Cats
- Big Cats & Small Cats in the Wild
- Cat- and Pet-Related Holidays
- Popular and Unusual Pet Names
- Fabric Sucking in Cats
- Alley Cat Allies
- Cat Agility Contests
- Cats in Warfare
- Cats That Look Like Hitler
- Why Cats Hiss
- Cat Provides Care for the Dying
Big Cats & Small Cats in the Wild
Posted by
Jennifer Copley
Jennifer Copley
Dwindling habitats and human persecution are threatening many wild cat species, including tigers, Scottish wild cats and many others.
How many wild cats are there? According to The International Society for Endangered Cats (ISEC) Canada, there are 37 species of wild cat in the world and 30 of these are small cats. The majority of wild cat populations are endangered or vulnerable due to habitat destruction, persecution, the fur trade and the exotic pet trade.
For most wild cats, total numbers are not known. Cats tend to be shy and elusive, and it is difficult to get accurate information regarding populations, particularly for the small cats. ISEC offers estimates for certain wild cat populations. However, some of these estimates are 10 to 20 years old, and populations may have changed in the interim:
For most wild cats, total numbers are not known. Cats tend to be shy and elusive, and it is difficult to get accurate information regarding populations, particularly for the small cats. ISEC offers estimates for certain wild cat populations. However, some of these estimates are 10 to 20 years old, and populations may have changed in the interim:
- Ocelot – 1 million
- Bobcat – 750,000-1 million USA
- Leopard – 700,000+
- Lion – 50,000 African lions, 500-600 Indian lions
- Tiger – 49,000-73,000 (just 400 of which are Siberian tigers)
- Lynx – 40,000 Russia, more throughout Urasia, numbers unknown in Canada; the Iberian Lynx faces extinction at under 100
- Snow Leopard – 3,500-7,000
- Cougar – 10,000 USA, Canadian and Central/South American populations unknown
- African Black-Footed Cat – less than 10,000 mature breeders
- Jaguar – 1,000 Mexico, 150-200 Costa Rica, 2,500 Brazilian Pantanal, 1,500 Belize and Guatamala
- Iriomote cat – just 100, only on Iriomote Island, Japan
- Scottish Wild Cat – less than 400
Posted by
Jennifer Copley
Jennifer Copley
There are a number of pet-related holidays and “awareness days,” some serious and some just for fun.
After learning about the upcoming National Feral Cat Day (sponsored by Alley Cat Allies) on October 16, I wondered if there were any other cat holidays. I vaguely recalled reading about a few quirky ones in the past, such as Put Your Pets in People Clothes Day (January 14), What if Cats and Dogs Had Opposable Thumbs? Day (March 3) and Happy Mew Year for Cats Day (January 2), but couldn’t remember who sponsored them. A stroll down Google lane turned up a list of real cat- and pet-related holidays. Some additional funny cat holidays include:
For more quirky cat stuff, see Cat Circuses Make a Comeback and Popular and Unusual Pet Names.
- January 22 – Answer Your Cat’s Question Day (Wellcat.com)
- April 18 – Pet Owners Independence Day (Wellcat.com)
- April 28 – Hairball Awareness Day (ScienceDiet.com)
- May 19 – Hug Your Cat Day
- September 23 – Political Pets Day
- December 15 – Cat Herder’s Day (Wellcat.com)
- February – Pet Dental Health Month (PetDental.com)
- April – National Pet First Aid Awareness Month (PetTech.com) and Prevention of Animal Cruelty Month (ASPCA)
- First week of May – Be Kind to Animals Week (the American Humane Society)
- June – Adopt-a-Shelter-Cat Month (the ASPCA)
- August 19 – International Homeless Animals Day (the International Society for Animal Rights)
For more quirky cat stuff, see Cat Circuses Make a Comeback and Popular and Unusual Pet Names.
Posted by
Jennifer Copley
Jennifer Copley
Petfinder.com has compiled lists of the most popular and the most unusual cat and dog names for 2007.
Petfinder.com offers a searchable database of animals in need of homes, hosting a directory of more than 10,000 adoption organizations and animal shelters throughout North America and Mexico. In addition to helping people find pets, Petfinder provides animal information and fun articles, including a survey of the top pet names for 2007.
Of 260,000 pets, the top three cat names for 2007 were Smokey, Lucy and Angel. The top three dog names were Buddy, Max and Sadie. Other top cat names included Oreo, Midnight, Shadow, Patches, Princess, Tigger and Molly. Additional top dog names were Jack, Daisy, Lucy, Lady, Charlie, Rocky and Duke. The perception of dogs as companions rather than possessions is reflected in the shift away from names such as Spot and Rover over the years. Dogs are more likely to receive human names, while cats are more often named based on their physical appearance. Lucy is the only name that made both lists.
Petfinder has also compiled a list of the most unusual pet names for 2007, including
For more quirky cat stuff, see Dancing with Cats, Cat Circuses Make a Comeback and Cat- and Pet-Related Holidays.
Of 260,000 pets, the top three cat names for 2007 were Smokey, Lucy and Angel. The top three dog names were Buddy, Max and Sadie. Other top cat names included Oreo, Midnight, Shadow, Patches, Princess, Tigger and Molly. Additional top dog names were Jack, Daisy, Lucy, Lady, Charlie, Rocky and Duke. The perception of dogs as companions rather than possessions is reflected in the shift away from names such as Spot and Rover over the years. Dogs are more likely to receive human names, while cats are more often named based on their physical appearance. Lucy is the only name that made both lists.
Petfinder has also compiled a list of the most unusual pet names for 2007, including
- Barney Google
- Bubba Big Foot
- Cinderella Cookiedough
- Ditto Dippin’ Dots
- Fat Alice
- Fizzleboom
- Miss Booty-q
- Not Pants
- Partly Cloudy
- Zhivago
For more quirky cat stuff, see Dancing with Cats, Cat Circuses Make a Comeback and Cat- and Pet-Related Holidays.
Posted by
Jennifer Copley
Jennifer Copley
Cats suck on fabrics because they were weaned too early, they have a craving for fiber, or they are feeling anxious.
Many cats chew or suck on wool or fabrics because they were weaned too early, though a need for more fiber in the diet can also be the culprit. Offering a high-quality crunchy dry food may help in this case.
Some cats suck or chew fabrics as a self-comforting behaviour when they are feeling anxious. Intelligent cat breeds such as the Siamese are more inclined to do this. In the case of anxiety, it is a good idea to identify stressors in your cat’s environment and eliminate any that you can. Spending more quality time with the cat can also be helpful.
Whether the behaviour is caused by anxiety, early weaning or a fiber craving, it’s a good idea to remove temptation by keeping clothing and bedding tidied away in drawers and cupboards that the cat cannot access. You can also purchase a toy in your cat’s favourite fabric and substitute it whenever you catch her munching on your favourite outfit.
For more on cat behaviour, see Treating Aggression in Cats and Why Cats Pull Out Their Fur.
Some cats suck or chew fabrics as a self-comforting behaviour when they are feeling anxious. Intelligent cat breeds such as the Siamese are more inclined to do this. In the case of anxiety, it is a good idea to identify stressors in your cat’s environment and eliminate any that you can. Spending more quality time with the cat can also be helpful.
Whether the behaviour is caused by anxiety, early weaning or a fiber craving, it’s a good idea to remove temptation by keeping clothing and bedding tidied away in drawers and cupboards that the cat cannot access. You can also purchase a toy in your cat’s favourite fabric and substitute it whenever you catch her munching on your favourite outfit.
For more on cat behaviour, see Treating Aggression in Cats and Why Cats Pull Out Their Fur.
Posted by
Jennifer Copley
Jennifer Copley
Alley Cat Allies works to prevent the unnecessary killing of homeless cats by promoting and supporting humane alternatives.
Most feral cats are the offspring of abandoned or lost domestic cats. Each year, more feral cats are murdered in the United States than die from natural causes, and most of these killings are perpetrated by animal control authorities. This system is based on the fact that it was once dogs, rather than cats, that made up the bulk of the feral population. Due to their larger size and strength, dogs represented a significant threat to people. The population of stray cats now far surpasses that of dogs, but the animal control system has not kept pace with the shift in the stray population.
Alley Cat Allies (ACA) provides support, education and guidance for the implementation of humane alternatives to killing, and has assisted in the creation of a number of grassroots initiatives for the humane management of feral cat colonies that have become models for other cities to emulate. The organization advocates for Trap-Neuter-Return programs to reduce feral cat populations without resorting to killing, and works with Best Friends Animal Sanctuary’s No More Homeless Pets campaign to find homes for kittens and provide a safety net for homeless cats. ACA is credited with saving the lives of tens of thousands of feral cats in the United States, as well as ensuring that they receive appropriate care and management. ACA also conducts outreach, attending conferences across North America and Central Europe as part of a broader animal protection strategy.
For feral cat news, information on helping feral cats in your area, and Community Cats workshops, visit Alley Cat Allies. There are many feral cat organizations in places other than the United States, including Canada, China, the UK, Mexico and many other countries. See the ACA Resource Center for feral cat organizations in your area.
Alley Cat Allies (ACA) provides support, education and guidance for the implementation of humane alternatives to killing, and has assisted in the creation of a number of grassroots initiatives for the humane management of feral cat colonies that have become models for other cities to emulate. The organization advocates for Trap-Neuter-Return programs to reduce feral cat populations without resorting to killing, and works with Best Friends Animal Sanctuary’s No More Homeless Pets campaign to find homes for kittens and provide a safety net for homeless cats. ACA is credited with saving the lives of tens of thousands of feral cats in the United States, as well as ensuring that they receive appropriate care and management. ACA also conducts outreach, attending conferences across North America and Central Europe as part of a broader animal protection strategy.
For feral cat news, information on helping feral cats in your area, and Community Cats workshops, visit Alley Cat Allies. There are many feral cat organizations in places other than the United States, including Canada, China, the UK, Mexico and many other countries. See the ACA Resource Center for feral cat organizations in your area.
Posted by
Jennifer Copley
Jennifer Copley
International Cat Agility Tournaments are gaining popularity as cats prove that they can learn to do tricks—if they feel like it.
Cat circuses aren’t the only live cat-related entertainment available; agility contests are pitting felines against courses of 6-14 obstacles including tunnels, poles and cones. Fast cats run the course in about 10 seconds, while the slower kitties take several minutes. Cat agility tournaments are becoming increasingly popular, with 100 shows worldwide in the past year.
Cats are not particularly obedient, but tournament cats will run the course for fun, praise and treats. Many owners use clicker training (making a click sound when the cat completes a desired action) or lure cats along with toys on sticks. While some cats are natural competitors, others will stop in the middle of a contest to groom themselves or run the course their own way, giving the obstacles a miss, which lends an element of unpredictability to the tournaments.
Competitors do not have to be purebreds or show cats to enter. Shelter adoptees and housecats are welcome. A blind cat and a cat with three legs have also competed successfully.
If you’d like to find a nearby cat agility competition, visit International Cat Agility Tournaments (ICAT). To see photos of the agile (and in some cases not so agile) cats in action, visit USA Today.
Cats are not particularly obedient, but tournament cats will run the course for fun, praise and treats. Many owners use clicker training (making a click sound when the cat completes a desired action) or lure cats along with toys on sticks. While some cats are natural competitors, others will stop in the middle of a contest to groom themselves or run the course their own way, giving the obstacles a miss, which lends an element of unpredictability to the tournaments.
Competitors do not have to be purebreds or show cats to enter. Shelter adoptees and housecats are welcome. A blind cat and a cat with three legs have also competed successfully.
If you’d like to find a nearby cat agility competition, visit International Cat Agility Tournaments (ICAT). To see photos of the agile (and in some cases not so agile) cats in action, visit USA Today.
Posted by
Jennifer Copley
Jennifer Copley
The history of cats in warfare begins with the ancient Egyptians and ends with a colossal Cold War blunder by the CIA.
The first known use of cats in warfare occurred in Ancient Egypt. Aware of the Egyptian reverence for felines, Persian soldiers carried cats into battle. The Egyptian army surrendered rather than risk hurting the cats. Cats were again used to gain advantage during the 1500s when the German army strapped cans of poisonous gas to their backs and set them loose across enemy lines.
During WWII, the U.S. Office of Strategic Services (precursor to the CIA) came up with the ludicrous idea of attaching cats to bombs and dropping them near Nazi ships. They assumed that because cats hated water, they would find a way to drag themselves up onto the ships’ decks, somehow bringing the bombs with them. However, attempts to implement the plan met with failure when the cats became unconscious in midair.
The CIA later came up with the equally ridiculous idea of turning a cat into a walking recording device during the Cold War in the hope of overhearing communist plots. This project, called Acoustic Kitty, involved surgically implanting batteries in a cat and using its tail as an antenna. After spending five years and nearly $20 million on the project, the CIA brought Acoustic Kitty to a park and put him out to do some spying. Unfortunately, he was run over by a taxi within moments of leaving the vehicle, and the CIA operatives were left sitting in a van filled with expensive electronics and no cat, effectively bringing the project to an end.
Cats aren’t the only animals that have been used in warfare. Dolphins, horses, sea lions, whales, dogs, bats, snakes, scorpions, rats, pigs, elephants and other unfortunate animals have also been pressed into service. Thankfully, cats have recently been put to a more positive and humane use assisting landmine-detecting rats.
During WWII, the U.S. Office of Strategic Services (precursor to the CIA) came up with the ludicrous idea of attaching cats to bombs and dropping them near Nazi ships. They assumed that because cats hated water, they would find a way to drag themselves up onto the ships’ decks, somehow bringing the bombs with them. However, attempts to implement the plan met with failure when the cats became unconscious in midair.
The CIA later came up with the equally ridiculous idea of turning a cat into a walking recording device during the Cold War in the hope of overhearing communist plots. This project, called Acoustic Kitty, involved surgically implanting batteries in a cat and using its tail as an antenna. After spending five years and nearly $20 million on the project, the CIA brought Acoustic Kitty to a park and put him out to do some spying. Unfortunately, he was run over by a taxi within moments of leaving the vehicle, and the CIA operatives were left sitting in a van filled with expensive electronics and no cat, effectively bringing the project to an end.
Cats aren’t the only animals that have been used in warfare. Dolphins, horses, sea lions, whales, dogs, bats, snakes, scorpions, rats, pigs, elephants and other unfortunate animals have also been pressed into service. Thankfully, cats have recently been put to a more positive and humane use assisting landmine-detecting rats.
Posted by
Jennifer Copley
Jennifer Copley
Some find the Cats That Look Like Hitler (“Kitlers”) website hilarious, while others believe that it crosses a line that should not be crossed.
Paul Neve, creator of a website that hosts pictures of cats that look like Hitler, says that he got the idea from Koos Plegt, who discovered the first Kitler in Zwolle, Holland, and created a blog to display this Kitler and others to amuse his friends. Kitlers are cats with black and white markings that suggest the distinctive small rectangular moustache and hairline of the notorious dictator. Neve and Plegt collaborated to develop the Kitlers site.
Neve is quick to emphasize that Hitler is a very bad person and that the site is in no way meant to glorify him, but rather to ridicule him and have a good laugh doing so. However, not everyone agrees that Kitlers are funny. The site has two pages of reader mail: “We Love Kitlers” and “We Hate Kitlers.” Those who stumble upon the site appear to either dissolve into hysterical laughter or be shocked and offended.
While Kitlers may be perceived as darkly humorous or in horribly poor taste, the site is certainly one of the more original cat-related online offerings. It has been steadily increasing in popularity and now hosts pictures of 2,338 Kitlers. To its credit, the site also posts links for and raises awareness of cat-related charities, as well as hosting pics of Kitlers that are looking for good homes.
For more quirky cat stuff, see Dancing with Cats, Cat Circuses Make a Comeback and Cat Agility Contests.
Neve is quick to emphasize that Hitler is a very bad person and that the site is in no way meant to glorify him, but rather to ridicule him and have a good laugh doing so. However, not everyone agrees that Kitlers are funny. The site has two pages of reader mail: “We Love Kitlers” and “We Hate Kitlers.” Those who stumble upon the site appear to either dissolve into hysterical laughter or be shocked and offended.
While Kitlers may be perceived as darkly humorous or in horribly poor taste, the site is certainly one of the more original cat-related online offerings. It has been steadily increasing in popularity and now hosts pictures of 2,338 Kitlers. To its credit, the site also posts links for and raises awareness of cat-related charities, as well as hosting pics of Kitlers that are looking for good homes.
For more quirky cat stuff, see Dancing with Cats, Cat Circuses Make a Comeback and Cat Agility Contests.
Posted by
Jennifer Copley
Jennifer Copley
Cats hiss to make themselves appear threatening to an enemy. By emulating a snake, the cat hints that it might be poisonous.
Cats hiss and spit at those they want to drive away – other animals or people. Young kittens are capable of hissing even before their eyes have opened. Thus, the behaviour is innate rather than learned.
Hissing and spitting is a threatening gesture designed to trick the watcher into subconsciously associating the cat with a dangerous snake. A hissing cat flattens its ears, creating a face shape much like that of a poisonous snake. Often, the cat’s fur will stand on end and it will arch its back to make itself appear bigger and thus more capable of inflicting damage.
Cats aren’t the only creatures that use mimicry this way. There are many non-poisonous insects that have markings similar to those of poisonous species to trick potential predators into thinking that it would be far too risky to take a bite. Insects may also mimic less tasty species or faster moving species that are difficult to catch. Some butterflies and fish have markings that resemble eyes in areas other than their heads to trick predators into biting the wrong spot so that the prey can escape.
For mimicry basics, see the University of Arizona’s Information Sheet. For more on cat behaviour, see:
Hissing and spitting is a threatening gesture designed to trick the watcher into subconsciously associating the cat with a dangerous snake. A hissing cat flattens its ears, creating a face shape much like that of a poisonous snake. Often, the cat’s fur will stand on end and it will arch its back to make itself appear bigger and thus more capable of inflicting damage.
Cats aren’t the only creatures that use mimicry this way. There are many non-poisonous insects that have markings similar to those of poisonous species to trick potential predators into thinking that it would be far too risky to take a bite. Insects may also mimic less tasty species or faster moving species that are difficult to catch. Some butterflies and fish have markings that resemble eyes in areas other than their heads to trick predators into biting the wrong spot so that the prey can escape.
For mimicry basics, see the University of Arizona’s Information Sheet. For more on cat behaviour, see:
- Cat World: A Feline Encyclopedia by Desmond Morris
- Treating Aggression in Cats
- Why Cats Refuse Food
- Purring Helps with Healing
Cat Provides Care for the Dying
Posted by
Jennifer Copley
Jennifer Copley
Living in the Steere House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center’s Dementia Unit in Providence, Rhode Island, Oscar maintains a vigil over the dying.
Three-year-old Oscar has attended over 25 deaths since he was brought to live at Steere House as a kitten. When a patient is in his or her last hour of life, Oscar provides comfort. He doesn’t show any special interest in patients who are very ill, or even those who are dying but have several days left. Oscar knows exactly which patients will soon be moving on.
Like the nurses and doctors who work at the facility, Oscar does rounds, checking on patients. When he finds a dying patient, Oscar jumps up on the bed and purrs and nuzzles the person, offering end-of-life comfort. After a patient takes his or her last breath, Oscar rises quietly and leaves the room.
Oscar’s ability to predict death is so accurate that Steere House staff have time to notify the families of the dying so that they can be with their loved ones in the final hour. Most families appreciate Oscar’s ministrations to their dying loved ones, but occasionally a family is spooked by Oscar and asks that he be kept out of the room. In these instances, Oscar rubs aggressively against the door of the patient’s room, pacing and yowling in frustration.
Animal experts have theorized that Oscar uses his sense of smell to detect subtle changes in human metabolism to predict imminent death, but they are bewildered as to why Oscar should be motivated to comfort the dying. However, cat owners who have received comfort from their pets in times of crisis will find Oscar’s behaviour unsurprising. For stories about Oscar, visit Oscar’s fan page. To view a slide show of Oscar, see Boston.com.
To read about other helpful cats, see Cat Heroes, Prison Therapy Cats and Dogs and Cats with Jobs.
Like the nurses and doctors who work at the facility, Oscar does rounds, checking on patients. When he finds a dying patient, Oscar jumps up on the bed and purrs and nuzzles the person, offering end-of-life comfort. After a patient takes his or her last breath, Oscar rises quietly and leaves the room.
Oscar’s ability to predict death is so accurate that Steere House staff have time to notify the families of the dying so that they can be with their loved ones in the final hour. Most families appreciate Oscar’s ministrations to their dying loved ones, but occasionally a family is spooked by Oscar and asks that he be kept out of the room. In these instances, Oscar rubs aggressively against the door of the patient’s room, pacing and yowling in frustration.
Animal experts have theorized that Oscar uses his sense of smell to detect subtle changes in human metabolism to predict imminent death, but they are bewildered as to why Oscar should be motivated to comfort the dying. However, cat owners who have received comfort from their pets in times of crisis will find Oscar’s behaviour unsurprising. For stories about Oscar, visit Oscar’s fan page. To view a slide show of Oscar, see Boston.com.
To read about other helpful cats, see Cat Heroes, Prison Therapy Cats and Dogs and Cats with Jobs.
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