Maynard & Boots

Sunday, October 13, 2013

Saturday October 5th, 2013

From a Craigslist ad two kittens were brought home. Both were from the same litter and about eight weeks old. One weighed 10.5 ounces (0.29767kg) and the other 12.7 ounces (0.3600389kg). Very small kittens just weaned.

One Week Later...
Both kittens have gained three ounces. Named Maynard and Boots, Maynard is now 1 lb. 0.5 ounces (0.476272kg) and Boots is 13.5 ounces (0.3827186kg).

I created a scratching post by wrapping rope around a PVC pipe and slipping it over a stand for an electric fan. So far the kittens don't like it. The rope is large marine hemp about a half inch in diameter. It sat for years in a garage then another five years on my back porch. It probably smells of motor oil.

We've purchased a small toy mouse that is made from a cloth pouch and includes a small amount of catnip that can be put inside the mouse. A tiny bit of catnip was sprinkled over the post. So far, only mild curiosity from the kittens at the base of the post. No climbing, yet.

The heavier kitten is taking advantage of its weight and dominates the other. Boots, the smaller kitten, is fighting back and not exhibiting any acknowledgement of Maynard's dominance. He does yell when bitten too hard.

Black Cats

A black cat is a feline with black fur. It is not a particular breed of cat and may be mixed or a specific breed. The Bombay, known for its sleek black fur, is an example of a black cat. The all-black pigmentation is slightly more prevalent in male cats than female cats. Their high melanin pigment content causes black cats to have yellow (golden) eyes (irises).

In Celtic mythology, a fairy known as the Cat Sìth takes the form of a black cat. Black cats are also considered good luck in Japan. Furthermore, it is believed that a lady who owns a black cat will have many suitors. However in Western history, black cats have often been looked upon as a symbol of evil omens, specifically being suspected of being the familiars of witches, and so most of western and southern Europe considers the black cat a symbol of bad luck, especially if one crosses paths with a person, which is believed to be an omen of misfortune and death. In Germany, some believe that black cats crossing a person's path from right to left, is a bad omen. But from left to right, the cat is granting favorable times.

Pirates of the 18th century believed that a black cat would bring different kinds of luck. If a black cat walks towards someone, that person will have bad luck. If a black cat walks away from someone then that person will have good luck. If a black cat walks onto a ship and then walks off it, the ship is doomed to sink on its next trip.

Black cats have been found to have lower odds of adoption in American shelters compared to other colors except brown, although black animals in general take more time to find homes. Some shelters also suspend or limit adoptions of black cats around Halloween for fear they will be tortured, or used as "living decorations" for the holiday and then abandoned.