The Difference Between Cats & Dogs...

...as interpreted by these guys.  Hilarious for both cat and dog owners and lovers.  And alarmingly accurate...

Technology, not just for humans. Oh, and the NFL Season kicks off!

Dis mine.  I keep it now.

This is just too funny not to share.  In noticing the cats increasing weight gain, I've been trying to find new ways to get them on the move.  Fergie will have her occasional burst of energy and go nuts playing with her toys, but those times are short lived and few and far between.  I searched the App Store on my iPad to see if they had any games for cats.  They did!  Some were free, some were around .99 cents or so.  I purchased one called simply "Toys for Cats" and it was a hit to say the least!  You can choose from a mouse, rat, spider, frog or ping pong ball for them to chase and bat around on the screen.  The rat has a little hole it can go into and disappear...that's Fergie's favorite.  She looks under the iPad and tries to figure out where it went, when it pops back on screen she goes insane.  I highly recommend making the .99 investment if you are looking for something new to entertain a sedentary indoor kitty!  Spencer gets into too, however he didn't take to it nearly as well as Fergie.  He's more of a feather-on-a-wand sorta guy.  Check out my crazy girl in action:

Here is her sister, Rigby, becoming interested in what she's doing:

In other news, this past Sunday opened Week 1 of this NFL season!  The Colts didn't pull out their first win, but at least Andrew Luck got his debut out of the way.  He had a lot of turnovers...but I still have high hopes for our #1 overall draft pick!!!  Peyton Manning's first game as a Bronco was bittersweet to say the least.  Seeing him in that orange jersey seemed so foreign and wrong.  It was fantastic to see him playing like his old self...like he never skipped a beat.  I now have to add the Denver Broncos as my second favorite NFL team, and will absolutely be cheering for them too.  Go Manning!

Rigby and Pete were also in the NFL spirit!

Equal Opportunity Pet Owner

You've got your self-proclaimed "cat people" and your self-proclaimed "dog people".  I like to think of myself as an equal opportunity pet owner, giving equal love to all my species, and being just simply, an "animal person".  I enjoy the company of dogs and cats for different reasons.  Sometimes I love it that Pete and Rigby (dogs) are needy and up in my face, but other times it's completely annoying.  I love that Spencer (cat) lays on my lap all night because he wants to, and not because I've called him over to me and he obeys. I love that I never get any privacy in the bathroom because Fergie (cat) just loves to tag along because she knows that's her designated belly rub time.  Cats and dogs are very different and I don't think I could imagine life without either one.  Statistics show that there are more cats living as pets in the United States, but more dog owners.  This means more people have multiple cats in one household, versus just owning one dog per household.  Makes sense to me as cats are much more low maintenance!  I got these statistics from The Humane Society.org's website, and I thought they were interesting:

Dogs:

• There are approximately 78.2 million owned dogs in the United States
• Thirty-nine percent of U.S. households own at least one dog
• Most owners (60 percent) own one dog
• Twenty-eight percent of owners own two dogs
• Twelve percent of owners own three or more dogs
• On average, owners have almost two dogs (1.69 percent)
• The proportion of male to female dogs is even
• Twenty-one percent of owned dogs were adopted from an animal shelter
• On average, dog owners spent $248 on veterinary visits (vaccine, well visits) annually
• Seventy-eight percent of owned dogs are spayed or neutered

Cats:

• There are approximately 86.4 million owned cats in the United States
• Thirty-three percent of U.S. households own at least one cat
• Fifty-two percent of owners own more than one cat
• On average, owners have two cats (2.2)
• More female cats are owned than male cats (80 percent vs. 65 percent respectively)
• Twenty-one percent of owned cats were adopted from an animal shelter
• Cat owners spent an average of $219 on routine veterinary visits
• Eighty-eight percent of owned cats are spayed or neutered

Pets offer so many benefits to us and enrich our lives.  Yeah, they can be a pain in the rear when it comes to pet hair, boarding costs, the occasional "mistake" in the house.  But what we yield in return is priceless!  Lower blood pressure, exposure at a young age actually reduces allergies, and unconditional love!  

Our Brood

 I like to link to this once a year, just in case someone has missed it.  This Dog vs. Cat Diary has been around for years, but it still makes me laugh every time I read it.  

 The Dog's Diary

•   8:00 am - Dog food! My favorite thing!
•   9:30 am - A car ride! My favorite thing!
•   9:40 am - A walk in the park! My favorite thing! 
• 10:30 am - Got rubbed and petted! My favorite thing!
• 12:00 pm - Milk bones! My favorite thing!
•   1:00 pm - Played in the yard! My favorite thing!
•   3:00 pm - Wagged my tail! My favorite thing!
•   5:00 pm - Dinner! My favorite thing!
•   7:00 pm - Got to play ball! My favorite thing!
•   8:00 pm - Wow! Watched TV with the people! My favorite thing!
• 11:00 pm - Sleeping on the bed! My favorite thing!

The Cat's Diary

Day 983 of My Captivity

My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects. They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates and I are fed hash or some sort of dry nuggets. Although I make my contempt for the rations perfectly clear, I nevertheless must eat something in order to keep up my strength.

The only thing that keeps me going is my dream of escape. In an attempt to disgust them, I once again vomit on the carpet. Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their feet. I had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it clearly demonstrates my capabilities. However, they merely made condescending comments about what a "good little hunter" I am. Bastards!

There was some sort of assembly of their accomplices tonight. I was placed in solitary confinement for the duration of the event. However, I could hear the noises and smell the food. I overheard that my confinement was due to the power of "allergies." I must learn what this means, and how to use it to my advantage.

Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my tormentors by weaving around his feet as he was walking. I must try this again tomorrow, but at the top of the stairs.

I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and snitches. The dog receives special privileges. He is regularly released, and seems to be more than willing to return. He is obviously retarded. The bird must be an informant. I observe him communicate with the guards regularly. I am certain that he reports my every move. My captors have arranged protective custody for him in an elevated cell, so he is safe. For now ...

Lil Bub's Positive Message

Meet Lil Bub

I have no idea how the existence of Lil Bub has escaped me until now.  I'm typically on the cutting edge of all things internet...and cat!  Lil Bub is a darling little cat, that her owner calls a "happy accident".  You see, Lil Bub has many birth defects and genetic mutations that make her special.  BUB is a "perma-kitten", which means she will stay kitten sized and maintain kitten-like features her entire life.  She is a dwarf, she has very short, stubby legs and a weird, long, serpent-like body. Her lower jaw is short, like a major overbite would be, and her teeth never grew in (kind of like Fergie, but much more serious!)  This explains why her tongue is almost always hanging out. Her owner says she has a very healthy appetite and eats dry and wet food with no problems. Finally, Lil Bub is a polydactyl cat, which really isn't that uncommon, meaning she has extra toes, one extra toe on all of her four paws. Her front paws each have two opposable thumbs. And then of course there are her big, bulging, wonder-filled green eyes.  All of those things equal, in my opinion, one cute very unique little girl!

Light Saber Bub

She was featured on Good Morning America earlier this month because of her major internet popularity.  Lil Bub has her own Tumblr Blog, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook fan page.  The witty captions done by owner Mike definitely contribute to the hilarity.   He also asks for people to Photoshop in hilarious things in Bub's pictures.  Light saber's, ice cream cones, all sorts of things. I think Lil Bub sends a great message and that's why so many people are enamored with her.  She says it's okay to be different.  She started out as a feral runt that someone had the kind heartedness to give a chance to, and look how much joy she's brought to not only her owner, but the world!  Pets truly are gifts to us.  The enhance our lives in SO many ways.  I guess that's why I have four of them...  To read more about Lil Bub and her story, you can check out her Bio on Facebook, it explains her humble beginnings to current super-stardom!

I'm sick of these too, but had to share.

I think anyone and everyone that is on Facebook is sick and tired of these internet memes going around.  I've seen the SEO one, Marketing, Stay at home mom's...but this one actually made me laugh!

Click image to see actual size.

Warning: Crazy Cat Ladies Only.

As all cat owners know, the downside (and only downside if you ask this crazy cat lady) of having indoor only cats is well...the dreaded litter box.  It's a chore that no one enjoys doing but must be done nonetheless.  I have 2 strictly indoor cats and for years have been a loyal Tidy Cats user.  No more!  I stumbled upon a new product at the grocery from Arm and Hammer.  It is all natural made from corn fiber and plant extracts.  I have noticed a very significant decrease in litter box odor, and the cats don't track it around like the clay based litters.  I'm raving about this product.  Reviews online have for the most part been positive, with the exception of a few picky kitties that don't care for the cedar/pine like fragrance.  It's priced at around $14 for an 18 pound bag at most stores.  This is more expensive than most other brands but I can tell you its lasts longer.  Much longer.  I'm raving about this and if you are having an issue...or just want to try it out I highly recommend this product!  Here is another blog post regarding it.

Meow!  The Duchess Ferguson approves this product!