Tag Archives: #catsRlove

cat facts, donation information, shelter information, Uncategorized

All I Want for Christmas is….

My human came up to me yesterday and asked me “Angel (that’s what she calls me now, along with “Sweetie”, “Sunshine”, “Baby”, oh, and “Norman”) what do you want for Christmas?” My answer was easy, but I really wanted some belly rubbing first and cat kisses next, and then some petting time, but then after all of that – my answer was…

All I want for Christmas is ….

For ALL the felines to be adopted at El Refugio Animal Shelter in Costa Ballena, Costa Rica. I know that may be a big wish, soo how about just the felines who have been at the shelter longer than a one year – “the long-timers” we call them. I was one of the founding members of the long-timers club. And honestly, I wouldn’t lie to you, this is a good group of felines. Not only are they smart, super socialized, and confident; they are talented in ways you can’t even imagine. Let me tell you about some of them. And, to see their gorgeous coats and find out more about them, just click on their names.

HUNTER is a lover. You will find him most days cuddled up next to another cat (or kitten) or giving them a bath. He wants a home with another cat or two or three…

PRINCE is a human cat. He loves humans, he might actually think he is one. He is a little timid around other cats and wants a home where he can spoil a human on his own or with just one other cat purrty please.

Hunter and Bryan dreaming about each other.

JACOB, ALICIA, and BRYAN are all orange tabbies like me. So they are all pretty awesome and have many Tabby Talents.

CADBURY, ROLO, and TWIX are all siblings and were abandoned at a bus stop as kittens. Thankfully, they were rescued and brought to the shelter by a wonderful human. As their names imply, they are yummy SWEET.

BANDIT is a black beauty. She is really friendly and confident. As one of my previous blogs pointed out, she really is the Envy of Us Cats.

SNICKERS is a sensitive Tortoiseshell cat with a little bit of Tortitude. She is sweet as her name implies but also is independent and curious.

MÁGICA is a beautiful calico cat. She has special needs so she needs an extra special human to adopt her. She would do best in a household without those clumsy dogs but friendly cats are fine. Remember, Calico cats will bring you Fortune.

MICKEY is a gorgeous Tuxedo cat. He is super friendly with humans and other cats. He is confident and quite sassy. He has a little bit of Tuxitude and a lot of love.

Mickey at El Refugio

TONY is a Mackerel Tabby but we call him Tony the Tiger at the shelter. And, since he is a Tabby, he is very intelligent and curious. Plus, he is super friendly. Even though he looks like a Tiger, he is as gentle as a pussy cat.

SMOKY has SuperPowers. Seriously, he can fly. All the cats at the shelter marvel at his jumping abilities and his prowess.

So, there you have it. My Christmas Wish. While yes, adopting any of these gorgeous felines will give a wonderful Christmas gift to them, you cannot even imagine the gift it will bring to you and your family. You know, A Cat is just an Angel with Whiskers. Who doesn’t need another Angel to help out on this place we call Earth.

If you can’t adopt now, although I hope that you can, would you consider donating for their care. You can even pick one of their names and donate in “his” or “her” or “their” names. It is super easy to do. There is even a Monthly Donors program. Every amount counts because every paw matters, and El Refugio Costa Ballena has lots of paws to take care of at the shelter.

Until we meet again sweet Humans, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Norman

“Don’t listen to them

You’re not fat, you’re fluffy”

Mickey is full of Fluff
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cat facts, funny, health benefits, life lessons, love, shelter information, success story, Uncategorized

How to talk Cat. I’ve got the secret catnip!

Have you ever wondered how to talk to your Cat? In my last blog “Whoever said Cats don’t speak never stopped to truly listen” I shared with you how to listen to your feline friend’s meows and know what he is saying to you.

Now, I will share with you the secret language between felines and humans. So, go find your favorite feline and cuddle up for some tantalizing catnip. Both you and your feline will be soo happy you did!

First things first, bring up my last blog “Whoever said Cats don’t speak never stopped to truly listen” and reacquaint yourself with how a cat speaks to you through verbal meows and body language.

Remember, cats rarely vocalize with other cats (unless they are angry), so the meow you hear from your feline family member is targeted at you (oh, aren’t you lucky!). She is trying to say something special to you. Open your ears and and also watch her body language to start the communication. Here are three purrfect ways to speak Cat.

Tone. The tone of your voice is very important when communicating with your cat. Let’s say your feline has a bad habit of jumping on your keyboard when you are working (hmmmm, I NEVER do that).

For us to learn this isn’t acceptable behavior, a firm “No” with a stern voice helps us cats know we did something that wasn’t acceptable. While we might try it again (and again, and again…), we will eventually figure it out with consistency. Consistency is the key (ha ha, get it? “key” – keyboard).

And for praise, we love your high pitched happy voice with a smile. A smile always goes a long way with communication. Keylor at the El Refugio Costa Ballena animal shelter is one of the most vocal cats at the shelter and he has the coolest smile.

Keylor at El Refugio Costa Ballena

And, here’s awesome Rocky from the El Refugio Costa Ballena shelter. He was talking to my human while she was at the shelter.

Rocky loves to MEOW

What do you think he is saying to her? I’ll give you three guesses. Yes, you are right! He is saying “Adopt me, take me home with you!”. Thankfully (for me), she didn’t understand him because she hadn’t read my previous blog yet! (I want my human all to myself.) And, I hear through the catvine that Rocky was recently adopted, so all is purrfect.

Hand Commands. When my human wants me to cuddle with her, she pats her hand on the couch for me to join her. Or, if she wants me to jump down from the counter because she doesn’t want me eating her dinner (sigh), she will say “Down” sternly and point her hand towards the floor.

Give your cat Love Blinks. Oh, I love this one! I LOVE when my human love blinks me. At least, I think that is what she is doing. Anywho, to practice a love blink, do this – close your eyes slowly as you think “I,” hold them closed as you think “love,” and open them slowly as you think “you.” This will surely make your feline Purr. And, the beautiful sounds of a purring cat not only make my human happy but also help alleviate her stress, her anxiety, and help heal her body. Aren’t cats amazing!

Now go practice some love blinks with your favorite feline. And, I’ll go take a well deserved catnap.

I LOVE my catnaps.

Cheers,

Norman

“I hate Mondays. – Garfield”


Don’t forget to spay & neuter your cats & dogs.  There can be too much of a good thing!  There’s only so much catnip to go around. 

Cats and wildlife live longer when cats stay indoors. 

FELNE FAVORITE OF THE DAY

A video of Cats that have been at the El Refugio Costa Ballena Shelter longer than 1 year!
Let’s ADOPT them all!!
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Ollie Photo Credit: Dasha @daryaseafilms
cat facts, funny, love, shelter information, Uncategorized

Whoever said Cats don’t speak never stopped to truly listen.

Have you ever wondered what your feline friend is talking (meowing) about when you arrive home? Or, did you actually think you understood your cat but thought you might be going crazy (lol). Well, I am here today to confirm, yes, you are crazy (ha ha, just kidding) and yes, you can understand what your cat is telling you if you know how to listen. In this blog, I will share with you some of our fantastic feline communication so you can hear what your cat is telling you.

What are your feline’s different meows telling you?

  1. A Short meow: “Hi, how are you?”
  2. Multiple meows: “I am so happy to see you, where have you been?” I do this a lot. My humans talk right back to me, but I have no clue what they are saying!
  3. Mid-pitch meow: “I’m hungry or I want to go outside.”
  4. Drawn-out mrrraaaaaoooow: “Did you forget to feed me, seriously?” I meow like this every morning. My human Leo is definitely getting trained (lol).
  5. Low pitched mraaooww: “Really, this is what I get for dinner,” or similar complaint.
  6. High-pitch RRRROWW!: “OUCH!!”
  7. Purr: Usually a sign of happiness, but can also be a sign of fear or pain. My human loves when I purr. She gets this pretty smile on her face and starts to pet me. Purring is magic.
  8. Hiss: “Keep away, I am angry right now.”
  9. Clicking or chirping: Cats who are watching prey will make this sound. I live in the rainforest of Costa Rica, and I love watching the parrots and toucans from my window. I know my chirping is bringing the birds closer. I can’t go outside, but sometimes I sure want too.

What about that tail of ours, is it telling you humans something? Yes!!

  1. Tail straight up in the air. Confidence and Contentment.
  2. Tail is straight up with a curl at the end: Happy to see you. Time for Fun.
  3. Tail swishing side to side: Excited, watching her prey.
  4. Tail wrapped around you or another animal. Similar to a human wrapping his arm around you. Love.
  5. Straight in the air and shakes/vibrates. Excited for you and or food (always!).
  6. Puffy tail. Frightened.
  7. Tail held low and tucked: Frightened, uneasy.

Eyes. Have you ever noticed that us cats don’t have eyebrows? Whereas humans do (of course) and so do those smelly dogs. Just call your dog’s name, well, you may have to call it a few times for him to actually look at you (ha ha) but when he does, do you see his eyebrows? Do the same to us cats, and yep, no eyebrows. But, we do have very telling pupils. Read on.

  1. Dilated (large) Pupils. Excited and maybe fear.
  2. Constricted Pupils, which means eyes are big and round and their pupils are the size of pinpricks. We are preparing to attack!
  3. Squinted or half-closed eyes. Affection, relaxation, and possibly that we are just going to fall asleep.
  4. Blink at your cat. When your cat is staring at you (which she will), try blinking at her. If she blinks back, she trusts and loves you. These are called cat kisses, they are lovely (for us cats too).

Head. What is going on with our ears, and all those mysterious things we do with our head?

  1. If our ears are pinned back, your cat is frightened or anxious.
  2. Rubbing head against human or animal. Your cat is staking ownership or just saying hello.
  3. Head-butting. This is a sign of affection and friendship.
  4. Wet nose kiss. Affection
  5. Licking. The best sign of affection, or you forgot to clean up after dinner.

Now that you know our secret communications, you can watch and listen to what your favorite feline is saying to you. In my next blog, I will share with you how you can speak Cat too!

Cheers,

Norman

“Oh no! I overslept! I’m late! For my nap.
– Garfield“

Don’t forget to spay & neuter your cats & dogs.  There can be too much of a good thing!  There’s only so much catnip to go around. 

Cats and wildlife live longer when cats stay indoors. 

FELNE FAVORITE OF THE DAY

Ollie from the El Refugio Shelter Costa Ballena Costa Rica

Ollie Photo Credit: Dasha @daryaseafilms

Hi, my name is Ollie. I am a very young cat, and full of fun and sass. My nickname is “Socks” because I have white socks on my feet. I can purr, and I can make you giggle and laugh. Come meet me at El Refugio in Costa Ballena. Hugs Ollie

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cat facts, funny, health benefits, love, Uncategorized

Are you a Crazy Cat Lady? Impossible, it isn’t a thing!

I’m sure you have probably heard the old saying “Crazy Cat Lady.” Maybe it conjures up an image in your head of an older, single, crazy woman hoarding hundreds of cats. I’ve been told shows like the Simpsons, or the Office had their very own crazy cat ladies too. Angela Kinsey from the Office says being referred to as a cat lady is actually cool.

But all kitten aside, the stereotypical Crazy Cat Lady just isn’t true! Look at these 11 Celebrities Who Make Cat Ladies Cool and who have had no problem finding love and sharing their life with feline family members.

While there may be women (and men) that hoard lots of cats (or dogs, or pigs, or snakes, or horses, you see where I am going with this), that is a totally different and very unfortunate subject. But, in regards to the stereotype Crazy Cat Lady, society has unfairly labeled (only) women who adopt multiple cats as Crazy Cat Ladies. Remember my blog I’ll Get You a Date, If You are a Man That Is, it actually proves that if you are a man and own a cat, cats actually help MEN find dates, and find LOVE. ME-OW, that just isn’t fair (to women) although great for us cats (ME-OW ME-OW lol)!

A recent study at UCLA in fact concluded that owning multiple cats does not mean you are crazy mad, anxious, or sad, but proves you are absolutely PURRFECT! Which honestly just means you love cats (and if you love cats, you really are PURRFECT!). And, as I have previously blogged about, owning a cat can actually lower your stress level, lower your anxiety level, and make you more happy. This doesn’t sound like crazy behavior to me at all!

So, if you are a woman, and if you love cats, stand tall, and be proud. If you have considered adopting another cat but have been worried about being called a Crazy Cat Lady, don’t worry about it, it just isn’t true! Because owning more than one cat doesn’t make you a Crazy Cat Lady, it actually makes you a super SMART human being who will be HAPPIER, less stressed, and of course proves you have a BEAUTIFULLY huge heart.

Now, my PURRFECT humans out there, please post a picture of yourself with your amazing, beautiful felines in the comments section. Let’s share the love and continue to save each other’s lives Purrrrrrr.

Cheers,

Norman

Just watching my cats can make me happy

Paula Cole

Don’t forget to spay & neuter your cats & dogs.  There can be too much of a good thing!  There’s only so much catnip to go around. 

Cats and wildlife live longer when cats stay indoors. 

FELNE FAVORITE OF THE DAY

Hunter at El Refugio Costa Ballena

Hunter is LOVE

Hi, my name is Hunter. I love humans, dogs, and of course felines! I would love to come home with you, especially if you have other cats. I would be PURRFECT for a PURRFECT cat lady. Hugs, Hunter

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cat facts, funny, love, Uncategorized

Why do cats STARE at you – because we LOVE YOU Silly!

This blog is dedicated to the MANY ways us cats show YOU how much we love you!

  1. When she looks at you with half-closed eyes while slowly blinking, she LOVES YOU! These special blinks are actually called “Cat Kisses” in the feline world. While dogs will give you messy, sloppy, kisses with their tongues (yuck!), us felines are much more dignified – a stare and blink are our PURRFECT way to KISS. Wouldn’t you agree?
I LOVE my human! I’m giving her KISSES right now (purrrrrrr)

2. When he is Curving the Tip of his Tail, he LOVES YOU! You may think a cat with a straight-up tail shows fear or aggression, but look for the curve at the tip, and you can rest assured your kitty cat is showing you how much he LOVES you! You may also notice your favorite feline wrapping his tail around you or his favorite feline or canine, and maybe even resting his tail on them. This is considered pure kitty happiness – sometimes referred as the “happy tail dance”. I LOVE a good happy tail dance!

The “happy tail dance” – cat with tail turned up and with a curve.

3. When she is Giving you a massage with her paws (ME-OW), she LOVES YOU! I give my human FREE massages sometimes when I lay next to her. I really get in there too with my nails because I know how much she loves a good massage. I am not sure why she looks a little pained when I do this, because who doesn’t like a good massage??

Sometimes a head rub and a massage are purrfect medicine!

4. When he is Purring, he LOVES YOU! Remember how purring can be good for the heart, well, it can also show how much your feline friend loves you and your family. When accompanied with cat kisses (eye stares and blinking) along with head butting (see below), your feline is feeling safe and content. Good job human!

5. When she is Head bunting you (aka head bumping or head butting), she LOVES YOU! When your feline family member gives you a gentle head bump, it is a sign that she truly cares about you and TRUSTS you. She is also indicating a STRONG bond with you. If you have more than one feline in your family, you may see this action between felines. Our cheeks and our heads are where we carry “secret” scent glands. So, when we rub our cheeks and head against you, we are claiming you as our own by sharing our “secret” scent with you. We are making YOU a part of OUR family.

So, there you have it. Five ways we show YOU our love! There are so many more ways too (such as nipping you, showing our bellies, following you), so please comment below on how your special feline shows you she LOVES YOU!

You deserve to be loved, so please (if you haven’t already) adopt a shelter cat and let him LOVE YOU! Life is worth SHARING and LOVE is the best catnip you can find!!

Cheers,

Norman

I have felt cats rubbing their faces against mine and touching my cheek with claws carefully sheathed. These things, to me, are expressions of love. –

James Herriot

Don’t forget to spay & neuter your cats & dogs.  There can be too much of a good thing!  There’s only so much catnip to go around. 

Cats and wildlife live longer when cats stay indoors. 

FELNE FAVORITE OF THE DAY

Tina Louise at El Refugio Shelter in Costa Ballena, Costa Rica

Tina Louise

Hi, I’m Tina Louise. I have two first names because I am extra special. Plus, I have lots of extra love and cat kisses for you. Come meet me at El Refugio. xoxo Miss Tina Louise.

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cat facts, funny, Uncategorized

All about FUN, and a few fun facts!

This blog post is dedicated to the funny in all of us cats, especially us shelter cats. When I want a belly laugh, all I need to do is just look around at my fellow shelter cats. Whether it is Panda playing in the cat swing,

or ME Norman stealing a kiss from one of our beautiful volunteers while also checking out her nosepad (more on that later),

OR Jacob leaping to (and missing of course – haha) one of the cat trees in the shelter.

There is always something (some cat) to laugh at (I mean, laugh with). Of course I am laughing with them, not at them (at least that is what I will swear by if you ask me in front of any of them!).

Oh, and now to the facts I promised. Here are five amazing facts about us cats – plan to be amazed and amused!

  1. Every cat’s nosepad is unique, like a fingerprint.
Yes, Keylor, I know you have a very unique nosepad!

2. Cats can run 3mph faster than Usain Bolt! A domestic cat can run about 30 miles per hour; Usain Bolt averages 27 miles per hour. MEOW that is amazing!

3. Cats have more bones in their bodies than humans. Humans have 206 bones while cats have an average of 244 in their body. About 20 of these bones are in their tails for flexibility. Well, that is purrty spectacular!

Bandit is VERY flexible – must be because of all those bones. I thought it was because she practiced yoga!

4. Kittens grow when they are asleep! Their bodies release a growth hormone only when they are sleeping. So, that’s why we sleep so much! Well, actually it’s only why kittens sleep so much. The rest of us are just catnapping.

Alicia taking a catnap.

5. A cat’s MEOW is reserved to communicating with humans. Kittens do vocalize to their mamas but as adults they save the MEOWs for You humans. Aren’t you lucky. And, you didn’t think us cats could talk!

There are soooooo many more amazing facts about us cats, but I don’t want to bore you with too much purrfection today. Until we meet again dear humans.

Cheers,

Norman

“I’m not over-weight, I’m under-tall. – Garfield”

Don’t forget to spay & neuter your cats & dogs.  There can be too much of a good thing!  There’s only so much catnip to go around. 

Cats and wildlife live longer when cats stay indoors. 

FELNE FAVORITE OF THE DAY

Bryan at El Refugio, Costa Ballena, Costa Rica

Hi, I’m Bryan. I was found in a trash can and saved by El Refugio. I clean up pretty nice, don’t I? I am waiting for you. xoxo Bryan

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