Rescuing a Little Tabby on a Snowy Day

It's been a very cold winter in England this year so when I got a call to say that a little stray was wondering about the area I was only to happy to help out.  The little tabby was a stranger in the area and the locals made inquiries but nobody came forward to claim her.  The local who was feeding her could not keep her permanently but she gave the little cat shelter until I could collect.  

Mostly new cats can be nervous and unsure of their surroundings so they find a hiding place until they know it's safe.  However this was not the case with this little tabby girl. She made herself right at home in my bedroom climbing the different furniture and finding the most comfortable place for naps mainly my pillow.  

Hildy my other foster cat was kept separated from the new cat so I could introduce them slowly and therefor minimise tensions and fights between the two.  Hildy can be grumpy anyway so a new cat in her territory would have to be handled carefully.

A week into the fostering all was going well.  I kept periods the two cats were together short and strictly supervised.  As soon as hissing and growling started I would separate them again.  

I decided to call the new cat Enid, an old fashioned name that seemed to suit her.

Two weeks into fostering and both cats seem mostly at ease with each other.  They are not close friends but tolerate each other from a distance occasionally chasing each other round the house.  

I did a video of Enid's first few days which is available on my youtube channel.  

Visit Cat Buddy youtube channel  where you can find out more about the cats we've rescued. Thank you for reading.

Cardboard Cat Carrier - Should you buy one?

Being a cat fosterer I can also be the go to cat person among friends and family.  So when a friend asked for help with a trip to the vets I was curious about the cardboard cat carrier she decided to buy.  I'd never seen them before and to be honest had my reservations about how safe they were.  I didn't want to offend and so we got her cat into the cardboard carrier and off we went.

The vet visit went fine and her cat was in good health but just thought it might be helpful to anyone considering a cardboard cat carrier what I thought were the  pros and cons below.  Alternatively an in- depth review and demo video version is available.

Pros

* Mostly are inexpensive a few pounds or so.  

* Top loading and quite easy to get your cat into.

* Well ventilated with lots of breathing holes at the top.

* Clearly signed that a pet is enclosed.

Cons

* Not very robust, I felt like I had to hold the bottom as well as the handle.

* Not scratch-proof, I noticed visible claw marks on the carrier bottom.

* Not waterproof which could weaken the box in rainy weather.

In summary a cardboard cat carrier has its purposes such as short infrequent journeys if you don't have a traditional carrier. And if it's just for a one off journey then probably a good buy.  However I felt the traditional cat carrier is a safer option and better investment if you transport cats more than one off single short journeys.

Mark Twain Quotes about Cats

Mark Twain author of American classics Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and Adventures of Tom Sawyer was also known for his love of cats. It is rumoured that Mark Twain loved cats so much he would even rent cats to keep him company when he was away from home.

When greeted by two cats in a doorway he said to them ‘Walk in, gentlemen. I always give precedence to royalty.’  Mark Twain's love and respect for cats is beautifully portrayed both in his life and writings.  What follows is some of his most famousMark Twain quotes about cats reminding me of the feline uniqueness and our human fascination with these mysterious and comical creatures.

“If animals could speak, the dog would be a blundering outspoken fellow; but the cat would have the rare grace of never saying a word too much.”

"If man could be crossed with the cat it would improve man, but it would deteriorate the cat."

"I simply can't resist a cat, particularly a purring one. They are the cleanest, cunningest, and most intelligent things I know, outside of the girl you love, of course."

- quoted in Abroad with Mark Twain and Eugene Field, Fisher

"When a man loves cats, I am his friend and comrade, without further introduction."

An Incident Mark Twain

“Of all God's creatures, there is only one that cannot be made slave of the leash. That one is the cat. If man could be crossed with the cat it would improve the man, but it would deteriorate the cat.”  

Do you have any favourite Mark Twain quotes about cats?  Leave a comment below.