a cat about town

Yoda is an 8-year old Siamese cat who lives in Bloomington, Illinois. He also behaves like a dog and enjoys going in car rides and accompanies his human, Judy Norton when she visits the bank and local shops.



Yoda sits up on the counter at the bank while Judy does business with the teller. At the shops, Yoda rides in a basket atop a trolley cart.

See - Pantagraph of 18 January 2007

Do I envy Yoda? Not really, I like being in my house.

*Don't forget to check out Shamus for The Ongoing Barks of a Well Read Dog (who is continuing Cammie's legacy)

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Today was another hot day. I'm going to lie on the wooden floor again.

The Black Cat (Edgar Allan Poe)

Today was the birthday of Edgar Allan Poe (born 1809, died 17 October 1849). Poe was a renown American writer known for his macabre tales.

One of his stories was The Black Cat (written in 1845) about a cat called Pluto whose human treats him poorly one night when drunk. Suffice to say, in typical Poe fashion, the human suffers the consequences.

You can read The Black Cat in full - here (WARNING: not suitable for young children, that is, if they have the patience reading the very formal language of that time period).

*Don't forget to check out Shamus for The Ongoing Barks of a Well Read Dog (who is continuing Cammie's legacy)

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Again, not much to report today. Just another hot day.

a cat stationmaster named Tama

I've previously written about some cats who have an occupation, like the office cat, fashion cats etc.

A 7-year-old cat called Tama has been named a special stationmaster at the Kishi Station on the Kishigawa Line in Kinokawa in Japan.



Two other cats were employed as deputy stationmasters at the same station. Stationmaster Tama wearing a railway cap, along with the two deputies, welcome passengers at the station.

See - Mainichi Daily News (Japan), 14 January 2007

Unfortunately, the cats are not paid, but given food as reward for their work. I think they should take industrial action for better pay and conditions.

*Don't forget to check out Shamus for The Ongoing Barks of a Well Read Dog (who is continuing Cammie's legacy)

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Another hot day today. My human was surprised I ate so much for breakfast this morning. Duh! That's because he wasn't giving me the right food.

Tonight I'm just going to lie on the floor by my human's feet. Just like a d-o-g.

I want a credit card

A cat living in Melbourne called Messiah was issued with his own credit card by the Bank of Queensland.

When the card arrived, his human Katherine Campbell made a big fuss about it. Silly Messiah. He should have checked the letterbox himself first and hidden the letter from the bank.



See - Courier Mail of 3 January 2007

Now, he can't do his own shopping on the internet!

Next time, I think he should apply for the Hello Kitty credit card.

I want my own credit card. I wonder if pet stores do home delivery of pet mice?

*for The Ongoing Barks of a Well Read Dog, check out Shamus (who is continuing Cammie's legacy)

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Not much to report today, except that the weather is warming up again.

the black cat

Black cats are cool cats.

Salem Saberhagen from Sabrina the Teenage Witch TV show is a black cat.

There are some superstitions involving black cats. In the US and some countries in Europe, a black cat crossing a person's path foretells bad luck. On the other paw, if that happened in Britain or Japan, it would be good luck.

In Scotland, a strange black cat on your porch brings prosperity.

I think black cats are lucky.

*for The Ongoing Barks of a Well Read Dog, check out Shamus (who is continuing Cammie's legacy)

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A black cat called Gus turned up at the front porch/doorstep this morning. He was very young. Actually my human decided to name him Gus as I wouldn't tell him Gus' real cat name.



I meowed and yowled at him and warned him that this is my home so he turned around and sat on the driveway for a few minutes where I kept an eye on him from the window. Keeping watch on a black cat is quite boring, so decided to have a nap instead.



My human went to work today and left me alone at home. About time too, as I haven't done any secret cat business like hopping up on furniture without being yelled at, for over a week!

Bob the 'distraction' cat

Everybody knows that in households where cats and dogs share living arrangements, the cats are always in charge. In fact, cats train dogs to know their place in the home.

So good are cats at training dogs, that they even train dogs to serve humans.

In fact, even canine companions such as guide dogs are trained by cats; cats such as Bob the 'distraction' cat.


Bob the cat training Rinda, a puppy at Canine Companions in Oceanside, California. Bob helps companion dogs to learn not to be distracted by cats.

See - North County Times (California) of 23 December 2006

*for The Ongoing Barks of a Well Read Dog, check out Shamus (who is continuing Cammie's legacy)

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I had another wonderful day today. The weekend is lasting a long time!

I've been watching Dinotopia the series with my human. We even had a great afternoon nap together today. I love it when I am cradled in my humans arm with my head on his shoulder.

This afternoon, Kettles' human Klaudia came over bearing lunch - including ham, proscuitto, prawns, asparagus, mangos, strawberries, and a sparkling wine. Not only did I get to lie on Klaudia's lap, but she also gave me some ham.

Dewey the library cat

Dewey Readmore Books, the resident library cat of Spencer Library in Iowa passed away on Wednesday of this week. Actually, Dewey owned the library. Rest in peace Dewey.

I want my own library!

*for The Ongoing Barks of a Well Read Dog, check out Shamus (who is continuing Cammie's legacy)

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Today was a bit warmer. And not much happened.

Ziggy, the white cat - from Israel to UK

10 days, 2,000 miles - a white cat named Ziggy (not his real name) travelled from Israel to the UK (Lancashire) in a cargo container on a ship with no food or water.

He has been labelled a stowaway.

I think that he knew what he was doing. After all, if you were a cat and lived in Israel, wouldn't you risk the journey to go to a nation of cat-lovers?

See - BBC News



*for The Ongoing Barks of a Well Read Dog, check out Shamus (who is continuing Cammie's legacy)

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Today was a more pleasant day. I forgot to mention that I was brushed yesterday.

My human spent much of the time with me inside, though he did do some chores, but before a nap together on the couch.

the first White House cat

The White House has been home to a number of cats in recent times.

The first White House cat, the first First Cat was Tabby, who owned Tad Lincoln, son of Abraham Lincoln.

Abraham Lincoln loved cats and four lived with him in the White House.

The Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC should have included a cat on Lincoln's lap.

*for The Ongoing Barks of a Well Read Dog, check out Shamus (who is continuing Cammie's legacy)

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It was so cold today. My human should have stayed home with me and cuddled me all day on the couch. It even snowed very briefly, which is highly unusual at this time of the year (we are a few weeks away from summer).

Anyway, I ate a regular amount of my chicken today. Woohoo.

Todd the cat expelled from the Tory Party

This is from the UK People newspaper (a trashy tabloid)

12 November 2006
CAT KICKED OUT OF THE TORY PARTY
By Nigel Nelson

A CAT has been expelled from the Tory Party - after being a member for two years.

Black-haired moggie Todd was even eligible to vote for David Cameron during his successful leadership bid.

His owner Annabelle Fuller cheekily signed him up with Tory youth wing Conservative Future when she left the party to join the UK Independence Party.

Annabelle, 25, said: "I signed him up for £3 as Todd Fuller. Anyone can get into the modern Tory Party because they never check."

Todd got junior membership which gave him full voting rights, even in Mr Cameron's election.

But he was finally expelled when an ANONYMOUSE caller spilled the beans to his local branch in Surrey.

What a shame he was expelled, Todd Fuller the cat may have been a sensible choice for party leader. He would be brighter than some of those dull humans in that party, even if it would be of the wrong political purrsuation.

*for The Ongoing Barks of a Well Read Dog, check out Shamus (who is continuing Cammie's legacy)

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I begged my human to stay home with me but he wouldn't as he had to go to work. Then we had heavy rain which was perfect weather for just napping on the couch so my human missed out on hours of cuddling me.

When my human returned home from work, I smelt that Border Collie named Tessie on his hand again. It seems that she ran to greet him three houses down from her own place and was inviting him to visit her. She barked/told him to go with her to the door, but my human declined and waved her goodbye. He decided that her humans might think it strange if he knocked on the door and said "Tessie invited me to visit". I can't believe that dog talks to him.

I did eat more today, and enough to keep my human happy.

Fashion kitties

It is about time that kitty cats featured in fashion spreads in magazines.










Check out Seventeen December 2006 issue for the covershoot.

Such cute kitties. I think that the human prop was unnecessary though. Who is she anyway?

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I ate a little bit today. Enough to keep my human satisfied.

I made my human do nothing again today, however, he did go to the local supermarket for supplies (I will write about the blue orchid tomorrow). He then went out to the city briefly.

Then we had another nap on the couch together.

Sebastian's gold crowns

No no, Sebastian is not royalty and I'm not referring to head wear.

Sebastian is in fact a one year old Persian cat with long black fur.

His human is a dentist, David Steele, and being a teeth specialist, he was concerned about how Sebastian's teeth were growing, so he arranged for the two bottom canine teeth (dog teeth?) to be crowned with gold at US $900 each in order to strengthen them.



Sebastian was not happy and didn't speak to his human for two days.

See - Yahoo! News of 16 August 2006

*As always, please check out Cooper and Camilla who always have interesting things to say.

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I had fun with Emily over the weekend. We watched the movie Goal! and had lots of cuddles.

My human returned today just before my dinner time and gave me my dinner and I even ate it all. Afterwards, I refused to get off his lap, although he did want to unpack.

My human told me that he caught up with his friend Jon from university days and went with his youngest brother Thomas and his wife Sarah to a stand up comedy show, then went out for a few drinks.

My human said he very much enjoyed going to the football match, and went to say hello to Judy, who works for the Lions Football Club membership office before the game and at half-time. Judy told him that I'm famous in the office with my pictures on the wall. Woohoo!

After the game, there was a meet the players activity on the field and my human managed to get more player signatures on my bandana. Woohoo! Not only that he also bought me some more player badges. Unfortunately, my human didn't get a chance to talk to the players this time, or to meet Vossy (the captain) or Blacky (his favourite player). Here are some photos that my human took -


Bernie 'the Gabba' Vegas, team mascot


running out to the field


Josh Drummond and Robert Copeland




my human told me he went "aarrgghhhhh" many times


Blacky with the ball


after the siren - Vossy addressing his players


leaving the field


former player Alistair Lynch (a legend) with Browny (who didn't play due to injury)


posing with my bandana, now with more signatures

While I was left home alone today, my human caught up with another friend Steve from university for a beer.

I'm glad to have my human back with me.

keisercat@wildmail.com

Colin Powell is a cat

I kid you not. Colin Powell is a black cat of the rare Bombay breed who was awarded Cat of the Year 2004 by the US Cat Fanciers' Association.

Colin Powell also received his ribbon from his namesake, the then Secretary of State Colin Powell.

How nice.

See - State Department



*As always, please check out Cooper and Camilla who always have interesting things to say.

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The weekend was too good to last. After my second breakfast this morning (I have two - the first as soon as my human gets up out of bed, his priorities are right; the second after his shower when he is making work lunch and eating breakfast), I went to sit on the couch. My human forgot to leave the radio on for me. How rude!

When he came home from work, I greeted him at the door. My chicken was so tasty tonight that I had THREE helpings. Hmmmm... cooked chicken needs a few days in the fridge for the flavours to fully develop.

keisercat@wildmail.com

Lucy (the cat) and her human Ethan

Lucy the Cat is a feature of the Ethan Green Comix by Eric Orner. Lucy is part of Ethan's "Mostly Unfabulous Social Life". This has also been made into a film.


Ethan loves Lucy as he should






the film version, but where is Lucy the cat?

Check it out (links below)
- Lucy the Cat comix
- official website of the film version
- Washington Post review of film version

*As always, please check out Cooper and Camilla who always have interesting things to say.

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I had a great day today. After my usual chicken breakfast, I went to have a chat to my human while he was having a shower. When he made his lunch for work, he gave me leg ham. Woohoo! I haven't had leg ham for over a month (my human told me that the deli at the local markets where he usually buys the ham bone was always out, until yesterday).

Afterwards, I sat up on the dining room windowsill and watched my human leave for work.

Unfortunately, he was late home from work today. He did not get home until 7.15pm (an hour or so after my dinner time). He told me he was sorry that he had to stay back at work to finish up his current job as he is going to a new job next week.

Anyway, I had tinned tuna in springwater for dinner. Not only that, I even had a whole (thin) sausage when my human was having his dinner.

keisercat@wildmail.com

Sassy

Sassy was a really amazing cool cat in the Homeward Bound films. I do have a gripe about the script of the film though. Sassy should have bossed the dogs around a bit more.



*As always, please check out Cooper and Camilla who always have interesting things to say.

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We stayed up late last night and watched a really good quirky film called Napoleon Dynamite.





I had a good day today, my human was with me all day (he took today off work as tomorrow is a public/official holiday, making another four day weekend), except of course when he walked to the shops and did some gardening.

In the afternoon, Honey and Jaffa's human Michael came over briefly to show my human how to make chocolate brownies, while he was shown how to make coq au vin. I even had a quick lie down on his lap when he was having a cup of tea, leaving message for those two cats, and the puppy.

Tonight, in keeping with the quirky theme, we watched a great film called Thumbsucker .





Oh, on Desperate Housewives tonight, there was a scene of a cat taking his human for a walk.



keisercat@wildmail.com

the office cat

My human works in a government office. Many times I have asked him if I could go with him, and he has been tempted but thought better of it.

Of course that would be just to visit. Being on the payroll would be another matter. What would a cat do in an office, day after day?

Well, it just so happened that the British Home Office has had a cat working for them from 1929 to the early 1976. The cat's job was to keep the office free from rodents.

Unfortunately, the cats in succession, named Peter, Peter II, and Peta were not paid. But public monies were appropriated for their care and food out of petty cash. How unfair!

See
- Daily Telegraph
- BBC News

I think I could work in my human's office and do a darn better job than some of the humans there! But the sight of me typing with my nose and paws might render some staff even more unproductive. I would not be demeaned as a mouser. Instead, I should have a large office with many staff to manage including a personal assistant. Hmmm... if I hid myself in the office and nobody knew that I am a cat, perhaps I could get away with it...

*As always, please check out Cooper and Camilla who always have interesting things to say.

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My human spent much of the morning doing chores. Hmmph! He made me listen to The Man Machine which is a cool CD by Kraftwerk who were the great innovators of electronic music.



Then, he made me listen to Ágætis Byrjun (by sigur rós).

Sooty and Spike's human Tim also came over for the afternoon with a very geeky boardgame called Space Crusade which they played for hours. I tried to join in and play, but I didn't understand the rules at all. I hope that proves that I'm not a geek. When he arrived, I meowed and meowed at him, so he picked me up to give me a cuddle. He had no idea I was asking him whether Sooty and Spike got any turkey for Christmas as I didn't!

Tim did bring some cool music for me to listen to though - Flock of Bleeps (by Younger Brother) and Robot-O-Chan (by Prometheus).





It was a groovy afternoon, even though I did nap through some of it, and I had another choice of lap again. I hope there are more visitors again soon. After two days of raw (but corn fed) chicken wings, I had cooked chicken for dinner. So I'm happy! I hope all my kitty friends are too!

keisercat@wildmail.com

Trim the cat

Trim was a very famous cat. He adopted the human, Matthew Flinders - a very famous British explorer, after he was born at sea on HMS Reliance in 1797 during a voyage to Capetown (in what is now South Africa), to obtain livestock for the new settlement of Sydney.

Trim sailed with Flinders on his early surveying voyages, and also on his return to England in 1800. Trim helped Flinders to circumnavigate Australia in HMS Investigator and survived the shipwreck of the Porpoise on Wreck Reef in 1803. Trim was with Flinders on the Cumberland when it was detained in Mauritius by the French.

During his captivity, Flinders wrote a memoir of Captain Trim. You may be able to find this book or order it from your bookshop. Trim by Matthew Flinders (Angus & Robertson: 1997, $14.95, 51pp. ISBN: 0091814618)

You can see a statue of Trim on a window ledge of the Mitchell Library (State Library of New South Wales) facing Macquarie Street.


Statue of Trim

Nina's human, Hugh came to do some more gardening, and then he gave me some pats.

I also spent some time outside today after dinner, supervising some repotting of pot plants and even had a nap on the lawn before it got dark.

If you enjoyed reading this, let me know. You can email me at keisercat@wildmail.com