Who needs a vacuum cleaner?

This is a little video clip of Midnight doing his "burying" thing I spoke about. I have never seen a cat do this before and I have to laugh every single time he does it!! (please excuse the quality, I am just learning how to take videos with my husband's digital camera) ...

"The Coven of the Cat"

This afternoon while watching The Animal Planet series on television called, "The Haunted," I saw an episode that really struck me and I just felt as if I had to write a post about it. 

First of all, I watch this show all of the time and usually the stories revolve around families and their pets who have experienced some very "abnormal" paranormal activity ~ voices when there is no one else in the house, pets who are either affected directly or indirectly by something or someone, etc. Second, these families most often than not choose to bring in a Catholic Priest along with a Paranormal Team of sorts to cleanse their homes in order to get rid of these "unwanted" or, for lack of a better word, "evil" spirits be they human or animal. I was torn between posting this one on my Wiccan blog, "The Wiccan Life" or here. (I had finally decided that it would have slightly more relevance on this blog rather than my Wiccan blog).

A Pennsylvania resident, Rob Viars, and his family moved into such a house. Their cat, in particular, was terrified by this strange spirit. In short, the house was once owned by a man named Dr. Frederick LaMotte Santee who was the town doctor and the leader of a Wiccan coven called, "The Coven of the Catta." This coven worshipped the Egyptian cat goddess, Bastet.  Of course, there had been a lot of rumours and half-truths going around about people practicing witchcraft and performing seances, etc. for years.

Around the time The Viars family was getting, "haunted" one of the descendants of Dr. Santee's coven, Lord Shawnus, had come across this story on the Animal Planet website about the house where the doctor had lived. He had decided to come forward to help this family and to set the record straight about both the house and witchcraft. Turns out that the doctor's neighbors were so paranoid about these rumours of speculation, that someone actually tried to burn down the guest house where the coven's sacred cat, Bastet, was living. The house was saved and everyone managed to make it out alive except for the cat.  It was believed that this was the same cat's voice screaming which the PAA (Pennsylvania Paranormal Association) picked up on their EVP's.

The Viars family asked Wiccan High Priest Lord Shawnus and his High Priestess to cleanse their house of Bastet's spirit and send her toward the light.

I have linked the entire story here on our blog for your view ~ Parts 1, 2 & 3. 

(Part 1) http://youtu.be/0gR7XFnkcr4

(Part 2) http://youtu.be/XdP1koQxx3Q

(Part 3) http://youtu.be/ABU2kcp5T6k

Halloween Superstitions, Myths & Folklore

In North America, it is believed that if a black cat crosses your path bad lick will befall you; however, in England a black cat is considered GOOD LUCK.

If the flame of a candle flickers and then turns blue, there's a spirit in the house.

A person born on Halloween will have the gift of communicating with spirits and the dead.

If your palm itches, you will soon receive money. If you itch it, your money will never come.

Many Romans wore lucky charms and amulets to avert the "evil eye."

The superstition  of "knocking on wood" for good luck originates from Pagan beliefs in regards to trees.

Horsehoes bring good luck; however, the horseshoe must first be lost by a horse and then be found by you, with the open end facing your way. You must hang it over your door with the open end up so the good fortune doesn't spill out.


A Rabbit's Foot was thought to ward off bad luck and bring you good if you carry it on a chain around your neck or in your left pocket. The older it gets, the more good luck it will bring.

If you hang a Coffin Nail on your front or back door, you shall be protected from evil.

HERE'S WISHING EVERYONE A HAPPY HALLOWEEN AND A VERY BLESSED SAMHAIN!!!

Cats & Friends: Halloween Costumes ...

Oh, how we "pet parents" just love to sometimes dress our furry children up in cutesy little costumes for Halloween, eh? If your pets are anything like mine, they are none too crazy about the idea, but good sports none-the -less! LOL!

The following are pics from last year's Halloween (2010) of my cats and three silly, but very sweet, dogs who belong to a very dear friend of mine.  The Basset Hound, Sadie, is my God-doggie and I simply adore her! I hope you all enjoy ...

"Midnight" as a Wizard

"Sadie" the Basset Hound as a Turtle

"Kiki "as The Little Devil

"Acee" the Black Lab as a Jack-o-Lantern

"Haley" as a "Biker Cat"

"Pumpkin" the Beagle as a Bumble Bee

Book Review: "Your Magickal Cat" by Gerina Dunwich

One of my absolute favorite cat books simply has to be, "Your Magickal Cat" by Gerina Dunwich. This awesome tribute to felines covers everything from the cats origins, history and their place in Egyptian culture, mythology, amazing true stories & cat literature, spells,  poetry, cat astrology, and much, much more!

In my opinion, it is the ultimate cat lovers book! Here is a wonderful little poem from this book that I would like to share with you titled, "The Purring Priestess" and it is also written by Gerina Dunwich ~

Resplendent in her manner and form,

She prowls the temple of the night

Of old gods and mysterious ways,

Her velvet footsteps sing.

(taken from "Priestess and Pentacle")

"She's my outside human, but I let her sleep in the house" ...

Copy Cat

Kiki is the youngest of our three cats and the only one we had taken in as a small kitten. We got her from a friend of mine when she was approximately four months old. Jinx, her mama cat, had given birth to her and four others in the house ~ all of them tuxedo cats!

Kiki as a kitten playing with Midnight

Tuxedo cats tend to be mostly black with some patches of white on them, usually white boots on their paws or spots of white on their bellies somewhere. Kiki is all black save for some white on her chest and a huge heart-shaped white patch on her lower stomach.

We have nick-named her "Copy Cat" because she keeps adopting Midnight's cute, although if not sometimes odd, habits. For example, if she sees Midnight trying to "burry" on our floors after we had just given him a cat treat or something (it looks as if he were trying to cover his "do-da's" in his litterbox) she will immediately run over and join him. It looks hysterical since dogs are usually infamous for doing that, not cats. Also, she will often jump up on the sofa or bed and position herself close to him, lying the exact same way he does. They look like two little shrimp cats!

Lately, she has decided that she, too, wants to lay on top of my bedroom pillow and  she will actually fight Midnight for it!

Looks like Kiki won that one ~LOL!

Oh yes and just one more thing, she loves to give what we affectionately call "Kiki kisses." In fact, for some strange reason we can't get her to stop licking things like blankets and rugs as well? I had read in one of my cats books that when cats do this, it is most likely because they were taken from their mama cat too soon. I truly believe this to certainly be so in Kiki's case.

Cats, gotta love 'em, right?









Kitten VS. A Scary Thing

http://youtu.be/_MqHN-4okZ4

This cat video is hysterical and a MUST SEE for all cat lovers! Enjoy!!! 

Tree Dweller or Bush Dweller?

Kiki

The other day I was watching a show on the Animal Planet channel called, "My Cat From Hell." In this particular episode, the host talks about two different types of cats ~ Tree Dwellers and Bush Dwellers. Now, the "Tree Dwellers" are the confident cats who like to sit or lie down on the tallest, most highest shelf or piece of furniture in the house so that they, in essence,  can survey their territory and watch the goings-on in their enviornment. These are also the kitties who love to lay down on the rug in the middle of the living room while you have company, sometimes even demanding attention from either you or your guests. The "Bush Dwellers," on the other hand, are the ones who like to hide under your sofa or bed when people come to visit you in order to feel "safe" in their home.

Haley

I would have to definately say that I have one Bush Dweller, Midnight, and two Tree Dwellers, Kiki and Haley. Haley just loves to run from person to person while she meows rather loudly at you and Kiki insists on hogging on the sofa as if to make sure that "her" seat does not get taken! She is such a little character as she actually waits until I get up off of the sofa then literally races to steal my spot!

So, given a choice between the two kinds of cats, "witch" one is your kitty? ;)

Winnie's First Sabbat

 Here are Pictures and a mini video of Winnie attending his first Sabbat in December 2010

Page's Cats

 Boots ( Rip 1-11-2007)

 Cuddles

 Winnie 

Midnight's Story ...

Let's see, where do I begin? Well, upon one winter's morning, approximately two years ago, my husband received a phone call from his boss that the Have-A-Heart trap that he set at work the night before in an attempt to rescue a beautiful ebony cat who had been up until that time living out of the neigborhood trash cans to survive, had a cat in it who was waiting to be picked up and brought home.

When my hubby walked though our door, I saw this poor, terrified little kitty cat who was too scared to even move, looking at me as if to say, "Help me please ~ you gotta let me out of here and please don't hurt me, pleeease!" We had an enclosed porch in which we temporarily kept him in so that he could not only have privacy, but would also feel safe while allowing him to gradually get used to his new surroundings. Not to mention the fact that since we already had two inside cats we needed to keep him separated from them until we could get him to his vet appointment for a Fel-Luk test, blood work, shots, etc.

After all that, we finally brought him inside with the rest of us to get acquainted with our other two cats. None, and I mean NONE of our cats are allowed outside ever! The risks are far too great and I am far too protective of a 'Cat Mom" to allow anything or anyone to hurt my fur babies.

He adjusted beautifully! It was as if he had been living with us all along. The other two are females and he simply adores them! We think he is a British Shorthair or at the very least a Brit mix. His physical characteristics and his disposition match purrfectly. Even though cats are for the most part independent, every breed has their own set of idiosyncrasies or habits that are uniquely theirs. British Shorthairs are known for being very loyal and quite affectionate (especially the males) and they will follow you from room to room until they or you sit down and relax somewhere. They also have rather short legs and stand low to the ground which makes them very uncomfortable being picked up or held. They are not known for being very talkative either, in fact, it is rare that you will hear them "speak" at all. ALL of these things are true of our cat Midnight.

Midnight loves to sit near me while I am on the computer

He also gets along wonferfully with our dwarf bunny, Sam, and will often keep him company by lying aside of his cage for a half hour or so at a time. Getting along well with other family pets is also a part of the Brit's personality. Also, they much prefer the company of adults to children as they are pretty laid back and enjoy the peace and quiet in their enviornment, often hiding whenever you have company visiting the house. They usually only bond with those whom "they" consider family.

One of the things I love the most about Midnight is his nightly routine of jumping on my, I mean "his." pillow and plopping himself right on my head while purring me to sleep. Of all the wonderful cats who have blessed our home over the years, he is undoubtedly the sweetest and most loving so far we have ever had. We just love him to death!!

Here is a funny picture of My (Page) Cat Winnie :)

Merry Meet & Welcome!

My name is Lady Caer Morganna and I would like to welcome you all to, "Witch Cats Blog." This blog is a heart-felt dedication to cats everywhere and their loving, faithful owners, um, I mean companions!

It is co-written along with my long-time friend and fellow cat lover, Page. Please allow me to tell you a little more about us. I am a Solitary Wiccan Priestess and ordained Pagan clergy for the Universal Life Church. I am also a certified Reiki Level II Practitioner and I enjoy reading tarot in my spare time and spending time with my family, friends and beloved cats! My husband and  I share our lives with our four fur babies ~ three adoreable (albeit spoiled to death) felines and a rescued dwarf bunny.

First, there is "My" British Shorthair named Midnight ...

Kiki, who very much favors my hubby's company ...

Haley (short for Halloween) who is a sweet but crazy Calico cat ...

and last but not least, Sam whom we took in 2 years ago after someone had dropped him off in our back yard ...

Page, a college student who also happens to be a Wiccan, has a cute orange and white male tabby cat named, "Winnie." Whinney shares his home with a rather elderly cat named "Cuddles" and a large terrier dog named "Fuzzums." But, I will let Page tell you more about that himself in a future post in his own words!

"Winnie"

We hope that you enjoy our new blog just for you! We encourage everyone to feel free to share their stories as well and we look forward to meeting all of you who cherish their kitties as we do!

A little cat humor ...

Cat Owner's Prayer

Because I'm only human,
It's sometimes hard to be
The wise, all-knowing creature
That my cat expects of me.

And so I pray for special help
To somehow understand
The subtle implications
Of each proud meowed command.

Oh, let me not forget that chairs
Were put on earth to shred;
And what I like to call a lap
Is actually a bed.

I know it's really lots to ask
But please, oh please, take pity;
And though I'm only human,
Make me worthy of my kitty!

~ Author Unknown