The Cowichan Cat Hotel

MEOW!
The Cowichan Cat Hotel
is temporarily closed.

Catios can be applied everywhere with creativity.

Sleeping cat netsuke (miniature sculpture) made from ivory by Kaigyokusai Masatsugu (Japan, 1813-1892).

The first recorded mention of cats in Japan comes from a teenage emperor in the 9th century.

On March 11, 889 CE, 17 year-old Emperor Uda wrote:

"On the 6th day of the 2nd Month of the First Year of the Kampo era. Taking a moment of my free time, I wish to express my joy of the cat. It arrived by boat as a gift to the late Emperor, received from the hands of Minamoto no Kuwasahi.

The color of its fur is peerless. None could find the words to describe it, although one said it was reminiscent of the deepest ink. It has an air about it, similar to Kanno. Its length is 5 sun, and its height is 6 sun. I affixed a bow about its neck, but it did not remain for long.

In rebellion, it narrows its eyes and extends its needles. It shows its back.

When it lies down, it curls in a circle like a coin. you cannot see its feet. It’s as if it were a circular Bi disk. When it stands, its cry expresses profound loneliness, like a black dragon floating above the clouds.

By nature, it stalks birds. It lowers its head and works its tail. It can extend its spine to raise its height by at least 2 sun. Its color allows it to disappear at night. I am convinced it is superior to all other cats."

Incredible photo of a Sooke cougar taken this week by

Cougar sightings are on the rise. There are several things you can do to help reduce the chance of a negative encounter with a cougar:

1) Do not allow pets to roam freely
- this includes leashing dogs and cats while outdoors

2) Secure Livestock
- this includes a shelter AND a well maintained electric fence around livestock

3) Make you’re presence known
- this includes turning on outdoor lights and making loud noises to avoid surprise encounters

4) Encourage them to move along
- if a cougar is spotted, using something like an air horn can work to encourage the animal to move along

5) Keep your distance
- DO NOT APPROACH COUGARS

6) Keep family members safe
- Supervise children at all times while outdoors and teach them safety skills like what to do if they see a cougar

7) Spread awareness
- Letting neighbours know about cougar sightings can serve as a good reminder to practice these safety skills and reduce potential negative interactions with cougars

8 ) Take down bird feeders
- bird feeders can attract small prey animals to congregate which in turn can attract predators like cougars

For more information about cougars, please visit:

https://britishcolumbia.com/about-bc/facts-and-information/safety-guide-to-cougars/

NEW! For cat lovers:
Download from doggiedrawings.net/freeposters (Sorry, I am not sure why it looks so blurry on FB)

I love Hercule

New commission finished!!

This....well, whatever it is, it belonged to the lovely Helen Walpole before being tragically hit by a steamroller.

I don’t know what a he’s called, but I’ve named him Vic Tangle.

Vic likes boiled cod with ALL the spices, thanking the SatNav for the excellent advice, and boycotting his local library after the ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ rota debacle.

I’ve drawn this one in my ultra-realistic style, so usual reminder that my picture is the image on the right.

Review from the customer:

‘It reminds me of that time I saw a mouldy piece of bread getting chucked across a barber’s floor. And, I’ll be honest, that’s something I never thought I would be reminded of again...’

A kitty basking in the beard of a lighthouse keeper, 1919

Starvation is imminent.

LOL!
I guess I shouldn't be surprised...
https://www.companionanimalpsychology.com/2022/01/scientists-surprised-to-learn-that-cats.html?utm_source=convertkit&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Scientists+surprised+to+learn+that+cats+are+freeloaders%20-%207456591

Scientists surprised to learn that cats are freeloaders Pet cats prefer food from a bowl rather than a food puzzle toy, study finds.

In November, Keigan from the Kelowna SPCA hosted an online cat-shelter-building workshop for Nanaimo, that resulted in CatNap receiving four lovingly-made shelters. We would like to extend a big thank you to all those involved in this wonderful project.

We appreciate Blaire, one of the BC SPCA's Regional Humane Educators, inviting a couple of our volunteers to speak about feral cats and what TNR (Trap, Neuter, Return) means and how it benefits cats.

The Home Depot generously donated all of the materials, and caring local individuals and families assembled the shelters.

Shelters like these help keep feral and community cats warm and protected from the elements, which is especially important during extreme weather like we're experiencing now. The outdoor kitties who got to spend this snowy Christmas in their new shelters are likely very grateful.

Please keep in mind that straw (not hay) is the ideal bedding and will keep a cat warmer than towels or blankets, as those absorb moisture and freeze and actually make the kitty colder.

Additionally, it's important to avoid putting food in or near the shelters so as not to attract unwanted critters.

If you are caring for feral cats or those believed to be homeless or abandoned, please contact CatNap, Nanaimo Animal Control Services, or the Nanaimo SPCA for guidance.

If you're interested in making a shelter for felines you care for, please check out the link here: https://spca.bc.ca/ways-to-help/take-action/animals-in-the-home/cat-overpopulation/

Thank You! 😺

This is cool! 😺😺😺

Happy Halloween!

Great way to help your local feral cats this winter.
Ideas for converting coolers into insulated cat homes. Cheap and easy :)

It's CAAT Community Corner, and cold weather is coming. Do you have feral cats around your neighbourhood? Do you want to help them through the winter? Here are some great ideas for cheap, easy shelters you can build...

https://www.caat-canada.org/helping-outdoor-cats-through-the-winter/
Check out our BIO on Instagram for the link to this great blog!

How colourful collars can help reduce the number of birds killed by domestic cats | CBC News Study from the University of Northern B.C. seeks ways to offset cats' killer instincts with a warning system for birds.

hehehe

CAT HOLDER
Every car needs one.

Beats me how anyone could think for a second that these are appropriate for any animal.
(rant over)

There seems to be a recent trend in people buying rucksack cat carriers 😕

I'm seeing more and more cats being brought into veterinary practice in these types of carrier too, often with the owner on a bicycle 🚲

They may seem like a fun way to move a cat from one place to another, but unfortunately they are not cat friendly because :

😿They are usually too small for the cat to turn around in

😿They move around A LOT, which is stressful and uncomfortable for the cat inside - they aren't sturdy enough

😿There is no opportunity for the cat to hide, it is almost forced to look out through the bubble window. This means the cat has to face lots of things it might be frightened of during its journey, such as dogs, unfamiliar people and cars

😿The carrier is facing backwards, which can be very disorientating for the cat

😿Poor air circulation, which can make it hot inside

😿The cat will likely arrive at its destination in an anxious or fearful state - this makes examinations at the vets more difficult for veterinary professionals!

❤️😺For more information on choosing an appropriate carrier as well as videos on how to train your cat to use it's carrier go to :

https://www.cats.org.uk/help-and-advice/getting-a-cat/how-to-choose-and-use-a-cat-carrier

https://youtube.com/user/iCatCare

BUDDY! My Buddy

It's been busy at the Hotel and I have kitty pics to catch up with, starting with TOESER!
Toeser is a very chill dude and I've been lucky enough to have him grace us with his company a few times over the years. Mostly he's too close for pictures, but I managed to get a couple of decent shots of him this year.

https://www.history.com/news/cats-ancient-egypt?utm_source=pocket-newtab

How Cats Became Divine Symbols in Ancient Egypt Felines served a useful purpose in ancient Egyptian households and were eventually associated with deities.

We’ve all been here.

Much of cat language is body language, they often use their voices to 'talk' to humans. Here is some great cat vocal language interpretation.
It's also worth noting that one of the other reasons cats may purr is to self-sooth when in pain, as many vets can tell you.