Stephen King's trilogy starred a silver tabby and Drew Barrymore. The cat, named Lucky, Sebastian, and then General, was trained by Karl Lewis Miller and Teresa Ann Miller.

In the 1961 movie, "The Shadow of the Cat," a black cat seeks revenge for her owner's murder.

• Scientific name: Felis margarita
• Size: One of the smallest of wild cats
• Weight: 4 to 6 pounds
• Life span: 13 years

The genera Felis is comprised of the smaller or lesser cat species; cats that cannot roar. The largest of these cats is the mountain lion (Felis Concolor). NOTE: Large cats (lions, tigers, etc.) are of genera Panthera.

The Sand cat is found in the Sahara desert of north Africa in Pakistan and Turkestan. They are very small cats weighing only up to about 6 pounds. They have short legs, a broad face, low, well spaced ears with black tips, and pronounced whiskers. They have soft, dense, light colored fur

This cat lives in very dry areas especially where there are sand dunes. It has dense mats of fur on the soles of its feet which serve as protection from the hot sand. The sand cat digs a burrow in the sand for shelter during the day and hunts at night to feed on rodents, lizards, birds and locusts. It can survive for quite long periods without drinking because it conserves the moisture derived from its food

Rabies is a viral disease that can affect all warm-blooded mammals, including cats, dogs, wildlife and humans. The virus infects cells of the nervous system, Once the signs of rabies appear, the disease is always fatal. Rabies is usually transmitted by bite wounds, often from infected wildlife, which represent the largest reservoir of the disease in the U.S. Vaccines are very effective in preventing rabies. Most states in the U.S. require rabies vaccination of cats at 1 to 3-year intervals.

Feline Panleukoipenia, known as feline distemper, is a highly contagious, often fatal disease of cats. The disease is caused by a parvovirus transmitted by contact with infected cats, their feces or environmental contamination. The virus is highly resistant and capable of surviving in the environment for months. Kittens without prior vaccination or exposure are most susceptible. Signs of acute infection include fever, anorexia, vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, abdominal pain, tremors and incoordination.

Feline Respiratory Disease The great majority of feline respiratory diseases results from two easily transmitted infections, feline viral rhinotracheitis (FVR), caused by a herpesvirus, and feline calicivirus (FCV, pronounced kah-LEE-see virus) infection. FVR and FCV infection result in similar illnesses, characterized by nasal and ocular discharge, conjunctivitis, ulcers of the oral cavity, anorexia, depression and inflammation of the upper respiratory tract. Cats usually recover in 1 to 2 weeks, although cats with FVR can become persistently infected after returning to normal, shedding the virus during periods of stress. FVR can result in abortion of infected fetuses. Kittens are at greatest risk of FVR and FCV because they usually have had no prior vaccination or exposure and are highly susceptible to infection.

Feline leukemia is a high-mortality disease caused by the feline leukemia virus (FeLV). FeLV produces an initial immunosuppressive infection followed by various other diseases (e.g., respiratory disease, diarrhea, anemia) affecting the immunosuppressed cat. Cats that survive these initial diseases may develop some form of cancer, hence the name feline leukemia. The disease is transmitted by direct contact with infected cats or with contaminated food dishes or litter boxes. Feline leukemia vaccination is now commonplace.

Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FlV) Infection attacks a cat's immune system, producing a slow- developing immunodeficiency disease that results in chronic secondary and opportunistic infections. These include respiratory, gastrointestinal, urinary tract, and skin infections, and general unthriftiness. Various cancers may also develop. FIV infection is lifelong. However, FIV disease is relatively uncommon and most cats remain normal for extended periods until immunodeficiency occurs.

Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) begins as an upper respiratory infection that can progress to a widely distributed inflammation of tissues and organs, including peritonitis (inflammation of the abdominal cavity). Although not always present, a classic sign of FIP is abdominal swelling with fluid as a result of inflammation. FIP is caused by a coronavirus that is transmitted by contact with infected cats. Once signs of FIP appear, death loss approaches 100 percent. Cats 2 years of age and younger and elderly cats are most often affected.

The moral of the story is "get your cats vaccinated every year."

Black Pete is the Disney cartoon villain, nemesis of Mickey Mouse. He is also known by countless other names, including Peg-Leg Pete, Bad Pete, Big Pete, and Big Bad Pete. Although Pete is officially a cat, his feline appearance was subdued and in Goof Troop he was portrayed more like an anthropomorphic dog like the majority of other characters in that series. Recently however, he was referred to as a cat by Mickey in an episode of the House of Mouse. He is an anthropomorphic cat and is occasionally depicted with a pegleg, and best known as the arch-nemesis of Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, and Goofy. Though he is usually associated with the Mickey Mouse universe, Pete actually appeared in Disney's animated cartoon series "Alice Comedies" long before Mickey, and is thus Disney's oldest continuing character. Among younger fans, he was a relatively obscure character until appearing in the 1990s TV series Goof Troop.

I hope to see some of you at one or more of these shows. If you have never shown a cat before, just let me know and I will see that you have all the information and help that you need. Come on, let the world see just how wnderful your kitty is!

Registered Championship Cats and un-registered Household Pets are welcome.

Alabama Paws and Claws
St. Patrick's Celebration
Birmingham, Alabama
March 15 - 16, 2008
More information here

Hotlanta Cool Cats
Atlanta, Georgia
March 29 - 30, 2008
More information here