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Category Archives: Cats

Monday Mischief: Understanding a Cat’s Sense of Touch

Mini Cooper is one of those cats that has a need for touch. Charles, the dog, on the other hand, likes to be near humans and other animals but does not like to be on your lap or cuddled too close. That is what makes this picture so interesting. Lately, Mini has started reaching out and laying a paw on him when she can. Is this a sign of her primal need to keep track of a predator? I wanted to know more about a cat’s sense of touch so I did a little research and thought I would share it with you.

Cats have whiskers on their upper lip, on their cheeks, and above their eyes, but did you know that they also have whiskers behind their front wrists? These are called carpal hairs. The whiskers on a cat touch like fingers do.

According to Michael Broad in a post in POC (Pictures Of Cats.org), “A cat’s sense of touch includes sensing pressure, warmth, cold and pain. Touch is the first sense that is utilized in the newborn cat as it is the earliest developed sense.”

The cat’s paw has a large number of receptors that respond to pressure and the highest density of those receptors are found ‘between the foot and the toe pads.” (The Cat, Its Behavior, Nutrition & Health published by Blackwell Publishing – IBSN 978-0-8138-0031-9 — page 46 and 47) 

But does Mini really have a need for touch? Experts say that cats enjoy and need contact, just like humans do. Most of that they get in the form of petting or grooming. In Mini’s case, however, she seems to have more of a need than other cats. Maybe it comes from the fact that we held her all the time when she was a kitten (and too young to be away from her mother).

The one thing I do know is that Mini loves to have her paw on Charles, or Mom, or any warm body. I want to believe that gives her comfort.

What kind of mischief did you get into today?

Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤

 
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Posted by on May 18, 2020 in Cats, Dogs

 

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Wonderful Wednesday: Meet General Liegh

I would like to introduce you to my new Grand-niece Cat. Her name is General Leigh. My nephew (in good COVID-19 gear) adopted her this week and she appears to be the sweetest, most well adjusted, love that could be. She is about 3 years old they think. Congratulations on the new arrival. Have a great life General Leigh!

Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤

 
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Posted by on May 13, 2020 in Cats, Dogs

 

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Caturday: Hanging with the Horses

Recently, I was going through a bunch of old bedding in the attic and I happened upon this blanket that I made Peanut when she was little. She loved horses. She loved everything horse: to ride them, horse toys, even her American Girl doll had jodhpurs and her own Mare.

I decided to use the blanket as a cover on my bed to keep the cat hair off my pillows. Now look who loves horses.

I cannot imagine a life without cats!

Just another CATDogDaz morning at the zoo ❤

 
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Posted by on May 9, 2020 in Cats

 

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Monday Mischief: April Review

Mom was around a lot more than usual this month. She said it was due to something called ‘Corona.’

It sure made it nice for afternoon walks.

What kind of mischief did you get into today?

Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤

 
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Posted by on May 4, 2020 in Cats, Dogs

 

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Caturday: Synchronize Sleeping

I cannot imagine a life without cats!

Just another CATDogDaz morning at the zoo ❤

 
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Posted by on May 2, 2020 in Cats

 

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Caturday: Noel & the Llama

I really never know what she is thinking.

I cannot imagine a life without cats!

Just another CATDogDaz morning at the zoo ❤

 
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Posted by on April 25, 2020 in Cats

 

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Wordless Wednesday: Watching & Waiting for Spring

 Charles and Sofie – 2018

Spring is almost here – Nine and Sofie 2015

Spring has arrived 2011 – Louise and puppy Sofie

Louise and Sofie – waiting on March 21, 2018

Charles and Sofie waiting in April 2019

April 2020 – The cat crew just wants it all to go away!

Sofie yesterday (April 2020) enjoying the first iris of spring

Has spring come your way yet?

Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤

 
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Posted by on April 22, 2020 in Cats, Dogs

 

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The 1st Caturday: A Muffin Day

(This is a visit to the 1st Caturday post which was on Dec 1, 2012. Muffin was such a great cat. The funny thing about this collage is that several years after this post one of the kids told me that the picture in the lower-left corner was kitten Nine in his first year with us not ‘The Muffin Man’ (aka Muffy).. Oh well, Loved my Muffy!)

They say that cats sleep about 18 hours of the day but Muffy probably sleeps 23. Now that is a job that I would like to have.  We were trying to create a counting book with Muffin and the snowball pillows one season (here is Muffin with 3 and Muffin with 4), but I ran out of snowballs. The cats you may not recognize with him in some of the pictures are: on the left, Gertrude, she passed in 2007 and on the right, Zachary, who passed in 2010. Muffy had this thing about sleeping in my pocketbooks: that could not be comfortable. Those cats sure love FISH TV in our zoo.

Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤

 
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Posted by on April 18, 2020 in Cats

 

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Wonderful Wednesday: Never Too Many Toys

We all have to share everything at the Zoo. Mom does not like possessiveness or growling. Most of the time the little guy takes the toys and lies on them. But sometimes, Miss Louise, in all her patience and general niceness, has had enough and takes back what is hers (she was first dog in this current pack). All in a day’s fun.

Have a wonderful Wednesday.

Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo

 
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Posted by on April 15, 2020 in Cats, Dogs

 

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Black and White Sunday: I HATE/LOVE You

Noel is a funny cat. She wants Mommy’s chair. But lately, Mini Cooper has been owning the chair. So Noel, in all her infinite cat wisdom, has decided to sit on, lie on, and generally squeeze Mini Cooper out. But Mini, being Mini, isn’t moving. I would say it is a Love/Hate relationship, but maybe it is just mutual disdain if their faces tell the story,

Wishing everyone who celebrates a happy holiday. May this evil virus PASSOVER your house and may your spirits RISE as you find celebration in the small things of daily life.

Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤

 
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Posted by on April 12, 2020 in Cats

 

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