MSI Press Blog

    photo from Animal Friends Shelter Two weeks ago, our Caturday post focused on the  plight of animals and their caregivers in war zones .  It focused as the first in a planned series on Animal Friends Shelter in Gaza City.  Animal Friends Shelter Last Saturday, we updated the information available from Tamir and Samir, two selfless cat godparents weathering the war in Gaza City (and, of course, beyond).  This Caturday, we can report that we last heard from AFS yesterday. We know from the news reports that the Internet is not functioning in Gaza right now, but we hope and pray that AFS is able t continue caring for its family of cats, who, yesterday, were squabbling a bit over rationed food.   Animal Friends Shelter is on Twitter:  Animal Friends Shelter (@AnimalFriendsAF) / X (twitter.com) And for those who wish to donate (AFS is a charity) to help -- PayPal.Me . Now, with an invasion going on and the Internet is down, donations may take a...

So many bloggers and tweeters participate in Caturday automatically each week -- most likely, because it is fun! I wonder how many of those people know the origin of Caturday? I did not, so I went searching. Here is the answer: What: rebranding a specific day to a specific topic (happens for lots of things) Where: 4Chan When: 2005 Read the full story HERE . And then, read our previous, fun Caturday posts HERE . Sign up for the MSI Press LLC newsletter  here  or on our  home page . Follow MSI Press on  Twitter ,  Face Book , and  Instagram .   Interested in publishing with MSI Press LLC? Check out information on  how to submit a proposal . Interested in receiving a free copy of this or any MSI Press LLC book  in exchange for  reviewing  a current or forthcoming MSI Press LLC book? Contact editor@msipress.com. Want an  author-signed copy  of this book? Purchase the book at 25% discount (use coupon code FF25) and concurrently...

Simone (middle) and Wooper (right) would like to take Murjan (left) for a walk.   Happy Caturday! I hope you enjoy the picture of two of our cats trying to take a third for a walk. Beloved Murjan crossed over the rainbow bridge last year, but the picture still makes me smile. And, for Caturday, I hope you enjoy this helpful article I came across recently:  12 Unusual Cat Behaviors to Look Out For – and What They Mean! (msn.com) . For more Caturday posts, click  HERE . Sign up for the MSI Press LLC newsletter Follow MSI Press on  Twitter ,  Face Book , and  Instagram .   Interested in publishing with MSI Press LLC?  Check out information on  how to submit a proposal . Interested in receiving a free copy of this or any MSI Press LLC book  in exchange for  reviewing  a current or forthcoming MSI Press LLC book? Contact editor@msipress.com. Want an  author-signed copy  of this book? Purchase the book at 25% discount (use ...

  photo from Animal Friends Shelter Last Caturday focused on the  plight of animals and their caregivers in war zones .  It focused as the first in a planned series on Animal Friends Shelter in Gaza City. This Caturday, we have an update -- reportage from 10 First in Australia. View the video/report  HERE . Animal Friends Shelter is on Twitter:  Animal Friends Shelter (@AnimalFriendsAF) / X (twitter.com) And for those who wish to donate (AFS is a charity) to help -- it seems possible to do that, at least pre-invasion (let's hope there is not an invasion) att  PayPal.Me . For more Caturday posts, click  HERE . Sign up for the MSI Press LLC newsletter Follow MSI Press on  X ,  Face Book , and  Instagram .   Interested in publishing with MSI Press LLC? Check out information on  how to submit a proposal . Interested in receiving a free copy of this or any MSI Press LLC book  in exchange for  reviewing  a current or f...

  photo from Animal Friends Shelter This is the first of a series of Caturday posts about cats trapped in war zones. Cats are not political (nor are dogs or any other animal for that matter--nor, generally, the people caring for them, nor this post). In peace and where people watch out for them, cats enjoy being loved and learn to return love. Yet, cats (and other animals) do get find themselves struggling in war zones. They, just like people who have done nothing to bring harm to anyone else but just happen to live there, suffer the consequences of evil descending unexpectedly from sources external to them. Like people, cats and other animals suffer when they are homeless and without food or winter. And they are often completely forgotten when war (or natural disaster, for that matter -- they drown in floods and burn in fires) breaks out. Like people, they have to dodge bullets, bombs, and other dangers. Unlike people, they are often not calculated into humanitarian outreach effor...

  We had a cat, Murjan, who seemed to be going blind. He seemed to walk into objects upon occasion that did not have anything to do with motor control. He would look intently at people talking to him. Yes, he was social, but it also seemed like he was trying to make them out. And it was different from cat staring , which is generally a sign of affection. So, I was a bit concerned. Unlike with people, the doctor could not tell if Murjan could see. The physical structure of the eye looked okay, but other than that, there is no visual acuity test for cats -- yet. So, we never did find out. So, recently, when I came across this very interesting and in-depth article about cat vision, it seemed appropriate to share for Caturday since I doubt that I am the only one asking if my cat can see and how well. Here is the article: What Colors Can Cats See? (Note: the article talks about more than just color -- worth reading.) For more Caturday posts, click  HERE . Sign up for the MSI Press...

  We received this note from Network for Animals (NFA), which is doing great work worldwide, and, now especially, in Ukraine to help abandoned, sick, and desperate animals. Perhaps there are others out there, who read Caturday posts, who would like to join us either in donating or in following the suggestions in this note from NFA. While it’s fact that making a difference and saving animals costs money and lots of it,  we are  NOT  writing today to ask for a donation .   The Ukraine conflict is one of the worst crises we have seen since World War II. As people fled the embattled country, many animals were left abandoned, terrified, injured and starving on war-torn streets. These are the smallest, voiceless victims of war, and it’s critical that we stand together as animal lovers and unite to provide as much help to these poor, innocent animals as possible. Today we are not asking for a donation, but for your help with another vital component of our work; it's ca...

Usually, I do not post on the same topic two Caturdays in a row, but this one is urgent. As you can see, the cats (like the humans) in Gaza have run out of food. Not only is it scarce, but what is available is extremely expensive.  The Animal Friends Shelter right now is experiencing discouragement and yet, this week, had a bit of good news. The family of Samir Skaik (one of the two brothers who operate the shelter) has made it into Egypt. Hurrah! Thanks to donations from kind-hearted cat-loving people from around the world.  Tamer has left the shelter in Gaza City (the north) and is waiting with his family in Rafah (the south) to get across the border, but the situation is dire, with an invasion of Rafah expected at any minute. They are still trying to gather the money they need to be able to evacuate from Gaza in time. Should those of you reading this Caturday post wish to donate, it is pretty easy to do here though Go Fund Me . Just $5 will help, and there are $5 contribut...

  Last Caturday, I made the comment on a post by Animal Friends Shelter in Gaza, Palestine, on X/Twitter that one of their cats looked like my late Murjan , shown above, hugging me (he was a hugger and a communicator). In response, the staff sent me a note and a video (such a nice surprise): Animal Friends Shelter on X: "@msi_press I qm so sorry for Murjan, he is in a better place now and will never forget your love. Today we made this video special for you and for Murjan hoping you like it 😻 https://t.co/4oZTNkI0ig" / X (twitter.com) They did this out of kindness and did not ask for a donation; later, I learned that they do not have enough food for all their cats and have to spread it out. If anyone feels like donating, here is where you can do it: PayPal Acc : Donate.AFScats@gmail.com or https:// paypal.me/DonateAFS?coun try.x=IL&locale.x=en_U And if you can, do not forget other shelters that are also hurting for funds to support their animals. For more Caturday posts...

  Pictures and videos by Stacey Gentry. If it is Saturday, it just might be Sula day. And if it is Christmas, it might be Sula Santa. Have fun getting to know Sula better below. (The videos, unlike the pictures, are not embedded in this post; they are linked. You have to click on them to see them.)   Sula, beloved cat of San Juan Bautista (CA) parish and author of 6 books (5 in English and 1 in Spanish, never lacks for photographers, videographcrs, and artists to portray her and her adventures. Their efforts can be found in a number of  posts about Sula on this blog  -- and definitely spread across the  Internet . This Saturday-Caturday, we are sharing a short video of Sula, taken by Stacy Gentry. She is trying to get into Mass on a day when Mass canceled. Covid has taken a toll on Sula's ministry, as well as on the life of all the parishioners as Mass has had moments of being changed, canceled, moved on lone, and the like. See poor Sula's frustration HERE . Lik...

Intrepid hiding from the world in a bag. Cats get scared all the time for various reasons. I am not talking about scaredy cats (those shy ones that it takes months to bring out of their shells and develop trust -- I have had my fair share of those, always with successful endings). I am talking about the average cat who gets shocked by something or unnerved by something. Like Happy Cat , who needs oxygen upon arrival any time he goes to the vet because of his fierce panic attacks. (This is in addition to using gabapentin in advance to calm him!) So, I often look for new ideas and even old (tested) advice. Here is a great set of solutions for helping scared cats calm down:  How to Soothe a Scared Cat: 9 Cat Calming Solutions. Click here for more Caturday posts Caturday posts :  Sign up for the MSI Press LLC monthly newsletter (recent releases, sales/discounts, awards, reviews, Amazon top 100 list, author advice, and more -- stay up to date) Follow MSI Press on  Twitter ,...