Joy (Dublin, Ireland) had a meltdown. The vet said "slightly chonky." Joy heard "utterly, irrevocably, CHONKY." Post-vet, her human offered a big book as a peace offering, knowing it would please her. She sat on it, but with her back turned and ears in full aeroplane mode. Apparently, the road to feline recovery from such an insulting episode is a long one.
Cat News recently spoke to NASA about the work of Taters (California, USA) on the Deep Space Optical Communications experiment. Taters took on the role of Laser Motion Analytics and Close To Capture Specialist, for the mission, which saw an ultra-high definition video of him chasing a laser-dot streamed, via lasers, 31 million kilometres (19 million miles) from the Psyche spacecraft to Hale Telescope at Caltech’s Palomar Observatory in California. The demonstration proves the ability of the cutting-edge ‘flight laser transceiver’ to transmit broadband video over huge distances.
Tater’s human described how Taters became involved:
“Knowing we wanted to have an HD video of a cat chasing a laser, the team actually thought of using beautifully filmed cinematic stock video. I filmed several test videos of my cat Taters chasing a laser with my phone to use as temporary video to build the idea and finalize graphics/technical overlays concepts. Despite finding a few videos that worked - they were almost TOO good - and we kept coming back to the charm and DIY of Taters. We all agreed however the video needed to be better quality with more energy from Taters. I did a massive set up in my apartment of lights and cameras pointed at a backdrop and a freshly charged laser pointer. But Taters wanted nothing to do with it all. He laid down and stared at the moving laser for 45 minutes doing nothing. I was very upset at the wasted time and told him to leave the room. I took everything down and packed it up, getting ready to let [the team] know I couldn’t get the footage needed and to consider the stock again. As I walked into my living room, Taters was lounging dead center on the couch.
I simply sat down on my coffee table, pointed the laser at the couch and filmed again with just my phone. He went crazy and that is the footage we used in the final video. A video done on his terms, not mine.”
Tater remains available as a specialist for future DSOC experiments, but ‘meanwhile he’ll keep focused on his goals of chasing more lasers, eating more flies and finding better ways to wake up his dad at 4am.’
Oscar's (Berkshire, UK) weather forecast (sticking his head out the door while human waits patiently) determined that outside the kitchen door was too wet. To his utter shock and confusion, the weather forecast for outside the conservatory doors was also too wet! So Oscar took action: he yelled at his human.
Babette (Washington State, USA) loves to eat her dog brother’s food, and thinks it smells really good. Unfortunately it is a bit big to chew. However her Grand-human likes to visit with two little dogs and their kibble is much easier to eat.
Mister Pickles (New York State, USA) has observed that the dog gets to go to the park all the time. This seems extremely unfair as he only gets to leave to go to the vet!
Lulla and Tulla (Jersey, Channel Islands) both love bubble baths. Whenever their human has one, they just want to join in.
Dazzle (BC, Canada) was receiving too much love today. Every few minutes there were kisses and cuddles. She had no choice but to sleep in her cat carrier where no one could get close enough to love her.
Pippin (BC, Canada) was very upset today, because his humans ate dinner early. Despite his protests, apparently this does not mean that he also gets dinner early.
Oscar (Berkshire, UK) has trained his Grand-human. When Oscar wants to play, he scratches the sofa so Grand-human knows to wave his hand around wildly near Oscar and shout "get off the sofa" so Oscar can bite and ninja attack the hand.
Every day at noon an orange cat visits Mister Pickles (New York State, USA) and every day at noon, they must duel.
