Monday, February 12, 2024

New Cat Wreaths

 

                                           CATastrophe Treasures

Barb's Creative Design

You can find these awesome cat wreaths on ETSY.com by clicking on the shop names below the photos.

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Just a few of my own hand crafted cat wreaths I had also created ...

Spring and Summer wreaths.

Halloween wreath ...

Two Egyptian Goddess Bastet wreaths ...

Another  Halloween Cat wreath ...

And last, but not least, my Norse Goddess Freya wreath titled, "Freya's Ride" ...


Sunday, February 11, 2024

Catlore (and some great books)


 (artwork by Cyra Cancel)

As a fellow cat enthusiast, I am always on the prowl for new and fascinating things (or at least to learn about things I never knew before)!  Cat folklore, superstitions and proverbs intrigue me and so I thought that I might share some of the interesting cat info which I have found with you all.

Here are just a few:
* If a cat continually looks out the window on any given day, rain is on the way
* Some cats can predict earthquakes (there is actually some proven truth to this one!)
* Cats are believed to be able to see human auras
*A cat sleeping with their four paws tucked underneath their body means bad weather is coming
* If a cat sits with their back to the fire, this foretold a cold spell
* If a cat sneezes once, it means there will be rain. If they sneeze three times, the family will catch a cold
* Early Americans believed that if a cat washed her face in front of several people, the first person she looked at would be the first to get married
* Tortoiseshell cats were believed to be able to see into the future and could also give this gift to a lucky child in the household
* When the pupil of a cat's eye gets big (broadens), it is a sign of rain
* The Pennsylvania Dutch used to place a cat in the empty cradle of a newlywed couple and the cat was supposed to grant their wish for children
* In England, it was believed that if a black cat lived in your house, the young lass would have numerous suitors
* It was once believed that fur and blood drawn from various parts of a cat's body would cure all ailments
* In Tell-Basta (which was at one time the Egyptian city of Bubastis), a graveyard holding 300,000 mummified holy cats was discovered. A few were sent to museums.
* A kitten born in May will be a witches cat
Pretty wild stuff, huh?  I also wanted to share these two books with you which I had read many years ago and, to this day, I refuse to part with them  ~ both were written by the renowned author Desmond Morris ...
These are both really great books and I highly recommend them to any cat lover!

Monday, February 5, 2024

Turmeric and Cats



We have been giving Butterscotch turmeric in capsule form once a day with his canned food ever since he had to have a lump removed from the back of his left leg a couple of years ago. Upon doing our research, we have read that this supplement (herb) has a lot of wonderful benefits for both cats and dogs alike. 

I have decided to share some information about it here which I had found on a couple of websites about using it for its' health benefits for cats. In fact, a couple of weeks ago, I noticed a soft lump on Butterscotch's chin. As the vet had instructed me to do, I kept a close eye on it to make sure it did not get bigger. Now, it could well have been dermatitis (yes cats can and do get it) and I began giving Butterscotch turmeric again after I had given him a little break from it in his daily routine. Within days the lump on his chin not only had gone down, but appears to have gone away. Be that as it may, I will still continue to keep a watch on it. 


The following are links for further reading and an excerpt from one below:

Turmeric has become a household staple for many people, but this superfood has tremendous health benefits. Turmeric for cats helps support cats that may be fighting cancer, and also provides, arthritis support and also helps with digestion, skin issues, and is great for cardiovascular health.

Properties of Turmeric:

  • Anti-inflammatory
  • Antioxidant
  • Anti-fungal
  • Antibacterial
  • Anticoagulant
  • Antiseptic
  • Astringent

Benefits of Using Turmeric Daily in the Diet

  • Helps to scavenge free radicals
  • Increases antioxidant enzymes
  • Inhibits lipid peroxidation

Free radicals are unstable molecules that cause oxidative damage to cellular components such as proteins, lipids, and DNA. The free radical scavenging properties of turmeric supports the body in processing and removing these molecules, minimizing the damage they can do.

Healing Properties of Turmeric for Cats

  • Helps arthritic conditions due to its anti-inflammatory properties and COX2 inhibitors
  • Autoimmune disease support by improving the signaling pathways of immune cells
  • Anti-cancer support due to its antioxidant properties
  • Support for liver disorders through detoxification
  • Heart condition support through improved circulation
  • Helps to lower bad cholesterol (LDL) which cats are prone to
  • Helps reduce the risk of blood clotting

At NHV, we only use human-grade quality products as plant-based remedies. They are vet-approved and are safe to be given long-term along with any vet-prescribed medications.

Other Herbs and Spices That Are Healthy for Cats

In addition to turmeric, there are a variety of other herbs and spices that you can offer to your cat occasionally that are thought to help support their health. Here are other herbs and spices that your cat can eat:

These herbs and spices should be used like turmeric: sparingly. Just a small amount added to a meal or included in a snack or treat a few times a week or under guidance from a veterinarian.

References:

https://www.nhvnaturalpetproducts.com/TURMERIC-for-cat-cancer-symptoms

https://petcareadvisors.com/cats/can-cats-eat-turmeric/

https://askmycats.com/is-turmeric-safe-for-cats/

Sunday, September 24, 2023

The Story of Reginald: Another Inspiring True Story by Renee James


Towards the end of summer last year, I periodically spotted this light orange colored cat. After seeing him a few times, I posted on Facebook asking if anyone knew who he belonged to. No answers. I started putting food out. That's when I quickly learned that there was more than one cat out there. The weather was about to get cold, so I ordered an insulated cat box from Amazon. I checked with all my neighbors to make sure they were okay with me putting a cat house out. One neighbor was not just okay with it, but she was equally excited! She knew exactly the cat I was talking about. This was the start of what would become my daily entertainment.

Every night, I'd go put food out, sit on my porch and watch from afar. It was FREEZING outside, so I'd bundle up and text my neighbor the play by play on which cat was out and doing what. The most frequently spotted cat was the light orange cat and he was aptly named "Tan Cat" for research purposes, of course. In the mornings, my neighbor and I would go place piles of kibble in places we thought the cats might be living. We'd go back at night to find the kibble gone and no cats in sight. A few times, we put on our snow boots and followed their paw prints. We still never found where they lived. The neighbor spotted a tiny gray kitten - and since we couldn't get the cats to use the insulated house, we decided it was time to set a trap. The weather man said there was something called a "Siberian Express" coming. My neighbor phoned a friend who regularly traps and rescues cats. She delivered us a kitten trap and we eagerly set the trap and crossed our fingers.

We took turns checking the trap every 20 minutes or so to make sure it didn't get trapped and freeze to death. A few nights passed and we were successful! We trapped the kitten! We attempted to transfer him from trap to carrier, but unfortunately he was smarter and faster than us. He got out and ran out my front door. We took our chances and set the trap again. One night I got out of work to a text from my neighbor saying indeed there was a cat in the trap, but it wasn't the gray kitten. It was a "fluffy orange cat"! The fluffy boy was kept in the trap in her warm basement until the next morning when I drove him to the local vet to get him scanned for a microchip. He didn't have one. This time, I let the professionals transfer him to a carrier. My neighbor posted on Facebook to see if he belonged to anyone, He now happily resides in New Jersey with my niece. His name is Cheese.

Time to set the trap again and try to recapture the gray kitten. About a week later, we caught him again. This time, we didn't screw it up! He lived in the neighbor's toasty basement until he found a forever home. His name is Mowgli. Now, it was time to trap the big cats. My husband and I went to Rural King and purchased larger traps. Time to set the trap. "Tan Cat" was my primary target for capture - he was the one I saw every single day. I set the trap with some wet food. Tan Cat came over and investigated but wouldn't take the bait. The next couple of weeks I tried everything I could think of. I moved the trap, I tried other food, I even buried the trap with field grass to camouflage it. I heated up gravy and trailed it in. I made a tuna trail ... tried it all! 

I gave up on trying to trap him, but I wouldn't give up on caring for him. I continued putting food out every day. I had to feed him from about 20 yards away and if I blinked too loud he ran. The days turned into weeks and the weeks turned into months. I attempted to slowly move his food bowl closer to my house; however, that was a hard "no" from him - he didn't trust anything different. As the weather started to warm up, I eventually began sitting about 10 feet away from his bowl with my back to him. Over weeks time, I'd get a little closer and a little closer. He started doing funny things. He'd walk away from me and roll around then chirp at me. He finally acknowledged my existence!! 

He started to get close to me and would stick around after he ate to play with sticks or scratch a tree. Then he began following me every night when I'd walk up to the cornfield with my flashlight to look around. He'd follow me making funny meows and sometimes he'd even lead the way! Eventually, he came over into our yard and around July he rubbed up against my legs for the first time. In August, I was allowed to pet him! Now he sits on my porch with me and climbs on my lap. 

After spending at least an hour a day with him (usually more) for months, it finally paid off! I've got a new companion.

Oh, and he is no longer "Tan Cat" - he is Reginald Von Vegetable! And he no longer plays with sticks and rocks because he has REAL toys! 




Feline Funnies

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