Why You Should Consider Adopting An Older Cat

Smokey

I am loving, affectionate, and I need a home.

While kittens are small, cute, and full of fun, there is a group of cats that often gets overlooked at shelters–older cats. Cats like me, and other older cats, have lots of love to give and may be a better choice for your home.

When adopting an older cat, you will save a life. Older cats are often the last to be adopted and the first to be euthanised. The satisfaction of giving an older cat a home is a wonderful feeling. My mummy feels immense gratitude for providing a home for me after an extended period of my lacking one.

Older cats are thankful that someone gave them a home for their senior years. They make loyal and loving companions. I love my mummy, who has given me a home of my own.

Kittens need a lot of supervision as they are curious and mischievous. Older cats are more sensible and relaxed, but still enjoy some playtime. They like the simple pleasures of a warm lap, sun puddles, and a quiet place to nap. Strictly speaking, I am not an older cat, being only four years and seven months old, but I can be naughty and silly.

Since older cats have developed personalities, you know what you are getting. Whether you are looking for a lap cat or an independent companion, you can find the perfect fit for your home.

While many people are concerned about medical costs for older cats, shelters will provide medical histories. Some cats require medication, and others may be in excellent health, but you will know in advance. With kittens, their future health is unknown. I had some minor health complaints, but I am in excellent health now.

In conclusion, when you choose to adopt an older cat, you change your life and gain a loyal and loving friend. Older cats deserve a loving, forever home, too. Contact your local animal shelters or rescue organisations to find your new family member. You won’t regret it.

The Cat Who Ate the Sun

The Cat that ate the Sun
The Cat who ate the sun.
by @kittehboi & Nightcafe Studio.

“The Cat Who Ate the Sun” is a mythical story explaining the origin of tortoiseshell cats.  According to the legend, the sun became a black cat to visit the Earth. When the sun left, it left behind its fire in the patches of red and orange in the torties’s coat.

This is why Tortoiseshell cats are so popular, because they seem to carry a spark of the sun itself.

Furry Napping Feline

Great fluffy lump
warm fed feline
curled sleeping
all sleek fur
shiny whiskers
and casual stretch
a yawn now
becomes
furry python
with gleaming
talons o’ death

Momentary shadow passes
eyes flash open
fangs snap wetly
brisk tail lashes

Somewhere…prey!

Maybe not
and the great hunter rolls over
again to nap and not
P.A.W.

MMHP2025

Mistletoe Magic Holiday Party

Saturday was a monumental day as it was the first-ever Mistletoe Magic Holiday Party, or #MMHP2025, an event spearheaded by our wonderful leaders, Truman and Gator! It was a festive day-long party on Twitter filled with stalls, gifts, noms and drinks, and of course, DJs and music!

Festivities kicked off at 7:00 am, with DJ Lola from PAWS with her Christmas playlist.

FurryTails was there with delicious funnel cakes and hot chocolate! Truman had his world-famous pub quizzes, TJ and Bart debuted what would become their also world-famous pub quizzes, and NipClub was selling their wreaths and Christmas trees!

So many groups took part! The DangerDawgs had their booth selling their delicious eggnog! ECC had its booth, and Puddin and Murphy brought out their amazing Pop-Up Diner, where they sold Christmas noms and drinks! I was also present to assist!

Undoubtedly, one high point involved a live presentation of #OTLFP. Pixie Tooth and Millie rocked it as always!

NPC also had their wonderful club dragon Doug out for dragon rides around the complex, and they had their noms and drinks as well!

The #MMHP2025 debut proved remarkable, and started something special that everyone can expect each December! What Truman and Gator have started will now become a staple every holiday season!

Nipclub December 4, 2025 Sekurity Update

slinky sekurity

12-4-25 Nipclub

Tonight, we were sledding in the Scottish Highlands with fluffy cows! I had double-parked my spaceship, then had to move it to make space for all the sleds and cows. Nine interlopers had already infiltrated the grounds before I even started my shift.

Tonight, I have Niles as my Scottish highland steer Sekurity sidekick. Moo (@moothemousecat) is serving drams of 18-year-old Glenlivet single-malt with coffee, hot cacao, and drool-worthy blueberry cake. I shall grab a bite before exiting with Niles.

So many spammers tonight, I suggested remodeling the holding cell, and Breeze (@kittehdaboi), aka K-Boi, as I affectionately call him, suggested packing them tighter. Gator (@RealFakeGator) mentioned the empty cells in the basement, but I thought that was a rumor. Didn’t know we had a basement.

Pearl (@TinyPearlCat), Breeze, P & Jeego (@SeattleP), and Sassy (@3phiboticceli) etc. are all here. Moo’s finishing up her shift with crab cakes and fries; tasty, hot food for a shivery snow day. I’m scouting around for interlopers with Niles.

Later, recollections involved old friends alongside late-hour companions who drank excessively, courting issues. I suggested a Scotch whisky fountain, and K-Boi asked if it should be Speyside or Isley. Speyside, if I’m having several drinks! I like Isley for sipping by the fire.

Niles and I went out looking for more sekurity risks, toward the neglected corn maze, and caught a couple of spammers. We went back to the bar to warm up, Niles included. Pearl rewarded us with a Bailey’s hot chocolate. Niles is a great scout. Pearl also made hot toddies, and Niles discovered that the cinnamon stick works as a straw. An edible straw. Too woody for my taste! Pearl also served a delectable ginger cheesecake, and we all chatted some more.

Niles got sleepy, so I knew it was time to take him home to his barn and speed off in my spaceship. It was a fun winter night, filled with hot beverages and great conversation about old times!
Until next week. Slinky the Sekurity Cat

The Secret of Secrets by Dan Brown

Wavy paws. Today, we have a mystery thriller to review for Meet Me At the Bookshelf.

The author of The DaVinci Code, Angels and Demons, and Origin, Dan Brown, authored this 671-page novel called The Secret of Secrets.

Fifty millionty billion walkies could have occurred during Momma’s reading of this dud.

Nod, nod. Two stars, tops.

Prague is where the story unfolds. A gorgeous city that is up to date with top-notch science, surveillance, and technology. Robert Langdon, in his sixth installment of these books, has fallen in love with a talented noetic scientist named Katherine Solomon. She is attending the Charles University Lecture series to present her new and exciting theory and book on human consciousness.

Katherine dreamt of a woman, crowned radiantly like Liberty, who smelled of death, wielding a spear. Thereafter, Langdon senses the hotel’s impending explosion, triggers an alarm that clears it, and then jumps from the window into the water. Katherine is nowhere to be found. Langdon gets a note stating that Katherine is being held and to venture to an assigned location. He does, and trouble ensues.

Langdon found that someone tortured and killed Doctor Brigita Gessner, an eminent Czech neuroscientist, in her lab. She had invited Solomon to speak in the series. Local authorities appear complicit; the Golem, protector of Jewish lore, might be involved. Where, however, could Katherine be?

Dr. Gessner’s assistant, Sasha, tries to help Langdon find the killer. Sasha owns two Siamese cats, Harry and Sally, and she named them after the movie. She met the doctor there after being institutionalized for seizures.

I would chase these two cats.

Sasha has a pretty tame fling with embassy staffer Michael and tells Langdon they are in danger. The two cats often watch out the window, waiting for things to happen, much like Momma and me.

Sasha is soon missing as well.

Who is feeding Harry and Sally?

Will the police arrest Langdon and try to pin Dr. Gessner’s death on him?

Indeed, back at Katherine’s publishing house in America, someone has breached security and deleted Katherine Solomon’s new manuscript. The book publisher cannot reach her to raise any concerns. In fact, someone kidnapped her editor, took him for a joyride around town, and interrogated him to ensure no other copies of the manuscript existed.

The author based the editor on the real-life Dan Brown editor, and the editor should have spent his time editing the book instead of acting as a character within it. Nod, nod. From here, the editor could cut 350 pages.

The Golem is protecting someone in the book. He is a deadly protector. The two cats and I, I think, liked him.

I give the Golem five paws up, and this book only two paws.

I loved the symbolism and new theories in the book. Science is fun, and The Secret of Secrets blends current accepted ideas with new theory. The best parts were the Golem and various embassies and police chases. Very exciting. The book is heavy on the human consciousness theory and gets boring and long-winded.

Dan Brown tries to create a love affair, but it is bland and uninspiring.

Harry and Sally might’ve solved the mystery faster, with increased enjoyment, compared to Robert Langdon.

Where The DaVinci Code was epic, creating controversy and deep discussions for many years, this book falls short, even if better edited. No one will discuss this book in cafes worldwide.

The secret is to take a fun walkie with your dog or cat instead.

Wavy paws and next time being treats to Meet Me at the Bookshelf.

Kissy noses.

How A Cat Shows Their Love, Part 1

Willow pic 1

Cats are not the cold, independent creatures that some people believe them to be. We have much love to give to our chosen human companions. Sometimes, the unobservant human misses how we show our love.

  1. When a cat blinks at you slowly, it is the equivalent of a ‘kitty kiss’. Some of us choose to show our love this way. It means that we trust you completely.
  2. When a cat purrs while sitting next to you or on you, it mostly means that it is happy, content and relaxed. Cooper, my brofur, had a powerful purr engine and purred his heart out when he was next to Mummy or Daddy.
  3. When a cat sleeps near you, it shows love, trust and that it feels safe with you. Cooper loved to take a nap curled up in Mummy’s arms, and he slept at night at her feet.
  4. When a cat walks around with its tail held upright, especially with a curl at the tip, it says that it is pleased to see you. I loved doing that.
  5. When a cat bumps or rubs you with its head, it shows affection and marks you with its scent. I loved to rub my face on my Mummy’s or Daddy’s shoes and legs. I was very enthusiastic about it.
  6. When a cat shows its belly by lying on its back near you, it shows total trust in you. That’s because it is the most vulnerable area of their bodies. Cooper also delighted in doing that. Some cats don’t like their bellies touched, though I don’t mind it.

    As you can see, cats show their love with their body language and/or speech. Part two will cover several ways feline companions display affection.
Willow pic 2
Willow pic 2

Willow

To Bathe or Not To Bathe, That is The Question

Firstly, hello and welcome along to the wonderful Anipal Times. My name is Bob, and I’m your Agony Uncle.

My first email raises the very impawtant question – “To Bath or Not To Bath”. Recently, someone bathed Fred, whose name was changed to protect privacy, even though he fought heroically after he refused a bath.

Dear Bob

Let me set the scene, Fred says. He was walking along with his hooman whilst out walking in the lovely countryside where he lives and came upon the most gorgeous, premium, irresistible scent in the air that he knew he had to investigate and discover – if only to enter it into his Catalogue of Smells!

Well, when he looked back to see his hooman talking to anofur hooman, he thought he would check it out himself … so he did. When he got there, he realised it was indeed the most exquisite smell efur a dog could come across and knew instantly that he needed to have it upon himself. He rolled and rolled in it to ensure he covered every inch of himself in this luxurious smell! Proudly, he couldn’t wait to get back to his hooman to let them smell for themselves this wondrous smell! A true delicate bouquet for the nostrils!

Anyway, upon his return to his hooman, who incidentally was still talking to the other hooman, he went and sat right next to them and looked up at them, smiling. Then, a complete fluff explosion occurred. His hooman shrieked and shouted, “You smelly ****” (this word cannot be repeated ), then took away Fred’s freedom and liberties by grabbing his harness and taking him home. On reaching home, the hooman took Fred, who put up the most heroic fight for at least 30 mins, before being tricked with a treat, to the bathroom. They indeed trapped him in there and bathed him without a please or thank you.

Poor Fred lost his exquisite smell, and someone bathed him without his consent. Yes, consider this: Someone bathed Fred without his consent.

Dear Fred,

I think I’m not the only one who thinks they mistreated you when they gave you a bath without your consent. In fact, I believe your hooman needs a serious talking to about this unacceptable behaviour. I, for one, will come along to your home and back you up in this serious talking-to. They took your choice and liberties without consent, and you need to make them aware of this.

I would like you, the readers, to let me and Fred know your opinion on this matter. Do you think, like me, that their hooman needs a proper talk with? What would you do?

Please let us know in the comments.

Thank you.

Animal Holidays and Observations December 7 – 13

December

The only December Animal Monthly Observation is:

National Cat Lovers Month

Daily holidays during the second week include:

• December 9: International Day of Veterinary Medicine
• December 9: National Llama Day
• December 10: Festival for the Souls of Dead Whales
• December 10: International Animal Rights Day
• December 10: National Day of Animal Rights
• December 11: Holiday Food Drive for Needy Animals Day
• December 13: National Day of the Horse