The kitten & cat thread
03-29-2016, 06:37 PM
#2823
Boost Pope
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Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Chicago. (The less-murder part.)
Posts: 33,046
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From Wikipedia, a not-awful source of legal analysis in plain English:
Miles v. City Council of Augusta, Georgia, 710 F.2d 1542 (11th Cir. 1983), is a United States federal court case in which the court found that the exhibition of a talking cat was an occupation for the purposes of municipal licensing law.
In May 1981, Carl and Elaine Miles, an otherwise unemployed couple, began exhibiting Blackie the Talking Cat on the streets of Augusta, Georgia. Blackie would meow "I love you" or "I want my Mama" to passers-by, who would give small change to the Mileses. About a month later, police warned the couple that they risked jail time if they did not obtain a $50 business license. The Mileses purchased the license but sued the city in federal court on grounds that the city's licensing law was vague and too broad and violated their right to free speech and association; specifically, the plaintiffs complained that neither the city charter, which allowed the city council to require a license for any "occupation, trade or business," nor the license ordinance mentioned talking animals.
The Mileses lost the first round of the case in district court in 1982. In his decision, the judge said:
http://kevinunderhill.typepad.com/Do...alking_cat.pdf
In May 1981, Carl and Elaine Miles, an otherwise unemployed couple, began exhibiting Blackie the Talking Cat on the streets of Augusta, Georgia. Blackie would meow "I love you" or "I want my Mama" to passers-by, who would give small change to the Mileses. About a month later, police warned the couple that they risked jail time if they did not obtain a $50 business license. The Mileses purchased the license but sued the city in federal court on grounds that the city's licensing law was vague and too broad and violated their right to free speech and association; specifically, the plaintiffs complained that neither the city charter, which allowed the city council to require a license for any "occupation, trade or business," nor the license ordinance mentioned talking animals.
The Mileses lost the first round of the case in district court in 1982. In his decision, the judge said:
In their brief, plaintiffs cite several definitions of the terms "occupation" and "business." The general import of these definitions is that one is engaged in an occupation or business when that work or activity occupies one's time or attention on a regular basis for profit or support. See United States v. King, 532 F.2d 505, 510 (5th Cir.1976); Southern Guaranty Insurance Company v. Duncan, 131 Ga.App. 761, 764, 206 S.E.2d 672 (1974). Inasmuch as the ordinance does not define "occupation" or "business", the common definition cited above applies. High Ol'Times, supra. Plaintiffs' activity, regardless of its peculiarity, falls within this definition. (551 F.Supp. 349 (S.D. Ga. 1982))
The following year, a three-judge panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit affirmed the lower-court decision, adding the following in a footnote:This Court will not hear a claim that Blackie's right to free speech has been infringed. First, although Blackie arguably possesses a very unusual ability, he cannot be considered a "person" and is therefore not protected by the Bill of Rights. Second, even if Blackie had such a right, we see no need for appellants to assert his right jus tertii. Blackie can clearly speak for himself. (710 F.2d 1542)
West Publishing featured the case in its 1996 book Blackie the Talking Cat and Other Favorite Judicial Opinions.
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04-10-2016, 03:59 PM
#2829
Boost Pope
iTrader: (8)
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Chicago. (The less-murder part.)
Posts: 33,046
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Cats Experience Less Stress When They Have Access To Boxes
By Dianne Depra, Tech Times | February 10
There is now an official (and scientific!) reason why cats love boxes. Researchers have confirmed
that cats take a liking for enclosed cardboard spaces because it aids in lowering stress.
Why cats and boxes mix has long been a mystery. Now researchers from the University of Utrecht have discovered why, publishing the results of their findings in the journal Applied Animal Behaviour Science.
In their study, the researchers set out to determine if boxes can help in alleviating stress in shelter cats. Felines have long had an affinity for enclosed cardboard structures so researchers explored what would happen if shelter cats were exposed to boxes. In a Dutch animal shelter, 19 new shelter cats were identified and randomly assigned to either get a box or not. Ten were given boxes; 9 were not. According to results, those cats with boxes exhibited faster recovery ability and adapted to their new environment more quickly compared with the group without boxes, with significant differences recorded just three to four days into the study.
"Stressful experiences can have a major impact on the cats' welfare and may cause higher incidences of infectious diseases in the shelters due to raised cortisol levels causing immunodeficiency. Though several studies showed preference for hiding places and stress-reducing effects of hiding boxes on cats in combined studies, none of these studies determined if proper hiding enrichment would be effective in a quarantine cattery," explained the researchers of their work.
To assess the cats, researchers used the Kessler and Turner Cat-Stress Score during the 14-day study period. Results showed that the cat group with boxes registered mean CSS lower than their counterparts without boxes, which meant they had lower stress levels. There was also minimal difference in the scores reported for each cat individually in the group with boxes while those without boxes showed high variance. Both groups managed to have the same CSS by the end of the study but in terms of recovery, the group given boxes were already well off by the third day. These findings led the researchers to conclude that being given a box to hide in allows a cat to recover in a new environment faster by keeping stress levels down.
As a next step in research involving cats and boxes, it may be explored how a hiding box factors in on housed cats and what long-term effects having access to a hiding box might have. Additionally, research may also be done on the role of hiding boxes in infectious disease outbreaks in cats.
University of Utrecht researchers C. M. Vinke, L.M. Godijn and W. J. R. van der Leij all contributed to the study.
Cats Experience Less Stress When They Have Access To Boxes: Study : SCIENCE : Tech Times
By Dianne Depra, Tech Times | February 10
There is now an official (and scientific!) reason why cats love boxes. Researchers have confirmed
that cats take a liking for enclosed cardboard spaces because it aids in lowering stress.
Why cats and boxes mix has long been a mystery. Now researchers from the University of Utrecht have discovered why, publishing the results of their findings in the journal Applied Animal Behaviour Science.
In their study, the researchers set out to determine if boxes can help in alleviating stress in shelter cats. Felines have long had an affinity for enclosed cardboard structures so researchers explored what would happen if shelter cats were exposed to boxes. In a Dutch animal shelter, 19 new shelter cats were identified and randomly assigned to either get a box or not. Ten were given boxes; 9 were not. According to results, those cats with boxes exhibited faster recovery ability and adapted to their new environment more quickly compared with the group without boxes, with significant differences recorded just three to four days into the study.
"Stressful experiences can have a major impact on the cats' welfare and may cause higher incidences of infectious diseases in the shelters due to raised cortisol levels causing immunodeficiency. Though several studies showed preference for hiding places and stress-reducing effects of hiding boxes on cats in combined studies, none of these studies determined if proper hiding enrichment would be effective in a quarantine cattery," explained the researchers of their work.
To assess the cats, researchers used the Kessler and Turner Cat-Stress Score during the 14-day study period. Results showed that the cat group with boxes registered mean CSS lower than their counterparts without boxes, which meant they had lower stress levels. There was also minimal difference in the scores reported for each cat individually in the group with boxes while those without boxes showed high variance. Both groups managed to have the same CSS by the end of the study but in terms of recovery, the group given boxes were already well off by the third day. These findings led the researchers to conclude that being given a box to hide in allows a cat to recover in a new environment faster by keeping stress levels down.
As a next step in research involving cats and boxes, it may be explored how a hiding box factors in on housed cats and what long-term effects having access to a hiding box might have. Additionally, research may also be done on the role of hiding boxes in infectious disease outbreaks in cats.
University of Utrecht researchers C. M. Vinke, L.M. Godijn and W. J. R. van der Leij all contributed to the study.
Cats Experience Less Stress When They Have Access To Boxes: Study : SCIENCE : Tech Times
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04-12-2016, 12:41 PM
#2833
Elite Member
iTrader: (37)
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Very NorCal
Posts: 10,441
Total Cats: 1,899
Soooo... you guys remember a couple pages back when I posted about the super friendly feral kitty that was hanging out in my yard?
We have had a couple months to get her used to us and she has become very friendly.
So we started feeding her. This is how people get free cats, right?
And she started hanging out with us on the porch
She's quite the energetic little thing! When she first let us start petting her she was super greasy and her coat was wiry and kind coarse. We started feeding her Taste of the Wild Canyon River Feline Formula with Trout & Smoked Salmon dry kibble and her coat changed dramatically. She is now kitten soft, dry and super snugly.
Loves to play
And demands all the pets and head rubs. She's so friendly that there is no way she's feral, probably some jackass abandoned her in the neighborhood or someone moved out and conveniently forgot the cat. Whatever, free cat for me.
And comes out to greet us every day when we get home (sorry for potato, its hard to get her to stand still and the phone is only so good)
But what she really wanted was to be in the house. We were not willing to do that until the vet vaccinated and cleared her for ALLTHETHINGS. Unfortunately she was not interested in getting in the cat carrier.
So I built her a feral cat box and insulated it with pink Home Despot foam board and a blanket and set it up on the porch. She seemed pretty stoked. (@gesso, this is why I owe you a new bin)
Then she started putting on weight.
And a little more weight
Until she was as fat as the queen of sea cows! At this point I was finally able to capture her and get her to the vet. We were asked to choose a name so appropriately, she is now Annie (as in, Little Orphan.) She was obviously massively pregnant but still a happy little booger. She checked out clean for the kitty aids and leukemia and whatnot and was vaccinated with everything we could think of that was safe for an expectant mother. The vet indicated that she was probably 12-18 months old right now so this is probably her first litter.
She wasn't exactly stoked about her first trip to the vet, but she didn't murder me. Vet said to expect in about 2 weeks, this was last Thursday (4/7) so we figured we had some time to integrate her into the household and try to prepare our other kitty Lola for the interloper.
We have had a couple months to get her used to us and she has become very friendly.
So we started feeding her. This is how people get free cats, right?
And she started hanging out with us on the porch
She's quite the energetic little thing! When she first let us start petting her she was super greasy and her coat was wiry and kind coarse. We started feeding her Taste of the Wild Canyon River Feline Formula with Trout & Smoked Salmon dry kibble and her coat changed dramatically. She is now kitten soft, dry and super snugly.
Loves to play
And demands all the pets and head rubs. She's so friendly that there is no way she's feral, probably some jackass abandoned her in the neighborhood or someone moved out and conveniently forgot the cat. Whatever, free cat for me.
And comes out to greet us every day when we get home (sorry for potato, its hard to get her to stand still and the phone is only so good)
But what she really wanted was to be in the house. We were not willing to do that until the vet vaccinated and cleared her for ALLTHETHINGS. Unfortunately she was not interested in getting in the cat carrier.
So I built her a feral cat box and insulated it with pink Home Despot foam board and a blanket and set it up on the porch. She seemed pretty stoked. (@gesso, this is why I owe you a new bin)
Then she started putting on weight.
And a little more weight
Until she was as fat as the queen of sea cows! At this point I was finally able to capture her and get her to the vet. We were asked to choose a name so appropriately, she is now Annie (as in, Little Orphan.) She was obviously massively pregnant but still a happy little booger. She checked out clean for the kitty aids and leukemia and whatnot and was vaccinated with everything we could think of that was safe for an expectant mother. The vet indicated that she was probably 12-18 months old right now so this is probably her first litter.
She wasn't exactly stoked about her first trip to the vet, but she didn't murder me. Vet said to expect in about 2 weeks, this was last Thursday (4/7) so we figured we had some time to integrate her into the household and try to prepare our other kitty Lola for the interloper.
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04-12-2016, 12:58 PM
#2834
Elite Member
iTrader: (37)
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Very NorCal
Posts: 10,441
Total Cats: 1,899
Annie didn't meet my wife for breakfast (we don't free feed her outdoors, becasue possums) on Caturday morning wile I was out of town so my wife got worried and went and checked her box. She was in the box but wouldn't leave for food, so wife popped the lid and discovered....
Kittens!
Annie got them cleaned and dried and they started nursing immediately. She did the cat thing and took care of the umbilicals and sacs all by herself but it was pretty obvious she was hungry and exhausted.
She is still obviously ultra friendly but we aren't willing to handle the brood quite yet.
We got her on some high quality kitten chow mixed with the canned version of the Taste of the Wild we were feeding her previously. She wouldn't leave the kittens so we brought the food to her. She's been eating like a tiny horse since the little ones appeared.
It's hard to tell but there are actually 3 of the little monsters in there.
So we cleaned out the back bedroom and moved her and the box indoors. Linens were changed and we bought another cat box so she could have her own space. I'm disappointing because we were not able to integrate her with our existing cat quite yet so Annie gets to stay in kitty jail with the little ones while we figure things out. Annie is totally happy being indoors but she's going to want to explore her new home very soon. Lola is just going to have to adapt, because there is going to be a few more where Annie came from
Kittens!
Annie got them cleaned and dried and they started nursing immediately. She did the cat thing and took care of the umbilicals and sacs all by herself but it was pretty obvious she was hungry and exhausted.
She is still obviously ultra friendly but we aren't willing to handle the brood quite yet.
We got her on some high quality kitten chow mixed with the canned version of the Taste of the Wild we were feeding her previously. She wouldn't leave the kittens so we brought the food to her. She's been eating like a tiny horse since the little ones appeared.
It's hard to tell but there are actually 3 of the little monsters in there.
So we cleaned out the back bedroom and moved her and the box indoors. Linens were changed and we bought another cat box so she could have her own space. I'm disappointing because we were not able to integrate her with our existing cat quite yet so Annie gets to stay in kitty jail with the little ones while we figure things out. Annie is totally happy being indoors but she's going to want to explore her new home very soon. Lola is just going to have to adapt, because there is going to be a few more where Annie came from
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04-13-2016, 11:29 AM
#2838
mkturbo.com
iTrader: (24)
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Charleston SC
Posts: 15,177
Total Cats: 1,681
Annie didn't meet my wife for breakfast (we don't free feed her outdoors, becasue possums) on Caturday morning wile I was out of town so my wife got worried and went and checked her box. She was in the box but wouldn't leave for food, so wife popped the lid and discovered....
Kittens!
Annie got them cleaned and dried and they started nursing immediately. She did the cat thing and took care of the umbilicals and sacs all by herself but it was pretty obvious she was hungry and exhausted.
She is still obviously ultra friendly but we aren't willing to handle the brood quite yet.
We got her on some high quality kitten chow mixed with the canned version of the Taste of the Wild we were feeding her previously. She wouldn't leave the kittens so we brought the food to her. She's been eating like a tiny horse since the little ones appeared.
It's hard to tell but there are actually 3 of the little monsters in there.
So we cleaned out the back bedroom and moved her and the box indoors. Linens were changed and we bought another cat box so she could have her own space. I'm disappointing because we were not able to integrate her with our existing cat quite yet so Annie gets to stay in kitty jail with the little ones while we figure things out. Annie is totally happy being indoors but she's going to want to explore her new home very soon. Lola is just going to have to adapt, because there is going to be a few more where Annie came from
Kittens!
Annie got them cleaned and dried and they started nursing immediately. She did the cat thing and took care of the umbilicals and sacs all by herself but it was pretty obvious she was hungry and exhausted.
She is still obviously ultra friendly but we aren't willing to handle the brood quite yet.
We got her on some high quality kitten chow mixed with the canned version of the Taste of the Wild we were feeding her previously. She wouldn't leave the kittens so we brought the food to her. She's been eating like a tiny horse since the little ones appeared.
It's hard to tell but there are actually 3 of the little monsters in there.
So we cleaned out the back bedroom and moved her and the box indoors. Linens were changed and we bought another cat box so she could have her own space. I'm disappointing because we were not able to integrate her with our existing cat quite yet so Annie gets to stay in kitty jail with the little ones while we figure things out. Annie is totally happy being indoors but she's going to want to explore her new home very soon. Lola is just going to have to adapt, because there is going to be a few more where Annie came from
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