A couple nights ago, I had this dream about my mother’s cat trying to climb the livingroom drapes (again). So, over breakfast, I gently suggested to He Who Hogs The Power Tools that he should design and build a nice scratching post
tower thing for my mother. (Well, for her cat, obviously.)

He heard me out, sighed, and went back to flipping the glossy pages of Extreme Kitchen Makeover Magazine into his Raisin Bran.

Okay. Not interested right now. I get that.
Moving on…

Then today I came across Kitty Mansions‘s new video of the most staggeringly huge and elaborate kitty climbing tower EVER. They call this model of cat tower “Buckingham Palace” — for obvious reasons.

(Lots more where this came from, pussycats! KittyMansions.com.)

Too much?

Then take a peek at this Modular Cat Castle:
Ultra modern, sleek, even downright manly — with not a scrap of pastel-pink shag or dangle-spring birdy-toy in sight.

Also, this “cat playground” is huge, apparently. I’m not quite sure of the size when it all comes together, never having laid eyes on a Cat Castle in real life — who travels in those high circles? — but the carpeted beams that form the structure (and hold up the 11 faux-fur hammocks provided for kitty to snooze in) are 13.5 inches long. So, I’m figuring (a) it’s got to be better than five feet high and (b) some assembly is most certainly going to be required. On the plus side, it should be comparatively easy to transport, when disassembled, as it’s mostly all straight beams and fabric bits.

It’s by the same feline-friendly design firm as Stairway to Cat Heaven, which you may have seen before. Same idea, different configuration…

And just think about that convenient U-shape.

Couldn’t you slip the cat castle around a single bed, and pretend to your overnight guests that it’s just a hip designer headboard they aren’t cool enough to have heard about yet? Sure you could! (It’s not like the cat is going to rat you out, tee hee.)

Oh, and the bits of catnip in the corner?
Heh.
Just a coincidence.

First, let me give you a little background on “Lucky” — the mummified cat that one Domestik Goddess reader discovered (most unexpectedly!) in the roof of an old thatched cottage in Ireland…

Note to the squeamish: You didn’t honestly think I was going to spring a grisly photo on you, did you? This tiny little thumbnail picture is here for you. If you’re all prepared to study “Lucky” in more detail, however, you can click on the small picture to see a larger version — or read on to see another thumbnail photo that gives just a tiny bit closer look).

A while back, you might recall, I wrote about the fascinating old tradition of hiding ritual objects in houses as protection against evil spirits and witchcraft. And I mentioned the old boot — a tiny child’s riding boot, well worn, and just the one — found many years ago in the chimney wall of my grandfather’s old farmhouse in New Brunswick, Canada. That tiny old boot was an object of great fascination all through my own childhood, and I longed to know the story behind it. That’s why, when I learned of this old superstition that led people to hide strange objects in their houses, I was (and remain) quite fascinated — which is why I wrote about Dried Cats and Witch Bottles in the first place.

Strange Things Found in Old Houses

It turns out that this sort of thing is much more common than one would think — at least in northern Europe and the United Kingdom, and in countries like Canada and Australia, which were largely settled by colonists from that part of the world. No doubt other cultures had their own versions of the superstition…

Boots and shoes were common choices for protective objects, in the UK tradition, it seems; and I’ve learned that other bits of clothing are sometimes found in old houses as well.

My theory:
It may have something to do with keeping close a very personal piece of gear that once belonged to a loved one who died — something about a loving spirit offering its protection to those left behind. And it makes sense to me, learning that many of these objects had clearly belonged to children, that the purity of an innocent young child would have been seen as having extra power to protect the family in the home where these objects were hidden away.

A Carpenter’s Tale

If you’ve been following DomestikGoddess.com for a while, you may be aware that we’re always bashing away at This Old Farmhouse — and this summer was no exception. Tearing off the old back porch, we found the name of the man who built the house, a century ago, written on the back of a piece of moulding. That led to talk of things found in old houses, and our carpenter, Alvin, told us to look out for money.

Questioned about this, he told us that he’s found a great many objects hidden in the walls and ceilings of old houses where he’s worked on renovations. A shoe or two, for sure. And some strange hieroglyphics, marked onto old beams with chalk or charcoal. Bottles of various sorts. And a lot of old newspapers — but that’s a different thing, I think: old newspapers were often used as a feeble attempt at insulation between clapboards and plaster.

But mostly what Alvin has found is coins — some of them quite rare and collectible, too! Almost every old house where he’s had to rip out old plaster walls has produced a coin or two, he says, tucked away on top of a cross-member or roof truss; one had been hidden on a projecting brick inside an old fireplace chimney. It pleased me, somehow, when Alvin told us that all but one of the homeowners asked him to put those coins back where they were — or at least as close as possible, given whatever changes had been made during renovations, to where they had been hidden away a century ago.

Clothing, footwear, money… all that’s well and good. But other traditional ritual objects are a bit less pleasant to contemplate. Bottles of urine, for example — “witch bottles” as they are known. And the corpses of cats. Which brings us to the subject of this photograph.

“Lucky” the Irish Dried Cat

A couple weeks ago, Jules, in England, came across Dried Cats and Witch Bottles, my little write-up about the mysterious tradition of hiding protective objects in old houses:

I have only just found out about dried cats. Foolishly I brought the one that dropped out of the roof in my old cottage in Ireland back to England. Now I really think I should take it back – what on earth will Ryanair make of it?

How wonderful is that?

Naturally, I asked whether there was a photograph… and received this picture of “Lucky” within the day!

(Imagine, if you will, the great delight it gave me to shout out to He Who Hogs The Power Tools, “Someone just emailed me a picture of a dead cat!”)

Jules said that they all “ran screaming” from the house, when the mummified cat dropped out of the thatch, then went back in (“very slowly”) to see what it was that had descended so abruptly.

In the same house they also found two shoes — a small child’s dancing shoe, up in the roof space, and another that had been boarded in at the side of the fireplace. And in another house — a timber frame cottage in Kent, England — a large shell under one of the foundation timbers, under the stairs. It must have been placed there carefully, deliberately, or else it surely would have been crushed. (I like to think that it might have been a treasured souvenir of some sea-faring son, lost at sea; the shell kept in memory of him, and hidden in the house so his spirit could keep the family safe from harm.)

Jules checked in with Sam, the brave friend who appears on the other end of the pitchfork, and they’ve both given kind permission for me to publish this rare photograph here — because you know it’s just too interesting not to share with other social-history buffs!

As for “Lucky,” he is currently residing in Jules’ barn and awaiting his return trip to Ireland — where he rightfully belongs.

Old superstitions and domestic rituals don’t easily die out, even when the meaning of the ritual becomes obscured by the passage of time. I’m starting to suspect that there may be many more of these ritual objects hidden in old houses across Europe and “the colonies” than we, steeped in the 21st Century, might realize. And when we do find these strange objects, odds are that we fail to recognize them as having a special significance in cultural history. Perhaps you’ve found something peculiar, too, in the midst of an old-house renovation?

If you’ve ever been owned by a cat, you’ll know what a charming pest a cat can be. Bored cats and the desks of busy people are (a) inevitably going to come together at some point, if there’s a cat in the house, and (b) not always a wonderful thing for productivity.

My own habit of obsessively hitting the Save button comes directly from an Important Life Lesson taught to me years ago by a fluffy grey tom named Jasper: A quick trip to the loo, then I stepped back into my home office to see Jasper bathing himself elegantly on my keyboard, one fluffy paw planted firmly on the Delete key. Amazing, how fast that cursor raced backwards and up the screen. And simple astounding, how quickly the screen went blank when the cat shifted round at my yell, successfully quitting the program before I could lunge across the room. Gone, the work of a hard three hours — all gone!

Ever since, and to this very day (although this is currently a dogs-only household, and the desk is my own once more) I save-save-save-save-save as if racking up high score on some Video Game of Life. So, a bad cat incident gave me a good habit, I guess… but something like this Cat Perch box (at The Refined Feline, via a comment at Matt Cutts‘ blog) would have come in handy. Apparently it works for chihuahuas and other tiny dogs (under 20 lbs.) too.

At the very heart of grey downtown Toronto, there’s a special bright sparkling place where Spanish colours riot and fairies cavort with doorstop-solid cats.

Feeling a bit down and grey, yourself?

There’s nothing I can think of to bring on the sunshine like spending some time with Tascha…

I’m not going to waste your time in gushing on about the artwork, for once, but send you over to tascha.etsy.com to check it out. These paintings sing out for themselves, and you’ll either love them as much as I do or … just wander about Etsy until you find your own favourite art and crafts!

But I’d heartily recommend sliding by YouTube to catch Tascha’s art videos if you’ve got time to spare and a creative spark you’d like to inspire: she’ll show you in fabulous fast motion, step by step, how she creates her paintings with acrylic paint, bits of paper, canvas or wood, and a whole lot of joy!

Organic is a real plus, in these days when a pet lover can never quite sure what’s in some of the food and treats on the market for our furry friends…

Mind you, I’m not convinced that any catnip toys could distract fat Mowgli Cat from begging at table when cheese pasta is on the humans’ menu, but these happy little catnip-stuffed felt ravioli squares are certainly more appealing in concept than watching as the cat savages a traditional catnip mouse…

Ravioli made from colorful craft felt and stuffed with yummy organic catnip! Sold in sets of three ravioli, tied with brightly colored yarn!

Each ravioli measures 2.5″ wide x 4″ long. Set of three, $4.00 from MaryJane’s Attic.

When I was a child, my grandfather had an old farmhouse that had been built onto in sections over a period of 175 years. My aunts always believed that the back chambers of the oldest part were haunted by a long-dead young woman named Charlotte.

I don’t know the details of the ghost story, but I do know the spooky back chamber’s attic was where, years before I was born, they found — as well as the Cupid oil lamp that I’ve told you about — a variety of very peculiar objects, much older, hidden in the wall and beneath the floorboards.

(My mother still has an old leather boot that her brother found when he replaced the plaster of a closet wall, stuffed in with the mouse-droppings and old newspapers that served as insulation. We couldn’t imagine how it came to be inside the wall!)

Nothing as odd as a mummified cat carcass, however… or “witch bottles” filled with urine… or even a mysterious pagan symbol drawn in candle-smoke…

Ian Stapleton, who specializes in renovating and restoring old houses, sheds light on such strange discoveries as these. Apparently, they were intended as ritual objects placed in old houses and other buildings to protect the occupants from witches and evil spirits.

These objects have been found in the UK, Continental Europe, Australia and North America. The majority of such objects are found in buildings constructed before 1800 but they have been discovered in buildings dating from as late as the early 20th century.

Ian suggests that ritual objects are more common than one might think, but not always recognized for what they are — even by some professional people who really should know about such things.

It’s important to document your find with notes and photographs, he says, and details some of the most types of common ritual objects to look for when you’re working in an old house. After all, that’s a piece of cultural history that tells more about the lives of our (quite recent!) ancestors than any public monument ever could.

Cat lovers and sock monkey fans, take note!

Pokey’s eyes, nose, legs, tail, and ribbon are all securely sewn in place; her whiskers are knotted to prevent pull-out. She’s got a hidden pipecleaner in her tail, to make it bendable and poseable.She’s sweet, she’s safe, and she’s tiny: a mere 9″ (22.86 cm) long by 5″ (12.7 cm) tall.

Pokey the Child-Safe Sock Cat is a crafty creation of the bold and whimsical UppityWomanDesigns, one of my very favourite Etsy artists.

If you happen to be lucky enough to be owned by a cat, you’ll know how much the furry little demons like to tuck themselves up for sleep. Kittypod is an “environmentally thoughtful design” by Elizabeth Paige Smith, but I think a cat had its fine paw in the planning.

The elevated cat bed is multi-ply cardboard construction up top, with all non-toxic adhesives, on a maple wood base for stability.

The curved egg-shape pod creates an interior form-fitting bed for cats of all sizes. The texture of the corrugated cardboard provides a surface that is soft, breathable and durable for scratching, making the Kittypod the absolute choice nesting spot.

I can’t think of anything else that might tempt Cat Himself away from trying to stuff his entire 15-pound bulk into a standard Kleenex box for a nap.

A new collection of eCards has just launched, designed to allow pet care providers and other pet lovers, to keep in touch.

PetsitUSA.com has lots of cute free eCards made for pet owners who want to say thank-you, as well as eCards for pet sitters, dog walkers, and doggie daycare owners to tell their clients how much their business is appreciated. The greeting cards are available in both postcard and flash, and in a wide range of art styles.

Although there are other eCards out there, what makes ours unique is that, in addition to general pet-themed eCards that anyone can send, we have many that have been designed specifically for people who work in, or are customers of, pet care businesses…

says Therese Kopiwoda, owner of PetsitUSA.com.

Due to busy schedules, many people don’t have time to run out to the store and pick up a card, and the fact that so many of us spend quite a bit of our time at the computer makes eCards a fun and convenient way to keep in touch.

All eCards have a pet theme and are available for many occasions, such as to send a friendly hello from one pet lover to another, to wish someone a happy birthday or happy holiday, or to send condolences on the loss of a beloved pet.

Paws N’ Go Galore, a new online pet boutique, offers fashionable feline and Fido-friendly ware for your adored furry friends. With each purchase, you get a 30-day money-back guarantee — and the pet boutique site donates 10% of its profits to animal rescue organizations!

The site boasts a wide selection of brand-name animal products, including Tail Waggers vegetarian gourmet dog treats, and Slumber Pet’s incredibly luxurious dog and cat beds.

We’re particularly taken with the East Side Collection apparel (like the little dog coats shown here), but the Casual Canine dog PJs are also appealing — both fun and practical. And if your dog is the outdoorsy type, don’t miss the Guardian Gear safety wear — including life jackets for the yacht club crowd!

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and The Humane Society of the United States are currently benefiting from monthly donations, with local rescue groups to be added as the business grows.

With millions of animals suffering from abuse, neglect and abandonment each year, it is crucial to support these organizations, and their much needed services. Last year’s devastating hurricanes, with their impact still evident, are yet another reminder as to why such groups continue to need our help.

What better way to support homeless dogs and cats than to spoil your own furry friend?

With just a length of inexpensive plastic tubing,you can go far to protect a new puppy or curious cat from chewing on appliance cords or other electrical wires in the home.

Electricians and mechanics use plastic loom to bind wires together and protect them over a long run, and it’s just the thing to protect pets from an electrical shock that might be deadly.