Have you ever been involved in telling a progressive story? I remember playing a game as a child where each child would whisper something in the next child’s ear and he would pass it on as he heard it. The last child would say the message out loud and it was usually outrageously different from the original whisper. It seems like we called it Gossip, but it is currently called Telephone. Abroad it is known as Chinese Whisper. This game demonstrates how gossip can be distorted.
There’s another activity I used to enjoy where the group would tell a progressive story. One person would start the story and leave it in a, perhaps, precarious place. The next person would add to the story and so forth. This technique is being used in teaching and therapy. And it is still being pursued for fun.
I was involved in a progressive story recently. I was contacted to write the first scene to a story involving cats. Then four others took turns adding to the story. The final story was published at the PetMed facebook page here: I think we five authors did a pretty good job of creating a cohesive, suspenseful story. Let me know what you think.
Much of the US is experiencing a killer freeze. Wildfires rage through the Western states. Some communities are still dealing with the aftermath of mega-storms. And, while there are wonderful stories of animals being rescued from dire situations caused by these disasters, there are many more instances of un- or under-reported tragedies—cats (and other animals) freezing to death, getting caught up in flood waters, or being left behind to die in flames.
but you cannot hold her. We’ve learned that when we need to take her to the vet or when we had to evacuate recently because of wildfires, if we grab her by the scruff of the neck and her back and hold her down on the floor, we can bring the carrier to her and scoot her into it without much trauma. But it does take two people, most of the time, to accomplish this task.
There are plans for building simple shelters for cats. 
I’ve been excited about sharing this all week. Sure, we’ve seen a lot of cat art and I’m guessing that most of us have art and crafts depicting cats displayed in our home. Who among Catscapades followers did not hang one or many ornaments, display decorations, or send Christmas cards with a cat on it? I even have a nativity scene featuring cats!
gives them a new twist—she adds a cat. Yes, Svetlana Petrova has reproduced several famous paintings to include her ginger cat, Zarathustra. No, she didn’t put the cat in an inconspicuous corner of the painting. Zarathustra is front and center in Mona Lisa’s arms, as a star in The Ballet Class (by Edgar Degas) and even impersonating Napoleon on horseback. Check it out, these are classic: 
If you have a cat, you know how influential they can be. Some of them influence you to play more and laugh more while others might be the reason you relax more often. I’ve had cats persuade me to adopt them and take them home. Yeah, many of you can relate to that. And what about when the cat wants to eat or to go outside? Some cats can be downright manipulative.
Yes, there really is a Lego cat kit. Why? Well, it doesn’t eat, doesn’t need a litter box, won’t leave fur all over the furniture, or scratch your new leather recliner chair. And it might be fun to connect the pieces to create something that actually looks like your cat!
Do you ever take your pet for a ride in your car? Sure you do—even cats are driven to the veterinarian or the groomer or to a new home when you move across town or across the states. Heck, our cats had to endure a car ride a few weeks ago when we evacuated during that awful fire that lapped at our backdoor here in Ojai, CA.
window while riding at high-speed along a roadway or freeway? Sure, the dog looks happy as he rides along with the wind in his face. I’ve always wondered what the dog is thinking about. The expression on his face resembles pure bliss. However, his joy can be seriously interrupted by road debris—you know, like the kind that can chip your windshield. He can be injured by cars swerving too close to you. And what about when a motorcyclist splits the lanes, as they do on the busy freeways in Southern California?
She also gives some good ideas for preparing a pet for travel. For a nervous dog, for example, making sure he gets some exercise before the ride might help to calm his nerves. For a cat, bring along her favorite toy. If catnip mellows her, sprinkle a little in the pen. Another idea that may help you to load your cat into a carrier the next time it’s necessary to crate her is to leave her carrier in the house and let her get used to it. Feed her in there, for example.
I thought I’d start out the new year with a chuckle. Would you join me? Check out these adorable photos of cats celebrating the New Year. 
When you feel the need for a hug and there’s nobody around to give it, what do you do? If you’re like many, you invite your cat into your lap and pet her. Listening to her purr and looking down at her sweet face while petting her silky fur can feel like a hug. And this can also relax you, distract you from your worries, and put a smile on your face. All good, right? Everyone needs a hug now and then and validation. What is more validating than the squinty-eyed look of pure bliss on your cat’s face when you’re petting her?
companions. To outsiders and those who have never warmed up to a cat, the feline presence in a home might not seem significant. Cats come and go, seem aloof and detached. But to those of us who live with a cat, we experience the special bond that can develop. In fact, a Swiss study concluded that owning a cat is similar to having a romantic partner.
Now this will make you want to go hug your cat!!!
A neighbor gave me a poster once for my birthday and it is a collage of cats used in advertising. Maybe you recall the cats on Old Tom and Three Cats match boxes. Are you old enough to remember that Cortecelli and J&PCoats thread used a cat in advertising materials? Are you familiar with Dr. Thomas Eclectic Oil and the ad with a variety of cats and kittens around a world globe?
carpets, baking powder, even cigarettes. My favorite is the adorable vintage cat all dressed up and wearing a pair of eye glasses. That one’s advertising an optical company.
