Klinefelter is actually a syndrome. You’ve heard of it before, but maybe not by that name. I actually stumbled across the term this week by accident. So what does it mean? It’s the term for a male cat that happens to have calico or tortoiseshell markings.
Have you heard of a Caliby or a Torbico? 
These are names for calicos or torties with tabby markings. Then there’s the calamanco (a tortie) or the clouded tiger (another name for calico).
Here’s another cat-related name I’ve never heard of—Grimalkin. It’s a term for an old female cat.
I think you know that in Britain, a cat is affectionately called a Mogie. That is a cat of no particular breed.
Here’s a fun website listing cat term puns—you know like those I use in my book titles—like Pawful, Purrfect, Clawful, pawsome, meowmoirs.
https://whiskerstotailspetsitting.com/2017/05/purr-fect-list-cat-vocabulary-not-kitten-around/
I’m excited to announce the publication of Olivia’s first Christmas story—Olivia’s Christmas Miracle. Oh, what fun I had creating this story and I’m thrilled to present it to you. Here’s the description:
As I’ve mentioned, I have a large collection of pictures of cats I meet as I walk, shop, visit, garden and so forth. Here are a few I met while visiting relatives last weekend. The family I visited said the big black-and-white cat is Lily, but I wonder if they’ve checked that 
out. She’s a big girl for a girl.
Do you trim your cats’ claws, do you take her to a groomer, or do you wait until your next vet visit and have them do it? I’ve done all three. My tip, based on my own experiences is, it depends on the cat. And I suggest if you’re going to do it yourself, carefully pick the time and place.
Others, not so much. With Olivia, I wait until she’s comfortable in my lap—maybe a little sleepy, definitely relaxed, then I can usually get a paw or two done. But you have to have the tools you need at your elbow. I keep Olivia’s claw trimmers on my desk because she often wants to curl up in my lap while I’m at the computer.
This morning I was petting her and discovered a mat under one “arm.” She actually let me fumble around in the drawer to find the scissors and cut it out. Good girl. If you get these early enough sometimes you can work them out with your fingers. Take advantage of those cuddle times to check for mats and overgrown or ingrown claws—ingrown claws happen, especially with your older cat.
about cutting into the quick. So I pretty much just snip off the sharp little end to keep Olivia from getting hung up on a curtain or something.
cat, let it go—until a time when she’s more relaxed and willing. As you probably know, if a cat doesn’t want to be messed with at that moment, you aren’t going to get the job done.
I realized after Halloween that I’ve collected some fun shots of cats with pumpkins—black cats with pumpkins, at that. Since I forgot to share them in the blog the week of Halloween, I’ve decided to
post them today. I didn’t think you’d mind.
I also have pictures of cats with beer bottles, cats in boxes, cats sleeping in cute positions, cats posing in adorable positions, cats eating, cats drinking, cats in
cages and carriers and cars. I have photos of kittens being cuddled, cats making faces, hiding cats, cats with other animals (horses, dogs, birds…) I even have cats clowning around, sleeping, leaping, being sassy, being cute, and, as you saw on Friday, even cats playing the piano.
Cats are smart. Some of us have had cats all our lives and we’ve witnessed some incredible things our cats have done. We’re also exposed to clever and creative cats through the internet—things I don’t remember ever seeing a cat do.
to squeeze under a closed door. They can open doors. I saw a cat on facebook the other day, pull a rug through a sliding glass door until the bulk of the rug opened the door and then the cat was able to meet his goal—go outside.
can hide so well you think she must have sneaked outside or someone took her. We found our inside cat, Lily behind the TV once after looking even outside for her. What a fright—neighbors were in the pajamas helping us look for her. It was a scare. We also had a cat, Katie, who fell (or pushed her way) out a
window over night. I found her at the front door in the morning.
I don’t know about you, but I get a lot of cat-related posts on my facebook page and some of them feature unusually marked cats—a mom and a kitten both with a heart pattern on their fur, cats with distinct moustaches, eyebrows, bows, birds, checkerboards or polka dots, for example. And the colors—the shades of orange, brown, grey, for example. Some of them are downright striking.
When’s the last time you visited an animal shelter or a cattery? I’ve done so many times over my life. I’ve visited, I’ve volunteered, I’ve socialized, I’ve adopted. I think most of us have. Last week I visited our local human society shelter and, of course, spent some time with the cats and kittens. I was pleased to see many upgrades in the facility, including great new pens and cat trees, and penthouses and toys for the cats. And th
e cats and kittens were all in great condition and happy to have visitors.
home. It’s difficult to leave them after meeting them.
Today, Friday, October 27, 2023 is National Black Cat Day. I think we all know why we need to promote such a day—still, black cats are too common to be special (in the minds of many people). They are the most overlooked cats in shelters and litters. And some say they’re the most abused of all cats—sad as it may seem.
according to what I read this morning. And did you know that Aquarians perhaps have the most cat-like personalities of all the signs. Also in the running are Capricorn, Leo 
(of course), and Pisces.
