Cat Tales by Lady Ghost Whispurr

I really don't recall much of my early life. As I said, I think my life a street cat has adversely affected my memory. I think at one time I was a member of a family, for I am not a feral cat. I love to be petted and to sleep in bed with Daddy (that's what I call the man who took me home from the Humane Society - he seems to like it for some reason.)

Daddy says he thinks I might have been the Kentucky Fried Chicken Cat. It seems that there was a group of feral cats living near the local KFC. A mama cat kept having kittens and people like my Daddy would throw them scraps as they left with their order. One day Daddy and my ghostwriter (that's the lady who lives with Daddy) were driving by KFC at closing time and saw a white cat sitting in front the the drive up window, as if it was waiting for it's order. Daddy says that I remind him of that cat, although he is not sure, and as I said, I really don't remember.

All I remember is waking up one day and finding myself in a cage with two other cats. Someone had brought me to the Humane Society as a stray. I didn't mind it at all. It was warm and dry and I had food to eat and could sleep as much as I wanted. I stayed at the Humane Society for a year until Daddy came and took me home.

Photo above is a re-creation of a possible event. If I was that cat, (and we will never know, will we?) I most likely was a lot skinnier.

Because of my own experiences, I have become an advocate for stray and feral cats. Cats who are abandoned by their owners or run away from home for some reason (perhaps their owners abuse them) become strays. A feral cat is a cat who was born to a stray cat and has never lived with humans. They are very afraid of humans and will run away or fight if cornered. They are very hard to socialize if they are captured, but it can be done.

Stray and feral cats tend to congregate near food sources like trash dumpsters and restaurants. Or they may show up in your yard, begging for food. If they are not neutered or spayed they will reproduce, creating a large colony of cats who are fighting to survive. Winter is especially hard for feral cats and that is why I prefer to sleep in my nice warm cat bed rather than going outside when it snows. I do like to nap in the sun in the summer though.

There are a lot of resources that help stray and feral cats and I've listed some links to those organizations. On the behalf of strays everywhere, I hope you will support their efforts to help.

Source: Feral Cats

Photo Credit: C-SNIP.org

~Magickal Graphics~

As I tell my story, I want to include other stories about other special cats. One day my ghostwriter brought home a book she had borrowed from a co-worker. The book was about a feral cat named Scarlett who saved her kittens from a fire. I read the book one day while my ghostwriter was at work and I decided to share her story.

In 1996, Scarlett had a litter of five kittens in an abandoned garage in Brooklyn. Unfortunately, she did not check the references of the other tenants, who probably were drug dealers. On March 30, a fire started in the garage, and the fire department was called.

David Giannelli, one of the firefighters, noticed Scarlett carrying one of her kittens to safety. She then turned around and went back into the burning building to get another one. I must tell you that this goes against our cat instinct for survival, but her instincts as a mother were stronger.

Scarlett was severely burned and her eyes were swollen shut. She touched each kitten with her nose to make sure they were all there. Only then did she allow herself to collapse.

David Giannelli took Scarlett and the kittens to the North Shore Animal League where they were nursed back to health, all except for one kitten who died of complications. They became a news sensation all over the world, and people wrote letters asking to adopt them. Eventually the four kittens were adopted out in pairs, and Scarlett also went to a loving home with a woman named Karen Wellen.

Scarlett lived a good many happy years in her new home, much as I hope to do in mine. She was about 13 years old when she passed away in 2008.

The photo is of Scarlett and Karen Wellen, available under a Creative Commons Attribution license.

As my ghostwriter goes out the door to work, she often says to me, "I wish we could trade places." She says that because she is jealous that I get to sleep while she has to work. It is one of the benefits of being a cat; we often sleep up to 16 hours a day.

Most of that time is not spent in deep sleep. We are experts at "cat-napping" or sleeping with one eye open. We can become alert at any moment we sense potential danger. This stems from our ancestors, who used a lot of energy to hunt game, and then rested to conserve their energy. But living in the wild or even on the streets as I did, means we have to be alert to our environment.

According to the poet T.S. Eliot, a dozing cat is just contemplating the meaning of his/her name. He discovered that we actually have three names; one that humans call us, one that we call ourselves and each other, and one that is secret and is known only to the individual cat. It is this name that we like to muse upon while we sit in the sun.

Humans aren't being silly though when they envy us for our napping. Research has shown that humans benefit more from a 20 minute "power nap" than from drinking coffee. There have been workshops offered trying to convince college students to nap during the day between classes, as this improved brain functioning (something we cats have known for countless millennia).

The ghostwriter says that naps are not allowed where she works. It does seem rather ironic that they would take the time to research the benefits of napping, but then not use it when it is really needed. But then who can understand humans, anyway?

Well, I have to get back to napping. I haven't contemplated on my secret name yet today. While I am napping, you may amuse yourself by exploring some of the resources I have provided for you.

~Magickal Graphics~

When You Miss A Nap It Is Gone FOREVER by HiddenGrove

I have the same effect on my Daddy.

Yawn.....well that was an extremely satisfying nap. Now on to more stories.

My ghostwriter, who used to work as a nursing home social worker, was telling me about the cats she used to have living in her office. But none of them had the special quality that Oscar does.

Oscar lives on the 3rd floor of the Steer House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Providence Rhode Island. The 3rd floor is dedicated to the care of people in the advance stages of Alzheimer's Disease. Oscar has been living there since he was a kitten, and for the most part chooses not to socialize with people, except to lie on the desk at the nurse's station.

But one day the staff started noticing something special about Oscar. Whenever someone was close to death, he would lay on their bed until they died. This happened so many times that the staff, and the doctor who took care of the residents, began to take note of his pattern. Oscar will make rounds to different rooms, jump up on beds and sniff the patient. If they are not within 2-4 hours of death he leaves. But if death is immanent, he will lay next to the patient until death has occurred. At this point, this has occurred over 50 times, and the staff say he is never wrong. In fact, if they try to re-direct him to a resident that they believe is dying, he will refuse to enter the room. In those cases, the resident usually lives a couple more days.

Family members mostly are happy having the cat with their loved ones at the end of life. They feel he provides comfort to the dying patient as they draw their last breath. Dr. David Dosa is the doctor who takes care of the people on the 3rd floor. He wrote an article in the New England Journal of Medicine called "A Day in the Life of Oscar the Cat ." Initially a skeptic, Dr Dosa started observing Oscar and came to the same conclusions that the staff had already made. Oscar can predict when people are going to die.

Dr. Dosa has recently written a book about Oscar called "Making Rounds with Oscar."

There has been a lot of speculation about why Oscar can make these predictions. The scientists theorize that he can smell certain chemicals given off by the dying body or that he is mimicking the behavior of the nursing staff. Those ideas may contribute to it, although Oscar usually knows longs before the staff in most cases.

As a cat, I have my own theory. It has long been believed that cats can see into the astral. It is what we are doing most of the time while we are sleeping. I believe that Oscar can see the spirit in the process of leaving their earthly body. He may even have decided to assist them with their transition to the other side, as the character Melinda does in the TV show, "Ghost Whisperer." It is within the ability of all cats, but for some reason, Oscar has decided that this is his mission in life. I don't know why, since he does not seem to like people in general. Perhaps I shall ask him some day.

The latest news I have received is that some humans are planning to make a movie about Oscar. I think that is a splendid idea.
Feline Oscar heads to bigscreen

Photo of Oscar from the gallery at the Steer House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center

Well, if you can't take the word of a cat, then you might want to hear from some humans on the subject.

The astral plane is not some far-away place. Rather, it is simply more ethereal than the physical plane. It interweaves with the physical plane. It is right here, if you can see it. To do so requires either a native talent or the development of astral vision. We have other astral senses, too. People who can see on the astral plane will be able to see such things as people's auras. Cats seem to see easily onto the astral plane. Perhaps you've seen a cat follow some invisible thing flying through the air and even bat at it with a paw. They're playing with something on the astral plane."
Donald Michael Kraig, from the article "Astral Projection - Get Out and Do Something"

"Anyone with a cat as a pet has frequently observed it seemingly chasing invisible things around the room and up the walls. From an occult perspective the cat is encountering entities from the spirit world or astral realm."
Raven Grimassi, The Witch's Familiar

Cat photo from the Art Explosion Clip Art Collection.

Cats purr. Of course, you already knew that. But do you know why we purr? Well that is another story.

Humans have been puzzled about our ability to make the sound known as a purr, and being human, they can't stand not knowing the reason why. So they have done some research.

The prevailing belief is that we purr because we are happy or contented. And that is true much of the time. I myself have a very soft, ladylike purr, unless Daddy is scratching my back, and then I purr much louder. But cats also purr when they are in labor or are in pain or injured. So what is that about?

Elizabeth von Muggenthaler (and you think cats have strange names) of the Fauna Communications Research Institute in North Carolina, is a specialist in the field of bioacoustics, Their website defines bioacoustics as "a branch of science concerned with the production of sound and its effects on living systems."

This research has led to some interesting theories. When cats purr, our whole bodies vibrate. The vibrational frequency ranges from 25-130 Hertz, which happens to be a frequency which promotes healing of bones and eases muscle pain. The research is rather technical, and I find it a waste of time to read, as I already know the benefit of purring. The conclusion that the researchers are drawing is that no only do cats heal themselves when they purr, the healing benefits can also be transferred to others.

So the next time you feel depressed, out of sorts, in pain, or are recovering from surgery or illness, pick up a purring cat. It will definitely make you feel better, and the cat will appreciate it as well.

I've talked about my love for napping. Let's talk about my other love - eating. You really can't blame me when I wait patiently in the kitchen for the ghostwriter to open up our can of food. I spent many years being hungry and having to beg for food. I usually gobble up my portion and then wait for Wiley to finish licking his gravy and then finish off his portion as well. Well, yes, now that you mention it, I am a bit plump. But really, it is not polite to comment on a lady's weight.

There is another topic that we will not discuss. As you might have gathered from reading the prelude to this lens, there was a certain time that my toileting habits were discussed. It just isn't proper for a lady to discuss her toilette, so don't expect to hear the details from me. I can say that I have come to a mutually satisfactory agreement with my humans. And once again, for the record, it was Not My Fault we were taken to the vet (but Wiley will never believe that.)

And speaking of that other cat, you have to realize that I had no say in the matter when I was brought to this house. He was already living here, and I tried to make friends, really I did. But he is such a youngster and can get rambunctious at times. I try to correct him, as I would have done with my kittens, but he will not recognize that I am his senior and have some very important advice from which he could benefit. For instance, I tell him not to go outside when there is white wet stuff on the ground, but, of course, he has to find out for himself that snow is cold.

Overall, I am quite satisfied with my life with the Pendragons. I hope to have many more years of napping with Daddy and not having to worry about where the next meal comes from.

~Magickal Graphics~

While the ghostwriter and Daddy were watching an old TV show one night, I perked up my ears when I heard the most beautiful poem. It contained all the elements of a true cat, all recited in iambic pentameter. (That's a strange style of writing poetry invented by humans and often used by a man named Shakespeare)

I listened, entranced, as a human-like character named Data recited this poem to his cat, Spot. It took me some time to figure out that Data is not really human but is something called an android, a robot designed to look like a human. I confess I do not understand the distinction for all humans are a bit strange.

But I fell in love with this poem which I shall recite for you at this time.


Ode to Spot

Felis Cattus, is your taxonomic nomenclature,
an endothermic quadruped carnivorous by nature?
Your visual, olfactory and auditory senses
contribute to your hunting skills, and natural defenses.
 I find myself intrigued by your subvocal oscillations,
a singular development of cat communications
that obviates your basic hedonistic predilection
for a rhythmic stroking of your fur, to demonstrate affection.
 A tail is quite essential for your acrobatic talents;
you would not be so agile if you lacked its counterbalance.
And when not being utilized to aide in locomotion,
it often serves to illustrate the state of your emotion.
 O Spot, the complex levels of behaviour you display
connote a fairly well-developed cognitive array.
And though you are not sentient, Spot, and do not comprehend,
I nonetheless consider you a true and valued friend.

I do take issue with his declaration that Spot is not sentient. We cats do indeed understand what humans say, we just choose to ignore it most of the time.

I have a confession to make. I have become a TV addict. Daddy brought home this really cool rocking chair that he intended for my ghostwriter. But I've claimed it for myself. My favorite activity is to sit in my rocker and watch the Ellen Show. Ellen is definitely a supporter of animal rights. She has dogs (for some unknown reason) and cats. Here are some things she has said about animals.

"My cat, Ethel, is an indoor cat but somehow she's sneakin' out at night. 'Cause the other morning I found a stamp on her paw... I wouldn't have noticed myself, but I just bought this new black light and she passed right under it and I said, 'Hey, what's that on your paw?"

I ask people why they have deer heads on their walls. They always say because it's such a beautiful animal. There you go. I think my mother is attractive, but I have photographs of her. ~Ellen DeGeneres

Ellen feels strongly that animals should eat healthy food so she created her own pet food company, Halo, Purely for Pets.

The ghostwriter and Daddy have been talking about the future. Our future in particular. You see, they want to buy an RV and drive around the country. They would never give their kitties away, so I guess Wiley and I are going to become traveling cats. We aren't sure if we are going to like this, and you know how Wiley is. He is afraid of everything.

Then I came across this story about a backpacking cat. She has the unusual(?) name of Kitty the Cat. She was an abandoned kitten who was rescued by the side of the road by a French couple, Guillaume and Laetitia. What makes this story unusual is that William and Laetitia are hiking from Miami, Florida to Argentina, a distance of 9000 miles. KItty the Cat is traveling with them, every step of the way.

Well, she doesn't actually have to walk. She likes to curl up in Guillaume's backpack or wind herself around his neck while he is walking. She has seen some amazing sights so far on the trip. I've added a few videos so you can see I am not making this up.

So maybe traveling is not so bad for a cat. Maybe I can claim a window seat in the RV and sit and watch the scenery go by. Wouldn't that be nice?

For more fantastic pictures of this amazing cat, visit LoveMeow.com

Photos courtesy of their official website, Turn of the World.

~Magickal Graphics~

You might have noticed several references stating that I tend to waddle instead of walk. It was the opinion of my not-so-intelligent humans that it was due to the fact that I am a bit on the plump side (but we aren't going to discuss this here). However, they began to become more aware that I was actually in pain, probably arthritis from an old injury on my back and back legs. Sometimes it hurts when they touch me there. It seems to get worse when it is cold.

At times, I can get a bit grumpy. So do humans when they are in pain, I've noticed. Daddy and the ghostwriter thought about getting some pain medicine, but when they went to a pet store, they saw something that they thought would help. You see, Daddy used to have a problem with his knees, and at times he couldn't even walk. That is what he says, anyway. It was a few years ago. He started taking Glucosamine and Chondroitin, and within a short period of time he was walking better than ever.

So when they went to the pet store, the ghostwriter and Daddy saw some of that stuff with the very long name for cats. They decided to try it. The package said it could take 3 weeks to work. They were so surprised when the very next day, the door to the outside opened, and I BOUNDED out the door to catch something in the bushes. Yes, that's right. I bounded. No more waddling.

Since then I have been caught playing with toys, and chasing Wiley around the house. I am not grumpy any more.

I decided to do a little more research on this subject. At Pet Education.Com I found this:

"Glucosamine and Chondroitin have been used to treat osteoarthritis in Europe for over twenty years. Recently, physicians and veterinarians in the United States have begun to prescribe this product for their patients and have been extremely happy with the results. These products are proving to be one of the safest and best treatments for the crippling effects of osteoarthritis that affects millions of aging dogs throughout the United States. These products have also helped many cats with various types of arthritis".(that would be me!)

The article continues, "There are many different joints that can be affected by osteoarthritis in the cat. Cats can develop hip dysplasia just like dogs. This condition greatly exacerbates the normal wear on the smooth cartilage protecting the bony surface of the joint. When this cartilage wears away there is a bone to bone contact, which creates the pain seen with arthritis.

Glucosamine and chondroitin are also often used as an aid in the treatment of spinal disc injuries or post operatively in cats or dogs that have undergone joint surgery."

I am so happy that my humans discovered this product for me. It comes in a treat form and I eat it up quickly. I highly recommend it for any cat that is experiencing joint pain. Talk to your humans about it.

Got to go, I feel a bounding coming on!

Lady Ghost Whispurr Ornament