Cats on Tuesday

Gattina is hosting a new meme for those of us who are owned by cats, called Cats on Tuesday. Visit her blog and join in the fun.

Sometimes the simplest toys are the best. Although Dragonheart loves his store-bought toys, especially his wand toys and anything that has feathers, he also enjoys playing with some common household items. One of his favourite toys is the clear plastic top off a bottle of Powerade/Gatorade. I guess in some ways cats can be like children! Often the box that a toy came in can be more fun to play with than the toy itself!


It's amazing how much fun he has batting these bottle tops around! He really enjoys playing "hockey" with these bottle tops, as you can see in the video below. These tops frequently get lost under the couch or the treadmill. Fortunately, it is easy to reclaim them from underneath the furniture, plus, there is always a new supply of them, as my husband and I are training for a marathon, and therefore consuming a great deal of Gatorade/Powerade.

If you have trouble viewing the video, you can try clicking here.

Tags: Cats on Tuesday, Sphynx, cat, kitten, hairless cat, hairless kitten, Canadian Sphynx, Canadian hairless, movie, video

Cats on Tuesday

Gattina is hosting a new meme for those of us who are owned by cats, called Cats on Tuesday. Visit her blog and join in the fun.

Here is a video of Dragonheart enjoying one of the wand toys he received for Christmas. This was filmed just over a week ago. Yesterday, he was at the vet being neutered. He is doing well now, happily curled up asleep in my lap. You can read about the entire adventure on his blog.

If you can't see the video, try clicking here.

Tags: Sphynx, hairless cat, hairless kitten, toy, play, cat, kitten

Cats on Tuesday

Gattina is hosting a new meme for those of us who are owned by cats, called Cats on Tuesday. Visit her blog and join in the fun.

Our Sphynx kitten, Dragonheat, loves to sit on his cat tree and watch the world go by outside his window.

He especially enjoys watching the birds fly by, or the ones perched in the trees.

His room, where the cat tree is located, gets the morning sun, so it is normally bright and warm in the mornings. The cat tree is also right in front of the radiator, which is located under the window, so it is nice and toasty warm on his cat tree in the winter.

Tags: Cats on Tuesday, cats, kittens, Sphynx, hairless cat, hairless kitten, Canadian hairless, Canadian Sphynx

Thursday Thirteen

#18 - 13 of Caylynn's Favourite Hobbies

1. Running - it will come as no surprise to any regular visitor that running is one of my favourite hobbies. I usually run between 3 and 5 times a week, and I'm currently training for a spring marathon (the Vienna Marathon) so my long runs are increasing - last week my long run was 14 miles, and the next several will be 16, 18, 20 and 20 miles. I've run numerous races, including several 10Ks (6.2 miles), three half-marathons (13.1 miles or 21.1 km), one 20K, and one marathon (26.2 miles or 42.2 km). I'm very slow, but I can run forever. After fracturing my L2 vertebra falling off a horse while jumping back in 1993, I'm just happy to be able to run at all!
   
   
2. Horseback riding - Yep, even though I fractured a vertebra while riding, I still love it! There's nothing like the connection between a horse and a rider when it works. I ride English-style, and in the past I've mostly ridden hunter seat. Since my riding accident I have jumped again (mostly for psychological reasons, to prove to myself that I wasn't afraid) but I currently take dressage lessons.
   
   
3. Teaching Group Fitness - Many of you will know group fitness as "aerobics" but those of us in the industry don't use that term anymore, since group fitness classes encompass so much more than traditional aerobics. When we were living in Canada, I was teaching between 4 and 6 group fitness classes a week. Here in Munich, I only teach once a week. I love it! I'm a certified group fitness instructor with CanFitPro, and I also have a Resist-A-Ball Level I certification. My favourite classes to teach are Step and Stability Ball. I can also teach High-Low (traditional floor aerobics), Body Sculpting/Muscle Conditioning (strength training/weights in a group setting), and any combination of the previous classes. The class I currently teach is Step and Tone - step choreography alternating with muscle conditioning.
   
   
4. Taking Group Fitness Classes - I also enjoy taking classes from other instructors, especially formats that I don't teach, such as Pilates, or Advanced Step. (I teach basic to intermediate step.)
   
   
5. Strength Training - I love lifting weights. I love the way it makes me feel and the way it makes me look. I like being strong! I lift heavy weights, because that is the most effective way to develop strength, and most women won't bulk up, even when lifting very heavy weights. I only know a few women who , due to their genetics, actually develop large, bulky muscles when lifting heavy. For most women, lifting heavy will just help them develop strength, acquire sculpted muscles, and burn fat. By the way, most women, unless they are genetically blessed, cannot develop "six pack" abs unless they get their body fat down to an extremely unhealthy level.
   
   
6. Reading - I'm a voracious reader. I read every night before bed - it's my way of relaxing and unwinding at the end of the day. I read mostly fantasy and historical fiction. I also enjoy reading non-fiction (history, science, running, horseback riding, etc.) but now that I'm a student again (working towards a Masters degree in Physiotherapy) I don't read as much non-fiction. I get enough of it in my studies! Some of my favourite authors are L.E. Modesitt Jr., Katherine Kurtz, Kate Elliott, R.A. Salvatore, George R.R. Martin, Robert Jordan, J.R.R. Tolkien, Isaac Asimov, Diana Gabaldon, Lindsey Davis, Dick Francis, and many others, too numerous to mention.
   
   
7. Comic Books - My husband is a long-time comic book collector and reader, and he introduced me to the hobby. I now enjoy reading comic books almost as much as I enjoy reading regular books. My favourite comic book creators include George Pérez, Gail Simone, Brian K. Vaughn, Greg Land, Greg Rucka, Brian Michael Bendis. Titles that I'm enjoying at the moment include Birds of Prey, 52, Civil War, Ex Machina, Fables, Jack of Fables, Knights of the Dinner Table, Queen and Country, Rex Mundi, Runaways, Artesia, Ultimate Spiderman, Y: The Last Man, Age of Bronze. Favourite past runs include George Pérez' re-launch of Wonder Woman, Marv Wolfman and George Pérez' New Teen Titans, and CrossGen's Sojourn.
   
   
8. Watching TV - Yes, I also enjoy watching TV. I mostly enjoy watching shows on Discovery, National Geographic and History channels, although my husband and I also enjoyed watching regular T.V. My all-time favourite TV show is M*A*S*H. The best show ever made, in my opinion. Shows that we currently watch include Mythbusters, Stargate SG-1, Stargate: Atlantis, Smallville, Battlestar Gallactica (the new one) and the various Law & Orders.
   
   
9. Computer Games - I enjoy playing role-playing games(RPGs) such as Neverwinter Nights (1 & 2), Knights of the Old Republic (1 & 2), Oblivion, Baldur's Gate (1 & 2) and similar RPGs. I also enjoy turn-based Strategy Games such as Civilization III & IV, and City-Building Games such as Caesar IV.
   
   
10. Playing with our Sphynx Kitten, Dragonheart - Drake LOVES playing with wand toys, so we obviously need to play with him. He especially enjoys chasing anything that has feathers on the end. Of course, doing anything with Dragonheart is fun.
    
    
11. Blogging - It goes without saying, but blogging has become one of my favourite hobbies very quickly! I started a family blog first to keep in touch with our friends and family back home in Canada, then I started a blog to record my training runs, and now it has expanded from there. But I've met a lot of wonderful, friendly people through blogging, so I'm glad I started!
    
    
12. Writing - Unlike many bloggers out there, I'm not a writer, and I don't have any desire to write short stories or novels, or to ever be published, but I do participate in an interactive fiction/role-playing group called alt.starfleet.rpg. I currently have two characters that I write, a Chief Medical Officer, LCDR StarSong to-Ennien, MD, PhD; and an Operations Officer, LT Catharina Ledoux. It's a lot of fun, and I really enjoy writing with a diverse group of people to create our own adventures in the Star Trek universe.
    
    
13. Doing anything with my husband - We enjoy spending time together. Whether we're running, lifting weights, watching TV, or just doing ordinary, everyday things such as grocery shopping, we just enjoy being together. We are truly best friends and have a great time together, no matter what we're doing.
    

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

Tags: Dragonheart, cats, group fitness, horseback riding, injury, memes, Thursday Thirteen, race, Sphynx, hobbies

Cats on Tuesday

Welcome to this week's Cats on Tuesday. Gattina asked me to host Cats on Tuesday while she is on vacation. I hope you all continue to take part!

This week, I thought I'd share some more photos of Dragonheart on Christmas morning. He really enjoyed playing with his new toys. He also enjoyed playing with all the ribbon!

(Click on the image above for a larger version)

Here is a short video of Dragonheart playing with his ball track. It's one of his favourite new toys, along with the new wand toys he received for Christmas.

(If you can't see the video, click here.)

Are you participating in Cats on Tuesday? If so, leave your link below, visit the other participants, and come back later to see who else is participating.

Tags: Sphynx, hairless cat, kitten, Christmas, toys, hairless kitten, Cats on Tuesday

Happy New Year!

Wishing all my blogging friends and their families a Happy New Year! Frohes neues Jahr! Bonne Année !

Saturday's Photo Scavenger Hunt

Grab the Scavenger Hunt code. Join the blogroll. Visit participants.

New

Here are a couple of photos of our new Sphynx kitten, Dragonheart, enjoying the new toys he received for Christmas.

Tags: cats, Dragonheart, memes, holidays, Sphynx, Christmas, Saturday's Photo Scavenger Hunt, Saturday Photo Hunt

Cats on Tuesday

Welcome to this week's Cats on Tuesday. Gattina asked me to host Cats on Tuesday while she is on vacation. I hope you all continue to take part!

I hope everyone who celebrates Christmas had a very Merry Christmas and that everyone is enjoying the holiday season.

This was the first Christmas for our Sphynx kitten, Dragonheart. He enjoyed all the ribbon that was available for him to play with, but I think he was a little overwhelmed and confused at what was happening. He quite enjoyed his new toys, however, including a ball track and a rustle tunnel, as well as several wand toys (his favourite) and some catnip mice.

We took some video of him playing with some of his new toys, that I will share during a future Cats on Tuesday, once I've edited the video.

Are you participating in Cats on Tuesday? If so, leave your link below. Thanks!

Tags: cats, Dragonheart, memes, Cats on Tuesday, Sphynx, hairless cat

Cats on Tuesday

Gattina is hosting a new meme for those of us who are owned by cats, called Cats on Tuesday. Visit her blog and join in the fun.

Click for a larger image

Our Sphynx kitten Dragonheart discovered a new toy last night. He had a toy that was a tube, with a toy mouse at either end. The mice have feathers for tails, and make a squeaking sound when they are moved. Well, Dragonheart ripped one of the mice off the tube, and proceeded to play with it. He really enjoyed having the mouse free of the tube to play with! You can see some of the photos I took of him playing with it above. He was attacking it, pouncing on it, biting it, and having a great time. I think I'll have to see if I can find some more "squeaky mice" at the pet store for him.

Tags: Dragonheart, cats, memes, Cats on Tuesday, Sphynx, cat, kitten, hairless cat

Cats on Tuesday

Gattina is hosting a new meme for those of us who are owned by cats, called Cats on Tuesday. Visit her blog and join in the fun.

(Click for a larger image)

Like all kittens, Dragonheart loves playing. He'll run around like a crazy kitten, full of energy, attacking his toys and pouncing. Then, when he's out of energy, he'll stop, curl up, and have a nap. His favourite times to play are in the morning, when he wakes up, and in the evening, before bed. You can see some of his favourite toys in the collage above: a peacock feather on a string; a feather, bell and ball on a ribbon, and a feather on a fleece ribbon. He likes to run, pounce, attack and chew his toys. He's a lot of fun to play with. Dragonheart doesn't seem to like "stand-alone" toys that he has to play with himself. He likes interactive toys that we dangle in front of him. Sphynx love interacting with people, so that's not too surprising.

If you'd like to learn more about Sphynx, you can check out this post: Sphynx: About the breed.

Tags: cats, Dragonheart, memes, Sphynx, hairless cats, hairless cat, kitten, Cats on Tuesday

Saturday's Photo Scavenger Hunt

Grab the Scavenger Hunt code.Photo Theme. Join the blogroll. Visit participants.

Red

Click for a larger version

Here are some photos of our new Sphynx kitten, Dragonheart, wearing his red sweater. He hasn't needed it yet, because it's been warm in Munich. Sphynx get cold only if it is cold enough for a human to also be cold. If a human needs a sweater indoors, chances are Sphynx need one too, although they're also happy to find a warm human to curl up with (or another cat or even a dog if they are around).

Tags: Saturday's Photo Scavenger Hunt, memes, red, Sphynx, hairless cat, kitten

Thursday Thirteen

#14 - 13 Questions about Sphynx cats answered, in honour of our new Sphynx kitten Dragonheart

1. Can people with allergies live with Sphynx?
   
   Some people who suffer from cat allergies can tolerate living with Sphynx cats. However, depending on the type and severity of the individual's allergic reactions, there are still people who cannot live with this breed.
   My husband is allergic to cats, but fortunately he can tolerate Sphynx. Dragonheart doesn't bother his allergies at all.
   
   
2. Are Sphynx friendly?
   
   You bet! Sphynx are friendly, extremely inquisitive and love to be the center of attention.
   
   
3. What do they feel like?
   
   Dragonheart, our Sphynx, feels like a warm chamois to pet. According to the Cat Fanciers' Association, "The texture of the Sphynx skin has been likened to suede, a hot water bottle, or a heated chamois."
   
   
4. Do they get cold?
   
   Sphynx get cold only if it is cold enough for a human to also be cold. If a human needs a sweater indoors, chances are Sphynx need one too, although they're also happy to find a warm human to curl up with (or another cat or even a dog if they are around).
   Also, Sphynx have a very high natural metabolism. Because of this higher metabolism, they eat more and more often than "regular cats" do, and need to be fed very high quality pet food. Their bodies have to work harder than that of other cats to keep themselves warm, due to the lack of fur.
   
   
5. Are Sphynx completely hairless?
   
   Sphynx are not always totally hairless; they can have fine down on the body. Some light hair is often present on the nose, tail and toes. Dragonheart is hairless except on the bridge of his nose.
   
   
6. With the lack of whiskers, do they lack the sensitivity other cats have?
   
   Sphynx do not have any whiskers, or if they are present, they are short and sparse. Dragonheart has very short, curly whiskers. Sphynx do not seem to suffer for their lack of whiskers. As to why, no one knows! But even when it is dark out, Sphynx have no problems getting around, they get their bearings easily, don't bump into furniture, and love acrobatics of all sorts. They are very agile cats. So this is one fact about Sphynx that remains a mystery!
   
   
7. Are Sphynx sensitive to the sun?
   
   It depends on the colour of their skin. White Sphynx are more sun-sensitive, and will burn if shade is not provided for them. Sphynx are very intelligent cats, however, and if they feel their skin becoming warm, they will seek shelter in a shaded area.
   
   
8. Do Sphynx cats clean themselves like other cats?
   
   Sphynx do clean themselves with their tongues, like other cats do. However, because of the lack of hair that would normally absorb body oils, Sphynx need to be bathed periodically. Their self-bathing isn't sufficient to remove all the oil. Dragonheart needs to be bathed about once a week to keep him healthy.
   
   
9. Why are they called Sphynx?
   
   A Cat Fanciers' Association judge, David Mare, named them in 1973. To him, these cats resembled a famous Egyptian cat statue in the Louvre in Paris. When he thought of Egypt, he thought of the many Egyptian sphinxes, including the Great Sphinx. Thus this breed of hairless cats came to be known as Sphynx.
   
   
10. What colours can Sphynx be?
    
    Sphynx come in almost every colour imaginable. Cat breeders in Europe and North America have bred the Sphynx to normal coated cats and then back to hairless for more than thirty years. This produced a wider gene pool for the breed and allowed the modern Sphynx to exhibit most of the eye and color patterns available in many of today's cat breeds.
    
    
11. How large do Sphynx become?
    
    The Sphynx is a medium-sized cat. On average, adult females weigh 6-8 pounds while males are 8-10 pounds. Dragonheart's breeder thinks that he will be a large Sphynx, like his grandfather, who was 15 lbs.
    
    
12. How old is Dragonheart?
    
    He's currently 4 and a half months old.
    
    
13. Have you logged Dragonheart on Catster?
    
    
    
    
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    Visit my family
    
    He also has his own blog, which you can check out if you want to learn more about Sphynx.
    

If you have any other questions about Sphynx, or about Dragonheart, leave your question in your comment, and I'll try to answer them in future Thursday Thirteens.


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

Tags: memes, cats, Dragonheart, Thursday Thirteen, Sphynx, hairless cats, kittens

Cats on Tuesday

Gattina is hosting a new meme for those of us who are owned by cats, called Cats on Tuesday. Visit her blog and join in the fun.

So, as I promised last week, I'm going to answer some questions about Sphynx this week. My husband and I are owned by and adorable four-and-a-half month old, black and white Sphynx kitten called Dragonheart (or Drake for short). Drake's breeder names her litters after themes, and the theme for Dragonheart's litter was "fantasy", so he's Dragonheart and his brother's name is Merlin.

Are they High Strung Cats?

• They aren't high-strung, per se, but they are friendly, extremely inquisitive and love to be the center of attention.

Do they get cold?

• Sphynx get cold only if it is cold enough for a human to also be cold. If a human needs a sweater, chances are a Sphynx need one too, although they are also happy to find a warm human to curl up with (or another cat or even a dog if they are around).
• Sphynx also have a very high natural metabolism, higher than that of other cats. This higher metabolism helps them to stay warm.
• It's been very warm in Munich this fall, so Drake hasn't needed his sweater yet. We only put it on him to make sure it fit. There have only been a couple of nights where it dipped below freezing, and it's always been above freezing during the day. At night, Drake curls up next to us in bed, where it's nice and warm.
  

Can people with allergies live with Sphynx?

• Some people who suffer from cat allergies can tolerate living with Sphynx cats. However, depending on the type and severity of the individual's allergic reactions, there are still people who cannot live with this breed.
  
• My husband is allergic to cats, but fortunately he can tolerate Sphynx. Dragonheart doesn't bother his allergies at all.
  

Does he enjoy stroking the same way hairy cats do?

• Sphynx love being pet. They love human attention, and enjoy being stroked. Dragonheart loves curling up in my lap and having me pet him. He feels like a warm chamois to pet.

Do they clean themselves, like other cats?

• Sphynx do clean themselves with their tongues, like other cats do. However, because of the lack of hair that would normally absorb body oils, Sphynx need to be bathed periodically. Their self-bathing isn't sufficient to remove all the oil. Drake needs to be bathed about once a week to keep him healthy.
  

To learn more about Sphynx, you can check out Dragonheart's blog. If you have a cat with his or her own blog, have them stop by!

Tags: cats, Dragonheart, memes, Sphynx, hairless cats, Cats on Tuesday

Thursday Thirteen

#13 - 13 Photos of our new Sphynx kitten, Dragonheart

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Do you have any questions about Sphynx? Head on over to Dragonheart's blog, and ask your question there. He'll answer them during next week's Thursday Thirteen. Thanks!

Tags: cats, Dragonheart, memes, Thursday Thirteen

Foto Pherrets

Hump Day Hunt - Week Forty-Nine

Christmas is coming. Santa's elves are busy making these...

Our word for this week is:
Toy



These are some photos of our new Sphynx kitten, Dragonheart, playing with some of his toys. He is so cute when he pounces on the feathers.