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                            CAT TAILS

       "Tails" about kitties, facts, helpful information,
                and fun for people who love cats 

                               ~:~
 
                         ISSN 1552-938X

                    Sunday, January 20, 2008

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Welcome to CAT TAILS Newsletter!

Special greetings to our new subscribers.  Thanks so much for
subscribing.  I hope these mailings each week will bring you a
smile or chuckle about our favorite subject . . . cats!

Topics vary, drawing from facts, articles on health and behavior
issues, or tips about a wide variety of kitty-related subjects,
but newsletters always have a cat quote or other musing and a
"tail" or two, sprinkled with a bit of humor and fun.

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Please help us spread the word about Cat Tails by sharing it
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have no budget for promoting Cat Tails, so many RUBS and PURRS
for your help!

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Well, I'm back for this week.  This month has turned out to be
quite unexpected.  All kinds of things have popped up in my work
that have to be done before the end of the month.  I seriously
doubt I will be able to prepare Cat Tails next week.  If you
don't receive it or the notice, you will know why, and if you do
. . . surprise!  I'm still having computer problems, also. 
Thanks so much to Bob, a subscriber and computer specialist who
has sent me several suggestions.  I haven't had a chance to give
any time to your last one Bob, but appreciate it very much, and
will.

This week's Mewsings is one of my all time favorite quotes, and
it is likely to become one of yours also.  I do so wish I knew
who wrote it.  I searched but could not find the author.  If you
know, please send it to me.

Subscriber Mews has a picture of Massimo, a wonderful boo cat who
graces the home of Kimberley, a subscriber, along with her note
about him.  I am hoping she can send us a picture of him on a
hike with his dad, possibly when the weather warms.

Our "tail" about cats is about Loomis.  You could call him "Lucky
Loomis" because he lives at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary.  He
even has a journal devoted to him.  Also devoted are the Best
Friends staff who have worked hard to help him l0se weíght and
live a healthier lifestyle.  It may sound boring, reading about
losing weíght, but the staff have made it fun--for us and,
especially, for Loomie.  I think you will enjoy reading about
Loomis' journey to svelt-dom, although he has a ways to go
still.  Although entertaining, the journal also has excellent
information about this health issue and all kinds of creative
ways to help your cat get more exercise and live a healthier,
more content life indoors.

"Tip" of the Tail has some special gifts from Helene, a
subscriber.  Helene first offered these ebooks--at no cost--last
year, and we thank her very much for offering them to us again. 
I know you will enjoy them.  They are well done and the graphics
are adorable.  So be sure to follow the links and take advantage
of Helene's generous gifts.

Speaking of journal entries, it's been over a year since I
published anything from Cat Diary.  Sadly, Chance is at Rainbow
Bridge, as you know if you were with me at the time, but there is
a new troublemaker in the household who has taken up the pen.  We
will be hearing from Mars in the future, but today enjoy Chance's
love of shiny things in our witty about kitties.  Can you
identify?

Finally, all the way at The Tail End is a link to a collection of
some funny pictures with even funnier captions.

Hope you enjoy!

Take care, have a great week, and kiss your kitties for me!

Annette Fincher
Publisher




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                             MEWSINGS                           
=^..^============================================================



Cats' whiskers are so sensitive, they can find their way through
the narrowest crack in a broken heart.

~ Unknown




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                         SUBSCRIBER MEWS
=^..^============================================================



                             Massimo



  

 
                          The Macho Man


Hi Annette !  I finally got another cat!!  It had been two years
since our last cat died and I needed time.  I decided on a black
kitty this time as I wanted a whole other color not to be
reminded of my other cats.  He is a dream, I say that the black
cats got such a bad rap through the ages that now they make up
for it haaha.  He is now 6 months and his name is Massimo after
our love for Italy !  He is a true Italian macho who can jump
from the floor on your shoulder !  My husband bought a harness
and leash and he goes hiking with him . . . amazing cat!

I am sending a pic from him taken when he was around 3 or 4
months !


~ Kimberley in Germany





=^===============================================================
                           A CAT "TAIL"
=^..^============================================================



              Loomis, a Roll-Model for Weighty Cats


This is a series of stories from Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in
Southern Utah.  It's a journal about Loomis, a sweet, but very
overweight, kitty, and his progress at losing a few pounds.  It
is full of creative ideas for caring for an overweight cat and
wonderful pictures of Loomis.  My first thoughts were to include
this under Your Healthy Cat, but there are so many stories that
make up the journal, I thought they made the perfect "tail."


Meet Loomis




His Biography:  http://tinyurl.com/3bzgnc
<a href="http://tinyurl.com/3bzgnc">AOL_Link</a>


As mentioned in Loomie's biography, too much weíght can cause
health problems in cats, just as in humans, such as heart disease
or diabetes.  But, not eating can quickly lead to a condition
called "fatty liver disease," so they had to come up with the
right plan for Loomis.

The journal begins back in March 2007 and it takes a while
through trial and error to find a fitness plan that worked for
Loomis and to determine what motivates him to exercise.  Believe
it or not, interestingly, it is not food! 

They found Loomis does not like whistling or singing--unless it
is a song about him.  So . . . along the journey, they even held
a contest for a special song just about Loomis and his weíght
problem!  You can listen to the winning, bluesy song, "Fat Cat
Baby," under the "Night Watchman" entry of the journal, or go
directly to it from this link:
< http://www.bestfriends.org/slideshows/loomis/loomis.html>
<a href="http://www.bestfriends.org/slideshows/loomis/loomis.html">AOL_Link</a>

Best Friends seems to always know how to make fun even with
serious issues while they are working wonders for sick or
traumatized animals in their care.  Loomis' story is a purrfect
example of how they make caring for homeless animals fun for the
animals, no matter their condition, while, at the same time,
educating the public as to the best ways they have learned to
fill the animals' needs. 

I believe it is a lesson we should all remember.  Sometimes, we
get bogged down with worry over our feline friends when they have
a health condition and they can sense our mood.  Of course, when
a cat is ill, we naturally adjust how we interact with them, but
I think it is important to make ourselves as pleasant and upbeat
as possible for our feline and canine friends during their times
of need.

I encourage you to follow this link to the beginning of the
journal and learn how Best Friends found a solution for Loomis
and what you can do if you have an overweíght kitty at home:

< http://tinyurl.com/26scq9>
<a href=http://tinyurl.com/26scq9">AOL_Link</a>

Some of things they tried with Loomis' may be just the trick that
works for your cat.  And, I promise you will enjoy the stories.




=^===============================================================
                        "TIP" OF THE TAIL
=^..^============================================================


                        2008 Cat Calendar

Once again, Helene Malmsio, a subscriber, is generously offering
a f.r.e.e calendar with cute cat graphics and a cat quote on each
page.  It's sure to give you a smile each day as you refer to
it.  The calendar in .pdf format, so you will need the Adobe
reader to view it, but most people already have that on their
computer these days with so many ebooks being developed all the
time.  If you don't have it, there is no cost and you can safely
download it at this link:

< http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2_allversions.html >
<a href="http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2_allversions.html">AOL_Link</a>


Then go to this site and grab your copy of Helene's cat calendar:

< http://free-daily-motivational-self-improvement.com/support-files/2008-calender-download-cats.pdf >

<a href="http://free-daily-motivational-self-improvement.com/support-files/2008-calender-download-cats.pdf">AOL_Link</a>

                              ~:~

      "Cat Tails" Collection of Feline Quotes, Furry Stories
                      and Fuzzy Wisdoms

This is another of Helene's attractive ebooks.  The collection
has all kinds of kitty things to entertain and inform you:

< http://personal-enterprise-self-help-resources.com/support-files/cat-tails.pdf >

<a href="http://personal-enterprise-self-help-resources.com/support-files/cat-tails.pdf">AOL_Link</a>

                              ~:~

                       "Hank's Stories"

If you have enjoyed the hilarious stories about Hank and Ruby in
Cat Tails, you can relive them all and laugh till your heart's
content with Helene's ebook.  It has all his stories in a single
collection and, believe me, they are one of a kind and on my
short list of most favorite funny stories.  If you subscribed
since they were published in Cat Tails, this is your chance to
read them all.  The "audit" was slightly edited by me to make it
family-friendly, and Helene has retained that version.

< http://personal-enterprise-self-help-resources.com/support-files/cat-stories-hank.pdf >

<a href="http://personal-enterprise-self-help-resources.com/support-files/cat-stories-hank.pdf">AOL_Link</a>


You may find other (noncat) things on Helene's website of
interest.  If so, that is the best thanks you can give her for
her generosity in giving us these ebooks.




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                          A KITTY WITTY
=^..^============================================================



                           The Shining


"I'm missing an earring, have you seen it?" the Mrs. Owner
inquired of the Big owner.

"No, sorry," was his reply.

That's a conversation the Mrs. Owner frequently has had with her
husband as of late.  It's been particularly frustrating for her
because she is getting older and tends to lose her memory a lot.
Just misplaced it, she says to herself.

"Hey, have you seen my necklace anywhere?  You know, the one with
the shiny pendant on it . . ." she later asks the kids.

"No, Mom.  Are we supposed to?" is their reply.

"Don't worry," she answers.  "I just put it down somewhere odd
and now I can't find it."

She's losing it.  Sad to watch.

"You know what?  I am missing my gold bracelet, did you borrow
that from my jewelry box?" she asks her daughter, her voice
borderline frustrated.

"No.  I haven't seen that one in ages, Mom," comes the teenager's
nonchalant reply.

I'm watching her come apart at the seams before my very eyes.
Watching humans deteriorate is painful.

It isn't long before she pipes up again, "Anyone seen my shiny
silver ring, the one I got from my mom.  I'm missing that one."

"Nope.  You usually leave it near the bathroom sink, it's not
there now?  You lost another one?  Not again!" comes a chorus of
replies from all sectors of the family.

She's downright perturbed.  It's heartbreaking to see this
happen.

"My wedding ring!" she exclaimed one day.  "I took it off for
just a second to clean the bathroom and I thought I set it down,"
she was almost in tears talking to the Big Owner.  "It just
disappeared.  I hope I didn't accidentally flush it down the
toilet!"

Pitiful.  Tragic.

What's pitiful and tragic is that she has been criss-crossing the
house for the last month asking everyone in the house where her
shiny stuff is . . . except me.  She never asked me.  I've been
sitting here on the couch listening to her unravel, and it didn't
have to be that way.  If she asked me, I'd tell her:

The shiny earring is under the bed near the headboard.

The shiny necklace went down the heater vent.  Sorry, the pendant
went with it, too.  Get a fatter pendant next time.

The shiny bracelet is in the closet.  It's in plain view, if you
get on your hands and knees and lift up a ton of hanging clothes.

The shiny silver ring is on the floor behind the entertainment
center.  It blended in with about an inch of untouched dust.

The shiny wedding ring isn't down the toilet.  It's under the
couch where I left it after batting it around with my paws.

I like shiny stuff.  I just hope she doesn't run out of it
anytime soon.

It was a good day.


~ Chance (1997-2006)

Copyright 2008, Mark Mason, All Rights Reserved
http://www.catdiary.com/




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                           THE TAIL END
=^..^============================================================


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                  The "Invisible" World of Cats


It's the feline version of the child's game of "pretend."  A
clever soul has taken some pictures of high-flying cats and
explained for us the invisible world that only cats can see:

http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/10812
<a href="http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/10812">AOL_Link</a>





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