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Showing posts with the label cats

🐾 Caturday: Remembering Murjan

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  Some cats pass through your life. Murjan lived in mine. He wasn’t just a companion — he was a presence. A cat who sat at the Thanksgiving table in his own chair, waiting politely for his plate because he knew he belonged. A cat who walked on a leash like a gentleman explorer, then let the other cats parade him around the house afterward, leash trailing like a royal sash. In the evenings, we had our conversations. I’d talk; he’d listen, then answer with a slow, deliberate lick to my hand. Back and forth, like two old friends catching up after a long day. And when he was done, he’d rest his head on my lap and drift to sleep, content. He had opinions, too. When we moved without consulting him, he staged a full protest: escaped outside, rolled in mud, marched back to the door, shook it all over the floor, and stalked off — message delivered. Nineteen years with him wasn’t enough. But every memory is still warm. Happy Caturday, Murjan. You were one of a kind, and you are stil...

🐾 Caturday: Why humans are susceptible to feline charm

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  CB Leaver with Happy Cat There are reasons that people and cats bond so easily (generally). Here are some evolutionary traits that endear cats to humans: 😺 1. Neotenous (juvenile-like) features Cats retain kitten-like traits into adulthood—big eyes, round faces, small noses, soft fur. Humans are biologically wired to respond to “baby schema,” which triggers caregiving behavior. This is not unique to cats, but cats hit the sweet spot: cute, small, non-threatening, and expressive. Why it matters: Humans instinctively interpret these features as “cute,” “vulnerable,” and “worth caring for.” 🧬 2. Genetic and biological similarity to humans Cats share about 90% of their DNA with humans , and many of their biological systems parallel ours. This doesn’t mean we’re closely related—but it does mean their behavior, communication, and emotional expressions fall into ranges humans intuitively understand. Why it matters: We can read cats more easily than we can read many other a...

Merry Christmas

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  a little sleuthing found out that this delightful, widely shared image was created by NobleWork Cards MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OUR FAMILY, FRIENDS, READERS, AUTHORS, AND STAFF

🐾 Caturday Quakes: Cats on the Fault

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  Wooper (above) and Bobolink (below), earthquake-proof cats We (three adult humans and eight cats of various ages) live on a hill right on top of the San Andreas Fault, which has been busier than usual lately: three quakes 2.5-3.4 on Thanksgiving Day and the same on Black Friday. Black Friday's early morning earthquake beat the alarm clock by a few minutes and shook us awake. We cleared the sleep from our eyes and looked over to see the cats either still sleeping or yawning in wake-up attempts as the sun began filtering through the windows. That is not what I often read about cats and quakes. Supposedly (though no scientific proof exits), their behavioral changes can tip off humans to pending quakes. Well, no warnings from our eight. So, what is wrong (or right) with our cats? What cats can do during quakes: Dash under beds or into closets 🏃‍⬛ Meow loudly or yowl in distress 😿 Freeze in place, ears back, eyes wide 👀 Attempt to escape outdoors 🚪 Cluster together for rea...