Catnip Chirps Archives - Page 2 of 5

Who are the TUFCATs and where are they now? #GlobalCatDay

16/10/2018
The Lady Cat
16 Comments
Catnip Chirps
community cats, feral cats, Global Cat Day, TNR, TUFCAT

Last updated October 16th, 2019

TUFCAT Feral cat project at the UWC campus in cape Town South Africa

Global Cat Day, celebrated worldwide on October 16, was borne out of a need to rally for and strengthen support for humane policies to protect community cats. It’s a day to celebrate and spread the word that community cats have their rightful place on this planet and can coexist with humans in our living environments.

“The purpose of Global Cat Day is to strengthen support for humane policies that protect cats. October 16, we’re rallying people around the world to take our pledge to speak up for the cats in their communities and show kindness for all catkind.” Alley Cat Allies

Last year on Global Cat Day we shared stories about the community campus cats at the University of the Western Cape in Cape Town, South Africa. Mr. Spunky, in particular, had his heart healed by a litter of four kittens. I caught up with Dr. Sharyn Spicer, lecturer and founder of TUFCAT, The UWC Feral Cat Project, and I was pleased to hear of the many positive changes and major successes along their sometimes very tough journey.

08/10/2018
The Lady Cat
19 Comments
Awards, Catnip Chirps
PIWY Rising Star Winner, WIPIN Pet Industry Woman of the Year

Last updated August 2nd, 2020

It was one of those crazy mornings; cleaning up a scarf and barf incident thanks to Charlie, trying to coax senior girl Sarabi to eat her favorite flavor of Fancy Feast and scurrying around trying to find a new spot for my latest cat grass project that the two Yoots had just uprooted! I was late for work and things went pear-shaped from there. Read More

How one homeless cat made it to the other side of the glass #RememberMeThursday

Don't let time run out for yet another helpless shelter pet. Adopt a pair of furry paws to save a life.

27/09/2018
Chirpy Cats
23 Comments
Catnip Chirps
Remember me Thursday, Remember The Rescue, shelter pets

Last updated September 26th, 2019

I was staring face to face with an intruder, a masked face barely visible in the shadows. When my eyes became accustomed to the darkness, in that faint glimmer of moonlight, I could see two wide eyes staring blatantly back at me, unafraid and curious. The masked intruder suddenly ran off and disappeared into the cold winter night. I could see a tiny cat silhouette in the distance. He stopped and looked back as if to say “I will be back.”

It’s All About The Cats – International Cat Day

Last updated August 8th, 2020

Today we celebrate International Cat Day or World Cat Day, founded by the International Fund For Animal Welfare in 2002 to celebrate our beloved feline companions around the world. Of course, the Chirpies know that every day is Cat Day because that is just the nature of things, right?

7 Ways you can help keep your cat cool in a heatwave

Last updated July 19th, 2022

Jimmy the cat demonstrates the best way to keep cool on a hot day

We’re going through another hot spell and the Chirpies are lying around like beached seals. Although we have air conditioning in the house the cats still feel the heat more than we do. Did you see the extra toe floofs on some cats!?

Cats are heat seekers by nature, but they have some clever tricks up their fur sleeves to keep cool when the weather is sizzling hot.

Chirpy Cats wins Muse Medallions at the Cat Writers’ Conference

Last updated August 2nd, 2020

We sat as usual on our treat stations at 9 pm and nothing was happening. We sat and stared and stared, waiting for that familiar click.

But all we heard was silence and the TV in the background. No treats. Nothing. The Lady Cat was gone and we were left in the care of The Big man Cat.

He said: “No treats for you lot!”

She returned from the Cat Writers’ Association Conference in Houston after four days to announce that we had won something! I wonder if this means we get more treats or she will make up for these four days we were deprived. Ummm, I think she has some explaining to do. Not sure what these silly awards mean and what’s in it for me! Read More

Day Zero and what it means for the shelter pets of Cape Town

23/04/2018
The Lady Cat
23 Comments
Catnip Chirps
animal shelter, day zero, earth day, shelter cats, shelter dogs, water crisis, water for paws

Water for paws donates water to animal shelter

Shelter cats at the Lucky Lucy Foundation examine the water bottles they received from Water for Paws.

Can you imagine a world in which your city is forced to shut off the taps and you and your pets no longer have access to running water? How would you cope if your water was rationed and you had to queue in line to get your daily quota of only 25 liters of water?

If it sounds almost apocalyptic and scary, for people living in the bustling coastal city of Cape Town, South Africa, this is about to become a reality.

22/03/2018
Chirpy Cats
33 Comments
Catnip Chirps
lilies, non-toxic plants, spring, toxicity

Last updated April 1st, 2022

I was at work when I received a call from my sister, sobbing at the other end. Her cat, Misty, had died overnight.

“Do you have lilies in the house?” I asked.

“Yes I do, why?”

It started with a thoughtful gesture of love. Her husband likes to surprise her with her favorite bouquet of lilies. Unbeknownst to him, lilies are highly toxic to our beloved felines.

They’re so beautiful with their trumpet-like petals and filaments beckoning you to behold them and take a closer look. And your cat, being the curious beast that he is, is sure to take more than just a closer look. All parts of the lily are toxic, even the pollen and the water in the vase. Your cat does not have to ingest anything, just brushing against any part of the flower can collect pollen on his fur which your cat may ingest while grooming. Even the tiniest amount of ingested matter will cause acute kidney failure and eventually death, if not aggressively treated within the first few hours of ingestion. National Poison Prevention Month has passed, but awareness is key to prevent the dreaded visit to the emergency vet with your cat’s life hanging on the line. There are thousands of newbie cat owners out there and many do not know of the risks, so we hope you share this post for all to see.

Do you have the answers to your cat’s questions?

Last updated January 23rd, 2020

Mr. Jack the cat rests on his barstool and poses a few questions.

I’m always asking my cats silly rhetorical questions and of course, I pretend to know the answer with “oh yes I know you like chin stritches, Jackaboo.” Sometimes the answer to the question will remain a mystery, “Mr. Jack, do you have to exit the litter box at top speed scattering litter all over the floor?”

And sometimes the question begs, “Really George, do you have to raise your butt in the air when you pee?” most likely accompanied by an eye-roll and a bottle of Nature’s Miracle in tow. It’s National Answer Your Cat’s Question Day and we explore some of the common and not-so-common lines of questioning by our feline friends.

Last updated March 12th, 2018

If you have been following along with the Chirpies in 2017 you would have been exposed to many of the Chirpy Cats’ antics, mostly happening in the catio. This has become the heart of my inspiration for ideas, the central kitty lair which gave birth to segments such as Caturday Doodles, Caturday Voodles (doodles: video with voice-over) and to Marvelous Monday Haiku. It’s the place where my husband and I take delight in observing the feline dynamics in a multi-cat household, each cat with their own little quirks and chirps. So it was only the natural order of things that I wanted the Chirpy Cats blog to focus on helping cats live enriched lives with their people. I hope the Chirpies have added some value to your daily grind and we are so thankful for your company, your comments and feedback. Read More

Catnip Chirps