BuzzFeed has a story about NASA’s Artemis II mission and cats, all told through tweets. You can access the story by clicking on the headline below:
The story starts with this:
Before we get there, let’s talk socials. NASA’s been killing it. Their Instagram bio is appropriately, “In our Moon era.”
And so it starts, with NASA on X:
Someone tweeted this during the Artemis II mission around the Moon:
. . . and NASA responded!
The cat and its staff were elated!
Other cats responded:
And of course the Number Ten Cat weighed in:
And a cat asked the question on every cat’s mind:
********************
The Daily Fail has a story about the library cat at Oxford University. Click the headline to read it. It is a fluffy Siberian Forest Cat
An excerpt:
Meet the ‘famous’ Oxford University library cat who’s been keeping students company during their studies.
Cat Isambard Kitten Brunel, also known as Issy, makes a bus commute to the library alongside his owner Jamie Fishwick-Ford, every day.
Jamie, who is a librarian at Lady Margaret Hall at one of the colleges at Oxford University, began bringing the feline, also known as Issy, to work six years ago.
And the fluffy Siberian forest cat, who spends his days lounging in Jamie’s office, has quickly become a hit with students, gaining a loyal following.
His 43-year-old owner explained that while the cat does not freely roam around the college or the library, he only leaves his office to be petted or for outdoor exercise.
‘He’s proved very popular with the students, and he definitely loves to be loved by them,’ she said. ‘There are some students who come to see him several times a week.
‘Lots of people bring friends and family to meet him, and he’s become a bit of an unofficial mascot. He even appears on some of our outreach team’s stickers.’
After Jamie got Issy in September 2019, he began bringing her to work immediately despite being told the college was ‘very dog-orientated’.
. . .’College had a policy allowing you to bring dogs to work, as long as they mostly stayed in your office and you got permission from anyone else whose office they visited.’
She added: ‘But I prefer cats! I decided to get a cat and bring them to work instead of a dog. I follow the same policy as the dogs’
The much-loved feline mostly travels on his owner’s shoulders and can often be spotted wearing a harness and lead.
‘He’s also used as an unofficial welfare animal, and he’s very empathetic,’ Jamie explained.
‘He’s always very friendly and calm, but he’s even more so when someone is upset or crying, he’s had several people come to him in tears after they’ve accidentally deleted their dissertations or so on.
‘I deliberately got a Siberian Forest Cat because they are hypoallergenic, so it wouldn’t set people’s allergies off as much, both in the library and on the commute.’
Jamie said Issy has become a local celebrity with people stopping her in the streets to ask if he is the famous library cat and to get a photo with him.
‘On the bus he expects to get attention from the other passengers – and will ‘miaow’ until he gets fussed by them,’ she added.
‘He also visits my local pub with me fairly frequently. They have a policy of allowing dogs, and I just apply that to him too.
‘Other colleges also sometimes ask for visits from the famous library cat, so we go to visit them and give their students a chance to meet him.’
Though I can’t put up the pictures, you can see Issy and Jamie in this 2-minute video:
********************
From I Heart Cats, we learn about a white cat named Boy who is a one-truck moggie: he dies flips. Click to read:
An excerpt:
Silence rarely lasts long in Boy’s home, and that is exactly how he likes it. Just when things seem calm, his loud, persistent cries fill the room, demanding immediate attention. It is not the kind of sound that signals trouble or fear. Instead, it carries a sense of urgency mixed with excitement, as if he has something important to share. Boy calls out to his mom with determination, refusing to be ignored, fully expecting her to turn and watch whatever amusing stunt he is about to perform next.
His trick:
Once he knows she is watching, the real show begins.
Boy has developed a routine that feels both chaotic and carefully planned. With a burst of energy, he launches himself into a dramatic front flip. But he does not stop there. His chosen landing spots are often the most unexpected places in the kitchen. Cabinets, appliances, and anything solid seem to be part of his performance space. He flips straight into them with a level of confidence that is both baffling and impressive.
To anyone else, it might look like an accident. But Boy makes it clear this is intentional. There is a rhythm to it. A build-up, a leap, a dramatic landing. And then, without fail, he turns to his mom as if waiting for approval.
Boy does not just want attention. He thrives on it. His loud cries before each stunt feel like an announcement, almost like he is saying, “Watch this.” His mom cannot help but laugh every single time. The way he throws himself into his flips, followed by that proud pause, turns each moment into something unforgettable.
There is something deeply endearing about the way he seeks connection. His antics are not just random bursts of energy. They are his way of bonding. Each flip, each dramatic crash into a kitchen appliance, is followed by that look. A silent request for applause.
You’ve waited long enough: here is Boy doing his trick, including the pre-trick screams:
What a narcissist!
********************
Lagniappe: We have two bits today. First, the evolutionary achievement of house cats:
Extra lagniappe: PHILOMENA!!!!
A famous face from TV is fronting a fundraising campaign to help a small cat rescue in the south Wales valleys to open a new dedicated rescue centre.
Motherland and Philomena Cunk star Diane Morgan was so moved by the story of Moggies Cat Rescue in Aberdare, she stepped in to help and agreed to become their patron.
Now, the rescue, which was founded 12 years ago by friends Eileen Sewell and Doreen Miller, is hoping that with Diane’s help they can grow and raise funds for a new dedicated rescue centre.
A keen animal rights supporter, the actress came to hear about Moggies, which has rehomed more than 125 cats in the past 12 months, through a mutual friend.
She was keen to visit the rescue and on a recent visit to Aberdare met with staff and volunteers, as well the cats currently in Moggies care.
The comedy star, who has Welsh roots, said: “I’m extremely proud to be patron of Moggies. I’m a big animal rights supporter and when I saw what Doreen and Eileen are trying to achieve it really touched me.
“They’re working so hard to provide injured or unwanted cats with shelter and medical help. They rely solely on donations and their kindness is truly heartwarming.
“Growing up I had a cat called Merlin who was my whole world, so I have a real soft spot for cats.”
Now the charity with Diane’s help have launched the fundraiser with an ambitious target of £250,000 to build a new dedicated cat rescue centre in the valleys.
To find out more about the fundraiser and to donate click HERE
A video with Philomena:
h/t: Marion, Matthew, Jez