Isys100 Cats

FAMOUS INTERNET CATS: SNOOPY THE CAT

FAMOUS INTERNET CATS: SNOOPY THE CAT

Snoopy is a male exotic short-hair cat from China who was adored by the Chinese demographic because of his distinctly adorable facial expression. His fame started on February 2012 when his owner shared several images of him in the Chinese social media WeiBo, then spread to Facebook and Instagram (Snoopy's Instagram Page here). Pictures of him are then spread to other Facebook sites such as a Thai Facebook fan page having a picture of him with a total of over 36,000 likes within a span of one year. He gained more awareness from several blog sites such as PBH2, BuzzFeed, and many more.

Sources:

Information:

http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/snoopy-the-cat

http://www.cutestpaw.com/articles/10-most-famous-internet-cats-in-the-world/

Image:
http://cdn.litlepups.net/2016/02/06/medium_snoopy-cat-the-cutest-cat-in-the-world-cutest-cats.jpg

By Allan Nguyen

Lets decode cat's body language II

It would be great if the cat can send us text message, rather cats will often use more than one form of body language to express his/her feelings. We can understand better what their needs and moods if we can decipher their body language.

Head

·        Ears pinned back; Fear, anxiety, aggression

·        Tongue flicking; Worry, apprehension

·        Rubbing head, flank and tail against a person or animal; Greeting ritual, ownership claim

·       

Head-Butting; Friendliness, affection

·        Face sniffing; Confirming identity

·        Wet nose kiss; Affection

·        Licking; The penultimate sign of affection. Or an indication that you need to clean up after a sardine snack

Tail

·        Straight up or straight up with a curl at the end and fur flat; happy, cheerful

·        Twitching; Excited or anxious.

·        Vibrating; Very excited to see you.

·        Tail fur sticks straight up while the tail curls in the shape of an N; Extreme aggression.

·        Tail fur sticks straight up but the tail is held low; Aggression or frightened.

·        Tail held low and tucked under the rear; Frightened, insecure or anxious, threatened

·        Thrashing back and forth; agitated. The faster the tail, the angrier the cat (you should leave the cat alone)

·        Halloween-cat tail; cat in this stance is not in a good mood and is trying to appear larger and scarier than he is.

Body

·        Back arched, fur standing on end; frightened or angry

·        Back arched, fur flat; welcoming your touch

·        Lying on back, purring; very relaxed

·        Lying on back, growling; upset and ready to strike

Rubbing

When cat rubs their chin and body against you, they are really doing to mark their territory. You'll notice that they also rub the chair, the door, their toys, everything in sight. They're telling everyone that this is their stuff, including you. But they do love you, too.

Sources:

Information; http://pets.webmd.com/cats/features/cat-body-language, http://www.catster.com/cat-behavior/how-to-talk-to-your-cat, http://www.humanesociety.org/ www.petfinder.com

Image http://www.catboxzen.com/ http://www.wallpaperspider.com/ http://www.catchannel.com/www.catbehaviorassociates.com

Author – Keun Woo Baek

FAMOUS INTERNET CATS: GRUMPY CAT

FAMOUS INTERNET CATS: GRUMPY CAT

Grumpy Cat (known by the name of Tardar Sauce) is a female snowshoe cat that has a huge following because of her very angry facial expression. Her fame started by a Reddit post on September 23rd 2012 when her owner's brother posted a picture of the cat in the picture subreddit (original Reddit post here), leading to more than 25,000 upvotes on the first day. As a result, Tardar Sauce's fame increased to celebrity status. Her social media pages  like Twitter with about 500 thousand followers and Facebook where she has about 9 million likes total. 

Here's a video of Grumpy Cat below:

Click on the link below to check out some Grumpy Cat social media sites:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/SevereAvoidance

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/TheOfficialGrumpyCat/

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/RealGrumpyCat?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

Source:

Information: http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/grumpy-cat

Image:  https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/634829839271264256/C5Kh8lT6.jpg
Video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INscMGmhmX4

by Allan Nguyen

Lets decode cat's body language

Cats can speak to us with their whole body. If we pay attention to the cat’s eyes, ears, body and tail we could guess what they are trying to tell us.

Here are clues to what their ears are saying -

·        Relax; the ears are slightly forward, and she/he will purrrrrr

·        Alert & interested; the ears are straight-up and forward posture, she/he may offer friendly ‘meow~’ (cat is likely to be standing at attention)

·        Nervous; the cat’s ears twitch, may ‘meow’ in the low pitch, ears can be turned sideways or back.

·        Scared or feeling defensive; ears back and flat against head (this may also be indication of angry or aggressive cat, be aware cat could be in attacking mood too)

·        Aggression; the ears move from forward to backward posture, when the cat’s ears move from upright to ears forward – A cat with ears slightly forward is likely feeling content or even playful.

·        Ambivalent; when the ears are in different position, the cats are unsure how to respond.

Eyes

·        Dilated pupils(large); very playful or excited. This could also be indication of aggression

·        Pupils constricted; offensively aggressive, but possibly content

·        Slow blinking eyes; affection, (like blowing a kiss)

·        Stare; a challenge from your cat.

·        Slow Blinking; opposite of the stare, cat feels safe, comfortable and trusts you.

·        Half Closed; droopy lids indicate a relaxed and trusting kitty.

Sources:

·        Information; http://pets.webmd.com/cats/features/cat-body-language, http://www.catster.com/cat-behavior/how-to-talk-to-your-cat, http://www.humanesociety.org/ www.petfinder.com

·        Image http https://au.pinterest.com/ http://www.lifewithcats.tv/ http://www.catster.com/

·        Author – Keun Woo Baek

Clues to cat's Moods

Cat can tell us what kind of moods they are in, we just need to decipher their clues.

Here few tips;

Happy/pleased; if the cat is really happy, they often knead on a soft surface. They either sit or lie down with half closed eyes, narrowed pupil, tail mostly still and ears forward and purring

Play mood; Ears forward, tail up, whiskers forward and pupils somewhat dilated—playing is hunting behaviour; your cat may stalk their prey (a toy, a housemate or you), then crouch down with their rear end slightly raised. A little wiggle of the butt, then…pounce! Your cat will grab their prey, bite it, wrestle it the floor and kick it with their hind feet: Their toy is now dead.

Irritated or over-stimulated: Pupils dilated, ears turned back and tail twitching or waving—your cat may growl or put their teeth on you as a warning to cease and desist. Intense play can quickly turn into overstimulation in some cats, resulting in biting and scratching.

Nervous or anxious: Ears sideways or back, pupils dilated and tail low or tucked between legs—your cat may slink through the house close to the floor, looking for somewhere to hide.  They may turn their face to the wall to shut the world out.

 

Frightened or startled: Think Halloween cat—ears back and flat against their head, whiskers back, back arched, fur standing on end and tail erect or low. They may yowl, growl, hiss and spit.

Defensive: Crouched, ears flattened, whiskers back, tail between their legs or wrapped around their body, and pupils dilated—they may meow loudly, growl, hiss and spit.

Angry, aggressive: Ears back, pupils very constricted, and their tail may be up or down with the fur standing on end—an aggressive cat will stare down another cat and growl or yowl until the other cat gives way. Cats don't really want to fight; they prefer standoffs, but this can progress to fighting if one of the cats doesn't back down.

Sources:

Information; http://www.humanesociety.org/

Image Philly.com, http://wallpaperfolder.com/ AliExpress.com

Author – Keun Woo Baek 

FAMOUS INTERNET CATS: MARU THE CAT

FAMOUS INTERNET CATS: MARU THE CAT

Maru is a Scottish Fold cat from Japan who is an internet sensation in YouTube. There are several videos based on him and his several activities from washing his head on water from a tap to poking his face out of blankets. These videos had added up to a total of over 300 million views who are amused by this feline. Maru fame had led him to be on talk shows around the world such as Ellen DeGeneres's TV show and many more. To watch a montage of some of his hi jinks, see the video below.

Sources:
Video- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_AbfPXTKms
Information- 
http://www.lovemeow.com/interview-with-maru-the-cat-1608006401.html
http://www.cutestpaw.com/articles/10-most-famous-internet-cats-in-the-world/
Image- http://www.cutestpaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Most-Famous-Felines-001.jpg

By Allan Nguyen

Let's talk to our friend

People communicate by talking, reading the written text and interpreting the body language.

Mehrabian study (1971) say that our communication is made up of 7% literal meaning of overall message, 38% makes up of tone of voice and 55% counts for the body language.

Maybe we can use the skills to communicate with our feline.

Here are some hints to what our friends are saying to us~

‘Meow’ is most common and all-purpose vocal word. This could be the greeting ‘Hi’, commanding for ‘more food, open door’, and announcement ‘I’ve found my toy!’.

• -        Short ‘meow’: ‘hey, how are you doing?’
• -        Multiple ‘meow’: ‘I missed you, where have you been? I’m so Happy’
• -        Mild-pitch ‘meow’: its plea for something, dinner, treat or wishing to go outside
• -        High-pitch: ‘Ouch!’

‘Chirps, trills’ the cat is probably want you to follow, perhaps wants more food.

‘Purring’ is sign of happy, but be aware that the cats may purr when they are anxious or sick as well. They    do this to comfort themselves.

‘Growling, hissing or spitting’ sign of wanting to be left alone as they are annoyed, frightened, angry or aggressive.

‘Yowl or howl’ is sign of distress, so go rescue!

Clicking sounds, cat is tracking a prey.

Sources:

·        Information http://pets.webmd.com/cats/features/cat-body-language, http://www.catster.com/cat-behavior/how-to-talk-to-your-cat, http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/cats/tips/cat_communication.html?referrer=https://www.google.com.au/

·        Image http http://www.communitycarecollege.edu/, https://buyfleaticktreatment.wordpress.com/, https://au.pinterest.com/

       Author – Keun Woo Baek 

FAMOUS INTERNET CATS: SIMON'S CAT

FAMOUS INTERNET CATS: SIMON'S CAT

Love animated shorts about a man named Simon and his feline companion? Then the YouTube series Simon's Cat is for you. Created by Simon Tofield, and directed by Chris Gavin, Simon's Cat depicts scenarios around a cat and it's mischievous nature around his owner Simon. It began on 2008 with the first video in the Simon's Cat series where it depicts the cat trying to wake up Simon for its meal. With a series spanning within about 8 years, Simon's cat had been awarded Best Comedy of 2008 at the British Awards Festival and it adding up to a total of over 800 million views and overs 4 million subscribers.

Sources:
https://www.youtube.com/user/simonscat/about

http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/subcultures/simon-s-cat

Image-

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-W9T9PgStM0Y/AAAAAAAAAAI/AAAAAAAAAAA/7pewPBz0KUA/photo.jpg
Video-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0ffwDYo00Q

By Allan Nguyen

Tips & Tricks - A Safe Home!

Bringing a cat home to a safe environment is vital to the beginning a new chapter in yours and their life.

Get a cat's-eye tour of your house! Get down on all fours and literally take a tour of your house to see from a cats perspective.

Some potential hazards include:

• Breakable treasures - such as vases or glassware. Cats are inquisitive creatures and 9 times out of 10 anything that can be broken will be broken.
• Poison & Plants - Ant traps, roach traps, mouse traps or poison can harm your cat. So you need to make sure your cat can't reach them! Some houseplants can also be hazardous to your cat so make sure none of your houseplants are poisonous.
• Cords, cords and more cords - all types of cords should be out of reach as they are very tempting for a cat and they can end up in a fatal shock. You can also spray them with a foul-tasting repellent substance so they don't try and eat them.
• Choking Hazards - Paper clips. Coins. Bits of string or thread. Thumb tacks. Left over Christmas tree tinsel. Anything small enough for your cat to get in its mouth might end up going further than its mouth. And that could mean serious health problems for your kitty and expensive vet bills for you.

Taking care of all of the above home hazards will get you off to a great start in making your home safe for your cat. But you also need to think about things that you’ll need to do on a daily basis to keep your cat safe.

Try to think of things that might be tempting yet dangerous to your cat. Washer and dryer doors left open, for example, or dishwasher doors left open.

Do you leave windows open on a regular basis? Better rethink that! It’s very common for cats to be injured or killed after falling from a high-level window.

Containment

Consider a quality cat carrier to be a must-have piece of equipment. Even if you never take your cat on a trip, you’ll use the carrier for taking your cat to the vet. A loose cat in a car is a very bad thing!

But you’ll probably also find a cat carrier to be a handy tool at times for keeping your cat safe at home. There may times when work is being done to your house – an exterminator is spraying; carpets being cleaned; etc. – that can be quite hazardous to a curious kitty.

It’s been said that it’s the little touches that make a house a home. And that will also be true for your cat. By eliminating the little, out-of-the-way hazards that you’ll spot when you take a cat’s-eye tour of your house, you’ll make your house a safe and comfy home for your cat.

And you’ll be more comfortable too, knowing that your home is a safe and comfy haven for both you and your cat.

Sources:

• Picture: http://communitytable.parade.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/cat-safety-ftr.jpg
• Author - Natasha Orchard

Cat Breed of The Week - Sphynx

These cats always interest me because they're hairless well sometimes not always hairless but still a lot less hair then your typical cat. 

The Sohynx breed originated in 1966 in Toronto Canada, discovered through genetic mutation. These cats may not always be hairless in fact their a different degrees' of hairlessness! The colours and patterns on the Sphynx are limitless and can occur at any stage of maturity.  They are medium sized cats and not fragile in any way. They have sturdy boning with good muscle development. 

They absolutely love attention because they always receive attention wherever they go, when they are not receiving attention they are usually exploring their surroundings and climbing trees and high places. They are very friendly cats and are good to keep around strangers and other pets, other pets a recommended when you leave during the day.  

As I said these cats fascinate me because they are so unique and intriguing. My neighbour owns this  breed of cat and I have to agree with their personality 100% friendly and outgoing all the way!.

Sources

• Picture: http://animalia-life.com/image.php?pic=/data_images/sphynx-cat/sphynx-cat1.jpg
• Information:
• http://cfa.org/Breeds/BreedsSThruT/Sphynx.aspx
• http://cattime.com/cat-breeds/sphynx-cats#/slide/1
• Author - Natasha Orchard

cats can develop allergies too

  

Cats can develop allergies and asthma just like us.

Exposed to smoke can develop asthma if breathed in. Being exposed to pollen can develop a hayfever like allergy. Fleas can transport diseases and enable cats to create an allergy for themselves. Symptoms of cat asthma are coughing, wheezing and sneezing, like a human. Symptoms to allergies include increased scratching of skin, itchy and runny eyes, itchy ears or ear infections, vomiting, diarrhea, unusually loud snoring and swollen paws. If your cat has an itchy base or base of tail, it is most likely to have a flea allergy.

Vaccination is just as important for the cat as well, they are as vunerable to diesieses. Cats can catch many different diesieses and can also be transpose to us, human.

Sources: pets.thenest.com, pets.webmd.com

Images: www.care2.com www.wormsandgermsblog.com

Author: Keun Woo  Baek (44768400)

Benefits To Owning a Cat!

Pet ownership in general, and cat ownership, in particular, can improve your quality of life. Dr. Bradley Smith, one of many scientists who study human-animal relationships, recognises these positive impacts as something he calls the “Pet Effect.”

Here 5 main benefits of owning a cat:

1. Companionship
   
   
   One of the most reasons to get a pet is for the companionship. Those who don't have a cat as a pet believe that they are unsocial distant creatures  but they are the complete opposite they are one of the most affectionate pets to have, and if you have ever been the recipient of a head-butt you will see that being "unsocial" is a myth.
   
   
2. Exercise
   
   
   Whilst you can't take a cat out for a walk you can still get active by throwing a mouse around and playing with your cat. 
   
   
3. Nurturing
   
   
   Some people accuse their friends of turning their pet into a substitute child. They can be correct in that instance as pets usually serve that need but it's not necessarily a bad thing, everyone need to love.
   
   
4. Empathy
   
   
   Surprisingly children who grow up with cats appear to have more practice with considering what people are thinking or feeling. It allows children to consider their actions in light of how those actions affect other. 
   
   
5. Purring
   
   
   Petting a cat who is curled up and purring on your lap lowers your stress level and blood pressure. Recent studies show that the frequency of a cat's purr helps bones and muscles heal after injury.

Sources

• Image - http://www.pets4homes.co.uk/images/articles/1246/large/how-to-give-your-cat-a-monthly-health-check-52a3b2f3d92b2.jpg
• Author - Natasha Orchard

Cat Allergy 2

Allergy to cat, but love those PAWS?

 Human allergic reaction to cat is due to one or more allergens produced by cats.

There are one or more allergens that are produced by cat that we are allergic to.  Mostly it’s the glycoprotein (cat’s saliva), dander (dandruff) and even from their urine.

The allergens can be anywhere in our home, especially if there’s a pet or two. Allergen can be found in the carpet, pillows, and even on the walls. Cat’s dander is smaller than the dust mites that it can even be airborne.

Here are few tips to try avoid the allergic reactions to those paws~

Regular cleaning home would be best prevention, and using air filter/purifier. Limiting access to the areas where you spend much time, such as the bedroom.

• -        Frequent hand washing 
• -        Regular vacuuming, dusting (wear face mask)
• -        cover air-conditioning vent with a dense filtering material such as cheesecloth
• -        Regular brushing to prevent loose fur, and bathing cat (every 6 weeks is recommended)
• -        Regularly change the litter box 
• -        Feed high quality cat food with Omega-3 fatty acid (this minimize dander)
• -        There is medical treatment available as well.

 There are some breeds of cats that are less likely to cause allergic reaction for us.  Siberian, Devon Rex and Cornish Rex, Abyssinian cats, Oriental Short and Longhair and some Siamese cats

Sources:

• Information Wikipedia.org, healthline.com, webmd.com, allergy.org.au, acaai.org
• Image: cutecats.candra.info   jkmod90.blogspot.com
• Author – Keun Woo Baek