...Dogs and cats are our most popular and beloved pets. We respectfully call both of them “our little brothers.” But why is there a far from brotherly relationship between these four-legged “brothers”? More precisely, enmity? This has even become a saying about us two-legged people: if close relatives do not like each other and openly quarrel, they are said to live “like a cat and a dog.” You can build different versions about the reasons for such enmity, but that’s not the point now. I'm worried about something else. I can’t understand why some of us prefer to keep dogs in the house, while others prefer cats.
Let's be precise: it is not about the cat, but about the dog that it is said that it is “man’s friend.” And about man - that he is the “king of nature.” He reigns, and the dog assists him in this. So he packs a backpack, takes a gun, and dresses in hunting camouflage. The dog sees this and squeals with impatience and delight. “Now the owner and I will go hunting! As soon as we see, we will shy away! How I jump, how I run, how I bring it! The owner will praise me for this and scratch me behind the ear. I have a good one, I’ll rip anyone’s throat out for it!”
But the cat... “Come on, all of you... Don’t interfere, I’m in the sleep phase... Pet me, caress me? It’s possible, it’s possible... Mur-mur-mur... Just don’t go against the grain... Mur-mur-pur... The owner?... What kind of owner is this? Why?... I won’t go! Leave me alone! I’ll scratch your eyes out!”
Still, I believe that the cat family is better than the dog family. Why?
First. The cat walks by itself. She understands what independence and individuality are. And the dog is respected because it serves its owner faithfully, experiencing the miserable joys of slavish happiness. Second. The cat doesn't bark. What could be more disgusting than a stupid, idiotic, unlike anything else dog bark? Third. When I see a cockroach crawling along the wall, I take off my slipper and say: “Uh, s-s-dog...”.
Heroes of our time
In Russian regional newspapers one can find many examples of how “friends of man” confirm their noble status with specific actions. And sometimes they become not just friends or helpers, but truly benefactors and even rescuers. These examples mostly involve dogs. Textbook stories: a border guard dog, a police dog, a guide dog, a diver dog, or even cooler: a kamikaze dog with a bomb on its back diving under an enemy tank... There are no cats in such stories. But not completely, they also have some similar plots. Let's look for them on the pages of regional publications, partners of Rossiyskaya Gazeta.
Let's start from afar. From distant Japan. The Republican publication Grozny Inform reported an amazing fact. The Toyama City Police Department appointed a cat named Coco as its chief officer for one day as a sign of respect and recognition. “Last summer, a local resident, while walking, noticed a cat staring intently in the direction of one of the city’s irrigation canals. Following the direction of the animal’s gaze, the woman realized that the cat was watching the man, who was lying unconscious at the bottom of the canal and at risk of choking. Through the joint efforts of local residents, the man was saved. And the police awarded the savior a special award: they accepted her into their ranks. But not without humor: just for one day. “And henceforth I solemnly promise to be vigilant during my walks,” says the text of the oath, on which a cat in a police uniform stamped her paw.
As you can see, a cat can serve a person no worse than a dog.
history of the holiday
The history of this unusual holiday dates back to 2002. Then, by decision of the International Fund for the Protection of Animals, a new world holiday arose - Cat Day. Before this, it was celebrated in many states, starting in 1987, and Japan was the first initiating state. The main goal of this holiday was to attract public attention to the problems of cats and create as many shelters for them as possible.
Russia began celebrating this holiday in 2004 with the support of the Moscow Museum.
Both a doctor and a weather forecaster
What other benefits do cats bring? Different. For example, they treat people from diseases. Readers of the Altaiskaya Pravda newspaper learned about this. “Many people have noticed that their furry pets settle down at their feet, lie down by their side, sometimes even on a pillow. The animal begins to purr and the pain goes away.”
Old people advised that in case of illness, observe where the cat most often lies down. Then you need to “stand in this place and not leave it longer.” All these wisdoms have come down to us from the depths of centuries, and we don’t really believe in them. But it turns out that already in our time, authoritative scientists have proven that cats really do heal. For example, a tendency has been identified for a decrease in blood pressure in hypertensive patients after they interact kindly with cats. “Despite the fact that the body temperature of cats is higher than that of a person, and a person is pleased when a cat “warms” him, a cat acts differently as a medicine. The effect is achieved due to the positive emotions that a person experiences.”
There is an interesting publication on the same topic in the Khabarovsk newspaper “Young Far Easter”. One person had two cats in his house. They didn’t really get along with each other, but they loved their owner and tried to jump on his lap or fall asleep on his chest. And one day the owner of the cats had a mini-stroke: his hand began to work poorly and speech became difficult. However, after a couple of months he was able to fully recover. The most curious thing is that on the day when the “blow” overtook him, one of the cats died suddenly. Although she did not have any prerequisites for death. It turns out that the cat took the blow of a person’s fate and sacrificed itself for the life and health of its owner.
In addition, it is worth taking a close look at the cat’s behavior and noticing characteristic changes in it. The fact is that cats are weather-dependent creatures that can predict the weather no worse than weather forecasters. If the cat curls up into a ball and hides its face, then you need to wait for frost. He lies down with his stomach up, rolls on the floorboards and stretches for warmth. She sat on the windowsill and looked out the window - towards the thaw. He tears at the wall with his claws, scrapes the floor - to bad weather, to a blizzard. Licking a paw - for sunny weather...
Who cares about cats in the basement?
A local resident, Svetlana Kunova, came to the editorial office of the Tagilsky Rabochiy newspaper and told an unpleasant story about cats living in the basement of her house. According to Svetlana Semyonovna, cats have always lived in the basement, since they moved in in 1957, and have never caused any irritation to anyone. But a few years ago, two women suddenly turned against them. Aggressive older ladies do not mince words in expressing their hostility towards animals, chasing them, crucifying their food, threatening to kill them all, and last year two cats were poisoned. Evil neighbors claim that animals shit in the basements, which supposedly causes the stench. They are objected to: cats are clean, they do their business on the street. There really is a smell in the basement, but it comes from the old sewer system, the pipes are long overdue for replacement...
After the cats were poisoned, residents contacted the police and the prosecutor's office. The aggressive ladies quieted down for three months, but then resumed hostilities. They were given strength by the support of the management company, whose employees, according to residents, also believe that there should be no cats in the basement, so they regularly close the vents through which cats enter the basement with bars.
There are many similar stories of persecution of cats. And thank God that the Russian government paid attention to the situation and issued a decree on the mandatory preservation of vents in the foundations of apartment buildings. “We will oblige to keep vents measuring 15 by 15 centimeters in basements so that cats can go out and enter the basement,” said Deputy Minister of Construction and Housing and Communal Services of Russia Andrei Chibis.
The document has been adopted, but it is unlikely to be an argument for dissatisfied women. They continue to argue. But at least the management company’s attempts to survive the cats from the basement have stopped. They were given the right to life at the state level.
Animal Rescue
Since 2014, a program to work with animals in areas affected by hurricanes and floods has joined the usual events in honor of Cat Day. The traditional event began with a project to spay/neuter pets found on lands hit by hurricanes Rita and Katrina. In 2021, IFAW volunteers worked to rescue animals affected by Hurricane Matthew in Jamaica and Haiti. In 2017, all the attention of IFAW workers is focused on the American continent and the Caribbean, whose coasts were hit by several hurricanes - Harvey, Irma, Maria. Here, for several months, work has been going on to rescue, treat and sterilize domestic animals, some of which is carried out under the auspices and with funds raised for International Cat Day.
Expensive pleasure
Pets are not only pleasant and helpful neighbors (sometimes they are literally family members), but also a significant expense. Keeping a cat, providing them with proper care, nutrition and education is a serious matter. Especially for those who use cats not for pleasure, but for business. This topic was raised on its pages by the newspaper “Soviet Siberia”.
There is an elite cat club “Royal Dynasty” in Novosibirsk. Club President Svetlana Anisimova spoke about difficult problems that have worsened recently. Many people want, but cannot buy a purebred kitten. “Now it’s more profitable to sell them to foreigners rather than to Siberians,” says Svetlana. “In addition, imported veterinary drugs and feed are rapidly becoming more expensive.” According to the breeder, it has become profitable to send kittens to China. Resourceful resellers “stock up” with kittens in Novosibirsk, add their commission and sell, often illegally, live goods to Chinese clients. “We hold exhibitions twice a year, and our first visitors are Chinese,” continues Svetlana Anisimova. “They photograph the kittens and immediately send the photo to prospective buyers in the Middle Kingdom, where cats of the British breed, as well as Neva Masquerade and Scottish Fold cats are now very popular.”
“The fashion for certain breeds among foreigners is a temporary phenomenon,” Lyudmila Petryaeva, a representative of the oldest Novosibirsk cat lovers club “Kat,” continues the topic. The specialist does not approve of the massive purchase of kittens for foreigners, because they are taken to another country at random, and the cats get stressed... Recently, raising and keeping purebred cats has turned into a very expensive endeavor. A cat from the street can be fed with what is in the refrigerator, but an expensive elite animal is another matter, there are completely different expenses. “I never count so as not to get upset,” says Lyudmila. - But these are thousands and thousands. Vaccinations, medications, various examinations, mating, and then, if the cat also needs to have a caesarean section, then it’s a total waste. But whoever loves an animal goes for it.”
According to Victoria Senatorova, who is the owner of two purebred cats named Ramses and Lancelot, now the cost of a standard bag of food remains approximately at the same level, and there is no serious increase in price. “Apparently, due to the fact that low-price food is produced at Russian enterprises,” explains Vika. — But foreign food is rising in price rapidly. When this or that specialized food is needed, it’s just ruin.”
The newspaper “Evening Chelyabinsk” touched on the same topic. According to a study by the local free classifieds site Avito, in the first half of 2021, the demand for cats among Chelyabinsk residents increased by 9% compared to the previous year. And the sale of pets increased by 16%. Moreover, residents prefer outbred pets. Why? Because you don’t need to spend a lot of money on them or buy them elite, expensive food. These are usually animals in excellent health.
What should you not give to cats?
Even if you are ready to give your cat all the best and tastiest things you have, you shouldn’t overdo it! It turns out that there are foods that can not only disrupt digestion in cats, but even lead to death.
Milk. Unfortunately, you can watch a kitten lap up milk and be moved only when it is very small. Many adult cats, like humans, are intolerant to the protein casein or the sugar lactose found in cow's milk. Of course, milk contains many useful substances - proteins, vitamins, minerals - but compared to the problems that it can cause: from diarrhea to an acute allergic reaction, this is insignificant.
Coffee. Many cat lovers start their morning with two things: coffee and cuddling with their beloved pet. But keep in mind - it's best to do this one at a time: cats are more sensitive to the effects of caffeine than people. Coffee grounds are especially dangerous for cats - even a small amount can cause poisoning in adult animals and even lead to the death of a kitten. When taking coffee internally, signs of hyperactivity, rapid heartbeat, hypertension, tremors, vomiting, convulsions and other problems may occur.
Alcohol. Some cat owners like to indulge and offer their pet to try beer or wine at their leisure. This should not be done under any circumstances, because alcohol is harmful even to humans, not to mention pets. Cats are very sensitive to alcohol, and even a very small amount, such as one tablespoon, can lead to serious problems: problems with coordination, difficulty breathing, diarrhea and even depression.
Citrus. Oranges, tangerines, lemons and even kumquats can be great toys for your cat, but they are not food! The stems, leaves, peel, fruits and seeds of citrus plants contain citric acid and essential oils that can cause gastrointestinal irritation, diarrhea and even central nervous system problems.
Eggs. Some cat owners find it beneficial to give their animals raw eggs, as they are rich in vitamins, proteins and nutrients. But they can also contain salmonella and other parasites that can lead to pancreatitis, an inflammation of the pancreas. In addition, some enzymes contained in raw eggs can interfere with the absorption of B vitamins.
Raisins and grapes. Grapes and raisins are often given to pets, but in reality this is not a good idea at all. It turns out that grapes and raisins can cause kidney failure in some cats. Even a small amount of treats can make your cat sick.
Chocolate. It is known that many dogs love chocolate, but unlike them, cats usually avoid it. Apparently, they feel that they may have serious health problems. Chocolate contains a substance toxic to cats called theobromine , which is easily digested by humans, but cats digest it much more slowly, allowing it to accumulate to toxic levels in the body. This can cause them dehydration, abdominal pain, overexcitement, tremors, seizures and even death.
In the government service
The newspaper “Kamchatsky Krai” told its readers an interesting “cat” story. Nowadays in Petropavlovsk you can see these cute animals of various breeds. And I can’t even believe that there were times when there were no cats in Kamchatka. None! They were brought to the peninsula relatively recently (especially when compared with the domestication of dogs in Kamchatka, which occurred about 10-12 thousand years ago) - the first mention of cats dates back to 1846.
In those early days, the local grocery store was constantly running out of supplies. And all because of the mice, who devoured literally tons of food. The ruler of Kamchatka, Captain R. G. Mashin, ordered a dozen cats to be captured and placed in a store. How to catch it? If you can’t find cats on the entire peninsula during the day with fire? We had to spend money on an entire expedition: several thousand miles from distant Siberia, they delivered expensive cargo in large cages to Petropavlovsk. On May 25, 1846, the Admiralty Council ordered the annual allowance of 5 rubles 71¾ kopecks for cats in the Peter and Paul Provisions Store. Thus, cats ended up in the state food service.
Lebanese Fried Chicken with Mint Sauce
Ingredients:
For chicken: 1 whole chicken 1 lemon 1 tsp. cumin 1 tsp. paprika 1 tsp. coriander seeds 1 tsp. chili pepper 1 tsp. ground cinnamon 2 tablespoons olive oil
For the sauce: 1 tbsp. olive oil 300 ml natural Greek yogurt 5 sprigs of cilantro 5 sprigs of mint 2 tbsp. viscous honey
How to cook:
- Mix cumin, paprika, coriander, chili, and cinnamon in a mortar. Grind thoroughly and add salt.
- Pour lemon juice and olive oil into the spices. Mix and set aside to brew.
- Rub the chicken with spices and leave in the refrigerator for 2-3 hours.
- Preheat the oven to 200 degrees and place the chicken for 40 minutes.
- Meanwhile, prepare the sauce. Chop the cilantro and mint leaves.
- Mix yogurt, herbs, olive oil and honey. Add salt and black pepper to taste.
- Place in the refrigerator.
- Serve the hot chicken with the cold sauce over it.
Beautiful is the one who is loved
Not so long ago, inhuman passions were in full swing in Irkutsk. The competition for the most beautiful cat has opened! The owners of their beloved pets enthusiastically joined the competition. “Among the meowing contestants there are plump ones, non-pedigree ones, and those with character,” comments the Irkutsk newspaper. A Sphynx cat with the strange name Shkidla Kusechka made it into the top ten. Her owner Yana Lisitsyna told a lot of interesting things about her beloved pet.
“Once I was walking down the street and saw a sphinx cat of incredible beauty in the window of a wooden house, and next to it was an advertisement “We are giving away kittens.” As it turned out, there was only one left - a small, fragile, gray lump. I paid 30 rubles for it and took it home. We began to nurse her, feed her, and specially made a small “pen” in the apartment, but this baby immediately got out of there and proved that she was a completely viable little monster. Very soon we realized: it is not necessary to save her, but to save ourselves. Due to her hooligan character and brutal appetite, the nickname Shkidla Kusechka immediately stuck to her.”
One day Shkidla Kusechka entered the closet, pulled out five pairs of socks, overturned a laundry basket in the bathroom, dropped a heavy chair on cups of cat food in a swift jump, and climbed the curtains as if on ropes. She liked all this so much that she began to practice such manipulations constantly. “Well, what can you do - there’s a child in the house! - the hostess says tenderly. “And we sent it to the competition as a symbol: “Favorite means beautiful.” Regardless of breed, purebred, color or manners.”
How to celebrate cat day
In order to please your pet on a holiday, you can come up with festive events at home:
- Please your cat with a tasty, albeit expensive, treat. You can decorate it in the form of a cat cake from your favorite canned food or meat.
- Buy a new one or make an original pet house with your own hands. Or special shelves for climbing - experts believe that a cat should have many personal, not only horizontal, but also vertical surfaces.
- Give your pet a special relaxing massage with brushing if he loves it.
- Buy new beautiful and comfortable accessories - a collar with a tag and a leash, overalls, a bowl.
- Place anti-cat nets on the windows to prevent the cat from falling out.
- Microchipping your pet.
- If there is no cat in the house, adopt a kitten from a shelter or work as a volunteer there.
- Make a donation for homeless animals in the form of money or necessary items - food, litter, cat complexes and houses.
- For your household, bake a cake or cookies in the shape of cats.
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