Category Archives: Cats around the world

Cats are loved around the world, so join My Kitty Care as we visit cats from a temple in Thailand, or a feral cat in Indonesia.

Kedi cats of Istanbul movie

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Kedi cats of Istanbul

While visiting friends George and Judy in Miami recently, they surprised us with movie tickets: we were going to see Kedi cats of Istanbul movie flyerKedi cats of Istanbul, a documentary which I’d never heard of, but hey…it’s about cats!

 

 

 

This description of the movie is from rottentomatos.com

KEDi is not a documentary about house cats or the strays you occasionally see in your back yard. KEDi is a film about the hundreds of thousands of cats who have roamed the metropolis of Istanbul freely for thousands of years, wandering in and out of people’s lives, impacting them in ways only an animal who lives between the worlds of the wild and the tamed can.

Kedi cats of Instanbul

still from Kedi cats of Istanbul

All four of us loved the movie. Yes, we are also all admitted cat people, and the movie delivered cats, lots of cats. All of them feral cats, and like every cat, they have their various personalities, temperments and breeds. But Kedi cats of Istanbul is even more than that (as if that’s not enough!) it’s about how these cats and people interact, and how those relationships are mutually beneficial; those connections between people and cats profound. Our introduction to each of the cats also reveals a fascinating view of Istanbul itself as we visit numerous neighborhoods. The movie is beautifully shot and well edited – it was the right length (runtime). It’s sweet without being cloying, endearing without being cutsie. This is a wonderful experience for kids and adults alike who love cats and love being reminded about the universal compassion people have – for cats.

Kedi cats of Istanbul

still from Kedi cats of Istanbul

Kedi cats of Istanbul directed by Ceyda Torun, who said

I grew up in Istanbul and I believe my childhood was infinitely less lonesome than it would have been if it weren?t for cats – and I wouldn?t be the person I am today. They were my friends and confidants and I missed their presence in all the other cities I ever lived in. This film is, in many ways, a love letter to those cats and the city, both of which are changing in ways that are unpredictable.

read more Kedifilm.com

Miami Beach Cinemateque

Entrance to Miami Beach Cinemateque
photo by shari smith dunaif ©2017

 

 

The screening was at the fabulous Miami Beach Cinemateque, a wonderful small theater in South Beach

Miami Beach Cinematheque

Miami Beach Cinematheque
photo by shari smith dunaif © 2017

Kedi cats of Istanbul was released in US theaters Feb 10, 2017 Limited screenings
Runtime: 79 minutes
Studio: Oscilloscope Laboratories

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

available to download Kedi cats of Istanbul

Hello Kitty store Taiwan Hello Kitty originated

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Hello Kitty in Taiwan

At the Hello Kitty store Taiwan (airport), Hello Kitty is big business. In fact, the popularity of Hello Kitty has become worldwide. Although Hello Kitty originated in London for the Japanese company Sanrio in 1974.

Hello Kitty store Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport

front of Hello Kitty store at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport
photo by shari smith dunaif © 2016

Hello Kitty is a gijinka, an anthropomorphism or personification of an animal –

white Japanese Bobtail ca

in this case a white Japanese Bobtail cat,

 

 

 

 

with a red bow.

Hello Kitty Travell sign Hello Kitty originated

Hello Kitty with red bow
photo by shari smith dunaif © 2016

 

In 1962, Shintaro Tsuji, founder of Sanrio, began selling rubber sandals with flowers painted on them. He noted that by adding cute designs on the sandals, they sold even better, so he hired illustraters to design Kawaii (a Japanese marketing approach that permeates cuteness into Japanese consumer culture). Sanrio wanted to add to it’s early characters of a dog, a bear and a strawberry (???) for Sanrio’s new product: coin purses. The result was Hello Kitty, designed in 1974 by Yuko Shimizu.

Hello Kitty designer Yuko Shimizu

Yuko Shimizu, original designer of Hello Kitty.

Hello Kitty purses and coin purses, Taiwan Hello Kitty store photo by shari smith dunaif @2016

Hello Kitty’s first appearance on a product, was in Japan on the vinyl coin purse:  she was pictured sitting between a bottle of milk and a goldfish bowl.

She first appeared in the United States in 1976.

Indonesian short tail cat

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short tail cat

I had never seen a cat with a tail like this before, until going to Indonesia. That’s where I saw this black Indonesian short tail cat.

Indonesia curly tail cat

Indonesian short tail cat
photo by shari smith dunaif © 2015

Bali temple cat

Cat in Bali temple photo by shari smith dunaif © 2015

Seems like most cats I’ve seen in Indonesia
were typically mottled

 

 

 

 

 

But this cat was all black, and her tail is short, stubby and the tip is curled.
img_0320

Such a pretty, sweet cat.

img_0323 She looked quite healthy, which is not always the case with cats living in Indonesia. img_0307 She was very friendly and affectionate; and like many cats, she loved to be petted behind her ears.

Indonesia black cat

sweet Indonesia cat
photo by shari smith dunaif © 2016

new Beatrix Potter Kitty-in-Boots tale

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new Kitty-in-Boots tale

Beatrix Potter’s unpublished manuscript was found two years ago by Jo Hanks, who works for the publishing company Penguin Random House, (Children’s department) London. The manuscript is a new Beatrix Potter Kitty-in-Boots tale.
Ms Hanks came across the story of Kitty-in-Boots by chance in 2013 after reading an out-of-print biography of Potter (which may have been Beatrix Potter: A Life in Nature, by Linda Lear). It mentioned a letter Ms. Potter sent to her publisher in 1914, in which she described Kitty-in-Boots adventures, a tale about a “well-behaved prime black Kitty cat, who leads rather a double life” as a crime-fighter.

Kitty-in-Boots by Beatrix Potter

Kitty-in-Boots by Beatrix Potter

But the story was put aside because of various interruptions: the outbreak of World War I; her marriage; illness and a growing interest in farming — which resulted in an unfinished book.

Ms Hunt checked the archives of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London and found three unedited manuscripts of the story, two in children’s school notebooks and one typed, along with a rough sketch of Kitty-in-Boots and the villainous fox Mr Tod. The tale includes Peter Rabbit, one of Potter’s most famous characters, and another Potter favourite, Mrs Tiggy-Winkle.
“The tale really is the best of Beatrix Potter. It has double identities, colourful villains and a number of favourite characters from other tales – most excitingly, Peter Rabbit makes an appearance, albeit older, slower and portlier,” Ms Hanks told The Bookseller.

this is what kitty-in-boots looks like

this is what kitty-in-boots looks like

The Illustrations by Sir Quentin Blake. He was chosen because “he understands the rebelliousness of animal characters and doesn’t patronise children, which was one of Potter’s bugbears”, Ms Hunt said. Sir Blake also illustrated Roald Dahl’s children’s books.

Helen Mirren, British actress

Helen Mirren, British actress

The voice in the audiobook version by Dame Helen Mirren, her first audiobook recording. Scheduled release is September, 2016. The book publisher is Frederick Warne & Co, Potter’s original publisher (part of Penguin Random House Children’s). Expected release also in September, 2016. Both coincide with Beatrix’s Potter 150th anniversary of the year of her birth.

younger portrait Beatrix Potter
Born: July 28, 1866, Kensington, London, United Kingdom
Died: December 22, 1943, Near and Far Sawrey, United Kingdom

 

 

About Australian Mist cats

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About Australian Mist cats

Australian MIst cats are medium size, short haired cats. They were developed in the 1970’s by Australian Dr. Truda Straede. The breed is Australia’s first pedigree cat. The name was changed from “Spotted Mist” to “Australian Mist” in 1998, when cats with marbled coats, rather than spots, were accepted as part of the breed.

Dr. Truda Straede

Dr. Truda Straede with an early Australian spotted cat.

They sport six different beautiful misted color types: warm brown, chocolate, lilac, peach, gold or blue. Also, they can have either of two patterns, spotted or marbled.

spotted pattern Australian mist cat

spotted pattern on an Australian mist cat

marbled pattern Australian mist cat

marbled pattern on an Australian mist cat

Their coat is very short and lacks an undercoat, so they don’t require much brushing. Their fur has three aspects: the ground color, which is paler than the pattern; the pattern; and third, the appearance of wearing a misted veil, caused by random ticking in the solid color areas. The legs and tail are ringed or barred, and the face and neck also have colored  lines.

Burmese cat breed

Burmese cat

 

The Australian Mist was crossed with the loving personality of Burmese, which are typically 8-12 lbs,

 

 

Abyssinian breed cat

Abyssinian cat

 

with the intelligent Abyssinian, which have short-hair, and weigh 6-10 lbs. Abyssinians are known for having large ears.

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Straede added the Australian domestic short-haired tabby, known for their vigor.
Domestic shorthair tabby

 

 

 

 

 

 

Australian Mists have a round head and large eyes. Australian mist cat eyes Their life expectancy is 15-18 years.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Trudeau Straede describes the standard appearance for Australian Mist cats

Temperament

Australian Mists are tolerant of handling and are not inclined to scratch; they usually make wonderful indoor pets. Neutered/spayed Australian Mist cats fit in comfortably with dogs and other cats. As kittens they are lively, mellow when mature. Some Australian Mists can be trained to go for walks on a leash.

Distribution

As a relatively new breed, most Australian Mist catteries are still in Australia; however, there are a few in the UK, and some neutered/spayed cats have been introduced to America and several other countries. Two pregnant queens arrived in the UK in February 2007. In August 2007, they, another unrelated queen, and an imported mature male stud boy, created a colony of over 100 cats within two years. Six more cats were imported to the UK from Australia, with the intent to widen the gene pool and offer healthy and genetically-sound kittens to pet buyers within the UK and the US. Breeding cats have been sent to Norway where two breeders are currently working to get them recognised by FIFE.

Australian mist cat winner

Breed status

The Australian Mist breed is accepted for championship status by the World Cat Federation. It gained preliminary recognition with the UK’s Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF) in October 2011. They were accepted for championship status in TICA (The International Cat Association) In May, 2014. The Australian Mist celebrated 20 years as a championship breed in Australia in 2006.
They are easy to show, as they enjoy the attention. They frequently win Best in Show and Top 10 in Show awards and the breed has a number of Diamond Double Grand Champions and quite a few Nationally Titled Cats. In recent years they have won the coveted All Breeds Supreme in Show awards many times.

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Australian Mist breed council

Australian Mist Cat Society

cats.petbreeds.com

Tica.org

ayudamistaustralianmist.com