DISCOVER Magazine. Science, Technology and The Future
Current Issue
Subscribe Today »
  • Renew
  • Give a Gift
  • Archives
  • Customer Service
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Newsletter
  • Health & Medicine
  • Mind & Brain
  • Technology
  • Space
  • Human Origins
  • Living World
  • Environment
  • Physics & Math
  • Video
  • Photos
  • Podcast
  • RSS
Bad Astronomy
« Live video chat at 15:00 Mountain (21:00 UT) Sunday
Holey bark »

Caturday

Poor Dinger.


She’s still trying to get along with the rest of the menagerie, so refuge on a Saturday morning must feel cozy.

BTW I submitted this to I Can Has Cheezburger?

Share

June 7th, 2008 10:21 AM by Phil Plait in Humor, Pretty pictures | 35 comments | RSS feed | Trackback >

35 Responses to “Caturday”

  1. 1.   madge Says:
    June 7th, 2008 at 10:28 am

    I know exactly how he feels!

  2. 2.   The Bad Astronomer Says:
    June 7th, 2008 at 10:29 am

    Madge: “she”. :-)

  3. 3.   Not Sure Says:
    June 7th, 2008 at 11:00 am

    Adjusting to living in a house with no ceiling cat.

  4. 4.   Daniel Snyder Says:
    June 7th, 2008 at 11:20 am

    teh kwantum kitteh iz xistin now

  5. 5.   Jason Says:
    June 7th, 2008 at 11:46 am

    “Not ready to come out of the closet”, does that mean your cat is a Republican?

  6. 6.   themadlolscientist Says:
    June 7th, 2008 at 12:03 pm

    =LOL=

    @ madge – For all practical purposes, all calicos and torties are female. A handful of “male” exceptions have been reported, but they’re all XXY (and sterile).

    gon 2 vote 4 lolDinger on ichcb, brb

  7. 7.   Kaptain K Says:
    June 7th, 2008 at 12:06 pm

    Stranger in a strange house!
    I can relate to that!

  8. 8.   themadlolscientist Says:
    June 7th, 2008 at 12:07 pm

    evry1 go vote 4 lolDinger. she dosent has enuf votes.

  9. 9.   Ibeechu Says:
    June 7th, 2008 at 12:11 pm

    Phil, you have just earned +OVER 9000 cool in my book.

  10. 10.   Michael Lonergan Says:
    June 7th, 2008 at 12:15 pm

    Hmmm,
    Rainbow cat
    Coming out of the closet.

    Well, she has my full support.

  11. 11.   Michael Lonergan Says:
    June 7th, 2008 at 12:19 pm

    Oh, wait… NOT ready to come out of the closet…

    Well, we live in a day where it is much more acceptable.

    Maybe we can hook her up with a support group?

  12. 12.   Colin J Says:
    June 7th, 2008 at 12:27 pm

    Release the hounds!

  13. 13.   Jason Says:
    June 7th, 2008 at 1:02 pm

    There has to be a Tom Cruise or John Travolta joke in there somewhere, doesn’t there?

  14. 14.   swede Says:
    June 7th, 2008 at 1:08 pm

    not another funny pic website.. i have math to learn.. caturday = 23/24 * saturday

  15. 15.   Suhlly cat. Laf is for peepul. by Schierer Space Says:
    June 7th, 2008 at 1:08 pm

    [...] will carefully dodge the blog taboo by blogging about someone else’s cat. Bad Astronomer has broadcast the social inadequacy of his cat on http://www.icanhascheezburger.com. I had never heard of [...]

  16. 16.   Josh Says:
    June 7th, 2008 at 1:21 pm

    I never knew 12 year olds could become astronomers. Grow up.

  17. 17.   Tim G Says:
    June 7th, 2008 at 1:46 pm

    Well, that’s rainbow cat’s decision.

    She shouldn’t feel obligated to come out so don’t pressure her. If she eventually comes out we’ll support her but if she wants her privacy in there, let her be.

  18. 18.   Michael L Says:
    June 7th, 2008 at 1:56 pm

    Tim,
    Yes, but she will feel so much better emotionally, especially if she has a loving family supporting her. Maybe we should send someone to talk to BA?

  19. 19.   The Bad Astronomer Says:
    June 7th, 2008 at 2:23 pm

    I have a better idea, Josh. Go away. Or lighten up. Either will do.

  20. 20.   Chester M. Says:
    June 7th, 2008 at 3:36 pm

    I know that feeling. I like to spend my Saturdays curled up on the floor in front of my computer and watch videos on the internet. Today I watched Arrested Development on Hulu.com, as recommended by one of the guys on the Freakonomics blog.

    Oh, and: “CLOES TEH DOOR UR LETING THE LITE IN”

  21. 21.   mgs Says:
    June 7th, 2008 at 3:36 pm

    Ibeechu, I see your 9000 and raise you … ONE PHANTASTILLION *raisespinkytomouth*.

    Oh, and btw – 12 yo. astronomers FTW! I hope we see much more LOLBAs.

  22. 22.   Jewel Says:
    June 7th, 2008 at 4:35 pm

    Aww, she’s a pretty cat. I used to have a calico kitty. I miss her.

  23. 23.   dragonet2 Says:
    June 7th, 2008 at 7:57 pm

    good luck. I introduced an older cat to the household about five years ago and she still considers the only cat (youngest, and younger than her) her bitter enemy.

    Youngest cat then is middle-ish cat now, we adopted two kittens year ago last may and they live to give the two older cats hell.

    Calico cats are special. My first cat was a calico and very special.

  24. 24.   Michael L Says:
    June 7th, 2008 at 10:27 pm

    So long as the Dinger doesn’t end up like this:
    http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=A3_n0B1EaOY&eurl=http://262.gmodules.com/ig/ifr?url=http://www.google.com/ig/modules/youtube_videos.xml&nocache=0&up_prefs_versioniurl=http://i.ytimg.com/vi/A3_n0B1EaOY/default.jpg

  25. 25.   madge Says:
    June 8th, 2008 at 1:49 am

    My deepe*t apologie* to Dinger! *eriously that wa* a typo, my ring finger mi**ed the “*” key. *he i* obviou*ly a female and I have had my *hare of calico cat* in the pa*t. Give HER a *troke from me and *ay that I am *orry if I cau*ed HER any offence :)
    P.*. I *till know how *he feel*…gonna go and lock my*elf in my own particular clo*et right now.

  26. 26.   Grand Lunar Says:
    June 8th, 2008 at 4:48 am

    Wish I could post pics of my feline. She just can’t seem to get away from the computer.

    I’d have loved to also have shown an image of a cat of a friend of a friend owned. This cat took a liking to “Animal Planet”, particularly the “Funniest Animals” show. He watches with intent, and even tries to touch them.

    One probably could make interactive TV for pets.

  27. 27.   Stevo Says:
    June 8th, 2008 at 6:26 am

    Great cat … BA

    Hope she comes out of the closest (Felis* takes after Sappho?**)
    and settles in well soon.

    Hmm … Maybe the Shroedinger tag has her scared … ?

    Was Shroedinger ever prosecuted for animal cruelty!? ;-)

    Seriously, I wish Dinger the best – got an all-black cat myself & have fond memories of many others – nothing is quite as good for your sanity and contentment as a cat curled up and purring on your lap .. :-)

    ( I know I owe what little sanity, I’ve got left to a great old tortoiseshell called Katrina ..
    :-) )
    ____________________________

    * There was once aconstellationcalled Felis now nolongerrecognised -when we get Pluto’sstauts resroed Ireckonwe should bring Felis back too!

    ** Ancient Greek poetess famed for .. well … romantic poems aimed at .. umm .. well for a hint her home island was Lesbos! Go on google her! ;-)

  28. 28.   Stevo Says:
    June 8th, 2008 at 6:45 am

    D’oh! Please let us edit BA then I won’t have to keep posting these corrections for typos and italicisng etc .. Sigh. :-(
    __________________________________________________

    StevoR on 08 Jun 2008 at 6:26 am

    Great cat … BA

    Hope she comes out of the closet (Felis* takes after Sappho?**)
    and settles in well soon.

    Hmm … Maybe the Shroedinger tag has her scared … ?
    Was Shroedinger ever prosecuted for animal cruelty!? ;-)

    Seriously, I wish Dinger the best – got an all-black cat myself & have fond memories of many other exemplars of felis domesticus

    Nothing is quite as good for your sanity and contentment as a cat curled up and purring on your lap ..

    ( I know I owe what little sanity, I’ve got left to a great old tortoiseshell called Katrina .. )
    ____________________________

    * There was once a constellation called Felis – added by Lacaille I think or Lalande along with Noctua the night owl. Sadly it’s now no longer officially recognised – when we get Pluto’s status restored I reckon we should bring Felis back at the same time too!

    After all there’s no less than three doggy constellations in the sky+ – & they’re diurnal animals – yet no cats naturally noctural in the sky but lynx .. which hardly counts! Ever tried to curl up with a wild Lynx on your lap? ;-)

    ** Ancient Greek poetess famed for .. well … romantic poems aimed at .. umm .. well … for a hint her home island was Lesbos! Go on google her!

    ————————————————————————
    “Cats are the connosiuers of comfort.” – James Herriott.
    ————————————————————–

    + Alright, alright, I’ll tell y’all.

    These are :

    1) Canis Major (The Big Dog incl. Dogstar & Pup : Sirius A & B)

    2) Canis Minor (The little dog with the “Little dogstar”, Procyon & its white dwarf puppy.)

    & …

    3) Canes Venatici – the hunting dogs; a northern circumpolar constellation representing another two hunting dogs … Incidentally this is the home of the Whirlpool Galaxy M51 & the deep red star La Superba (Y Canum Venatcorum), brightest star (Alphas CVn) is named Cor Caroli, a white binary 110 ly away. Beta star is called Chara & is a yellow star 27 ly off.

  29. 29.   StevoR Says:
    June 8th, 2008 at 6:51 am

    That’s Y Canum Venaticorum with an i … Sigh.

    why can’t we edit …. arrrrgggggggdhhhs! :-(

    Source : ‘Collins Guide to Stars & Planets’, Ian Ridpath & Wil Tirion, Collins, 2007.

  30. 30.   StevoR Says:
    June 8th, 2008 at 6:58 am

    See!!!

    Underbreath (Frak computers are frustrating!!!)

    Anyway, I suppose we could count Leo and Leo Minor too as cat family constellations – & they’d eat dogs (& ppl) for breakfast!

    Yet still … I’d like to see the domestic cat constellation – Felis – placed back in the sky as Lalande’s (or was it Lacaille’s?) enduring joke on the heavens! :-)

    PS. Hope ‘Dinger’s come out now & is all alive & purring. Give her a stroke from me. :-)

  31. 31.   Joker Says:
    June 8th, 2008 at 7:01 am

    Maybe she was just scared by all the “holy barking” on the next topic? ;-)

  32. 32.   Joker Says:
    June 8th, 2008 at 7:09 am

    Oh & there is the Cats eye nebula (NGC 6543) that planetary in Draco! ;-)

    & the Cats Paw nebula (NGC 6334 in Scorpius) too! ;-)

  33. 33.   -R Says:
    June 8th, 2008 at 11:56 am

    Fat cat!! <3

  34. 34.   turtlerex Says:
    June 8th, 2008 at 2:46 pm

    She’s a beautiful calico…and in response to #-R, show me a pampered indoor cat that isn’t a little pudgy!

    While saving up for a telescope the past seven years, I’ve worked as a veterinary technician (in retrospect, another career might have been quicker) and I know of a few things you can try to see if she integrates faster back into your household, if you’re interested?

    #1. The pride that hunts together, stays together. Try getting all the cats in the same room with a toy/toys that really get their attention (like a catnip mouse or feathers attached to a small fishing pole, or even better, a laser pointer) and let them take turns “hunting” the toy(s). A couple of play sessions a week should help them get used to each other and develop a mutual respect (especially if Dinger is as good with her claws as I suspect).

    #2. Happy hormones. There is a product called Feliway that uses feline hormones to promote a calm and stress free environment. It comes in a spray (which we use at our clinic) and a plug-in diffuser (better at home). You can read more here: http://www.feliway.uk.com/feliway_uk.nsf/Page?OpenForm

    #3. Hey you smell like me! If you soak one of the other cats with water and dry it off with a towel, then take that towel and rub Dinger all over with it (neither cat will like this), then Dinger will have the other cat’s scent on her. This will cause her to seem familiar to the others and therefore be more easily accepted. This can work both ways, you can use the towel on Dinger and then rub it on the other cats as well. This is sort of a last resort, in that cats don’t like to be wet and you may sustain injuries.

    #4. Time. Most cats, given enough time, will adjust to a new member in their pride. Even if they don’t, they will settle in and develop a non-confrontational lifestyle. Dinger may always have special places to relax, like closets, but she will find her place in your home and in the pride’s hierarchy.

    If you need them, I hope these suggestions help!

  35. 35.   Torbjörn Larsson, OM Says:
    June 8th, 2008 at 6:58 pm

    Science cat purrfer open door policy.

    Ancient Greek poetess famed for .. well … romantic poems aimed at .. umm .. well … for a hint her home island was Lesbos! Go on google her!

    Um, as if sapphic sex was a new thing?

Leave a Reply





    • About Bad Astronomy


      Phil Plait, the creator of Bad Astronomy, is an astronomer, lecturer, and author. After ten years working on Hubble Space Telescope and six more working on astronomy education, he struck out on his own as a writer. He's written two books, dozens of magazine articles, and 12 bazillion blog articles. He is a skeptic and fights the abuse of science, but his true love is praising the wonders of real science.


      The original BA site (with the Moon Hoax debunking, movie reviews, and all that) can be found here.


      Contact me: The Bad Astronomer "at" gmail "dot" com


       
      Keep Libel Laws out of Science
       
       Bad Astronomy was chosen as one of Time.com's Best Blogs of 2009.


    • Science Getaways


      Science Getaways: Vacation with your brain!


    • Subscribe to BA


      Subscribe to Bad Astronomy using RSS! RSS feed button


    • Death from the Skies!


      Order a copy of Death from the Skies! from Amazon, or Barnes and Noble.

      "If things worked the way I wanted them to, any reporter about to do another 'sensational' story on deadly meteors would consult this volume, and bang! common sense would find its way into the news. How strange would that world be?"
      -- Adam Savage, Mythbusters


      "Reading this book is like getting punched in the face by Carl Sagan. Frightening, but oddly exhilarating."
      -- Daniel H. Wilson, author of How to Survive a Robot Uprising


    • Recent Posts

      • Maiden flight for ESA’s Vega rocket tonight
      • Another interactive way to scale the Universe
      • An ear to the ocean
      • The staring eye of a crescent moon
      • A hoopy frood
    • Social/Networking/Cool Stuff


      Google+


       Twitter




       Facebook


    • Post Categories

    • Archives

    • Blogroll

      • Bad Astronomy (old site)
      • Bad Astronomy and Universe Today Forum
      • BAFacts Archive
      • Commenting Policy
      • Computer Support
      • Contact Information
      • DM: 80 Beats
      • DM: Cosmic Variance
      • DM: Discoblog
      • DM: Gene Expression
      • DM: NERS
      • DM: Science Not Fiction
      • DM: The Intersection
      • DM: The Loom
      • James Randi Educational Foundation
      • My use of the word "denier"
      • Planetary Society Blog
      • Politics and Religion posts
      • Press Kit
      • Q&BA Archive
      • The Antivax Bible
      • Universe Today
    • RSS DISCOVERmagazine.com: Latest Articles on Space

      • Maiden flight for ESA’s Vega rocket tonight | Bad Astronomy
      • Another interactive way to scale the Universe | Bad Astronomy
      • The staring eye of a crescent moon | Bad Astronomy
      • When the Moon hits your apse in a way-cool time lapse | Bad Astronomy
      • Funhouse galaxy | Bad Astronomy
    • RSS DISCOVER Blogs: The Loom

      • A Planet of Viruses: Autographed Book Sale
      • Animal Friendships: My cover story for Time magazine
      • The Future of E-books–podcast of my interview on Wisconsin Public Radio
      • Thursday, February 16: Science and social media panel in New York
      • A Scientific Jonah: My profile of Joy Reidenberg in tomorrow’s New York Times


  • Kalmbach Publishing Co.

    Copyright © 2012, Kalmbach Publishing Co.

    Privacy - Terms - Reader Services - Subscribe Today - Advertise - About Us