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Cat's Logs - Week 37

Some people have alleged that my recent entries on feline culture are fiction.

In particular, they point to the legend of the cat who formed the first rainbow as being a rip off of ancient human legends. Get real! Where do you think humans got the idea?

Today we're introducing a topic using only human documents for reference: Felines as the primary inspiration for human literature.

You don't think so? Where do you think the word "mewse" came from?

To prove my point about the inspirational value of cats, here are a few quotes:

When I play with my cat, who knows whether I do not make her more sport than she makes me?
Michael de Montaigne

The mathematical probability of a common cat doing exactly as it pleases is the one scientific absolute in the world.
Lynn M. Osband

The only mystery about the cat is why it ever decided to become a domestic animal.
Sir Compton Mackenzie

Of all animals, he alone attains the Contemplative Life. He regards the wheel of existence from without, like the Buddha. There is no pretense of sympathy about the cat. He lives alone, aloft, sublime, in a wise passiveness.
Andrew Lang

The cat is domestic only as far as suits its own ends.
Saki (H. H. Munro

And my personal favorite:
Of all God's creatures, there is only one that cannot be made slave of the leash. That one is the cat. If man could be crossed with the cat it would improve the man, but it would deteriorate the cat.
Mark Twain

Tuesday, September 21, 1999

Humans have written a lot more about cats than a few sentences here and there: there are whole stories and books dedicated to cats.

GlennaJo says this looks like Puss in Boots, but I think it's an atrocity.

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One cat mystery series is the "Cat Who" series by Lilian Jackson Braun, which is featured in (warning: very brief commercial) my cat shopping area.

In addition, there's the famous poem, The Owl and the Pussycat by Edward Lear which serves to illustrate how majestic cats are while also demonstrating typical human silliness.

There are lots of advice and medical books so you can learn how to be an effective attendant.

And the hero of Puss in Boots cuts almost as fine a figure as yours truly.

Wednesday, September 22, 1999

Fascinating as books devoted to cats are, felines have also served as inspiration for human books on less interesting subjects.

For example, it is extremely common for dignified and attractive women to be compared to cats in recognition of our beauty and grace.

In addition, extremely lucky people are compared to cats. Humans who can't admit that we cats are much more resourceful and better at surviving than they are refer to this as having nine lives. Hah! Stuff we walk away from can put a human in traction for weeks.

What's that? Petty people who make spiteful remarks are called "catty?"

Oh, that's not a reference to felines, it comes from the word "catastrophe" because being spiteful to others is often disastrous.

One advanced human civilization even integrated cats into its alphabet.

The ancient Egyptians knew a species worthy of worship when they saw one. Their most significant sculptures evoke the dignity and elegance of felines through simple graceful lines. Their formal hieroglyphic language incorporates a symbol similar to that to the left meaning, "cat." This can be combined with other glyphs to create words such as:
	Catastrophe
	Catnip

And many less important terms as well.

Some have said this log is more general information than an actual diary.

I couldn't agree more. I can't think of anything more worthy of being immortalized on the web than my life.

What? What did I do today?

I woke you up half an hour before the alarm went off so you'd be ready to get up, watched you get dressed, napped, and ate. I chased a sunbeam, ate, and napped. I looked out the window, ate, napped, dug in the ... (never mind), and ate. I slept, stayed completely still and watched you enter the house, waiting until you started looking for me on the opposite side of the room, then magically appeared. I played "catch the hand" since you insisted, ate my liver treats, and slept on the couch next to you. I slept on the chair in the kitchen, then after you were asleep slept on the bed next to you.

What do you mean, "That's why the log is usually fiction?" This stuff is fascinating!

Speaking of digging ....

In addition to the boring box and obvious plants, the typical house or apartment offers many places worth digging in.

Once you dislodge the canister's cover and push it to the floor, both flour and sugar have fascinating textures. Flour feels cool and soft as it squishes between your toes. Sugar has a bit more substance and can even be used to scratch itchy spots on your paws.

The junk drawer provides a different type of digging opportunity. You have to be watchful for sharp objects and old, gooey "hard" candies. Often there are objects light enough to bat to the floor with your paw.

One of my favorite games is opening the junk drawer, tossing a straw to the floor, then (after making sure there's no telltale cat hair) closing it.

You should see the look on GlennaJo's face as she tries to figure out how it got there!

Chats
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