We have written a new story on New Year’s Day. It is not a New Year story, but one which suits the “Rauhnächte”, i.e. the nights of the 12 days of Christmas, when the doors between this world and the next are open.
Its title is Der Geisterhund/The Ghost Dog

The book differs from many cat histories by showing how closely light and dark aspects may be intertwined in the treatment of cats by humans. For example, in ancient Egypt, cats were not only worshiped but killed by the thousands in a very tender age to “produce” sacred cat mummies.

The very readable, entertaining and interesting text is augmented by beautiful illustrations from colour plates to sketches and wood-cuts in black and white. There is a small bibliography and lists of famous cat lovers and haters (a number of which are said to have swooned on seeing a cat e.g. Alexander the Great, Caesar, Napoleon and others).

Especially the solidly bound hard-cover edition is very suitable as a present for any cat-lover.

We only just now found this piece and we proceed to buy the book. We will be back and give a review of it later.

Today we remind you of:

• Raymond Chandler, the famous (co-)inventor of the hard-boiled genre of crime stories, is said to ahve discussed his stories with his black Persian Taki

A very interesting text came to our knowledge today. Here a competent literary cat shares his experience with his human writer. The text is from 2002 but very illuminating about cross-species communication and literary collaboration. It is Cats and Writers, One Cat’s Opinion by Aristophenes Mr. Robert’s Cat Sloan, translated by Robert A. Sloan at http://www.fmwriters.com/Visionback/Issue10/themecatsandwriters.htm. In addition to relating important facts about cats helping writers to get their fictional cats right, there is much insight into the relations of writers and cats and why they work so well. Hmph, we could not agree more!

A website with references to some less well-known literary texts featuring cat, we found here and great pictures included, too! Definitely worth a visit.

So, that’s it for today. Have a great Sunday and some extra treats for Valentine,

Yours

Djinnie and Perri (Fairy)

So: hallo and season’s greetings to everyone!

Where we live, it is snowing heavily since morning. Our patio garden is almost completely covered. So, we definitely prefer to stay indoors today. After watching snowflakes for quite a while, we are settling into nap-mode in our favourite easy chairs. Steffi is writing away at the computer. Time, too, she puts more things here on the website.

Have a grand Christmas and we’ll be back soon.

Djinnie and Perri

If you like, ask your cat (s) to add their “rules”  as a comment.

We will not bore you with the obvious: to feed your cat regularly and well (observe closely what they like to eat, and, yes, they change their tastes all the time); to clean their toilet at least once a day, to play with them, to keep them healthy and so on.  If you are unsure about these basics, the Internet is full good advice, say ,if you are a would-be or a new cat-guardian (never say or even think cat-owner, see our first rule).

So, here are OUR rules:

(The download link is here).

• Consider yourself honoured to be chosen by a cat/cats as their guardian and strive to be accepted as their friend (do not even THINK in terms of owning your cat/s.)
• Cat guardians have to understand, cats come first at all times. We cats know, we have to put up with jobs and other inexplicable absences from home, but apart from what is absolutely unavoidable, we expect our guardians to be available when we need them (good for them: we sleep about three-quarters of the day and don’t want them nosing about when we roam our territories).
• Cats are individuals just as humans, if not more so.  Observe your cat closely and “listen” to find out what s/he likes and dislikes – then act accordingly. Cats do not live by any blueprint, so what you read in your cat advice book may not apply to your adorable cat. (Example: in every practical guide on cats, they say cats are enthusiastic about cat-nip. We do not even look at the stuff).
• Even if the best food from the cat-food industry is being provided, (that goes without saying, doesn’t it?)
  we like to have freshly cooked fish or meat at least twice a week (Come on: what does it take to cook a trout or some chicken wings?)
• Even if you live in the city, make sure you have (at least) a small garden, patio, balcony or as a minimum a small secured window sill where your cat can have some fresh air and an observation point.
• We absolutely hate closed doors or long faces when we insist on doors  to be opened for us every minute or so. Why are they closed in the first place?
• In general, we are not too keen on invasions by visitors (if there are more than 2 or 3). In the best of cases, we just ignore them. We may choose a friend or two among the regulars, if they behave themselves. Else…ok, we won’t go into that.
• A very thorny issue are holidays. Most cats hate traveling as much as masses of noisy visitors. They almost just as much hate to stay at home with surrogate guardians. Some of our best friends, though, have adaped to joining their guardians even for lengthy trips.
• Cats have to be entertained intelligently. Most of the cat toys in the market are plain boring. Especially those moving automatically. We only enjoy the games we invent ourselves or which involve activities on the part of our guardians, such as moving or throwing things that we can chase. And do cut out the petty moanings when we scratch your furniture. If you provide enough boxes, scratching posts, tree trunks or whatever, it will really happen only very occasionally.
• Daily grooming and cuddling are as important as playing (AT LEAST once a day!)
• We insist on regular high-level  conversations  -  from current affairs to cats in myth, legend, art and literature (so visit here often!). Nothing better than cuddling up while the guardian is reading, better even reading to us. Also, we like to have some say in choosing TV programs or music. Observation will soon make you wise as to the preferences of your cat(s).
• Listen to your cat(s) closely. Not only will you see what to do to make them thoroughly happy, but you will also gain many pieces of wisdom and insights useful for your own life. Just try it and be amazed.

Eleven years ago we chose SE (Steffi ) as our human guardian and called her mentally to come two hundred kilometers to find us and take us home. And she did, too!

Ever since, we shared various homes, SE always making sure we had a garden or balcony to be able to go outside without risk to our health and well-being. Though she (still) has to go out working each day, we are spending much time together in the evenings and on weekends, gardening, playing, conversing, relaxing, yes, and of course writing and reading. Also, SE’s mother is living with us and taking care of us, too. Like any good grandmother she spoils us with many small snippets of meat and her unfailing attention.

With SE we are working on this blog and various literary productions, including fantasy stories, cat biographies or stories (also on other pets – as citizens of the 21^st century  we are  as much interested in other cultures and languages as in “otherworlds”). We all strive to make a living from writing, so SE can stay home with us all the time.

We very much like to hear from you, no matter if you are cat, human or dragon.

Stay tuned  for our “Golden Rules on How to Make Cats Happy”.