~~~S.A.N.D.Y~~~

Sandy, Mrs. M's companion, has a tale to tell:

Sandy is a beautiful, long haired gold Persian and belongs to friends of ours. Mrs. M got him as a tiny kitten and he has grown into a lovely, good tempered companion for her. 

One day, a few months ago, Mrs. M heard a loud yowl from Sandy and found him limping rather badly. She and her son took him to the vet. Turns out that he'd somehow managed to break his hip. Now whether he'd gotten caught somewhere in the house or had climbed and fallen Mrs. M had no idea, but he'd hurt himself and being an indoor cat it could only have happened in the house. 

For a month or two, Sandy had to get used to dragging around a small cast but the vet said he healed very well being the young cat that he is. He is now back to his old antics and is as healthy as ever, though he has a slight limp and every so often will react to a slight sciatic nerve that becomes bothersome to him. 

Happy news is that Sandy is back on all four paws and is the same loveable, burly kitty that Mrs. M and her son adore. 

Catspaw  

An Outdoor Excusion, In The Yard

A day or so ago I was out-of-doors with the cats; it was a balmy 77F, who could resist, I ask you!? Couped up all Winter with blowing snow, ice crystals and gale force winds; Ya, I love living on an island in the middle of the Atlantic with only a 9 mile slip of a bridge connecting us to the mainland of Canada!! 

I digress...  so, getting back to my 77F day with only a light warm breeze, I was happy enough to hang about the porch for awhile watching my cats and those of the neighbors, the cat colony cats. My cats have cat collar with bell so I hear them wherever they are, much to the shurgrin (if anyone knows how to spell this word, let me know) of the, shall we say, `quieter`cats. 


So here`s a pic of the colony cat area of where they hang out on a day like mentioned above:

All the long and relatively mild winter this is where they`ve been hold up. Though this particular day I could not find hide nor hair of even one, with the exception of the ones that always come round my place. 

Again, I digress... getting back to MY cats...

Winston was NOT keen on being outside, he`s quite convinced himself that the dogs are about and out to get him. In fact, they visit every two weeks or so but he remains convinced and is not at all keen to be out of doors.

He was barely outside two seconds... 

when I called him back! He`s looking a little distrustful of me now, but...

he came and went in through the porch door. 

Honesty!

Catspaw

Cat Collar With Bell

Cat Collar With Bell ~~ I could compose a little ditty here but you wouldn't be able to hear it.


I was in the dollarama store and I found... WAIT FOR IT! 
YES, cat collars with bells! How... did you guess?


This is the order they went in...

You have to excuse Emerald's name, the paper towel was wet. 









Once the first jingle was heard, the jig was up!  The cats suspected something nefarious was going on - they were possibly right!


I caught drama queen Molly unawares! She'd had a collar 4 years and just looked at me expectantly. She did not attempt to make a scene.

To her went the GOLD bell

A confused Winston came next. I'm afraid he reacted rather oddly. He couldn't figure out where all these bells were coming from! He did a dance around the living room; round and round he went, trying to shake them off...

The RED bell was awarded to him

Eventually he calmed down but still could not solve the mystery of the source of the bells in his ears...


Would the mystery ever be solved?




Emerald watched this scene with growing apprehension of the plot that was afoot. She made a dive for the sofa, but I caught her mid-jump and put a collar on her. 

She received the GREEN bell for bravery and sort of patience

Emerald - how appropriate that she got the green bell - had a growling fit with her collar until she realized it was harmless and within a hour of tearing around the house to escape it, accepted it.


So Sassy's turn came next. She accepted the noisy thing with the dignity befitting a proper matron. She sat and glowered at the stray that was in the house, but then, she always glowers at the strays that come in the house...

The PURPLE bell was given to Sassycat

These cat collar with bell are all breakaways and safe for the cats and the birds they stalk. Over the years that I have had cats, cat collars with bells have never presented a problem, for the cats or for us and after they get used to them, I've noticed that they don't seem to hear the bell anymore, but I do and that helps me to know where they are and what they're up to. I would never use these cat collar with bell if I did not believe them perfectly safe for my cats.


Both Molly and Sassy, who are veterans of cat collars with bells, are already used to them and spend their time as if they weren't wearing them. Emerald and Winston are, on the second day, more acquainted with them now so their has been no further dances in the living room or growly fits of tearing about the house. All is almost quiet on the homefront.


Catspaw

Cat Collar With Bell Antics

Since I am planning to get some cat collars with bells for my cats this spring, if it ever comes, I have a few recent pics to share on their recent antics... 

What is it with cats and sunshine? Can you see all four of my cats?
Emerald is the one actually 'in' the sunshine on almost the only day that we had sun and blue sky. It was great, during these two days most of the snow melted and the promise of Spring was in the air. I live on an island in the Atlantic so I know better than to trust that!

Story Alert! - I had to kick Winston outside on our last day of decent spring weather...
He's checking for dogs.

A week ago a pair of dogs from up the road 'visited'. Winston didn't care to get further acquainted so he high-tailed it into the shed on the dairy and flatly refused to come out, even after the dogs left. That meant my hubby had to go looking for him and that's the only reason he came in. Since then, Winny hasn't wanted to venture outdoors. CATS!

I think Emerald is smiling here, but I can't be sure. She could just be miffed to wake from her nap to find a camera in her face!

Now this is Prime!!
This improvised cat tree has been here a month and its the first time Sassy has ventured onto it - it met with her approval.


The light behind her is the full moon.

Here you can appreciate the reason why, in medieval times, people believed that cats were reciprocals for devils. Check out Molly's eyes! If you were totally uneducated, lived in squaller and rampant poverty and were only able to hear God's word in Latin; how would you react if this suddenly jumped on your window sill?


Isn't education and science a wonderful thing!


Catspaw

*~~* Future Plans for the Cat Collar With Bell Blog *~~*

The 'Over the Horizon' Future of My Blog

Originally my blog was intended to share different aspects of living with cats, as pets, as friends and as companions. To share with my readers and visitors cat stories, pictures and products; links, poems, videos; the humor and the pitfalls; recipes. Helping articles, commentary, information and... something more. The something more was to be encouragement, bravery to face life's tougher moments and situations, inspiration and spiritual mews. So far I think I'm doing fairly well though its taken a bit of time to find my way...


I'm looking at expanding on these aspects and adding to them as I grow into my blog so you can expect the occasional writing that has little to do with my topic and I hope you will forgive the diversion as I explore 'something more' along the way. Please be advised that I would never post a blog concerning something or about a product that I don't, myself, believe in; nor would I offer a link or ad that would mislead my faithful readers and visitors. 


The future of my blog is to become an expert in the eyes of my readers/visitors and become known for my love and respect of all animals. To share the knowledge and occasionally, the wisdom of what I have learned over my lifetime. This will include the occasional 'somethings more'. If there is a topic, subject or idea that you have that you'd like to see expanded on my blog, please let me know by leaving a comment.


Catspaw

Drawings of My Cats

These are a few pics I drew of my cats, I hope you enjoy them.

Winston & Em on the cat tree, Em's in the box

Emerald on top of the fridge

Molly, on the box; Emmy beside & Sassy are watching the Ravens

Ok, technically I drew them, first as pictures then as drawings with my picture software. What do you think of them?


Catspaw

A Cat's Prayer

I am very sensitive to animals and I never have really understood the reason until today. Everything the Lord made in creation reflects His honor but because we don't recognize God in our lives we don't see His hand in creation. When we dishonor animals and creation we dishonor, not only our Creator and Savior but ourselves. When we debase any part of the earth, we debase ourselves. However there are some pockets of God's creation, like animals because of their innocence, that remain untarnished by us and its these that some of us are sensitive to.

The growing mind, filled with the love of Jesus, searches creation for the message: God the Creator be praised!  Because of our spiritual and natural gifts each of us is able to see and hear them in particular areas more than in others. For me, its animals. And we are enabled to take this creation material and identify it, shape it, reconfigure it or in other ways use it so that God is further glorified. The carpenter works with wood; the physician listens to the body; the musician shapes sounds; the educator trains youth; the researcher analyzes, innovates and implements with the elements of the universe. We develop our minds for these tasks and rejoice as we do them for all that God is revealing to us out of His loving and forgiving heart.

What is your toughest decision today?  Pray over it and search God's word for advice. Its there for the accepting.

Catspaw

A Readers Narration

A visitor to my blog told me this story and I wanted to share it with you, verbatim:

Quote: “I don't really have much of a story, we had a white color mini poodle who died then we got three cats from the SPCA . :) We got a Maine-Coon that was about 10 years old, she seemed lonely. :)
So we got a Tux Boy that was only about 1 year old but he was too much energy for the Maine-Coon :)
And then we got a several month old ginger Tabby to play with the Tux as he is very high energy. :)
Our Tux cat is like a dog, he is smart and he nods his head at you to say hello. :) He always gives you a double head nod as a way to say hi. :) It's funny, as he's like a person since people often nod too. :)” End Quote

I decided to see if I could find some pictures of a Maine-Coon and a Tux Boy, here's what I came up with. A Tux is a Tuxedo cat and I didn't realize it but I believe Molly and Boo were Tux's! Go figure, the things you learn huh! 

Pictures of Maine Coons

Pictures of Tuxedo cats

Picture of Boo, the baby I lost just last year was definitely a Tux Cat!

Molly, Tux Cat!

Catspaw

Its A Molly-Sneak!

I can always tell when Molly is bored, she picks up and plays with the blue plastic ring from a peanut butter jar, happily yowling and chattering to herself while racing after it, getting it lost under the mini carpet in the kitchen or tossing it in the air. 
Other times she amuses herself sneaking up on an unsuspecting Sassy. Its funny to watch as she stealthily picks her time to give Sassy a 'what for' swat and waits to the predictable reaction. 

Molly's stealthy sneak on Sassy...

Sassy's predictable snarl and yip reaction

...

...leads to their mutual distrust of each other.

Life is never boring living with 4 cats! 

Catspaw

Mr Sneakers, the Newfoundland Mouse, meets Moggy

Mr Sneakers had free run of the house when the human wasn't looking of course. He'd been silly enough to be seen the last time when he had paused from his mad dash about the place to clean his paws and she spotted him, commenting to her friend that he was cute she dubbed him: Mr Sneakers.
Miss Z’s confidant warned that where there was one, others would follow. How do they know these things? After that the conversation turned frightful; the companion suggested a CAT and knew a neighbor who had one to spare. ‘No’ came the answer, then she'd have to look after kitty!
When Mrs X visited again a week later, she found Miss Z hiding little traps all over the house. A few in the basement, a couple upstairs, several in the attic. Mr Sneaker found them all and cautioned is mates to avoid them.

“What on earth...” stammered Mrs X.

A troupe of mice were rampaging full tilt across the attic floor.

“Oh, state the obvious.” Miss Z remarked at the doleful expression of her cohort. “The traps are humane and I’m sure to collect them all and put them back outside where they belong very soon now.”

Looking doubtful, Mrs X suggested again that a small furred animal was the answer to the herd now amassing in the attic and mumbled again, ‘Where there was one...’

A loud knock came to the door and Miss Z responded. ‘Hello to the neighbor’, at least it would have been if he hadn’t brought Moggy with him. As it was cold outside and he couldn’t very well stand in the doorway allowing a draft to invade so she shooed him in.

“I heard you had mice so I brought Mog over to help out, he’s an awful good mouser.”

Ears attentive to the small scuttling coming from overhead, Moggy hit the floor and bounded straight up the stairs in a flash. Silence ensued. The three in the living room followed the sound of the creaking floor boards as the rodents were hunted. The wait seemed interminable until that wily tabby came slinking down into the room again as if nothing had happened. Indeed, there was some confusion as to whether anything was amiss in the attic so Mr. Neighbor volunteered to take a peek for the sake of the ladies wits. Cautiously he crept the narrow stairwell that led to the dimly lit chamber above and hesitated at the top. In the distance, toward the back of the alcove, an army of dormice were gathered. There seemed to be at least ten. Mr Neighbor duly informed the ladies.

Mr Neighbor positively insisted to Miss Z that it was absolutely no trouble at all for him to part with Moggy, then he was gone. Mrs X smiled in satisfaction.

After that Moggy was always about the house hunting Mr Sneaker and his accomplices; the tabby had a habit of lurking that would startle Miss Z every time she walked into a room. It was a deadly game of old fashioned cat and mouse but Mr Sneakers was clever; when the cat was searching the attic, he would led them into the basement and when Mog padded into the furnace room, the gang would sprint to the upper story. This continued, to the discomfiture of Miss Z, for over a week until she could not tell where the two parties actually were and at times both mice and cat seemed very confused themselves. Then one afternoon a series of wild little squeaks resounded from the cellar.

Miss Z took an awful start at the unexpected sound, hurried to the stair and snapped on the light. As she carefully descended Mog was right behind her tiptoeing all the way. There, in the corner, where she had left two open traps were the mice. Five in each humane trap, very agitated and jumping at the sides. They quieted at the stealthy approach of Moggy.

Miss Z stooped and raising the cages remarked, “Well, that’s that then. Outside you go.” And outside they went.

That very day Miss Z proudly announced to both Mr Neighbor and Mrs X when they came by to check on the situation, that the little rodents were decamped from her home. Moggy boastfully entwined all their legs as they listened intently to Miss Z’s telling of her story. She gave the impression that both factions had become baffled concerning who was where in the house in their efforts to either avoid altogether or to catch and eat; Miss Z summed up her tail expressing her sentiment that Mr Sneaker had become so confused that he led the rest to enter the traps by mistake to the happy conclusion of the whole episode.

Catspaw

CATS PAW: Who Is Catspaw?

CATS PAW: Who Is Catspaw?: Catspaw Born in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory as a sourdough; I have yet to figure why Yukoners are considered such by doing a little re...