Cats Chirp When Stalking Birds

Cats Chirp When Stalking Birds

Reading meaning into your cant’s moves and meows

Your cat rolls over, and meows. He drools when you pet him. He avoids eye contact with your best friend. What is he trying to tell you? Cats use a basic repertoire of sound and body language to express emotions, intentions, needs, and wants. A meow has a different meaning in a different context. A cat is aware of context.

For example, when a cat meows, and then runs to the kitchen, you can be sure he wants to be fed. If a cat meows, makes eye contact, and raises its tail vertically, it probably wants to be picked up. When it brushes against you, meows, and then walks away with its tail in the air, it means “follow me”. Think of a tour guide who holds an umbrella in the air. When a cat meows at the door and looks at the door knob, let him out. Cats know you use the door knob to open the door.

When a cat’s tail is in an inverted U or it looks at you and flops over on one side, it wants to play. When its tail is arched toward its body during play, it is saying it’s excited. Should it lash its tail, it means intense arousal. It may do this when it sees a bird or when it’s being petted. It may also drool when it’s being petted. If it towers its head, gives a direct stare, and walks slowly forward, it’s angry.

Birds chirp. Photo: Elena

When it crouches close to the ground, avoids eye contact, rises up on its four legs, arches its back and makes its hair stand on end, it’s scared. The classic Halloween cat is signaling fear.

Sometimes a cat will wash itself after you’ve yelled at it. Is it trying to wash away its hurt? In fact, it’s embarrassed. It may wash itself before a thunderstorm, too, because it’s anxious. This is called displacement grooming. Just as an adult will fidget with his pockets when he’s anxious. It’s a self-comforting behavior, like a child sucking his thumb.

When a cat makes chirping sounds, it probably has its eyes on a bird. A cat will usually make chirping sounds when it spots prey. When it avoids eye contact, it probably wants you to keep your distance. Cats make 16 different vocal sounds. Fox describes them as murmur patterns, vowel patterns, and strained intensity sounds. A cat will make a murmuring sound, sometimes accompanied by purring when it’s relaxed, when it has a goal in mind, such as being let outside, or when it’s frustrated. A cat makes strained intensity sounds, such as hissing or growling, when fighting or mating.

A cat’s eyes and ears are also good ways of finding out what kind of mood it’s in. When its ears go back and its pupils enlarge, it is getting defensive. The more enlarged the pupils and the flatter its ears are on its head, the more defensive it is feeling. It may even bare its teeth if you keep it up.

Cat's tree. Photo: Elena

Suppose your cat starts racing through the house with “the evening crazies”. When all you see is the cat running around in circles, the cat is imagining it’s out hunting in the jungle. It may pounce on imaginary prey or run around as if it’s chasing a gazelle.

Cats have a great imagination, so what should Mr. or Mrs. Owner do when little Fluffy tears through the house? By all means, they should join in.

Noni, the Super Fruit

Noni, the Super Fruit

Noni (or Indian Mulberry) grows year-round in Costa Rica, and it is an irregular shaped fruit that grows on small shrubs or trees. Noni are native to Polynesia.

Originally, the Hawaiians used this fruit as a tonic for many different illnesses. The Noni fruit is full of many powerful antioxidants and compounds that are believed to increase vitality.

Among the wide-ranging benefits are that it is rich in selenium which promotes skin elasticity and skin health), xeronine, which promotes cell structure health and regeneration, scopoletin (it has anti-inflammatory properties) and terpine (it helps the body detoxify).

Many stay away from this amazing super-food because of the pungent odor. But once you move past the smell and begin to receive the endless benefits, you will not ever look back.

Noni jus, the superfruit, photo by Elena

In fact, noni has many uses. It can be used externally as a poultice to draw out excess fluids and rebuild the tissues. You can also use it in your eyes (for example, after a long sunny surf session), because it soothes sunburnt eyeballs like you wouldn’t believe!

Internally, as it enters your system, your body will instantly feel invigorated on all levels as it regenerates cells and eliminates bacteria.

As you take a sip of noni, you will receive an instant high, serotonin boosting, stimulation from this super fruit that guarantees to make you feel alive.

Aside from smoothies, you can make a tea from the leaf, which helps digestion, eliminates toxins, and maintains normal blood sugar levels. To learn more about noni, find the full article and a great-tasting smoothing recipe at ballenatales.com/noni

Riverdale Farm

Riverdale Farm

Riverdale Farm is a 7.4-acre (3-hectare) farm in the heart of Cabbagetown, an urban neighbourhood in Toronto, on the west bank of the Don River adjacent to Riverdale Park. This farm exists since 1978 and it is maintained and operated by Toronto Parks, Forestry and Recreation Division.

The farm is located on the site of the Riverdale Zoo which existed here since 1888. But in 1974, the zoo relocated to a much larger facility in Scarborough and became the Toronto Zoo.

Today, the farm specializes in pioneer breeds of farm animals that are hard to find on commercial farms. We can see there poultry, waterfowl, sheep, goats, cows, horses, pigs and donkeys.

Three buildings remain from the old Riverdale Zoo: Donnybrook Ruin stands beside the cow paddock. It was originally a two-storey building, but a tower and a main floor is all that remains today; Island House which sits in the middle of the lower pond. It housed different kinds of birds and animals during the eighty years of the zoo; Resident Zookeeper’s House is located beside the Meeting House. It was built in 1902 by prisoners of the Toronto Don Jail and functioned as a residence, a staff building, zoo hospital, and temporary morgue for the Necropolis Cemetery (today the “Residence” (as it is now called) is used for a variety of farm-related and community-based programs).

The Francey barn, the main barn on the site was first constructed in 1858 in Markham and moved to the present site and rebuilt in 1977. The Residence, the Donnybrook, and the Island House buildings are the only zoo buildings left remaining on the Riverdale site. Recreational and interpretive activities are offered to the public inside the Meeting House.

The farm hast Lost and Found room, first aid, public washrooms and baby changing facilities. Pottery and spinning/weaving rooms are also located here. Classes are offered seasonally from September to June. The Meeting House is the home base of the Farm’s Summer Camp Programs.

According to the Wikipedia, in 2011 a consultant report recommended the closure of the Riverdale farm along with the High Park Zoo as a means to cut cost for the city of Toronto. In 2013, the W. Garfield Weston Foundation made a CAD $25 million donation to provide funds to keep the farm operating in the short term.

Riverdale Farm is located three blocks east of Parliament Street along Winchester Street or 3 blocks north of Gerrard Street East along Sumach Street. Admission is free and parking is only available on neighbouring city streets. The farm is open all year round daily, including weekends and holidays.

Address of the Riverdale Farm: 201 Winchester Street, Toronto.

General view of Riverdale Farm. Photo : © Elena

Visitors can tour the Farm’s scenic lands along pathways through wooded areas, around ponds, and into butterfly-herb-flower-vegetable gardens. Photo : © Elena

Visit the farm animals and chat with the farmer during daily chores. Photo : © Elena

Did you know that horses and ponies sleep standing up? Photo : © Elena

Accessibly located in the city of Toronto, the Riverdale Farm offers a pleasant and relaxing experience to animal lovers and enthusiasts wishing to watch our furry friends. Photo : © Elena

As per the pictures, the Riverdale farm showcases friendly dairy goats, cows and many others. Photo : © Elena

We still wonder who the sleeping ball of fur in the barn was? Seemed a bit large for a cat, and too shiny a coat for a dog… Your guess is as good as ours… Just let us know if you visit! Photo : © Elena

Hi, how are you doing? Photo : © Elena

The Francey Barn is a rare type of architecture, known as a Pennsylvania Bank Barn. Bank Barns are built on the side of hills or river banks.  This has the advantage of having an upper and lower floor accessible from ground level. The animals are housed on the lower level, while upstairs the Francey Barn holds tonnes of hay, straw and feed. Photo : © Elena

Domesticated waterfowl, sheep, chickens, turkeys and pigs are found on and around the site. Photo : © Elena

The site was restored by the city of Toronto as a farm to provide city children the chance to see how a farm works. Photo : © Elena

Two proud cows, inhabitants of the Riverdale Farm. Photo : © Elena

A farm cart at the entry of the Riverdale Farm. Photo : © Elena

Sheep. Photo by Elena

Three turkeys. Photo : Elena

Hi, ‘m a Sheeplady. Photo : © Elena

Welcome to the Riverdale Farm. Photo : © Elena

Snakes, Spiders, Other Biters

Snakes, Spiders, Other Biters

The American Red Cross outlines the different creatures that can bite you and what to do when they strike

Animal bites

 In addition to obvious wounding, animal bites often pose the threat of rabies. Some signs of a rabid animal: a nocturnal animal that is active during day, an animal that normally avoids people that doesn’t run away, an animal that seems partly paralyzed, or an animal that acts unusually ill-tempered or quiet. 

Physical signs: Bite mark, bleeding.

Care: If bleeding is minor, was wound. Control bleeding. Apply antibiotic ointment and cover. Seek immediate medical attention if wound bleeds severely or if animal seems rabid.

Insect bites

Bites can lead to allergic reaction and potentially life-threatening breathing emergency. 

Persons allergic to insect stings should always carry adrenaline pills and an injection kit containing epinephrine. Painful but rarely fatal in others.

Physical signs: Pain and swelling at the bite’s location. Allergic reaction may cause swelling to spread to entire body and affect breathing.

Care: Remove stinger by scraping it away or using tweezers. Wash wound and cover. Apply cold pack. Watch for signs of allergic reaction.

Marine life stings: Possible allergic reaction resulting in potentially life-threatening breathing emergency. May make others ill at times. Occur in saltwater.

Physical signs: Possible marks, pain swelling at sting’s reaction. Allergic reaction may manifest more general swelling, difficulty in breathing.

Care: Soak initially in saltwater. Apply cold-pack or paste of baking soda or meat tenderizer. Call local emergency service if necessary.

Snake bites

There are two groups of poisonous snakes in the United States. Coral snakes can be found from North Carolina to southwester New Mexico. Pit vipers are found all over, and include the copperhead, water moccasin, and rattlesnake. Most bites take place in inhabited areas, not the wilderness, but those living in remote, snake-infested areas should keep a snakebite kit with them and know how to use it.

Physical signs: Bite mark, pain, numbness.

Care: Wash wound and immobilize wounded area, keeping it below heart level. Call local emergency number. Do not apply ice. Do not use electric shock. Do not cut the wound or apply a tourniquet unless medical attention is impossible within 30 minutes.

A spider. Image in public domain

Spider bites

The black widow and the brown recluse can make you very sick or, in rare cases, kill you. Both are found in dark, out-of-the-way places, such as wood piles. The black widow is black with a reddish hourglass shape on its underside. The brown recluse is light brown with a darker brown, violin-shaped marking on its back/

Physical signs: Bite mark, swelling, pain. Nausea and vomiting. Difficulty breathing or swallowing.

Care: Wash wound and apply a cold pack. Call medical professionals.

Plants and Oxygen

Plants and Oxygen

Plants and oxygen: By one billion years ago, plants, working cooperatively, had made a stunning change in the environment of the Earth. Since the oceans were by now filled with simple green plants, oxygen was becoming a major constituent of the Earth’s atmosphere, altering it irreversibly from its original hydrogen rich character and ending the epoch of Earth history when the stuff of life was made by non-biological processes.

But oxygen tends to make organic molecules fall to pieces; and despite our fondness for it fundamentally a poison for unprotected organic matter.

Photo by Elena

The transition to an oxidizing atmosphere posed a supreme crisis in the history of life. A great many organisms, unable to copy with oxygen, perished.

A few primitive forms, such as the botulism and tetanus bacilli, manage to survive even today only in oxygen free environments. The nitrogen in the Earth atmosphere is much more chemically inert and therefor much more benign than oxygen. But it, too, is biologically sustained. Thus 99 percent of the Earth’s atmosphere is ob biological origin.

Green plants generate molecular oxygen. Illustration . © Megan (Elena)