can sleep on the bed whenever he wants,
but not under the covers...
Okay, the cat can sleep under the covers by invitation only...
Fine, the cat can sleep under the covers every night
and the humans must ask permission to sleep under the covers with the cat.


Comment from Kate
Excellent I think I will use this in the next newsletter if thats OK.