
Because Stella lives in her own suite her at DogDaz Zoo, it is not often that I capture her in photos. Usually the rest of the crew is busy doing silly things and getting all the camera time. But Stella is a sweet beauty, she just needs to be alone. I guess you can say she is the truest of cats at DogDazCats2. Most of us think of cats as social animals, but the truth is, their DNA shows them to be more solitary then pack.
“The independence of cats is one of the features most admired by those of us who love them. Given their evolutionary history as solitary hunters, it is easily explained. Seeking their prey alone, cats – with the exception of lions and sometimes cheetahs – have not developed patterns of collective action and hierarchy of the kind found in dogs and other pack animals. ‘Herding cats’ is a metaphor based on fact: cats don’t live in herds.” – The New Statesman, philosopher John Gray

I cannot imagine a life without cats!
Just another CATDogDaz morning at the zoo ❤ 
Tags: animal awareness, Cat, Cat People, cats, caturday, DogDaz, loner cats, lorian lipton, pets, postaday, solitary cats

When K8 was taking photography in High School and learning how to process pictures in the dark room, she took this wonderful black and white picture of Gertrude. Gerty passed over to the great meadow in the sky in 2007 at the age of 15 (you can see all our past sweethearts on the Angels page). She was the sweetest girl and lived in my office for most of her days. Shy with most people from the day we adopted her out of a garage full of flea bitten kittens (with her outspoken sister Alice), Gerty was patient and quiet and loving. ❤
Have a colorful Black and White Sunday!

This is part of the Black and White Sunday Blog Hop. Thanks to Dachshund Nola and Sugar for hosting.
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤ 
Tags: Animal, animals, Black and White Sunday, blog hop, Calico, Cat, cats, DogDaz, long haired cats, Pet, pets, postaday

The big dogs were away on a play date so Noel decided she was going to come into my offices and sleep on Louise’s dog bed. She has never done that before that I recall. When she is in the office, usually she hides in the supply closet and sleeps on the boxes of paper.

Louise was a bit confused when she returned from her date to find Queen Noel in her bed. But Louise, being Louise, did not roust her or do anything the other dogs around here would do (like chase her away or nibble on the pillow very close to her to scare her away).

The Honorable Princess Lulu, laid down quietly next to her bed, with Queen Noel in it, and went to sleep. Noel the Queen of the Zoo and her court.
I cannot imagine a life without cats!
Just another CATDogDaz morning at the zoo ❤ 
Tags: animals, Cat, cat naps, Cat People, cats, Cats and Dogs, caturday, DogDaz, lorian lipton, multi animal household, pets, postaday
Tags: Animal, animals, black snake, blog hop, cats, dog, DogBlog, DogDaz, Dogs, funny cats, funny dogs, lorian lipton, Mischief Monday, multi animal household, Pet, pets, postaday, rat snake
A 2015 capture of Nine fast asleep in the dark. Babies, Kitties, and Puppies are the most incredible sleepers. They exude peace and quiet. Have a wonderful Black and White Sunday!

This is part of the Black and White Sunday Blog Hop. Thanks to Dachshund Nola and Sugar for hosting.
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤ 
Tags: Animal, animals, Black and White Sunday, blog hop, Cat, cats, DogDaz, Pet, pets, postaday, tom cat
The box story pictures flow clockwise from here —v

Sofie: Hey, Mini, what’ya doing up there? (While sucking on the blanket because the box is scary and making her nervous.)
Mini: Mom got new rain boots so I got a box.
Nine: What do you mean, Mini, that YOU got a box? Let me see that box. (As he jumps up on the bed to investigate.) Get out now, I want the box! (Trying to throw his weight around.)
Mini: No way! Finders keepers, losers weepers. (Crouching low to fill the space.)
Mom note: Later that night in the dark, Nine was hiding in the box while the others were nowhere to be found. Who’s the keeper now!
I cannot imagine a life without cats!
Just another CATDogDaz morning at the zoo ❤ 
Tags: Animal, animal awareness, animals, box, Cat, Cat People, cats, Cats and Dogs, caturday, dog, DogDaz, lorian lipton, pets, postaday

PREPARE YOUR DOG NOW FOR 4TH OF JULY!
The 4th and 5th of July are the busiest days of the year for animal shelters and emergency vet clinics as frantic animals break in or out of houses and yards. Early preparation for the Fourth can save you and your pet a lot of grief. Here are some articles to help you prepare your dog.
http://thebark.com/content/reducing-fear-your-dog#.T_JOd3hgggh
https://positively.com/contributors/10-safety-and-calming-tips-for-dogs-during-fireworks/
DogDaz: Keep Your Pets Safe
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤ 
Tags: Animal, animal awareness, animals, DINOS, Dog People, DogBlog, DogDaz, Fireworks, forth of july, lorian lipton, nature, noise, pet blog, postaday, scared dogs

I cannot imagine a life without cats!
Just another CATDogDaz morning at the zoo ❤ 
Tags: Animal, animal awareness, animals, Cat, cat naps, Cat People, cats, caturday, diluted torte, DogDaz, lorian lipton, pets, postaday

The kitchen curtain has big round circles and spaces that are more see-through than others. Was Noel actually looking at me or did I just catch her in a Noel moment? She is the kind of cat that sees ghosts. You will catch her staring at things that only cats can see. Sometimes I come into a room and find any one of the cats in mid-air jumping after ghost flies or soot spirits* or other unseeable things. (I think they see the susuwatari (aka “soot spirits” or “dust bunnies” from My Neighbor Totoro.)

Cats see the world differently than we do. Check out this article in Wired, it’s a cats-eye view, complete with really good pictures showing the difference between cat and human sight. I never knew that they can’t see far but that they see wide. I should have figured that they can see quick movements better than we can (which is maybe why they see ghost bugs flying by and I can’t).
Do you find your cats in mid-air chasing ghosts?
I cannot imagine a life without cats!
Just another CATDogDaz morning at the zoo ❤ 
Tags: animal awareness, Cat, Cat People, cats, cats eye sight, caturday, DogDaz, lorian lipton, pets, postaday, totoro

The 3 dogs and the cat-dog all want my lunch. It is kind of hard to ignore all the salivating stares when you are trying to have a bite to eat. They always have been beggers, but now that I have limited mobility, they all seem to push me around a lot more. They aren’t getting the exercise that they are used to, and just like me, all they want to do is eat right now it seems.

Oh, those begging eyes, Louise! I know that you want to go for a walk, but it still going to be a while. Good thing that I know how to resist those pitiful stares, well sort of.
(P.S. Do you notice Mini asleep in Charles bed in his exercise pen? She uses it much more than he does. Hahaha)
What kind of mischief did you get into today?
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤ 
Tags: Animal, animals, begging, blog hop, dog, DogBlog, DogDaz, Dogs, funny dogs, lorian lipton, Mischief Monday, Pet, pets, postaday