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Normans Christmas Message 2010

Well hello again to you Moggies and your pet humans out there.

The big chill is upon us here in England for the third year in a row so, at this special time of year, we must think of those not blessed with a natural fur coat and allow them some (limited) access to the warmth of fires and radiators in our homes (when we have finished with them). Although, generally speaking, a well placed, quietly extracted claw can make them think more carefully about trying to hog all of the heat away from us cats.
Nevertheless, when Christmas arrives it is in keeping with the season to let our humans have some comfort.

Seasons Greeting ~ from Norman

It has been snowing on and off these last few weeks here, which reminds me of winters long past when I was a mere whisker of a kitten ~ I’m sure it snowed some in 2002? I love winter (especially roasting my back and sides on the radiator!) but it is a season when paws can get rather chilly padding around in the ice and snow, so extra fishy treats and nibbles WILL be required, whether returning from a five yard dash to the toilet or taking a hard days sleep by the fire (humans please take note).

I believe that EVERYONE would benefit from a good chill out this winter so, wherever you are spending Christmas and New Year, be kind to your fellow cats, other animals, humans and yourself and do please make a resolution to slow this busy old world down. After all, being awake all day is fairly unskilled and highly overrated! And so my fellow festive friends, follow the feline example and take a good few more cat naps in 2011 and you’ll feel the kindness and joy blossom, just from getting more kip:-)

A Merry Christmas and a safe and Happy New Year to you all.

All my love,

Norm

x x x

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doggies meet moggies

Hello all you moggies!

Phoebe and Summer here from the planet D-O-G! Phoebe and Summer We have been invited to share some of our wisdom and experience with you all and are not a little flattered and certainly very pleased with the prospect.

Phoebe and Summer enjoying the sunshine.
Photograph: by K9

To get things underway we have been practising things that would be of interest:

Phoebe: I have been brushing up my sleeping skills and have refined them to 23 out of every 24 hours – at least!

Summer: I love going outside and the other day I uttered an excellent ‘meeeeow’!

We thought that you would also like a mug shot of us to be going on with.

From your doggy pals,

Phoebe and Summer

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Scottish Wildcat

Cat of the Month ~ November 2010

Wildcat in the Snow
Photograph: by Graeme Purdy

The Scottish Wildcat evolved as sub-species in Britain from a population of European Wildcats that was isolated at the end of the last Ice Age (9000 years ago). Scottish wildcats are larger and more heavily camouflaged than their European counterparts but have faced a similar history of decline mainly as a result of hunting, persecution and habitat loss caused by deforestation.

In 2004, a team of scientists attached to WildCRU (Wildlife Conservation Research Unit) and the National Museums of Scotland estimated that as few as 400 wildcats remain in Scotland.

The European Wildcat of which the Scottish Wildcat is a sub-species have a wide distribution across Europe that includes, Spain, Portugal, France, Germany, Italy, Greece, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia as well as Asia and the Middle East. It is likely that many populations contain large numbers of cross bred animals

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The Pallas Cat

Cat of the Month ~ October 2010

The Pallas cat is a native of wide areas of Asia and has adapted to a life at high altitudes where the air is thin and extremely cold! The animal has thick, long, coarse fur and low-set ears to protect against the cold. The fur colour can range between sandy red through yellow to grey in base colour with white tips to the fur guard hairs. This gives an overall ‘frosted’ appearance to the animal.

Pallas Cat in Captivity

Fully grown Pallas Cat in captivity
Photograph: Under Creative Commons License

The legs of the Pallas are short and stumpy compared to the overall body size. The head is broad with high set eyes, which uncommonly contract to small circles rather than slits as in other small wild cats. The head is covered by a white striped facial ruff. From this an elongated snout has long whiskers with and a white ‘beardy’ chin below. The ears are low set and are also fur covered. The tail of the Pallas cat is tipped with black and has darker rings toward the end, similar dark markings can also be faintly seen across the side of its back.

Strange but beautiful Pallas
Photograph: Muzina Shanghai – Under Creative Commons License

A full grown Pallas can reach 65 centimeters in body length with an additional tail length of 20 to 30 centimeters. The weight of a full grown animal will be in the region of 3 to 5 Kgs.

Pallas cats have been known to live to an age of over 11 years in regions all over central Asia, through Iran, Pakistan, Kashmir, Nepal, Tibet and across to Western China.Within these regions they inhabit steppe, desert and barren rocky mountain areas up to high altitudes (over 4,000m). In such cold regions their thick fur provides good insulation.

Pallas cats are elusive and solitary nocturnal hunters, feeding on small mammals, such as pikas, rodents and birds. They are usually most active at dawn and dusk into the night hours. During the day the cat uses caves, burrows and rock fissures in which to sleep. These ‘dens’ are often the old burrows which other animals have discarded.

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A Pallas Cat Photo

A Wild Pallas at a cave mouth
Photograph: K. Sturzenegger – Under Creative Commons License

When reproducing Pallas cats give birth to five or six kittens after a gestation period of 66-67 days.

Pallas cats were formerly hunted in large numbers for the fur trade and thus today the Pallas cat is rare and is considered threatened on parts of its range. It is listed in CITES in Appendix 2.

Pallas Kittens

A Litter of Pallas kittens reared in captivity
Photograph: Image source unknown
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Corinth Canal Cats

So… we decided to take the trip to Athens from our holiday island Zante (Zakinthos) in Greece. Thought we’d take a look at the Acropolis (you know the one with the famous Parthenon on the top).

After a ferry trip across the Ionian sea to Kylini and a further two hours coach drive (with a blistering heat outside) we stopped off to look at the mighty Corinth canal in Korinthos, with the thermometer reading 38 degrees Centigrade… ouch!

The Gigantic Corinth Canal – nearly 4 miles long, 87 metres high with a water depth of 8 meters

Stepping off our air conditioned coach was like stepping into a pizza oven, so we quickly took our holiday snaps and headed for the snack bar by the canal… and guess what…. out from under the tables came a bunch of street wise moggies. (’cause when the tourists arrive that means food’, right guys?)

A ginger tom, anticipating his din dins

…and it was fuss all around until the fish & chips and feta cheese pies were served. During the meal some scraps were duly distributed amongst the pack.

Tucking in to a fish head, mmm..

.. but some of those moggies were having none of it. Too hot or too proud, who knew?

A proud fellow

A justly proud creature.

So there they were, the Corinth Canal Cats, all having a fuss and feed in the shade…

… meanwhile from out of nowhere this hot dog turned up. She was so hot in fact that she decided to take a cooling dip in the canal. Needless to say the moggies had no such respite from the heat.. but the food was excellent.

A very sensible dog keeps cool in the canal

… the old dog was still wading away when we pulled on to the E94, Patra to Athens highway and headed on our way ….

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.. and so, on we drove to Athens and our goal the Ancient ruins.

A busy Parthenon

… and later (just to complete the story) we found a little lion lying down with a lamb (or in this case another pooch)

Monastiraki Flea Market Image

A friendly pair in the Monastiraki Flea Market, Athens

Thats it, the hols are over for another year, and didn’t the time go by so fast [Ed]

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Cat up a tree

Who’s that cat up the tree there?

Ahh it’s Norman…

…to cut a long story short Norman got very excited and started running amok until the lilac tree came into sight. He dashed full pelt up the trunk but was suddenly stopped in his tracks! ……he had nowhere else to go you see 😳 , How embarrassing.

No need to call the fire brigade though, he was back down in a flash.