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Dear Bill & Cathy,
I must begin with a short story that is not about a Bengal. It is
about my 5-year-old grandson, Matthew. His sister, Ashton, will soon
be 8. I picked them up after school and daycare the other day.
Immediately Ashton put in to go to Applebee’s, a place I had taken
her a week or so before. So we did the Applebee’s thing, sharing
nachos (well Ashton and I shared them, Matthew opted out). They also
quickly dispatched an Oreo milk shake each. As we left the
restaurant each was given a helium-filled balloon on a string.
I had to stop for gas (ow! That hurts!) And then to pick up some
cat food and litter (it never ends). Of course they had to take
their balloons in with them, so we tied them to their wrist. As we
came out, Ashton’s balloon came loose from the string and was up,
up, and away. She did her usual little “pout” while Matthew
screamed, “Oh, no! We have to go back to Applebee’s and get her
another one.” I told him that I wasn’t going to be able to go back
for a balloon, but I would give Ashton money to buy her one later.
That was fine with her, but Matthew was still not satisfied. Finally
he said, “Papa, stop the car. I want to let my balloon go so it can
keep Ashton’s company.” I stopped and he let it go. She hugged him,
I hugged him, and my heart swelled with pride at the “goodness” of
my grandson.
Now, just so there can be a cat in the story, Matthew tells me
that their Bengal, Leia, loves to take a bath with him. He sort of
likes it, too.
I am a book lover extraordinaire. I just absolutely love books! I
even have some that are at least 15 years old that I have not had
the time to read. (I also have a few rare children's books). So when
I got the message below I knew I had to respond and that I had to
share the opportunity with you.
The New Orleans Public Library is asking for hardcover and
paperback books for people of all ages in an effort to restock its
shelves after Hurricane Katrina. The staff will assess which titles
will be kept for its collections; books that are not kept for the
library will be distributed to needy families or sold for library
fundraising.
Please send your books by US mail to:
Rica A
Triggs, Public Relations
New Orleans Public Library
219 Loyola
Avenue
New Orleans, LA 70112
If you tell the post office
that they are for the library in New Orleans, they will give you the
"library rate" which is slightly less than the "book rate." A friend
who's made a donation, reports that a 'good-sized box' cost about
$14.00 - about half the cost of one new book these days.
While on the subject of Katrina's damage I would like to tell you
about a very good friend of mine that lost almost everything. She is
making cat and dog clothes and other items in an effort to support
herself. Please visit her site. It is the first of my Quick Links on
the right.
| Ripple Kittens are here
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I know that this is the news many of you have been waiting
to hear. The picture at left is an example of several kittens
sired by IW RW SGC Suwannee Fudge Ripple of Bagheera.
There are 3 litters; One litter of one brown marble, a
litter of five -- 4 brown marble and 1 brown spotted; and a
litter of 5 brown spotted. Of course, we do have some males
and some females.
Although I haven't sorted through everything, I expect
most, or all, of these are already taken. But fear not, there
are more on the way.
If you want a kitten from Ripple and do not have a deposit
down, you really should consider sending one. We have several
on the primary waiting list.
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I thought I would take a moment and share my good fortune
with you. I recently became an Associate Travel Agent (ATA). I
am helping my friends and family with their vacation and
business trips, however, the main reason I became an ATA was
for my own travel.
I get big discounts, or great upgrades, on motel rooms,
rent a cars, etc. And, if we can find someone to look after
the cats for long enough, we are going to take a cruise – at a
huge discount!
If you travel, even a little, I highly recommend that you
consider becoming an ATA yourself. Check out the link below
and/or e-mail me for information.
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| Do Not Take a Cat Scratch
Lightly |
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Cat Scratch Disease or Fever is caused by the bacteria
Bartonella henselae. Despite its name, it does not usually
cause fever.
The bacteria is carried by cat fleas. Cat Scratch Disease
causes systemic illness and lymph node lesions and can be very
serious in individuals with poor immune response. Antibiotic
therapy usually cures the disease without complications in
healthy young adults.
Clearing the bacteria from infected cats requires long term
antibiotic treatment. Even then some cats may be continuously
or intermittently infected indefinitely. Studies suggest
20-40% of cats carry the disease.
Cats are unlikely to be the only source of infection. Other
small mammals carry the bacteria, but humans are more likely
to interact with cats than with other carriers so the cat is
generally blamed.
The point is, if scratched, immediately wash the wound and
apply an antibiotic cream or ointment. Do this twice a day
until the wound heals. This action will reduce the likelihood
of you acquiring Cat Scratch Fever.
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| Frequently Asked
Questions |
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Q: Is it okay to feed my cat milk?
A: Veterinarians generally do not
recommend feeding milk to our feline friends. A cat's
digestive system does not digest milk well. Feeding milk to
your cat can cause diarrhea, which can lead to further
nutritional or health problems.
Q: Can cats see colors?
A: Cats have rods and cones in their
retinas but in a different proportion than in the human
retina. Although they can differentiate colors, what they see
is likely a more muted version of what we see.
Cats,
by the way, can concentrate small amounts of light in their
eyes, which allows them to see at night when the rest of us
have difficulty. This special talent gives them their
extraordinary night hunting vision.
Q: Do cats love us?
A: Your cat may appear to be dependent,
however their behavior often involves subtle dominance.
Perfectly sensible cat owners are slaves to their cat’s whims.
We are craftily taught when it is mealtime or playtime. Now,
go ahead and admit it, we accede to these feline demands. Ever
adaptable, the cat has found in us a soft touch, and rich
pickings for a modified and highly successful lifestyle. In
that sense, cats don’t just love us, they adore us.
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| Fascinating Cat Facts |
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FACT # 1: Unlike a dog, when a cat swishes (wags)
its tail it does not mean she is glad to see you. On the
contrary, she is mildly irritated.
FACT # 2: Cats purr when they're feeling an extreme
emotion--whether it's happiness, irritation or pain.
FACT # 3: You can tell when your cat has "had
enough" by watching carefully. If his pupils widen, whiskers
move forward and ears go flat you probably should give him a
break.
FACT # 4: In relation to their body size, cats have
the largest eyes of any mammal.
FACT # 5: Like birds, cats have a homing ability
that uses its biological clock, the angle of the sun, and the
Earth's magnetic field. A cat taken far from its home can
return to it. But if a cat's owners move far from its home,
the cat can't find them.
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Mowgli's Musings |
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I thought you would enjoy this poem that was sent to me
recently. The author is unknown.
During our tea we had a chat
About what to do with that
old cat.
Gone was the fur so shiny and sleek,
Gone the
sexy meow, now only a shriek.
Her tail was ratty, she could
barely hear,
One eye drooped and so did one
ear.
"Wouldn't it be great," we said with glee
"If there
were an old cats' home where she could be."
And all of the while as you may surmise
She looked and
listened and appeared quite wise.
Then one night she was
not at the door.
We found her curled on the closet
floor.
With one last leap up the cedar wall
She had
pulled down the robe she loved best of all.
So we took her, wrapped in that satin shroud
To an apple
tree plot where we mourned out loud,
Speaking about that
grand old dame
Without whom the world won't be the
same.
Now our teas are quiet, we miss the purr,
The bony
body, the mangy fur,
So we're going out shopping for a
kitten that
Shows promise of becoming another old
cat.
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