WHY DON'T CATS WASH UP BEFORE THEY EAT? As legend goes, the cat once caught a mouse and was about to eat the tasty little morsel when the mouse chided the cat for her bad manners. "What?" cried the mouse, "You're going to eat me without first washing your face and hands?" The mortified cat immediately dropped the mouse and began washing, and the clever little mouse promptly scooted off. Ever since, cats have not washed up before dinner.

HOW PUSSY WILLOWS GOT THEIR NAME According to an old Polish legend, many springtimes ago a mother cat was crying at the bank of the river in which her kittens were drowning. The willows at the river's edge longed to help her, so they swept their long graceful branches into the waters to rescue the tiny kittens who had fallen into the river while chasing butterflies. The kittens gripped on tightly to their branches and were safely brought to shore. Each springtime since, goes the legend, the willow branches sprout tiny fur-like buds at their tips where the tiny kittens once clung.

CATS AND WITCHES Through the ages cats have traditionally been associated with witches. A common belief among many pagan religions was that witches took the form of cats at sundown. It has been recorded that in the year 1718 a William Montgomery of Cathiness alleged that hundreds of cats gathered outside of his house nightly, and spoke in human language. He claimed that he killed two of them and awoke the next morning to the news that two of the area's old women were mysteriously found dead in their beds.

In the 15th Century the moon, old women, and cats were associated with magic and mischief. Here is a verse from a childrens' book that dates back to the year 1415: There was an old woman who was tossed up in a blanket 7 times as high as the moon: But of her mission not a single mortal could tell, for under her arm she carried cat, broom and bell. "Old woman, old woman," said I, "whither, oh, whither, oh, whither, so high?" "To sweep the cobwebs," she said, "from the sky... but I'll be back with you by and by.

THE FOX AND THE CAT The fox was boasting to the cat of his clever devices for escaping his enemies. "I have a whole bag of tricks which contains 100 ways of escaping my enemies," he said. "I have only one," said the cat, "but I can generally manage with that." Just at that moment they heard the cry of a pack of hounds coming towards them, and the cat immediately scampered up a tree and hid herself in its branches. "This is my plan," said the cat. "What are you going to do?" The fox thought and thought as he looked in his bag of tricks, and while he was debating the hounds came nearer and nearer. At last the fox in his confusion was caught by the hounds and soon killed by the huntsmen. Miss Puss, who had been looking on, said: "Better one safe way than 100 on which you can not reckon." aesop

BELLING THE CAT All of the mice met in council to discuss the best way to secure against attacks of the cat. After several suggestions were debated a mouse of experience and standing got up and said: "I think I have hit upon a plan which will ensure our future safety." We will fasten a bell around the neck of our enemy, the cat, which by its tinkling will warn us of her approach." As the proposal was being applauded, a mouse who was even wiser stood up on his feet and said: "It is easy to propose impossible solutions. I agree that it is an admirable plan, but who is going to bell the cat?" aesop

SHADOWS........ Skitter-scat across the floor A scratchy slide against the door A mournful wail from deep inside Annabell has got to hide I scan the gloom beneath the bed her eyes are fiercely flashing red Her tail is thrashing to and fro Deciding if to stay or go What memories beset her mind not erased by human-kind? What ancient perils does she see To make her act so fearfully? Annabell, relax! Go play! Forget your fears of yesterday. No hunters from these walls shall rise ... Just shadows from your former lives. By my late and great friend, James J. Brinkman from his book "FANTASIES AND REALITIES"

THE STARFISH STORY A young child spotted a small girl walking along the shore. She would bend down every few feet, pick something up from the sand, and toss it into the ocean. The child walked up to the young girl and asked her what she was doing. "I'm saving starfish," the little girl replied. The young child looked at her, and in amazement, asked: "What are you going to do ... spend all day and night here tossing starfish back into the ocean? You'll never save them all. And, anyway, they are just starfish and it doesn't matter if they live or die." The little girl bent down and scooped another starfish up from the sand. She considered it briefly, and then hurled it into the ocean. "It mattered to that one," she replied. Life is God's Gift to all Creatures Big and Small

*THE CAT AND THE FAIRY FOREST Some say that the forest was dense with catnip, while others are convinced that the cat was just being a cat..... "It is said that in a land long ago and far away there existed a very green, very magick forest. So magickal this forest was, that mythical beings were etched into its tree trunks, and crimson sun-ripened berries clung to its branches year-round and perfumed the air. The forest was inhabited by song-birds and faeries..." Read The Cat and the Fairie Forest in The Cat Cafe. *An original illustrated tiny cat tale with a moral © Diabella.

"The question of whether or not pet cats should be allowed outdoors will always be argued by those taking opposing sides. The owner of a wandering tomcat may feel he is doing his pet a favor by giving the cat access to the outdoors. Actually he is exposing the cat to disease and danger and allowing him to father unwanted kittens and kill a variety of birds and small animals." Michael J. Fox, D.V.M. SUPERCAT: Raising the Perfect Feline Companion

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