Sparkle the Designer Cat's Blog, page 386

One of My Favorite Spots to Hang Out

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Having problems with your human or the other cats in your house? As the internet’s “Dear Abby With Claws,” Sparkle had answers to many annoying problems in her two award-winning books! Visit her author’s page on Amazon to buy one or both of her awesome Dear Sparkle books!

5 Reasons We Cats DON’T Want to Be Like Dogs – and 5 Reasons Dogs Should Envy Cats!

Nothing against dogs or you dog loving humans, but I really dislike it when someone says a cat is being dog-like, as if that is a compliment! Sure, we cats can show affection and sometimes follow our humans around the house, some of us (like me) walk on leashes, and sometimes we will do tricks (usually for treats) — but we do it on our own terms. Dogs do it because of their desperate need for approval. When humans compare cat behavior to dog behavior, they are only showing that they don’t understand us cats, or the motivations behind what we do. Feline ways come from a different mental place than dogs, even if the outcome looks similar.

Besides, there are certain dog behaviors that I am sure humans would rather we cats not have — and frankly, I am glad we don’t do these either!

Dogs eat poop! Other dogs’ poop, our poop out of the litter box… they are just poop eating machines. We kitties would never do this, unless there was something really, really wrong with us.
Bark, bark, bark! Some cats are more vocal than others — Siamese and Oriental breeds and mixes, for example — but nothing compares to the annoyance of a dog that won’t shut up. Usually it’s a neighbor’s dog that’s doing this, and he is probably bored and not getting enough enrichment and companionship. But whatever dog is doing it, doesn’t it make you crazy?
Hump legs and other (sometimes living) things. Male dogs can be love machines in some really inappropriate ways! Actually female dogs can be pretty annoying too — one of my human’s friends had a female German shepherd who liked to smell visitors’ crotches. Rude!
Drool. Whether or not you believe “cats rule,” there is no doubt that dogs drool! True, some cats drool when they are happy or know they are about to get a treat (I do this sometimes, but just a little bit). But it’s nothing like the disgusting rivers of drool that come pouring out of a dog’s mouth! Especially big dogs. Plus they can’t seem to keep their tongues in their mouths. If we kitties show our tongues, it’s just the tip, and it’s cute.
Pee when they are excited. My human’s family had a puppy that did this whenever everyone returned from an outing that did not include her. This behavior carried on well into her canine adulthood. One of my human’s childhood memories is dodging dog pee every time she came home from Disneyland. Maybe that’s why she eventually became a cat person.

Maybe dogs would be better off if they became more cat-like! Just think of the things we kitties can do that dogs can’t:

We can use our front paws to grab toys and treats! We don’t have to wait for them to be handed to us.
We can jump up on counters in a single leap. Even better, we don’t feel bad if we are told we are not supposed to do that.
Chatter at birds out the window. It’s fun for us, and it amuses the humans too.
Be flexible! We cats are so flexible we can practically make ourselves liquid. I bet dogs, with their stiff spines and legs envy our ability to fit into some very strange places.
Purr! It’s one of the very most amazing things we cats do. Sadly for dogs, they will never be able to do this.

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Having problems with your human or the other cats in your house? As the internet’s “Dear Abby With Claws,” Sparkle had answers to many annoying problems in her two award-winning books! Visit her author’s page on Amazon to buy one or both of her awesome Dear Sparkle books!

Getting Out and About

Although I have been sticking close to home the past few days, I still have been spending time out and about! My human took me around the side of the house for a little while the other day.

Here I am, asking when that wall is going to be finished.

There’s not much out here at the moment, except for this rusted out decoration that I’m pointedly ignoring.

Besides there’s something more interesting to see in the neighbor’s yard!

They have an awesome Bird TV setup! Why don’t we have something like this at my house?

Then the next day, there was all sorts of noise going on in the backyard.

I came out to inspect.

It was workers doing the annual brush clearance! It has to be done every year in time for the fire department to inspect our yard. These guys are nowhere near as much fun as Bird TV.

My human didn’t get any photos of my biggest adventure — I got to watch a fire! It was at a house about three blocks from our home. The humans went down to see what was going on, and my human could see I really wanted to come, so she put me in the sling and brought me along. It was sad, a hundred year old Craftsman home that was being renovated was pretty much ruined. When the humans went back home, I got to walk on my leash for much of the way back. It was the longest walk I’ve had in the neighborhood!
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Having problems with your human or the other cats in your house? As the internet’s “Dear Abby With Claws,” Sparkle had answers to many annoying problems in her two award-winning books! Visit her author’s page on Amazon to buy one or both of her awesome Dear Sparkle books!

My Mom on Mothers Day

Unlike so many kitties out there, I know who both my parents are. In fact, they have been a very popular couple in the Somali cat world because their kittens are always exceptionally good natured. I think you may be a little surprised at my mother when you see her.

As you can tell, she is a blue Somali, not ruddy like me! In fact her name is Bluesette (or Tajhara Blues for Bluesette, to give you her full name). I get my color (and the way I pose on the judging table) from my dad. But I get my personality from my mom. Also we look a little bit alike from certain angles. Check out the detail on this photo from the other day:

My mom is awesome, and in fact she’s raising some kittens right now who were born on my birthday in March! They have a different father, but I bet they are as sweet as she is. I know someday my mom will retire to a good home and a more peaceful life than the one she no doubt has at the moment! But she will always be my mom, and I made a special card for her today.

Happy Mothers Day! Whap those kittens if they are too unruly!
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Having problems with your human or the other cats in your house? As the internet’s “Dear Abby With Claws,” Sparkle had answers to many annoying problems in her two award-winning books! Visit her author’s page on Amazon to buy one or both of her awesome Dear Sparkle books!

The Caturday Report: Final Edition

I hope not too many of you are bummed, but I’ve decided to end the Caturday Reports, at least for now. I’m rescheduling my weekend posts and having my Catinees on Saturday, starting next week… so I can participate in Selfie Sundays, also starting next week!

I do think I’m finishing off the Caturday Report on a strong note with these stories!

I’m sure many of you know that there is currently a bill going through the New York senate that would ban declawing throughout the state. But did you know that one of the bill’s sponsors is actually allergic to us kitties?
Here is an awesome article every single person should read, if they are thinking of dating one of our humans.
You know how some cats go crazy after they’ve been to the litter box? This story ponders the possible reasons.
Did you know that today is National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day? The Sometimes Cats Herd You blog has some really awesome tips on being prepared with us kitties.
The Playful Kitty blog has a very thorough post about choosing a flea treatment for your cat — and what to avoid!

It’s been a fun week around here!

My human tried to get me to show my devilish side… like I have one!
All three of us kitties took an online version of the Myers-Briggs assessment test — and the results were surprising!
Am I not allowed on the counter? Says who?
I went shopping for pet food with my human… only it was a little bit different this time.
Lastly, I’m wondering what the big deal is regarding boxes. I’m not sold.

Thanks for reading the Caturday Reports all this time! Don’t worry, I won’t stop keeping on top of the cat news… only I’ll be posting links to good stories on my Facebook page, and sometimes on Twitter instead.
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Having problems with your human or the other cats in your house? As the internet’s “Dear Abby With Claws,” Sparkle had answers to many annoying problems in her two award-winning books! Visit her author’s page on Amazon to buy one or both of her awesome Dear Sparkle books!

Boxing Practice

I have no idea why all these boxes are here except that International Box Day is next month and my human says I need to get in practice. Apparently this holiday used to be a big deal around here with Sparkle.

I guess Binga gets what this Box Day thing is about.

I don’t see where the fun comes in! Wouldn’t you be scared to walk by this box?

Maybe I am just a box humbug.

Okay, so maybe the bigger box is better.

Can somebody direct Binga over here?
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Having problems with your human or the other cats in your house? As the internet’s “Dear Abby With Claws,” Sparkle had answers to many annoying problems in her two award-winning books! Visit her author’s page on Amazon to buy one or both of her awesome Dear Sparkle books!

I’m a Slinger!

My human and I went to PetCo to buy cat food today, but it was different from our usual trips, where she brings me in the carrier, and then lets me wander on my leash inside. I did make the trip in my usual carrier, but…

She put me in the Wacky Paws sling! In spite of my face in this photo, I actually like it better than being carted around in the carrier. My human just couldn’t take a photo of me while she had me slung over her shoulder and, well, it is not exactly supposed to be set on a car seat! She will be using the Wacky Paws sling more often over the next couple of weeks because that is how I will be carried around inside the hotel at BlogPaws.

What I like about the sling is I am better able to interact with my human, and I can look out at things, or burrow inside as I wish. But what I enjoy best about visiting places is being able to wander! I am a kitty who likes her freedom. The moment my human sets me down, I start trotting up and down the aisles. I ran into a nice human and her two boys and either an aunt or a friend. They are getting a pair of kittens soon, so they asked my human for advice.

Notice anything familiar about the big cat behind me? Yes, it is a fellow Somali cat, only that one has red fur. My fur color, which is more brownish, is called ruddy. I would love to be a model too!

I will be honest… I think I am prettier than the kitty behind me! Maybe it is not polite to say that, though.

That made me wonder… do you think I will get any modeling offers at BlogPaws? I wonder how much it would pay?
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Having problems with your human or the other cats in your house? As the internet’s “Dear Abby With Claws,” Sparkle had answers to many annoying problems in her two award-winning books! Visit her author’s page on Amazon to buy one or both of her awesome Dear Sparkle books!

Who Says I’m Not Allowed on the Kitchen Counter?

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Having problems with your human or the other cats in your house? As the internet’s “Dear Abby With Claws,” Sparkle had answers to many annoying problems in her two award-winning books! Visit her author’s page on Amazon to buy one or both of her awesome Dear Sparkle books!

We Took the Meow Briggs Catsonality Test

I know most of you humans have heard of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® personality inventory — you take a series of questions and it helps you gain insight into how you perceive the world around you, and how you make decisions. People use it as a tool to gain a greater understanding of why they do the things they do. There are 16 personality types and humans will find they fall into one of them, with the levels differing from person to person.

But what if a cat took this test, would it be accurate? For fun, all three of us kitties here took an online version of the Myers-Briggs test and we were very surprised at the results because they actually were meaningful! And you may be surprised at some of the results.

I am an ESFP: Extravert (44%), Sensing (62%), Feeling (75%), Perceiving (56%). That means, basically, that I am a social cat who enjoys being around other cats and people. I love creature comforts and working with others. I’m spontaneous, adaptable and have a sense of fun and adventure! I am usually pretty good about making judgments about people and making decisions on how to relate to them. I’m a very hands-on experience kind of kitty and love to play.

But guess what? Binga is also an ESFP! Only her percentages are different: Extravert (33%), Sensing (62%), Feeling (12%), Perceiving (33%). That means that while Binga is a social cat like me, she doesn’t get quite as much from it as I do, and she is way lower on the feeling scale than I am, which makes her less empathetic by far! And while Binga and I both prefer to keep our options open, she is a bit more decisive than I am.

Boodie, on the other hand, is an ISFP: Introvert (100%), Sensing(88%), Feeling(19%), Perceiving (33%)! Yes, you saw that right — she is 100% an introvert, which is why you often see her in the background, if you see her at all. ISFP kitties definitely march to the beat of their own drummer. They are strange and unusual cats who are peace-loving, free spirited and kind. Even so, they are changeable, sometimes friendly and sometime aloof. Like Binga and I (and most cats), Boodie lives in the moment, but she doesn’t let it all hang out like we do. Nobody ever really knows what Boodie is thinking and she’s rather passive, but there is a lot more going on beneath the surface than you might realize.

Just in case you think we cats are all ISFP or ESFP types, my human did the test for Sparkle, and she came out as an ISTP: Introvert (67%), Sensing (38%), Thinking (25%), Perceiving (22%). Quiet, analytical, living by her own rules and, at least on the surface, self-sufficient — all that was Sparkle. My human is unlike any of us kitties, by the way — she is an ENTJ: Extravert (1%), iNtuitive (38%), Thinking (25%), Judging(44%). Sometimes she scores as an INTJ because she is right on the border between Introvert and Extravert. She loves being autonomous or being in charge, and figuring out how things work. She’s also very independent. All this makes her a good publisher and author, but rather a mediocre cat assistant.

This is all for fun, of course — if you want to look at the Myers-Briggs assessment more seriously, you can visit the official Myers & Briggs website for more information. The test we all took was an unofficial online version, and it can be found here.
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Having problems with your human or the other cats in your house? As the internet’s “Dear Abby With Claws,” Sparkle had answers to many annoying problems in her two award-winning books! Visit her author’s page on Amazon to buy one or both of her awesome Dear Sparkle books!

Li’l Devil

Everybody knows I’m a complete angel! So why did my human decide to put this devil hood on me? Does it have something to do with the trouble I caused her with last week’s photo shoot?

Seriously, does this look like a devil face to you?

Maybe I should go incognito! If I really were a devil, I would not want anyone to know it, right?

Although I do hear that bad kitties have more fun!
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Having problems with your human or the other cats in your house? As the internet’s “Dear Abby With Claws,” Sparkle had answers to many annoying problems in her two award-winning books! Visit her author’s page on Amazon to buy one or both of her awesome Dear Sparkle books!