Yes, I know I’ve misspelled “trifecta” in the title, but that’s deliberate. Today we have the usual three items for Caturday, plus two lagniappes.
First, a heartening story from the 100 Libraries Magazine. Click to read.
The Worcester Public Library in Massachusetts is, well, let them announce it:
From the text:
Embracing the spirit of the program, library patrons are encouraged to swap traditional monetary payments for a simple yet delightful alternative—a photo or drawing of a cat. Executive Director Jason Homer extends a warm invitation to all, regardless of feline companionship status.
“Even if you don’t have a cat in your life, you can still draw one,” Mr. Homer expressed to NBC Boston, highlighting the inclusive nature of the initiative. From domestic cats to majestic big cats like tigers and lions, all submissions are welcome with open arms.
Recognizing that accidents happen and fees can sometimes hinder access to library resources, the library hopes to extend a gesture of goodwill and understanding through this unique initiative.
Why March Meowness?
The inspiration behind “March Meowness” stems from a noticeable increase in overdue fines among young patrons, a trend exacerbated by the challenges posed by the pandemic. However, what started as a simple solution to address financial barriers quickly blossomed into something much more profound. Within just the first five days of its launch, the program had already cleared over 400 accounts, underscoring its immediate impact and resonance within the community.
In essence, “March Meowness” transcends the realm of library fines, serving as a testament to the power of creativity, compassion, and community spirit. Through a simple yet meaningful gesture, the Worcester Public Library not only alleviates financial burdens but also reaffirms its role as a cornerstone of the community—a place where everyone is welcome, regardless of their ability to pay. As patrons flock to share their beloved feline companions or imaginative renditions thereof, the library continues to serve as a beacon of hope, connection, and joy in uncertain times.
And here, from TikTok, is a wall o’cats showing how many people donated photos in lieu of fines (sound up):
@worcesterpublib It was a valiant effort by our staff to try to get a many cat photos as possible up on our cat walls at several of our locations. We ran out of time and staff, but did our best! We hope you enjoyed this a much as we did! #catsoftiktok #catstagram #cats #librarytok #librarytiktok #library #worcesterma #mywpl #MarchMeowness #viral #fyp #fypシ #fypage #foryou #foryoupage #foryourpage
And from the NBC Evening News, where we learn that photos have been sent to the library from all over the world. The response would not be nearly as awesome if they wanted dog pictures, because cats rule the internet.
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In honor of Larry the Cat‘s 15th birthday and 5 years of service as Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office, Mark Felton Productions has put out a lovely 11-minute video detailing the history of Downing Street Cats beginning on June 3, 1929 when the government authorized the position. Rufus was the first Downing Street cat, replaced by Peter, and so on (one was also called “The Munich Mouser,” who was staffed by Neville “Peace in Our Time” Chamberlain.
It’s a great video, so watch.
Here’s a timeline of all the 10 Downing Street cats (via Wikipedia), and the parthy of the PM’s who staffed them. Click to enlarge.
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From the UPI’s “odd news” we have the story of a lost cat who came home after five years:
From the text:
A Maryland family whose pet cat went missing five years ago were reunited with the pet when she turned up in a stranger’s basement.
Melissa and Brooke Garci said Aremis, their indoor/outdoor cat, wandered away from home in Hickory in September 2021 and never came back.
The family canvassed the neighborhood and put up flyers, but there was no trace of Artemis.
The Harford County Humane Society said a woman came to the facility in February with a cat she found in her unfinished basement.
The shelter scanned the feline for a microchip, which identified her as Artemis.
“I was like, I couldn’t cry yet because I was in disbelief, but when I saw her, I was like, ‘OMG, she looks exactly the same,'” Brooke Garci told CBS Baltimore. “It was a beautiful thing.”
The humane society said the reunion was a reminder of the importance of having pets microchipped.
Always get your cat chipped, even if it’s an indoor cat. They can escape, you know, as Artemis did. 40% of lost cats with chips are returned to their owners. (Be sure your chip is updated if you move or change your phone number.)
Here’s a video of the grand reunion (warning, there are d*gs as well):
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Lagniappe: Two cat videos from The Good News girl:
Kiki the School Cat:
Love March Meowness!
We had indoor/outdoor cats until one of our beloveds was hit by a car. He (Oscar) survived but had to spend months recovering from a broken hip that left him with a compressed colon, where the colon routed through his now-deformed pelvic girdle. From then on we had to mix Metamucil with his food so that his colon wouldn’t stop up. Oscar lived for several years under our Metamucil regimen, but we learned our lesson. After that, we had two more cats, which we never let outside. They were happy living indoors and enjoyed long, excellent lives. And unlike Melissa and Brooke Garci, we never lost a cat!
That video about the Downing Street Chief Mousers was entertaining – especially the ‘tale’ of the tailless Manx named Petter. And the policeman whose duty it was to open the door when the cat wanted to get in. When I had three cats, and both the front door and the back door had glass at the bottom so I couldn’t avoid seeing when cats were wanting to come back inside, I sometimes felt as if that was all I did all day – open doors so the cats could come in and out as they wished.
What a wonderful Caturday! Thank you for all these happy posts!
Absolutely wonderful March Meowness aka Caturday! Thank you!
Whoever thought up the idea of pictures/drawings of cats to erase library fines was brilliant. More libraries should do the same or similar if they have lots of outstanding finds. It may be a good thing that the libraries in my vicinity don’t have a wall of cats or I would get stuck there and forget what I actually came for.
I enjoyed all the other reports as well, including about Larry the Cat. I knew there was a history of cats at 10 Downing, but wasn’t familiar with the earlier ones.
Love the Caturday posts! 🐈🐈🐈
Appreciated the interesting cat tales. TNX. Always enjoy reporting on the Downing Street cats and lost cats being returned to their owners – plus the unusual cat stories.
The other day, Jerry mentioned that someone, in an attempt to denigrate this site, wrote that he posted about cats.
Like several of us, I originally started following this site because of Jerry’s defense of science. But I do appreciate the cat posts, and anyone who thinks that they are something to denigrate can sleep on (used) kitty litter
Clearly, there was something untoward about the Blairs.
Wonderful Caturday posts!
Wonderful stories. I never let my cats outside. Lucky their cat returned home. Sweet videos, especially the tiny kitten who survived-