Mewsings, March 12, 2018: "It is a very inconvenient habit of kittens (Alice had once made the remark) that whatever you say to them, they /always/ purr."- Lewis Carroll

How cats show affection.
by Alma Gaul

Some people describe cats as "aloof," "persnickety," "neurotic," "aristocratic" and "antisocial."
Others call them "loyal," "sensitive," "inquisitive" and "friendly."

Feline specialist Dr. Elizabeth Colleran believes that we just need to read the signs better to know that our cats love us.

Here are some cat behaviors that people may not understand, as reported by Colleran in the peridocial dvm360:

1. Territorial tenderness. Cats can demonstrate their affection to us by walking around their home (now it’s their territory!) with their tail straight up. Additionally, that rub on your ankles — actually he would prefer your face — means "I love you!”

2. Friendly fondness. While it may seem obvious, cats that sleep together are expressing their fondness for each other and for you when they slip onto your lap for a short siesta. Similarly, mutual grooming among cats is a sign of bonding, something you accomplish when you stroke or brush your cat.

3. Sentimental salutations. Have you ever been greeted by your cat and listened for a high-pitched sound that is made when they force air between their lips? Along with purring, these vocalizations are their way of welcoming you home!

Of course, not all cats love humans equally. To increase the chance your kitten will consider you her best friend, make sure she has lots of interaction with multiple people between three and eight weeks of age.

Interestingly, some male cats may prefer your companionship because they were born with something called a ‘boldness gene.’ This gene is carried only by male cats and makes them more likely to prefer your company.

Your cat won’t send you a card on Valentine’s Day but look for these subtle and not-so-subtle signs that they are in love with you!

Mewsings, March 13, 2018: "One small cat changes coming home to an empty house to coming home."
- Pam Brown

Mewsings, March 14, 2018: "To some blind souls all cats are much alike. To a cat lover every cat from the beginning of time has been utterly and amazingly unique."- Jenny de Vries

Mewsings, March 15, 2018: "There are people who reshape the world by force or argument, but the cat just lies there, dozing, and the world quietly reshapes itself to suit his comfort and convenience."
- Allen and Ivy Dodd

Mewsings, March 16, 2018: "Places to look: behind the books in the bookshelf, any cupboard with a gap too small for any cat to squeeze through, the top of anything sheer, under anything too low for a cat to squash under and inside the piano."- Roseanne Ambrose-Brown

Enjoy your beer with your cat.... or anything else.
by Christopher Spata

World of Beer restaurants around Tampa Bay are having some fun printing cats, dogs, Tampa Bay Lightning logos, internet memes and pretty much anything else customers can come up with on their draft beers.

The store at 2878 Providence Lakes Blvd. recently debuted a Ripple Maker machine, which was originally designed to let baristas print pictures on coffee foam.

The bar is proving it works on beers that have a sturdy, white foam too.

Reddit user teknrd, who declined to give their real name, posted a photo after the bartender printed a photo of their cat, Kasey, on the head of a Blacksmith (a combo of Guinness and Smithwicks) they were drinking at the bar on Tuesday.

The machine sprinkles a tiny bit of coffee extract onto the beverage to create the image, but not enough to taste. The printing itself takes about three seconds to complete.

The Coffee Ripples smartphone app allows customers to submit their own text, designs or photos for printing on the store's WiFi-connected Ripple Maker, even selfies.

The World of Beer locations in South Tampa, the University of South Florida area, and Avion/Tampa International area all have Ripple Makers now, and marketing coordinator Emily Barth said they've been a big hit.

" I believe we are the only bar in Tampa that has the machine," she said.

The World of Beer staff is still getting the hang of it, but simple images tend to show up better on the foam.

Ripple Makers sell for about $3,000 and require a $100 monthly subscription, but you can't get one for your kitchen yet. For now, they're only sold to bars and coffee shops.