The Opinionated Pussycat

Street Seens 56: Elvira's Black Cat Halloween Edition

Happy Halloween, Felinity Assembled! It's me, the other, prettier, sassier, Elvira, Mistress of Felinity, Hostess with the mostest! :-D

How are you this fine Halloween morning? :-D

As we have mentioned before, just outside our window we have quite a show to view, not just the passing human parade, with or with out a Dog leading them by the leash, but a handfull of outdoor cats.

While a couple of the cats are also indoor felines, the rest are what you could call "friendly" ferals in that they are used to getting food from humans, are friendly with each other, and sometimes with humans on their on terms, and love to loiter about on furniture, fixtures, on porches.

There are also  several cats, who appear to be loners, in other parts of the complex.

Male or female, and how old, none have been persuaded, by Daddy Kiril, to tell. :-D

Today, in honor of Halloween, I want to focus just on the 3 black cats in our complex. (To get you in the mood, here is the Google Page for the day, with lots to click on including a very active Black Cat!)

This one hangs out in the area outside our window, and while friendly with the other cats, has yet to take shine to Daddy.

It also likes to climb trees. :-D

Thanks to zoom on his camera Daddy got this close-up.

FNN SPECIAL REPURRT: Blogger Disaster Response Network Formed

Good morning Felinity Assembled!

Nikita and Elvira Mistress of Felinity here with some important news, that is timely, in the wake of Hurricane Sandy.

Remember the Tsunami in Japan?

Humanitarian groups came to the aid of the humans in need, but the lives of thousands of animals were at risk, as well, because of the radiation contamination, and the forced evacuation by US military personnel.

BlogPaws and Be the Change, and World Vets, with the help of Dr. Jessica Vogelsang, are joining forces to create The Blogger Disaster Response Network and they are inviting any interested blogger to sign up and be a part of it!

"World Vets was the first animal relief organization on the ground in Japan, within 72 hours of the disaster. They provided much needed supplies, support to local veterinarians, and manpower to address the complicated issues that arose in the days and weeks following the disaster.

The grassroots efforts of a committed group of animal lovers was key to the success of the Paws for Japan effort. World Vets is proud to announce it is teaming up with the BlogPaws Be the Change for Pets community to create the Blogger Disaster Response Network, the first of its kind. Members of this voluntary organization will be the first to be notified of a global disaster response effort through World Vets, and given all the information they need to help spread the word about how people can help."

The more bloggers that they can contact when a disaster strikes, the bigger the positive impact we , as a Community, can make in spreading the word about efforts to help.

You may not think that you and your blog, probably with miniscule traffic, can make a difference, but we here, at Meowsings, beg to differ, because we and Daddy HAVE made a difference in a number of ways, over a decade of blogging, on several blogs.

In Ca. we lived in earthquake and summer fire season country and, as of Sept., we now live in hurricane country, so we know how important spreading the word in the time of disaster can be.

We signed up, and will add the badge in our sidebar.

Full Press Release is here. Sign-up page is here.

 

World Mews Repurrt 21

Welcome to WORLD MEWS REPURRT!

Brought to you by the world class repurrting and researching team, of yours truly, Nikita Cat and Elvira Mistress of Felinity, at the Feline News Network (FNN)!

We consider it our mission to bring you the news that possibly no-one but our fellow Felines and their Humans, could give a fig about!

We aim to point you toward these stories and sometimes even toss in our 2 cents worth on them as well.

We encourage you to leave your thoughts in the comments, link back to our reports on your own blog, so others can be made aware of the latest news and if you come across a story you think we might be interested in, alert us via the e-mail in the sidebar.

Tipsters, whose alerts we use, will get credit, with a link to their blog, or website. :-D

Good evening Felinity Assembled, Nikita here.

It's been 2 months since the last edition, so...

Let's get this show on the road!

1 - 3. Let's begin by saluting the Ultimate Sacrifice by British Military Animals, and the latest honoree to receive the PDSA Dickin Medal: 'The Animals' Victoria's Cross'.

If you explore the PDSA site you will learn about the only Feline to so far have been honored.

We also encourage you to visit and explore our page devoted to Militarty Service Animals:

Animals in the Military and Pets for Vets: Learn About, Support, the Troops!

4. Cats have been taking our medicine for centuries, but did you know that, in 1903, George Albert Smith made a silent short titled “The Sick Kitten,” famous, at the time, for its awesome close-up shot of a kitten eagerly taking medicine from two small kids.

5 and 6. Next time you look at your Human and try to pull a "Woe is Me" look for something you want...consider the story, and 20+ videos, about a two legged cat, born without a pelvis or back legs, who is simply awesome and inspiring. :-D

7. Here in Texas, dumping Kittens IS considered illegal dumping.

8 and 9. From Global Animal in 2011: Cooney’s Law Fights To Stop Animal Abusers, Violent Criminals, in Nevada.

From Forbes, summer 2012: New Law Tested: Nevada Teens Charged With Felony Cruelty In Kitten Deaths

 A first offense of animal cruelty is a felony in the state, and while some find the law controversial, it passed, and will now get its first trial in court.

10. In honor of the upcoming Presidential Election, via Buzzfeed:

If Famous US Presidents Were Replaced With Cats

Yeah, I didn't buy it, either. But they ARE cute. :-D

Settling In

Good afternoon, Felinity Assembled, Nikita here, and Elvira Mistress of Felinity and I want to share how we began to settle in.

The 15 Chapter Move Story starts here. :-D

When the relocube arrived on our first Wednesday in our new home, Daddy was so busy bringing boxes in that we decided to play it safe and hide for the duration. :-D

Daddy had to toss the 6 ft. tower because, if he was going to have a desk, a table, a few chairs, and bookshelves, the tower would take up too much room, plus it had too much cat hair, and who knows who hitched a ride from Ca. :-D

Turns out, a day later it was gone from the dumpster so there is at least one lucky cat neighbor. :-D

ELVIRA:

As Daddy put things away, brought in the tables, set our familiar cube tower up, by the bedroom window, the new place was feeling more like home.

As much as we like the patio view our cubes were something familiar to hang out in until all the empty boxes in the living room were cleared away.

Carnival of the Cats #449: Houston, We Are Here Edition

Starring, your host, with the most (Though that's not true in the hair dept., or the weight dept., at the moment!) Mr. Nikita Cat!

 

C0-starring that Lass With the Sass, Elvira Mistress of Felinity!

 

And also starring Daddy Kiril, official research assistant, photographer and liaison, provider, playmante, belly rubber, and litter box cleaner, extraordinaire!

Carnival of the Cats is a weekly roundup of Cat-related posts on weblogs, in America, and around the world, who choose to submit a post for inclusion.

For us Cat Bloggers the Carnival is a chance to discover blogs we might never have heard of, on subjects of all kinds!

Submissions can be sent to:  carnivalofthecats(at)gmail.com

The Carnival Home Page, with an archive of past Carnivals, the Line-up for 2012, FAQ'S, and more, is HERE.

We invite regulars and newcommers to drop in...

as we get this show on the road! :-D

Meowsings Moves to Texas 15: Week 1 in Houston!

Good afternoon, Felinity Assembled, Nikita here, to lead off this entry about our first week in our new Houston home. :-D

This ends our series about our journey from Ca. to Houston. :-D

Part one is here. :-D

Once we arrived at our new apartment Elvira Mistress of Felinity set about nervously exploring the place, top to bottom. Daddy actually left us alone TWICE on this first day: Once to go get litter and a litter box and once to go get him an airbed.

 

How we both held it until the litter box was in place, I don’t know! Daddy had set torn pieces of the Sunday L.A. Times and OC Register in the bath tub but, out of respect for our fellow journalists, and writers, we didn’t use them…or maybe it was because we were nervous and out of sorts. :-D

The Nikita Institute For Feline Studies Book Collection: A Close-Up

Good evening, Felinity Assembled!

Elvira Mistress of Felinity, here, to show you a close up of our growing Cat book collection!

The Nikita Institute For Feline Studies is always looking for books to add to our collection.

We have 67 books so far!

 

Daddy Kiril hunts down used books he finds interesting, about cats, and has gotten the occasional newer book, and then there are books we are sent to read and review by authors or publishers.

The oldest books in our collection, so far, are from 1956 and 1957. :-D

Both are children's books.

A 1956 reprint of a 1953 book called Mr. Grumpy and the Kitten.

Cats in the Belfry from 1957.

Of course, Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T. S. Eliot was written in 1939, but our copy is from 1967.

Don't worry, we will continue to make our way slowly through the books, reading and sharing reviews. :-D

Elvira Reports: Book Shelves for Our Cat Books

Daddy Bought 2 Billy Bookcases at Ikea, the other day.

For now our growing book collection gets 2 shelves, but will eventually get its own Billy.

Nikita and I, of course, investigated the boxes.

I forgot that Daddy would have his camera ready. :-D

Thank goodness it was almost our dinner time. :-D

  Too bad Daddy wouldn't let me help him! :-D

Next up: A place for our Cat Book Collection!

Elvira in...The Chair and I

Daddy Kiril got some new chairs, from Target, for $15 each.

 

While Nikita settled down in comfort, on the one in the bedroom, I have my doubts about and the pair in the living room, as well.

 

I decided to claim the spot behind the bedroom one for napping purposes, and to keep an eye on it, especially when Nikita is using it. :-D

Next up: Bookcases!!

Nikita Medical Update

Elvira, here, with an update on Nikita.

 

The Urinary infection is receeding and he will take meds for another week.

 

As for his eating his weight remained the same and they are having Daddy Kiril see if he will eat a 3 oz can of fancy feast for a mid day meal in addition to what he's been giving him, and they will weigh him in 3 weeks.

 

He ate most of the fancy feast tonite.

 

He also is taking Cosequin for his joints, now, instead of the chews he was on, since this is what the new vet carrys, and it is just as effective.

 

Other than that he's his usual, perky self, as blog posts in the coming days, with photos, about our first few weeks in our new home, will show. :-D

We appreciate your continued purrs and purrayers.

 

****UPDATE  8am -- From Mr. Perky Himself****

 

Over night I tossed my cookies in spectacular fasshion, under Daddy's Desk. What brought this about I can't really say.

 

A reaction to eating Friskies wet food, or something else?

 

Haven't done one of these in a few years.

 

Don't freak out everyone, just keep those purrs and purrayers coming, I appreciate them.

 

The vet is closed, and I'm acting normal otherwise, so Daddy will call them in the morning.

 

****END UPDATE****