Calling All Cat Lovers!

Reka (her name means “sweet” in Maori)

The Oregon Humane Society does some amazing work. Just last year we adopted our cat Reka from OHS and we’re happy to say she is a happy, healthy girl (she’s currently napping on a paper bag next to my desk).

But there are hundreds of cats and kittens like her who need a home. It’s summertime in the Rose City and that means “a bumper crop of new kittens,” according to the OHS Web site. More than 180 cats are currently available for adoption. “There is almost no room for new arrivals, and we’ve got 400 cats on a waiting list for the next available space,” said OHS Executive Director Sharon Harmon on the OHS Web site.

What can you do?

Share this story with friends or visit the link and send to friends and family. Not from Oregon? I’m sure there are humane societies in your city too that are experiencing the same influx of kitties. Do your part and spread the word and adopt if you can.

As I look at Reka snoozing by my side, I can only tell you that you’ll be glad you did.

The Cat in the Hat

No, not the book silly. The actual thing!

Regarding a cat in hat, a friend pointed me to Cute Overload, which is always a source of much happiness. Today one of the featured photos is an adorable calico cat, relaxing, wearing a pink crocheted hat. Evidently this cat doesn’t mind the hat!

“You’ll probably spend a lot more time making this hat than your cat will spend wearing it (unless your cat likes playing dress-up), but it’s still a fun, easy project for a beginning crocheter (and avid cat lover),” writes the author.

The best part about the hat is the way it sits snugly on the cat’s head and wraps around the ears.

For the pattern, visit:

http://www.wikihow.com/Crochet-a-Cat-Hat

Our Name Change and More

Hello Cat Fans!

After much deliberation we have changed our publication name to The Weekly AdvoCat.

We’re still dedicated to giving you, our few, dear, readers compelling cat content. We just can’t promise that the coverage will be timely right now. Our editor is gearing up to present a thesis project in a few weeks and then graduate. The thesis project is also centered on the feline, featuring The AdvoCats!, a cast of cat characters dedicated to the ethical treatment of cats. Their leader, BeBot, is pictured above.

We thank you for your patience and look forward to hearing from you.

The Cats We Love

There’s a T-shirt I got a Salvation Army in New Orleans years ago that says, “I LOVE CATS,” and underneath it is the acronym, USACO. Now, I’ve been trying to find this organization for years. What does it stand for? The United States of America Cat Organization? Or the United States Association of Cat Organizations? I think I need a little help here …

You see, I want to become a member! I want to get a new USACO T-shirt as mine is falling apart. Most of all, I want to help cats. And I want to help people help cats.

Currently, I am working on a thesis project for art school about cats. It initially started as a journal of cat culture, then a collection of comics and now a series based on cat characters that may include collectible cat figures. Phew! Really, it’s the stories that matter, your stories, our stories about our cats. So if anyone out there is reading and wants to share theirs, I’d love to hear it!

A Long Vacation

The folks here at Cat Fever have now returned from a long vacation. Mostly, we’ve been immersed in a related project — the design and creation of some cat characters. More on all that at a later date.

It’s been great to get comments from folks, thanks for the interest!

In addition to working hard on said project, I was able to “get away from it all” for a week. While on the island of Maui, I met the lovely cat pictured above. I was taking an early morning walk and when I rounded a corner, there she sat. I immediately stopped what I was doing to say hello. Unfortunately, our interaction was brief — she was eagerly stalking some doves in the underbrush.

News of Note: We will now be publishing on this here blog on a weekly basis, every Thursday! Woohoo!

Lend a hand

Cat Fever read about this and thought readers might want to know about the program. Below is a pasted press release from the sponsoring organizations. Maybe you can spread the word or lend a home or hand? For more information, call 503-925-8905 or visit www.catadoptionteam.org

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14 Cats from Beirut, Lebanon, Now Looking for Homes in Portland

International Feline Adoption Collaboration of the Pixie Project and Cat Adoption Team

(Jan. 25, 2008) — Fourteen feline refuges from Lebanon’s capital city arrived in Portland on Monday, January 21 and are now available for adoption through the Cat Adoption Team and Pixie Project. Abandoned on the streets, rescued from neglect at a pet shop, found in a garbage pail, injured and discarded, Ella, Cookie, Dido, Karel, Bono, Nancy, and the others now have a real chance at finding loving, caring homes.

War and political instability in the region make finding permanent homes for these animals in Beirut extremely challenging. Daily circumstances change and funding evaporates, yet the need to help the animal victims continues. The majority of cats sheltered by Beirut for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (BETA) were dumped at the shelter doors, rescued from the highway, or so badly injured they were overlooked by others.

The Pixie Project, a rescue adoption center in N.E. Portland, worked with Beirut for the Ethical Treatment of Animals to bring some of their homeless animals to Portland in an effort to ease the burden on BETA’s limited resources. The Pixie Project enlisted the aid and expertise of the Cat Adoption Team in this international adoption collaboration.

The 14 Beirut cats were given time to settle into new surroundings, observed for any ill-affects to their long transit, examined by veterinarians, and are now available for adoption from the Cat Adoption Team and Pixie Project.

BETA is the only animal rescue organization for Lebanon and cares for over 340 cats and dogs in their shelters. They have 7 paid staff and about 20 volunteers. BETA pets have found homes through international adoption collaborations in Germany, Holland, Canada, and the United States.

Fast Facts:

• Average age of BETA cats: 3 years
• All BETA cats are spay/neutered, vaccinated, tested for FIV/FeLV, microchipped
• Total miles traveled: 6,794
• 5 cats are available through CAT
• 9 cats are available through the Pixie Project

Home Sweet Cat Home

Is your cat scratching the heck out of your bed? Are Bobbers and Mittens itching for an outside adventure, but you want to keep them indoors?

Maybe the book, The Cat’s House, by Bob Walker and Frances Mooney might help.

Now I haven’t read the book cover-to-cover (yet). But I have read numerous reviews and paged through it many times and have found it to be an inspiring resource for folks who want to integrate the human and feline environs.

According to Booklist:

“It’s not exactly architecture or do-it-yourself art. What Walker has created is a colorful tribute to the roles cats play in our lives by offering a way to reward them for simply being their feline selves—an environment called the “cat house.” The directions for reproducing his 110-foot series of catwalks, staircases, mouse (and other) holes, and shelves are admittedly sparse; a few architectural renderings and some minimalist instructions guarantee that an imitator will need to check other sources. But practical advice does appear in the description of how to secure treasured accessories and furniture, and there are some suggestions on remodeling.”

Here at Cat Fever, we’ve been thinking a lot about how to help our cats and ourselves enjoy eachother’s company more. In that effort, we’ve got our cat Reka a little cat house of her own, compliments of my friend Celeste. She loves to hide in it, bring her toys in and wrestle. We poke the outside and she scratches from inside. Its quite fun. Sometimes, we come home and her house is turned upside down in the middle of our living room. It’s her little hideaway, and we all love it.

Next project: giving our cats more window space. Does anyone out there know where we can get a window seat or box for our cats?

Are you a Cat-holic?

Catholic is an interesting catalogue of cat-only art, the result of an show at Guild & Greyshkul Gallery in New York in 2003. The catalogue, published by Evil Twin Publications, provides an interesting look at wide range of cat art.

The publishers and editors, Jesse and Glynnis, use the word Catholic “in the spirit of its neglected definition—having varied tastes,” the introduction states. They add, “this isn’t about eating fish on Fridays, ok?”

Their first subject was cat art, and the limited edition book (1,000 were printed) features photos, grahic art and drawings centered on the feline. One of the most touching stories is an obituary of sorts for a kitten who died suddenly. There’s also a feature on those cheesy motivational posters, featuring a cat holding onto a line with the words, “Hang in there, baby!” Want to learn more about cat taxidermy art? There are two profiles of artists who use this technique in their work.

Cat Fever hopes to interview Catholic editors soon about this exciting and engaging book of cat art. Click on the cover photo and you will be sent directly to Catholic publisher Evil Twin Publications’ Web site. The book is 112 pages, printed in full color, silkscreened cover, hardcover binding, 7 x 8.5.” Fun!

Follow your Instincts

It is a cold morning here in Portland, Oregon and our cat Reka (pictured) knows just what to do. Though she’s a shy girl, she has no qualms about cuddling under the covers to stay warm. She follows her instincts.

Reka joined our family with the help of the Oregon Humane Society. We went there this summer looking for a buddy for our other cat, ‘Lil. I spotted her hiding in a long, blue fabric tube in one of the shelter’s play rooms. While other cats were pawing at the window, “Hey you, look at me!”, Reka just laid in the tube, looking a bit miffed and scared.

“What about that cat there?” I asked my fiancé as I pointed to her. We read Reka’s profile and asked to see her. The minute we sat down with her in one of the adoption rooms, Reka curled up in Nick’s lap and started to purr. We both got teary-eyed. “She’s the one,” he said.

Since then, she’s made herself quite at home here: cavorting, playing, scratching the rug, toppling over her little cat house …

Just consider yourself lucky to see her! When people come over, Reka always hides in my closet. In some ways, Reka will always be that little girl in the blue tube; a little shy, but always eager to connect with you if you give her space. Simply put, she follows her instincts.

The Fate of the Cougar

Have you ever seen a cougar in the wild? Cougars have been a part of the rural Oregon landscape for centuries. Now, there’s a public debate in the Beaver State over how the cougar population should be handled after ongoing conflicts between cougars and the human population.

Recently, the federal government conducted a study to thin the cougar population in Oregon amid theories that the cougar population is increasing. So far, 59 cougars have been killed. A lawsuit was filed today in U.S. District Court to halt the study that seeks to determine if thinning cougar populations will reduce conflicts with people and livestock.

Because I just learned about this study and the lawsuit, I am reticent to give my opinion as I need more information. What do you think?

You can read more about it here:

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/O/OR_COUGAR_LAWSUIT_OROL-?SITE=KOPB&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT