Friday, March 23, 2007

A Pablo Enterprises community service announcement...

Has this ever happened to you?

Most well-trained cat people know that tails are not for pulling, but I'm guessing that everycat's had at least one experience with a wiseguy prankster, an 'innocent' toddler or a should-know-better child who has pushed the boundaries of feline interaction just that little bit too far. I should know, I've been there.

More than that, I live with a married twentysomething couple who are bound to have kids in the next few years. I'm a toughcat; I can take on anycat that comes my way. But frankly, cats of the world, when it comes to human kids, I fear for my safety.

But never fear, everycat! Some amazingly wonderful and understanding people have written a how-to manual for people to read to their children to teach them about the right ways to handle cats (and dogs and other animals, for that matter). It's called Tails are not for pulling, and was written by Elizabeth Verdick and illustrated by Marieka Heinlen. You can find out more about it, check out some of the illustrations and read an excerpt of the book on the publisher's website. Now, I've not been paid any money, in-kind cat food or any other goods or services to let you all know about this... I'm just letting you know about it for the good of us all.

May your tails be un-pulled, your furs un-patted the wrong way and your whiskers un-trimmed!
Cheers,
--Pabs
PS: no tails were pulled in the making of this announcement.

20 comments:

sammawow said...

Pablo, thank you for an excellent suggestion - this seems to be a very good book. We don't want any tails pulled!

Purrrrrs, China Cat & Willow

Smeagol and Strider, Mystery (Sunnin' at the Bridge) and Gizmo too! said...

Cool, tahnks for lettin' us know about this Pablo! We're gonna tell our beans they need to get this manual right away!

Zippy, Sadie, Speedy and M'Gee said...

Thank yoo fur dis importint informashun Pablo. Our bean sisfurs is all growed up and da granchilds is lerning by igzampul but dis is a furry importint training manooal fur those who must deel wif doze sticky beans who don't know better!

Kimo and Sabi said...

This is furry good advice!!! One of Mommakitty's last kitties had been swung around in da air by his tail (like a helicopter)! He hadded some nerve damage to his tushy!

Hot(M)BC said...

Furry good FSA (Feline Service Announcement) Pablo. Fanks lots! I finks we should all haf one of those books around for little sticky visitors to read. ::nods::
Purrrrrrrs,
Sanjee

Mr. Hendrix said...

Great post and a great idea for a book! We're going to place a some on order for my little bean "cousins" and also to send to some local preschools. We think it'll keep some kitties, woofies, and little beans safe!

Karen said...

Thank you for this!!!. I went to the site and am going to buy the colection of books. My friend , who has three cats, just had a baby. I think this book and the whole colection will be a great gift for them and the cats

Daisy said...

Oh Pablo, that is a great public service you did.

Leona said...

That is why we always hide under the couch when those little beans come over for a visit. Nobody be touching my tail!

Unknown said...

We were very glad to read your Pee Ess, because we were wondering if you got your tail pulled...you know being a guinea pig or something...

HRH Yao-Lin said...

Right! I am going to insist that the humans buy this book. The small humans always think they own the place when they visit and THEY DON'T!! I am all for a training manual, jolly good idea!

Unknown said...

Pablo,

we has a 8 month old 2-legged kitten (or little bean, ifyou will). we just stay away from him. Sometimes conner goes up to him to get cuddles though.

dazey
jesse
conner cloud

Monica said...

I looked at the excerpt from that book and it looked excellent. Those little people scare the dickens out of me. It would be nice to know that they had read a high quality educational reference. Thanks for the info.

Parker said...

What a good idea for humans who need to learn about teaching little ones the proper way to exist with a furrball. Thanks for the suggestion!

Lilly Lu, Iris and Maxwell Mufsa Millon said...

poblo my mama teaches toddlers all day she has 11 of them. They make great books tails are not for pulling teeth are not for bitting, hands are not for hitting, grems are not for shareing they all staples in her classroom. If you ever need adivices about those babby buppy toddlers my mama know a ton

Mu shue and Lilly Lu and Iris too

Anonymous said...

superb public service announcement!


~Caesar and Prinnie

Icon Baxter Bentley said...

Thanks so much for the book suggestion! My beans are 20-somethings too!!! Children are bound to show up here one day too. ugh!

purrs,
Icon

Christine and FAZ said...

Thanks for this P. I hate having my tail pulled. I especially hate it when some clumsy oaf stands of my tail. This does happen occasionally. But most of all I hate being woken up from a deep sleep for a cuddle I never asked for in the first place. FAZ
p.s. sorry to hear about the potential children.

Dobby said...

That is a grate idea. When my mommy and daddy get around to havin' babies, I will make sure that they know about that book.

I like my tail. I do NOT LIKE MY TAIL TO BE PULLED.

Jack, Persephone, Tenzing and Lancelot said...

That's a good book! My OTW 'book'marked it so she remembers it for when anyone she knows has little shrieky monsters and wants cats and dogs. I don't like shrieky monsters so I don't let them near me. But my OTW likes them and lets them come over to my house. She says it's a good thing for me that she doesn't want any though.

On the other paw, maybe I should get a copy for my OTW. SHE pulls my tail sometimes. She SAYS it's by accident when I run out from under her hand when she's trying to catch me, but I don't believe her. And why is she catching me when I want to run, anyway? At least she doesn't pull hard.