A note about The Cuddlywumps Chronicles

This blog is written and maintained by Miss Cuddlywumps, a fluffy-tailed calico cat who is both classically educated and familiar with mysteries. She receives creative input from the Real Cats and clerical assistance from She of Little Talent (old SoLT, a.k.a. Roby Sweet). Comments or complaints should be addressed to Miss C rather than to old SoLt (Ms. Sweet). Ms. Sweet accepts no responsibility for Miss C's opinions.

Tuesday, January 30, 2018

Cat of the Week: Darwin in Baltimore

Cat of the Week

Each week in this space, we feature an older adult or senior cat (7 years +) in need of adoption or sponsorship. Mature cats make great companions, and unlike kittens, they (probably) won’t climb the curtains! Adopt an older cat, and help them enjoy the best years of their life.

Cat of the Week: Adopt Darwin!


This week, we’d like you to meet handsome boy Darwin. Darwin is 8 years old, and he is pretty laid back, but he loves to play with wand toys. He is also affectionate, outgoing, and enjoys being held. He would be an excellent fit for a family looking to add a friendly feline to their home!

Darwin is currently at the Baltimore Humane Society. Learn more about him here


Can’t adopt? You can still help! Check out Sammy’s Cat Necessities Fund, which provides money for everyday and medical needs of cats at the Baltimore Humane Society. You can also make a general donation or sponsor a particular animal on this page. Every little bit helps!

Sunday, January 28, 2018

Sunday Selfie: Webster with Raggedy Ann

For Sunday Selfie this week, Real Cat Webster wanted to share this shot of himself cuddling up with a Raggedy Ann doll. The rocking chair they're in just got moved into the living room, and it is his New Favorite Place.

Real Cat Webster with Raggedy Ann

Note: Due to an ongoing and extremely annoying computer malfunction, we will not have new post on Monday. We hope to see you all again on Tuesday with a new Cat of the Week!

We're joining the Sunday Selfies blog hop, hosted by The Cat on My Head!

Sunday Selfies blog hop, The Cat on My Head


Saturday, January 27, 2018

Caturday Art: Brave Picasso Paisley

For this week's Caturday Art, old SoLT was in the mood for some color. This is what she came up with:

Real Cat Paisley with Picasso and Brave effects from LunaPic

She got this using two LunPic art effects. First she used Picasso, then she bumped up the color saturation and used the Brave effect. She wanted to try some more things to maybe make Paisley's face stand out more, but she ran out of time.

And here is the original:

Real Cat Paisley_Jan 2018

We're joining the Caturday Art blog hop, hosted by Athena and Marie!

Caturday Art blog hop


Friday, January 26, 2018

Real Cat Paisley's January Bloopers, Plus Friendly Fill-Ins

We have two fun Friday features for you today. First up is Real Cal Paisley, who has put together a small collection of recent bloopers. Then it’s on to Friendly Fill-Ins, with Real Cat Webster joining in this week.


Bloopers

Paisley has just a few bloopers to share this month. She hopes you enjoy them!

This first one is left over from Christmastime. You can tell because Paisley is wearing her Christmas flower:

Real Cat Paisley blooper 1 Jan 2018

We're not sure why old SoLT took a picture of her foot, but she did. We're pretty sure she was aiming for Paisley, but obviously she missed by quite a wide margin. The dark thing in the upper right is Paisley:

old SoLT's foot_January blooper 2

Finally, Paisley has recently started walking on the railing above the front steps. Old SoLT was trying to get a double selfie while Paisley was up there, but this was the best she could do:

Paisley walking the rail blooper_Jan 2018


Friendly Fill-Ins

Friendly Fill-Ins
And now it’s time for Friendly Fill-Ins, from 15andmeowing and McGuffy’s Reader. They are a fun way to learn a little bit about the authors of the blogs you read. The first two questions, answered by old SoLT this week, are from Ellen of 15andmeowing, and the next two, answered by Real Cat Webster, are from Annie of McGuffy’s Reader.

Old SoLT’s answers:
1.The flu shot is something everyone should get (unless your doctor advises you not to)--even if it’s “only” 30% effective (30 is more than 0!). Speaking as someone who lives with a compromised immune system, I get really annoyed when people don’t take basic steps to keep from becoming infected and then spreading that infection all around (by going to work sick, by not covering coughs and sneezes, etc.). The flu may be mostly an uncomfortable annoyance for many, but its consequences can easily become life threatening for some of us.

2. I think everyone should take coffee daily. Because coffee is just so good!

Real Cat Webster’s answers:
3. I (almost) always take a nap on top of the cat tree every day, because it’s one of my favorite places.

4. I (almost) never try to get outside anymore because I did that once and got scared and had to hide under a wheelbarrow until Mommy came and found me.

Real Cat Webster says Hi!

Thursday, January 25, 2018

Book Review: The Cat Encyclopedia for Kids

The Cat Encyclopedia for Kids, by Joanne Mattern
When we decided to review the new Cat Encyclopedia for Kids, we expected a rather slim volume with lots of pictures of different cat breeds and a little text about each one. But this book by Joanne Mattern turned out to be much, much more. So much more that we think it would be interesting reading for adults, not just for the 9- to 12-year-olds it’s recommended for.

Yes, there are lots of pictures of cats, but the text is much more, um, encyclopedic than we expected. The book gives readers a truly in-depth look at 12 popular breeds, plus a much shorter description of 30 additional breeds. The breeds covered in detail range from Abyssinian to Maine coon, Manx, Siamese, and Sphynx. Each breed’s chapter includes a short introduction, a page or more of breed history, followed by the breed’s physical traits and personality, tips for caring for the breed, and a section on how to decide whether that breed is right for you. “Fun Facts” are sprinkled throughout, many of which are pretty interesting, in addition to being fun (for example, did you know that 71 American Shorthairs took part in the very first cat show in the United States?).

The book has a colorful, eye-catching design and many, many full-color photos that give readers a great idea of what each breed actually looks like, as well as some of the variation within the breeds. The text is very clear, straightforward, and easy to read. Our one quibble is that the text mentions pet stores as possible places to buy cats of specific breeds. This distressed us, because we think it’s best to deal directly with a reputable breeder so you can learn about that cat’s history and health. We just don’t trust stores to have cats from healthy, humane backgrounds. We did appreciate the repeated mention of shelters and breed-specific rescue groups as places to find a new furry family member, though.

Our verdict

We think The Cat Encyclopedia for Kids is a great book for young cat lovers. Its pages show kids (and adults) just how different cats can actually be from one another in terms of temperament and personality—and how important it is to choose a cat (whether purebred or not) who will be a good fit for your household, rather than going strictly by looks, as so many people seem to do. We also appreciated the extensive breed histories, which provide a wealth of information on where this diversity came from. So fascinating!


Two Paws Up--A Great Read!

A note on the "Paws Up" system: Miss C gives either one or two paws up. One paw is for a good read; two paws is for a great read. She never gives three or four paws because that would require her to lie on her back...and Miss C does not do that!

We received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. We wouldn’t tell you it was good unless we really liked it!

The link below is an Amazon Associates link. If you purchase the book through this link, old SoLT and I could get some coin for our kibble account. Thank you!



Tuesday, January 23, 2018

Cat of the Week: Ghandi

Cat of the Week

Each week in this space, we feature an older adult or senior cat (7 years +) in need of adoption or sponsorship. Mature cats make great companions, and unlike kittens, they (probably) won’t climb the curtains! Adopt an older cat, and help them enjoy the best years of their life.

Cat of the Week: Adopt Ghandi! #adoptme #BaltimoreHumane


This week we are featuring a cat we have shared with you before. Ghandi is a sweet older boy who is not only our Cat of the Week, he is also the Baltimore Humane Society’s Senior Cat of the Month! At 11 years old, Ghandi may not be as spry as he was as a kitten, but he is still a great cat who deserves a loving home where he’ll get as much attention as he wants. If you are looking for a sweet kitty who likes to cuddle, Ghandi may be just the guy for you. Wouldn’t it be great if this little guy found a new home by the end of the month?

Oh, and by the way, the adoption fee for senior pets over 7 years old is 50% off (that’s just $25, folks!).

Ghandi is currently in a foster home through the Baltimore Humane Society. Learn more about him here.


Can’t adopt? You can still help! Check out Sammy’s Cat Necessities Fund, which provides money for everyday and medical needs of cats at the Baltimore Humane Society. You can also make a general donation or sponsor a particular animal on this page. Every little bit helps!

Monday, January 22, 2018

Book Review: Small Town Trouble


Mysterious Monday

On this Mysterious Monday, we review Small Town Trouble, by Laura Benedict. This title is book 5 in the Familiar Legacy series, and it is the first book of the series we have read. Based on how much fun we had reading it, we will be trying to make time to go back and read the earlier books as well!

The plot

Small Town Trouble, by Laura Benedict. #FamiliarLegacy #catcozymystery
Trouble the black cat is in Kentucky, where Erin Walsh is caring for him while his main human, Tammy, is off in Italy. This sounds like a pretty good deal, since there is a nice lake to explore and plenty of interesting people to keep an eye on, not to mention a dog named Jocko who is, well, a dog. Things take a mysterious turn when Shelby Rae, Tammy’s young stepmother, is kidnapped during a big party. A ransom note demands that Erin’s father, Bruce, pay $50,000 in cash. The police must not be involved. The ransom is paid, Shelby Rae is recovered (yay!?), but the question remains, Who took her, and might they do it again for more money? This is far from the only question, though, as soon a woman is murdered on the Walsh property. Now the police have to get involved, although the Walshes still try to hide the original abduction.

 Could the killer be the man, recently released from prison, who was responsible for the death of Erin’s mother even though he did not pull the trigger? Or perhaps his son, Noah, who seems to be attracted to Erin? Or does it all have something to do with the woman who has been embroiled in a nasty lawsuit against Bruce Walsh’s car dealership?

The cat

Obviously, it’s going to take a cat to sort all this out, and fortunately Trouble is on the job. He is an excellent cat. I mean an excellent cat. Sherlock Holmes is his role model (which would explain his very British vibe, despite his being from Wetumpka, Alabama). Portions of the book are told from his viewpoint, so we get to know exactly what he is thinking and planning—and he thinks and plans quite a lot. It is Trouble who finds major clues (indeed, it is Trouble who finds the body in the first place). It is Trouble who heroically saves Erin from the killer. It is Trouble who … oh, but I don’t want to give too much away. Let me just say that the crime in this book turned out to be way more diabolical than I suspected.

Our verdict

We loved Small Town Trouble, from the mystery itself to the tangled relationships and untidy pasts of the characters, and even the budding romance between Erin and Noah. Erin herself is pretty awesome. She is a young woman who’s not had an easy life, losing her mother at a young age, only to see the shallow Shelby Rae move in to replace her … and then she starts having feelings for Noah, whose father is such a slimeball. She is pulled in many directions in this book, but she handles it as only a true heroine can. She and Trouble make a great team. Which brings me to Trouble, who, as I said, is excellent. It seems like we’ve been reading a lot of mysteries in which the cat is a minor character, and we were so ready to read one that puts the cat right where we like him: front and center. We enjoyed getting an inside look into Trouble’s thoughts, and we just love his bit of Britishness. This is a cat we plan on reading a lot more of!

Small Town Trouble is a thoroughly enjoyable, quick-paced read, well plotted, with characters we loved getting to know.


Highly recommended!

Two Paws Up--A Great Read!

A note on the "Paws Up" system: Miss C gives either one or two paws up. One paw is for a good read; two paws is for a great read. She never gives three or four paws because that would require her to lie on her back...and Miss C does not do that!

The link below is an Amazon Associates link. If you purchase the book through this link, old SoLT and I could get some coin for our kibble account. Thank you!

Sunday, January 21, 2018

Sunday Selfie: Paisley's Saturday Afternoon

Old SoLT wasn't feeling so great yesterday, so for this week's Sunday Selfie, Real Cat Paisley wanted to show you how she takes care of people. Here she is, sitting on old SoLT's lap and purring:



We're joining the Sunday Selfies blog hop, hosted by The Cat on My Head!

Sunday Selfies blog hop


Saturday, January 20, 2018

Caturday Art: Futuristic Paisley

Some weeks, old SoLT spends way more time than she'd planned on Caturday Art: choosing a photo to start with, trying one effect after another before she finally finds one she likes, doing some extra tweaking.... And then there are weeks like this, when she knows which photo she wants to use, she tries one effect, and boom! Done.

Real Cat Paisley_Futuristic #CaturdayArt #Lunapic

This is the Futuristic effect from LunaPic. We love the texture and colors it gave to Real Cat Paisley's beautiful fur.

And here is the original:

Real Cat Paisley close up_Jan 2018

We are joining the Caturday Art blog hop, hosted by Athena and Marie!

Caturday Art blog hop


Friday, January 19, 2018

Words with Webster: Flehmen, Plus Friendly Fill-Ins

We have two fun Friday features for you today. First up is Real Cat Webster, who has a lip-curling word to share. After that, it’s on to Friendly Fill-Ins!


Words with Webster

Words with Webster

Hi, everybody! It’s me, Real Cat Webster. Welcome to Words with Me. Today’s word is “flehmen” (I got the idea for this word from Catster). If you have spent much time around cats, you might not recognize this word, but I bet you’ve seen the thing it describes. I looked in my favorite dictionary, Merriam-Webster’s and found out “flehmen” means
a mammalian behavior (as of horses, cows, or elephants) in which the animal inhales with the mouth open and upper lip curled to facilitate exposure of Jacobsen's organ to a scent or pheromone.
I thought that was pretty interesting because I never knew other animals did this; I thought it was just a cat thing. Anyway, you know that thing your cat does sometimes where he opens his mouth and curls his lip and generally gets a funny look on his face when he smells something weird? That’s a flehmen response. Like this:

Flehmen response in a cat, photo via Adobe Stock

But we think you can see it better here:

Flehmen response in tiger. Photo by Ashishmahaur [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons.

Our concern today is with the word rather than the behavior (read the Catster article to find out more about that), so next I went to the Oxford English Dictionary, where I learned that this is a really recent word in English. Its first known use in print was in 1970:
Flehmen or lipcurl was quite common [in a herd of captive giraffes], usually by a male to the urine of a female. (Journal of Mammalogy 51, 270)
Compared to some words we’ve done, “flehmen” had a short trip to get to English. It came straight from the German Flehmen, which according to Dictionary.com means
(of a domestic ungulate) to curl the lip.
So next time you see your cat do this, remember the flehmen response is something she has in common with cows, horses and even elephants and giraffes!

 

Friendly Fill-InsFriendly Fill-Ins

And now it’s time for Friendly Fill-Ins, from 15andmeowing and McGuffy’s Reader. They are a fun way to learn a little bit about the authors of the blogs you read. The first two questions, answered by old SoLT this week, are from Ellen of 15andmeowing, and the next two, answered by Real Cat Paisley, are from Annie of McGuffy’s Reader.

Old SoLT’s answers:
1. I have never been able to sew. I have no aptitude for sewing, no patience for it, and even sewing one button on a shirt is an exercise in frustration.

2. I wish I could still run. It used to feel so good to run when I was much, much younger, but now running just sounds painful—and exhausting.

Real Cat Paisley’s answers:

3.  Curled up on Mommy’s lap is my ideal winter night.


4. Trick a staff member into thinking you haven’t been fed yet and you might get to eat dinner twice. I try this a lot, and sometimes it works!


Thursday, January 18, 2018

Official State Cats of the United States

Maine coon cat, photo via Adobe Stock
The Maine coon is the state cat of--you guessed it!--Maine.
Photo via Adobe Stock.
 Our topic today is official cats, and specifically, cats that have been named as official symbols of states in the US. Only three states have named a certain type of domestic cat as their “state cat,” and only one of those is an actual breed of cat; the other two are cats with certain coat patterns. We don’t know why more states don’t have official cats, because a great cat is certainly something to be proud of. Interestingly, initiatives to name a state cat have often begun with schoolchildren (which just goes to show you who has their priorities in order).

Official state cats

The three states with official cats are Maine, Massachusetts, and Maryland. We guess it is a total coincidence that these states all begin with the letter M. (Or is it? Are you familiar with the M pattern that famously adorns the foreheads of tabby cats?)

Maine was the first state to name an official cat, back in 1985. It makes perfect sense that this state’s cat is the Maine coon, since this large breed “is regarded as a native of the state of Maine,” according to the kids’ section of the maine.gov website. The Cat Fanciers Association says that Maine was the first state to recognize these cats as a unique breed. Generally, Maine coons are known as sturdy, intelligent cats with a shaggy coat and tail, tufted paws, and large, tufted  ears. They appeared in cat shows as early as the 1860s, when Maine farmers organized a show at the Skowhegan Fair, which resulted in the winning cat being named “Maine State Champion Coon Cat.” In 1895, a Maine coon named Cosey won a cat show held at Madison Square Garden. You can see a picture of the silver collar she won in the CFA article “America’s First Show Cat—the Maine Coon Cat.”

You can also read more about the history of Maine coons in our post “Legends of the Maine Coon.”

Tabby cat, photo via Adobe Stock
Cats with a tabby coat pattern are the cat of the
commonwealth in Massachusetts.
Photo via Adobe Stock.
Massachusetts named the tabby the “official cat of the commonwealth” in 1988. “Tabby” is not a breed of cat; instead, the term describes a striped coat pattern that many cats have. Schoolchildren in the state pushed for the tabby to receive the honor of being the cat of the commonwealth. Why tabbies? We have so far not been able to find the answer to that question, so if you know, please tell us!

You can learn more about tabbies in our posts “Words with Webster: Tabby” and “Words with Webster: Mackerel and Blotched.”

In our home state of Maryland, the calico was named state cat in 2001. Again, “calico” is not a breed, it’s a coat pattern in which a cat has patches of black, orange, and white fur. The calico was chosen as state cat of Maryland because this coloring resembles the colors of other state symbols: the state flag, bird (Baltimore oriole), and insect (Baltimore checkerspot butterfly).

Calico cat, photo via Adobe Stock
We are partial to the calico, which is our state cat
in Maryland.
Photo via Adobe Stock. 

Official state pets

Several other states do not have a specific state cat, but they have named dogs and cats either in shelters or adopted from shelters in their states as the “official state pets.”

In Colorado, the effort to declare as state pet those dogs and cats who are shelter alumni started in 2013 with some middle schoolers from Peakview School in Walsenburg. The goal was to bring attention to shelter pets (and to see the state’s legislative process up close). Despite objections from those representing the interests of breeders and dog-show organizers, as well as those who thought the bill discriminated against other kinds of pets, such as reptiles and birds, the measure passed both the House and Senate and was signed by Governor John Hickenlooper on May 13, 2013.

Tennessee declared dogs and cats adopted from the state’s shelters and rescues as the official state pet in 2014.

California named “a shelter pet” as its official state pet in 2015. In making this declaration, the state’s legislature wrote that the aim of the measure was “to raise public awareness of shelter animals.”

Illinois declared shelter dogs and cats (whether adopted from or currently in shelters) as the official state pet in August 2017.

Leaping bobcat, photo via Adobe Stock
In New Hampshire, the bobcat is the state wildcat.
Photo via Adobe Stock.

Honorable mentions: Wildcats and extinct cats

So far, we’ve dealt strictly with domestic cats, but some states have gone to the wild side when choosing cats as symbols.

In Florida, the endangered Florida panther was named the official state animal in 1982.

New Hampshire named the bobcat as its official state wildcat in 2015, with prompting from fourth- and fifth-graders at the Well School in Peterborough. (North Carolina also tried to make the bobcat the official state wildcat in 2015, but the attempt failed in the state’s senate.)

Finally, one state, California, has designated the extinct the saber-toothed cat as the state fossil.


Did we miss any official cats of the US? Let us know in the comments!

Additional Sources

“State Dogs/Cats,” State Symbols USA https://statesymbolsusa.org/categories/dog


“Official State Cats,” Netstate.com, http://www.netstate.com/states/tables/state_mammals_cats.htm

Tuesday, January 16, 2018

Cat of the Week: Sox


Cat of the Week
Each week in this space, we feature an older adult or senior cat (7 years +) in need of adoption or sponsorship. Mature cats make great companions, and unlike kittens, they (probably) won’t climb the curtains! Adopt an older cat, and help them enjoy the best years of their life.




Our cat this week is Sox. He is an 11-year-old gentleman wearing a fancy gray-and-white tuxedo. Sox is very affectionate and loves getting attention. He also enjoys taking naps on comfy beds. He has lived with kids and other cats before, so he is a very experienced cat. Sox will make an excellent companion for someone!

Sox is currently at the Baltimore Humane Society. Learn more about him here.


Can’t adopt? You can still help! Check out Sammy’s Cat Necessities Fund, which provides money for everyday and medical needs of cats at the Baltimore Humane Society. You can also make a general donation or sponsor a particular animal on this page. Every little bit helps!

Monday, January 15, 2018

Book Review: The Mutts Spring Diaries


The Mutts Spring Diaries, by Patrick McDonnell
We received The Mutts Spring Diaries right in the middle of a serious cold spell that sent temperatures into the single digits (and just so you know, that is not what winters in our part of the world are usually like). It came like a gust of warm air … happy air … the kind that brings the promise of new life. In other words, it was just exactly what we needed.

In case you are not familiar with it, Mutts is a daily comic strip created by Patrick McDonnell. It features the adventures of a dog named Earl and a cat named Mooch, and it is the one strip we make sure we read every single day. Others we can catch up with at the end of the week, but we just have to see Mutts every day.

The Mutts Spring Diaries is a collection of daily strips from springtime. In them, birds return from hibernation, a bear awakes from his winter’s sleep, spring showers fall, Mooch sheds (in an entertaining way), Mooch follows the example of a caterpillar friend and tries to become a butterfly. We found a chuckle or warm smile on every page. There is also some fun bird-related content at the back of the book: instructions for building a bird feeder from a plastic bottle, a checklist for a bird-watching scavenger hunt, and facts about birds’ eggs and calls.

The book is designed to look like a composition notebook—the kind you might keep a diary in if you happened to be a 7- to 12-year-old (the target audience for this Mutts Kids book). But no animal lover is ever too old for Mutts. The art is delightful, as McDonnell’s seemingly simple pen strokes make Earl, Mooch, and their friends come alive on the page. And the underlying message is always one of kindness and compassion, friendship and love. That is something we will always support.

Recommended!

Two Paws Up--A Great Read!

A note on the "Paws Up" system: Miss C gives either one or two paws up. One paw is for a good read; two paws is for a great read. She never gives three or four paws because that would require her to lie on her back...and Miss C does not do that!

We received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. We wouldn’t tell you it was good unless we really liked it!

The link below is an Amazon Associates link. If you purchase the book through this link, old SoLT and I could get some coin for our kibble account. Thank you!



You might also like:

the Little Red Cat Who Ran Away and Learned His ABCs, by Patrick McDonnell

Sunday, January 14, 2018

Sunday Selfie: Webster's Friday Night, Plus 25 Amazing Facts

Real Cat Webster took this Sunday Selfie on Friday evening. He was sitting on old SoLT so she wouldn't be able to get up and do that thing she needed to do (whatever it was; obviously it was not important, since she can't remember it now). Good job, Webster!

Real Cat Webster's Friday Night Selfie Jan. 2018

And this week we have a special bonus. It's 25 Amazing Facts about Webster. CK over at Stunning Keisha got this started, and it's been a lot of fun learning new things about our online friends, so Webs wanted to give it a go. The questions are supposed to be answered with one word. Webs made some adjustments to follow the rules!

1. Where is your cell phone? Huh?
2. Your hair? Gingerandwhite
3. Your dad? Unknown
4. Your mom? Mommy
5. Your favorite food? Food
6. Your dream last night? Food
7. Your favorite drink? Fountainwater
8. Fear? LoudStuff
9. Favorite shoes? Huh?
10. Favorite way to relax? SitonMommy
11. Your mood? Relaxed
12. Your home away from home? Home
13. Where were you last night? Home
14. Something that you aren't? Mean
15. Muffins? YesPlease!
16. Wish list item? Muffin.
17. Where you grew up? Maryland
18. Last thing you did? Napped
19. Favorite thing to do? Nap
20. Your TV? Mommy’siPad
21. Your pets? None
22. Friends? Paisley
23. Your life? SoGreat!
24. Missing someone? JacktheBlackCat
25. Something that you are? Friendly

We're joining the Sunday Selfies blog hop, hosted by The Cat on My Head!

Sunday Selfies blog hop



Saturday, January 13, 2018

Friday, January 12, 2018

Words with Webster: Ginger, Plus Friendly Fill-Ins



Words with Webster #catwords #wordhistories
We have two fun Friday features for you today. First up is Real Cat Webster, who has a colorful word to share. After that, it’s on to Friendly Fill-Ins!

Words with Webster

Hi, everybody! It’s me, Real Cat Webster. Welcome to Words with Me. Today’s word is “ginger.” I was having a lot of trouble picking a word for today, but then I found out that this is International Kiss a Ginger Day, and there was my word! Anyway, I looked in my favorite dictionary, Merriam-Webster’s, and found out that ginger is “a light reddish or reddish-brown color.” It didn’t say anything about cats specifically, which was kind of disappointing.


But then I went to the Oxford English Dictionary, which did say that “ginger” can mean “a cat with primarily orange-coloured fur, typically marked with stripes.” This meaning has been around since the 1870s, as we can see from this quote:
There is a grey tabby.., a jet black, and a ginger. (Once a Week, May 2, 1874, 396/2)
That’s fine, but the word “ginger” actually goes back a lot further, just with different meanings. Of course originally it referred to the root of the ginger plant. That meaning (with a different spelling) goes waaaay back. Like, to at least 1150:
Nim hwytne stor and senep and gingiber. (Peri Didaxeon 11)
I didn’t understand what that sentence meant, so I found this other quote from Shakespeare:
Yes by S. Anne, and Ginger shall bee hotte y' th mouth too. (Twelfth Night II.iii.112, a.1626 [1623])
Next, it was on to the Online Etymology Dictionary. Turns out “ginger” has traveled a long road, coming to English from Late Latin “gingiber,” Latin “zingiberi,” Greek “zingiberis,” Prakrit “singabera,” and Sanskrit “srngaveram,” a word that seems to refer to the root’s shape. Or, as the Oxford English Dictionary says, maybe “ginger” ultimately came from an unidentified southeast Asian language from a very long time ago.

One thing that still confuses me is why “ginger” refers to orange cats, when all the ginger I’ve ever seen has been sort of creamy-yellow. Oh well.
Ginger cat with book and glasses. via Storyblocks.
This ginger cat is probably looking up "ginger."
Photo via Storyblocks.com.


Friendly Fill-Ins

Friendly Fill-Ins


And now it’s time for Friendly Fill-Ins, from 15andmeowing and McGuffy’s Reader. They are a fun way to learn a little bit about the authors of the blogs you read. The first two questions, answered by Real Cat Paisley this week, are from Ellen of 15andmeowing, and the next two, answered by old SoLT, are from Annie of McGuffy’s Reader.


Real Cat Paisley’s answers:


1. I would like to ask Mommy why do we have to have a dog? Life was purrfect with just us cats!


2. My favorite fast food restaurant is … Eww. I don’t eat fast food because it’s not good for me. (Okay, don’t tell Mommy, but I like to lick French fries, and I don’t care where they’re from!)


Old SoLT’s answers:


3. If I could go to any concert of someone still performing, it would be Willie Nelson.

4. My Winter pastime is usually staying inside and drinking warm beverages, because so far this winter has just been too cold for me!

Thursday, January 11, 2018

Case of Cat Torture in Maryland Shows Need for Protections for Animals


Hardy the cat recovering in a safe place. Photo via Alley Cat Rescue.
Hardy is getting better and recovering in a
safe place now. Remarkably, he still trusts people!
Photo from Alley Cat Rescue.

Earlier this week the good people at Alley Cat Rescue contacted us with a disturbing story. A wounded gray cat had been brought in to the Prince George’s County (Maryland) Animal Shelter, but this cat’s injuries were not the result of an accident. It was determined that the wounds to his ears, limbs, and tail had been inflicted intentionally. Alley Cat Rescue took over the cat’s care and named him Hardy, meaning “courageous and capable of enduring difficult conditions. This certainly describes Hardy’s brave yet gentle personality,” ACR said in a news update.

What happened to Hardy?

After veterinary examination, it was determined that Hardy suffered for weeks at the hands of a person who, for reasons we may never understand, put rubber bands on his tail and limbs and cut his ears. By the time Hardy was rescued, his tail was necrotic and had to be surgically removed. On three of his legs, the toes were “hanging by threads,” so those toes were also amputated.
Hardy's damaged rear legs and tail. Photo via Alley Cat Rescue.
Hardy's tail and parts of three of his feet
had to be removed because of the damage
caused by his abuser.
Photo via Alley Cat Rescue.

Hardy is recovering now that he is getting good care. The remarkable thing is, despite his tattered ears and damaged limbs and tail, Hardy still trusts people. He will even nudge up against people to ask for some pets.

Hardy is not the only one

Sadly, Hardy’s case is far from unique. According to data cited by the Humane Society of the United States, in 2011 over 1,400 cruelty cases were reported in which the species was given—and remember that is just the tip of the iceberg, because who knows how many cases either weren’t reported at all or did not specify the species. Abuse was most commonly reported for dogs, cats, horses, and livestock.

Cruelty toward animals must be taken seriously

We don’t know exactly what kind of situation Hardy came from, but we can say that animal cruelty does not just affect the animal victim. Alley Cat Rescue says, “Animal cruelty is often an indicator of a violent personality.” This means that those who start out being violent toward animals can later turn that violence on humans. Also, animal abuse and domestic violence often occur together. In one study at a domestic violence shelter, 71% of the women there who had pets said that their abusive partner had threatened, harmed, or killed their pet.


The federal Pet and Women Safety Act would, among other things, change the definition of stalking to include “conduct that causes a person to experience a reasonable fear of death or serious bodily injury to his or her pet.” It would also provide grants so domestic violence shelters could create housing for victims with pets. We think it is important to support this legislation to protect all victims of domestic violence—including pets.


Meanwhile, Hardy is looking for a new, loving home

Alley Cat Rescue is looking for someone to ultimately adopt Hardy and give him the loving home he deserves. Please contact them through their website to learn more.

Prince George’s County Animal Control is investigating Hardy’s case. Anyone who has information on what happened to Hardy should contact them.

Tuesday, January 9, 2018

Cat of the Week: Smudge in Baltimore


Cat of the Week
Each week in this space, we feature an older adult or senior cat (7 years +) in need of adoption or sponsorship. Mature cats make great companions, and unlike kittens, they (probably) won’t climb the curtains! Adopt an older cat, and help them enjoy the best years of their life.


Cat of the Week: Smudge #baltimorehumane #catadoption #adoptme




This week, say hello to Smudge. Smudge is 7 years old, and some people say he looks just like a lion! He has medium-length fur, and he enjoys being brushed. He also likes to play with toys, and of course he enjoys tasty treats. Smudge is a sweet gentleman looking for a new family in this new year.

Smudge is currently at the Baltimore Humane Society. Learn more about him here.

Can’t adopt? You can still help! Check out Sammy’s Cat Necessities Fund, which provides money for everyday and medical needs of cats at the Baltimore Humane Society. You can also make a general donation or sponsor a particular animal on this page. Every little bit helps!