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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.

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My lap of luxury?

Dear fellow cats,

Well that time is upon us again when, in England anyway, the rain feels slightly warmer on your fur: yes summer is here! Birds whoosh past at jaw dropping speed, whilst in the house some dastardly scheming is going on.

Norman’s all set for the Summer break

I’ve noticed my adopted family sitting at the computer for hours looking at pictures of blue seas, sunny skies and all kinds of maps and charts. They’re making furtive phone calls too, after shooing me out of the room…well I ask you? So, I’m going to be packed off to the local cattery again for a couple of weeks’ incarceration am I?

Well I’ve decided that this year I am going to handle this awful situation differently: no sulking and skulking, refusing to eat the cattery food and menacing my neighbours with rock hard stares…, no, this year I’ve decided I’m going to get some PPMA, that’s short for Positive Pusscat Mental Attitude , don’t you know!

This will begin when, without cracking a smile, I watch the family pack their funny looking selection of multi-coloured clothing that they wouldn’t be seen dead in at home into their silly bags that roll along the ground. I will keep my PPMA on the long journey to the cattery, when I shall sing along with the radio instead of howling my disgust and emptying my bowels in despair (not a pleasant smell for any of us in such a small car, and a strategy that has failed to work time and again).

Once settled into my prison, sorry ‘lap of luxury’ cat kennel, I shall watch the birds in the sky instead of every flipping aeroplane that passes. No more then the dream of my family’s return and the questioning why oh why I couldn’t go with them. Instead I’ll be meditating on the lovely welcome, and fishy treats, I always get when I get home and the emotional blackmail I can wield for a couple of weeks (at least) until we are all back in our daily routines. It’s just lovely to feel so positive about it all!

Yes, this year, I am going to enjoy this summer break more than ever and because of this new found resolve I send my regards, best wishes and love to all cats and their owners, wherever you are, for a peaceful, relaxing and happy summer 2010.

Norm

XXX

Norman checking his blooms

… and checking his blooms
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Casper

Cat of the Month ~ March 2010

Beautiful Casper

Casper, What a fascinating creature he was!

Casper, the 12-year-old black and white cat, who used to ride the bus with commuters regularly, has died.
His death was announced on a notice put up at Casper’s bus stop by his owner. We are so sad to hear this news. His owner wrote “Many local people knew Casper, who loved everyone – he also enjoyed the bus journeys….he was a much loved pet who had so much character. Thank you to all those who befriended him.”

I’d like to add a heartfelt goodbye to this amazing animal, who’ll live on in our hearts

Continue reading “Casper”