A quiet winter walk along Pagham Beach
Author Archives: shadthecat
Amur Leopard
Shad does Paris
John and I decided to take a short holiday last summer, so we packed an overnight bag and my pet passport and hopped on a plane to visit the bustling and booming capital city of France, otherwise known as the City of Love. John booked a room in a small hotel in the Montmartre region which is home to a popular Parisian landmark called the Basilica of the Sacred Heart (known locally as Le Sacré-Cœur). I want you to read that in a French accent please! It’s located at the summit of the ‘butte’ Montmartre (that’s pronounced ‘boot’ not ‘butt’!) which is the highest point of the city and affords a panoramic view south of the Basilica. There were 300 steps up to the front of the church which was jam-packed with tourists, dodgy street sellers who kept looking over their shoulders, and amusing street entertainers such as mime artists and a human statue.
Further along the street full of cafés and bars is the birthplace of the modern can-can dance, Le Moulin Rouge, where John took me to see a burlesque extravaganza that evening. The tickets were very expensive but luckily I was not charged an entrance fee because I reminded them of Le Chat Noir. Hôtel Le Chat Noir (The Black Cat Hotel) is close-by and was named after a friendly stray black cat found during the renovation of the site. This fluffy scruffy feline soon became a symbol for the wild and risqué cabaret nightlife that is notorious in the district. The entertainment was spectacular and the performers were all talented and gorgeous. John had this dreamy look on his face all the way through. I think he was mesmerised by the flouncing feathers and twirling tassels worn by the leggy ladies.
On our second day, we took a boat trip down the River Seine, stopping at Notre Dame Cathedral on the way. The Cathedral was built 8 centuries ago and is considered one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture in the world.
The boat had seats down the middle and walkways along the outside (excuse the lack of nautical terminology, I wouldn’t know my bow from my stern). We sat comfortably with our lunch and admired the architectural treasures this romantic city had to offer. The boat departed from the Eiffel Tower and toured the Ȋle de la Cité, an island at the epicenter of Paris. The on-board guide provided an informative commentary on the history and culture of the surrounding structures, such as the magnificent and ornately decorated bridges that link Ȋle de la Cité to the rest of Paris.
The iron lattice tower named after the engineer Gustave Eiffel, whose company designed and built it, was erected in 1889. Despite the unbelievably long queues, we couldn’t go to Paris without visiting what is probably one of the most recognisable structures in the world. The tower has three levels for visitors and when we reached the third, we spent ages gazing out across each of the four sides of the floor, captivated by the outstanding 360° views of the landscape on this clear warm day. Unfortunately, when we started our descent, I got a severe case of jelly-legs and John had to carry me tucked into his jacket. I know that doesn’t sound like the normally courageous and adventurous cat that I am, but those stairs were metal and I could see all the way down to the ground through the holes in each step. We managed the 1,600 steps (well John did anyway!) and I was glad to be back on solid ground.
Before we left for Paris, I had been practising my French so that I could tackle the snooty French waiters! Little did I know that it would also come in handy for flirting with sultry French felines, and even lead me to enjoy another encounter of a personal nature, which I am far too discreet and gentlemanly to divulge. Suffice it to say, ooh la la! I found Paris to be noisy, busy, expensive and uncompromising, but it was also exciting, mysterious, diverse and full of character. Its a great place to visit and I thoroughly enjoyed the trip.
Behind the scenes with Shad
Natasha, John’s daughter had the chance to shoot with me today!
While I was was setting up my camera, Natasha took the opportunity to capture the master at work.
Related articles
- Shad gives black cats the love (shadthecat.wordpress.com)
- Shad’s Garden Birds (shadthecat.wordpress.com)
- Shad meets the Equihunter again! (shadthecat.wordpress.com)
Shad gives black cats the love
Thursday 31st October is National Black Cat Day. It’s a tribute to black domestic cats and perhaps some of my wild feline cousins too. It’s intended to help dispel age-old superstitions about black cats that have led to people being less inclined to take one of these dark creatures home. There are hundreds of homeless black cats in Cat Protection’s care and an apparent reluctance to adopt them. This has led the charity to organise an annual event to raise awareness of their plight. So if you want to celebrate black and black-and-white cats, you can download a free black cat pack which includes posters and masks and fun ideas.
http://www.cats.org.uk/black-cats
Here are a few fascinating facts to peak your interest! Black fur is a result of melanism which is the development of the dark coloured pigment called melanin in the skin and is the opposite of albinism. It is linked to the process of adaptation in the animal kingdom because it allows the animal to be better camouflaged. Dark individuals are therefore better adapted to survive and reproduce in their environments. I can vouch for that! My sleek dark coat allows me to crouch in corners hidden from view while I practice my stalking techniques on my toy mouse and John’s feet.
Melanism is most prevalent in male cats and is seen in 11 of the 36 wild cat species. It produces yellow irises, as demonstrated by my sparkling golden eyes, and can make some species less noticeable to predators, while other species such as the majestic black jaguars or leopards use it to their advantage during night hunting. There is also evidence to show that having a black coat is associated with resistance to some viral infections.
So there are lots of reasons to appreciate black cats. Here are a few photos of some of my black and black-and-white cat friends and cousins. They come in all shapes and sizes, and all characters and temperaments, from amicable and affectionate to petulant and proud. You will also see a few exclusive images of me, looking rather buff, showing off my glossy and gleaming silky black coat. Go on, give black cats the love!
Basil
Basil
Clyde
Charlie
Boris
Misty
Muffin
Teddy
Pepper
Mr Tibbs
ShadtheCat
Tiffin
Mr Tibbs
Blu
Curtain Twitcher
Zoukia
Molly
Be Kind to The Cat
BE KIND TO THE CAT
A most mysterious and misunderstood little thing
A cat is a wonderful treasure
We sometimes get stroppy and seem so aloof
But can also give so much pleasure
The perfect design, we can leap, crawl and run
For defence we use sharp teeth and claws
We rub round your legs and meow if you’re lucky
Or play with our cute little paws
We sense where we are with our ears and our whiskers
Work hard to look after our fur
We communicate using our bodies and tails
When we’re happy we give you a purr
Territorial creatures, by nature we’re cautious
If frightened, we’ll scratch and we’ll bite
But handled with care and love and attention
We’ll comfort you during the night
Some cats have seen hard times and lived in danger
And lost the will to trust
But with patience and kindness and plenty of time
We can grow to love being fussed
A cat won’t be fooled and when its been hurt
There is no quick easy fix
Though some lucky moggies have been spoilt all their lives
And have learned a few little tricks
Like my friend Muffin who turns on the charm
Or Tiffin so timid and scatty
Handsome Ginger, so proud and strong
Or Basil who’s always been batty
Lets never forget the cats gone by
Faithful felines, honest and smart
Some old friends like Bisto and sweet little Pickle
Whose uniqueness set them apart
But those who love cats do so unconditionally
Because cats deserve nothing but that
Even though we’re naughty and can make a right mess
You should always be kind to the cat
Angel
Angel, a set on Flickr.
A few shots John’s photogenic Granddaughter
Shad does Arundel Castle and Gardens
I wonder what life was like for a black cat like me in the 12th Century Norman Period in a place like Arundel Castle. I would hopefully have been part of the Royal Court, being hand-fed haddock or loitering outside the kitchen, hoping for some scraps of pheasant from the roasting spit, while watching battled-scarred young men put on their armour and prepare to leave for the perilous Crusades. Outside the Castle, life was hard on the streets for both humans and cats, and medieval people were superstitious about cats and persecuted them. In fact, cats have taken a bad rap throughout history, particularly in Europe, where they were associated with witchcraft. Yet around the same time in Egypt, cats were kept to control rat populations and protect food stores, and gradually became members of Egyptian households and were even worshipped. It wasn’t long before the cat craze spread to India, China and other Asian countries and now I like to think they we are highly regarded pets.
Arundel Castle overlooks the River Arun in West Sussex and has a 1,000 year history spanning from the reign of King Henry I (1068-1135) to being passed to the seat of the Dukes of Norfolk and their ancestors for over 850 years. It has been at the forefront of English history and displays a unique and priceless collection of fine furniture, tapestries and clocks dating from the 16th Century. John and I, and a couple of other friends, wandered around the corridors and rooms, mouths open in awe at the shiny polished silverware, the grandeur of the paintings and the skilled craftsmanship evident throughout the castle.
We also took a stroll through the peaceful grounds and the meticulously kept gardens. The gardens are divided into formal courts and have a central canal pond with water fountain, an ideal place to dip my paws and freshen up. The gardens are imaginatively planted and managed in an eco-friendly way and there were various gateways to walk through and pavilions with seats based in oak where we could rest. I enjoyed chasing the insects in the peach house and vinery, hiding in the herbaceous borders and taking a nap under the palm trees. Altogether, the gardens were lovely and had a rustic charm.
Shad does Colchester
Colchester Zoo is the largest privately run zoo in the UK and celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. It relies on its internal income (retail, catering and admissions) and donations to monitor and preserve the health of the animals in its care and to support conversation projects all over the world. The dedicated staff at Colchester Zoo organise training programmes to help the animals adjust to their surroundings and coordinate enclosure enrichment to improve the welfare of the animals in their care.
So John, his daughter and I decided to visit Colchester Zoo to see the animals and talk to the keepers about their work. John’s daughter was particularly excited about the white rhino baby that was born earlier this year called Pembe. We watched her playing in the paddock with her mum (Emily), charging and hopping and looking at her mum for approval. Who would have thought that something so leathery could look so cute! White rhinos are endangered due to excessive hunting for their horns which are used to make dagger handles and trinkets, and unfortunately poaching has increased in recent years. However, Colchester Zoo’s charity supports rhino conservation in South Africa, raising funds for education and the equipment needed to protect both white and black rhinos in the hope that this trend can be reversed.
I really liked the slow and steady giant tortoises, surprisingly graceful despite having to carry their homes around on their backs. Giant tortoises are among the world’s longest living creatures, with an average lifespan of 100 years or more, and can grow to weigh as much as 300kg (that’s 660 lbs in old money). Historically, they have sadly been caught and killed in such large quantities that they were virtually extinct by 1900, so giant tortoises are now under strict conservation laws. What magnificent beasts they were.
There was a cheeky pair of red pandas in an open-air enclosure in the Wilds of Asia section, but every time I got my camera out, they kept hiding behind their bamboo. I suppose I can let them off this time though, seeing as they’ve been busy raising two red panda cubs (the first red panda birth for Colchester Zoo in 14 years). Apparently the keepers hadn’t witnessed any mating, so the first time they were aware of the new arrivals was when the cubs were seen through the hatch of the nest. Altogether now – ahhhh!!
The Komodo Dragon is classified as vulnerable and their number has declined in the wild due to the threat of habitat loss, a loss of prey species and hunting. The Dragons in the enclosure were quite small and young apparently, and the keepers said that a male Dragon can reach 3 metres long when fully grown. They like to catch a few rays and can often be seen basking in 40 degrees of heat during the day in their specially designed enclosure, which comes complete with pool and rain water showers. I was thinking of spending a couple of weeks here in the summer, but I don’t suppose the Dragons would go for that!
Komodo
One of my favourite animals was the Sun Bear. They seemed so mellow and gentle, and they were black like me (although they had a golden crescent marking on their chests which in Eastern folklore represents the sun). The Sun Bear (also known as the honey bear after its love of honey) is the smallest of the eight bear species. The Sun Bears at Colchester Zoo have been given the chance of a new life too. One female was found as a baby in a village in central Cambodia weighing around 300 grams and suffering from pneumonia. Jo Jo was rescued from a bar in north-eastern Cambodia when he was 6 months old where he was kept to amuse visitors. I’d like to acknowledge the efforts of Free the Bears, a charity who work tirelessly to help bears in these conditions.
Another highlight was feeding the elephants in the Kingdom of the Wild exhibit. These gentle giants had wisdom and sorrow in their eyes, almost as though the memories of their past persecution in their native lands linger on, along with the hope that their role in the zoo will raise awareness of their plight and lead one day to a peace between humans and the kingdom of the wild. They patiently watched us, grasping the food from our hands with their powerful hairy trunks and letting us stroke them on their rough grey noses. I spent the whole of the car journey home licking my paws to get rid of the elephant dribble, but it was totally worth it!
A wonderful Mum
Snow Leopard “Irina”
shadthecat 