Nat Geo's Little Kitties for Big Cats

-- RUE

Do you know my bigger relatives? Those who roar and live in the jungle? Yes? Well, good. Because we need to help them.

National Geographic (uhm, this is where we watch the Dog Whisperer, but that's another story) is enjoining 10,000 cat lovers all over the world to honor the little kitties in their life, raise $50,000 and help save big cats across the planet. In Little Kitties for Big Cats, you hooman can celebrate your special purring furball, and help prevent the extinction of beautiful wild cats at the same time!

According to Nat Geo, big cats are dying at alarming rates:

• Lions (rawr!) - perhaps as low as 20,000 across Africa (uhm, maybe Apple computers should help, too, with the launch of Mac OS X Lion)
• Snow Leopards - between 4,500 and 7,500 remain in the wild
• Tigers (some people say my stripes resemble that of a tiger!) - only an estimated 3,200 remain in the wild
• Cheetahs (yeah, those swift runners!) - as few as 12,000 remain in the wild

The National Geographic Society's Big Cats initiative is funding special grants to help save big cats, especially Africa's lions. The grants are aimed at stopping the conflict with humans, poaching and habitat loss that are eradicating these magnificent cats.

“Lions in Duba Plains, Okavango Delta, Botswana. Saving lions is the focus of the Big Cats Initiative.” Photo by Beverly Joubert, National Geographic

“Lions in Duba Plains, Okavango Delta, Botswana. Saving lions is the focus of the Big Cats Initiative.” Photo by Beverly Joubert, National Geographic

It's very easy to spread the love to our beloved big cats.

1. Click the the link below, which shall take you to"Little Kitties for Big Cats" page.

http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/big-cats/little-kitties/

2. Provide necessary information and donate at least $5 (about P210).

3. You will receive a confirmation email. This also contains the link to where you can post your beloved kitty's photo.

4. DONE!

5. Check out your kitty's photo...

6. ...and check out the gallery, too, for other kitty cuteness!

You'll feel great, for sure, once you see that your humble $5 will go a long way in helping the big kitties!

Wheatgrassin'

- Hooman Momma

I got the kitties a tray of live wheatgrass (P125/US$2.90) from SM Supermarket. I have been wanting to have some fresh greens in the house for them to munch on, just like outdoor cats. Because I can't grow a garden in my condo apartment, the wheatgrass tray would be a good alternative.

As always, the kitties got busy as soon as I put down the grocery bags. When I opened the grass tray, Qish sniffed right away. But he doesn't know what to make of it! Rue, on the other hand, started munching as soon as she saw it.

Looking out to her small "garden"

 

She's been munching from time to time since the grass has arrived in the house, getting a dose of fresh greens in between her beauty sleep. What a cutie! And here's her video enjoying her grass:

Weekend at the Park

-- Rue

Because momma has been travelling (her travel blog HERE), she didn't have the time to take me to the park in the past weeks. What a bummer! I've always loved watching the birds and enjoying my own sunbeam at the park. So I had to remind her of her momma duties last weekend! Good thing she obliged. I had a grand time in Ayala Triangle Park and Greenbelt 5. Oh, and we went shopping again in Bow & Wow! Yee-meow!

Here's how I pleaded to momma. Who can resist such a face?

enjoying my sunbeam at the park

relaxing at the cafe while sipping chilled tea!

Oh, and here's our latest loot:

Kitty Kaviar Bonito Treat, ORKAkat Catnip Stuffers, and Cat Silver Vine Powder

Kitty Kaviar from Bow & Wow - We loooooooooove our bonito treat! Qish didn't like it at first, but I knew I'll love it on my first sniff! I couldn't get enough of it!

ORKAkat Catnip Stuffers from Bow & Wow - Ok, we were amused for about 15 minutes, then we forgot about it. I think momma was quite upset that we didn't play with it that much, teehee.

Cat Silver Vine Powder from Saizen - I had the ultimate "high" with this! Waaaaaay better than catnip! They say it's Japanese catnip because it's popular in Japan and the plant grows there, too. We loooooove it! Momma sprinkles it over Qish's food when he loses his appetite, and it works for him well.

Nippin'

-- RUE


Our Grandma Wowa Nhengphi gave us shopping money.  Must. Spend. In. Bow & Wow.

So we went to our favorite store, and guess what we got for ourselves:  some 'nip and grass!

Qish went crazy as soon as he got a whiff of the 'nip!  He was the one who pulled it out of the plastic, and just went cross-eyed (as most Siamese cats are) and totally crazy!  He even salivated on the box, ewwww!  Momma immediately put some on our scratching post, and everything went blurry from there.   I remember being soooo happy, I thought I was in cat heaven!

Momma hasn't opened the grass yet, so it hasn't started growing.  She promised to do it this weekend when she has the time to read the instructions.  We'll post photos of the grass once it starts growing, and before we munch on it!  In the meantime, I'll have to say goodbye.  I'm bound to go to cat heaven again in 3, 2...

Caaaatnip!

-- Rue

I am soooo stoked today!

Momma got us a catnip spray from our favorite store, Bow and Wow in Shangri-la: 

Eight In One Kookamunga Catnip Spray 4 Ounces - M6104

I just went krazeeee when she sprayed it on my toys!  I even tried licking off the droplets from the floor.  It just made me super happy!  And after my little stoked moment, I fell asleep right where my toys are.  One happeeee day!  Weeeee!

I don't know why, but Qish doesn't seem to get the same effect.  Maybe Qish is not a cat?  'Cause momma doesn't act strangely as well.  What's wrong with them?!

  

No More Donut For Me!

-- Qish

Finally, my donut collar has come off!

Last month, when momma arrived from her trip to Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia, she noticed a bald spot in between my shoulders.  She had me checked, and was advised that it may be an allergy to Revolution which Rue and I get monthly to ward off those mites and fleas.  I was given pills to take but I wouldn't let her shove those pills in my throat!  Teehee. 

The bald spot was soooo itchy so I tried to lick it all the time.  But since that part is supposedly "unreachable" for my tongue, I licked the part nearest to it.  I licked it over and over again until momma noticed that I already developed lesions from it!  She put on the most-hated Elizabethan collar (I call it the ugly cone collar) that morning and scheduled a visit to Dr. Riza after her work.  Rue was such a bully as soon as it was on!  She was biting me here and there, and was just nudging me to play with her maybe because she knew I can't run with that thing on!  I wanted to smack her in the face but the cone left me helpless.

When Dr. Riza saw me, she told momma I have a hotspot!  I learned that it's a self-inflicted lesion caused by overlicking a part.  It may be triggered by an insect bite, a rash, bald spot, what-have-yous.  So momma has to put an ointment on it twice a day.  I got an antibiotic injection, too.  I also has to keep my ugly cone collar for a minimum of 10 days!!! :'(  That's a tragedy.  But of course momma understands how bad I feel about that ugly cone, so as soon as we (Rue and I -- she always tags along because she loves getting attention!) got home, momma left again to buy something from Bow & Wow in Shangri-la.  And it's a beautiful gift for me!  It's an alternative to the ugly cone, and I call it the donut collar.

 ProCollar Protective Collar, X-Small

I love that it doesn't get in the way of my navigation, eating, drinking and playing.  It feels a little funny having a tad too big a thing on my neck, but I was comfortable wearing it.  I wore it for almost a month, would you believe!  Because when momma & Dr. Riza took it off after two weeks, I started licking it again and developed lesions, again.  Teehee.  I can be naughty, you know.

Check out how great this product is!

  

Our New Playhouse

-- Rue

Yay to our first post!

Momma's friend, Uncle Oliver, gave us something to get busy with -- a little playhouse!  It's got big holes that we can explore, and a little dangling fish toy on top.  Which, sadly, didn't survive the night!  Qish chewed on it and when momma woke up, her eyes got wider when she saw the stuffings scattered all over.  Teehee.  She just hugged us while chuckling.

We love our playhouse!  I love staying on top, while Qish loves chilling in the cube.

 Sport Pet Exclusive Activity Cube

Check us out!