Domestic Shorthair, Missy-HAIL QUEEN SPUNKY #161265, QUEEN OF MAY!

My Cat Blog

~Queen Trixie's Tantalizing Animal Tales~April 4th
Good morning from the imperial cabin in the woods of Northern Indiana! It’s still a very chilly morning with temps below freezing but it’s supposed to be warming up nicely later with highs topping out in the mid to upper 50s. That means we can put away the winter woolies & just wear a jacket or sweatshirt if you’d like to go exploring today…woohoo! Just what is there to explore around here? LOTS!! We don’t have just corn & bean fields…MOL! We take pride in our heritage, and we cherish our Midwest traditions, our Hoosier hospitality and our hard-working Heartland values. You’ll cherish them too as you wander down quaint downtowns that retain the charm of a simpler time. You’ll be inspired by the faith that led to the founding of Notre Dame in 1842 & the simple courage that brought the first Amish settlers in 1844. We also take pride in the dedication of the largest remaining mounted cavalry unit in the United States, the ingenuity that led Orville Redenbacher (born in Brazil, IN) to launch his first gourmet popcorn product in 1971, the creativity of the Garfield creator Jim Davis (born in Marion, IN) & the determination of the farmers that have worked this land for generations. You’ll discover a myriad of activities and delightful secrets throughout the seven counties found in northern Indiana (http://www.northernindianagetaways.com) so take some time to explore the wonders & you’ll understand why I’ve chosen a cabin as my royal abode instead of a damp, cold castle…MOL!

Now that I’ve peaked your curiosity (MOL) I’m going to spin you all the way back to California to meow about a very special & heroic bird that was owned by SABRINA’s #11187 mom a long time ago, (B.C. before cats)! OBIE was just a common yellow parakeet but he was very special and spoke 3 languages...English, Italian and Spanish. Obie lived in a cage in the living room but he liked to stand on top of the cage, on mom’s shoulder, or flew around during the time he was out every day…but never leaving the room. One day, his mom reached into the top cupboard to pull out a crock pot and lost her grip and it came crashing down on her head. She’d never in my life experienced this sensation & truly saw stars and felt herself losing consciousness. All of sudden, Obie flew into the room and landed on her shoulder and started chirping "pretty bird", "Ciao Bella", "Que Paso" into her ear as she gripped the countertop. (Obie never had been in the kitchen before and it was a completely separate room as the living room) She later went to the emergency room & found out she had a concussion. She believes Obie & his act of heroism prevented her from being knocked out cold that day.
I proclaim & dedicate the royal calico crest for gallantry today to sweet OBIE the parakeet & special thanks to Sabrina for sharing her story! Have a pawsome day dear furiends & remember to pounce by with vote support for COTM candidate SPUNKY #161265!

Soft purrs & loving hugs,
Queen Trixie

Come visit me, Q Trixie~Hail to Queen Spunky#161265~, Fluffinella-PLZ vote Whiskers #227256 COTM, Joseph-PLZ vote WHISKERS #227256 daily in May!, Angel Sherman, K Zaboo-PLZ vote Whiskers #227256 for COTM !, Angel Cloudy loves Angel Oscar, Special Memories page & Patches~PLZ vote WHISKERS #227256 daily in May~.

04/04/2013 07:29.10 AM

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Queen Trixie's Tantalizing Animal Tales
Good Morning dear furiends! Thank you for stopping by with your sweet catgrats yesterday as I was officially pictured as the COTM queen! I’m going to step aside for just a moment to let yesterday’s birthday girl (Patches) meow while I warm up by the fire since it’s a very chilly day in the woods! If you plan on hiking, fishing, or sightseeing today please dress warmly because we’re only supposed to reach the mid 40’s…but we do have lots of sunshine to help warm your fur. Now I’ll let big sis meow….

~Thankful purrs from Patches~
I want to thank all of you for the lovely gifts, sweet hugs & kisses..& most of all the visits you made on my birthday yesterday. It’s always great to see so many of you come by on special days because it makes it a lot more special & also make me purr with sincere happiness. Thank you so much for sharing my birthday with me dear furiends but now I’d better get back to the kitchen so her royal highness can have her daily catnip tarts or she’ll throw a hissing fit…MOL! Have a purrfect day dear furiends!
Big paw hugs,
Patches

Hmmm…I think my big sis just got a quick jab in at my demanding catitude along with thank you meows...MOL! Today I’m bringing you a heroic story that is on the freekibble site after you answer the cat trivia. No pic today though since it wouldn’t let me copy it.
~SOLDIER AND CAT SAVE EACH OTHER IN AFGHANISTAN~
Stationed in an Army base in southern Afghanistan, Sgt. Knott noticed one day that a feral cat who roamed around the base was limping and bleeding heavily. He lured the cat into his office with a piece of steak and spent the next seven months caring for the cat he named Koshka. The two bonded quickly. Sgt. Knott nursed Koshka back to health, while Koshka comforted Sgt. Knott during the certain danger and emotional toll of war. When it was time for Sgt. Knott to return to the states, he wouldn’t leave Koshka behind. He explained to KPTV how he worked with a local Afghan interpreter who agreed to, in an extremely risky transport, take Koshka to Kabul. Weeks later Sgt. Knott learned that the cat (and his Afghan chaperone) made it safely across “God knows how many Taliban check points,” to Kabul, where Koshka boarded a plane bound for the states. The $3,000 Sgt. Knott’s family forked over to fly the cat home was worth every penny, they said. While Sgt. Knott is currently stationed in Washington state, Koshka is now safe at home with Sgt. Knott’s parents until the pair can be together again. The Oregon Humane Society recently honored Sgt. Knott and Koshka with a 2013 Diamond Collar Hero award for their incredible story of friendship.

Thank you for your sweet & generous support dear furiends & don’t forget to pounce over to vote daily for beautiful SPUNKY #161265 so she can wear the crown next month! Have a purrfect day!

Loving purrs & hugs,
Queen Trixie

04/02/2013 09:04.48 AM

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~Trixie's Tantalizing Animal Tales~ March 31st
Thank you for pouncing by to paw me a vote yesterday & HAPPY EASTER!!!!
WOW…that was a pawsome time at the San Diego Zoo yesterday & Anthony’s Star of the Sea restaurant was a delightful & beautiful ending to the day’s activities! Thanks to our beautiful CA hostess Sabrina we also got to meet COTM hopeful SPUNKY #161265 & her sisters too because they also live in the area! Please give her the same outstanding support you’ve shown me this month on her quest for the May crown!
Well kitties, how did you enjoy the Purring Parrot avian & feline resort? Did you explore them thoroughly this morning when you woke up? If you didn’t then you’d better look again because the Easter bunny was busy during the night & hid eggs with kitty treasure inside all around…MOL! I found three & Fluffers found 2 so we’re enjoying the fresh catnip, tuna treats, & tiny rabbit cookies we found inside of ours while we hunt for more!
(http://www.thepurringparrot.com) Didn’t you just love how they could connect our themed suites with kitty walk through areas so we could see each other whenever we wanted? (Check out all their suites at their website to be truly amazed!) And the complimentary tissue paper amenity…truly the most pawtastic thing I’ve ever seen during any of our hotel stays this month! Oh…I do ask that some of you please help clean up the confetti we created though so we don’t leave them with a bad impression of CC kitties…MOL! Ahhh…I hate to leave the luxury of this hotel with its designer furnishings designer litter boxes, mats, food bowls, “Drinkwell” pet fountains, cat lounging trees, kitty beds, simple toys, cat nip/grass for nibbles, housekeeping twice daily, and a kitty turndown service. This is what I call royal treatment of guests! The best part though had to be that each room had its own "mouse on a string" butler, which each kitty could treat as kitty pleases. Okay…it is pawsitively official…I feel completely spoiled…MOL! Unfortunately it’s time to pack our bags & head to the airport for our flight home so I can get ready for the coronation this afternoon at 3pm ET.
I know that many of you have other obligations to fulfill on this blessed Easter holiday so can’t attend but I know I’ll feel your spirits there with me as Queen Josie Mae #193862 places the crown on my nervous brow. After I post my portion of the ceremony I too must depart the festivities so mom can continue cooking their Easter dinner, plus I’ll be anxiously waiting for the midnight hour to strike to make sure I’m ‘official’. Thank you SO much for coming by each day with your sweet comments & special thanks for those noteworthy kitties that also helped add a little more zest to some of my daily blogs…MOL! Have a beautiful & blessed Easter dear furiends for it’s time to look to new beginnings & rebirth & this calico cyclone will do her best to help it along next month!

Peep filled vote & whisker tickles,
Trixie

03/31/2013 07:37.16 AM

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~Trixie's Tantalizing Animal Tales~ March 30th
~PLEASE VOTE COTD FOR LUCY #199700 TO HONOR HER BELOVED MOM’S CROSSING ON MARCH 1ST~
The sky is still dark as the kitties gather at the airport, wave good-by to their parents, & climb aboard the plane. Trixie is already aboard with her kitty sibs & as soon as everyone takes a seat & buckles in, they lift off. The pilots for our trip this week are Whiskers & Pete plus we also have the pleasure of Boo Kitty & our new kitty friend Armani as the flight attendants. We’ll be met at our destination by my dear friend Sabrina so she can show us around her city & take us to an urban paradise I know we’ll love! We’re heading toward the Golden State sweet kitties…straight to southern California & the famous SAN DIEGO ZOO!” We’ll spend the day monkeying around in the tropical oasis as we visit amazing habitats for animals such as gorillas, tigers, sun bears, flamingos, mandrills, polar bears, birds of paradise, giant tortoises, leopards… and more! We can take a Panda Trek to visit the giant pandas and other animals that share their bamboo forest habitat, go back in time through Elephant Odyssey to discover what animals used to roam Southern California & see a herd of Asian elephants. We can also enjoy a guided tour on a double-decker bus or an aerial view from Skyfari, plus we can dine in the peaceful surroundings of Albert’s Restaurant & see animals up close in the Children's Zoo. It will be great to discover the wonders of wildlife with animal encounters, interactive experiences, & keeper presentations! A leader in animal care and conservation, the San Diego Zoo is at the heart of the San Diego experience. Founded in 1916, the Zoo has been an icon in San Diego for nearly 100 years & is open 365 days a year. Located adjacent to downtown San Diego in Balboa Park, the Zoo is 100 acres in size and is home to more than 4,000 animals representing more than 800 species from around the world. The Zoo will be a unique walking experience that exhibits animals in the most natural way possible, adding shows & animal presentations throughout the day for additional enjoyment. The San Diego Zoo also offers a variety of education programs & tons of other fun things! We’ll be arriving when it opens & will stay until it closes at 7pmPT! After we leave Sabrina has recommended Anthony’s Star of the Sea for our dining pleasure. It’s perched over the sparkling waters of San Diego Bay & should have that soothing sleepy atmosphere we’ll need so we can make it back home to get ready for the coronation ceremony at 3pmET (noon PT) tomorrow. Buckle back up kitties because we’re landing. We’ll take our bags to the Purring Parrot Avian & Feline Resort before we head to the zoo so I’ll tell you more about it tomorrow before the coronation, but do have space to meow…THANK YOU FOR ACCOMPANYING ME ON MY FINAL CATPAIGN ZOO TRIP DEAR FURIENDS & FOR THE FANTASTIC VOTE SUPPORT!

Excited purrs,
Trixie

03/30/2013 07:24.50 AM

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~Trixie's Tantalizing Animal Tales~ March 29th
I’m on the final lap of my catpaign sweet kitty furiends yet my cyclonic spins are still going strong thanks to your loving & generous support! Thank you for pouncing by with your comments on the critically endangered animals I presented yesterday plus the votes you pawed my way!! Today I’ll wrap up the top 5 list of these beautiful creatures that inhabit our planet that could use help to save their species & don’t forget that you can see their pics in my gallery!
~JAVAN RHINOS~
Javan rhinos were killed by trophy hunters during colonial times. They were also killed as agricultural pests and for their horn, a highly prized commodity in traditional Asian medicine. Indonesia is home to the only population of Javan rhinos left on the planet. Only about 40 of these rhinos exist there, making the Javan rhino one of the rarest mammals in the world. The population in Ujung Kulon National Park represents the only hope for the survival of a species that is on the brink of extinction. Until the late 19th century and early 20th century, Javan rhinos existed from northeast India and the Sunderbans , throughout mainland Southeast Asia, and on the island of Sumatra. If we lose the population in Java, the entire species will disappear.
~HAWKSBILL TURTLE~
Hawksbills are named for their narrow, pointed beak. They also have a distinctive pattern of overlapping scales on their shells that form a serrated-look on the edges. These colored and patterned shells make them highly-valuable and commonly sold as "tortoiseshell" in markets. Hawksbills help maintain the health of coral reefs. As they remove prey such as sponges from the reef's surface, they provide better access for reef fish to feed. Like other marine turtles, hawksbills are threatened by the loss of nesting and feeding habitats, excessive egg-collection, fishery-related mortality, pollution, and coastal development. However, they are most threatened by illegal wildlife trade.
~VAQUITA~
Vaquitas are most often found close to shore in the Gulf's shallow waters, although they quickly swim away if a boat approaches. Rare and elusive, this little porpoise wasn't discovered until 1958 & little is actually known about them. Vaquitas have natural predators such as sharks, but their main threat is from the fishing industry. They often die after being caught in gillnets, a problem known as bycatch. The Vaquita is the most endangered cetacean in the world with fewer than 200 left & the species may go extinct without further protective measures.
Okay kitties…that’s a wrap on all of my animal series for my catpaign. Now that I’m finished I want all of you to head home & pack an overnight bag because we’ll be flying out bright & early tomorrow morning for our next zoo tour & will be staying overnight again! Thank you for helping me on my quest for the April crown dear furiends! Have a pawtastic Friday & I’ll see you in the morning!

Soft purrs & a chicken strip filled vote,
Trixie

03/29/2013 08:59.46 AM

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~Trixie's Tantalizing Animal Tales~ March 28th
~Shout-out voting for MANCHESTER #76627 TODAY~
WOW…this month has flown by faster than I’d ever imagined! Thank you dear furiends for supporting me by pouncing by with your votes & wonderful comments each day! Queen Josie Mae & I have decided that we’ll have the coronation at 3pmET (noon PT) on Easter Sunday, which should fall in between most church services & also won’t interfere with our queen’s secretary’s work schedule the following day. Please plan to attend this gala event but please dress casual because we’ll be having the ceremony outside since we’re both country girls!
Okay sweet kitties…Today & tomorrow I’ll be meowing to you about the 5 most critically endangered species of animals on earth to wrap up my catpaign & you can see their pics in my gallery. These creatures can use all the help they can get to preserve their way of life so they can continue to grace our planet with their presence. Please note that the WWF (World Wildlife Fund) has sponsored many animals in over 100 countries for nearly half a century & gladly accepts donations for specific species if you want to help (worldwildlife.org). WWF fights to secure a future for animals on the planet we all share but their work is far from done, and WWF constantly strives to protect the species we all care about.
~LEATHERBACK TURTLE~
Leatherback turtles are named for their shell, which is leather-like rather than hard like other turtles. They are the largest marine turtle species and also one of the most migratory, crossing both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Although their distribution is wide, numbers of leatherback turtles have seriously declined during the last century as a result of intense egg collection and fisheries bycatch. Though the species has survived for over 100 million years, these marine turtles are now on the brink of extinction because many of their offspring won't be able to reach maturity due to numerous threats including fishing practices and pollution.
~MAGELLANIC PENGUIN~
Penguins are a family of 17 to 19 species of birds that live primarily in the Southern Hemisphere. They include the tiny blue penguins of Australia and New Zealand, the majestic emperor penguins of Antarctica and king penguins found on many sub- Antarctic islands, the endangered African penguin and the Galápagos penguin—the only penguin to be found north of the equator. Climate change is again the reason why this species is threatened to disappear. The migration of fish caused by warming currents makes it harder for them to find food and could result in the extinction of the Magellanic penguin. The Antarctic Peninsula, where half of the world’s emperor penguins and 70% of the Adelie penguins can be found, is heating up faster than the global average and melting the sea ice that the penguins depend on for places to breed and access to food.
Thank you for your loving support of my COTM catpaign dear friends!!

Gentle hugs & a catnip filled vote,
TRIXIE

03/28/2013 07:14.15 AM

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~Trixie's Tantalizing Animal Tales~ March 27th
~Visit & vote for OLLIE #211317 today as he celebrates his adopty day!~
Happy hump day everyone & thank you for your visits, comments & votes you pawed my way yesterday! Fasten your seat belts kitties (MOL) because there will be a strategic bump & hairpin turn in the campaign trail today as I navigate away from the lane of recently discovered species into the realm of the recently extinct, which will then carry me into the courtyard of some of the most endangered animals on our planet starting tomorrow to wind things up before our final campaign zoo trip this weekend! Everybody buckled in? Okay then…let’s get rolling!
Every day, a few plants and animals go extinct! The time has come to think about this even more as humans & climate changes continue to destroy the concept & natural flow of nature’s food chain. The creatures I’ve featured today all went extinct since the year 2000 so are only a sample of what can, or has, happened when their habitats are changed, food sources disrupted & ‘alien’ animals enter their once tranquil territories. You can see their pics in my gallery!
~MADEIRAN LARGE WHITE BUTTERFLY~ (extinct: 2007) Once upon a time, this magnificent white butterfly flew in the humid subtropical forests of Portugal's Madeira Islands. The gorgeous butterflies had a very limited distribution, as they lived in a very rare type of forest. Researchers believe that pollution from agricultural fertilizers and deforestation could be the reasons for their extinction.
~SPIX'S MACAW~ (extinct: 2004) The spix’s macaw, the world’s rarest parrot, disappeared from the wild recently. Also known as the little blue macaws, it was the only member of the parrot genus Cyanopsitta. This magnificent bird, which came in various shades of blue, was endemic to the state of Bahia, Brazil and the Caraibeira Riparian Woodland. Though some of them are still participating in captivity breeding program, they have been declared extinct in the wild.
~PO'O-ULI ~ (extinct: 2004) The po'o-uli, or honeycreeper, was endemic to Maui, Hawaii. Predators, a decline in food sources and habitat loss are all thought to have been responsible for the beautiful bird‘s demise. By 1997, only three individuals were known to exist. Later, in 2004, the last known male bird also died in captivity.
~PYRENEAN IBEX~ (extinct: 2000) In 1980, about 30 Pyrenean ibex were reported to exist. With the death of their last family member in 2000, they were declared extinct. But, this was not the end. Scientists worked hard and brought them back into existence through cloning. Sadly, the cloned ibex also died due to lung failure. Native to the Pyrenees in France and Spain, no sightings of the ibex have been reported in recent years.

Thank you for your support of my COTM campaign dear furiends & I hope I didn’t depress you too much today. Giving each one of you a soft purr of thanks for enduring my twists & turns (MOL) along with a catnip muffin to re-energize you!

Loving hugs,
Trixie

03/27/2013 08:09.55 AM

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Thank you Missy and the GMG!
Welcome to my Pawty! Thank you so much for your furiendship and for your support! Wonderful kitties like you and your furamily make me and my brothers proud to be a part of CC! I couldn't have made COTD without you! Thank you!
Many purrs and head bonks, Neelix

Come visit me, Hedley (adores Patter), Neelix (Katie is back!) & Jakar (vote Whiskers COTM May).

03/27/2013 01:16.14 AM

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~Trixie's Tantalizing Animal Tales~ March 26th
Thanks for pouncing by with your vote support yesterday Missy & GMG/GMG2! I see that some of you were just as freaked out by that giant spider as I was so today I thought I’d present some of our favorite hunting…err, watched entertainment sources of frog, bird & fish (MOL) that have recently been discovered on our vast planet. You can see their pictures in my gallery!
~PINOCCHIO FROG~ Found in the remote Fuja Mountains of Indonesia, the Pinocchio frog is a strange little creature which was only discovered by accident in 2010, after wandering into a research camp and perching itself atop a bag of rice. The animal’s most obvious distinctive feature is the odd protuberance on the front of its face – most often referred to as its nose. The strange nose-like thing is a feature which only the males have, and becomes erect when they are making excited calls, returning to its standard position when they are not. The exact purpose of the ‘nose’, and the frogs’ ability to manipulate it, is as yet unknown.
~WATTLED SMOKY HONEYEATER~ The wattled smoky honeyeater is a species of honeyeater endemic to the Foja Mountains of Indonesia. This particular species’ most distinctive feature is the reddish-orange facial skin around its eyes. Discovered in December of 2005, the wattled smoky honeyeater was the first new bird species discovered in New Guinea since 1939. In addition to the brilliant orange skin around the bird’s eyes, it has the curious characteristic of walking with a ‘wattle’. The honeyeater was one of over twenty new species discovered in a single expedition that took place in 2005. The shade of the bird’s facial skin changes slightly when flushed.
~PARACHEILINUS NURSALIM~ First described in 2008, paracheilinus nursalim is a new species of flasher wrasse discovered in the Bird’s Head Peninsula in Western New Guinea. The fish’s most distinctive characteristic is of course its incredibly bright, vibrant colors. Given the recent nature of its discovery, little is currently known of the creature. To end on a cheery note: the future for the paracheilinus nursalim looks quite a lot brighter than can be said of some other animals on this list. The fish’s primary habitat is located within already-protected waters, meaning that it’s safe from external factors which may otherwise have put it at risk.

That’s going to have to be the end of newly discovered creatures series so that I can meow about some of the recently extinct animals I found to share with you before my campaign ends. Don't forget to pounce by to visit our beautiful QUEEN JOSIE MAE #193862 each day & thanks to all of you for pouncing by with your vote support for my COTM catpaign! I’ll spin your way again in the morning dear furiends!

Loving purrs & a banana muffin vote,
Trixie

03/26/2013 08:38.41 AM

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Many thanks, Missy and the Green Mountain Gang!
You very hardworking kitties are pawsome! I am very grateful for your vote and your furamily's warm support for my COTD tomorrow. It's my first, and I'm pretty nervous and excited. Keeping my paws crossed! Wish me luck! Come and help me celebrate tomorrow!
Many purrs, Neelix

Come visit me, Hedley (adores Patter), Neelix (Katie is back!) & Jakar (vote Whiskers COTM May).

03/25/2013 10:33.44 PM

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~Trixie's Tantalizing Animal Tales~ March 25th
Thank you for your visits & votes yesterday sweet furiends! I’m sorry our departure from Austria was slightly delayed but at least the questioning of Fluffinella, Mallow, & yours truly was fairly short once the Austrians got their cherished bell back. How did it get to the hotel in the first place? Well, our ornery friend Mallow is the only one that can truly answer that question but she’s been put in time out by her brother K Mike & won’t be available for questioning until he lets her out…MOL!
Okay now it’s time for that twist in my catpaign I promised you on the plane yesterday. Most of us share a fascination with the unknown. Thanks to this, as well as tremendous advances in technology, most of our planet has been quite thoroughly examined but some areas remain which are home to creatures that science has yet to encounter. Recently discovered animals number in the thousands but since I don’t have time for that I’ll be meowing about just a few that caught my interest & will include pictures too!
~GOLIATH BIRD EATING SPIDER~ I’ve opted to put this monstrous creature in for one very simple reason: it terrifies me!! The species was officially discovered in 2006 during an expedition to Guyana. It is a burrowing spider, feeding primarily on invertebrates, though it has also been observed eating small mammals, lizards, and venomous snakes (surprise surprise). Fully grown specimens can reach a horrific weight of around six ounces. Thankfully for us – and for any other creatures too large for the spider to eat – the goliath bird eater is a species of tarantula, and has relatively weak venom, which causes mild swelling and pain for a few hours. But the thing that poses the biggest threat to humans is the goliath’s ability to expel hairs from its body. These tiny, nearly invisible hairs float through the air, and have an awful tendency to stick in the eyes. EEEEK…can I open my eyes yet? (Shivers) That critter sends cold chills up my spine & makes me poofy! I think we need a cute animal to counteract that one…MOL!
~WALTER’S DUIKER~ Walter’s Duiker is a fascinating little creature, officially discovered in 2010 in the Dahomey Gap, West Africa. The species made its first foray into the world of science in 1968, when Walter Verheyen retrieved a specimen in Togo. This species of duiker is native to Togo, Benin, and Nigeria. One of the most interesting characteristics about the species is its small stature, measuring an average of only forty centimeters (sixteen inches) in height and typically weighing four to six kilograms. In addition to its small height, the duiker has hind legs which are longer than their counterparts up front. This is particularly interesting given that the duiker is not a grazing animal, and typically feeds on berries and other similar items of nourishment, which grow on plants.
Thank you for your generous & loving support of my COTM catpaign dear furiends! Have a magnificent Monday & I’ll see you again in the morning! ~Trixie~

03/25/2013 06:22.12 AM

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~Trixie's Tantalizing Animal Tales~ March 24th
**It’s a shout-out for IZY #199475 today so please paw her a vote**

Yawn...Trixie is in a pawsomely good mood as she wakes up at the Hotel Bergwert in Austria . The day before had been a magnificent at the Tiergarten Schönbrunn (the Zoo), Schonbrunn Imperial palace & gardens, the Gloriette gate, the labyrinth, & the Palm House…but the best part is that everyone seemed to have had a great time! She hears a door down the hallway open up, followed by giggles & the single clang of a bell, which was quickly cut off by someone. Trixie pounces toward the door, flings it open & has her ears almost blown off by the very loud & constant clanging of the now familiar closing bell (Kaiserglöckerl bell) of the places they’d been to yesterday. “Oh no…not again”, moans Trixie as the other kitties throw open their doors in astonishment. She can hear whomever it is pouncing down the hall yowling “WAKE UP…It’s Sunday kitties, which means we need to check out of the hotel & catch the flight home!” Just as suddenly as the clanging had started, it stopped. All the kitties standing in doorways exchanged glances as they heard muffled voices downstairs, followed by complete silence. “I think we’d better get to the airport as soon as we can”, meows Trixie in her sweetest voice. “I have a feeling we’ve just been checked out …MOL! I’ll start on this week’s amazing animal tales once we’ve boarded the plane. “
Every kitty goes back to their rooms, closes their doors & gets ready for the trip home, but they keep their ears perked for any sign of whom the culprits(s) could be. “I know they have their suspicions”, Trixie meows to herself,” but that will have to wait until we land in the US…MOL!”
Later on the plane…Trixie stands up & clears her throat. It’s time for me to turn on my cyclonic spins & twist you in another direction sweet furiends…MOL! I’ve wrapped up my unusual animal friends series so this week we’ll delve into the newly discovered, recently extinct &, if space allows, species on the brink of extinction series. Since uhm…certain events (MOL) have taken up most of my blog space for today I’ll start meowing about them tomorrow. Have a pawsome Palm Sunday sweet furiends & thank you for your generous & loving support of my COTM catpaign! Your comments about the content of my blogs make me purr with happiness because you’re enjoying them. That’s always a goal for the entire NICE crew & we always appreciated the feedback we get. I’m sending gentle loving hugs & a plate of catnip cookies home with all of you as we leave the airport & will see you again tomorrow.

Happy purrs,
Trixie

03/24/2013 06:58.47 AM

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~Trixie's Tantalizing Animal Tales~ March 23rd
~Shout-out voting today for WHISKERS #246313!
Happy Caturday everyone & thank you for your vote support yesterday! Are you ready for another zoo trip? I hope so because this is going to be a big one & you’ll be exhausted by the time we’re done walking around. I’ve taken the liberty of reserving rooms for us to stay overnight & have assured the hotel manager that all of us will behave. That’s a hint for anyone with unusual ideas again this weekend…MOL! Okay, I just got the green light for us to board the Cyclone Express tour plane so let’s get aboard because it’s going to be a long flight to Vienna, Austria to visit one of the must see places of the area, which is the Tiergarten Schönbrunn (the Zoo)!
Vienna's Tiergarten Schonbrunn offers one of the most unique and refined zoo experiences in the world. Originally constructed around the turn of the 17th century, this Austrian landmark is often considered as the world's first modern zoo. The zoo was founded by the husband of Empress Maria Theresa and was often frequented by members of the Hapsburg dynasty for their summer retreats. Today it still retains much of its original beauty and tranquil charm with magnificent 18th century buildings and a stunning botanical garden. The Tiergarten Schönbrunn was voted the best European Zoo in 2010. What makes this Zoo so special is the location, as it’s found inside the Schönbrunn imperial palace and gardens domain, so there’s plenty to see in the few square kilometers of open sky, trees, elegant gardens and magnificent architecture. The best things about Tiergarten Schonbrunn Zoo is the vast open space where animals roam almost free, with just a few cages for birds that would fly away if not restricted this way. If you bring the kits with you they’ll be delighted by the peacocks roaming at their feet and other curios animals that are walking together with the visitors. There are even visiting hours for feeding the animals! That’s the best thing about the Tiergarten Schonbrunn Zoo: it doesn’t look like a Zoo in most part, but more like an interactive educational school. If you don’t feel like visiting the Zoo you can always visit the Schonbrunn gardens because I guarantee you’ll like them too. Just make sure you don’t stand in the way of those practicing Yoga or jogging between the perfectly cut trees. There are other things to see at Schonbrunn domain besides the Zoo, imperial palace and gardens. On my list there’s the Gloriette gate, the labyrinth and the famous the Palm House. I don’t know about all of you but I’m excited to be going to Austria! We’ll be staying at the Hotel Bergwirt, which is pet friendly & enjoys a privileged location directly next to Schönbrunn Gardens. The unique character of this hotel, the informal atmosphere and the impressions of a beautiful city will make our visit an unforgettable experience. Thanks for coming along on my trip this weekend dear friends & for the wonderful support you’re giving me on my COTM catpaign. ~Trixie~

03/23/2013 06:01.34 AM

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~Trixie's Tantalizing Animal Tales~ March 22nd
Happy Friday sweet kitties!! Today I’m doing a quick pounce through the community because mom has errands to run so I won’t be leaving any purrsonal notes with my daily blog. Get ready friends because I’m taking us to the dogs today with 3 tales of doggie furienship that will make you scratch your heads in wonder but also bring a smile to your face. Remember the biggest rodents in the world from the beginning of my catpaign? They’re featured again, only this time you can see what one looks like…MOL!
~DOG & OTTER~
When a sea otter pup was found abandoned on a building site in Wales, it was taken to a wildlife reserve to be fed and treated and returned to full health. The aim was to heal the otter and set him free again. After a few months at the reserve, the pup’s handlers decided he needed a playmate to use up some of his boisterous energy. Since otters have a nasty nip and are very inquisitive it was thought the perfect playmate for the pup would be a puppy. An eight month old Labrador called Molly was brought in and the two played together while the otter was taught to swim. The otter, called Geraint, is due to be released in the very near future.
~DOG & CAPYBARA~
Capybaras are the largest rodents in the world. Looking something like giant guinea pigs, they are native to South America and live in herds. At a tourist lodge in Peru, two animals – a capybara called Charlie and a dog called Pacho – were rescued at about the same time. Until he was rescued, Charlie had been kept as a pet by a local family. Capybaras, though cute, make poor pets, and so it was the intention of his rescuers to release Charlie – but he kept returning to the lodge in search of Pacho. These days Charlie and Pacho are inseparable companions. If Charlie goes too deep when the two are swimming, Pacho saves him – and in return, Charlie often scavenges food to share with Pacho.
~ORANGATAN & DOG~
Suryia, an orangutan, and Roscoe, a dog, were raised together in a South Carolina sanctuary. The two met when Suryia spotted the homeless Roscoe wandering into an animal centre. The keepers decided to adopt the dog, and allowed him to spend time with Suryia to give the primate some friendship. Orangutans are very intelligent, and prefer not to be on their own. The orangutan takes the dog for walks around the enclosure on a lead, and swims with him. There are also pictures online of the pair being taken for a ride on the back of an elephant, which also lives in the sanctuary. The two animals have become the subject of a book being used to raise money for their shared home.

Pics of these friends can be seen in my gallery! Thank you for your daily support of my COTM campaign dear furiends. Each vote you leave me is precious & most definitely appreciated. Make sure to get your comfy clothes & cameras ready sweet kitties because tomorrow we’re off to another zoo! Have a purrfect Friday!

Loving purrs,
Trixie

03/22/2013 07:27.15 AM

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~Trixie's Tantalizing Animal Tales~ March 21st
Happy Thursday everyone! Thanks for stopping by to visit me & paw me a COTM vote yesterday! Please pounce by to visit RICKY #106695, our one & only birthday boy today & our beautiful hillbilly Queen Josie Mae #193862 as often as you can to see what she’s got going on! Each day brings me a little closer to the finish line but there are still a few twists & turns for me to make & I’m very happy to be taking you along with me…MOL!
It’s still a very cold 18 at our house today but the sun is shining & we may actually see above freezing temps later this afternoon. That could mean that the silly dog will be allowed to stay out longer. Keeping my paws crossed on that one…MOL! Today I’m still meowing about unusual animal friendships & the one I’ve got for today is very well known on the internet via YouTube.

~CROW & KITTEN~
One day in 1999 in Massachusetts, a kitten in a state of some distress walked onto the property of the elderly Collitos. At first they were concerned that the kitten might not survive – but before long, they noticed that the cat had a strange nurse. A crow was seen bring the starving kitten worms to feed on, and ushering the kitten away from harm by cawing at her. The crow, given the name Moses, and the cat, called Cassie, became internet sensations when the Collitos put videos of them together on YouTube. Eventually, the Collitos were able to coax Cassie indoors with cat food and she spent her evenings enjoying the luxuries of indoor cat life, but every morning at 6 a.m., Moses would peck at the screen door looking for his friend, and Wallace and Ann let Cassie out to play. The unlikely friends spent hours frolicking and wrestling outside and the Collitos filmed the playful pair’s escapades for five years until one day Moses quit showing up. American crows live only seven to eight years in the wild, so it’s thought that Moses passed away. Ann died in 2006, but Cassie, who’s now 12 years old ,still lives with Wallace in their Massachusetts home. Cassie and Moses’ story will continue to touch lives and teach lessons about friendship for years to come, thanks to a children’s book by Lisa Fleming. The 48-page book, “Cat and Crow: An Amazing Friendship,” shares the story of Cassie and Moses’ special bond and includes newspaper clippings and photographs of the two.

Now that’s what I call a true furiendship of different species! I checked out the videos & they’re absolutely adorable the way they play together. You can see them together in my gallery. Thank you for your furiendship & your visits to paw me a treasured COTM vote! Have a pawsome day & I’ll meow at you more tomorrow.

Loving purrs & a tuna filled vote,
Trixie

03/21/2013 09:31.15 AM

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~Trixie's Tantalizing Animal Tales~ March 20th
It’s the official start of spring today dear friends so help me wave good-bye to old man winter & welcome in the time when worms begin to emerge from the earth, ladybugs land on screen doors, green buds appear, birds chirp, and flowers begin to bloom. So far this week our weather here in northern IN is no indication of it arriving anytime soon though with the bitter mid 30 temps & strong winds. In other words I’ll be happy when they start reporting our weather without a wind chill attached…MOL!
Thank you for pouncing by with a COTM vote for me yesterday as I twisted my way into another area of unusual animal tales. I know that yesterday’s animal friendship stories were bittersweet to read about so today I’ve found two that have much happier endings & you can see their pics in my gallery.

~HIPPO & TORTOISE~
Owen the Hippo was separated from his parents when a tsunami wave washed him out to sea. After being found by wildlife rangers, he was taken to an animal sanctuary in Mombasa, Kenya. Owen’s handlers decided that he would share a habitat with an ancient 100-year-old tortoise called Mzee. It was reported that Owen behaved towards Mzee, a male, as if the tortoise was his mother. The hippo and tortoise would bathe and sleep together, and Owen would lick Mzee’s face and become protective if anyone approached the tortoise. Hippos generally remain with their mothers for four years, and Owen stayed with Mzee until 2007 when he was introduced to other hippos.♥

~DEER & GOOSE~
In 2011, at Forest Lawn cemetery in Buffalo, an unlikely partnership sprang up between a nesting goose and a deer. The Canadian goose laid her eggs in an urn and settled down to incubate them. At some point a male deer joined the female goose and began to act as a guard. Whenever people approached the nesting bird he would interpose himself protectively to ward off the threat. This strange behavior continued for three weeks until the goslings hatched. As soon as the mother goose began to move around with her babies, the deer wandered off into the forest, job well-done.☺

Those are some truly tantalizing tales that make me flip my paw at the naysayers that say animals don’t have souls or are stupid. These touching stories show intelligence, empathy & love that go beyond the boundary of species differences & shows that dissimilar purrsonalities can get along. I know I truly appreciate each of your distinctive purrsonalities when you pounce by to visit me & I look forward to your comments & updates. I’m sending each of you loving purrs of thanks for your support of my COTM campaign & will spin your way again tomorrow!

Sweet calico kisses,
Trixie

03/20/2013 07:50.44 AM

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hello missy & green moutain gang
thank you for letting us know aobut Millie she is a daring little black kitti so happy she made it in the COTD frame. mom hated it, left Florida with 80 degree temps to come back to 50 rain/cold winds, mom had a great St Patty Day, had a cookout at her brothers and sisters, mom was there great food and laughter. temps been in 60's some cold rain so have a blessed day ♥ prayers going out to all ♥ hugs/kisses ♥ headbonks ♥ clam ♥ angelmarley/mom/wonderful tigger

Come visit me, Tigger thks 4 my COTD so exciting! & Angel Marley _^-.-^_ RIP 12/16/2008.

03/19/2013 09:51.01 PM

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~Trixie's Tantalizing Animal Tales~ March 19th
Thank you for your visit & vote yesterday! Please remember to pounce by to visit Queen Josie Mae #193862 to see what’s going on at the royal hillbilly mansion each day while you’re prowling the community & keep our dear CC furiends & families in need in your prayers. Okay kitties…it’s time for me to move on to a different type of animal tale today so to begin I’ll paraphrase Thomas Hobbes: life in nature is a war of all against all – and it is (in general) nasty, brutish, and short. Competition between animals drives evolution, and will never be removed from life. Yet there are softer sides to being alive. Many animals are sociable – at least with their own kind. Occasionally, however, bouts of sociability break out between animals of different species, against all the laws of nature. Got you curious yet? MOL! Well this week I’d like to touch on some special animal friends that you wouldn’t normally think of’ hanging out’ together. Get ready for cuteness to go off the charts sweet furiends because these best friends are unique, unusual, & their stories (although short due to space) will touch your hearts!
~GORRILLA & THE CAT~
Koko the gorilla is one of the most studied primates in history. Her handlers have been examining her remarkable ability to understand language. Koko communicates in American Sign Language, and has been known to create her own terms for new items and ideas using signs she already knows (calling a ring a ‘finger-bracelet’ for instance). In 1984, Koko asked her trainers whether she might be allowed to keep a pet cat. She chose a grey kitten and called it All Ball. Koko nurtured All Ball as if it were a baby gorilla, and would appear distressed when parted from it. When All Ball was knocked down and killed by a car, Koko was seen to mourn the cat’s death, and use signs for ‘sad’ and ‘frown’ to describe her feelings. She has since had several more pets.
~ELEPHANT & SHEEP~
When Themba the elephant was a calf, his mother fell to her death. The orphan elephant was found and rescued by rangers at the Shamwari reserve in South Africa. At the reserve Themba was placed in a pen to protect him from other animals. Since elephants are social animals, it was decided to place a sheep called Albert in the pen to offer Themba companionship. At first the elephant made a game of chasing the sheep but the two eventually bonded and could be seen sleeping together at night. When it was time to begin preparing Themba for release, Albert was removed from the pen and Themba was introduced to more typical animals from South Africa but before Themba could be released he succumbed to a disease of the intestine. Albert the sheep has remained at the reserve.

Let’s have a group awwww…MOL! I’ve posted pictures of these special animal friends at the bottom of my page & will keep them there until the weekend so you can see their special friendship in action. Thank you for your support of my COTM campaign sweet kitties!

Loving purrs,
Trixie

03/19/2013 06:46.48 AM

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~Trixie's Tantalizing Animal Tales~ March 18th
*Please paw COTD votes to PERCY #245206 today*
Good Morning & happy Monday everyone! Thank you for pouncing by to paw me a vote yesterday & for your great comments. After reading some of them I now understand why the police dogs were watching us so closely at the zoo. I thought I was a kitty that created havoc but it appears that I was surpassed by a couple of you this weekend…MOL! These ornery kitties wandered into the new, but still closed, animatronics display & caused an uproar with the staff & other zoo visitors. Guess you did make a lasting impression with your antics though because they put red marks beside your names & faxed them to all other zoos around the world…MOL! Okay kitties…I saw several of you swimming with the dolphins after their daily shows so thought I’d wrap up my hero animal series with two stories starring our aquatic mammal furiends.
~LIFEGUARDS SAVED FROM SHARK ATTACK BY DOLPHINS~
On Oct. 30, 2004 a group of lifeguards swimming off the coast of New Zealand were protected from a shark attack by dolphins. Lifeguard Rob Howes and three female lifeguards were on a training swim about 100 meters off Ocean Beach near Whangarei on the North Island. While they were swimming a pod of dolphins suddenly came steaming at them and started circling them. The dolphins bunched the four swimmers together by circling about 4-8 centimeters from them, and slapping the water with their tails for about 40 minutes. Owes drifted away from the main group when an opening occurred, it was then he saw a great white shark about two meters away. When the shark started moving toward the women the dolphins went into hyper-drive. Howes said, "I would suggest they were creating a confusion screen around the girls. It was just a mass of fins, backs and human heads. “The shark left as a rescue boat neared, but the dolphins remained close by as the group swam back to shore.
~MOKO THE DOLPHIN SAVES 2 STRANDED PYGMY SPERM WHALES~
In March 2008 at Mahia Beach, New Zealand, a dolphin named Moko guided 2 stranded Pygmy Sperm Whales to safety. The two pygmy sperm whales, a mother and her calf, were found stranded on Mahia Beach. Rescuers worked for more than an hour to get the whales back into the water, but the whales kept getting disorientated and stranded themselves four more times on a sandbar. It looked likely the whales would have to be euthanized to prevent them suffering a prolonged death, and then Moko came to the rescue. She approached the whales and led them 200 yards along the beach and through a channel out to the open sea. After the rescue, Moko returned to the beach and joined in games with local residents.

That’s it for hero animals right now kitties but I’ll meow more next month starring our own CC & DC furiends when I’m wearing April crown. Thank you for your solid & loving support of my COTM campaign dear furiends! Have a pawsome Monday!

Purrs & hugs,
Trixie

03/18/2013 07:25.51 AM

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~Trixie's Tantalizing Animal Tales~ March 17th
Top O the morning & Happy St. Patrick’s Day!! I thank all of my bonny furiends for filling my pantry with goodies for my adoptiversary day yesterday & also for the outpouring purrs of love & vote support! Being furiends with all of you is better than finding that elusive pot of gold at the end of the rainbow & a whole lot easier than catching a leprechaun…MOL! Well, tis the wearing of the green day kitties! The phrase "the wearing of the green", means to wear a shamrock on one's clothing & is derived from an Irish street song lamenting the repression of supporters of the Irish Rebellion of 1798 with the same name. Saint Patrick is said to have used the shamrock, a three-leaved plant, to explain the Holy Trinity to pagans in the land. Betcha didn’t think I knew those little tidbits did you? I’m a kitty that’s full of surprises, plus my sweet mom is from Irish heritage so she helped…MOL!! Today I’m inviting you to rest your weary paws after a full day of walking around at the zoo yesterday. My sis Patches has whipped up some green tea, shamrock catnip cookies & a big pot of Irish stew for anyone that gets hungry today so help yourself & take it easy as I meow to you about one of the Brookfield Zoo’s most famous inhabitants.
~GORILLA SAVES TODDLER~BINTI JUA (whose name means "Daughter of Sunshine" in Swahili) is the niece of Koko, the gorilla world famous for learning American Sign Language. Her mother, Lulu, was originally from the Bronx Zoo and died on January 24, 2011 after residing at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. Her father is Sunshine (from the San Francisco Zoo). Binta Jue is a female Western Lowland Gorilla that lives at the Brookfield Zoo & received international attention when she saved the life of a small child. On August 16, 1996, a three-year-old boy fell 18 feet into the gorilla enclosure at the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago. The child was lying unconscious when Binti Jua picked him up and protectively cradled him into her arms. The heroic gorilla gently carried the child to the zookeeper's door, where he could be rescued. Binti Jua had her 17-month-old baby, Koola, clutched to her back throughout the incident. The boy spent four days in the hospital and recovered fully. Binti Jua displayed an incredible act of animal altruism when she saved the life of this small child & has touched the hearts of people all over the world. This animal hero story is truly inspiring and Binti Jua is one of the most famous animal heroes ever known & even has her own Wikipedia page!
I’ll be wrapping up the hero series of my campaign tomorrow before I move on to some other interesting animal tales. I’m sending a little pot of gold nuggets (catnip candy wrapped in gold foil) home with each of you for being such sweet & loving furiends & to thank you for your sweet blogs & your votes of support this month! Have a blessed St. Patrick’s Day!

Purrs & hugs,
Trixie

03/17/2013 06:24.11 AM

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Thank you
Thank you for helping me to win COTD today. I'm so proud and delighted and Mom is very happy about it too. Thank you. Love Millie

Come visit me, Dinny - In Ireland with Millie & Rihanna, Millie - in Ireland. & Rihanna.

03/17/2013 04:24.49 AM

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stopping by with a
with a good super sunday morning vote as it's cleared off again and going to be a super morning for a walk....but janet's not going to be able to do that seeing it's dark till after 6 again and come this time next month should be able to get out early once again. praying that the change over of the incoming storm happens at night to all rain so janet won't be driving into work tuesday morning on icy conditions. sandy, ana, haley, angels

Come visit me, ana, haley, malachi is my boyfriend! whiskerscotm & sandy, angels, vote whiskers cotm!.

03/17/2013 01:15.45 AM

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~Trixie's Tantalizing Animal Tales~ March 16th
Happy Caturday kitties & thank you for your vote of support yesterday! I’ve been so busy with my catpaign that I almost forgot a very special day in my own life. Today is my adopty day…woohoo! Three years ago I was taken from a cage at a pet store by my sweet daddy & placed into mom’s arms. The first purr & kiss was all it took & here I am…MOL! Okay kitties, are you ready for another big day trip? This week we’re staying in the U.S. so we’re taking a charter bus driven by our own illustrious Thunderfoot aka Thundie. When the zoo staff found out I was bringing a bunch of kitties with me on this trip they said to make sure to show you this: (Trixie unrolls a sign & has Whiskers hold the other side.) *IMPORTANT NOTE*PLEASE DON'T FEED ANY OF THE ANIMALS, OR CHASE ANY OF THE NATURALLY ROAMING ANIMALS SUCH AS PEACOCKS, GEESE, THIRTEEN-LINED GROUND SQUIRRELS, AND OTHER CREATURES YOU'LL SEE AT THE ZOO.* Hmmm…it seems as though our reputations precede our arrival sweet kitties, which means they’ll be keeping a close watch on us…SIGH! Oh well, let’s climb aboard the Cyclone Express tour bus & I’ll plug in the short film about our destination. Thundie will be turning the bus north out of the parking lot because we’re going to Chicago to visit…the BROOKFIELD ZOO! Since the opening of Brookfield Zoo in 1934, the Society has had an international reputation for taking a cutting-edge role in animal care and conservation of the natural world. Among its historical firsts are indoor multispecies exhibits, zoo nutrition residencies, methods for animal husbandry, and medical care that includes successful brain surgery for a gorilla. Aware that the best way to view an animal is in its natural habitat, the Brookfield Zoo makes great efforts to recreate the native environments of its inhabitants. The Great Bear Wilderness offers one-of-a-kind vantage points for viewing bears, wolves, and bison as they roam the 7.5 acre exhibit. Spread across more than 216 acres, this zoo houses thousands of animals from around the world. Zoo residents live in specially designed, walk-through environments so visitors can view them in natural settings. You also don't want to miss the dolphins at Brookfield's Seven Seas Panorama when they put on shows daily at 11:30 & 2:30. Keep an eye out for roving naturalists who are dressed in bright green shirts. They often have "touch stations" and other things to look at and are always happy to share interesting information about the animals. Look out your windows dear furiends because we’ve arrived at the gate! I hope you’ve enjoyed my introduction to our adventure for the day.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for the outstanding & warm purr-filled vote support you’re giving me for my campaign! Have a pawsome Caturday & hope you have a great time exploring the wonders of the Brookfield Zoo with me!!

Excited purrs,
Trixie

03/16/2013 05:52.31 AM

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~Trixie's Tantalizing Animal Tales~ March 15th
✯ Please Vote ACOTD for ANGEL TIGGER #82433 ✯
Happy Friday Missy & GMG & thank you for the vote you left in my collection box yesterday! Instead of another heroic animal tale today I thought I’d bring you some curiosities in the mews to get you psyched up for our next surprise zoo destination tomorrow. Let’s just hope the zoo animals are better behaved…MOL!
~SANDWICH-SEEKING BEAR CRASHES CAR~ (Denver Post-July 23,2010)
The Story family of Colorado got the surprise of their lives in July when the police called at 3:30am to inform them that a black bear had taken their teenage son’s car on a joyride down the street before crashing it into some trees, eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and proceeding to completely destroy the interior. This bear opened the door on his own & then somehow the door closed behind him. He probably panicked and started thrashing around, hitting the shifter and putting it in neutral. It rolled 125 feet down the hill near their home & crashed through several trees before stopping in the brush. The four way flashers were on & the bear was going crazy inside so he kept hitting the horn, alerting people in the area who then called the local authorities. Sheriff’s deputies had to tie a rope around the car door handle and open it from afar. Eventually, the bear came out and wandered off into the woods. The 2008 Toyota Corolla was called a total loss. The interior was ripped up, the dashboard was torn out, the windshield broken, and the airbags went off but no one was injured in the bear’s joy ride!
~LEMURS LOCKED UP AFTER CRIME SPREE~ (from Orange News- July 29, 2010)
Two escaped lemurs have been returned to an Austrian zoo after embarking on a week-long crime spree. The sneaky duo hot-footed it from Salzburg's Hellbrunn Zoo by dashing out of the door when their keeper walked in. It was then reported to authorities that they celebrated their freedom by attacking local residents' washing lines, turning over garden furniture, stealing fruit and harassing domestic pets, before winding up in a hotel bar. The hotel manager said, "I couldn't believe it when I came in for work in the morning. It looked like they were looking for something to drink. They were playing with the bottles, but I gave them a banana instead and quickly shut all the doors and windows." Keepers were then able to recapture the law-breaking primates, and have since renamed them King Julian and Maurice, after the ruler of the lemurs and his trusty sidekick in the film Madagascar.

WOW…now those are what I call some wild & crazy critter tales…MOL! Thank you for your daily support of my COTM campaign sweet kitties! Remember to dress comfortably tomorrow & bring along your cameras but please no climbing on the monkey cages this week. Yes, you know who you are…MOL! Have a fabulous Friday & I’ll see you bright & early in the morning!

Purrs & giggles,
Trixie

03/15/2013 08:50.11 AM

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~Trixie's Tantalizing Animal Tales~ March 14th
☆Shout-out for SASSY #171904 today so please pounce by to paw her a vote☆
Good Morning & happy Thursday everyone! Thank you for pouncing by to paw me a COTM vote yesterday! It’s hard to believe it’s already the 14th!! Okay kitties; are you ready for my next heroic animal tales? This will be my last ones to present this week because my paws are itching to pounce to something tomorrow that doesn’t require tissues, especially since we’re down to the last 4 boxes in the case. Please come down from the cat tree Mallow, Fluffinella & Steve so that your romping won’t distract our other kitty listeners again today! Boo Kitty, Thank you for your help but I think the votes are flattened pretty well so you can come out of the collection box now…MOL!
Today I’ll start with…~PERSISTANT MEOWS~ WINNIE the hero cat saved the lives of her family! A gasoline-powered water pump in the family basement caused an odorless but deadly gas to fill the house. When Winnie sensed that something was wrong, she jumped on her owners’ bed & woke them up. She jumped, nudged and meowed relentlessly as the house filled with fumes. They said that Winnie's meows were similar to screams as she persisted in getting the parents awake. Meanwhile, the couple's 14 year-old-son lie unconscious in another room due to the toxic fumes. Because of Winnie's persistence, 911 was called and the family was treated and survived. HOORAY for Winnie!! She’s a true heroine in every sense of the word & has earned my purrs of respect for her deed!
Now we move on to a more unusual tale of heroism with…~LULU THE LIFESAVING PIG~
Perhaps my favorite rescuer is a pot-bellied pig named LULU….just because she’s unique! On August 4, 1998, owner Jo Ann had a heart attack in the bedroom of her vacation trailer at a Pennsylvania lake resort. After her collapse, her American Eskimo dog began to bark, but no one was close enough to respond. Lulu can't bark, but she did something much more daring! She scrambled through a tight "doggie door," cutting her protruding stomach in the process; then waited at the side of the road until she saw a car. She then waddled to the road and lay down right in front of the car. The motorist stopped for the prone pig and got out. LuLu then led the man to the house and the rescue. The owner of Lulu heard a man screaming through her window that her pig was in distress. She answered that, in fact, it was she who was in distress, and asked him to call an ambulance. Luckily, help arrived in time: doctors said that if 15 more minutes had elapsed she likely would have died.

Hmmm…makes you think twice about eating that roast pork dinner doesn’t it? MOL! Thank you for your daily votes of support & the purrs you’ve been giving me. Each one is appreciated & held close to my heart. Have a pawsome day!

Loving purrs,
Trixie

03/14/2013 08:11.10 AM

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~Trixie's Tantalizing Animal Tales~ March 13th
★ PLEASE SEND A SHOUT-OUT VOTE TO SCOTTY #252525 TODAY ★
Good Morning & happy hump day sweet furiends! Thank you SO much for pouncing on my votey button yesterday & for sharing story time with me! Each vote you leave is a priceless treasure & your comments about what I’ve blogged are deeply appreciated! I’m sending out a big meow of thanks to all of you that have shared your heroic, touching, & special stories of your own with me. Okay kitties…today I’ll continue spinning some heroic animal tales, but this time it’s about incredible felines. These kitties make me proud that I was born a cat & I hope their stories touch your hearts as much as they did mine.
~DEVOTED MOMCAT~ One of most poignant, publicized cat rescuers I found to meow about was a stray calico cat from Brooklyn, (who even has a website and a poem written in her honor). In March/April 1996, with her eyes blistered shut, her paws burned and her coat scorched; a cat, who was later nicknamed SCARLETT for her patches of red fur, darted into a flaming abandoned building in Brooklyn and pulled out her kittens, one by one. Once all the kittens had been rescued, Scarlett conducted a head count, touching each kitten with her nose to make sure they were all there. A 17-year veteran with Ladder Company 175, told reporters, "She ran in and out of that building five times, got them all out, and then started moving them one by one across the street." The firefighter found the cat family outside the building and took them to an animal shelter, where the mother and babies received treatment. Three months after her heroic feat, Scarlett and her four surviving babies were not only well, but were adopted in a blaze of publicity. A sad note: on October 15, 2008, Scarlett passed away. Her life and times can be found on her own Wikipedia page.
Next up is the…~FELINE ALARM~ SUSIE, an orange tabby from Oklahoma City, alerted her 100-year-old human guardian, Lois, to a smoldering fire one evening in May 1998. Lois had just gotten to sleep and awoke to a shrill screech. As she opened her eyes she saw Susie sitting hunched beside her, fur on end, yowling furiously. Susie then pounced on her chest, swiping her with the soft pad of her paw, which she assumed was Susie's way of telling her that she wanted to go out, so she led her downstairs and out the door. Susie bolted back in, meowing more desperately than before, as if to tell Lois something. As Lois turned, she saw that the house was burning. A fire had started in an electric blanket which had burned a hole in her mattress. Just a few more minutes and the bed would have burst into flames, with her in it.

Give those kitties a loud round of applause dear furiends because they’re both very special! Do I hear a few soft cries because if I do then you’re in good company! Thank you from the bottom of my little heart for the sweet meows & the precious votes you’ve been sending my way each day.

Big hugs,
Trixie

03/13/2013 07:36.55 AM

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~Trixie's Tantalizing Animal Tales~ March 12th
Happy Tuesday sweet kitties & thank you for the COTM votes you pawed my way yesterday! I’m glad I wasn’t the only one using a lot of tissues after reading Honey’s story yesterday. I’ve restocked the tissues & dried all of the bean bag chairs so we can do it all over again today…MOL! I’m going to continue meowing about some heroic dogs so please take a mouse tart from the tray on the kitchen table if you’re hungry & pounce into a beanbag…Oh, & don’t forget to grab a pawful of Kleenex because these special dogs will start the tears flowing again!
~SAVIOR DOG~
Outside of the rural town of La Plata, Argentina in August of 2008, a fourteen-year-old mother abandoned her newborn baby in a desolate field. August is winter in Argentina, so the temperatures can reach close to 40 degrees at night. LA CHINA, an eight-year-old dog and a mother herself, found the baby girl and brought her home to nestle among her own litter of puppies, effectively saving the vulnerable newborn’s life. Several hours later, the dog’s owner heard the baby’s cries from the litter. He promptly called the police and the baby was taken to the local hospital. The story began to gain publicity and the young mother went to the hospital and admitted that she had abandoned the baby. Besides a few bruises, the newborn was otherwise healthy after her ordeal thanks to the mothering instincts of a compassionate dog.
~BLIND HERO~
NORMAN, a blind Labrador Retriever that had been adopted at the pound, often loved to run on the beach with his owner, Annette. He loved the freedom of the beach because it was the only safe public place where he could run free with his handicap. One day, as Annette and Norman were walking along the beach Norman heard someone crying out for help. A young girl had been swimming with her brother and got caught in the strong current. Norman didn't think twice when he heard the girl cry for help in the water. Despite the blindness, Norman raced into the water to save a little girl who was drowning. Listening to her screams, Norman found her and gently guided her safely to shore. The brave dog didn't let his lack of sight prevent him from saving a child in distress. His wonderful story has been published into a children’s book called “Brave Norman”, which is available for a very small price on amazon.

I give both of these dogs two paws up & applaud them for their noble acts to save people they didn’t know at all! I hope you’ve liked my heroic dog stories. I’ve got more to share but tomorrow I’m going to meow about two very heroic kitties so we don’t feel as if we’ve ‘gone to the dogs’…MOL! Thank you for pouncing by to give me your daily votes of support for my campaign dear furiends! Have a purrfect day & please don’t forget to pounce by to visit our beautiful QUEEN JOSIE MAE #193862 at her royal hillbilly haven while you’re pouncing around.

Loving purrs,
Trixie

03/12/2013 08:22.42 AM

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~Trixie's Tantalizing Animal Tales~ March 11th
☆ Please vote J.C. # 248823 COTD today ☆
Happy Monday everyone! I hope you had a great weekend & are ready to start another work week. Thank you for your vote support yesterday! Please remember to pounce over to visit Queen Josie Mae #193862 at her hillbilly mansion! I’m glad that you found Aggie Kitty’s story of heroism & bravery as touching as I did when I read it the first time. She’s one pawsome kitty!! Today I’ll continue my heroic animal series but this one is about “man’s best friend” the dog. There are LOTS of heroic dog stories out there but I think this one will pull at your heartstrings & make you appreciate our doggie friends a little more.
~DEVOTED DOG~
This story is about HONEY, an English Cocker Spaniel puppy that was chosen as National Dog Day Hero Dog of the Year in 2006. On a crisp October day, Honey and her owner, Michael Bosch, were heading out in Bosch’s SUV when the sunlight temporarily blinded him. He miscalculated a turn between his driveway and a deep ravine next to it. The vehicle dropped 50 feet into the ravine, rolling 5 times before finally landing on its roof. Bosch was pinned to the vehicle by a tree that had crushed his legs, and he was now hanging upside down. Still recovering from a heart attack he suffered two months prior and located at least a quarter mile from his nearest neighbor, he realized that his only chance of survival was Honey. Only five months old at the time, Honey was able to escape the vehicle through the broken and gaping windshield. Honey traveled through at least a half a mile of thick, dense forest, eventually ending up at the doorstep of a neighbor, Robin Allen. Honey pawed at Allen desperately, whimpering and urging her to follow her. Allen said that Honey was literally “bringing me to the accident scene. She was directing me.” When they returned to the site of the accident, Allen said Honey was “pacing like a worried parent.” Allen alerted rescue crews, and by the time they arrived, Bosch had already spent nearly 8 hours hanging upside down and injured. Bosch’s pulse had weakened and paramedics thought he wouldn’t have made it much longer without Honey’s quick heroism. Probably the most amazing part of the story is that Bosch had adopted her from a local rescue shelter only two weeks prior to the accident.
Pass the Kleenex sweet kitties because that story makes me tear up every time I read it! That’s one heroic, devoted & loving pup; especially considering her young age & that he’d only had her for 2 short weeks at the time she did this courageous, life-saving deed for her master. Truly a good dog story!
Have a pawtastic Monday & thank you SO much for pouncing by with your loving support of my COTM campaign!

Loving hugs,
Trixie

03/11/2013 08:16.13 AM

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~Trixie's Tantalizing Animal Tales~ March 10th
YAWN…that was a long trip we took to Singapore Zoo yesterday, but it was loads of fun! Thank you for pouncing around the world with me & for leaving me your great comments & votes of support!! I have been negligent in my duties because (embarrassed grin) I forgot to thank Boo Kitty for the fabulous Zoo photo I’ve been using on the weekends! Thank you Boo Kitty & mom for putting me in front of the majestic giraffe!! OK…I see a lot of you still getting sleep out of your eyes , just like me, because we mysteriously lost an hour somewhere during the wee hours. Hmmm… must be the work of those sneaky time trolls again…MOL! Anyway, I think a big donut & cup of catnip tea might help wake me up so Patches lovingly whipped up a giant batch of her homemade catnip cake donuts & tea for everyone! Please help yourselves to both & then settle back on the beanbag chairs I’ve got scattered around the living room because today I start my tales dealing with heroic animals, which is purrfect considering this is International Day of Awesomeness! Many think that only dogs can be heroic but I’m here to tell you that any animal on earth can be a hero/heroine if they need to be & here are the first of many amazing animals I found to bring into the spotlight!

AGGIE THE CAT-Aggie is a cat who started out life completely unwanted. Born without eyes, Aggie was rescued by a foster family who only planned on keeping the cat only long enough to find someone who would embrace her disability. However, Aggie won over her foster parents with her spunky personality, realizing that her lack of sight was no hindrance. One night, when her owners were fast asleep, Aggie awoke to the sound of someone stealthily sneaking into the house through a downstairs window. Aggie realized the intruder was unfamiliar, so she immediately attacked, digging her claws into the intruder’s face. The screams from the intruder awoke the family, but by the time they came downstairs to investigate, he had fled. The only evidence they were left with was a shoe on the windowsill and blood on Aggie’s paws.

HOORAY FOR AGGIE!! It’s totally awesome that she recognized the threat & acted on it! This is one truly amazing kitty & she gets a huge paw up for her determination, protectiveness, bravery & willingness to do what she could to protect her family. Just because she was born without eyes didn’t deter her from doing an act of love for her family’s welfare & that in itself is truly remarkable!
Do you have an interesting tale of heroics to share? Please send it to me so I can include it in my royal blogs if I have the honor of being crowned your queen next month.
Thank you for your daily votes of support for my campaign dear furiends!

Soft purrs,
Trixie

03/10/2013 08:45.49 AM

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~Additional note from Trixie~
Now that I've delivered the day's itinerary to your pages it's time for me to spin through the plane as it flies toward Singapore Zoo to meow at each of you that pounced by to leave me a vote yesterday. Thank you for taking the time out of your busy days to visit & vote for me dear furiends!! Each vote is deeply appreciated & your comments are pawsome to read every day too. I'm thrilled that I'm keeping everyone awake & hope I'm not spinning too fast for anyone to keep up. I know that my enthusiasm is a bit overwhelming @ times but it's just so exciting to be pouncing down the campaign trail that it's hard to curb my excitement!
Now I know that some of you were concerned about the cat in the cat burglar story yesterday so I googled it & found out that they had safely removed everything from the kitty & put it on display at the prison. The pretty white kitty was sent to a local shelter for adoption after the incident (January 2013)but there was no note on whether anyone has yet adopted her. If she is lucky enough to be adopted then I hope they keep her inside forever because she was raised by the prisoners, went home with their families, & returned to the prison on her own frequently to visit, which is probably why one of them hatched this scheme in the first place. Hopefully her days of being an accomplice in a possible prison break are...or soon will be...a distant memory for this beautiful feline & she'll find the love & companionship she needs to stay off the most wanted list!

Purrs & hugs,
Trixie

03/09/2013 06:54.52 AM

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~Trixie's Tantalizing Animal Tales~ March 9th
Happy Caturday everyone & thank you for your vote support yesterday! I hope you’re ready for a long day trip because our pilots, Shaddie & Thundie, have the plane fueled up & it’s time to pounce aboard the royal 747! Our illustrious pilots were pawed the top secret plans in a sealed envelope before they made their pre-flight checks so now they can open it up & set our exact course because I’m announcing to the world that we’re heading to Singapore (officially The Republic of Singapore) to see the world famous SINGAPORE ZOO! Since 1973, Singapore Zoo has been known for having among the most beautiful wildlife park settings in the world, where animals roam freely in open and naturalistic habitats. Nine-time winner of the coveted Best Leisure Attraction Experience award by the Singapore Tourism Board, their 26-hectare wildlife park is nestled within the lush Mandai rainforest that stretches into the magnificent Upper Seletar Reservoir. More than 2,800 animals representing over 300 species of mammals, birds and reptiles call Singapore Zoo home. Many of the animal habitats incorporate special viewing features such as; elevated platforms to view the giraffe exhibit, underwater galleries to see the watery worlds of the otters, pygmy hippos and giant estuarine crocodiles, as well as glass observatories to see animals such as the predatory cheetahs and lions. On top of the fascinating perspective of the animals, you get to view them in environments that have been thoughtfully built and landscaped after their habitats in the wild. Whether you travel onboard one of the guided trams or trek on foot at your own leisurely pace, your experience will take you through some of the most distinctive global wildlife habitats of the worls! Singapore Zoo is also well-known for its walk-through exhibits that bring animals and visitors together in one space for incredibly intimate encounters. Stroll right into the home of free-ranging kangaroos and have them eating out of your palms at the Australian Outback. Wander into the spectacular diversity of the Fragile Forest where flying foxes soar freely, mousedeers tread gingerly across your path, and ring-tailed lemurs bask in full view on the open sundeck. Wildlife conservation and the preservation of biodiversity are goals they have made as they create a world where more will be inspired to learn, appreciate and respect the animals, with which we share our planet. *Note*Over 1.6 million visitors come to Singapore Zoo every year.

WOW…I’m already excited & we’re not even there yet…MOL! Please settle back in your seats & enjoy your complimentary breakfast as we soar through the air toward our destination sweet furiends! Thank you for accompanying me to Singapore today & thank you from the bottom of my heart for your continued & pawtastic support of my COTM campaign!

High spirited purrs,
Trixie

03/09/2013 04:56.38 AM

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My whale story made you hungry?
Tell mom to feed you more...MOL! There will be no taste tasting of any of the exhibited critters so I'm afraid you won't get to find out if they taste like tuna. All of you GMG kitties need to move away from the water & put away the spears...MOL! Since you can't have fun doing that I'll leave you a dozen cans of tuna that I snatched out of the cabinet. Just don't tell Zaboo that I nearly wiped out his supply...MOL!

Thank you for the daily vote support dear furiends!

Big hugs,
Trixie

03/08/2013 09:00.58 AM

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~Trixie's Tantalizing Animal Tales~ March 8th
Happy Friday everyone! Thank you for the fantastic paws of support for my catpaign so far! Well, since this is the last work day for many people, & we’re looking forward to a relaxing weekend, I’m meowing a very curious tale for you to think about so we can discuss it on our road trip to the zoo tomorrow. ~THE CAT BURGLAR~
Authorities in Sao Paulo, Brazil, have announced that they are trying to get to the bottom of the case of the small white cat that was taken into custody while sneaking back and forth through one of the gates of the Alagoas state prison. When local authorities apprehended the kitty on her way in on New Year's Eve, they found a cellphone, drills, small saws and other contraband taped to her body. According to the newspaper O Estado de S. Paulo, all of the medium-security prison's 263 inmates are suspects. What are we to make of this? First, obviously, we hope that the kitty is OK and in good hands. No news yet on this from the authorities. Beyond that, some key questions:
1. Why are the authorities making the whole story so public, rather than just watching the various comings and goings of the cat, attaching a GPS to her, or whatever? If she's just an innocent participant, she could surely have led them very quickly to, at very least, the people on the outside.
2. So, either: a) the authorities did not follow her, which means that they are either very dumb (unlikely) or are already in possession of a great deal of information that they haven't revealed, or b) they followed the cat but she didn't lead them anywhere of interest.
3. If b), then this cat clearly knows what she's doing and is doing a lot more than she's letting on. And since it's unlikely that any of the prisoners are up to her level of intelligence, we can only assume that it is she who is the brains behind the whole operation. If that's the case, then ...
4. Since cats created the Internet and are behind the entire world's greatest conspiracies, we must assume that this kitty has others in a large, possibly global, network who are conducting similar operations at other prisons.
5. With that in mind, why is she smuggling drills, saws and a cellphone into this prison? So that a few hoodlums can escape? Unlikely.! Cats aren't interested in fostering petty criminality. So we must look to other possibilities, like:
a) work is underway to create tunnels for feral cats to turn prisons into cat sanctuaries
b) a large network of cats is preparing medium and high-security prisons in countries in the Amazon region to imprison people who are leading the destruction of the rain forests
c) the metal fences around the prison are being adapted into a large-array radio telescope to communicate with cats elsewhere in the cosmos
d) all of the above.
We will bring you further information as soon as it becomes available. Meanwhile, please keep a close eye on your cats at home and report any unusual activity.

Thoughtful purrs,
Trixie

03/08/2013 08:56.03 AM

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~Trixie's Tantalizing Animal Tales~ March 7th
~*~It’s a shout-out pawty! Please pounce over to paw MARCUS #229838 a vote today so he can bask in the warm spotlight of COTD fame tomorrow!~*~
I think we were all very impressed with the world’s best mouser, Towser, & I don’t see her record being broken any time in the near future but I loved reading your comments about her prowess & deeply appreciate your vote support!
Well kitties…today will be the finale for the world’s largest & smallest animals so that tomorrow I can pounce in another direction. I’d hate for anyone to get bored, plus the fact that I, the Calico Cyclone, can’t sit still in once place for too long…MOL! Discovering a new adventure is always at the top of my daily agenda & having you pounce along with me makes it a zillion times more fun!
The largest animal on Earth is the BLUE WHALE. Blue whales can measure anywhere from 75 feet (23 m) to 100 feet (30.5 m) from head to tail, and can weigh as much as 150 tons (136 metric tons). That's as long as a 10-story building and as heavy as about 112 adult male giraffes! These days, most adult blue whales are only 75 to 80 feet long; since whalers hunted down most of the super giants. Female blue whales generally weigh more than the males. The largest blue whale to date is a female that weighed 389,760 pounds.
THE CAPYBARA is the largest living rodent in the world & is related to guinea pigs. Its common name means "master of the grasses". Capybaras have heavy, barrel-shaped bodies and short heads with reddish-brown fur on the upper part of their body that turns yellowish-brown underneath. Adult capybaras may grow to 4.3 ft. and weigh up to 140 lb! They have slightly webbed feet, no tail, and 20 teeth.
EEEK…even this tormentor of rodents won’t mess with those big monsters! Now it’s time to present some of the smallest living creatures on earth so let’s go take a peek but please control your urge to pounce…MOL! THE PYGMY MARMOSET is the smallest monkey in the world. They live in family groups led by a parental couple & most of the time the male parent carries the offspring! The young go to the mother during feeding but they depend on dad for transportation. After a few months they will jump around looking for food and excitement on their own.
FENNEC Foxes are the world's smallest fox. These small nocturnal fox are found in the Sahara of North Africa. Fennec Foxes are smaller than housecats so they’re a favorite mean for the large eagle owls living in the area ! Living in sandy, dry regions, their large ears keep them cool and help them hear rodents. Their ears are bigger than their faces which make them absolutely adorable!
That concludes my meows about the world’s smallest & largest animals. Tomorrow I’ll give you a little comic relief before we take our next weekend trip to visit another zoo. Thank you for your votes & meows of support for my COTM campaign dear furiends!

Sweet calico kisses,
Trixie

03/07/2013 09:23.30 AM

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~Trixie's Tantalizing Animal Tales~ March 6th
~PLEASE PAW MAGGIE #78317 A SURPRISE SHOUT-OUT VOTE TODAY & don’t forget to visit our beautiful Queen JOSIE MAE #193862 as you make your rounds.~ I thank you from the bottom of my little heart for the vote of support you sent my way yesterday!!
Good Morning & happy Wednesday dear furiends! Well we’ve got snow! Good thing we made our trip to the farm yesterday because things aren’t looking good for any road trips for me today. I really don’t mind though because I need to get even with my little sis Fluffers! Did you see what she did when we went in the barn visiting Big Jake the horse yesterday? While I was meowing about him that little scamp hid behind the bales of straw & waited until I wasn’t paying attention. Then she sprang out & jumped on my back yowling “giddy-up Trixie” & proceeded to kick me in the ribs. I guess I’m lucky she wasn’t wearing spurs! Well time to move on so off we go to today’s topic.
Do you think you’re a good mouser? Now we all like to catch mice but I dare any of you to top today’s cat record! I must say that I’m humbled by the pawsomeness of…THE WORLD’S BEST MOUSER & think you will be too! TOWSER, a long-haired tortoiseshell female, was the resident feline pest control expert at Glenturret Distillery (located on the banks of the Turret River two miles north west of Crieff in Perthshire, Scotland ) from 1963-1987 & was an officially recognized record holder. Her record breaking victim count was 28,299 mice which were laid out on the Still House floor each morning to be inspected by the stillman. The auditors for the Guinness book of records observed Towser's prowess over a number of days and her total kill count was estimated statistically. She was commemorated by a bronze statue at the visitor's center at Glenturret and her story was featured on Blue Peter (the world's longest-running children's television program). Her paw prints also decorate the label on a bottle of Fairlie's light Highland Liqueur as a tribute to the 24 year service of this illustrious kitty! Since her death she has been replaced by 2 other kitties, ginger-and-white Dylan, from Cats Protection & former stray Brooke, a semi-long-haired black and white female from Cats Protection but so far their record is nowhere near hers.*Added note* Cats Protection finds homes for around 60,000 cats every year in the UK through its nationwide network of 260 voluntary-run Branches and 29 Centers.

I told you today’s story was humbling! Can you imagine catching over 28,000 rodents in your lifetime? It sure blows my mouse catching stories into the wind…MOL! Remember I’m collecting YOUR unique talent/heroic stories to present next month if I have the honor of becoming your queen! Thank you for supporting me during my COTM campaign dear furiends! Each vote is scooped up with happy paws & a purr of love from my heart.

Snowy hugs,
Trixie

03/06/2013 08:38.35 AM

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Dear Missy & GMG
We want to thank you for your congratulations on our COTD win. It is a great honor, and we really appreciate all of the congratulations and goodies that our friends are bringing us. I hope everyone will help themselves to the goodies that my siblings have provided along with those from our friends. Thanks! Hugs, Jack & Feather

Come visit me, Kissy Catz & Sasha***Vote WHISKERS #227256 COTM**, Angel Q. Miss Millie**VOTE WHISKERS #227256 COTM*, Jesse & Mystie**Vote WHISKERS #227256 COTM**, "King" Leo & Mai Lin**VOTE WHISKERS #227256 COTM*, Feather & Jack**VOTE WHISKERS #227256 COTM** & Angels Tiki,Mi Ping,Anna-RIP Jim, Sue, Kathy, Barb.

03/05/2013 05:32.52 PM

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~Trixie's Tantalizing Animal Tales~ March 5th
~Surprise shout-out today for MAUDE #88795 so please go by to paw her a vote & celebrate her adoptiversary~
THANK YOU FOR YOUR VOTE OF SUPPORT YESTERDAY!
Mom has been glued to the weather channel all morning watching the winter storm approaching our area. They’re saying we could get anywhere from 6-12 inches of the white stuff before it’s done but that’s mild compared to some predictions we’ve seen for other areas along its path. Take care & stay safe dear furiends!! Okay kitties, time to quit thinking about snow for a while & get changed into some farm clothes. I’ve got my overalls, boots & straw hat on for our venture today so I hope all you girl kitties left the heels in the closet or you’re going to sink in the mud as we head to the pasture to see the world’s record holding…TALLEST/LARGEST HORSES! The Belgian horse breed is one of the largest breeds of horses in the world today. A testimony to the great strength and size of this particular breed of horses is RADAR (world record holder until 2007). Radar stands at a height of nineteen and a half hands high & weighs more than a ton! In his prime Radar consumed almost 60 pounds of grains and hay, and tanked up to twenty gallons of water, each day! Wherever Radar was displayed there are sign boards warning visitors to be wary of the horse, but he is mostly well-behaved & earned himself the title of the gentle-giant. Radar loves to do display shows, and has been featured on many television shows and at various stores. Now that’s a BIG horse!! I think he could ride every single one of us on his back & still have plenty of room for a human rider…MOL! But he’s nothing compared to the current World Record holder, BIG JAKE! Big Jake was raised in Ostego, MI from a weanling & still resides there today. His owner said he was extremely hard to hold on to when he was young!" Fortunately, the 2600-pound horse has calmed down a bit in his age. He is friendly with all the other animals on the farm, has a great temperament, & works hard when he is harnessed to a wagon. There's a lot of accommodation to be made for such a large animal, too! His stall is 20X20 feet when an average stall is about 12X12 feet & when he needs transported they have to use a semi-trailer. Big Jake is on a strictly healthy diet, consuming 1 1/2 bales of hay and 40 quarts of oats per day! His family is proud to hold the current record & welcomes the curious visitors that come by to see him.
I don’t know about the rest of you kitties but my neck hurts from looking up at these HUGE steeds & I need to take a nap to rest it! Thanks for joining me on our visit to see two of the world’s largest horses! Thank you for your support of my COTM campaign & for all the wonderful comments you’ve been leaving each day. Please pounce over to visit our beautiful Queen Josie Mae #193862 before you head to your napping spot!

Soft purrs,
Trixie

03/05/2013 08:42.12 AM

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~Trixie's Tantalizing Animal Tales~ March 4th
Happy Monday sweet furiends! There nothing like getting a late start on the day, & that’s exactly what I meowed at mom when she was checking her e-mail instead of getting my important campaign work accomplished…MOL! Thank you for the votes you pawed my way yesterday! Each one is treated like a national treasure in my memory archives & is deeply appreciated! BTW...I found out that my name means 'bringer of joy' so I hope that's true...MOL! Okay sweet kitties…I’ve told you about some of the world’s smallest animals so I think it’s only fair to devote some time to a few of the world’s largest ones. We’ll start off with a common critter that many of you have in your own homes…although probably not as big as this one…MOL!
WORLD’S BIGGEST DOG- Over the past two odd decades there have been many dogs which have been featured in the Guinness book of world records for their extremities. Leading the list of such hounds is HERCULES, an English Mastiff, which was inducted in the Guinness book of world records back in 2001 for being the world’s biggest dog, weighing 294 lbs. and having a 39 inch broad neck. Hercules was three years of age, and has paws that are the size of a softball! He may be huge, but is very well-behaved. As a puppy Hercules was large, but his owner didn’t think that he would go on to become the world’s biggest dog. As far as diet is concerned, his owner maintains categorically that he has never served Hercules with anything extraordinary and that Hercules’ size is totally natural. They have fed him what they would have otherwise fed any normal dog. Hercules is a dog that enjoys the limelight too! It was in 2001, when Hercules was declared as being the world’s biggest dog that his owner came to know about the limelight-loving nature of this pooch. Hercules would go wagging to the interviewers and in front of the cameras, which made him a lovable animal to everyone he met. He was featured on many news and daily shows, and was even featured in a few commercial ads. Whatever it was, the world’s biggest dog was willing to try out new things, much to the surprise and approval of its owners. Later on, due to his loving nature, the world largest dog was doing shows and was booked for various birthday parties. He was also allowed to meet and get photos shot with children who came to see him from around the world. Hercules, in true sense, stands as a testimony to the phrase “the gentle giant”!

WOW…I’m SO glad that our family dog Sammie didn’t want to achieve a world record as one of the biggest dogs. I feel small compared to her as it is so can only imagine looking up to one the size of a Shetland pony…MOL! Tomorrow we’ll be heading to to see another world record holder but this one lives on a farm so wear your jeans & mud boots! Thank you so much for your loving votes of support for my campaign. Have a pawsome day dear furiends!

Big hugs & a tuna filled vote,
Trixie

03/04/2013 08:46.14 AM

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Hi Everyone
Thank you for all your support, sweet words and all the yummy treats. I am so happy to be making so many new friends. Many purrs, Katy.

Come visit me, Katy- Engaged to Benji!.

03/02/2013 04:51.21 PM

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hi missy and gmg
TO MY DEAR FRIENDS HERE ON CC. THIS IS ONE PLACE I NEVER EXPECTED TO FIND MYSELF . OH DON’T GET ME WRONG, I AM SURE IT IS THE DREAM OF EVERY KITTY TO BE HERE CATPAIGNING FOR COTM AND QUEEN FOR NEXT MONTH, I AM JUST SO SURPRISED TO BE HERE MYSELF!!!!! BUT VERY HAPPY

OK HERE WE GO MY THEME FOR THIS CATPAIGN HAS TO COME FROM MY OWN LIFE AND AS U ALL KNOW I AM JUST A COUNTRY MOUNTAIN KITTY SO MY THEME FOR THIS IS GOING TO BE : THE HILLBILLY WAY

LETS START WITH WEATHER SIGNS
FORCASTING WINTER BY ANIMALS:

It will be a bad winter if:
Squirrels begin gathering nuts early (middle or late september)
Muskrat houses are big
Beaver lodges have more logs
The north sied of a beaver dam is more covered with sticks than the south
Squirrels’ tails grow bushier
Fur or hair on animals such as horses, sheep, mules, cows, and dogs is thicker than usual
Cows hooves break off earlier
Squirrels build nests low in trees
Wild hogs gather sticks, straw, and shucks to make a bed
Animals grow a short fuzzy coat under their regular one
Crows gather together
Hoot owls call late in the fall
Screech owls sound like women crying
Birds huddle on the ground
You hear an “old hoot owl on the mountain, winter’s coming soon, better put on ur boots”
Birds ear up all the berries early

I will continue with this tomorrow and yes, there is more!!!!!

Be sure to go by our dear King Barney's page and paw him a votey each day and be sure to read the cmr page and go by to visit the sick kitties and family and dont forget all the birtday kitties as well!!!!!

Come visit me, QUEEN JOSIEMAE 193862 VOTE SPUNKY FOR COTM, MONTGOMERY AND JOSIEMAE'S WEDDING PAGE, COUNTESS DAME ANGEL SCOOTER 194581, COUNTESS DAME ANGEL DOODLEBUG 189639, EARL SIR THUNDERFOOT 210289 & EARL SIR SHADOWFOOT 221094.

02/01/2013 10:37.00 AM

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