Pamela M. posted an article on The Way of Cats - Feb 8, 2012, 11:00 am
Tiny kittens are very cute. This can often lead to them being taken away from their mother while they are still too young to go. While they can walk, eat, and eliminate on their own around four weeks of age, this is only the beginning. Mom, and littermates, are supposed to teach a lot more things t...
Comment - Like

Pamela M. posted an article on The Way of Cats - Feb 5, 2012, 12:00 pm
My friends like to say that I choose “the most pathetic kitten in the place.” It’s true. But also, it just seems to happen that way; the last four times, the best kitten for us turns out to be a special needs kitten. I don’t mind a bit. Because some of the best cats come in the most daunti...
Comment - Like

Pamela M. posted an article on The Way of Cats - Feb 3, 2012, 12:00 pm
A reader writes: Recently many friends and family have been adding little babies to their homes. Only one of them owns indoor cats, but it did get me wondering how you can properly prepare your kitties for the arrival of a new human? Dear Readers, Preparing our cats for a new little human is an e...
Comment - Like

Pamela M. posted an article on The Way of Cats - Feb 1, 2012, 11:00 am
Reverend Jim is really coming into his own. He’s always been a quiet presence, content to influence events by hanging around them. With maturity he has learned to be proactive. He’s still a little shaky on how to get attention. But once he’s got it, he happily twirls and rubs his cheek on wha...
Comment - Like

Pamela M. posted an article on The Way of Cats - Jan 29, 2012, 12:00 pm
I got the most interesting query recently. What causes the cats in My Cat From Hell? This question is regarding the Animal Planet TV show, My Cat From Hell. Jackson Galaxy, cat behaviorist, arrives at the homes of couples who are at their wit’s end with misbehaving cats. I was pleasantly surpri...
Comment - Like

Pamela M. posted an article on The Way of Cats - Jan 27, 2012, 11:00 am
Mr WayofCats has a unique perspective on my methods. He grew up with cats and enjoyed them as pets before we met; and is enjoying them, anew, by using Way of Cats principles. Welcome, Mr WayofCats. You recently mentioned you once thought two cats were plenty. Yes. Now I live with four! And… lovi...
Comment - Like

Pamela M. posted an article on The Way of Cats - Jan 25, 2012, 11:00 am
A reader will write something like this, rather often: I don’t know what happened. He still hides and avoids laptime and I want more cuddling and kissing. What can I do? Dear Readers, What we want, and what our cat is, might be two different things. see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and che...
Comment - Like

Pamela M. posted an article on The Way of Cats - Jan 22, 2012, 11:00 am
One easy way to convey a sense of “cat types” is by comparison with another animal. As someone who has had both as a pet, I can say that the Gamma is the rabbit cat. They combine a sweet and trusting nature with an uncertainty about how to manipulate our mutual environment. see more Lolcats an...
Comment - Like

Pamela M. posted an article on The Way of Cats - Jan 20, 2012, 11:00 am
I recently shared a Tristan story at work, where my co-workers had gotten to know him during his first week of fostering, when he needed around-the-clock care. One lady was taken aback when she thought of how long ago it had been. When she took this photo, it was the last time she had seen him in pe...
Comment - Like

Pamela M. posted an article on The Way of Cats - Jan 18, 2012, 7:00 am
Finally! After dozens of shows designed to train clueless humans about their dogs, Cat Appreciators have a show designed to train clueless humans about their cats. Jackson Galaxy is a long-time cat behaviorist with a big heart and a personality to match. It only takes a few minutes of watching him ...
Comment - Like

Pamela M. posted an article on The Way of Cats - Jan 15, 2012, 11:00 am
One easy way to convey a sense of “cat types” is by comparison with another animal. As someone who has had both as a pet, I can say that the Beta is the dog cat. They combine great social skills with an ease about asking us to manipulate our mutual environment. see more Lolcats and funny pictu...
Comment - Like

Pamela M. posted an article on The Way of Cats - Jan 13, 2012, 11:00 am
A reader writes: … My two year old cat …was generally friendly as a kitten. She loved to play, was curious, and was happy to be around people. I got her from a friend whose cat had kittens, so she has a good early kitten-hood. The reason I am writing you is because as she’s gotten older, she ...
Comment - Like

Pamela M. posted an article on The Way of Cats - Jan 11, 2012, 11:00 am
The Russian Blue has somewhat mysterious origins, but an accepted consensus is that the foundation breed arose as a natural cat in in northern Russia’s Archangel Isles. This is the origin of another name for them, Archangel Blues. They were a ship’s cat who spread to Europe in the 1860′s, and...
Comment - Like

Pamela M. posted an article on The Way of Cats - Jan 8, 2012, 11:00 am
One easy way to convey a sense of “cat types” is by comparison with another animal. As someone who has had both as a pet, I can say that the Alpha is the monkey cat. They combine ceaseless curiosity with an ease about manipulating our mutual environment. see more Lolcats and funny pictures, an...
Comment - Like

Pamela M. posted an article on The Way of Cats - Jan 6, 2012, 11:00 am
When my cats leave the house, they are in a carrier. It really isn’t optional. see more epicfails I regard carriers as safety devices, and that goes for everybody. The humans don’t try to deal with a panicked animal who possesses a lot of pointy things. The cat has at least a safe place duri...
Comment - Like

Pamela M. posted an article on The Way of Cats - Jan 4, 2012, 11:00 am
For a cat, perspective is everything. This is why they love to look at the same things from different angles. Because, until they do, how can they be sure these are the same things? see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz! We can use this “check for ...
Comment - Like

Pamela M. posted an article on The Way of Cats - Jan 1, 2012, 11:00 am
The month of November last year turned into an absolute carnival of rescue. When the dust settled six kittens and one young adult cat had gotten new homes. Two out of those five homes already had cats in them. Last year, Tristan and Zora found homes; with people who already had cats. Not that ther...
Comment - Like

Pamela M. posted an article on The Way of Cats - Dec 30, 2011, 11:00 am
Do cats remember when they were kittens? Yes. They can be fond of mimicking those bygone kitten times. Though they might not understand that is what they are doing. Tristan was more interested than we expected in the whole “stringing of the lights” ritual in our home. Since RJ was a kitten, w...
Comment - Like

Pamela M. posted an article on The Way of Cats - Dec 28, 2011, 11:00 am
Humans love suspense. In 90 to 120 minute increments. Happening to someone else. Like humans, cats like suspense, too. At first. see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz! If our cat’s anticipation turns to frustration, we’ve let the suspense go too...
Comment - Like

Pamela M. posted an article on The Way of Cats - Nov 2, 2011, 12:00 pm
I recently ran across a cat quote I liked so much I had to add it to my random quote generator in the sidebar: I had been told that the training procedure with cats was difficult. It’s not. Mine had me trained in two days. ~Bill Dana One of my favorite things about cats is their “ease of use.�...
Comment - Like

Pamela M. posted an article on The Way of Cats - Oct 30, 2011, 12:00 pm
I did not pick the right day last week for kitten delivery. A sudden early snowstorm in the middle of the area I had to drive through made this trip even more of an adventure than my friend and I had planned. But it’s not like I had a lot of choice; three of us juggled days off and work obligatio...
Comment - Like

Pamela M. posted an article on The Way of Cats - Oct 28, 2011, 12:00 pm
Some shelters have the practice of requiring two cat adoptions, often with the incentive of offering a double-cat discount. This makes the 2-fer choice both practical and fair. see more Lolcats and funny pictures Shelters screen potential adopters because they don’t want “boomerangs.” Adopt...
Comment - Like

Pamela M. posted an article on The Way of Cats - Oct 26, 2011, 12:00 pm
We are so fortunate to be benignly ruled by our Boss Princess, Olwyn. She helped raise Tristan from his tiny state, looks after James Bond in his old age, and has a sibling, push-pull, arrangement with Reverend Jim. Nor does she neglect the humans in the household. She is Mr WayofCats’ constant ...
Comment - Like

Pamela M. posted an article on The Way of Cats - Oct 23, 2011, 12:00 pm
Update on the Tristan Relatives Project: The two little sweeties, seen at left, are being adopted this week to a lovely couple! I spoke to the lady on the phone, and we will be using your donations, as seen at right, to give them their first shots and deworming. Then a good friend will road trip w...
Comment - Like

Pamela M. posted an article on The Way of Cats - Oct 21, 2011, 12:00 pm
I did the best I could with these pictures, since the vet’s office was flooded during Hurricane Irene. She still can’t live in her home. There were men working with power tools and the receptionist desk was a table; the waiting room had lost many of its chairs. I didn’t want to disrupt the co...
Comment - Like

Pamela M. posted an article on The Way of Cats - Oct 18, 2011, 6:30 pm
Actually, they’ve been saved; captured, fed, and under the care of a local veterinarian. Now we need to get them into homes. About a month ago the same friend who rescued Tristan and his sister let me know a cat who looked a lot like Tristan had been spotted; with kittens. She turned out to be s...
Comment - Like

Pamela M. posted an article on The Way of Cats - Oct 16, 2011, 12:00 pm
The point of capitalism is that when needs crop up, we have pools of resources that will self-motivate to get those needs met. Pet care is estimated to be a $50.84 billion slice of the US economy. How’s that working for us? Frankly, not so well. see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out...
Comment - Like

Pamela M. posted an article on The Way of Cats - Oct 14, 2011, 12:00 pm
Our Reverend Jim is finally a mature cat; at four and a half. How can I tell? Why did it take so long? Why does that make a difference? RJ’s dominant breed (there might be others) is the Maine Coon Cat; known for slow maturation. This goes for body and mind; drawn out even further by serious neg...
Comment - Like

Pamela M. posted an article on The Way of Cats - Oct 12, 2011, 12:00 pm
One of the things I have to do when sorting out a cat issue is to make sure all of us are talking about the same things. Including the cats. see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz! When cats seem to be acting in contradictory ways, it is usually a pro...
Comment - Like

Pamela M. posted an article on The Way of Cats - Oct 9, 2011, 12:00 pm
Cats are good for us. Yes, on the psychological level of interaction with another creature, cats are wonderful for companionship and have known positive effects on blood pressure and other stress markers. Research shows that, unless you’re someone who really dislikes animals or is absolutely too...
Comment - Like

Pamela M. posted an article on The Way of Cats - Oct 7, 2011, 12:00 pm
The other night, I got up after untangling Tristan from behind my knees. When I came back, he was sitting on the edge of the bed with one ear turned inside out, blinking as though he was overcome with love. Such moments are why Alpha fans put up with all the craziness. see more Lolcats and funny p...
Comment - Like

Pamela M. posted an article on The Way of Cats - Oct 5, 2011, 12:00 pm
I try to pick up finished bowls promptly. Not only does this keep my clean dish turnover at a reasonable pace, it lowers anxiety in our cats. It might not work that way in other homes. But everywhere, empty bowls, even not-all-the-way-empty bowls, have great power. see more Lolcats and funny pictu...
Comment - Like

Pamela M. posted an article on The Way of Cats - Oct 2, 2011, 12:00 pm
Now that football season has arrived, the presence of Michael Vick on the television screen has stirred up a new round of angst and speculation on the subject of animal cruelty. Which is a good thing. Because focusing on the question Hasn’t Michael Vick paid for his crimes? leads, again and again...
Comment - Like

Pamela M. posted an article on The Way of Cats - Sep 30, 2011, 12:00 pm
The number one quality a lap cat needs is inertia. As long as they don’t think they are being nudged away, they will stay. see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz! Some cats will define our normal movements, where we shift our laps around to keep our...
Comment - Like

Pamela M. posted an article on The Way of Cats - Sep 28, 2011, 12:00 pm
If we are experienced Cat Appreciators, we can spot the errors in the keyword search below: how to discipline a naughty kitten that keeps coming back for more Every verb and adjective points to a dangerously wrong thought pattern. see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Aw...
Comment - Like

Pamela M. posted an article on The Way of Cats - Sep 25, 2011, 12:00 pm
My friends like to tease me that I will choose the “most pathetic kitten in the shelter.” It’s not that I choose them because they were pathetic; I chose them despite their pathetic-ness. I chose Reverend Jim and Olwyn because they were the right type of cat for our situation. But also becaus...
Comment - Like

Pamela M. posted an article on The Way of Cats - Sep 23, 2011, 12:00 pm
What do we want? All our cats to get along! When do we want it? Yesterday! see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz! Proper introductions. People only realize they made a mistake rushing the introductions after they have done it. Their own excitement ov...
Comment - Like

Pamela M. posted an article on The Way of Cats - Sep 18, 2011, 12:00 pm
It really is that simple. So I’ll repeat it. Clean Litter, Happy Cats Sure, we can put it in the wrong place or get the wrong kind of box or the wrong kinds of litter. But we can make up for any number of errors if we only clean the litter. see more Lolcats and funny pictures Our Litter Robot ...
Comment - Like

Pamela M. posted an article on The Way of Cats - Sep 16, 2011, 12:00 pm
What is a cat’s biggest public relations problem? They are subtle. see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz! On of the reasons people like dogs is because they come home to an animal who is reliably leaping up and down and making a visible fuss. Comin...
Comment - Like

Pamela M. posted an article on The Way of Cats - Sep 14, 2011, 12:00 pm
Do we keep an open communications line between ourselves and our cats? Do we issue “press releases”? see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz! In human society, it’s typical to issue a press release when we want to get the facts out. While our cat...
Comment - Like

Pamela M. posted an article on The Way of Cats - Sep 11, 2011, 12:00 pm
To some people, it’s apparently wrong for me to express how much I care about my cats. It’s okay to have a cat (it can happen to anyone) but I’m not supposed to enjoy it. It’s not right to treat them badly, but it’s somehow not right to treat them too well, either. I should provide good f...
Comment - Like

Pamela M. posted an article on The Way of Cats - Sep 9, 2011, 12:00 pm
On a recent rainy afternoon, I put on The Matrix, even though I’d seen it many times before. That was why I wasn’t watching the credits; and I wound up watching Tristan watch the credits. Tristan actually has a great interest in television, even when it’s not nature shows. He will follow actio...
Comment - Like

Pamela M. posted an article on The Way of Cats - Sep 7, 2011, 12:00 pm
People can have a tendency to actually encourage jealousy; they think it is a flattering sign of someone’s devotion. But, with any being, this is a mistaken assumption. Jealousy is always a negative emotion. It springs from a lack of love; not an excess. They demand more and more because the lov...
Comment - Like

Pamela M. posted an article on The Way of Cats - Sep 4, 2011, 12:00 pm
Many, many readers write me something that goes like this: I love this cat and they can be so sweet with me. But this cat goes crazy/fights with the other cats/won’t stop doing that thing everyone hates/seems so miserable sometimes. Is there anything more I can do? Dear Readers, I’m always ...
Comment - Like

Pamela M. posted an article on The Way of Cats - Sep 2, 2011, 12:00 pm
I ran into the friend who adopted Zora, Tristan’s sister, right around the time we’d decided was Tristan’s birthday. Even though we are confident these two cats are from the same litter, Zora’s people were celebrating her birthday five days later. It can be difficult to be exact about our c...
Comment - Like

Pamela M. posted an article on The Way of Cats - Aug 31, 2011, 12:00 pm
I find cats fascinating because they actually run dual operating systems. If circumstances place them in surroundings where they need to go it alone, and protect their hunting territory; that is what they will do. If circumstances place them in surroundings where they do better as cooperative memb...
Comment - Like

Pamela M. posted an article on The Way of Cats - Aug 28, 2011, 12:00 pm
What do I mean when I talk about cat types? I have organized general cat tendencies into three main “types” called Alpha, Beta, and Gamma. This was inspired by the classic science fiction novel Brave New World, wherein humans are assigned societal categories at birth. Of course, I’m working w...
Comment - Like

Pamela M. posted an article on The Way of Cats - Aug 26, 2011, 6:33 am
Tristan, Tristan, Tristan. We adore our little caramel cake (for his stripes) our little dill pickle spear (for his spots) and our little looney toon (for his cartoonishly elongated body and his wacky behavior.) Despite him being an Alpha. Because he’s an Alpha. But mostly, because he’s Trista...
Comment - Like

Pamela M. posted an article on The Way of Cats - Aug 24, 2011, 12:00 pm
We can have one cat; and still have cat conflicts. That’s because our cranky cat might not like sharing territory. With any living thing. This is actually a symptom of insecurity. That’s how we must approach the cure. see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Pen...
Comment - Like

Pamela M. posted an article on The Way of Cats - Aug 21, 2011, 12:00 pm
A reader writes: When I try to pet my new kitten, he just wants to bite and claw. Did I pick a bad one? Dear Readers, This problem is often because we are giving our kitten the wrong signals at the wrong time. We need to watch our “kitten settings.” Then we will move to pet them at a time whe...
Comment - Like