teh kitteh antidote/ anecdote

My first cat show- Thanks Sherry Campbell and Hang Ten of Mainesuspect Maine coons!

2009-11-21T15:51:00.000-08:00

By wonderful chance I met Sherry Campbell and kitty (now "cat" I think) Hang Ten (official name GC Tropikoons Hang Ten of Mainesuspect) from Mainesuspect Maine Coons at my first time ever at a cat show- CFA show in Atlanta. I just happened to sit down beside her at one of the "rings" where Maine coons including the awesome "Hang Ten" were being judged. It's a pretty confusing adventure for a newbie, but Sherry was just great in helping me understand (to the best of my ability) what was going on when cats were being judged. And, Hang Ten is quite a Maine coon character, in the very best sense. So, I don't yet understand the ins and out of points and judging and such, or what the various terms mean, but it seems to me that Hang Ten is on his way to making a mark in the Maine coon world and beyond. What a personality. What a gorgeous cat!

So, my first "cat show" data point- maybe really nice and accessible breeders show, breed and own great kitties? I'm going with that for now!

Here are two YouTubes of Hang Ten from just a month ago, when he was being judged in the kitten class at a show in DC. Wow, this is some "kitten"!!

What a personality! Is this a Coonie to love, or what! *g*

Here's a pic of Sherry and Hang Ten and a whole lotta ribbons from a page on the "Mainesuspect" site, here.

There are more great photos of Hang Ten here- they are under copyright so I won't copy any here, but really, any Maine coon lover needs to check them out! What a gorgeous boy!

Kitty love from Russia- Maine coon is so sweet

2009-11-15T18:19:00.000-08:00

I just found another great YouTube from my Maine coon hero bortapir.

Direct link is here

Bortapir has some just great kitty vids, including this one, which I featured previously at tka:

I think that the kitty lover in youtube #1 is a she kitty, whereas the "flying electrobroom" in youtube #2 is a he kitty. But, are they related?

F1 Savannah Cat MAGIC

2009-11-06T08:41:00.000-08:00

I would like to show you two videos of a wonderful Savannah cat called MAGIC. She is a first generation Savannah cat from the wild cat serval and it shows in her athleticism. But, and this is important, she has been beautifully socialised so that she integrates with the human world without a problem.

..see the above video in large format and:

In both she shows her true domestic nature while her wild side in her size and appearance is there for all to see. See the above in large format.

One last thing. MAGIC is the Guinness World Records Tallest Domestic Cat - official. See also Worlds Biggest Cat. Go to the Home Page.

Michael

More Cats in Television- Kitty in "The Closer" episode 1, season 5

2009-06-13T10:00:00.000-07:00

Brenda Leigh Johnson, Fritz Howard, and Kitty are shown below in an image from the new season of "The Closer". The new season's first episode aired on June 8, 2009. The second episode airs on June 15, 2009.

Copyright (c) Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc. All rights reserved.

The cat "Kitty" has been a part of "The Closer", the Emmy Award-winning TV series, almost from the get go- Kitty's debut was in Season 1 (2005), episode 3. Read more about the accolades for the "The Closer" here . And, I trace the history of Kitty in "The Closer" here.

And, Kitty "he" or "she", depending on who is speaking and when, continues to exert her cat presence. Sometimes she (yes, Kitty is a she) does so "overtly", at least by means of her influence on the Humans, to influence the home life of Brenda Leigh Johnson, and that Fritz guy. But I am thinking that her cat presence is always there, even if not apparent in some episode or another- thus "covertly".

Kitty, in fact, appears in relatively few episodes of "The Closer", but when she does, the issues she presents deal with "Things Cat People Know About". And, even in episodes where Kitty doesn't appear, she is still a presence. I say that because cats have that way of being around, telling us something.

Pay attention to life, the cat says.

Cats, every cat, once they are adopted, and become part of a Human home, with Humans as guardians, continue to be a part of that home, even if they don't get prime time footage in every episode of a popular series like "The Closer". Kitty, and any cat, is there. One way or the other, they are a presence.

Kitty in "The Closer" is the reality check, the innocent force that centers Brenda Leigh Johnson amidst/against the larger world of professional life, where she has to be always in control, and always thinking, to succeed in a man's world. Cats don't plan criminal escapades.

So, back to episode 1, season 5 (June 8, 2009) of "The Closer". Kitty's circumstances are shown fully at the end, but by the time I got there, I was seeing how skillfully this episode was crafted to parallel human events and cat events in a subtle way. A man (suspected perp) leaves at breakfast time. And then things happen. Kitty wasn't eating, according to Fritz, but Brenda feeds her treats at breakfast time. And, then things happen.

At the end of episode 1, season 5, Kitty is being kept overnight at the vet's, and on IV. Fritz spotted the problem- Kitty wasn't eating, and wanted to take her to the vet first thing in the morning. But, Brenda fed Kitty some kitty treats for breakfast and Kitty gobbled them up, Brenda's response to show Fritz Kitty was okay. And then Fritz came home at noon to discover that Kitty had thrown up the kitty treats.

This first episode of season 5 is so rich with possibilities it's hard for me to know what to say next- all I can offer is that two different friends had cats who had to be taken to the hospital for IV, and then repeated treatments- both cats suffering from kidney disease. The outcomes were different for the two cats. One good, one not.

But, please pay attention to the warning signs of cat illnesses- cats are very good at hiding their pain. The following list of things to pay attention to come via the American Humane Association (and this is for any pet- not just cats- dogs too). Like, the probability of me taking my cat Tootsie for a walk are zero- thus I realized in careful reading of info below that this included both cats AND dogs:

TIPS FOR RECOGNIZING AND CARING FOR A SICK PET

1. Keep in mind that animals will generally attempt to mask signs of illness. This behavior is a natural instinct that is used for protection in the wild where any animal showing signs of weakness is likely to be shunned by its own kind and/or attacked by predators.

2. Be aware that any subtle change in your pet’s appearance or behavior could indicate illness. Some signs to watch for include:
• Decrease or loss of appetite
• Decrease in energy or activity level
• Hiding
• Vomiting or diarrhea
• Blood in the urine or stool
• Bloating of the abdomen
• Straining or inability to urinate or defecate
• Increased shedding or bald patches
• Excessive scratching or licking of the body
• Foul odor coming from the mouth, ears, or skin
• Lumps or tumors
• Discharge from the eyes or nose
• Limping
• Seizures
• Reluctance or difficulty in getting up or going up and down stairs
• Abnormal vocalization (whining or crying)

3. Know which signs indicate an emergency that requires immediate veterinary care and which require veterinary care if they continue for more than a day or two. Symptoms that indicate an emergency include the inability to urinate, a bloated hard abdomen, excessive vomiting or diarrhea, seizures, and the inability to stand up. Other less severe signs of illness should be checked by a veterinarian within 24 to 48 hrs.

4. Once you have taken a sick pet to your veterinarian, you may need to continue medical care at home in the form of medication, special foods, or supportive physical care.

Here are some tips on handling the daily care of a sick pet:
• Make sure you know the correct dose and understand how to give medications prescribed by your veterinarian. Your veterinarian knows that medicating a pet can be challenging and he will be glad to give you a demonstration and some extra coaching if you need it.
• Keep in mind that a sick pet should be kept in a quiet environment and he may prefer to be left alone. Make sure that young children and other pets do not bother him. You may need to keep your sick pet in a separate room or area of the house.
• If your veterinarian has prescribed a special food for your sick pet, make sure that you feed him separately from other pets. Also be sure that all members of your household are aware of your pet’s special dietary needs and understand that even small amounts of treats or other types of foods could be harmful.
• Be aware of any special physical needs that your sick pet may have. Some medications may cause your pet to drink and urinate more so you may need to walk him or clean his litter box more frequently. If your pet is having difficulty walking or going up and down stairs, you may need to help him. Ask your veterinarian to show you the correct way to assist your pet so that you will not hurt him.

5. Report any worsening symptoms or new symptoms to your veterinarian immediately, as these could indicate that your pet’s illness has become more serious. New symptoms could also be side effects of your pet’s medication. Your veterinarian may want to re-examine your pet or he may simply change your pet’s medication.

6. Be sure to finish all medications as prescribed by your veterinarian and take your pet back to your veterinarian for any recommended recheck exams or diagnostic tests. Even if your pet seems completely better to you, it is very important that you adhere to your veterinarian’s instructions. Even if your pet does not look or act sick anymore, there could still be an underlying illness that could recur if you don’t follow through on all of your veterinarian’s recommendations.

And, about that thing of getting my "pet" to finish all the medications- crickey, I wish someone would tell me how to get my cat to do more than take the first few doses. Tootsie is a "rescue" cat, and very wary. And, a bit unusual. She is absolutely resistant to any kind of "kitty treats". I tried out a bunch of these on her, hoping I could find a way to make her "okay" with it, like reward her for taking the medicine. I finally resorted to giving her a can of tuna (canned tuna is NOT good for cats, but it was a last resort on my part).

Tootsie ate this canned tuna over the course of 2 days, and then left me a message- she threw up something that looked quite like the contents of the can of tuna, and left it on the hallway. This is the ONLY time she has thrown up, ever. And, I don't think it was a "subtle message" with forethought. The canned tuna really made her ill.

Cats and Birds/ Cockatiels- Interspecies Fascination- not what you might expect!

2009-06-12T15:00:00.000-07:00

Cockatiel singing to a cat. Cockatiel - bird obsessed with cat. My latest YouTube discoveries in the "interspecies" category. My my, these cockatiels, if not total cat lovers (though it looks like it), are very, very interested in making the interspecies connection!

No cockatiels were harmed! Totally hilarious bird behavior.

Human says: One of our cockatiels, Kiki, is singing to our 19lbs cat, Samuel. Direct link is here.

Human says: My cockatiel is absolutely obsessed with my cat and loves to whistle at him (and his tail!) Direct link is here.

Classic Cat Naps- some sweet photos

2009-06-10T15:00:00.000-07:00

Classic cat naps! It's just so soothing to watch a cat sleeping, and as I've been feeling a bit tired myself, I went off to flickr- always a source of great photos. All of these are available under CCL.

above by Peter Gorges on flickr

above by SarahR89 on flickr

above by louisa_catlover on flickr

above by Janet 59 on flickr

above by skarpetka86 on flickr

Cats in Movies- Orangey aka Rhubarb in Village of the Giants (1965)

2009-06-07T17:00:00.000-07:00

Orangey aka Rhubarb the cat appeared in some great movies, as well as Village of the Giants (1965), which either “totally sucks” or is a “minor cult classic”. Oh, and Orangey aka Rhubarb was not just one cat- Cats in Movies- solving the Orangey aka Rhubarb mystery.

The only online footage I could find of Orangey aka Rhubarb in Village of the Giants was via Episode 523 of Mystery Science Theater 3000, as posted in longer version on YouTube. So, this snippet is a derivative of derivative of a..... (ack! the cat was eating that!!!) See the cat turn into a giant snarling cat... 2:03...

This, from the MST3K wiki explains important details for my snippet above, and the longer YouTube here:

The series features a man and his robot sidekicks who are trapped on a satellite in space by an evil scientist and forced to watch a selection of terrible movies, especially (but not initially limited to) science fiction B-movies. To keep sane, the man and his robots make a running commentary on the film, making fun of its flaws and wisecracking (or "riffing") their way through the film in the style of a movie theater peanut gallery. The movie was presented with a superimposition of the man and robots silhouettes along the bottom of the screen.

This is the Orangey aka Rhubarb filmography that I have so far:

Orangey aka Rhubarb appeared in the movies Rhubarb (1951)*; This Island Earth (1955); The Incredible Shrinking Man (1957); Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961)*; Gigot (1962); The Comedy of Terrors (1964)*; Village of the Giants (1965). I couldn’t find online footage of Orangey aka Rhubarb from “This Island Earth”.

The list combines information from two pages at IMDB- here and here. I’ve used “*” to indicate movies where Orangey aka Rhubarb was “credited”. I’m not sure about the ins and outs of crediting, but my guess is that it has to do with the “face time” the “cat actor” got in a particular movie.

This is Orangey in Village of the Giants-

Orangey aka Rhubarb was trained by Frank Inn (most renown Hollywood animal trainer of all time). Frank in also trained Benji, and every other sort of animal. I'm sure he provided the disco ducks in Village of the Giants. My firm suspicion is that the movie includes an uncredited appearance from Benji.

In the image above left is "Woof" who turns into a giant dog in Village of the Giants, and above right is Mooch (aka Benji) from Mooch Goes to Hollywood (1971) via info here. Click through if for no other reason than to confirm that Mooch's wardrobe was provided by Frederick's of Hollywood. (Uh, if you lived there then, you'll know what I mean.)

Is “Village of the Giants a “cult classic”? I dunno. At least one person thinks so, and created a site to celebrate that view, here.

Click on "cats in movies" below for more... er... Cats in Movies

June is American Humane's Adopt-A-Cat Month®

2009-06-05T16:00:00.000-07:00

June is American Humane Association's Adopt-A-Cat Month®. Below is the image of the poster they created (click on image for larger version), and you can download this and more from the link here.

The following is from a page at the AHA site- go there to read more.

Approximately 4 million cats end up in shelters every year.
One of them is sure to be a perfect match for you!

Each year, thousands of kittens are born during spring and summer -- and many end up in animal shelters, waiting for loving homes. To promote adoptions of these playful, affectionate animals, American Humane celebrates Adopt-A-Cat Month® in June. Come visit the fabulous felines at your local animal shelter, and take home your new best friend!

What I had not realized is that cats are "seasonal breeders"- females only come into estrous when the day length is 12 hours or longer (12 of 24)- thus responding to changes in seasons. Cat biology! No wonder shelters are strapped during Spring and Summer (more here and here).

I found a tool to calculate sunrise and sunset at various locations, according to the date you enter here. I'm not sure that sunrise and sunset are perfect indicators of day length for inducing cat estrous, but they have to be a good approximation.

I looked at Los Angeles- on March 20, 2009 - Sunrise Time: 06:02 hours; Sunset Time: 18:13 hours. That would be 12 and bit hours of daylight. It takes about 60 days for a female cat to go from "having been successfully knocked up" to giving birth to those kittens... May 20, 2009, then it might be, because cats can be insistent about following hormonal orders. And thus... the shelter problem.

Twist ties- favorite cat toy of my Maine coon

2009-06-04T16:30:00.000-07:00

Yes, twist ties are great cat toys! In an earlier post, I described how my Maine coon Tootsie led me to this discovery: Tootsie polydactyl Maine coon cat invents new cat toy-- as I said then:

Tootsie is a very resourceful cat. So, I am downstairs, and I hear thundering about upstairs. Not exactly the first time this has happened. She gets especially wild and crazy when I'm not watching. And then, out of the corner of my eye, as I am sitting downstairs at the computer, I catch a glimpse of her trotting across the kitchen with "something" in her jaws. And then I hear scraping noises. She's whapping that "something" about, as I shortly discover.

The figure below gives the details. Part a shows the "something" she was trotting around with. Why yes, it IS a twist tie, and it was included in the packaging for the Roomba I purchased. Part b shows my attempts to create other options, following on from Tootsie's toy invention. A scale bar is provided for reference.

That was back in February. Events have progressed. I realized that it was a really BAD IDEA to let her get her paws on any short twist ties, especially the ones covered in paper, because she might chew off the paper, and the wire was short enough for her to swallow accidentally.

That didn't leave many options in from my twist tie collection. So, I went to the local hardware/ garden store, and found a roll of garden wire covered in study green plastic- on a reel with a convenient cutter. Huge success!

She absolutely loves these. I coil up about 6" worth for each one, and give it a toss. She goes into the cat crouch attack position and lets the fur fly. Bats them down the alley (hardwood floors), picks them up in her jaws, carries them around, drops them, attacks again. If any thing is going to convince me to get a video camera and make my own YouTube, this activity will be it. Totally hilarious!

It appears that Tootsie is not the only cat who has invented the twist tie cat toy. There are very few YouTubes that show cats playing with twist ties- this one shows a cat using a few of Tootsie's moves, but they're really small moves, compared to what Tootsie does with the twist ties. Tootsie is, like, totally more intense! Direct link for below

Cats in Television- Kitty in "The Closer"

2009-06-02T12:00:00.000-07:00

I pay attention to cats in movies, and, thanks to Jone Bouman aka "JB" in the Film & Television Unit at the American Human Association, I was able to solve the "Orangey aka Rhubarb" mystery here.

I don't watch much TV, but JB suggested I check out "The Closer", because the cat "Kitty" appears in various episodes. And, the LA connection- "The Closer" is set in LA, where I more or less grew up- VG= "Valley Girl". What JB didn't know- I grew up reading mysteries and police procedurals and watching Perry Mason!

Timely advice- the new season of The Closer starts on June 8, and June is American Humane Association’s Adopt-A-Cat Month®

So... first step was to see what was on YouTube showing Kitty in The Closer. This was it: One YouTube- Season 2, Episode 13- "Fritz left the door open"- Kitty vanishes, and then... Direct link is here.

Other parts of the Kitty story are below- and btw, "Brenda" is the lead character, Brenda Leigh Johnson, the Deputy Chief, Priority Homicide Division/Major Crimes Division LAPD, played by Kyra Sedgwick. Block quotes come from the linked pages.

Season 1, Episode 3 - The Big Picture

Brenda must fight for justice for two Russian prostitutes murdered by the illegitimate son of a Russian mafia figure..

At the end of the episode, Brenda purchases one of the dead girl's house, and finds herself the owner of a cat she doesn't want, but who has ideas of its own. This is the episode where we first meet "Kitty."

Season 1, Episode 8 - Batter Up

On the home front, Brenda finds herself with some new charges when her (male) Kitty has kittens.

Best Episode Quotes
Brenda: (Holding out a meowing pillowcase) "The cat's sick." (My note: I assume because she just had kittens!)
Gabriel: "You brought your cat to a crime scene?"
Brenda: "It's not my cat, it just lives with me and eats at my house."

Season 4, Episode 1 - Controlled Burn

Brenda and Fritz are having problems with the toilets, but as there is a no pet clause in their rental agreement, Brenda's landlord can't know about Kitty, so they can't have the landlord repair the toilet.

Fritz refuses to pay for an outside repairman because it is the responsibility of the landlord to pay for or to ensure that repairs are made, not the tenants. He resolves to motivate Brenda to confront her refusal to deal with the Kitty issue...

Season 4, Episode 11 - Good Faith

Best Episode Moments- Kitty rolling around on the wedding dresses Brenda is trying. (My note: aha! true cat behavior.)

I wish more Kitty video clips were available online. The writer for the Kitty character surely knows a lot about how cats and humans behave when mixed together... oh, and, when I was growing up we rescued a cat that got tossed out of a speeding car... "Charlie"- we thought he was male, until... she got fat with kittens!

And, now having watched many clips from the series via the main TNT page for The Closer I add this: A lot of it is Drama, but a lot of it is also Great Fun.

One example- maybe you have to have grown up in California when I did to appreciate the wry and wise and hilarious take on Fritz's sister- the "intuitive". I've known women like that! Try this link- she appears a long while in, but it is worth a watch- here

My favorite quote from her: "I got caught in a power struggle in the Yoga community." Uh huh. Classic!

White cats- Maine coons and Norwegian Forest cats compared

2009-06-01T12:00:00.000-07:00

Maine coons and Norwegian Forest cats are two "natural breeds" that developed without human interference. And, then, they became show cats. But, the basic "look" has been preserved, and the personality as well. I found charming videos of Norwegian Forest cat kittens, and tried to explain why the faces were "classic" for Norwegian Forest cats, and different from "classic" Maine coons (post is here).

I searched for pictures of white cats of the respective breeds, thinking it would be easier to see the differences, without the distraction of the markings, which are basically the same. I found great photos of white Norwegian Forest cats, here, but, none of white Maine coons that I could use. UNTIL... I found Trilloteam, a cattery in Italy passionate about Maine coons. I posted a wonderful video from them Maine coon kitties from Italy- the "Awesome Eight".

The following photos seemed the best to illustrate the differences in looks between Norwegian Forest cats and Maine coons. Don't get distracted by the difference in "fluffiness"- The female Maine coon Ofella Bonitatis is only about a year old in the photos, and it's summer time! Coat thickness develops with age, and is way heavier in the winter time.

Here are two white Norwegian Forest cats via noeoracio.

And, this is the white Maine coon Ofella Bonitatis via Trilloteam in Italy, here and here.

Both breeds are long, lithe cats, with huge fluffiness, and lynx-tip ears. But, pay attention to the head shapes, especially the profiles- the more angular profile and head shape is "classic" Norwegian Forest cat shown in immediate right photo (via noeoracio) whereas that sweet upturned nose is "classic" Maine coon (via Trilloteam). Can you see the difference?

Cats in Movies- Orangey aka Rhubarb in "Comedy of Terrors" (1964)

2009-05-30T19:00:00.000-07:00

I've been tracking the filmography of Orangey aka Rhubarb, and thus discovered "Comedy of Terrors" (1964). In addition to the cat acting, it has perfect performances by Vincent Price, Peter Lorre and Boris Karloff. This review of the DVD release is great in telling the how the movie came to be made.

There were several Orangey aka Rhubarb cats, all trained by Frank Inn, as I've discovered, but that doesn't really matter, imho, because they were all talented cats. Here's Orangey aka Rhubarb as "Cleopatra" in some frames from "Comedy of Terrors"-

The snippet below is the last 3 minutes- the closing credits of the movie. I'm one of those movie goers who ALWAYS sticks around to watch the closing credits. And sometimes, there are surprises, well worth waiting for! And, this is great cat stuff.

Below is the first 10 minutes of Comedy of Terrors, where Orangey aka Rhubarb first appears as "Cleopatra", showing the "usual" talents of Frank Inn cats- going up and down stairs, snarling, and... It comes from Comedy of Terrors (1964), part 1/8 Follow the part 1/8 link, and you can click onwards to watch the movie from start to finish, thanks to a dedicated YouTuber jasongreenwooduk1, who has posted numerous classic horror movies.

Click on the label "cats in movies" for more... er ... "cats in movies"

Cats in Movies- solving the Orangey aka Rhubarb mystery

2009-05-28T23:00:00.000-07:00

Who was Orangey? Who was Rhubarb? Thanks to the wonderful help of "JB" in the Film & Television Unit here of the American Humane Association here, I've made great progress in solving the mystery.

I contacted the Film & Television Unit of AHA with several research questions, via email, on the off chance that I might get a response. Not only did I get a very prompt response, the person who emailed me back gave me exactly the information I was seeking. WOW! Thoroughly professional.

One research question (actually a secondary question) had to do with the filmography of Orangey aka Rhubarb the cat. I've been tracking the filmograhy of Orangey aka Rhubarb, who appeared in "Breakfast at Tiffany's" here, "Gigot" here and "The Incredible Shrinking Man" here, among many other films. I had spent a lot of time watching Rhubarb in "The Comedy of Terrors", and became convinced that this was NOT the same cat as "Cat" in "Breakfast at Tiffany's".

To the right (top) are 2 frames of Orangey aka Rhubarb in Comedy of Terrors (1964) and then (bottom) 2 frames of Orangey aka Rhubarb in Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961). Click on these for larger images. These weren't all I looked at- many more, in fact. But, they capture why I didn't think this was the same cat- different head shape, different body type, different leg markings and different body color.

And, indeed it appears I was correct- not precisely about these two films, but I doubt that it was much different for any Orangey aka Rhubarb movie.

Frank Inn, who owned and trained Orangey aka Rhubarb, is perhaps the most renown "Hollywood" animal trainer ever. His work for Rhubarb (1951) was his break-through work, and from all I've read about him, it was thoroughly deserved.

"JB" in the Film & Television Unit at AHA put me on to the key information about Orangey and Frank Inn, which comes from the book "Amazing Animal Actors", here. Fair use is 200 words, so I've kept the quotes to that, but there's much more!

This describes Inn's work for "Rhubarb" the movie-

Because cats are difficult to train, Inn was not sure he could teach one cat all of the tricks necessary for the Rhubarb script. Instead, he acquired 60 look-alike cats and used 36 of them for the film. Inn trained each of the 36 cats to perform one or two tricks and used the cats interchangeably in the film. For example, when the director needed a cat to jump, Inn brought out one of the cats that could jump on cue. The cat would perform the trick, Inn would put the cat back in its crate and take out another that could perform the next trick requested by the director.

Inn had various names for the 36 cats with which he worked- Pie Plant (another term for Rhubarb), Big Boy, Long Tail, The 'Fraidy Cat, Little Britches. However, the official press releases from the studio promoted the story that one cat, Orangey, played the role of Rhubarb.

Frank Inn's Rhubarb cats made appearances in more than 500 television programs and feature films.

And, from the same book, these were rescue cats:

"So whenever I'd go to the pound, I'd pick up two or three cats that looked alike, struggle through, and try to get the job done," Inn recalled.

That seems to have been Frank Inn's way- work with rescue animals. Perhaps the most famous of these is Benji the dog, who he rescued from the Burbank Animal Shelter (click here and scroll down), and who had a long and illustrious career. And, unlike Orangey, it appears there was only one "original" Benji, and then, a successor Benji- the online sources seem pretty clear about this.

More about the Film & Television unit:

Established in 1940, American Humane’s Film & Television Unit is the leading authority on the safe use of animals in film. We are the only animal welfare organization in the world with on-set jurisdiction from the Screen Actors Guild to supervise the use of animals. We are also the only organization with the authority to issue our renowned “No Animals Were Harmed”® end-credit disclaimer.

We also collaborate with producers to include animal welfare messages -- ranging from condemning animal cruelty to encouraging pet adoption from shelters -- in filmed productions. The increased public demand for positive animal messaging has placed even greater importance on the inclusion of our “No Animals Were Harmed” end credit on TV programs and films.

A Cat Hero

2009-05-27T15:00:00.000-07:00

Here's a great cat story- about how a cat gave the "heads up" in saving a poor doggy.

Cat, Firefighters Help Rescue Dog From Drain Pipe

They were in the park- and then-

One of those family cats, Sundae, alerted her owner that something was terribly wrong with Tiki.

"He came tearing back to me, yowling the whole time, letting me know that something happened," said Church. "She made sure that I followed her back over to where she was. The kitty is as much of a hero as the Aurora Fire Department. She took me over where the pipe was … and went in a few steps. We were a couple hundred yards away -- where we had been sitting previously. The cat took me all the way back there and then I heard the dog inside there. I never would have known that he was in there at all if it hadn't been for the cat."

If you go to the link, you can read the full story, and watch the news video.

The black and white cat to the right is NOT "Sundae". But, the cat looks a lot like him- although Sundae is a bit more er... substantial. This wonderful picture is available from flickr under the CCL, and is by 96dpi.

Maine coon kitties from Italy- the "Awesome Eight"

2009-05-25T19:00:00.000-07:00

Maine coon kitties from Italy! This litter of eight Maine coon kittens comes from the cattery "Trilloteam". And, bonus, it's the first YouTube posted by them. I look forward to many more!

The direct link is here.

A while back, Michael Broad (who writes my favorite all round cat sites- Pictures of Cats and the Pictures of Cats Blog) and I had a chat about using Helmi Flick's great photo of "The Magnificent Seven" to start a "can you tell which is male and which is female?" quiz. I had my guesses! We both got sidetracked, but the link to that great Helmi Flick photo of a litter of seven Maine coon kittens is here .

So, when I saw the YouTube of eight! Maine coon kittens (The Awesome Eight?), I just had to reprise the idea. I took the liberty of capturing some screen shots from the YouTube, and then made my own guesses. I got a bit of a hint by checking out the page at Trilloteam re: the kitties here , which says there are 3 males and 5 females in the Awesome Eight. Here are my guesses as to which are male and which are female. Most seemed obvious to me, especially the Alpha Male who I identify as "m!!!". I wasn't sure about two, but my best guesses are m? and f? for those two.

Cats in Movies- Orangey aka Rhubarb- The Incredible Shinking Man

2009-05-22T11:00:00.000-07:00

Orangey aka Rhubarb, winner of two cat "Oscars" (the PATSY) also appeared in a classic SciFi movie, "The Incredible Shrinking Man" (1957). I've been following up on Orangey's filmography. Click on the label "Orangey" to learn more about this very talented feline.

Promo for "The Incredible Shrinking Man". Direct link is here.

The image at the right comes from a great compilation of the best of 1957 SciFi movies, here. I don't normally pay much attention to SciFi, either books or movies, but I found the comments from this SciFi movie expert absolutely fascinating, because I am from the "duck and cover" generation. Here is a snippet from the linked page here:

A radioactive mist was the cause of Scott Carey's transformation into The Incredible Shrinking Man. This film took a serious, and somewhat adult approach to the terror of finding your world was becoming more and more outside of your grasp.

Equally interesting for me were these snippets from the site's main page, here.

The importance of the sci-fi films of the fifties - a personal view- Movies, like any good art form, are a reflection of their time...

In my mind, no genre of film has ever exemplified this better than the science fiction film. While the concepts may be (if you'll pardon the pun) alien to us, the best science fiction films still reflect the attitudes and culture of the times they were made. The "sci-fi" thrillers of the 1950s are some of the most interesting, fun and downright strange examples of films that reflected their time.

Why? Well, anyone who grew up in the fifties could tell you that the order of the day was paranoia. This was the decade which gave us the Red Scare, "Duck and Cover" and Joe McCarthy. It was A-Bombs for breakfast, fallout for lunch and radiation for dinner. It was at this time that Roswell, New Mexico may, or may not have been the site of our first official contact with extraterrestrials. Sputnik circled over our heads, spewing evil Commie Death-Rays (or so some would have you believe!)

And it was in this atmosphere in America that we saw some of the most terrifying (OK, for their time, it was terrifying), thrilling, thought-provoking, and weird films ever to fill the drive-ins and movie houses.

Now, back to Orangey- I captured some frames that highlight the role Orangey played in The Incredible Shrinking Man:

White Norwegian Forest cats- Wonderful Photos

2009-05-21T16:00:00.000-07:00

These are just plain wonderful photos of white Norwegian Forest cats. I went to flickr to find more photos to show the differences I see between Norwegian Forest cats and Maine coons, to follow up on an earlier post here. And, then I found these stunning photos.

There are a lot more in this flickr set Noé et Oracio des Fines Terres from noeoracio. I chose just a few of the many that are available under the Creative Commons License. I give the links for the individual photos at the bottom of this post-- I don't want to interrupt the visual flow of these fine photos with text.

From top to bottom, the photos from noeoracio are here, here, here, here and here. Enjoy!

Norwegian Forest cat- kitties are having a ball- from Denmark

2009-05-20T14:00:00.000-07:00

Ah, what sweet Norwegian Forest cat kitties- five of them in a household in Denmark. They are little fluff balls full of kitty energy. Especially watch the smallest kitty sitting at the corner of the rug- classic classic Norwegian forest cat face! That's the only one that was still enough for me to see the face!

Norwegian Forest cats look a lot like Maine coons, perhaps not surprisingly, as both are "natural breeds" that developed in very similar environments- cold, snowy forested places. It's taken me a while, but I now can see as obvious the differences in their faces and head shapes. The Norwegian Forest cat face a bit more triangular, the Maine coon face less so.

Direct link is here.

Direct link is here.

See what I mean? ;) One is a Norwegian Forest cat, the other is a Maine coon. Both are flickr photos under Creative Commons License. Left photo is via fox_kiyo; right photo is via tsavobosques. You'll have to click through to find the answer! ;)

Click on label below, "Norwegian Forest cat", to see more great YouTubes of Norwegian Forest cats, as well as links to the history of Norwegian Forest cats.

Maine coon grooming - Summertime and the shedding is easy

2009-05-18T16:00:00.000-07:00

My Maine coon loves getting combed. Thank goodness, because she was shedding fur all over the place, now that summer is coming. Turns out that what works the best is a cheap plastic comb that I got from who knows where. She loves this comb! Purr time, big time. After I've run out of steam scratching her under the chin with it, she does the "cat flop" belly up, and waits... and purrs...

I've saved the fur I collected over the past 3 days, and set it out to take a picture, along with the comb. Crickey! She was watching, and was on the photo setup in an instant, disturbing the cloth background. But, so fascinating- it was the fur itself that really intrigued her. She sniffed and sniffed and...

So, I put out the scratch pad to get the two photos at the bottom, and yes, eventually, she paid some attention to the comb.

But, this cheap plastic comb really is her favorite by far of the grooming tools I've tried. I have a whole collection of "cat brushes" that seem to work for other cats. But, I guess Tootsie just has her ways! ;)

Failed attempts: Teh Awesome Equine Cat Brush and Will cat brushes become my new obsession?

Cats in Movies- Orangey in "Gigot"

2009-05-17T12:00:00.000-07:00

Orangey the cat was "Cat" in Breakfast at Tiffany's, but as I have discovered, he also appears in Gigot (with Jackie Gleason) and, and, and...

Via IMDb is this (shortened) Biography for Orangey:

Orangey the Cat is the only feline double-winner of the Patsy (Picture Animal Top Star of the Year) Award, the animal kingdom's equivalent of the Oscar. Orangey won his first Patsy for his cinema debut in Rhubarb (1951)... Ten years later, he won his second Patsy, playing "Cat" in Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961).

Other films that Orangey the Cat appeared in during his 15 year career, include The Incredible Shrinking Man (1957), Gigot (1962), and Village of the Giants (1965). Orangey's longest gig was a recurring role as Minerva the Cat in the TV series "Our Miss Brooks" (1952) from 1952 through 1958.

Below is a 4 minute snippet from the first 10 minutes of Gigot, where Orangey first appears. It comes from Gigot(1962), part 1/11 Follow the part 1/11 link, and you can click onwards to watch the movie from start to finish, thanks to a dedicated YouTuber.

And, btw, I tried to figure out more about the PATSY Awards, and found virtually nada. A post via Critter Alley at least reassured me that my google skills are not totally lacking. On the other hand, sigh... Snippets-

I decided to try and get more information on the PATSY awards, and discovered there's actually very little to be found.

If, in fact, the PATSY award is no longer given, I must protest. It should be reinstated. Look at all the films and TV shows that simply wouldn't be the same without their animal co-stars.

And it only seems appropriate that animal actors be recognized, too.

Indeed!

Click on the label "cats in movies" for more... er ... "cats in movies"

Scottish Fold Maru aka "box cat" - YouTube star!

2009-05-16T12:00:00.000-07:00

Maru, a Scottish Fold cat in Japan, is a YouTube star. Some call him "box cat" because of his performance in a YouTube with a gazillion hits, well deserved.

I just happened across a great compilation of Maru's antics from 2008, with the Human's comments included. Totally fun to watch this wonderfully silly kitty. These are snippets of longer Maru YouTubes, which you can find by going to mugumogu's Channel at YouTube.

Direct link is here

And, this is the famous "box cat" YouTube, (3,481,524 views as of this writing)

Direct link is here

Totally charming tiny Maine coon kitty explores her world - in Japan

2009-05-15T15:00:00.000-07:00

Yes, I love Maine coons! And, I love to find YouTubes/ videos that don't have a gazillion hits. I just happened on these from a new YouTube poster, and is this a sweet kitty, or what? Maybe I'm wrong that the kitty is a "she". I made this call based on the sweetie pie face, not the behavior.

Kitty explores washer/ dryer- she's almost got that treadmill up to speed!

Direct YT link is here.

btw, my most favorite "kitty on a treadmill/ exercise machine" ever is November Gets on the Treadmill

And below, the Maine coon kitty explores the wonder of dripping water. Yes, a bit longer YT than I normally post, but watch on, the cautious kitty behavior is fascinating.

Direct YT link is here.

And now for something completely different

2009-05-14T14:00:00.000-07:00

I just discovered that there is an official Monty Python YouTube presence here.

I had to kick back after getting through the semester (I think). File this in the "other stuff" category. That mostly means "no kittehs". Just other stuff I like.

So, off I went to YouTube... and, here we have it...

Direct link is here.

Direct link is here.

Adopting a polydactly cat via petfinder.com?

2009-05-13T17:00:00.000-07:00

If you are interested in adopting a polydactly cat, read on, and please leave a comment.

I adopted a polydactly cat, a Maine coon that I found via petfinder.com in January, 2009. I was looking for a Maine coon, and there was "Tootsie", a polydactly Maine coon purebred, and I fell in love. Honestly, I don't know if "polys" are special, based on my "one cat" experience. It may just be the "Maine coon thing" ;) But, the way she uses her paws.... well...

A lot of people think polys / polydactyls ARE special. And, readers who would happily adopt one, if they could find one to adopt.

Thus, I emailed someone at petfinder.com, suggesting that "polydactyl" be added to the advanced search terms. I got back a prompt reply from a very nice person, saying that is was a great suggestion, which would she would pass along to the development team. Fingers crossed, and hoping!

And, here's how you can help! If you want petfinder to include "polydactyl" in the advanced search terms, leave a message below. You don't have to have a blogger account- just post as "anonymous". If I get enough "yes" comments, I'll pass them on to my contact, hoping that that will help push the "poly" cause. I tried to go back and figure out how I eventually found the person to contact, but I couldn't! So, in lieu of that, I'm suggesting leaving messages here.

And, btw, petfinder in the US is a great "model" of how to do things right. I find it quite sad that the largest cat rescue organization in the UK has a really clueless online presence, and NO way via the internet to find individual cats to adopt. But, that's another story... Cat Adoption in the UK- What's the Problem?

More cat thieves (aka kleptocats) revealed

2009-05-12T13:00:00.000-07:00

Yes, cats do steal. Socks seem to be particularly attractive- but often only one of a pair is purloined.

above via I CAN HAS CHEEZEBURGER

Hmmm... I think the kitty was looking for the socks, to no avail-

Human says: After 5 days at home, my 2 months old new cat just found out how to steal socks.

More about sock-stealing cats here: Cat thieves (aka kleptocats)- the silent epidemic