April 24/2019

Feature:

Pretty Kitties

   “…Catwalk: Tales From the Cat Show Circuit…is a documentary, & veteran directors Michael McNamara & Aaron Hancox..provide more insight about cat shows than anyone would have thought possible…

   ‘People understand what a dog show is. People can’t wrap their heads around what a cat show is,’ Kim Langille says at the beginning of this documentary.

   Langille knows of what she speaks. She is a competitive cat exhibitor & one of the main focuses of this offering. That is, Langille & her white Turkish Angora named Bobby.

   When shooting begins on the Canadian feline-show circuit, Bobby is the king of the cats, having cleaned up in competitions over the last few years.

   But wait- there’s another puss on the circuit who wishes to unseat Bobby from his throne. Say hey to Oh La La, a fetching Red Persian who has come out of retirement for one last scratch at glory. Her handler, Shirley McCollow, is hell-bent on Oh La La going out a champ.

   Langille soon realizes her Bobby has never faced an opponent as formidable as Oh La La, especially when at one show a seasoned American guest judge concedes that the latter cat has given him ‘more goosebumps’ than any feline he has ever felt…

   McNamara & Hancox were in the dark about competitive cat shows until the latter stumbled upon one 2 years ago…

   ‘These cats are not your regular (distant) cats,’ Hancox says. ‘They’re fancy cats, who are bred to be show cats & are bred to be fondled & handled. They are also socialized at an early age…’

   ‘What makes these cats so special is their amenability to be in show,’ McNamara says. ‘Oh La La, in particular, is a real ham. She really loves to be looked at. People’s mouths drop when Oh La La, this huge bouffant of a cat, is paraded around by (McCollow). She even has her own groupies.’

   ‘It’s fascinating to see how the judges handle them, too. They stretch them out to see what their musculature is like.’

   …to the victors go the spoils & the glory. That showboat Oh La La has gone on to do Whiskas commercials & won’t ever have to worry about an empty food bowl…

   …McNamara says ‘…these cat people have a real sense of humor. They come from all walks, but they’re just crazy about cats. And we’re just kicking ourselves for not doing this 20 years ago.’”

Bill Brownstein

The Gazette, Montreal

March 22/2018    

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Weekly Chuckle:

April 17/2019

Feature:

Why Do Cats Knead?

“If you’re lucky enough to have a kitten or a cat in your life, you’ve no doubt bore witness to an interesting kitty trait known as ‘kneading’, which looks as though your cat is practising her technique to bake bread…she rhythmically alternates her paws, pushing in & out against your lap & giving you a massage…

Expressing affection

When is your cat most likely to knead? It’s probably when you’re petting her, she’s purring loudly & maybe even drooling a little bit. It’s obvious that she’s very content in this situation, & feeling the affection. So, kneading might be her way of helping you feel her affection as well.

Unfortunately, her way of showing affection may be more painful than pleasant for you. This is especially true if she is feeling very, very happy. This is because the better she feels, the harder she’s likely to knead – & if her nails are long, you’ll know it…

Getting ready for bed

Another kneading theory traces its roots to our domestic cats’ wild ancestors, who would knead grass to create a soft sleeping spot…if your cat is kneading your lap, sit back & relax because she’s likely preparing for a nap.

Kittenhood comforts

A third theory looks to your cat’s infancy. Cats start to knead instinctively as kittens, when they are nursing, to help stimulate their mother’s milk. While your cat might have outgrown the nursing stage, she might still enjoy that comforting feeling she associates with kneading.

Staking a claim

Kneading might also be your cat’s way of ‘claiming’ you. In other words, you’re not just being kneaded, you’re being marked by the scent glands on the soft pads on the bottoms of their paws…think of it as her showing that she cares enough about you to let the feline world to keep their paws off you.

Staying loose & limber

Finally, a kneading cat might just be a stretching cat. With so many naps filling her day, your cat needs to take a break now & then to stay limber, at least until her next scheduled snooze.

While many theories exist, there is no straightforward answer as to why cats knead. We hope that these kinds of mysteries will make you love your cat even more. Sometimes the best things are hard to explain."

Purina.ca

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Weekly Chuckle:

April 10/2019

Feature
Cat Breeds: Manx

“Best-known for its lack of tail, the Manx is native to the Isle of Man, located between England & Ireland…

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Though plump & round, the Manx has a compact body with solid muscles. The most striking feature of the cat is its small ‘stub’ of a tail, which is classified into 4 varieties: rumpy, rumpy-riser, stumpy, & longy. Rumpy tops the popularity charts…these have no tail, with just a dimple present in its place. Stumpy has a short curved tail while longies… possess a normal tail.

There are also 2 types of Manx coats: shorthair & longhair (formerly Cymric). The shorthair’s double coat is glossy & padded, while the longhair has a silky & plush double coat. There are many different types of accepted color & varieties, including white, black, brown spotted, silver tabby, & black tipped.

Curiously, the Manx has a rabbit-like gait, appearing to hop around rather than walk.

                                            

PERSONALITY & TEMPERAMENT

This fun-loving cat is a great companion. It adjusts easily, bonds well with other household pets (especially dogs), & enjoys playing fetch & leaping on high shelves, but will still find time to curl up with you for some snuggling.

                                        

HISTORY & BACKGROUND

The Manx has a long history & has lived on the Isle of Man -- which lies in the Irish Sea…for centuries. There are several tales of how they first arrived on the island.

According to one story, the cat was traveling with the Spanish Armada when it was wrecked on the Isle of Man in 1588. The cats swam to the island & made it their home. Another story is that they were brought to the Isle by Phoenician traders, who arrived from Japan. Others claim that the cat was introduced to the island by Viking settlers who colonized it.

Inhabitants of the isle also have many fanciful tales to account for its lack of tail, which is most often attributed to a spontaneous genetic mutation that occurred many centuries ago. According to one story, the Manx was a result of a cross between a cat & a rabbit. Another imaginative tale narrates how Irish invaders stole the cat’s tail to make plumes for their helmets. Yet another interesting story suggests that the Manx was brought to Noah’s Ark but since time was short & as they were the last passengers to climb aboard, Noah slammed the door on their tails.

According to early American registry records, the first Manx cats were imported from the Isle of Man over a century ago, but as demand for the breed grew, breeders began to rely on Britain & France for new imports.

Though it is still considered a rare cat, the Manx has Championship status in all associations.”

Petmd.com

                                               

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Cat Chuckle

April 3/2019

It's that time again...E.B.W. Critter Corner's annual Cat Month!

Feature
Felines in awe of these food-makers

   “While videos of cats on YouTube are not a new concept, cooking with them might be.

   Popular YouTube channel JunsKitchen stars 3 house cats- Kohaku, Poki, & Nagi- who watch as their owner Jun Yoshizuki prepares classic Japanese staples such as omurice, ramen, & tofu.

   JunsKitchen is one of 4 YouTube channels run by Yoshizuki, 29, & his wife, Rachel, 30. While most of their channels focus on their life & travels in Japan, JunsKitchen features basic cooking tutorials…

   He posted just 7 videos to the channel last year.

   ‘As someone who suffers from depression & anxiety; Rachel & Jun’s videos have become a form of meditation for me,’ one user wrote on Reddit…

   …Each of the channel’s 25 videos have more than one million views. The most popular, with more than 37 million views, is a tutorial on polishing a rusty knife…As his cats look on & an upbeat rock song plays, Jun polishes the knife until it gleams. The moment he holds the restored knife & demonstrates its sharpness is triumphant. A cat looks on seemingly with awe as Jun carves a radish rose.

   ‘As soon as people got a hold of ‘cat watching man cook,’ people started sharing his videos everywhere,’ Rachel said.

   Rachel & Jun had been on YouTube for 7 years…They both live in the Japan’s Fukuoka prefecture & generally post videos of life in Japan for English-speaking viewers…

   Their 3 cats are essentially characters in the videos, with their own personalities.

   For JunsKitchen, you’ll most likely find Kohaku- in frame while Jun’s cooking- on the fridge or in a chair alongside Nagi. Jun often passes ingredients to them for inspection as he makes a meal, especially if it’s a piece of fish or a can of tuna. Watching Kohaku watch Jun, it’s easy to graft emotions & coy facial expressions.

   To capture these magical moments, Rachel & Jun say it takes countless hours of editing before they hit publish. It may take Jun 40 minutes without filming to make sushi…for the cats. (&, yes there’s a video of sushi for the cats).

   In the videos, the camera never focuses on Jun, just the food & his cats. Those are the stars…”

Teddy Amenabar

The Washington Post

In The Gazette, Montreal

March 16/2019

Cute Cat Pics

Cat Chuckle

Memorial
Arthur (2009) RIP

Cricket (2012)

March 27/2019

Feature:
8 Ways to Help this Save the Frogs Day

“Since 2009, frog lovers from around the world have celebrated Save the Frogs Day on April 28, taking part in events & other activities to help raise awareness about the importance of our amphibian friends & ways to help protect them & their homes…

According to Save the Frogs!...as many as 200 species have disappeared from the landscape since just 1980, while nearly 1/3 of the world’s amphibian species are currently threatened with extinction. Some of the major threats they now face include habitat loss, disease, pollution, climate change, invasive species, & over-harvesting for the pet & food trades, & for many species these threats overlap, compounding their seriousness…

ATTEND AN EVENT

…people are hosting events around the world to educate people about frogs & how to help them…

SAVE WATER, SAVE FROGS

The water we use every day has to come from somewhere, & the places we take it from are diverting it from prime frog habitats. Conserving water & wasting less hot water, will help save energy & save some for them. Choosing tap water over bottled water will also conserve resources frogs need, & comes with the added bonus of keeping an unholy amount of plastic from entering our environment.

DON’T LET THE PET TRADE CAUSE MORE HARM

Millions of frogs are sold around the world for the pet trade…Not only is taking frogs from the wild harming their populations, many die during transport, while the largely unregulated trade is spreading infectious diseases that pose a deadly threat to wild frogs. Unwanted pet frogs who are released into the wild can also wreak havoc on local ecosystems.

EAT LIKE YOU LOVE FROGS

Frog legs might not be a staple of anyone’s diet in the U.S., but an appetite for them… is driving over-harvesting & pushing multiple species towards extinction. The trade in both frog legs & live frogs is also helping spread the deadly chytrid fungus, which has already caused frog extinctions around the world. Even if frogs are farm-raised, non-native frogs can escape, introduce diseases to native populations, & become an invasive species, causing even more trouble.

Eating like you love frogs, goes beyond just not eating them. Choosing plant-based foods that take less land & resources than needed for the livestock industry can also help preserve their homes & conserve the water they need.

DON’T DISSECT THEM

…Fortunately, animal advocates have gained a lot of ground on this front, & many classrooms have turned to humane alternatives. For more about why to say no to dissections, & alternatives available, check out Digital Frog 2.5, & the National Anti-Vivisection Society & the New England Anti-Vivisection Society, which both offer information about alternatives an& ways to lobby your lawmakers to pass student choice laws that support everyone’s right to choose alternatives.

SHARE THE ROAD

Frogs have places to go too, but with the number of roads & cars on them, they’re playing a real-live version of Frogger, & the death toll is high. Fortunately, people are taking action by helping them get across, whether it’s just slowing down, or putting up signs, to patrolling areas they’re known migrate & helping them get across safely.

MAKE YOUR BACKYARD, & COMMUNITY, FRIENDLY FOR FROGS

Pesticides are a major threat to frogs, & other wildlife, but they’re widely used on both private & public properties. You can help by choosing to use other wildlife-friendly gardening practices at home, & encouraging your cities to do the same. You can also help at home by creating mini wetlands by building frog ponds, & protect them from drowning if you have a pool by putting in devices that will help frogs, & other animals, climb out.

VOLUNTEER

Whether you want to fundraise for frogs, help promote education about frogs in schools & your community, or get your hands dirty restoring frog habitats, there are a lot of ways to help by volunteering with organizations like Save the Frogs, or other conservation & wildlife advocacy groups in your area.”

Alicia Graef

April 27/ 2018

Care2.com

                           
Cute Critter Pic

Weekly Chuckle

March 20/2019

Feature:

Zoo’s 4 New Baby Cheetahs Will Be Spotted For First Time

“Quebec’s cheetah population continues to grow following 4 births at Parc Safari in Hemmingford…

The new additions, females Imani & Ilanga & males Bemba & Malik, joined the 13   felines already housed in the park’s Cheetah Research & Reproduction Centre…They were named in honour of the animal’s African heritage.

The Quebec zoo took in 8 animals from South Africa in 2013…Since then, the cheetah centre’s population has more than doubled through a combination of births & animal transfers between centres across North America.

The 2 cubs, Mosi & Jelanie, joined the zoo’s cheetah coalition a year earlier in May 2017 as the first born in the province, followed by another litter of 2 in July in the same year.

While the first birth at the centre required human intervention…Imani, Ilanga, Bemba, & Malik’s births were completely natural- something zoo staff are feeling especially proud about.

With a dwindling worldwide population year after year, each new litter of cheetahs is ‘very, very important’.

…’It’s very important to keep a healthy population in captivity, so maybe one day we’ll be able to reintroduce (cheetahs) into the wild.’

…it’s challenging to breed cheetahs, partially due to a lack of genetic diversity in the species, low fertility rates in males, & the invasive nature of artificial insemination, which requires surgery. Of more than 30 North American centres involved in the Species Survival Program…only16 have been successful in breeding the animals.

…once the cubs have matured, after a year to 18 months, they’ll probably be transferred to other centres where a new bloodline is needed.”

Kelsey Litwin

The Gazette, Montreal

July 13/2018

Cute Critter Pic

Weekly Chuckle

March 13/2019

Feature:
Tiny & Cute

“Chameleon Cutie

The world’s smallest chameleon, the Brookesia micra chameleon lives on the island of

Madagascar. Adult males grow to only about a half-inch (16mm) from nose to tail…                                                            

A Frog the Size of a Fly…

The Paedophryne amanuensis frog is about the size of a housefly. It is so tiny that it can

fit on a grape. It measures only about a third of an inch or 7.7 mm long. 

                            

How a Scientist Discovered the Tiny Frog

Christopher Austin is a herpetologist- a scientist that studies reptiles & amphibians. He

wanted to find the animal making an unusual ‘tink-tink-tink’ sound in the tropical forest

of Papua New Guinea. He heard the noise coming from some dead leaves on the forest

floor. He looked & looked  but couldn’t find any animals. He grabbed a clump of the

leaves & put them into a bag. Back at his camp, he checked each of the hundreds of

leaves in the bag. Imagine his surprise when a tiny animal hopped off one of the leaves. It

was a tiny frog that no one had ever seen before.

Madame Berthe’s Mouse Lemur

The world’s smallest primate weighs only 1 ounce (30g)…It is called Madame Berthe’s

mouse lemur. While the cute critter is super tiny, it has large eyes which help it see at

night & a tail that is longer than its body.

                                   

Bee Hummingbird

It’s the smallest bird in the world & weighs less than 2 ounces (57g)…It’s tiny but

powerful. It can flap its little wings 80 times per second!”
                                            

The Gazette, Montreal

Jan. 7/2019

Cute Critter Pic

Weekly Chuckle