Feline News

Cat named stationmaster

2008-07-24T15:31:56Z

KINOKAWA, Wakayama — A 7-year-old cat called Tama has been named a special stationmaster at a railway station here by the local Wakayama Electric Railway.

Two other cats were named deputy stationmasters at the same Kishi Station on the Kishigawa Line in Kinokawa. Stationmaster Tama, wearing a railway cap, and two other cats often welcome passengers at unmanned Kishi Station.

The operator of the shop at the station has been keeping the three cats. Wakayama Electric Railway officials will give cat food to them as a reward for their “work.” The bonus consists of a cooling pad and a custom-made mesh hat to replace the heaver stationmaster hat Tama usually wears.

Old, but still newsworthy.

Sauce

Mi Pulpo Es Like Me

2008-07-23T20:10:30Z

has MEGATENTACLES

This lovely, but dead, octopus had extra tentacles! well, not completely. it had tentacles that branched off the original tentacles. No one knows why or how. Mi pulpo had some baby pulpos that didn't have megatentacles, but only survived one month. She died several months later, probably of a broken heart. Pobre pulpo.

pinktentacle.com

Ralph the Cat Gets Head Stuck in Jar

2008-07-22T16:48:19Z

practicing for the future, no doubt

Ralph, a lovely brown tiger who lives in Vancouver, WA was trying to make some delicious summer preserves. Unfortunately, he got his head stuck in a mason jar. His people came back from a weekend camping trip and found Ralph all stuck and rushed him to the fire department where they always have some lube handy. After getting greased up, Ralph's head slid right out the jar.

Be careful, tiny-headed cats, when you are canning and pickling this summer!

LOST: One grey cat

2008-07-22T16:41:12Z

last seen in June, wearing a PINK DRESS

I post the crazy story here in full. If you happen to live in Edmonton, Alberta, please click the link for a photo of Dipity.

An Edmonton pet store is chipping in $700 as a reward to help a woman find her missing cat, which was last seen wearing a pink dress and an ID collar.

With the help of the Urban Dog, a store on Whyte Avenue, Kelley Abercrombie is now offering $1,000 in total for information leading to the safe return of her cat Dipity.

The grey, spayed female feline was last seen in the parking lot of the Second Cup in South Edmonton Common on June 24.

Abercrombie said the kitty, which loves car rides, had squeezed out of her car through a window, while she was in the coffee shop for a business meeting.

She explained that Dipity — who's been known to dash from the car — was wearing a pink dress at the time because it makes it easier to spot the grey cat against asphalt.

A witness told Abercrombie that a blonde, petite woman between 17 and 21 years old scooped the cat up, remarked that a feline shouldn't be wearing a dress, and said she would take the animal to a relative's farm.

Abercrombie, a volunteer with the Edmonton Humane Society, is concerned because she says her cat, who weighs about five kilograms, or 11 pounds, has "absolutely no outdoor survival skills."

Dipity was wearing an ID collar with Abercrombie's name and phone number, as well as a microchip with identifying information.

Abercrombie is asking that her cat be returned to any shelter or veterinarian's office, or that anyone who knows where Dipity is call Crime Stoppers or the Edmonton police.

She's offering $300 herself, while the Urban Dog is putting up $700 as a reward.

"We are very concerned that someone took her family member without thinking about the consequences," says Laurel Kostuk, the store's co-owner. "Someone will hopefully come forward with this increase of money."

NEW TV SHOW FOR CATS

2008-07-21T19:55:59Z

Squeeze was wrong! Now it is on the TV when it's cool for cats

Lookie, a new TV show for cats, called Housecat Housecall. This lady, and maybe some other ladies, go around to cats' houses and talk to them and try to get their owners in line. At least that's what I think this is. It better be! I am gonna see if I can get foods b on--make a little video of me yelling at her and the like. Her not letting me in the hall--you know the good stuff.

Healthy Treats for Cats

2008-07-21T16:47:26Z

I still think butter bagel is very healthy!

Our crazy friends at petplace.com have a highly informative article on what sort of healthy treats you can give to your cat. Suggestions include EGG WHITES! OK, i might eat that. COTTAGE CHEESE! OK, I might eat that too! VEGGIES! Maybe. POPCORN! Uh, not sure on that one. Are you sure that's not a toy?

I have passed this list over to the foods lady so she can pick them up when she goes shopping. I suggest you do the same!

from HANK: snacks is for chumps. Only cat food in a cat food bowl for me.

Everybody's Got Something to Hide

2008-07-21T16:05:30Z

'sept for her and her monkey

A lady with a GIANT helper monkey is sick and tired of her bonnet macaque, Richard, being denied access to places he ought to be able to go, on account of being a helper monkey. In a lawsuit filed Friday, Debby Rose alleges the three entities--the Springfield Missouri health department, a local Wal-Mart and Cox Health Systems--discriminated against her and a 10-year assistant. The health department sent letters to local restaurants stating that Ms. Rose should be denied admittance if she brings Richard. Rose contends that the monkey helps her deal with her social anxiety disorder, which obviously does not involve being pointed at and hearing, "OMG, that lady has a giant monkey!"

News Leader.com

The Day the Catfish Went For a Walk

2008-07-21T15:52:07Z

Thirty of them! Must have been a parade!

Residents in Pinellas County Florida were shocked--SHOCKED--to see thirty catfish walking down the street. The walking catfish travels out of water by using its huge pectoral fin, and can continue to breathe as long as it stays moist. Lawn lady Dianna Fernandez said, "I was, like, 'No way, there's fish in the street.' And I kept going further and further, seeing fish everywhere. In driveways. I've never seen anything like it."

NOTE: Link has totally super-awesome and fascinating video.

We're Gonna Have a Catnip Party Tonight! AWRIGHT!

2008-07-21T15:37:57Z

some cats enjoying nature. watch for the exciting fight scene!

Animals in Art History by the Foodz Wopeon

2008-07-18T15:27:06Z

Henry Pelham (Boy with the Squirrel), 1765
oil on canvas, 30.25" x 25"
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Massachusetts

John Singleton Copley was a rock star of colonial American art, already well-known in America by the time he painted his portrait of his young half-brother Henry Pelham. Twenty-seven at the time of this painting, he was eager to make a name for himself in Europe and painted this portrait to show off his expertise with textures and surfaces. Fellow American painter Benjamin West said "What delicious coloring worthy of Titian himself!" Copley was made a Fellow of the Society of Artists of Great Britain based on this painting alone. Exhibited at the Royal Society of Artists, it was the first American painting exhibited in Europe.

Squirrels were common pets for upper-class colonial American boys, and in Copley's proto-symbolist painting the squirrel represents his owner's training, and his own barely restrained feral nature.

However quaint this painting seems, the barbaric treatment of the squirrel will no doubt cause enlightened 21st century humans no end of queasiness. We must judge the painting as a product of its time, and be grateful squirrels are no longer kept on leashes, gold or otherwise.

Aye Has Itz

2008-07-18T13:34:35Z

kool thing, chomping on a flower

see this thing? It is an aye-aye, a nocturnal primate of Madagascar what probably some of you seen in the historical film Madagascar. Foodz Bee, her ma has a Madahybridcar, but that is another story. Anyways, the evil peeps of Mad. think this adorable 6 lbs creature with lazer eyes is A DIVIL and kills it on sight. Thusly, they are endangered. What would Darwin say about an animal what only lives on an island where peples wanna kill it? I guess this is why some of them have moved to DENVER, where they can go to Denver Rockies games and enjoy the snow and NOT GET KILT.

Fun Fact: the aye-aye has one extra long finger to dig into tree bark and get bugs. Frankie is super-jealous!

rocky mountain news

Cats get Alzheimer's!

2008-07-16T21:05:50Z

Poly may have it

Science dudes have discovered that it's not that unusual for cats 15 years old and older to have symptoms of old-age similar to humans, including inappropriate vocalizing, forgetting commands (I didn't realize you youmans had to follow commands, but there ya go), breaking housetraining, pacing, wandering, sluggishness, unusual interest or disinterest in food, and decreased grooming and confusion, such as forgetting that they have just been fed. Main symptom of feline dementia is pooping in the tub, with secondary symptoms being an ever-increasing belly, schizophrenic behavior towards humans, and being named Poly.

It's a shame that Poly got the symptoms of old age so young! She didn't get that from me, that's for sure.

Bat Wardrobe Malfunction

2008-07-16T21:00:28Z

he thought his pants felt a little loose

A girl in Aberdeen discovered a bat in her pants when she got to work. 19-year old Anna Buchan said, “I felt something moving in my trousers and started screaming as I thought it was a wasp that would sting me.”

The bat was later released into the wilds of Aberdeen.

You may recall that last week a young lady found a bat in her bra. What's next for these sartorial animals?

Bats Love Ecuador!

2008-07-16T20:54:24Z

There are over 100 species in a few acres

Back when I was queen of Ecuador, I declared the rainforest a Bat Prosperity Zone--any bat could come and set up a home and not pay any taxes or nothin'. And it worked! Now there are over 100 species of bat living large in a few acres of the rainforest! Yay.

UK Cat Alert: New Bug!

2008-07-16T20:41:59Z

looks tasty!

A new bug has been found in LONDON. What? I didn't think they were making new bugs anymore, but they are. Science guys found the bug last year in the gardens of the British Natural History Museum, but waited to see if the new species would survive the winter before telling anyone. They did! And now they are all over the place! No one knows where the new bugs came from. Perhaps from the future? To warn us about something?

Blackbird Mimics Cellphone Ring, Siren

2008-07-16T20:35:34Z

And he can do a wolf-whistle too! You know how wolves whistle, right? They put their lips together and blow

This fabulous blackbird in the UK, who originally tried and failed to be a standup comic, found his real talent is in mimicry. He kindly entertains the family who live in the house on top of which he makes his home each morning at 5 am-ish. Link has video that has too much of annoyed human talking about the bird when we should be seeing the bird!

The Beaver Butler

2008-07-15T14:11:35Z

A high-end condo in lower Manhattan has a new feature, the Beaver Butler. The ad that ran in New York Magazine (I get it free--please don't think I pay for that. I'm ashamed to even read it in front of the cats) indicates that the Beaver Butler will turn on your lights and your a/c remotely. Apparently, there are also cameras in your high-end condo, and you can see what's happening while you're away. What happens in your condo is this: three women in lingerie have a pillow fight. At least that's the image in the ad.

I'm not sure if the women come with the condo, with the butler, or if they've broken into my expensive apartment to have a pillow fight. While I like beavers very much, I don't need baby-dolled ladies mussing up my shams and comforters.

Also, how much is this beaver getting paid? He better be getting the regular butler salary and not some reduced aquatic mammal rate.

actual beaver butler

Donde es mi gato? En GalleyCat!

2008-07-11T14:37:11Z

Henrey, my flossing cat, is participating in an online cat cutie contest on the publishing blog galley cat. Besides publishing news and gossip, editor Ron Hogan (also editor of the long-running blog, Beatrice) occasionally publishes photos of pets doing literary-type things. And you can vote for your fave!

here, Henrey is writing one of his stellar entries on polycat's news community feline_news

vote here! And see all the other entrants. If you want to vote for Whoopy, that's cool. He's pretty cute.

You Smell Like Dead Bugs by Frankie

2008-07-09T18:06:52Z

delicious and fun bugs!

Remember a few years ago we had cicadas?? THEY WERE AWESOME. They made a very loud buzzing sound and would sometimes fly in the window and FREAK ME OUT! I loved them. And the lady wasn't afraid of them so she would let them stay in the house for a little before guiding them back out. I wanted to get to know each and every cicada.

Now they have moved over to Massachewsits, which must be a magical place because of all the chewing that goes on. And two smart teens have decided to make jewelry from the cicada carcasses! You see, the cicadas have a very brief but exciting life above ground, and their crunchy carcasses are left all over town. Now they get to live on as fun jewelry.

Click on the link to see what the girls have done! If the lady had those, I would love her even more than I do now.

Frankie is a cub reporter for Feline_News

cape cod times

Violent Unexplained Event-timez!

2008-07-09T16:59:52Z

click here for dramatic photos!

Back in old-timey days, a man made a movie called The Birds what was about birds taking over. It's an interesting picha what will make some of you scared, and others, like myself, very very hungry.

A few months after that, a different man made a movie what was called The Falls, and it seems to be about what happens after The Birds,, but good luck making sense of it! Henrey called it "art-house cinema at its finest," but he only watched 10 minutes of it. ANYWAY.

In the dramatic sequence featured, we watch a seagull swoop down on an unsuspecting office worker and steal her delicious sangwich. It might be a nice chicken san.

To tell you the truth, we believe this was a set-up. Who walks down the street with a sangwich like that? And why was there a gamera crew at the ready?

Daily Mail

Bats in Racks!

2008-07-09T16:00:39Z

That's not your cellphone vibrating, girly

A young lady who works as a hotel receptionist at the Holiday Inn Norwich North, near Norwich International Airport felt a strange vibration through her body. Figuring it was her cellphone, she ignored it. A few hours later, she felt something shifting IN HER BRA. It was a baby bat, who was released back into the wild.

Telegraph UK

THEY ARE ON TO US

2008-07-09T13:15:35Z

Check out this information foods lady kindly passed on to me, about a book coming out next year:

"Anne McCaffrey and Elizabeth Ann Scarborough's BARQUE CATS: like sailing ships of old, spaceships have cats but in space they are rare and valuable; what humans do not know is that the cats are plotting to take over the universe, to Sue Moe at Del Rey, in a two-book deal, by Donald Maass at Donald Maass Literary Agency, in association with Diana Tyler at MBA Literary Agents in London (NA)."

We better excalate our plannations in order to take over prior to the book's publication. Dogs, squirrels, that means YOU TOO. CHOP CHOP! All paws on deck, etc.

Yr Pal Colonel Robt Magaw, Colonel, Cat Army

Pigeon Poacher Pwnd!

2008-07-02T17:23:17Z

It's teh feelgudz story of the day

A man employed as a street cleaner in Manhattan got a hefty $2500 reward for reporting that a crazy person was stealing pigeons! Here in la apple grande, pigeons are considered CITY PROPERTY and so no you can't "poach" them, what is another word for stealing and not cooking in boiling water like an egg. Most of the pigeon poachers sell the feral birds to local gun clubs for those chickens wot can't go out and shoot their own animals. We at feline news applaud the pal of pigeons. More birds for us!

gothamist

Do You Serve Baby Otters Here?

2008-07-02T16:29:04Z

turns out they are too young to drink likker

Three baby otters romped through the mythical town of Petaluma recently, stopping at Mario & John's Tavern for a drink and an auto parts store for some tree air fresheners. Two are now under the protective care of Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue, and everyone, and I mean EVERYONE is looking for the third.

Go to the link for a pict that may make you go "aww."

Hero Giraffe Helps Other Escape from Circus

2008-07-02T16:23:01Z

YAY!

A brave giraffe is being hailed as a hero today after it was discovered that he kicked a hole in a cage at the circus where he was enslaved, allowing 15 camels, two zebras and an undetermined number of llamas and a potbellied pig escape to sweet sweet freedom.

The animals wandered in a group through an Amsterdam neighborhood for several hours after their 5.30am breakout, Sadly, they were later apprehended and returned to their slave masters.