Tag Archives: felines

Nebelungs: Creatures of the Mist

In German, Nebelung means “creature of the mist.” This is a bit misleading on two counts. First, one may mistakenly assume the breed comes from German origins. Not so. Nebelungs have ancient beginnings in Northern Russia and are cousins of the Russian Blue. Secondly, “creature of the mist” may invoke images of a dangerous, perhaps even predatory, cat. Hardly. Nebelungs have sweet, gentle natures and are very loving. Because their silver-tipped, silky coats are long, one might also falsely assume they shed a lot and require constant brushing. While they do shed some, it is actually very little. Like many … Continue reading →

The Cat in Art: The Ancient World To 1600

Although the cat as we know it today first appeared on the scene about 10 million years ago, it took another two thousand years to establish a healthy interaction with humans. Cats protected the farmer’s grain from mice and other rodents and the farmer protected and gave shelter to an otherwise feral cat population. Although cats are represented (although rarely) in some prehistoric cave paintings, they seemed to have made their artistic debut in murals found on the palace walls of Minoan Crete. Many animals are depicted among lush vegetation, and in one fragment a cat can be seen behind … Continue reading →

There’s More Than One Way To Skin A Cat: Ugh!

Does this idiomatic expression have anything to do with the cat having nine lives? After all, to lose one’s skin is a serious proposition and difficult to recover from even if we are dealing with a creature as resourceful and intelligent as a cat. But where did this expression come from and how is it related to of all things, the world of cooking? The expression, which has come to mean that there is more than one way to accomplish a task, has its roots in seafood cuisine preparation. It is not known exactly how old it is, but it … Continue reading →

A Cat May Look On A King: Proverb of Old

This idiomatic expression is a bit more cryptic than others of its ilk, and although the exact origin is unknown, its significance is very specific. Down through the ages it has come to mean that humble people are entitled to express their opinions about supposedly “superior” people. Stretched a bit further, it also implies that they also have the right to laugh at and make fun of them. They are not required to purr or meow, however, as those are considered optional and extraneous manifestations of behavior. The idea of a “cat looking at a king” is expressed when said … Continue reading →

Cat Got Your Tongue? Nasty Thought

As we consider the cat’s place in our modern language (for we already know where they stand in our hearts), we become increasingly aware of odd phrases and expressions that surely came down to us from somewhere. Unlike other types of hand-me-downs, some of these metaphors are more obscure than others, and in this case, its exact origins may never be known. Why are you not talking? Have you nothing to say? That is what “cat got your tongue?” has come to mean in modern usage. Although none agree as to where it came from, most historians of the written … Continue reading →

To Let the Cat Out of The Bag

This old saying does seem kind of odd at first glance, and yet it is an expression most of us say very often. But what does it mean? It would appear to be a bit out of context, as cats love to get into bags, as we all know. Not only that, they love to hide in bags even though it is hardly a secret that they are there, as usually their tails, backsides and or paws are hanging out from the open side. Where did this expression come from? To “let the cat out of the bag” or give … Continue reading →

It’s Raining Cats And Dogs: Need An Umbrella?

Being caught in the rain can be either a pleasant or unpleasant experience, depending on the circumstances that surround your capture. If you are singing and dancing in it like Gene Kelly used to do, or running in or from it like other people who can’t sing or dance, you are more than likely to perceive the rain from very different perspectives. But what if you are a cat or dog? How does that fit into the proverbial scheme of things? Hopefully, we are armed with an umbrella most of the time when it rains, but if you are anything … Continue reading →

Your Cat’s Whiskers: What Should You Know?

The average cat has twenty-four movable whiskers, usually twelve on each side of its nose. Twice as thick as ordinary hairs, the roots of whiskers are set very deeply into the cat’s tissue. Their ultra-sensitive nerve endings enhance perception of air movement, air pressure and anything the cat comes contact with. The scientific name for whiskers is vibrissae. As air circulatesaround objects, so do whiskers vibrate. These vibrations translate into messages (from Garcia the cat and others) and they are indicators of the size, presence and shape of obstacles before them, which occurs before such objects are either visible or … Continue reading →

Cats and Their Territory: Do Not Disturb!

The best way to describe how a cat might feel about their personal territory (even though my perspective can only be of the two-legged variety) might be the recounting of a picture, which they say is worth a thousand words. It is a tale of one of my favorite cats, a male tuxedo shorthair named Goliath who let me know how he felt about his space one day, a very long time ago. His favorite spot was on the wide windowsill in my bedroom. He would sit there for hours watching people and animals go by, and the other cats … Continue reading →

Allergies to Cats: Can We Live With Them?

This topic brings to mind a tee shirt I once saw someone wearing. It read: “Cat Allergic: Husband and Kids Must Go.” While this play on a real life situation is meant to be in good fun, cat allergies are a very serious subject. My sister is so allergic to my cats that when she comes to visit, she must either stand in the doorway or sit outside where the cats never go. It is estimated that approximately 2 percent of the US population is allergic to cats. One third of these (myself included) ignore medical advice and keep at … Continue reading →