While the cats were sleeping, I started another blog

My children’s book is written. I hesitate to call it ‘done’ because I’ve revised it so many times already. But it’s resting comfortably as I practice the art of writing query letters. Who knew that would be harder than writing the book?

While the cats were sleeping I started another blog – The Dead Cats Society, same name as my book. Don’t be fooled by the name. It really isn’t about cats. The blog, I mean. It’s for writers and word geeks.

Check it out at: http://deadcatssociety.wordpress.com/

Global Cat Newsroom is on ‘paws’

They called a Board Meeting this morning, but I was late and my advisors were in the middle of a heavy discussion when I walked in. They had a serious message to convey to me and hummed and hawed around before they could get it out. They knew I wouldn’t like to hear what they had to say.

“You are evading your other writing project with this blog”, they told me. “You have to give it up.”

It was harsh news, but I knew they were right. ‘I’m having a lot of fun here at the Newsroom,’ I told them. ‘I can’t give it up completely.’

‘You’re never going to finish your book this way.’

I sighed and reluctantly agreed that I would stop, but just until I’m done with my book. ‘I can ‘paws’ it’ I told them. They got the joke. They’re very smart cats.

I will miss being here, but I’ll check in from time to time for comments, so feel free to have your say.

Hope to be back soon.

Cats in China: An update on the cat cleansings

The Mewsers voted unanimously to give me the time to write this report. I know I’m supposed to be working on my book rather than blogging, but they agreed that this story is too important not to post. After I ramble on a bit, you can read an email from a contact I made in China about what the government decided to do to clean up Beijing for the Olympics. Officially, stray cats became an ‘image issue’. Puzzling, isn’t it? And apparently feeding stray cats in China is a subversive activity.

My Chinese contact wanted to remain anonymous and sent a detailed reply to my email even though my blog was blocked on this person’s computer.

A couple of weeks ago, I was so innocent. I began researching ’cats in China’ stories before the Olympics thinking that it would be an interesting sidebar to all the Olympic hoopla. Right away though my research turned up horrifying accounts of cat cleansings in Beijing. Actually, you’d be hard-pressed to find much positive information for cats in China.

One of the main stories I read was in London’s DailyMail called “Olympics clean-up Chinese style: Inside Beijings shocking death camp for cats” by Simon Perry. It was a shocking, disturbing account. I wanted to report on this, but I did not want to simply regurgitate someone else’s news story and pass it off as true in the same way I don’t forward hysterical emails without checking Snopes.com.

I wanted to do some more research, but when I read the cryptic note at the end of Mr. Perry’s article indicating that his sources had to remain anonymous, I was wary as to whether to proceed with what could be a dangerous investigation into the back alleys of Beijing.

But the Mewsers are dauntless and intrepid reporters and they encouraged me to follow through, especially in such matters involving their brother and sister cats. It has taken several weeks to confirm this story, but you can read for yourself an account directly from someone who has personally observed this activity in Beijing.

Note: I must say that after watching the opening ceremonies of the Olympics with its display of breathtaking beauty and artistry intricately woven together with off-the-charts technology, it made it even harder to juxtaposition what goes on behind the scenes in China.

The very public Olympics display and the secretive cat cleansings seem to illustrate the two opposing faces of China better than anything I can think of. If the Chinese want to change their image with the world, then they must understand that brutal removal and extermination of innocent cats in the name of ‘housecleaning’, makes no sense and only further damages their image. I would encourage an ‘official’ reconsideration of this senseless and shameful activity.

The Olympic cat cleansing stories have been circulating since March, 2008 but here is the latest update from the email I received this last week from China:

 
Thanks for your mail to me. Sorry for keeping your waiting, as I have been quite busy recently to care of several sick cats at same time.
 
Sharing with you for the below information:
 
As Olympic is coming, Beijing Government doesn’t take action on behave of themselves, but they seems delivered oral brief to street’s manangement to clean up stray cats in each community. 
 
The street’s management asked the catching cats team of government to take the cats off without any notice to any of the cats feeders. They have sent the cats to the shelter of government, put them for a while ( within 15 days) if no body adopt them, they will put down the cats ( They don’t have any ways of telling people to adopt the cats, even they locate in very far and rural place which are not easy to find ) or they will send the cats for experimental purpose.
 
Attached pls find two photos of two animal shelters in Beijing, one is for Chaoyang district, one is for Haidian district ( without any notice at the door/entrance ).
 
The above mentioned actions were happened in early July:pls see the below quoted mail which I sent to other cat friend: 
 
 
Here in the city there have been several catching stray cats accident happening in early July, there are several catching cats actions happened all over the city, focusing in Chaoyang district, which is the Nestle stadium located.
 
Such campaign hasn’t get any media coverage before hand, so that we haven’t know anything till the happening. They just want to do secretely and no body can stop them in advance.
 
 So far we know there are the below places in the city has happened the accident:
 
1.In Huayan li area ( near Nestle stadium ). July 04: more than 10 cats were taken away by the catching cat team of government, now the cats are being kept in Chaoyang Animal Shelter,  the feeders and other cat friends will go to ask back of them tommorrow.
 
2. No 35 North Garden Road, Haidian district ( near nestle stadium), belongs to army, July 04. around 18 cats were taken away by the soldiers. More than 30 soldiers with big sticks in hands, beaten and drove the cats into cages, and taken them to Chaoyang animal shelter, all the cats are being fed by an old lady over 70 year old, she is too old to stop the action from soldier, only asked back two cats from the catching. she is feeling so sad, as she feeds them each day, and most of the cats are friendly.
 
3. At least  other two communities around Nestle stadium had same accident in recent days.
  
In FengTai District, 北京装甲兵工程学院, July 03: over 20 cats were beaten to death. 
 
For the first two accidents are both happened around my place, so that I know they are true.
 
Some people who hate animal borrow this opportunity to hurt cats, there was another accident happened in An Hua Li July 27, the street management blocked the cat holes with cement + metal net with welding, cat lovers tried to open it, but second day the holes were blocked again. cats are inside and crying over day and night,,
 
There is a news link about it:
http://www.morningpost.com.cn/article.asp?articleid=139898
 
All are not so positive to stray cats in Beijing… 
When forward my message, please omit my name and address.

And that is the very sad state of affairs for Chinese cats.

Comments welcomed. 

Cats in china have a friend

Thought I’d take a peek around at what life is like in China for felines. In doing so, I discovered the horror stories about cat culling to rid the city of its strays before the Olympics. I am doing some further investigations into this horrifying situation before going to ‘print’ here at the Newsroom.

Along the way, during my search, I discovered Scarlett Zhang who founded Beijing Cats in 2001 and has rescued and re-homed over 100 cats since starting her work.

Her website, Beijing Cat has videos and slide shows of the cats up for adoption. She makes it easy to become a Guardian Angel and sponser one of her cats. Or you can adopt while you’re at the Olympics and rescue one of Beijing Cats to bring back home with you. Her link to PetTravel, provides a wealth of information about traveling anywhere in the world, by car, train, or air, with your pet.

Scarlett’s cats seeking adoption are healthy, dewormed, neutered and vaccinated. They are also friendly, with sweet personalities, and suitable for adoption. She says:

If you are kind and responsible, have a stable income and can make a long-term commitment to bringing a new member into your family forever (including bringing him or her back to your home country if/when you leave China), then there are many wonderful cats here waiting for your love!

The grim reality of the government sponsored cat shelters, which was posted on her video page from what looks like a cell phone, provides a wakeup call to help Scarlett, however you are able, in her efforts with Beijing Cats.

How to bathe a cat

Alternative method to bathing a cat

I’ve been contemplating bathing The Mewsers. For about a year now. What’s holding me back? Childhood memories of the scratches on my arms from cats I don’t even remember the names of. The scratches etched upon my arms are now embedded in my memory.

I’m testing out some alternative methods, as suggested by the photo here.

There’s some waterless shampoo products now on the market, which I will try on Marco and Polo. Will report back on the results.

 

 

 

I’ve also included–free of charge– this now famous,  funny ‘instructional’ video on ‘How to Wash a Cat” by Bud Heron.

Cats riding in cars: Rambo, the taxi cab cat

Rambo, the taxi cab cat, isn’t a new story, but one I’ve been meaning to add to my collection of Cats in the News. 

Don’t know how many cats out there actually like riding in the car. My cats sure don’t, but then I always have them in a cat cage and I’m taking them to the vet. That could possibility affect their opinion. Riding in the car=getting stabbed with a needle.

In spite of that, My Mewsers were intrigued by this Taxi Cat, especially Marco, the more adventurous one. They asked me what other cats thought about riding in  cars. I told them I’d ask my readers.

So, how does your cat like riding in the car? Do you know any other good ‘cats riding in cars’ stories?

  

Meet Rambo, The Taxi Cab Cat

WEST PALM BEACH (CBS4) ― A sign on a South Florida cab reads ‘Living Life in the Fast Lane’ when it should say ‘Living Nine Lives in the Fast Lane.”

That’s because West Palm Beach cab driver Dan Somers brings his car loving kitty to work with him.

“I don’t spend a lot of time at home, so I figured to spend time with my cat the best thing to do was to have my cat come with me,” said Dan.

Now, Dan and “Rambo” have become a sort of feline phenom and are known around town as the tabby taxi.

While most cats can’t stand riding in a vehicle, Rambo seems to revel in it, sticking his face and paws out the window to take in the breeze.

“Sometimes he’ll put his head way, way out there. I mean he’ll put his feet way out,” says Dan. “Sometimes I’ve gotta grab hold of his tail to make sure he doesn’t fall, you know?”

As much as Rambo enjoys the ride, Dan says his cat companion does not like big dogs, trucks, trains and the drunken men whom Dan has to occasionally give a ride.

“He goes under the seat,” laughs Dan “He does not like drunk men. I guess most people don’t.”

Rambo’s been a big hit with customers like Chrissy Sewell who finds riding with him just dandy despite the possible dander.

“I thought it was pretty cool because I’ve never seen a cat look out the window the way he does,” said Chrissy.

And fortunately, says Dan, not one fare has yet to complain of any feline allergies.

Link to news story about Rambo includes video.

Cat reader

Let me just bookmark this. I don't want to lose my place.

Cat photo of the day from Cats with Attitude. a UK site with professional photos.

Gallery includes Breeds, Cattitude, and Special Interests.

Cat adopts baby red panda

Here’s a rescue story of a different sort in case you missed this. A house cat adopts and nurses a baby panda. Cat belonged to the zookeeper at an Amsterdam zoo. This cheered me up and I hope it will you too.

Heartless cat lover?

This posting is in response to reader’s comment made this morning about how I dealt with a dangerous feral cat.

“I appreciate your taking the time to write your comments in regards to the feral cat. You are obviously passionate about this issue. However, please note several things here. This is not a decision that I made lightly. Indeed, I spent several months feeding this cat and trying to talk to him. In every way I tried to deal with this cat in a compassionate manner. If you read my series of blog postings, you can see that I was very concerned about doing this right. It did not turn out the way I wanted, but I was honest enough to post the real outcome when I could have easily avoided it.

I have had many, many cats over my lifetime (60 years) and have fed, and yes, spay-neutered many strays and ferals. Anyone who knows me personally knows that I am not a cat murderer, as you have labelled me. This cat defied all my previous experience with cats. I’ve never encountered anything like this gray cat.

I truly believe in the TNR approach and will continue my efforts in this way. However, these are the issues I had to consider in making my decision:

1. Feral, gray cat attacked my two tabbies in such an agressive manner that they had deep puncture wounds on their legs and face. These were infected and required antibiotics. This happened three times.
2. Each of these attacks were more vicious than the previous one. It reached point where I could no longer let my own cats outside, because I was in fear for their lives.
3. I had to consider that the behavior of this cat might due to more than hormones and that he could be rabid, making him a serious threat to the welfare of my family and the other cats in our area, some of which are ferals which I am taking care of.
4. One of these ferals on our property has new kittens, which I was also trying to protect.

These issues weighed more in the balance of things when I made my decision. I admitted to calling Animal Control right here on my blog where I’ve been chronicling the story about this cat. If you take a moment to read these postings, you would realize that I’m not a heartless person.

As much as I love cats and will do everything I can to help all cats, ferals, strays, etc. I will not endanger the lives of my own cats or my family by harboring a dangerous animal.

Addendum: I did not go to Best Friends site to ask what to do about this cat, because obviously I had made my decision. I went there in hopes of having a rational dialogue with others who had maybe encountered a similiar situation.

The keyword here is rational dialogue. Emotional attacks on others, not knowing all the circumstances, does not help create an atmosphere of learning and growth. If we are to learn from our experiences, then we must learn to listen to each other before judging.”

Don’t let your cat miss this opportunity to vote!

Let our Meows be heard!

This is the opportunity of a lifetime for your cat. Let your feline have his political voice in this highly scientific-based survey. Find out what’s truly going on in your cat’s mind regarding the 2008 Presidential Election. This will certainly sway your vote if you are still on the fence.

According to Ducker of ‘Mutts n Cats from Honduras’ whose wife voted for their mayor primarily from the fact that the candidate had rescued a dog off the streets (see comments on last posting), I’m thinking that the pet issue is more of a major factor than anyone has acknowledged before now. Forget economic, healthcare and foreign policy issues! Cats, who are in the majority (outnumbering dogs by over 13 million) in the U.S., undoubtedly have valuable foresight into our political affairs.

So… don’t make this important decision without your cat’s opinion! This election is running so close that it might come down to ‘meow and bark’ opinions.

My two Mewsers are split politcally on the election. Polo is definitely more conservative and prefers the rumpled lived-in look of McCain, while Marco is the dashing, adventurous one with liberal leanings. He is very inspired by Obama and would love to see him in the White House. They get into fights over this occasionally. It’s making politics a hot button issue at our house these days.

So far the survey results indicate that both ferals and pedigrees choose McCain’s lap to sit in. The mixed breeds prefer Obama. Interesting.

Don’t delay. Grab your cat and let ‘em vote!   http://www.polldaddy.com/s/D0CBCE9E910CC283/