As Cat Diaries reported here, the recent floods in Queensland and Victoria, followed by the impact of Cyclone Yasi, haven’t only taken a toll on the human inhabitants. Pets and livestock have suffered, too.

So Dr Katrina Warren and the Wonderdogs would like you and, if you have one, your dog to pack a picnic and join them for a special community event to raise funds for the animals and their families affected by the recent disasters. Registration costs just $10 per adult (children are free), with all money raised going to the Animal Welfare League NSW. Alternatively, you can make a donation at www.awlnsw.com.au.

The event is taking place this Sunday, 27 February, 2011, at Callan Park, Rozelle, NSW, from 3pm onwards and features a great line-up, including…

• Wonderdog trick shows, training and agility
• Dog competitions, such as ‘musical sit’ and a trick competition
• A colouring competition for kids
• An opportunity to meet Dr Katrina, plus other celebs celebrities and their dogs
• Photo opportunities with the Wonderdogs, sponsored by The Advantage Family
• Raffle
• Pet photographer
• Community choir

Just remember that all dogs must be kept on leads.

The culmination of the event takes place at 5pm with the creation of a Community Memory Tree. In a ceremony led by celebrant Victoria Spence, you’ll have the opportunity to celebrate your pets and what they bring to your life and honour all the animals who died in the floods and cyclone. Bring a photo of a pet you would like to remember to add to the Memory Tree, or you can make a memorial on the day (some materials will be available).

We hope to see you there!

• Click here for more information or, call (02) 8899 3333 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              (02) 8899 3333      end_of_the_skype_highlighting. If you can’t make it to Callan Park on Sunday, you can still make a donation at www.awlnsw.com.au.

Image sourced from: awlnsw.com.au & blogs.citypages.com

It was with heavy hearts that the Cat Diaries team learned of the recent slaughter of over 100 sled-dogs in the Canadian skiing village of Whistler.

In an unimaginable horror to anyone with a heart – let alone a pet at home – 100 sled dogs were allegedly shot and knifed by an employee of the companies ‘Outdoor Adventures Whistler’ and ‘Howling Dogs’, both sled-tour providers.

While the details are still uncertain, what is known is that the killings came to light after the employee in question claimed compensation for post-traumatic stress syndrome because of the nature of the killings.

According to documents in the possession of the SPCA of British Columbia, dogs were tethered and had to witness hours of brutality before the gun was turned on them, with scenes of unmentionable horror being described.

Peter Fricker from the Vancouver Humane society said, ‘We think as the public finds out more of the details of this case that they are going to be completely outraged.’

The killings allegedly took place in April, after the business and tourism boom produced by the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics died down.

While the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the SPCA are investigating the case, experts have warned that cruelty cases are often difficult to prosecute.

The case has shocked dog-lovers and animal rights groups around the world, and shone the spotlight on the sledding tourism industry itself.

‘We’d like to see the entire sled dog industry shut down,’ said Fricker. ‘Something like this can never happen again.’

Image sourced from: pups-seeking-homes.com and urbanitebaltimore.com

Here are some famous quotes about cats. Read them, then add your own!

We thought Cat Diaries readers may be interested in these cat-related quotes. Then we thought you might like to add your own words of wisdom about your furry friends…

• ‘Every dog has his day – but the nights are reserved for the cats’ – Anonymous

• ‘The cat is above all things, a dramatist’ – Margaret Benson

• ‘Dogs have owners, cats have staff’ – Anonymous

• ‘People that hate cats will come back as mice in their next life’ – Anonymous

• ‘The cat has too much spirit to have no heart’ – Ernest Menaul

• ‘Your cat will never threaten your popularity by barking at three in the morning. He won’t attack the mailman or eat the drapes, although he may climb the drapes to see how the room looks from the ceiling’ – Helen Powers

• ‘Cats our magical… the more you pet them the longer you both live’ – Anonymous

• ‘Cats are connoisseurs of comfort’ – James Herriot

• ‘Time spent with cats is never wasted’ – Sigmund Freud

• ‘When my cats aren’t happy, I’m not happy… because I know they’re just sitting there thinking up ways to get even’ – Percy Shelley

• ‘Cats always seem so very wise, when staring with their half-closed eyes. Can they be thinking, “I’ll be nice, then maybe she will feed me twice”?’ – Bette Midler

So what do you think? Do any of those quotes really sum up the cuddly-yet-aloof enigma that is the cat? If so, which one. And if not, perhaps you could come up with your own quote. Just use the Comment facility below to share your thoughts…

Image sourced from: Petcare and Newanimated

Let’s face it, a new kitten in the family, while wonderful, also means a whole lot of work and uncertainty. To help get you through this sometimes challenging time, we’ve put together a list of our top tips and tricks that will get your furry new friend settled in as smoothly as possible.

•    Kitten Proofing and Kitten Safety! Of course, no matter how hard you try to make sure that everything that a kitten could destroy (or could destroy a kitten) is out of his or her reach before the arrival, there is bound to be some dangling wire or loose couch thread that will attract the baby as soon as they’re brave enough to explore.

The real trick to kitten-proofing is to “see through the eyes” of your kitten! Don’t let looking silly stop you! Just lie flat on your stomach and survey the room as if you were an inquisitive feline looking for trouble. This includes looking for loose cables, wires, threads, glass objects, or plants which may be harmful if eaten.

Another tip is to always make sure that the toilet seat is always left down and the toilet door closed. Sadly, it is all too common for kittens to meet their demise in the toilet bowl after becoming a little too inquisitive.

•    Help The New Kitten Feel Secure With Its Own Special Safe Space. It is often overwhelming for a kitten to be brought into a strange new home, no matter how much love and good will it is showered with. It is important, especially in the first few days, that you set aside a small, comfortable and warm space for the kitten to be left alone when he or she needs their space.

It is far easier for a kitten to familiarise themself with a quiet, smaller area than to try and confront all the unknown nooks and crannies of a family house. Make sure you place food and water within easy reach of this space, as well as a litter-tray nearby (although not too close to the food, cats are fastidiously clean animals). Once they have become comfortable and familiar with their small ‘safe space’, they will feel more at ease to explore the rest of their new play-land.

•    Ease the homesickness for mum…A heartbreaking reality of bringing home a new kitten is that for the first few days they will most likely long for the comfort of their mother and their litter-mates. There are a few ways in which you can ease the pain of separation for your new family member. One tried and tested trick is to put a ticking clock in the kitten’s bed. The noise will replicate its mother’s heartbeat and soothe some of the loneliness. Another well-tested trick is to provide a hot water bottle (not too hot) to give comfort to the baby.

Above all, the most important thing is to watch your kitten closely and give it plenty of love. It will soon show you what it is comfortable with and what it likes. Responding to these needs will settle your kitten and make it a part of the family in no time.

Have any other tips or hints to help the new kitten settle in to its new home? Let us and others know about it!

Image by: Andreas Solberg,  mathias-erhart and jm2c

When it comes to cat beds, personal preference generally rules the roost. Some cat owners don’t bother with formal beds for their pets, preferring to cuddle up with them at night. That’s fine if it works for you, but if you’re thinking about buying a cat and, much as you’re going to love it, would prefer to distance yourself from it at night, a cat-specific bed is the way to go.

There are a plethora of cat beds available, both in pet shops and online. The size and look of the bed will ultimately depend upon how much space – and money – you have, and how much space your cat requires. The ideal bed should be cosy and snug, without being too cosy and snug. As a general rule, your cat should be able to turn around in its bed.
Encourage your cat to start using its bed as a kitten, enticing it in there with a handful of treats. Place the bed in a high-visibility area (the corner of the lounge or dining room, for example), so your cat quickly becomes comfortable knowing that its family is still around. A bed placed under a window is ideal.

Types of bed

The right bed for your cat is important, given the amount of time they spend sleeping each day. Cat beds come in a variety of different materials. The wicker basket is perhaps the most traditional, but also the least likely to stand the test of time. Wicker baskets make tempting chewing devices for cats and are also difficult to clean.

Plastic baskets make a viable alternative to wicker. They may not look as nice, but they are durable and maintenance-friendly, and, when lined with blankets or a pillow, are extremely comfortable.

Doughnut beds are ready-made, pre-stuffed beds manufactured from soft material and with raised sides. Check that the material is washable before purchasing as they can look pretty grotty pretty quickly!

Alternatively, you may find that your cat prefers the security of an enclosed bed. It may look more like a tent, but it’s undeniable comfortable!

Image by: oshawa

Cat Diaries has already provided information on travelling with cats and renting with cats, but what if you want to make a really big move, to an overseas country? What happens if, say, the job of a lifetime comes up in some exotic location? You’d love to accept, but you don’t want to go without your cat. What do you do?

Actually, travelling overseas with pets is now far easier than it used to be. Because of historical and family ties, many Australians move to and from the UK. Previously, that would mean your cat spending six months in quarantine in the UK before you would be allowed access to her. A horrible prospect for pet and owner alike. And one that was also very expensive.

Pet passports
Now, though, you can apply for a pet passport to enable you to bypass quarantine. In order to qualify for this, your cat must be microchipped and vaccinated against rabies. A blood test is then required to ensure the vaccination has been successful.

Other countries have had traditionally had less stringent requirements. However, there is still an awful lot of paperwork involved. At a minimum, you will be required to fill out innumerable forms and have a health check carried out by an Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service-approved vet within 48 hours of travel.

Practical considerations
•    The expense – It costs more to fly a pet overseas than it does a person.
•    Travelling container – Strict regulations govern these. Airlines will be able to inform you what they require. However, you may be better off using an accredited pet transport company who will handle all the arrangements (from tickets to containers, and everything else) for you. Australia-based companies include All Creatures Air Road (1800 44 11 33) and the Dr Katrina Warren-recommended Jetpets (1300 668 309).
•    Sedation – Although it may seem logical to sedate a pet for a long, unsettling journey, it is not advisable. Speak to your vet for guidance and further information.

No-one can pretend that moving overseas with a pet is a straightforward – or cheap – operation. But by doing your research, consulting experts and talking to your vet, you can make the move with the minimum of stress caused to you, or your cat.

Images by: Imapix and Araleya

Like many things that exist on the Internet, this video comes with a title that’s verging on hyperbole. However, we’re pleased to report that after innumerable repeat viewings (from Cornelius amongst others), ’10 Cutest Cat Moments’ really does live up to his name.

So sit back, relax and enjoy this compilation of fantastic feline fur balls having fun and generally looking pretty adorable. And just for the record, our personal fave is number four – the talking kittens

Click here to view the embedded video.

Image by: devfd0

Move over, Madonna, there’s a new celebrity children’s author in town – and this one is a renowned pet lover. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is better known for penning 10,000-word epics on the implications of the global financial crisis for capitalism. And as anyone who has read those pieces will tell you, it’s hardly riveting stuff.

However, Mr Rudd has now joined forces with actor and children’s TV personality Rhys Muldoon (one of the Play School presenters) to write Jasper and Abby and the Great Australia Day Kerfuffle.

Jasper and Abby are the names of Mr Rudd’s own cat and dog, and the book, which the PM’s staff have described as being ‘more secretive than the budget’, is a children’s adventure story centred on the animals’ escapades in the grounds of Kirribilli House one day.

Kevin Rudd told Sydney’s Sunday Telegraph: ‘I’ve worked on the text with Rhys and we’ve both interviewed the cat and the dog. They have been very co-operative in their responses but, for most of the time, have gone off the record.’ He then added, jokingly, ‘It’s not been the most demanding text I have worked on.’

The book is set to be released on Australia Day (26 January) and although details of the plot have yet to be revealed, it’s understood to revolve around Jasper the cat’s ‘high-maintenance’ character.

A spokeswoman for Mr Rudd said the book was delightful and ‘even cuter than one might imagine’. She said, ‘Jasper in the flesh is very hoity-toity, in a good cat way, and Abby’s gorgeous. They’re old family pets, much beloved.’

The idea for the book reportedly came from co-author Rhys Muldoon, with proceeds from Jasper and Abby and the Great Australia Day Kerfuffle will go to the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne.

Australian prime ministers and pets have a long association, but this is the first time a sitting PM has gone into print on behalf of his animals. Cat Diaries will bring you a review of Jasper and Abby and the Great Australia Day Kerfuffle in the next few weeks.

Image by: shiftlocked

Of course, we at Cat Diaries know how ridiculous that is. We know that the right cat with the right owner can be a match made in heaven, with years and years of mutual love and enjoyment to follow. But even we were surprised to discover the following tales of kitty devotion – particularly as the objects of the cats’ affections aren’t people. In fact, they’re not even other cats! Which just goes to prove that motherly love has no boundaries.

Satin and Charlie

There probably aren’t that many cats that would adopt a Rottweiler, but Satin did. When Charlie, a Rotty-cross was rejected by his mother as a tiny six-day-old pup, Satin stepped in. A new mother, she fed him and cleaned him just like he was one of her own kittens. She was still grooming him even when he had grown to twice her size!

The puss and the panda

This heart-warming tale comes from the Netherlands. When a pair of red panda cubs born at Amsterdam Zoo were abandoned by their mother, the zoo keeper’s Tabby took over. Sadly, one of the baby pandas died, but the other thrived thanks to the care lavished on him by his new mother. Perhaps, though, this story isn’t quite as surprising as it first appears. Unlike their giant black-and-white cousins, red pandas only grow to the size of a large cat, so the motherly Tabby needn’t worry about over-exuberant displays of affection!

Cat and mouse games

Here’s a tale of a cat that was brought in to catch mice in a children’s clothing store in China… and ended up adopting one of them! The cat, another new mother (are you starting to see a pattern here?), not only allowed the mouse to play with her kittens, but even protected it from outside interference. At one point, the shop staff threw the mouse out, but the cat immediately went and brought her brood’s tiny playmate back again.

Mother moggies

According to veterinary experts, if the circumstances are right, it’s far from unusual for cats to adopt other baby animals. Certainly, stories abound of cats adopting fawns, rabbit kittens and baby squirrels. Even big cats have been known to get in on the act – like the leopard Legadema. Having killed an adult baboon, Legadema was about to leave the scene when she noticed a tiny orphaned baboon baby on the ground. With hyenas ready to pounce on the helpless monkey, Legadema picked it up and carried it to safety in the tree, spending the night keeping it safe and warm. Sadly, the tiny monkey was too small to survive without its mother, but the love shown by the leopard to its natural enemy was touching.

But even that was nothing compared to the lioness who adopted not one, not two, but three baby antelopes over several months, endeavouring to protect them from other lions and even allowing an adult female antelope – normally a delicious meal for lions – a few minutes to feed one of the calves.

So next time you hear anyone talking about how ‘unfeeling’ cats are, tell them these stories and help them change their tune. And if your cat has adopted anything unusual, we’d love to hear about it…

Images from BBC News and msnbc

Of course, at this time of year, it’s traditional to make resolutions for the year ahead. You know the sort of thing: lose weight, quit smoking, tell all your friends about Cat Diaries so that they can enter the competitions and read the many interesting articles planned for this year! That sort of thing…

But what about New Year’s Resolutions for cat? Well, we found this online and thought you might enjoy it. Feel free to let us know your own cat-related resolutions and don’t forget to come back next week for brand-new content.

New Year’s Resolutions for cats

1.    I will not puff my entire body to twice its size for no reason after my human has finished watching a horror movie.
2.    I will not use the bathtub to store live mice for late-night snacks.
3.    I will not perch on my human’s chest in the middle of the night and stare into her eyes until she wakes up.
4.    I cannot leap through closed windows to catch birds outside. If I forget this and bonk my head on the window and fall behind the couch in my attempt, I will not get up and do the same thing again.
5.    I will not back up off the front porch and fall into the bushes just as my human is explaining to his girlfriend how graceful I am.
6.    When it rains, it will be raining on all sides of the house. It is not necessary to check every door.
7.    I will not play ‘dead cat on the stairs’ while people are trying to bring in groceries or laundry.
8.    When the humans play darts, I will not leap into the air and attempt to catch them.
9.    I will not swat my human’s head repeatedly when she’s on the floor trying to do sit ups.
10.    I will not speed dial the overseas numbers.
11.    If I must give a present to my human’s overnight guests, my toy mouse is much more socially acceptable than a big live cockroach, even if it isn’t as tasty.
12.    A warm pepperoni pizza is not a good place for a nap.

Image by: Kevin63