Saturday, August 8, 2015

International Cat Day







To celebrate International Cat Day, here are my three fur-babes.




Teddy


Teddy (AKA Theodorable, The Tedster) is  Chief Executive Officer.
He is eleven years old and has a heart condition.
He takes medicine daily and is, thankfully, doing great.
He is wise beyond his years and is steadfast in his belief that he
must take care of Mum now.
After all, he is the man of the house.

Cassie



This is Cassie (Cassiopeia) the little star.   
She is 5 years old.
She is Mummy's girl and is a Princess.
Scared of her own shadow, she doesn't like visitors.
She curls up next to Mum, sleeps with Mum,
keeps me safe and feeling loved.
She loves to supervise especially when yarn is involved.




Mina



Not to be left out is Mina.
What a hoot she is!
Adopted from a local no kill shelter,
she really is the boss (don't tell Teddy).
She's always into something.
Never met a stranger (wish she was more like Cassie).
Hungry all the time (probably from her early days on the street).
She has hip dysplasia, but it doesn't stop her.


So, I'm a cat lover and according to this article that I found on 
Face Book, there are benefits to being a cat owner.
If you are wondering about being owned by a cat (!!!),
here's what a cat can do for you! 



1. YOU'RE SMART!

A study of British pet owners found that people who owned cats  tended to be smarter than their dog loving counterparts. Both in terms of IQ score and overall level of education, people who own cats come out on top in the brains department. It’s probably not the cat itself making you smarter, though; the researchers conducting the study said that smarter people tend to work longer hours, and since cats require less attention than dogs they are a better choice for the busy intellectual.

2. IT'S BETTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT!

If you're worried about your  carbon footprint, it’s better to own a cat. A 2009 study found that over its lifetime, the resources needed to feed a dog make the same eco-footprint as that of a Hummer. Meanwhile, cats—which eat less in general and are more likely to eat fish than corn or beef flavored products—only have the approximate carbon footprint of a Volkswagen Golf.

3. HELPING YOU COPE!

Losing a loved one is incredibly painful, but one of the best ways of coping is to own a pet. Cats have been shown to help people get over their loss more quickly, and show less physical symptoms of pain, like crying. Despite the fact that they are only animals, cats serve as a social support during difficult times. People in mourning report talking to their pet to work out their feelings, since it is often easier to talk to something that won’t respond and can’t judge than to another human being.

4. HELPING YOU MATE!

If you’re a single guy and you can’t seem to get a date, get a cat! A British poll found that 82 percent of women agreed they are more attracted to men who like animals. And while having a dog will do wonders for your dating life, a whopping 90 percent of single women said that men who own a cat are “ nicer” than other guys. It seems women buy into the stereotype that cat owners are more sensitive and thoughtful, so listing that you own a cat on your dating profile could do wonders for the number of responses you get. But remember, a cat is for life, not just until you find a partner.

5. HEART HEALTH!

Owning any pet is good for your heart. Cats in particular lower your stress level—possibly since they don’t require as much effort as dogs—and lower the amount of anxiety in your life. Petting a cat has a positive calming effect. One study found that over a ten year period cat owners were  30 percent less likely to die of a heart attack or stroke than non-cat owners.

6. COMPANIONSHIP!

The stereotype that dogs are more affectionate than cats is just that: a stereotype. In fact, it turns out that cats can be just as good companions as dogs,  especially for women. A 2003 Swiss study found that having a cat in the house is the emotional equivalent of having a romantic partner. As well as initiating contact much of the time, studies have shown cats will remember kindness shown to them and return the favor later.
But cats really do have the upper hand in these relationships. After thousands of years of domestication, cats have learned how to make a half purr/half howl noise that sounds remarkably  like a human baby’s cry. And since our brains are programmed to respond to our children’s distress, it is almost impossible to ignore what a cat wants when it demands it like that.

7. A REFLECTION OF YOUR PERSONALITY!

Owning a cat tells people a lot about your personality. While dog lovers tend to be the life of the party, cat owners are  quieter and more introverted. However, they score very highly when it comes to how trustworthy they are and how much they trust other people. Cat owners are also less manipulative and more modest.
Cats




International Cat Day


Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Thank you to the hosts of:





Camera Critters




30 comments:

Dorothy Borders said...

Lovely post about our favorite critters. Happy International Cat Day!

Lea said...

Beautiful!
I have two cats and one dog

sandyland said...

your blog brings me great joy

Phil Slade said...

Some great information and advice. I must say I love those big cats - but not in the house.

Michele M./ Finch Rest said...

Your 3 sweeties are beautiful.

I miss my Romeo every single day.

Give your loves a big hug and some petting from me. ♥♥♥

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

This is such a fun post. I read it to my hubby while we're sitting here having a cup of coffee. He loves cats and had a new litter when we met...so he had a bunch! heehee! Hugs!

Gayle said...

Each cat has a unique personality.
We had an orange tabby for many, many years and NO litter box. 'Ricky' asked to go outside from day one. Lived a long life and went peacefully under a rhododendron bush.

Mary said...

What a wonderful post about cats - and your own are precious! I miss my cats - first was Kit Kat who sadly died too young in an accident, and then Tiny, who transformed into a huge Maine Coon and lived to be 21. Both were rescue kitties and brought much joy to our lives. Now, due to heavy travel schedules we no longer have a cat - which makes me sad - but I do enjoy family and friends who keep cat households.

As for the 'big cats' - having done two African photo safaris (the only kind which should be permitted!), I have a huge love for them and have seen some amazing scenarios involving lion, leopard and cheetahs in their natural habitats.

Happy International Cat Day!
Mary -

Margaret Birding For Pleasure said...

Your cats are adorable and the other photos and info in greast also. Have a wonderful weekend.

eileeninmd said...

Happy International Cat Day. Your furbabies are all so pretty. Great post and images! Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Have a happy weekend!

Cloudia said...

MARVELOUS POST!!!!!!!





ALOHA
ComfortSpiral
=^..^=

ifthethunderdontgetya™³²®© said...

Teddy, Cassiopeia, and Mina are very sweet!
~

DeniseinVA said...

This is a fun post and your three kitties are adorable!

Barb said...

Love all the kitty photos plus the ones you drew. That Cassie has the best eyes! Hope you're getting some cooler weather, Snap. I have a fleece on here!

Donna said...

I adore your cats!

Irene said...

Love your kitties. I'm a cat lady, I think. I always say no more pets, the cat hairs, kill me and my vacuum. However, they are such good company, I can't imagine being without.

GreenComotion said...

I love your kitties. They are adorable.
Thanks for stopping by.
Have a Great Weekend!
Peace :)

Joyful said...

Wonderful post and great pictures of your lovely and loving cats. I agree they are wonderful company especially for people too busy to own a dog ;-) I miss my Princess.

A Bit of the Blarney said...

I just knew my two cars, Simba and Nala, were good for my health. At least they show me that rest and relaxation is good for the body and soul! Have a grand day!

Maiah Harrison said...

Those are beautiful cats :-)
I admire the sketch too, very artistic. In my hometown, we took care of many cats. They helped scare snakes away. For that, we loved them more. :-)

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

Your cats are beautiful Snap, and I know how each and every cat has a distinct personality. Ihave always had a cat but I never had more than one cat at a time--hubby is not a cat person and would never tolerate two at a time--lol. I miss my last cat Bo so much--he was my "best cat" if that is possible. I have not had the heart, yet, to replace him. Maybe someday a new buddy will enter my life.

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

Love all your kitties ... Tame and wild and cartoon .... Lovely post and I believe every word. We'd have a cat or two not a dog if we could have a pet ... Our travel lifestyle doesn't work with being a pet owner though. (Life is full of compromises).

Judith @ Lavender Cottage said...

When I saw the photo of the cats, I knew it would be you Sharon! Your threesome is adorable and growing up I always had two black and white cats. Hubby is allergic so I switched to having a small dog but I still crave the love of a little feline fur ball.
Thanks for linking to Mosaic Monday.

Sara - Villa Emilia said...

Gorgeous post, Snap! The images are all very beautiful and it's lovely to hear how sweet friends your cats are.
Our last cat was an orange tabby. He died more than twenty years ago at the age of 23 and we decided we wouldn't have another one after him. His grave is under a lilac bush, surrounded by wild roses and columbines.
Wishing happy days to you and your fur-babies!

Deb @ Frugal Little Bungalow said...

your babies are beautiful...I have a kitty too. One kitty and 2 dogs...:)

Glenda/MidSouth said...

Your cats are so pretty. Would love to have a kitty again, but allergies say no.:/

Neesie said...

Oh Teddy reminds me of my Persian cat 'Mindy' that I adored. She's been gone from our home now for quite some time. We now have a Mini Shihtzu who rules our lives... but in a good way.
You certainly have a gorgeous collection of friends Snap, and your mosaic's are great. Thank you for sharing them.
Have a great week

ann said...

As one owned by a cat, I loved this post. We have only one now, Mo, who is 10. The kids found him when he was on 4 weeks old in an old junk filled out building at my dad's place. We raised him. His best friend was the dog Max who died two years ago. Mo remains aloof and feral, not a lap cat. We have new dog and he'd love to be friends with Boone, but Boone is too rough, even for a tough old guy like Mo. Love your kitties. They all look sweet, especially the siamese. Loved the post.

Wildflowerhouse said...

Your posts make me miss my kitties. But I refuse to have a cat in this neighborhood. I try keeping them as indoor kitties but when they escape it is way to hazardous with tragic results. Now that I have 2 Havanesse pups (dear God what was I thinking) My days are filled totally. The lads keep me on my toes. But I do feel I am smart because of all the cats I have owned and will probably have in the future when I move. :-)

Ela said...

Great post and so beautiful pictures !!
Greetings