The Sunday File: Acrobatics, food morsels and more!

Hello MY Darlings!

Welcome yet again to the "Sunday File".

As I paw through my fan mail, one caught my curiosity!   What read through as something mundane and ordinary, turned into a comedy skit.

Mary writes, "It was a REGULAR  Sunday afternoon - so I thought. It had all the air of a  lazy quiet .....book reading kind of day.  Sun streaming in the window, with dancing shadows on the wall.  Cat curled up on the table, soaking in the sun....or as I thought....!!!

Lost in my book I delved in. Just then.....a sudden rapid movement caught my right eye."Mischief...was inside a shopping bag. Her head moving back and forth, shaking like a dust mop!!  No verbal noises of loud meows. Victorious  and proud...smack, smack the tongue found its treasure.  Asiago cheese crumb...or a archeological find......[any Calico with a high olfactory sense of smell could easily root it

Let me ENTERTAIN YOU!!!  

out. Especially when she thinks she IS a blood hound].


Oh that is "Miss Mischief", up to her antics again (thought I) shaking my head I returned to my mystery......).  

The bag and contents started to move, not like a wave in the ocean....no, no.

It reared up like an elephant trunk high in the air! The plastic bag surrounded the cat.  Then the cat and object was walking backwards...trying to escape.. Or was this a new circus act repeating itself ....'horses standing on their hind 
legs'.  
 
No, no, no...STOP... I uttered. The book dropped to the floor, shuddering as it fell finding it's resting place on the carpet.  "Bonk". Meanwhile "Mischief" proved HER POINT the show goes on.

 
Bolting upwards, I removed the offending bag...."Miss Mischief's" head looking bewildered and pleasantly satisfied with achieving her goal. The Asiago cheese chip crumbs fell to the floor;as a barnacle swept by an ocean wave. Temptation was her just reward. (Sigh)... I was reminded......never leave anything to chance, cat, dog or child around. Sure enough it will be an opportunity to get your attention...no matter WHAT!!

     
"Miss Mischief" looking bemused, washing her face in the sunlight. Finding herself a  sunlit carpet patch to fall asleep....stretching into yet another cat nap"!!! I think I will stick to this activity next time....(more creative) Paper-Bag-Cat-Puppet and leave the acting the 'Divva Jenni'!!!

Simply:  CAT IN the BAG

Well, that is a lovely story Mary, thank you for sharing.  Yes, indeed the more intelligent the cat or dog.....the more likely they are to get into mischief.  This is also quite true of human children, both of which I have observed. As I did some research on the matter myself.

  

It is quite unusual for cat's to have a highly developed olfactory sense of small. As we know a dog's sense of smell is 10,000 higher than a human, with the cat's a close second.  

Link:  merckmanuals.com


 Cat Senses - Smell

{A domestic cat's sense of smell is about fourteen times as strong as a human's. Cats have twice as many receptors in the olfactory epithelium (i.e. smell-sensitive cells in their noses) as people do, meaning that cats have a more acute sense of smell than humans. Cats also have a scent organ in the roof of their mouths called the vomeronasal (or Jacobson's) organ. When a cat wrinkles its muzzle, lowers its chin, and lets its tongue hang a bit, it is opening the passage to the vomeronasal. This is called gaping, "sneering", "snake mouth", or "flehming". Gaping is the equivalent of the Flehman response in other animals, such as dogs, horses and big cats.
It is commonly assumed that dogs possess a superior sense of smell among domesticated animals. However, new studies have shown that cats average 200 million olfactory receptors (though numbers vary by breed), higher than the average number of receptors in dogs}.

THE CAT WINS YET AGAIN!!!

We would like to dedicate this to all Calicos, and especially Aunt Dorothy who's birthday it is today.  A wonderful cat lady of Amberwood Road!!  


Well for those of you who missed "Never A Dull Moment" a couple of weeks ago you may paw over to: The Sunday File: 2014/01/27

See you next time.....Follow the Diva................................

The Benefits of Feline Powers of Observation

Hello MY Darlings!

(Haughty smile)As you know there are benefits to OBSERVATION,
when it comes to YOUR humans!

They as a species are quite interesting to say a few, although fairly intelligent you can outwit and out manoeuvre them quite easily.

Dr. Jane Goodall and Chimpanzee

There has always been a scientific interest both  human observing and animals and vise-verse.   One of my favorite Diva is Dr. Jane Goodall, I like her style very much and she has taught me a lot over the years.

Cheshire Cat

My human is very clever and at food time; I always have to come up with interesting ways to GET HER ATTENTION.  I want MY FOOD I will be determined to get it!  As with any strategy in hunting, corralling is important.  Pick up spot  make eye contact, sit and wait - (WATCH and OBSERVE).  Look for the visual cues: a) body language, b) positioning c) eye contact and d) motion.   The human muscles in the mouth are very similar to felines and canines.  It has been said that cats often smile like a human (LOL  like a big Cheshire cat) lets hope they remember to put there dentures in in the morning it could be VERY SCARY!

Your human will: a) guard their food b) turn their body position away from you (watch their mouth) continuing to ignore you as she does me. Then I muster a theatrical loud primal scream (MEOW). She might jump out of their skin (ha ha) and look back...MEOW . Watch carefully.... they drop their food! Engage in the 'grab and run' and hide yourself under your chair.  Unless she likes hitting her head...it is unlikely go any further..leaving you alone IN PEACE! Devouring the spoils.

Mission accomplished DARLINGS!  If you have any observations, simply let me know.Its all about the LEARNING CURVE...and how we can accomplish this TOGETHER .

Ciao MY darlings........................

Walking On The Wild Side

Hello My Darlings!

My human subject is writing this on my behalf....you'll see why as you read on................

Well dear readers, it was 'quite the happening party'
as I celebrated Family Day with my friends and family.

Of course as gathering and parties goo, it was VERY innocent quite civilized amongst our artistic crowd!  We enjoy the gastronomic delights and a guest brought me Catnip ....it has been a while since I had smelt the delicious aroma of teasing minty fragrance.  Like a fine wine, the finer the ingredients the better.

Definition:  Walking-on-the-wild side.   This is what one human said " It means they are living dangerously, or on the wild side. Because at any given time, the glass may crack and they all fall"

Nepeta Catnip

Here is the scoop:

Nepeta cataria (and cat mints) are mostly known for the behavioral effects they have on  felines, not only on   domestic cats. also big cats."The bigger they are the harder they fall -- LOL". Nepeta Catnip is used as a recreational substance for cat nip ( Read the warning label : don't chase mice while imbibing) and catnip and laced-catnip products designed for use with domesticated cats are available to consumers. Not all cats are affected by catnip. The common behaviors when cats sense the bruised leaves or stems of catnip are rubbing on the plant, rolling on the ground, pawing at it, licking it, chewing it, salivating....................
Pharmacology: Nepetalactone acts as a feline attractant. Roughly half to two thirds of cats will be affected by the plant.  This chemical enters the felines nose. Cats detect it through their olfactory epithelium.The phenomenon is hereditary; for example, most Australian cats do not react to it.  Humans are not removed either from being affected. Catnip has a history of human medicinal use for its soothing properties. It has also been known to have a slightly numbing effect. The plant has been consumed as a tea, juice, tincture, infusion or poultice, and has also been smoked.


PHOTO GALLERY -- Caught in the Act!

Oh my.....

I can bite through this...yes, yes!

A picture has a thousand faces

Every Diva has a Super Hero!

Momma I've got the SPINS! HELP

consuming much of the plant followed by drooling, sleepiness, anxiety, leaping about and purring. Some will growl and meow, scratch, or bite the hand holding it. Some cats will eat dried catnip. Often, eating too much can cause cats to be overtly aggressive, typically making them hiss.

 <sup>Hint:  REMEMBER Darlings, my advice.......
...if you are going  to walk-the-wild side..you'd better 
be prepared for the consequences  good and bad.

Consumer catnip RESPONSIBLY .     I'm sure the ride was worth it...........
.......I'll let you know in a couple of days!</sup>

Hunting Techniques Urban vs. Country

Hello My Darlings

I have had a lot of questions recently about hunting.
As an urban cat myself,  fresh mice are very hard to come by... you won't find them in the frozen
food section of your favourite grocery store!
So what is a girl to do?  Well, I use the 'fetch and run'
technique at feeding time.

I use my best hunting skills, pounce and run enjoying the spoils
of my labour under the table or better a chair. Hungry yet?

Love to hear from you my darling fans!


Remember: FAR (fetch and run) it's not as far as you think when it comes to FOOD

Dawn Chorus

Thursday, Feb. 1st.

Good morning, Darlings.

A new month awaits us and your breakfast.

If you really want to get your breakfast early do this! Strategy is the key.

5:00 a.m. Observe  your humans sleeping activity at dawns early light LOL.
Creep on the floor, and leap high in the air on the bed, landing softly.
Gently, creep beside your human and meow (using your highest octave pitch) in their ear!

If that doesn't alert them, look for an exposed foot and bit it.


This will really annoy them and you'll get what YOU WANT!

Selective Listening

Apply the following criteria for the above:

1) Can be used daily or when the situation calls for it;
2) Use the correct body language should be used for maximum effect (turn your back away from your human). The ears should be splayed and in the "V" formation, wiggle them giving the illusion you are listening - when you are not);
3) Hold the body position like you are a frozen statue, this will really annoy them;
4) If they start calling you, do not meeow.

Never give in to humans, show them who is boss. For the Diva or Divo reigns!

See you next time Darlings!.

Welcome to my Advice Column

Welcome my darlings!

Announcement:

This is my newly created ADVICE column:


All the advice you really wanted to hear about HUMANS but were

afraid to ask!

Keep those paws crossed and poised for more details to follow.