Bad Cats are Happening in the Dark
Have I walked straight into a science fiction film? After unearthing old footage of my cats, I can’t help but recall The Fly (1986) and it’s famous line “Be afraid. Be very afraid.”
One dark and dreary night, the sounds of shuffling, scratching, and gluttonous chewing grew louder from the unlit corners of our home. I crept closer with trepidation and hurried to flick on the light. In the harsh halogen glare, a failed science experiment lay strewn about our kitchen floor.
I watched with horror as two distinct beings merged into a genetically-balanced fusion of cat and feed bag, each wrestling with the other to retain identity. This was no Brundlefly. This was worse. This, my friends, was a violently ravenous Kibblecat.
The transformation happened so quickly, I could hardly catch my breath. In mere seconds, all that was left of Jed was his tail.I feared for his life but stood helpless. Only Jackson knew how to reverse the calamity …
Could Jackson save Jed, extricating his brother from the feed bag once and for all? Or will the Kibblecat swallow Jed whole? Watch “Bad Cats are Happening in the Dark” and find out for yourself!
‘Tis the season for horror and hell cats… How are yours celebrating the ghoulish holiday?
Found Animals: Stars of the Week
FOUND ANIMALS STARS OF THE WEEK:
JACKSON AND JED!
Found Animals, a Los Angeles based non-profit, deemed our New York cats “Stars of the Week” in celebration of their first birthdays! You’re invited every day from now through Sunday for fun daily photos, videos and stories on the Stars of the Week page and Found Animals’ Facebook page. While you’re there, join in the fun! Submit your own rescue story and you could become a Star of the Week too!
FOUND ANIMALS: AN ADMIRABLE MISSION
The fine folks at Found Animals work hard to minimize the senseless deaths of perfectly adoptable shelter pets put down due to lack of space.
While not a rescue, Found Animals supports animal care facilities in the LA area by offering sterilization programs, adoption events, micro-chipping and public education. Once their business model to curb overpopulation proves sustainable in LA, it will be applied in other communities as well.
Flipping Our Cats Da Bird
And they LOVE it.
Tim brought our cats a new birthday present. It’s called Da Bird and, as you can see, the boys jump for joy over it – for hours – actively patrolling the air space even after Da Bird is put away. In fact, this is so much fun to play with, I can’t stop laughing and even the dogs get involved!
Birthday Party Shanaigans
With our (I mean the cats’) new toy in hand, our whole family has fired up the party machine. If you decide to try this at home, spacial awareness is key. I think, during our learning curve, we’ve launched our cats into walls, doors and the potted plant on more than one occasion.
Cats Infiltrate FIDO Friendly Magazine!
We got word on Friday that our cats will be published in issue 47 (Jan/Feb) of FIDO Friendly Magazine!
What? Cats in a DOG magazine? Well, the 150 word story explaining how our cats were introduced to our dogs is what made the grade. Leave it to Jed and Jackson to sneak into a dog publication on the coat tails of the Newf and hound.
How did we do it? We answered this FIDO Friendly blog post, “Just how do you introduce a new cat to an existing dog household??? Slow and steady for sure, but we need reader input.”
It was so easy. We just followed the rules and told our story!
Litter Kwitter Giveaway Challenge
ONE FOR YOU, ONE FOR ME
The fine folks at Litter Kwitter just offered a $59 system to potty train my cats, for free, eliminating the need for litter forever. Was I interested? And, if so, would I like to give one to you?
On behalf of myself (and you, if you’re chosen), I did my best to sound interested but professional, not too eager but willing to try. I wrote back, “Excuse my informality here but… OMG. I WANT ONE!”
It arrived yesterday.
Happy Birthday, Crazy Cats!
Welcome to the party!
Today begins the month-long celebration of our cats turning one year old – and you’re invited!
“Why celebrate the whole month?” you ask.
Jackson turns 1 on October 7th and Jed does so on October 28th (which is also my 40th birthday). Who needs to do math? We’ll simply call it Catoberfest, be done with it, and have fun with it!
“But aren’t your cats brothers? How do they have different birthdays?”
Actually, Jackson and Jed are half brothers. They were born three weeks apart to the same mother but different fathers. For more on that back-country conundrum, read the section called “Our Little Miracles” on the kittens’ adoption post.
“Where are the presents!??”
We’re pulling out all the stops … We’ll have new cat toys from the papa, toys for the momma, and even a toy for one lucky reader and their cat. That’s right!
Check back tomorrow. You’ll learn how to win a Litter Kwitter and rid yourself of that nasty litter box forever. (This is actually the momma’s toy and I want you to join me for an 8 week toilet training adventure.)
Parental FAIL
Okay, so…
We, as the parental units to a pair of persistent cats, know several behavioral issues that should make life easier if we heed that knowledge and use it wisely.
- We know that our cats have a love affair with plastic wrap.
- We know that our cats are insatiably curious.
- We know that our cats enjoy heights like, say, the top of the fridge.
So, why did this happen?
This happened because a tempting box of Ritz Crackers was left, in plastic sleeves of glory, on top of said fridge for all cats to see, confiscate, and shred.
Working Like a Dog
Here at This One Wild Life, I slave all the live-long day over a hot laptop. (Yes, editing video throws a lot of heat.) And what are my fancy-pants actors up to? They’re in the green room … leading a life of leisure in the lap of luxury.
This lazy lot had better not ask me for a pay raise. Angelina Jolie they are not.
Introducing Cats and Dogs
Here’s a terrific contest: FIDO Friendly wants advice about introducing cats and dogs. Just leave a comment and you could win a whole TON of stuff, including the publishing of your advice. Now, you have to respond in 150 words or less, but here’s the long version of my submission.
FIRST MEETING
My husband, Tim, and I introduced two 3-month-old kittens to our Newfoundland and crazy hound in the evening, after all their crazies were run out. The cat carriers had been left with the dogs throughout the day so the cat scent wasn’t entirely new, and the cats were made comfortable in their own room.
When we made the big reveal, Tim and I cuddled each cat in our arms, keeping the kittens safely above the dogs’ eager noses. The dogs were asked to sit and a good sit was rewarded with a quick sniff of this new and exciting “treat.” The dogs learned quickly that too much excitement would remove the treat from reach.
Hey, Whatsyourname…
We have 7 animals in this house and, as you can imagine, it’s a lot like The Waltons with rounds of “Goodnight John Boy” and “Good Morning, MaryEllen.” Unlike scripted television, we don’t always get the names right. Other times, it’s exactly like television. We make things up entirely. Here are a few examples:
Shamus, The Newfoundland
- Shamu: Shamus lays on his back like a beached Orca
- Bat Dog: Note the photo
- Shameless: He theives things he shouldn’t – like my credit card
- Fuzzy Wumpas: He’s shedding
- Vader: He breathes like Darth and rides in an all-black CRV called the Death Star
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