A Tip From Grandmother Winsome

If you notice that there is a reward out for one of the cats you've obtained for your experiment, it might be worth parting with that test subject, depending on how substantial the reward is. If you've already used the cat in the experiment, simply slip its collar around the neck of a similar-looking cat and collect that reward.

Grandmother Winsome Pardons A Cat

Kiddies, in honor of National Cat Day, I've decided to grant one of my test subjects its freedom. That's right, Cat 005149 will be back out in the world, though now without its front left leg, its whiskers and its eyesight. Good luck, Cat 005149! Happy National Cat Day!

Fanny Mail: A Question About Rescue Shelter Cats

Hi, Kiddies! Today I received an email from a fan in Oklahoma City. Ernest Cotter writes: "Dear Grandmother Winsome, I saw Cindy's blog post on Saturday about her kitten costume, and I was thinking how wonderful it would be to have clothes made from cat fur. So I was wondering, what do they do at the animal rescue shelters with the cats they have to put down? Is it possible to have several of those rejected cats held for me to make a fur coat? Furs are so expensive, and I just love how soft cats are. I have some time on my hands now that I've retired, so I can learn to stitch them into something beautiful."

Ernest, it's always wonderful to hear from a fan. And you're right — furs can be awfully expensive. That's why I was hoping to receive a new mink for my birthday. No luck there, but Christmas is just around the corner. With regards to the cats, I think that is a great idea. Why waste good furs by tossing them into the incinerator? Your idea is actually environmentally sound. The animal rights activists will appreciate your work in saving at least part of the animals. Call the shelter first to see if they have any litters, because you'll want the cats to match, especially if you're going for a gorgeous full-length coat. 

Poll Results: What do you like most about cats?

Hi, Kiddies! As you know, today is National Cat Day. So of course it only seems appropriate that I release the results of my very first blog poll, "What do you like most about cats?"

And there's still time to vote on my new poll, Kiddies! You can find it in the upper right corner of this page.

National Cat Day

Hi, Kiddies! There are all sorts of strange holidays, and as it turns out, today is National Cat Day. So for all you cat enthusiasts, here is another look at the special cat episode of Grandmother Winsome's Variety Minute.

Fanny Mail: A Cat Question Update

Hi, Kiddies. Several months ago I received a letter from Steve of Minneapolis, who had asked a grooming question regarding cats. You can read that letter and my response here.

Today I received an email from Steve, asking for an update. Well, Steve, I'm embarrassed to admit that I had completely forgotten about that experiment. But as soon as I got your message, I went down to check on it. Unfortunately, I cannot provide an update, as those cats have in the meantime died.

Grandmother Winsome’s Tips For Better Living

Declawed cats are more likely to bite, being deprived of their main means of defense. So be sure to have their teeth removed at the same time.

A Fan's Submission

I'd like to thank Jennifer Kline of Akron, Ohio for responding to my Spring Cleaning announcement. As per my request, Jennifer sent this photo of her cat, Buddy. While Buddy is not right for any of my current experiments, I will certainly keep him in mind for future projects. By the way, what is that pink and white string attached to? I have a few ideas, and I'm curious to see which one is right.

Fanny Mail: An Insurance Question

Hi, Kiddies! This weekend I received a letter from Sylvia Templeton of Seattle, Washington.

Sylvia writes: "I just read that you can now purchase insurance for your pets, and I was wondering how much I would receive if something were to happen to one of my cats. Is it possible to put all of my pets on the same policy, or do I need to separate them by species? I'm thinking that if they're all on one policy, it would make it more convenient if, say for example, all of my pets were to perish in the same accident."

Well, Sylvia, I'm guessing you'd have to take out a different policy on each individual animal. Sadly, you probably wouldn't get much for one of your cats. But perhaps if you have a few exotic pets, you could receive a substantial amount if some unfortunate accident were to befall them.

Results From Experiment 0231-A (The Hawaiian Experiment)

I know a lot of you have been curious about the experiment I conducted in Hawaii.  So I would like to share with you the results.

• Wild rooster (Pistol Jim): 48 min.
• Raccoon: 23 min.
• Cockroach: 22 min.
• Rat: 19 min.
• Coyote: 18.5 min.
• Tarantula: 16 min.
• Cat, black fur: 11 min.
• Cat, black fur, short tail: 11 min.
• Cat, grey fur: 11 min.
• Cat, orange fur: 11 min.
• Cat, orange fur, with limp: 11 min.
• Hawaiian goose: 4 min.
• Gecko: .5 min.

As you can see, the winner of the experiment was Pistol Jim, with the raccoon a distant second. Thanks to all of the participants.

Experiment Participant

The cats in Hawaii run free. Clearly the people here are ignorant of proper cat storage.

Just for my books, what kind of cat was this?

Grandmother Winsome's Halloween Tips (Tip #6)

Halloween is the best time of the year (and not only because it happens to be my birthday). This is a time for delightful mischief, a time for eating a lot of food that isn't nutritious, and a time for knocking on strangers' doors and making ridiculous demands. To help you all make the most of this holiday, I'm offering a series of Halloween tips.

Halloween Tip #6: Mix things up this Halloween by using animal skeletons. Cats and dogs are good choices, and are easy to come by.

My First Greeting Card

This is the first Grandmother's Fanny Game greeting card.  I still have some available.  They're only three dollars each, and of course include an envelope.  If you know anyone who loves cats the way I do, he or she would certainly be tickled pink to receive this card in the mail.

Grandmother Winsome's Variety Minute Episode 2: Cat Storage

Hi, Kiddies! I'm thrilled to announce that the second episode of Grandmother Winsome's Variety Minute is available for your viewing pleasure.