Cats In History: The Victorian Era

The prize winners from the first cat show in 1871.
Image courtesy of http://www.harrisonweir.com

Chances are, if you are reading this, you like cats.  You may even have a cat or two (or three, or four, or…) living with you.  When you think of domestic cats you probably imagine small, furry creatures who are supposed to live in people’s houses and be treated as a member of the family. You might even think that the idea of a cat living outdoors, on the streets is sad or somehow wrong.

People haven’t always thought that way about cats. From the Middle Ages until the Victorian Era, cats were viewed as “useful animals”, but not widely viewed as pets. Humans kept cats around to control rodent populations and that is pretty much it. Cats were expected to live outside and wander the streets, fending for themselves. During these times, people had little regard for animals in general, treating them more like things than living, breathing, valuable creatures.

Treat Me Like A Queen

One of Queen Victoria’s cats.
Image courtesy of http://www.Eurofancy.de

The Victorian Era changed everything for cats. Queen Victoria had been very isolated during her childhood due to the schemes of her mother. Animals and dolls were the only companions that she had. Perhaps this is why Queen Victoria would become an avid animal lover and advocate for animal rights. She concerned with the treatment of domestic animals.  Queen Victoria funded school prizes for essays written about kindness to animals. She spoke out publicly against the practice of vivisection (doing experiments on live animals) calling it “a disgrace to a civilized country.”  In 1840, she gave her official patronage to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (thus it is “royal”).  However, she did show a bit of hypocrisy with her love of hunting sports.

Queen Victoria owned many pets (she especially loved her dogs). Most notably, she owned 2 blue Persian cats that she was fascinated with. Some say this was because of a work put out by Charles Darwin regarding his observations of the different types of cats he had seen. He had noted that most of the cats he observed looked very similar (other than different coloring) with the exception of Persians and Manx.

The British people followed the Queen’s lead and fell in love with cats. Discovering different breeds of cat soon became of great public interest. Having pet cats that were lavished with affection caught on like wildfire. Some people began to personify cats so much that they would clothe them to keep them from being immodest.

Showing It All Off

The 1st Cat Show in 1871.
Image courtesy of http://www.Squidoo.com

Artist, illustrator, and animal lover, Harrison Weir, organized the first ever cat show in 1871. This was an affair for the upper class and aristocrats to show off their beloved cats and compete for a prize. The allowed breeds included: Black, White, Tabby, and Longhairs. The public couldn’t wait to see all the different types of cats. The show would have 170 entrants and more than 20,000 visitors! A second show was created to include the cats of the “working class.” “Cat Fancys” as the shows were known quickly spread around the globe.  The first Cat Fancy in the U.S. was at Madison Square Garden in 1895.

Harrison Weir had been considered very knowledgeable about breeding animals. In 1892 he published a book called Our Cats and All About Them. The book talks about the different breeds he has identified, caring for cats, cat shows, and some humor. The entire book can be read online for free and there is also a free audio book version. To view them click Our Cats book online or Our Cats audio book.

Other Victorian Cat Lovers

There were a number of famous cat lovers throughout the Victorian Era that helped our view of cats to become what it is today.  Here are just a few of them:

• Louis Wain – An artist and cat lover that drew anthropomorphic cats (standing up right and behaving as humans) .
• Louis Carroll – Author of Alice In Wonderland.
• Beatrix Potter – Author of Peter Rabbit
• Thomas Hardy – English novelist and poet
• Mark Twain – American author and humorist
• Henry James – American/British author
• Alfred Tennyson – Poet Laureate of Great Britan and Ireland during Queen Victoria’s reign
• John Keats – English romantic poet

2nd Cat Show 1871
Image courtesy of http://www.harrisonweir.com

The Importance of Being a Playful Kitty

Everyone knows that cats sleep for about 15 hours per day, but did you know that cats need at least 30 minutes of vigorous play everyday to stay physically and mentally healthy? There are some things that you should know about being a playful kitty.  Manna gives a great demonstration of play at the end of the post.

Being a playful kitty has its benefits.

• Exercise.
  In the wild cats are able to get all the exercise their body needs to stay healthy through their hunting. Once we take cats into our homes they no longer need to hunt and there is a need for play as a substitute form of exercise.  Playing can keep all of those muscles working and your kitty’s brain functioning optimally. Also, domestic cats are increasingly becoming obese (see my article on feline obesity). Exercise in the form of play can be used to keep your cat from becoming obese or to help your cat overcome obesity.
  

  Cinco and Manna (when she was a baby) playing together.

• Beating boredom.
  Cats get bored too. Just like in humans, long stretches of boredom can turn into lethargy or worse – depression. Playing with your kitty can help beat the blues!
• Bonding with you and your other pets.
  Playing with your kitty is a way to spend time with them and let them get to know you. During play, cats learn that you are friendly, fun, and that they can trust you.  They can also learn to bond with your other pets through play.
• Confidence building.
  Creating a warm environment in play can build up your cat’s confidence in its own abilities. Play allows your kitty to practice using their limbs and mouth to reach and hold things, pouncing, jumping, running, and interacting with others.  Being a confident cat takes a lot of practice!
• Relief from anxiety.
  There are many things in a home environment that can cause stress to a cat – loud noises, visitors, other animals, unusual smells, changes in routine, etc. In a cat anxiety can manifest itself in behaviors that humans tend to consider to be “bad” behaviors like marking territory with urine, aggressive behavior, and obsessive-compulsive behaviors.  Play allows built up anxiety to be relieved much the same as exercise can release anxiety in humans.  A happy kitty is a good kitty.

A playful kitty needs some toys.

Cinco playing Catfishing by Friskies on my cell phone

Don’t know what to play with? Here are some really fun ideas:

• Cat nip toys.  These can be anything from mice to bananas.
• Feather wands.
• Laser toys.
• Games for cats on your smartphone or tablet.
• Milk rings
• Wadded up paper balls. Aluminum foil is a hit too.
• Disposable plastic straws.
• Puzzle feeders.
• Cat trees and scratchers.

Pet supply stores have aisles worth of toys you can choose from if none of the toys above suit your fancy. Keep in mind that cats often like the cheap (or free) toys that you already have at home as much or more than they like expensive toys from the store. Moving a toy mouse or a plastic straw around under a blanket can be the source of hours of entertainment. Cats tend to like playing “fetch” as well.

Tips and Tricks for Playing Along

• Be the prey.
  The idea when playing with your kitty is to be the “prey” that they are hunting. Use toys to mimic the behaviors of common cat prey. Think of how a mouse runs around or how a bird flutters in the air. Wiggle the toy as you move it back and forth in front of the cat. Make sudden, short stops.
  

  Manna’s favorite game – wrestling with her daddy.
  *Cat behavior specialist do not recommend using your hands as toys.*

• Use both solo and interactive play.
  Solo play is when the cat plays with a toy on its own and interactive play is when you or another living creature plays with the cat. Both types of play are necessary. Make sure that you engage with your cat in play for at least a half an hour (total time). Play times should be broken into smaller segments ( 2 – 15 minute segments, 3 – 10 minute segments, etc). More time will be necessary for younger kittens.
• Play at the pace of your cat.
  In order to feel confident playing the game, your cat needs time to think about and plan their moves. Let the cat capture the toy occasionally.
• Don’t forget the cool down.
  If your cat is really riled up, don’t suddenly stop playing. Slow things down like a cool down in exercise. Let the cat get one last “win” before you finish.
• Be the keeper of the toys.
  Make sure that any toys with long strings are kept out of the cat’s reach when you are not using them to play with your cat. It would be horrible for your cat to swallow or become entangled in any of that string while your back is turned. Always consider the safety risks of leaving a toy out with an unsupervised cat before leaving them out.  Leave out some toys for solo play, but consider putting away some of the toys you use for interaction to keep them special.
  

  Cinco chasing the red dot

• Clearly define “toys”.
  If there is something you don’t want your cat to play with, don’t use it when engaging in interactive play. When you use something during play, the cat learns that it is a toy. Most cat behavior specialists recommend not allowing cats to play with your hands because they could cause some damage to you when they bite or scratch.
  Note: Dave and I have had pretty good success with teaching Cinco and Manna to stop playing with our hands if we say “ouch.” However, we do get a good scratch every now and again.

Manna’s  Play Video

Manna wanted to put together a video demonstrating interactive play with a disposable plastic straw. How could I deny her? 😉

Playful Kitty Puzzle: Cat Adoption

Adopt Your Very Own Playful Kitty 🙂

Cinco and Manna both have touching adoption stories.  They rescued me as much as I rescued them. If you have already adopted a cat, then you know just how incredible adoption can be. If you haven’t adopted a cat, you could create your own pawsome adoption stories when you adopt a cat. There are plenty great kitties of every breed, every color, every fur length, every age, shape and size out there dreaming of a home like yours.  Give a kitty a chance at a better life – adopt!

To play choose one of these options:

1. Click on the image of the puzzle and print it from your browser.
2. Right click on the image. Select “Save As” and save the image to your computer. Print as an image or place it onto a word document to print it.
3. Download the PDF version of the puzzle and print from Adobe Acrobat. Click the following link to use the PDF version: Cat Adoption Word Search.pdf

Want the Answers?

Just send us an email at robinsplayfulkittles@hotmail.com with the subject line “Cat Adoption Word Search” and we’ll send you the answer key.  🙂

Thankful Thursday: Who Rescued Who?

When I think back on the day that I adopted Cinco, the day I adopted Manna, or even the day I adopted Obi Wan (OTRB), I am filled with joy.  It might seem a little silly, but the presence of my cats in my life makes me a better person. They are more than just a “luxury item” (as I was once told they were) to me. They fill a purpose in my life and my family. Today, I would like to take a little bit of time to share with all of you how my cats make me thankful every day.

The “Gotcha Days”

Obi Wan

Obi Wan was the first cat that Dave and I ever got together. He was only the second cat I’d ever had (the first was a cat belonging to my sister actually).  While Dave and I were looking to find the perfect cat for our lives, a friend called and asked if we would like to take in a 1-year-old cat that someone had to give up. I don’t remember exactly why they were giving him up. We said yes without a moment’s hesitation and picked him up right away.

It was love at first sight.  Obi Wan was the perfect addition to our little family. He was outgoing, funny, friendly, and fairly well behaved.  I will save most of this story for a later time, but Obi Wan turned out to have a condition that caused constant bladder infections (at least that is how the vet explained it). His bladder ruptured and he had to be put down less than a year after we had adopted him.  I was completely devastated over the loss and blamed myself a lot.

Cinco

A month after Obi Wan’s passing I began praying about finding a new cat. Now, God has a sense of humor; if you ask for a sign, He might just give it to you.  I had just started a new job at a school and I almost ran into a bulletin board that one of the classes had put up (literally). When I looked at the board it had cut outs of cats all over it and it said “Adopt A Cat” with logos from the Humane Society and a little bar showing how much money the class had raised for the Humane Society. That was all I needed to see.

Dave and I went to an adoption event being held at a local Petco. It was crazy busy in there! We really wanted a female kitten (figuring it would be less likely to have the same bladder troubles as Obi Wan). The only kitten they had left was this shy little striped tabby and we just had to have him even though he was a male. After practically being put through the inquisition to adopt him, we took Cinco home.  As soon as I let him out of the carrier, he climbed into my lap and purred.  Eight years later, my lap is still his favorite place to be.

Manna

A little over a year after we got Cinco, my Dad called me and told me that I had to come by his trailer and see what he had found on his porch. When I got there, my dad showed me this tiny little female kitten with big blue buggy eyes, sparse fur, and barely any tail.  She had a great big personality despite her size and wanted nothing but love.

My dad sort of collected cats at the time, allowing any that were in the neighborhood into his trailer. He already had a mother cat living in his trailer that had just had a litter of kittens (they were living under his sink). He had tried to put this new kitten with them, but the mother rejected her. Since that strategy didn’t work, my Dad had been trying to feed this little kitten adult cat food and some other odd things and he didn’t understand why she wouldn’t eat. I knew exactly what she needed.

I took a risk (we didn’t know if she had any diseases) and offered to bring her into my family. We named her Manna right away because God provided food for the Israelites called Manna and He was going to feed her too (there are other reasons too). One of my happiest memories is holding her on the car ride home. 

10 Reasons I’m Thankful

1. I am thankful for the way that Cinco and Manna cuddle me while I sleep. Their warmth and purring helps me sleep peacefully.
2. I am thankful for all of the inspiration that my cats have provided to me. It flows out in all of my artistic ventures and especially in this blog.
3. I am thankful for the time I got to spend with Obi Wan. Though it was  painful, I don’t regret it at all. Pain is temporary, but love is forever. I am a better kitty-mommy because of my experience with him.
4. I am thankful for Cinco’s constant attention. He never leaves my side. It feels so good to have someone love me as much as he does. Who cares what anyone else thinks? 😉
5. I am thankful for Manna’s playful spirit. She is the most fun kitty in the whole wide world – she tell you all about it too.
6. I am thankful for happy paws 🙂 Some of you may call it a kitty massage or kneading.
7. I am thankful for their antics when they are on cat nip. They give me such a hearty laugh that it makes me cry sometimes.
8. I am thankful for the times that they approach me to cuddle. You know you are loved when the cat chooses to cuddle you.
9. I am thankful that Cinco and Manna have been very healthy. We have only ever had 1 trip to the vet due to an illness between both of them.
10. I am thankful that Cinco and Manna do not have any notable behavior problems. Every now and then they scratch things a little bit, get into little tussles, or eat something they shouldn’t, but that is a far cry from what I would consider a behavior problem.

 

This week Playful Kitty has decided to join PepsiSmartDog for their Thankful Thursday Blog Hop.

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7 Life Lessons I’ve Learned from My Cats

Cinco and Manna are more than just animals that live with Dave and me; they are family, they are our furry children, they are our companions, confidants, and friends. I love that bumper sticker that says “Who rescued who?” It can be hard to explain to someone who hasn’t ever bonded with an animal, but pets like cats and dogs provide as much support for us as we provide for them.

Over the years I have learned a lot of very interesting life lessons from my cats. Sometimes the lessons I learn from the cats are funny and sometimes not so much – sometimes they are really deep. Obviously the cats can’t really buy me gifts from Christmas or my birthday, but they have given me a lot of precious jewels with these truths.  I don’t know if this will reveal more about the cats or more about me, but I wanted to share a few of the lessons I’ve learned with everybody.

Just a quick note – Cinco, Manna, Dave, and I are a Christian family (we go to a non-denominational church) and of course these statements come from our point of view. It isn’t my intention to offend anyone of a different faith. 

Lesson #1: Nothing here on Earth truly belongs to me.

Obi Wan posing in a window.

God made everything and it all belongs to Him.  He gives and takes away as He pleases. This isn’t as negative of a lesson as it sounds. It is actually quite freeing. It was incredibly hard to let go of Obi Wan (the cat that was with us before Cinco came along)when it was time for him to be put down.  When it finally sank in that Obi wasn’t something that was mine to keep, but that he was more of a wonderful loan, it was much easier to come to a place of acceptance. When Cinco and Manna came into our lives, we saw them as so much more than just pets. He and Manna are two of the most priceless works of God’s art and they are on loan to our family!

Lesson #2: God provides exactly when you need it.

3-week old Manna with a milky face.

This lesson is actually where Manna got her name from. Manna is the name of a food that God miraculously provided the Israelites while they were wandering in the desert. Manna had been abandoned at 3 weeks old and somehow ended up on the front porch of my Dad’s trailer. Dad was ill-equipt to deal with a baby kitten like Manna (he tried to feed her adult kibble).  It just so happened that Dave and I had been planning to adopt another cat right around then.  We were able to take her to the vet and get her everything that she needed. It wasn’t long after that that Dad’s trailer park got condemned and everything was torn down.

Lesson #3: Never underestimate your the good done from your acts of kindness.

You may think that what you’ve done is a small thing, but it may be much bigger to the person on the receiving end. I didn’t know when I got Cinco that I was not just rescuing him from homelessness, but also from a rescue lady that was performing strange acts of cruelty on the cats (giving them homemade vaccines and such). The relief in coming to my peaceful apartment with people who did nothing but dote on him must have been astounding. What Cinco didn’t know is that I was still very fragile from the heartache of loosing Obi-Wan and feeling very unlovable.  Of course, just in the nick of time, here comes Cinco – who never leaves my side.

Cinco and Robin 2006

Cinco and Robin 2013

Lesson #4: Life is funny and God has a sense of humor – go with it.

Cinco performing his duties as Toilet Inspector.

Cinco is a giant male cat, but he sounds like deflating balloon. When Manna was a little kitten, she pooped down my sister’s cleavage. Manna also fell in the toilet and couldn’t get out. Cinco sits in the window and growls at people walking by. Both of my cats snore. Every now and again Cinco has little territory battles with Dave over me. There are way too many funny moments to list. Finding the humor in life is very important to me.

Lesson #5: Change is hard for everyone.

Cinco being very upset about a visit from cousin Cuddles.

Don’t believe me? Try moving the litter box. As difficult as cats take change, people are the same way on a different scale. Some changes are easier than others. Upset anyone’s schedule and you are sure to see them get frazzled. The cats yell at me whenever I make a change in my schedule.

Lesson #6: Being a good leader isn’t always about being right.

Cinco and Manna enjoying their chair.

Sometimes you have to decide what your goal in working with other people (or cats) is. Do you want compliance to an ideal you had in your head or do you just want the job done? My cats won’t scratch scratching posts, but they always scratch this white chair of mine (that I found for free).  I decided to let them have that chair. They don’t scratch anything else now. I intend to train them to scratch a post (I think I just need a taller one for Cinco), but I have saved my other furniture in the mean time.

Lesson #7: Your past experiences can shape your future experiences.

For example, Manna often drinks out of my glass if it is lying around unattended. I don’t worry about this because I only ever drink unsweetened iced tea or water. However, Dave left a glass with a little bit of Diet Coke in it unattended one day. Having experienced nothing but water and slightly flavored water (iced tea) coming out of glasses, she reached her paw in to get taste. The look on her face when she licked that paw was priceless.  She shot me the angriest look I think I have ever seen from her. Humans do this kind of thing all the time too. We become so used to things being one way that when we run into something that we are unfamiliar with it causes fear or anger.

Manna helping herself to my iced tea.