Breaking Cat News by Georgia Dunn for April 11, 2024

Great chart, Puck. But WHERE IS ELVIS!

Oh my. I’m lovin me some Teddy Tarantula! The hat AND an umbrella? Now I have Tarantula by This Mortal Coil stuck in my head. Good song, but I think the ferrets are more in the mood for Walking On Sunshine. Played at 78RPMs? LOL

Is that hermit crab shaking his fist a la “You kids get off my lawn!”?

A friend of mine has a tarantula…his wife freaks every time it molts and she thinks there’s two in the aquarium

You left out a snake which is the best pet a person could ask for.

I do quite like rabbits, although I’ve never had them as pets. I like seeing them wild, because of Watership Down.

All true. Nicely done! Happy ferrets are fun ferrets. Chaotic, but fun.

OT: Tiny Kittens

Did anyone else out here spend several childhood years believing that the word “hamster” had a “P” in the middle? Sort of like the word “sumpthing?” :-)

There’s truly a pet for everyone, but I’m not sure all creatures can be pets. For instance, what about raccoons wearing eye-pieces that give them a “Kit Chase” vibe? Would Sophie and Tommy’s woman possibly have room for a little guy who’s dreaming of being “willing to climb a whole novel” to see his crush, but is too shy to say anything? Or would that be stretching things a bit too much?

Hmm… Do they know Teddy’s waiting for relocation?

I don’t judge other people’s tastes in pets, but for me, a proper pet is one I don’t have to keep in a cage or terrarium.♥

There was a guy at work who had a pet tarantula, named “Maude”. Not as alliterative as “Teddy”.

OT: Asking for prayers for my boys

I am not a person who can keep a pet that eats other pets. Just not my thing. I’ve kept rats as pets, they re awesome pets. They’re smart and sassy and very clean. They learn quickly, they’re very cuddly and loving, come when they’re called, they’re like the mini version of a dog.

Oh no. Nopes. Nopes. Nopes. Eevil dangerous deadly spiders ain’t no pets. Prepares to get SPLAAAATTED ya diabolical infernal fiend.

I’m glad teddy tarantula is FINALLY out of patreon early access because I love him so much. Someone, adopt this boy

There’s an Instagram account where a women post pictures and video of her gaggle (?) of jumping spiders. They’re kind of adorable. (A scramble of spiders? A silkiness of spiders? A creepycrawl of spiders?)

This makes my day. Honest happy sweet goodness. :)

It’s National Pet Day!! If you’re thinking of adding to your furry family it’s a good day to visit a shelter or rescue (really every day is a good day to visit) and let a fur baby choose you.

Nope. Sorry. Even though he’s cute, I can’t be “Team Teddy Tarantula.” Jeesh, even the name of the species gives me the creeps!

Sorry. I draw the line at arachnids.

I was expecting more angst this week, but it’s quite cheerful. Teddy Tarantula seems kind of random, but perhaps Georgia has plans for him.

Meanwhile, Back on the Nile

At the oPyramid Literary Festival

Puckmosis: Before we continue the Tapestry Readings, let’s give a shout-out to those who made it possible: The Artisans, Maat-Tilda, Sophititi, Adobe Style, and our web spinning spider friend, Arachna from Afar!

Applause

Puck: And to our construction guys: Iron Glove, Wally, and Iggy for making the Interactive Tapestry accessible to all!

More Applause

Puck: And now Theo Tarantella will read from A Most Busy Spider while his cousin, Arachna demonstrates web spinning.

Theo: Thank you, Puck. And those of you who know the story, feel free to join in.

The bowler hat is a nice touch

My nephew has had three tarantula, two of the larger verity, around 3" and one that was hardly bigger than a barn spider.

\\//_

Oh, give me a home where the kitty cats roam

Where the ferrets and the tarantulas play

Where seldom is heard a discouraging word

And the skies are not cloudy all day

Home, home in the pink house

Where the ferrets and the tarantulas play

Where seldom is heard a discouraging word

And the skies are not cloudy all day

And the skies are not cloudy all day

Pig

My 19 yr old grandson has a tarantula, several snakes and a tortoise. He’s going to need a really understanding girl. I can handle the snakes and the tortoise but that arachnid needs to stay the heck away from Gramma.

No spiders for me, thank you kindly.

Teddy, I think you are adorable!

Me! Tarantula Teddy can have a home with me!

I’m not surprised to see birds on the chart. We are very majestic animals.

I have … issues with arachnids, but Teddy Tarantula is so dapper. I love his little lunch bag!

I hope someday we meet That Man. Anyone for whom Dr. Scuttles has a grudging respect must be a good Person.

My first pet was a hermit crab, acquired under odd circumstances. He had a wee cage and I loved to let him walk on my hand.

Awww, I love you Teddy! You are more than welcome in my home!

Feel the love

I prefer wild animals. There’s no vet bills and you don’t have to feed them

Dogs? My poodle puts his paws on my shoulders and kisses my nose when I come home. He has opinions about the different mailmen we have on our route.

Let’s vote Teddy out of the Big Pink House.

So instead of a FORever home, or even a FUR-ever home, they will be going to a

Wait for it . . .

A FER-EVER Home, right?

Yes, Teddy Tarantula, there is indeed a home for you. Right under this shovel.

Sorry, but I can’t abide spiders, and I certainly wouldn’t abode one (on purpose).

TEDDY!!!

Happy Pet Appreciation Day!+

+ While April 11th is National Pet Day, Pet Appreciation Days should also be observed on any day that falls between May 1st of one year and April 30th of the next.

I am a bad cat mom. Monday was LucyLu’s Gotcha Day #13. I blame my forgetfulness on being excited about the Eclipse. I asked her for forgiveness when I returned home, but for the first time ever she swished her tail and walked away. TBH I was a little heartbroken. When it was time to go to sleep she was still ignoring me. Finally about 30 min later she jumped into bed and gave me head boops. Guess I’m forgiven now.

Hey, I recognize that last panel! Also, totally OT, I had a package of bees that were supposed to ship Saturday and arrive Tuesday, but the tracking was stuck on “label created”. Until this morning when it suddenly said “On truck, out for delivery”. I’ve gotta get off the innerwebs and go deal with bees in the rain! :)

My English teacher, junior year in high school, had severe arachnophobia, and was foolish enough to tell us. He really freaked out. I think some of us learned something about “primal fear” from his reaction. It wasn’t rational—but fear is never rational, even when there is good reason for it.

I’m partial to cats but I get it. A friend of mine and his daughter loved their iguana. One year they left the Christmas tree up till July because the iguana loved to sit in it.

My sister had a pet tarantula named Dahlia. She was beautiful!

Today’s “Ripley’s Believe It Or Not” includes a cancer patient who brought his emotional support alligator to radiotherapy.

Awwww, Teddy!

Teddy seems like an nice enough chap

I didn’t notice him on first read but I want to see more of chameleon with a tiny hat and sweater. I also want to know why those two birds are so angry.

Love the rabbit in a dress, the hermit crab with top hat and can. Not sure about the fish. Hamsters are just too small for lots of things. Snazzy reptiles. And for those that like (shudder) spiders, love his umbrella.

I love spiders but have never had a tarantula. Always too many cats. . . I love rats and kept them for years (refugees from psych and med labs). I second Tigrisan’s endorsement of them. They really are very like tiny dogs.

OT: My heart has joined the Thousand, for my friend stopped running today.

We have a pair of kitchen pigs. They wheek at us if we walk past the cage without offering greens.

From what I’ve heard, ferrets are such social creatures that they require at least two other ferrets around.

I’m sad to say that I’ve met some humans who should never have pets. I’m sure that such people don’t follow this comic.

Dr Scuttles makes me so happy.

I love snakes!!! ❤️ I have a corn snake, two ball pythons and a yellow anaconda. This last one I named Anaconda Skywalker, but as he got older he got kind of grumpy so I changed his name to Darth Vader. It suits him.

I also used to have a pet tarantula. He was nice enough, but kind of boring.

If you decide to get hermit crabs, PLEASE, PLEASE read up on the care they need. They are badly mistreated by those who capture them and most pet stores – not due to malice but to lack of resources and understanding.

They need both salt and fresh water (changed frequently) and high humidity as well as high temperatures. They need at least 3x as much substrate as the height of the biggest crab and a separate smaller tank for molting. They need a wide variety of fresh and dried foods. Crab Central Station on Youtube and the HCA (Hermit Crab Association) can give you good information.

If you have the resources to rescue them from their terrible conditions (they are basically slowly suffocating while in low humidity), know that you will loose ~50% to post purchase stress syndrome, but the ones that survive will be far more comfortable.