Happy Gotcha Day, Zilya

The Z litter at 17 weeks.

Russian Blues are like potato chips: You can’t have just one. So after Tekla, our Russian Blue from Ingeborg Urcia, and Mollie, our black and white girlie, passed, there was just beautiful Sofiya, our Dutch-bred Russian Blue with a side of Aussie genes.

You know what that means.

‘The Art of Raising a Kitten’ Bahner’s Step by Step Primer

Sofiya and me (Photo by Krista Hanniford)

Thanks to Pam Johnson for her lovely article in The Sound.

Step by step, The Art of Raising a Kitten is an insightful, integrated primer on kitten care by Sally E. Bahner. And Sofiya, Mollie, Tekla, and Celica Blue. And many other much-loved feline family members gracing Sally’s life through the years, including Ashley, the first of her gorgeous Russian blue cats.

Domestic short hair or special breed, no matter: for Sally, each kitten and cat that’s come into her life has provided its own master class, helping to make her an expert on cat care and behavior.

“I consider myself equal-opportunity. We’ve had hand-me-downs, strays, shelter kitties, all of the above, along with Russian blues. I think we’ve had an equal number of both, at this point,” says Sally, a Branford resident.

Continue reading here.

‘Owned by cats’: long-time cat-writer Sally Bahner authors ‘The Art of Raising a Kitten’

Lisa Reisman interviewed me about “The Art of Raising a Kitten” for the ShoreLine Times.

Author Sally Bahner photographed with her book, The Art of Raising a Kitten, at her home in Branford.
Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media

BRANFORD — This is the tale of Sofiya and Skitch Henderson and Skitch’s offspring Dewey and Tinkerbill.   

It’s the tale of long-time local reporter Sally Bahner who’s spent the last 50 years, as she puts it in her delightful “The Art of Raising a Kitten,” “being owned by cats.”

“I can describe my life by the cats I’ve had over the years,” she said at a recent pop-up book signing as part of the Holiday Cookie Sale & Gift Fair at the American Legion to benefit the Branford Compassion Club. 

“They’re just exquisite,” she said, when questioned on her love affair with felines. “Everything from their different personalities to their presence. They have such a presence.”

Continue reading here:
https://www.ctinsider.com/shoreline/article/Owned-by-cats-long-time-cat-writer-Sally-17661199.php#taboola-1

The Russian [Blue] connection to Ukraine

Feb. 25 – March 11, 2022

Say what you want about Facebook, but it has been instrumental in connecting people all over the world through common interests and passions.

For me, the connection has been through cats in general and specifically Russian Blues. Through my love of Russian Blues, I have met many wonderful people – from Finland, Sweden, the UK, the Netherlands, Poland, Australia, South Africa, and yes, Russia. Over the years, we’ve shared hundreds of photos, celebrated births, and mourned deaths.

Mollie, Gone Too Soon

As usual, I had writer’s block when writing kitty tributes. Perhaps it’s the final acknowledgement of their passing.

Mollie is gone. We lost her on July 16. Our morning routine was the usual – opened the back door to the deck for kitty viewing, made coffee, emptied the dishwasher, fed her and Sofiya. I went into the office, again as usual, to check email and the news. An hour or so later, I found her flat out on the kitchen floor, limp and breathing rapidly.

I scrambled to throw on some clothes, place her in the carrier, and rushed to the emergency vet in the next town. She let out one or two pitiful cries from the carrier.

Conquer Your Cat’s Fear of the Vacuum

From FearFreeHappyHomes.com

When I pull out the vacuum, Mollie disappears. Fortunately, our house is large enough that she has plenty of “safe” places to hide – often the linen closet upstairs or inside a kitchen cabinet.

There’s a name for this fear: Zuigerphobia. It’s a specific phobia, which is an irrational, yet excessive fear of a particular object. This type of phobia creates an immediate anxiety response, often causing the person – or pet – to avoid the object whenever possible.

Continue reading here.

Want a pedigree cat? Here’s what to know

Originally posted at FearFreePets.com.

More than 30 years ago, I said to my husband, “Someday I’d like a gray kitty – a Russian Blue.” Armed with an issue of Cat Fancy, he found a breeder in New Jersey and we traveled two-plus hours to pick up Ashley, my first Russian Blue. Thus began a love affair that continues to this day and recently culminated with Sofiya, who hails from the Netherlands.

The question arises: Given all the cats in shelters, what attracts people to a pedigree cat? All cats are wonderful, but there can be good reasons to purchase a cat of a specific breed.

Read more here.

Zoom, Zoom! Agility Training Gets Cats Off The Couch

From FearFreeHappyHomes.com

A video circulated around the internet of a little girl leading her kitten through an agility course in her backyard. The girl’s energy and the tails-up, fearless enthusiasm of Suki, the kitten, were endearing.

For most of our cats, their best sport is competitive napping. But the Suki video shows that cats can indeed be trained and love it. Cats need a job, and agility training is just that. Not only does it build confidence, it also encourages them to hone their natural athletic skills.

Continue reading here.

Immaculate Conception… Or the ‘Oops’ Litter

Mom Emma, the Jesus kittens, and Dad River.

When you work with two different breeds of cats, this is what may happen.

Kaisa Savolainen of Tartu, Estonia, breeds Norwegian Forest Cats and Russian Blues. They’re as different you can imagine: Large fluffy brown tabbies vs. sleek blue, silver tipped beauties.

Savolainen raises her cats under the FI*Lolcats Cattery. She is studying to become a veterinarian and is active on the show circuit. She regularly posts photos of her litters of kittens, who are often born within weeks of each other and freely interact.

Fearless Kittens: Are They Made or Born?

This article was originally published on the Fear Free Happy Homes website.

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It’s a little bit of both. These tips can help you choose the one who’s just right for you.

Stories abound about kittens who are adopted into new homes, then promptly disappear for days at a time, coming out only at night to eat and use the litter box. It doesn’t have to be that way. Here’s how to improve your chances of bringing home a confident, outgoing kitten who will be comfortable in any home or situation.

Read the rest of the story on the Fear Free Happy Homes website.