Roby Sweet's Blog, page 67
February 19, 2016
Cat Proverbs from the Middle Ages
Over the centuries, humans have inserted cats into lots of pithy
little sayings, or proverbs. Some you’re undoubtedly already familiar with: “When
the cat’s away, the mice will play.” Others are less common these days: “The
gloved cat does not catch the mouse.”
Origins of “When the cat’s away…”
These mice aren't playing!Miniatures of cat and mouse, and a mouse,
in a Theological
little sayings, or proverbs. Some you’re undoubtedly already familiar with: “When
the cat’s away, the mice will play.” Others are less common these days: “The
gloved cat does not catch the mouse.”
Origins of “When the cat’s away…”
These mice aren't playing!Miniatures of cat and mouse, and a mouse,
in a Theological
February 18, 2016
Black Cat Syndrome May Be Real, but Shelters Can Do Something About It
Would this cat wait longer to be adoptedthan a lighter-colored cat? According to a studyof adoption records from one shelter in westernNew York, yes. Photo by Roby Sweet.
In recent cat news, a study of cat adoption records from a
New York shelter reveals that “black cat syndrome” is a real thing, and that
shelters can do a couple simple things to help combat it.
What is black cat syndrome?
In recent cat news, a study of cat adoption records from a
New York shelter reveals that “black cat syndrome” is a real thing, and that
shelters can do a couple simple things to help combat it.
What is black cat syndrome?
February 15, 2016
Book Review: The Ninth Life, by Clea Simon
For years, we’ve been reading and loving cat cozies—those
fun, light books featuring one or more cats, a quirky amateur sleuth, and a
rather delightful murder—and yet somehow, Clea Simon’s The Ninth Life is exactly the book we’ve been waiting for. Compelling is not a word that comes to
mind to describe most mysteries we review here, but it is the first word that came
to mind as we read the
fun, light books featuring one or more cats, a quirky amateur sleuth, and a
rather delightful murder—and yet somehow, Clea Simon’s The Ninth Life is exactly the book we’ve been waiting for. Compelling is not a word that comes to
mind to describe most mysteries we review here, but it is the first word that came
to mind as we read the
February 12, 2016
The Bengal Cat: A Little Wildcat in the Living Room
Bengal cat. Photo by Svetlana Valiskaya.
In our continuing exploration into the leopard cat and its
possible domestication in ancient China, today we consider the Bengal cat, a domestic
breed that is a cross between the wild leopard cat and a domestic cat. These
crosses were being made by the late 19th century, if not earlier, though the
breed didn’t become “official” until a century later.
In our continuing exploration into the leopard cat and its
possible domestication in ancient China, today we consider the Bengal cat, a domestic
breed that is a cross between the wild leopard cat and a domestic cat. These
crosses were being made by the late 19th century, if not earlier, though the
breed didn’t become “official” until a century later.
February 8, 2016
App Review: Weather Cats
A screenshot from Weather Cats. Cute cats.
Humans are obsessed with the weather. If you want to know exactly how obsessed, just search for “weather apps” on your phone, and prepare to be overwhelmed. Certain humans (possibly you, if you’re reading this blog) are also obsessed with cats, so it’s really no surprise that there are several apps combining cats and weather. Today we are considering
Humans are obsessed with the weather. If you want to know exactly how obsessed, just search for “weather apps” on your phone, and prepare to be overwhelmed. Certain humans (possibly you, if you’re reading this blog) are also obsessed with cats, so it’s really no surprise that there are several apps combining cats and weather. Today we are considering
February 5, 2016
What Is a Leopard Cat?
Leopard Cat in Bronx Zoo.
By Stavenn (Own work)
[GFDL, CC-BY-SA-3.0, or CC BY 2.5],
via Wikimedia Commons;
If you have been paying attention to this blog, you’ll remember that last week we wrote of new evidence that leopard cats may have been domesticated or almost domesticated 5,000 years ago in parts of China. We thought you might perhaps be curious about these leopard cats, and so this
By Stavenn (Own work)
[GFDL, CC-BY-SA-3.0, or CC BY 2.5],
via Wikimedia Commons;
If you have been paying attention to this blog, you’ll remember that last week we wrote of new evidence that leopard cats may have been domesticated or almost domesticated 5,000 years ago in parts of China. We thought you might perhaps be curious about these leopard cats, and so this
February 4, 2016
Jaguar Spotted in Arizona
Once upon a time, a long, long time ago, there were jaguars in North America. The stocky, spotted cats "roamed from Oregon to Pennsylvania" but disappeared from those northern reaches before Europeans colonized the continent (Sunquist & Sunquist, p. 19). For years now, jaguars in North America have been more a rumor than an actual presence, though the cats have been seen sporadically in southern
February 2, 2016
Adoptable Cat: Max, Looking for a Little Human Companionship
Cats with a Past
Max: Looking for a lovinghome and someone to spendtime with.Photo courtesy ofCats R Us.
Cats and humans need each other. (Really, how any of you humans can survive without the help of at least one of us cats is beyond me.) Max the cat is currently in need of a human to love him, and we just know there’s a human out there somewhere who is waiting to welcome him into their
Max: Looking for a lovinghome and someone to spendtime with.Photo courtesy ofCats R Us.
Cats and humans need each other. (Really, how any of you humans can survive without the help of at least one of us cats is beyond me.) Max the cat is currently in need of a human to love him, and we just know there’s a human out there somewhere who is waiting to welcome him into their
February 1, 2016
Book Review: Murder Most Finicky
Murder Most Finicky, by Liz Mugavero, combines three of our favorite things: cats, food, and of course, murder.Well, I say “cats,” but what I really mean is “cat,” singular. His name is Nutty, and he’s a Maine coon who has the great good fortune to live with one Kristan “Stan” Connor, a former public relations guru who now creates delicious goodies for pets. Every cat should have a person who
January 29, 2016
Were Leopard Cats Domesticated in China 5,000 Years Ago?
Felis silvestris lybica, the
type of wildcat that gave rise to modern domestic kitties.
By Donovan Reginald Rosevear
(The carnivores of West Africa).
[Public domain], via
Wikimedia Commons.
You’ve probably heard a lot about how cat domestication
occurred in ancient Egypt. You may also have heard that all modern domestic
cats (including that one walking across your keyboard) are
type of wildcat that gave rise to modern domestic kitties.
By Donovan Reginald Rosevear
(The carnivores of West Africa).
[Public domain], via
Wikimedia Commons.
You’ve probably heard a lot about how cat domestication
occurred in ancient Egypt. You may also have heard that all modern domestic
cats (including that one walking across your keyboard) are
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