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................................

Outtakes in Port Credit

The brilliant sunshine, peered into my window like the smile of a kitten.  I stretched the sleep from my body like a poised ballerina.  I washed my whiskers. My sleeping human snored loudly as usual. 

Out of arms reach, I sat looking into the bedroom watching her body respond to my attention seeking behavior.  I bellowed in tones that would be deafening to most humans, but then again MY human wasn’t a morning person!

Today, I was going on a trip I had been waiting for all summer.  My aunt would be arriving soon to escort us to a place called Port Credit.  I inhaled my breakfast, bolting down the kibble.  So quickly it made me cough. Looking from side-to-side glancing for MY human. In the distance, a dull roar broke the silence ‘Diva, slow down, you’ll be sick if you eat your food too quickly, remember yesterday morning’?  I replied, ya, ya, tell me another haven’t you figured it out …I’m always RIGHT! 

Suddenly, the familiar sound of the phone rang, ‘toorerp, toorerp, (sounding like a cricket with it's head stuck in a bowl of water)!  Beaming from ear to ear...Aunt had arrived, a Germanic woman with a lovely charismatic smile.  

The humans greeted each other with smiles. I gave them my Cheshire grin!  I sat in the back seat, with paws hanging over the open window. Fresh fishy air tickled nose and whiskers. The aroma caused my stomach to grumble even though I was full. Cats generally have an innate olfactory heightened sense of smell. Of course I'm different thanks to my hybrid genes (calico and tabby). 

 

Steps away from the Lake

Traffic was slow as we passed the CNE (Canadian National Exhibition); the air show was gearing up. Get me out of here! I could hear the roar of the jet overhead; I never did like loud noises even as a kitten. I began day dreaming of flying and catching the seagulls with my paws…..drifting I fell into a ‘cat nap’.

I heard the soft whisper of ‘Diva, are you awake, get up, we have arrived. 

Get your paws together we are going to have some fish for lunch’.  With one eye open, I began washing my face.  Stretching, I stood up on the back seat looking out the back window.  Water, water! We had arrived at the quaint town... humans in summer clothing, strolling. The cooler air, had given way to the ‘dog days of summer’. 

 

No work was done on Labour Day, for humans got to play that day.   Humans had collected like a penguin colony around the patio anticipating feeding time.  Wafts of grilled salmon filled my nose and tickled my whiskers. I wanted to capture it like a butterfly net, savoring the moment.   I jumped onto the chair and wriggled excitedly.  I caught MY human, shifting her gaze for a moment glaring at me.  “Diva, settle, settle”.  Well, hadn’t I heard that before?  I simply ignored her and turned around in my seat with my back to her. I knew that annoyed her,;will that be 1, 2 or 3-noying today?  I employed the ‘selective listening pose’ with ears flat back.  I gazed looking at the seagulls dancing in the air...if they get close I can grab one.  A nice entrée or snack with my fish. 

My imagination took me into another place, when I heard the melodious accordion player: he was tall with an burly Eastern European build, and a lovely lyrical accent to match. For a moment I thought I was in France with my friend Toulouse!

Our eyes met, they twinkled as he spoke of memories of his homeland The joyous sound of “Knick, knack, paddy whack …..Give a dog a bone” added a playful ambience to the surroundings. How about changing the lyrics to “Knick, knack give the DIVA MORE FISH”…that’s more like it!!!

For a moment, I was dashing about chasing a young brown squirrel, the tempo was perfect! Gleeful, I began to tap out the rhythm with my paws.  Strolling along the boardwalks was my friend Toulouse Le Trekhttp://toulouseletrek.com/.   I couldn't believe my eyes....I forgot all about my pray. "Well hello little Mademoiselle, join me in an Espresso"? he asked in that delightful French-accented meow.

My humans were chatting about travel, restaurants and Paris.   The accordion player was sure attracting a large following!!  Chirping seagulls gave a loud applause, requesting an encore.  

Toulouse Le Trek the Cool Cat

We ran off like scolded mice....to the coffee bar to catch up with my friend. Suddenly from the distance, I heard"'Diva, where are you???" Toulouse and I joined the humans, we drifted off into lulled conversation.   The day was wonderful. I heard my humans whispering to each other "well, Diva is enjoying herself now a chance for us to catch up. We must do this again before the summer is over." Toulouse's IPhone, beeped and then with a wide eyed grin nodded with "Another story I must investigate". Purring inside, I knew somehow we'd meet again.

I felt my mouth form into a smile (I looked up…they were doing the same…….funny how humans smiles are like cats expressions)?  We must have rubbed off on them…….cats can teach HUMANS many things. It simply takes time to train them to your will.  Yawning....I drifted again in and out of sleep.  This had been quite the DIVA DAY!


Wel, my DARLINGS - time for a snooze!!!

Friday Advice: Room mates 4

Reflective Diva!

Hello MY Darlings:



The interest in room mates, continues to create a strong following.

Personalities often play out, weaving in and out like a ball of string trying to be unraveled!  It's enough to make you shake your head and whiskers!!

"A" type feline personality

Take the other day, it was normal in the kingdom, everyone was getting along (the strong personalities were behaving themselves - for once).

Optics 101

A certain male knight was exhibiting restlessness (pacing, running around the room, frolicking like a drunk foal with springtime fever).

You've got to be kidding!

His body language reveled all, head down, watching his target, prancing and poking at the ME.  "Do you want to play, do ya, do ya, come on, come on...catch me, catch me....I'm just seeing how I can tease you............".
 

The Royal Hiss shatters the airwaves

(With a deadpan expression)

Are you ignoring me.....OK I'll poke you and sniff you....see how you like it, I'm teasing you - do you know it, do ya"

I've got you under MY Spell

I think he's always acts silly (attention seeking behavior a.s.b.) around dinner time.  A rumbling stirs from within...the Royal hiss of warning...(eyes rolling  to the ceiling --what is it with this guy, didn't he get enough mice last night on the hunting patrol)?

In defense mode, blazing MY front claws...flat and square showing MY authority. Revealing, my talons like a hawk. Eyes pierced the morning light.. glaring as a fire breathing dragon, "are you ready for me darling, are you, can you take it can you".  The Royal hiss shattering the airwaves, he jumped as a scolded cat..... on all three. (Muttering he echoes.)  I'd rather concede than fight. 

Feline relationships 101

Before personalities clash like a tambourine's, getting out hand. I grab my trusty 'water pistol' changing the optics. "Come closer, closer, that's it....I see your golden eyes.......(the spray bottle spewing out an umbrella of cold water) stunning the rivalled opponent knocking Mr. Knight off his horse!!

He asked for it - -great spray bottle - lol
OK I did pinch his food, once.

He runs was down the hall across the moat muttering in dulcet tones growling

Whaaaat happened!!

 (Stunned, bewildered) "Oh my gosh, what nerve...she did that to meeee. I love to tease you like a BIG brother".
 

I'll be  BACK

Cats hate getting their face wet.....especially if by surprise.  (Diva laughing....) Not as effective as the pie in the face but close) LOL!    (Wry smile) 'You haven't seen the last of me YET'.

The last word is MINE

  (Haughty grin...) The last word is MINE. Remember --Sr. Knight, I have the ace in my paws.

My gamekeeper knows all the mice hideouts, I maintain supply and demand list.

Darlings, remember to stay true to your OWN voice, always demand respect! Have fun and play fair!!! :)


http://divapaws4advice.blogspot.ca/2012/05/room-mates-301-yours-mine-and-mine.html

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(¸.•´(¸.• (¸.•´¸¸.•¨¯`•.¸¸.♥^,,^  follow the Diva.......

Roomates 201 - Feels Like Home

Hello MY Darlings!

Welcome the this weeks advise blog.

I decided to continue the subject of Room mates as with most ...the relationship shifts like a pendulum or tidal waves. As with personalities having characteristics of their own.

The very best advise is: patience, humour and leverage LOL.

Cats have varying degrees of alpha traits where one alpha female (may...I say may in tongue and cheek.....) may give way to the alpha male if she choses.  This can be said of humans too, that is why they call them "Diva and Divo".  The Italians had to think of it first (laughing hysterically)!!

As with any relationship it is often tested depending on the weather, mood, feeding time or stresses from the day. Or in my case running my kingdom and looking after the staff, upstairs and downstairs.

Once the transition of the relationship takes on a comfort zone, their more tolerance, ("not being on tender hooks" as humans say) ease and less assertive commands of putting your foot down for position for territorial space. LOL More sharing as in the delightful afternoon tea we as recently. 

Testing the Waters

http://divapaws4advice.blogspot.ca/2012/05/mothers-day-british-tea-at-court.html

Sharing is a bit part of the commitment of sharing (with cats we agree to help ourselves to each others water or food bowl).

Sharing is easier if you just relax!!

Well sometimes you might not like it due to territorial rights...however you begin to live with it .....much like human brothers and sisters!  It takes a lot for me to share my Spider Plant well, having "Sr. Sammy" is a lot cheaper than hiring a flock of sheep to keep it cut down (ha ha)!!

I am quite sure dear fans you have a lot to say on this and we welcome your comments on this subject. We love to hear from you as it makes us PURR!!!


Well MY Darling there you have it!

Another fine day!

One last word take care of each other, enjoy life and look for that sunshine gleaming in your window each day!!

"Dear Diva" What to do about finicky eaters?

Hello MY Darlings:

The arrival of Daylight Saving time is the purrfect time to make an announcement! Since most of you will be sleeping it will appear in tomorrow.

I will be featuring a new column called
"Dear Diva".  I will select one question of a general nature relating to, feline, canine or human topics.  

You may send your (printed) questions to: divapaws4advice@gmail.com.

Write to ME

One of the questions I have been asked is this:  What do we do about finicky eaters?

Well, if you are inviting guests who are. I suggest when creating your menu plan choose three types of meat: chicken, fish or beef.  That should please most discerning guests (even Divas or Divos).

  

Divos and Divas can be Drama Queens

A Favorite with Humans

 Provide lots of water with dry food. Most guests will simply be polite to accept what you have to offer - or else they will simply go hungry.

 If you are dealing with kittens or puppies, remember that they young and still developing their taste buds. Give them praise and encourage them.  Wagging tails and purring is a good sign. 

  

Remember Darlings, you simply can't please ALL feline or canine friends.   My human friends have said this many times. So be smart and don't even try!!!  

Ciao Darlings........

Invite your friends to my blog!

Let Me TRILL you by MY Presence:

Hello MY Darlings!

This morning, I was really famished.  The spring air had given me an appetite. As I needed to get my humans attention for food, I decided to invoke the ‘trilling’ techniques that I have developed over the years (much to the annoyance of the other Diva in the household).  I always demand treats at bedtime especially my fish Greenies that I love.

The sun had started to come into the sleeping area; I observed my human stirring out of slumber. The Greenies were left on the bookcase next to the bed, easy pickings!. 

One more chance or else the CLOCK GETS IT.!

 Leaning over with my paws.... tap, tap, of the electrical cord, it began swinging as a washing line in the wind. With the intent of a well seasoned violin virtuoso the chord began humming. The crashing sound of the clock kissing the floor -- smashing the sound of silence. (Cheshire grin sweeps my whiskers, opening as an umbrella fell across my face - mission accomplished.)
My human tossed and turned in frustrated annoyance with (One eye open talking in gibberish)…I thought she said “Diva stop that, go back to bed it’s early yet”. Well, I’ve heard that before and taken NO NOTICE.  Having worked in the theatre I know that props don’t always work.

SERVANT- GET UP - NOW!

Now she was awake for sure! The look of bewilderment was on her face – stunned. I could read her well, as I have done after so many years.  I didn’t want to see the LOCH Ness appear but would dismiss it as I always do.  I was determined, the chorus of  ‘trilling techniques’ began.  For those of you humans that are not aware, it can be described as a sequence of ‘loud primal guttural meows’ in tones like a Ravels Bolero Sneaking closer I pointed my face into her ear…..meoowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww, meooooooooow, umppphhhhh, eppp, eppp, meow! 

Breakfast starts the day

(Diva look what you have done, looking around).  I simply ignored her and started the sequence again until she got out of bed.  Wiping her eyes and shuffling her feet….(she utters – “kitchen, kitchen”.)

 Satisfaction starts the day as I stretch my paws.....

MY Servant serves my breakfast treats

Diva WINS 

Have plenty of Spider plants too  you-say-salad-with-that

Ciao MY darlings......................remember your TRILLS..the link to Ravels Bolero will help with that!