tile floor, bowl is empty
seconds pass in torment
as human watches, cold
two minutes, she says
my desperation rises
I am skin and bone
I have to survive
starvation imminent
kibble comes at dawn
Hungry Cat Haiku, Part 2
The Fairy Tail Cat
The ancients sang
of fairy tales,
dancing folk and wild spells
and mythic dreams
not meant to tell
on moonlit nights
in circle rounds
the fairy king
I think I’ve found–
little feet upon the ground
paw pads four, fire crown
“tiger, tiger burning bright”
the fairy king is out tonight
with fireflies and fairy flight
he dances softly in disguise:
he disappears to mortal eyes
dancing beneath the summer sky
but a cat among the clover lies
a secret king with head held high
a fairy king who never dies
I see him dancing in the night
The Domus Juliana (House of Julius)
Momma knows her Latin well:
poems, history, evil spells
and places where emperors used to dwell
fancy homes of which she likes to tell
One of mine, she says, I’ll be calling home
a royal palace, a regal dome
with marble walls and gardens to roam
an imperial palace of my very own
There will be birds and sunlight and silken beds
and soft warm spots to set my head
servants will heed my beck and call
as emperor, I’ll rule them all
But there’s a journey first, a ride afar
I hate the carrier, loathe the car
I’ll scream until Momma’s seeing stars–
until we’re there: au revoir, revoir!
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year from Julius and everyone here at Sir Socks Le Chat. We hope you have a happy, healthy start to 2020!
New Website—Same Online Magazine
So, our part of our experiment has failed on this current site. The one that has to be paid for. (sirsockslechat.com) We didn’t get any charities to promote. One talked to us and then we heard nothing else from them. One just wanted to talk about dogs and forgot about the cats. Others just didn’t plain respond.
We haven’t received donations after we got this paid site up and running. We have no money coming in to pay for this site. We also don’t get enough hits on the site every month to have paid advertising. So, that was also a failure. We do get hits. Just not enough to do these other things we wanted to do with the online magazine.
So, this issue is the last one on this site. The site is going down later this month. (October 2019) However, we still have our backup site at sirsockslechatvideo.blog. So, all the articles will be found there.
We do plan on keeping the magazine going a little while longer. At least long enough to serialize my memoirs. We will still post how many copies Cat Tales of the Frisky9 Scarf Army sells. We also want to put another Cat Tales book about the Ambassacats out to benefit Battersea. Hopefully, Gladstone will be ready to rally the ambassacats as my girl gathers all the information and pictures for the book.
Please continue to enjoy my magazine and my memoirs. There’s still more to come.
On tigers, and why I am one
Tigers, those majestic king-beasts of the feline world, are famous for a number of reasons. They fierce and capable hunters, routinely bringing down large prey in amazing feats of physical performance, and in addition to their athletic prowess, they are dazzlingly handsome, their beautiful stripes and bright eyes enchanting all those who see them. Further, firmly striking their identity apart from that of your average, everyday feline, they enjoy water and swim in it when they want to, something that we would hardly ever see your everyday feline do. Taking these qualities into account, I think it’s safe to say that I, too, must be some form of marvelous tiger, since I exhibit all the traits of one of these magnificent creatures.
I always suspected that I was a descendant of tigers, even if nobody told me. Perhaps they were trying to conceal my regal heritage from me, but that ruse could only be kept up for so long. Royal blood always emerges sooner or later. My physical similarity to tigers is undeniable–anyone who looks at me for so much as a second certainly must recognize the familial relation. I have the orange stripes, the eyes, the gait, the broad, imposing face. The only thing I am really lacking is stature, and that can be made up for with confidence, of which I have plenty.
Like my mighty relatives, I also love water. My human was surprised when spritz-bottles did nothing to discourage me. She was surprised to find me in the bath tub when it still had water in it. She was also surprised to find me tolerating baths unperturbed, especially if the water was warm. Yes, I love water. I love to stick my paws in it, my face in it, my tail in it. She fills up the sink for me to have as a giant water bowl, but I like water best if it’s being used by someone else. I investigate every cup that people leave out. I don’t care if my belly gets wet when I’m stealing a drink out of the tub. I put my paws in the toilet and drink out of it too. My human has given up trying to stop me. Silly human, toilet water is what keeps me so healthy!
When provided with this evidence, who could deny my relation to those tigers? The resemblance is uncanny, with a brilliant personality to match.
An imperial message on cat beds
We all know that cats need a variety of nice beds to sleep in. We cats are certainly connoisseurs of comfort and luxury, and this discerning taste only becomes more refined with age and experience. I have slept in/on a great number of different beds in my time, and I’m going to share my wisdom with you all today and rank my favorite sleeping spots.
#5: The Tried and True Cat Bed
I have two cat beds, which my human has smartly placed on the floor beside a large window. They are good, sturdy, practical things. They’re soft enough for a quick nap and they keep my butt warm and add extra comfort when I’m watching birds, but they’re nothing remarkable. True luxury exists elsewhere.
#4: The Couch
I like the couch more than my cat beds because it’s off the floor and much softer. I can stretch out and lounge on blankets and cushions. It also gives me a good view of my domain.
#3: My Human’s Bed
This was the best sleeping spot I knew for years. Warm, cushioned, and plush, the bed is certainly an unparalleled kind of luxury. I can sleep here for hours in all sorts of positions: stretched out, on my back, cat loaf, and more. I can rest my head on pillows and snuggle with my human. The bed is a solid, staple favorite of mine.
#2: My Cat Tree
Oh, how my life changed forever once I got my tree! I love my cat tree! It combines so many of my favorite things together — I can be up high, reclining in plush luxury, and I can watch birds comfortably from my window. I spend many hours of my day in my cat tree. It offers great versatility, allowing me to carry out my favorite activities in warmth and comfort.
#1: My Basket
Don’t get my wrong — I love my tree, I love my human’s bed, but this one takes the cake above everything. I never knew how wonderful baskets were until recently. I discovered this by accident and a true stroke of luck. There is something so beautifully, enticingly rustic and wild about being in a basket. It makes you feel like a true tiger, surrounded by nature, sleeping in the rough. It fits me snugly and perfectly, and I sleep just like a kitten. I would recommend a well-fitted basket to every cat who can get one!
Sleep Disorders (Monthly Cat Care Article)
Disclaimer: the staff writers here are not vets nor are they qualified to give medical advice. This article’s purpose is strictly to share stories/information and should not be used for diagnostic purposes. Please take your cat to the vet if you suspect anything might be wrong with them. Your vet will know best what to do in your specific situation.
Cats can certainly adhere to odd schedules, at least by human terms. Cats often sleep blissfully through entire days only to burst with lively energy and enthusiasm at particular hours of the night. Most “normal” cats do sleep quite a lot — sometimes upwards of 15 hours or more — but this sleep is generally light or dozing sleep, from which they can awaken quickly if need be, and most “normal” cats awaken for activity during dawn or twilight hours. That being said, however, cats can and do suffer from a variety sleep disorders, especially as they age.
Narcolepsy is one kind of sleep disorder cats can suffer from. A cat with narcolepsy will suddenly collapse and seem to have fallen into a deep sleep, and the cat will also exhibit signs of REM sleep as if it is dreaming. The exact causes of narcolepsy are unknown. The disorder in and of itself is not dangerous, but could present dangers if the cat were to fall into water or from a high height because of a sudden sleep attack.
Sleep apnea is another sleep disorder cats can have, especially if they are overweight or if they are Persian. Symptoms to look out for include loud snoring, gasping/choking while asleep, and spasms of the diaphragm. Treatment might involve weight loss if the cat is overweight or corrective surgery in more extreme cases.
Cats can also suffer from insomnia, especially elderly cats. Some elderly cats will develop erratic sleeping schedules and will have difficulty sleeping. Some cats will be extremely restless and vocalize frequently throughout the night as well. In many of these cases, insomnia and disrupted sleeping patterns can be the result of age-related cognitive decline or sometimes hyperthyroidism.
So what’s a pet parent to do? If your kitty doesn’t seem to be distressed or in pain and their sleep schedule stays relatively the same, perhaps they just enjoy roaming during nighttime hours. You might want to invest in earplugs.
Cats and UTIs (Monthly Cat Care Article)
Disclaimer: the staff writers here are not vets nor are they qualified to give medical advice. This article’s purpose is strictly to share stories/information and should not be used for diagnostic purposes. Please take your cat to the vet if you suspect anything might be wrong with them. Your vet will know best what to do in your specific situation.
Last month, we talked about FLUTD/FIC, which are diseases that afflict cats’ urinary tracts. This month, we are continuing to look at urinary tract issues, this time focusing on a well-known, common problem: urinary tract infections (UTIs).
UTIs can affect both male and female cats, unlike FLUTD/FIC, which is much more common in male cats. UTIs more commonly affect older cats, cats with diabetes, and cats with FLUTD/FIC, with UTIs being most common in older female cats. The cause of most UTIs is relatively straightforward. Just like in humans, feline UTIs are caused by a bacterial infection of the urethra. If left untreated, the infection can spread into the bladder and kidneys, which can be very dangerous. Fortunately, UTIs can usually be treated with antibiotics, and with prompt, early treatment, most cats make full recoveries.
UTI warning signs include:
– Struggling to urinate. The cat passes small amounts of urine or none at all.
– Frequent trips to the litter box.
– Urinating outside the litter box.
– Discomfort while urinating. The cat might hiss or yowl in the litter box.
– Licking at the genitals.
– Restlessness, listlessness, maybe a fever.
– Blood in the urine.
If you observe any or some of these signs in your cat, take them to the vet right away and have them checked out. The earlier you catch any infections, the better, and the sooner you can get them started on antibiotic treatment. During and after treatment, however, it is important that you monitor them for additional signs of distress — sometimes the inflammation caused by the UTI can lead to the development of a urinary blockage, especially in male cats, so it’s important to stay vigilant and make sure your cat is not developing additional complications.
With quick treatment and the eye of a watchful, loving pet-parent, most cats can recover from their UTIs and go back to being their playful, happy selves in a short time. When in doubt, it’s always a good idea to ask a vet to make sure your fur-baby is okay.
The Gremlins in My Litter Box
Recently, I have had the misfortune of being persecuted, my dear followers, by what I can only assume are gremlins in my litter box. I have no idea why these invisible creatures have chosen to come after me, especially now. At troubled points in my past, I dealt with their curmudgeonly attacks, and I dealt with these attacks largely in silence. These attacks, although irritating, would eventually pass, and I would forget about them until they would inevitably return one day without warning. Sometimes weeks would pass where I would be left undisturbed, and I would relish those weeks, relish the freedom of being able to use the litter box in peace. Other times, I would have to grit my teeth, knowing that the gremlins would emerge and make my litter box an unpleasant place whenever I attempted to do anything. I was brave for a long time, enduring the gremlins, but eventually it became too much for me. I had to seek out alternative options just to try to escape them. I tried to use other places–the bed, the couch, the rug, hidden corners around the house. The gremlins still managed to find me. Now I wasn’t safe anywhere in the house, and I started hissing at them. They were lurking invisibly around me, everywhere. I just wanted to win back the trust and peace I had formerly enjoyed in my litter box.
I had tried to tell various humans about this at points when it got especially bad. My humans didn’t seem to understand my distress. They thought I was just being a bad-tempered emperor, upset by the rearrangement of furniture in my palace. Some vets didn’t understand me either, saying it was just because I was fussy about my litter. It’s the gremlins, I kept saying, it’s the gremlins, but my cries fell on deaf ears for a long time. It was really the hissing and the madness that got my humans’ attention–finally, at last, someone was aware of my struggle with these gremlins.
I almost regretted bringing their awareness to it at first. I can’t count the number of times I got stuffed in the dreaded cat carrier and hauled to a vet. The number of times I saw the cold insides of that vet’s office! The number of times I got poked and prodded! The number of times I was forced to eat horrible, bitter liquids! But whatever they did to me, as awful as it was, chased the gremlins away, at least for now. It’s hard to believe that they’re actually gone and won’t torment me anymore.
Sir Socks Le Chat 