Tag: blackcats

Photography Challenge Day 173: International Cat Day (Short Post)

Aug

2019

So since today is International Cat Day–it is only fitting that the winners of today’s photography challenge are the cats.

Pyewicket wasn’t too happy with the closeup……..

So we have three cats (all adopted from the local humane society). The eldest cat (by about a year and a half or so) is Pyewicket, our calico cat.

Then we have our “breakfast duo”: Waffles and Pancakes.

We got Waffles and Pancakes within a few days of each other–Waffles was adopted first, and then I saw Pancakes picture on the site, and fell in love. It had been almost a decade since I had lost my first cat, Bigfoot (who was also a black cat–though he had more white on him than Panny does). Pancakes is my little cuddle bug at night, and in the morning. She loves to sit on my lap–and does a good job of reminding me when I spend to much time on the computer.

Waffles–sleeping on top of the cat condo

Not the best picture of Waffles, our Russian blue cat–but lately she has decided that the top of the cat condo is her spot to sleep (though that is where my cat usually likes to relax). This is our little troublemaker–she doesn’t like change (and lets you know), and isn’t above possibly starting things with the puppies.

I know find it funny that we’re in a “age reversal” with the animals–when we got the cats, we had several dogs, but they’re were all in their adult years. Now we got a puppy (and my brother got one last year), the cats are in their adult years and are acting like it. I swear if they could talk it would probably be nothing but “get off my lawn”, “turn the music down” and “in my day” from the cats to the pups.

I have realized that when I move–I will need to bring in a kitten (after a few months) so that Pancakes has company, and then after say another six months or so maybe get a puppy and hopefully that will all turn out nicely.

Happy International Cat Day!!! Do your cats and dogs get along all the time?

jessimatts No Comments PetsPhotographyRandom Celebration Days adoptdontshopblackcatscalicocatcatsinternationalcatdayiphonephotographypetsphotographychallengerussianbluecats

Science Sunday and photography challenge day 7: Cat’s whiskers

Feb

2019

Decided that today was going to be a two for one post: a new photo and then some of the science behind the topic. So I decided for the first double Sunday post, it would be on cat’s whiskers.

Pancakes’ long whiskers around her nose.

Most of us think of the cat’s whiskers as the pointy hairs on their faces (namely around their muzzle), but they can also have on other areas of their bodies such as their ears, around their jaw, and their forelegs. These hairs are actually called vibrissae and are used as sensors in their day-to-day lives.

When a cat brushes up against an object their whiskers allow them to determine the texture of the object, its location, and size—and it doesn’t matter if it’s light or dark around the cat.¹ They’re also extremely sensitive, which makes sense if they’re sensory organs and have a higher supply of nerve endings and blood to the area. I know for a fact that my cat doesn’t like to drink from the water bowl if it’s too low as it presses against her whiskers.

They can also serve as one of the many emotional barometers for cats (along with ear and tail positioning). For example in the picture, Pancakes’s whiskers were standing out sideways, meaning she was relaxed (and totally use to me taking pictures of her—though she was still giving me a dirty look—probably for waking her up). Though if the cat pushes their whiskers forward this could mean they’re excited, and if they’re flat back against the their cheeks, it mean they’re scared or extremely irritated.²

Have you paid attention to the directions of your cat’s whiskers?? How often are they forward or flat against their cheeks?

References:

https://www.livescience.com/44196-why-do-cats-have-whiskers.html
https://www.catster.com/cats-101/cat-whiskers-facts

jessimatts No Comments PetsPhotographyScience blackcatscatswhiskersiphonephotographyphotographychallengesciencesunday

Caturday: Photography Challenge Day 6

Feb

2019

Someone enjoys being on my lap on the weekends.

So in honor of caturdays (or Saturdays for those without cats), I decided I’d share another picture of one the cats of the house.

Pancakes always seems to know when I’m working on my laptop, and I’d say about eighty percent of the time she will try to push my laptop off my lap. Luckily I work on a daybed, so the computer would be landing on something soft. I’ve also learned how to twist to the side, perch the laptop off to the side and type that way. But she is my cuddly little miniature panther.

She also has a habit of burrowing under covers during the day to sleep in the dark and stay warm at the same time–it’s actually quite cute to watch her decide which bed, then which end of the bed and then she will stretch, and climb under the covers and either curl up or stretch out to snooze away the day. She’s starting to gain the nickname of “lumpy” as well as panther, panny, pansy, and pan-pan to name a few.

What are some of the nicknames you have for your pets?

jessimatts No Comments PetsPhotography blackandwhitephotographyblackcatsblackcatsruleiphonephotographypetsphotographychallenge

Day 3: National Love Your Pet Day winners

Feb

2019

So today is National Love Your Pet day—so obviously the winners of the photography challenge had to be the animals. The only totally new photo is the one of Boozer snoozing on the couch this morning after she was fed (and begged for a small piece of my breakfast as well). Unfortunately right now she is the only canine in the house (until my brother come back for another visit). As much as I would love to get a puppy–I’m still not totally over the loss of Chewi, Piranha, and Spelunkers–so a puppy will probably be waiting until I move and get Pancakes situated in the new place.

The other winners of National Love Your Pet Day are the cats:

Pancakes wondering what the hell is the human doing?

Who doesn’t have random boxes sitting around just for the cats to play in???

jessimatts No Comments PetsPhotographyRandom Celebration Days beardedcolliemixesblackcatscalicocatsiphonephotographyNationalLoveYourPetDayphotographychallengerandomholidaysrussianbluecats

Starting the photography challenge over, take number 5? Or is it 6?

Feb

2019

Well I’ve realized that I have fallen down yet again on trying to post a new picture to the blog daily. I also know what part of the problem is–I’m either not seeing anything that strikes my fancy to take a photograph of, or I think of doing it but before I can–I get distracted, and when I remember the picture I was aiming to take isn’t there any more.

So to restart the challenge, I’ve actually cheated a little and am using a photo I took last night of my cat as she was watching me read my oracle cards.

I will admit that I do my oracle/tarot card readings at night so that I have something to meditate on, and possibly dream on as well. Last night as I was shuffling and pulling cards, Pancakes came into the room to see what I was up to.

She didn’t know exactly what to make of the cards that were getting spread out on the mat and why I kept shuffling cards and rearranging them, while either nodding or shaking my head. Personally I think she wanted to start batting them around (probably thought that was what I was doing in an odd sort of way).

But she does like to investigate things that make sounds, especially plastics and when I turned around I’d noticed that there was a small piece of plastic behind me–so maybe she was just trying to tell me to hand over her toy??

So here is to restarting the photography challenge, hopefully I will just stop and take the photo when the urge strikes me and that way I can keep in touch with my artistic side as well. We will have to see what tomorrow brings……

jessimatts No Comments PetsPhotography blackcatsblackcatsruleiphonephotographyphotographychallenge

Photography Challenge Day 5: Sleeping Cats

Feb

2019

So today’s photos goes to two of the three cats in the house. This morning when I was getting ready to make my breakfast before leaving for work, I noticed how “angelic” these two looked as they were sleeping, and I couldn’t help but take their pictures.

So first up is Pancakes, snoozing (or meditating) on the top of the cat condo. She likes to be up there when the heat turns on in the house, as it’s directly across from the vent, and she gets nice warm air blown directly on her. Or, she could also be contemplating world domination as well (who knows what is going through her mind at 6 am).

Then there is Waffles, our Russian blue cat sleeping on the back of the couch. I think that’s why the third cat Pyewicket went in to wake up the dog (to get her spot back on the back of the couch). Waffles goes between the back of the couch, the smaller cat condos, and the pillows on the furniture.

I know that Pancakes and Pyewicket also enjoy sleeping on the beds (and occasionally they will cuddle up to the human in the bed as well), though I’ve never really seen Waffles curled up on the bed (at least not that often). Pets sleeping with you on the bed in the winter makes for a nice toasty warm bed–and makes it harder to get out of bed the next day.

jessimatts No Comments PetsPhotography blackcatscatsarefamilycatsonthefurnitureiphonephotographyphotographychallengerussianbluecats

Day 2 and 3 of Photography Challenge

Jan

2019

Well since there were issues with connecting to the wifi last night and being able to add in a new post–today there will be two for the entry of one in the photography challenge.

The picture selected for yesterday is another one of Pancakes. Unlike the other two cats who will sit lower towards everyone, if Pancake is isn’t on someone’s lap or curled up under a blanket–she is watching everything from the “top” of her world.

When we lived out in Boston, I actually have pictures of her sitting on top of a large box that I had kept (I had numerous other boxes in it), and covered with a blanket. There were several nights when she would just sit up there and watch both me and the dog, before jumping down to sleep on the bed.

Whenever we do move, I have the old cat condo to take with (hopefully it will stand in the new apartment), so that she can still sit at the top of the world.

The pond froze a little bit last night and today.

The picture selected for today, is one of the outside pond that we have. So a polar vortex has been pushing its way south and east over the past few days. Luckily, we are far enough south and west, that we got chilly temperatures (today we were about 34 degrees, and last night it was 17 feeling like 6)–but not the frigid temps that some of the other states are getting.

I’ve realized that with the job search it may very well lead me back to a state that actually gets a good amount of winter weather (i.e. the snow), and gets dark earlier than what I like. I’ve also realized that to grow as a scientist and an individual–it means change, and dealing with things that I don’t enjoy (cold, wet snow and the sun setting at earlier times)–those changes though can lead to other adventures. Right now that is one thing I can say for certain is needed–change. The form of that change–I’m not 100% certain, but I am certain that I really don’t want to be in the same place again come winter next year.

jessimatts No Comments naturePetsPhotographyUncategorized blackcatsblackcatsruleiceonthepondiphonephotographyphotographychallengewinter

Photo challenge day 1

Jan

2019

So I’m going to try to restart my photography challenge here on the blog. I’ve been doing a daily photo over on instagram, and that for the most part right now is focusing on my nightly tarot/oracle card readings. So the pictures aren’t going to be matching on the different social media sites right now.

The winner of the day 1 photo challenge is Pancakes. She is my almost ten year old domestic short hair cat. She is also the reason why I have learned to work with the laptop at an angle (she demands the lap), and when we move–I’ll have to invest in a table that I can work at, but where she can still sit on my lap.

She enjoys sitting on my lap whenever possible, luckily I have managed to keep her from sitting on my lap while I’m eating at the table. Any other time my lap is fair game and if there is something else on my lap–I better move it quickly or she’ll try to send it flying.

I’m sure that Pancakes and the other two (Waffles and Pyewicket) will be featured throughout my photography challenge along with Boozer, Magnet, and the fish. I will try to intersperse with other topics and choices (in other words, I’ll try not to be the crazy pet person. 🙂 )

jessimatts No Comments PetsPhotography blackcatsblackcatsrulecuddlycatiphonephotographyphotographychallenge

National Pet Week: Pancakes

May

2018

Tonight’s photography subject: Pancakes.

Well I’ve been trying to get stuff done on the computer, though all I really managed to get completed was deleting a post in progress, because I didn’t like the way it was flowing. Luckily, Pancakes decided to come and demand her fair time on my lap, so I was able to start thinking of another post, and here we are.

National pet week is starting to wind down–tomorrow is the last day, though every day should be pet day. When you decide to get a dog or a cat, it is a life time commitment (at least 10 years [depending on whether it is a dog or a cat and then the breed of dog or cat]), and one that shouldn’t be made lightly. As I mentioned in an earlier post, I’ve had dogs and cats my entire life (there have basically been nine of each throughout my life and three of each are still living [though two of the dogs are rather up there in the years]), and once I move it will be awhile before I get another cat and dog (as I will have Pancakes with me).

Pancakes is a very large short hair domestic cat (as I call her my mini panther), that has a very unique personality. We’ve only had one other cat that I can think of that also likes to play with crinkled plastic (and I’m not talking about the little crinkle balls). If the plastic is long enough, she will carry it around in her mouth like a snake. She also loves hair ties (which is why, even when I get a hair cut I make sure that I have plenty of hair ties on hand for her).

She also demands that the water level in the water dish be at a certain height (that way she can still see if any other animal is coming near her, plus it cuts down on the whisker fatigue). She also at times has this habit of spitting out particular pieces of dry cat food if she doesn’t like the texture (sometimes its the orange ones and sometimes its the pinkish ones).

jessimatts No Comments PetsPhotography adoptdontshopblackandwhitephotographyblackcatsnationalpetweek

They can share…..though only when they sleep

Apr

2018

Well obviously today was a little warmer than yesterday. The cats were sleeping on the recliner instead of the bed (or in the case of Pancakes–under the covers curled up on the bed). We got hit with a cold snap this weekend, and yesterday Pancakes spent most of the day curled up under the blankets at the end of my parents bed. Pyewicket always sleeps on top of the blankets, I think so that she can always hear when someone comes into the room and if they’re going to disturb her slumber or not.

When they decide to sleep on the recliner, this is usually how they divide it up–Pyewicket (or sometimes Waffles) gets the top of the recliner (closer to the window), and Pancakes takes the seat. Personally I think that Pancakes was spoiled out in Boston, when she didn’t have any competition for the seat; and therefore she stakes the claim each and every time.

jessimatts No Comments PetsPhotography adoptdontshopblackcatscalicocats