Hi everyone and a very warm welcome to all the new subscribers who have joined us since last month.
Your Mewsletter is undergoing a radical change in look and I hope you’ll approve. The chatty bit that I usually write at the beginning of each Mewsletter will now be posted as a blog entry which can be read on the website in the Catnip Corner (my thanks to Ham for coming up with the name and John who came up with this suggestion!)
Catnip Corner: Preambles to Mewsletter 111
So without further ado:
LET’S GET ON WITH THE MEWS!
The Home Page story this month is The House Guest which I hope you enjoy. Just go to www.thedailymews.com and scroll down a little way – you’ll see it in the middle of the page. Enjoy!
AMAZING CATS
Read this amazing story, written by confirmed animal hater, Ramona Ruhf about how one little dying cat taught her to love again:
A’MEWS’MENT ARCADE:
Richard Gibney wrote to me about some mysterious goings on in his house:
ANIMAL WELFARE:
Thank goodness for people like Ed Kostro who work tirelessly to try to round up stray dogs and cats that have been abandoned, neglected and/or abused. Once they’ve seen a vet he then tries to find good homes for them – and if no new home is forthcoming, he adopts them himself.
Ed works closely with The Great Animal Rescue Chase with the Harmony Fund which is a wonderful organisation that aims to rescue and help over one million animals. It’s a sad indictment of the world we live in that this number of animals and more are in such need. Sadly, animals are still being abandoned to fend for themselves, or abused in horrific incidents.
BOOK REVIEW:
Jem sent me this book that he wrote for me to review; I’m so glad he did. It’s a wonderful read.
A cat called dog by Jem Vanston
BREED PROFILE:
I’m grateful to Rachel Wilkerson who has written a ‘snap shot’ or potted history of the Maine Coon. You can read it here:
Rachel has a website that you’ll definitely like; go to http://petupon.com
CAPTION COMPETITION:
There’s still time to enter the Caption Competition. The winning entry wins a prize.
CAT CHAT:
Mary Anne Miller in the US wrote to me with her latest story which you’ll love. A cat called Calico and a dying father, saying their goodbyes.
LindaGavitt from the US has written yet another little vignette about life with her four cats and their own unique ways of showing affection:
ED KOSTRO:
Ed sent me links to the following heart-warming stories. The first is about a cat that had his head stuck in a jar for six days:
This next one Ed wrote about a poor dog that had been lying on a highway for a week:
Sweet Alice is the latest rescue Ed with fellow rescuer, Katie managed to accomplish:
The link was a bit difficult to find in that story so Ed kindly wrote it out for me and here it is:
Gentle cemetery dog finally safe:
INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR JEM VANSTON:
Jem Vanston, the author of ‘A cat called dog’ kindly wrote about his ideas for the book and of the cats that inspired him along the way:
JOHN GRAFTON:
John’s latest story is about his wonderful cat Chloe and the 24 years she spent with him and his family. Written in the style that John’s fans appreciate, movingly with just the right amount of humour, you will love this story:
MEWSERS MEWSINGS:
Madame Sneakers (whose tribute you can read in the Napping on a Sunbeam section) has written about what life was like for the few months she lived with her human family:
Six months of heaven on earth!
It’s been a year now since Willi Whizkas lost his beloved soul mate, Dippi Duck, and he’s written a very moving account of how empty this past year has been for him.
At 15 years of age, Willi has serious health issues of his own now with painful swollen bursars on both front legs for which there doesn’t seem to be any permanent cure, so please hold him up in your prayers. Thank you.
JIMMY’S MEWSINGS:
Jimmy’s latest piece of feline wisdom which he wants to share with us will really get you thinking – about the important things in life.
SQUIRT’S SCRIBBLINGS
Squirt was going to have compassionate leave this month as his mother, Moondance, suddenly went missing on 24th April. Despite notices being put up on every conceivable object, and his human staff trudging round the streets, fields, hedges and ditches in Scotland where they live, no sign of Moondance has been forthcoming. Naturally, Squirt is very concerned as he was very close to her and his human staff are beside themselves with worry. So please pray to the Great Cat in the Sky to find Moondance and bring her back as she is loved and missed with a passion.
But true ‘supercat’ that Squirt is, he rallied round and wrote his Spring Scribbling which I know you’ll all enjoy:
‘I’ve got a brand new combine harvester’
NAPPING ON A SUNBEAM:
Becky from the US wrote about a tiny little feral kitten left behind by its mother that Becky and her husband, Danny, took in.
Becky also sent me this lovely account which was on Fox News of a man reading a goodbye letter to his dog Charlie as he was being euthanized.
8,028,000 minutes I called you friend
Sheila Baird in Canada wrote a very moving tribute to her dog, Paddy, who died earlier this month.
Darlene Khan wrote to tell me that her beloved Pomeranian, Sammie, went over Rainbow Bridge earlier this month.
WHISKERS, WORRIES AND WOES (the old Pussy Problem Page)
Prior to Moondance’s disappearance, Squirt and Holly - who is Jimmy’s sister - (or sisfur as they say on Twitter) were enjoying an email dalliance. Their romance or paw-pal correspondence is still gaining pace. Here’s the latest from them:
Possession is 9/10th of the law part 5
And that just about wraps it up for this time. I do hope you enjoy the new look Mewsletter. It IS a bit long but that’s because April’s articles are included as well. Next month should be shorter! As always, I welcome feedback, good, bad or indifferent.
Till the next time, keep safe.
Love Pauline – Editor in Chief
Casey – Chief Assistant to the Editor in Chief and Lookout for Lost Felines in Need of Board and Lodgings
xx
The Very Best Toy for Cats
"Of all the [cat] toys available, none is better designed than the owner himself. A large multipurpose plaything, its parts can be made to move in almost any direction. It comes completely assembled, and it makes a noise when you jump on it."
Stephen Baker