Smart cat gift selections
Fran Kelso 
If you are not familiar with these exotic Bengal cats, you are in for a treat. They are beautiful animals. The cat is part of a domestic breed developed to look like a miniature version of a wild cat. Bengal cats were developed by selective breeding, crossing hybrids of the Asian leopard cat with domestic … Read more
If you adopted a kitten that was just six weeks old, would you know how to take care of it? I was asked this question recently on Quora, and decided that our readers here on The Literate Cat might appreciate the information as well. CHOOSING YOUR NEW KITTEN First of all, how do you choose … Read more
Many well-known people have said things about cats that have been circulated through literary circles, or written down in books and preserved for others to enjoy. It is my intent to share some of these sayings with you. Many years ago, I was given a book called “The Cat Notebook.” The book was copyrighted in … Read more
Reading is a skill that is essential these days, and kids need to learn to read well. If you can encourage a love of reading in your children, you will be doing them a great favor. Learning to read accurately and well, while understanding what you read is crucial for school success. You might not … Read more
Thanks to a request from a reader, your cantankerous cat lady is giving you information in this post about the Russian blue cat breed. EARLY HISTORY In early days, the Russian blue cat lived in the wilderness of Russia. Due to their thick double coat, they do well in a cool climate. Long ago, before … Read more
Your cantankerous cat lady has received a couple of questions about taming and domesticating a feral cat, so I will tell you what I know. My knowledge is based on first-hand experience, as I “trapped” two feral kittens and took them to my Alaskan homestead on Spruce Island. Where I Found the Cats A construction … Read more
Have you ever wondered who thought of the idea of jigsaw puzzles? Actually, these first started from a painting. One cut a picture on a flat, rectangular piece of wood into small pieces using a jigsaw. Thus the jigsaw puzzle got its name. John Spilsbury, a London cartographer and engraver, made the first commercial … Read more
The Norwegian Forest cat is of Scandinavian descent. In Norway, it is known as the “Skaukatt.” It is believed that the breed is between 1000 to 2000 years old. Some stories say that Leif Erikson, the Viking explorer, had such a cat on his ship. In those early days, this cat was called the “Wegie,” … Read more
How many of you remember Laurel Burch? Her folk-art designs and amazing use of vivid colors were signatures of her work. Though Laurel died in Novato, California at the too-young age of 61, her work is still being produced and sold in many places. Her art will bring her immortality. Laurel’s Early Years Laurel Anne … Read more
To my dismay, I just found a story that was supposed to go in my book about my cat, Carlos. For some reason, it got overlooked. There’s an upside to this anecdote, however. Now you, my website readers, can be the first to read it. Here it is: Cat? What Cat? Cats have a … Read more