Famous War Cats

Who would have thought that cats have played such an important role in military history, largely by serving as rodent control on ships and protecting the food supply for soldiers?

Care2 Healthy Living salutes 5 famous war cats that went above and beyond the call of duty, including a cat that was given full naval honours upon his death, and a cat that travelled over 30, 000 miles in naval service! Click here to read more about these special cats that served with honour!

-Alanna

More on Cats and Culture

This is another of the interesting stories I discovered while checking out how different cultures regard cats. I am a huge tabby cat fan, so this is one of my favourites.


Muezza  was the Prophet Muhammad's favorite cat. The most famous story about Muezza recounts how the call to prayer was given, and as Muhammad went to put on one of his robes, he found his cat sleeping on one of the sleeves. Instead of disturbing the cat he cut off the sleeve and let him sleep. When Muhammad returned, Muezza awoke and bowed down to him, and in return, Muhammad stroked him three times. This is said to be why tabby cats have an "M" on their foreheads.

Due primarily to the love Muhammad displayed for Muezza, Muslims are traditionally encouraged to regard cats as lovable and cherished creatures. Mistreating an animal is seen as among the most severe of all crimes in Islam.*


-Alanna


Source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muezza - *Translation of Sahih Bukhari

The Tale of Tuck

We recently received a request for help with a rescued stray from a young man who has given a home to several strays in the last few years, and who finds that while his heart is big enough for one more, his home is not. So he contacted us about Tuck, who currently resides in his garage.  

He has been caring for Tuck for a few months now, ever since he showed up hungry and lonely, he has shared Tuck's tale:

Tuck is a stray who was hanging around my house looking for something to eat. He had the saddest eyes I have ever seen. Honestly, he broke my heart, you could tell that he had never had a friend in his life.

He would always eat the food, but would wait until I was out of reach. Eventually, I was able to pet him while he was eating, and that was it. 

"Really", said Tuck "this is what being petted is all about? Have I been missing out!" 


Since then he will come up to me looking to be petted. I can pick him up and hold him and  he will sit on my lap. In some ways, he is like a little dog, the way he is so excited to see me when I get home.

Cats are cats, and Tuck is no exception. There are two things that he does: 1. Tuck will stand up and put his paws on you, just like a dog.  2.  He loves to give kitty kisses (he rubs his jowls against your face when you hold him and on occasion he will give a gentle love bite.)

Like most rescued strays, Tuck loves food more than anything, no matter what is going on,  if there is food that is where he wants to be. 


I really want to find him a forever home, and would ask that wherever he his fostered that I please be allowed to visit him once in a while until he is adopted.

We are touched by both Tuck the cat, and the kind and caring man who rescued him and has given him such good care. Tuck will be available for adoption shortly! 


-Alanna

Culture and Cats

We recently blogged about a former foster cat Charlotte who made the trip up to the Arctic with her owner Mike. Upon arrival, Mike was informed that the Inuit are afraid of animals, and that no-one would visit him because he has a cat! 


This got me thinking about the way that different cultures have perceived cats throughout history. It runs the gamut from idolization and worship in ancient Egypt to persecuting cats along with witches in Europe and the US.


One of my favourite stories about cats comes from Japan, where cats are considered lucky. In Japan, the Maneki Neko is known as the "good fortune" or "good luck" cat. It is usually a sitting cat with paw raised and bent. Legend in Japan has it that a cat waved a paw at a Japanese landlord, who was intrigued by this gesture and went towards it. A few seconds later a lightning bolt struck where the landlord had been previously standing. The landlord attributed his good fortune to the cat's fortuitous action. A symbol of good luck hence, it is most often seen in businesses to draw in money. In Japan, the flapping of the hand is a "come here" gesture, so the cat is beckoning customers. *


Former PFA foster cat Penelope, now happily adopted, demonstrates the lucky symbol! It certainly worked for her.

In my book, I am the lucky one to have my three beautiful, soft, sweet and unconditionally loving little feline friends! 
*Source: wikipedia: cultural depictions of cats


-Alanna

Why I Love My Pet Contest

Everyone needs a pick-me-up this time of year, and what makes us happier than sharing our love for our pets? That's why PFA is hosting a Why I Love My Pet Contest on our Facebook page. Over the next week, we are asking our supporters to tell us why their pets are the best.

Entries (a photo and a description of no more than 100 words) are to be submitted to pfasask@gmail.com by 5 p.m. on Friday, February 3, 2012. There are three categories: Cats, Dogs, and Other Awesome Pets. Multiple entries are welcome. Entries will be judged by a PFA committee, and finalists in each category will be posted to the PFA Facebook page, where fans can participate by "like"ing their favourites to help us decide on the winners.

There are some great prizes up for grabs, including a pet scrapbook kit donated by PFA supporter CleanBreak Services, and gift certificates to Metro Pet Market.

We hope you will join us in the contest - good luck!

PLEASE NOTE: Contest winners must live in Saskatchewan.

This Little Kitten Lost More Than a Mitten...

...she lost the tip of her ear! Jessie was found on the street in a south regina neighbourhood during last week's bitter cold spell.

A kind couple scooped her up and delivered her to a friend of theirs who just happens to foster kittens for PFA! Jessie is now safe and warm, but has just a touch of the sniffles. She is still leery of the other cats and the dog in the home, but she is very sweet and loves to be petted. 

She is starting to warm up to Wyatt, the resident male cat who is famous for nurturing foster cats so we're sure she will adjust quickly.

Jessie has not been claimed by an owner, so we will be listing her for adoption soon.

-Alanna

New Rescue - Chanel

This gorgeous young female cat was found by a kind citizen crying in the bitter cold late last week. Unable to leave her facing the elements, the lady took her inside and contacted PFA for assistance.

She has been named Chanel, due to her exquisite fine features and luxurious soft coat. Chanel is very friendly and snuggly. She is about a year old.

Found reports have been filed, but so far Chanel has not been claimed. We are now seeking a  foster home for her, where she can be kept safe and warm while we look for a permanent loving home for her.

Please contact us at pfasask@gmail.com if you are interested in fostering the lovely Chanel.

-Alanna

PFA cat in the Arctic

Shortly after he adopted Charlotte, now named Onyxia, Mike got a job in Arctic Bay, Nunavut, and decided to take Onyxia with him. She is the first PFA cat to live in the Arctic, so we definitely wanted to hear an update on how she's doing. Here are some excerpts from an email Mike sent us:

My flights were relatively uneventful, with the exception of the travelling-with-a-cat thing. She took it surprisingly well though. Not a peep between Regina and Toronto, and only once between Toronto and Ottawa. The Ottawa to Iqaluit leg she was more irritable, but it could have been a lot worse. The last 3 hour leg [from Iqaluit to Arctic Bay] she complained, but the plane was smaller and noisier.  

When I arrived in Arctic Bay, I was met at the 'airport' by my Aunt and Uncle, as well as the Mayor and one of the Hamlet council. I was given a whirl-wind tour of the community and introduced to more than a hundred people (you can imagine the fun I had trying to remember names).

  

There are 870 people in Arctic Bay, about 35 of which are from Southern Canada (and they're from all over the place). The Inuit are afraid of animals. Well . . . wary. My cat makes a better guard-dog than a sled dog would (and believe me, some of them are massive). I was told by one of the Councillors that I shouldn't expect visitors--including her--on the cat's account. There are people in Arctic Bay that have never seen a cat (or trees, for that matter). 

As you can see by the pictures Mike sent us, Onyxia is happy, healthy, and doing well in her new home in Arctic Bay (as a strictly indoor cat, of course!)

- Sabrina

Adoption Fair - Metro Pet Market

We are once again teaming up with our friends at Metro Pet Market to help get some deserving kitties homes!

Our next adoption fair is Saturday, February 4th from 12-4. We'll have some of our fabulous cats and kittens on hand trying to win over furr-ever families, and we will be selling some of our famous catnip toys - this time with a Valentine's day twist.

Cats to be featured include:

• Copper - tabby with white
• Patch - black with white patch
• Clara - tuxedo
• Bennie - fluffy tabby
• Jazzy - DSH tabby
• more to come 

Hope to see you there! For more info, contact us at pfasask@gmail.com

-Alanna

-Alanna

Please Keep Pets Safe From the Cold!

This adorable tabby guy is Andy, a little stray who was lucky enough to be rescued from the severe cold last night by a kind animal lover.

Andy is now safe and sound with our friends at the Victoria Veterinary Clinic, waiting to be neutered so that he can go into foster care and be listed for adoption.

Andy is one of the lucky ones. There are many animals that are being left out in the extreme cold, and the Regina Humane Society (RHS) is reminding people to watch for animals in distress. The RHS  issued a news release today:

The Regina Humane Society (RHS) reminds the public that during this period of extreme cold weather it is imperative that they be on the lookout for animals in distress.


As we all know, weather conditions in Saskatchewan can change quickly. Even the most winter hardy dog breeds require extra care during the severe temperatures which we are now encountering. Animal owners must consider weather as a major factor in the care and keeping of their animals. Constant monitoring of any pets allowed outdoors is essential to their health and safety.
"There is no exact amount of time an animal can safely be out in temperatures like these,” said
Officer D. Bishop, Supervisor of Animal Protection. “Every type of animal, every breed is different in how it handles weather this cold. What is important is that all animals have proper, heated shelter. Quick, monitored breaks outside are what we strongly recommend.”


The Regina Humane Society is on call 24 hours a day ready to respond to emergency situations. If you know of an animal in distress for any reason, please call 777-7700 immediately. Your call could save a life.

-Alanna

New Info Source for Pet Owners

The ASPCA is offering access to a virtual pet behaviourist! Now you can get information about various pet health and behaviour issues with a simple click:
 http://www.aspcabehavior.org/

The database contains information about common behaviour problems and links to additionals sources of information (it's like they did the google search for you).

-Alanna

A Cat's Map of the Bed

Artist Hilary B. Price created this hilarious (and accurate) version of a cat's map of  the bed:

She's pretty much nailed it!

-Alanna

Not a happy New Year for these felines - FOSTER HOMES NEEDED

 Princess

 Oscar and Arthur

Gina

All four of these sweet cats pictured above need a new foster or adoptive home through absolutely no fault of their own!

-Princess: 1 year old tabby female, spayed and vaccinated, super sweet and friendly. Originally rescued by PFA and then adopted, her family is moving out of province and can't take her. They adore her and are very sad to give her up, as she is extremely well behaved and loving.

-Oscar and Arthur: rescued by PFA separately, these sweet boys were adopted by the same family and quickly bonded. They are best buddies now. Sadly, they are coming back to the organization due to a move, and we would love to see them kept together. They are both neutered and vaccinated, and clearly good with other cats!

-Gina: Black and white spayed and vaccinated female. Gina is a sweet but skittish PFA street rescue who was likely abused in the past. She is submissive, and is attacked daily by the other cats in her foster home. Gina would be far better in a new foster home as an only cat or with another laid-back cat.  The current situation is very stressful for the cats and the foster mom, but especially Gina, who has already been through so much.

Can you help? Please contact pfasask@gmail.com, and even if you can't foster or adopt, please consider sharing this blog post via email and social networking to help us spread the word! PFA pays for all veterinary care, and can supply foster homes with food, litter and other supplies if needed. 

-Sarah



The First Rescues of 2012

Thanks to the amazingly warm winter to date, we haven't been quite as busy with winter rescues as we usually are this time of year when any animal outside is at risk of harm from severe weather.

However, we are never idle for long and a couple of our feral team volunteers have been busy over the last week nabbing some feral kittens that are just little enough to rescue and socialize for adoption.

Honey (tortoiseshell) and Hettie (grey tabby) were rescued from an infamous PFA feeding station, along with their tortie sister, Hera (not pictured).

They are shy but making good progress in foster care and they will be listed for adoption in the near future.

-Alanna

Great Offer for Foster Homes With Dogs

They say that one good turn begets another, and PFA foster homes with dogs are being offered a terrific opportunity to access training sessions at a reduced cost by our pet-loving friends at Oberhund!

Details are as follows:

• "Help! My Dog is Out of Control!" : This is a six-week course available to PFA foster families the class for $60 + tax (regular $90 + tax).
• Location: Everydog Daycare and Education Centre
• Purpose - this course is for people with dogs who are out of control, for people wanting to learn how to manage some problem behaviours, and for people new to dog training.
• Days/times are currently either Wednesday evenings from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm or Saturday mornings from 10:30 am to 11:30 am.
• Classes start next week (from Jan 11/Jan 14) and continue for six weeks (Feb. 15 and Feb.18th).

There is some flexibility to adjust days/times to suit the majority of the participants, and if these classes fill up another set will be offered.
If you are interested in registering, please contact Oberhund as soon as possible so they can gather information from you regarding your dog and your needs. If you have questions or would like more info, please contact Oberhund at oberhund@myaccess.ca.

-Alanna

Fundraising help needed

Our fundraising kitteh can't do it all himself. Can you help?

Join our fundraising committee and help plan interesting and fun ways to support our pet rescue and feral cat programs. Our next meeting is Monday, January 16 at 7 p.m.

If you are interested or would like more information, contact us at pfasask@gmail.com.

An Update on Teeny!

Our beloved teeny-tiny kitten, Teeny, was rescued from a junk filled garage at the 11th hour as it was about to be bulldozed. Fortunately someone heard his cries and he was rescued! 

Teeny is a terrific little guy with lots of spunk and attitude that belie his small size. He did great in foster care and was quick to win the hearts of a nice young couple looking for a fun cat to join their family.

His new adoptive family is really enjoying him,  marveling at how much he eats and laughing at him perched in their Christmas tree! 

We are very happy our sweet little guy is so well-loved.

Alanna

In Memory of a Beloved Pet

This beautiful picture and poem were sent to us by a loyal supporter who marks the passing of her beloved cat, Cleo, each year with an in-memoriam donation to PFA. It is so touching to see how much Cleo touched her life, how she still holds a special place in her heart for her departed pet, and how other cats are being helped in Cleo's memory.


Cleo, Can You Hear Me?

Cleo, can you hear me,
When I call your name at night?
Cleo, can you feel me,
When I miss you and cry?
Cleo, do you remember,
When I would sit and stroke your furr?
Cleo, I remember,
The last time I heard you purr.
Cleo, do you miss me,
As I miss you every day?
Cleo, can you hear me,
When I call your name at night?
 


-Alanna