Big and Little Cats

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3 Check It Out! 4 Spot the Difference 6 Jack 8 Big Feline Fun Facts 9 Molasses 10 That Domesticated Wild Cat 11 The Hairless Cat 12 The Cat of the House 14 Puzzles 16 Why Do Cats Have Whiskers?

17 Delightful Pixie-Bobs 18 Why Does My Cat Act Crazy?

20 Cat Funnies 21 Max & Gracie 22 Cats in the White House 23 Screams from the Mountain 24 10 Purr-fectly Purr-tinent Facts 26 Chinatown Cat 29 Kids Corner 30 Puzzle Solutions 2

Feline is the name given to cats. There are domesticated cats, which are small and live with us as pets. Wild cats, especially large ones, live in the wild or in a zoo. They do not make good pets.

Which do you like? Perhaps you are a cat owner. Kittens are cute and adorable. Developing a relationship with a young cat is special. You will have a friend for life.

The large wild cat family includes lions, tigers, leopards, jaguars, and cheetahs. They are distantly related to domesticated cats that are pets. The large and small cats have similarities and differences. They all have four toes on their hind feet and five on front. Cats walk on their toes, and their soft pads reduce the sound they make. They all like to rub up against something to mark their territory. Cats are nocturnal, they like to be active at night. They all stalk their prey and then strike with lightning speed, whether it is a big cat with a wild animal or a pet cat with a bird or rodent. They are all independent, like to keep themselves clean, and can be quiet and aloof. But big cats don’t purr, and pet cats can’t roar.

Find a cozy spot to enjoy your cat issue. Maybe your cat will join you. Don’t forget to scratch under its chin. Enjoy learning why your cat acts crazy sometimes and why their whiskers are very important. When finished, send us a picture of you and your cat for a future cat page.

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Can You Spot the Difference?

by Casey Steinhauer

Leopard

Have you ever had a hard time finding one of your friends during a game of Hide-and-Seek at the park? Your friend’s green shirt and brown pants blended with the grass and bark of the tall trees.

They were camouflaged by their surroundings.

Jaguars and leopards are two big cats that use camouflage to hunt in their environments.

They look very similar but live on different continents.

Jaguars are native to South and Central America. They are the third largest cat in the world.

Only the tiger and lion are bigger. Jaguars weigh about 125 to 210 pounds, but some males weigh over 300 pounds. Jaguars aren’t fast runners like cheetahs, so they sneak around their jungle habitat to ambush their prey. They eat animals like deer, turtles, fish, and caimans, a reptile related to alligators. A jaguar’s powerful jaws prevent their catch from escaping. Jaguars also like to hide on the thick branches of a tree then leap down on their unsuspecting prey. Their thick and powerful legs make them great leapers.

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Jaguars have a spot pattern on their body called rosettes. Each spot is shaped like a rose with two dots in the center. Their spotted body helps them blend into their surroundings to hunt their next meal.

Jaguar

Like jaguars, leopards also have a spot pattern on their body. But their rosettes do not have any dots in the middle. Leopards are found in more habitats than any other large cat in the world. They live in forests, grasslands, snowy mountains, rainforests, and other habitats on the continents of Asia and Africa. People who go on safari in these places rarely see leopards because they are experts at hiding during the day. They mostly hunt at night. A leopard’s body is slender compared to the thick body of a jaguar, and their tail is longer too. Adult leopards vary in size. They can weigh 130 to 200 pounds. The larger ones can measure eight feet long. The shade of their coat depends on their habitat. Both leopards and jaguars can have black coats.

Leopards, like jaguars, use surprise attacks from the trees to catch their prey. They also can move quietly through tall grass to sneak up on an animal. To keep their catch from being stolen by another predator, leopards use their strong jaws to drag their prey up into the trees to eat. They will feast on their meal for days. Leopards eat a variety of animals, from insects and rodents to baby giraffes.

Jaguars and leopards are majestic large cats that look and behave in similar ways, but both have unique features that enable them to thrive in their different habitats. Can you spot the difference between the two big cats by looking at the pictures? (If you need help, look for the answer below the pictures.)

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by Mary Ryer • illustrated by Ginny Pruitt • colored by Gaurakisora Tucker Daniel Walters snapped the tail onto the model airplane he was building. Jack, his black and white cat, sat nearby on the kitchen table, poking at loose model pieces with one paw.

“You’re trying to help, right, Jack?” asked Daniel. “I told Dad how smart you are. He thinks cats can’t do anything.”

A rattling noise began outside the old farmhouse.

“That’s Mr. Gilbert’s truck,” Daniel told Jack. Daniel watched through the window as his father put down the boards he’d been carrying and began talking with Mr. Gilbert. Shaking their heads, they examined the empty place on the barn where the door should be. Then Mr. Gilbert climbed back into his truck. As it bumped and squeaked away, Daniel saw his father begin to pace. Daniel ran outside.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

“A mountain lion at the Gilberts’ farm, not an hour ago.”

“Will it come here?” asked Daniel.

“I don’t know, but I’d better put the sheep into the barn right away,” answered Mr. Walters.

“But there’s no door. The mountain lion can walk right in,” said Daniel.

“Not if I’m out here watching,” said Mr. Walters. “They don’t like to be around people.”

Mr. Walters sat for hours on the porch. In the warm summer night, the farm was peaceful. But in the darkest shadow, the mountain lion watched, waiting for the right time.

That time came when Mr. Walters began to nod. In minutes, he was asleep.

Crouching low in the darkness, the mountain lion slipped though the tall grass toward the barn. Daniel’s father didn’t see the big cat leap onto the lowest

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branch of a nearby maple tree. And he didn’t see it creep along that branch – right over the fence that protected the barn.

Inside his room, squeaking and tapping noises woke Daniel. Jack stood at the window, scratching the glass with his front paws.

“Jack, what are you doing?” Daniel asked in the middle of a yawn.

“Rrrooww,” yowled Jack, whipping his tail from side to side.

Daniel walked to the window.

“Rrrooww,” Jack hissed and spat. It didn’t take Daniel long to see that the maple tree had a visitor. He pushed up the window.

“Dad, it’s the mountain lion! It’s near the barn!” he screamed. In seconds, his father was awake and crossing the porch.

“Hey!” he shouted, reaching for the hose.

“Meeeeeoooww.”

Jack’s screeches echoed off the barn. Crouching, the mountain lion turned to face the house.

The first spray of cold water struck the animal on its side. Confused, it backed up. The second shot of water made it leap to the ground and run for safety.

When his father came into the house, Daniel stood near the door holding Jack.

“Is it gone?” Daniel asked.

“It’s gone,” answered Mr. Walters. “But how did you know it was there?”

“Jack woke me up.”

“Hmmmm,” said Mr. Walters, scratching Jack’s neck. “I guess I was wrong. Cats can do a lot more than I thought.”

“See? He is smart,” said Daniel.

“Purrrrr,” said Jack.

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Did you know?

LYNX are easy to identify. These members of the cat family have long tufts of black hair on the tips of their ears. They also have huge paws and a short stubby tail. The lynx has a super sense of smell. It can smell a rabbit that is 1000 feet away! It’s not a very fast cat, so it also relies on its sharp eyesight and good hearing to hunt for prey. Lynx make dens in rock crevices and under ledges.

Did you know?

The beautiful BENGAL TIGER is one large cat! It can grow to be 8 to 11 feet long, nose to tail. Bengal tigers are very strong and muscular. No two tigers have exactly the same stripe pattern. They use their distinctive coat to blend in with their environment as they sneak up close to their prey. Then, they spring! These tigers can eat as much as 60 pounds of meat in one night. Bengal tigers are endangered, and there are many programs in place to protect them.

Did you know?

There is an old saying: A LEOPARD can’t change its spots. And why would it want to? Leopards have gorgeous spotted coats. These spots come in handy. When leopards are lying on tree branches, the spots let leopards blend in with the leaves. Hidden, leopards wait for prey to pass by underneath. Then – pounce! – down they jump.

Leopards like the water and are strong swimmers. They are graceful animals with long tails.

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by Carol S. Was • illustrated by Deborah Wright Molasses the cat is a burnt-sugar brown. He’s looking for something and roaming through town. He slinks into a shoe store. It isn’t in there. He steps into shoes that cats cannot wear. The salesman calls out, “Hello, little guy!” Molasses just looks then leaves with a sigh.

He finds city hall and climbs every stair. Wondering . . . wondering, Where, oh where? Then he slips past the feet of the town’s friendly mayor. “Here, kitty,” she says, bending down on both knees. “Come here, please.” Molasses jumps onto the mayor’s huge chair, but quickly sees that it just isn’t there.

The copy store’s large door mat says WELCOME. Molasses says to himself, Maybe that’s where it is. He finds a machine with the lid opened wide. Then he paws at a button off to the side. A flash underneath takes his picture, just like that. Meow! I’m no copycat! He runs from the store before his copy comes out. He looks for just the right route to take.

He finds his way to Fire Station Number Nine just as the engine is getting a shine. A very large fireman calls, “Here, kitty, kitty!” Molasses can see it isn’t there, either. Oh, what a pity!

Molasses keeps looking as the day wears on. He tries a bike shop, a dry cleaner, and a tanning salon. He peeks inside the ice cream store, wishing and wishing with all his heart. A worker sees that Molasses is alone, so he scoops him some ice cream, minus the cone.

What Molasses wants most can’t seem to be found. Then he notices a child turning around. Finally, finally, she is right here! Jamie comes running, her curly hair bouncing.

She opens her arms and cries, “Molasses, you’re found!” He jumps into her arms with a leap and a bound. She asks, “Where have you been, you silly little kitty?” Molasses just purrs and remembers the city.

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by Jacqueline S. Cotton

H

ave you ever heard of a domesticated wild cat? How can a cat be domesticated and wild at the same time?

Domesticated wild cats do exist! Let’s take a look at one of them – the Savannah cat.

First of all, the Savannah cat is a hybrid, an offspring of two breeds of animals. One of those breeds is a domestic cat.

Can you guess the other breed? Glancing at the Savannah cat, you may think that the other breed is a cheetah, but it’s not.

The other breed is a serval.

What’s a serval? It’s an African wild cat! Like a cheetah, the serval’s fur is covered with spots and stripes. The patterned fur helps the serval blend in with its environment. Although the serval is medium-sized, it has large ears, a long neck, and long legs. The serval uses its amazing leaping abilities to catch small prey, such as rodents, frogs, and birds. When a serval locates prey, this wild cat uses its long legs to leap off the ground. Then it pounces on the prey. The serval can also leap 10 feet off the ground to snatch a bird in the air.

Savannah cat

Look at the picture of the Savannah cat. Does the Savannah cat fit the description of the serval? Do you see the Savannah cat’s patterned fur, large ears, long neck, and long legs? The Savannah cat isn’t the size of a serval, but the Savannah is one large exotic cat. Like the serval, the Savannah cat has the amazing ability to leap high off the ground. In fact, the Savannah cat can leap higher than any domestic cat.

Most states consider Savannah cats to be domesticated and allow people to own them. However, a few states believe Savannah cats are wild animals. They have banned these cats.

These states don’t want to risk the Savannah cats harming people or disrupting the environment.

Like other animals, Savannah cats have their place in the world. Should that place be in homes, zoos, or in the wild?

What do YOU think?

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serval

by Debra Hart

Most people imagine cats as furry, cuddly, and fuzzy pets. However, there is a breed of “hairless” cats called Sphynx cats.

When they are kittens, their skin is wrinkled, saggy, and baggy, like a saggy, baggy elephant. As the Sphynx grows into an adult, its muscular body stretches to fit snuggly into its skin. You’ll still see wrinkles here and there, though.

Their ears, which are oversized and pointy, stand perked at attention. They always seem to be listening so they will not miss a thing that goes on around them. Prominent eyes stare as if they can see right through you, giving the impression they can read your thoughts. Sphynx are well known for their charming and congenial personalities.

Many people who suffer from allergies prefer Sphynx. Since they don’t have fur, and so don’t shed, they are more tolerable to people with allergy problems. Due to their lack of a protective coat, Sphynx must be kept as indoor pets. Their skin is vulnerable to sunburn, injury, and exposure to cold weather. They also require regular bathing in order to keep their delicate skin free of dust, dirt, and oils.

• Sphynx cats aren’t totally hairless. They are covered with very thin, fine hair called down.

• These cats like to keep warm by rubbing up against people and other animals. Because they don’t have fur, their skin is very warm to the touch. Their skin is also very soft.

• Sphynx cats like to play! They are very friendly and don’t keep to themselves like other cats.

• The Sphynx is very energetic and loves to explore around the house.

• This is a new breed of cat. Canadian cat breeders started developing the Sphynx in 1966 while trying to develop a hairless breed of cat.

• The Sphynx is one of the most popular breeds of cats around!

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by Nancy Gustafson • illustrated by Donna Catanese I am the CAT of this house. I have lived here all my life.

My humans call me Chee. They do not know that my real name is Rowrr. I overlook this. They are, after all, only humans. It takes all my energy and determination to see that things go well in this house. I insist on quiet and order at all times. My humans love me and – mostly – follow my rules quite obediently.

Mustache, who is also called Mark or Dad, likes me to jump into his lap in the evening. I have taught him how to scratch behind my ears just so. I purr to show him he’s getting it right.

Quicklady, who is also called Helen or Mom, has been trained to keep my water and food bowls filled. She helps me avoid disorder, though I have not yet convinced her that she should not use the roaring machine to clean floors.

Smallperson, who is also called Tammy or Honey, is not fully trained yet, but is making progress. She has a tendency to be noisy, clumsy, and somewhat presumptuous about thinking herself free to touch me any time she wants. I am instructing her, by example, to learn that silence and grace are best and that when I glare, she is to keep her hands to herself.

The house itself is quite comfortable. Mustache made me a window seat in the dining room so I can spend lazy afternoons napping in the sun. The beds are all comfortable, but I prefer the one in Smallperson’s room, as the blue bedspread contrasts beautifully with my gorgeous white coat. There are numerous hiding places, useful for times when I wish to be alone. The basement is full of interesting smells. One day, if I desire, I may catch a mouse down there.

The backyard belongs to me. It contains a lovely bushy area where I can play jungle games. There is a bird feeder, where birds come to amuse me.

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This is a very pleasant place to live, and I was satisfied until last month. They brought a kitten home. Her name is Merrowl, though the humans call her Sallycat. She is only one third my size, with big amber eyes. Her coat is not properly white like mine, but a light gray. I did not like the smell of her.

I tried to show them that I did NOT approve. They would not heed, so I shunned them for a whole evening.

I went to my hiding place behind the couch and would not come out when they called. If Merrowl looked my way, I gave her my most furious glare.

If she approached me, I hissed. If she came into a room where I was, I chased her out. I did my very best to convince her that she had better leave my house.

Then one day, when all the humans had gone wherever they go, I was going to take a nap on my window seat. There she was, curled up in my sun, sound asleep!

Because she was so small, there was plenty of room on the seat. Choosing to simply ignore her this once, I jumped up

to settle down beside her. When I woke later, her head was against my shoulder, and she was purring. It was rather nice – warm and cozy.

I got up and went for a drink. Naturally, she followed. She must have thought I was ready to accept her. She bumbled over to drink with me out of MY bowl. Well, I couldn’t allow that! I chased her all the way to the bathroom, where she hid behind a toilet.

Thinking that I had put her in her place, I walked down the hall to finish my drink.

Then there she was running behind, trying to chase ME! I ran around the table, then turned and chased HER. Then SHE chased ME back through the house and down the basement stairs. I could easily have outrun her, but I did not exert my full powers in order to let her think she was keeping up. Actually, all that running was rather enjoyable.

The next day we napped together again and had a good run. She thinks I am terribly handsome and wise. Perhaps I shall be able to teach her how to behave correctly. It IS rather nice to have someone around when all the humans are gone.

Tonight I sat in Mustache’s lap and purred.

I looked over and saw Merrowl sitting in Quicklady’s lap. She was purring too.

I am the cat of this house. Merrowl is the kitten.

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by Guy Belleranti

Find your way through the maze by connecting letters to spell, in order, the following amazing domesticated cat breeds: ABYSSINIAN, BURMESE, MAINE COON, MANX, PERSIAN, SIAMESE, SPHYNX. You may move forward, backward, up, or down, but no letter may be connected more than once. Leftover letters can then be written in the blank spaces to spell out seven amazing undomesticated cats.

START A S S I N O R M

B Y G O I B U E

L X U T A N R S

Y O O C R A M E

M N A E N I L A

A J R C L N E R

N X O O I T O D

E P C U E S E S

R A E G M I P P

S I L A A G Y H

N A N S I E N X FINISH

Seven amazing undomesticated cats: _ _ _ _, _ _ _ _ _ _, _ _ _ _ _ _, _ _ _ _ _ _, _ _ _ _, _ _ _ _ _, _______

by David K. Lindo Please read carefully. Find the letters described by the fraction given in each statement. Print the letters you select, in the order provided, into the boxes found below the puzzle.

What did you find? Were you surprised?

What could you call a yellow cat sucking a lemon?

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by Evelyn B. Christensen

A cat’s whiskers help a cat feel its way around and also indicate its mood. But their most important function may be to let a cat know if it can fit through an opening. Because whiskers are about as wide as the cat, they act sort of like a ruler.

Fill in the squares so that each row, column, and 7-square section has the letters W-H-I-S-K-E-R.

I H E R H E K R W K S I W R S H I K S W R W E H S E

The first 1/5 of SWEET The middle 1/2 of FOUL The last 2/5 of SHARP The first 1/7 of UNUSUAL The last 2/5 of CRASS

by Kelly Musselman

Match these cat sayings to what they mean.

1.

Act like the cat that swallowed the canary.

a. to rain very hard

2.

Cat got your tongue?

b. to give a secret away

3.

Curiosity killed the cat.

c. Being too nosy can get you into trouble.

4.

fight like cats and dogs

5.

It’s raining cats and dogs.

6.

let the cat out of the bag

f. When the person in charge is gone, the others will do what they like.

7.

take a catnap

g. Can’t you answer?

8.

When the cat’s away, the mice will play.

h. to have a terrible argument with someone

d. to look as if you are keeping a secret e. to sleep for a short time

More cat sayings . . .

9.

cat burgler

10.

cool cat

j. imitator

11.

copycat

k. “in-style” person

12.

fat cat

l. rich person

13.

scaredy cat

i. frightened person

m. a quiet thief

P T A H W D U

by Francis Wheeler Find the words listed below in the puzzle. The remaining letters spell out the answer to the question.

Answer:

WHAT DID THE FUSSY ANIMAL

TRAINER DEMAND FROM HIS CATS

?

??

___ ___ ___ ___ - ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

F R O M D N R H A N C

I

I

M A

L

D R F M E

A N S T H E C T

E

T

I

O D N

S R F U S S

Y 15

Cats’ whiskers are long and stiff. They stick out from just under their noses. ALL cats, big and small, have them, including lions, tigers, leopards, and house cats. Lots of other animals have whiskers too. Why? What do whiskers do?

Suppose you wake up in the middle of a dark night, and you have to move around your room. You don’t want to bump into anything. What do you do? You hold out your hands and spread out your fingers. Your fingers will FEEL anything you don’t want to bump into. Cats and many other animals don’t have hands and fingers. But their whiskers help them the same way!

What You Need: • your head and your hair • a friend to help you

What You Do Sit in a chair and close your eyes. Ask your friend to LIGHTLY touch your hair ANYWHERE on the top of your head. The moment your friend touches your hair, you will FEEL it. Ask your friend to touch your hair in different places. You will ALWAYS know where.

Your hair is like a cat’s whiskers!

The Science Secret In your scalp, at the bottom of each hair, is a tiny nerve. Nerves act like electric switches. When a hair is touched, the nerve “turns on” and sends your brain a message. It tells you the hair has been touched. When you comb your hair, nerves send messages to your brain every time the comb passes over your hair.

Because cats don’t have fingers to feel with, they use their whiskers instead. Whiskers are really just long specialized hairs. As cats move around, they turn their heads back and forth. If their whiskers touch something, their nerves tell their brains to “watch out.” Cats have whiskers in other places, too, like above their eyes and on their chins!

Cats have longer whiskers under their noses than many animals because they like to prowl around at night.

When their eyes can’t see, their whiskers “see” for them!

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by Melissa Cassel Pixie-Bobs are a newer breed of cat, first bred in the northwestern United States. They are sometimes mistaken for a bobcat. Pixie-Bobs have bobcat heritage, so this is an easy mistake to make. But bobcats and Pixie-Bobs are two different breeds of cats.

What Do Pixie-Bobs Look Like?

They are medium- to large-sized cats. The males are usually larger than the females. These cats are muscular, with long legs. The hind legs are longer than the front ones. Pixie-Bobs have big paws with long, thick toes. Some Pixie-Bobs have extra toes – as many as six or seven on each foot! These cats have short bobbed tails.

A Pixie-Bob’s face is shaped like an upsidedown pear and resembles a bobcat’s face. The Pixie-Bob has a fleshy chin, a puffy nose, and triangular eyes. Their eyes can be golden brown or green.

What Is Their Fur Like?

Pixie-Bobs have a thick double coat. They can have either short or long hair. The fur on short-haired cats has a wool-like texture. The fur on a long-haired cat is silky and needs weekly brushing to remove loose hair and

prevent hairballs. Most Pixie-Bobs look like a tabby cat with spotted fur that ranges in shades from tawny to reddish-brown.

This cat’s facial hair grows downward, making it look as if it has sideburns. Many of the cats have hair on the tips of their ears, like a lynx.

Do Pixie-Bobs Make Good Pets?

This very calm cat makes a delightful pet. They love their family members and will communicate with them through chirps and chortles. Many Pixie-Bobs meow only once in a while. They are very loyal and intelligent. PixieBobs can even learn to walk on a leash and fetch a ball!

How Did Pixie-Bobs Get Their Name?

Carol Ann Brewer, the founder of this cat breed, owned a short-tailed female cat named Pixie. Pixie had a muted spotted coat and looked different from other cats. Ms. Brewer wanted more cats like Pixie, so she began a breeding program and called the new breed Pixie-Bobs.

If you love cats, think about getting a unique Pixie-Bob.

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by Kelly Musselman

ere or dig her th t o n ’s at th g in h et e a cat stare at som ed ch at w g bread? There ar er in d ev ea u kn yo e er w Have e sh if t over and over as me of the crazy so e ar e er H . es o paws into a blanke d it y a cat acts the way h w r fo s n o as re d goo em. reasons they do th e th d an o d ts ca things

Why does my cat “knead” the blanket or my lap?

This goes back to a cat’s kittenhood. The kneading action of its paws against its mother’s belly makes the milk flow. When a cat “kneads” against you or a blanket, it’s thinking back to the comforting times of being close to mama kitty. Take it as a compliment. It means your cat is content!

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Why does my cat rub on my ankles and against the furniture?

By rubbing its head, tail, and body against you or the couch, your cat is “marking” you and your belongings.

Special glands located on its face, under its mouth, and at the base of the tail leave scent markers saying This is mine to other animals.

Why does my cat scratch things?

Clawing has three purposes in a cat. The first is to condition the claws. Another is to allow the cat to stretch its muscles. The third is another way of marking territory. Besides being a visual sign, glands in the paw pads leave a scent for other cats. The message is: Fluffy was here, so back off.

Why do my cat’s eyes glow?

A cat can see much better than we can because of a special structure at the back of its eyes that reflects light.

This is what makes their eyes appear to glow when a light is flashed into them at night.

Why does my cat open its mouth when it smells something strange?

A cat opens its mouth in a sort of grimace to help it identify the odor of another feline. A special device in the roof of its mouth, called the Jacobson’s organ, allows a cat to “smell” by sending chemical information to the brain.

Why does my cat purr?

No one knows the answer to this one for sure. It is thought purring is used as a form of communication. Baby kittens will purr to tell their siblings it’s time for dinner. And mama cat will purr while nursing them, perhaps to reassure them that she is there.

Kittens follow the purr’s vibrations, as they cannot see or hear for 10 days after birth.

Purring is usually a sign of contentment in a cat, but it may also purr when sick or injured.

Why does my cat bring me icky dead animals?

Hunting is instinctive for most cats, though many don’t eat the prey they catch. When a cat brings you a mouse or bird it has caught, it’s saying, Here, I brought you a gift of food in case you’re hungry. It’s a cat’s way of helping out around the house.

To halt kitty’s hunting hobby, keep her indoors, away from wildlife.

Why does my cat stare straight ahead at things that aren’t there?

Actually, there is something there. You just can’t see it. Cats can see six times better than we can in dim light.

Also, a cat may be hearing something you can’t hear. Cats can hear sounds at frequencies three times higher than humans, so they may be listening to a mouse hidden in floorboards when it looks as if they’re just staring at the wall!

Why does my kitty lick herself?

A cat licks its fur to groom itself. Its rough, bumpy tongue is the perfect tool for the job. It pulls up loose hair, which kitty then swallows and sometimes regurgitates as a furball. Cats also cool their bodies by licking because they can’t sweat as people do.

Why does my cat sometimes eat grass?

Cats are carnivorous and are happiest and healthiest eating meat. Still, some housecats do get an occasional craving for grass or even vegetables. It’s thought they munch on green stuff as a way of adding missing vitamins to their diet. This doesn’t mean they are sick, even though they will often spit up grass with a hairball after eating it.

Even with these peculiar habits explained, cats still remain mysterious and magical creatures. And that’s just the way they like it!

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“It just seems a little strange eating cat food that has catfish in it.”

by Brandon Fall

by ZASA

Finally, something we can both agree on.

by David Sung

by Bill & Bob Thomas

“I’ve got five families convinced that I’m their cat.

I get fed ten times a day!”

What’s a cat’s favorite color? purrrrrple What do you give a cat for its birthday? purrrfume

by B&B Thomas

by Linda Bozzo

What do cats like to eat for breakfast? mice crispies

by Jerry Kern

by ZASA

“Difficult, maybe, but not impossible.”

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“Copycat.”

“You should see the size of this hairball.”

Portland, OR 10:03 AM

There’s a spring in my step and it’s not only because spring is on the way!

Max and Gracie and their owners, Linda, Craig, and their sevenyear-old son, Ed, are driving the back roads of America. Perhaps you have seen Max and Gracie with their heads out the window.

If not, here is a letter describing their most recent adventure.

Gracie and I have BIG news.

We’re moving into a forever home with Craig, Linda, and Ed. Woo-hoo! Linda was hired as a third-grade teacher, so we’re going to stay right here in Portland, Oregon. Sure, we’ll miss riding in the van and seeing this great country, but we’re excited to make new forever friends.

Though I must admit, Gracie’s a little upset with me because I decided to stop writing. She doesn’t understand why I can’t continue to write, but how can I? Between walking Linda and Ed to and from school, checking out the neighborhood to keep it safe from squirrels, and making friends at the park, there won’t be time.

The good news is I’m turning over the writing to Cowboy Clark and Larry. Who are they? You’ll find out soon enough. Let’s just say they have some colorful tales to share, and most center around a neighborhood cat, Mrs. Whiskers, who’s always up for a good prank.

We loved sharing our adventures on the road with you. Though it’s time for us to turn this over to Cowboy Clark and Larry, we remain your forever friends!

Big hugs!

We’ll see you in the next issue!

Max

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by M. Elizabeth Gage

Did you know the first Siamese cat to ever put a paw down in the United States lived in the White House?

She belonged to Lucy Webb Hayes, the wife of 19th US president Rutherford B. Hayes (1877-1881). David Sickels, a US diplomat in Siam (now called Thailand), sent the little kitty halfway around the world to the First Lady.

Siam, a Siamese cat much like this one, was allowed to roam around the White House.

“I am informed,” he wrote to Mrs. Hayes on November 1, 1878, “that this is the first attempt ever made to send a Siamese cat to America.”

The slender blue-eyed regal feline, which the First Lady named Siam, was soon the star attraction at Mrs. Hayes’s parties. The President’s daughter, Fanny, adored the White House’s new purr-fect pet.

While Siam was the first of her kind to live in the White House, she wasn’t the original First Feline. That honor goes to two tiger cubs given to the 8th US president, Martin Van Buren (1837-1841). Presidents often receive gifts from foreign dignitaries and other heads of state.

The Sultan of Oman sent the tigers. President Van Buren was smitten with his new pets, but Congress also had their eyes on the tigers. They told the president the cubs belonged to the American people. President Van Buren disagreed. He argued that the tigers were sent to the president, and he was the president. In the end, Congress won that cat spat. They sent the tigers to the zoo.

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Miss Siam and the tiger cubs win top prizes for firstof-their-kind First Felines, but 16th US president Abraham Lincoln’s cat, named Tabby, takes honorable mention. Mr. Lincoln once fed the White House’s first domestic cat from a golden fork at a formal White House dinner. Mrs. Lincoln found that a-paw-ling!

Tabby cats are easy to identify. Just look for the “M” on its forehead!

Tiger cubs grow quickly. Imagine grown tigers living in the White House!

by Lisa Hart Don’t let her throaty purrs fool you. She can pierce the night with a terrifying scream that will prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that this is no pampered house cat.

What do the words puma, mountain lion, and panther have in common? They all are names for the largest of all North American cats, the cougar. A cougar stands two feet tall at her shoulders and averages 150 pounds when full grown. That’s 15 times the size of a house cat! Her heavy tail makes up about a third of her body length. Dozing on a flat rock, the sun glistening off her sleek, grayish-brown coat, she is not as tame or as gentle as she appears.

Each night, this lone hunter covers up to 20 miles in search of deer, rabbits, and other large and small animals that make up her diet. Cougars are good swimmers and climbers. Her powerful legs easily propel her over a distance the length of two cars in a single bound. She can spring up into a tree for an ambush or drop a distance 30 times her own height without injury.

Cougars have been hunted for sport and by farmers protecting their animals. But these naturally people-shy cats seldom risk coming close enough to human settlement to raid livestock.

They prefer to stay hidden.

The house cat has found its place in our world. Can we offer the cougar this same security before the mountains become silent?

BRINGING UP BABY Tucked away in her den between the rocks, a cougar nurses her new family. The average litter has three or four kittens. Wrapped in a soft spotted coat, each bundle is about 12 inches long and weighs about one pound.

The kittens will be eight to nine days old before their eyes open for their first glimpse of the world. After 18 to 19 days, their first tooth appears. When they are around six weeks old, they are ready for their first taste of meat. At six months, their spots begin to fade.

Kittens depend on their mother to teach them, so they will stay with her until they are one to two years old.

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24

Cats are either right-pawed or left-pawed.

A lion’s mane makes it look bigger and more intimidating, although females do most of the hunting.

The Siberian tiger is the biggest cat, stretching up to 13 feet.

The cheetah is the only member of the cat family without retractable claws.

Leopards are good tree climbers and like to rest on tree branches during the day.

Most black cats have gold eyes as adults.

Cats and humans have lived together for over 5000 years.

Thousands of cat mummies have been found in ancient Egyptian tombs.

Jaguars are only found in the Americas, including some parts of the United States.

Cats do not meow at other cats, only at humans.

25

by Nancy Kopp • illustrated by Jane Bodnar colored by Gaurakisora Tucker

Ling Po had a black-and-white colored cat. Not a very pretty one at that. Near a window, he oft slept by day. Nights, he went out and far away.

Where in Chinatown did he go? Ling Po really wanted to know. Night after night Cat went, as if on a mission he’d been sent.

One warm and moonlit night, Ling Po followed on Cat’s right. Cat slid by cans for trash. Then Ling Po padded softly past. He stayed a bit behind, while Cat continued down the line. Cat didn’t even seem to slow when sirens began to blow.

26

On through dark and eerie streets, master and pet moved on silent feet. Farther and farther, past store upon store, Ling Po could not take much more!

Now, beyond temple and pagoda, this Chinatown boy needed a soda.

Then Cat stopped, looking all around, and crouched down close to the ground.

He lay there, green eyes peering at an ancient man now nearing.

“There you are, my friend,” he fretted. “Come close to be petted.”

Ling Po waited behind a parked car. Was this the reason they’d come so far? The Old One bent, pigtail swinging. From Cat’s throat, a purr like singing.

...continued

27

Now Cat belonged to the pair. For Ling Po knew he would share this cat, who loved young and old and was surely worth his weight in gold.

With patience, Ling Po watched the two. No more than that could he do. This special pet gave love and joy to both the Old One and the boy.

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Hey, Kids!

We hope you liked this issue all about big and little cats. Send in photos of you and your pet cat!

Also, send us your stories, photos, drawings, poems, and jokes & riddles for publication. We can’t wait to see what you send in!

EMAIL TO: kidscorner@funforkidz.com I made these last year, when I was 9.

Zander Stateler

OR MAIL TO: Kids Corner, PO Box 227 Bluffton, OH 45817-0227

Dear Ziggy, I wanted everybody to see this.

My family stayed in a hotel in Evanston, IL, and I took a picture of this stuffed cat that was in the lobby.

It’s a lynx! It was really cool.

Gannett Gerhart, age 11

ATTENTION READERS!

Write to Ziggy, the Fun For Kidz dog. You see him on every cover of the magazine. He is the “Z” in Fun For Kidz. Ziggy has ears, eyes, a nose, a mustache over his mouth, and a tail. If you write to Ziggy, he will write back to you! Send letters to: Fun For Kidz Attn. Ziggy PO Box 227 Bluffton, OH 45817-0227

Dear Ziggy, What have you been doing? In school, I am in the chess club. It’s a lot of fun!

There are 24 students in the club. That’s a lot! I want to learn sign language.

Maybe that’s an idea for your magazine.

Your #1 fan, Marie Rowell

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You asked about training animals. I trained my dog to do a dance whenever I gave him a treat. It was funny. I liked everything in the Animal Training issue (Nov./Dec. 2019).

Bye, Nathan Herschall

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A-Maze-ing Cats on page 14

START A S S I N O R M

B Y G O I B U E

L X U T A N R S

Y O O C R A M E

M N A E N I L A

A J R C L N E R

N X O O I T O D

E P C U E S E S

R A E G M I P P

S I L A A G Y H

N A N S I E N X FINISH

Seven amazing undomesticated cats:

LYNX, JAGUAR, OCELOT, COUGAR, LION, TIGER, LEOPARD Whisker Sudoku on page 14

E K W I W R H K H W I E K E S R E R S K H K S I E W W I H R S S I R H

H R E S S K I W W I R H K E

Fraction-nition on page 14 What could you call a yellow cat sucking a lemon?

SOURPUSS Catty Expressions on page 15

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1. d 2. g 3. c 4. h 5. a 6. b 7. e

8. f 9. m 10. k 11. j 12. l 13. i

Word Find on page 15

P T A H W D U F R O M D N R H A N C

I

I

M A

L

D R F M E

A N S T H E C T

E

T

I

O D N

S R F U S S

Y

Answer:

PURR-FECTION Photo Credits: Via Wikimedia Commons: Namibie Etosha Leopard: Patrick Giraud [CC BY-SA 3.0] 4 (leopard); Benh LIEU SONG from Torcy, France [CC BY-SA 2.0] 4 (background); Melanie Dinane [CC BY-SA 4.0] 5 (background); Tony Hisgett from Birmingham, UK [CC BY 2.0] 8 (top); ninara [CC BY 2.0] 8 (middle); Domenico Salvagnin from Legnaro, Italy [CC BY 2.0] 8 (bottom); Cat Survival Trust Leptailurus serval: Graham Dean from Rayleigh, England [CC BY 2.0] 10 (bottom); Desaix83, d’après le travail d’Heikki Siltala [CC BY 3.0] 11; Domenico Salvagnin from Legnaro, Italy [CC BY 2.0] 18 (top); Dwight Sipler from Stow, MA, USA [CC BY 2.0] 18 (bottom); Jcrogers87 NC (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0] 19 (middle); Dwight Sipler from Stow, MA, USA [CC BY 2.0] 19 (bottom).

From 123RF.COM: ©[imagesource]/123RF.COM 3; ©[Nynke Van Holten]/123RF.COM 17.

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V i s i t U s O n l i n e ! F a c e b o o k . c o m / F u n F o r K i d z • w w w. F u n F o r K i d z . c o m Vol. 19 No. 2 • MAR/APR 2020 Publisher: Thomas M. Edwards Editor: Marilyn Edwards Associate Editor: Diane Winebar Graphic Design: Gaurakisora Tucker Marketing Director: Jonathan Edwards

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Co. All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be Science Illustrator: Alan Wassilak reproduced without the written permission of the publisher. Attention Readers: Send in your letters, short stories, Riding ... with Max & Gracie Editor: Lisa Rehfuss FUN FOR KIDZ™, and the FUN FOR KIDZ logo™, are trademarks poems, jokes & riddles, and drawings for publication. Send to: of FUN FOR KIDZ, The Bluffton News Publishing and Printing Co. Kids Corner, PO Box 227, Bluffton, OH 45817.

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