December 21, 2016

Cat With Dreadlocks Loses 2 Pounds Of Fur

Source: The Dodo

Everyone can relate to having a bad hair day. A cat named Hidey knows all about it.

Hidey's bad hair day probably lasted for years. When people found her, she had 2 pounds of matted fur on her back — about the weight of a pineapple or a small bag of rice.

An elderly man in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, owned Hidey, as well as a Siamese cat named Siam. The man had Alzheimer's disease, and when he'd gotten too ill to live by himself, his family moved him to a nursing home. The cats, unfortunately, got left behind.

Paul Russel, a distant relative of the elderly man, was the first to think of the cats. Well, really, one cat.

"When they put him in the nursing home, I thought, 'Hey, he has a cat,'" Russel told The Dodo. "The house was still open, so I went down and left some food for the cat until we figured out what we're going to do. Then somebody mentioned that he had a second cat. So I started searching around, and suddenly this huge creature darts out from under the bed and runs down to the cellar, and I thought, 'What was that?'"

Hidey's fur was so matted that dreadlocks had formed. "At first I thought it was a cat who had a blanket draped over her that she dragged down," Russel said. "But no — it turned out to be Hidey. She hid down in the corner of the cellar. I'm down there with a flashlight looking — it was almost like a horror movie. And I found her hunkering in the corner. Probably very scared. Probably in a lot of pain."

Russel took Hidey (so named for her inclination to hide) to the Animal Rescue League and Wildlife Shelter in Pittsburgh, which will is affiliated with the Western PA Humane Society.













Read more: https://www.thedodo.com/calico-cat-matted-fur-2157871011.html


Animal Rescue League Shelter & Wildlife Center FB page:
https://www.facebook.com/animalrescuelg/

December 5, 2016

Giant Cat Left At Shelter Finds A New Home Within Hours

Source: The Dodo, December 1, 2016

He weighs 21 pounds!

Edgar the cat was surrendered to the Humane Society of Carroll County in Maryland when his owner could no longer keep him. (Edgar, it turned out, didn't get along with his owner's grandchildren.) The staff at the humane society were shocked when they first saw Edgar — because of how huge he is.

The 9-year-old cat weighs in at 21 pounds, which is much larger than an average cat. (He's not quite as big, however, as Samson, who was recently named New York City's largest cat.)

Edgar truly is a gentle giant, and the staffers who helped process him into the shelter were amazed at how loving and patient he was.

"Edgar was so sweet coming into the shelter and handled his intake process with shining stars," Michelle Fidler, director of animal care at the Humane Society of Carroll County, told The Dodo.

Since Edgar was so noticeably large, Fidler thought the shelter's Facebook followers might enjoy seeing his picture, and was shocked by how excited people got over him.

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Edgar the gigantic cat became an internet sensation, and people from all over the country began bombarding the shelter with adoption requests for the very special cat. A local woman heard about Edgar, too, and that day she and her boyfriend made their way over to the shelter to make Edgar the newest member of their family.

"As soon as I saw his picture, I was in awe," Jenna Schwartz, Edgar's new mom, told The Dodo. "I've never seen a cat that big before, he really catches your eye. He's gorgeous!"













Read more: https://www.thedodo.com/21-pound-cat-shelter-2122076200.html

Note: Edgar's new mom is person #4 holding him.


Humane Society of Carroll County homepage:
http://hscarroll.org/

November 24, 2016

Dozens of Community Cats Guard Cemetery and Comfort Mourners for Years

Source: Lovemeow

These community cats guard and protect a cemetery in Japan, and are always there to cheer up those who visit the cemetery in memory of a loved one.

Down in the quiet district of Tokyo, there is an old part of the city called Yanaka that is tranquil and resembles the Tokyo past, a juxtification to the bustling metropolis today.

A big reason for this serene culture may just be quite unexpected - cats and more cats.

A famous landmark in the old-fashioned neighborhood is the Yanaka Cemetery, run and protected by a clowder of community cats. The feline guardians are the most loyal workers there. They are not only friendly but extremely comforting to visitors.

"Yanaka Cemetery in Tokyo is home to dozens of friendly community cats," Hannah Shaw of Kitten Lady shares with Love Meow. "A beautiful example of cats and humans living in harmony."

Read more: http://www.lovemeow.com/dozens-of-community-cats-guard-cemetery-and-comfort-mourners-for-years-2107357944.html

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Kitten Lady FB page:
https://www.facebook.com/kittenxlady

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We Visit Yanaka, the Aptly Named “Cat Town” of Tokyo
Source: Catster, Aug 24th 2015
(snip)




Read more: http://www.catster.com/lifestyle/we-visit-yanaka-the-aptly-named-cat-town-of-tokyo

November 3, 2016

ER Doctor Brings Nearly Lifeless Stray Cat Back to Life

Source: Lovemeow

An ER doctor saved the life of a stray cat who was trapped in a revolving door, barely hanging on.

It was nothing short of a miracle how this kitty survived.

No one expected what was about to happen to this little white stray cat in Istanbul, Turkey, when he suddenly entered the Özel Akgün Tem Hospital through a revolving door, and almost ended his life there .

As a man was leaving the facility at the front door, the cat attempted to walk inside, and got caught between a glass panel and the door jamb.

The stray kitty could barely breathe. When the man noticed the cat, he was in shock and immediately stopped the door, but the cat was already wedged between.

People inside the hospital who noticed what happened were in disbelief. They began to look for ways to rescue the cat before it became too late.

Halil Akyürek, an emergency room doctor sprinted to the rescue. It's his job to deal with adverse and often traumatic situations. Now a cat was in peril, and he was determined to do everything within his power to save the kitty.













Read more: http://www.lovemeow.com/er-doctor-brings-nearly-lifeless-stray-cat-back-to-life-2076671018.html

Note: Videoclip of rescue at link.

October 28, 2016

(Pics of kittens): Airborne cats will fly into your heart in new photography book

Source: Mashable, OCT 18, 2016

Do you ever lose track of time looking at cat photos on Instagram? Do your loved ones consistently beg you to pull your face away from your phone?

You know the answer is yes. And honestly, this book of cat photos is the perfect solution.

Seth Casteel's POUNCE, a coffee table book that comes out today, features gorgeous photos of adorable airborne cats in a variety of settings.

POUNCE follows up Casteel's previous literary ventures, which include Underwater Babies and Underwater Puppies.Airborne cats will fly into your heart in new photography book

The cats in the photos are all from animal shelters and rescue groups in the U.S. and Canada. Every cat who modeled for the book was available for adoption or already rescued during the photoshoots.























Read more: http://mashable.com/2016/10/18/airborne-cats-pounce-photography-book

Note: My favorite kitten is the black one in the tree. I like black kittens.

Seth Casteel homepage:
http://sethcasteel.com/

October 10, 2016

1 of 3000 Calicos is Male, They Found Two from This Litter of 5 Calicos

Source: Lovemeow

A litter of five calico babies came to the Cat House on the Kings in Parlier, California early September. Soon they discovered something quite unique about this litter. Two out of the five kittens are male calicos.

Meet the calico clan.

"We took in a litter of 5 calico kittens and two were boys," Harvie Schreiber of the Cat House on the Kings told Love Meow.

Having a male calico is one out of 3,000 chance. Now they found two in the same litter, the odds of that is simply astounding.

Just like humans, cats have two sex chromosomes that determine their gender. Female kitties have only X chromosomes while male cats have both X and Y chromosomes.

A calico or tortoiseshell must have two X chromosomes which means the kitty is going to be female 99.99% of time.

Here's one of the two boys.


This little boy share the same markings as his calico sisters.


One of their three sisters.


Calico girl from the litter of five.


Little calico princess.


"These kittens are very rare and the boys have been adopted together."

Read more: http://www.lovemeow.com/litter-of-five-calicos-surprise-rescuer-with-two-being-boys-2035877615.html

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Cat House on the Kings FB page:
https://www.facebook.com/TheCatHouseontheKings/

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Maryland State Cat: Calico Cat
Source: eReference Desk




Read more: http://www.ereferencedesk.com/resources/state-mammal/maryland-cat.html

October 8, 2016

Rescue Dog Accompanies His Owners While They Feed The Strays

Source: The Orphan Pet

Rescue is so many things, that if you start explaining what it’s all about, you can go on forever and ever. From removing strays from the streets and fostering them, to TNRing and feeding them, rescue comes in so many forms, that if you truly want to help, you can definitely find a way that fits your lifestyle.

For this young couple from Athens, Greece, rescue is a lot of things. In fact it is all of them. They are adoptive parents for a dog, Meli and three cats, foster parents for rescue kittens, they feed and take care of the feral colony in their neighborhood and try to rehome some of the stray kittens they have been feeding for years.

Three times per day, Meli and her owners take a walk. It is not just a routine walk though. For Meli, the dog, it is. For the couple it is their chance to feed and monitor the stray cats in the neighborhood and for the cats, it’s DINNER TIME!

Last week I accompanied them to their walk and I just could not believe how awesome, and yet how simple things can be. They take off, every afternoon, with Meli and a bag of cat food. Starting from the cats in their building, they start feeding for a few blocks in their neighborhood.

Once the cats realize that Meli and the guys are approaching, they start running towards then, meowing and rubbing themselves on their feet. Meli greets some of them and simply strays there waiting, while her stray friends enjoy their dinner. They are fed dry cat food, not cans, not leftovers from last night dinner. The couple does it’s best to keep the neighborhood clean, the cats healthy and the residents as less annoyed as possible.



Meli at home with the latest tiny rescue, Ornello – for adoption by SCARS.










Fay and Dionisis at home, with their dog Meli and their first rescue cat.

Read more: http://theorphanpet.com/rescue-dog-accompanies-owners-whey-feed-strays/#more-831

Note: The story is written in the first person, I just posted it, and can't take any credit whatsoever...

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The Orphan Pet with more stories:
http://theorphanpet.com/

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SCARS FB Page (in Greek):
https://www.facebook.com/scars.gr/

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SCARS Homepage (in Greek):
http://www.scars.gr/

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SCARS Donate page (In Greek):
http://www.scars.gr/?cpt_team=donate

October 5, 2016

Meet Nutmeg - the Geordie cat believed to be the oldest in the world

Source: Chronicle Live

Moggy Nutmeg from Gateshead is still going strong at 31 after bouncing back from a serious illness

This is the moggy thought to be the world’s oldest cat after reaching the grand old age of 31.

The Guinness Book of Records says that the title is currently held by 26-year-old Corduroy, who lives in Oregon, USA.

But Tyneside’s own Nutmeg could be a contender for the crown, with a possible five years on his American rival.

The “loveable but cantankerous” pet is believed to have clocked up the equivalent of 141 human years.

He is deaf in one ear, and has just three teeth left, but Nutmeg is still going strong at 31 after bouncing back from a serious illness that nearly robbed him of one of his nine lives.

The marvel moggy is owned by Blaydon couple Liz and Ian Finlay, who adopted the former stray 26 years ago when he arrived unexpectedly in their garden.









Read more: http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/meet-nutmeg-geordie-cat-believed-11562987
(Videoclip at link)

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http://www.lovemeow.com/31-year-old-cat-w-2030622873.html

September 28, 2016

The Cat Man of Aleppo: A crowd-sourced animal sanctuary in east Aleppo teaches compassion: ‘To love

the small, weak cats is to love everything’

Source: Syria Direct, AUG. 30, 2016

AMMAN: “Every cat has a story,” says Mohammad Alaa Aljaleel, a full-time ambulance driver and part-time cat caretaker living in rebel-held east Aleppo.

There’s Sukhoi, named for a Russian fighter plane, “because he’s so fast.” There’s Zorro the Noble, who defended one of the cats “when the others attacked her.”

“And then, there’s al-Baghdadi, who kills the other cats and takes their food,” earning him the name of the Islamic State leader.

Aljaleel recounted these and other tales of the more than 170 cats, two dogs and other animals that he feeds and houses in a cat shelter—the first of its kind in Syria—in the Masaken Hanano neighborhood of east Aleppo, one of the epicenters of the Syrian war.

How does Aljaleel run an animal shelter in a warzone? The answer is that he is not alone. An online network of supporters around the world is donating thousands of dollars to help not only the stray animals of east Aleppo, but also the humans experiencing the shortages and trauma of blockade and bombardment.



“The edges of the shelter have been shelled. None of the cats were injured, but the explosion panicked and scared them.”


Distributing sweets to east Aleppo children during the July blockade.




“New cats are always coming to the shelter, bringing others with them.”






Read more: http://syriadirect.org/news/a-crowd-sourced-animal-sanctuary-in-east-aleppo-teaches-compassion-%E2%80%98to-love-the-small-weak-cats-is-to-love-everything%E2%80%99/

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The cat man of Aleppo - BBC News

https://www.youtube.com/user/bbcnews

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Daily Life of Cats in Syria FB Page (lotsa pics of cats):
https://www.facebook.com/SyrianCats/

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Il Gattaro D 'Aleppo FB Page:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1509943749305018/

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Mohammad Alaa Jaleel's FB Page (Arabic)
https://ar-ar.facebook.com/people/Mohammad-Alaa-Aljaleel/100009229294674

September 27, 2016

After 32 Days Rescuers Find Cat Alive Under Rubble

Source: Lovemeow

A cat shocked everyone after he survived 32 days being trapped under the rubble.

Meet Rocco the miracle cat!

After 32 days, a cat was found alive under the rubble caused by the devastating 6.2-magnitude earthquake that leveled central Italy.

200 animals have been rescued following the quake. It's been a month since the village of Rio San Lorenzo was hit, no one expected to find anyone alive beneath the ruins.

But one cat with an amazing will to live would not give up.

As firefighters of Vigili del Fuoco were cleaning up the area on Sunday, they were shocked by their discovery. A gray and white long-haired cat was found trapped among the stones inside a collapsed house, according to giornaledibrescia.it. When they heard that faint meow coming from the rubble, they couldn't believe it.

The cat's name is Rocco, truly a miracle cat. He was dehydrated but otherwise fine. It was unbelievable how he survived without an obvious source of food or water.









(Videoclip at link)
Read more: http://www.lovemeow.com/cat-survives-32-days-being-trapped-under-rubble-2018077954.html


Vigili del Fuoco Twitter account:
https://twitter.com/emergenzavvf