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?

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!

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

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.

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

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 .. )
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* 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.
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+ 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.

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

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 .. )
____________________________

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

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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

Maybe we can hook her up with a support group?